Avenger (Outsider Series) Read online

  “And you must be the husband,” the doctor turned to Caeden.

  “Yes, sir,” they shook hands.

  “So,” Dr. James sat down on his chair, “how are you feeling, Sophie? Any morning sickness?”

  “I haven’t thrown up, but I have felt nauseous. I seem to be really dizzy. Is that normal?” I began to worry. I didn’t want anything to be wrong, and I knew nothing about babies, let alone being pregnant.

  “That’s perfectly normal,” the doctor assured me with a soft chuckle. “When it happens, just be sure to lay down and rest for a bit till it passes. We don’t want you to get so dizzy that you fall.”

  I nodded in understanding.

  “Any more questions?” He raised a brow, looking at me and then Caeden.

  “When do we find out if it’s a boy or girl?” Caeden asked.

  I couldn’t help smiling. He really wanted to know that.

  “It’s too early to tell that now. Once I get a good look at your baby and determine an approximate due date, I’ll be able to let you know when a good time to schedule an appointment to find out the sex. As long as mom is okay with that?” Dr. James gaze swung my way.

  “I want to know,” I assured him, nervously fiddling with the scratchy hospital gown.

  “Okay, good. I’m glad you’re both on the same page. You have no idea how many couples can’t agree on that. One wants to know, the other doesn’t. It’s exhausting. Some days I feel like I have to be a marriage counselor,” he laughed, scooting his chair over the table and looking over a chart. After looking at it for a moment, he rubbed his hands together and said, “Let’s see your baby.”

  * * *

  Caeden couldn’t stop smiling at the sonogram. “She’s so tiny. She doesn’t even look a baby,” he said as we got in his Jeep.

  “She?” I smiled.

  A soft red hue inflamed his tanned cheeks. “Or he. But I think it’s a girl.”

  “Why do you think it’s a girl?” I pressed curiously.

  He shrugged. “I don’t know. I’d be happy with a boy, but I feel like we need more girls around.”

  “Well, I guess we’ll find out…December twentieth,” I looked down at the slip of paper with the appointment information for when we find out if we were having a boy or girl.

  “I thought maybe we could meet our parents for lunch and show them this,” he handed me the sonogram.

  “Sounds good. I’ll call them.” I pulled my phone from my purse. Our parents were quick to agree and I picked a restaurant that would be easy for all of us to get to.

  When I was finished with my phone calls, Caeden asked, “So…have you thought of any baby names?”

  “Yes,” I admitted, looking out the window. I already had plans for a nursery too, but I wasn’t telling him that.

  “What do you have in mind?” He asked.

  “I don’t want to say,” I groaned, letting my hair fall forward to hide my face.

  “Aw, Soph, don’t be like that,” he chuckled. “Tell me.”

  “If it’s a girl…I was thinking Lucy…you know, a spin on Gram’s name?”

  “That would make Lucinda so happy,” Caeden grinned, reaching for my hand as he drove. “What about for a boy?”

  “I was thinking…we should name him Beau…I feel bad that my last name isn’t being carried on since I don’t have any brothers. I thought it would be a way to honor my dad and his middle name could be Roger to honor your dad.”

  Caeden was shaking his head and I thought for sure he was about to tell me that Beau was a horrible name. “Beaumont ‘Beau’ Williams…I love it, Sophie,” he grinned. “As for Roger as a middle name…Bryce and I were talking the other day and he said that he wants to use the name Roger when he has a son. I don’t mind, so I told him that was fine.”

  “That’s sweet of you.” I wanted to lean over and kiss him, but since he was driving I didn’t think it was a very bright idea to distract him.

  “Beau or Lucy,” he repeated the names. “They’re perfect. Honestly.”

  “I’m glad you like them,” I smiled, pleased that he loved my choices. I should’ve known though, as mates we had a very similar thought process. Arguing wasn’t typically part of our relationship…except recently with the whole Travis thing. I couldn’t wait to be done with him and watch the light fade from his eyes—disturbing thoughts for a pregnant woman to have, but I’d be damned if I let Travis kill another pack member or do something to put my baby in jeopardy.

  I had everything to fight for and everything to lose.

  Travis had nothing.

  So, in the end, who was the more dangerous one?

  Four.

  My dad cried when I handed him the sonogram. He was really going to have to stop doing that. This was getting embarrassing.

  “Dad? Dad? Daddy! Please, we’re in public. This isn’t a bad thing. Can you please stop crying?” I begged. There was nothing wrong with a man crying, at least in my opinion, but when the man is your dad and he blubbers and blows his nose like a walrus then there is a problem.

  “Sophie,” Caeden rubbed my shoulder soothingly. “Let him cry. This is emotional for him.”

  “I’m sorry,” my dad sobbed, hiding his face behind a napkin. “I’m happy. I swear. Just give me a minute.”

  I scooted out of the booth and went to hug my dad. He held me tight and didn’t let go for several minutes. When he finally did release me, he’d stopped crying and managed to compose himself.

  As I sat down, a waitress appeared to take our order.

  “I’m going to be a grandpa!” My dad announced to the waitress.

  She laughed. “I kinda figured that out.”

  I laughed in embarrassment, hiding my face as I gave her my order. We’d barely been here ten minutes and I was already close to bolting out the door. I wasn’t sure how I’d get through this pregnancy with my family.

  I was shocked by my dad’s teary reactions to everything. I mean, once upon a time he had been Alpha. You’d think he’d be too…macho for this. But I was his only daughter, so I guessed his reaction was understandable…if a bit funny.

  Our moms sat talking to each other and I glanced warily at Caeden. Why did I have a feeling that they were planning the baby’s whole life?

  “What is it?” Caeden asked when he noticed my expression.

  I nodded my head to our moms sitting across from us. “They look like they’re plotting something?” I hissed.

  He chuckled, flicking his dark hair out of his eyes. “They’re probably talking nursery decorations.”

  “Great,” I sighed, taking a sip of water.

  “Are you okay?” Caeden asked me, his brows furrowing together.

  “Just tired, so naturally that makes me cranky,” I frowned. I hadn’t realized pregnancy would be so draining on my body. I wondered if that was normal or just a shifter thing. I felt so sluggish. I didn’t like it.

  Our food was brought out and we chatted as we ate. By the time we finished I couldn’t wait to get home and take a nap. I marched straight up the steps and climbed beneath the covers. The dogs snuggled beside me and I was out like a light.

  * * *

  I sat up and looked around, rubbing at my eyes. The bedroom was dark and the clock on the table indicated that it was two in the morning, but I was wide-awake. I’d never awakened from my nap and now I was all messed up. Apparently I was becoming nocturnal.

  I eased out of the bed, careful not to disturb Caeden or the sleeping dogs. I’d given up on trying to get them to sleep on the floor.

  I tiptoed down the stairs and into the kitchen. I was starving.

  I found some left over mac n’ cheese and warmed it in the microwave. I grabbed a spoon and stirred it around before taking a bite. As I turned, my eyes connected with someone else’s. Black soulless eyes. I knew those eyes and they only belonged to one person.

  My heart raced in my chest and I struggled to breathe.

  The bowl dropped from my hands and clattered to t
he floor. Pieces of macaroni flew everywhere.

  I screamed like I was being murdered.

  But he was there.

  Right freakin’ there.

  And he was laughing at me.

  I stormed forward, determined to get outside and sink my teeth in his flesh. I felt the telltale tremors shake my body as I began to transform.

  “Sophie!” Caeden yelled and a light flicked on so the room was bright with light.

  “Travis is right there,” I pointed out the window. My hand lowered slowly. He was gone. “He was there, I swear!” Tears pricked my eyes.

  Nolan came running into the kitchen and having heard what I said, told Caeden, “Stay with her, I’ll check it out.”

  Caeden wrapped his arms around me as I sobbed into his t-shirt. His body was taut with tension and I knew he wished he was the one out there, but he also had a duty to me. Under normal circumstances, I would’ve told him I was fine and to leave me be. But I couldn’t get the words to leave my lips and my arms only clutched him tighter.

  Liar.

  My eyes squished closed as I remembered Travis carving the word into my arm. He’d done it with silver so it never healed.

  Every single day, I had to look at my arm and be reminded of everything Travis had done. Even if he was dead, he’d always haunt me, he’d made sure of that.

  “Tell me what happened,” Caeden commanded, pulling me back so he could look at my tear streaked face.

  “I-I-I-came to get something to eat and when I t-t-turned I saw him, there,” I pointed at the exact window. “How could he be here, Caeden?” I sniffled.

  “I don’t know,” he frowned, a wrinkle marring his forehead. “This place is protected, he shouldn’t be able to get in…unless…”

  “Unless what?” I prompted.

  “The elders,” he growled through his teeth.

  “Why would they tell him how to get past the gates?”

  “Why would they give him a heads up that we were preparing to attack?” He countered. “Soph, if the elders are responsible for all of this, like I believe, then we have to be careful. They want me, us, dead,” his hand lowered protectively over my stomach.

  I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. What had we done to deserve this?

  Caeden guided me over to the breakfast table and I sat down. He stood guard, his arms crossed over his chest as he scanned the window for a sign of Travis or Nolan.

  My heart had yet to slow down and I felt like throwing up. What if I hadn’t come downstairs and spotted him? Would he have found a way into the house? Oh, God.

  “Hey,” Caeden knelt in front of me. “You okay?” His fingers tangled in my hair.

  “No,” I admitted.

  His lips pressed tenderly to my forehead. “It’ll be okay.”

  “Those words mean nothing when you can’t say them with confidence,” I countered.

  “So maybe it won’t be okay. But that doesn’t mean that we stop trying to make things right.”

  I took a deep breath. Why did Caeden always have to be right?

  Suddenly, Caeden stood up straight and his eyes scanned the yard relentlessly. “Nolan’s coming back,” he said unnecessarily.

  The French doors opened and I forced my eyes away from a naked Nolan. Maybe one day—okay, probably never—I’d get used to all the nakedness.

  “He was here, but he’s gone now,” Nolan panted breathlessly.

  “Do you know how he got in?” Caeden asked.

  “He climbed the fence.”

  “But,” Caeden’s eyes narrowed, “that’s a high voltage fence. It may not kill a shifter, but it would definitely hurt like a bitch.”

  “It was disabled,” Nolan answered.

  Caeden cursed under his breath. He paced the length of the kitchen with his hands on his hips. His whole body was tense and I knew he was beyond angry.

  “I’m sick of this!” He slammed a fist down on the island countertop. I jumped at the sound.

  “Caeden,” I said his name calmly and approached him slowly. I placed a hand on the bare skin of his back and the muscles jumped at my touch. “Just be glad I saw him.”

  “He could have gotten in the house, Sophie!” Caeden swung around and his face expressed just how livid he was. I hated seeing Caeden mad and worried all the time. I missed the carefree, goofy guy he was when I met him. But we had so much going on that I understood why he couldn’t be that guy anymore—that didn’t mean I had to be happy about it though.

  “But he didn’t,” I reasoned.

  My words didn’t do anything to calm him. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Nolan slip out of the room. Smart guy.

  “I would never forgive myself if he hurt you or the baby,” Caeden swallowed thickly and his blue eyes sparkled with fire. “I already let him get to you once. I won’t let it happen again.”

  “Caeden,” I groaned, “you have got to stop beating yourself up over that.”

  He shook his head, his jaw clenched. “It tears me apart to know that I can’t protect you.”

  “Protect me? What about protecting yourself? Protecting the pack? I’m not the most important person in the world, Caeden. You have to stop worrying so much about me. If something happens to me, it does.” I hated to be so morbid, especially with our child growing inside me, but the reality was that I could die. Or Caeden could die. It sucked to think about, but it was the truth.

  “I refuse to accept that,” he glared at me.

  “If—God forbid—I would die, you have to let it go.” I pleaded.

  “I don’t want to talk about this,” he shook his head rapidly back and forth as he stared at the floor.

  “We have to!” I screamed, trying to get him to listen to me. “We have to,” I repeated in a softer tone.

  His expression softened and he reached up to cup my cheeks between his hands. “I’m sorry,” he leaned his forehead against mine. “But talking about death…that’s not something I’m comfortable with. I refuse to think about the possibility of losing you or our baby. You’re both,” one of his hands lowered to press against my stomach, “the most important thing to me.”

  I understood where he was coming from. Did I want to think of the possibility of Caeden dying? Hell no. But it was something I had to accept might happen.

  “We’re going to kill Travis and his mutants,” Caeden promised, “and all of this will have been nothing but a distant nightmare.”

  FIVE.

  Unfortunately I didn’t possess the same confidence Caeden did. Thus far, we’d been unable to kill Travis. There was no guarantee that we’d manage to kill him and the mutants this time. True, we’d greatly depleted his numbers when we fought the last time but he could easily make more mutants.

  The stress of worrying about Travis and what the future may hold was really taking a toll on me. What if something happened to Caeden? I’d be left without my mate and our child wouldn’t have a father. If something happened to me, Caeden could lose me and the baby.

  I was beginning to wonder if it was worth it to go after Travis.

  I stopped that thought as soon as I had it, because it was worth it. Logan deserved to have his death avenged. He died to save me and I wouldn’t let his death have been in vain. I would squash Travis like a bug.

  “Sophie?”

  “Huh?” My head swung Caeden’s way. After discovering Travis lurking outside, neither of us were able to go back to sleep and ended up going into his office to read through books and talk about things.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, sorry,” I frowned, shaking my head. “I was just thinking about things,” I mumbled.

  Worry shimmered in his cerulean blue eyes.

  “I’m fine,” I said before he could comment. I wasn’t in the mood to hear what he had to say. Empty promises were getting old. All I wanted was to have this over with and live a normal life…a normal life. I was a shifter, my life was never going to be normal by human standards, but I’d like for it to get to the poi
nt where there wasn’t so much bloodshed. Was that too much to ask for?

  “I’m not an idiot, Soph,” he groaned, shoving the book he was reading off his lap. It thumped against the floor and I jumped at the sound. “Stop saying you’re fine when I know that’s not true. We’re mates. Do you not understand what that means?” He looked at me fiercely. “I know when you’re bothered by something. Talk to me. Please,” he begged, reaching for my hands.

  I sniffled, fighting tears. I turned away so he couldn’t see my weakness, but it was useless. He reached up with one hand and took my chin between his fingers so that I was forced to look at him.

  “I love you, Sophie. I’m your husband, you can talk to me about anything,” he pleaded with me to open up.

  I hated being seen as…weak and right now I was an emotional wreck. I was afraid if I opened my mouth I’d just start crying.

  “Sophie, please,” his thumb grazed over my bottom lip and a shudder racked my body.

  “I just want this to be over,” I admitted. “I want the fighting and the bloodshed to end. I want everything to go back to normal, Caeden. I don’t want to bring our baby into this,” my hand naturally fell to my stomach.

  “I don’t either,” he brushed strands of my hair away from my eyes and tucked them behind my ear. “That’s why I’m doing all this,” he motioned to the books scattered all over the office. “It’s why I’m not calling pack meetings. I need to get all this figured out in my head,” he pointed to his forehead for emphasis, “before I say anything to anyone. I want to be one hundred percent ready this time. The next time I see Travis, I will kill him. My family—you and the baby—are the most important things to me. I won’t let Travis take you from me.”

  I leaned into his touch, desperate to believe those words. But I wasn’t the naïve girl I once was. I was a fighter now and I knew that words meant nothing. Promises held no backing. Caeden could tell me everything would be fine as much as he wanted, but that didn’t make it true, no matter how much I might wish it so.

  But I didn’t tell him that. Instead, I closed my eyes and pretended that he was right. It was what he needed. I wasn’t about to burst his bubble…at least not right now.