Page 13 of Retribution

I stood on my toes, kissing his cheek. “Only for my amusement.”

“Your friend is correct. Your breath does not smell that pleasant. You should drink.”

Rolland laughed hysterically, and I could have punched him. When I meant Lenin should try it sometime, I didn’t think he would target me. Still, my heart warmed as I grabbed my tea. He could roast me all he wanted as long as he never stopped pampering me.

Chapter 7

ELLIS

“But the wards? They are strong?”I asked again for what had to be the millionth time.

I just worried—a lot. No matter how many times I watched Lenin strengthen them, no matter how much extra material Maggie brought to help, I couldn’t rid myself of the nagging feeling that it just wasn’t strong enough. Each time someone came inside the warded land, I wondered how much strength they pulled and how much power they took out with them. Was it a danger to have people repeatedly in and out?

“It’s strong.” Lenin’s brows creased. “Though I have felt its probes.”

“What does that mean?” I crossed my arm over my chest and widened my stance, prepping for a fight I may never see.

“It means she wants in. Or someone does. But so far, they haven’t succeeded.”

“So far.” My voice growled. “So far isn’t good enough. If you haven’t noticed, it’s not just her we need to worry about.”

Oak sat down, his neck rolled. “I’m aware. I’m pretty sure we are all fucking aware.”

It was impossible to miss. Each day that passed, she seemed to grow more and more, and it was terrifying. Not knowing the end date was scary but add to it the fact that someone wanted her dead and shit, I couldn’t breathe. The thought of living another two hundred years without this girl in it hurt more than any physical wound ever could.

“We need to talk about that too.” Justice sighed.

I tried not to glare at him. I loved seeing Liberty grow, fucking adored the way her body formed and shaped. I could run my hands over every new curve a thousand times, and my hunger for her would never lessen. But I was jealous. So fucking jealous that Justice could give her a gift that I never could. I was inadequate, undeserving of her love. Yet, she gave it so freely, in so many ways.

“The rate she is growing is concerning,” Oak mumbled. “I can’t find much information on it.”

“She hasn’t complained. Though she also hasn’t talked about it much at all,” Sterling chimed in. “We need a doctor. Isn’t that what people do in these types of situations?”

“This isn’t the typical situation.” I reminded Sterling.

Oak leaned forward, directing his question at Justice. “What do you know about it?”

Justice blinked a few times. “Pregnancy between a shifter and human is -rare. I know of one case, and the pup and mother didn’t survive it. But, Liberty isn’t fully human any longer. The fates have intervened.”

“She will survive,” Lenin added as he shared a look with Justice. Too much affection happening there; I couldn’t watch. I found a spot on the ceiling to stare at.

“I do suspect she will follow the wolf timeline of pregnancy. It’s been what? A total of six weeks now. Three to four more weeks before the pup arrives.”

“Shit.” We all cursed in unison before I added, “So time is not on our side.”

“Or it is,” Rolland added. I had forgotten he was in the room. My old friend, the keeper and manipulator of time. I was so fucking thankful Liberty saved him. But it was so odd seeing him alive. I mourned him, years and years of thinking one of my closest friends were dead. “We don’t know when Greta will strike, but I suspect soon. The sooner Liberty has this baby –”

“Pup,” Justice corrected.

Rolland side-eyed him. “Pup. The sooner we can give our full focus to the situation.”

Sterling raised his hand. “Question, so the baby-” Justice growled, “Pup, will it be in human form or –”

Dumb ass question if you ask me. But also, I was curious. Justice rolled his eyes. “It will be as a human baby. Unless Liberty can shift into a wolf, but that’s unlikely.”

“If it will be as human, why do you get growly when someone doesn’t call it a pup?” The honest answer didn’t matter; I just liked annoying the shifter.

“It is a protective instinct,” Lenin answered for Justice. “And an insult for a shifter. The further along she carries the pup, the more protective and possessive he will become until he can hardly leave her side. It will dissipate some once she is born.”

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