Her teeth sank into my flesh as her orgasm ripped through her body, and mine followed with a roar. The mate bond hummed with contentment as we marked our bond in blood and flesh. When it was over, we lay at the base of the Heartwood, trying to catch our breath.
“This is why some packs think we’re wild,” Rowen murmured, her fingers interlocked with mine.
I laughed. “I don’t give a fuck what they think, as long as you and our pack are happy.”
“And our son?”
My breath caught. I turned to look at her. “A boy?”
Rowen nodded, rolling her eyes. “According to Diesel, the midwife.”
It felt good to laugh under the shelter of the Heartwood.
I became solemn once more. “I need to go to Stonefang. If you want, I’ll stay.”
“No, you’ll be back quickly, right?” She sat up, reaching for her clothes. I stopped her, changing swiftly to my wolf.
“Let us run instead.”
Rowen smiled. “You’ll never catch me.”
Didn’t she know? I’d already caught her.
Rowen followedus to the edge of the territory. The others were guarding the perimeter, just in case an attack struck. Diesel was beside me, not at all happy that I had convinced him to stay behind.
Thalia and Cody were already in their wolf form.
“You’ll be careful?” Rowen asked again, maybe for the tenth time.
“No, I plan to be completely reckless.” Her scowl and the two angry growls beside me made me grin. “I’m checking my pack, and then I’ll be right back. They’re all gathered at the closest point,” I reminded her.
“Those old ones moved?” Rowen asked doubtfully.
No, but I wasn’t going to tell her that. “I’ll be back before daybreak.” I kissed, undressed, handed my clothes to my mate, shifted, and then the three of us took off.
I felt the barrier spell lift as soon as I crossed. I reached for my betas as I ran.
“I’ll be back in twenty-four hours.”
“We’ll hold.”Brand’s voice was sure, “If they come.”
That was the unknown. Notifthey made their move.When.
The three of us ran straight to Stonefang. Thalia and Cody were fast, and neither needed to slow or stop for breaks. I was lucky to have such loyal soldiers.
Friends.
We stayed alert, but nothing came at us. And as the clear path to Stonefang opened in front of me, my mind filled with the thought of my child. My son. Rowen pregnant…changed everything. Not in a bad way, not at all. But the timing. The timing could be better. But was there ever a safe time? Didn’t every parent in the world, either shifter or human, want there to be something better for their child to be born into?
I’d have to tell her she couldn’t fight. I wasn’t looking forward to that argument. There was no way she would come with me to the Council summons now. Not when she carried our pack’s future within her. There was so much danger to them both. How did I fight against it all?
I cleared my mind of all thewhat-ifs and concentrated on the feeling of joy instead. My mate, my beautiful, fierce, proud mate, was going to give me a son. And I’d kill anyone who thought they could take that from me.
We ran across the mountains, the Hollow behind us, Stonefang in front, when I felt the first prickle of awareness. I searched for it and fought the sigh. I slowed, Cody and Thalia slowing with me. Thalia’s questions went unanswered in my head as I walked back the way we had come.
He came around the corner of the trail, his wolf panting, breathing heavily, and looked ready to drop at any second.
“Change.”
