by Tl Reeve
Kalkin had a crazed look on his face. He was more wolf than man as he added pressure to her throat. Brooklyn’s face turned a funny shade of red and purple. The girl coughed then sputtered, trying to breathe. Hayden came up beside Kalkin and laid her hand on his side.
“She can’t answer if you kill her,” Hayden whispered. “She’s no good to us dead.”
Her uncle curled his lip but released his hold of her marginally. “Where is Holly going?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Brooklyn wheezed.
Hayden narrowed her eyes. “She won’t save you.”
“Do I even know you?” Brooklyn cast a droll stare in Hayden’s direction.
“Oh, you do. I’m sure once I tell Adam about your involvement in all this, he’ll be running for the hills. I’ll help him escape too.” Hayden grinned.
“You wouldn’t dare. You’d lie to him just to see his world torn apart?”
“I’m not lying. You are. Now, either tell my uncle everything or so help me, I will ruin you.” Hayden narrowed her eyes, challenging the little bitch to keep going. “Now, where is Holly going?”
“I don’t know!” Brooklyn cried. “I don’t kn—” She choked as Kalkin added pressure to her throat.
“I think we should have Danielle and Keeley help on this one, Uncle Kalkin. If she won’t talk, we can still get the information.” A devious plan took root in Hayden. No one would be coming to Brooklyn’s aid now. She was shit out of luck.
A predatory grin curled Kalkin’s lips. “I think you’re right, Hayden. For now, I have a cell waiting, with Brooklyn’s name on it.”
Chapter Nine
The next morning, Hayden snuggled into the warmth of Nico’s embrace. Asher stayed with Danielle at the clinic within the orphanage for observation. Though the majority of his injuries healed, he was still malnourished and edged into failure-to-thrive territory. Her aunt promised to bring him home sometime the next day, but it made Hayden’s heart hurt for her little boy.
She grinned.
The idea of having a child had been a mix of terror and excitement when it was just an abstract thought. Then all the worries of something possibly being wrong filtered in behind those happy vibes. Now, she knew the truth. Everyone was lying to her from the beginning. Her aunt mostly. And Worthington. Had her father known? One look in his eyes when she returned with Nico said perhaps he hadn’t.
For now, she would be happy. She’d push aside all the worry and fears to concentrate on the one person who needed her and Nico most, Asher. Which meant she and Nico had to get up. They didn’t have anything for a baby. As much as she could lean on her family, this part had to be done by them, for them. Maybe they’d paint a bedroom first, then while it dried, they’d go shopping. Or should they leave the colors alone and let Asher decide later? Hayden tucked her bottom lip between her teeth and mentally made a list of the things they’d need before Asher came home.
“The sun hasn’t come up yet, mate,” Nico growled. “You can worry about things later.”
She loved the gruff tone of his sleep-filled voice. “Well, we do have a little boy counting on us to be prepared for him.”
“We’ll be fine.” The quiet confidence in his tone warmed her. “We’ll get the routine down pat soon, and it’ll be like nothing has changed.”
“Everything’s changed,” she whispered. “Nothing will ever be the same.”
Nico pulled her closer to him. “We’ll figure this out as we go. I’m not putting stock into something a deranged lunatic says. You shouldn’t either.”
True. “What if what he said is true? Part of it must be. Holly is gone. Our family is a mess.”
“When isn’t the Raferty family a mess? As far back as I can remember this family has always had its issues.” Nico kissed her temple and palmed her breast. “It’s part of the family. There’s no getting away from it.” He adjusted their bodies, allowing him to slip within her. Both of them groaned. “I should have done this last night, but I couldn’t, not with all the turmoil. Stay with me, little wolf.”
His thrusts were languid, as though they had all the time in the world. In some respects, they did. This was their life after all. Hayden threaded her fingers with his, rocking her hips counter to his motions. Heat, she realized, was abating. There was nothing frenzied or animalistic to this coupling—not that she minded.
Nico kissed the back of her neck, her shoulders, and nibbled on her ear. The soft catch in his breath when she clenched around him made her stomach flutter with anticipation. She’d ached for him while being held captive. Closed her eyes and pictured him, remembering all of the good times they had together. The blood and gore only made the arousal singing through her veins now more intense. Yet, instead of demanding more from her mate, she took what he offered. She relished it.
One of Nico’s hands slipped to her belly, and a possessive growl filled his chest, vibrating through her. “One day, you will grow round with my child, little wolf. One day my knot will force the issue and take away the fears of something being broken inside of you.” To drive home his point, Nico shoved his cock deep inside of her and ground his pelvis against her.
Hayden cried out. The sensations floating through her body were too much. Her mind shattered as she climaxed. She milked Nico’s cock. With each ripple of her pussy, she encouraged her mate to give up his steel control and join her in the bliss. He didn’t take the bait. Instead, he rolled them, placing her on her stomach.
Nico pulled her to her knees then filled her again. She quivered around his intrusion, whimpering below him. It felt so good. Just what she needed to chase away all of the negative thoughts. He lay over her back, shortening his strokes. With his legs between hers, he spread her open a bit more, giving him access to not only her pussy, but her rear, if he chose to use it.
Lust pounded through her veins. What should have been some slow wake up morning sex had become this hedonistic need to feel her mate everywhere. As if understanding what his mate needed, Nico whispered, “Later, I’ll use every hole you offer, little wolf. Right now, I can’t pull out. Your pussy is melting all over me, and it feels so good.”
Hayden shuddered at his husky tone. “You do too.” She sank into the glide of his cock filling and retreating from her, touching her in all the right spots. “So good.”
Nico grunted. “Shouldn’t have waited for this.” He cupped her breasts before teasing the hard points of her nipples.
The sensation shot straight to her clit, causing the bundle of nerves to throb. While he teased and tugged at her nipples, she lowered her hand to the distended nub, only to stop herself when he let loose with a growl of warning. A thrill shot down her spine. She loved it when he became a demanding wolf, taking what was his, when he wanted it. Hayden went down to her hands, raising her ass higher. Nico groaned, nipping at her shoulder. The sensual glide of his dick as he thrust deeper tightened the knot of her desire. She held onto the buzz of emotion rocking her body and mind.
She clung to him as his thrusts turned urgent and erratic. His growls of need drove her own pleasures until she was clawing at their mattress, begging for him to let her come and to find his release with her. She could feel the knot start to form, the day of the month she’d feel him expand within her.
Nico rubbed at her clit, pressing down as he did, and Hayden pushed back against him, needing the extra stimulus to throw both of them headlong into their release. She cried out as the first waves of her release exploded within her. The rhythmic pulse of her pussy beckoned her mate to give over to it, and this time, he did. Nico let loose with a wild howl before he bit her mark. The warmth of his release filled her, and a sense of peace settled over her.
Nico eased them into a comfortable position, tugging on the knot every so often to extend their pleasure. The first rays of the sun filled their room. A small giggle built in her chest, which jostled the knot and caused her to moan. Nico always knew how to get her out of her head. How to make her worries disappe
ar, even for a little while. Though it wasn’t always sex, for those few moments of time, she just was, and she’d been exactly where she needed to be.
* * * *
Three weeks later...
Hayden couldn’t put Asher down for anything. Okay, she could, but she really didn’t want to. When she and Nico went to pick him up from the clinic, Danielle requested they spend as much time as possible skin to skin. Nico had gone out and bought as many V-neck tank-tops as he could, then devised a way for her to wear them, and their son to cuddle against her chest while she went about her day. Somehow, his invention worked. Their little cub curled up, his paw in his mouth, and slept most of the time right where she settled him.
Then, yesterday, he shifted for the first time, and she fell in love with him all over again. Besides Asher’s brilliant green eyes, he had skin the color of mocha and curly brown hair. When he took his first bottle as a baby, she also noticed he had a dimple in his right cheek. He was absolutely perfect.
However, since he shifted, it also meant having his hand and footprint taken. Hayden understood, when she picked him up from the clinic, they’d also have to make sure if his parents were out there, they’d reunite them, no matter what. It would devastate her, but she also couldn’t deprive a mom of her baby. The satisfaction of knowing they returned a child to their family would outweigh the heartache of losing him.
Or so Hayden hoped.
Kalkin had been under the impression the boy had been born at the Wildlife Preserve for the purpose of selling him, like most of the other shifters within the facility. Nicole, who’d been Oscar the wolf’s handler, gave as much information as she knew to Kalkin. He’d given it along with Asher’s prints to Keeley for her to run a trace—hence why she was racing around the house now, trying to get everything set up.
Tonight, Hayden and Nico invited their families over for dinner, to celebrate, she hoped, their future with Asher and introduce him to everyone. She’d been a bit possessive of her son. She’d only allowed Danielle and Keeley any time with him. She supposed it’d bordered on being a bit selfish with the boy. However, she reminded herself several times, they’d almost lost him. And, he was still a growing cub who’d been abused and malnourished.
Nico came down the stairs with Asher in his arms. The boy’s eyes were open, as if he were taking in everything. He helped Hayden situate Asher in the small carrier they upgraded to since he shifted, then placed his favorite blanket over him. There’d been something about the warmth he just loved. She figured she might have about fifteen minutes, if not less, before he’d become a drooling, sleeping baby.
“A car pulled up. I think your aunt and uncle are here,” Nico said, brushing a kiss across her temple.
“Which one?” she teased.
“Smartass,” he answered with a laugh. “I believe Caden and Danielle. I set up the Pack ‘n Plays in the den. The littles should be okay in there, since the older kids will be here with us. I also have a stack of movies and games at the ready.”
“Are you sure you weren’t a Boy Scout?” She winked at him on her way to the door when the doorbell rang. “Coming.”
She opened the door and found Danielle and Caden standing there with Aiden, Willow, and Nicolas not far behind. The twins, Aaron and Mads, held each other’s hands. While Aaron wrapped his finger around Danielle’s finger, Mads clung to his father, Caden. She smiled down at the boys. “You’re here! I thought I was going to have to howl at the moon for you.”
The boys giggled then began to howl before hopping into the house and into Nico’s waiting embrace. Hayden hugged her aunt awkwardly first then Caden. Aiden and Nicolas, the rascals, pulled back the blanket a bit to look at her sleeping cub. The boys elbowed each other before giving her a shit-eating grin. “Good job, Hayden,” Nicolas said.
“Thank you,” she replied, a little embarrassed by her cousin’s praise.
She went to close the door, when Kalkin and Keeley arrived with their children. Keeley took her hand, drawing her away from her host duties momentarily. She held the envelope out to Hayden. “This was what I could find out. It’s not much, mind you, but it is a birth certificate with the name you and Nico chose. Danielle added his weight and length to it along with an approximate birthdate due to all the other complications.”
“No family?” Hayden had been too afraid to look at the papers her aunt presented to her.
“None. I know you would have done the right thing, no matter the outcome, sweetheart, but Asher’s mother was murdered, and his father has never been found.”
Hayden frowned. “So, he’s ours then.”
Keeley gave a soft chuckle. “I think he’s been yours for some time now. I think the reality of it is sinking in.”
“Thank you,” Hayden mumbled, forcing herself not to breakdown and cry.
Her aunt hugged her again. “Oh, sweetheart, it’s okay to cry. These are happy tears. You now have a son.”
Hayden wiped her eyes and gave a teary-eyed smile. “I do, don’t I?”
The bell rang again, signaling another guest had arrived. “Go, we’ll talk about everything you might still need, later.” Keeley strolled over to where Kalkin waited then took his hand and led him into the dining room.
Her father, Loraine, and Blake were next to arrive with Natalie and Gabriel in tow. Her fathers beamed with such pride Hayden’s lip quivered. He’d been one of the first people to see Asher after the rescue. Of course, old habits were hard to break for her, but Jace cut off her hyper rambling and smiled. He accepted her cub as his grandson—which, in a way, had been really weird for Hayden and Nico.
Blake wrapped her in a tight hug, careful of the fragile goods resting at her chest. Blake had yet to meet his grandson, so she gave him a quick peek at the little snuggle monster. Blake’s gasp rivaled her own when she first saw him in bear form.
“Oh my stars,” Blake whispered. “He is beautiful. Look at his hair and his skin. Hayden, you’re going to have your hands full with him. I can already tell.”
She laughed. “I think I already do.”
Loraine joined them after sending the twins off to play while Hayden greeted everyone. “So, what’s the verdict?”
Hayden held up the envelope for them to see. “As of this moment, he’s ours.”
Loraine hugged her, making sure not to hurt the boy. “That’s wonderful news. Does Nico know?”
She shook her head. “I’ll tell him after everyone arrives. We’ve kind of been on the go since we got up with Asher this morning. It’s kind of exhausting.”
Loraine laughed. “Try having twins.”
“Precious...”
Loraine winked at her while taking Blake and Jace’s hand.
A few minutes later, Bodhi and his mate Emma arrived along with Cassidy, Bell, Christoph, Jackson, and two children she didn’t know. She waved them in, hugging each of them before holding her hand up. “I’m sorry, but we don’t allow children in this house without a proper introduction first.” She smiled at the little boy clinging to Jackson’s shoulder. “And who might you be?”
Jackson spoke to the boy in Romanian. He kept his tone firm but soft, almost at a whisper. The boy stared at her for a second before answering, “Maliki.”
“Wow, what a strong name for such a beautiful little boy.” She grinned while Jackson translated for him. “There are so many kids here, I am sure there are a few wolves lounging around, if you’d like to play with them.”
The little boy nodded.
Hayden pointed to where the children were. “There over there.” She turned her attention to the little boy next to Christoph. He looked to be seven or eight years old. He had blond hair and blue eyes. She swore if she didn’t know any better, the kid belonged to Bell and Christoph. “And who might you be?”
“Isaac,” the boy answered.
“Well, Isaac, I’m Hayden and this” —she allowed him to see her son— “is Asher.”
“Whoa, he’s tiny.” Isaac stared up at her. “He’s a b
ear too, but he smells like a wolf. Kind of like how Bell smells like a lion and dragon.”
Her friend blushed and gave a nervous chuckle. “Okay, Isaac. How about you join Maliki and make sure he’s okay?”
Bell never had to worry about such things at their house, but Hayden understood also wanting to distract the kid. She hugged her friend, who was clearly trying to hold her shit together as best as she could, then pointed to the dining room where all the adults had congregated. From there it’d been a blur of activity. The house filled with the laughter and the chatter of their family.
Just as she stepped away from the door, another knock came. Everyone, with the exception of Royce and Charisma, was there. She’d invited her uncle Mackenzie, but after everything he’d been through in the last few weeks, she didn’t think he’d come.
Hayden had been surprised to see Mackenzie standing there, on her porch, with Liam and Riley. Behind them, Royce and Charisma. All of them looked like shit. Mackenzie’s features were drawn, his face pale from heartache and loss. He’d been through so much. Her heart broke for her uncle who only wanted to be loved. The kids weren’t any better. Riley appeared to have lost weight, and Liam seemed a bit angrier than the last time she saw him.
She wrapped her arms around Liam first. “Don’t squish the baby.” She whispered the words in his ear as she held him tight. He pulled away from her and stared at her as though she’d grown a third head. Hayden pulled back the blanket to show her cousins and her uncle the little boy nestled at her chest.
Riley burst into tears. Her bottom lip trembled as she ran her finger across the back of Asher’s hand. When he opened his eyes, Riley gasped. “His eyes...”
Hayden grinned. “Yeah. Kind of reminds me of us. This is Raferty-Lopez green.”
“You did good, girl,” Mackenzie said, a bit of life entering his face. “Real good. You hear.”