Dean went slack in Trigger’s arms as the baby began to cry. He was horrified and mesmerized in equal measures. That was when it struck home that he had a living being inside him, a tiny baby who would soon greet the world, who would soon depend on Dean for his or her every need.

  “It’s a boy!” Wade wore a smile so wide that a chisel wouldn’t have been able to remove it. Benny had already told Dean what the name would be if he had a boy. He’d talked about it at length every time Dean had come over. Dean thought Nicholas was a cute name for a baby bunny…err…cub shifter.

  With joyful tears in her eyes, Deloris wrapped a towel around the wailing baby, cooed at the little bundle, then handed him back to Wade. She looked as though she didn’t want to let the newborn go, but Wade looked just as anxious to have his son in his arms.

  Trigger hugged Dean close, and his voice caught when he spoke. “Tell me you can’t wait for our cub to be born.”

  As beautiful as this moment was, Dean couldn’t stop staring at the gaping hole in Benny’s stomach. “I think I’ll stay pregnant for the next few years.”

  Trigger’s deep chuckle vibrated down Dean’s back. “You’ll do great. I have faith in you.”

  Dean wasn’t so sure about that. But if a bunny shifter could do this, then so could he.

  The line that had opened in Benny’s stomach began to close. Dean pressed his lips together, refusing to get sick.

  Okay, maybe he couldn’t do this. He curled his arm around his stomach, imagining his belly doing the same thing, as Wade handed the baby over and Benny cuddled his son close.

  Dean cleared his throat a few times at the look of sheer awe on Benny’s face. He wasn’t about to cry in front of everyone. Trigger kissed his neck, nuzzling him. Trigger had told him how sensitive the bite mark would be, and when Trigger touched it, Dean’s chaotic emotions faded.

  Dean’s horror at what would happen when he gave birth slipped away, too, as he snuggled close in Trigger’s arms. The shock of seeing a man give birth had terrified him, but as he watched how Wade looked at Benny, as if his world revolved around the little bunny shifter, Dean knew he could do it.

  He would traverse through the pits of hell for a chance to have Trigger look at him that way.

  Chapter Ten

  As the sun set, Trigger dropped into the chair next to Dean and the bonfire. He’d set up his laptop and speakers for the occasion, with a large chest of iced beer to his right. As “I Will Not Bow” by Breaking Benjamin began to play, Walker yanked his shirt over his head and tossed it aside. He rolled his massive shoulders, then slung his arms outward as he circled Wade.

  “Bring that ass to me so I can spank it,” Walker taunted.

  “You’ll be the one getting spanked,” Wade said with a challenging grin.

  Their tradition had begun. Trigger was pumped, waiting for his turn.

  “Explain to me again why you guys do this,” Dean said. He had a bowl of popcorn perched on his stomach, as if it were a makeshift table. “You all try and beat the snot out of Wade for becoming a daddy? I don’t get it.”

  Most didn’t. Although the Rising men were fairly normal people, life in the mountains was like living in a whole other world than humans were used to. “We’re bears, sweetheart. We don’t hug and have a few drinks with congratulatory cigars.”

  “So this is your way of congratulating him?” Dean chuckled. “And I thought I had a lot of machismo. I’ve got nothing on you guys.”

  “You’re manly enough for me.” Trigger winked at him and enjoyed the blush that cut across Dean’s face. But his attention was drawn to the fight when Wade and Walker shifted into their bear forms.

  “Now that’s impressive,” Dean said. “It’s like watching a live championship boxing match, only with bears.”

  Dane and Noel hadn’t been ecstatic about Clint and Bobby Ray carrying on the tradition, but Dean seemed to thrill in it. His grin was wide as Wade faked a left and slammed into Walker, making Walker stumble back.

  Trigger’s money was riding on Wade. Although Walker was the youngest brother, and was filled with a lot of piss and vinegar, Wade was hyped about becoming a father, and his excitement showed in the way he took Walker down.

  But Trigger knew the truth. Wade was powerful, but Walker wasn’t giving the fight his best. None of them would defeat Wade tonight. It was his night, and they would let him shine. Although Trigger couldn’t wait for his turn, he would let Wade win, too.

  This wasn’t about pride. It was about giving Wade a night to remember.

  “Damn.” Dean sat up, setting the bowl of popcorn on the log next to him. The bowl teetered and fell over, but Dean paid it no attention. His gaze was riveted on the fight. “So glad I’m not the one Wade is fighting. He’s kicking Walker’s ass.”

  Trigger chuckled as he leaned over and grabbed a bottle of water out of the chest. He handed it to Dean. Next, he grabbed a bottle of beer for himself and cracked the top open as he leaned back in his chair and watched the different expressions cross Dean’s face.

  His chest tightened as his heart expanded. Trigger was head over heels in love with Dean. There was no doubt about how he felt. As he stared at his mate, Trigger knew he’d never felt happier in his life.

  He slid his hand over Dean’s belly and rested his palm in the center as his cub kicked as if he or she were playing the drums. Pride swelled inside Trigger at his cub’s strength.

  As he gazed at the two bears, Dean’s hand covered Trigger’s. He wasn’t even sure if Dean realized what he was doing, and knowing his mate touched him on instinct pleased Trigger to no end.

  He leaned to his side once more, but this time he placed a kiss to Dean’s cheek. “I love you.”

  Dean’s head snapped around. His hazel eyes were slightly wide as his lips parted. “You’re telling me this during a fight?” Amusement shone in his eyes.

  “We could sneak off to the lake and I can tell you while we’re naked.” Trigger was grinning like an idiot and he didn’t care.

  Dean chuckled. “You’re not leaving the party so soon. I know you’re excited to have your turn.” Dean licked over Trigger’s bottom lip. “But we can sneak off afterward.”

  Trigger’s heart sank slightly when Dean didn’t return the sentiment. Just as he began to pull away, Dean snaked his hand around Trigger’s neck and held him still. “I love you, too.”

  His heart seemed to expand even more. He wanted to jump up and shout, “He loves me!” but remained seated as he gazed into Dean’s eyes, feeling like a juvenile with his first crush.

  Trigger was so engrossed in his mate that the scent hadn’t hit him at first. But slowly, the smell of death crept into his lungs. Trigger sat back, glancing around as Walker shifted into his human form and Duane entered the circle.

  “What is it?” The skin between Dean’s eyes puckered.

  Trigger got up and looked around. He moved to his laptop and stopped Three Days Grace from singing “Animal I Have Become.”

  Clint slapped Walker on his shoulder as Walker joined him at his side. But when the music stopped, Clint looked over at Trigger. “What gives?”

  “Turn that back on,” Bobby Ray shouted. “Gotta have tunes to fight to.”

  “Do you smell that?” Trigger asked, hating to be the one to stop the celebration.

  They all tilted their heads back in unison, scenting the air. Wade, who was still in his bear form, growled. Trigger didn’t wait for them to discover what his gut told him. He grabbed Dean’s arm and hoisted him from his chair. “We gotta go.”

  “What is it?” Dean demanded, but hurried alongside Trigger.

  When they reached the house, Trigger finally answered him. “Clint thinks all the killings made those creatures come out of hiding. But as far as I know, no one else has been killed. I’m not sure why—”

  “Whoa!” Dean held up both hands, his eyes wide. “You’re telling me those things are coming?” His mate’s earlier flush melted away, leaving him pale. “They’re coming here?”

  “I’m almost positive that was what I smelled.” Trigger headed into the living room, Dean following. He wanted to go back and fight with his brothers, but he refused to leave his mate alone. He wasn’t sure if there was just one creature or a dozen of them. The uncertainty made him gnash his teeth.

  “I’ll be fine here,” Dean argued as if he could read Trigger’s thoughts. “I know you want to go help them.”

  Trigger swung around when he heard glass shattering. The sound came from down the hallway. He shoved Dean toward the closet. “Get in there.”

  Dean didn’t argue. He hurried into the large coat closet. Before Trigger closed the door, he said, “Don’t you fucking come out, no matter what you hear.”

  Dean looked more pissed than scared. “I owe those bastards for trying to carve me up like a turkey.”

  The smell of earth and worms filled the air. Trigger slammed the door closed and headed toward the hallway. He heard a scream somewhere in the distance. It was too high-pitched to be one of his brothers. A mate? Benny’s mom?

  He pulled his phone out and quickly dialed Jesse. He wasn’t sure if the wolves would get there in time, but they needed all the help they could get.

  “What do you need, Trigger?” Jesse asked in a bored tone.

  “Full-on attack,” Trigger said. “Not sure how many of those things are here, but—” He dropped his phone when one of the creatures cleared the hallway and stepped into the living room, its blackened tongue sliding over shriveled lips. He couldn’t get the word feeder out his head, so he went with it.

  Feeder rolled off his mental tongue better than etetö.

  The feeder stood at average height, but it was emaciated, its bones protruding, its face gaunt, its eyes too big for its head. It was naked, too, and Trigger tried his best not to look any lower than its face. The question of whether or not this thing had genitalia was not something he wanted answered.

  Trigger had to get it out of the living room and as far from Dean as possible. He knew about their incredible speed, so racing past it wasn’t an option.

  It moved closer.

  Trigger stepped to his left, around the couch, and away from the closet as he tried to move toward the kitchen. The feeder’s gaze followed his every step. That was good. Its focus was on Trigger and not the closet.

  When Trigger had cleared enough space, he backed into the kitchen. It followed, scuffling its feet as it continued to lick what was left of its lips.

  Bile rose to the back of Trigger’s throat when he saw how yellow and sharp its teeth were. There was no fucking chance he’d let them teeth sink into his flesh.

  Both of them turned when Dean let out a piercing cry. He stumbled from the closet, holding his stomach, sweat gathered along his forehead and upper lip. “I think the baby is coming,” Dean whimpered as he gripped the side of the door.

  The feeder turned and headed toward Dean.

  Trigger shot forward and placed himself between his mate and the creature. He shifted, rearing onto his hind legs as he swiped his forepaws, slashing the thing across its chest.

  It made a sound as if it wanted to howl in pain, but all that came out was a dry gurgle. The little bit of blood the bled from the wound smelled rotten, and Trigger wondered for a faint second who that blood had once belonged to.

  A hiker? Valentino? They hadn’t heard from the ranger in over a week. That wasn’t unusual, but with these things haunting the nights, Trigger had to question whether Valentino was still alive, and mentally kicked himself for not checking up on the human.

  “Trigger,” Dean cried. He slumped to the floor, rocking on all fours. Trigger desperately wanted to go do Dean, but he needed to kill the creature first.

  Trigger tried to drop on top of the thing, but the creature moved away too quickly. It shot around Trigger and went for Dean. Trigger spun, knocking over the vase and table that had sat next to the closet.

  He didn’t care if he tore his whole house apart. Trigger wouldn’t let that thing get to Dean. Not again.

  Howls rent the air. Jesse’s pack had made it, but would any of them come to Trigger’s house? As grateful as he would’ve been for any help, Trigger wasn’t going to wait around to see if it came.

  He spun, his jaw nearly unhinging as he roared, bounding toward the creature. Dean crawled back toward the closet and collapsed on his back, crying out as he gripped his stomach with both hands.

  The feeder dove for Dean, and Trigger threw his weight against the creature. It flew backward, crashing into the front door. Trigger raced forward and clamped his massive teeth into flesh, forcing back the urge to vomit at the noxious taste that flooded his mouth.

  He tore withered skin from bones as the feeder shrieked, swinging its arms and legs, digging its claws into Trigger’s fur. Trigger used teeth and claws to tear it apart until he finally managed to remove head from shoulders.

  He shifted back to his human form. The need to spend a year in the shower with a scouring pad ate at him, but instead, he turned toward Dean. He scooped his mate from the floor and hurried him to their bedroom.

  Trigger would’ve placed Dean on the couch, but fuck if he would allow his cub to be born in the same room as that thing. He left Dean’s side long enough to rush to the bathroom, wet a towel, and wipe the blood from his mouth.

  He dumped some Listerine into his mouth, swished quickly, then spit into the sink before hurrying back to his mate. He pulled Dean’s shirt off and tossed it aside.

  Not only had the birthing line turned red, but it had already begun to open. He hated that his family wasn’t here for his cub’s birth, but they had a battle of their own on their hands. Having them alive trumped them being in the room to witness the birth.

  “Try to relax,” he said as he knelt between Dean’s legs.

  “Easy for you to say,” Dean cried out. “You’re not the one in this much pain.”

  When the birthing line opened enough, instincts Trigger didn’t know he possessed kicked in. He slid his hands inside Dean, his heart hammering as he felt his cub. Slowly, he pulled his cub out.

  Dean panted, his hands curled tightly in the sheets. Tears clogged Trigger’s vision as he held his daughter. She was so perfect, so small, and wailed her first breath.

  “We have a daughter,” he said around the lump in his throat.

  Dean wiped the sweat from his face with both hands, panting as he looked at the wiggling baby in Trigger’s hands. Trigger laid her on Dean’s chest as he peeled a pillowcase free, then cleaned her up.

  “She’s beautiful.” Dean’s voice was strained as he gazed at her. His eyes snapped to Trigger, and they filled with tears. Trigger didn’t think he could love Dean any more than he did in that moment.

  She had been born in the midst of chaos. That made Trigger’s protectiveness fierce. He kissed her on her tiny forehead, then Dean on his lips. His future with Dean had been shaky when they first mated, but their bond had grown so strong, so deep that he couldn’t imagine his life without his mate.

  “I love you.”

  Dean looked at their daughter before gazing at Trigger. “I love you, too.”

  Trigger leaped from the bed, growling when someone crashed into the house. It sounded as though they’d broken his door down. He stormed from the room, ready to battle whatever had come into his house when he spotted Clint and Walker hurrying down the hallway.

  “Wolves helped us kill most of the creatures who’d attacked, but some got away.”

  The cub began crying. Clint’s eyes widened. Walker pushed past Trigger and headed toward the bedroom.

  “Did Dean…” A smile spread across Clint’s face. “Boy or girl?”

  “Girl.” Trigger’s grin was just as massive. Then he scowled. “Had to tear one of those things apart while Dean was in labor.”

  “Sorry I missed her birth.” Clint slung an arm around Trigger’s shoulder and led him to the bedroom.

  “Sorry Wade’s celebration was ruined.” As soon as Trigger entered the bedroom, he scooped his daughter into his arms, kissed her forehead, then passed her to Clint.

  Walker sat on the bed, talking quietly to Dean as the birthing line slowly closed.

  “She’s a cutie,” Clint said. “What’s her name?”

  “Emilia,” Dean said from the bed, looking exhausted but proud.

  Clint cooed at the baby while Walker pulled his phone free. Minutes later, his house filled with not only his brothers, but the wolves, too. Wade strode in, Nicholas tucked in his arms.

  They might have missed Emilia’s birth, but his brothers were there now, and as Trigger looked at everyone gathered in his bedroom, the sense of family overwhelmed him. He even felt a sense of kinship with the wolves.

  They didn’t always get along, and he still hated Declan with a passion, but he set those feelings aside as everyone stood there talking and laughing, the fight already forgotten at his daughter’s arrival.

  “She’s a beauty,” Declan said. “Which is amazing since her father is so damn ugly.”

  Trigger grunted and Declan gave him a wise-ass smile. Emilia was passed around, and everyone got a chance to say hello.

  As they fussed over the baby, Trigger took a seat on the bed and pressed multiple soft kisses to Dean’s lips.

  “This is why we fight to keep our secret, to keep trouble off the mountains.” He waved his hand to encompass everyone in the room.

  “I get it now,” Dean said. “I see why you guys eliminate any threat. This is worth fighting for.”

  Trigger accepted his daughter when she was finally passed back to him. He stared down at her, then looked at Dean. “This is worth fighting for. Both of you, sweetheart.”

  “It’s why we risked living with bears,” Abe teased.

  “It’s why we risk it all,” Wade said as he gently rocked Nicolas.

  “And why we’ll keep on fighting,” Clint added. “Family, that’s what life is all about.”

  Trigger wholeheartedly agreed—especially since he had Dean and Emilia. Any threat that entered the mountains didn’t stand a chance.

  THE END