by Lynn Hagen
* * * *
Dillon…
I wasn’t sure what to think. I would’ve said that Lucas and Mikhia were insane for thinking I was pregnant, but I had dreamed about it.
How was I going to explain that to my father? “So now what?”
“So now we find a more permanent place and move out of this motel,” Lucas said.
“Whoa!” I pulled away from Mikhia. “Aren’t you moving a little too fast? I mean I just met you guys and now you’re planning our future?”
“The other option is explaining to your dad why two strangers have moved into his house.”
Lucas had said that with a straight face. Like my father would go for that. My dad would hit the roof. Of course, Jason would get a kick out of me pulling such a bold move.
“We’re not letting you out of our sight,” Mikhia said. “So you either move in with us or we move in with you.”
“That would be a hard no,” I said. “My dad has very firm rules, and one of them is not coming in at all hours of the night. He’d also have a coronary if you two showed up. He knows I’m gay, but I don’t think he wants the fact shoved in his face. And two guys? He’d drag me to the reverend if he ever found out.”
A small growl rumbled in Mikhia’s chest, reminding me once again that neither man was human.
“Why don’t we sleep on this and talk in the morning?” Lucas asked.
“I have to call my dad.” I was not looking forward to the conversation. I sucked at lying, and that was what I would have to do.
I grabbed my phone and dialed while blowing out a breath. My dad picked up on the first ring.
“I’ve been trying to get ahold of you. I was about to call the sheriff.”
I loved my dad, but I wished he would give me breathing room. Ever since my mother had passed away, my dad had become overprotective, especially of me. “I’m fine. I’m with Casey, and time just got away from us.”
“Even so, you shouldn’t worry me like that. All sorts of terrible things went through my head.”
“Dad, I’m okay. In fact, I’m too tired to drive, so I’m gonna spend the night here.” I jumped and gasped when Mikhia began to nibble on my neck.
“What’s wrong?” my dad asked.
“Stubbed my toe.” I slapped Mikhia’s hands away. It seemed I had become a professional liar in such a short amount of time. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Make sure you lock the doors,” my dad said.
“I will.” I hung up before he saw right through my lie. Parents had a strange way of knowing the truth no matter how hard a child tried to lie to them. I prayed that wasn’t the case this time.
I turned and glared at Mikhia. “What was that all about? Were you trying to blow my lie?”
Mikhia wiggled his brows. “I was trying to blow something, but you smacked my hands away.”
I was in the middle of a crisis and Mikhia was horny?
Shit. I quickly texted Casey so my friend knew to cover for me. Casey sent an emoji of an eggplant and drops of water. What a perv.
“Let him eat before you offer to suck his dick,” Lucas said to Mikhia and then looked at me. “When was the last time you ate?”
I shrugged. “I can’t remember.”
Mikhia picked up my container. “You need to eat.”
“I’ll look into rentals first thing tomorrow,” Lucas said.
“You guys are awful bossy,” I snapped. “And you’re moving too fast. Can we slow down before my head explodes?”
Mikhia chuckled.
I rolled my eyes. “Wrong head, pervert.”
Mikhia tapped the container that was balanced on my thighs. “Eat.”
“I’ll draw you a bath.” Lucas walked into the bathroom, and then I heard the water cut on.
I saw now that it was going to be a very long and interesting night.
* * * *
Lucas…
I grabbed a newspaper from the gas station so I could search for rentals. I would rather buy a house, but until things were settled with Bodin and Nezat, as well as Dillon, I would hold off.
I also grabbed two coffees and a health drink for our mate. I didn’t want Dillon drinking caffeine while he was pregnant. I still didn’t know if our mate had conceived, but after another round of sex last night, I would be surprised if he hadn’t.
Pregnant.
Now that I was alone, the gravity of the situation sank in. I was going to be a father, and chaos seemed to be raining down around me. I had to fix things before our babe was brought into the world. I never thought I would become a father, but now that that dream would become a reality, I felt weak in the knees and my heart beat a little faster.
A father.
I smiled at the thought. Mating Dillon and starting a family didn’t scare me like it should have. I’d always loved kids and was looking forward to having one of my own.
As soon as I walked out of the gas station, I felt eyes on me. I stored the drinks in the passenger side then looked around. Across the street was the reverend, and he had Bert with him. They stared me down, as if silently telling me they were watching us.
Then the reverend smirked.
I flipped them off and got into my car. The two were human with no super strength. If they fucked with me, I would end them.
I drove back to the motel to find Dillon outside arguing with an older guy. What the hell? Why was Mikhia just standing by the door with his arms crossed? Why was he letting our mate get yelled at by that stranger?
I shoved the car into Park and slid out, not bothering to retrieve the drinks or paper. I was too pissed to care about them. “What’s going on?”
The stranger pinned me with a death stare. “So it’s true! The two of you somehow convinced my son to…to… Stay the hell away from him, or I swear I’ll cut your balls off!”
Now I knew why Mikhia wasn’t interfering. This was Dillon’s father. Even so, if he made any kind of wrong move toward Dillon, I would put him on his ass.
“Dad, they’re just friends. I told you I just stopped by this morning to see if they wanted to grab breakfast. I swear I spent the night at Casey’s.”
“Reverend Goodstocke told me what he saw!”
Ah. Now I knew why the bastard had smirked at me. The reverend was trying to separate Dillon from us, and what better way than to tip the father’s ear?
“What exactly did he see?” Dillon folded his arms over his chest. “And I can’t believe that you would take his word over mine.”
“I want you home right now.” The father jabbed a finger at Dillon’s car. “We’ll finish this discussion in the privacy of our home.”
If Dillon left, Mikhia and I would just follow him and watch the house from a distance. There was no way I was letting our mate out of my goddamn sight.
“No.” Dillon’s brows shot up, as if he’d surprised himself with his answer. “I love you, Dad, but I’m a grown man, and I have things to do today. I’ll be home later.”
The father opened his mouth and then closed it. He gave me one more death glare before he stormed to his car and drove off.
Honestly, I was certain the dad would try to haul Dillon home. I was glad it hadn’t come to that. Seeing anyone, including Dillon’s own father, lay hands on our pregnant mate would have set me off and forced my panther to make an appearance.
Dillon simply stood there, staring at the spot where his dad had been parked. I walked over but kept some distance between us just in case our mate’s father was close by. “Are you okay?”
I wanted nothing more than to pull Dillon into my arms and comfort him but wasn’t sure if Dillon would be receptive to my touch.
“I want that freaking reverend out of town,” Dillon said between clenched teeth. “I hate arguing with my dad, especially when someone else is the cause.”
Dillon stomped to the motel room door. I looked at Mikhia. My brother just shrugged and followed Dillon inside. With a sigh, I grabbed the drinks and paper before I joined them.<
br />
“What kind of bullshit was that?” Dillon paced in front of the dresser. Mikhia was leaning on the bed on one elbow as he watched our mate. “Why would the reverend go running to my dad? Ugh!”
“Because he wants to separate you from us,” I said as I closed the door with my foot. “You’ll be easier to obtain if we’re not close by.”
Dillon stopped pacing. “I didn’t think about that. What was all that chosen stuff you were talking about? I never asked you.”
I wasn’t sure Dillon was ready for the entire truth, but I gave it to him while watching to make sure he didn’t pass out.
“So you think this Nezat thing wants to breed with me?” Dillon turned a light shade of green. “What the hell have I gotten myself into? How would he even know I can do that?”
“He’s not human,” Mikhia said. “We’re still not sure what Nezat is, but clearly he can tell who’s a breeder and who isn’t.”
“Breeder,” Dillon repeated. “Please don’t use that word again.”
I set my stuff aside and pulled Dillon into my arms. My panther had been dying to do that since I’d pulled up and seen how distraught Dillon looked.
“I know this is a lot to take in, but we’re here to keep you safe, Dillon,” I said. “You have to understand what finding our mate means to us, what you mean to us. We don’t take any of this lightly.”
A shifter could search for his or her mate their entire life and never find them. It was a damn miracle Mikhia and I had found ours, and I wasn’t going to do anything to jeopardize the happiness I knew the three of us could share once all the bullshit was behind us.
“Fuck, you’ve even managed to pull the stick out of Mikhia’s ass, and that’s no small feat.”
Mikhia curled his lip. “Speak for yourself. I happen to have a sunny disposition."
Before the madness had struck. I would agree that Mikhia hadn’t always been like this. He used to laugh and joke. But darkness had descended on our lives, and I was desperate to fix that, to rid the world of Nezat and Bodin and the people like Goodstocke and Bert.
“Well, I think—” Dillon slapped a hand over his mouth as he raced to the bathroom.
I was hot on his trail, Mikhia right behind me.
I grabbed a cloth from the shelf and wet it, smoothing it over Dillon’s neck as our mate emptied his stomach.
I had no doubt that Dillon was pregnant. I would find us a home, rid Hungry of the menacing forces, and deal with Dillon’s dad. No matter what, we were going to have a happy life together, even if I had to kill everyone standing in our way.
Chapter Nine
Dillon…
As soon as I walked into the café, Casey yanked me to the back and steered me toward his office. “Dude, I hate to tell you this, but it’s all over town that you slept with Lucas and Mikhia. Who the hell knew besides you and me?”
I swear I hated small towns. They were nothing but big gossip factories, which sometimes destroyed lives. Residents had nothing better to do than talk about other people.
“My dad showed up at the motel,” I said. I told Casey about my father’s outburst, and then I told him what Lucas and Mikhia had told me about panthers, mates, and pregnancy.
“Tell me you’re joking.” Casey’s brows were past his hairline. “You just keep blowing my mind. How do you know they’re telling the truth? Did you dream about this?”
I nodded.
Casey staggered back and then took a seat in his chair behind his desk. “Now I feel awful about pushing you toward them, Dillon. I swear. I didn’t know.”
“No one is blaming you.” I sat in the chair across from his desk. “I was the one all horned up and seeking them out.” I scrubbed a hand over my face. “And now I’m pregnant. I’m freaking out, Casey. What the hell am I going to do? That’s not something I can hide from people.”
People like my dad. My world was spiraling out of control, and I felt helpless to stop it. Now the whole town was gonna look at me like a harlot.
“I wouldn’t care what anyone thinks,” Casey said. “I mean, as far as you and two guys. Panthers? Pregnancy? I’m gonna pass out. How does that even work?”
“Well, you see. When a bee pollinates—”
“Oh my god, shut up. I know how that works. I’ve been pollinated before. I’ve just never gotten knocked up from it. What the hell are you going to do?”
Now I knew how women felt, but at least women knew there was a possibility of getting pregnant. I had no flipping clue it could happen to me. “How should I know? It’s not like I was born with ovaries.”
That made Casey laugh until tears welled up in his eyes. I didn’t see what was so funny. I had a bun in the oven, and the guys I was with acted as if it were a common thing.
They were also pushy and overprotective, and I knew they were lingering close to the kitchen door. I was surprised they weren’t standing right outside Casey’s office.
“Now Lucas and Mikhia are talking about getting a house and us moving in together.”
Casey’s laughter died down. “Wow, they move fast. But it’s about time you moved out of your dad’s house. You can’t live there forever. Not if you want a normal sex life.”
I jabbed a finger at my stomach. “What’s normal about this?”
Casey stood and rounded his desk. “It’s insane. I know. Mind-boggling. But Lucas and Mikhia seem like really nice guys. They knocked you up, and now they’re trying to take responsibility. That’s more than I can say for some guys.”
Like Casey’s dad, who had been a one-night stand, but when his mother found out she was pregnant, the bastard who’d knocked her up had skipped town.
I wouldn’t exactly say that Casey had abandonment issues, but he definitely had daddy issues. His mother had been a single parent Casey’s entire life, afraid to trust any other man. She’d thrown herself into raising Casey and, in my opinion, had neglected her own needs.
When Casey had become an adult and a successful business owner, his sperm donor had come around, acting as though he wanted to be a part of Casey’s life.
Until Fred McGuire showed his true colors, asking Casey for loans and acting like he was part business owner of the café.
If it hadn’t been for Jack and Ken—who Casey had originally hired as muscle to keep his father away but ended up staying as a server and cook—Fred might have cleaned Casey out.
Then Casey started dating some jerk who had gotten way to clingy, creepy if you asked me, and didn’t know how to take rejection. Albert still came around the diner, just sitting there staring at Casey.
My best friend had his fair share of wack jobs.
“I think I’m still in shock,” I admitted. “What guy wouldn’t be?”
“So you’ve got two beefcakes who put a baby in you, your dad having a fit about you sleeping with two guys, and some loons who aren’t even human after you.” Casey gave a low whistle. “And I thought my life was complicated.”
Casey sat next to me and took my hands in his. “Honey, for once, just go for it. Okay, for twice, since you clearly went for it once already. I know this isn’t the ideal situation for you, but everything happens for a reason.”
“Would you be saying that if this was happening to you?”
“Hell no.” Casey snorted. “I mean…yes.”
That put a grin on my face. “You’re a horrible liar.”
“And I hear you’ve gotten to be a pretty good one.” Casey hugged me. “Just give them a chance. Your baby deserves to grow up with his daddy….err…daddies.”
I definitely didn’t want to do this on my own. What did I know about raising a baby? My father and brother would be of no help, and all I had was Casey.
The diva wouldn’t know a diaper from a bottle.
“Okay, so I need to get over my shock and come up with a plan,” I said.
“I think your guys already came up with a plan.” Casey patted my hand. “Move in with them and enjoy your life.”
“After the thre
at is gone,” I reminded him.
“Don’t wait for that,” Casey said. “You have to live now. That baby isn’t going to wait until the threat is gone. Why should you? If it doesn’t work out and Lucas and Mikhia turn out to be jerks, I’ll send Jack and Ken to deal with them.”
Because Jack and Ken would do anything for Casey. I tried once to point out the fact that they might be interested in my friend, but Casey said I was crazy and to drop the subject.
“Now that’s one confrontation I wouldn’t want to see.” I stood, knowing Lucas and Mikhia were waiting for me. “Thanks again for being such a good friend.”
“My advice doesn’t come without a price.” Casey grinned. “You’re gonna make me the kid’s godfather. I’m going to spoil him or her rotten.” His brows shot up as he looked at my stomach. “How exactly are you going to give birth?”
“Fuck if I know and I’m too afraid to ask.” I still wanted to believe that I wasn’t pregnant, that Lucas and Mikhia were just insane. But not only did my sickness clue me in but I’d also dreamed about it.
Just as I’d suspected, as soon as I walked out of the kitchen, Lucas and Mikhia were right there, looking around as if I had some bad guy lurking somewhere behind me.
Lucas slid his hand through his hair, pushing aside the strands that always hung in his face. “Everything okay?”
Casey walked out behind me. “Everything is peachy, and if you fuck my best friend over, I’ll beat you both over the head with a frying pan.”
I noticed that that statement got Jack’s and Ken’s attention, though they stayed behind the counter.
Lucas held up a folded newspaper. “I circled a few houses for rent and made some appointments to look at them.”
Mikhia moved in behind me and circled his arms around my waist, uncaring of the customers who gave us funny looks. If I was going to stay in Hungry, I needed to get used to those looks. Casey was right. I didn’t want my child growing up without his or her fathers.
Fathers. Jeez.
I looked over my shoulder at Casey. “If they screw me over, I’ll just tie their beards together.”