by Unknown
“He’s perfect.” Stephany sniffed, Ward could hear that she was crying softly.
Ward kissed her cheek, hugging her to him. “You did it.”
Becky bundled up the baby and handed him to Stephany. His female continued to sob as she cradled the baby in her shaking arms. Ward kept his arms around her, helping her to hold the little one.
“I still need to cut the cord and then there’s the business of the placenta.” Becky interjected. “I would recommend that you move back to the bed.
Ward nodded. “I will help my female.” He picked both Stephany and the baby up, placing them on the bed.
“You did that so easily.” Becky sighed, her eyes drifted to his arms. “Would you be able to pick me up like that?”
Ward frowned at the female. Maybe she had been awake for too long and wasn’t thinking clearly anymore. “Why do you need me to pick you up?”
“No, you misunderstand. I don’t need you to pick me up. I just want to know if you could pick me up if I needed you to.”
Ward shook his head slowly, seriously confused by the line of questioning. “I still don’t really understand, but yes, easily. I could hoist you above my head using just one arm. You are tiny.”
The female ran her hands over her curves. “Really, you think I’m tiny?” She grinned.
Ward nodded, turning his attention back to his female and child.
“Maybe I should consider sex with a shifter instead of a vampire after all. Oh God, can you imagine the fun we could have if he could lift me up and spin me round? We could do all sorts of wicked things.” Then she cleared her throat. “Sorry. Not sure how I got so off track. Must be because I haven’t had sex in over a freaking year.” She giggled.
Stephany opened the blanket. “He’s so small. Look at his little hands.”
“He looks just like you.” Ward heard the catch in his voice and swallowed thickly. His pup had fine blond hair and the bluest eyes. His features looked like they had been carved from the finest porcelain, just like his mother.
“I am very happy for you.” Brant looked down at them.
Ward couldn’t help the growl that was torn from him as his eyes lifted to the vampire scum.
“No, I mean it. I’ve never been happier about being wrong. I mean that, Stephany.” The bastard actually looked like he meant it. Stephany kept her eyes on the baby in her arms.
“You are not taking me away from my family.” Ward growled, his arms tightening around Stephany.
“That female is my mate and so by default the child is mine also.” Ward tracked the source of the voice. Lance’s entire frame filled the door. Heat surged through his body as he caught site of the other male.
His female took a shuddery breath. “No,” she gasped.
Ward turned, putting Stephany and his pup to his back. The male drew a sword from a sheath on his back. “This time it’s solid silver, so no second chances, wolf.”
“I’m ready for you.” Ward closed the distance between them, trying to take the pending battle as far away from his female and child as he could.
Stephany screamed and the baby wailed. He used their distressed sounds to energize himself. Lance swiped, only just missing. He swiped again. Ward had to lean backwards to avoid being hit. The male lunged. This time he was ready with a sharp jab to Lance’s ribs, winding the male who swung wide.
Lance was fuming, he charged like a raging bull, managing to sucker punch Ward. The blow glanced off the side of his head as he moved away. The male was strong and skilled. Ward had to work to keep the fight away from his female. He eventually found a gap, managing to issue a hard blow to Lance’s knee, which popped and then crunched under his onslaught. It was easy to disarm him after that.
“She is mine, you fucking beast!” Lance bellowed. “Mine!”
Ward moved away from the male. Every instinct in him screamed to end his life. To eliminate the adversary.
“Do something, Brant. The female is mine.” Spittle flew from his lips. His face was twisted in rage and frustration as he kept trying to rise onto his maimed leg. “You had better fucking run”—he pointed at Ward—“Once my leg heals, I’m coming for you.” The knee buckled under his weight and this time he thankfully stayed down.
Stephany clutched the baby to her chest. Her eyes wide. “Stop this, Lance,” she pleaded.
The male turned his head to face her. “We are mated. The lores are clear.”
“I don’t love you, Lance. I don’t believe that you love me either. If you did, you would’ve come for me long ago.”
“My heart bleeds for you, Steph, it bleeds for my mate. I need you,” Lance said. His eyes shone, and for a moment Ward actually felt sorry for the male.
Stephany shook her head. “You went through a traumatic event. You nearly died. For whatever reason it made you decide that you love me, but you don’t I promise you that you don’t.”
“How the hell would you know what I feel inside?” The male spat, making Ward growl softly in warning. Lance may be hurting, but Ward would not allow him to disrespect Stephany.
“I love Ward. I always have and I always will.” She turned her eyes to him and his heart stopped beating for what felt like the longest time. “My heart stayed with him and there is nothing that would’ve kept us apart. Not for very long anyway.” She smiled and shook her head. “We would’ve found each other again, that much I know for certain. There is no way in hell that you can be my mate, Lance. I’m sorry, I don’t care what some lore says. I don’t give a damn, because that is my mate over there.” Her beautiful blue eyes were locked with his. He had to grin. He didn’t care if he looked like a blood encrusted fool because he couldn’t help it. “Ward is my true mate. He is the one that I want to grow old with. The only one I want to raise my children with. He is my everything.”
“I love you too, Stephany.” He strode over to his female, pulling both her and his child into his arms. He crushed her lips with his. Drank in her heavenly scent. He finally broke the kiss to hug her close and was unable to stop his wolf from nipping at the sensitive skin at the base of her neck.
Becky shrieked. There was a loud crash. When Ward turned, Lance lay unconscious on the floor at his feet. Brant stood over him, fists clenched.
Ward locked eyes with the vampire. “Thank you.”
“Should’ve stayed out of this as ordered.” Brant muttered. His eyes seemed to darken. “I take it that you wish to go with the beast?” Brant looked at Stephany. “That you want to stay with the alpha as his mate?”
“Yes,” Stephany replied. Her voice clear and sure.
Brant sighed. “I must be mad.” He shook his head, looking back at Ward. “This is not over wolf. We have much to discuss. I too am about to become a father. I hope to raise many heirs.” He glanced away, pausing for a time. “We don’t want a war. The species’ numbers are too low as it is. I’m sure we can find some sort of middle ground.”
Ward nodded. “I’m sure that we can.”
The male grimaced, shook his head and then gave a wry smile. “I wish you both well.”
His female moaned and clutched at her belly with one hand while still trying to hold onto the baby with the other.
“What is it?” Ward took his son, glancing at Becky.
“Don’t worry.” The female smiled. “These contractions will be much milder and are required to expel the placenta.”
“Placenta?” He wished that the female would just speak in English for once.
“The feeding sac,” Stephany said through gritted teeth.
Ward nodded in understanding.
“Except, these aren’t mild,” his female panted. “I have the urge to push again.”
“That’s fine,” said Becky, positioning herself on the bed. “Listen to the signals that your body is giving you. It normally doesn’t take more than a couple of pushes.”
“Please excuse me.” They had forgotten all about Brant, who back tracked out of the room.
Stephany pushed
hard, resting between contractions and pushing when the urge hit.
“Oh my good God!!” Becky shrieked. “I see another head.” She lifted her head, her eyes darting from Ward to Stephany and back “You were pregnant with twins. Twins!”
“Two.” Ward was grinning broadly.
His female’s pained groan turned into a laugh. “Two.” She panted. “Are you sure? Twin pregnancies are rare.”
“Very sure..” Becky laughed loudly, her eyes still focussed between Stephany’s legs. “Now push, Steph, push.”
Chapter 11
One week later
“What smells so interesting?” Ward said as he walked into their cabin. Shirtless and irresistible. He threw her a lopsided grin, hooking his thumbs into his jeans pockets.
“I made us dinner.” She bit down on her bottom lip.
His beautiful smile turned to a frown. “You shouldn’t be working. That’s the whole reason I agreed to allowing the human to come here in the first place.”
An incredulous noise escaped her. “No, Becky came to stay for the week to monitor the babies and I, not to cook and clean. How many times do I need to keep telling you that I gave birth, I’m not sick?” She stuck her tongue out at him.
His eyes hooded. “Careful, that’s considered foreplay in wolf language.” His voice turned husky.
She rolled her eyes. “Everything is considered foreplay in wolf language. Not that it matters though, since you refuse to touch me.”
“You’re still healing.” His voice took on a concerned edge and his eyes darkened.
“I healed within an hour of having the babies.” She removed the lid from the stew and stirred. It smelled weird. Maybe she had done it all wrong. “Remind me.” She turned back to Ward. “I followed your steps exactly. The correct way to make stew is to take the various ingredients and throw them in a pot together and cook them for a couple of hours and viola…stew. Right?”
His nostrils flared and his eyes kept darting to the steaming pot. “Yes.” He sounded unsure. “But not everything tastes good if mixed together. Did I forget to mention that part?”
She gasped. “You didn’t tell me that.”
“I didn’t think of it at the time. What do you have in that pot?” he walked over to her, kissing her until her toes curled and her breathing changed.
When he finally released her, she said, “Onion.” He nodded. “Vegetables.” He nodded again, folding his arms across his chest. “Some of that deer the males killed last week.” He nodded a third time. “I also know how much you liked that strawberry jam so when I added the salt and spices I threw some of that in as well.”
Ward grinned so widely that his dimples popped out.
“What is it?” She blew on a spoonful and put it into her mouth grimacing. “It tastes funny.”
“I think”—Ward moved towards her, putting his arms around her—“that there may be many more cooking lessons ahead for you, Steph.” He pulled her towards him.
“Oh yeah?” She raised her eyebrows, going up onto her tippy toes so that she was face to face with him.
“Oh yeah.” He pecked her lips. “Like possibly a lifetime of them.” He covered her mouth with his lips, his tongue penetrated her mouth causing her to moan.
“Oh really?”
He kissed her again, this time lingering for a second or two. “I think I might be forced to have you for dinner tonight.”
Excitement coursed through her. “Promises, promises.”
“No, really. I’ve had a bit of a craving not just to bite you but to taste your blood.” He pulled a face like the idea was unappealing, but when his gaze strayed to her throat it heated with both desire and yearning.
“I guess you must have taken on some of my traits.”
Ward licked his lips. “Must have.” His hands slid to her ass and he cupped her. “Your scent drives me wild.” He pulled her against him. His erection hard and throbbing between them.
“Does this mean that we finally get to…” She bobbed her eyebrows.
“Only if you’re feeling up to it.” He started to back away, so she gripped his biceps.
Not wanting to let this opportunity slip away, she rubbed herself against him. Ward groaned, letting his head fall back.
“I’m really ready.” She purred while rubbing up against him a second time.
“Well in that case.” His hot breath fanned the shell of her ear.
The cry of a baby sounded from the next room. Ward made a sound of frustration.
“Your daughter knows that you are home and is demanding that you hold her.” Their little girl had been a big surprise. They firstly hadn’t been expecting her at all and secondly, there was the fact that she was a female. It was clear that interspecies breeding was unknown territory. Both of her precious children were more than she could ever have hoped for, and they were both thrilled at the unexpected surprise.
“More like she wants to be fed.” He glanced down at her straining shirt. Her mammary glands were enormous. “Mmmmm, I think I might have a hankering for some milk as well.” Ward licked his lips and his gaze heated. “It’s not fair that the babies get to have all the fun.”
Just then, little Nathan also started crying. “You get Cat and I’ll get Nathan.” Stephany smiled when she noticed Ward’s deep frown.
“Don’t call our daughter Cat. Her name is Catrina.”
Stephany smiled back. “I think I can remember my own mother’s name.” They had decided on Nathan for a boy after his father, just the modernized version and Catrina after her mother. Ward hated it when she called her Cat for short, because how could a wolf pup grow up being called Cat? It just wasn’t right, he’d said on more than one occasion, but had accidentally let the pet name slip a few times himself.
Both babies stopped crying the instant that they were picked up. Stephany settled herself down on the rocker and Ward handed her Catrina. Emerald green eyes stared up at her. The little girl also had the same dark hair as her father.
Stephany smiled at her mate. “I couldn’t be happier.” She sighed.
“Oh, yeah,” Ward’s nostrils flared as she opened her top, exposing a plump breast. “Just wait until I get my paws on you tonight. I haven’t heard you cuss in the longest time. I plan on doing everything in my power to rectify that.”
His heated look had her insides turning to mush. Thank the gods she’d opened her eyes that day in the shower…
****
Rushe kept his eyes trained on the cabin that housed the human female. He’d specifically asked for this detail, and thankfully Ward had granted him the honor of keeping watch over the healer. She was after all a guest to their village.
It was getting late, a full moon hung at half-mast in the crisp night sky. Blood coursed through his veins and the need to shift and run through the forest rode him hard. He tramped down on the craving, understanding that the real urge that had him pacing and his adrenaline surging through his veins was inside the four walls in front of him.
His beast had decided that it wanted Becky, not just to rut but to mate. It didn’t happen very often to a shifter that their beast was so demanding. The overwhelming desire to rut her and spill his seed inside her was the real reason why his wolf was so restless. To the point where his skin felt tingly and overly tight. His canines ached. His dick throbbed in the tight confines of his pants and no amount of masturbation would ease the pressure.
Just scenting her honey suckle aroma as it drifted on the slight night breeze had his eyes rolling in his head and a light rumble vibrating from his chest.
Rushe decided to do one final patrol of the perimeter of the cabin. It was an excuse to get closer. To capture more of her delicious scent, and he knew it.
He hadn’t walked very far when a strange buzzing noise came from behind the closed door. It was at first a steady buzz that had him scratching his head. Within seconds the buzzing became even louder and then returned to softer in the next instance. This continued for a time, the changes
to the sound variation increasing and decreasing in tempo.
Was something wrong?
Rushe listened intently, allowing his magnified hearing to penetrate the cabin door. Becky whimpered. The female sounded like she was in pain. The buzzing noise continued. When she sobbed, he knew that she had to be in serious trouble. His protective instincts went into overdrive and he rushed into the cabin. Ready to save her…
The female lay on the bed. His instinct to kill, to maim, to do whatever it took to protect her changed in a heartbeat. Now that he had caught an eyeball full of the glorious creature laying splayed before him, another much stronger instinct emerged.
Becky wore one of those silky black nighties. It was pulled tight around her glorious breasts. He made a whimpering noise of his own when he realized that he could see the clear outline of her plump nipples against the shiny fabric. The black silk rode up high on her waist. The delectable creature lay spread-eagled with her hand firmly between her legs. Her pussy was the most perfect, glistening pink.
The human lifted her head from the pillows, her blond curls danced about her face. Her eyes were hooded and her lips parted. A deep flush accentuated her cheeks.
To his utter shock, her cupid bow shaped mouth pulled into a wicked smile that had him taking a hesitant step back.
In one easy stroke, she removed a thick rubber device from her slick opening. At least he now knew what was making the buzzing noise. She arched her back in a seductive manner that had his eyes drawn first to the tight peeks on her chest and then to her very wet slit. “Care to finish me off?” She purred. Her honey suckle aroma enveloped him.
Although Rushe was next on the list, he technically wasn’t allowed to seduce a human female just yet. Not only that, Ward had forbid him from talking to the human while she was here let alone from touching her. His alpha trusted him to do the right thing. Gritting his teeth, he took another half step back unable to tear his eyes off the magnificent female.
Part 1 of Unlikely Mates is available for pre-order now