“I’m guessing you had an early meeting with Luke and the others.” Zach was in the kitchen the next morning when his father made his appearance. It looked as though he’d just shifted back as he smelled like the wooded areas where they always roamed in wolf form.
“I did.” Derek grabbed a mug from the cabinet and poured himself a cup of coffee. He didn’t need the caffeine for oomph or staying awake, since being a shifter there was always an overabundance of energy, he just liked the taste of it. Zach looked as if he wanted him to say more about what he just asked.
“What?” Derek knew Zach was waiting for some inside scoop about all that was said.
“And, what did everyone have to say?”
“That we will all discuss this later tonight.” Derek picked up the hot mug of coffee and retreated back to his private area, leaving his son still wondering.
* * *
<“Is it okay that I’m here?” Maureen questioned Adam as they walked up the sidewalk to the front door. She knew it was only going to be pack members and mates, so there wasn’t really any reason for her presence. Even though she wouldn’t admit it, she’d forgiven him for forcing her to go tonight. “I can wait in the car.” She let go of Adam’s hand and stepped back a few steps.“Let’s go.” Adam reclaimed her hand and pulled her along. He felt her hesitation and gently rubbed her hand he was holding with his thumb. That seemed to calm her down a bit and he opened the door to the sound of people arguing.“What the hell is going on?” Adam saw Zach and Jacob standing in the hallway as soon as they turned the corner.“Just some arguing, nothing major.” Jacob knew it had to do with him and what had happened, but didn’t feel inclined to let Adam know the logistics of all t
“Shifters only have one true mate. So yes, Jacob, it is safe to say that Madison is your only bonded mate.” The elder saw a wave of relief cross over the younger member’s face, but the mate still looked dissatisfied. “Madison, may I ask what still troubles you?”Madison’s stare shifted over to the elder who’d just addressed her. She really didn’t want to discuss her and Jacob’s problems, but it seemed that it was affecting the whole pack. She walked across the room and stood beside Derek on the opposite side in which her mate stood. “Well, I really don’t know if I can trust him or go back to the way things were like before last night.”“And why is that?” the elder spoke and held his hand up to Jacob, who seemed as if he wanted to interrupt.“How can I trust that he will never do that again?” Madison saw that the pack’s attention had now drifted over to Jacob to
“Okayyyy.” Emily drew out the word like she was confused with the elder’s comment and behavior. “What did he mean by that?” She looked from Zach to the alpha, who both shrugged their shoulders regarding her question.“Elder Kyle never expands on his comments regarding what he has seen or may hear about any vision that he has.” Derek began to walk back to his private section of the house when he was stopped by Alex’s question.“How is he a seer, when he’s a shifter?” Alex was confused on the matter but yet excited at the same time to find another who was able to read visions like she was.Derek turned around and stood in the doorway. “We are lucky to have Kyle in our pack. He has proven to be an excellent pack member to all of us and a great friend and asset to me. His mother was a seer and his father of course was a pack member. Unfortunately, they both passed away a while ago. Kyle was one
“How much longer?” Emily was riding in the backseat of Derek’s new truck. She'd let Zach take the front passenger seat while his father drove. Her stomach was starting to get a little queasy from all the worrying she was doing about her upcoming doctor’s appointment.“About fifteen more minutes.” Zach looked over the seat and saw that his mate looked paranoid. He could tell by their bond that she was starting to get ill and now the paleness of her face proved his feeling to be right. “Are you going to be all right?” Zach reached over the seat and gripped hold of Emily’s hand with his own. She felt warm and clammy like she was getting sickened.“Just a little nervous.” Emily forced a smile and gave Zach’s hand a soft squeeze. She kept a hold of him until she felt the truck stop and heard Derek opening his door.“Ready?” Zach rubbed Emily’s hand with his thumb. He noticed tha
“I’ll be right back.” Dr. Scott turned the monitor off and walked over to the door. He motioned for whoever was already standing outside in the hallway to come in. A few seconds later he and Derek were both watching the monitor with curiosity. After several moments and a nod of approval from the alpha, Dr. Scott finally turned to address Zach and Emily. “Well, it seems we have another rarity in this case.” He rubbed Emily’s hand when he saw a look of panic wash over her face. “It’s okay, nothing to be concerned about yet.”“Yet?” Emily was growing impatient and now extremely agitated with his and Derek’s lack of explaining.“It seems the two of you are having twins.” Dr. Scott turned the monitor around so that the expecting parents could see what he was talking about.“Wait. What?” Zach was flabbergasted about this new revelation. “That means two boys.” Th
“So, are you getting excited?” Madison was hanging out with Alex and Emily in the family room. They were all still living at the Lovell estate, which was now more like their home since they’d been here so long. Alex’s adoptive parents were still waiting for her to move back home but understood her commitment that she’d taken on to help her friend who was pregnant. Madison placed her hand on Emily’s rapidly expanding stomach and hoped she’d be able to feel some kind of movement.“Am I excited about gaining all this weight, not being able to fit into anything, and not feeling an ounce of being attractive…no. Am I excited about getting all of this discomfort, crampiness, and feelings of wanting to cry every two minutes over with…well then, yes.” Emily hated to be the happy mood breaker of the party, but if they wanted complete honesty of what it was like to be pregnant and have your body go through so many chang
“What the hell is going on?” Alex had a feeling that he and Madison were going to have a fight. She had that vision a few days ago but never got a clear image, until today, when it would happen. She marched over to where Jacob still had Madison dangling over his shoulder and pointed to the spot next to her, indicating to him that he’d better let her go.Jacob rolled his eyes but eventually gave in and let Madison down. “I’m tired of all this shit between us.” He motioned his hand between himself and Madison.“And I said I’m not ready to go back to the way we were. I can’t get that image of you and Brindle doing something so intimate together. That was something that only you and I were supposed to share, but now that’s all been ruined.” Madison knew she’d said too much of how she felt, but it needed to come out. The tears stung her eyes and then they began to fall down her cheeks.Jacob hate
“Hey, have you guys seen Madison?” Alex and Danny had just gotten back from talking with the elder shifter, who had enlightening information to share with them.“Nope.” Zach continued to massage Emily’s swollen feet as she lay back on the sofa with her feet propped up on his lap. “We just got back from visiting Maureen and Adam. Em had to pick up some new clothes her aunt bought for her.”Emily opened one eye and looked at Alex and Danny. They seemed to be hurried to find Madison. “Maybe she’s up in her room.”“I’ll run up and look.” Alex let go of Danny’s hand, then rushed quickly up the stairs. A minute later the group heard the thumping of her feet as she ran back down to the family room. “She’s not there.” Alex was a little out of breath from the sudden burst of exertion and also from the panic that she felt of Madison being gone.Emily sat upright. &