The Recruit (Book Three) (34 page)

* * *

The Lycan, his gra
y fur matted with blood and his back leg
held up, limped to the woman. She was staring transfixed at the
glimpses of moon she could see between the leafy trees, and he
nudged her hip. He whined softly when he saw the wound in her
stomach and nudged her again.

She turned her gaze to him, her jade eyes
glowing with a wild, fierce light, and shook her head. “It is
nothing, my love.”

He chuffed lightly and she blinked and
shuddered all over before taking a deep breath. She seemed to
really see him for the first time and, with a soft cry of distress,
she knelt beside him and touched his bloody fur.

“Will! Are you alright?”

He shifted and sat on the ground, holding his
leg out awkwardly in front of him. “My leg is broken.”

“Oh honey.” She crouched next to him, her
clothes were torn and he could see glimpses of her smooth flesh
between the ragged strips, and hugged him tightly before kissing
him on the mouth.

“I’ll be fine.” He smiled at her. “How’s your
stomach?”

She shrugged. “Already starting to heal, I
think. A couple of my ribs are broken as well.”

He frowned and she shrugged again. “I’ll
live.
You killed the
leech?”

He nodded and studied the pile of ash on the
ground. “I heard you howling. Did you have to shift?”

She shook her head. “No, not really. I kind
of half-shifted after the asshole leech took my swords and stabbed
me in the stomach.”

“You let him take your swords?” He arched his
eyebrow at her and she growled softly before sitting next to
him.

“You’d better not let Chen know that.” He
grinned at her as they leaned against a tree and he put his arm
around her. “He’ll have you back in sword training 101. Lesson one
– don’t give your sword to the leeches.”

She laughed, wincing when it sent sharp
pain shooting across her ribs, and kissed his bare chest. “I love
you, Will.”

“I love you too, Hannah.” He kissed her
forehead. “The others are coming.”

“I know. I can smell them.”

There was a rustling in the trees ahead of
them and Chen and the twins appeared in the dark. Paul, Alex, and
Reid and Selena were behind them, and the group stared solemnly at
the two Lycans before Reid cleared his throat.

“We’re going for tacos. You in?”

* * *

Three
weeks later

“Tyrone? Be a dear and bring out the potato
salad from the kitchen, would you?”

“
Sure, mom.” Tyrone brushed a kiss across
Natalie’s cheek.

He flipped the bird at his brother when
Luther snorted “pussy” under his breath.

“Language, dearest.” Natalie said
disapprovingly.

“Sorry, mom.”

“That’s alright. Why don’t you go help your
brother?”

Luther stood and ambled after his twin as
Natalie smiled at Will. “They’re such sweet boys, don’t you
think?”

“Uh, sure.” Will laughed. “When did they
start calling you mom?”

“
Right after you rescued them from those
dreadful vampires. We were so happy they were alive, I must have
ugly-cried for fifteen minutes straight, and I insisted they refer
to Jim and I as mom and dad after that. They agreed right
away.”

She patted Will’s arm fondly. “How’s your
leg, dear?”

“Fine. It was completely healed within a day
or so.”

“That’s so cool.” Natalie replied. “And very
handy when one is injured.”

He laughed and she looped her arm around
his and stared at the people laughing and talking in the large
living room. “It was lovely of Heather to let us celebrate at her
house, wasn’t it? People needed this.”

“Yes.” He studied the small nose stud in
Natalie’s left nostril. “Was she the one who convinced you to get
the nose piercing?”

“
Do you like it?” Natalie touched it
delicately. “Heather went with me and held my hand. It didn’t hurt
nearly as bad as I feared it would. I thought Jim would have a
coronary when he saw it but he was remarkably blasé about it. I
worried that I would look like an old woman trying too hard but now
that I have it, I’m rather smitten with it.”

Will grinned. “I think it looks
wonderful.”

“Thank you, dear boy. You know, I think she’s
trying to convince Douglas to get his nose pierced as well.”

Will stared at the old Lycan. He was staring
at Heather’s nose piercing and she spoke enthusiastically before
lifting her shirt and showing him her belly button piercing.

“
Maybe he’ll get his belly button pierced.”
Will grinned at Natalie and snickered before squeezing his
arm.

“How cute are Chen and Andrew?”

“Very cute.” Will said solemnly.

Natalie laughed and studied the sword master.
Andrew, his arm around Chen’s waist, leaned in and whispered
something in Chen’s ear. Chen nodded and Andrew kissed him lightly
on the mouth as Mannie approached them. He spoke animatedly, his
arms waving and his entire body swaying, as Andrew laughed and even
Chen grinned at something he said.

“Chen’s much happier now. In fact, everyone
seems happier.” She gazed around the room at the people talking and
helping themselves to the food piled high on the long table set up
against the wall. “It’s been such a terrible few months for them,
it’s nice to see them happy and relaxed.”

Will nodded as a loud burst of laughter came
from their left. Reid, surrounded by a group of the babies as well
as Alex, Paul and Mallorie, raised his eyebrows in mock
innocence.

“
Hand to God, that leech was hitting on me.
I’m like a sex on a stick to fangers.”

Will rolled his eyes as Natalie waved at
Jim who, holding a plate of food, crossed the room toward them.
“We’re worried about her, Will.”

“I know, Nat. I am too.”

“
She was fine when you first got back but
she’s grown distant with us the last few days.” Natalie said sadly.
“Even now, she’s off by herself.”

“I’ll talk to her.” Will promised. “I’ll help
her understand that she needs her human side as well.”

“
Thank you, dearest.” She reached up and
kissed his cheek as Jim stopped in front of them.

“Any word from the Board, Will?”

Will nodded. “Yes. I’ve been cleared.
Jordan told me yesterday that they were dropping their
investigation.”

He hesitated. “Surprisingly, Jordan said
some good things to them and made it clear he was on our side. He
told the Board that he had no worries about Hannah controlling the
shift, or that I had turned her for ulterior motives.”

“
I imagine they finally understand just how
valuable you and Hannah are to the organization.” Natalie
said.

“
Where are the boys, Nat?”
Jim asked as he popped a piece
of bread into his mouth.

“I sent them to the kitchen for more potato
salad. They’ve been gone way too long.”

Jim snickered. “They’re probably trying to
figure out how to turn the kitchen knives into some kind of
replacement hand for Chen.”

“
Oh dear. You’re most likely right.”
Natalie gave Will a nervous look. “Last week they created this odd
knife/hook combination thing and we had to take Luther in for
seventeen stitches after Tyrone accidentally stabbed him in the
leg.”

Jim rolled his eyes. “I’m not so sure it was
an accident, Nat.”

Nat tapped him lightly on the chest. “Oh hush
now. Come on, we’d better go see what they’re up to.”

They headed toward the kitchen as Will
inhaled deeply. He found Hannah’s scent easily and ducked out of
the living room, heading up the large winding staircase and down
the hallway. A door opened and Selena slipped into the hall.

She stopped in front of him and gave him a
pinched look of worry. “Hello, Will.”

“Hey, Selena.”

She glanced behind her at the closed door.
“I’m worried about her.”

“I know. It’ll be alright.”

“Promise?” She asked softly.

“I do.”

She hesitated and then gave him an impulsive
hug. He hugged her back and she kissed his cheek. “You’re a good
guy, Will.”

“You’re pretty great yourself, Selena.”

“I know.” She said simply and he snorted soft
laughter.

“You’re hanging around with Reid too
much.”

“
Hey! Paws off my lady,
furball.”

Will rolled his eyes and released Selena,
stepping back as she grinned at him and move toward Reid who was
climbing the stairs behind them.

“Hello, sweetheart.”

“Hey, handsome. What are you doing?”

“Looking for you. The food’s getting cold and
I’m starving.”

“Alright. Let’s eat.”

Reid nodded to Will and took Selena’s
hand. He led her down the stairs as Will slipped into the room. It
was the master bedroom and he walked quickly past the bed to the
French doors. He stepped out on to the balcony and slipped his arms
around Hannah’s waist.

“Hello, Hannah.”

“Hi, honey.” She leaned against him and
continued to stare up at the clear, night sky. It was three days
until the full moon and he stared at it for a moment, feeling the
powerful yearning to shift and run and hunt.”

“It’s so beautiful, isn’t it?” She said
softly.

“Yes.” Will agreed. “But it’s not the only
thing that matters, Hannah.”

“I know.”

“Your mom is worried about you.”

“She doesn’t need to be.” Hannah sighed. “I’m
fine.”

He buried his face in her throat and inhaled
deeply. There was something off about her scent, something foreign
but oddly exciting, and he inhaled again as she shifted against
him.

“Are you happy, Will? Happy with this
life?”

“
I’m happy with you.” He replied. “I know
that our life together isn’t perfect. I know that fighting the
leeches is tiring and painful and I understand your desire for a
normal life, but running from the people who love you and living in
the woods as a Lycan isn’t the answer. You have to hold on to your
human side as well.”

“I know that now.” She frowned up at him. “I
knew that the moment the twins and Selena were taken.”

He brushed her hair back and kissed her
forehead. “Then what’s wrong? You’ve been distant and quiet for the
last few days.”

She stared up at him and he was surprised to
see the glint of tears in her eyes before she looked away.

“I’m pregnant.” She whispered.

He stiffened against her, his hands
tightening around her waist, as she made a soft, anxious whine.

“
You’re what?”

“
I’m pregnant, Will. That’s why I’ve been
acting so weird the past few days. When we were in the woods and I
was spending most of my time in my Lycan form, I wasn’t very good
about taking the pill. At least, I don’t think I was. I can’t
really remember.”

He stared at her as she glanced up at him.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t do this on purpose. I wasn’t myself and I just
– I wasn’t thinking. I swear.”

She licked her lips nervously. “Say
something, Will.”

“You’re pregnant.” He whispered.

“
Yes. I mean, I think I am. I was supposed
to get my period this week and I didn’t, and so I bought one of
those early detection pregnancy tests and it came back positive.
But sometimes those tests are wrong, right?”

“You’re having a baby.” He said stupidly.
“You’re having my baby.”

She arched her eyebrows at him. “Yes. Who
else’s baby would I be having?”

He opened his mouth and she gave him an
encouraging look. After a moment
of silence, she sighed. “Are you angry with me,
Will?”

He shook himself all over and surprised her
by twisting her around and dropping to his knees. He lifted her
shirt and kissed her belly repeatedly.

“Of course I’m not!” He nearly shouted. “Why
would you think that?”

“I don’t know, we’ve never really talked
about kids and – “

He snorted loudly and rubbed her stomach with
his warm hands.

“Hello, baby.” He whispered.

She stroked her fingers through his thick
hair as he kissed her flat belly again and stared up at her.
“You’re going to be a mom.”

“You’re going to be a dad.” She answered
solemnly.

A small, pleased smile crossed his face and
he stood and hugged her tightly. She buried her face in his neck
and kissed his warm flesh.

“I love you, Will.”

“I love you, Hannah.”

END

Please enjoy a sample chapter of Elizabeth
Kelly
’s latest
novel:

WILLOW AND THE WOLF

(SHIFTER SERIES BOOK
ONE)

By Elizabeth Kelly

Copyright 2015 Elizabeth Kelly

Chapter 1

“So, uh, Ms.
Tanner – you’ve worked for Harvey Snow for the last two years, is
that right?” Bishop tugged anxiously at his tie as he scanned the
paper in front of him.

Mal sighed.
Bishop was sweating through his suit jacket and he looked
distinctly uncomfortable. Calling Bishop the strong, silent type
was the understatement of the century. Grizzly shifters were known
for their fierceness and their strength – not their interviewing
abilities. Bishop was the muscle of their small security company
and rarely spoke to their clients. He wasn’t afraid of getting his
hands dirty and while Mal trusted him with his life, he didn’t
trust that Bishop would get through the interview without passing
out or throwing up.

He wished for
the hundredth time that Kat was here to spearhead the interview.
She was a jaguar shifter and while not that talkative herself, she
at least had the ability to ask questions without looking like she
was going to faint. She had led the other three interviews but a
client emergency had forced her out of the office.