Etti

The day started off as Etti had expected, uncomfortable. She’d barely slept, kept up by worry and Izzi’s kicking. She let Grey help her out of bed and to the bathroom. But she wanted to cry when she looked at herself in the mirror. Etti had never been a girly-girl. She didn’t much care about her appearance or make up, but the woman she saw in the mirror looked like a stranger. Etti’s rich brown skin looked sallow and she had bags under her eyes that were big enough to be labeled team lift!

Cali had assured Etti that this was all normal in the last stage of shifter pregnancy. Izzi was growing stronger and starting to pull more energy and nutrients from Etti than she could support. Cali promised to monitor them both for the next few days and if things got too rough she could induce labor. But for as much pain as Etti was in, she was terrified of labor and had convinced herself not to rush it—trusting her body and baby to tell her when it was time.

Grey returned to their bedroom with a steaming mug of decaf coffee. It was in Etti’s favorite mug, one Wes had given her. It had, No Talkie Before Coffee, printed on it, with a middle finger salute on the bottom. The sentimental mug made Etti smile.

“There’s my girl,” Grey said, kissing Etti lightly on the forehead. “I haven’t seen that pretty smile nearly enough lately.”

“I know. I’m sorry, Grey. I don’t mean to be so moody.”

“You’re not moody,” he said, slipping Etti’s robe around her shoulders.

She shot him a look that said otherwise, but he only smiled and led her to the kitchen where breakfast was already cooking. “Sit,” he ordered before returning to the stove.

Etti was eating almost a dozen eggs these days. It was her latest craving and she couldn’t get enough of them. She watched her handsome mate expertly working at the stove and her heart warmed. She loved Grey so much and she knew she was failing to show him.

Sensing her sadness, he turned to look at her. One glance at her crestfallen face had him on his knees in front of her. “Babe,” Grey whispered. “Hey, none of that,” he said wiping at Etti’s tears. “I’m right here. We’re in this together and I’m not going to let anything happen to you or our daughter. I’ve got you, Etti.” He pulled her into an embrace. “No one is going to hurt my girls.”

Greyson

Grey hated seeing his mate like this. His wolf paced, wanting to find a way to comfort her. After a tearful morning, he’d decided that if Etti’s family couldn’t shed any solid information on how to protect his mate and daughter from the hunt, he was going to pack her up and get as far away from the hunt and Blue Creek as possible. It would mean a life of running and constantly looking over their shoulders, but it was better than this waiting and the crippling fear that came with it.

He was starting to worry about Etti. He’d never seen her like this. Grey had only known Etti a short time when he was forced to claim her as his mate. In a way he was grateful for it. She was the love of his life and the mating bond had snapped into place quickly for them. They hadn’t wasted time getting to know each other, resulting in the little miracle that would be making her debut any day. But still, Grey new something wasn’t right with his mate and it was killing him that he could do nothing to help her.

Etti refused to talk about what was truly bothering her. Whenever Grey brought it up she said it was just the stress of the hunt and pregnancy hormones. But the beautiful, strong woman he fell in love with was starting to look like a shell of her former self.

Grey made a mental note to ask Cali her medical opinion on Etti’s condition. He knew Etti wouldn’t be happy that he was asking about her behind her back. But there was nothing Grey wouldn’t do for her, including protecting her from herself.

As they drove down the long dirt road leading to the Blackwell Farm, Etti’s mood only worsened. Grey was surprised she’d agreed to come without any argument after how distraught she’d been at breakfast. But Etti was always a woman of her word. It was something he admired about her. That and her selflessness. It had been Etti’s caring nature that saved Grey from the hunt, only to doom herself and now their child.

When the large white farmhouse came into view, Grey found himself praying that this visit would go better than their last. It was impossible not to think of the last time he’d been here with Etti. Her mother had shot at Etti, shot Grey, and then tried to poison Etti in her sleep. Ama Blackwell’s extreme actions prompted Grey to ally with Wes to save Etti.

The memories of that night would always haunt Grey. Seeing Etti laying helplessly drugged had nearly killed him. He was so worried that she wouldn’t survive her mother’s poison. And when she did, he had an even harder obstacle to face—giving Etti the choice of a dangerous life with him or letting her mother’s drugs finish what they started.

Of course Etti had chosen him, and Grey was so happy she did. But a bit of guilt would always plague him for the jeopardy her life was now in because of him. Grey knew it wasn’t his fault that they were mates. The universe had destined it to be so. And if Esme’s prophecy was to be believed, then maybe Grey and Etti had always been on a collision course—their hearts fated to call to each other against all odds.

Grey didn’t know if he believed in such things, but he did believe in how consuming his love for his mate was. He reached over and took Etti’s hand, pulling it to his lips. “I’m right here, babe,” he whispered kissing her hand. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

Etti

“So,” Etti muttered. “You got me here, Dad. Now tell me what I need to know to protect my baby.”

There was no love in her words as she spoke to her father. She and Grey sat on the front porch in old rocking chairs. Her father pulled one from the other side of the porch to join them, but her mother refused. Instead she sat stoically on the opposite side of the creaking porch, refusing to acknowledge Grey and Etti.

It was strange for Etti to be back at her old home. She’d never had a normal childhood, but she had loved her farm. Taking care of the animals and being surrounded by nature had always soothed her soul. But being back at the farm now wasn’t the same. Nothing was the same since she’d shifted. Even her childhood dogs cowered at the sight of her, sensing her wolf just below the surface.

Etti tried not to let her emotions get the best of her while she rocked anxiously in the worn old chair. It didn’t help that her last trip to the farm had almost cost Etti her life. She shook the dark thoughts from her mind and pressed on for the sake of her daughter. She got right to the point. “Dad, do you know how to help us, or not?”

“I do, my darling daughter. But this isn’t an easy story to tell and I was hoping your mother would join us.”

Everyone turned their attention to Etti’s mother. But Ama didn’t move, still stubbornly staring off into the distant fields.

“Ama, please,” Etti’s father pleaded. “We’ve made many mistakes. We finally have the opportunity to correct them. And you . . . well, you have always known Esme best.”

Etti’s mother rose to her feet and stalked toward them. Her icy glare was piercing, but for a moment, Etti thought her mother was actually going to help. She opened her mouth, barely getting her angry words out through clenched teeth.

“Blood calls to blood,” Ama hissed. Then she yanked open the porch door and disappeared inside.

Etti’s father sighed in the silence that followed the slam of the door. It seemed even he wasn’t spared Ama’s wrath. He cleared his throat and spoke slowly. “Etu, first I’d like to apologize to you for keeping these things from you. And for your mother’s behavior. We were trying to protect you, the only way we knew how.”

“Protect me?” Etti scathed. “She beat me and told me I was a disappointment every day. How is that protection?”

Etti watched her father’s eyes cloud with shame. “I’m sorry, Etu.”

“You’re not the one who beat me,” Etti said, her voice barely a whisper, but the anger in it was white hot. She felt Grey stiffen next to her, squeezing her hand. He hadn’t let it go since they arrived.

“You’re right,” her father said. “But I did nothing to stop it. I am as much to blame as your mother. I know you have no reason to believe me, but I love you, my darling. And I will tell you everything I know if it will help save your child.”

“Fine, but spare me your theatrics. I just want the facts. And if I scent even one lie, we’re gone.”