Chapter Fifteen
Jayden was greeted by Najha. “Hey, you. How are you doing?”
“I could be better. What are you doing here?”
“Look, I get that you don’t want to see Thorn. But, you’re a new shifter, and you need to be trained to fight. I’m your best option. It’s either that or you have to learn all this from the vampire. They don’t know what it’s like to be a Lycan.”
“You’re right. But, what if I don’t want to learn to be a good little wolfy.”
“Too bad. You’re stuck with me.” Najha grinned, putting her arm over her shoulder. She pulled her along with her to the back of her motorcycle. “First things first, we’re going to teach you to ride your own motorcycle. Let’s go shopping.”
“Hell yeah!”
A trip to Seattle was taken. Najha had arranged for them to be flown in with Joshua’s helicopter. After landing in Seattle, they picked a Harley Davidson shop. “I think you’ll be happier with a street bike and not a crotch rocket like I have.”
“Najha, I believe you’re right. What kind would you want?”
“Let’s see. I like the Roadster.” After trying out a few of the bikes, Jayden had picked out a beautiful dark blue Roadster and had a few custom-made chrome bling put on it before they drove it out of the shop.
Staying overnight in Seattle, Jayden was able to practice on her own bike until she felt comfortable to make the trip back to Shades Run.
After proving to Nahja she was better at riding the bike, she decided to head out on her own. She wanted the privacy of learning to ride her own bike.
Making a few mistakes at stop lights she killed the engine a couple of times, but by the time she reached the highway, she had the bike under control. Thinking about her problems with Thorn only depressed her and almost ruined the joy of buying the new motorcycle.
She’d have to figure it all out. But right now, she just wanted to enjoy the freedom of the bike.
Pulling into her parents’ home with her new bike, her father met her out on the steps. “Dad.”
“What do you have here?”
“I bought a new bike. Isn’t it cool?”
“It’s beautiful for sure. Can we talk?”
“Sure, about?”
Her father met her at the bottom of the stairs and put his arm around her shoulders. “Come inside.”
After they had been seated at the table, her mother was there too. She delivered a nice hot cup of tea. “Here you are, dear.”
“Thank you.”
“We need to know what your plans are. You’re a Lycan now.” Her father had always been one to get right to the point.
“I don’t know. I do know Thorn is my mate.”
“Yes, he’s alpha of his pack. There’s no way he’s going to allow you to live here. You’re pack now.”
“Well give me some time, and I’ll talk to him. He betrayed me with another woman.”
“I don’t think that’s what happened. A Lycan mates for life, they are unable to cheat on their mate.”
“Well, I saw it with my own eyes.”
“Mistakes can be made.”
Jayden didn’t want to argue with her father, “Well that’s too dang bad. He made his bed now he can sleep in it with whoever he wants to.”
“I spoke with Lucien, and Thorn is going to wait for you to come to him. Maybe there is an explanation?”
“Why didn’t he stop me from running away from him?”
“Maybe he thought you trusted him a little better than apparently, you do?”
“Yeah, maybe.” Jayden had a lot to think about that was for sure.
She called Najha and decided to start her training as a Lycan.
Thorn watched Jayden and Najha train. He didn’t want to bother the females. As days turned into weeks that turned into months, he missed Jayden and wanted to be with her by her side, but every time he tried to talk to her she ignored him.
Giving her the time to develop her skills as a Lycan was what he decided to do. Maybe in time, she’d find it in her heart to listen to him and forgive him for something he didn’t do wrong. Najha had told him Jayden was not the forgiving type and to give her time.
As Alpha of his pack, it went against his wishes to listen to his daughter, but it gave him time to get the evil cleaned up and out of Shades Run.
As summer turned to fall and the leaves on the trees fell, winter just around the corner, it was time for Thorn to claim his woman. How was he going to do that whenever he tried to talk to her, she literally walked away and didn’t give him the chance to even speak? He’d had enough of her shit.
Why he didn’t seek her out the past few months was because his pride was damaged by her behavior. She’d been acting like a spoiled rotten little girl. Could he be a mate to such a woman?
Jayden walked out of her parent’s house, she had to be careful not to slip on the ice. Winter in this part of the country was mild, so the ice storm they had during the night was a surprise to her. She knew it would be melted by this afternoon.
She didn’t want to fall though. Her slightly enlarged stomach held her and Thorn’s child. She didn’t want to harm him or herself in a careless step and fall.
When she placed her hands on her stomach, she could feel the baby moving around inside. He was an active participant in her pregnancy. She couldn’t help but smile. Jayden was happy and content with her life and had finally accepted the fact that Thorn didn’t want her in his life.
As she stepped carefully across the ice to her car, she couldn’t believe she had to go to work this morning. Her morning employee had called in because her child was sick, and there was no one in town who could cover for her.
This would be the first day she’d actually shown herself in Shades Run since she’d started showing a couple of months ago. She heard a car engine before she actually spotted the car pulling into their driveway.
A blue BMW with tinted windows and Lucien behind the wheel. He couldn’t come out with the sun shining, but today was completely overcast, and his car was specially made for emergencies if he had to go out in the early morning or early sunset.
She wondered what could be so important to risk his life outside at this time of day. She knew now without a doubt, Lucien had caused the severe overcast. “Lucien, what’s going on?”
He smiled gently and pointed to her stomach. “I heard you were leaving to go to town?”
She dropped her lashes quickly to hide the hurt she felt. Accepting the fact that Thorn hadn’t been by to even check on her, the relationship with the Lycan leader was over. “I’m needed at the coffee shop, someone called in.”
“It’s not that important to risk your life and that of the unborn to drive in this ice storm. Jayden, I’m going to forbid you to leave.”
“Well then, I guess I need to listen to you. Why don’t you come inside? You didn’t come by just to chew me out for driving in a storm you caused?”
He smiled and nodded his head.
“I knew it. Well, come on in then.”
Lucien got out of the car and held onto her elbow helping her back inside the house.
Her parents had left for work up at the main house. Lucien must have planned this all along. “Please, sit down.”
Lucien pulled out the chair and sat. “When are you going to talk to Thorn?”
Jayden walked over to the kitchen sink. She leaned against the counter and crossed her arms looking out the window. Clouds overhead were building, and it seemed to get darker. When she turned back around to look at Lucien, he had his eyes closed, and she knew he was the one controlling the weather outside. He’d risked his life to come here and talk to her. The most she could do would be to listen to him. “Lucien, Thorn made it clear to me he didn’t want me.”
“What the hell are you talking about? The man is literally on a path of destruction. He’s trying to chase every bad person in the world. He’s single-handedly wiped out the entire gang that tried to hurt you.”
“I don’t care what he’s been doing. All I know is I walked in on him kissing a naked woman, and he hasn’t even tried to come talk to me?” Though, she wouldn’t admit to cutting Thorn off in all ways, such as their mind link. She couldn’t keep it, she didn’t want to see the images he may have of another woman.
“He didn’t?” The tension in Lucien’s lower jaw told Jayden he thought Thorn had at least tried to explain.
A cold shiver spread over her as she remembered the look on Thorn’s face when she’d walked into his office that day. The hussy was all up in his junk, Jayden hadn’t stuck around for his explanation. “No, he didn’t even try.”
“Maybe because Thorn thought that you trusted him?”
Lucien’s suggestion sounded crazy to her. “That doesn’t make any sense. How could he assume something like that? We’d only been together a few weeks. I was human before he converted me. He never even told me about his family. I understand he has two sons?”
“Yeah, Dante and Jonas. He said he was going to introduce you to them, but you refused to talk to him. Why?”
“Look, if he were really my Lycan mate, he would have tried to stop me that day. Instead, he chose to stay with that hussy. I’m done trying to explain to everyone why I don’t want to see that man ever again.” Pain in her stomach doubled her over. A round of painful memories squeezed her heart in their clutches. “Lucien, I can’t do this today, I’m sorry.”
“Sit down, Jayden. We need to talk about this. Your parents said you refuse to leave this house, then this morning you’re off to drive in an ice storm to save your little coffee shop. That’s being crazy.” He led her over to a kitchen chair for her to sit down.
After settling herself into the chair, she tried to relax a little and let the painful contraction settle down. Cordelia said they were perfectly normal but would hurt. She sensed another reason entirely for the visit. “Lucien, what is really going on?”
He smiled. “The Lycan in you can’t be fooled for very long, can it?”
“No. Why are you here?” Jayden gently touched his hands.
“Thorn.”
“Why are you concerned for him? It’s been months since I last saw him.”
“When I went to him, I didn’t have to tell him where you went. He already knew. Thorn had told me when you’re ready to believe in him you’d come back. You’ve never even attempted to let him explain to you what really happened that day. That hussy threw herself at him when she spotted you coming down the hallway. She was only an actress they used for the porn films. Thorn never went back there after that day. He’s given up on all his businesses. He has been out there killing and cleaning up the mess, as he calls it.”
“Well, it sounds as if he’s happy then.” Jayden crossed her arms.
“No, dammit, he’s not happy, Jayden. Did you ever think maybe he’s waiting around for you to go to him?”
“I get what you’re saying, Lucien. I tried, honestly, I did. But, it’s been so long I’m embarrassed I didn’t let him explain to me what really went down that day. I don’t even know how to talk to him now.”
“The man literally doesn’t care if he lives or dies. When a Lycan loses his mate, they can possibly turn into a rogue. Do you want that for your mate?”
“No.” She dropped her gaze down at her hands folded across the baby in her belly.
Lucien stood up and pushed in the chair. “Maybe you should reconsider. Well, at least, tell him he’s going to be a father, again.”
“What do you mean? How many children does he already have? See, Lucien, he hasn’t been honest with me, ever!” She stood up. Jayden’s heart clenched, it felt as if the outside thunderstorm pounded through her. Anger rose its ugly head inside her, she didn’t want to believe Lucien. “Maybe it’s time you leave. I’ll consider what you said and think about it. You know someday, I’ll tell Thorn about the baby. But not until I’m ready.”
“The man has a right to know he’s given you a child even if he’s not allowed in your life, a Lycan needs to be raised with the pack. It was nice to see you again, Jayden. Don’t leave this house until the ice is gone.”
“Yes, Lucien. Thank you for stopping by.” She walked him outside onto the porch and noticed it had started to rain. The ice on the driveway had already started to melt. Jayden didn’t mind the rain at all. She could walk easier with her shoes on the now, wet pavement. “See, it’s already gone. Lucien, please be careful until you’re in the house.”
“I have control of the clouds. I’ll be fine. Promise me, you’ll give it some thought. Go to town and see Thorn?”
“I’ll see.”
“Put the past where it belongs. You and Thorn belong together.”
“I thought maybe you’d been covering for him all along, but you really do mean that don’t you. What really happened that day and why can’t I forgive him?”.”
“I don’t cover for anyone. You will have to believe him, and honestly, a Lycan can’t lie. That woman, Angel, heard that you were Thorn’s new woman. Some people have an evil streak, and that one did. Aiden and Dante told me she’d been throwing herself at Thorn for a very long time. He won’t mix business and pleasure. Thorn had never used those women other than for the porn movies they filmed. He hated going over there. He’s turned the entire business over to Dante and Aiden.”
“Well, I’ll just have to take your word for it.”
“Jayden, I believe you two are just being stubborn and acting like children. This isn’t high school. You have a child involved, and neither of you is happy.” Lucien didn’t wait for an answer. Instead he put himself behind the wheel and left her standing in her driveway.
Jayden glanced at her watch, seven a.m., she needed to get to the shop and open it. After gathering her things, she got in her car and left her parents’ home. She missed Thorn and the time they’d spent together.
A few miles from town, the skies cleared up and the sun came out. Lucien must have made it home. Turning up the music, she enjoyed her drive into town.
After arriving at her coffee shop and getting it opened. She knew she’d be alone for a few hours until the other employees would be in to help relieve her. Wearing the heavy sweatshirt and apron, nobody could tell she was pregnant. Jayden needed complete privacy until she told Thorn.
Finishing the few dishes in the back, she heard the bell over the door ring.
“Hold on, I’ll be right there.” She wiped her hands on a towel.
Standing there at the counter was one of the men who’d attacked her, Daryl. “What the hell?”
“Well, well, if it isn’t the pretty little bitch who about got me castrated. I can see you survived the hole in your gut?”
“What do you want?” Jayden had her baby to protect, she wasn’t afraid of him, but she sided with caution.
“I want a large coffee.” He slammed his hand on the counter. “Now!”
“I’m not serving you. Please leave.” Jayden turned away.
He jumped the counter and grabbed her arm stopping her progress. “Oh my, two for one. You’re fucking knocked up. Is it that big guy’s or the skinny pale one? Well, I don’t care either way, I win today.” Daryl smacked her across the face, hard.
Her face stung where he’d hit her, but it was his eyes that stared back at her. He had haunted her dreams since the last time he’d attacked her. Would she ever get rid of this man now in her memories? Couldn’t she kill him now that she was a Lycan? She didn’t want him to harm her or the baby. If she shifted, she would betray the Lycan. How was she going to get away from him? “Call the Sheriff! Now!” Jayden yelled out.
There were a few of her customers still here and her new employee who’d just walked through the door.
“Don’t call.” Daryl held up a handgun.
The front door stood wide open. Jayden knew if she ran, she would be able to escape. Except what would happen to the humans still inside the building? She couldn’t let them get hurt because she was afraid. Instead, she shoved him hard. Using the strength of her wolf which had risen to help her, she jumped the counter and made a run for the outside.
Jayden quickly sprinted toward the front door. Right as she made it, a large figure darkened the doorway. She practically ran into the large mammoth.
Thorn.
“What in the hell?” He glanced at her, down at her stomach then over by the kitchen where Daryl was trying to sneak out. “Did he hurt you?”
She shook her head. “No, not yet.”
“Sit!” He pointed to the nearest chair.
“Why are you always so bossy?” She crossed her arms. Then taking a few breaths to calm down her nerves since she knew she was safe, Jayden was contemplating about how to leave before Thorn came back to talk to her.
Thorn propelled her and sat her down. “I will be back in a minute to tell you. Can you wait a second before you try to escape, for me to take out the trash?”
She nodded. “I’ll wait.”
Thorn caught up to Daryl quickly. He grabbed the back of the man’s neck. “This isn’t your lucky day, you bastard.”
“You can’t handle it, dude. You know I can give your woman more than you can.” Daryl grabbed his crotch.
Thorn didn’t hesitate, he shoved the man straight in the cement block, crumbling the brick and cement. Daryl wouldn’t have a chance to fight Thorn’s strength backed up by his wolf. He felt the bones breaking in the man’s face, and his sensitive ears were damaged from the man’s piercing, blood-curdling scream.
Thorn let go and stepped aside to let the heavy human fall to the ground.
Daryl held up his hands and begged, “Don’t, I’m done. Let me leave.”
“Never.” Thorn shifted just his hand and arm. His claws sliced through severing the jugular vein. Right before him, Daryl bled out. He knew this man would never have submitted and would eventually hurt or kill Jayden. He had to die, and at his hands, for what he’d done to his mate.
Thorn heard the sirens first, then the Sheriff’s vehicle. Cade stepped out of the car. “Thorn, not another one? This one in broad daylight.”
“Cade. I have to go take care of Jayden. He came back to hurt her.” Thorn pointed. He didn’t wait for Cade’s answer as he turned and walked back into the coffee shop. He should have done this a month ago but being stubborn and waiting for his mate to come to him had nearly ended her life today. He should have seen this coming. This was the last man he couldn’t find from that day; the rest were dead.
When he walked into the shop, he spied Jayden trying to calm down a young woman, who appeared to be leaving. “I’m so sorry. Normally, we don’t have this stuff happen here.”
“I’m sorry, Miss Jayden. I can’t work here.”
Jayden nodded and let the girl walk outside. She pushed her heavy tresses away from her face and turned back to find Thorn standing there.
He smiled. “Hello, love.”
She held up her hand. “Hi, Thorn.”
“Can I ask you one thing?” He held up his finger.
“Yes, just one.” She looked down at her swollen belly then back up at him, smiling she nodded.
“Why didn’t you come back to let me explain? Please don’t tell me it was because you saw that whore kiss me, either. You should have trusted me enough to know a Lycan would never cheat on his mate.” He walked up to her and touched her cheek.
She pressed her face into his hand and inhaled. “It’s good to see you, Thorn. I should have told you before now. It’s just that everything happened so fast between us. I mean, one minute I’m here cleaning, next those bikers came in, and I get shot. Then I’m converted and woke up inside your home. We lived a fairytale romance for weeks then I come back here to work. You didn’t share any of your life or pack with me. I didn’t even know where you worked until Najha came here and told me she was…” She stopped speaking and looked around.
Thorn nodded to Aiden who’d cleared out the shop. “This is Aiden; he is my right-hand man.”
She nodded. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“It’s a pleasure, ma’am.” Aiden shut the door behind him as he went outside, leaving them alone to talk.
Thorn trusted his men to keep everyone out until he allowed the shop to be reopened. Dante and the others waited outside for him. “Jayden, it’s okay. It’s just you and me now.”
She gazed up at him. “Well, after I first came back here and started working, I felt as if you pulled yourself away from me even more. It wasn’t the same, even when we were home together.”
“I guess I never thought about it from your point of view. I’m sorry, love. I should have done everything differently. I guess I’m just too damn old and stuck in my ways to consider anything different for me.”
“What do you mean?” She seemed sad. Her eyes were glossy as she tried to hold in her tears.
He felt proud of her being as strong as she was, but couldn’t let her continue to be unhappy. Her lip chewing was his first indication she felt nervous to be around him. He reached out and touched her swollen lip. “First, love, stop biting that damn lip.”
She smiled for the first time and said, “You are so bossy.”
“I love you more than you’ll ever know. I knew you went to your parents. I even knew you were pregnant.”
Her eyes widened. “You did?”
“Jayden, until you want to admit it to yourself, I can’t convince you what you saw that day was nothing. I didn’t do anything wrong. I’m sorry I didn’t share my family with you. If you ask, I will always tell you the truth.”
“I’m sorry, Thorn. I guess I didn’t give you any reason to trust me either. I’d been trained to work for the vampires. He nodded. “I’ll try to be more honest with you. But until I know you love and trust me completely we have a lot to work out, don’t we love?”
She touched his days of stubble. “I do understand and never expected you to tell me all your secrets, especially about pack stuff. I just want to know what you do when you’re not with me. This is still overwhelming for me.” She pointed to her body.
“You’re doing fine with it. Your wolf will always be there for you no matter what. You need to trust her more as well, Jayden.”
“I know, and I do. Everything is still too much. Like this pregnancy. You and me, being a Lycan. I have a lot to learn and how to act. I guess.” Jayden shook her head, tears ran freely down her face.
It felt like his heart just broke in half. Thorn used his thumb and wiped the wetness. “I know, baby. Can I show you how much I love you? I will teach you how to be a good Lycan pack member and my Beta female.” He picked her up and sat back down in the chair with her on his lap. “I’m tired, Jayden, please believe that. I’ve turned in my cut and quit the MC, I just don’t want it anymore. Aiden and the rest will take it over, and they will handle the entire business. We have enough money. I’ve saved up for over four hundred years. I have more money than the richest man on earth.”
“Thorn, I’m not sure you want me anymore.”
He shook his head. “That’s ridiculous, will you please come home?” He wanted to see her for months, and in fact, he did watch her whenever she’d been within his sight. Their mind bond had been blocked. He tried many times to speak to her, but her walls had remained there all these months. After the hurt had gone away at how she didn’t trust him, he didn’t know how to reach her. All he wanted to do was kill all the lowlifes that attacked her, and now, he’d finished that quest.
She nodded.
“Okay, I have one more surprise for you. Come on.” He picked her up and carried her to the front door. He intended to finally make this right. He’d waited hundreds of years for her, and he wouldn’t wait another day to be with her.
Aiden turned toward him, Thorn nodded. He wasn’t going to take her easy agreement for granted. He still felt amazed at how easy it had been thus far talking to her and convincing her to come home after all this time.
When Lucien called him this morning and told him that she’d come into town at last and she was alone at the coffee shop, he’d come straight over to talk to her. When he walked in and saw Daryl and how Jayden had handled jumping over the counter in her pregnant state, he’d nearly lost his mind. Even killing the man, he hadn’t gotten any gratification from the knowledge. All he’d thought about was getting back in and seeing his mate.
Aiden opened the door for him to carry Jayden outside. He wanted to introduce her to his children. Dante stood next to the bikes, and he knew Najha was inside the café with her uncle and aunt.
First, he set her feet on the pavement. “This, little one, is my son, Dante.”
Dante stepped up on the sidewalk. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Jayden.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too.” Jayden gave Dante a hug.
Thorn touched her back. “I want you to meet someone very special to me.”
“Okay.” She looked a little uncertain as she answered.
Dante followed them to the café. “Dad, I’ll wait out here. Go ahead, nobody is in there, other than Ruby and Torment.”
He nodded and held the door to the café open for Jayden to enter. “Thank you, son.”
As they walked into the café, Najha came from around the counter, wearing her apron.
Thorn hated the fact she was working here, but she’d already been an asset when she called the moment Daryl drove into town. It was the only way he was able to save Jayden. “Thank you, Najha, I arrived in time to help Jayden here dispose of our little problem.” He kissed his daughter’s cheek.
“Sure, I told you Jayden is my friend, and I have always kept her safe. Did you two work out your issues?” Najha, always the salty one.
She told it how it was, and Thorn loved her for it.
Najha quickly turned to Jayden and hugged her. “It’s so good to see you again. It has been way too long.” Najha looked down and clapped her hands. “And you’re pregnant? How exciting!”
Thorn couldn’t help the chuckle that slipped out. “Najha, you are so…” He shook his head then reached for Jayden’s elbow. “I would like you to meet my daughter, Najha.”
“Your daughter?” Jayden’s eyes widened as she looked up at him.
“This is why I didn’t tell you at first who she was to me. Nobody in this town, vampire or human, knows who she is to me. I have my reasons, but with this one, you must trust Najha and me. She’s your friend, and you can continue to spend time together, but for now, I can’t have anyone know who she is. Do you understand?”
“Not really, but I’m sure you’ll both tell me.” Jayden smiled as she stepped back and grabbed his hand.
He sighed, deciding to go all the way with the honesty. He couldn’t afford not to with his mate. “We can’t tell anyone who she is because it would put her in too much danger. People would use her to get back at me. I’m prepared to protect you with my life and never leave you alone again. But with her, it’s different.”
“Oh boy, you’re in for it now, Jayden. He doesn’t have me to sit and worry about now. I work for my aunt and uncle.” Najha pointed to the older couple who were standing in the doorway of the kitchen.
“It’s a pleasure to finally get to meet Thorn’s mate.” Ruby stepped over and gave Jayden a hug.
Torment also walked over but didn’t try to hug his mate.
Thorn gazed at his uncle then nodded.
“It’s a pleasure, Jayden. Our mates are very special to us.” Torment hugged Ruby to him and reached out to shake Jayden’s offered hand. “It’s nice to meet some of your family, Thorn.”
Jayden stepped into his arms and whispered, “Thank you.”
He looked down at her and smiled. “I should have done this a long time ago. I’m truly sorry for the worry I’ve put you through.”
On her tiptoes, she kissed his cheek, then smiled at Najha. “Maybe, we can go out to dinner or something, and we can visit?”
“Anytime.”
“So, dear old Dad, you think you resolved everything and you two are good?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I think we are. We will work out the small stuff later.”
“Good, it’s about damn time!” Najha hugged Jayden one more time then headed back to the kitchen.
Thorn knew his daughter wasn’t an emotional kind of girl. She said her peace and moved on. Before Thorn was able to escape the café with Jayden, Dante walked in with Jonas on his heels. He hadn’t seen his eldest in months. It was nice to see him again, and he felt thankful he came down to Shades Run when he asked Dante to call him. “Jonas, thank you for coming.”
Jonas walked up to him and gave him a hug. “Dad, you know I would have come. I’m happy to see you and meet this lovely young lady.”
He hugged Jonas and asked him, “Did you fly in?”
“Yeah, it’s only minutes instead of hours this way. I landed at the airstrip east of town.”
Thorn assumed he would fly his private helicopter from his home near Seattle, Washington. “I wanted you to meet Jayden. She’s my mate and soon-to-be wife.”
Jayden hugged Jonas. “It’s so nice to meet Thorn’s family.”
“It’s more than nice to meet the woman who finally fixed this old bastard.” Jonas chuckled, looking up at him.
Thorn wasn’t surprised his eldest teased him. They had a special bond together, even though he never understood why Jonas left the pack. He missed seeing him but knew he was happy.
Thorn had waited long enough to come and retrieve his mate. He knew he shouldn’t have left her to be on her own for the past five months. They both were stubborn and needed to learn about love and bonding together.
Even though he hadn’t wasted his time sitting around feeling sorry for himself, he’d cleaned up the town of Shade Run, except for a few stragglers. He’d also been able to get rid of the few Bolnav he’d found during his searching as well. One never knew when there might be a new uprising, but for now, all seemed well. It hadn’t been nearly as difficult either since his darkness had receded. Another reason he’d felt he and his little Jayden would be together again. His wolf told him this. He didn’t want to fight off evil anymore. It was time to be the leader of the pack, and take his soon-to-be-wife home and take care of her.
He just wanted to enjoy his wife and newborn child when it arrived. They also had a wedding to plan.
A few days later, they all sat around his giant kitchen table with Najha, Dante, and Jonas joining them to plan the big events coming up.
Thorn’s parents would fly over from the Ukraine, and his father would perform the mating ceremony.
He couldn’t ask for anything more than what he’d already been given.
Jayden smiled and actually seemed happy to share their lives with his grown children. Her and Najha had already flown to Seattle with Jonas and came back with tons of stuff for the new baby.