The Hunted

Chapter 44

Multiple POVs

Corey's POV

"Uh, guys, you might want to move," I said to Sean and Kota who were still on the floor. They didn't hesitate, especially after the first warning I'd given. Silas quickly scooped Kota up and moved him to the couch as we all waited, practically holding our breath.

Minutes passed until a swirl of flames much like the ones that appeared when Marc returned began to manifest in the center of the room. The sound was deafening as it roared and crackled, then just as quickly as it appeared, it vanished leaving Nate and Callie sitting on the floor, foreheads pressed together in each other's arms. They both looked up and a slow smile spread across her face as she chirped, "Hello boys."

Several hands reached out to help both of them up as they were engulfed in hugs and kisses. She squealed when she saw Marc and jumped into his arms, "You made it back!"

He chuckled, "So did you. Guess Gabe was right. I needed to have more faith."

"Told you she would fucking kick their asses," Gabe chimed in as she embraced him next. "Ma chérie," he whispered as he nuzzled into her neck.

One by one, they all greeted her. She clung to Axel for quite a while before kneeling next to the couch where Kota still lay. "I'm so sorry you were hurt," she said, tears rimming her eyes.

He reached up and stroked her cheek, "It isn't deep. I should be fine in a day or two. I'm just glad you and Nate are safe and home." I saw her eyes flicker toward Nate, then me. We both grinned and nodded. She leaned closer and whispered into Kota's ear. His pupils blew wide, then he grabbed her neck and pulled her to him, clamping down just behind her ear. Her whimpers filled the air and several of us stifled groans. When he pulled back, both their eyes were hooded as she sank her fangs into his neck. He groaned and tightened his embrace. Soft lights swirled around the wound on his chest as it began to heal and their bond formed. When she pulled back, her gaze shifted to Victor who simply grinned.

He held his hand out to her and she went to him. "May I, my light?" he asked.

"Yes, please," she breathed and watched, eyes wide as he knelt down. His hands slid up under her gown as he removed her underwear. His eyes flicked to Axel who quickly came to stand behind her. Victor then lifted her dress and pressed his mouth to her core. She gasped, then quickly began to moan as he began to lap and suck at her folds. A low growl came from his throat and then she cried out loudly as he bit down on her clit, placing his mark. Axel supported her while her orgasm ripped through her body.

When Victor stood up, he pulled her against him. "You are ours, my light, for all of eternity."

She let out a contented sigh, then gently bit into his neck as he growled with pleasure. When she finished, it was as if an invisible string coursed through the room linking all of us with her as the center. Stepping towards her, my arms wrapped around her and my hand came to rest on her stomach, "The wheel turns anew, little one."

She looked at me in confusion, "What do you mean?"

I grinned and whispered in her ear, "You're pregnant."

Callie's POV

I blinked, not sure I'd heard him correctly. "I'm what?"

Corey grinned even broader, "You're pregnant, little one. You've set a new path."

I felt a rush of dizziness overcome me, then nausea. Oh fuck. I broke free and ran toward the bathroom, throwing up. I felt cool hands on my neck and someone pulling my hair back. When I finished, Sean handed me a glass of water. "Sip it slowly," he said. I took a few sips, then pressed it to my forehead enjoying the coolness. He dabbed my mouth with a washcloth and then helped me up. Kota handed me a toothbrush and gave me a soft smile, his eyes darting toward my stomach. I felt the twinge of sadness that radiated from him.

"Is he right?" I asked after brushing my teeth. Sean didn't even have to answer when I met his gaze. "How far along?"

He frowned, "I'm not sure. With the way time worked there versus here, I can't be sure. I'd ask if you know who the father is, but given that timeline, I'd say it's more like who isn't."

I groaned as my head fell forward.

"Do you not want it?" Kota whispered.

My head snapped up. "Of course I do! I just...I mean with everything that just happened...what if?" I couldn't even finish my thought.

I felt Kota pull me closer, "Hey, don't do that. We are not losing you or this child. Corey said you set a new path. We have to think positive." I nodded and buried my head in his chest as he comforted me. "We love you, Callie. Each and every one of us will fight for you."

"I know," I whispered. "I should go talk with everyone." He scooped me up as Sean followed us into the front room.

Kota's POV

I could feel her fear.

I held her on my lap as we sat down to try and figure things out. "So how long have I been gone?" she asked.

"Seven months," Axel said. "Almost eight." Her eyes widened at the revelation.

"Wait, the last time I came through dream walking was how long ago?"

He paused and counted, "Just over two months ago. Those two were gone almost twenty-four hours," he added, nodding to myself and Victor. Had we really been gone that long? "Then you and Nate appeared about eight hours later."

"So how do we figure out how far along I am, or can we? I mean if time was frozen then theoretically I could have been pregnant the entire time." She pinched her nose as she spoke. "I'm so sorry."

"Hey, you have nothing to be sorry for," Luke said, coming to kneel before us. He took her hand and kissed it. "Does it really matter who the father is? All that matters is that you and the baby are healthy and safe. Sean will make sure of that."

"Really?" she hiccupped as she began to cry. "You...you really don't care - any of you?" she asked, looking around the room.

"Princess, every man in this room loves you and wants to spend forever with you. We all want to have children, so no, it doesn't matter who the father is, because we will all love him or her equally and treat them as our own." Axel told her with a look of pride.

North gave a laugh. "Told you so, beautiful girl," he winked at her, earning him an eye roll.

"We can do an ultrasound to give us an approximate timeline. I agree that it's possible you could have been pregnant for quite some time. I also wonder if your assistant might not be able to shed some light on the situation since her pregnancy was taking place in a realm without time as well." Sean suggested, "Now as for paternity, we can do testing while you're still pregnant, or just wait until the little bundle is here and go from there. Of course, we can also just leave it an eternal mystery if you want as well."

She paused at his suggestions, then spoke, "I think I should reach out to Ériu and Elatha. As for paternity, let's wait until they're born unless any of you gentlemen are in a rush." That earned her a round of laughter. I know I felt a slight pang of jealousy since Nate, Victor, and I were the only non-possibilities.

As if sensing my insecurity, she leaned back against my chest and looked up into my eyes. "Someday," she whispered. I gave her a soft smile and then placed a kiss on the tip of her nose.

"Yes, my mate, someday."

Author's Notes: From one journey to the next...

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