At the top of the stairs I- or rather, my stomach- bumped into someone. Jeremy blinked down at me, looking tired but alert, quickly grabbing for me as I almost fell backwards again. Not a good idea. Nick was slower to notice him or me slipping. One second after I'd noticed, he glanced to see why I'd stopped on the top stair and blinked.
"Jer-"
"I was waiting for you two." Jeremy pulled me out of Nick's way, careful to get my feet firm on the floor before he hugged me, his smell washing over me and comforting me easily as much as Nick's had. Funny how an alpha had that power. Elena had it too. "Welcome home."
"What are you doing here?" I asked against his chest, feeling the last of my tenseness ease off. He was safe too. Voices somewhere nearby upstairs, Clayton, and Elena going up the staircase. "They said you were in New York."
"We found the boat and a groggy doctor. He explained where you'd gone. By the time we figured it out, found the pier, and managed to bribe a taxi driver enough money to tell us if a pregnant woman had gotten a taxi somewhere, you were already halfway here. Apparently none of the taxi drivers wanted to talk to Clayton. Found his attitude intimidating. Elena had to ask in the end. Something about an abused pregnant woman fleeing the city." He seemed slightly amused, letting me go. "The doctor seemed to think you were going to be followed so we came straight back on a plane."
"Is he all right?"
"He's here."
I paled slightly. "But his daughter-"
"Is here too. All are fine. Relax. Are you all right?" He looked me over up and down, careful, nostrils flaring slightly. "Still bleeding?"
"Just a bit. It's nearly healed. What about the mutts following me? The girl?" I flushed. Did everyone know? How embarrassing. But then again, maybe not, I couldn't see Jeremy doing that. Telling everyone. Nick might have, if he was worked up, if he was panicking, but Jeremy wouldn't.
"Keep these stairs to a minimum then. Elena will talk to you later when everyone calms down. We're going to be on the lookout for any mutts trailing you. Reece and Karl are leading the hunt for them on the other side."
"Jeremy, I told him you were the father. He didn't want to kill them when he thought that."
Jeremy froze but he didn't look angry. He seemed to understand. "All right. It was probably the right thing to say at the time. As long as you don't ask for child support."
"You can paint the walls with Nick." I muttered. "When we free up a room."
"Deal." Jeremy touched my arm, gently. "Come have some more breakfast."
It wasn't an order but I knew he would insist if I said no, so I nodded and followed him.
Doctor 'Smith' was standing there in the kitchen, a cup of tea in his hand, looking exhausted and overwhelmed. He had probably never met werewolves like Jeremy, or Elena, who weren't sadistic or cruel, but who were intelligent and had some kind of honour. They'd clearly allowed him to come here, into our home, into our territory, which was one hell of a compliment towards a human from werewolves. I was glad. He'd saved my life, maybe, and maybe the babies as well.
"Anne. You look better already." He grabbed me in a hug. I didn't flinch much. "No problems?"
"Just healing pains." I glanced around for a girl, for a daughter, seeing no one. "Where's the girl?"
"The one beside you? She's going to be ...traumaitzed for a while." He shrugged but it was stiff, a jerk, his face going red for a fraction of a second. She must have been in a bad way. I wasn't surprised, I just wished I could have done something. Saved her. I didn't know how. But that wasn't who I'd been asking about.
YOU ARE READING
Hunter - Book 2 of the Hunted Series
FanfictionAnne, an Australian, has escaped and has started to heal. Even now though that werewolf, who calls himself Master, who bit her and tortured her for almost a year is close on her tail. She doesn't know if she's hunting him or if he's hunting her. S...
