Savage (Wolf Ranch #4) - Renee Rose Page 0,61

told Boyd.

He smiled at her. “The part you like, Doctor.” He turned his attention back to me. “We’re a species, so being a shifter’s hereditary. Your baby and Audrey’s will carry the genes. Whether they’ll have enough of them to actually shift or not will be unknown until adolescence.”

I placed my hand on my belly. Anger shot through me. Clint had given me a werewolf baby?

But no, he hadn’t meant to get me pregnant at all. That had been an accident.

The place he’d bitten me suddenly tingled, and I touched it.

Boyd nodded at my movement, like he knew what I was touching. “Clint marked you. Bit you, right?”

I nodded then blushed, remembering when exactly.

“It’s what male wolves do when they’ve found their true mate. We embed our scent into their skin to keep other males away.”

“What?” I set the mug of tea on the end table and stood up. “This is… this is just crazy. He had no right to do that.”

Boyd shook his head. “He probably couldn’t help himself, Becky,” he said gently. “It’s instinct. When a shifter finds his one true mate, the biology is overwhelming. We can’t hold back. With you being pregnant, his need to protect you would be off the charts.” He glanced at his own wife—mate—with soft eyes, as if he spoke from experience.

“Wolves mate for life, honey,” Audrey said, also standing and hovering nearby. “Clint knew the minute he saw you—he belonged to you.”

I shook my head. “No, he didn’t. We had a quickie at Cody’s. We parted ways. For four months.”

“Yeah, but you said his nose was broken. When was the next time you met up?”

“The grocery store. I threw up on him.”

“What did he do then?” Audrey asked with a smile.

“He got me out of there, took me home.”

“He caught your scent then. Been protective ever since? Bossy?”

I nodded.

“They’re all that way,” Audrey added.

“Hey!” Boyd said, pretending to take offense.

I whirled on her and frowned. “Yeah, I already had a husband who thought that way. It’s not a selling point, Audrey,” I snapped.

When she blanched, a kick of remorse went through me. But no. She kept this from me, too.

They all did.

“I’m leaving,” I said, even though I had nowhere to go. I didn’t even have my car here.

Boyd jumped up. “Clint would want you to stay here.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Clint has no say,” I snarled.

He held up his hands then pulled out his keys. “Okay. Where can I take you? I’d rather you stay here just for my own protective streak, but with that guy… dead, you’re safe. You want to stay at Audrey’s place in town? Until the police have finished with your house?”

The tight knot in my stomach twisted. None of this felt right.

None of it.

“Yes, please,” I said tightly. What choice did I have? “I’d appreciate that.”

“I’ll come, too,” Audrey offered, but Boyd and I both waved her away.

“You and the baby need to stay here. Get some rest, darlin’,” Boyd said, his expression going soft again, the way it always did when he looked at her. “I’ll get her settled.”

Settled.

Fuck that.

My ex was dead. I was a fucking widow. I wasn’t sure if I had a job after being taken away for questioning by the police from the hospital. I still might be charged in a murder case. I’d almost been murdered myself. I found out the guy I loved was part wolf. And an executioner. Not only with a bullet to the brain but with his teeth. The baby I was carrying was not fully human. My heart had been obliterated for believing in someone. Trusting them.

No, I didn’t think I’d ever feel settled again.

24

CLINT

Boyd called me last night. Told me Becky was physically fine. She hadn’t been hurt when I’d rolled her to the floor. She and the baby were well. He’d told me they’d tried to explain shifter things to Becky, but she’d been more bitter than receptive. He’d driven her into town and settled Becky into Audrey’s house in town. I knew where it was. Knew Boyd had secured that fucker up tight. Audrey rarely stayed there now, only when she was on call, and it was too far to get to the hospital quickly from the ranch. Usually, Boyd stayed with her, but on rare occasions, she crashed alone after a late delivery. I’d even helped him install the top-of-the-line security system.

Becky was safe but alone.

My wolf didn’t stand for that shit. I didn’t either, but I wasn’t going to