An Unlucky Moon (23 page)

Namely the three council members who wanted him dead.

Now.

He gripped Becca’s hand then faced Dorian and the others. As soon as the portal had closed around Becca, he’d tried to break through. Though the realm hadn’t had an invitation, he could have found a way through, but he had a feeling the leprechauns had used some form of magic to block his entrance.

Dorian had shown up soon after, along with the other two of the bastard’s inner council, and a handful of other wolves, forcing Hunter to the circle. Hunter could have fought, but he might not have won against the twelve wolves behind Dorian at the time—not when his mate was in another realm, most likely fighting for her life.

The other wolves had left the council alone with Hunter so they wouldn’t have to bear witness to the crimes about to happen.

Cowards.

“Why are you doing this, Dorian?”

Dorian snarled. “You think it's easy to sit back and watch my pack stuck in an archaic system? I want us to live and rule. With an Alpha and Beta, we’re nothing.”

“It's not archaic,” Hunter countered. At least not
all
of it was archaic. “It's the way we are wired. We're wolves. Not humans.”

Dorian snorted. “Yet we mingle and blend in with them, trying to hide what we are. Yes. I know it's for the greater good, but what are we doing to ourselves? We're becoming useless creatures who don't understand the breadth of our powers. We follow an Alpha who uses words rather than strength to lead us. What use is that in war? What use is that when we can kill him?”

Alistair, the one who had always seemed to want to fight another way, held up his hands. “Now, now. We don't want any more violence than we have.”

Dorian barked out a laugh and threw out his arms. “Look at us. We've provided the backdrop for violence and chaos, old man. You helped me send the fucker to hell because you thought it was for the greater good. If that isn't violent, I don't know what the fuck is. Don't pretend that all we've done is for the greatness of the whole.”

Hunter growled at receiving confirmation of who had sent him to hell. Oh, he’d known this whole time, but to hear the words was another matter. “No, you did it for the power and authority over a pack that needs leadership, not crazy schemes and lost causes. We're crumbling, Dorian, and you're letting it happen. I'm just as much to blame in that respect. I've let our own rivalries and laws get in the way of what I should have done in the first place.”

Josiah came out from the shadows, anger on his face. “The council is the reason our pack is fracturing. As Alpha, I lead by example. Not by words alone. We aren't the dark and depraved animals you so desperately want to annihilate. You've become the very creature you're afraid of.  Our Beta is the one who should connect with the members individually, learn their needs and heal when he can. He hasn't been able to do that because you crazy fools want to kill him.”

“You can’t prove any of that,” Lloyd spat.

Hunter’s jaw dropped. “You just told us all, you fucking idiot.”

“We didn’t tell you about Samuel though,” Lloyd said, and Dorian growled.

Becca squeezed Hunter’s hand, and he grounded himself, his wolf snarling but waiting for the right moment to kill. 

Dorian rolled his yes. “Fine. You’ll die soon anyway, though I’d rather have had that bastard Jason do it. Samuel died because he was weak. He wasn’t worth the shit we threw him in when we killed him. You weren’t supposed to come back from hell. We bargained for their protection and help in our takeover, yet you lived and came back, so they obviously went back on their word. Fucking demons.”

Hunter blinked. The depth of the council’s betrayal ran so deep he wasn’t sure he could even comprehend all of it.

Josiah came to stand beside Becca and Hunter. It would be a three-on-three fight since he had no fucking clue where Liam and Alec were.

“If you’re looking for your two butt buddies, they’re…indisposed.”

Fuck. He’d just have to hope they were okay because he had other things to deal with. He looked at Becca quickly. “I can’t protect you.”

She looked up then kissed him for all he was worth. “I can protect myself. Kill him.”

With those words of pure badass from his mate, he lunged. Alistair lunged toward Josiah, the idea of nonviolence seemingly forgotten. The two men fought, Josiah much stronger, but Alistair fought with the last of his courage and life.

Hunter sliced his hands along Dorian’s shoulder. The other wolf jerked and reached out to do the same to Hunter. 

He looked out of the corner of his eye as Becca rolled to duck a punch from Lloyd. Rage filled him, but he couldn’t take his attention off Dorian, or all would be lost. Becca moved toward Josiah, and the Alpha covered her as they fought off the other two wolves together.

Good.

Hunter, the one with the most personal stake in Dorian, went back to his fight. They punched, kicked, and clawed for what felt like hours, but must have only been twenty minutes.

Hunter snapped Dorian’s arm, and the other wolf screamed. 

He pulled back as Dorian clawed Hunter in the stomach with his other hand. Pain shocked his system, but he fought on. They lashed out at each other, each strike just as painful and deadly as the last.

Again, from the corner of his eye, he saw Lloyd try to claw at Becca, and Hunter lost it. He reached out and, with all his strength, clawed Dorian through the chest, gripping the bastard’s beating heart, and pulled.

The man’s eyes widened for a moment, as if he couldn’t believe what had just happened, then fell to his knees.

With the other wolf’s still-harm heart in his hands, Hunter leapt toward Lloyd and clawed through his neck. Lloyd sputtered then fell to the ground.

Josiah broke Alistair’s neck, and the battle was done.

Hunter dropped Dorian’s heart and pulled Becca into his arms. 

“Oh gods, Hunter. Are you okay?” She tried to pull away to look at his wounds, but he wouldn’t loosen his hold.

“The baby?” he rasped out. “Are you and the baby okay?”

She lifted to her toes and kissed his jaw. “Yes. I think so. Oh God, Hunter. I love you so much.”

“I love you more than anything in the world, my Becca. I never want to see you fight like that again.”

She beamed. “I kind of kicked ass though.”

Hunter growled. “Never. Again.”

“I’m going to find Liam and Alec,” Josiah interrupted. “Take care of your mate.”

Hunter nodded toward his Alpha, the man who had raised him into the man he was and protected the Pack the best way he knew how.

He’d forever be grateful for the way the man had taken care of Becca when Hunter could not.

“Let’s go home,” Becca said. “We can worry about everything else in the morning. I just want to get this grime and gods know what else off me and go home.”

Hunter kissed her. Hard. “As you wish.”

Chapter Seventeen

“Oh, right there, baby. Right. Freaking. There.”

Hunter snorted at her words, and Becca turned over. “You, my Becca, sound like you’re about to come just from my hands on your back.”

She smiled at him then gripped his dick, which just happened to be on her chest since they were both naked and he’d been straddling her to give her a well-needed massage.

He let out a groan then shifted his hips so he fucked her hand a bit.

“Looks like you’re about to come with just my hand on your cock.”

He grinned then moved off her. She immediately felt cold at the loss. 

“Where are you going?”

He just smiled and took out the lube from the nightstand drawer. “I do believe I promised you a present for being all strong and badass during the fight two days ago.”

A shiver ran through her, and she sat up. Ever since they’d started playing more in bed, she’d wanted to start to do more with Hunter. Yes, she’d done anal before, but never with him. Never when she’d been so connected on a magical and personal level with a man that it would mean more than just something taboo.

“Turn over,” he ordered, and she shuddered. 

She loved when he want all alpha and dominant on her. She trusted him to take care of her, no matter what, so it didn’t matter that he ordered her to do things in bed. She’d gladly do them as long as she could touch the love of her life. 

“Get on all fours. I’m going to fuck that sweet little ass of yours and make you come that way.”

“You going to fill me up?” she asked, knowing he loved it when she talked dirty.

He groaned then slapped her ass.

Hard.

Who knew she was so kinky?

The cold lube shocked her for a moment before he rubbed it around her hole, warming it up. He worked her with one then two then three fingers, each time the sensation slightly painful but easing to a sweet bliss. She felt so freaking full just with his fingers. She couldn’t wait to feel his meaty cock filling her up.

Hunter removed his fingers, and she whimpered. She felt his hands grip her hips, and she moved back, seeking him out. 

“Don’t move, baby,” he said then swatted her.

She froze, waiting for him. The head of his cock probed her, and she moaned. 

“Just like we practiced, baby. Relax and push back, and I’ll slide right in.”

She did as he said, and slowly, oh so slowly, he slid in until his thighs were flush with her ass.

“Oh gods, I feel so full.”

“You’re as tight as a fucking vise. Shit, this feels good. You okay, Becca?”

She nodded, the sensations almost too much. “Just fuck me. Please.”

He pulled out slowly then back in just as slowly, waiting for her to really get used to him. After the third stroke, he increased his pace until he was fucking her hard. She gripped the sheets and rolled her hips to meet him, loving the way he moved with her. 

“Fuck, I’m going to come. Touch your clit and come with me, baby. I’ll hold you up.”

She smiled at the need in his voice and rubbed her swollen, slick clit until she came. He shouted her name and came with her. She could feel his dick pulsate within her as he jetted his seed, and she grinned.

Hell yeah. She loved this man.

Hunter pulled out, and she collapsed on the bed. He ran his hands over her and kissed her softly. “Let me clean us up, and then we can start our day.”

“Best. Wakeup. Ever.”

He smiled, kissed her again, and then strode naked to the bathroom.

Yep. She loved that man.

After they’d cleaned up and eaten, they headed out to the council chambers to meet Jace. Well, they really weren’t called the council chambers anymore considering the council had been disbanded. After three of the members had been killed because of treachery, attempted murder, murder, and so much more, the council was no more. Instead, Liam and Alec would be lead enforcers, and their family lines would be the ones to help protect and rule, along with Josiah and Hunter.

That was how it had been ages ago, and Becca hoped that it would help the future of the Pack. After all, since she’d mated Hunter and become a leprechaun, she had a long future to look forward to.

As for the leprechauns, well, like Jamie and the djinn, Becca didn’t think she’d be hanging out with that group any time soon. They’d sent a note with an emissary trying to say no hard feelings, but really?

Not so much.

Once the baby was born, and she was a little more settled, she was planning on figuring out a way to change things for the women in that realm, but she had a feeling it would be a long time coming. At least she’d have a goal and job now, something much different than opening a bar because it was the only thing she knew how to do.

Oh she still might do that, but it wasn’t as though she had to decide now. She had tons of time to figure it all out. Right now, though, all she wanted to do was be with her mate, her baby, and her friends—new and old.

Liam and Alec met them at the door to the chambers and hugged her. She loved that duo. They were like brothers and would totally be great uncles for her and Hunter’s baby. 

If the guys would ever figure out that they were totally in love with each other, it might even make things easier down the road.

That, though, was another matter altogether.

They walked into the room as a unified front, and she smiled as she saw Jace there. With that long blond hair and fantastic build, he was totally hot.

Hunter growled, and she held back a chuckle.

Jace might have been hot, but the only growly man for her was the wolf by her side. 

She leaned into her mate’s side, and he wrapped his arm around her as if proclaiming to the world whom she belonged to. Well, as long as he belonged to her as well, it was okay with her.

The bear gave them a crooked grin. “Glad to see you guys handled this without me.” He sobered at his words. 

“I’m glad you didn’t have to make those decisions,” Hunter said. “Does that mean you’re done here?”

Jace shrugged. “I’m done with your Pack unless you need me as a friend. I think, though, with that mate by your side, you’ll be fine.” 

“Are you leaving to go home, or wherever you come from, then?” Becca asked.

The bear grinned. “No, I’ll be around for a long while.” 

With that cryptic comment, he changed the subject, and they discussed exactly what they would do with the Pack. All of Dorian’s followers would either be exiled or demoted in rank. They would have to prove to the Pack that they were loyal. The ones in the Pack who hadn’t taken sides were already showing their loyalty, and some had even bowed to her, declaring their protection and faith in her. 

It seemed they’d been just as afraid of Dorian as she had been and hadn’t wanted to get hurt. While Becca understood that and had hugged and smiled with the ones who were afraid, she’d never forget the ones who had stood by her side in the first place.

She placed her hand on her stomach and smiled. She had a future growing in her womb and would do anything to protect it,
had
done anything to protect it.

Hunter walked her home, their silence an easy one. 

As soon as they stepped into the house, he wrapped his arms around her. “I can’t wait to see you grow round with our child.”