The Bridal Hunt (Brides of the Hunt Book 1)

by Jeanette Lynn

  To be fair, though not really, I wasn't exactly contemplating contraceptives when Veck had me shrieking like a banshee, crying out his name, writhing around in mindless pleasure, repeatedly—many, many times. But how the frick do you forget something like that?! Something so simple, yet important—contraception. Shows how responsible I am. And now I could be pregnant... I just couldn’t wrap my mind around that. Do I ever think?!

  I mean, do they even have birth control around here? Was there something we could have used? A condom bush they grow around these parts—har-har? A short, hysterical laugh erupted from my throat and I jumped up. Losing my footing, I stumbled as a wave of dizziness washed over me. I… but the… and then… “Wooo-oh.”

  Dorothy rushed over as black spots danced in my vision. “Mina, honey? Are you alright?”

  A baby. I'm pregnant. I could see Bia's mother but I couldn't hear anything she was saying. Like a newborn baby giraffe, I stumbled around on unsteady legs, a veritable ocean taking up residence in my ears as the room began to spin.

  Fuck panicking, I’m freakin’ the fuck out! "A baby," I whispered dazedly, and slumped down, my eyes rolling back in my head as everything went black.

  Chapter Sixteen

  "M

  eanie?"

  I knew that voice, but my fuzzy brain didn't want to cooperate.

  "Meanie?"

  "Mina, baby, please wake up."

  Hey, I know that one, too. It's Bia—my Bia.

  "She'll come around, boys. Just give her a minute." Dorothy.

  Eyes opening slowly, I blinked groggily. Once they focused properly, I found three concerned faces staring down at me.

  A cool cloth came into focus, bathing my forehead and cheeks, and I closed my eyes again. A long sigh escaped me and I blew out a breath.

  "You all just remember what I told you," Dorothy warned. "Feel better, baby girl," she murmured softly, moving closer and kissing my forehead.

  A moment later I heard the door open and close, letting me know that she’d left.

  "What happened?" I mumbled groggily.

  Kirch and Bia glanced at me worriedly, each one holding one of my hands in their own.

  "You passed out," Bia told me.

  "That's right." I remembered after a moment. "I felt dizzy and then everything went black."

  The front door flew open, slamming into the wall hard enough to send a chunk of the plaster-like material used to construct the thick wall crumbling to the floor. With a snarl, Veck rushed in. Eyes wild, he hurried over to the bed and scooped me up, burying his face in my neck.

  "Meanie," my mate-husband rumbled, his hands roaming freely, searching out every inch of me. With a grumble in his throat he separated us, pulling me back so his eyes could roam over me. "Meanie okay?" he asked hurriedly, his hands shaking a little as he tried to find any apparent injuries on my body.

  "I'm okay," I assured him, smiling apologetically.

  He frowned but pulled me back to his chest. "Meanie fell. Not wake up. Detret find Veck to tell."

  "I'm fine, really. I just panicked and freaked myself out. I’m sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

  "Meanie scared?" Kirch growled, picking up my hand again to nuzzle it against his cheek.

  "No."

  "But you freaked out...?" Bia said slowly, his fingers reaching out to rub soothingly against my ankle.

  "It was stupid," I said on a sniffle.

  They all looked over at me then, then each other, deeply concerned, and I broke at that, bursting into tears. I tried to control myself, tried to get ahold of myself, but failed miserably.

  "Is this about what we did earlier?" This from Bia.

  "What did Meanie do earlier?" Veck growled out, glaring at Bia accusingly.

  Kirch’s face paled and he gulped hard, his expression growing contrite as he stared down at me.

  "NO!" I shouted, startling them all.

  "What's wrong with Kirch’s Meanie?" Kirch prodded.

  "Nothing's wrong," I wailed, "I just… and you guys… and-I-I… I'm pregnant! Okay!"

  All three stilled simultaneously.

  It was Bia who spoke up first. "You're pregnant?" His face broke out into a huge, handsome grin. "A baby..."

  "Baby?" Veck whispered, shocked, leaning over me to place his hand gently over my tummy.

  Still partially blinded by tears, I nodded, swiping blindly at my eyes. Letting out a short, boisterous roar, Veck hopped up, whooping happily.

  Stunned, Kirch was still staring at me, his jaw hanging open as he eyed my stomach strangely. Yeah, I know the feeling.

  "Kirch?" I asked tentatively.

  He didn’t even blink. Poor guy, I think I may have just stunned him stupid.

  "Hello? Earth to Kirch? Woo-hoo!” Snapping my fingers anxiously, I waved my other hand in front of his face.

  When he shook himself out—a full body shake like a wet dog—and finally snapped out of it, I sighed in relief.

  "Meanie has baby," he whispered softly, dumbstruck, awe in his voice.

  Kneeling down, he pulled my dress up high, planting his face in my bared belly. Inhaling deeply, he wrapped his arms tight around my middle, gently hugging me to him. Nosing around my lower stomach, between my hips, he inhaled deeply again and purred.

  "Meanie two babies." Peeking up at me, Kirch chuckled happily. Then, smiling against my skin, he nuzzled my belly with his nose.

  "Two?!" I squeaked.

  "Mmmm. One Kirch’s, one Veck's," he said decisively.

  "How can you... No, they’re both Veck's. That’s imposs... They couldn't possibly be... No, it's too soon. And- I mean- We just barely..." Spluttering, glancing around at all of them, I had to remind myself they weren't exactly human. But... how? "Could they?" I asked aloud.

  "Yes," they all answered, nodding in unison.

  "Kirch wants girl," he decided, rubbing my tummy absently with gentle strokes as he thought about it.

  "What's the matter?" My eyebrows lifted skeptically, a hint of sarcasm threading my voice. "Can't sniff that out yet?" Heck, why not? They could tell all kinds of other crap they shouldn’t be able to.

  "Too soon," Veck said simply.

  Sobering instantly, I let that bit of information set in.

  It was a short while later and I was still trying to get my thoughts in order, try and process everything, staring after my three mates wonderingly as we all sat down to eat.

  ✽✽✽

  Stomach full and feeling a hundred percent better, I let my curiosity pique. "So… it's too soon to tell what the baby is, but not too soon to tell I'm pregnant with you two’s babies?" Incredulous, I waved my hand around to encompass them both.

  "Yes," Veck answered.

  "How far along am I, then? I can't see how you could sniff a pregnancy out so soon. I mean, Kirch and I haven't been going at it, uh, mated,” I paused to correct, “all that long."

  Kirch looked thoughtful. "Very new, Meanie be careful. Keep babies in," he said after a moment.

  I blinked at him as a niggling suspicion tickled the back of my brain. Frowning over at his scowling mug, I went ahead and asked. "You're going to withhold sex from me, aren't you?"

  Kirch didn't look happy about it but nodded. "Babies stay in Meanie."

  "What? But... it's not like you're going to jar them loose!" I hollered in disbelief.

  “Babies stay in Meanie,” he repeated.

  Kirch's jaw set firmly when I went to argue, shutting me up faster than if he’d shouted back. He wasn’t going to budge on this one—I just knew it.

  Like all the other times we’ve disagreed and I found myself headed towards the losing end, I sat there in silence, a sort of half protest, half pout, crossing my arms over my chest. This is ridiculous.

  "You aren't all going to withhold the pickle are you?" Hoping to find an ally, I glanced around at my mates.

  Veck looked like he agreed with Kirch but wasn't exactly thrilled with the idea, and Bia was unusually quiet. Well, I knew my Bi
a, and quiet did not mean acquiescence.

  "Fine." Voice huffy, I glowered, pretending to be completely offended. "I was getting tired of all the cream filling, anyway."

  ✽✽✽

  "This is fucking bullshit," I burst out, stomping my foot, standing in the middle of the cottage three days later.

  Kirch and Veck gaped at me as I got up and stormed across the room, marching for the door.

  "You won't have sex with me, you won't let me work… you won’t let me do anything! I'm going crazy! I refuse to wallow around in bed all day! No more!"

  "Babies stay in Meanie," Kirch insisted.

  I growled at him angrily, turning my plea towards Veck. The giant lug just shrugged apologetically.

  Ugh. "You're all being completely unreasonable!" Head shaking in utter disgust, I tugged my boots on and gripped the door handle.

  Through the corner of my eye, jerking my chin ever so slightly, I tossed Bia a meaningful look.

  "I'm feeling much better now and I think a walk would help calm my nerves." Glancing up, sniffing haughtily, I glared at Veck and Kirch condemningly. Turning slightly, my gaze slid to the smallest of my three mates. "Bia? Would you go with me? You know, just in case."

  "Of course, my sweet," Bia said quickly, grabbing one of my mating furs to hurry out the door. He paused as he was leaving, right at the threshold, waiting until they thought I was out of earshot to tell Kirch and Veck solemnly, "You might not want to follow us. She'll need a minute to calm down, I think." Bia closed the door behind him and caught up to me easily, snagging my hand in his. "Think they bought it?" Chuckling to himself, he grinned down at me, tossing my fur over my shoulders to hug me tight.

  "Dunno. Don't care," I said, shrugging, giving him a small but pleased shit eating grin.

  Hands swinging between us freely, he laughed as we hurried to his little hut.

  ✽✽✽

  "Right there. Mmmm... harder... Ah... mmm..."

  The door to Bia's hut slammed open and our heads jerked up.

  "Meanie!" Kirch snapped, eyeing us condemningly. Eyes flashing, fur standing on end, hands to his hips, he snarled over at me. "Get down. Now!" He growled ominously, pointing for me to come to him.

  "No," I said adamantly, a little growl in my voice.

  Daring him to interrupt, just try and stop me, I bent down and licked Bia's cock again, thrilled my randy mate hadn't paused in his ministrations when Kirch barged in on us.

  Bringing up the rear as our love nest party for two was crashed, Veck came trailing in soon after.

  "Meanie." Veck snorted on a laugh. "Meanie being careful?"

  "Very," I purred, smoothing my hand over Bia's sac, fingers tracing the veins to cup it. Rolling them gently in my hand, I gave his balls a little squeeze.

  Bia paused, dragging his mouth away from my sex as he groaned his pleasure. Blunt fingernails dragging down my back, to my rump, his hands gripped my ass tight.

  "No, Meanie! Get off!" Kirch glared at me, teeth clacking as his jaw snapped, his hackles raised.

  "Okay," I said eagerly, smirking. Bia whimpered when I pulled away.

  Working my way down his length, I scooted down so I was straddling his groin. Pumping his dick a few times, I gripped his shaft and impaled myself on him, inch by delicious inch. Facing him backwards, I gripped his thighs for leverage, and had a leisurely go at him.

  Veck watched us fixedly as I road Bia slowly. Turning and closing the door, locking it behind him, a deep, sexy, hungry growl rumbling his chest, he started forward.

  “Touch yourself, husband,” I murmured huskily, watching as he reached down to push his foreskin back and took himself in hand.

  Eyes glued to where Bia and I were joined, he began stroking himself as I rode my smaller mate unhurriedly, purring loudly as his cock twitched and jerked.

  Kirch, taking in the whole exchange, looked like he was going to explode, a vein throbbing in his forehead as he marched to the bed.

  "Don't you dare!" I snarled at him, taking him aback.

  Some of the fight left him when I reached forward to pet his chest gently, gripping his fur to tug him closer. He purred on a growl and cupped my face as I stroked a thick patch of fur just above his crotch. Bending down, he kissed me possessively.

  My hand wandered lower and I cupped Kirch, stroking him eagerly. He moaned, thrusting into my hand, his lips never leaving mine as I jacked him off and rode Bia.

  Kirch lifted a hand to cup my breast, lost as his hips pumped to the rhythm I’d set. Squeezing the rounded globe lightly, he caressed and pinched my nipple.

  The pain/pleasure of it sent me over, intensifying my orgasm as it hit me. Bia shouted out moments later, gripping my hips to thrust up one final time as my tight sheath milked his pulsing shaft.

  As I came, face flushed with excitement, Kirch pulled away, panting harshly.

  "Meanie, no sex!" he yelled adamantly, but it was obviously too late.

  Brushing my bangs from my eyes, panting, I retorted, "Yes, Meanie sex."

  "NO!" he bellowed angrily.

  This was just... gah! "Fine. If you won't give it to me, then, damn you, I'll find it from someone else. I'm pregnant, not dead! If we're careful there's no reason we can't have sex right now! There's nothing going on with me that would indicate we shouldn't!" I shouted back at him.

  Veck, scowling at the exchange, pushed Kirch out of the way and hooked his arms under mine, plucking me up off Bia. Setting me down and picking my clothes up off the floor, my big bad beastie shoved my dress over my head and helped me into my boots, then wrapped his mating fur around me.

  Satisfied I was warm enough, he picked me up, bundled me up to his chest tight, and cuddled me close.

  "Meanie mad. Bad for babies." Huffing, Veck glared at Kirch and marched off with me without another word.

  "He's an asshole," I pouted, simmering at a slow boil as Veck trekked out into the waning light.

  "Kirch loves Meanie," he said quietly, sighing heavily, running his hands over me soothingly as he had a good look around.

  I huffed—thinking I’d found an ally, but obviously I’m mistaken—and tried to squirm out of his arms. He grunted but shifted me higher, holding me tighter to cease my struggles.

  "Of course you'd take his side," I muttered.

  Veck snorted and kissed my forehead. “Veck loves Meanie. Meanie be…”

  A loud noise rang out—boom—boom—boom—crack—and then there it was again, followed by a horrible clatter. A cacophony of clinking, clanking—snap—crack—another boom—a sound I thought I recognized but didn’t quite want to believe I was hearing—a sickening pop renting the air, smashing noises everywhere. Everything turned to chaos in seconds.

  A few moments later some of the more prevalent noises grew nearer, like metal banging on rocks, and my eyes widened.

  Tugging on Veck’s shoulder, I wanted to get the heck out of here, and fast. I’d no idea what was going down, but I wanted no part of it. Veck paused, about to do just that, when suddenly there was another loud commotion, an inhuman howl coming from a few huts over.

  Walking forward to check it out, cautious, Veck set me down. Putting himself in front of me protectively, my beast-husband’s deep voice rumbled, “Stay back, Meanie.”

  No one needed to tell me twice. Nodding, I ducked behind him, gripping my fingers tight to still the tremble.

  A really loud crash sounded right in front of us and I tensed, unprepared to face whatever beast had wandered into the village.

  With a groan and a short cry, Tarnk stumbled out into view, his hand clutching his shoulder as he tried to keep himself upright. Muddied and bloody, various nicks and scrapes dotting his skin, a particularly long one crazing his shoulder, the beastie was in bad shape. Slamming into everything and anything, he tumbled baskets and tools lined up outside along the huts.

  The strange male wove around drunkenly, hollering out incoherently as his head lolled about awkwardly on his thick neck, his free hand flailing usele
ssly. Eyes rolling back in his head as he went to catch himself on the side of a hut, starting to fall, but missed, he collapsed. Rolling to the ground hard enough to jar us, he landed with a ground shaking thud. Lying there motionless, his hand fell away to reveal a large spot of blood blooming over his left shoulder.

  "Veck!" I shouted, rushing past him to help Tarnk.

  "Meanie, wait!" Veck barked after me, running to catch up.

  Dropping to my knees beside him, I gaped at the clean hole in Tarnk's upper left shoulder. “That’s bad,” I whispered, cringing on his behalf.

  Groaning miserably, the large beastie moaned and moved around a little, then rolled to his side. Nudging him to move him along, his back revealed an exit wound.

  "Oh my god... that’s bad. So bad." All of the air in my lungs rushed out of me and I panicked, using my hand to staunch the bleeding. "He looks like he's been shot."

  Pale and shaken, I looked to Veck, my eyes tearing up as my throat tightened. More blood oozed from his wound, pouring freely at this point. This wasn’t good.

  "Help! Veck! Help him!"

  Veck knelt down and tried to rouse his friend, shaking Tarnk’s uninjured shoulder none too gently. "Tarnk! Tarnk wake up! Wake!" Veck switched to his own language and Tarnk finally opened his eyes.

  Blinking owlishly, he stared at Veck through glassy eyes. Mumbling something under his breath as he growled in pain, Tarnk shoved Veck’s hold off, looked straight at me, and sighed.

  Reaching a bloodied hand out, the confused beastie touched my cheek. Whispering the same words over and over, like some kind of Lo denaii prayer, he inclined his head and smiled weakly.

  Glancing at Veck for directions, my mate was just as surprised as I was. Tarnk rumbled out a growl that had my gaze snapping to his, and he murmured something else I didn't understand in his language.

  Shaking my head, I shrugged apologetically. “I’m sorry, I have no idea what you’re trying to...”

  Holding his hand out to me, he curled his bloodied fingers around mine and groaned. Growling in his beast-speak incoherently, babbling, another groan left him, followed by a short grunt, and his hand dropped into my lap. Head lolling back, it thumped to the ground.