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  FOUR

  Gina put her hand to her belly and tried not to hope. Being sick that morning and having a slight headache could have been nothing. Though for a wolf, it sometimes meant a little more.

  It had only been a few weeks, but she had a feeling that whatever the Healers had done, might have worked. Again, though, she wouldn’t try to hope.

  Instead, she would roll back her shoulders and go with her son on another patrol. They hadn’t found Helena, except for a scent that reminded Gina of her. Only the smell seemed worn, frayed…and slightly faded.

  Jesse bumped into her shoulder, and she smiled at the man her son had become. It didn’t matter that she hadn’t been the one to birth him, he was hers. He called her Mom and came to her when he needed her. She couldn’t have asked for a better person to call her son.

  And soon, I will have another to join him, she thought to herself.

  If not now, soon. She could feel it.

  “Are you ready?” Jesse asked, and she nodded.

  A familiar scent reached them, and she looked over her shoulder as Quinn made his way over.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked, suddenly on alert. “I thought you were meeting with Finn.”

  Quinn shook his head. “He and Brynn had a thing, so my meeting was postponed. I thought I’d go on patrol with you two in case we catch her scent.”

  “A thing?” Jesse asked, and Gina laughed.

  Quinn chuckled. “Yes, son, they’re newly mated. You can guess what they were up to.”

  Jesse winced before leaning into Gina’s shoulder. “It’s like being around you two, like all the time.”

  Gina punched his shoulder lightly and rolled her eyes. “Shut it. Just wait until you find your mate.”

  Jesse’s eyes went dreamy. “I can’t wait.”

  Quinn pulled Gina close and whispered in her ear too low for Jesse to hear, “I wonder if he’s met someone.”

  Gina’s heart clutched but then she smiled. “I hope so.”

  They moved as a unit and did their duty, all the while talking softly about what was going on in their lives. From the protective look in Quinn’s eyes, Gina had a feeling he was wondering if she was pregnant, just as she was. They would have to worry about that soon.

  When an all too familiar scent hit Gina’s nose, all three of them froze.

  “Helena,” Quinn growled—low, deadly.

  The woman who had once been Quinn’s mate crept out of the shadows. Jesse and Quinn both moved to cover Gina, and Gina held back a growl of her own. She would let them protect her like this just this once. If it were anyone else, she might have bitten their heads off for that display, but they were in a different position now with Helena…and what might be growing in Gina’s womb.

  The other woman surprised Gina by going to her knees and baring her throat. What had once been a glorious woman with an inner strength that bordered on vanity, was now a pale shadow. She had grown dangerously thin, and her hair was cropped close to her head but not in a flattering fashion. Dark circles under her eyes emphasized the paleness of her skin.

  “What are you doing here?” Gina asked. “What do you need, Helena.”

  Helena raised her head but didn’t meet any of their eyes. “I…I didn’t mean to scare him.” She looked at Jesse before turning away. “I just…I’m afraid. I’m afraid of what’s coming with the humans and the way it is out here. I know I don’t deserve to be here, I know I broke trust, but I need help.”

  If this woman hadn’t tried to kill her son, if she hadn’t tried to kill countless people to get her way, Gina might have felt more forgiving. But Helena had never once been sorry for what she did. She might be now, but it was because she’d been put in a corner.

  “You should go away, Helena,” Jesse said calmly. Much more calmly than Gina felt. “You’re not welcome here anymore. You betrayed your Pack, and therefore, the Redwoods.”

  “But Jesse—”

  Quinn growled, cutting her off. “Go, Helena. My son has spoken. We won’t hurt you, we won’t come after you, but you can’t stay here. I know this is a time of unrest, but we can’t be the ones to help you. There are other dens if you truly need a Pack, or you can live as you have, on your own.”

  Helena stood on shaky legs and nodded. “I…I’m sorry.”

  Gina sighed. “I think you are now. But you killed your own for greed. If you’ve truly grown in the time since we’ve last seen you, then you can work with another Pack that might take you in. It won’t be us, Helena.” She looked at the other woman with pity. “It can’t be us. By all rights, you forfeited your life all those years ago, and again by coming near here. Don’t test the strength of the Pack, Helena. Find a new home.”

  She hated sounding so callous, but this woman had caused the death of others. She’d risked the lives of the Pack for her greed. She’d almost killed Jesse when he was just a little boy. Helena might find her own resolution and safety, but it couldn’t be with the Talons or Redwoods.

  Helena nodded again before turning to leave. “I understand.”

  Jesse let out a curse and moved forward. Quinn growled, but Gina put her hand on her mate’s back. “Do you need money?”

  Helena looked over her shoulder. “No, I have money. But…but thank you.”

  With that, she left, and Gina held out her arm. Jesse came toward her and gave her a hug.

  “I’m sorry, baby,” Gina whispered.

  Jesse just let out a breath. “I know. And I know we couldn’t let her stay here. Not with so many pups that could get hurt because of her.”

  Quinn pulled them both close, and Gina couldn’t help but relax somewhat in his arms.

  “We should get back behind the wards,” Gina said softly. “Just in case.”

  Quinn nodded before he froze. His nostrils flared and he looked down at her before going to his knees.

  Gina inhaled a sharp intake of breath. “What is it?”

  Quinn looked up at her, his wolf in his eyes. “You’re pregnant.”

  Jesse let out a soft whoop and hugged her close. “Hell, yeah! I’m going to be a big brother.”

  So much for her thought that Jesse would be worried about a new baby in the family.

  Gina’s eyes filled and she tugged on Quinn so he stood in front of her. He smiled that smug grin she secretly loved, and she fell in love with him all over again.

  “We’re going to have a baby,” Gina said softly.

  Quinn picked her up and twirled her around. She wrapped her arms around his neck as Jesse stood to the side, keeping his attention on their safety, even as he celebrated with them.

  “I’m one lucky wolf,” Quinn said after he’d put her down.

  Gina kissed his jaw and put her hands over her belly. “I’m the lucky one.”

  “We all are,” Jesse put in, and she laughed.

  “So, little witch, what do you say? You ready to have my baby? You ready for our future?”

  Gina looked up at the mate who had been part of her life for sixteen years, and yet it only felt like a blink of time. No matter what happened with the world around them, she knew Quinn was hers and hers alone.

  “If our future is anything like our past, I can’t wait.”

  And with that, her mate kissed her hard and Jesse let out another whoop just like he had when he was a boy.

  This was their life. She had her wicked wolf, and now she’d have her future, wicked and all.

  Choose the Night

  A Talon Pack Short Story

  Author Note: Choose the Night is a Talon Pack short story that centers on Brynn and Finn from An Alpha’s Choice. Brynn is trying to come up with the perfect anniversary gift for Finn, only she’s never been good at things like that. Little does she know that Finn has plans of his own. In terms of a timeline, the events take place after Mated in Mist (Talon Pack Book 3).

  Brynn needed this date night to actually work out. In fact, she needed her anniversary with Finn to work out, as well. The fact that they had
n’t been together for a full year, but rather a mere few months shouldn’t matter. This night needed to be perfect.

  Only Brynn wasn’t the girly-girl the others in her Pack were, and had no idea how to plan a romantic date. She was more the ‘bang against the wall type’—moaning and howling while all sweaty. Finn, while more dominant that her by a mere breath despite being a future Alpha, tended to be the more romantic of the two of them.

  And that was something she could not tolerate today.

  Not on the anniversary of their mating.

  She couldn’t lose to him in the romance department.

  And that she needed to make this a competition spoke to the fact that she would one day be the future Alpha’s mate.

  And that she was stubborn. But shh, don’t mention that.

  It was just that after the courtship they’d had and the hell they’d literally walked through, she wanted to make sure her mate knew how much he meant to her. Because of what had happened when he’d been a child, it had taken far more strength and sacrifice than most wolves endured for the two of them to even find a way to make their mating work in the first place.

  She’d taken a leap into the unknown with Finn, the Heir to a Pack not her own, and the son of an Alpha newly brought into the world as a power. But she wouldn’t take back that decision for anything.

  However, now she had to show her very alpha mate how much he meant to her, and do it in a romantic way. As much as she knew he loved it when she slammed him against a wall and had her wicked way with him, she’d already done that the day before during their break from patrol.

  So, their six-month anniversary had to be a little more special.

  With a sigh, she pulled her long hair up into a ponytail and got to work making lists. She wasn’t like her sister-in-law with her OCD nature and ability to organize anything, but she could at least try to make a plan.

  She could do a picnic lunch with him during their break, but that would require her to cook or ask a friend or family member to cook for her.

  She could find him a present that would make him smile.

  She could cook for him like she hadn’t wanted to with the picnic, but if she stayed within the house, it meant less travel.

  “Or you could get naked and wrap yourself up with a teeny-tiny bow,” a deep voice rumbled from behind her.

  She twisted in her seat, crumbling the paper with her list in her hand as she did so. “Finn,” she squeaked.

  Squeaked.

  Brynn Brentwood-Jamenson did not squeak.

  Her mate cupped her face in his large, callused hands and lowered his lips to hers. She sank into the kiss, her body practically melting into him. Her wolf reared up, pushing at them both, needing the man, the wolf, in front of her.

  They were bonded on more than a human level, they were linked on a soul level. Their wolves were bonded, as well; a true mating that spoke of generations of commitment, love, and magic.

  When Finn pulled back and rested his forehead on hers, they both panted, trying to catch their breath.

  “Heck of a list, baby.”

  Her cheeks warming, she tried to pull back, but his hold on the back of her head kept her in place. “You weren’t supposed to see that.” She lowered her eyes, embarrassed, then cursed and met his gaze once more.

  He kissed the tip of her nose, his green eyes glowing with need, with the power of his wolf. “No need to lower your eyes for me, princess. You know better than that. You’re my equal. In wolf, in dominance, in life. Now, why are you embarrassed about that list?”

  She could have broken his hold, and frankly, he would have let her go if she moved. He’d never hurt her, never clip her wings. He was a dominant male, who loved his dominant mate.

  “Argh. You weren’t supposed to see that list,” she repeated. “I wanted to be all romantic and find something to do with you for our anniversary, but I could only come up with cliché things that didn’t seem like us.” She nuzzled into his hand, her wolf stretching her claws, practically purring. “And the fact that those romantic things didn’t seem like us annoyed me. Why can’t I be romantic, Finn?”

  To her horror, tears stung her eyes.

  Finn immediately moved, forcing her to his lap as he held her close. “Shh, princess. It’s okay.”

  She wiggled, enjoying the way he hardened under her. “I feel like an idiot.”

  “You aren’t an idiot,” he whispered as he kissed her temple. “You’re my mate, and therefore, cannot be an idiot.”

  She snorted. “Really? That’s your excuse? That seems a bit centered around you.”

  “Well, I’m a future Alpha,” he said with a deep chuckle. “It’s kind of the point.” He kissed the top of her head while his hand slowly roamed over her body. If he didn’t quit that soon, she’d be slamming him against a wall. Again. “And Brynn? I don’t care what we do on our anniversary, as long as I’m with you. And you know what? This doesn’t have to be all about what you can do for me. Maybe it should be what I should do for you? Or even what we can do for each other, with each other. Because I love you, mate of mine. You’re mine. I’m yours. We chose each other when the world was against us, and you know what? I’m going to spend every day knowing that you’re mine, and I’m yours. Showing you that.”

  Her heart melted, and she sank into him once again.

  “Though I still think you naked with a bow might be nice.”

  She grinned wickedly and wiggled on his lap. “Maybe we should get you a bow. I know exactly where to tie it.”

  He laughed before kissing her with the strength of an Alpha. “Is it your turn or mine to be the one pressed against the wall?”

  Brynn licked her lips. “Mine.”

  He wiggled his brows, folding his hands behind his head. “You’re going to have to make me.”

  She growled low, though her wolf pleased by the challenge. “Game on, mate.”

  “Game on.”

  After they were sweaty and lying in a heap on the floor, Finn’s back a bit bruised from his turn against the wall, she curled into him, her wolf content.

  “So,” she began, “what do you really want to do for our anniversary?”

  “You,” he answered.

  She punched him in the shoulder, but there wasn’t much heat since he’d taken most of her energy. “Well, if we don’t do something fun on our anniversary, then choose the night, Finn. Choose the night, and we’re going to play at romance and try something new.”

  Finn rolled so he hovered over her, his eyes dark, intent. “Any night with you is something new, Brynn. But yeah, princess, I’ll choose the night.”

  He kissed her softly, and she moaned.

  “I choose you, Brynn,” he whispered once they’d made love once more. “I choose you. Always and forever.”

  She closed her eyes, cherishing his words. She was his, and he was hers. And no matter how romantic she might want to be, she knew there was no greater romance than this—than simply being with her mate.

  She may not have figured out what they were doing to do for their date, but she’d worry about that later. She had Finn in her arms, and that was all she needed.

  Aftermath

  A Talon Pack Short Story

  Author Note: Aftermath is a Talon Pack short story that centers around Ryder and Leah from Mated in Mist (Talon Pack Book 3). Leah almost lost everything during the battle for their people and now it’s up to Ryder to make sure they don’t lose the little they have left. In terms of a timeline, the events take place directly after the next to last chapter in Wolf Betrayed (Talon Pack Book t).

  The wards hadn’t fallen, and yet, Ryder was sure he’d lost years of his life. He held Leah in his arms, her body cold to the touch, as he ran as fast as he could toward his home. He knew he should probably wait for Walker, but Leah had said she wanted to be home, and he’d be damned if he refused her. Especially now.

  She’d saved them all.

  Again.

  And now, she could die if he di
dn’t get her warm; if he didn’t find a way to make the mating bond feed her more energy. This had happened once before, of course, and that time, it had taken almost everything he had for Ryder to keep Leah alive.

  He’d be damned if he lost her this time.

  As soon as he got to the house, he held Leah close, used his palm print to get inside, and rushed to the bathroom and the giant tub they had for Leah to soak in nightly. She was a water witch and needed baths and swims to keep her powers replenished.

  He just hated that she needed it tonight, but she’d just about drained everything she had inside in order to save the Pack.

  Instead of bothering to take off any of their clothes, he shuffled them both to the large, sunken tub and turned on the water to full blast and all the way to hot. Normally, it didn’t matter to Leah what kind of water she soaked in, as long as it was clean, but she was so damn cold, he knew the heat was needed right now.

  He slid his hands through her hair and kissed her forehead. “Wake up, my witch. I need you to wake up.”

  Leah tilted her head back and blinked up at Ryder as she came awake. “Ryder,” she breathed, a smile forming on her face. “You’re wearing your clothes in the bath.”

  His heartbeat steadily began to slow from the thudding pulse that had threatened to deafen him since the moment she’d fallen into his arms on the battlefield.

  “You scared the shit out of me, Leah. Don’t do that again. You got me? I don’t think I can take it.”

  She looked confused for a second at the tone of his voice before her eyes went dark, memories of what had happened coming back to her.

  She turned in his arms so she knelt in front of him. With a flick of her wrist, a small wave of water reached out and turned off the taps to the bath. He would forever be in awe of her power, but right then, it scared the hell out of him because he knew she would use it all if she could.

  To protect those she loved.

  When she cupped his face, his wolf pushed at him, needing her touch, needing to know she was his.