Chapter Twenty-Five
Buck
Cliff pulled into the driveway, the car not empty. Two people rode with him, one I recognized, and his expression had twisted into something hard and empty. The other that rode with them sank into his seat, shoulders pinched, worry clear on his face. Cliff? Pure dread.
I stood, pushing my chair back as Dani went in to get the tea. So, when the car came to a stop and they all got out, I strode toward them, and the tension thickened the air. Cliff wouldn’t meet my eyes.
“Did something bad happen?” I held my arms out and Cliff didn’t meet my gaze, approaching with a clipped pace as Brook and the newcomer, an alpha fox of some type, stood back. My gaze shot to the fox and locked, waiting for an explanation as he paled, his tanned skin going milky.
“This is my friend Ransom. He had information…about who poisoned your land. Brook and I went to—we took care of them.” Cliff tensed and I pursed my lips, heart aching as I realized what he implied.
“Dani got word of who it was but didn’t know where they were. Was it that boar witch Winsley?”
Cliff nodded, and I reached for his hands, bringing them up to stare at his fingers. Dropping part of my glamor, I let him see the slick, dripping mask of my hands that showed the blood I bore. Cliff? As I stared, a few little red spots had appeared, the first marks on his otherwise-clean spirit, small ones at least. Compared to my own, they were inconsequential things, but every time would become easier, the blood thicker. “I’m not sorry. They deserved it.”
“Yeah. And they’re gone?” My breath hitched as Cliff nodded.
“We should get the news by tomorrow.” Brook caught my gaze as he climbed the steps and gave Dani a polite nod as she came out with the tea for Cliff.
I watched hesitantly as Cliff took the glass and drank heavily, nodding in thanks as he moved to sit.
Brook met my gaze, and I turned to catch Dani’s. That tea was horrible stuff at the best of times. A half smile twisted Brook’s lips and he waved goodbye, disappearing into the ground and air around us. Guilt nestled in my belly. He’d killed for me, changed his life for me, and I’d thanked him by changing his life even more irreparably.
“How?” I whispered into Cliff’s ear and earned a soft answer. Poison.
“Like for like.” He stood taller, and I braced my arms around him, careful not to spill his tea. He sniffled lightly and cleared his throat. “Classmate of mine. Ransom. Timberline Ridge Skulk.”
I glanced over at the fox, who sat there with wide eyes. The tea in Cliff’s hand didn’t escape his notice, either.
“Bro, I didn’t know you were pregnant! Holy shit, I’d not have told y—” Ransom choked as I shot him a glare.
“Nah. Buck and I’ve been careful,” Cliff said, pulling away from me as he sat on the steps and leaned his head against a post. “Not ready for that.”
Ransom’s lips went flat as he glanced between everyone.
“Ready or not, boy, you are.” Dani huffed a laugh and Cliff screwed up his face.
“I—think so.” I gave Cliff an apologetic glance that made him pale.
“Dude, how the fuck did I get pregnant fucking you . You ain’t tapping this ass in heat, buddy.” Cliff petered off as he said so and swore. “Fuuuuuck…no.”
Dawning realization melted over his face. “Oh gods. Oh us. Oh, you!”
“If it had occurred to me at the time—”
“Dude, I didn’t think of it either. I guess you should have known something more, but—did you know?”
“Only thought about it today. I never realized rutting in our bestial forms was—” I trailed off and Cliff waved his hand.
“Kinky. Shifters learn quick not to screw in our alter forms during fertile times. That’s how you get litters.” Ransom’s expression went from worry to amused. “My cousin is one of a set of quadruplets.”
Cliff paled and panicked, glancing about. “Dude, I can’t do four babies. I can’t do a whole-ass litter. Buck!”
In his distress, he spilled his drink, and I helped him pick the plastic cup up, shushing him softly. “Godbeasts never have more than twins. Even the twins are rare.”
That seemed to calm him, and I was very glad I’d already packed his belongings. So, when I wrapped my arms around him, I drew him to myself and offered him all I could. “I’ll do all I can. I can raise the baby. I can— You don’t have to lift a finger.”
He shoved me back and glared. “Fuck off, I’m not like… It takes two and I walked right into that mess. We got the village. We got you, my brother, and I guess I’ll be fat for—nine—eight months?”
“Three more, if your last heat was right.” I offered him a shrug.
“Three! What the fuck? Damn.” He pulled away and sat down on the floor of the porch, resting his head over his knees with a laughing huff of disbelief.
“We’d have told you this morning, but we didn’t want to disrupt your tests.” Dani gave me a wink and leaned back in her chair. “Guess this means I really do have to move down. Auntie Dani will have lots of work to do. You don’t hit me as the real paternal types.”
“Buck’s amazing with babies.” Cliff gestured at me, and I earned a glance of respect from the witch. “I’m shit with them.”
“You’re fine with babies. I promise you.”
“Vida pooped on me twice.” He offered me a glare.
“And me a dozen times. Consider it a compliment.” I had nothing else to offer, but Dani did, nudging him to stand and come inside. Ransom followed, as entertained as anything and delighted to be involved with the business of gods.
“I have like twelve niblings, and I can tell you that it’s hard but it goes by fast. Hell, if I find a job nearby, I can help, too. You staying—”
“Thunder Acres. We live there and move from there to my land. Nowhere near your skulk land.” The thought of this random alpha wanting to be around Cliff made me a little anxious, but part of me knew he meant well.
“Ah. I’m mobile for the moment. Maybe I should go down that way and check it out. Find some work out that way.” Ransom stared me down with big eyes full of hope.
“I’m starting my own company. Talk to Grayson about housing and see if you can work a deal out for someplace to stay. They have room and we’re designing eco-housing. There’s a big market, some grants for it. Some guys in the pack are setting it up, but our degrees make it a little easier.” Cliff shrugged, and that told me all I needed to know. He approved of Ransom as a pack member, and the slight adoration I sensed on the fox would be good worship someday. Like any other shifter, they had the potential for good and bad, and he had done good so far.
“As long as you don’t send my mate off after revenge again.” I cut my gaze and smirked. “You’ll be helping Dani here pack and move.”
Ransom pursed his lips and glanced at Dani, who folded her arms, sizing him up. “He’ll do. Hope you like hard work, fox.”
“I don’t, but I’m the luckiest asshole this side of Ohio, if I’m on the side of a god and a witch. All the packs are falling apart, but we hear so much good about the packs with gods.” He beamed.
“And in a generation, there’ll be more gods ready to protect. We’ve had a goddess born.” I pulled Cliff to me and folded him into my arms. “And we have another god on the way.”
“May they be as lovely as their parents.” Dani smiled before grabbing Ransom by the upper arm and dragging him off.