"Congratulations," Tris shrilled with delight. Joy filled her mother’s gaze while concern contorted her father’s features.
"Wow, so soon?" Cole received an elbow on the gut from his wife at his comment. "I mean, kids are a blessing but are a lot of work." Just like her father to bring everyone a reality check.
"Yes, but this little one will have loads of love coming his or her way," Walter's words eased the tension in her stomach.
"Damn right. I can't wait to have a niece or nephew." Maria half hugged Amethyst with Owen bouncing in her arms. Her green eyes seemed ready to burst with tears of joy.
“Let’s give them a minute while we get coffee,” Derrick’s voice came into Amethyst’s mind but she kept her gaze on Walter. She swallowed hard.
“Do you really want this kid?” Amethyst let it out before it broke her in half. Deep down she knew if he answered negatively it would break her heart. Yet she couldn’t keep living in this limbo.
“Amethyst, you have changed me so much. I never saw myself as the good guy until you made it clear. Of course, I want our little one. I want a house full of kids if it’s what it takes to make you happy.” Walter’s words settled in and Amethyst felt the urge to cry but pushed it back.
“I love you, Walter,” Amethyst finally said the words driving her mad.
“Oh, Amethyst, I love you so much.” He pulled her into a gentle kiss while his arms wrapped around her body. “Nothing will pull us apart.”
After the break up with Collin, she thought men were all ass-hats but with Walter, she knew better. She managed to find a man who loved her. The bad brother gave her the thing she wanted even more than a child. Acceptance.
Epilogue
Walter
HOLY SHIT, I’M GOING to be a dad freaking soon! Walter rubbed Amethyst’s swollen belly. After months of thought and processing, Walter finally came to be excited for his first child. They chose not to find out what the sex was when he or she grew big enough. The little one was healthy and nothing else mattered.
“If you keep looking at me that way I’m going to take advantage of you.” Amethyst grabbed his hand on her belly and brought it to her lips.
“You, my sweet, are a tease.” Walter smiled. Her soft lips wrapped around his index finger, making him rock hard. A low groan left his lips, and she winked. He loved the spark of delight in her warm blue eyes.
“If you don’t want to be teased, then you should get on top.” Amethyst’s words made his cock twitch. He shifted the blankets off her naked body and grinned. He loved seeing her naked. With her carrying his child, well it made everything even sexier in his eyes.
“Those are dangerous words, Mrs. Amethyst Hunt.” Walter moved his body over hers and kissed her soft lips.
“I’m not marrying you until this kid gets here so I can get skinny again.” Amethyst rubbed his chest.
“In my eyes and my wolves point of view, you’re my mate. Legal document or not, you’re all mine.”
“I do like being all yours.” Amethyst winked. Her gaze heated. Pregnancy sex might have its challenges it was also amazing once he knew he couldn’t hurt their little one. His cock twitched at the idea of entering his mate.
“Good, now I’m going to show you just how pleasurable it is to be mine.” Walter kissed her again but this time she winced in pain. Even with all of his weight on his hands, he worried he’d hurt her. He glanced down her body to find her stomach a little smaller than normal.
“That one hurt.” Amethyst’s scrunched up face relaxed and she sighed heavily.
“Is it the real contractions this time?” Walter stared at her swollen belly, the baby’s foot pressed against her flesh. Unease settled into the back of his mind.
“I’m not sure but I need to keep track just in case.” Amethyst grabbed her phone and started typing away. Walter climbed off the bed, leaned forward, and let his wolf out. When he grew too nervous, he liked to shift to listen to the little heartbeat inside. Once the fur covered his body and his bones settled into place, he climbed back onto the bed. He pressed his nose against her belly making her giggle.
“Hey there,” Amethyst shoved her hand through his fur making his wolf happy. Once a week they shifted together and went for a run around the city. Walter winked at his mate then turned to her belly. He focused his enhanced hearing on the faint beats, first he caught his mate’s heart beating normally. Then the quick little beat caught his attention. He stared at the clock hanging on the wall and counted them.
“Is everything-ouch!” Amethyst gripped onto Walter’s fur, pulling a small chunk away. Her skin tightened on her abdomen and the little heartbeat picked up. She took in a deep breath and let go of his fur. After she typed in her note of the time, she met his gaze.
“I think it might be time but my mom is still in Reno.” Amethyst nipped on her lower lip. Walter took a few steps back and shifted back.
“If they keep up, I’ll go get her like I talked about.” Walter needed to run to the store if he used the bags with a travel potion on another false alarm.
“But if it’s another false alarm, we won’t have enough to go again.” Amethyst sighed. They knew they needed more herbs to create more potion, Maria liked to call it quick travel, but Walter kept forgetting to remind her to grab them. It didn’t help that the potion took a full day to brew to go more than five miles.
“If it happens then Maria and I’ll make more.” Walter rubbed her belly and helped to calm her down. Over the last two weeks, she had the Braxton-Hix contractions and Walter had used the bags to get Amethyst’s mom here only to find out the baby wanted more time.
“Let’s talk more about names then.” Walter had been stubborn about the name of their little one and he knew it. Their son needed a strong name but not too common.
“I’m not a fan of Darius, Walter. Will you meet me halfway? It can start with a D if you really want.” Amethyst sighed heavily. She had been bringing up David more the last few days.
“David sounds too boring.” Walter scrunched up his nose. Plus, he knew a David from school and he had been a punk. To Walter, the name would be forever spoiled in his eyes.
“Darren then? A friend brought it up a while back.” Amethyst smiled. She pulled her hair into a messy bun. Her lovely gaze met his and a little sparkle filled them.
“You mean my sister thought of it.” Walter grabbed the bottle of lotion for her tummy.
“I don’t-” Amethyst gasped for a breath and squeezed her eyes shut. Her fingers grabbed onto the bed tight, her knuckles turned white.
“Amethyst, you need to breathe.” Walter grabbed her hand and regretted it when her grip tightened around his hand. He worried she might break some bones.
“I think it’s time.” Amethyst took in a sharp breath then relaxed. Walter pumped lotion onto his hands and rubbed her belly.
“One more to see the pattern.” Walter smiled. He wanted to make sure this was really happening. “I concede to Darren.” Walter wouldn’t admit he had been the one who put the idea into Maria’s head about Darren.
“Drew for a girl?” Amethyst tried to hold back the laugh when he met Walter’s gaze. “Okay, what about Delila?”
“It’s only slightly better than Drew.” Walter pondered on girl names when another contraction took over his mate’s little body.
Walter grabbed his phone and texted his sister. He used magic to cover Amethyst’s body with one of his shirts.
“Why?” Amethyst looked at him, confusion clouded her blue eyes.
“My sister is coming.”
“Damn it, woman.” Derrick’s voice carried up the hallway and Maria giggled.
“You’re on phone duty if the baby is coming this time.” Maria’s voice grew louder as she climbed up the steps. Before Maria walked in Walter snapped his fingers again putting clothes on his body. Amethyst pulled at her blanket and Walter helped.
“Oh shit.” Amethyst gasped and looked at the covers. Walter turned to see a big wet spot on the bed ju
st below her swollen stomach.
“Baby time!” Maria called out to Derrick when she walked into the room. She rubbed her hands excitedly and smiled at Amethyst.
“I don’t know if I’m really ready.” Amethyst swallowed hard. Walter took in a deep breath to calm himself. This was really happening. And he had to be strong for his mate. He had to be calm for her too.
“I’ll be right back with your mother.” Walter leaned in for a quick kiss. Another contraction hit and she screamed out in pain.
“Hurry!” Amethyst gasped out after the cry of pain. Walter nodded his head and ran down the steps. He grabbed the bag and focused on going to his in-laws’ home. I can do this for my mate. In a puff of smoke, he vanished from his home and into Tris’s living room.
“The baby is coming,” he called out and looked around the small home. Cole walked around the corner.
“Really?” His face lit up and then darkened. “Tris is with her friend.”
“Where?” Walter looked down at the last bag he held. He only had enough magic left to get to his home. If he left without Tris, then Amethyst would be upset.
What the hell am I going to do?
Amethyst
“THIS FUCKING HURTS!” Amethyst screamed out in pain. Maria rubbed her arm and tried to smile. Alia arrived shortly after Walter vanished to get Amethyst’s parents. Elene, Amethyst’s mother in law, hovered right next to Amethyst making her a little nervous. They all were trying to help calm Amethyst down, but she wanted two things, her mother and her mate and both were in freaking Reno.
“Do you want to shift?” Maria suggested. The idea intrigued Amethyst, but she had her plan.
“I need to check her first,” Alia hissed and moved between Amethyst’s legs. “You have another moment to shift. If you’re going to, then you should do it now.” She rubbed her knee.
“I’m not going to shift. My mom never saw me in my wolf form and I can heal just the same.” She was thankful for only being a wolf and not a wolf witch.
“Well, then just breath, honey.” Elene smiled at her and rubbed Amethyst’s arm.
“I want my mother. Where the hell is Walter?” Amethyst took in a sharp breath as her stomach tightened again. The contractions were moving closer together making the panic set in. She glanced at the clock and tried to reason with her wolf. She wanted to take over but Amethyst kept pushing her back.
Amethyst’s wolf clawed at the barrier and Amethyst gritted her teeth. The baby moved inside of her belly and pushed its foot into her ribs.
“Alia dear, how close is she?” Elene asked and Amethyst looked down at Alia between her legs. It was a good thing Amethyst wasn’t bashful about all of this. Walter’s shirt couldn’t exactly cover her bottom half.
“The baby’s head is in the canal. No matter what your wolf says, you can’t shift.” Alia’s strong voice made her wolf stop moving. Amethyst nodded once before the pain came back stronger this time. Her back ached and her legs shook.
“I think it’s time to push,” Elene suggested. Amethyst turned toward the woman, she knew her mother-in-law wanted to help but she wanted her own mother here. She needed her mate to be here.
“Call your son and tell him to get his ass here.” Amethyst gritted her teeth together. Elene grabbed her phone, the pain clear in her eyes. She didn’t like yelling at Elene but everything ached and she just wanted her mate.
“Amethyst look at me.” Maria grabbed her right leg and helped to prop it up. “No matter what happens, we will be here for you. Walter will be here soon.” Maria rubbed her knee in a calming way but it didn’t seem to help. The baby didn’t want to wait while she did because she wanted her mother too.
Amethyst gritted her teeth together. On some level, she knew they all meant well, but the panic threatened to consume her all the same. A light pop sounded to her right and she opened her eyes to find Walter’s ice blue gaze focused on her.
“I’m right here.” Walter’s voice came out and Amethyst wanted to cry when she saw his face. Both her parents stood at his side.
“I’m so sorry for being late, sugarplum.” Tris ran to Amethyst’s side and grabbed her other leg. “Is she ready?” Tris asked Alia. The panic of not having her support subsided but the pain took over instead. Alia nodded her head once before glancing back down.
“The next contraction you need to push.” Alia met Amethyst’s gaze.
“You’ve got this, honey.” Cole walked up, kissed Amethyst’s head, and then left the room. Walter moved up by her head and kissed her lips.
“I thought you were going to miss this.” She tried not to cry.
“I knew you needed your mom here too.” Walter grabbed her hand, and she held them tight as another contraction made her lose focus of everything.
“Push, honey.” Tris rubbed the leg she held and Amethyst did her best to listen to her mother. Gritting her teeth and she pushed with all of her might. Pain laced through her body, her back cried out in agony, her stomach tight as hell and her vag burned like fire.
A little cry met her ears, and she sighed with relief.
“You’re not done yet. One more good push, honey.” Alia held onto the baby’s head and Amethyst took in a sharp breath to push again. After another big push, her little one finally came out.
“Hello, little guy.” Maria smiled and wrapped him up in a towel then placed him on Amethyst’s chest. Tears fell from her eyes as she took in her son.
“Hi, Darren.” Amethyst kissed her son’s head and then looked up at Walter. Her mate’s eyes were filled with unshed tears.
“You did a great job, sugarplum.” Tris smiled at her then looked at Darren.
“Thank you, Momma.” Amethyst’s heart swelled with affection toward her mother. She had even more respect for her now.
“I’m so sorry we weren’t back sooner.”
“Where were you?” Amethyst met her gaze.
“A friend’s son was bitten by a werewolf and she needed a friend to talk to.” Tris glanced around. “I helped her see it’s not a bad thing.” Tris moved back some of Amethyst’s hair that came out of her messy bun.
“So, you’re okay with me being a werewolf?” They had never really talked about the change she had been forced to make.
“Sugarplum, I’m just happy that you’re happy. It’s what a mother always wants.” Tris looked down at Darren. “You’ll understand better now with Darren.” A smile lit up her mother’s face, warming her heart.
“I love you, Momma.” Amethyst relaxed into the bed and rubbed her son’s back. Walter wrapped his hands around their little one and lifted him up so their faces were pressed together.
“I’m so glad you’re here little guy.” Walter kissed Darren’s head. Amethyst pushed back the tears but her wolf didn’t hold back inside.
“Ready to be a dad?” Amethyst smiled when he met her gaze.
“As long as you’re with me, I’ll be ready for anything.” Walter kissed Darren again.
Everything had fallen so neatly into place. She had finally found a man who treated her right, a son to love and cherish, and peace with her parents. Walter was right, whatever came next, they would be able to handle it together.
HUNTER’S MOON-BOOK Seven in the Legend Series
CHAPTER ONE
Luna
BLOOD STREAMED DOWN the new werewolf’s arm. Screams pierced the air sending chills up Luna’s spine.
Luna’s eyes snapped open...she sat in her hotel room, safe from the blood and screams. She took in a few short breaths trying her best to calm down and grabbed her heart-shaped necklace. Sweat coated her skin making her black curls cling to her face. Snores vibrated through the walls reminding her she wasn’t alone. Sometimes her good hearing came in handy.
Her breathing finally evened out as she took in her surroundings. In her little hotel room, the scientists couldn’t hurt her but the screams of pain echoed in her mind from the nightmare she had lived through. Part of her wished she had the amazing wolf eyes but she
had only gained a few wolf traits from her father, like the hearing and healing a bit faster than humans.
"Angie and Hector saved me.” She stretched her arms above her head. “I'm in the clear. I’m safe." Luna shuffled to the bathroom and with every step memories of that fateful night rolled in. After spending a about four years in the cage, she expected her guardian Kerine to come rescue her with her magic ablaze. Luna winced at the thought. Once she hit about six years in the lab, Luna never expected to see daylight again. Changes in her little hell usually meant more pain on her end but when they dragged a mated wolf into the lab, change seemed to be on her side for once. Angie had a special side to her unlike the rest of the wolves, Luna’s blood didn’t kill the new wolf.
This miracle saved both of them.
A laugh left Luna’s lips as she recalled Hunter blasting down the doors with his bare fists. Instead of getting a witch in shining armor she received a raging wolf, hell bent on killing everything moving. Him and his buddy Ash did just that and killed the security guys with all the scientists. Save the woman! Angie had yelled before Ash had reached her. The magic words had saved her life forming a bond with the woman stronger than anyone else in Luna’s life thus far. Luna rolled her shoulder to ease the tension and the hum of magic filled the room.
“Why couldn’t I have a normal freaking life?” The lights flickered and the tv turned on and off a few times. Light from a nearby hotel snuck in through the little slit in the curtains, reminding her of the city. Columbus, Ohio waited for her. But she wasn’t interested in exploring it, she would be heading south in search of her mother. She let out a deep breath and her magic stopped going crazy. Werewolves may be public knowledge but witches weren’t out of the freaking caldron. Luna didn’t want to be the one to expose them either.
Her dark brown eyes looked back at her, she scanned over her dry skin and then moved to her hair. After two long weeks, she gave in and used magic to tame the beast from the years of neglect with two showers a week. Before her years in the scientist grips, she had been raised by a witch, Kerine in Crescent Valley Utah. The one who she thought was on her side, the woman who had betrayed her was now dead. Kerine had been yelling with Angel, a sweet elder just days before Luna met the scientists, the memory of their conversation blurred together but the power in the room had been palatable.
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