Chapter 70
CHAPTER SEVENTY
“You’re more clever than I gave you credit for,” Harley said, amusement in his voice and on his face.
Freja took a small step forward, making sure she placed herself between Harley and Jin. A smile crept up over his face.
“What is it that you really want?” Freja watched as the man stood up. He turned, briefly looking out the window.
“I want to be able to visit anytime I’d like without any problems.”
“Visit? As in visit where we live?” Freja asked, and Harley nodded slowly. “I can’t make that decision alone.”
“No … no, I figured you couldn’t. But …” He turned and grinned widely.
“The Werewolf King out there, your MATE, can.” Freja’s eyes grew wide in shock.
“Yes, I know about all that. I’m actually shocked he let you come in here without him.
I thought wolves were more possessive than that. Or he must really trust you.”
“I don’t play games. I want to know what the deal is. You aren’t saying everything.” Freja looked at him defiantly.
He turned and his eyes softened. “What I told you before was all true. But there’s one more detail that I hid.” He then looked at Jin. “What are you going to name her?”
Jin furrowed her eyebrows and looked down, placing her hand on her stomach. “It’s a girl? How do you know?” She then looked up at him.
Freja sucked in her breath and looked away. She knew exactly what he was going to say next. “Shit. You’ve got to be kidding me,” she breathed out.
“Because you’re carrying my mate in your womb,” Harley said softly.
“It’s simple. During the upcoming war, I will be by Jin’s side.
I’ll make sure she stays away from danger and is protected.
My interest is at stake here. All I want is to be able to visit her.
I’m not going to force anything on her. I’ll wait until she chooses me as well, and until she’s ready to leave. I think that’s reasonable.”
Jin placed her hand on her stomach and looked up at Harley. “You’re not a bad person. I want her happiness above all. Whatever she decides, I will support her.”
He grinned and nodded. “Looks like we’re on the same page.”
“What if she doesn’t choose you?” Freja asked coldly.
A small smile rested on his face. “It will be her choice. But some things are just meant to be. Could you leave your mate?” His gaze rested on Freja’s.
Even in the beginning, the pull she had to Hunter was something she would not have run away from.
And what he was talking about would be more.
He would always be around. Be her best friend.
So, when the time came and she was of age, she would naturally choose him.
She could foresee this as well. She nodded slowly.
This was better than what she would be doing to her own daughter.
“If she sees you as her fated mate as well, then I don’t see her refusing you,” Freja said quietly. She looked over at Jin to see what her friend thought about this. Surprisingly, the girl looked calm and relaxed. “Jin? How do you feel about this?”
Jin smiled. “I think my daughter will grow up loved and safe. Harley is very strong, and I think he’ll treat her well.” She looked up to see him nodding his head. “So, is that really why you rescued me?”
Harley chuckled. “No. It wasn’t until I lifted you up to carry you that I was able to sense my mate.” He then looked at Freja. “I’m going to have them bring in your two mates. I want this all ironed out before you leave here.”
Freja nodded. “I think this situation ended up being one of the better scenarios we could be dealing with.” This could have very easily been a life and death fight.
Harley could have insisted on keeping Jin until the child was born and then claiming her for himself.
Instead, all he wanted was to be part of her life and let her choose him.
For a high-level demon like him, this was incredibly uncharacteristic.
She guessed there were some demons who were way different than how they were perceived.
Hunter … they will be bringing you and Chasen in now. Please don’t come in your feral forms.
Is everything alright?
Yes, but Chasen needs to keep a cool head about this. Same goes for you.
“So, Harley, you run a legit business out among humans?” Freja asked curiously.
Harley chuckled. “Yes, I do. I have a multibillion-dollar company that is flourishing right now. It’s how I usually spend my time.”
“So, you prefer to live your life as a human.” Freja watched him smile.
“Yes. Not to worry. The future I have planned with my mate is a modern one. I don’t plan to live in hell or like an animal. I prefer a refined life.” He glanced up as a knock sounded at the door. “Enter.”
The door opened and Hunter walked in, followed by Chasen. Chasen pushed the door shut behind him. His eyes searched over the room frantically until they landed on Jin.
“Chasen!” Jin cried and dove into his chest.
He wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes, holding her tightly against him. The happiness and relief he felt at that moment was indescribable.
Hunter moved to Freja’s side, his eyes on Harley as he tried to evaluate the man in front of him.
“So, you’re the Werewolf King?” Harley said as he looked Hunter over. “You must be someone special in order to tame the huntress here.” He smiled as he looked at Freja, who openly rolled her eyes at him.
“I’d like to hear what’s going on,” Hunter said in a calm, collected voice. He looked back at Chasen, whose eyes were also fixed on Harley.
“He didn’t touch her,” Freja said immediately, just to make sure Chasen didn’t begin to rampage. “He saved her. And kept her safe here, waiting for us to come.”
Hunter looked at Harley in confusion. Honestly, the man was not at all what he was expecting. He was well-groomed and dressed nicely. He looked more like a lawyer than a demon.
“I actually already knew these two because I knew their fathers. They can go over those details later. We’ll just cut to the chase here.
Jin is free to go with you, but I do have conditions," Harley said. “One, when you fight in the upcoming war, I want to be where Jin is. I want to ensure she stays safe and out of harm’s way. Two, I want to be able to visit your pack freely when I wish.”
Hunter looked at Freja, whose green eyes glowed up at his. She slightly nodded her head, showing that she agreed to his terms.
“Why?” Chasen growled as he clutched Jin deeper into his side.
“Relax. I’m not after your mate.” Harley chuckled. “I want to keep a good relationship with the two of you if I can.”
“Let me,” Jin said, with a glance at Harley. He smiled and nodded in understanding. Chasen looked down at her curiously and Freja wrapped her hand around Hunter’s arm.
“It turns out that we’re having a baby girl,” Jin said with a small smile.
Chasen's eyes widened as he looked at her with a mixture of happiness and confusion. “We’re having a little girl? Are you sure?” She smiled and nodded.
He looked at her for a moment with his brows furrowed.
He was elated. Honestly, he didn’t care if they were having a boy or a girl. Just a healthy baby.
“The thing is, our daughter …” Jin rested her hand on her stomach. “Our daughter is Harley’s mate.” She watched Chasen’s eyes grow dark, and she could see the anger building up in them.
Freja felt Hunter’s arm grow tense and she gently squeezed it.
He glanced at her and she smiled at him.
At least he’s her fated mate. Not like what we’re planning …
she said to him sadly through their link.
It was enough that she could see the understanding in his eyes.
He turned his attention to Chasen and waited to see what his next move would be.
Jin reached up and cupped his cheeks in her small hands.
“He isn’t asking to take her. He just wants to be able to visit her freely.
He isn’t going to force her but will allow her to make her own decision.
He wants to watch over her and protect her.
All he wants is her happiness,” she cooed to him as she tried to calm him down.
“But she isn’t even born …” Chasen said, sounding a bit desperate.
“If she sees him as her mate too, then I think that settles it, right? He would be her happiness,” Jin said softly. “It’s something we can understand now, since we’re fated mates.”
Chasen sighed. He looked up at Harley with minor irritation. “I don’t want you calling me dad or anything like that. And if she doesn’t want you—”
Harley chuckled. “She’s already my life. I’ll give her the world if she asks for it. So better make sure she doesn’t.”
“I think this will work better if we have time to get to know you more before she’s born.
I want to know she’s safe with you. And you just telling me she is isn’t enough for me.
” Chasen hated the idea of his unborn daughter already having a mate.
But it was also something he couldn’t argue with.
The mate pull was powerful. If his daughter had it too, then all he could do was respect her wishes.
And if all Harley really wanted was to be involved in her life, then it was a small price to pay for saving Jin.
He looked at Hunter. “What are you thinking?”
Hunter turned to Harley. “Just let me know when you’re coming, and I don’t have a problem with it. I don’t need my warriors sounding the alarm because you decide to stop by unannounced. I’m not even asking for days in advance. Just a simple call letting me know you’re coming into my territory.”
“I can agree to that,” Harley said with a wide smile. “It looks like we’re all in agreement then. I’d like to spend more time with you two as well, and I want to see her after she’s born, if that’s alright.”
Jin smiled and nodded. “Looks like we have a free babysitter,” she teased, trying to lighten the mood.
“I’ll watch her anytime,” Harley said with a small smile.
“This is a bit much for me at the moment.” Chasen took a deep breath and tried to reign his feelings in.
He looked into Harley’s eyes, which were almost begging him to accept his terms. For a demon that was as strong as Freja said he was, he was being very polite about this issue.
It was just that, if Harley really wanted to, he could have started a war over his mate.
This would be like another alliance. And if Hunter was strong enough to let his future daughter go to the vampires, then he could at least do the same.
Except this man was actually his daughter’s mate.
“Let’s see how things go. And I guess if you stay within pack borders, then it does look like we have a free babysitter,” Chasen said as he let his shoulders slink a bit in defeat.
“And I would appreciate you keeping my Jin safe during the war. Since I won’t be by her side, knowing there’s someone strong there to keep her safe will be a relief. ”
“No matter what happens with that, I can guarantee Jin and your daughter’s safety,” Harley said firmly.
Chasen nodded. Even if they lost, he was reassured that Jin and his daughter would be protected. “Of course, we have no intention of not winning this war,” Chasen said confidently.
“I’ll make some time in my schedule so that we can meet up a few times before. Maybe we can have dinner at one of my restaurants, and I can show you the business that will one day become your daughter’s,” Harley said, and Jin smiled.
“Do they serve chocolate for dessert?” Jin asked with wide, happy eyes.
Harley chuckled. “They do, but I’ll have to import a truckload for your visit.” He lifted his empty box again with a frown. “At least I got to taste one of them.”
Freja leaned into Hunter, finally letting her guard down. Everything was okay. Jin was safe, and they didn’t have to fight. She felt the fatigue starting to catch up to her.
“Let me send you back home,” Harley said with a smile. “I’ll have my driver take you back. I’m sure you’re all exhausted. And Jin shouldn’t be hiking in her condition.”
Hunter nodded in agreement. “A ride back would be perfect.”
Harley lifted his phone and barked out his orders in a commanding tone. He stood up and looked at Jin and Chasen. “Let me know when you two decide on a name for her.” A soft smile settled on his lips.
Jin smiled and nodded. “Thank you for saving me.”
“Couldn’t let anything bad happen to Jhett’s girl. It turned out to be an extra reward, getting to save my future mate's mother.” Harley grinned. They heard a soft knock at the door. “Enter.”
“The car is ready, my lord.”
Harley walked up to Chasen and Jin, handing them each a phone. “This is a direct line to me. Just hit the send button and it will connect you to me. If there is anything you need, call me.”
Chasen smiled. “Is this so you can keep tabs on us and reach us anytime as well?”
Harley shrugged his shoulders with a grin. “The phone does work both ways.” He chuckled. “Let’s meet up soon.”
Chasen and Jin both nodded. He lifted Jin and curled her against him. “Let’s go home.” She smiled up at him as they walked out of the office.
Hunter and Freja stopped just in front of Harley. Freja looked at him with piercing eyes. “Are you sure this isn’t going to be a problem? We’re going to have to kill Mephisto.”
Harley’s expression turned solemn, and he looked at Freja with concern. “That is going to be a challenge. You guys don’t get killed out there, okay? But as far as I’m concerned, I’m not involving myself in their matters. This isn’t my issue. It won’t be a problem.”
“Thank you … for not being the person I thought you were,” Freja said with a small smile.
Harley grinned widely. “Thank you for being who I always hoped you were.”