After a few more discussions, Jerrik and Reagan decided it would be best if we were armed when Leif arrived. I hadn’t agreed, but I’d been outvoted, and Jerrik had slipped out to hunt down some weapons.

I waited until Reagan and I were alone before gesturing to her hand with a small grin. “Something you wanna tell me?”

A deep blush colored her cheeks as she gazed down at the ginormous rock weighing down her finger. “Right. I kinda forgot about it in all the excitement. Yeah, so…”

“You and Jerrik.” My grin broadened. I was hardly surprised. I still remembered the night they’d met. I’d never seen Reagan so flummoxed, or so eager to grind with a man on the dance floor. Clearly, he’d felt the same. Even now, the way he looked at her…like she was the last sip of water on a scorched earth.

Reagan’s smile softened. “This ring belonged—”

“To your mother. I remember.” Amalie had passed many decades ago, but I remembered the sight of that monstrous thing wrapped around her delicate finger. Gabriel had bought it back in the day—I honestly didn’t know when. They’d been married so long, two-hundred-and-fifty years or so. And in that time, the ring had never left her finger, no matter the issues that rose between them. A beautiful pink sapphire surrounded by a dusting of diamonds. Reagan wasn’t into pink, but this ring meant so much to her.

She sighed and brushed her thumb against the gold band. Reagan had loved her mother dearly—it didn’t surprise me that Gabriel had given it to her. It did surprise me that he’d approved of the engagement, though. The Gabriel I knew never would have allowed a wolf stronger than him into our pack. But a lot had changed in the past few months.

Not only had he gotten a taste of his own mortality, but Reagan’s, too. In order to flush out Benjamin and prove him guilty of conspiracy to murder, she’d faked her own death. A ploy she hadn’t included Gabriel in. The whole pack had witnessed his devastation when he’d thought her dead. Not only had he demolished his house in a fit of rage, but he’d also nearly died at Benjamin’s hands, too distraught to fight back.

“I always loved this ring,” she said with a soft sigh. “But wearing it…”

“Hey.” I took her hand and squeezed. “It’s a beautiful ring, and it means a lot to both you and Gabriel. Besides, this is a happy occasion!”

The corners of her mouth tipped upward. “You’re right.”

“So…?” I wiggled my eyebrows.

She frowned. “So, what?”

“Come on, spill! When’s the wedding? Are we having another bachelorette party? Does the pack know?”

A deep laugh rose from her throat. “Oh, God. I don’t think I could survive another bachelorette party. Besides…” She looked up with a wicked gleam in her eye. “We have something far more important to plan.”

“We do?”

“Oh, yes.” She wrenched me forward, then cupped my cheeks. “A baby shower.”

The smile slipped from my face. “No.”

“Yup!”

“Reagan, no.”

“Lucy, yes!”

An angry growl tore free of my throat. “No.”

“You can keep saying no all you’d like.” She leaned in and kissed my forehead. “But this is happening. Oh! The games we’ll play!”

“Games?” I squeaked.

“Haven’t you attended a baby shower before?”

“No!” I backpedaled across the kitchen. “And for good reason. Babies, and baby talk, and—”

“Baby games!” Excitement danced across her face. “I’m going to plan you the best shower.”

This was the absolute worst. “Reagan, I don’t want a shower.”

“Well, too bad, kiddo. Because you’re gonna need one. Or do you intend to buy everything yourself? That shit’s crazy expensive. Cribs, strollers, playpens, swings, toys, clothes, diapers, food… The list goes on and on, my dear.”

“I can handle it.”

“Really?” She lifted a brow. “I know how much you make for a living. Freelance data entry sure doesn’t pay a lot.”

“Well, it would if I could find the time to build my business up. But stupid politics keep getting in the way.”

Reagan chuckled. “If you think having a child will be any easier…”

I closed my eyes and drew in a deep breath. “This is insane. I can’t afford a kid, can I?”

“Hell, no one can afford kids,” Reagan teased. “But don’t worry. Everyone else seems to make it work.”

Not everyone. Panic pressed against my chest. What about the countless homeless mothers? Those who lived on the streets because they couldn’t afford housing, let alone food.

“Lucy?”

My breath hissed past my lips. “I can’t do this.”

“Yes, you can. I’ve never met anyone stronger than you.”

My eyes flashed open. “How about everyone? Shit, Reagan. Look at you. A walking warrior goddess, heir to the pack, with a damn Viking as your fiancé. I survive. But not like you.”

She laughed. “Sweetheart, you don’t need to be physically strong to be strong. You are the strongest, most resilient woman I know. And you’re gonna be a kick-ass mom.”

Mom. Holy shit. I hadn’t once thought of that word.

I was going to be a mother.

Suddenly weak in the knees, I sank onto the nearest chair and stared straight ahead.

“You okay?” Reagan asked.

I shook my head. I was so far beyond okay.

Reagan’s warm hands cupped mine. “No matter what happens, you’ve got this. And you’ve got me. No way in hell I would let you do this alone.”

The weight on my chest eased a little.

“You and I have been friends since what feels like the dawn of time.”

A shaky smile fluttered across my lips. “We are old as balls.”

My humor smoothed her worry lines. “Exactly. Two old-as-balls ladies who can handle anything. Including your demon spawn.”

“Hey!” I snapped.

Reagan winked. “See? There’s your maternal instinct kicking in.”

Huh. My brows drew together, and I stared down at my stomach, stunned by that sudden protectiveness.

“Give yourself a few days to adjust to this information. But believe me when I tell you, you’ve got this.”

“And Leif?”

Reagan considered me, her mouth pursed. “What do you want from him? Whatever it is, I’ll support you. Even if that means you don’t want anything from him.”

“I want…” My thoughts started spinning. What did I want? “He needs to know. But beyond that, I’m going to leave the decision up to him. I won’t force him to be a part of the kid’s life. That sounds like a stressful situation. But if he wants to, I’ll work with him to come up with some sort of agreement.”

Reagan flashed me a brilliant smile. “There’s my girl. See? You can do anything. I’m not the only warrior goddess here.”

I exhaled, then glanced at the clock. “Four o’clock.”

“Three hours to go. Why don’t you go for a shower or something before he arrives? I’ll make us some dinner. And don’t forget to call the doctor before the office closes.”

I chuckled. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you offer to make food before.”

Amusement sparkled in her eyes. “And I doubt I’ll ever offer again.”

“When’s Jerrik coming back?”

She glanced at her phone. “He’s already on his way back with weapons in hand.”

“I don’t like the idea of you two being armed.”

“Let’s just say we need to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. What if he tries to hurt you?”

I scoffed. “Leif won’t hurt me.”

Reagan considered my words, then nodded. “Maybe he won’t hurt you, but he might try and hurt Jerrik and me.”

I cocked my head. “You’re really worried about this, aren’t you?”

“I didn’t tell you Jerrik’s whole story earlier because it isn’t my story to tell. He’s carried around this guilt for ages. Leif was his best friend, his brother. While Jerrik might want to reconnect, there’s no telling what Leif wants. What if it’s revenge?”

“Well, here’s hoping no one gets hurt tonight.”

“But if a fight does break out, promise me you’ll get out of here.”

My gaze snapped back to Reagan. “What?”

“Lucy. You can’t get involved. What if you get hurt?” Her gaze dropped to my belly. “You have someone much more important to take care of now. Jerrik and I can handle ourselves.”

I hated this. My best friend and her future husband were preparing for battle, and there wasn’t anything I could do to help.

“Promise me,” Reagan growled, her wolf lighting up her eyes. “If you so much as endanger one hair on your head…”

“Fine. Geez. If a fight breaks out, I’ll run.”

Reagan wanted to press the matter further. I knew all of her expressions, and the one she wore right now, the narrowed eyes and pursed mouth, meant she didn’t believe me. But before she could annoy me further, her phone rang.

She dug it out of her pocket and frowned. “It’s Gabriel.”

“You’re not going to tell him, are you?”

She shook her head. “I promised I wouldn’t. But I need to take this.” She rose and answered the call. I watched as she retreated toward my bedroom, far enough away that I couldn’t hear his half of the conversation.

After a few moments, Reagan froze in the middle of the hallway. The wolf in me sensed a sudden spike in anxiety, and I pushed to my own feet. From the tightening of her shoulders, I knew something had happened. Something bad.

“What?” she hissed into the phone. “That’s not possible.”

My pulse sped up.

“Gabriel, no. That isn’t possible. Are you sure?” A pause. “No, I’m not questioning you. It’s just…here? Now?”

What the hell was going on?

“No. Of course, I’ll check it out. When?” Another long pause. “Tonight? That late?” Yet another pause. “No, no. I completely understand. We’ll check it out as soon as possible.”

She hung up but didn’t turn back to me. I caught the slightest movement, a fluttering of her hands as she pocketed her phone.

“Reagan?” I braved a step toward her.

Something had her riled. Something dangerous, if Gabriel was calling. She didn’t respond or even turn toward me. After a few moments, she jogged toward the front door and opened it right before Jerrik entered.

“Did you talk to Gabriel?”

Jerrik nodded as he handed Reagan her favorite sword. A blade she’d long ago named Rory. “Just got off the phone with him.”

“Is this possible?”

“Anything’s possible,” he grunted. “But this? I never would have imagined it.”

“Guys!”

They snapped to attention at the sound of my voice, then turned as one, their faces identically grim.

“What’s wrong?”

A flicker of unease shadowed Reagan’s face. “Vampires.”

I must have misheard her. There weren’t any vampires in North America. Hadn’t been since Gabriel had single-handedly wiped them out when he’d first arrived with the pack. The brutal attack he’d unleashed upon the bloodsuckers had sent them running for the hills, back across the pond to Europe. And in the five centuries since, not a single vampire had ever returned.

“You’re kidding, right?” I shot them each a glance. There was something more—there had to be. Both looked as though the world had come to an end. Which could only mean one thing. “Did they hurt someone?”

“Marie,” Reagan announced, her voice hoarse.

My lungs compressed, and I fished behind me for the counter, something to hold me steady. Marie was one of our youngest members of the pack, and the sweetest. “Oh, God. Is she all right?”

“No,” Reagan whispered.

My vision hazed. I gripped the countertop and waited for my head to clear. “She’s dead?”

Their silence was answer enough.

“Gabriel wants me and Jerrik to check it out.”

I nodded. “When?”

“Later tonight. We need to wait until the cops are done processing the scene.”

The scene. As in, the murder scene. Sweet Jesus.

“We can stay until Leif arrives. But afterward…”

I nodded. “Of course. I completely understand.” When my vision finally cleared, I lifted my head and glanced at Reagan. “Make them pay. Make them hurt.”

Resolve hardened her gaze. “I promise.”