Come for Me 2 (The Hunt #2)

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Alaina

T wo months later, I want this baby out.

Dax did his best to get the knots out of my shoulders, but I’m convinced they’re permanently there. I’m constantly aching, and it doesn’t help that I can’t get a good night’s rest.

I found I sleep best in Dax’s arms, but his body is an inferno, and I end up kicking him off me. Literally . I joked that Dax should add sleep deprivation to his list of torture methods.

Dax responded, saying it’s been done and continued to tell a story about it like it was a normal conversation, until I felt nauseated again.

Last night, I woke up sweating from a nightmare I’ve been trying to avoid thinking about, but to no avail. I’ve tried to pretend everything is fine and enjoy this pregnancy the best I can, but the truth keeps eating at me.

Colin is still out there.

Before I was pregnant, with everything else going on, it was easier to forget. Then, I know if he’d come for me, Dax, Ash, and I could deal with it then. But now it’s not just me I think he would come for.

In my nightmare, he’s not out there somewhere, but here with me, ready to claim my unborn pup. My nightmare began with me going into labor and Colin was waiting at the foot of the bed with his arms out, ready for me to deliver my pup to him directly.

Ash is nowhere to be found.

And Dax is frozen.

My legs are spread, helpless to stop our baby crowning from my womb.

The creep watches in amazement, praising me for the hybrid he claims we’ve created.

And who he plans to take from me.

My pup emerges and Colin catches my baby’s head and cuts the cord with his teeth.

Colin gives me a choice, to go with him and my baby or stay to die with Dax, leaving my baby parentless, and to be raised by a maniac.

The choice is an illusion, of course, as Colin has already decided for me.

Dax is taken from me for good, only this time, his heart is pulled from his chest in front of me.

My baby’s first moments should have been a celebration of naming, but turned into trauma as I watched Dax struggle for life.

I shuddered awake, screaming, and I look down at my stomach, rubbing it. When I realize the little life is still in me and not in that deranged monster’s hands, I sigh, relieved.

Colin hasn’t come for us yet .

“It was just a nightmare,” he had said . Dax then ordered the guards to return to their post and then ordered me to take a relaxing bath.

Now I’m bathing the night sweats away in our claw tub while Dax stands guard.

We’re both put on alert when our bedroom door creaks open.

Dax’s eyes glow as he presses a finger to his lips for me to be quiet and makes his way out the bathroom door. Before Dax closes the door, he shifts immediately, prowling toward the bedroom door.

I’m about to press myself up and out of the tub when I hear a familiar voice.

“Oh, stop it, Dax! It’s just me.” River brushes past Dax.

I slump in the tub further, wanting the bubbles to cover my breasts. “Um, hi, River. So nice for you to stop by,” I say sarcastically.

Not that I’m not happy to see her, but I’d rather be in a less compromising position.

“Oh please, everyone in this pack has heard you and Dax banging it out; don’t get all shy on me now,” she says.

Dax appears at River’s side, still in his wolf form. He quickly registers my embarrassment as discomfort and growls at River, saliva dripping from his mouth.

River isn’t fazed, instead, she boops Dax on the nose.

Dax shakes his head and pushes his snout on River, nudging at her to leave.

“River, I’m glad you came but maybe come by later when I’m not naked in the tub?”

River gets the hint and goes to leave, but a cry from me stops her dead in her tracks.

I look at Dax, who whimpers in concern for me.

“What’s wrong?” River freaks.

“I think I’m in labor.”

And all I can do is pray my nightmare isn’t about to come true.