by Emma Knox
I was bursting with excitement though. How could I not be? My mate was carrying not just our child, but our children. I would shower him with gifts, they would have everything they ever wanted in life and so much more. Like my father before me, I would teach them and love them beyond my wildest dreams. As I made my way back around the building and jumped into my truck, I instantly reached for my phone. Even if I couldn’t tell the world, I could tell the one person who I knew would share my joy.
“Samson!” I exclaimed. “I’ve just received the most wonderful news! You are to be an uncle!”
“Oh,” he said with far less enthusiasm than I’d expected. “Listen, we should really talk about this later.”
“What’s wrong?” I hissed, my guard up at once.
“Well, Jonathan accepted your invitation to talk,” he said with a cool tone. “He’s here now.”
“Shit,” I muttered. “Tell me my own fast tongue hasn’t ruined it?”
“Ahh,” Samson stammered.
On the other end I could hear yelling, though I couldn’t distinguish what was being said. After a few more seconds, the familiar sound of my house’s door slammed in the distance. I couldn’t believe my misfortune.
“I don’t think that talk with you and Jonathan is going to happen anytime soon now, Trevor.”
“Son of a bitch,” I snapped. “You have to send someone after him. He knows about Ethan now.”
“On it,” Samson said quickly.
I waited, listening to him give orders flawlessly. My brother wasn’t the Alpha of our pack, but sometimes I wondered if he should have been. His cool temper and ease under pressure.
“So, you are going to be a father, huh?”
“Yeah,” I mumbled. Somehow, I was still elated even knowing that Jonathan was enraged. “So what do you think? Do we need to worry about Jonathan?”
Samson sighed. “I don’t have a good answer for you. He was screaming about an impure heir. I guess that tells you everything you need to know.”
“I will kill that bastard if he even thinks of looking at Ethan,” I seethed.
“Why don’t you just make it back here in one piece and we can go from there. Maybe it’s not too late to reach out to him.”
“I don’t know if that’s what I want to do anymore.”
“Brother,” Samson cautioned. “You do not want to burn a bridge when all it needs is a few nails.”
“He threatened my family, I don’t understand how you can be so calm about it.”
“Because I have known Jonathan for a very long time, just as you have. You know that his temper can get the best of him at times. Yes, he has failed twice now to respect the laws of our kind by insulting you. I say that he deserves one final branch of friendship. After that, I will not be opposed to the actions you will have to take.”
“Thank you, brother, your calm words and advice are always welcome. I will see you soon.”
“Wonderful!” he said. “When will I get to meet this Ethan you have become so fond of?”
“Soon I hope,” I told him. “I wish that I could be there with him now, but I must admit, suddenly we have a lot of preparations to make. Drake promised to call me if he wakes up before I get back there.”
“And you trust Drake now?” he asked. “I mean, I trust him. But you still seemed on the fence when we last talked about it.”
“I do,” I told him honestly. “Today he proved to me that he only wants what’s best for Ethan. I like Drake. Hopefully his mate, Steven, can convince him that our mating is what’s best.”
“I would think your proclamations of love would be enough,” Samson offered.
I laughed. “To some, maybe. But Ethan is very independent. I’m leaving now. I will see you soon.”
I ended the call, wanting a few minutes alone with my thoughts before arriving home to think about what I was going to do. As long as Ethan was with those closest to him, he would be safe. But before he left Drake’s side, I had to be sure Jonathan wasn’t going to be a problem. I knew that as soon as I got home, I would have to set off for the woods to search for him. Though he only had a few followers now, the outlying packs were always willing to fight for no reason.
I silently said a prayer, no matter how things ended, Ethan would be safe. I let my mind travel to happier moments, like finding out I was going to be a father. Twice.
Chapter 11
Ethan
“He was here?” I said softly.
Drake nodded. “I promised to let him know as soon as you woke up. I’m going to have to keep my word as an Alpha, Ethan. I thought perhaps you would like to call him though and let him know.”
“Yes,” I stammered, “Thank you.”
Steven stood up, Drake reaching out to steady him. “We are going to give you some space. Let us know if you need anything okay?”
“Okay,” I whispered, folding my phone back and forth in my hands.
They closed the door softly behind them and I took a deep breath. I knew that Trevor would be coming for me. We had plans for another date that night. If I was being honest with myself, I had already made up my mind. While I’d been sleeping I dreamed of a life with him in it. It was wonderful. I knew that together, we could figure out all the details. Still, being okay with something and being ready to change your life entirely were two different things.
His name appeared on my screen and I pressed the green icon to place the call. I wasn’t surprised when he answered on the first ring. Though it sounded like he was in the middle of something, his full attention quickly turned to me.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Okay I guess. I needed sleep more than anything else I think.”
“I stopped by to see you. I was hoping that we could get together a little earlier than we planned.”
My heart started to race. “I would love that, but I don’t think I can take this place much longer. What would you think about me coming there to see you?”
“Really?” he said, his voice high with excitement.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Really!”
I had thought about it long and hard, I wanted to be a part of Trevor’s life. I wouldn’t give up my life in Gryther. This was my home first and it would always be that to me. Still, it didn’t mean that I couldn’t take the time and find out just who Trevor was. I knew a little about him, just like I knew he was fantastic in bed. But I had to know what he was like in the comfort of his own home. For my sake and for that of our unborn children.
The babies, I sighed. I took a deep breath. It was one more thing that we were going to have to talk about. I knew he would be shocked when he found out, but my heart told me that he would be happy. It would be a struggle for him and his stubborn pride to accept that I wasn’t going to become ‘Betty Homemaker’. But if he really cared about me, the way that he said he did; then he wouldn’t stand in my way.
I was a working man, I liked being part of the community. Nothing in what Trevor had shown me proved that he would want to change me. The fear of being an Alpha’s mate still lingered with me. I didn’t want to live a life of being guarded night and day. Who was I to sit on a pedestal while others struggled every day? Though the resources would help me to reach out to others. My mind went back and forth until Trevor softly whispered my name, dragging me back from the thoughts.
“I have a friend who said he would drive me that way,” I told him, having already texted Tom.
“Why don’t I come and get you?” he said instantly. “It would be an easy drive.”
I sensed something off in his voice, but I didn’t press it. I had to keep my independence and the quicker he learned that, the better it would be.
“No, that’s okay. I have been meaning to catch up with him. I am going to talk to Drake and leave in a little while. If that’s okay with you, of course.”
“I want nothing more than to see you,” he promised. “You don’t know how much I’ve missed you.”
Softly I chuckled.
“Well then, you won’t have to miss me anymore.”
“Are you sure you won’t let me come and get you? Or at least let me send a car for you?”
“No,” I told him firmly. “I want to spend time with my friend, like I said.”
“And you think that Drake will approve of this?” he asked.
The question caught me off guard. “Why would Drake restrict where I went? He knows Tom and trusts him. You know what, I’m starting to have second thoughts about this.”
“No!” Trevor exclaimed. “I’m sorry, Tom sounds like a great guy. You said a couple hours?”
“Yes,” I snapped. “So if there is nothing else, I’m going to go get ready.”
“That sounds great, I’m sorry, Ethan. I just don’t want anything to ever happen to you.”
“It’s a thirty-minute drive,” I muttered. “I think I can handle myself.”
Without waiting for him to protest anymore. I quickly bid him farewell and ended the call. Tom was happy to drive me, but I wondered if I would get any flak from Drake. Just as I was about to call for the nurse on duty to help me remove the IV from my arm, Steven appeared. Drake wasn’t far behind him.
“Hey, I was just coming to look for you two. Listen, I feel fine now so I’m going to head back to my apartment.”
“Oh?” Drake said. “Did you get a chance to call Trevor?”
I nodded, my heart racing. I hated that he had the power to tell me not to leave. “Yeah I did. I’m going to have Tom drive me over there later on, if that’s okay of course.”
“You told Trevor?” he asked, surprised.
I glared at him, but nodded my head. “Or perhaps I should just stay locked in my apartment until the pups are born. That’s the prize, right?”
“Ethan!” Steven hissed in shock. “Drake would never imply something like that.” He looked back at Drake, the glare evident on Steven’s brow. “He just wants to make sure that you are being safe. Tom is a great driver. Heck, when Drake isn’t around he’s the one who takes me to the market. It’s fine. You deserve a night out.”
“Thank you, Steven,” I whispered to him. “Can you let the nurse know I’m ready to go?”
Steven nodded as Drake left the room. I didn’t care if he was happy or anything else in that moment. My emotions were in overdrive and I just wanted to get away from them both. No matter how hard I tried to keep myself under control, I was losing the battle. It was easy enough to get out of the hospital wing and before long, I was making my way back down to the lobby to meet Tom.
He grinned at me, relaxed and easy as ever. “Well, you look downright thrilled to be leaving.”
I smiled. “Yeah, I need to get out of here.”
“Never thought that I would be getting the text to bring you to the Reluson pack!”
“A lot can change over time I suppose. How is Aiden?” I asked him as we climbed into his truck.
His cheeks flushed red. “Well, I don’t really know. One minute he seems right happy with me and the next I can’t figure out what I’ve done wrong. I’m starting to wonder if he even likes me at this point.”
I chuckled and shook my head. All Aiden talked about was Tom. It was to the point that I was about to force them into a room together until they worked out their issues. I loved both of my friends dearly, but they seemed to take the hardest path possible when it came to love.
“This has nothing to do with love,” I told him. “Look at me, I’m going to meet an Alpha!”
“But Aiden is a member of the Alpha’s inner circle,” he grumbled. “I’m just a grunt who got lucky.”
I cringed. “That isn’t true, and you know it. Aiden would have found you and wanted you even if I hadn’t dragged you back with me that day.”
He chuckled. “You were my guardian angel.”
“I didn’t want to see a drunk wolf get his ass kicked for having a big mouth,” I assured him.
We both laughed, but Tom’s enjoyment was cut short. His free hand took hold of the steering wheel as he glanced in the mirror. I looked behind us quickly. A black, unmarked SUV had come out of nowhere. Now it was flying up onto our rear with alarming speed.
“Just let him pass us,” I muttered, fear creeping in.
“I’m trying, but he’s not going around. I think he’s following us. Who is this Alpha?”
I shook my head, Trevor wouldn’t send a car without telling me. And if he did, it would be considerably more discreet. The road was empty besides our two cars. I watched in horror as the SUV’s driver gunned the engine. When the car collided with our tailgate, it jolted me forward.
“What the hell!” Tom yelled.
Neither of us was ready for the second attack. It came with so much more force than before that there wasn’t time to think. I felt the truck lurch to the side. Tom lost control of his truck and we went careening toward the guardrail. The truck could have recovered, but our stalkers acted first, finishing their assault with one final blow.
I screamed as the truck toppled over the edge. Each time it rolled all I could think about was protecting my unborn children as I curled my arms protectively around my stomach. I paid no attention to my own safety or Tom’s though I heard him grunting next to me. Finally, the truck stopped rolling and I let out a little sigh of relief.
It was short lived. There were four men coming toward the overturned truck. I reached over and shook Tom, trying desperately to wake him up. Even in the chaos, I could see his chest moving.
“Come on, Tom!” I screamed at him.
He groaned, but didn’t wake. It was too late. I felt hands grabbing me through the broken window, dragging me out over the small shards of glass. They dug at my skin as I frantically kicked my feet. Whomever it was, they were stronger than I was. Finally when the daylight hit my face, I saw who they were. None of them looked familiar.
“Get away from me!” I screeched.
A menacing looking wolf approached me, his cold gaze sending a chill through me. As two of them held me still, the obvious leader started to chuckle.
“So you are the little bitch trying to take our Alpha?” he spat at me.
A second chill shook my body. “You are Reluson wolves.”
“The best there are, and we don’t like you and our Alpha trying to change things up. So you, my little treat, are going away for a very long time.”
I jerked my arms, freeing one before the other henchman stuck a needle in my back. Dread filled me as I quickly felt it taking affect. It was crippling. I couldn’t hold myself up any longer. I could see everything happening around me. I felt them dragging me up the hill to where their damaged SUV sat. From behind, I heard the leader tell the fourth man to leave Tom behind, they had no use for him.
A small but needed wave of relief washed over me. At least Tom would be free, he would send for help. Trevor would find me, and everything would be okay in the end. I didn’t believe my own thoughts, but in that second, I had no choice but to have faith and pray that my children survived the entire ordeal. I had something worth fight for.
The sensation of being incapable of taking care of myself was humiliation. I had to find a way to get out of their car and run for it. It was the only chance my babies had at survival. Even as I thought of them, my stomach started to flutter in fear. I clenched, the feeling disturbing and shocking at the same time. Whatever drug he’d given me was wearing off much faster than he must have intended.
I did my best to be still. I had been carelessly tossed in the front seat, my hands duck taped behind my back. They didn’t think I would be a threat, so no other precautions were taken, thank god. There were two men sitting directly behind me, the last man watching carefully out the back window from the second row. I would never be able to take on them all. My only chance would be to run.
Slowly, I focused my attention on growing just a single nail out. I could feel it elongate a few inches. The razor-sharp claw carefully working at the tape as I fought to keep the wolf inside from springing free all toget
her. It was never easy to keep the beast under wraps, trying to shift just one part of the body was nearly impossible.
After what felt like hours, the tape behind me gave way, though I didn’t move outwardly. A paternal rage took over my body, focused on the driver and ringleader of the group. Without thinking I lunged at him, my claws fully extended. It turned my stomach when they ripped across the soft flesh of his face. Before the others could react, the SUV swerved. I ducked from their grasp and grabbed the emergency brake.
Jerking it back, I didn’t stop to think as I jerked open the door and leapt from the rapidly swerving vehicle. The ground came at me fast, but my wolf took over. I shifted into my jet-black wolf form, feeling my body extended and change in the air. I hit the ground running at full speed, knowing the others wouldn’t be far behind. I ran for my life, I ran for my unborn babies. The steps grew closers and I looked back.
The distraction was a mistake. As my front paw snagged on a branch and I went tumbling to the ground, the last shred of hope I had left my body.
Chapter 12
Trevor
My heart stopped as I heard Ethan stumble and fall. Jonathan was right on his tail. I could smell the fresh blood and knew Jonathan was wounded. His rage was almost palatable in the air as I burst through the brush. My wolf was massive, its grey and black fur as thick as the skin it protected. When I saw Jonathan emerge, ready to kill my mate, I let the wolf take over. Massive back legs propelled me through the air as I lunged for Jonathan.
I connected with him midair, knocking him down to the ground. He was a fighter, I’d trained with him while my father was Alpha. He jumped to his feet, fear barely in his eyes. The link between an Alpha was strong in all Omegas. We could communicate without ever speaking. I noted a little irritation in Jonathan when he understood that Ethan too could hear him. It seemed to ignite a deeper rage inside of him.
