"I don't feel relieved."
A moment of silence that passed between them.
"Me neither," Frannie said finally. "You have to call Luke."
"I don't even know if I want to tell Luke," Finn admitted.
"What?" Frannie shrieked, turning toward him. "Why the hell not?"
Finn couldn't take his eyes off of the eyes. "Because, Frannie, this packmaster guy is crazy. This guy worked for him and now he is a pair of eyeballs on the carpet. What do you think he will do to someone like Luke? Someone he actually doesn't like, who is standing in his way?"
"Luke is a grown man. He can take care of himself."
"And I'm a grown man too. I can take care of him."
"Take care of who?" Pippen asked as he entered. They didn't have a chance to answer him as he saw the eyes on the floor and immediately hardened. He whipped out a switchblade from his pants. "Conner," he called out urgently.
Conner rushed in from outside, searching for danger, staying near Pippen. He saw the eyes and then the box and then he straightened. "Are you both okay?" he asked smoothly.
"Yes," Frannie said. "Though, Finn might've gotten hurt in the head somehow since he is talking about not letting Luke know the crazy packmaster sent him eyeballs in the mail."
"You don't have to tell him," Conner said, surprising Finn. "But I do." He smiled, saw Finn's scowl and smiled wider. "He is our alpha, Finn. Yours too. It is his job to help protect all of us."
"Who is going to protect him from himself though? He's gonna go ballistic and will want to rush out there to challenge the other alpha."
Pippen stepped around the package. "Don't you realize that will happen eventually, Finn? We'll either move or he'll have to challenge. What we are doing now, living in the same territory, it is precarious at best."
Finn hadn't thought about it. His hand went to his belly, it wasn't huge, but Finn had always had pretty flat abs, so the little lump there felt substantial. It also reminded him of how fragile and weak he was because of it. He couldn't let it make him helpless though. Finn decided then that he would tell Luke. Really he didn't have a choice. And Luke would do what it took to keep him and the pack safe. Finn promised to himself he'd make sure Luke was safe, no matter what it took.
***
Luke checked the front door lock again. He continued on his routine, making sure the kitchen window was latched, moved to the sliding door, ensuring the door was locked and that the bar was placed securely in the sliding grate.
"Luke?" Finn's sleepy voice sounded from behind him. "What are you doing? It's so late."
"Just checking the locks, love. I'll be back to bed soon."
Finn yawned and rubbed his growing belly, looking so fucking adorable Luke's heart squeezed. "You did that already, twice."
"I know, but—"
Finn tugged at his shirt, pulling him gently from the door, from his routine, from his new obsession. "Please come lay with me. That bed feels so big without you these days."
"Well you do sleep in it more often," he teased.
"And your job at the shop keeps you away during the day," Finn said with a fake pout.
"We're fortunate Daryl could get me in at the garage," he said but then leaned in to give Finn a peck on the cheek. He was lucky that sleepy Finn had shown up and not angry Finn. For some reason, seeing Luke do certain things like check the locks or inspect the car before getting into it made Finn upset sometimes.
Luke figured he just didn't like feeling like he was being too babied. But, when you had a baby inside of you, it was okay to be babied. Luke put a flat palm over Finn's stomach.
They had gone to see the shifter doctor that day for their second ultra sound and he'd told them everything looked fine, that their little baby was growing healthy. Dr. Rood had even said he'd seen cases of males giving birth before. It was not as common as Luke had thought initially, but it wasn't unheard of. A shifter pregnancy took about four months and when the time came, Finn would have a c-section and Luke would finally meet the little miracle.
Finn was finally going to let him take him to the baby store where they were going to pick up everything they needed for little…Demetrius? He'd offer the name as an idea.
His biggest, most beloved job now though, was keeping his mate happy. He guided him down on the bed, quickly following behind and pulling him against his body. Finn rolled over so that they faced each other. He had a playful look in his eyes that Luke recognized. His cock recognized it too, instantly springing to attention.
"I feel like it's been forever," Finn mumbled, reaching for the elastic band of Luke's pants. "I miss it. I miss you, wanting me."
"I never stopped wanting you," Luke said, a little surprised. He'd been preoccupied with the pregnancy and making sure the house was safe and secure but he'd never stopped desiring Finn. He saw there was want in his expression now. His lips parted, his pupils had dilated. "I wanted you before, I'll want you after. Even when we are both so sleep deprived we don't know our own names."
"But I want you now," Finn whispered, drawing the last word out until it sounded like a plea.
His mate didn't need to beg for sex, but it didn't feel bad against his ears. Luke let his hands wander over Finn's body, sliding up his thighs, bypassing his most sensitive part and letting his fingers brush over his stomach. Pride welled up inside him along with his lust. His love, his world. Luke nibbled at the back of Finn's neck, tweaking his nipples. His mate gave a breathy moan. He laid his palm against Finn's chin, bringing his lips around. Luke kissed him, slowly, exploring. He let his tongue reacquaint itself with every corner of his mouth, his lower teeth, licking along the top of his mouth. He tasted like mint likely left over from his toothbrush. Finn sucked on his tongue, a carnal reproduction of what Luke's cock would soon be doing.
"Oh, my love, have I been neglecting you? I'll have to make up for that. Tonight, I'll make you sore."
***
Finn whimpered. They'd both gotten so caught up with the pregnancy, the pack and keeping the house safe that it had been longer than ever since the last time he'd felt his love deep inside him. Luke's fingers danced over his cock now, an erotic fingertip ballet from tip to base. Somehow, his cock hardened, straining up and searching. Finn bit his lip. They had a full house these days. A full house of people with heightened senses.
"What are you doing?" Luke asked, propping himself up on one elbow.
"I don't want to make too much noise," he whispered back.
Luke responded with a firm grip on Finn's cock, letting it slide slowly down, squeezing the whole way. Finn shuddered and moaned. "How many times do I need to tell you not to censor yourself? Not with me. Never with me." He pumped him again, letting some of the liquid that had spurted out lubricate his path.
"But it's just polite—"
Luke quickened the pace of his hand job, cutting off Finn's words. "Your sister sleeps with headphones and everyone else is used to distracting themselves. They aren't new to sensitive hearing."
That made sense. Shifters, unless they were lone, usually lived in close quarters. But that didn't mean he wouldn't get payback for Luke silencing his words with sex. Payback could wait though, because Luke was readjusting his body, sliding himself in position. Finn felt the tip of Luke's cock nudge against his hole. Next, he felt that amazing burst of liquid as it dripped down, lubricating and sensitizing his back entrance.
"I'm going to have to start you off slow," Luke murmured, pulling away.
Finn lamented the loss of heat and strained back to get it back. Luke made a tsking noise. His finger replaced the spot where his cock had been. HE rubbed and massaged Finn, relaxing and preparing him for his large member. He slid the finger in slowly, Finn felt each digit impale him and agreed. It had been a long time. But soon, his ass was greedy again, wanting more than just the one finger. Luke accommodated him, adding another finger and letting them both slide in inch by inch. Inside, he wiggled, massaging his g-spot. Finn yelped and bit his pillow.
"My mate, this was unforgivable of me." He repositioned so that they both laid on their sides, Luke spooning Finn. He let the huge head of his cock press in. It pushed past his outer ring, so much bigger and more demanding than his fingers had been. Finn would've felt stretched too tight if his alpha's lubricating cum hadn't continued to do its magic, helping to soften the pain he might have felt and letting him concentrate on the pleasure.
And there was so much pleasure to concentrate on. Blinding, white hot, being filled by Luke was like being in the middle of an erotic supernova. Finn felt his body do the one thing it had been made for, to accept its mate. Soon, Luke had urged himself in all the way, his balls brushed the bottom of Finn's ass, his stomach rested against his back. He stayed that way, an arm reaching around Finn's body to anchor him there, the other hand held him at his hip to ensure that he would remain still. He breathed heavy and hard into Finn's ear.
"This is where I will always belong. Right here, inside of you."
"Yes," Finn said but it turned into a wail as Luke pulled out only to thrust back inside.
He set a dizzying pace, slamming into Finn with a passion that was animalistic. The bed creaked and groaned below them. Finn grunted, high pitched and needy as he accepted the intrusion over and over. Luke had not been lying, he would be sore the next day and he would love every moment of it because it would remind him of this time right now when his love was using him in the most loving way possible. Using him while also giving so much. Without even stroking himself Finn felt his orgasm build and quickly break. His sperm shot out landing on his stomach and the sheet. He bit into the pillow, loving how base it felt, how primal.
His alpha pumped once more, but feeling his mate come must have been too much for him. He rammed inside, his hands went to Finn's hips as he held his body inside, letting his come coat Finn's insides.
Without moving, Luke pulled the blanket so that it covered both of their bodies. He let go of Finn's hips and wrapped his arms around him.
"We should change…"
"Shh," Luke said, his lips pressed against Finn's neck. "Tomorrow we will. Just let me sleep now, inside you."
Finn couldn't say no to something like that. He nestled back, loving the warmth and strength of his alpha's chest. Luke was giving him tiny angel's kisses over the back of his neck and shoulders. Soon, his eyelids felt heavy and Finn fell asleep.
***
Finn was being smothered by a sea of pinks and blues. A visual assault that had him leaning back on his heels. Luke bumped into him, not expecting his abrupt stop.
"What?" he asked, spinning around in a protective move that had Finn behind him and shielded.
Finn stepped to the side. "Nothing so serious. Just…" He waved at the rows and rows in front of him. He never knew so much baby stuff existed. "Damn."
Luke settled and pulled out his list. He grabbed a cart. "We can start at the top?" he suggested doubtfully.
"Diapers," Finn said without any follow-up. He shrugged. "I think diapers are the most important thing."
"Shifter mothers when I was a child often used cloth diapers."
Finn stared at him. He had nothing against cloth diapers, he just didn't have anything for them either. "Maybe formula is more important than diapers. Got to have something to poop."
Luke laughed. "I like your reasoning."
They found the formula aisle, fought about what brand and then finally put a case of one in the cart.
Luke grabbed a few stray cans in other brands. "Just in case little Demetrius doesn't like the flavor of that one."
Finn stopped in his tracks. "Little who?"
Luke smiled. "I like it. I think it is stately."
"And if it is a girl?"
"Demetria?"
Finn shook his head. "No. No way. I am not setting my kid up for failure. Besides, why don't we go with a nice F name like my mother?"
"Felix, Farley, Finn, Francesca," Luke ticked off the names of Finn and his siblings, rising a finger with each one. "And Filbert?"
"Ugh, no. Point taken." Finn followed Luke into the bottle aisle. "I had a grandpa when I was very young that I remember. He was very nice to me. Not like my horrid grandma who used to make me dress up and perform songs for her friends. She stopped after the first time I puked all over her carpet."
Luke laughed and grabbed a pack of bottles with a label the professed the nipple was 'like the real thing.'
Finn snorted.
"What was his name?" Luke asked.
"Phillip."
Luke considered the name. "I don't hate it. I could see myself yelling it as I cheer him on during football."
"Phillip won't like sports," Finn said, offended.
Luke plopped an arm over his shoulders. "Of course he will. And he will like reading. He will be the perfect mixture of us."
Finn thought he might cry from happiness. He cleared his throat. "And if it is a girl?"
"Serena Ann, like my mother," Luke said quietly and Finn knew the name was perfect.
Chapter Eighteen
Finn pushed open the door to Dr. Roods office. Frannie followed him, supposedly there to help but she had her head down, her mind somewhere else entirely. Luke was going to come soon but had to finish up at the garage first. He and Sorell were in high demand down there. But, he'd said he would be here so Finn knew he would be.
Finn felt his small hairs rise on his arms and at the back of his neck. He surveyed the empty room. Dr. Roods serviced shifters and humans and his waiting room was usually full with both types. Every chair was empty, even the desk was vacant. He stepped into the eerie space. "Frannie?"
"Hm?" She looked up from her phone, noticed his expression and then looked around the room, quickly putting two and two together. "Stay close," she said, moving in front of him.
Finn rolled his eyes. Luke's protective streak was wearing off on the whole house. Being with child didn't help, but truthfully, it wasn't extremely noticeable. If he wore an over-sized zip up sweater like he was today, then anyone passing him wouldn't even notice.
Still, she was in front of him when they moved together back to the patient room. He'd been in the room a handful of times in the last two and a half months and was half sure that Dr. Roods would be sitting in there waiting for him with his wise and patient smile. Finn ran into Frannie's back. She hissed and turned around, pushing him back.
"Go, Finn, go!" She urged him back but Finn was taller and looked over her head into the room. At first, he didn't recognize what he was looking at. It resembled an odd portrait or artistic piece, a weird bouquet of flowers. But they weren't flowers, they were spatters of blood. His eyes followed the grotesque garden down to the lifeless form of Dr. Roods.
He fell back. Overwhelming terror made him unsteady. As did Frannie's pushing. He caught his footing and turned, charging forward to run. He slammed right into a solid body and yelped, falling away. Luke caught him before he could hit the ground and cradled his shaking form to his front. "Finn, Finn, are you hurt?" he searched over every part of Finn that he could see. "I can smell…" He looked to Frannie who indicated with a shaky nod the direction of where the smell was coming from. He looked torn, unsure as to if he should keep Finn clutched to his front or put him down. He ended up setting Finn down by the wall on the outside of the door. He disappeared inside the room of horrors. The room was silent and soon Luke came back out holding a white envelope. Finn's name was written on the front with a large ridiculous heart drawn around it. He gasped, not believing till that moment that he hadn't put two and two together more quickly.
Lucian. He'd found out about Finn's doctor, he'd found him and killed him. But Finn was so close to his due date. How would they find another shifter friendly doctor so quickly? He felt like he couldn't breathe, gasping for air in a room that smelled too much like blood. He knew what blood smelled like. He felt transported back to that life changing moment, his wrist, bathed in tangy blood that seeped from his own body. His vision blurred and warped, go
ing in and out of focus as it moved from side to side. He was going to be sick.
"I'm here, Finn," he heard his mate mumble in his ear. At that moment, Luke's voice was the only one that he would have been able to pay attention to. His touch acted like a balm, numbing his frazzled senses and cooling his nerves. Luke carried him, herding Frannie in front of them, out of the office building. He was on his phone, talking in low tones.
Minutes later, Sorell and Pippen walked across the parking lot. "I want you two to take Frannie and Finn back to the house. Pippen, you are on guard. Sorell, you drive."
"Wait, where are you going? Where will you be?" Finn's question sounded whiny.
"Love, I can't let this go any longer. People are getting hurt. He is escalating."
"This is what he wants!"
"It's what we both want," he said with finality.
Finn remembered the conversation he'd had with Pippen, about two alphas living so close together. Luke had been aching for this fight? Was he just using Finn as an excuse? He immediately discounted that thought. Luke did whatever it took to keep Finn safe. If he hadn't met Finn originally, he probably would've shipped out of town. But he had stayed in town and every day, his inner animal urged him to conquer that other wolf. And now he would try, but what if it was a trap?
"You can't go, Luke, please."
Luke led him to the back of the car, away from the others. Frannie was telling Sorell what they'd seen while Pippen had his elf eyes scanning every inch of the parking lot.
"Mate, it is in my nature to keep you safe. To keep our family safe. You can't ask me not to do that." He spoke low and stared into Finn's eyes with a pleading expression. He needed Finn to realize that this was an innate part of him. To deny him this urge was like denying part of him.
"I'm scared."
"Such little faith?" Luke puffed up a little, broadening his chest. Finn thought he might even have been flexing.
"No, you are strong, like semi-truck strong. But you aren't superman. You can't stop a bullet."
Wolf's Mate Mpreg Romance Box Set Page 14