Chapter 62

Bianca screamed. She couldn’t hear the rain anymore. Agony burned through her abdomen. She writhed. Something cool touched her forehead.

“I want to die. I just want it to be over,” Bianca mumbled.

“Don’t talk like that!” Law held her up and offered her a drink of cold water from a fresh bottle.

She swallowed, and some of the pain subsided in a bliss of relief that shocked her. She had never suffered so intensely before. “I can’t go through that again.” She gazed into Law’s beautiful gray eyes with as solemn a demand as she could muster. “Kill me before it starts over.”

His eyes flashed with a yellow glow. “Damn it, don’t ever say something like that again. You’re an alpha female, you’re strong, you can do this. You can survive this. Are you sure you don’t want to consider trying to abort the baby?”

She gasped. For a split second, she would have done anything to avoid the pain, but then she realized she couldn’t. “I would never judge another woman for making that choice, but I can’t. I. Can. Not.”

A strange co-mingling of relief and disappointment played over his face. He sighed and shook his head. “I shouldn’t have asked. I know you. But I can’t lose you. What can I do?” His tone was so lost it broke her heart.

“Pray.”

And then the pain returned. She arched her back and screamed as the spasm caused her to jerk and raise up off the air mattress Janna had brought into the barn. Law put his arm around her to support her. She noticed tears in his eyes before her vision hazed. Something felt cold and wet between her legs. Horrified that she was losing her baby, she took a deep breath and willed her body to cooperate.

Please God, let me change, let me be this new thing, but let me keep my baby. Please don’t take my child. Please! She prayed silently as she bore down on the torment, screaming between her teeth in a primitive expression of suffering.

Nik came inside the barn and stopped dead in his tracks. “Holy shit!”

Law glared at his best friend and second-in-command.

“Sorry,” Nik said. “Chessa and Joy came back home. They wanted to see you, but I told them I’d talk to you first.”

“No,” Bianca panted. “No. Don’t. Want. Them to see. Me. Like this.” She managed to get the words out through huffs of breath as another pain had her arching and writhing in total misery.

“Shit.” Nik rubbed the back of his neck and looked away. “I… Um, I have them in the truck.”

“No!” Bianca wailed.

Kane stood up from where he sat in the corner. “If she says no, it’s no. I’ll come out and talk to the child. She—she’s my granddaughter. I think I can keep her distracted long enough for us to convince her to go home and let her mother heal. It’s the full moon tonight. You need to get that human in your pack out here. Does the woman have any medical training?”

Bianca’s heart hammered in her chest. She’d forgotten how close they were to the full moon. How would the moon affect what was happening to her? Images of Law burying her horrifically half-transmuted corpse made her shudder. The situation just kept getting worse.

Kane started to follow Nik out of the barn. Some of the pain lessened, and she lay still. That brief respite was so wonderful she began to drift off but forced herself to stay awake.

“Kane,” Bianca called out. He turned in the doorway. “You can tell Chessa… Tell her you’re her grandpa, but not about the baby.”

He nodded then left the barn.

Bianca looked up at Law. “She won’t feel so alone when I’m gone if she knows she still has some family.”

“I’m here for her. She’s my daughter, and she has my protection until she’s old enough to find a good mate. What can I do to convince you of how much I love you? Why do you doubt me?” The hurt in his voice made her cringe.

“I love you. I’m so sorry for how things I’m saying sound. I know you, and the pack, are her family, but I mean biological relatives. After my parents died, I was so alone, and I don’t want her to experience that.”

Law nodded. “I want you to tell Kane to back off. I’m worried he’ll try to take Chessa to town if anything happens to you.”

“I’ll talk to him. Even if I live, we might have issues—he wants me and Chessa to come live with him in town.”

Law growled. “Like hell you will!”

Bianca smiled sadly. She reached up and cupped Law’s cheek. “No worries, I told him no. He doesn’t think you can take care of me, but you do. You’re a good man and a great alpha.”

Law turned several shades of red. Anger made his eyes glow so yellow it hurt to look at them. “I’ll fight Kane if he thinks he can take my family from me.”

Janna cleared her throat. “Calm down. This is the last thing she needs. Her mate and her father fighting over her won’t turn back time and take this bite away. We need to focus on keeping her alive and figure out how we’ll keep her safe during the full moon. I have a feeling the pack that did this will regroup. If that little shit had a beta, they could already be making plans for tonight. The bittens will be at their strongest. They’d be fools to wait to attack.”

Janna was right. Janna was usually right. Bianca reached out and took her mother-in-law’s hand. “Promise me you won’t let him do anything crazy if I die.”

“You know I won’t, but I also won’t let you die. My son wouldn’t have picked a weak woman as his mate.”

“I’m glad you’re so confident,” Bianca mumbled as her eyes drifted closed. With the pain ebbing, exhaustion took over.

“It’s going to be a long day and a longer night.”

Janna’s words were the last thing Bianca heard as the veil of sleep blanketed her in a pain-free respite.

* * * *

The rain had let up. Kane’s mouth was dry. He’d spoken to his granddaughter many times, but announcing their connection was very different than a casual conversation.

Nik already had the passenger side door open, and the rhythmic ding was annoying as the beta explained Bianca didn’t want her daughter and sister-in-law to see her hurting. Chessa had tears in her eyes, those same beautiful eyes her grandmother and mother possessed.

Kane’s heart twisted. This little girl was the legacy of his love for Jossy. This child meant long after he was gone some cosmic proof of the happiest days of his life would continue. There was a sweet justice in her existence. He loved her beyond his understanding, and now he’d have to endure her reaction to the news he was her grandfather. He’d fought many a battle, but this confession was something he would have happily run from. He wasn’t a good man, and even this young girl knew it.

“Your mother is being very brave. I know you’re brave too,” Kane began and immediately regretted his lecturing tone. He cleared his throat. “She asked me to tell you something important.”

Chessa wiped her eyes. “Why can’t I see her? She could tell me whatever it is herself.”

“When you changed, it hurt. Do you remember?”

“Yes, of course I remember. It wasn’t that long ago.” Chessa rolled her eyes.

“Your mom is changing too, but it’s a bit more complicated than when you became a wolf. She’ll tell you about that when she’s better. What she wanted me to tell you is that you have a grandfather.”

“No, he died. Don’t you remember he was the jerk who kidnapped me after his pack killed my dad?”

“That man was actually your half-uncle. Chessa, I had a DNA test done on your mother. I’m your grandfather.”

She was quiet for a moment. Joy and Nik stayed silent as everyone watched Chessa’s reaction.

She frowned. “Hayden, Jack, and Royal are my cousins?”

“No, they’re your uncles.”

“That’s weird. Like super weird.”

“But you like them. You and Hayden are good friends, right?”

“Yeah, he’s pretty cool. Like, do I have to call him Uncle Hayden now?” Chessa laughed.

“No, you don’t have to do that. I have a feeling my son would be really annoyed if you did.”

“Do I have to call you Grandpa?”

Kane smiled sadly. “Only if you want to.”

Chessa shook her head. “That would be too strange, but maybe someday.”

Kane smiled. “Yes, maybe someday. I know I have a tough reputation. It’s earned. I’ve had to be who I am to keep my pack and the town safe. The kind of men who did this to your mother have threatened our community before, and they will try again. Someday Hayden will have to be tough too, because bad people always seek out good things to destroy.”

Chessa shrugged. “Just be nicer to my mom, and we’re cool.”

Kane nodded. “Does she complain about funding for the community center often?” He raised his eyebrow.

Chessa grinned and looked away. “Um, that’s something she can tell you when she’s better.”

“Fair enough, young lady, fair enough. Why don’t you let Nik take you back home so your mother can focus on getting better instead of worrying about you. We both know she puts you first, but today that’s not good. You have to have things ready at home when she returns.”

“Will she be well enough to run with me on the full moon? That’s something I’ve wanted to do with her since I was bitten. She’s going to love it. She doesn’t understand now, but after she changes she’ll love it.”

Kane shook his head. “I’m afraid I’m not sure, but Nik will bring Sabrina here, so your mom won’t be alone if she doesn’t change.”

“Can I stay with her during the full moon, in my wolf, to protect her and Sabrina?” Chessa growled. “No one hurts my mom and lives!”

Kane gave her a grim smile. There I am in the child.

“Law and I will be here for her.” Kane turned to Nik. “Tell my beta, Monte, that he’ll be leading the pack on the run. You’ll be leading your pack, and I want you to coordinate to protect the women. Make sure Monte understands the danger as some of Montgomery’s pack escaped. I would not put forced-mating past those bastards, and right now my focus is on Bianca’s well-being. Monte will accept this and work with you, or he will answer to me.”

“Understood.” Nik nodded. “Tell Law to call me with any instructions he has, but make sure he knows I have this. The pack is safe with me. I’ll keep my eyes on Chessa at all times.”

“I will too,” Joy said.

“Thank you both. I’m sure Law and Bianca have no fear for her because she’s in your care. I’m going to get back to my daughter now. Make sure both packs stick to the bluffs where it’s more defensible. My pack knows where to hide, and I’m sure your pack does as well.”

Law came out of the barn. Chessa jumped out of the truck and ran up to him. He hugged her tight, and the genuine affection was obvious.

Law stepped back and looked down at Chessa’s face. “Your mother says she doesn’t want you and Trax to go off alone.”

Chessa flushed and glared at her stepfather. “Duh. Remind Mom that she’s told me that every full moon since Trax came to live at the farm.”

“She wanted to make sure you remembered. She said to tell you she loves you.”

“If she loved me, she’d want to see me,” Chessa grumbled.

“You know that’s a crock of bull, kid.” Law scowled, but then he hugged Chessa again. “We both love you. You stay close to Joy tonight. And never go where you can’t see Nik, okay?”

Chessa stepped back and shrugged. “Okay. Tell Mom I hope she feels better soon. Tell her I’d love to run with her tonight. I want to stay at the barn and protect her, can I do that?”

“She wants you to go enjoy the run and stay close to Nik and Joy. The best thing you can do is follow her orders.”

Kane moved out of Chessa’s way as she went back to the truck and climbed in beside Joy. “If you run into my boys, remember that they don’t know you are related yet. I will tell them the next time I see them, but I’m sure they’ll be delighted to welcome you to our family.”

Chessa shrugged. “I just realized they’re Mom’s brothers. This is so crazy.”

Kane leaned into the truck and kissed Chessa’s cheek. My granddaughter. The fact he had a grandchild still gave him a little jolt of surprise. When he backed away from the truck, he saw how tense both Joy and Nik appeared.

For God’s sake. “I might be the big bad wolf, but I’m not planning to eat my granddaughter. Both Chessa and Bianca have my protection under the town pack. You make sure Monte knows I’ve said that. Chessa is to be guarded at all times tonight.”

Nik glared. “She will be. By me.”

“There’s no need for this posturing. The more eyes, the better. I mean you or your pack no insult.”

Nik relaxed. “Law?”

“For once I agree with Kane. If they know about Bianca’s relationship to Kane, they’ll know about Chessa’s too. Keep her close, and work with Monte to protect her. Ethan will be pissed, but bring Sabrina here right away. This full moon she won’t be in the bunker with the children. Ask Hannah to guard the little ones.”

Nik nodded. Kane stepped back, and Joy shut the door. Chessa waved as they pulled away. Kane waved back, feeling odd. He’d hoped for more in the way of acceptance from the child, although he wasn’t sure exactly what.

Law slapped him on the back. “Chessa is a good kid, and tough, like her mother. Maybe it’s genetic. Nik has this. She’ll be okay.”

Kane’s nostrils flared. He was still angry that Law had allowed Bianca to be taken, and he couldn’t stop his low growl.

“Do you want to have it out, here and now?” Law growled back.

“Yes. But we need to get back to Bianca. After this is done we can work out the details about them returning to town where I can keep them safe.”

“You know I’m not going to let you take my mate from me. Bianca isn’t going to leave me because you order her to. They targeted her because of you. Are you sure you’re mad at me, and not yourself?”

“When Bianca is well I will kill you.”

“Then prepare for your daughter to hate you. Think about it. When the wolf awakes in her my bond with her will be even stronger. Do you think she will welcome my death?”

Law was right. Kane remembered the moment Joslyn had lost her struggle with cancer. He’d been awoken from a sound sleep, and the pain had almost driven him mad. Considering the connection had been long severed, he knew he would have died had Jossy allowed him to remain her mate. He’d suffered from heart trouble ever since that night. No. Killing Law would hurt his daughter more than this bite had. He couldn’t kill the man, no matter how much he deserved to die.

“You are very lucky I care about Bianca’s well-being. Very lucky,” Kane said. “When she is well we have much to discuss, much to do to fortify your little farm.”

Law growled. “Stay the fuck out of my pack’s business. Stay the fuck out of our lives. You and Bianca’s mother created an amazing woman, but Joslyn Archer chose to raise her daughter as a human, away from you. Think about that. Bianca barely knows you. Just back off if you want her to let you in her life.”

Kane nodded. “Bianca’s safety is all I care about. If she hates me for making sure she’s safe, I will still sleep at night. Just know, if this bite kills her, you are the next to die.”

“If she dies, I’ll welcome my death.” Law’s mouth was a thin line, and white lines of strain were deeply etched on his face.

Kane could understand that. During the years after Jossy died he’d gotten into some rough fights for the sake of seeing how close to death he could come. Somehow the knowledge Foster loved his daughter that much made the idea of killing him less appealing.

“Well, Mr. Foster, let’s see if she’s feeling any better.” They headed inside, but Kane paused. Law turned toward him and frowned. “I’ll be there in a moment.”

When Law went inside Kane stepped away from the barn, pulled out his cellphone, and dialed.

“Masterson.”

“Good news, Bianca is rescued, but she’s hurt. I need you to spend the night with her. We’re at the old Connor farm. Tell no one. Bianca was bitten. She’s pregnant, and her body is fighting. She and Sabrina Johnson need you to guard them. Those wolves might return.”

“What exactly do I tell my wife?”

“Anything you like, except for the truth. Be here before moonrise.” Kane hung up.