A Baby Daddy for a Werewolf Silencer (14 page)

Martin didn't have a real pattern in his pacing. He was
erratic, and that made him dangerous, if not for Erdi, for Alicia, Kyle and
Jack. Erdi debated possible strategies, and eventually decided a surprise
attack would work best.

The wood of the barn was fragile enough to break under Erdi's
strength, and Erdi didn't need more than a few seconds to reach Martin.

Choosing his timing carefully, Erdi moved back a reasonable
distance away from the barn. He kept a low profile so that Martin wouldn't
accidentally see him. Jensen monitored his actions from his hiding place and
gave him the all clear, signaling the moment when Martin had his back turned.

Erdi had an instant during which he wondered how his mate
could possibly read him so well, and then he was rushing forward. His momentum
had him crashing through the wood, splintering it with no difficulty
whatsoever. The human turned toward him with a shocked gasp, but he didn't even
have the time to aim the gun before Erdi was on him.

In a few expert motions, Erdi relieved the man of his weapon.
He was probably a little more zealous in it than strictly necessary, because he
ended up breaking Martin's wrist in the process. The human released a scream,
but whatever pain he was in hadn't fully taken the fight out of him. He tried to
free himself, to reach for the gun again, his terror obviously making him
ignore the fact that he was outmatched.

The man's fear didn't pacify Erdi in any way, and he knew
better than to loosen his hold. He forced Martin on his stomach, effortlessly
pinning him to the ground.

"It's okay," he told Alicia. "Everything is
going to be all right now."

The woman had been watching the brief fight in obvious
disbelief, but Erdi's words snapped her out of her trance. She shot to her
feet—and wow, Martin hadn't even tied her down—and ushered her children out of
the barn.

Erdi heard Jensen meet the humans outside and soothe them
with soft words and reassurances. The children were, of course, crying, and
that made something dark twist inside Erdi.

"Listen closely. I know you're running away from
someone, but that is not who sent me."

Martin stopped fighting at the words, or perhaps he simply
realized he didn't have a chance. "Are you kidding me? Who are you
then?"

Erdi gripped Martin's broken wrist and squeezed. "Someone
very dangerous, and pissed off. Here's what's going to happen. You're going to
be arrested, and you'll be in jail for a long time. Don't ever try to contact
Alicia, Jack or Kyle again. If you do, the people you're running from...
They'll be the least of your problems."

In truth, Erdi was realistic enough to realize that Martin
Cook would probably meet an unfortunate accident while in prison. Still, the
warning couldn't hurt. It took a great deal of effort for Erdi not to enforce
it with a liberal application of claws, but he couldn't afford to reveal any
non-human part of him.

Instead, he retrieved one of his smaller knives and nudged it
against Martin's cheek. "Do you understand me?"

"Y-Yes," Martin stammered. "I
understand."

Erdi was tempted to leave Martin with a scar that matched his
own, but he didn't. It wasn't necessarily out of scruples or the lack of desire
to hurt an already defeated man. The truth was that he could too easily imagine
his own child in Jack or Kyle's place, and that didn't help his composure.

Even so, Erdi was no longer a silencer. He might carry his
past with him forever, but he would not let him rule him. He would be a good
father for his children, and a mate Jensen could be proud of. And he'd start
today, by keeping his most violent impulses in check.

Instead of hurting Martin further, he forced the man to his
feet and tied him down with some rope he found in the barn. Once he had Martin
immobilized, he finally focused on his mate. "Are they all right?" He
wanted to ask if
Jensen
was all right, but that was Erdi's paranoia
speaking. He would have been able to tell if there was something wrong with his
mate.

Jensen smiled at him. "We're all fine, Erdi."

His eyes added another answer, perhaps because of the
question Erdi hadn't asked.
Everything is fine,
they said.
We can go
home soon.

Just like that, Erdi's concern was swept aside, leaving only
happiness in its wake. Home. Erdi finally had a home, with Jensen, and perhaps
with the baby Jensen was carrying. He'd been granted a place in the Lone Wolf
Pack. He was finally ready for his new beginning, and he would always, always
cherish it.

Epilogue

A few days later

"I can't believe it. Werewolves."

Alicia shook her head in dismayed awe as she stepped up to
Jensen.
 
"I know," he said.
"It's not exactly what we expected when we decided to come visit your
son."

But the truth of it couldn't be denied, and not only because
of the less than pleasant experience Alicia had been through. In fact, the
evidence was right there in front of them, somewhat more humorous than the arid
explanations both Alicia and Jensen had first received.

Jensen leaned against the tree trunk and grinned, wondering
if he'd ever get tired of the sight of small Jackie riding on the back of the
Alpha of the Lone Wolf Pack. He and Kyle had agreed on taking turns, and both
children were cheering as Saul ran around, stoically withstanding all the fur
and ear pulling.

It was nice to see the children relaxing, and Jensen
appreciated the effort the pack was putting into having Alicia and her boys
accommodated. In a way, it was easier for the children to accept the existence
of the supernatural, but their lives had still changed dramatically and they'd
just gone through a traumatic experience. They needed the distraction.

Alicia had been quite wary at first, and she hadn't
immediately accepted the whole riding thing. Gavin had spoken to her at length,
though, and she'd understood Saul and the other werewolves were just
people—albeit belonging to a very different species.

"They're good men," she said, "and I'm really
glad Gavin found Saul." Her voice grew pained as she added, "All our
legends claim werewolves are monsters, but I've seen other monsters, and they
were human. I didn't protect my children as I should have."

"I don't think any of them hold it against you,"
Jensen replied. She smiled weakly, but Jensen knew his encouragement didn't
really reach her. Whatever had broken her relationship with Gavin—something
which, from what he'd learned so far, was related to Martin Cook—would not be
so easily forgotten.

It was at times like this that Jensen felt really grateful
the man was behind bars where he belonged. A date had been set for his trial,
but there was far too much evidence stacked against him for him to escape
justice. The people who'd attacked the pack in Saul's absence were more of a
mystery, but Erdi had assured Jensen and the others that silencer guilds never
left such matters unfinished.

Even as he thought this, a burst of emotion echoed through
his connection with Erdi, almost flooring him. Jensen barely managed to
suppress a gasp. He clutched his chest, drawing Alicia's attention to him.
"Are you okay?"

"Fine. I just... I need to find Erdi."

"If you're sure." Alicia shot him a dubious glance.
"I'm going to see Gavin. I think Shannon must be taking his nap by
now."

They headed back into the house together and went their
separate ways from there. The place was pretty crowded on a regular basis, but
Jensen managed to track Erdi down in the attic. He didn't think Erdi was in any
sort of danger or distress, but he still felt his mate needed him by his side,
and he had every intention of always being there for Erdi.

****

"Are you sure about this?" Erdi asked as he stared
at the papers. "It's... too much."

Dean arched a brow at him. "We've all discussed it. I
know it's unusual, but our pack is a family already. This just makes it
official, the human way."

Or so Dean said, but Erdi still couldn't believe that Dean
had offered to adopt him. Erdi had many names and identifications, but they
were all false, mere masks he used in his missions. This was entirely
different.

"I don't know what to say."

"A yes would be nice," Dean offered, "but we
don't want to force you. I know being in a pack is already a big change. You
can take your time to adapt, and decide whatever you feel is right for
you."

Still a little numb with confused, awed shock, Erdi nodded.
Dean squeezed Erdi's shoulder and shot him a gentle, understanding smile.
"I'll give you some time and space. I believe there's someone who's
anxious to see you anyway."

Dean was right, of course. Erdi must have been more
distracted than he himself had realized if he'd missed his mate's approach. No,
it wasn't even that he'd missed it. He'd taken refuge in it, instinctively
reaching out to his mate while struggling to process how he felt about Dean's
offer.

When Dean stepped out of the attic, Jensen was there, ready
and waiting. His eyes widened and he fidgeted a little. "I'm sorry. I
didn't mean to interrupt."

"You didn't," Dean replied. "I think he needs
you, anyway."

Erdi should have been startled at how well Dean read him—his
mate was the only one who managed that performance on a regular basis—but at
this point, he couldn't argue with the former Alpha. In fact, he was grateful,
as Dean proceeded to give them the privacy they needed to discuss this latest
development.

"What happened?" Jensen asked once Dean was gone.

Jensen was already entering the attic, crossing the room
before Erdi could even move. He cupped Erdi's cheek with striking gentleness,
and the emotion that stirred in Erdi's chest at the touch made it easier for
him to handle the more restless shocked one.

"He offered to adopt me," he replied, "so I
could finally have a... complete identity."

"And what did you say?" Jensen asked slowly, as if
afraid of his reaction.

"I haven't replied yet." Erdi chuckled, although
the sound held no humor. "I suppose there's no question that I want to say
yes. I'm just not sure I should."

Jensen arched a brow. "Why shouldn't you?"

There were many answers on Erdi's lips, all of them stemming
from the one truth that he couldn't quite let go of—his past as a silencer, the
guilt he still carried from those days of blood and deception. But when he
looked at Jensen, he couldn't cling to them anymore. "I suppose... I don't
have any reason, not anymore."

Jensen's smile shone brightly, although his eyes had that
knowing glint that told Erdi his mate knew exactly how he truly felt. He
couldn't shake off his feelings of self-loathing so quickly, but he could do
his best, and Jensen helped him, anchoring him.

Erdi didn't know who reached for whom first. Maybe it was
Jensen who stepped closer and brought their mouths together, or maybe it was
Erdi who pulled his mate into his embrace. Either way, the end result was the
same. Suddenly, they were kissing, their bodies molded against one another.

Since he'd met Jensen, Erdi had always felt his mate was a
gift. Like all good things that happened to Erdi, Jensen's affection for him
couldn't possibly last, couldn't endure the weight of Erdi's past. Truth be
told, he hadn't pushed because he'd been reluctant to taint Jensen with that
burden.

But Jensen proved him wrong time and time again. He made Erdi
feel worthy of starting over. Every time he displayed any sort of doubt, Jensen
was there to reassure him and bring him back from the dark corners of his mind.

This time, the despair that once drove him to cling to Jensen
so possessively was set aside by that reassurance. From the very beginning,
Erdi had tried to show Jensen how he felt, to be gentle despite his instincts
to claim and devour. Even then, it had been different.

Hungry, frantic kisses were replaced by almost lazy
lip-locks. Erdi savored the taste of his mate's surrender, the sweetness of his
lips and his unique warmth. He took his time exploring every inch of Jensen's
wet cavern, wordlessly telling his mate everything he couldn't find the right
words for.

As it was always between them, things grew more heated, more
daring. Erdi let his hands roam over Jensen's lithe form, but he managed to
restrain himself and not tear Jensen's clothing right off. It was a good thing
too, because as much as he wanted to make love to Jensen, this wasn't the right
place for it.

The cabin had never been built to accommodate so many people,
and as such, Alicia and the children were temporarily staying in town while
Saul proceeded with the expansion of their living quarters. Erdi and Jensen had
taken to living there too, half because Alicia needed someone to watch out for
her and half to make things smoother within the pack.

They all spent most of their time at the cabin, but their
belongings were in their small rented room, back in Willow Cove. Unfortunately,
this meant he couldn't just tumble his mate into any available bed. They had to
wait.

It would take forever to get back to Willow Cove, though, and
Erdi wasn't looking forward to explaining why they needed the car. So Erdi
chose a more practical approach. "Come on," he said as he broke the
kiss between them. "We're going for a walk."

Jensen's grin suggested that he knew exactly what Erdi meant
by walk. Other people would probably guess too—particularly werewolves who
would be able to sense the sexual tension between him and Jensen. So, Erdi put
his stealth training to good use and sneaked out of the attic, into the
hallway. His mate trailed behind him, quiet, but still holding Erdi's hand.

There were plenty of people inside the house, but most of
them were distracted with other things—usually their respective children or
mates. No one sensed Erdi and Jensen as they slowly made their way down the
stairs. At the ground floor, the kitchen was empty. The children's laughter
still echoed in the distance, confirming the fact that Saul remained in the
clutches of Gavin's brothers.

Erdi left the cabin through the back door. He sensed Finn
nearby, but the other wolf didn't appear. They'd continued to patrol the area
from time to time, but Finn obviously realized what Erdi had in mind and let
the matter go.

Soon, he and Jensen left the cabin behind, and as the sound
of voices and laughter faded away, Erdi could focus on his mate yet again.
"Okay. We're finally alone."

"Good."

That was the only warning Erdi got before his mate pounced on
him. He pinned Erdi to a nearby tree trunk, and Erdi allowed it—no, reveled it
in. He could have easily turned the tables on Jensen, but he didn't. Instead,
he coaxed his mate into gentling their kiss, taming Jensen's need with his own.

Another thing Erdi had noticed was that Jensen's sex drive
was through the roof. Jensen had moments when he simply crawled on top of Erdi
and seduced him with teasing nibbles and soft kisses. It never took Erdi long
to surrender the battle, but this time around, he wanted things to be
different.

When they broke apart to breathe, Erdi took his jacket and
his shirt off. The heat in Jensen's eyes was always a welcome sight, but Erdi
didn't address that lust just yet. Instead, he draped his clothing over the
ground, Jensen's comfort always a priority.

Jensen followed his example and took his own shirt off,
discarding it next to Erdi's clothes. He then sat in the impromptu nest and
extended his hand toward Erdi.

In a way, that simple gesture was a symbol of everything
Jensen had done for Erdi. He took his mate's palm in his own and knelt next to
Jensen. Meeting the human's beautiful eyes, he kissed each individual
fingertip. The wind made fallen leaves dance around them, but the slight chill
wasn't the one that made both of them shiver.

It was so quiet here, in the middle of the forest, so quiet
Erdi could swear he could hear his own heart racing, following the rhythm of
Jensen's pulse. He crawled on top of Jensen, keeping his weight off his lover,
but needing the proximity too much to stay away.

You're so beautiful. You're mine. I love you. Thank you.
They
were all words that burst into Erdi's mind. None of them made it to the
surface, but that was all right, because Jensen knew it all anyway.

When Erdi kissed Jensen again, he did so with the knowledge
that in the here and now, nothing could part them. Reverent hands reached for
the clothing they still wore, and slowly, every barrier of material was
discarded. On occasion, they had to move around a bit to make things easier,
but they managed without actually pulling away from one another.

When they were finally naked, Erdi took a few moments to just
breathe. He half-thought his lungs were going to seize simply at the sight of
Jensen, lying there, waiting for him, his pupils dilated with lust. Was he ever
going to get used to that obscenely beautiful view? Erdi didn't think so.

The swell of emotion in his chest guided Erdi to lower his
mouth over Jensen's neck, in the very same spot he bit down when he claimed his
lover. His instincts reared up inside him, but the wolf wasn't demanding, not
yet. He wanted to nuzzle, woo and caress, to get accustomed to every inch of
his mate the way they so rarely had time to do.

And so, he did exactly that. He licked over Jensen's neck,
swirling his tongue in the hollow of the human's throat and over his Adam's
apple. He mouthed his collarbones, then kissed down over his chest, until he
reached Jensen's nipples. Jensen arched against him with a soft gasp as Erdi
teased the tender buds, one with his mouth, the other with his now clawed
fingers. Despite the sharp tips, he kept the caresses gentle, his instinct to
protect, to love overpowering—no, blending in with the one to own.

He lingered over Jensen's nipples longer he himself had
perhaps expected, but the sound of his mate's rising cries rewarded him for it.
In truth, the noises Jensen made when Erdi touched him should have been
illegal. They guided Erdi, spoke to him even if Jensen wasn't actually uttering
any words.

The language of Jensen's body beckoned to Erdi, and he went
on to kiss over the expanse of Jensen's arms, down to his wrist. He traced the
lines of Jensen's abdomen with his tongue. If his kisses held an additional
layer of awareness and tenderness, he didn't think anyone could have blamed
him. It was too soon for Jensen to show actual signs of his pregnancy, but just
the knowledge made Erdi's head swim.