Chapter Twenty-Two

Blythe was walking down the hallway toward the stairs when the door to the stairwell opened and Killian slid into the hall. His eyes were wild with his tiger and his hair was flung in several directions. The crazed look caused Blythe to stumble and drop several supplies. Tristan bent down and picked up the loose materials and stuffed them back in her arms. Killian looked to Tristan before looking back at Blythe.

“What’s going on?” he growled.

“There was a misunderstanding, but we’ve resolved it now,” Tristan told him. Killian took in his mate’s appearance, taking note of the handprint on her neck.

“What happened to your neck? Who did this to you?” he snarled, pulling her close and glaring at Tristan over her shoulder. The supplies poked into his stomach, but he didn’t release Blythe.

“Walker was upset to see me,” Blythe admitted. “I didn’t even think about it when I came down here. He’s completely insane with grief and wouldn’t listen to me when I tried to explain what happened with Carrie. He only wanted to kill me.”

“Where were you?” Killian asked Tristan.

“I admit that I was there and allowed it to happen. But in the end, I did stop it. I wanted her to tell us what happened. I didn’t expect Walker to want to kill her without knowing. I apologize,” Tristan told him.

“You let him hurt my mate! She was innocent!”

“I didn’t have any of the facts. I was only blinded by grief for my sister-in-law and nephew. We lost not one, but two people. We all adored Carrie. Walker may never be the same. I may have lost a brother, too,” Tristan snapped.

“We need to get these supplies to Carter,” Blythe interrupted.

“Let’s go,” Killian turned them.

“Don’t be a stranger,” Tristan called. “Just make sure that you come straight to me and avoid Walker.”

Killian didn’t let Blythe reply. He pulled her into the stairwell and let the door slam shut behind her. He immediately spun and faced her, lifting his hand to gently caress her neck. “Are you okay? What really happened?”

“It’s exactly as he said. I came to get some supplies.” Blythe pushed around her mate and walked up the stairs. They could talk as they walked. “Someone stopped me and asked why I was here. I told them why and Tristan showed up. He was furious and, instead of helping me, he led me to Walker. Tristan wanted answers, but Walker was gone. He only wanted to kill me. He attacked me and Tristan stopped him. He knocked his brother out and then led me to the infirmary. He made me explain what happened to Carrie. I did. Then he gave me supplies and we were on our way back to this floor.”

“You should have let me go instead,” Killian told her.

“I didn’t want Carter to die and didn’t know how long you’d be gone.”

They reached their floor and walked down the hallway in silence. It seemed too quiet. The hallway was empty and no guards were around. Blythe wondered if that was a good sign or a bad one.

“Why is it so empty?” she asked.

“I’m not sure,” Killian moved closer.

When they reached the infirmary, they found that Seth wasn’t alone. Carter was also gone and his bed sheets had been changed. Blythe walked over and set the supplies down, tears coming to her eyes. They were too late. Carter had died.

“They came and took him away. They must’ve brought a helicopter. I haven’t heard anything, but when he left, he was alive,” Seth told them, noticing Blythe’s face. She sighed in relief and smiled.

“We can only hope for the best,” she replied. He smiled at her.

“I have some good news to share. Well, if I’m allowed,” Seth turned back to look at Shannon. She shrugged and smiled softly at Blythe.

“Is everything okay?” Blythe asked. She noticed that Leo kept staring at Shannon’s belly, ignoring everyone in the room.

“I’m pregnant.”

“She’s pregnant.”

Seth and Shannon made the announcement at the same time.

“What?” Blythe’s mouth fell open. “But I thought that you had been turned?”

“I think I was pregnant before I was turned.”

“So you’re saying that your new body can handle being pregnant?” Blythe asked.

“So far,” Seth cut in.

“Seth, you know how you’ve been saying that women are dying in childbirth?” Blythe spoke up.

“Really, Blythe, this isn’t the time,” Seth’s face soured.

“No, listen,” Blythe snapped.

“Fine. What?” Seth crossed his arms. Blythe felt Killian’s hand on her back and turned to smile at her mate.

“Shifters heal faster than humans.”

“We know this,” Seth muttered.

“Quit interrupting her and listen,” Killian growled.

“As I was saying, shifters heal faster than humans. They basically mend themselves and can handle a lot of what would kill us. Wouldn’t it be better to turn the females before impregnating them? Then they would give birth and their bodies would heal afterward and keep them alive!” Blythe was excited.

“But we’ve never had a mate get pregnant after turning her,” Seth pointed out.

“What if we did like Shannon and Leo?” Killian spoke up. “What if we got our mates pregnant and then turned them early on in the pregnancy?”

“This could work,” Seth admitted.

“It would save lives!” Blythe clapped her hands together.

“What if it doesn’t work?” Shannon muttered. All eyes turned to hers. Leo finally seemed to snap out of it and frowned at everyone staring at them.

“What’s going on?”

“What if I lose the baby?” Shannon asked. “What if my body rejects it because I’m a shifter now?”

“We’ll have to keep a closer eye on you. When the venom entered your bloodstream, it may have even turned the baby into a shifter too. You could birth a shifter baby,” Seth explained.

“My baby will be shifter?” Leo asked.

“Aren’t they all born shifters?” Blythe asked.

“Some are born as humans and turned later on in their lives. It depends on the father and the mother and whose genes are dominant,” Seth told them.

“But lately we’ve been losing so many that we’re not sure if they are being born human or shifter.”

“That’s awful,” Blythe cried. Shannon cradled her belly protectively.

“You need to sleep and rest,” Leo spoke up. He grabbed Shannon and cradled her in his arms. He looked like a decent person at that moment and Blythe almost believed that he could be a normal person. Instead, he was dark and dangerous on the inside. Blythe seriously hoped that now that Shannon was pregnant, she’d get relief from Leo’s tirades.

“We should get going too. We can get some lunch and then head back to bed. I need a nap,” Killian smiled suggestively. Blythe laughed and turned to Seth.

“You need some sleep too,” Blythe told him. “You look exhausted. It’s been a busy morning.”

“I’ll get some sleep later.”

“You better,” Blythe demanded.

“Let’s go and leave my brother in peace,” Killian said, pulling Blythe out of the room.

“Don’t forget those extra supplies,” Blythe called over her shoulder. As soon as they were outside the doors, Killian swept her up into his arms and kissed her. Blythe’s arms went around his neck and tangled in his hair. She kissed him back and then they were moving once more. Killian pulled back to watch where he was going.

They went straight to the bedroom, not going to the cafeteria. “I thought we were getting food?”

“You’re my meal,” Killian nipped her neck. She shivered and then gasped as he threw her onto the bed. She shot him a dirty look.

“That was rude.”

“Maybe you should punish me,” Killian smirked.

Blythe smiled at him. “Maybe I will.”

“Why don’t we work on making a baby of our own?” Killian asked her, growing serious for a moment. Blythe forgot to breathe. She stared at her mate a moment.

“What?” she asked, sucking in a breath.

“Do you want to have a baby with me?” Killian asked. His face was expressionless and she knew that her answer was very important to him.

Did she want a baby? In the future, maybe. She didn’t feel ready for one. But looking at Killian, it was easy to imagine a mini version of him running around with his dark hair and sexy eyes. She touched her stomach thoughtfully and then looked up at her mate.

“I’d love to have a baby with you.”

“Damn, I love you,” Killian growled, pulling her toward him and crushing his lips against hers.

“I love you too,” Blythe moaned as he sucked on her neck. “Now get naked and let me touch you.”

“With pleasure,” Killian growled, pulling back and ripping his shirt off. Blythe’s hands went to his chest and teased his nipples. He reached past her arms and grabbed her shirt. He ripped it open, exposing her breasts. He pulled the material away and threw it. Next, he quickly made her pants disappear until she was bare before him. Knocking her hands to the side, Killian lowered himself until he was inches from her breasts. Blythe watched him, anticipation running rampant through her veins.

“Tell me what you want,” Killian whispered. “Do you want me here?” He licked her nipple and nibbled on her breast. “Or here.” His hand cupped her mound and a finger slid between her damp folds. Blythe moaned.

“Both,” she gasped.

“My mate is a needy girl.” Killian’s finger played with her clit, touching around it, but not flicking the nub like she wanted. Her hips arched and moved, trying to get him to do what she wanted. He removed his hand and she whimpered at the loss. “None of that. Behave.”

“Killian,” she cried. His mouth lowered and he took a nipple into his mouth. He sucked long and hard on it, teasing it with his tongue and teeth. Blythe’s hands went to his shoulders and her nails dug into his skin. He growled, the sound vibrating through her. She moaned and closed her eyes. His tongue became rough as he lapped at her breast and sensitive bud. He moved from one breast to the other, teasing it the same way.

Blythe felt her body reacting and wondered if it was possible to orgasm from just her mate teasing her breasts. Could that really happen? She could feel his cock pressing against her thigh through Killian’s pants and reached for it. She rubbed her palm over the bulge and heard Killian suck in a breath. He growled and pinned her hands above her head.

“Don’t touch me right now or I’m going to embarrass myself like some pup. I need to fuck you,” Killian warned her.

“Then take me! Take me fast and hard,” she told him. She spread her legs wide, letting the scent of her sweet arousal tease his nose. Killian jerked back with a growl and quickly discarded his pants.

His cock jerked free and pointed straight toward her. Blythe leaned forward and gripped it. Killian sucked in a breath and closed his eyes. “I can’t hold on much longer.”

Blythe positioned his cock at her entrance and then laid back and glanced up at her mate. “I’m all yours.”

“Mine,” Killian growled, his tiger’s eyes flashing before her. She smiled and then felt him surge forward. He entered her in one quick thrust. He held still a moment, letting her adjust. She wiggled, letting him know it was time to move. He pulled out, almost all the way, before slamming home again.

“Yes!” Blythe cried. She wrapped her legs around his waist, locking them at the ankles. Killian leaned forward, capturing her lips as he pumped in and out of her. Blythe moaned and his mouth swallowed the sound. Killian angled his hips, causing his cock to hit her clit every time he thrust into her. Blythe felt her orgasm approaching and dug her nails into his back. Killian pulled away from her mouth and lowered his mouth to her neck. His teeth grazed her skin and then he bit down over her mark. Blythe screamed as she came. Her pussy tightened around Killian’s cock. He thrust again and again before exploding inside of her with a roar. He reached between them, rubbing her clit and prolonging her orgasm. Her pussy milked his cock for everything it had.

Killian remained inside of her as he collapsed on top of her. He quickly rolled to the side and pulled free from her pussy. He pulled her toward him and she rolled over so they could spoon. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close.

“Thank you,” he whispered against her hair as he breathed in their combined scents.

“For what?” Blythe asked.

“For loving me. For accepting me. For being my mate.”

“It’s my pleasure. I love you Killian and couldn’t imagine being without you now. I’m so glad that we found each other. It took us a while to get here, but we finally did. I wouldn’t change a single second of our time together and wish for many more years to come.”

“Sleep.”

Blythe smiled. Always demanding, her mate. She closed her eyes and listened to his breathing as it evened out and he fell asleep. She smiled and kissed the arm draped across her chest. His hand was resting gently on her breast. Blythe fell asleep listening to the sound of soft snoring and the sense of belonging.

***

“Shayne, can you finish up here?” Blythe called.

“Sure thing. Where you off to?” he asked, eyeing the food she carried.

“I’m going to visit a friend. It’s been a couple days since I saw her and I’m worried about her.”

“I’m sure she’s fine. Anyone I know?”

“Do you know Leo?”

“Yea, he’s a really private guy. Doesn’t talk to many people. Why?”

“I’m visiting his mate.”

“Didn’t even know the guy had a mate,” Shayne scratched his head. “How long they been mated?”

“I’m not sure. But probably a long time. She wasn’t in this running.”

“Must be two years. I can’t believe I didn’t know it,” Shayne muttered.

“She’s pregnant,” Blythe blurted out.

Shayne’s eyes widened. “Oh, really? Is he not feeding her?”

Blythe looked down at the food. “No! It’s not like that. I haven’t eaten yet and I didn’t notice either of them at lunch so I just thought we could eat together.”

“That’s awful nice of you, Blythe.”

“If Killian looks for me, tell him where I went please.”

“Sure thing,” Shayne smiled at her.

Blythe turned, holding the dishes carefully. She didn’t want to trip and fall and she didn’t want to drop them. She would have to go slowly and carefully. She pushed out the door using her back. She turned and almost immediately ran into someone.

“I’m sorry!” she gasped. Hands came out to steady her. She looked up and smiled.

“Hello again,” Derek smiled at her.

“Well, hello. How’s Carter?” Blythe asked, adjusting the items in her arms.

“He’s going to live. His family is taking care of him now in a private facility. He’ll be back on his feet and running this place in no time,” Derek told her.

“That’s good.” Blythe took a step forward, ready to be on her way. “It was nice talking to you. I’ll see you later.”

“Nice seeing you. Don’t be a stranger,” Derek called after her. That statement had heads turning and Blythe’s face turned red.

She quickly exited the cafeteria and headed down the hall. She passed several guards headed to eat some lunch, if there was any left, and some of them even said hi to her. Things were already changing. She seemed to be well known around here because of her cooking skills. It pissed Killian off, but she enjoyed helping people. If they enjoyed her cooking, they would order more supplies, which meant better food for the shifters. She wasn’t about to complain.

She hummed softly under her breath as the scent of food wafted up to her nose from the dishes she carried. Her stomach growled and she smiled. She’d skipped lunch on purpose so that she’d be starving and have a real reason to visit Shannon. It seemed that Leo was going to keep her locked up and Blythe was worried she wasn’t eating.

She stopped outside the door to Shannon’s room and wondered how she was going to knock. Her hands were completely full. Thinking it over, she gently kicked the door a couple times. She listened and waited. She kicked the door again, only louder this time.

It opened after a moment and Shannon poked her head around. “Oh, it’s you.”

“Hey! I was wondering if you wanted to eat with me,” Blythe raised her arms a bit, letting Shannon see the food. Shannon’s eyes lit up and she licked her lips. She glanced down the hallway and then over her shoulder.

“Come in, but you can’t stay long. Leo will be home in less than an hour.”

“Will he get mad I’m here?” Blythe asked as she pushed her way in. Shannon shrugged and closed the door back. She locked it.

“Who knows… Better to be safe than sorry.”

“Has he been hitting you since he found out about the pregnancy?” Blythe asked softly. Shannon looked at the ground and rubbed her arm.

“No, but he’s been shouting at me and acting like he wants to hit me. He never does, though. It’s gotten better, but he’s also not home as much. Sometimes I have to go without food because he doesn’t come home. I’m starving. But enough about all this. Let’s eat,” Shannon waved the conversation away.

Blythe set the dishes on the bed and opened them. “We’ve got corn on the cob, which I absolutely love. Then we’ve got some green beans and mashed potatoes. We’ve got grilled chicken for the meat. I didn’t have enough hands to carry drinks, but I can run back and get us some if you want.”

“I’ll just get a drink out of the sink. I’m starving and don’t want to wait,” Shannon admitted.

“Okay! Here you go.” Blythe handed her a fork and then they dug in.

“Man, I’m full,” Shannon said after they both finished. They set the dishes on the floor and were both lying on the bed.

“Can I ask a question?” Blythe replied after a moment. Shannon grew silent and Blythe wondered if she’d fallen asleep. “Shannon?”

“What kind of question?” she sighed.

“What’s your story? Where did you come from?”

“It’s a long story and not very pleasant. Unfortunately, I grew up in an abusive home.”

“I’d like to know more about you. You can even ask me questions. I want to be your friend. I know Leo probably won’t let us hang out a lot, but I’m here for you.”

“Thank you. That means a lot. I’d like to be your friend, too.”

“Then talk to me.”

“It’s hard for me to open up. Leo doesn’t even know about my past.”

“He’s your mate,” Blythe muttered.

“Yes, but he’s an asshole and hurts me. Do you really think I’d tell him about my past?”

“Has he been like this from the very start?”

“Yes. Though it’s gotten worse. It used to be just a slap or a tight grip. Now it’s a lot worse and sometimes I’m not sure how I’ve survived this long.”

“I’m so sorry,” Blythe reached over and gripped her hand.

“Anyway, I guess I can share my story. That way if something were to happen to me, someone would remember me.”

“Shannon,” Blythe started.

“It’s… whatever.”

“I’m sorry.”

Shannon pulled away and sat up. She looked away from Blythe to the wall as she began to tell her story.