FOUR

Gina put her hand to her belly and tried not to hope. Being sick that morning and having a slight headache could have been nothing. Though for a wolf, it sometimes meant a little more.

It had only been a few weeks, but she had a feeling that whatever the Healers had done, might have worked. Again, though, she wouldn’t try to hope.

Instead, she would roll back her shoulders and go with her son on another patrol. They hadn’t found Helena, except for a scent that reminded Gina of her. Only the smell seemed worn, frayed…and slightly faded.

Jesse bumped into her shoulder, and she smiled at the man her son had become. It didn’t matter that she hadn’t been the one to birth him, he was hers. He called her Mom and came to her when he needed her. She couldn’t have asked for a better person to call her son.

And soon, I will have another to join him, she thought to herself.

If not now, soon. She could feel it.

“Are you ready?” Jesse asked, and she nodded.

A familiar scent reached them, and she looked over her shoulder as Quinn made his way over.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, suddenly on alert. “I thought you were meeting with Finn.”

Quinn shook his head. “He and Brynn had a thing, so my meeting was postponed. I thought I’d go on patrol with you two in case we catch her scent.”

“A thing?” Jesse asked, and Gina laughed.

Quinn chuckled. “Yes, son, they’re newly mated. You can guess what they were up to.”

Jesse winced before leaning into Gina’s shoulder. “It’s like being around you two, like all the time.”

Gina punched his shoulder lightly and rolled her eyes. “Shut it. Just wait until you find your mate.”

Jesse’s eyes went dreamy. “I can’t wait.”

Quinn pulled Gina close and whispered in her ear too low for Jesse to hear, “I wonder if he’s met someone.”

Gina’s heart clutched but then she smiled. “I hope so.”

They moved as a unit and did their duty, all the while talking softly about what was going on in their lives. From the protective look in Quinn’s eyes, Gina had a feeling he was wondering if she was pregnant, just as she was. They would have to worry about that soon.

When an all too familiar scent hit Gina’s nose, all three of them froze.

“Helena,” Quinn growled—low, deadly.

The woman who had once been Quinn’s mate crept out of the shadows. Jesse and Quinn both moved to cover Gina, and Gina held back a growl of her own. She would let them protect her like this just this once. If it were anyone else, she might have bitten their heads off for that display, but they were in a different position now with Helena…and what might be growing in Gina’s womb.

The other woman surprised Gina by going to her knees and baring her throat. What had once been a glorious woman with an inner strength that bordered on vanity, was now a pale shadow. She had grown dangerously thin, and her hair was cropped close to her head but not in a flattering fashion. Dark circles under her eyes emphasized the paleness of her skin.

“What are you doing here?” Gina asked. “What do you need, Helena.”

Helena raised her head but didn’t meet any of their eyes. “I…I didn’t mean to scare him.” She looked at Jesse before turning away. “I just…I’m afraid. I’m afraid of what’s coming with the humans and the way it is out here. I know I don’t deserve to be here, I know I broke trust, but I need help.”

If this woman hadn’t tried to kill her son, if she hadn’t tried to kill countless people to get her way, Gina might have felt more forgiving. But Helena had never once been sorry for what she did. She might be now, but it was because she’d been put in a corner.

“You should go away, Helena,” Jesse said calmly. Much more calmly than Gina felt. “You’re not welcome here anymore. You betrayed your Pack, and therefore, the Redwoods.”

“But Jesse—”

Quinn growled, cutting her off. “Go, Helena. My son has spoken. We won’t hurt you, we won’t come after you, but you can’t stay here. I know this is a time of unrest, but we can’t be the ones to help you. There are other dens if you truly need a Pack, or you can live as you have, on your own.”

Helena stood on shaky legs and nodded. “I…I’m sorry.”

Gina sighed. “I think you are now. But you killed your own for greed. If you’ve truly grown in the time since we’ve last seen you, then you can work with another Pack that might take you in. It won’t be us, Helena.” She looked at the other woman with pity. “It can’t be us. By all rights, you forfeited your life all those years ago, and again by coming near here. Don’t test the strength of the Pack, Helena. Find a new home.”

She hated sounding so callous, but this woman had caused the death of others. She’d risked the lives of the Pack for her greed. She’d almost killed Jesse when he was just a little boy. Helena might find her own resolution and safety, but it couldn’t be with the Talons or Redwoods.

Helena nodded again before turning to leave. “I understand.”

Jesse let out a curse and moved forward. Quinn growled, but Gina put her hand on her mate’s back. “Do you need money?”

Helena looked over her shoulder. “No, I have money. But…but thank you.”

With that, she left, and Gina held out her arm. Jesse came toward her and gave her a hug.

“I’m sorry, baby,” Gina whispered.

Jesse just let out a breath. “I know. And I know we couldn’t let her stay here. Not with so many pups that could get hurt because of her.”

Quinn pulled them both close, and Gina couldn’t help but relax somewhat in his arms.

“We should get back behind the wards,” Gina said softly. “Just in case.”

Quinn nodded before he froze. His nostrils flared and he looked down at her before going to his knees.

Gina inhaled a sharp intake of breath. “What is it?”

Quinn looked up at her, his wolf in his eyes. “You’re pregnant.”

Jesse let out a soft whoop and hugged her close. “Hell, yeah! I’m going to be a big brother.”

So much for her thought that Jesse would be worried about a new baby in the family.

Gina’s eyes filled and she tugged on Quinn so he stood in front of her. He smiled that smug grin she secretly loved, and she fell in love with him all over again.

“We’re going to have a baby,” Gina said softly.

Quinn picked her up and twirled her around. She wrapped her arms around his neck as Jesse stood to the side, keeping his attention on their safety, even as he celebrated with them.

“I’m one lucky wolf,” Quinn said after he’d put her down.

Gina kissed his jaw and put her hands over her belly. “I’m the lucky one.”

“We all are,” Jesse put in, and she laughed.

“So, little witch, what do you say? You ready to have my baby? You ready for our future?”

Gina looked up at the mate who had been part of her life for sixteen years, and yet it only felt like a blink of time. No matter what happened with the world around them, she knew Quinn was hers and hers alone.

“If our future is anything like our past, I can’t wait.”

And with that, her mate kissed her hard and Jesse let out another whoop just like he had when he was a boy.

This was their life. She had her wicked wolf, and now she’d have her future, wicked and all.