The Chosen Series Box Set: Books 1 - 3

by Charlene Hartnady

  Stephany stayed on the other side of the door. So tempted to go back out there. Surely she could do something. The sound of clashing steel and blood curdling screams kept her where she was though. She had more to think of than just herself.

  There were too many. It was just a matter of time before the wolves were overrun. She’d heard Ward offer to give themselves up. That was just like him to think of the other two males and not just himself.

  Was Brant right?

  Would she die trying to birth this child? She’d always known that there was a chance that she would. Right now she was petrified of what Brant would do to Ward, especially if she did die. The king blamed Ward. Madness. Was she not old enough and wise enough to make such decisions for herself?

  The fighting dragged on, seconds becoming minutes, the minutes very soon surpassing an hour. Eventually the clanging grew softer. The screams fewer.

  “Nooo!” Ward screamed.

  There was a god awful roar followed by a loud thud. A blood freezing battle cry made her cringe. It came from just outside the door so she suspected it was one of the shifters.

  “Fuckers!” Ward screamed. Although he had cursed many times during the battle, this time he sounded desperate.

  There were several loud thuds and an enraged growl. The fighting noises stopped.

  “Fuck you! Let me go!” Ward snarled.

  It was over. The wolves had put up a brave fight, but they had lost in the end. Stephany cracked open the door by an inch. She gasped, taking in the carnage. The floor was coated in splattered blood. Fallen vampire males were being dragged away by other guards. A male lay moaning at her feet, his hand clutched to his bleeding chest. Both Tyler and Rushe were hoisted away. Their bodies broken and bleeding. When her eyes landed on a struggling Ward, she felt her throat tighten.

  “To the dungeon!” Brant barked.

  “Please,” Ward’s chest heaved as he spoke. A gash on his arm bled profusely. His face was crusted in blood and gore, which she suspected was not his own. “I need to stay with my female.” His eyes locked with hers. They were feral and desperate.

  Her chest tightened. “Let him go,” she pleaded.

  Brant rolled his eyes, brushing his hand down the front of his leather jerkin as if to remove some non-existent dirt. He shook his head. “I will stay with you, Stephany.” He turned to face a still struggling Ward. “Your female will not die alone. Your punishment wolf will be to sit in a cell alone until it is done.”

  “No!” Stephany screamed.

  “Bastard.” Ward spat, elbowing one of the males in the chest who briefly let him go. Just as Stephany thought that he might break free, two more males took the fallen one’s place and quickly secured Ward. There were more vampire males in this room right now than at the castle on any given day. The wolves hadn’t stood a chance.

  “Fear not wolf. I will let you say your goodbyes to both your female and your child, but only once they are dead. You will then have time to mourn over their cold stiff bodies. I’ll show you first-hand what your selfishness has caused.”

  Stephany clutched her stomach, her heart raced a mile a minute. Was what he said true? It would kill Ward if it was.

  The Alpha put his head back and roared. The sound filled with more agony and pain than any of the noises the males had made during the battle.

  “Once I am satisfied that you have suffered enough, you will have your head cleaved from your shoulders. Take him away.” Brant’s eyes flashed to the closest male.

  It was her turn to give an agonized shriek. She couldn’t do this without Ward. She would somehow have to convince Brant to let him go. Maybe the baby wouldn’t come just yet. Maybe she still had time.

  Stephany tried to run to Brant, but hands grabbed her from either side. “No, female.” She barely registered Griffin’s concerned eyes or the fact that the male held her with care.

  Ward growled and snarled, still fighting his captors.

  Pain overtook her. “Ward!” she screamed.

  His eyes flashed to hers just as she felt something pop inside her. Water gushed, wetting the sweats that she had pulled on earlier. There was no time to contemplate the situation, because a heavy onslaught of pain had her falling. It was only the male at her sides that kept her upright.

  Ward’s eyes turned panicked, he fought so much harder against the mob that surrounded him now, and for a few seconds he was lost from view. “She needs the healer,” he snarled. The mob surged. When she caught sight of him again, his face was covered in fresh blood, his eyes blazed. “You can do this.” He shouted as his eyes locked with hers. “Stay posit—” An elbow connected with his face as the group strode away.

  “Ward!” She cried as more fluid gushed.

  Like it or not, this baby was coming. Brant strode towards her. “Let go of the female and fetch the healer.” He addressed Griffin, taking the male’s place at her side.

  She tried to remove herself from her king’s grasp, but another painful contraction tore through her. Stephany grit her teeth. “Let go of me,” she finally managed to grind out.

  Brant ignored her, helping her back to the bed instead. Although she felt like pulling her arm away from him and punching him, she didn’t have much of a choice. It wouldn’t be long before the next pain hit, so she allowed him to help her onto the bed instead. “I can’t believe that you would do this to me after all these years.”

  “I never thought I would see you like this, Steph. You have disappointed me.” Before she could reply, he turned to the other male. “We need a clean-up team. I want fifteen males surrounding the perimeter.”

  “You need to keep me informed,” Zane said as he strode in. He grimaced as his eyes landed on Stephany. “I don’t know why you don’t just let the wolf stay. He should be here to witness his handy work first hand.”

  “I have made my decision,” Brant said almost under his breath.

  Zane snorted. “Our female will not be pleased.”

  Brant looked sheepish for the briefest second before his whole stance hardened up. “She’ll just have to deal. How is Lance holding up?”

  “He’s pissed that he’s been made to stay at the castle.” Zane narrowed his eyes. “If he knows what is good for him though, he will respect my decision and stay out of this. The male is too emotional about the situation and I would say the same for you.”

  Brant took a deep breath, looking like he was getting ready to argue when the door flew open.

  “Get the fuck out of my medical practice!” Becky shouted as she walked in. Her eyes were narrowed, her face a mask of rage. “Why you vampires seem to think that you rule the freaking world is beyond me.”

  “Human,” Brant inclined his head. “Stephany’s birthing pains have started. You will make her passing as comfortable as possible.”

  “To think I thought you were hot.” She threw Brant a scorching look that would have had a lessor male cringing. “What you are is a damned idiot. Get the fuck out!” Her hands flew to her hips.

  “I would like to request to stay.” Ross clasped his hands in front of him. Stephany only just noticed him in the room.

  “Request declined,” Zane growled. “Your little petition has been shredded. There will be no rutting human females”—he paused taking a deep breath—“ever.”

  “Happy fucking days!!” Becky said. “It would be the best for the human population anyway. You lot are a bunch of arrogant sons of bitches—” it seemed like Becky would quite happily have gone on and on, but the next contraction seized Stephany. She clutched her stomach, which had become rock hard. Although she tried to keep quiet, a moan managed to escape.

  Becky’s eyes snapped to her and the human walked over. “Oh, honey.” Her voice was calm and soothing. “Breathe through it.” She began to breathe in and out. Stephany mimicked the female, finding that it helped. The tension subsided and Stephany slumped back against the pillows.

  “Get out.” Becky’s voice had taken on a hard no-nonsense edge and to Ste
phany’s surprise, all the vampire males filed out. All except for Ross that is.

  “Becky. I’m sorry this has happened, please know that I—”

  “Save it.” Becky held up a hand. Without acknowledging the male any further, she walked to a nearby basin and began to wash her hands with a red liquid from a pump container.

  Ross kept his eyes trained on her back for a few beats, he scrubbed a hand over his face before sighing heavily. His eyes turned to Stephany. “I wish you luck with the birthing.” The male inclined his head and walked out.

  Becky pulled on some rubber gloves and walked to the side of the bed. “I don’t want you to listen to anything those bastards are spouting. Do you hear me?” Her eyes burned with intensity. “You are on my watch now and I plan on delivering a healthy baby.”

  “I want that too.” Another contraction hit and they both breathed through it. It seemed to take a bit longer to subside this time. “By the gods, that hurts.” Stephany had never considered herself a weakling before, but right now she wasn’t sure that she could go through this without support.

  “That’s why they call it labor, honey. Let’s check your cervix. Please remove the sweats.” She quickly removed the soaked pants. It wouldn’t be long before the next contraction hit. They seemed to be coming every few minutes.

  “Open up for me please.”

  She did as Becky asked and spread her legs. By now, she was used to the intrusion and didn’t tense up as badly. The whole thing was over quickly. “You’re three centimeters already. The gel did its job.” The female removed the gloves, tossing them into the trash. “Don’t be fooled though. We have many hours ahead of us yet. I’m here for you.”

  It was as if her body had heard the female, because the now all too familiar tensing of her muscles started in her belly region indicating a pending contraction. Her eyes must’ve widened or something because Becky grabbed her hand and they both breathed together until it passed.

  Once it was over, Becky started to move away. Stephany grabbed her hand. “Thank you.”

  The female smiled. “What are friends for?”

  Stephany felt her eyes fill with tears, and as hard as she tried, she couldn’t make herself stop. Hot tears cascaded down her cheeks.

  “Oh, honey.” Becky squeezed her hand. “We’ll get through this.”

  “I’m so scared. What will happen to Ward?” She sniffed, wiping her eyes.

  “Let’s get you through this and then we’ll worry about Ward.” She sighed. “He’ll be very worried about you. He’s a really good guy. He loves you big time.”

  “I know.” Her tears came faster. “I never got to tell him that I love him too.”

  “He knows. It’s easy to see. The two of you are a match made in freaking heaven.” The human gave her a wistful smile.

  “Not really, we’re complete opposites. A vampire and a wolf are hardly a match. Besides, I’m technically mated to Lance.”

  Becky shrugged. “That whole Lance thing is bullshit. I’ve seen the way you and Ward look at each other. The love you feel for one another is almost tangible. It’s rare and beautiful. Once this baby comes, I’m going to give Brant a major piece of my mind.”

  Stephany felt her eyes widen and her mouth gape. “Why would you do that?”

  “Because he seems to have lost his.” She shook her head angrily.

  “But, don’t you need your mind? Wouldn’t giving a piece of yours away harm you?”

  Becky giggled. “You vamps are hilarious. No, silly.” She grinned broadly. “Giving him a piece of my mind means that I’m going to tell him exactly what I think of him and let me tell you”—Becky put her hands on her hips—“he won’t like it one bit.”

  The pains started up again, but Stephany ignored them. “Please”—she bit out through clenched teeth—“you have to try and save this child. If all hope is lost…” Her voice sounded strained, laced with the intense pain. It felt like she was being torn apart.

  “You will make it. I don’t want to hear such negativity. You—”

  “Becky…” It came out in a low growl that made the female’s eyes widen. “If I am dying… I want you to try and save this child. Find a silver blade.”

  Becky shook her head, blond curls flying. Stephany gripped her hand tighter, forcing her to listen. “Yes. Listen to me. Cut him out. He’ll be sick from the poison…probably won’t make it, but you have to try.” She was panting, pain rolling through her in fierce waves.

  Becky took a deep breath. Her blue eyes were locked with Stephany’s. When the female finally nodded, something inside her calmed.

  “Now, enough of that kind of talk. There is no reason why you can’t birth him.”

  “I think he is too big…” She looked down at her swollen belly. It looked even larger against her narrow hips. Possibly larger than it had been even this morning. “But I will try and I will pray.” If not for herself, then for this child and for the male that carried her heart.

  Chapter 23

  Twelve hours later…

  Sweat beaded her brow. The contractions came one after the other with barely any time to catch her breath. Becky put a straw to her lips. “Drink.”

  Her mouth felt dry and her lips were cracked, but she had barely taken one sip when the pains started up again. “Nooo,” she cried, exhaustion settling into her limbs. A feeling of hopelessness overtook her.

  Ever since the sun had gone down, any type of positive emotion she possessed had fled with it. “Breathe.” Becky grabbed her hand and squeezed.

  “No.” She fought against the pain, against her own body. “I want this to be over.”

  “Sorry to have to rain on your pity party,” Becky said, her eyes bearing into her. “But this isn’t over yet. You’re nearly there. You should start to get the urge to push soon.”

  She hadn’t even noticed Brant enter or felt his presence at the head of her bed. “This is the most agonizing part, human.”

  “Get out.” Becky didn’t take her eyes off of Stephany. “Don’t listen to him.”

  “Once the baby is stuck, it can drag on for hours. It hurts me to see you this way, Stephany. I had come to offer you an easier way out, but now that I am here I realize that I would be unable to deliver the death blow.” He shook his head, his eyes were filled with sadness.

  “Get the fuck out, you crazy asshole. Stephany’s labor is progressing well. It’s text fucking book, now leave before I’m forced to kick your vampire ass.”

  If not for another wave of intense pain, Stephany would’ve been horrified to see Becky give Brant a shove. “It won’t be long now before this baby is born and I won’t have you coming in here and scaring the living bejesus out of her.” Another shove, and this time Brant allowed himself to be moved. “I won’t freaking have it.”

  “Please, Brant.” Stephany panted. “I need Ward.” She growled long and deep as the pain become almost unbearable. “Please,” she managed to say as it began to subside.

  Brant’s eyes hardened up. “You know what? I agree with you. That male should be here to witness your death. It’s not enough to have him look upon your cold dead body. I want him to watch you take your last breath. To see the havoc that he has caused.”

  “You bastard.” Becky slapped the king across his face with a loud resounding crack. Brant didn’t so much as flinch. She lifted her hand a second time, but the king caught it in mid-flight.

  “Don’t test me, human,” he said through clenched teeth. The male pulled out his cell phone and dialed. With an irritated snort, he turned and strode from the room. Stephany heard Brant give the orders to have Ward sent over to the clinic.

  “Don’t listen to that type of talk.”

  Her gaze was drawn back to Becky.

  “You are doing just fine.” The female moved between her legs, checking her progress again. “You are nine centimeters. You will start to feel the need to push soon.”

  “I do feel more pressure down there. Like the baby is pushing on my ope
ning.”

  “Good. That means the little one is moving into the birthing canal. It won’t be long, you’re doing great.” Becky gave Stephany an exhausted smile.

  Before Stephany could return the smile, pain rolled through her again, building with each panted breath. She grit her teeth. In reality, a contraction lasted a minute but it felt like forever. Though the two minutes between contractions seemed to go by in a heartbeat.

  The pressure increased. Stephany felt the first tremors in her hands, and before long her whole body shook, like she had caught a chill or something. She was about to ask Becky about it when the female arrived at her side. “It’s normal to sometimes shiver like that. You’re in what we call the transition phase of the labor. Your womb has opened and the baby is slowly moving down, ready to be pushed out.”

  Stephany tried hard not to think on Brant’s cruel words. It wouldn’t help her to dwell on them. She had to keep doing as Ward had asked and stay positive. This baby would be born. He had to be.

  Ward was sure that Brant had changed his mind about waiting until Stephany birthed the child to execute him. When the guards had dragged him from his cell, he was sure it was because his life was over. That he would never get to see his son born. Never look into his mate’s beautiful eyes again or to kiss her sweet lips.

  His surprise was paramount though when they threw him into the back of a waiting SUV, pulling him out when they arrived at the clinic.

  “Is my female alright?” He growled. Fear like nothing he had ever experienced before turned his skin cold and his breathing ragged.

  The males didn’t answer him, but rather continued to pull him in the direction of the entrance. Was this it? Had Stephany died? Were his worst fears about to be realized? Panic seized him and he elbowed the guard on his right. The male grunted, staggering away and releasing his grip. With his arm free, he punched the remaining guard square in the jaw. The first male had regained his footing, but thankfully the second fell giving him the gap he needed.