The Hunter's Mate

by Christina Benjamin

  “She doesn’t want to talk to you, dick,” Wes snarled.

  Wes’s mood told Grey everything he needed to know. Wes knew Etti was pregnant, and if her best friend’s current display was any indicator, she was still pissed at Grey. Wes looked ready to rip Grey’s head off.

  Grey knew there was no way he was getting past Wes without seriously harming him, which would only make things worse with Etti. He sighed in frustration, resenting the fact that he had to deal with Wes on top of everything else at the moment. “She told you?” Grey asked, already knowing the answer.

  “Of course,” Wes snapped. “She tells me everything, because she knows I won’t abandon her.”

  Grey’s temper flared. “I didn’t abandon her.”

  “Really? Cause it sure looks like it to me.”

  “Look, Wes, I’m not gonna lie. I freaked out. But I’m here now.”

  “Yeah? For how long?”

  “As long as it takes,” Grey replied.

  “That’s eighteen years, bro. You sure you got that kinda time? Cause kids need stability. You can’t be walking in and out of their lives. And Etti deserves better.”

  “I know that. I screwed up. That’s why I’m here,” Grey growled trying to rein in his temper. He didn’t need to be explaining this to Wes. “Look, I really need to talk to Etti.”

  Wes looked over his shoulder. Etti must be listening behind the door. Grey tried to see around Wes’s towering frame but it was useless. When Wes turned back to Grey, he was smiling smugly. “Sorry, dude. She doesn’t want to talk to you. Too little, too late, amigo,” Wes quipped, arrogantly slamming the door in Grey’s face.

  Grey grumbled under his breath. He hated having Wes running interference, but he’d expected as much. He was actually surprised Wes hadn’t taken a swing at him. It showed how much control Etti had over her protective best friend. But, truthfully, Grey was glad Etti had Wes in her life. If it wasn’t for Wes, Etti might not have survived the hunt or her murderous parents. And if today was any indication, Etti was going to need a friend to get through this pregnancy—if that was even what she wanted.

  Preparing for an uncomfortable night, Grey slumped down on Cali’s small front porch, praying Etti would give him a second chance. He felt like shit for the way he’d reacted to her news. And as he sat there reliving his stupid response, Grey found himself wishing Wes had just punched him. Grey deserved it. At this point, he would have welcomed it. He’d welcome anything that would silence the anguish he felt over disappointing his mate.

  Grey had to find a way to show Etti that he wasn’t going anywhere—that he was going to be there for her and the baby—always. Family was the most important thing to Grey. He’d done unspeakable things to protect his mother and younger brother. They were the reason he’d stepped up and taken his fallen brother’s place in the hunt. He’d do anything to protect the unconditional bond of love that family meant to him. And Etti and this baby were Grey’s family now. So if sleeping on the front porch of Cali’s house was the first step to proving that to Etti, that’s exactly what Grey was going to do—for as long as it took.

  Etti

  “He’s still out there,” Cali said, handing Etti another slice of pizza.

  “I know,” Etti replied. She could still smell her mate’s scent wafting under the front door.

  “How long are you going to make him stay out there?” Cali asked.

  “Til he can take a hint!” Wes snarled.

  Cali ignored Wes and looked at Etti. “It’s going to be cold tonight,” was all she said before leaving the living room.

  Etti looked longingly at the door.

  “Don’t get weak on me now, Etti. This kiddo’s gonna need you to be strong,” Wes said, tucking her back under his arm on the small, blue couch.

  “Maybe I should at least give him a blanket?” Etti ventured.

  Wes rolled his eyes. “He’s a wolf for fuck’s sake. He can shift into a fur coat with legs if he gets cold.”

  “Wes . . .” Etti warned.

  “Fine,” he muttered. “But I’ll give it to him. You’ll take one look at his sad eyes and drop your panties.”

  “I will not!” Etti huffed defiantly.

  Wes arched a perfect black eyebrow. “Really? Isn’t that how you got knocked up in the first place?” The corners of his mouth were quirked into a teasing grin.

  Wes wasn’t trying to be mean. It was just the way they joked with each other. Making light of tough situations was the only way they knew how to get through them. And Wes was right. Grey’s allure was irresistible to Etti. She knew if she went onto the porch her anger would evaporate and she’d be back in his arms in an instant. As it was, she already missed him. It didn’t help that his scent was prickling at her overly sensitive hormones. The stupid mating bond made it impossible to stay mad at him.

  Etti watched Wes march to the door and toss a blanket out without a second glance. He slammed the door shut, locked it and plopped back down on the couch, kicking his large feet up on Cali’s coffee table.

  “What?” he asked with a smirk.

  “I’m fighting with the father of my child, Wes. Could you try to be a little less smug?”

  Wes shrugged.

  Etti shook her head and exhaled. She was too tired to argue with Wes. She really just wanted to sleep. Wes seemed to sense it and pulled a throw pillow onto his lap, patting it enticingly. Etti couldn’t resist. She laid her head in Wes’s lap and let him stroke her hair. It was something he’d done a hundred times over the years and it always made her feel safe. She closed her eyes and let sleep pull her from her worries.

  Wes

  When Wes realized Etti was asleep he smiled. She was always so beautiful when she let her guard down like this. He never tired of looking at her, holding her, being there for her . . . and tonight was no different. Well, it was a little different.

  Etti hadn’t come to Wes with any of her usual problems. But this wasn’t really a problem in his eyes. It was actually a blessing. A baby meant more of Etti to love. And God did he love her.

  Wes knew Etti was meant for him. He felt it in his bones the day they met on the playground as children. He’d tried to tell her then. Of course she didn’t have the same feelings and punched him when he tried to kiss her. But that only made him love her more.

  He’d given her time over the years. He wanted to let her grow to love him—to come to the realization on her own. But giving her time didn’t seem to work. And it wasn’t any wonder once he learned how poorly her parents treated her. She had major trust issues. So, he did what he had to—pushed his feelings aside and was a friend to her when she needed it.

  But Wes’s frustration built over the last few years. They were in their twenties now. Not knowing what else to do, Wes tried flirting with Etti, but she seemed immune to his charms, unlike all other women. So he tried making her jealous instead, hitting on everything with tits. Looking back, Wes realized it was a dumbass move. He was guilty of listening to his dick more than his head. But he was a guy, and he had needs.

  But no matter how many notches Wes added to his bedpost over the years, he still got nowhere with Etti. It was terrible for his ego. And for a while, Wes started thinking maybe there was a reason. Maybe he wasn’t good enough for Etti. But that changed the minute Grey showed up. Wes knew the shifter was going to bring trouble into their lives. And regardless if Etti never had a romantic feeling for Wes in her life, he still loved her and would protect her by any means necessary.

  And now, with a baby involved, he was even more determined to protect Etti from Grey. The arrogant prick had another thing coming if he thought he could waltz in and take Wes’s girl away—mate or not.

  Wes didn’t put much stock into the ridiculous mate bullshit, anyway. In his opinion, the so-called mate bond seemed like a fucked up way for guys to lock down women they wouldn’t ordinarily have a chance with. Grey may have conned Etti into his bed, but there was no way in hell Wes was going to let him lock Etti and
her baby into a bad relationship because of some made up shifter nonsense. Wes was sure Etti was just under Grey’s spell. All Wes needed to do was find a way to break it.

  He carefully pulled a blanket off the back of the couch and draped it over Etti, smoothing back her silky curtain of black hair. Wes loved touching her hair. It was identical to his, thanks to their Native American heritage. But there was something intoxicating and intimate about touching Etti’s hair. She never let him do it unless she was upset.

  Wes let the familiar feel of Etti’s silken strands between his fingers soothe him as he settled in for the night. He flicked off the television and kicked off his boots to get comfortable. Etti whimpered in her sleep and he ran a soothing hand up and down her arm. “I’m here . . . you’re okay now,” he murmured linking his fingers with hers and squeezing.

  Etti readjusted in her sleep, pulling Wes’s hand to her stomach.

  He tensed, noting the foreign swell of her normally flat stomach. She was already changing. And despite his best efforts, so was Wes. The part of his heart that he kept locked up—the part that felt like it was made of glass that only Etti could break—was now exposed.

  He couldn’t keep his feelings for her hidden anymore. This baby was wringing them out of him like a rag. He wanted to scoop them up and take them far away, where he could love them and protect them from all the scary shit in the world. But he couldn’t. Wes could never take Etti’s choices away from her, even when he thought she was making the wrong ones. Too much had been taken from her already. Wes wouldn’t be any better than her parents or Grey if he started making demands of Etti.

  So, for now, Wes closed his eyes and held Etti tight, praying for the strength to shove his feelings away and do the right thing for his best friend—the love of his life.

  Chapter 6

  Greyson

  Grey woke with a start when the door he was leaning against suddenly opened. He fell backward into Cali’s house. He quickly untangled himself from the blanket he’d been huddled in and stretched his stiff limbs.

  Cali smiled at him tightly. “Rough night?”

  Grey yawned. “I’ve had worse,” he said looking past Cali into the house.

  “I’m going for a run,” Cali replied stepping onto the porch and zipping up her jacket. “Wes is in the shower,” she added in a whisper. “If you want to talk to Etti, now’s a good time.” She winked and breezed past Grey.

  He smiled gratefully at Cali and didn’t hesitate a moment before slipping through the door to her house before he lost his chance. The warmth of the house thawed Grey’s stiff muscles. He rubbed his hands together and blew into them to take the chill off his fingers.

  Grey found Etti sleeping on the couch. She looked so peaceful that he was afraid to touch her, but he didn’t want to miss the opportunity to talk to her without Wes interfering. Grey sat down on the edge of the couch and Etti groaned.

  “Wes?” she murmured in a sleepy voice.

  Her words wounded Grey’s pride. It should have been his name his mate called out in her sleep. And perhaps it would’ve been if he hadn’t been such an idiot yesterday. Grey swallowed his jealousy and touched Etti’s cheek. “Babe?”

  Her dark eyes flew open. “Grey?” She sat up. “What are you doing here?”

  “I needed to see you. Etti . . . I’m so sorry. I want to apologize for how I reacted yesterday. There’s no excuse. I know that wasn’t the way to handle things. And I’m begging you to forgive me.”

  “Grey . . .” Etti frowned, but he didn’t giver her time to pull away.

  He moved from the couch to the floor, crouching on his knees as he took Etti’s hands in his, begging her. “Please, Etti. I’m an idiot and I’ve been a fucking mess since you told me you’re pregnant. I just want to be here beside you. I’m in this with you, babe. Just give me another chance and I promise I won’t freeze up like that on you again. I was scared. Hell, I’m still scared. I don’t know anything about babies. But I know I love you, and I love our baby. We’ll figure it out together. Okay?”

  Etti bit her lip, but she nodded. Her voice was barely a whisper. “Okay.”

  “Okay?” Grey’s heart soared. “Really? You forgive me?”

  She nodded again and slid off the couch into Grey’s lap, looping her arms around his neck, clinging to him.

  “Oh thank God,” Grey whispered into her hair, crushing her against him. “I love you, Etti.” He repeated the words over and over while she clung to him.

  “Grey?” She whispered, her voice a rasping wobble. “I’m scared.”

  “Me too, babe,” he said looking into her fearful eyes. “But nothing scares me more than losing you.”

  Etti’s lip quivered. “Me too.”

  Grey threaded his arms around Etti’s waist and kissed her. “You’ll never lose me, babe. Neither of you will,” he said moving his hand to her belly.

  Etti laid her hand on top of Grey’s and kissed him again. “I think it’s a girl,” she whispered.

  A smile of pure joy split Grey’s face. “My girls,” he murmured, pulling Etti closer.

  Grey held his whole world in his arms at that moment and never felt more grateful. This baby was a gift, a miracle, and Etti had brought that into his life. She never ceased to amaze him. He was so lucky to have found her, and beyond blessed that she was his mate. She was forgiving and loving, and he didn’t deserve her. But he would spend every day doing his damnedest to try.

  He looked down at Etti with tears of joy in his eyes. God, she was beautiful. He reached a trembling hand into his pocket and pulled out a tiny silver ring. “Marry me,” he whispered.

  Etti’s dark eyes widened. “What?”

  “I want you to marry me. I love you and I want to be with you forever.”

  “You don’t have to do this because I’m pregnant,” she said staring at the ring.

  “I know. But I want to. I’ve wanted to for a while.”

  “Grey, I don’t even know if I want this baby. I don’t know how to be a mother.”

  He looked at her without judgment. “I know you’ll be a wonderful mother. But the when is up to you. This is your decision, Etti. But it doesn’t change what I want.”

  She swallowed hard as she let him slip the ring to her first knuckle. “I want you, Etti. I want a life with you. I want babies with you, now or later. But I want to spend the rest of my life showing you how much I love you. Marry me, Etti.”

  Etti slid her finger the rest of the way through the delicate silver hoop and grinned up at Grey. Then she nodded and he scooped her up in a rush of pure joy.

  Wes

  Wes snarled at the scene in the living room. “Are you fucking kidding me?” he muttered stomping into the room.

  Grey was standing there, grinning with his hands on Etti’s belly. And she was gushing. Fucking gushing!

  Did the baby fry her brain?

  Wes had only left her alone for twenty minutes and already the shifter had mind-fucked Etti back into thinking she needed him.

  “Wes . . .” Etti warned, rushing to put herself between the two men. And Grey let her. He fucking let her use herself and her baby as a shield. Fucking coward! Wes had never liked Grey, but this was too much. His hate boiled to a new level as he stopped inches from Etti trying to leash his temper.

  “Get the fuck out of this house, mutt,” Wes roared at Grey. “Get out before I break every God damned bone in your body.”

  “Wes!” Etti yelled. “That’s enough.”

  Wes cut his eyes at Etti. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing as Etti took a step back and defiantly stood next to Grey, taking his hand. Rage rippled through Wes and he willed ice into his veins for Etti’s sake. “Etti . . .” he started calmly. “You don’t need him.”

  “I know that, Wes. But I want him here. He’s my mate.”

  Wes snapped. “Don’t fucking say that word to me!”

  Grey moved to pull Etti away but she stopped him. Instead she spoke softly to Grey. “Can I have a m
inute alone with Wes?”

  Grey nodded apprehensively, but exited out the front door.

  The tension drained from Wes the moment Grey was gone. Wes closed the space between himself and Etti, taking her hand pleadingly. “Etti, tell me what you want. I’m trying to do the right thing, but I’m out of my league. I don’t understand this shifter shit. And every bone in my body is telling me Grey’s not good for you. But I want you to be happy. It’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

  “Wes. That’s what I want too. I know you don’t understand. But Grey is my mate.”

  “Etti, I swear to God, if you say that word one more time I’m gonna scream. I don’t want to hear that he’s brainwashed you into believing you can only be with him. That’s not good enough.”

  “Then what is, Wes? What do you want me to say?”

  “Tell me that you love him! That you can’t live without him. Because that’s what you deserve. That I can understand. Not this bullshit that you’re connected by some supernatural bond. You barely even know the guy! And I get it. I know you’re scared to have a kid, Etti. But you don’t have to be with Grey just because he got you pregnant. I’ll be here for you. Just like before.”

  “This isn’t like before, Wes. I didn’t get in a fight with my parents or kicked out of my house. I’m a pregnant shifter. And there’s a pack of rogues hell bent on killing my mate.”

  “Even more reason to stay away from him!”

  “Wes, I know you don’t understand this because you’ve never been in love—”

  “How do you know I’ve never been in love?” he yelled cutting off whatever she’d been about the say. Did she really have no idea that he was in love with her? That he’d always been in love with her? It should be his baby she was carrying. He wanted to be the one she chose. He’d been with her through everything. How could some asshole just blow into town one day and steal his life?

  “Wes, I don’t want to fight with you. I love you. And I want you in my life. But I need you to understand that I do love Grey. That’s what finding your mate is. It’s more than love. It’s bigger somehow.”