Fanged secrets a m m mpr.., p.1
Fanged Secrets : A M/M Mpreg Romance, page 1
Fanged Secrets
New Hemlock Wolf Pack Saga Book 9
Maggie Hemlock
For everyone who’s stuck with me this long. We’re onto the second generation, my dears.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2023 by Maggie Hemlock. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means.
Stock photos for the cover brought to you by 123RF.
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: This is not the beginning of a series, nor is it meant to be read on its own as a standalone. The complete reading order for this series and the Hemlock Mpreg Universe books can be found at the end of this book.
Chapter One
Shepard
“Stop doom-scrolling the war in London and get over here,” I snapped at Irwin, my best friend. “It’s almost time for my call with Liam. Believe it or not, I might need emotional support when he tells me there is nothing he can do to help with my curse, ya know? If I’m doomed, I’ll need a shoulder to cry on.”
Irwin ran a hand through his short dark hair and sighed at me, puffing up his cheeks as he set aside his phone for the first time in hours. I was being hyperbolic. At least, I hoped I was being hyperbolic about being doomed forever. I really needed to believe I was overreacting about everything. I probably wasn’t, but if I could convince myself that I was, I could have a few moments of peace of mind every now and then.
“Shit’s crazy,” he shook his head. “Them, not you. Your shit is dangerous, but you didn’t blow up half of the Moonscale Hospital because some witches work there as doctors. They’re such dumbasses. Total dumbass. One of the guys involved caught himself on fire – and then got arrested because he demanded the emergency medical tent treat him first since it’s Mundanes Before Magic, after all. I hope Clarence -----”
“I don’t want to hear about it,” I shook my head hard and fast and glanced at my laptop screen, holding up my hands.
There was three minutes until my call with Liam.
“I see enough gore inside my own head without hearing about Mundanes Before Magic blowing up London!” I said through gritted teeth.
“Relax, Shep. Everyone says Liam Moonscale is probably your best chance at figuring out what the hell is going on with you.”
“No, he’s not my best chance. He might be my last chance, though. Seers, witches, shamans. No one has been able to help. Not even doctors and I think I’m on a first name basis with every doctor in town and on Hemlock Mountain.”
At noon, on the dot, the video call app on my laptop rang and Irwin rushed to plop down in the chair at my side. I took a deep breath and let it ring three times before I answered. Three was supposed to be a lucky number, right? I needed all the luck I could get.
“Good afternoon,” Liam Moonscale smiled from his kitchen.
In the background I heard the pitter-patter of tiny feet and smiled despite the sinking feeling that lived in my stomach. I must’ve been a bottomless pit, because no matter how much it sank, I never found rock bottom. I wanted kids one day, but not if my condition continued. I couldn’t parent while I thrashed about on the floor, eyes bleeding out, and fighting visions inside my head.
“Good afternoon,” I tried to mimic his upbeat energy. “Thank you for speaking with me today. This is Irwin. He’s my best friend and was my roommate for the whole of my time at Hemlock Academy and now of course, too.”
Irwin shot me a look that said I was oversharing again, but I shrugged it off.
“I believe he’s the person who has seen the most of my episodes,” I added for Liam’s clarity.
“It’s nice to meet you both. I have heard of the omega sight causing some violent episodes, but what intrigued me is that none of your visions have come to pass.”
“I’ve met with a lot of shrinks,” I said before he started down that road. “They’ve ruled out all of the conditions that could cause me to hallucinate.”
“I don’t believe you’re hallucinating. I do have questions for you. I’m sorry it’s taken me a few weeks to get back to you. You sent a very thorough email. You’ve documented the bulk of your visions very well and I wanted to do some research, because some of the imagery sounded very familiar. Before the War of the Wildlands when I still lived in the Guardians of Glitter Bomb Territory, some members of our group fought against what was the Rook and Feather Coven at the time and helped in dismantling a very dangerous and oppressive system. Some of your visions brought to mind some of the whispers going on around that time about the ongoings of the coven.”
“I was born there or from there – I’ve never been sure which,” I blurt out. “It’s not listed anywhere official, because I was given up for adoption. There was a letter from my mom saying that I’d be safer anywhere else. I’m not mixed. Not that there is anything wrong with being mixed, but I’ve had so much blood work and DNA testing that we’d know if I was mixed. I think----” I took a deep breath. I hated thinking about my bio mom. I knew nothing of my bio dad, but the letter that my bio mom left just made it sound like she was miserable and wanted to save me from that.
Both Irwin and Liam stared at me.
“What do you think?” Liam asked. “Your own interruption of events will help us navigate your episodes going forward.”
“She knew it was a shitshow. Forgive my language, but I don’t have another word for it. I don’t think it deserves nice words either,” I said.
“Shitshow,” Liam nodded. “That’s a good way to put it. That actually makes even more sense with what I was considering. I think you’re seeing the past. I can’t be sure. We’re not on a shared link that would allow me to witness your visions and even if we were I’d only witness them how you perceived them.”
“Can you stop them? Like find out what is causing him to see the past and make it go away?” Irwin asked, leaning in closer to the screen.
I nudged him in the side with my elbow. Liam Moonscale didn’t call to get up close and personal view of his pores.
“That is yet to be seen. Have you had any contact with your bio mom?” Liam asked.
“No. She left a letter, but it wasn’t about this. Of course, it wasn’t about this. She wouldn’t have known about this at the time,” I said.
“What about the other side of your family? Do you know anything about them?” Liam asked me.
“Nothing,” I shook my head. “She didn’t mention my bio dad in the letter at all. For the sake of honesty ---- I’ve wondered how I was conceived – about her life at the time and the best-case scenario I can come up with was that he was a deadbeat or died while she was pregnant with me. You can imagine the worst-case scenario for yourself, I believe. Because of all the DNA testing Doctors Bane and Lee Hemlock have run about this, I have a strong reason to believe he was probably a vampire too. Probably from the coven or general area since traveling was looked down upon.”
“But,” Irwin cut back into the conversation, “Doctor Lee Hemlock has encountered other vampires who he knows for a fact have a shifter parent, but their tests didn’t show that. He said it was like rolling a million-sided dice when vampire genetics mixed with others.”
“You just want me to be part wolf,” I teased Irwin, sounding more chipper than I actually felt inside.
Liam nodded and scribbled something down on the notepad in front of him.
“This will be difficult for you. I’ve read your accounts of what happens to your physical form during a vision, but would you be willing to describe your last episode?” Liam asked.
I swallowed down a sigh. Every medical, spiritual, and magical professional I’ve met with has asked me to do this. It should’ve gotten easier by now, but it hasn’t.
“Of course,” I nodded and avoided looking at Irwin.
I had a sinking suspicion that he was rolling his eyes at the request. He always did.
“It was a few days ago. We were coming out of the bookstore and had stopped because Irwin dropped his wallet somewhere. It was just inside the door. So, we found it when everything was over, but there on the concrete sidewalk it all started. The world blurred over – like someone took a paintbrush to reality and made it impossible to look at. My eyes burnt. They always burn when they bleed, and they always bleed during visions. There were bowls upon bowls of blood, and it didn’t matter how far I walked there were more of them. Blood rained down from the ceiling and I couldn’t protect myself. It should’ve looked like a feast, but I threw up during the vision. That doesn’t happen often. I was repulsed – completely repulsed. It wasn’t food. It wasn’t good food – it was poison. It’s the only way I can describe it. It was poison.”
“What brought you out of it?” Liam asked, but Irwin answered for me.
“Time,” he said. “Twenty-two minutes of holding him down like he was having a seizure. I’ve had lots of practice of not letting him break bones or give himself a concussion. Nothing but time brings him out of it. We’ve tried everything from medicine to magical objects and even having a shaman there when it happened. We stayed with the Nightshade Bear Shaman, Xenos for two weeks before he had a vision, and nothing could stop it and the shaman didn’t see anyone --- any spirits or ghosts or ghouls there when it did. He couldn’t find a line to them if someone was causing it.”
& nbsp; “But,” I cut in, “Xenos said that didn’t mean it was attached to a spirit. Just that there wasn’t a fate line or something like that. Basically, the spirit didn’t want to show themselves or they didn’t stick around once my vision started.”
Liam frowned. Xenos was a lot older than him. Most of the professionals we approached for help were much older than him. He really was my last chance at living anything that resembled a normal life.
“Does Irwin’s description sound accurate to you, Shepard?” Liam asked.
“He’s telling the truth,” I nodded.
“I need to take some time to think about this and run it by a few folks. I know you’ve played the waiting game so long already, but planning takes time and anything I get involved in also pulls in my mate and family here. So, I have to run it by them too. I don’t believe for a moment that this is going to be a chronic condition that follows you around for life. I think we can and will find a solution, but it’s going to take time.”
I took a deep breath before nodding. Time. Time. Time. Everything needed more f-ing time. Irwin draped his arm across the back of my chair.
“Is there anything you think might help in the meantime?” Irwin asked.
“Actually, I have homework for both of you,” Liam grinned.
“Homework?” Irwin cocked a brow.
“Yes, homework. You’ve kept very good logs of the visions and episodes. Now, I’d like you both to each separately, by yourselves and see if you remember what went on right before the episodes. Separately, because perception varies from person to person, and it will garner us the most information about what might trigger them.”
“We can do that,” I nod before Irwin has a chance to roll his eyes again. “It’ll feel good to do something about it. Even just more research. I hate when there’s nothing I can do about it at all.”
“What did you guys major in at the academy?” Liam asked.
“Irwin’s literature,” I said. “He’s writing a book. Well, when he’s not babysitting me.”
“That’s awesome,” Liam smiled. “And you?”
“I dabbled in a bit of everything,” I flashed him a sheepish but sad grin. “I didn’t get to graduate because my visions made going to class impossible. Right now, I work at the library.”
Liam smiled wider.
“I like it,” I nodded, glad he didn’t look at me with pity like so many others did.
Pity or that look that said they thought I was lazy. According to my doctor, the visions meant I was disabled, technically. I had no control over them, and they caused me to have panic attacks and the bleeding eye thing really messed with my vision for days afterwards. The library was nice about accommodating me and I enjoyed working there amongst the shelves piled high full of stories and knowledge.
“Will three days be long enough for you guys to review your records and record what you remember about the events directly before the episodes?” Liam asked.
“Definitely,” I nodded.
I’d have done them all that afternoon if that’s what he wanted. I’d have pulled out my fangs and fed them to a wild dragon if that’s what Liam thought would’ve stopped my visions.
“I’ll be in touch in three days then. Is noon good for you then too?” Liam asked.
“It’s great,” I grinned, feeling more relieved than I should’ve.
Liam Moonscale didn’t have the answers. He wasn’t fixing the problem, but something about the way he smiled made me believe he might really have a plan.
Irwin didn’t say anything for a long moment after the video call ended. I rubbed the back of my neck and let out a long sigh.
“What’s your wolf saying?” I asked him. “You have that look that says he’s chewing your ear off?”
“That he thinks we’re going on another trip.”
“Hell, Ir, I’d move there if that’s what I needed to do to fix my problem. Hell, maybe you’d find the quiet to finally finish your novel there.”
“Maybe,” Irwin sighed.
“You didn’t like him?” I asked.
“I think he’s a great guy, probably. He at least read the whole email from the sounds of it. It’s just---- Shepard, you get your hopes up every time and everyone has let you down. I want you to be better – to feel better, but maybe we should just be tentatively hopeful about this.”
“I know,” I sighed. “But what if he can really fix it?”
“Then I’ll give him my firstborn if that’s what he wants,” Irwin grinned at me.
“He’s not a wicked witch or a forest spirit or that guy from the spinning gold lore,” I laughed.
“Who knows? Who knows anything?” He laughed. “Between us we have enough mysteries to puzzle even the greatest minds.”
Chapter Two
Liam
By the time I closed the laptop, Bobby had managed to get Stariel down for his afternoon nap. When I looked up, he stood on the other side of the table holding the telltale rectangular box.
“So, you’ve picked up on that, huh?” I blushed.
We’d already had a baby. We romped all over the house before that and even now when Stariel was off with one of our friends. Still, the sight of Bobby in jeans, a back tee tight enough to show off his abs, and holding that box made my knees weak. Part of me felt bad for not focusing entirely on Shepard’s case, but my family had to come first, and I’d suspected there was a yellow pixelated baby in my future for a while. I didn’t need a vision. I’d been pregnant before and knew all the signs. This morning, I threw up because I tried to scramble some eggs. So, I skipped my normal double dose of cold brew. A headache was already brewing behind my eyes, but Bobby and I wanted a big family and I’d survived caffeine withdrawal before.
“I’ll start lunch. You take this,” Bobby said, sliding it across the table. “Wait. Should I come with you?”
“No, I’ll bring the test back out here. If you watch I won’t be able to pee,” I laughed.
“How long until you’re over that?” Bobby teased.
“I don’t know,” I shrugged, getting up from the table. “But after this,” I shook the pregnancy test at him, “we’ve got to talk about Shepard and his friend.”
“I heard the word library come out of one of their mouths. You think it’s a sign they should be here, huh?” Bobby asked. “You’ve been talking for months about getting a real library set up.”
“The other one’s a writer, Bobby!” I grinned. “They belong here. It’s destiny!” I said and twirled dramatically around.
“Let me talk to Daniel before you make any big choices, okay? Dude comes from Grady Moore’s old coven. He didn’t grow up there, but with everything I think we should give Daniel a bit of veto power on this one.”
I took a deep breath. I hadn’t stopped to think about how Daniel would feel about a birth member of his sire’s coven moving to Heartville. Daniel never met his father and we all thought that was for more than the best. Grady Moore – alias Jeb, ran breeding farms across half the country. Daniel was the result of one of Grady Moore’s artificial inseminations. His carrier, Bobby (my mate’s namesake), didn’t survive the complications following childbirth. He grew up with adoptive parents on Hemlock Mountain at the Sanctuary. Felix, his adopted carrier, was there when he was born and through their shared traumatic experiences, became the closest thing that Daniel’s bio carrier had to a friend at the time.
“Should we call Mark and Felix first?” I asked.
“Nah,” Bobby shook his head as he surveyed the contents of the fridge. “Daniel’s a grownup. He doesn’t need his parents to make his decisions. If he says he can’t handle it, we’ll figure out some other way for you to help Shepard.”
“Will he tell you the truth, though?” I called back.
“Let’s hope so,” Bobby nodded. “Now, quit stalling. My wolf had been crunchy all morning since you threw up. If you’re not pregnant, he’s going into a rut season.”
“Alpha heat!” I smirked at him.
“Don’t call it that!” Bobby laughed.
Five minutes later, Bobby and I were staring at the second pixelated baby wrapped in its yellow blanket of our lifetime. Neither of us could stop smiling.
