Chapter 11
Chaz slipped from the bed as gracefully as he could in his wolf form, stretching out his hind legs and shaking off the fear that had seeped into his pores. Daphne sighed, rolling to her back, but remained blissfully asleep. As quietly as he could, he switched into his human form, biting down on his lower lip as a sharp sting tore across his skin.
He hiked up his jeans and stared down at the woman he owed his life to.
The woman he’d never be able to live without.
He bent over and kissed her forehead, before slipping from the bedroom. The second he stepped into the family room, his mother bolted from the sofa where she had rested her head on his father’s lap.
He raised his fingers to his lips.
His mother nodded, but still tossed her arms around him and gave him a big squeeze. him tight. “I thought you were dead.”
“So did I,” he admitted, holding his mother in a long hug. She’d been his rock growing up. Many thought that was strange, considering she was a human, but she understood him better than most.
His father rose, poised and proud. However, his greying eyes gave away hours of worry. Chaz couldn’t imagine what it must have been like to leave their eldest son in the hands of a perfect stranger, even if she was the mother of their future grandchild.
“How are you feeling?” his father asked, yanking him in for a manly squeeze.
“Like I got shot in the chest and some Fairy blew weird shit into my body.”
“Yeah, that was different,” his mother admitted, taking him by the hand and pulling him to the sofa. “You should have seen her wave her arms and toss Heidi across the room like a sack of potatoes.”
“I can’t believe how powerful she is. I pulled out all the books written about the Legend and I don’t think they had any idea.” His father ran his long fingers over his face, tracing his jaw line. “The books say the power will be diluted with your children, that hers is essentially to protect us during this period of transition.”
“It drains her though.” Chaz rested his head on the back of the couch and stared at the ceiling.” I became aware of what was going on when she managed to remove the bullet, but I also felt myself sucking the life out of her. It concerns me for the baby.”
His mother held up two fingers. “All the stories say two babies. A boy and a girl.”
“And I smell two.” His father nodded in agreement.
Chaz gagged and coughed on his own breath. “If that’s really true, let’s not tell her right away.”
“One thing at a time,” his father’s tone turned grave. “We have to deal with her family. They will be here by ten.”
Chaz glanced out the window. The morning sun kissed the night sky with a light blue and yellow-tinged glow. “I haven’t even had the chance to fill her in on the entire story about her great-grandfather.”
“I’ve instructed my men to hand over the files to her parents before they get here, so perhaps you might want to go wake your mate,” his father said, resting his arm around his mother’s shoulders. “We’ll be outside if you need us.”
Chaz contemplated asking his parents to stay, but he wasn’t a little boy who needed his hand held. He was a grown man, with a mate, and a baby…or two on the way. He shook his head, letting out a slight laugh. Only he could go on a blind date and end up bonded for life.
“Chaz!” A panicked voice echoed from the bedroom.
“Right here.” He bolted from the sofa, meeting her at the doorway.
“You’re okay!?” She reached out and gently touched his chest, where a slight scar had formed from the bullet.
He took her hand and kissed her palm. “I’m fine, thanks to you.”
“That all really happened, didn’t it?”
“It did,” he said, tugging her toward the kitchen. “Let me make you some breakfast.”
“I should be doing that for you. You’re the one who got shot.”
“You’re the one who’s pregnant.” He patted her on the bottom, before helping her to the kitchen barstool. “Something we’re going to need to talk about after we discuss your great-grandfather and the fact your parents are on their way.”
She opened her mouth, but said nothing. Not a word.
He probably tossed way too much information out there at once, but they only had a couple of hours.
Clearing her throat, she opened her mouth again. “Why do I have to see my parents?”
“If the Legend is correct, which its turning out to be spot on for the most part, you mother will have some Fairy power, which could create some wolf interaction with your father, depending on how dormant his wolf side has been all these years.”
“Holy hell, they’ll both die and then roll over in their graves.”
Chaz handed her a cup of coffee, then went about making some scrambled eggs and bacon, which seemed to be both of their favorites. “It will take some time, but they will accept it all.”
“You don’t know my parents. You think Heidi and Cosmo’s hatred for humans was bad? My parents might not be killers, but they can cast judgment with a razor-sharp tongue.”
“We’ll have to change their minds. They are going to be our babies’ grandparents.”
“Babies?” She arched a brow. “And how do you know I’m pregnant?”
He cocked his head, holding the spatula in his hand. “Are you going to tell me you don’t feel it?”
Ignoring the question, she blew into her coffee mug. “Tell me what happened with my great-grandfather.”
“Would you rather read it? That way you know it’s the truth?”
She shook her head. “Am I your mate?”
He swallowed. “Yes.”
“Then I’ll know it’s the truth.” She waved her hand and a tiny spark lifted into the air.
He reached out and caught it in his hands, feeling the warmth of her essence.
“I didn’t mean to do that,” she said glancing down at her stomach. “Is there something I need to know about carrying a couple of wolves?”
He laughed. “No, it’s generally the normal nine-month thing, but Fairies are a tad different. Same amount of time, but we’re told they can communicate with their parents while in the womb beginning at conception, so their brains are already fully formed.”
“I’m so not ready for this.”
“Wishing you could go back and cancel our blind date?”
She smiled. “No. Not really. Now please continue with the story.”
He snagged the whisk from the drawer and started beating the eggs while the skillet heated. “Basically, Albert Lee’s mother was human and she was disgusted by her mate. That hatred spread to Albert Lee, who ended up turning his back on the pack. He never shifted after adolescence, which is bad for wolves to not be in their natural state on a regular basis. This had a negative effect on his psyche and he snapped. He had been arrested for killing three humans.”
“Oh, no, that’s horrible,” she said, sipping her coffee. “I take it the Council arrested him?”
Chaz pulled apart eight pieces of bacon and placed them in the pan. The meat hissed and spat grease as the crisp smell of bacon filled the room. “He was caught red handed, but the judge showed mercy and sentenced him to life in prison, only he escaped and was about to kill again when my great-grandfather, who found him, shot and killed him. Because he was about to kill his own father, Twilight Crossing thought it best to keep it quiet. But rumors spread and the next thing we knew, it was believed he’d been killed in cold blood, by my great-grandfather.” He stole a glance, gauging her reaction before pouring the eggs into the pan. The liquid sizzled as it bubbled. Part of him was very concerned she’d still walk out of his life, breaking his heart, destroying their future.
Her eyes widened with curiosity more than anything else. “Why let the lie continue?”
“Because it didn’t bother us. The Havernites aren’t the only town on this planet that has a distaste for wolves. Besides, your great-grandmother disappeared with her family, never to be seen again, and while the rumors still lingered, it was essentially water under the bridge.”
“Maybe for your family, but my parents have seemed to hold onto it like one would a badge of honor. This isn’t going to go over well.”
“I suspect not.” He put the eggs and bacon on two plates, pushing one in front of her.
“And hearing it from me, they will think you kidnapped and brainwashed me.”
“Then perhaps it’s good that my father sent two human officers and all the files.” He nibbled on his bacon, staring at her. Her long, blonde hair tucked up in a ponytail on the top of her head. Her creamy, green eyes glistening much like her tanned skin.
She smiled at him, tilting her head and all he wanted to do was ask her what he could do right then and there to make her life better. He’d worship her forever and always. Together, they’d rule the Twilight Council, making sure all creatures were protected.
“What?” she asked.
He stepped around the island and swiveled the stool so he could burrow himself between her legs. Curling his finger, he gently lifted her chin. “Do you accept me as your mate?”
“Don’t we need witnesses of some kind if I’m going to say, I do?”
“This isn’t a wedding.”
“Good, because I kind of want the white gown, though no church. Maybe outside somewhere like in a field of flowers.”
“That can be arranged,” he said, fanning his thumb over her delicate chin. “But you haven’t answered my question.”
She draped her arms over his shoulders and leaned in, brushing her lips gently against his. “As crazy as it all is, I love you. I can’t bear the thought of being without you.”
“I love you, too,” he whispered, before taking her mouth with fury.
Everything he thought he didn’t want was everything he needed and it came in the form of a blind date.