A Baby Daddy for a Werewolf Silencer

by Anya Byrne

  Jensen wished he could have apologized for their earlier fight, but somehow, with William and Dean there, it didn't seem right. And so, he ended up letting Erdi go again before he could figure out a way to react.

  Dean patted his shoulder and wordlessly followed Erdi out of the room, but William stayed. "It's okay, Mr. Moore. I know the situation seems strange and confusing right now. Believe me, I can understand. But these things have a way of sliding into place. Just keep an open mind, and help Erdi. He needs more than what our pack can give him."

  With those cryptic words, the doctor departed as well. Jensen locked the door behind him and plopped back on the bed. When he closed his eyes, Erdi's dark gaze followed him in his dreams.

  ****

  "So... You never did show me your evidence of the werewolf thing."

  Erdi stole a look at his mate, half thinking Jensen was joking. "We didn't exactly have time for it."

  That was only half true. This morning had been a mess of explanations and goodbyes, with Jensen doing his best to come up with a convincing excuse for why he needed to leave early. Alicia had been shocked and suspicious—rightly so, all things considered—even if William had assured her he would drive her and the boys back home when the time came for them to leave.

  Despite all that, Erdi could have shape-shifted for his mate. It wouldn't have taken him more than ten minutes—including dressing and undressing, and possibly even the explanation of the process. If he hadn't, it was largely because his instincts were even stronger in his wolf form. He didn't know what he'd do then, if he could contain his desire to be close to Jensen.

  Again, Jensen was too smart to be fooled by that kind of excuse. "U-huh. You know, I'm still owed a lot of explanations. I mean, this whole departure could be my fault altogether, but the werewolf thing and the first time I was attacked... Yeah, that wasn't on me."

  Erdi had expected his mate would ask, and he had every intention of being honest with the man. That didn't mean he was ready for it, especially not so soon. "I'll explain everything. Just... Not right now."

  Thankfully, Jensen let it go. "Can you at least tell me where we're going?"

  "Well, I have an acquaintance who owes me a favor. He owns a small house on his land, and since it's no-werewolf territory, we should be safe there."

  Jensen obviously had a lot of questions, mostly referring to what kind of people could keep werewolves out. In the end, the human must have decided to take one thing at a time, because instead, he asked, "Did you speak to him already?"

  "I did, but we have to meet with him first. He's a bit... eccentric."

  Eccentric was putting in mildly. The only house cat in a pride of mountain lions, Ian had extreme authority issues, which always got him in trouble. It was actually how he and Erdi had met. Ian had been caught by a group of humans who had been considering neutering him when Erdi had randomly passed by and realized the small cat was actually a shifter. With a little bit of effort, he'd freed Ian from the enthusiastic people. To this day, he had no idea why he'd done it. Perhaps the whole castration thing had reminded him too much of scourging for comfort. Either way, Ian had been very, very grateful, and he'd promised Erdi that if he ever needed help, he'd be there.

  Of course, at the time, Erdi hadn't actually expected to need to cash in on that favor, but without his guild's backing, he had to find help elsewhere. If he'd been on his own, he could have easily lived in the wild, but his mate deserved better.

  "Don't worry about it for now. Tell me... Is there anyone you can think of that might have wanted to hurt you?"

  Jensen groaned. "Where do I start? The truth is, Erdi... I'm a hacker. I piss people off by my nature. I'm always careful, but I could probably jot down a huge list of businessmen and varied officials who'd be very happy to get rid of me, at least if they found out about what I did."

  Erdi didn't much like hearing that, but he supposed it was at least a place to start. "Go ahead and make that list. We'll send it to Saul."

  Jensen hesitated. "I'm not sure that's a good idea. They have other concerns, Erdi. Saul has a baby. And then, there's William's sick son... They don't have time to worry about me."

  Erdi knew that, and if it had been just about him, he wouldn't have dreamed of intruding on the Lone Wolf Pack's difficult life. However, William knew Jensen was his mate—which possibly meant that Dean knew as well. Since Erdi was officially a member of the pack, this was automatically an issue that concerned them all.

  "It is not the easiest time, no," Erdi replied. "I can't be sure, but Jessie is showing signs of pre-eclampsia, and his pregnancy has been difficult. But I have faith the Alpha will come up with the best solution for everyone."

  His mate fell silent, and Erdi stole another glimpse at him, only to find Jensen pale and shaking. It was at that moment that he realized he hadn't actually mentioned the male pregnancy thing before.

  The fact that he'd done so now spoke volumes as to the level of his distraction. Jensen looked a little green, like he was going to be sick, realization burning in his eyes.

  Erdi had planned to drive straight to see Ian, but that would take too long. He parked on the side of the road, and his choice proved to be inspired since Jensen immediately got out and came to him, his face pale, his fists clenched, but his eyes determined.

  "Okay, what's all this about? Pregnancy? Are you kidding me? What else haven't you told me?" He swallowed convulsively, as if he'd realized something else. "Oh my God... Is that what happened to Parker too? I thought he was acting strangely."

  Erdi gripped his mate's chin and forced their eyes to meet. "Calm down. I know this is weird, but yes, werewolves can impregnate human males. Shannon is actually Gavin's birth child. Jessie is going to have twins, and your friend is indeed pregnant too."

  "How is that even possible?" Jensen breathed, obviously trying to process the information. "They're men. They don't have the... parts."

  "I'm not sure," Erdi admitted. "It came as a surprise to me too, but it seems to be connected to having a mate bond—which is exactly like you guessed yesterday, very similar to what an Alpha wolf has with his mate in the wild."

  Jensen's distress was still very clear, and despite his earlier resolve, Erdi found himself pulling his mate into his arms. Much to Erdi's surprise, Jensen melted against his chest. He showed no sign of disgust or apprehension, even if he must have guessed at least part of Erdi's past. "I'm sorry," he mumbled. "I... This is all so new to me. I didn't mean to blow up at you yesterday."

  "You don't need to apologize," Erdi replied quietly. "You're entitled to your anger."

  "You saved my life, Erdi. You're a good man, and now, you're helping me with this. I shouldn't have acted that way."

  Erdi shouldn't have taken his mate up on his kindness, but Jensen's body was so warm against his. He fit just right in Erdi's arms. His scent both soothed and tantalized and Erdi's instincts practically roared at him to claim the beautiful human.

  It was crazy and selfish, but Erdi still pressed his mouth to Jensen's. He banished all thoughts from his mind, ignoring the rational side of him that annoyingly piped up that this was a bad idea. At first, it took an act of will to do that, but then, Jensen let out a soft gasp and parted his lips, and all of Erdi's remaining scruples faded away.

  With a growl of his own, Erdi thrust his tongue into Jensen's mouth. He pinned his mate against the car door, greedy for more, desperate to lose himself in Jensen's taste. To his credit, Jensen was right there with him. Their erections nudged each other, demanding to be let out to play. Jensen wrapped his arms around Erdi's neck and rubbed against him, his hold on Erdi so tight it almost rivaled that of a werewolf.

  Erdi would have probably taken Jensen right then and there, on the hood of the car, had the sound of a car horn not snapped him out of his trance. He remembered where they were and why they'd stopped, and pulled away with a disgruntled groan. Adjusting himself in his jeans, he offered Jensen a sheepish smile. "Later, okay?"

  Jensen nod
ded. "Later."

  It was a promise, one that made Erdi want to ravish his mate once again. By some miracle, he managed to keep a hold on his libido and slid back into the car. As they resumed their drive, he noted with no small measure of relief that the tension between them was gone.

  Chapter Five

  As it turned out, their little road trip lasted more than Jensen had expected and would have liked. Erdi's acquaintance lived somewhere in the Rockies, and the distance meant that they had to drive through the night, with only a few pit stops to eat and go to the bathroom. At times, Erdi shot Jensen a few concerned looks, mindful of his discomfort, but Jensen just arched a brow at his companion. "I assure you I don't need to be coddled. It's best to reach our destination quickly. I wouldn't be able to sleep in one of these motels anyway."

  Not to mention that, with the sexual tension rising between them, he doubted there would be that much sleeping involved. And Jensen was many things, but he couldn't afford to think with his cock, not when he still didn't know what exactly had happened in Willow Cove.

  They arrived in Denver early Monday morning, and their car was trapped in the somewhat sluggish traffic. Jensen stretched a bit to smooth out the kinks in his neck and stole a glimpse at Erdi. He felt mildly guilty that he'd slept through the night whereas Erdi had driven, but the other man didn't look tired. "So do werewolves not need rest or what?"

  Erdi chuckled. "Of course we do. But I'm well trained and far more resilient than a regular werewolf. I can go for days without sleeping if I have to."

  The words "Trained for what?" were on Jensen's lips, but for whatever reason, he didn't say them. He had a feeling the answer was connected to Erdi's abrupt departure the night of their argument.

  So instead of asking that, he inquired, "Do you think we're jumping at shadows? I mean, the car accident could have easily been just that, an accident."

  Erdi shook his head. "I'm sorry, babe, but I saw it pretty clearly. You were targeted. The car came straight at you, and made no attempt to stop. The driver wanted to hurt you. When they hit me, the people inside were pissed off, and I heard them actually comment on the fact that they'd missed you."

  Jensen couldn't suppress a shiver, and Erdi seemed to notice the effects his words had. "It's okay," he whispered. "I won't let anyone hurt you. I promise you that."

  And Jensen believed him. He believed Erdi, even if they knew so little about one another, even if physical chemistry—however incredible—meant nothing in the long run and Erdi still had so many secrets. Jensen's heart told him he could trust Erdi to keep him safe.

  "I know you will," he told the other man. "I believe in you."

  Erdi made a noise—one of those 'I can't fathom what you're thinking' sounds that Jensen had grown accustomed to despite the little time he'd spent with Erdi. Barely audible, but there, they appeared when Jensen said something affectionate, and that in itself was telling and it made Jensen wonder further about Erdi's previous life.

  He'd have probably said something more, but Erdi parked the car and announced, "We're here."

  They both slid out of the car and Jensen looked around for anyone who might look like a shape-shifter. The street was crowded, and so was the cafe in front of which they'd parked. There were a lot of hipsters, young men and women, businessmen working on laptops or reading on tablets—but no one Jensen could pinpoint as a paranormal creature.

  Erdi took his hand and guided him inside the cafe. "Remember, a bit eccentric," he murmured under his breath. "Don't worry about him. He means well."

  Jensen would have been worried about that, but they were suddenly pounced by a young, purple-haired man. "Erdi... You're here."

  The man rubbed his cheek over Erdi's chest. Some of the other patrons stared, while Jensen had the strongest urge to shove the young man off Erdi. Remembering Erdi's words, he kept his calm. That turned out to be the right thing to do, because Erdi managed to extract himself from his attacker's embrace. "Jensen, this is Ian St. Claire. Ian, this is Jensen Moore."

  "It's a pleasure," Ian replied, his piercing eyes fixing on Jensen. "I've heard so much about you. I see Erdi wasn't exaggerating."

  That was about the only warning Jensen got before Ian grabbed his wrist and dragged him along. "Come on. I have a table here."

  Despite his slender, almost fragile build, he was obviously very strong, because he had no trouble forcing Jensen to follow. Jensen went along with it, largely because he heard Erdi growl slightly under his breath, and he could tell the man didn't appreciate Ian manhandling Jensen. The last thing he wanted was to make a scene.

  Mercifully, Ian must have realized there were lines he shouldn't cross because when they reached the table, he released Jensen. He plopped down on his seat and took his cup—something that looked an awful lot like cream was inside—gesturing for Jensen and Erdi to join him as he sipped daintily.

  Erdi and Jensen took the other chairs, and Erdi didn't delay to ask his question. "Can you help us in the matter we discussed?"

  "Of course," Ian replied, licking his lips of the creamy drink. "The house is ready, and I notified my father that a werewolf would be temporarily be staying on our grounds." He grimaced lightly, the first sign of him being less than joyful. "I had to tell him about the vet episode. He wasn't happy, but he is thankful, so he agreed to help."

  "Thank you," Jensen replied, more out of the need to fill the silence than anything else. "We really appreciate it."

  "No need to thank me. Erdi is my friend. Now... Let me just finish this, and we can go. Unless... Do you want something for the road? Have you had breakfast?"

  "No, but we'd prefer to not have it here," Erdi answered, his voice calm, but somehow managing to convey his urgency.

  Ian got the message. He quickly finished his drink and left a few bills on the table. In minutes, they were out of the cafe and getting in their respective cars. Ian gestured for them to follow him, and Erdi did so without too much trouble.

  "Why do we need him to go with us?" Jensen inquired as they drove.

  "Prides of feline shifters and werewolf packs don't really get along. It's not that we're enemies, per se, but we're very territorial, and a werewolf has no place on pride land. I helped Ian a while back, and I'm not exactly a regular werewolf, so that gives me some leeway. Even so, pride members are still liable to be wary unless Ian is with us."

  At that, Jensen could no longer contain his curiosity. "Are you ever going to tell me what's different about you—in comparison to others of your kind, that is?"

  Erdi went rigid. His fingers clenched around the wheel, squeezing the leather so hard Jensen was surprised he didn't tear into the damn thing. He half-expected the man to ignore the question, but he didn't. "I suppose I should tell you already. You guessed it right the first time around. As a rule, werewolves organize into packs—like the Simmons pack Dean used to lead, or even Saul's smaller one. But people like me, we don't have packs. We don't have families. We just have guilds. We're silencers, assassins meant to quiet the secret, to keep anyone from finding out about the shifter world."

  Jensen's mouth went dry and his hands started to sweat. He couldn't say he was awfully surprised given the way he'd met Erdi, but it was still different to hear it from Erdi's mouth. He wanted to ask why Erdi had been at the bed and breakfast that day, but his companion anticipated the question. "Werewolves have a sort of ruling body, which is called the Gathering of Alphas. When I came to the Amaretto that day, I had a mission. I was supposed to kill the people who attacked you—along with Finn and Parker."

  "Wait, what?" Jensen gaped. "Kill them? You can't be serious."

  "Oh, I'm very serious." Erdi smiled bitterly. "The Simmons family had too many human mates, and it was frowned upon. Human mates are allowed to know the truth, but their friends or relatives aren't, which is why the number of people accumulating between Gavin, Jessie, Parker—and of course, William—was considered too high. I was tasked with fixing that mistake, as well as handling the enemy pack that
targeted Finn to begin with."

  "But you didn't kill them," Jensen said in a daze. "You saved them. Why?"

  "Because of you," came the reply. "I'm not a good man, Jensen, and I probably never will be, but seeing you... It made me want to do better, to be better. It made me unable to ignore what I knew in my heart was wrong."

  Erdi had been sketchy on the details of what exactly it meant to have a mate, but still, Jensen could put two and two together. He doubted Erdi would have changed his ways for just anyone, and neither would he have dropped everything for a random human. "I'm your mate, aren't I?"

  Erdi didn't answer, but the silence was reply enough. Jensen swallowed around the knot in his throat and leaned against the window, tears burning at the corner of his eyes. What did that mean?

  Was the mate thing just a physical pull that didn't involve the heart? Did Erdi care about Jensen at all, or had his shifter nature simply forced him to protect Jensen? And why in the world was he thinking about that, when the man had just confessed to being a killer?

  Jensen closed his eyes and remembered Erdi as he'd been that day, hands and body stained with blood. He hadn't been scarred then, Jensen realized. How had Erdi gotten the scar on his cheek since then? What had happened after Erdi had left? And if the mate bond was as important as it seemed, why had he abandoned Jensen to begin with?

  He couldn't ask again, not after the way the previous conversation had gone. So instead, he just remembered and mused over what he knew already. What in the world was he going to do now?

  He must have dozed off at one point, because the next thing he knew, Erdi was gently shaking him awake. "Hey. I know you're tired, but we're almost there."

  Jensen rubbed his eyes, ignoring the yearning that stirred inside him just as the touch of Erdi's fingers. He looked around and saw that, indeed, they'd hit a mountainous area. Forests stretched out in the distance. Ian had stopped his car in front of them, and was talking to someone else, a muscular blond that kept shooting ugly looks toward Erdi and Jensen. Whatever Ian said didn't seem to satisfy him, because he stalked their way, his demeanor full of menace and suppressed anger.