by Ines Johnson
His family had hopped on the next train to Sonora when they learned he was mating. His sister, Kayla, was over at the pens cooing at the sheep. His brother, Jackson, kept his hands wrapped around his new wife's middle. Pierce wondered if Jackson and Lucia might be expecting a cub of their own, another cub for his child to play with.
Goddess, he wasn't just becoming a mate, a brother, a cousin, a nephew, a farmer, and a shepherd. He was also becoming a father.
He hadn't told his family about the cub, yet. They'd just stepped off the train an hour ago. They hadn't even had the chance to meet Viviane. He'd tell them all later, after he spoke to Viviane. Because Pierce planned to tell his family the whole truth; that the cub wasn't his blood, but would be his in every other way. He needed to make sure his mate was on board with the plan first.
In that instance, his mother's fussing at his unruly hair stopped bothering him. His father's endless questions and queries about the ranch and its operation and safety and sustainability made sense.
“I love you, mama.” Pierce pulled his mother into a hug. “Growing up, I always knew I was loved, and that I had a place to come home to no matter how many times I ran off, or messed up, or disappointed you.”
“You've never disappointed us.” That came from his father. A look passed between his parents. It was as though his father asked a question, and his mother confirmed it. “We're just happy you've found your way. That you have a place where you feel you belong. That's all we ever wanted for you.”
Pierce's heart filled to bursting. His mother stroked the small scruff at the back of his neck, smoothing the hairs there.
“I for one can't wait to meet this woman who’s tamed my roaming brother,” said Jackson.
“You're just glad I'm not chasing after your wife any longer,” said Pierce.
Jackson growled and wrapped firm hands around Lucia. Lucia laughed and rolled her eyes. A look passed between his brother and sister-in-law. Like with his parents, there was a question formed in Jackson’s eyes. A subtle shift of Lucia’s irises was the answer. Then Lucia flashed her silver-filled eyes at him with a smile.
Behind them, Pierce heard a few gasps. Female witches were uncommon in the city, but a complete anomaly out in the valley. He’d long since stopped having any fear of his new sibling and former train-buddy. Pierce had known the witch for such a short time, but he wasn't surprised to feel that he'd missed Lucia as much as he'd missed the rest of his family. He hoped they'd all stay a few nights. Then, after the cub was born, he looked forward to taking his family into the city for a visit.
A hush went over the crowd. Pierce turned to see the cause. When he saw the reason, he never wanted to run so far so fast in his life.
Viviane stepped out of the house. She was an absolute vision in white silk that shimmered under the moonlight. He had a hard time halting his forward motion. He wanted to run to her, scoop her up, and carry her off into their house and into their bed.
Then calm settled over him. He could do that shortly. He could do that every night for the rest of his life. All he needed to do was to hold still for a few moments more. Then he'd have forever with this woman.
Viviane breathed in a shaky breath as she looked out at the gathered crowd. Pierce knew from a few introductions that these were her cousins who lived in town, other pack members from neighboring farms, and a few clients of the ranch. He saw the tension in Viviane's bared shoulders. He saw his mark proudly displayed.
Then her eyes found his. She inhaled and sucked her lower lip into her mouth. Pierce nearly bolted to her. Her eyes twinkled and her lips quirked. Her exhale steadied as she held onto his eyes.
She nodded at the person beside her, indicating that she was ready to proceed. Pierce's eyes passed over Viviane's to her escort.
Jesus?
What the hell?
He caught Viviane's eyes again in a question. She rolled hers, then quirked an eyebrow. There was a story there, her eye roll told him. She'd tell him later, the quirk said.
Pierce marveled. They were doing it, too. Just like his parents, and his brother and new sister; that silent communication between mates. That was his mate walking towards him, offering her heart and her hand to him in this life, and in the next, if you believed the legends.
When she reached him, Pierce took her hand from Jesus with a nod full of respect on both males’ parts. Viviane and Pierce grinned at each other like school cubs. The entire crowd surrounding them fell away like the sun sinking down into the horizon.
“Please take your seats.” Gloria stood before them, presiding over the event as she did everything.
She'd met his father and brother. After a bit of sniffing and ball scratching, they all nodded and retreated to their corners. It was a clear indication they all approved of one another.
“We are gathered here today to bare witness to the bond between these two wolves.”
Gloria continued on with the ceremony, but Pierce tuned her out. He couldn't take his gaze off of Viviane. And she appeared unable to do the same. They repeated after Gloria when instructed. They said vows that were unnecessary for their own ears because the message was born in their hearts.
“And now you'll shift for your wolves to make their commitments.”
The idea sounded like heaven to Pierce. But Viviane stood rooted, immobile. Panic blared in her clear blue eyes. Then he remembered. He turned to his expectant mother-in-law.
“Gloria, Vivi's a bit tired in her present condition.”
Gloria stared, and then she beamed. “That is the other great news for those of you who don’t know. Not only do I gain a son tonight, I am being blessed with a grandcub. A new soul to carry forward the Veracruz line.”
Cheers went up from Viviane's side of the family and her neighbors from the valley. A gasp rippled through Pierce's side of the aisle. He turned to his family apologetically.
“We are thrilled at the new life inside of her,” Pierce said. “But Vivi is still in the early days of her pregnancy, still prone to a bit of sickness.”
“Everyone knows shifting strengthens a cub's constitution,” said Gloria. “Now, stop embarrassing me in front of all our family and do as I say.”
It was the command of an Alpha. Inside, Pierce’s wolf whined, uncertain which way to turn; inward or out.
“I can't shift, mama.”
Viviane grasped onto Pierce's hands like a death grip. He brought her fingers to his lips. He used his lips to infuse her with his strength, his support, and his unconditional love.
“There's a chance the cub is human.”
“That's not possible.” Gloria turned to Pierce's two wolf parents. “Unless…”
Pierce saw Gloria trying to work out the math. He saw the moment she made her tally. A second later, her head canted as she rejected the conclusion. Viviane could’ve shifted with a half-fae child, or a have-warlock child. There was only one breed that shifting posed a danger to.
“It's not Pierce's child,” Viviane confirmed.
Gloria’s eyes narrowed to slits. “A human’s?”
Viviane nodded.
The crowd was dead silent.
“Someone from that school?” Gloria spat the last word. “Did they take advantage of you? I'll rip them apart.”
“No, mama.”
“Don't tell me you went willingly? And now you expect me to take care of this spawn?”
Viviane rolled her neck. Pierce heard the tendons cracking. He placed his hand there, but the tension was a rock.
“My child is not a spawn,” Viviane said. “Say that again and I'll leave this place. I’ll never see you again.”
“Go!” Gloria shouted.
The two women faced off. Each looking for the other to flinch. Neither did. Viviane turned and stormed off towards the house. The moment she stepped away, Gloria deflated, like a rag doll.
Pierce had the instinct to prop her up, but his first duty was to his mate. He made to follow Viviane. But a claw stopped him.
&n
bsp; “You were in on this,” Gloria accused.
It took him a moment to take his eyes off Viviane's retreating form and focus on his mother-in-law.
“Answer me.” The alpha in her voice made it possible for Pierce to take his eyes off his mate.
“Yes,” he said. “I knew.”
“You lied to me? You misled me?”
Pierce tried to step around her. But Gloria halted his progress.
“Everything I’ve done has been for Vivi and the baby,” he said.
“What are you after? My lands? My pack?”
“The only thing I'm going after is your daughter, because I love her and the baby in her belly. Regardless of its blood, that child is mine.”
Gloria scoffed. “What man would willingly take on another man's cub, a human’s at that?”
“The man who loves her.”
Gloria shook her head. “I knew there was something off with you the moment I laid eyes on you.”
“If you don't want us here, we'll leave.” But then his voice gentled. He knew that wasn’t the best idea. Gloria and Viviane were two of the strongest, vibrant, brilliant and most stubborn women he’d ever met. If they didn’t work this out, they might never come together again. “Or we can stay and work this out. There’s no need for force. Be our guide in this.”
He thought she might cave to the pleading in his voice. He saw the twitch in her lower lip. He saw the flare of vulnerability in her crystal, blue eyes.
Gloria shook her head. “You're not going anywhere with my daughter. I want you off my land.”
The words struck through his heart and pierced into his wolf. His ears rang as the beast howled inside him. Pierce tried to get around Gloria again, but he couldn't.
“You heard your Alpha,” she said. “Leave.”
He couldn't move against her. For the first time his legs, his heart, and his mind wanted to stay put. He belonged to this land as much as it belonged to him. The woman he loved was here. The people and the animals he wanted to protect were here. He couldn't leave.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Viviane slammed the door behind her. The screen door had been left open, unlocked. It landed against the frame with a soft thud. Then it bounced, tapping insistently. The beating of the door mirrored the thudding of her gut. It was like a drum beat, light but sure.
A spawn?
Inside the house she was confronted with the familiarity of all things. She’d spent the last couple of weeks trying to fit into a place where her presence was everywhere. Her life was measured on the smudges on the yellow walls. Her spills were in the cracks of the kitchen floor. Her scent was buried in that red sofa.
But right now, the smell of breakfast made her sick. The sight of the walls made her stomach ache. The red of the sofa hurt her eyes. The butterflies from this morning became a raging storm of hornets in her mid-section.
A spawn?
Why had she come back here? The moment she let her guard down, the moment she got comfortable, the moment she thought she could co-exist with her mother, the woman stabbed her in the heart. The dull ache in her back became a needlepoint. She clutched at her side.
This place no longer fit. The only place she fit was in Pierce’s arms. He accepted her with all of her faults the first moment he met her. He accepted her baby the moment he knew of its existence. He called the child his own.
Where was Pierce? She needed him. He promised he’d always be by her side. So why wasn’t he here now when she needed him?
“Vivi?”
She had expected to hear Pierce's deep voice coming up behind her. But it was her sister.
“Vivi?” Rhetta’s calm voice was tinged with worry. “Are you feeling okay?”
It was getting harder and harder to focus. The pain in her back started at the base of her spine and climbed her back, like her spine was a roller coaster. When it reached the point of her abdomen, it was as though a scream tore through her.
Rhetta’s arms came around her. Viviane realized the scream had in fact tore through her. “I need Pierce.”
“I’ll get him.”
“You can't. He’s gone.” The door slapped shut behind Gloria. “He took off like the loner he is.”
“He wouldn’t.” Viviane clutched at her side. “Not unless you forced him out.”
Her mother said nothing.
Viviane shook her head. She took advantage of the lull in the pains to straighten her spine and face her mother. “You have to be in control of everything. The moment something doesn’t go your way you try to rip it apart. You can’t do that with me and Pierce.”
Viviane took a step towards Gloria, but the moment her foot left the floor, the pain radiated up her leg and she doubled over.
“Vivi?” Rhetta rushed to her side.
“Where’s Pierce?” Viviane panted. “I need Pierce. He promised he’d always stand beside me. He promised he’d never leave.”
“What's happening?” demanded Gloria.
“Mama,” said Rhetta. “Get Tia Bianca.”
Gloria ignored Rhetta and came to Viviane. “What's happening? Is it the baby?”
Viviane couldn’t answer. The dull ache stole her voice. All she could do was whimper as the pains assaulted her midsection. She felt warmth trickle down her inner thigh and she sobbed in earnest.
Gloria’s arms wrapped around her and lifted her. Viviane was a woman grown, but she balled into a fetal position in her mother's strong arms and clung on. “Mama, it hurts.”
“Don't worry, baby. Mama's got you.”
“I can't lose my baby. It's not a spawn.”
“No, my girl. That cub is the most precious thing on this earth and it’s not leaving us. It’s strong just like its mother. It will not give up.”
“Did you send Pierce away?” Viviane’s voice shook as the pain loosened its grip for a few seconds.
“I tried,” said Gloria. “But he didn’t go too far.”
“I’m right here.”
Viviane turned her head. Pierce stood in the doorway. The white door tapped once and then shut firmly behind him. He strode to her with a slow swagger that quickly turned into a run. He reached his arms out for her. Her arms immediately went for his, but something held her back.
“Gloria.” Pierce’s voice was a low growl. His wolf was at the surface.
Gloria pulled her daughter into her bosom. Viviane felt the low growl rumbling in her mother’s chest.
“You’re not getting rid of me, Gloria. She’s your daughter. But she’s my mate, and that’s my cub. We’re all going to get through this together.”
Gloria pressed a kiss to Viviane’s head. Then her eyes flashed to Pierce. “Sit,” she commanded.
Viviane sensed Pierce leashing his wolf. He lowered himself onto the couch. Gloria leaned down and placed Viviane in his arms. Pierce cradled her head. Her mother held her hand. Her aunts lifted her dress and palpated her belly.
“It’s okay,” Pierce and Gloria said in tandem. “I’m here."
Viviane turned her face into Pierce’s chest and squeezed her mother’s hand. Her sister took up sentry at her feet and her aunts went to work to save the youngest member of the Veracruz family. The dull ache continued to radiate from her abdomen. Tears spilled down her cheeks. But her heart beat steady and strong because she knew she was not alone and would never be again. Viviane closed her eyes and turned to the warm yellow walls and counted the markings of her life as her family surrounded her.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The early morning sun broke through the windows. A light breeze shifted the blinds. The rays moved up and down Pierce’s face. The rising sun was the closest thing he’d had to an alarm clock since he’d been living in the valley. His wolf had roused before the first ray had risen high enough to reach the sill of the bedroom window.
It was man and wolf’s favorite time of the day. Viviane slept peacefully in the cradle of his arms. The scent of the morning dew on the endless blades of grass wafted in through the
window. The soft bleating of the sheep perked his ears.
Pierce shifted in the bed. There was a crick in his neck from sleeping awkwardly. Each night the bed pillows would wind up on the floor. His bicep, or his chest, and once the top of his head, were substituted for the down of pillow. This day he woke to Viviane’s head resting on his chest.
He reached out to pull her closer, but her body could only come so far. Her swollen belly was an ever-growing barrier between them now.
Pierce cradled the head of the woman he loved with one arm. He reached down to his unborn child with the other. The cub rose with the sun each morning. It moved about its mother’s belly and kicked at Pierce’s paw. The kicks grew stronger with each sunrise.
The cub’s strength came at a price. The reason it was able to grow healthy and strong was because its mother had to lie still for hours in the bed each day; a practice that Viviane hated with a passion. But she did it without complaint… without much complaint, anyway.
The cub gave another healthy kick and Pierce chuckled. He wasn’t sure if it was the baby kicking or his laughter that woke Vivi up.
“It’s early in the morning,” she mumbled into his chest. “Why are you two beasts up?”
Pierce leaned down and captured her sleepy lips in his. She tasted of sweet grapes from Jesus’ latest harvest; a harvest that was a success because of the sheep grazing the vineyards.
“I have to rise soon,” Pierce said. “Gonna take the herd to the south vineyard and then stay and help Jesus with the last of the harvest.”
“I’m surprised Gloria’s lending you out.”
“That was Jesus’ doing not mine.”
“Ew.” Viviane hid her face in his chest.
Now that Jesus and Gloria’s relationship was out in the open, they didn’t bother sneaking around anymore, to Rhetta and Viviane’s dismay.
