Page 18 of The Brave (Black Arrowhead #6)

A tticus stayed true to his word. While I couldn’t go home that same day, he spoke to my Packmaster, and they worked something out. Despite the luxurious amenities and view, I missed my packmates. I’d never known such an intimate connection with a place before.

The next day, Atticus summoned his pilot, and we lifted off. Unlike my first trip, I bravely kept my eyes open and enjoyed the view. I still clutched Atticus, but this time it wasn’t out of fear.

As our helicopter landed in the pasture behind our property, I was relieved that Tak’s horse wasn’t in sight. We would have spooked her for sure. Tak and Montana were sitting on the fence, watching the grass flatten and dirt scatter. When I emerged from the noisy machine, my hair blew everywhere as Atticus led us a safe distance from the spinning blades.

Tak opened the gate and then cupped my cheek in his hand. “Did the Vampire take care of you?” He flicked a suspicious glance toward Atticus.

Tak was so tall that my attention fixed on the black arrowhead around his neck—one of many Hope had found on the property. “Mr. Rain was an exceptional host. It was better than a vacation.”

He gave Atticus an appreciative nod.

“How is everyone?” I clutched Tak’s arm, worried that someone had gotten hurt. “I heard you killed the Vampires.”

Montana tipped his black hat. “You won’t have to worry about those guys anymore, but if they send someone else…” He shared a concerned look with Tak.

“It doesn’t matter,” I told them. “We’re safe for the moment, and I’m home. That’s all I wanted.”

Montana studied my belly while rubbing his upper lip. “You seem… bigger.”

I giggled. “You sure know how to compliment a lady.”

His cheeks bloomed red. “No, I just mean?—”

“I’m only teasing. Atticus fed me well,” I tacked on, deciding to avoid the obvious explanation of the baby having shifted back. “Milly also prescribed me vitamins and something that’s helped with my indigestion. Now that I don’t feel sick after every meal, my appetite is back.”

When I ran my hand over my belly, I wondered how much the baby had grown. Wolves in the wild only carried for about two months, so maybe shifting had sped up the gestation period. In just the past two days since the baby changed back, my clothes fit tighter. Not to mention the sudden weight was an adjustment. My back hurt more, and the skin around my belly itched.

While Tak led us toward the house, Lakota trotted into sight on Luna’s back. The beautiful white mare whinnied when she caught sight of us.

Lakota slid off her bare back. “I spotted the helicopter up the road. She’s not in the mood for a run.”

Luna pawed the earth and nodded her head a few times.

Tak stroked her face. “Maybe you just don’t know how to ride her. She needs someone experienced who isn’t galloping across the town like a hotshot.”

Lakota plucked a tall weed and flipped his hair back when he straightened up. “Maybe she has more energy with me because she doesn’t have a three-hundred-pound gorilla on her back.”

The two men laughed.

“Gentlemen, perhaps we should take this inside,” Atticus suggested. “Joy needs to put her feet up and rest.”

Lakota took Luna’s reins and walked her into the pasture.

“Give her some water,” Tak called out.

“Joy!” Cecilia bounded down the back steps, her long skirt gathered up in her hand as she jogged toward us. Her ponytail swished back and forth until she reached me. “I missed you.”

I took her hand and squeezed it. “I missed you too, honey. It’s so good to be home again.” My eyes blurred with tears.

Tak walked a few paces ahead with Atticus.

“Is Salem here?” I asked her.

“He left not long ago,” she said. “A little girl got a nasty cut from a tool someone left in the grass, so he left to patch her up. I’ve been so anxious these past days. When I heard you were coming home early, I started cleaning to pass the time. Hope is here.”

“Is she?”

“Her father wasn’t thrilled about driving her back under the circumstances, but we handled everything. Well, I didn’t, but I suppose you heard all about what Tak and the others did at that motel.”

When her grip loosened, I let go of her hand.

I turned my attention to Montana, who walked alongside me. “Was anyone hurt? Tell the truth.”

He took off his hat and fanned his flushed face. His pale-brown eyes met mine for only a moment before he focused on the house ahead. “Lakota’s wolf suffered a nasty break on his leg. Once we took out the second Vampire and secured the area, Salem had to straighten the bone before Lakota could shift back. It was a hell of a thing, but he’s good now, as you can see.”

“Tell me everything.”

“We ambushed the first guy when he answered the door. I pretended to be a worker and had this whole speech planned if he refused to open up, but we didn’t have any trouble. The second guy gave us problems. Since we attacked them at night, we couldn’t let him escape the room or he would’ve shadow walked right out of the county. He put up a hell of a fight, and Tak had to pay the owner for damages to the room.”

“I’m just thankful no one… Well, you know.” I clutched his arm, relieved that no one died.

“We’re fine.” He put his hat back on.

“Thank you… for everything.”

“Think nothing of it. You okay?”

“As well as can be expected.” I sucked in a sharp breath.

He stopped and regarded me with a concerned look. “What’s wrong?”

Atticus turned around, and Tak followed suit.

I held my hand against the side of my belly. “It’s kicking.”

“That’s because he knows he’s home,” Tak said but then looked like he wanted to eat his words. “Sorry. I only meant the unborn know when they’re around wolf energy.”

Cecilia’s bracelet jingled when she held out her hand. “Would it be okay if I felt it?”

I placed her hand over the spot. When the baby moved again, Cecilia’s hazel eyes glittered with excitement. But that excitement wasn’t hers alone.

Tak approached and placed his large hand over the same spot. When the baby kicked again, a smile crossed his face, and he whispered something in his native tongue.

Montana felt next, but his reaction was laughter. “I can’t believe women can carry a whole person inside them. That one’s gonna be a kickboxer.”

While lying in bed last night, feeling the baby turn, I had reimagined my future. I’d always assumed I would give up the baby, but my feelings for it were growing stronger. Those newfound emotions didn’t invalidate my doubts, but it made me realize it was okay to be unsure. And maybe it was okay to change my mind, especially with the pack supporting me no matter my decision. That unconditional love meant the world.

I jerked my head back when something flew at my face. When it flitted around me at lightning speed, I let out a tiny shriek.

“It’s not a bug,” Atticus said on a laugh.

Tak grinned at the blue-green bird, its iridescent feathers shimmering in the sunlight. “Hummingbirds bring luck.”

“They’re migrating.” Montana cast his gaze around the field. “I saw two this morning by the well.”

Cecilia worried her lip. “Maybe we should leave out some sugar water. They’re probably thirsty.”

It briefly landed on my belly and then took off. “My shirt has flowers. He must have thought I was dinner.”

Tak threw back his head and laughed. “Wolves are fearless predators, but I’ll never understand why the smallest of creatures aren’t afraid of us. Some cultures believe hummingbirds are healers. He chose you. That’s a good omen.”

Once inside the house, Cecilia carried my bag up to my room and then left me alone to settle in. Without Salem’s books, clothes, and medical bag, the room was a hollow space. Atticus planned to deliver my new wardrobe, and while I normally might have turned down the offer, I quickly discovered that nothing in my closet fit anymore. Hope would also be needing maternity clothes soon, and I could pass them on to her.

When toenails scratched against the door, I opened it.

Catcher hopped into view and sniffed me all over. He whimpered, wagged his tail, and pushed his way into the room.

“I hope your paws are clean.”

He rubbed against my belly excitedly, which put a smile on my face. Catcher was just showing his love and doing what he did best—protecting those who needed protection.

“Did you miss me?”

He barked loudly, then groaned. Catcher didn’t understand where I’d been, only that a Vampire had attacked us and our lives were thrown into chaos. He must have thought something happened to me, so I stroked his head until he settled down.

A knock startled me. Catcher growled at Atticus, who remained at the entrance.

“Catcher, stop. This is my friend.” I hated to scold him since he wasn’t a pet, but I also didn’t want a bloodbath on my hands.

I took Atticus by the hand, but he kept staring at Catcher. “Don’t look him in the eye,” I warned him. “I thought an old Vampire would know better. He’s just trying to protect me.”

Atticus cupped my nape and delivered a fervent kiss that made my body melt like ice cream on a hot summer day. “Tell him you already have a protector.”

My heart fluttered. I wrapped my arms around him and buried my nose in his shirt. His cologne lingered like a familiar memory, and I wished I could snuggle closer, but my belly was putting more distance between us.

Catcher sniffed the air and then whined.

I was afraid that once home, I’d change my mind about Atticus, deciding the delicious food and lavish environment might have influenced me. But each time our eyes met, each time he held my hand or gave me a reassuring smile, my heart clenched. That inexplicable certainty left me wondering if life mates could exist between different Breeds.

“I love my pack,” I said quietly, listening to his heart thumping in his chest. “I’m not sure this will work between us if I have to leave.”

“I’m not asking you to leave.” He brushed his hand down my back. “If you want to stay here, that means your pack will have to accept me.”

I eased back and kept my hands on his shoulders. “You would live here instead of the mansion?”

“A home is only a place to exist.”

“But you said you needed quiet.”

Atticus sighed and looked about the room. “Yes, that might be a challenge. Maybe I could find a quiet place in the woods.”

“Our wolves run in the woods. You’re safer in the house. It’s quieter downstairs late at night since some people up here snore. You could sit in the library and rest.”

He smiled down at me.

“What?”

“You’re thinking ahead. About us.”

My hands slid down to his chest. “I have to.”

“ Atticus and Joy, sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g ,” Virgil sang from the hallway. He gripped the top of the doorframe. “What mischief is this?”

Catcher lumbered into the hall to join him.

Virgil hadn’t bothered to dress in anything but tattered jeans and his labradorite pendant, which drew attention to his pierced nipples. If Atticus was having second thoughts about moving in, it was probably now.

When Virgil looked down at Catcher, his dirty-blond hair shielded his face. “Are those two an item now?” Then he lowered his arms and locked eyes with Atticus, his countenance turning serious. “She’s pregnant, you know.”

Atticus let go of me and faced my nosy packmate. “I’m aware.”

Virgil’s brows gathered in concern as he directed his attention to me. “You should be careful around Vampires. You know what they can do.”

“I certainly do. Cook for me, pamper me, entertain me, and buy me flowers.”

“They can also break your shoulder by accident. Ask me how I know this.” He put his hands on his hips. “Well, I’ll tell you anyway. I was drinking with a few friends. Mixed crowd. Someone told a funny joke, and the Vampire next to me laughed and playfully punched my arm right out of the socket.”

Atticus shook his head. “The young ones don’t know their own strength.”

Virgil played with his large pendant. “I once knew a guy who dated a Vampire who was into kinky sex. They did all kinds of stuff with whips, clamps, plugs, and rope. All of that went fine, but then he told me about the spanking session…”

Not wanting to hear one of his horror stories, I stepped into the hallway. “Did you come to this end of the house for a reason? You never use this bathroom.”

“Salem’s home. Thought you might like to know.”

“Is everyone downstairs?”

He rubbed his chest. “As far as I know.”

“Can you gather them? We’ll be down in a minute.”

Virgil shrugged. “Come on, Catcher. I know when we’re not wanted.”

“Virgil?”

He twisted around.

I wrapped my arms around him. “I’m so glad you’re all right. I missed you.”

Virgil rubbed my back. “Missed you too, sugarplum.”

After they rounded the corner, Atticus joined my side. “What are you thinking about doing?”

I sighed inwardly while brushing wolf hairs off my shirt. “If you want to court me, my pack needs to know. I didn’t plan on telling them so soon, but Virgil won’t be able to keep this a secret.”

He crossed his arms. “Let me speak to Tak first. I don’t think it’s a good idea if the pack sees him react negatively. I can warm him up to the idea.”

“Warm him up? You’d have to set him on fire. He won’t understand why a Vampire wants to be with a Shifter. He respects you, but like everyone else, he’s worried about your gifts. It’s better if we tell them all at once. I don’t know where things will stand when this baby is born, but it’s time to see how much this pack supports me.”