Chapter 61

She wasn’t shivering anymore, but she was unconscious. Reylin touched her, and she wasn’t as warm, but she felt a little feverish. The wolf wiggled out of the blankets and Rey tucked Bianca back in tightly. The wolf walked toward the pile of clothing. Rey ignored Kane as she tried to get Bianca to drink a little more. This time Bianca didn’t choke when she swallowed the water.

“Hang in there. You’re going to pull through this.”

Rey hadn’t told Tristian about Bianca’s pregnancy, but she knew that complicated what was happening to her. Fear for both her friend and tiny unborn cousin made her eyes prickle with unshed tears.

“Why didn’t you tell him she was my daughter?” Kane asked. He returned, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, and sat down next to her on the floor. He groaned. “I’m getting too old for this.”

Rey looked up at the alpha. She’d never seen him so casual before, and a bubble of laughter snorted from her as she tried to stop her mirth. “Sorry,” she managed to say, but she destroyed the apology with another giggle.

Kane scowled. “Go ahead, Miss Foster, let it out. Then answer my question.”

Reylin shook her head. “I guess I just wanted to let Bianca decide if she wanted everyone to know. You aren’t exactly the most popular guy. Considering how things have gone with the community center, I’m amazed she’ll even speak to you.”

“I’ve always liked Bianca. That’s probably why she’s still alive. Most humans who were such a nuisance wouldn’t have survived as long as she has, but I admit I regret how…resistant I have been to her more altruistic view of what the town needs.”

“Are we going to see a kinder, gentler mayor and region alpha?”

Kane grinned. “That is hoping for far too much. When Bianca is safe, I’m going to see that every wolf involved with this situation is executed. Both for hurting my daughter and threatening our women. Killing that worthless bitten who claimed to be their alpha should send a loud message to any other packs who wish for female companionship.”

“Is it true outside shifter communities are having fertility issues and fewer bitten females are surviving?” Reylin had heard rumors, but she’d always dismissed them as the werewolf equivalent of urban legends.

Kane grew grim. His mouth set in a firm line. “Yes, Miss Foster, unfortunately. The problem began many years ago, back when my father was our region’s alpha. In fact, I killed Finn Montgomery’s father on this very farm when he and my half-brother joined forces in a power-play to take control of the pack.”

“Wow! Really?” Reylin had heard some stories about the days when Michael Wolfe was alpha, but that was one no one had ever told her. “What happened?”

“We won.” Kane looked down at Bianca, and the strangest sadness stole into his expression. “That didn’t stop Tobias from trying again, but it did keep other packs away until now.”

Bianca stirred, and Kane pushed the bangs off her forehead. “Mrs. Foster…Bianca, take it easy.” He took her hand.

She blinked against the light as she opened her bright blue eyes, squinting. “Where’s Law?” Her words came out with a cracked, rusty note. She started to push herself upright.

“Don’t try to sit up,” Reylin said. “You were bitten. If I know Law, he’s on his way.”

Bianca’s eyes widened. “Oh no! My baby, what will happen to the baby?”

Reylin and Kane exchanged a glance before Rey looked back at Bianca. “I—I don’t know, but getting you through this is what we need to worry about right now, okay?”

“Shouldn’t we get me to a hospital?”

“Not anymore. You’re changing, and there’s no way to stop it. You look better. How do you feel?”

“Awful. I hurt everywhere. My throat is sore too.”

“Drink this.” Reylin helped Bianca sit up. “Water should help. Your body is fighting the change as if it’s an infection. If you were totally human, you would have been dead by now.”

Bianca drank a few gulps before pushing the bottle away. “Law.” She wiped away tears. “I really need him.”

“Rune went home to get him.”

Bianca’s eyes widened. “Where’s Chessa?”

Kane squeezed Bianca’s hand. “She was still in town when the attack happened. She and your sister-in-law are safe in my home.”

Bianca gave Kane a small smile. “Thank you.”

“She’s my granddaughter. I’m just glad she was with my pack. I would like you and Chessa to consider returning to town. I don’t think Mr. Foster can keep the two of you safe.”

“Wait a second!” Reylin glared at the man. “This whole thing is your fault. You knew there were other packs out there who wanted women. These guys targeted Bianca, and you know it was because she’s your daughter. This wasn’t Law’s fault. Blame yourself, but don’t blame him.”

Kane turned to Bianca. “Mr. Foster is lucky to have such a loyal defense, but that doesn’t change the way I feel. I would ask that you join my pack, as my daughter, and you’ll never lack for comfort or safety.”

“I’m not leaving my husband because of this. My mother obviously didn’t think you could keep me safe.”

Kane flinched. “That is a story you know nothing about.”

“Tell me. How did my mother end up with your child? She couldn’t have loved you. What did you do to her?”

Kane’s eyes flashed yellow and narrowed. “Mind what you say. You might be my daughter, but that doesn’t give you the right to make those types of accusations. Your mother was my mate because she loved me.”

The corners of Bianca’s lips turned down, and her brows drew together.

“You were certainly not the product of rape, not by a long shot. Right after my father and I quelled a very similar insurgency to this one my father was poisoned and I took my place as alpha. Your mother had been raised by my parents. She feared hurting them, so at her request I allowed our relationship to remain secret. I was ready to tell my mother the day Tobias discovered the truth and kidnapped Joslyn.”

Reylin was as transfixed as Bianca, but she took a second to check the bite on Bianca’s arm. Rey’s gasp interrupted the story. Kane paused, grabbing Bianca’s arm and turning it for a better look. The wound appeared ugly, almost festering.

“Damn it,” Kane said. “We need to get a healer out here. Janna Foster, we need her. Go get your young man and have him get her.”

“Tristian would never leave us unprotected.”

“I am here. I might be old, but I’m not weak. Plus, I’ve seen you fight and I’d say you can handle yourself.”

“Good luck telling him that.”

Tristian came in, naked, and shook the rain out of his hair. “You’re both right. Rey doesn’t need my protection, but that doesn’t mean I don’t need to give it to her.” He put on a pair of pants. “I’m not leaving. Rune knows Bianca was bitten. He’ll bring what she needs when he returns. You go if you think someone needs to, but I’m not leaving my mate.”

Bianca’s mouth fell open. “What? When did that happen?”

“I’m not your mate,” Rey protested weakly.

“You are, you are mine and Rune’s, and after today I’m sick of hiding our feelings. We give you our protection. What does it matter what the pack thinks? None of us will ever be happy until we accept the truth.”

Kane’s nostrils flared. “Someone better get the hell back to Janna Foster and drag her here. Now. I am not willing to leave my daughter unprotected.”

Tristian scowled. “What?”

“Bianca is my daughter. If we’re all ready to be honest and happy, that’s my contribution to the sharing. I will not leave her side until she’s safe.” Kane cupped Bianca’s cheek. “I’ve never had the chance to be part of your life, but what you’re going through is because of what I am. Your mother left because she didn’t want this for you. She didn’t want you to be a target because of my family name.” He paused and sighed. “The last thing she ever said to me, before she revoked my protection over her, was ‘I don’t want to look over my shoulder the rest of my life.’ I want you to know every time you look over yours I will be there for you. I know you care about your mate, but I’m not leaving it to him to keep you safe. You are part of my pack too, and that is not going to change.”

“I don’t know much about werewolf politics, but I have a feeling that will step on Law’s toes. I am Law’s. For all our sakes, let go of whatever weird guilt you have over my mother and me. I love Law.”

“I’m glad you do,” Kane said gruffly. “But I owe it to your mother to keep you safe. Your existence is something I needed far more than you can understand.”

Bianca put her hand on her abdomen. “I get it. This pregnancy is different than the one I had with Chessa. The connection Law and I share makes this so much more special. I can’t lose my child. That’s all I care about right now. I want everyone to promise me that no one will tell Law I’m pregnant. He doesn’t know yet, and if I die, I don’t want him to know he lost our child too.”

“You have my word,” Kane said.

“You’re asking me to lie to my alpha. That’s asking a lot.” Reylin rinsed the wound on Bianca’s arm with some fresh water.

Bianca hissed and flinched. “Damn it, ouch. You don’t have to lie. He’d never have a reason to ask you if I was pregnant when I died. Just keep it to yourself. Please.”

“I love you, but I love my cousin too. I hate keeping something like this from him. I won’t have to do it because you won’t die.”

“I’m glad you’re so sure.” Bianca looked at her gruesome wound. “I’m not.” She turned on her side and curled into a ball. “This hurts so much. Grab me that bucket.”

Tristian brought her the requested item and then returned to the cooler for more water. A few moments later Bianca was sick. Rey and Kane exchanged another fearful glance. Kane groaned as he stood up and his knees popped. He moved stiffly at first as he walked over to Rey. She stood.

“What do you know of pregnant bittens?” Kane whispered.

Rey shrugged. “Not much. Janna probably knows a lot more. She’s not very far along. I have a feeling she might lose the baby.”

Kane frowned. “I don’t want to leave her, but if your pack doesn’t get here soon, I’m going for help.”

Reylin nodded. “Janna is a better healer than anyone in town, you know that.”

“She’ll never be able to keep the pregnancy from her son. I want Bianca to stay calm.”

“We’ll do what we can—” The sound of running interrupted Reylin, and both she and the men turned to the door, ready to defend Bianca.

Rune came in, followed by Law and several other pack members, including Janna. Rune walked up to Reylin and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her in full view of everyone. His lips soothed her and having him near took away so much of the anxiety she’d been going through that she lost herself for a long moment of bliss before she came to her senses and pushed him away. Everyone except Law and Janna stared at them.

Tristian walked over to kiss her too. Having them both there made her whole in a way that was disturbingly comfortable. Rune tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, and Tristian put his hand on the small of her back.

“You okay?” Tristian asked. “I felt your fear earlier, and I came back as fast as I could.”

“Came back? Why did you leave her?” Rune’s question sounded accusatory.

“I was scouting for that rogue pack. Without an alpha, we don’t know what they’ll do.”

Rune nodded. “Fair enough, but from now on one of us stays by her side at all times.”

“Oh, no, no, no. If I’m going to be crazy enough to let you guys talk me into this unnatural union, then you have to promise me I’m not going to be living with twenty-four-seven surveillance.”

Rune put his hands on her shoulders. “That’s not what we intend, but since there are two of us, there is certainly no reason you should ever be left in danger alone.”

“Kane was here, I wasn’t alone.”

“That’s supposed to make me feel better? He’s almost as dangerous as those rogue wolves.”

“I don’t know, I think he’s going to be a little less of a problem for our pack…maybe.” Rey glanced down to where Kane knelt next to his daughter. He held her hand, and he was glaring daggers at Law. “Maybe not. Anyway, I’m a big girl.”

She turned her attention back to her mates. This is crazy. But as she observed the honest concern for her she realized she wanted them both and choosing would be impossible. This was meant to be.

“I—I can’t stay mad,” she admitted. “Even though I want to be mad.”

Rune grinned. Tristian still appeared serious. These men were the perfect complement to each other. The rest of her life was going to be anything but boring.

Bianca cried out, and Rey’s thoughts of her mates fled. She went over to kneel beside Janna. “What can I do?”

Janna was examining the bite. “This isn’t usual. The bite is reacting like she’s human, and yet it’s clear she’s changing. I don’t understand.”

Reylin looked into Bianca’s eyes, and Bianca shook her head. Reylin scowled. “You need to tell them.”

“No.”

Thunder shook the barn as lightning flashed and it started to rain hard again. Bianca turned away.

Law grabbed Reylin’s arm. Both Rune and Tristian growled. “Tell us what? Come on, Rey, spit it out.”

“Bianca?” Rey didn’t look at her friend as she shook off her cousin’s angry grip.

“I’m pregnant.” Bianca blurted out the words then dissolved into tears.

Janna gasped, and Law took his wife into his arms.

Law peppered her face with kisses. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I—I know how complicated things are, and I guess I didn’t want you to feel like you were stuck with a human family.”

“Stuck?” Law pulled back and scowled. “I love you. Shit, I had no idea you felt like that. Why would you think that about me, about us? What am I doing wrong?”

Bianca opened her mouth, closed it quickly, and opened it again. “Nothing. You’re wonderful. I’m not good enough for you.”

Law pulled her close. “You’re too good for me. Human or bitten, I want you in my life, and the idea of you having my baby makes me a very happy man.” He turned to Janna. “Mom, is the pregnancy causing the issue with the bite?”

“Her blood is combining with the baby’s blood. The baby is human. This is rare, very rare, but I think we should consider having the pregnancy terminated.” Janna put up her hands before Law or Bianca could respond. “I don’t like it either, but it’s safest.”

“I won’t. I love my baby.”

Janna teared up. “I know you do. You also love Chessa, and she needs her mother. Law needs his wife. I need my daughter-in-law. There will be more babies.”

“I won’t do it. I won’t!”

Kane growled. “You’re upsetting her. Just back off and give her some time to process what you’re saying.”

“We don’t have time. If she dies, so does the baby. Better to save one than neither.” Janna turned her attention back to Bianca. “How far along are you?”

“Two months. I’m not losing this baby, and I’m not dying. I’m fighting.”

“Law, talk some sense into your wife,” Janna pleaded.

“Bianca—”

“No! I won’t do it.”

Law sighed. He looked at his mother and shook his head. “We fight. Bianca will beat this.”

Janna pushed the bangs out of Bianca’s eyes. “It’s your choice. I love you. I’ll do everything I can, but I’m not sure if it’ll be enough. The change can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. If you stay away from the full moon’s light, it can even take months. It’s dawn, so I think we’ve passed the few hour mark. Are you sure, very sure, you want to risk your life?”

“I’m positive. I won’t sacrifice my child.”

Janna frowned. “Well then, it’s going to be a long day.” She looked at Law. “Go get the supplies out of the truck.”

Bianca grabbed Janna’s hand. “How is Sabrina doing?”

One of Janna’s thin brows rose. “Better than you, my girl. She wasn’t bitten. She awoke concussion-free not long after you were taken. She’ll be fine, so just worry about getting yourself better.”

Bianca nodded.