Wolves of the West Book 2
Autorzy
Abigail Lynne
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19,7K
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Chapter One
Book Two: My Dark and Powerful Mate
Haven Mathie has finally found the place she belongs. She's madly in love with the Alpha of her pack and is carrying his child, but her past has left a profound—and profoundly dark—mark. When her daughter shows signs of being a little too much like her mother, it unleashes a deadly series of heartbreaking events that will test Haven’s very being. Which side of her will prevail—Haven or the Black Luna?
“Open mine next!” Rachel squealed as she handed me a yellow box. I forced a smile onto my face and took the box from her.
I shook it lightly, earning myself a glare from Rachel. I laughed and tore into the paper.
“What is it?” I asked. I stared at the odd picture on the box and frowned.
Dakota chuckled. “I think it’s some sort of blender thing…”
Rachel snorted and rolled her eyes. “You two are hopeless! And I’m not even the one who’s pregnant!” Rachel took the box out of my hands and turned to face me.
“It’s a baby blender. It’s made especially for making homemade baby food. After it’s blended, you can leave it in the container! It’s less dishes, see!”
I grimaced. “Homemade baby food? I was just going to use that stuff from the jar…”
Rachel gasped dramatically. “You are not feeding my godchild that processed garbage!”
I rolled my eyes. “I never said you were going to be the godmother.”
Rachel laughed. “But you never said I wasn’t going to be the godmother.” She winked at me before flitting back over to Dakota, who was leaning against the wall.
All of the women of the pack had gathered for my baby shower.
I was officially seven months pregnant and scared out of my mind. But I was also excited at the same time.
I remembered the day I told Logan that I was pregnant. I didn’t think I had ever seen him smile so big.
I walked out of the bathroom, my hands shaking as I held the tiny pregnancy test in my hand. I knew it was going to happen, but seeing the proof was enough to rock me.
“Logan? Babe? Logan?” I called. Logan had gone out for a run with Deacon half an hour ago, and I was really hoping he’d be back by now.
“Logan?”
Rachel popped around the corner and I quickly stuffed the test into my pocket. “Hey Hav, who are you looking for?”
I smiled innocently. “Logan. Have you seen him?”
Rachel nodded. “Yeah, he was in his office a few minutes ago. Why are you looking for him?”
I shrugged, trying to remain nonchalant. “I don’t know. I’m bored, and he’s my mate.”
Rachel was about to walk away when she took a deep breath and paused. “Something’s different about you.”
I froze. “Wha-what are you talking about?”
Rachel inhaled again and stepped forward with narrowed eyes. “You smell different—it’s like your scent is clouded...”
Rachel gasped and I watched as her eyes dropped to my stomach. “Are you... are you pregnant?” She whispered the last part as if it were a swear word, and she was seven years old.
I felt my hands shake as I nodded my head. “You knew it had to happen. I—I mated with Logan.”
Rachel blinked a few times, trying to clear her thoughts. “Right, of course, he’s an Alpha. I just, it’s different, ya know?”
Oh, I knew alright. Suddenly Rachel squealed loud enough to burst my eardrums and threw her arms around my neck.
“I’m so happy for you! What are you going to name it!? Boy or girl? Can I be the godmother? I wonder what it will look like. It’s going to be a cutie for sure! Oh God, does Logan know?”
I grimaced. “Actually, no, he doesn’t.” I pried her off of me and she smiled sheepishly. “I was trying to find him so I can tell him.”
Rachel grinned. “Go! Go! I’m so excited! I love babies!”
I sighed. “Be quiet about it, Rach. We are in a house full of werewolves and you are basically screaming. I don’t want everyone else knowing before I have the chance to tell Logan.”
“Everyone knowing what?” Dakota asked as she walked into the room.
I groaned. Dakota, Rachel, and I surprisingly became fast friends now that the Logan feud was over.
She was already a better replacement for Cecily. She filled the gap much better than Rachel and I ever thought she could.
“Haven is pregnant!”
Dakota’s eyes widened and then she was suddenly on me. What is it with girls and hugging when they are excited?
“Hav! This is awesome! Your kid is going to be so adorable! But I must say, I saw this coming. We could all smell you for a week after you two mated.
“Logan’s scent shifted when he became a full Alpha. And I must say, your scent is different now too, clouded by something—well, I guess by the baby!”
I smiled. “Yeah, well, I was actually on my way to go and let Logan know.”
“He doesn’t know yet? He’s going to be so excited!” Dakota gushed.
She and Rachel exchanged excited glances and started talking about baby outfits. I rolled my eyes and excused myself from them before going to find Logan.
I made my way to his office and stood in front of his door. My hands started to shake again as an angry swarm of killer bees invaded my stomach.
Why was I so nervous? Logan was my mate—my full mate. I trusted him with my life.
I raised my hand to knock on the door and blew out the breath I had been holding. I tapped on the door three times and dropped my arm to my side, letting it dangle.
I held my breath until the door was yanked open, and Logan was standing in front of me.
Seeing his ruffled hair and bright gray eyes suddenly made me burst into tears. I wrapped my arms around his neck and cried onto his shoulder.
Logan tensed before he wrapped his arms around my waist and closed the door. He towed us over to the leather couch in the back corner of the large space and set me on his lap.
“Hav? What’s wrong? Why do you smell funny?”
I leaned against his chest and smiled timidly. “You’re going to be a father.”
Logan froze underneath me. His whole body was paralyzed. Fearing the worst, I looked up, expecting disgust, but instead seeing the brightest and biggest smile I had ever seen on his face.
His happiness took my breath away and then suddenly his lips were on mine.
“Seriously?” he breathed.
I giggled and nodded, feeling high off his happiness. “Seriously, I just found out.”
Logan leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes, a smile gracing his face. He reached for my hand and I placed mine in his.
He squeezed my hand and cracked open one eye to glance at me before he pulled me to him, and I snuggled happily against his chest.
A warm feeling spread through me as I was cuddled up next to him. I felt complete. Logan and our baby were all I needed.
“Darling?” Eleanor called. Eleanor is Logan’s mother who was currently waving the next gift in front of my face.
Most of the women had brought me money, which I wasn’t complaining about. I had more clothes than I thought the baby could wear, and I was basically drowning in kids' toys.
“Mmhm?” I was disoriented as I came out of the memory.
“Here’s the next gift. It’s from me.”
I took the gift with a smile and tentatively opened up the box. It was a sterling silver wolf that was carefully carved. It looked real.
There were a lot of appreciative whispers as everyone looked at the gift in my hands.
“Oh Eleanor—this is beautiful, you shouldn’t have.” There was no doubt in my mind that it was an expensive piece.
Eleanor smiled. “Oh don’t worry about it dear. It is a family heirloom, and it’s the first thing I want your child to have from me. It’s a proud symbol of our heritage.”
I grinned and reached out for a hug. “Thank you so much, he’s going to love it.”
I knew I was having a boy. I could just feel it. Whenever I thought about having a child, I always pictured a tiny Logan, there was just something that screamed boy in my mind.
“I think it’s going to be a girl!” Rachel shouted.
I glared and instantly reached for my stomach, “No! It’s a boy, I can feel it.”
Dakota laughed, “I’m with you, Hav! I’m feeling the manly vibes!”
Rachel glared at both of us. “You guys don’t know anything. She’s having a girl!”
Eleanor chuckled. “No matter what gender, your child will be beautiful,” she said quietly.
I smiled and tucked the silver wolf back in its box. I didn’t want it to break. Realizing that all of the gifts had been opened, I slumped down in my chair, feeling exhausted.
“Let’s eat some cake!” I called. There was laughter and a shuffling of feet as everyone shifted toward the food.
“Psst!” I turned around in my seat to see Logan poking his head through the door, looking around curiously.
“Logan? What are you doing here?”
Logan caught my eye and smiled before moving forward to wrap me in a hug. “I wanted to see how you were doing.”
I snorted. “You know how I’m doing.”
Ever since we mated, Logan and I could feel each other’s emotions. Not all of them, but the strong ones like anger, fear, extreme happiness or sadness, and of course when there was sexual tension.
Logan shrugged. “It’s different when I can’t see you.” Logan brushed his fingers along my cheek, sending shivers down my back.
I laughed and pushed against his chest. “Get out of here.”
Logan shook his head and growled before nuzzling his head into my neck. “Can’t I stay?”
I shook my head again. “Not a chance. Go do some Alpha business.”
With a defeated sigh, Logan turned around and left the room, leaving the door wide open. I rolled my eyes and closed the door with a flick of my wrist.
I turned back to the party with a smile and stood up to retrieve myself a piece of cake. Everyone moved out of the way for me and my massive baby bump, but I didn’t mind.
I really wanted cake. As I devoured the chocolate icing, I couldn’t help but miss my aunt’s presence, and of course my mother’s.
My aunt Sarah was at home sick with some sort of bug. She didn’t want me and the baby to catch it, so she insisted she stayed away. I reluctantly agreed with persuasion.
I was forced to tell my aunt I was pregnant when I started to show and could no longer hide under huge sweaters. The fact that it was the summer time didn’t really work well with the hide-under-huge-sweaters strategy.
Luckily, I had warmed my aunt up to Logan considerably before I told her. My aunt adored Logan and often whispered in my ear that he was a keeper, unknowing that Logan could hear every word she was saying.
She didn’t take the news that badly, but then again, it could have gone over a whole lot more smoothly.
Logan held my hand as we sat across the table from my aunt. I was a nervous wreck, but Logan was solid and casual, as if we were merely talking about the weather, not telling my aunt I was pregnant at seventeen.
“What’s wrong?” my aunt asked. She was concerned because we called her to talk.
I sighed. “Nothing’s wrong per se…”
She put a hand to her forehead and closed her eyes. “Oh God, you’re pregnant.”
We both froze as my aunt uncovered the truth by herself. She stood and walked over to the counter before leaning on it for support.
“It’s okay, Sarah. I’m going to take care of her, you can count on that,” Logan said confidently.
My aunt narrowed her eyes at Logan. “You’d better take care of her, and you’d better marry her!”
“Aunt Sarah!” I cried. I was incredibly embarrassed by her words.
My aunt rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on, Haven! If he can put a baby in you, he can surely put a ring on your finger!”
Logan burst out in laughter that rocked the whole table. I wanted nothing more than to slap him.
“Don’t worry, Sarah. I love Haven with everything I have. There is no way she will not be taken care of.”
My aunt smiled. “I have faith in you, Logan. But I’m your guardian. Are you sure you are ready for this? It is a huge responsibility, bringing a child into this world is no easy feat. Have you considered adoption?”
Logan growled and I slapped his leg under the table. He wasn’t allowed to growl near my aunt. She was unaware of the werewolf thing, and I wanted it to stay that way.
“No, that will not be happening.” Logan’s voice was constricted as he tried to suppress his instincts to protect both me and his child.
My aunt sighed. “Well, you’ve always been mature, Haven. I want you to know that whatever decision you make, I will support you because I know it will be the right one.”
I grinned. “Thank you, it means a lot to me, especially since my mother will be absent in all of this.” The room took on a sad tone as we all thought about my mother, all alone in an asylum.
“Well, I guess we’re going to be changing some serious diapers!”
I laughed as we all exchanged stories. The female werewolves of the Silver Eclipse pack sure had some hilarious stories to tell.
I loved the ones about their mates, especially since a lot of them were big and respected within the pack. To hear that they had done something stupid or funny made them seem more human.
I laughed so hard a piece of my hair fell out of its clip and fell onto my face. I sighed and clipped the black streak back into its place.
No matter how many times I dyed the darned thing, it always went back to black the next day.
The shower came to an end, and the boys were let into the room, running over to their mates. Logan and a few of the guys helped bring all of the gifts up to the nursery.
Logan and I had convinced my aunt to let me live in the pack house with everyone, and to my surprise, she agreed, so long as I went for dinner a few nights a week.
“Hey babe, can you grab that box?” I asked Logan, pointing to a random kid’s toy. He nodded and picked up the box with ease. Since becoming a full Alpha, he’d become a whole lot stronger.
When everything was put away and the day was done, I lay in bed with Logan and stared up at the ceiling as we listened to wolves howling just outside our window.
We knew it was the pack members that were on patrol calling to each other, but all the same, a wolf’s howl is always majestic.
“Everything is perfect,” Logan mumbled against my hair.
I stayed silent as I listened to the ongoing howls. Maybe everything was too perfect.
