by Ravenna Tate
To reach the Benedict home, where they had planned on going as soon as they returned to the village, they needed to walk through the town square. Dozens of people were gathered around the large stone wall where the Elders and Council tacked up important announcements or documents they wanted everyone to have access to at any time.
Everyone was gathered around a new document, talking excitedly about whatever was on it. The four agreed that Canyon should push his way to the front to read it, so all of them didn’t have to fight the crowds.
While Canyon did that, Arizona leaned close to Gillian and asked if she was feeling better.
“Yes. A little. I’m so sorry.”
“You have nothing to apologize for.”
“Yes, I do.” She cut her gaze toward Fiera for a second.
“I’m going to go and read the document with Canyon.” Before Fiera went to join her mate, she gave Gillian a pointed stare, making Arizona wonder what the hell was going on. What hadn’t his mate told him that Fiera already knew?
“I’m the one who should have insisted you stay behind,” he said.
The corners of her mouth turned up. “We both know I would have argued about it with you until you let me go. Arizona, I didn’t want to tell you this until we were alone again.” She glanced around, but no one was paying attention to them, or close enough to hear. “And I hate to tell you here and now, but I have to say this or I’ll burst.” She took a deep breath while he held his. “I’m pregnant.”
“What?” He must have misunderstood her. He hoped he hadn’t, but he had to be sure. “What did you say?”
“I said I’m pregnant. Fiera told me she knew the second she looked at me this morning.”
He could hardly think he was so damn happy! “And you’re sure?”
“Yes. Positive.”
“That’s why you look ill. Oh my God. Gillian, do we need to see Leah?”
“No. I don’t know. Maybe. I have no clue what to do right now. I’m sure I’m all right. I mean, I’m sure the throwing up is normal.”
Arizona pulled her close and held her as tightly as he dared. “In the town hall bathroom? That’s why you ran in there?”
“Yes. And this morning before you woke.”
So many emotions bubbled up that he couldn’t process any of them. He had thought his greatest happiness was making love to this extraordinary woman for the first time, but this news beat even that event. He was going to be a father.
“It’s going to be fine.” Had he said that to her already? He had no idea. His thoughts were all jumbled up. “You’re going to make a wonderful mother.”
“Are you certain of that? I’m not.”
“What?” He pulled away so he could look into her eyes. “Is that what has you worried?”
“Of course it does. I mean look at how I was raised. And look at the way I won’t listen to reason like ever. What if I do something stupid and it hurts our child?”
“That won’t happen. You have more common sense than anyone I’ve ever met.”
“Oh right. Like the common sense I showed in coming with you three today.”
“It turned out all right. At least we know what’s going on with Stone.”
“But not where he is, how he met this woman, or what connection she has to the blood on the doors.”
“You don’t think she’s merely a witness either, do you?”
“Not now I don’t. Not after speaking to their Council members. But worst of all is that now another fight has started with leopards.”
“Fights with leopards have been going on way since before I was born. Don’t you worry about Ricky and his stupid friend. If they dare to show up, they’ll have more than a simple fight on their hands.”
“Because of me.”
“No, not because of you. Because they could have simply told us what we came to find out and let us leave. Those two chose to follow us and try to make trouble.”
“Okay.” She nodded several times. “You’re right. They did start it.”
“They did. You did not. I’m sure you’re not the first human who’s walked into their village.”
As he held her close again, Fiera and Canyon came sprinting over. “They’ve already chosen the new Elders.”
“Who are they?” asked Gillian.
“Gavin Rockland, Alex’s brother, is the new Chief Elder.”
“Is he a new Elder, too?”
“No,” said Arizona. “He’s been an Elder for close to thirty years now.”
“The new ones are Hidalgo Hamilton and Laredo Gage. Both were on the Council.”
“Hidalgo is a cougar,” said Fiera, addressing Gillian, “and Laredo is a leopard.”
“Oh…”
“I think it’s a stroke of genius,” said Canyon. “It sends a message that we want to include the leopards who chose to stay here after the Medinas were arrested.”
“Is that what has the crowd in a frenzy?” asked Gillian. “The fact that they chose a leopard?”
“Yes, but the comments are mostly hopeful.”
Fiera was looking at Gillian like the two shared a wonderful secret. She cut her gaze toward Canyon for a second, before turning it toward Arizona. “You know, don’t you? She told you.”
The smile that spread over his face was unavoidable. “Yes, she told me. Gillian is pregnant.”
“Well it’s about time,” said Canyon, shaking Arizona’s hand. Arizona had never told anyone about Gillian being on the pill before they were mated. “Does my mother know yet?”
“Not unless she’s telepathic,” said Gillian.
“Let’s go and tell her,” said Arizona, pulling his mate close again. “You’ll have her hovering around the house so often, you won’t have time to worry about anything.”
Luke wasn’t home, but Leah and her other children were. Canyon’s sisters fussed over Gillian until Arizona could see she was close to being overwhelmed by all the attention. He asked if she wanted to leave, but she said she’d rather stay until Luke and Cletus got home from work, so they could hear the news about the Elders and what they had learned about Stone.
Leah insisted he and Gillian stay for dinner, so when Luke and Cletus arrived, Arizona and Canyon filled them in on the new Elders, Gillian’s pregnancy, and what they had learned about Stone. There were more hugs and congratulations for Gillian before they all sat down to dinner.
“Where do you intend to begin looking for Stone?” asked Luke.
“I think I know where they might be,” said Canyon. He smiled at Fiera. “The same cabin where I took you so we could be mated.”
“I didn’t realize he knew where it was.”
“We both do,” said Arizona. “That’s a great idea. We’ll start there.”
“Why didn’t you take Gillian there?” asked Lissie, Canyon’s ten-year-old sister.
Arizona reached over and ruffled her hair because he knew she hated it. “Because, Miss nosy, I wanted her to have room service and a way to escape from me in case she wanted no part of this.”
“Fat chance of that happening.” Gillian gave him a brilliant smile, which made his dick ache with need. “The second I looked into your eyes, right here in this house, I knew we’d be together.”
“Told you so,” said Lena, Canyon’s eldest sister.
“Does being pregnant hurt?” asked Lulu, the thirteen-year-old.
“You never asked me that question,” said Leah.
“I was only two when you were carrying Lissie!” Lulu rolled her eyes, and the gesture reminded Arizona so much of Gillian he laughed.
“Not yet it doesn’t,” said Gillian.
“I’m in no pain,” said Fiera, giving Lulu a wink.
“But pushing out the baby hurts.”
“It’s not so bad,” said Leah. “And look what the end result is.” She smiled at each of her children in turn. Arizona imagined him and Gillian like this one day. Their children around them, having dinner with good friends. He glanced toward Gillian and fro
wned. She looked like she was going to be sick again.
“I think that’s enough of the giving birth talk for now. Let’s plan on when we’re going to the cabin to search for Stone, and what to do once we get there.”
“Let’s go first thing in the morning,” said Canyon.
“I’m in,” said Fiera. “Gillian, are you sitting this one out?”
“No. He’s your best friend. I want to be there when you find him.”
Arizona stroked her arm. “It’s settled, then. As long as you’re feeling all right in the morning, we’ll go and find him.”
Chapter Eighteen
The next morning, Gillian felt much better than she had the prior day. If Fiera and Leah both hadn’t been one hundred percent certain she was pregnant, she’d have passed off her vomiting and light-headedness as nothing more than a virus. She ate like she hadn’t had food in a week, and Arizona beamed at her the entire time.
“Yeah.” She eyed him with a frown. “You look at me like that now, but wait until I get fat. Then you’ll be wondering what the hell you got yourself into.”
The expression that came over his face sent a gush of wetness to her pussy. “You are beautiful. Do you hear me?” He pulled her onto his lap, sending the fork she was holding clattering to the floor. Gillian could hardly breathe as he gazed into her eyes. She loved this man so much!
“There is nothing more stunning than a woman carrying the child of the man she loves. You will always be perfect in my eyes, no matter what your body looks like. Don’t you understand, Gillian? I love you.” He poked her chest. “The woman inside here. The one who is stubborn, intelligent, an incredible lover, and the kindest person I’ve ever met.”
No words were possible. Tears spilled over her lashes as she held his gaze.
“I love the way you stand up for what’s right, the way you won’t take any shit from anyone, and the way you’d fight for all of us if it came to that. You’ve already proven your loyalty to this village, and to me, a thousand times over. I am so damn proud to have you as my mate. Every damn lynx in this village is jealous of me because you’re mine.”
He brushed his lips against her hair, and she couldn’t hold back the moan.
“So I will hear no more talk of my wishing I’d never mated with you, or any suggestions that I will not adore you just as much as I do now once your pregnancy progresses.” He cupped her left breast through the fabric of her shirt. “If anything, I want you now more than ever.”
When he kissed her, she forgot all about breakfast and what her body was going to look like in a few months. There was only Arizona, his mouth, his hands on her, and the incredible way he made her feel.
No man had ever evoked these kinds of emotions in her. He was her true mate. He always had been, even before she’d understood what that meant, or had met him. She finally comprehended that now in a way she hadn’t before.
****
Three hours later, they met Fiera and Canyon at the edge of the village as they’d planned last evening. Gillian and Arizona were holding hands, still laughing at a joke he’d told her as they made love for the third time that morning. She’d never felt so alive or happy. Was it the pregnancy hormones? She didn’t know, and it hardly mattered. Gillian only wanted to bask in this moment and never leave it.
“What kept you two?” asked Canyon, his voice filled with annoyance.
“Duh.” Fiera grinned and poked him in the arm. “What do you think?” She nodded toward the woods. “Let’s go.”
“You’ve been hanging around Gillian too much.” Canyon frowned at his mate. “You never used words like ‘duh’ before.”
Both women laughed.
“I’m serious.”
“Get over it,” said Arizona, punching Canyon lightly in the arm. “Be happy they’re such good friends. Let’s go and find Stone so he can introduce us to his mate. The six of us should be together. It’s not right he isn’t with us.”
That seemed to refocus Canyon’s thoughts as the four walked toward the cabin. Arizona had warned Gillian it wasn’t a short walk or an easy one, but she had wanted to come along anyway. When they reached the stream, Canyon pointed toward a grouping of rocks along the shore. They stretched to the tiny strip of land on which the cabin sat nestled among pines.
“He’s there. I showed him how to place those so the stream was easy to cross.”
“Should we just barge in?” asked Gillian. “He won’t be upset, will he?”
Both Arizona and Canyon shrugged. “We’ve come this far,” said Arizona. “No sense in not seeing it through.”
As they crossed the stream, Gillian studied the cabin. They couldn’t see the smoke curling up from the chimney until they were a few feet from it. Even if someone had been standing on the other side of the stream, the cabin would look deserted. And that assumed anyone could find it in the first place.
The path through the woods hadn’t been marked. She’d had no idea how Canyon or Arizona knew where they were going. It really was genius, and Canyon’s ancestors had hidden it well. But now that they were here, she realized it wasn’t even noon. She hoped they weren’t in there sleeping, or worse, having sex. That would prove far too embarrassing and intrusive.
The four stood on the porch, staring at one another. Finally, Canyon knocked.
It took so long for the door to open that Gillian was about to tell them they were mistaken and no one was in the cabin. Stone looked like he hadn’t slept in a week, but she doubted it was from sex. He had the same haunted expression in his eyes she’d seen in everyone she’d ever worked with who was terrified to go to court, or who didn’t know where to turn because they were being sued. To say he was stressed was a horrible understatement, and her heart went out to him.
“May we come in?” asked Arizona, his voice soft and gentle. God, she loved her mate! He understood, too, that Stone hadn’t hidden away here to hurt them. He was under a terrible strain.
“Yes.” Stone opened the door fully and stepped aside.
The cabin was larger inside than it appeared from across the stream. The smell of venison stew sent Gillian’s stomach rumbling, but at least it didn’t make her nauseous. That would be embarrassing. The place was flooded with light and warmth, and her heart gave an odd lurch when she realized Stone’s mate stood in the doorway to what must be the kitchen, her face filled with trepidation.
Makenna was gorgeous, with big golden eyes and hair the color of a fox’s fur. Reddish-brown, with soft blonde highlights. Gillian had never seen such a combination. It gave her a catlike quality that was different from Fiera’s look, but just as stunning.
“Makenna, these are the friends I’ve been telling you about. And actually, Fiera is my cousin.”
Makenna walked over, smoothing her hands down her tunic as she did. Stone made introductions, and she shook everyone’s hand. Her grip was firm. Gillian liked that, and she gave the girl a big smile.
Makenna’s gaze drifted toward Gillian’s abdomen. Jesus. Were all of them psychic? “You and Fiera both are with child.”
“Yes, we are.”
“That’s wonderful.” She gave Stone a wistful look. “I hope to be soon as well.”
“Sit down,” said Stone, indicating a grouping of chairs and a sofa. “Would you like anything to eat or drink?”
“No,” said Canyon. “We’re fine. Stone, what’s going on? We haven’t heard from you for weeks. You’ve been avoiding us. We heard from the Council that Makenna was a witness to someone trying to paint more blood on a door. We had to go to the leopard village to discover you were with her.”
“You went there?” Makenna put a hand on her heart.
“Yes,” said Arizona. “Got harassed by a couple of really nice young men named Ricky Floyd and Josh for our troubles.”
Makenna looked visibly shaken. She sank down into an armchair, and Stone sat on the edge of it, stroking her hair. “It’s all right.”
“No,” said Canyon. “It’s not all right. They thre
atened Gillian. Tell us what’s going on. Please. We’re your best friends. You’re hiding in this cabin so obviously everything is not okay. We can’t help you if you don’t confide in us.”
Stone and Makenna exchanged a long glance. Gillian swore they were talking without words. Was Stone telepathic?
“Let me get the stew off the stove.” Makenna rose. “I’ll bring in a pitcher of tea.”
“Sit down,” said Stone again, addressing the four. “Then we’ll talk.”
****
The four arranged themselves on the sofa and chairs while they waited for Makenna to return to the room. Stone looked like hell. Arizona couldn’t remember seeing his friend this conflicted or worried, and that frightened him more than anything. What the hell was going on?
When Makenna returned, she placed a tray containing a pitcher of iced tea, glasses, and lemon wedges on the coffee table before taking her seat next to Stone. “May I pour everyone a glass?”
“We can do it,” said Gillian, reaching toward the tray. “I know the guys are anxious to hear why you’re both here.” Gillian began pouring glasses of the tea while Arizona kept his gaze on Stone’s face.
“I’m not sure where to begin.”
“Start with why you were reluctant to write the petition,” said Canyon. “That’s the point where Arizona and I both noticed you weren’t yourself any longer.”
Once everyone had their tea, Stone took a long sip before speaking. “A week before we talked about the petition, I was out in the woods hunting. I hid while I watched three men advance toward Laredo Gage’s house. I didn’t recognize them. Just as I was about to confront them and ask them who they were and what they were doing, I spotted a female not too far behind them.”
The quick glance he gave Makenna left no doubt in Arizona’s mind that Stone had recognized her as his mate that night in the woods. And none of them had even known she existed until yesterday. Or at least, they hadn’t known her name. Arizona almost told Stone he and Gillian had seen them kissing in the woods, but decided not to. It would embarrass them, and they weren’t here for that reason.