Chapter 18 - Hudson
Fuck!
I knew I should have cut that son of a bitch’s head off.
My throat reknits just enough to take a rapid breath, but the crushing weight of the beast on top of her makes it almost impossible to expand my lungs.
I have to work fast before I pass out.
Searching with my fingers under the bedroll, I grab the butt of the pistol I always keep near.
No one can survive outside the walls of the institution and not be far from their weapon.
Blurry edges start to infiltrate my vision, pulling me towards the darkness.
Raising my gun, I aim for the blackest shadow heaving over Jen’s pale form.
And pull the trigger.
The howl of pain erupts from all of us as the creature rears back, ripping his swollen cock in a spray of blood.
But the rapid removal of weight lets me take a deep lungful and shift Jen so I can fire again.
“He’ll heal,” she says weakly. “Pull out and kill him.”
“I can’t.” I can’t imagine the pain—
She pulls up her knees and rips herself off me.
A scream fills my ears.
It’s mine.
Red sprays everywhere, from me, from her, and the thrashing beast.
“Do it,” she pants, collapsing to her hands.
My head spins sitting up, but I pull the trigger again.
And again.
Until the chamber clicks and the action forces open, kicking out the last spent shell.
I fall back, heaving as I feel the torn flesh of my poor dick mend.
“It needs to end.” Jenny pushes herself up, the gleam of her knife blade reflecting from the fire.
Rolling to my side, I dig for another magazine and snap it into place, then load another bullet into place.
In the breadth of a second, she’s over the hulking mass.
“I’m sorry,” she cries, stabbing into the neck of the half-breed.
Crimson pours in a swirling pool from the widening wound as she slices through the thick tissue.
“I’m so sorry.” Her wails are emphasized with each thrust of her knife.
Then the furry head rolls free, severed from the massive frame.
As the muzzle comes to a rest in the furrowed earth, she collapses over the broad chest in heaving sobs.
“Burn it.” Her words are muffled against the dark carcass.
The stench of singed hair fills our camp.
Sparkling embers flit into the void as the blood sizzles out of the cooking skull.
I’m not sure if I should comfort her, or pull her away.
Instead I give her time.
All of my bits and pieces have healed when she finally leaves the body.
“I hated him,” she sniffles. “Why does it hurt?”
“Come here, baby.” I gesture at her from where I’m sitting.
She slumps onto my lap with dried flecks of gore sticking to her bare skin.
Wrapping her tightly, I tuck her under my chin. “You have a big heart and saw his humanity. He helped you when you needed it.”
“I’m so done with dogs,” she sighs, flattening her palm against my chest.
“Me too.” I rock her slowly as the tension leaves her shoulders.
“You know what I’d really like?” I give her a half-chuckle.
Her blue eyes glow in the dim light when she tilts her face up. “What’s that?”
“To make love to you without having my neck ruined.” I watch her mouth slip into a perfect circle.
“Oh, shit.” Her bottom lip rolls between her teeth, but I get a smile out of her. “Yea. We’ll work on that.”
It took us four months to find ourselves in a tiny town in the forests of Oregon.
By then, Jenny’s baby bump was starting to show.
Their rules were no wolves or hybrids, but we fit in easily.
They didn’t test for healing. It’s such a rarity, it’s almost a myth.
I suppose the corporations kidnapping all of them purged the system.
Finding work was as simple as being able to swing an ax or take a turn at the guard post.
Tall wooden walls surround the buildings, a modicum of safety from the savage wilds.
Jenny found work in the gardens, planting and harvesting right up until her due date.
“I don’t want to go today.” Pain etches her features as she walks slowly from the kitchen. “I think it’s time.”
Fear and excitement rush through me.
My love for her has grown into impossible heights since that night in the clearing.
And seeing her pregnant with our child gives me new purpose.
I wish we’d been able to find her son, but everyone we’ve talked to had never heard of him.
“Do you want me to bring in the midwife? Doc Tucker said she’s the best around.” I know Jenny won’t need much as far as medical help, she’d heal from any injury.
But the baby…
“I’m not sure,” she sighs, rubbing her palm under her bulging abdomen. “What if she notices?”
Her eyes tighten for a moment, then she relaxes.
“Jen—” I move to her quickly, walking her to a chair. “—tell me what you want me to do.”
Worry has her chewing on her bottom lip. “I guess go get her. We can always leave if she gets too nosy.”
I don’t want her secret getting out.
“You know I wouldn’t let her leave, right?” I swore I’d do anything to protect Jenny.
And I mean it.
Her sharp intake makes her pause, then she nods. “I’m okay with that.”
Funny how blurry the lines get when we can only count on ourselves.
“I’ll be back quickly.” I press a fast kiss to her forehead and slide the pistol closer.
“Love you,” she exhales, grimacing with another contraction.
Giddy excitement has me racing through the street until I find the placard hanging from the address post.
Knocking furiously finally brings a wrinkly woman in a shawl to the door.
“Can I help you?” She blinks up at me with one clear eye. The other is clouded and pale.
“Are you the midwife? My wife is in labor.” Even now, I have the frantic need to get back.
“I am, Estelle.” She squints at me. “The new couple on Elm?”
“That’s right. Hudson and Jenny.” In this small of a town, I guess there aren’t as many secrets as I hoped.
“I’ll be just behind you, I just need to grab my bag.” She waves me away with a gnarled hand.
“Thank you,” I call out, already several paces away.
I’m settling Jenny into our bed when I hear the soft rap.
“You weren’t long, come in.” Standing back, I guide the elderly woman towards our bedroom.
As soon as she sees Jenny, she starts rattling off questions about timing, medical history, and if she’s had any other pregnancies.
I notice Jen guards her answers, then says ‘no’ to the last.
Estelle’s lips purse as she nods. “Can I use your sink to wash up? I need to check you.”
“Yea, right in here.” I kick open the ensuite bathroom, then sit on the edge of the mattress to take Jenny’s hand.
“It’s okay, Hud.” She smiles at me, squeezing my fingers. “She certainly seems experienced.”
“Hundreds of babies,” Estelle laughs as she steps back in.
When her hand disappears under the edge of Jenny’s gown, I get another firm grip on my hand.
“She’s cold,” Jen snorts.
“You’re close already.” Estelle squints at us with her good eye. “Are you sure this is your first?”
We both nod emphatically.
Jen still passes for eighteen. I still look mid-twenties.
It’s not a stretch to pretend. Heck, it’s our first together.
She clenches my thumb tightly and her cheeks turn slightly pink.
“Pushing so soon?” Estelle ducks again. “Ah, okay. You’re ready, dear.”
Jenny takes a deep breath and holds it. Her body shakes with the strain.
“There you go! Great job! One more.” The wizened woman leans closer, a toothy grin splitting her mouth.
In an explosive force of fluids, a pink baby bursts out.
“It’s a boy.” Estelle praises, holding him high enough for us to see.
I give Jen a relieved look. “He’s perfect.” We’ve both worried that it may have been Lash’s.
“Here, daddy.” Estelle extends her arms to hand me my wiggling son.
Pride blooms through my chest, pulling tears out of me as I hold him.
“He’s beautiful.” Jen’s look of bliss flattens as another contraction hits.
“Hmm, surprise, surprise,” Estelle murmurs from between Jenny’s legs. “There’s another.”
That’s a shock we hadn’t planned on.
“Oh my.”
I step over and my stomach sinks.
Hair covers the upper arms and shoulders. And the ears…pointed amidst a downy fuzz.
“Is it—” Jen pauses.
All I can do is nod.
“It’s a girl.” Estelle glances between us. “And you’re not the father.”
This time I shake my head. “I will be though.” It’s still the daughter of the love of my life.
She lets out a huff. “There are rules in this town.” Then her voice drops. “But I know of a place…”
“What?” Jen collapses onto the pillow. “They’d kick us out over a child?”
“Yes. Half-breeds like this…they always seek out their own,” Estelle whispers.
“Tell me about the place. Would we be safe?” I’m not moving my family to live with a pack.
But Estelle nods, swaddling our little girl. “It’s run by two humans, but they’re surrounded by wolves and hybrids. They’ll accept you.” She hands me my daughter, then begins to clean Jen up.
“Who are they? Why?” I don’t want to walk into a trap. And this is the first I’ve heard of them.
Jen pushes herself to her elbows, her color already returning. “How do we know it’s safe?”
Estelle’s crooked grin widens as she laps her bloody finger.
The pale glow in her eye darkens until it’s just as sharp and clear as the other.
Fuck.
“They’re like you.” Scooping up the placentas from the bed, she tucks them into her bag. “Payment in exchange?” She lifts her coveted prize, standing just a little straighter.
Am I going to have to kill her?
“Yes. Tell me.” Jen glances at me and gives a tiny shake of her head.
“West of here, maybe thirty miles. Look for the old bridge that crosses the river. If you wait long enough, one of the dogs will find you.” Estelle’s hands smooth as she folds her towels and sets them aside.
“And what then?” I growl. “Get eaten?” I’m holding my two precious children and hovering next to my mate. I’m not going to put any of them in danger.
“No. Do you think I’ve lived as long as I have by killing your kind?” When she smiles, many of the gaps have filled in. “Ask for Mike. Or Hope. Don’t shake his hand though, it’ll be the last time you do.”