Broken Moon

by Catherine Vale

  “Yes, well, that remains to be seen.” The Commander leaned over and pressed the intercom button, his eyes still on Harley. “Send her in, please.”

  There was a patter of light footsteps outside, and then Harley was already out of his chair, having already caught the sweet, unmistakable vanilla scent that seeped in through the door. Thankfully, the Commander had gotten to his feet too, his eyes shrewd as a hawk as Jocelyne opened the door and stepped inside.

  “Ma’am.” Harley bowed respectfully, his back ramrod straight even though he was out of uniform – he was a soldier, after all. “You look lovely today.”

  “And so do you.” Jocelyne grinned at him a little, her hands folded behind her back as she regarded him. She was decked out in a lovely green dress that showed off her legs, and matching earrings, her hair swept up into a high bun that revealed the long, graceful curve of her neck. “But then again, you always do.”

  “If only your father thought so highly of me.” He chuckled softly, and then glanced at the Commander, holding his tongue until Jocelyne had properly embraced her father. “May I ask what this is all about?”

  The Commander sighed. “It turns out that my daughter is pregnant,” he said, somehow managing to gaze tenderly at Jocelyne and glower fiercely at Harley all at the same time. “And that you’re the father.”

  “Oh.” The anxiety that had been slowly simmering in his gut all week eased a little, replaced by an incandescent joy now that he knew Jocelyne really was expecting. The idea that this brave, courageous woman was carrying his child… it was almost too much to handle. His heart swelled with love for her, and for the baby growing inside of her belly. He struggled to remain calm; his simple response a façade when all he really wanted to do was shout it from the rooftops. Somehow he managed to keep the grin off his face, though by the way Jocelyne’s grin widened, he knew she could see right through him. “Umm… pardon me, sir, but how do you feel about that?”

  “Well, I’ve always wanted grandchildren,” the Commander admitted, squeezing his daughter’s shoulders fondly. “And though this wasn’t exactly the way I envisioned her having them, I can’t exactly complain.” His face sobered as he turned to Harley. “So now, Sergeant Coulter, you’re faced with a rather uncomfortable choice. Would you rather have your career, or my daughter?”

  “Excuse me?”

  The Commander glared impatiently at him. “I stand by my initial decision that I would never allow my daughter to become involved with one of the members of my Order,” he said firmly. “It’s simply too dangerous, not just because of the missions, but because family attachments are liabilities to us… as we have no doubt learned this past week.” He kissed the top of Jocelyne’s head, and she smiled at him reassuringly. “However, I would not deprive my daughter of the father of her child, so I offer you a choice – leave the Order and be with her, or stay in the Order, and never see her or your child again.”

  The idea of never seeing Jocelyne or his unborn child again hit him so hard he actually sucked in a breath. “Harley,” Jocelyne said, worry shimmering in her eyes as she stepped forward. “You don’t need to answer now. You can think about this – ”

  “Are you serious?” Harley stepped forward and took Jocelyne’s hands in her own. “There’s absolutely nothing to think about. I love you, sweetheart, and I would never give up you or our baby for anything else in the world.”

  “Oh Harley, are you sure? You’d be giving up so much.” Jocelyne asked, her lips curving into a wide smile.

  “Of course I’m sure.” He wanted to kiss those cupid’s bow lips, but in deference to her father he settled for a quick, but fierce hug, and then pulled back. “I’d be giving up nothing compared to what I’ll gain.”

  “Are you certain about this?” the Commander asked sternly. “Once you decide, there’s no coming back.”

  “I’ve never been more certain about anything in my life,” Harley said firmly, taking Jocelyne’s hand in his. As he stood side by side with her in front of her father’s desk, her warm, soft hand in his, he felt as if he could take on the world. “I want nothing more than to be with your daughter…and our child.”

  “Good.” The Commander’s face softened briefly. “Then you have my blessing.”

  Jocelyne shrieked in happiness, then pulled Harley’s head down to hers for a kiss before her father could protest. Harley felt as if his heart may burst with happiness, as he held Jocelyne in his arms and drowned himself in her soft, sweet kisses that were more addictive than any drug or potion.

  “I love you,” she breathed.

  “I love you, too. So damn much.”

  “Great,” her father growled with a hint of humor. “Now get out of here!”

  “Yes, sir.” Laughing, Jocelyne and Harley walked out of the office arm in arm, Harley’s heart lighter than he could ever remember it being.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Push!”

  Harley tried not to wince as Jocelyne gripped his hand with bone-crushing force, and let out a shriek of pain that could make fresh milk curdle. His beautiful, strong, gorgeous wife was in a hell of a lot more pain than he was, as she braced herself against the headboard of their bed and gave a mighty shove. Her brown curls were damp with sweat, her face only a few shades away from fuchsia as she struggled through the throes of labor.

  “I can see the head!” the shifter midwife, who was braced at the foot of the bed between Jocelyne’s open legs, ready to catch the baby, called encouragingly. “You’re almost there, sweetheart! One more push!”

  “God!” Jocelyne screamed as she pushed again, and Harley laughed with relief when the piercing sound of a baby’s wail filled the air of their bedroom.

  “It’s a girl!” the midwife cried, lifting a red, wrinkly-looking baby with a headful of curly dark hair. Jocelyne immediately began to half-sob, half-cry, holding out her arms for their child, and Harley watched in wonder and awe as their baby was placed on Jocelyne’s bare abdomen. The midwife started to dry the baby off with a small, micro-fiber towel, but Harley gently took the cloth from her.

  “Please,” he beseeched her. “Let me do it.”

  “Of course.” Shelly, the midwife, beamed at them both. “I’ll give you both a few minutes, and then we have to run some tests to make sure she’s doing well.”

  She bustled out of their bedroom for a few moments, and Harley carefully scrutinized his daughter from head-to-toe as he dried her off. She was perfect, with a cute, button nose, slightly chubby cheeks, and though her smooth skin was still mottled-red from the birth, he imagined it would soon even out to a healthy pink glow.

  “She’s beautiful,” Jocelyne breathed as she stroked their daughter’s curls. “And she has your hair.”

  The baby opened startling lavender eyes, and Harley grinned. “Maybe, but she’s got your eyes,” he said, “And I’m sure she’ll be giving me the exact same pouty looks as you whenever she wants something from me.”

  Jocelyne laughed, then groaned, her body tightening. The baby whimpered, as if sensing her distress. “What’s wrong?” Harley asked, gripping her hand again.

  “I… I’m having another contraction.”

  “Shelly!” Harley shouted, just as Shelly walked back in.

  “What?” The midwife stopped dead, then immediately rushed over as Jocelyne groaned in pain again. “Oh my God, another one’s coming!” She grabbed a set of clamps and quickly cut and tied their daughter’s umbilical cord, who was wailing in distress again. “Here, take her!” she demanded, shoving the baby into Harley’s arms. Alarmed, he nearly dropped his daughter as he fumbled to position her in his arms, having never held a baby before, but instinct and fear for his daughter’s life had him quickly figuring out how to cradle her in his big, muscular arms.

  “Shhh…” he soothed as he cradled the baby against his chest. He gently rocked his daughter back and forth as he watched Jocelyne brace herself for a second birth. “It’s okay. Daddy’s got you.”

  The second b
irth was much faster than the first – not ten minutes later the midwife was lifting another baby into the air – but unlike the last one, it was covered in golden fur, and yelps rather than cries filled the air.

  “Oh my God,” Jocelyne gasped as she got a good look. “Is that… is that a wolf cub?”

  The midwife laughed as she placed their cub on her belly. “Sure is,” she said, toweling him off. “But don’t worry – he should shift back to human at some point.”

  “Oh thank goodness,” Jocelyne said with a nervous laugh. “Because I don’t know how I’m going to be able to breastfeed him like this.” She reached out a hand to stroke him as the midwife cut the umbilical cord, and the anxiety in her lavender eyes softened into love as her fingers slid along their son’s silky golden fur.

  “This is totally normal,” Harley assured her, shifting their daughter to one arm so he could also stroke their son’s fur. “I was born as a wolf cub too, or so I’m told.”

  Jocelyne shook her head, wonderingly, and their daughter started to wail again. “This is probably the strangest thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” she said as Harley placed their daughter back on her belly, next to their son. On impulse, he placed their daughter’s tiny little arm across the back of their son’s, and to his amazement the two babies seemed to snuggle in closer. The wolf cub shifted, his fur receding as his little body changed into that of a naked baby boy’s, with wavy brown hair, and instantly he reached up and seized Jocelyne’s breast with a strong, firm little hand.

  “Well that’s pretty direct,” Harley choked out with a laugh, and he helped Jocelyne lift both babies to her breast so each one could suckle a teat. He sat down on the edge of the bed, his heart overflowing with pride and love as he watched his new family all snuggled up on the bed together, his wife looking exhausted and radiant all at the same time.

  “You know, I still can’t get over thinking of you as my wife,” he said softly, reaching out to brush some of her hair back from her forehead.

  Jocelyne smiled. “I’m still getting used to having you as my husband,” she admitted, tilting her head up for a kiss. As Harley ducked his head down to accommodate her, he marveled at how beautiful she was.

  He carefully slid an arm around Jocelyne’s shoulders and just savored the feeling of holding his family in his arms, knowing that no matter what came their way, they would always have each other, and he would do his damndest to make sure things stayed that way.

  About The Author

  Catherine Vale has been writing fiction for as long as she can remember, but it wasn't until she wrote her very first paranormal romance story that she found herself hooked on the raw, edgy love affair of shifters, vampires and other dominant alpha males, and the captivating women that love them.

  Catherine Vale writes both contemporary and paranormal romance for readers who are willing to take a walk on the wild side of love. Her stories always include powerful alpha males, smart and sassy heroines and a happily-ever-after (even if she often puts her characters through hell to get there!)

  Do you want to know when there's a new release? Special offers, giveaways, free books and more! Find out more at http://www.CatherineVale.com and subscribe to her newsletter to receive notifications whenever a new book is released!

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  Other Books By Catherine Vale

  Untamed Hearts

  The Wolves Next Door

  A Touch Of Vampire

  Her Two Bears

  Double Trouble

  Taste Of Honey

  Scent Of A Mate

  Wolf Bite

  Awakening The Bear

  On The Prowl (Jaguar Series)

  Kiss Of Fire

  To Catch A Cheetah

  Bear Meets Girl

  Between Two Wolves

  See full list of available books at http://www.CatherineVale.com and join her newsletter for updates, new releases, appearances, giveaways, and more!