Chapter 26

 

Hannah took another step back and Olof’s face wrinkled in anger. “I said not to move, Lycan bitch. Pay attention to me.”

Will howled and Hannah turned toward the sound of pain and anger, her heart pumping with a sudden rush of adrenaline. Her mate needed her. He needed her and –

There was a rush of burning pain as Olof’s cold hand wrapped around her throat. She looked down to see her sword embedded in her stomach and she gasped harshly as he yanked it free.

“I told you to pay attention to me.” The leech said softly. He glanced at the wound in Hannah’s stomach. “Do not worry, she-wolf. Your Lycan abilities will heal you and you can adapt to life as my pet.”

She stared wide-eyed at him as he pushed her back against the tree and tightened his grip around her throat. “You must forget about your mate. As we speak, Lars is ripping him apart. But do not worry – I will give you his pelt as a gift to remember him.”

He laughed as the skin on her face began to ripple and change. “Now you shift. It’s about time. What kind of Lycan are you, anyway? I’ve never met one who was so reluctant to shift. In fact, I – “

He jerked and made a soft strangled noise of surprise as Hannah’s jaw cracked and twisted into a long snout and dark, coarse hair covered her flesh. His hand dropped from around her neck and she growled hungrily as he stared down at his chest.

Her hand had punched through his chest and he watched as her wrist twisted and she pulled sharply. She grinned as his heart, black and bloody, emerged from the dripping hole in his chest. She squeezed it tightly, blood dripping over her fur-covered hands and her nails digging into the rotting flesh.

He stared mutely at her as she made a soft-pitched yip of excitement and tore his heart in half before shoving him to the forest floor. He collapsed on his back, his skin beginning to smoke and blacken, and stared up at the woman standing before him. Her body rippling and her clothes tearing at the seams, she lifted her head to the sky and howled triumphantly.

* * *

 

The Lycan, his gray fur matted with blood and his back leg held up, limped to the woman. She was staring transfixed at the glimpses of moon she could see between the leafy trees, and he nudged her hip. He whined softly when he saw the wound in her stomach and nudged her again.

She turned her gaze to him, her jade eyes glowing with a wild, fierce light, and shook her head. “It is nothing, my love.”

He chuffed lightly and she blinked and shuddered all over before taking a deep breath. She seemed to really see him for the first time and, with a soft cry of distress, she knelt beside him and touched his bloody fur.

“Will! Are you alright?”

He shifted and sat on the ground, holding his leg out awkwardly in front of him. “My leg is broken.”

“Oh honey.” She crouched next to him, her clothes were torn and he could see glimpses of her smooth flesh between the ragged strips, and hugged him tightly before kissing him on the mouth.

“I’ll be fine.” He smiled at her. “How’s your stomach?”

She shrugged. “Already starting to heal, I think. A couple of my ribs are broken as well.”

He frowned and she shrugged again. “I’ll live. You killed the leech?”

He nodded and studied the pile of ash on the ground. “I heard you howling. Did you have to shift?”

She shook her head. “No, not really. I kind of half-shifted after the asshole leech took my swords and stabbed me in the stomach.”

“You let him take your swords?” He arched his eyebrow at her and she growled softly before sitting next to him.

“You’d better not let Chen know that.” He grinned at her as they leaned against a tree and he put his arm around her. “He’ll have you back in sword training 101. Lesson one – don’t give your sword to the leeches.”

She laughed, wincing when it sent sharp pain shooting across her ribs, and kissed his bare chest. “I love you, Will.”

“I love you too, Hannah.” He kissed her forehead. “The others are coming.”

“I know. I can smell them.”

There was a rustling in the trees ahead of them and Chen and the twins appeared in the dark. Paul, Alex, and Reid and Selena were behind them, and the group stared solemnly at the two Lycans before Reid cleared his throat.

“We’re going for tacos. You in?”

* * *

 

Three weeks later

“Tyrone? Be a dear and bring out the potato salad from the kitchen, would you?”

“Sure, mom.” Tyrone brushed a kiss across Natalie’s cheek.

He flipped the bird at his brother when Luther snorted “pussy” under his breath.

“Language, dearest.” Natalie said disapprovingly.

“Sorry, mom.”

“That’s alright. Why don’t you go help your brother?”

Luther stood and ambled after his twin as Natalie smiled at Will. “They’re such sweet boys, don’t you think?”

“Uh, sure.” Will laughed. “When did they start calling you mom?”

“Right after you rescued them from those dreadful vampires. We were so happy they were alive, I must have ugly-cried for fifteen minutes straight, and I insisted they refer to Jim and I as mom and dad after that. They agreed right away.”

She patted Will’s arm fondly. “How’s your leg, dear?”

“Fine. It was completely healed within a day or so.”

“That’s so cool.” Natalie replied. “And very handy when one is injured.”

He laughed and she looped her arm around his and stared at the people laughing and talking in the large living room. “It was lovely of Heather to let us celebrate at her house, wasn’t it? People needed this.”

“Yes.” He studied the small nose stud in Natalie’s left nostril. “Was she the one who convinced you to get the nose piercing?”

“Do you like it?” Natalie touched it delicately. “Heather went with me and held my hand. It didn’t hurt nearly as bad as I feared it would. I thought Jim would have a coronary when he saw it but he was remarkably blasé about it. I worried that I would look like an old woman trying too hard but now that I have it, I’m rather smitten with it.”

Will grinned. “I think it looks wonderful.”

“Thank you, dear boy. You know, I think she’s trying to convince Douglas to get his nose pierced as well.”

Will stared at the old Lycan. He was staring at Heather’s nose piercing and she spoke enthusiastically before lifting her shirt and showing him her belly button piercing.

“Maybe he’ll get his belly button pierced.” Will grinned at Natalie and snickered before squeezing his arm.

“How cute are Chen and Andrew?”

“Very cute.” Will said solemnly.

Natalie laughed and studied the sword master. Andrew, his arm around Chen’s waist, leaned in and whispered something in Chen’s ear. Chen nodded and Andrew kissed him lightly on the mouth as Mannie approached them. He spoke animatedly, his arms waving and his entire body swaying, as Andrew laughed and even Chen grinned at something he said.

“Chen’s much happier now. In fact, everyone seems happier.” She gazed around the room at the people talking and helping themselves to the food piled high on the long table set up against the wall. “It’s been such a terrible few months for them, it’s nice to see them happy and relaxed.”

Will nodded as a loud burst of laughter came from their left. Reid, surrounded by a group of the babies as well as Alex, Paul and Mallorie, raised his eyebrows in mock innocence.

“Hand to God, that leech was hitting on me. I’m like a sex on a stick to fangers.”

Will rolled his eyes as Natalie waved at Jim who, holding a plate of food, crossed the room toward them. “We’re worried about her, Will.”

“I know, Nat. I am too.”

“She was fine when you first got back but she’s grown distant with us the last few days.” Natalie said sadly. “Even now, she’s off by herself.”

“I’ll talk to her.” Will promised. “I’ll help her understand that she needs her human side as well.”

“Thank you, dearest.” She reached up and kissed his cheek as Jim stopped in front of them.

“Any word from the Board, Will?”

Will nodded. “Yes. I’ve been cleared. Jordan told me yesterday that they were dropping their investigation.”

He hesitated. “Surprisingly, Jordan said some good things to them and made it clear he was on our side. He told the Board that he had no worries about Hannah controlling the shift, or that I had turned her for ulterior motives.”

“I imagine they finally understand just how valuable you and Hannah are to the organization.” Natalie said.

“Where are the boys, Nat?” Jim asked as he popped a piece of bread into his mouth.

“I sent them to the kitchen for more potato salad. They’ve been gone way too long.”

Jim snickered. “They’re probably trying to figure out how to turn the kitchen knives into some kind of replacement hand for Chen.”

“Oh dear. You’re most likely right.” Natalie gave Will a nervous look. “Last week they created this odd knife/hook combination thing and we had to take Luther in for seventeen stitches after Tyrone accidentally stabbed him in the leg.”

Jim rolled his eyes. “I’m not so sure it was an accident, Nat.”

Nat tapped him lightly on the chest. “Oh hush now. Come on, we’d better go see what they’re up to.”

They headed toward the kitchen as Will inhaled deeply. He found Hannah’s scent easily and ducked out of the living room, heading up the large winding staircase and down the hallway. A door opened and Selena slipped into the hall.

She stopped in front of him and gave him a pinched look of worry. “Hello, Will.”

“Hey, Selena.”

She glanced behind her at the closed door. “I’m worried about her.”

“I know. It’ll be alright.”

“Promise?” She asked softly.

“I do.”

She hesitated and then gave him an impulsive hug. He hugged her back and she kissed his cheek. “You’re a good guy, Will.”

“You’re pretty great yourself, Selena.”

“I know.” She said simply and he snorted soft laughter.

“You’re hanging around with Reid too much.”

“Hey! Paws off my lady, furball.”

Will rolled his eyes and released Selena, stepping back as she grinned at him and move toward Reid who was climbing the stairs behind them.

“Hello, sweetheart.”

“Hey, handsome. What are you doing?”

“Looking for you. The food’s getting cold and I’m starving.”

“Alright. Let’s eat.”

Reid nodded to Will and took Selena’s hand. He led her down the stairs as Will slipped into the room. It was the master bedroom and he walked quickly past the bed to the French doors. He stepped out on to the balcony and slipped his arms around Hannah’s waist.

“Hello, Hannah.”

“Hi, honey.” She leaned against him and continued to stare up at the clear, night sky. It was three days until the full moon and he stared at it for a moment, feeling the powerful yearning to shift and run and hunt.”

“It’s so beautiful, isn’t it?” She said softly.

“Yes.” Will agreed. “But it’s not the only thing that matters, Hannah.”

“I know.”

“Your mom is worried about you.”

“She doesn’t need to be.” Hannah sighed. “I’m fine.”

He buried his face in her throat and inhaled deeply. There was something off about her scent, something foreign but oddly exciting, and he inhaled again as she shifted against him.

“Are you happy, Will? Happy with this life?”

“I’m happy with you.” He replied. “I know that our life together isn’t perfect. I know that fighting the leeches is tiring and painful and I understand your desire for a normal life, but running from the people who love you and living in the woods as a Lycan isn’t the answer. You have to hold on to your human side as well.”

“I know that now.” She frowned up at him. “I knew that the moment the twins and Selena were taken.”

He brushed her hair back and kissed her forehead. “Then what’s wrong? You’ve been distant and quiet for the last few days.”

She stared up at him and he was surprised to see the glint of tears in her eyes before she looked away.

“I’m pregnant.” She whispered.

He stiffened against her, his hands tightening around her waist, as she made a soft, anxious whine.

“You’re what?”

“I’m pregnant, Will. That’s why I’ve been acting so weird the past few days. When we were in the woods and I was spending most of my time in my Lycan form, I wasn’t very good about taking the pill. At least, I don’t think I was. I can’t really remember.”

He stared at her as she glanced up at him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t do this on purpose. I wasn’t myself and I just – I wasn’t thinking. I swear.”

She licked her lips nervously. “Say something, Will.”

“You’re pregnant.” He whispered.

“Yes. I mean, I think I am. I was supposed to get my period this week and I didn’t, and so I bought one of those early detection pregnancy tests and it came back positive. But sometimes those tests are wrong, right?”

“You’re having a baby.” He said stupidly. “You’re having my baby.”

She arched her eyebrows at him. “Yes. Who else’s baby would I be having?”

He opened his mouth and she gave him an encouraging look. After a moment of silence, she sighed. “Are you angry with me, Will?”

He shook himself all over and surprised her by twisting her around and dropping to his knees. He lifted her shirt and kissed her belly repeatedly.

“Of course I’m not!” He nearly shouted. “Why would you think that?”

“I don’t know, we’ve never really talked about kids and – “

He snorted loudly and rubbed her stomach with his warm hands.

“Hello, baby.” He whispered.

She stroked her fingers through his thick hair as he kissed her flat belly again and stared up at her. “You’re going to be a mom.”

“You’re going to be a dad.” She answered solemnly.

A small, pleased smile crossed his face and he stood and hugged her tightly. She buried her face in his neck and kissed his warm flesh.

“I love you, Will.”

“I love you, Hannah.”

END

Please enjoy a sample chapter of Elizabeth Kelly’s latest novel:

 

WILLOW AND THE WOLF

(SHIFTER SERIES BOOK ONE)

 

By Elizabeth Kelly

 

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Copyright 2015 Elizabeth Kelly