“Give it a squeeze,” Ava said. “Feel how solid it is.”
Mary did, unable to do more than compress her fingers around the cool metal. “It’s heavy duty,” she agreed, unsure of what Ava was trying to accomplish.
Ava reached out to take the box and Mary handed it over. As soon as Ava had it in her hand, she flexed her fingers. The metal started shrinking, breaking under the strain of Ava’s tightening fist. Mary’s eyes bulged and her lips parted. She wouldn’t have believed what Ava was doing if she wasn’t seeing it with her own eyes. Ava was demolishing the steel as though it were a marshmallow, taking it from beautiful and shiny to a handful of garbage. When she finished, she tossed the crushed object to the bed.
“I’m not as weak as I look and neither are you. If you bloodbond with Emory, you’d be shocked at what you’re capable of, and it goes beyond strength and longevity.” Ava exhaled softly and said, “But that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about. I’m a part of the pack but I’m not one of them. I never will be. There is only one other I know of who’s bloodbonded, but as soon as the pack was attacked she moved away with her mate for safety.”
Ava’s eyes were full of hope when she peered up at Mary. “I know it’s not fair of me to ask but I’m going to because I want the best for the child I’m carrying. I need to know that no matter what happens she’ll be taken care of. That’s why I declared you as her godmother in front of the pack. If you bloodbond with Emory and agree to move with us outside of the city, we’ll have a safe place to call home. We can watch out for her together. She can understand both of the worlds she comes from.”
A smile tugged at the corners of Mary’s mouth. “She?”
“Just a hunch.” Ava touched her abdomen. “I’d like to have a little girl.”
“Have you told Diskant?” God, Mary hoped not. Diskant was possessive and protective enough. The enormous man wouldn’t let a daughter out of his sight.
“Of course not,” Ava huffed in indignation. “I’m saving that bit of information for the right time. Besides, I’d hate to guess early on and change my mind down the road. So keep that between us.”
“Okay,” Mary said softly, studying Ava, seeing her in an entirely different way. While they were different, many aspects of their lives were the same. If she moved forward with Emory and accepted the bloodbond, she could be the next one starting a family.
A home. A husband. Children.
Emory wanted children. The hurt in his eyes when Mary had said she wanted to wait was something she’d never forget. She was the only woman who could give him that. And more importantly, with Ava’s help, she wouldn’t have to do anything alone. For the first time in her life, she could have an actual friend. She’d never been close to anyone at her uncle’s farm.
“You really want me to be her godmother?” Why did it hurt so much to ask? And why did Mary feel close to tears?
“Yes, I do.” Ava placed her hand on top of Mary’s.
“Are you sure?” She swallowed back the burn in her throat, forcing her watery eyes not to spill over.
“I am,” Ava confirmed with a smile. “I know you’re a good person. I knew it the first time we met.”
Mary laughed. It was easy to guess how Ava had come to that conclusion. “Because you read my mind?”
“No.”
“No?”
“Someone who has been through as much as you have but continues to care about others has a generous heart.”
The observation made her uncomfortable. Was she that easy to read? “I’m not so sure about that.”
“Well I am,” Ava countered. For such a tiny woman, she certainly was opinionated and determined. “So will you?”
“Will I?”
“Be the godmother of my child.”
What Ava was asking for was an enormous undertaking—caring for a child, protecting an innocent. But this wouldn’t be a normal child. Ava’s baby would be the son or daughter of one of the most powerful shifters Mary had ever encountered, a man who scared the hell out of her even when he tried to put her at ease. Regardless of that fact, a yearning to accept Ava’s offer swept through her. If she was going to be a part of Emory’s life—a part of his world—she had to start thinking of those who were most important to him.
She tried to think of the right words to show Ava how touched she was by the gesture of faith. “I’d be honored.”
“Then I have one small favor to ask.”
Mary used her free hand to swipe at her face. Was that normally how it worked? Did a godmother have to earn her status? “What’s that?”
“When Emory and Doc get here, I want you to kick Doc out of the room and take care of your shoulder yourself.”
“That’s your condition?” Mary was amazed to discover the prospect of the final stage of the bloodbond didn’t frighten her. “You want me to finish the bloodbond with Emory to prove myself or something?”
Ava smiled and tilted her head to the side. “Or something.”
Mary couldn’t prevent the blush that stained her cheeks. “What about the pack? Everyone is upstairs. They’ll hear us. They’ll know what we’re doing.”
“Do you really care?” Ava asked, staring at her pointedly. “At the end of the day does it matter if people know that you’re affectionate with the man you’re meant to be with?”
Did she care? Did it matter if everyone knew that Emory had made her his in every way? She’d said she was staying. She’d made her intentions clear to the pack. They had to know she and Emory were involved in a sexual relationship. Based on what Ava had said, shifters didn’t have inhibitions or a whole lot of modesty. Emory was a hot-blooded man with a sex appeal women couldn’t deny.
Jealousy struck, hitting her hard and fast. The pack consisted of women too. Any of them would be thrilled to be in her position. None of them would care if Emory fucked them in a bathroom against the door while a line to use the restroom formed. The entire scenario made her angry, the ugly green monster making its presence known. She definitely wanted unattached shifters to realize her man was off the market.
Emory was hers. Her place was at his side. She wasn’t letting him go.
The pack can kiss my ass.
“No,” she said firmly. “I don’t.”
“I’m glad to hear it, because it’s time to put your money where your mouth is.”
As soon as Ava stood, Mary heard Emory and Doc approaching, their low whispers easy to identify. Mary rose from the bed as Ava strode to the door, opened it wide and waited for Emory and Doc. Then she saw the men with their heads bent, talking softly to each other as they approached.
Just looking at Emory created tightness in her chest. He was so strong and dangerous. If he wanted to, he could kill someone with his bare hands. Yet when it came to her he was incredibly gentle, so careful. From the first time they’d met, she’d instinctually known he would keep her safe. There was something about him that got under her skin, making him a part of her before she’d even realized it.
She knew without a doubt that he’d do anything in his power to make her happy. Their children, if they had them, would be surrounded by love and affection. Yes there would be danger. But wasn’t that how things worked? Nothing was promised. People held on tight to the things they loved and cherished, enjoying the ride for as long as it lasted. There were no guarantees in life, only possibilities.
“Doc?” Mary said, her pulse racing, her mouth going dry. She could do this. To hell with what Doc and the pack thought. If she was going to reclaim her life, now was the time to start.
“Yes?” Doc stopped in the doorway, a puzzled expression on his face.