Chapter 10 #2
“B-but you’re so… so pure,” I get out. I thought I couldn’t be any more impressed by my princess. But to have lived through all of this, and still be the incredible person she is.
I’m in awe.
Knocked senseless by her.
How could a person have suffered so much, but still wind up so good and kind and smart?
“Right?” She rolls her eyes. “Suzie bookworm. Head in the clouds. It’s how I survived. Always dreaming of better things. So, I escaped.”
“You were so brave,” I say. “You deserve much better. The best things in life.”
She looks sad for a moment. “Thanks for saying so, Stinger.”
“It’s not just words. Your life is going to be different now.”
A smile tugs at her lips, but it drops fast. “But now the Feds are after me, too. Offering immunity if I testify against my family. I haven’t done anything wrong though.”
“They can’t force you.”
She puffs out her cheeks. “I don’t know. But they can sure make my life difficult.”
I shake my head. “Not now you’ve got me.”
She gives me a long, assessing look, emotions warring in her violet eyes. “I need to know what your deal is, Stinger. Why Vaughn doesn’t trust you.”
My wolf growls and snarls. “Don’t matter,” I mutter.
She leans forward. “It matters to me.”
I grunt. “All of that’s behind me now.”
She frowns. “Didn’t look that way at Sinner’s.”
My insides feel all hot and squirmy. “It’s none of your business.” My voice is louder than I intended, but I get all riled up when folks want to know what’s wrong with my beast.
She recoils, as folks do when I get all shouty. But she recovers fast. “It’s my business because you’re here in my apartment.”
“Not relevant,” I growl. “Quit harassing me.” Crap. This isn’t how things were supposed to go.
“If there’s something not right with you, I’ve got a right to know.”
“Like hell you do—”
I’m being feral. Aggressive. Acting in that way that makes people not want me around.
But she doesn’t look scared. She leans closer to me, staring at me so hard it’s kinda freaky. “I’m having your baby, Stinger.”
I freeze, and the whole world stops moving. “What did you say?”
Ava’s cheeks are red, and she’s biting down on her lower lip like she wished she hadn’t told me.
“Did you say you’re having my baby?”
She nods quickly. “Yes.”
“From that night at the truck stop?” I blurt out stupidly.
“Of course.”
My gaze drops from her beautiful face to her stomach. “My pup’s in there?”
“Yup.”
“Ava, that’s—” I slip off the chair, crash down to my knees at her feet. “Wow. I never thought—” I break off. My goddamn throat’s too choked up to speak.
She gives a little gasp. “And it’s just starting to move.” She grabs my hand and presses it to her belly.
Gently, watching her face the whole time, I lay my hand flat against her stomach. It’s soft, warm, just how it was that night in my truck—and then the most amazing thing happens—something butts against my fingers.
“Oh—” she murmurs. “That’s it. Kicking.”
I feel it. A tiny foot, jabbing at me. “My pup.” Suddenly I can’t stop grinning, and there’s a weird stinging in my eyes.
Ava’s eyes are bright as they lock onto mine. “A strong one, huh? They don’t usually kick so early.”
“Ava, you should’ve told me.”
Her pretty forehead puckers. “How could I? You weren’t here.”
I shake my head. I can’t tell her that I’ve been here this whole time. Watching over her every single day. How did I not sense that she was carrying my pup? Guess I was too busy focusing on her. Keeping her safe.
“I’m here now,” I say instead.
“Are you happy that you’re gonna be a dad?” she asks, and the quaver in her voice melts my heart.
“Are you kidding me? This is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Along with that night in the truck with you, it’s probably the only real good thing that ever happened to me.”
“What happened to you?” Her voice is a whisper.
I have to tell her, now. I stay on my knees on the floor, laying my hand on her belly, and I explain how I was raised.
“I was the oldest son of an Alpha. But as a pup, I had a hard time learning to read. It was like all the words were jumbled up, and I couldn’t understand how the others got it so quick.
Then my younger brother started to read before me.
My parents thought I was stupid. They were disgusted with me.
I could feel it. It got deep inside me. Like something rotten.
I started acting out, getting aggressive.
Then when I got to around twelve or something, they told me I was no longer in line to be Alpha.
They were gonna prepare my brother instead.
It hurt real bad. And it changed my brother, too.
A younger brother should look up to an older one, but he got all superior—” I fight back the growl that’s vibrating in my throat.
“I couldn’t stand it. He started calling me names. Dumb. Loser. That kind of thing.
“Then one day, I had my first shift. My wolf came out, all big and angry. Before I could stop it, it half killed him—” I blow out a long breath as guilt and self-hatred threatens to paralyze me.
“My parents kicked me out, and my beast’s been difficult ever since. Picking fights. Challenging.”
“Why did you challenge Vaughn?” Ava asks quietly.
“Didn’t mean to. I just couldn’t help it.”
“Did you want to replace him as Alpha?”
I shake my head miserably. “Not at all. He’s a great Alpha. Just can’t stop my animal. It’s real dominant.”
She doesn’t say anything else and a silence stretches out between us. For a long time, I don’t dare raise my gaze.
But when I finally look, Ava’s eyes are soft. “You’ve suffered a lot, Stinger.”
I shrug. “Guess so.” Don’t want her feeling sorry for me.
“Sounds like you had dyslexia.”
“Yeah, a couple of people have said that.”
She reaches out, lays her soft fingertips on my face.
I move in, and press my forehead to hers. “I meant what I said. All that anger, that animal shit is behind me now.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. You’re having my pup.”
Her lips curl into a smile, and I capture them with my own. Holy hell. They’re even softer, lusher than I remembered. I can’t believe she’s letting me kiss her. Can’t believe it. I savor every precious moment. She tastes like forgiveness, and everything good in the world.
She angles her head, like she wants me to kiss her deeper, and I do. I crush my lips against hers, seeking out her velvety tongue with my own.
When she gives a soft moan, I grasp her round ass, slide her closer to me. We fit together so perfectly. Her sweet thick thighs wrap around my waist, and her big tits press against my chest. I tangle my hands in her soft, silky hair, savoring every delicious part of her.
Ava. My mate. The mother of my pup. A warm, tingly feeling swells in my chest. It’s the first time I’ve felt it in my life, but I know what it is—
It’s love.
I’ve been falling for this beautiful girl more and more every day.
As I’ve watched her going about her life.
And now I know—I’m head over heels for the mother of my pup.
There’s no coming back from this. This woman, this princess, this heavenly creature, she’s my undoing.
My dark, twisty heart has cracked right open.
She’s kissing me deeper and deeper, and I can feel the heat from her core pressing against me.
I’m trying to go slow, be respectful of the baby she’s carrying, but I can feel my cock is getting hard, pressing against her pussy.
The way her tongue is sliding into my mouth, dancing against my own, pushes at the edges of my self-control. I hold her tighter against me—
Bang.
Rattle.
“I’m hooome!”
We jerk apart.
Damn. It’s that little bird shifter. What fucking incredible timing.
Ava straightens her hair and smooths down her clothes. “Elinor doesn’t know about this,” she hisses, laying her hand on her stomach. “You’d better go.”
That’s the last dang thing I want to do. But I get it—I’ve got to respect her wishes. I heave myself up onto my feet just as Elinor marches into the kitchen.
At the sight of me, she does a double take. “You again.”
“He cooked me dinner,” Ava says.
“Yeah?” Elinor’s sharp features soften a little. “Good job,” she tells me, and I feel like a little kid being lectured by an adult. That’s okay, I can deal with it. I deal with anything to make Ava happy.
“And he’s just leaving,” Ava continues.
“That’s right,” I say, taking the cue. I give Ava one last longing look. “See you soon,” I tell her. “Have a good evening, El,” I tell the crow.
She flips her hair off her collar. “It’s Elinor, thanks,” she sasses, but I think she’s starting to like me.
I step out into the night. It’s colder than ever, but my heart is so full it feels like it could burst. My head is aching though. Too many thoughts for this wolf’s brain to contain. Ava in danger, and carrying my pup.
I can’t give her what she deserves in life, but I’ll be there to serve her. To please her. And I’m gonna do whatever it takes to protect her and be the best goddamn father I can.