Page 22 of Hunting for Redemption

CHAPTER ELEVEN

JEFF

Axel’s beenoff the last week.

Yes, I realize I’ve only known him a few weeks but during that time I truly do feel like I’ve gotten to know him. Well enough that I can notice when he’s not exactly being himself. Call it hunter intuition, call it instincts, all I know is that something is different.

And that’s without thinking about his scent. The smell of fresh rain is heightened with new notes to it. Something like lilacs or honey are mixed in there. It’s delicious and new and making my brain absolutely melt with emotions that I don’t quite understand.

At this point, I’ve started to get used to my instincts. They pop up at random times. Instincts to protect Axel, or to call Carlos and check in on him, or needing to wear Axel’s clothes so his scent is close to me.

Once everyone has been ushered out of our home, I tug Axel close. I ignore the way I’ve started calling this place my home. It’s not necessarily this apartment, I realize, but the place I share with Axel. He’s my home now. Wherever he is that is where I’ll be.

I run my thumb over his cheek softly, my stomach swooping when he smiles up at me. Gods, I can’t even begin to describe the feelings welling up inside of me. They’re all consuming until I’m completely caught ablaze, burning away the selfish parts of myself and focusing on Axel and being the best partner I can be for him.

The vampire in front of me is kind, and funny, and beautiful. It truly must have been an act of Lady Fate to orchestrate this meeting because there’s no way it happened by chance.

I lean down and kiss Axel’s lips. His hands go around my middle, holding me tight. My stomach swoops with affection. I didn’t even know it was possible to fall for someone this quickly. Maybe it’s because we’re true mates, maybe it’s because I’m a vampire, or maybe it’s just Axel. I don’t care what it is, I just care about Axel. And I care about him knowing how I feel.

Maybe if he knows I’m in this with both feet, it’ll help whatever’s going on inside his head this last week.

“I have plans for you,” I murmur against Axel’s lips, feeling the way they split into a smile.

“Oh yeah?”

“Mhmm. Very good plans. The best really. Would you like to hear about them?”

There’s a moment of hesitation. “I should really talk to you about something first.”

I pull back, running my nose gently over his before nodding slowly. “Okay, baby. You can talk to me about anything, okay?” I take his hand, leading him over to the couch and sitting down. My thumb runs over his knuckles, wanting him to know I’m here, that we’re connected. My eyes glance up at the mating bite on his throat, a flutter of possession going through me at the sight.

“This is going to be a bit of a shock,” Axel murmurs, looking self-conscious and worried.

“More shocking than waking up a vampire?”

Axel finally cracks the smallest smile, his eyes meeting mine. “It’s gonna be about the same level I think,” he says carefully. “I’m not sure if I’ve explicitly said this but I’m a born vampire.”

“Okay,” I say slowly, “I already knew that.”

“Great. One less thing to explain. Umm, so there are some things born vampires can do that bitten ones cannot.”

“I read about this,” I tell him, proud of myself for the research I’ve done. “They don’t have the same ties that turned vampires have which is kinda nice. And they’re able to have babies with their mates. I read about all of this in the books that Cooper let me borrow. It’s kinda fascinating.”

“Right,” Axel says and when our eyes meet, my stomach clenches. He’s staring at me, willing me to understand something that’s apparently flying over my head. I think back to this conversation, to what I’ve said.

“I’m sorry, baby, but I’m still not getting it. You’re gonna have to spell it out for me.”

Axel lets out a long breath, shaking his head at me. But it’s a playful look, not one of real frustration. “I’m surprised you haven’t picked up on the signs yet,” he says, taking my hand and bringing it to his stomach. “Listen, Jeff.”

I close my eyes and focus on listening. There’s someone walking outside, their boots clicking against the sidewalk. There are birds chirping on a nearby branch. A twig snaps. I focus closer. There. I tilt my head, really listening. What is that?

I open my eyes and look at Axel. “There’s like a weird whumping sound? What is that?”

Axel full on rolls his eyes at me. “Oh my gods,” he murmurs before squeezing my wrist. “The sound is coming from in there.”

I stare at him a long moment before it hits me. Oh. Oh wow. Holy shit. Okay.

“You’re pregnant?”

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