Loving Quinn: The Lone Wolf Defenders Book 2 Page 18

  He let out a groan as she shifted her hips. “Hmmm … don't move, kitten.”

  “Aren’t you uncomfortable? I can get—”

  “Oh no, you’re not going anywhere.” He tightened his arms around her. “I’m going to make sure this works. Meredith told me all it takes is one time, the first time, but I’m not taking any chances. My buttermilk isn’t going anywhere.”

  “What?” She looked down. “Oh. Right.”

  “Shit, kitten.” Fuck, he didn’t even ask her if she wanted a kid. “Are you … are you regretting this?”

  “Huh? No! Of course not.” She laid her head on his chest. “I just never thought …”

  “Me neither.” He kissed the top of her head. “I love you, Selena. And I want to have a dozen babies with you. At least.”

  She giggled. “Well, give me a minute here … we don’t even have one.”

  “Yet,” he said. “Don’t twins run in the family?”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Selena rolled over the bed, seeking Quinn’s warmth. When all she felt was the cool sheets, she opened her eyes. It was Sunday morning, and neither of them had work, so where was he? The apartment was quiet, but she did hear the distinct sound of the tea kettle’s whistle, and she smiled. Quinn was making breakfast.

  They arrived back in New York two nights ago and hadn’t left the loft since. They hadn’t even seen anyone else, either. He still hadn’t figured out who was trying to hurt him, so he wanted her close. But that wasn't the only reason they spent the weekend locked up at his loft, of course. Quinn loved her, and she loved him. And they were apparently True Mates.

  She wrinkled her nose and lay on her back. She had heard of the concept. After all, Quinn’s sister and brother had True Mates of their own, though she wasn't sure exactly how it worked. There was something about not getting hurt and getting pregnant the first time True Mates had sex. A hand went to her belly. Could she be pregnant right now? How would she know? What if she wasn’t? What if she and Quinn weren’t True Mates? Would he be disappointed? She groaned. It was too early for questions.

  “Breakfast is served,” Quinn announced as he walked up to the bedroom. “Selena?”

  “Hmmm?” She rolled over. He was completely naked and carried a tray of food. She gave him a weak smile.

  Quinn frowned and then put the tray aside. “Selena, what’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” she said quietly. “I’m fine.”

  “I made love to you three times last night and gave you at least five orgasms,” he pointed out. “You should have a smile as wide as the Brooklyn Bridge.” He crawled into bed and opened his arms. “Come here and tell me what’s bothering you.”

  She scooted into his arms and put her head on his chest. His scent soothed her, but her fears remained. “Quinn … what if … what if I’m not pregnant? And I’m not your True Mate?”

  “Kitten,” he drawled, kissing the top of her head. “You are. I’m sure of it.” He slid a large hand down to her belly. “In nine months, we’re going to be holding a cute little bundle of joy who’s going to take over our lives with his or her pooping, eating, and sleeping. And we are going to enjoy every minute of it.”

  She sat up and looked at him straight in the eyes. “But what if I’m not? How can you be so sure? We won’t know until I’m actually pregnant, right?”

  He sighed and took her hands, kissing each on the knuckles. “Selena, you are my mate. I know it, Wolf knows it.” A soft rumble emanated from his chest. “And if you are not, I don’t give a fuck. You’re mine, and I love you. I’m gonna keep trying to knock you up because a) it’s fun and b) I want to, but if it turns out we can’t have a baby, then we can adopt. There are lots of kids out there who need a good home and a good mom, which you’ll be.”

  “Oh, Quinn …” Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she squeezed him tight. “I love you so much.”

  “I love you too, kitten. Now,” he gently pushed her back on the bed. “Eat some breakfast, and then we’re going to go out and grab a pregnancy test. I don’t know much about this True Mates business either, but we’ll find out today. And if not, we’ll go see the Lycan doctor first thing tomorrow.” He got up and took the tray he had set aside. The scent of pancakes, bacon, and toast drifted into her nostrils, and Selena grabbed the fork as soon as the tray hit the bed.

  “Slow down, kitten,” he laughed. “There’s plenty more.”

  They ate the food, feeding each other (though it was mostly him feeding her) until the plates were empty. Selena put the tray aside, and Quinn got up from the bed. “Let’s go shower and then go to the pharmacy.”

  “You’re so romantic,” she said wryly, and let out a shriek as Quinn picked her up and walked them to the bathroom.

  After a (relatively) quick shower, they dressed and got ready to leave the loft. Selena was still feeling a little nervous, but Quinn’s words had made her feel better about the whole thing. And she felt the same way. True Mate or not, she loved Quinn.

  “Ready?” he asked as he put his shoes on.

  “Yes.” Now or never.

  He gave her a quick peck on the lips and grabbed the door knob. As they stepped out, Quinn suddenly froze.

  “What’s—” She gasped as she saw the metal barrel of the gun pointing straight at Quinn’s face.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  The smell of mildew and dirt assaulted his nose, and Quinn felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. Wolf’s hackles rose, and it let out a soft snarl as it sensed the other Lycan's presence.

  “Don’t move, don’t make a sound,” the Lycan said. “Step back.”

  Quinn wanted to fight, but looking over at Selena, he knew it was best to cooperate with this bastard. “All right buddy, don’t get an itchy trigger finger.” He tried to grab Selena’s hand to put her behind him, but the other Lycan shook his head and shoved the barrel of the gun at his nose. “No. Leave her alone.” He swung the gun at Selena, and Quinn’s alarm bells went off. If Selena got even a so much as a scratch, he was going to tear this asshole apart.

  “Walk over there and sit down on your hands on the couch,” the Lycan instructed.

  “Go ahead, kitten,” Quinn said. “Do what he says.”

  Selena’s face was ashen, but she followed him, backing up to the couch without turning around. Good girl. You never give your back to a Lycan. “Who the fuck are you and what do you want?”

  “I’ll let the boss tell you,” he said with a wicked grin, turning his gun back to Quinn. “In fact, she’s here.”

  She?

  The Lycan kept his gun trained on Quinn but walked aside. A figure stepped up from behind him.

  “You.”

  “Yes, me,” Carla Martin said, her red-painted lips curling into a sardonic smile. She walked in regally in her pink Chanel suit and perfectly coiffed hair. “Oh Quinn, why couldn’t you have died those other two times? Now we’re going to leave a mess.”

  “Those weren’t accidents,” Selena said from where she sat.

  Carla turned to her. “She’s a smart one, your girlfriend. Too bad she’s going to have to die along with you.”

  “You bitch!” Quinn shouted. “Let her go. I’m the one you want.”

  She tsked. “Uh uh, Quinn. Do you think I’m stupid? Yes, I want you dead, but you were too stubborn to die. Now your lovely girlfriend will have to die along with you. We can’t leave any witnesses, now, can we?” She turned to her accomplice. “What do you think, Paul? Murder-suicide? Fire? Maybe we’ll toss their bodies off the roof.”

  “Why?” Quinn asked. “Wasn’t it enough that my father didn’t want me? The two of you want me totally gone?”

  Carla laughed. “You stupid boy. Your father doesn’t even know you exist. I made sure of that,” she sneered. “I’m not blind! I saw what was going on between Jacob and that whore, Anna. But I was willing to let it go, as long as they were discreet. It’s hard to find good help, after all. But when she became pregnant, right when he was a
bout to be elected to Congress, well, I couldn’t let that little slut ruin his chances! So, I paid her off, told her to go away. I reasoned with her that Jacob couldn’t risk having the knowledge of a love child leak out to the press. It would ruin him! I suppose the money didn't last long. I was surprised she didn't come sniffing back for more, though she was always a proud one, that Anna." Hate filled her eyes and made her face scrunch up. "I was prepared to deal with her, but not with you.”

  “I told you I wasn’t interested in getting to know him,” Quinn said. “Look, we can work this out. I promise, I won’t breathe a word to anyone, just leave us alone.”

  “I would have, except I did a little digging to find out who you are.” Carla stepped forward, her heels clicking on the hardwood floor. “You should have stayed in Portland. You’re too close to us here in New York. Too close to the Alpha.”

  “Which is why you should just leave us alone,” Quinn said. “We won’t say anything.”

  “Not good enough.” She retrieved something from her purse. A small vial. “Belladonna. Benign to humans, but lethal to Lycans. You’ll drink this or Paul here,” she motioned to her companion, who then trained his gun on Selena, “will shoot her.”

  “You’ll kill her anyway,” Quinn spat.

  “But at least you won’t have to watch,” she said. “See? I can be merciful.”

  “No!” Selena cried. “Don’t kill him!”

  “Why do you want us dead?” Quinn asked.

  “Because I hate you. You and your whore mother. I’m glad she’s dead! I thought she was just some plaything, a little distraction, and I let Jacob have her. But, when she became pregnant with you after a few months, after we’d tried for years, well I couldn’t have that!” Carla’s eyes were wild now, and Quinn could sense the broken she-wolf inside her. Probably years of emotional torture and then watching another Lycan bear her husband’s pup had pushed her over the edge. “I didn’t have the pleasure of seeing your mother die, though I’d thought about it. Now, I’m going to watch you take your last breath.”

  “No!” Selena jumped up from the couch and ran towards Carla.

  “Selena!” Quinn cried as Wolf instantly burst from his skin, landing on all fours in front of Carla. A gunshot rang out, and the smell of blood tinged the air. Wolf let out a howl and leaped toward Paul, who still had his arm stretched out, the gun from his hand smelling of powder and ash. They fell in a flurry of limbs and fur. The other Lycan was already starting to shift, but Wolf’s massive teeth sank into his neck, blood spurting everywhere and slowing him down.

  Wolf turned his head, spying Selena’s prone figure on the floor and blood flowing from her shoulder. The animal let out a snarl and turned its attention to Carla.

  “No,” she pleaded, backing away.

  Wolf let out a loud growl, trying to assert its dominance over her. Not that it needed to. Carla’s she-wolf was cowering in fear, unable to shift or protect her.

  “P-p-p-lease!”

  But her cries fell on deaf ears. Wolf stalked her to a corner, licking its lips, anticipating the kill. She would pay for killing his mate.

  “Quinn …W-w-olf … no …”

  Selena? Wolf’s ears perked up and turned its massive head. There she was. Mate. Walking toward them. Her shoulder was all bloody, but she wasn't wincing in pain.

  Selena stopped and dropped her hand to his head, running her fingers through the soft fur. “It’s all right, Wolf. I’m fine.” She placed her hand over her belly. “We both are.”

  Wolf let out a whine and rubbed its nose on her stomach. With a soft cry, it gave their body back to Quinn. As he recovered from the change and lay on the floor, Quinn reached out, seeking confirmation that Selena was okay.

  “I’m fine, Quinn,” she cooed, grabbing his hand and giving it a firm grip.

  He got to his knees and then wrapped his arms around Selena’s waist. “You’re alive,” he whispered over and over again. “I thought …”

  “Me, too.” She ran her fingers through his hair. “The bullet got me in the shoulder, but it went through and the wound closed up. Quinn, I really am your True Mate. And I’m having your baby.”

  Quinn held her tighter and kissed her belly. “I love you. I thought I’d lost you.”

  Selena helped him get to his feet. “I’m here, Quinn. I’m here.”

  He breathed a sigh of relief, then stood up and wrapped her in his arms. He looked over at Paul, who was lying very still. Carla, on the other hand, had sunk to the floor, her hair disheveled and legs tucked under her, still cowering in fear.

  “Let’s call Killian and the others,” Quinn said. “We have trash to take care of.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Selena assured Quinn for the hundredth time that she was okay. The wound had completely healed, and it was like she had never been harmed at all. It hurt like hell, that was for sure. She totally would not recommend being shot.

  After Killian, the next call they made was to Meredith, who, along with her warlock husband, magically appeared in their living room. Without a word, they sprang into action. Meredith hauled Carla to her feet and tied her hands behind her, then tossed her on the couch. Daric, on the other hand, whisked Paul to the Medical Wing of the Lycan headquarters. While he would certainly pay for his crimes, they couldn’t leave him to suffer or die.

  “I knew it!’ Meredith exclaimed when she saw Selena’s bloody shirt. “He did it! I mean, you guys did it, right?”

  Selena blushed and nodded.

  “And now I’m gonna get another niece or nephew! Woohoo!” She pulled Selena into a fierce hug. Selena was glad she was indestructible now because Meredith’s hug would surely have crushed any normal human being to death.

  “I’m so happy for you guys,” Meredith said. “Look, I’m gonna go to the balcony and make a couple of calls. Nick should know about this, if he doesn’t already, so he and Grant can decide what to do with that bitch.” Meredith gave her another hug and walked through the balcony doors, phone in hand.

  Quinn came down from the bedroom, having put on a pair of jeans and cleaned up the blood from his body. He immediately ran to Selena and held her close. She wrapped her arms around his waist and breathed in his scent.

  The doorbell suddenly rang, and Quinn reluctantly pulled away. “That’s probably Killian. I should go get it.”

  Selena watched him walk toward the door and then open it. However, instead of letting Killian in, Quinn stood there, not moving an inch. Her senses went haywire, and she knew something was wrong. She strode to him and wrapped a hand around his waist.

  “Quinn? Who’s at the—” Selena couldn’t stop the audible gasp from leaving her lips. Standing outside the door was an older man who was a carbon copy of Quinn. He could be Quinn a few decades from now, but he was the same height and had the same nose, cheekbones, and jawline. His hair had turned silver, though, and his eyes were brown, not the brilliant blue of her mate.

  Both men stood there, not saying a word. Finally, Jacob Martin cleared his throat. “I … I followed Carla here. She’d been acting weird for a couple of weeks now. I thought she was having an affair with that young man. Then, I saw your picture in her things.”

  Quinn said nothing, still stunned. Selena tugged on his hand. “Quinn, why don’t you let your father in?”

  He moved aside and let the old man through. Jacob nodded his thanks, still unable to take his eyes off his son. “Quinn. That’s your name?”

  He nodded.

  Jacob gave a sad smile. “That was my grandmother’s maiden name—Elizabeth Quinn. She was my favorite …” He choked, his eyes shining bright with unshed tears. “Anna must have remembered. My boy, I’m so sorry.” He reached out to grab Quinn, but he flinched the moment Jacob’s hands touched his shoulder. Jacob couldn’t hide the disappointment on his face as his hands dropped to his sides.

  “Quinn …” Selena soothed, rubbing his arm.

  Quinn’s face remained stony. “Your wife is in the living ro
om. She tried to kill me and my mate.”

  Jacob’s gaze flew from Quinn to Selena’s face. When she nodded, his face turned purple with anger. “Carla!” he called, storming to the living room.

  “Jacob!” Carla got to her feet, even though her hands were tied. “Jacob, please!”

  “You hid my son from me for the last thirty years?” he roared. “And then you tried to kill him?”

  “I did it for you, Jacob,” Carla cried. “Please, Jacob, we couldn’t have that secretary of yours go blabbing to the press about her brat!”

  “Anna wouldn’t have done that,” he countered. “And he’s my son. You had no right.”

  Carla’s face twisted in fury. “You bastard! Did you think you could have it all? Have your whore and your pup, and me at your side, and my daddy’s contacts to help you win the election? You’re a fool, Jacob! I did this all for you and the clan.”

  “You did this for yourself, Carla,” Jacob spat. “You and your father wouldn’t stop harping about me becoming the first Lycan congressman. You were the one who wanted it, not me.”

  “Oh yeah, you sonofabitch?” Carla shot back. “See what’ll happen to your campaign when I divorce you and news of your tawdry affair and your bastard child comes out. You can forget about the governor's mansion!”

  “Shut up, Carla,” Jacob warned. “First off, I’m going to divorce you. And you will not talk to the press. I’ll talk to Grant Anderson, and he’ll make you keep your big mouth shut. Or he can throw you in the Lycan Siberian Prison for attempted murder on another of our kind.”

  Carla let out an indignant squeak and fell back on the couch. Jacob turned to Quinn. “I’m sorry, Quinn. For what happened. I didn’t know, I swear.” He buried his face in his hands. “If I had known about you … Carla and I had been trying for years, and then Anna came, and I fell in love with her … I swear, Quinn, if I had known …”

  “Congressman Martin,” Selena began. “Why don’t you go to the kitchen and sit for a minute? I’ll be in there shortly to make you some tea.”