“Why?” Chasen growled as he clutched Jin deeper into his side.
“Relax. I’m not after your mate.” Harley chuckled. “I want to keep a good relationship with the two of you if I can.”
“Let me,” Jin said, with a glance at Harley. He smiled and nodded in understanding. Chasen looked down at her curiously and Freja wrapped her hand around Hunter’s arm.
“It turns out that we’re having a baby girl,” Jin said with a small smile.
Chasen's eyes widened as he looked at her with a mixture of happiness and confusion. “We’re having a little girl? Are you sure?” She smiled and nodded. He looked at her for a moment with his brows furrowed. He was elated. Honestly, he didn’t care if they were having a boy or a girl. Just a healthy baby.
“The thing is, our daughter …” Jin rested her hand on her stomach. “Our daughter is Harley’s mate.” She watched Chasen’s eyes grow dark, and she could see the anger building up in them.
Freja felt Hunter’s arm grow tense and she gently squeezed it. He glanced at her and she smiled at him.At least he’s her fated mate. Not like what we’re planning …she said to him sadly through their link. It was enough that she could see the understanding in his eyes. He turned his attention to Chasen and waited to see what his next move would be.
Jin reached up and cupped his cheeks in her small hands. “He isn’t asking to take her. He just wants to be able to visit her freely. He isn’t going to force her but will allow her to make her own decision. He wants to watch over her and protect her. All he wants is her happiness,” she cooed to him as she tried to calm him down.
“But she isn’t even born …” Chasen said, sounding a bit desperate.
“If she sees him as her mate too, then I think that settles it, right? He would be her happiness,” Jin said softly. “It’s something we can understand now, since we’re fated mates.”
Chasen sighed. He looked up at Harley with minor irritation. “I don’t want you calling me dad or anything like that. And if she doesn’t want you?—”
Harley chuckled. “She’s already my life. I’ll give her the world if she asks for it. So better make sure she doesn’t.”
“I think this will work better if we have time to get to know you more before she’s born. I want to know she’s safe with you. And you just telling me she is isn’t enough for me.” Chasen hated the idea of his unborn daughter already having a mate. But it was also something he couldn’t argue with. The mate pull was powerful. If his daughter had it too, then all he could do was respect her wishes. And if all Harley really wanted was to be involved in her life, then it was a small price to pay for saving Jin. He looked at Hunter. “What are you thinking?”
Hunter turned to Harley. “Just let me know when you’re coming, and I don’t have a problem with it. I don’t need my warriors sounding the alarm because you decide to stop by unannounced. I’m not even asking for days in advance. Just a simple call letting me know you’re coming into my territory.”
“I can agree to that,” Harley said with a wide smile. “It looks like we’re all in agreement then. I’d like to spend more time with you two as well, and I want to see her after she’s born, if that’s alright.”
Jin smiled and nodded. “Looks like we have a free babysitter,” she teased, trying to lighten the mood.
“I’ll watch her anytime,” Harley said with a small smile.
“This is a bit much for me at the moment.” Chasen took a deep breath and tried to reign his feelings in. He looked into Harley’s eyes, which were almost begging him to accept his terms. For a demon that was as strong as Freja said he was, he was being very polite about this issue. It was just that, if Harley really wanted to, he could have started a war over his mate. This would be like another alliance. And if Hunter was strong enoughto let his future daughter go to the vampires, then he could at least do the same. Except this man was actually his daughter’s mate. “Let’s see how things go. And I guess if you stay within pack borders, then it does look like we have a free babysitter,” Chasen said as he let his shoulders slink a bit in defeat. “And I would appreciate you keeping my Jin safe during the war. Since I won’t be by her side, knowing there’s someone strong there to keep her safe will be a relief.”
“No matter what happens with that, I can guarantee Jin and your daughter’s safety,” Harley said firmly.
Chasen nodded. Even if they lost, he was reassured that Jin and his daughter would be protected. “Of course, we have no intention of not winning this war,” Chasen said confidently.
“I’ll make some time in my schedule so that we can meet up a few times before. Maybe we can have dinner at one of my restaurants, and I can show you the business that will one day become your daughter’s,” Harley said, and Jin smiled.
“Do they serve chocolate for dessert?” Jin asked with wide, happy eyes.
Harley chuckled. “They do, but I’ll have to import a truckload for your visit.” He lifted his empty box again with a frown. “At least I got to taste one of them.”
Freja leaned into Hunter, finally letting her guard down. Everything was okay. Jin was safe, and they didn’t have to fight. She felt the fatigue starting to catch up to her.
“Let me send you back home,” Harley said with a smile. “I’ll have my driver take you back. I’m sure you’re all exhausted. And Jin shouldn’t be hiking in her condition.”
Hunter nodded in agreement. “A ride back would be perfect.”
Harley lifted his phone and barked out his orders in a commanding tone. He stood up and looked at Jin and Chasen. “Let me know when you two decide on a name for her.” A soft smile settled on his lips.
Jin smiled and nodded. “Thank you for saving me.”
“Couldn’t let anything bad happen to Jhett’s girl. It turned out to be an extra reward, getting to save my future mate's mother.” Harley grinned. They heard a soft knock at the door. “Enter.”
“The car is ready, my lord.”
