Chapter five

Samantha 

Looking in Kennedy's fear filled eyes and it's all it took for me to partially shift. I took off to find Grace while Kennedy kept screaming for me to come back. I spot Zeke and ask him to shift and guard my room.

Members of the clan clear a path, pointing in Grace's direction with fear in their eyes. She turns from her friends and says with a snarl, "That bitch doesn't deserve to be your mate. It should have been me pregnant with your baby. I'll wait for her to be alone before I kill her and that thing growing inside her."

I let out a deafening roar before tackling her to the ground, clawing at her face and chest before biting out her throat. The entire clan circled around me, my parents included and I point at Grace's lifeless body. "Let this be a warning to the rest of you who dare to threaten my mate and our baby," I growl in my leopard voice. 

Everyone lowers to one knee, heads bowed in respect. My mother walks up to me and whispers in my leopard ear, "Her mother was pregnant when her parents were killed. She's afraid of it happening to the two of you."

I shift back into full human form and meet my mother's eyes. Now I understand why she was screaming for me to come back, the fear in her eyes. I run back to our room and Zeke was still guarding the door. 

Kennedy comes running in my arms as uncontrolled sobs escape her lips. "She's no longer a threat," I say quietly. "I made it clear what will happen if someone threatens my mate and our baby."

Kennedy shutters a calming breath and asks in a hiccuping breath, "Can I shower with you?"

"Of course, I'm not letting you out of my sight for awhile," I say in a protective whisper and she lets out a relieved breath. "I'm sorry we couldn't keep the baby a secret. Grace must have been working in the infirmary yesterday and overheard everything."

"I'm just glad you're okay," she chokes with relief. 

"I know now and I'm sorry for making you worry about me," I say in sympathy and look between Anna and Zeke. "Thank you for protecting her."

"No thanks needed Sam," Anna says softly. "She's been there for both of us when we needed it. We were just returning a favor for our friend."

They leave to give us privacy and I lock the door. We enter the bathroom and discard our bloody clothes. She turns the shower on, waiting for the scalding water before stepping in. I gingerly remove the braid from her hair and help her wash her long hair.

Once she was done she washes the blood from my face, neck and chest. I lift her chin gently and give her a kiss. She snakes her arms around my waist and lays her head on my chest. "I guess we don't have to hide going for the sonogram," she murmurs quietly and I stroke her hair. I feel her tears roll down my chest and she chokes quietly, "I need to see our baby Samantha."

"Let's get dressed and we can go," I say in a soothing whisper and she nods lightly against my chest. "Want me to braid your hair again?"

"Please," she asks in a choked whisper. 

"Anything for you Kennedy," I say softly and she shutters a calming breath. 

We step out of our shower, dry off and dress up in my clothes. She sits in front of me as I brush out her long hair and hums with content. I loosely braid her hair like before and secure the end with a hair tie.

We walk with my arm held protectively around her waist and all members avoided any eye contact. Grace's friends glower at us and I let out a protective leopard growl. Their eyes widen with fear and scatter away.

We enter Martha's office and she looks at us with sympathy. "I'm sorry about what happened today," she chokes quietly and I nod lightly. "Are you here to see your baby?"

"Please," Kennedy chokes in a pleading whisper and Martha nods with understanding. Kennedy lets out a relieved breath and chokes quietly, "Thank you."

I help her undress from the waist down and help her up in the examination chair. She looked scared when Martha held up the vaginal wand and I ask softly, "Can we try an ultrasound instead?"

Martha nods with understanding and I help Kennedy get her pants back on, exposing her lower abdomen. She relaxes against the examination chair and Martha applies the gel for the ultrasound. She waves the wand over the gel and moments later the baby was visible on the monitor. 

"You're about seven weeks pregnant," Martha says softly and flicks a switch. A strong fetal heart beat echoed the room and Kennedy breaks into relieved sobs. "Your baby has a very healthy heart beat."

Kennedy calms down with the news and Martha cleans her stomach of the ultrasound gel. Moments later a printout of our baby is handed to Kennedy and she holds onto it. Martha hands me some prenatal vitamins and I help Kennedy down from the examination chair. 

As we make it back to the main house, members of the clan give her hugs, congratulating her with the pregnancy. She accepts them with a smile and I sit her down at the table. I make her something to eat and Grace's friends walk in. 

The head over to where Kennedy was sitting and before I could say anything, they took turns giving her hugs. "We're the ones who warned Anna," Tracey says softly. "We tried to stop her, but she wouldn't listen."

"Why are you guys being nice to me now," Kennedy asks in a choked whisper. "I thought you all hated me?"

"Grace threatened our mates if we talked to you," Natalie chokes quietly. "We want to help protect you from others like Grace, if it's okay with Samantha."

"You know what I'll do if you're lying," I say in a protective tone and they all nod vigorously, scared of me.

Kennedy buries her face in my hoodie and the uneasy feeling through the bond told me she was feeling nauseous. She lets out a shaky breath and continues to breathe in my scent in the hoodie. Tracey, the closest to her, rubs her back in comfort and Kennedy lets out a shuttering breath of relief. 

Anna enters the kitchen and notices who was sitting with Kennedy and takes the spare seat next to her. I mouth a thank you and she nods lightly. She gently taps Kennedy's shoulder and Kennedy looks at her. She rests her head on Anna's shoulder and Anna gently rubs her stomach. 

"How are you feeling sweetie," Anna asks softly. 

"Ask me when this nausea stops," Kennedy says in a shaky breath. 

"Did you find out how far along with the pregnancy you are?"

"Seven weeks," Kennedy says quietly, showing the ultrasound printout. 

"It should go away in five weeks when you enter the second trimester," Anna says softly and Kennedy groans with her response. Anna lets out a laugh and says with a smile, "It'll be worth it when you hold that bundle of joy in your arms."

Without warning, Kennedy breaks into tears. "I wish my parents were here for this," she chokes quietly, sniffling. 

Not knowing what to say or do was bothering Anna. She always has an answer for those who need it, but I knew she had nothing to say that would ease Kennedy's pain. All she could do was offer comfort and that wasn't enough for her. 

I brought over the soup I made for Kennedy and Tracey moves so I could sit next to her. She and the others leave, afraid of me. I was glad they left. I don't trust them. 

"I don't trust them," Kennedy chokes quietly, relieved they were gone. "They give me a bad feeling."

"You can go half leopard on them when they come near you, they'll leave you alone," I say with a light smile, hoping to get her to laugh. 

"Don't go giving me ideas Samantha, I just might use them on you," she says with a smile.

"I just might like it," I say with a mischievous smile and feed her the soup. She makes a face at the soup and pushes the bowl away from her. "Sorry, my mother thought it would help."

As soon as I said it, I wish I hadn't. Tears fill her eyes and she walks away. Miranda was mad at me for upsetting her and I felt like shit for not thinking before speaking. Anna looks at me with sympathetic eyes and goes after her. 

She returns moments later and says, "She won't even let me near her. She said something about looking for your mother. I could barely understand her through her sobs."

Kennedy 

I felt bad for sending Anna away, but I really needed some maternal comfort. Since I don't have mine, Samantha's mom was all I had to turn to. Those girls from a few minutes ago were approaching me and I shift into my half leopard form. They turn the other way with scared looks on their faces.

I spot Eloise and James in the garden and shift back to full human form. I realize they were having a private conversation and turn to walk towards Samantha's room. "Is something wrong sweetheart," Eloise asks with concern. 

"I'm sorry if I'm interrupting..."

I was sobbing out of control before I could finish and they both took my in a comforting embrace. I could sense Samantha getting close and turn my head away from the direction she was coming from. Not letting go of Eloise, James steps aside and asks, "What did you do to upset your mate?"

"I told her how mom suggested the soup," she says feeling bad. 

"Please go away," I choke in broken sobs and Eloise reaches inside my shirt to stroke one of my scars. 

"I'm sorry," she chokes quietly and I could feel how sorry she was through the bond.

"Let her calm down Sam," James says softly. "She's sensitive with her emotions right now."

"Keep Grace's friends away from her, they made her feel uncomfortable," Samantha chokes quietly and she walks away. 

"Sweetheart, have you eaten anything since breakfast yesterday," Eloise asks with concern and I shake my head gently. "You should try eating something, your baby needs you to eat."

"Everything makes me sick. Even the ginger candy Anna gave me makes me sick," I choke in a wavering whisper. "All I want to do is sleep and cuddle."

"Do you remember what your mother ate when she found out she was pregnant," Eloise asks softly and rubs my back comfortly. "I know it's a sensitive subject, but maybe you'll be able to eat it."

I close my eyes and think back to that delicious meal she made for weeks because it was the only thing she could eat. I could practically smell it, like I was back in my parents kitchen, helping my mother cook. Tears slowly slip through my lashes and I open my eyes, meeting them with Eloise.

"Will you make it with me? I don't remember what it's called, but I remember helping her make it," I choke in a wavering whisper. 

She nods with a light smile and I let out a relieved breath. James excuses himself, kissing my forehead before leaving us. Eloise walks with me back to the kitchen and those same girls were trying to approach me. They didn't seem to notice Eloise with me. 

Eloise steps in front of me and they freeze. They drop to a knee, bowing their heads to her. "You're messing with the mother of my grandchild," she growls in a protective tone. "If I see either of you near her you will be exiled."

"Yes your majesty," they say quietly. 

"I'm sorry for putting a rift in your clan," I choke quietly as we continue to the kitchen. 

"You became a part of this clan the moment Samantha said you were mates. Once you're okay to do the ceremony, you'll be officially a part of this clan," she says softly and I nod lightly with a light smile. We enter the empty kitchen and she asks, "What do we need to make this dish?"

I close my eyes and picture the ingredients in front of me. "Venison, celery, garlic, carrots, potatoes, broth and onions. There's some spices, but I need to see them," I say quietly and open my eyes.

"Is the broth thin or thick when it's done?"

"Somewhere in the middle, we let it cook most of the day," I say quietly as we start putting together the ingredients. 

"What are you hungry for in the meantime," she asks softly. 

"I've been craving for apple pie," I say with a light smile. 

"Samantha makes the best apple pie," she says softly with a smile. 

"I didn't mean to push her away. I just needed a mother figure to turn to and you're the only one I know," I choke quietly and she nods lightly with a smile. 

"I'll finish the stew for you, go find her," she says with a smile. 

I follow the pull of our bond to our room and the door was closed. Before I could reach for the knob, the door opens. I meet eyes with Samantha and tears fill both of ours. She takes me in her arms and I let out a relieved breath. 

"I'm sorry..."

"You don't have to apologize," she chokes in a soothing whisper. "Is there something I can do?"

"Your mother said you made the best apple pie," I choke quietly as she rubs my back. "Will you make one for me, please?"

"I'd be happy to," she whispers quietly kissing my forehead. 

We head back down to the kitchen and bump into Anna. I hug her, feeling bad for sending her away when all she was trying to do was comfort me. "My mother said if you need a mother figure when Queen Eloise is busy, you're welcome to pay her a visit," she says softly, rubbing my back in comfort. 

"Bring her down, I'm going to make her an apple pie," Samantha says softly. 

"She's been wanting to meet Kennedy, I'll get her," Anna says with a smile and goes to get her mother. 

Samantha and I continue to the kitchen and I could smell the stew before we entered the kitchen. Tears roll down my cheeks and Samantha was confused with why I was getting upset. As soon as we stepped in the kitchen the smell of the stew hit me at full blast, sending me back to when I was a kid.

Eloise was stirring up the stew and looks up with a smile. "Does it smell like you remember," she asks softly and Samantha was really confused now.

"Can I taste it," I ask in a choked whisper. 

"Help yourself," she says softly with a light smile. 

"What are you making," Samantha asks curious. 

"I'm helping Kennedy make her mother's stew. She hasn't been able to eat since breakfast yesterday," Eloise says softly as I taste the broth. "How is it?"

I hug Eloise and choke quietly, "Thank you."

"You're welcome sweetheart," she says in a soothing whisper, rubbing my back in comfort. 

"Kennedy," Anna says softly and I pull away from Eloise. Anna was standing next to Samantha with an older woman. "This is my mother, Chantal."

Chantal makes her way to me, taking me in a comforting hug. Unable to hold it in, I let it out, sobbing in this stranger's shoulder. Needing comfort from my own mother and I had two substitutes. "Shhh, don't get yourself worked up," Chantal says in a soothing whisper, rubbing my back. "Its not good for your baby."

I shutter a calming breath and say through broken sobs, "I feel like I'm stealing everyone's mother."

"When a child loses their parents in this clan, we all step in and raise them," Chantal says softly.

"Do you know what my clan did," I ask in a choked whisper, stepping back from her and she shakes her head. "My mother was pregnant with my sister when they killed her and my father while they were out hunting and gathering food. We stayed away from the rest of the clan, wishing we could have been a part of this clan. 

"When they finally found me a found me a few days later, they beat me. A year later, they used a silver blade and kept cutting me until I passed out. I had my first partial shift a week later when they attacked me again and I was able to claw one of them. 

"Then when they captured Zeke, beating him instead of me, I would tend to him and they..."

Samantha takes me in her arms when I couldn't finish. She traces one the scars on my back and I shutter a calming breath. Before anyone else could touch me, I let out a leopard growl. "I'm sorry for upsetting her," Chantal says feeling bad. 

"She just doesn't like to be touched from behind when she brings up what she couldn't finish. Anna can fill in the blanks later when she's not around," Samantha says quietly. 

"Sweetie, let me bring you to Amanda for her nap. She usually helps distract you from what upsets you," Anna says softly and I let her lead me out of the kitchen with just the mention of seeing Amanda. 

Zeke was trying to get her to sleep for her nap, but lately only sleeps for me. I hold my arms out and he hands her over without question when he notices I'm upset. He knows that Amanda has been a distraction for me when I get upset.

I head back to the room I've been sharing with Samantha and lay with Amanda in the middle of the bed. I wrap my arm over her protectively and she snuggles against my chest. A member I haven't met yet, walks by the open door and pokes her head in. "Are you Kennedy," she asks quietly. 

"Depends on who's asking," I say quietly to the older woman. 

"I'm Valerie, Tina's mother," she says as she sits on the edge of the bed. "I heard your story in the kitchen and just wanted to see if you were okay."

"I'm still getting used to caring people, there's a select few that I've met that I trust," I say quietly as Amanda grunts a sleepy sigh. "Those girls Grace hang out with fall under whom I don't trust."

"Those girls ar nothing but trouble," she says softly. 

"I'm feeling tired from my emotions in overdrive. Will you close the door when you leave? Please," I ask in a tired whisper. 

"Of course," she says quietly as fall into instant sleep.