Ch. 401..410

Chapter 401

“Ella,” Sinclair says, snapping his face back to mine, still pissed as hell at my suggestion that I’m bringing Rafe with me to the Refugee Center. “It is too dangerous – I will not let you put both of you in harm’s way like that.”

“What are you going to do, Dominic,” I say, turning my head to the side sarcastically, “strap the baby to your chest all day? Bring him to all of your meetings of state?” He looks away from me then, clenching his jaw, saying nothing because he knows I have a point. The baby has to stay with me – I’m still breastfeeding. “Exactly,” I say, heaving a little sigh and pulling myself back to my side of the bed, where I can hear Rafe starting to fuss.” We’ll be fine!”

I’m already out of the bed and lifting Rafe up, asking him about his morning and changing his diaper before Sinclair speaks again. ” Can you at least take Cora with you?” he says quietly. “And Roger, if he’s free?” I turn and smile at him then, pleased that he’s not fighting me on this more than he is. “That’s actually a really good idea,” I say, smiling. “Cora will be really helpful.”

“Yes,” he sighs, turning to look at me finally. “Plus, she can zap anyone who tries to touch you.” I laugh, shaking my head and turning back to continue changing the baby. When I finish up, I feel Sinclair come close and wrap his arms around my waist. “I just want you safe, trouble,” he murmurs in apology, kissing my hair and then dipping his head to press his cheek to mine.

“I know,” I sigh. “I promise,” I say, turning in his arms and taking his cheeks in my palms, “the moment I feel anything strange, I’ll leave. Absolutely promise. All right?”

“All right,” he murmurs, nudging my nose with his. “But I’m putting a tracker somewhere in your clothes so that I can come find you if I need to. And I’m not telling you which piece of clothing so that you can’t get rid of it.” “Well then,” I murmur, pitching my voice lower. “I’ll just have to go naked.” My mate growls and bends his knees so that he can grip the back of my thighs, and then in one swift movement he

stands up, yanking me with him so that my legs are wrapped around his waist. I laugh, looping my arms around his neck and moving forward for a kiss.

“Over my dead body,” he murmurs, will I let you go any where naked. Except back to bed.”

And then my sweet, overprotective Alpha mate leans in and seals his promise with a kiss.

“I’m glad you asked me to come, Ella,” Cora says as we both climb out of the SUV driven by Conner, the red- haired young man who I healed first with my powers. I was pleased to see Sinclair arranged for him to be our combination chauffer/bodyguard today – he’s always been a bit of a favorite. ” Sorry Roger couldn’t make it,” Cora continues, leaning over to help me tighten the straps on Rafe’s little carrier. Rafe gurgles happily to see his auntie, which makes me smile. “Yeah, what’s Roger up to that he couldn’t come?” I ask, adjusting Rafe so that his weight rests comfortably on my shoulders. When we’re all ready, Conner nods to us and we start towards the Refugee Center, a squat building on the edge of the city that looks like it could do with both some repairs and some resources. “He’s all wrapped up in Sinclair’s stuff,” she sighs, “I’m surprised Sinclair didn’t realize it.

But when he steps up as King, Roger – as his Beta is going to step forward to manage the affairs of the pack that Sinclair was mostly focusing on.” ” Does he…want to do that?” I ask, hesitating. I mean, Roger’s clever and a hard worker, but Sinclair has always enjoyed the bureaucratic work more than Roger. “I don’t think so,” Cora sighs to me, shaking her head a little.

” He’s still figuring out his place. It’s something we talk about a lot.” “Well, I hope he’s not unhappy,” I murmur, suddenly worried for my brother-in- law. Roger’s a tough nut to crack, but I know he’s got a big heart beneath all his bravado. And I also know he’s so dedicated to his brother that he’ll do whatever Sinclair asks of him, even if it doesn’t make him happy.

“Oh, don’t worry too much about him,” Cora says with a little laugh as we approach the Center’s doors. “He’s got a new mate, a new baby coming along, andnew bonds with both – he’s all set.”

“That’s so sweet,” I murmur, truly meaning it as I pull open the doors. But any warm and fuzzy feelings that Cora just gave me are wiped away at what I see before me. The office is…a mess. Cora, Conner, and I slowly look around, taking everything in before us. Phones. are ringing off the hook, paperwork is stacked a mile high, and a long line of people winds around the room, waiting for two harried people at the desk to attend to them.

Unfortunately, those people are also working the phones. As I glance around, I also see that the room could use a nice cleaning. I’m not precisely a neat-freak…so if even I’m noticing? It’s dirty. I grimace, guilt roiling in my stomach. These people deserve better. “Follow me,” Conner murmurs, taking lead. Cora and I fall into step behind him. “Hey!” someone in the line shouts, thinking we’re cutting. “Line starts back there!” ” Apologies!” Conner calls to whoever it was, putting on his charming smile.

” We’re not cutting in line – official business.” “They should still see us first!” Someone else calls out, a man this time. But Conner just grimaces a little and ignores him, leading Cora, Rafe, and I behind the desk. A girl working the desk – dark-haired with pretty brown eyes – stands up straight in shock and surprise to see us come around.

“You can’t be back here,” she murmurs, putting a hand over the receiver of the phone so whoever she’s talking to can’t hear. “You have to wait in line” “This is Ella Sinclair,” Conner replies, stepping aside a little so that she can see me more clearly.” And her sister, Cora…Sinclair?” He says it as half a question since Cora and Roger haven’t technically been mated yet. Cora just rolls her eyes and waves a hand, as if she doesn’t know and cares even less. I give an awkward little wave to the girl, whose eyes go wide, moving between me and the baby.

I feel a sudden shyness come over me as I realizes that…well that she recognizes me. Of course I’ve long been aware that Sinclair is a public person and that as his mate people probably know who I am. But so far Sinclair has done such a good job of keeping us away from the world and the media that this is the first time I’m really aware of being publicly recognized. “Oh my god,” the girl murmurs, hanging up the phone without saying goodbye.

“Apologies, my Queen – Luna um…” she folds into a little bow, simultaneously smacking the arm of the slim blonde man next to her, who gives her a dirty look before his own eyes go wide. A whisper travels through the room and I anxiously play with Rafe’s little foot as a thrill of anxiety rolls through me. I hadn’t…realized it would be quite like this. But then Rafe gives a happy squeal, looking around cheerfully at everyone, and I smile at him realizing that he’s right. Well, he didn’t mean to be right.Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated For All Books Updates…

But he still is. And I feel my own smile come to my face as I look around at everyone and tuck away my own shyness and anxiety, trying instead to be kind and warm and welcoming. That’s what these people need right now, instead of me cowering away in my anxiety. “Hello,” I say, directing my attention to the girl behind the counter. “Please don’t worry about any of that.

We came to help. But we’re looking for Isabel?” ” Oh,” the young blonde man says, his eyebrows going up. “Yeah, she’s out at the camps. She left early this morning.” “Where are those?” I ask. ” Not far,” he replies, but then he hesitates. “But I…they’re not nice, Luna,” he says, letting his words drift off at the end. “I’m not sure you want to “”Not nice we can handle,” Cora says breezily, flashing him a smile and then looking back to the dark-haired girl.

” Can you give us directions? I’m sure we can make it.” “Of course,” the girl says, her hands shaking a little as she sorts through the paperwork on her desk, looking for a map. As she does, I look around the room at all of the silent people who I realize are looking right at me. And I’m a little intimidated to see the variety of expressions on their faces. Some are interested, some look happy but still others look really, really mad.

Or worse, sad and betrayed. I do my best to keep my own feelings in and present a sunny demeanor to them, hoping that it’s right. It’s not that I want to smile in the face of their pain but…if I can let them see that I’m working? That I’m trying, and that good things are coming? Isn’t hope as good a medicine as any Goddess’ gift? I turn back to the desk when I hear a rustle of paper and see Conner reaching

forward to take a map from the girl. ” Can I do anything else to help you?” she asks, directing her words to me with a still-shy but now slightly eager smile..

“No,” I say, giving her a big grin and shaking my head. “But I’d like you to please make a list of improvements you’d make to this place. Abiglist – don’t hold back, okay?”

The girl glances at her colleague and both of their faces brighten, which starts a warm little spot in my belly burning. “Okay,” she agrees. Someone will come get it this afternoon,” I say, nodding to them, letting them see it’s a promise. “And then we’ll get started making this place better.” They’re both smiling widely at me now as I say my goodbyes and then head back out of the door with my sister, my baby, and my bodyguard.

Some people wave to us as we go and I wave back, but as we pass through the doors the only thing that settles in me is resolve. “We have to do something to help these people,” I say to Cora as we move to the car. She nods stoically at my side, agreeing. “But Ella,” she says, hesitating a little, “I think that in there? It’s just scratching the surface.” And as we get into the car and start to drive away, I find that I agree. And that I’m a little afraid of what we’re going to see next.

 

Chapter 402

Someone must have called ahead because when we pull up to the refugee camp I see Isabel standing outside the gates, her arms crossed over her chest and a big smile on her face. I give a little squeal of excitement when I see her, my hand immediately going to the lever on the car door. “Seriously, Ella,” Cora murmurs, grabbing my other wrist. “Let’s not leap out of the moving vehicle just because we see our friends.” “Ohhh,” I say, tossing her a little glare over my shoulder.

“I’m not that dumb, Cora -” “You’ve done it before,” she sighs. “Once!” I snap, giving her a real glare and then quickly moving to unbuckle myself and then Rafe, getting him strapped to my chest as fast as I can when the car stops. The result of the delay is that Isabel pulls open my door the moment I turn around, ready to grab the handle again. “Ella!” she shouts, laughing already, and I burst out of the car, wrapping my friend in a one-armed hug, kind of regretting that I already strapped Rafe to me so that I can’t hold her properly.

“Isabel!” I gasp, giving her a big kiss on the cheek. “It issogood to see you!”

“And you, friend,” she says, sighing a little in relief that looks like it was a long time coming. “We were all going crazy when we didn’t hear from you for so long and we got some of the details, but no one really knows what happened? Some kind of…attack?” ” It’s an insane story,” I say, rolling my eyes as Cora and Conner come around the car. “I’ll tell you all about it, but it needs a long telling, so maybe… not now,” I say, glancing over at the refugee camp. “All right,” she nods, still looking at me.

“But you’re okay? Things are…steady?” “We’re fine, everyone’s fine,” I say, running a hand over my baby’s hair. “Things are steady for now.” I give a little shrug, letting her know that that’s all we’ve got. She smiles at me and nods, understanding, and then takes a moment to fuss over Rafe, telling him

how big he got, and then giving Cora a kiss on the cheek as well. As Isabel hugs Cora, she pauses and steps back, looking down at her- belly. “Are you…”

“Yes, yes,” Cora says, laughing,” though I’m not sure I’m used to people being able tosmellit on me.”

“But,” Isabel’s eyes go wide as she looks sup into Cora’s face. “This baby…is a pup?” Cora laughs and shrugs a little. “Listen, it’s complicated. But yeah…. I’m a human with a wolf soul and I’m pregnant with a hybrid mostly-wolf baby.” Isabel blinks in surprise and then laughs, narrowing her eyes at her. “It’s Roger’s isn’t it?” she asks, grinning.

Cora laughs again, harder now and blushing to be called out. “God,” she says, running a hand through her hair, “were wethatobvious in Vanara?”

“To everyone but yourselves, apparently,” Isabel says, smirking at her. And then she turns her attention to Conner. “And who are you?” “A bit of a new addition,” he says, rubbing his hair awkwardly but giving her a smile anyway. “My name is Conner, I’m a sergeant in the pack,” he says, nodding to us to let her know which one. “And are you single?”

Isabel asks, looking him up and down as she folds her arms over her chest. Conner, bless him, blushes bright red as I burst into laugher and shove my friend on her shoulder. “Isabel!” I laugh, shaking my head at her. “You’d have bitten my head off if I asked that of you the moment I met you.” “Well, I’m different now,” she says, grinning at me. “More romantic, now that I see how much it turned my life around. after tragedy. I’m a meddler by nature,” she says, giving me a wink before turning back to him. “So?”

she prods. “Yes, ma’am,” he murmurs down towards his feet, smiling a little.” I am single.” “Good,” she says, reaching out to pat him on the shoulder and then turning with all of us towards the gates. “We’ll see what we can do about that.” And then, together, Isabel walks us towards the gates. As we pass through them, I see her mood change just a little bit as she looks at my sister and I warily.

“I know you’ve seen some tough things, Ella, Cora,” she says, but I do want you to be prepared for what you’re walking into.” I frown at her. “Please,” I say, shaking my head. ” Don’t hold back. We want to help -we have resources now -” “I know,” she says, placing a hand on my arm. “I just these people have been through a lot. This is not going to be a walk in the park.” “That’s all right,” Cora says with a sigh, starting to look around, her hands on her hips.

“We’ve never been park people, really. We like the beach.” “All right, then,” Isabel says, nodding and starting forward. “Let’s get started.” She fills us in on her family as we begin to walk, letting us know that James is well and – interestingly – at the palace today, enough – reconnecting with Sinclair and seeing if there’s a place for him in the administration.

A beautiful smile takes over Isabel’s face when she tells us about Sadie, even though I don’t think she knows it. The little girl is apparently growing like a weed and a fast learner, eager for every picture book she can get her hands on. While all of this news about my friend’s family warms my heart to its core, that heat fades from me the deeper we get into the camp. Isabel gives us a thorough tour, taking us down row after row of tents where families live together, scrapping together their world as best they can. “How did these people get here,” Cora murmurs, confused. “Well, this is the Wolf Camp,” Isabel says quietly, “the Human Camp is across the river -” ” What?” I ask, a little appalled. “You’re keeping them separate?”

“I’mnot keeping them separate,’ Isabel says, turning to me with narrowed eyes. ” Theydemandedseparate accommodations.”Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated For All Books Updates…

“Oh,” I sigh, realizing that that makes sense but disappointed nonetheless.” But anyway, these wolves are all people who had their home destroyed during the war and don’t have family to take them in, or have no way to get to that family, or who otherwise don’t have access to the resources they need to get their lives back together.” “Why the fences?” Cora asks, looking around at the tall chain-link fences all around the perimeter with barbed wire on top.

“They’re not to keep the people in,” Isabel sighs, “people can come and go as they please. The fences are here to keep other peopleout.”

“Who?” I ask, a little appalled, my hand instantly going to Rafe in my sudden fear. “Stragglers, mostly,” she says, shrugging to me. “There’s probably a better word for it – but there are plenty of people – both human and wolf – who do not like the way that services are being distributed to refugees, and who believe that they can do it better on their own. Still, they need supplies as well, and many don’t hesitate to prey on those within this camp if they can get in.”

“Oh my god,” I sigh, looking around at all of the poor people around us, dozens and hundreds of them living in tents, doing their best just to survive after the war took everything from them. “Will you…will you take me to the human camps too?” “I will,” she says, biting her lip and looking up at me. “Though… they may not be as happy to see you as you think.” “Because I’m a wolf?” I ask quietly. Slowly, she nods.

“The humans have felt deeply betrayed by all of this, and I can’t say I blame them,” Isabel sighs. “It’s wonderful that human and wolf governments are able to come to a cease -fire, but the realization that this entirecityis under wolf jurisdiction and that wolves have for a long time considered humans second- class citizens, if not…worse,” she shrugs, clearly frustrated with it and without solutions regarding how to make it better. “It’s not good.”

“Still,” I say quietly, looking at Cora, who nods to me. “I want to go.”

“Okay,” Isabel says quietly, and then she turns to look me in the eye, glancing down at Rafe. “But there’s something I want you to see first. Actually,” she turns to Cora now, meeting her eyes, “I’m more eager foryouto see it, considering your medical experience.”

Cora smiles and glances at me, making Isabel frown a little bit, but Cora just waves a hand. “We’ll fill you in,” she says briefly, nodding to Isabel, “but you may want Ella now even more than you want me, if

it’s something medical.

But please, lead the way.” Isabel does, silent and stern as she takes us towards a large brown tent towards the front of the camps. She takes a deep breath as she pulls back the flap, and then we all step inside. And my heart sinks down to the very pit of my stomach. Because the tent is absolutely filled with children.

 

 

Chapter 403

There are dozens of children in this tent – maybe hundreds – and my heart breaks as I look them over. Each of the children is laying in on a medical cot, being tended to by a very tiny staff of medical and social workers who look run off their feet. “Oh my god, Isabel,” I murmur, my heart going immediately into my throat.

“Who are…who are all of these children…” “They’re the pups of the camp who are sick,” she says quietly. “Some of them have parents,” she says, nodding to a couple who are sitting quietly by their daughter’s bed, reading her a book even though the little girl can barely pay attention because she’s whimpering with pain. ” But a lot of them,” Isabel says, taking my hand and drawing my attention back to her, “a lot of them are alone.

The rest of the orphans have already gone to the adoption center in the city, but these ones -” “They need help,” I say, my voice tight, determined. “Yes,” she says quietly. And then she turns her eyes to Cora. “Can you…would you be willing to spend some time here? We can use all the hands we’ve got.” ” You’ll want both of us,” Cora says, turning to me to consult. And I nod to her, but turn back to Isabel first. “Are there children like this in the human camp as well?”

I ask quietly. “Yes,” she replies. “A tent as big as this, filled. Maybe bigger.” “Okay,” I say, my heart breaking. But that resolve in me that started earlier, it hardens. “Here today? The other camp tomorrow?” I ask, looking up at Cora, who twists her lips, judging the number of people in the room. “It depends on the severity of the cases,” she murmurs, crossing her arms. “What are you talking about?” Isabel asks, looking between us and then up at Conner, frowning. You’re about to see something very cool,” Conner replies, giving her a soft smile.

“But just… let them work. They’ve got their own system.” Isabel turns to me with a frown, but I just dip a little kiss to my baby’s head and then get started. Cora and I fall immediately into the routine we set up

when we were healing the men in the bunker after their battles. She begins by speaking with one of the doctors about the worst cases and as I put Conner to work as a nurse – my old job going bed to bed and speaking to the children and their families (if they have them) with a notepad, noting those who seem most in danger or in the most pain. I move around too, mostly saying hello to people, letting them see the baby, getting the feel of the room with Isabel at my side to show me how things work. But that doesn’t last long, because Cora comes back to me pretty fast. “Come on, Ella,” she says, taking my hand and leading me to the far corner of the tent. “We need to act now. This one is…very bad.” And so we get to work.

The time slips by very quickly as we go from bed to bed, coordinating with the doctors and social workers already on staff to ensure that we’re doing the best work that we can in the short time that we have available. But generally, we fall into a pretty stable routine of me healing the children while Cora and Isabel consult to determine who is next. Conner takes Rafe while I heal, ensuring that he’s content when he’s away from me.

“He’s a really good baby,” Conner murmurs to me the fifth or sixth time that he takes Rafe from me and tucks him happily away in the crook of his arm. “He’s…very chill. I wasn’t expecting that.” “Well,” I sigh, smiling up at him, “Rafe likes his dad better than me and you probably remind him of Sinclair. You’re both…” I wave a hand towards Conner’s large, muscular frame, “gigantic and stuff. Probably thinks he’s right at home!” “I can’t believe that’s true,” Conner says casually, grinning down at Rafe.”

Everyone loves the Luna.” As if in confirmation, Rafe gives a happy little squeal and reaches out a hand to me, which I kiss. I look back up at Conner.” You’ll let me know? If he needs anything?” “Always,” Conner murmurs, giving me a little wink and stepping away with the baby, who tucks his face away against Conner’s chest, apparently getting ready for a nap. And so I turn my attention away, heading over to the little girl who looks up at me with wide eyes in a pale face. “Hi,” I say, smiling and sitting next to her, taking her hand. “What’s your name?”

“Leah,” she says, the word barely audible as it escapes through her cracked lips. “Well, Leah,” I say, smiling as I lean closer. “I know you’ve been feeling pretty badly lately, but I’m going to help you feel better, if that’s okay with you.” Slowly, Leah nods and closes her eyes, leaning back against her pillows. I squeeze her hand a little as I glance towards the empty chair next to her, my heart breaking as I consider that she has no parent to come sit with her.

But I brush my grief for this little girl aside, because it’s not going to do her any good, and then I close my eyes and access my mother’s gift, letting it sweep through me first and then into her, where I find… quite a lot of damage done. “This one might take a while,” I say, feeling Isabel’s presence by my side. “That’s all right, Luna,” she replies quietly, and I smile a little to hear her say that name. “You take your time.”Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated For All Books Updates…

Leah’s injuries are extensive she’s battered and bruised from her experiences either during the war or from her time here in the camp. But I also find something…darker, deeper within her. I don’t know anything, really, about biology or what organs I’m sensing in her as ill (and I make a mental note to immediately get some books or take some courses on the subject) but it doesn’t really matter.

The gift, in its grace, can sense when something is wrong – and it knows how to fix it. I’m really, in all things, just the conduit. But as I put the gift to work, I’m so, so grateful to my mother for letting me be the conduit forthisparticular gift. It’s almost as if she knew it would bring me a personal joy to be able to help in this way.

It does take a long time for the gift to do its work, to heal a long lesion within what I think is – maybe? – Leah’s liver. And then, when that’s all patched up, the gift flows through her body and slowly knits up all the cuts and bruises on her and at the last works to gently eradicate what feel like…well, tiny little dots in her body, which are justwrong. Oroff.

I don’t know how else to explain it. When I finally open my eyes, I look down at Leah’s hand still in my own and smile to see that it’s already warmer than it was when I started. And I look up, my smile deepening when I see that she’s peacefully asleep, a little smile on her face. My heart squeezes as I hope that she’s dreaming, and that her dreams are wonderful.

“Okay,” I murmur, sighing and standing up, surprised to find my body stiff. “Let’s let her rest.” I turn then and am a little surprised to see Isabel standing there, staring at me in shock. “What…” she mutters, “what did you just do?” “I healed her,” I say simply, giving a little shrug, understanding that it’s going to take her some time to comprehend. We told her about the Goddess’ gift before we got started but I’m well aware that it’s one thing to hear about it and quite another to see it work. “How long was I …out?” “Over an hour,” Cora snaps, striding over to us and giving me a little glare. “What?” I ask, my eyes going wide. And then I groan a little, because that’s…that’s way too long. If I spend an hour on each of these children…

“Well, if you’d simply did what I told you to do,” Cora says, glaring at me some more, “andjusthealed her liver- her body could have done the rest over the next few days, or we could have come back -”

“There’s no way,” I say, my voice shaking a little with emotion as I return Cora’s glare, “absolutelyno wayI was letting this little girl suffer for one more moment.”

“Well,” Cora says, opening her eyes wide and waving a hand to encompass the rest of the room. “You healed her, every little bump and bruise, and in doing so let all the seother children continue to suffer. Some of which reallyneedyou, Ella.”

And my heart sinks as I look around and realize that she’s right. My eyes snap back to my sister’s and the guilt overtakes me, knocking out my anger like a tidal wave as I think of every little kid in each of these beds, quietly suffering, waiting for me – And quite suddenly, I burst into tears.

 

Chapter 404

“Oh, Ella,” Cora sighs, her shoulders slumping as she sees my reaction to her words. She strides over to me and wraps me in a big hug. “I’m sorry,” she murmurs into my hair, “I shouldn’t have said it like that.” “No,” I sniff, you’re right – I should have listened – ”

“It’s okay. You didso goodby her,” Cora says, loosening her grip and turning me towards the little girl asleep in her bed. “She wasn’t going to make it, Ella,” Cora whispers as we look down at the girl. “Not even a few more days maybe not even through the night. And look at her now.”

Tears are streaming freely down my cheeks now. “She’s perfect,” I murmur, and Cora nods.

“So, you did a good thing,” she sighs, wiping at my tears in her own brusk way, “but we still haveworkto do. All right?”

“Okay,” I say nodding and looking around the room. “Who’s next?” “A little boy,” she says, looking down at her clipboard. “Named Philip.” “A sweet little boy!” I gasp, and then I bury my face in my hands and start crying again, thinking of my own sweet baby – and if he ever got sick – “Ella,” Cora sighs next to me, and I hear her take a deep steadying breath.

“We are not going to get through this if you keep crying all the time.” “I can’t help it,” I sniff, looking up at her and wiping again at my tears, which just seem to keep coming. “Do you think…if these kids don’t have a home, Sinclair will…” “If you go home tonight and ask Sinclair to adopt all these kids,” she says slowly, raising her eyebrows and shaking her head at me, though unable to keep a smile from starting on her lips, “he’s gonna flip, Ella.” “But -” ”

Move on, kid!” she laughs, giving me a little push between the shoulder blades to keep me moving. “Let’s go help Philip!”

“Philip,” I say, taking a deep breath and nodding steadily, trying to put my motherly impulse to save and keep and raiseallthe children away, though it is very difficult. We don’t have far to go, but as we walk I take my baby from Conner’s arms, even though I know I’ll have to give him back in about two seconds.

“What do o you think, baby,” I murmur to Rafe, looking down and watching him sleep, warmth crawling through me and chasing away my sadness as I look down into his perfect little face. ” Should we bring home about a dozen new orphan siblings for you today? Do you think daddy will be mad?”

Conner drops Cora off first and then drives us back to the palace. To my extreme disappointment, I was convinced not to bring any children back with me tonight, so it’s just me and Rafe in the car with him. Conner surprises me by driving around to the back of the palace and pressing a button at the top of the car, opening a wide black door.

“Oh,” I say, leaning forward curiously. “So thereisa garage…”

Conner laughs a little and confirms my suspicions. As he pulls into a parking spot very close to what I assume is the entrance, I place a hand on his shoulder. “You did really well today, Conner,” I say softly. “Thank you, Luna,” he says, flashing me a smile. “You should…” and I hesitate here, not really knowing what to say. “I should what?” he asks, curious. “Well, I know that you’re part of the military,” say, taking my hand away and twisting my fingers together anxiously, “and I know that you probably have all sorts of ambitions there, but…well, if you’d like to be part of my team, even just for now, and help me continue doing this work, we’d be really happy to have you.”

I smile at him, hoping it’s an offer he’ll consider, and hoping even more that it doesn’t derail his own plans. “I’ll think about it, Luna,” he says, meeting my eyes with a very genuine smile. “I promise I will.” And then we both nod at each other and get out of the car, me unstrapping the baby and leaving his car seat where it is – because he’s just going to need it tomorrow anyway.Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated For All Books Updates…

Conner leads me through the winding halls beneath the palace to an elevator, which we climb into. He presses a button and swipes a card from his pocket and, when it reaches the second floor, I’m very surprised to find us in the hallway where my personal rooms are. “Oh,” I say, my eyebrows arching almost to my hairline. “Well, that’s terribly convenient, isn’t it?” “Only the best for our Queen,” Conner says, gesturing forward so that I can step out ahead of him. I smile at him and do so, but frown and turn when he stays in the elevator. “You aren’t coming?” Nah,” he says, smiling at me and shrugging. “I’ve got to get back to the barracks, Luna. Have to get some rest so that I’m fresh tomorrow.

I roll my eyes at myself – ofcourse. What was I thinking, that he was going to come and hang out with me and Sinclair? I wave goodbye to him and wish him a good night’s sleep, considering that I’ll just have to give my own report to Sinclair, even though I figured Conner would handle it.

But still. I can handle that, right? As long as I don’t fall asleep on my feet first. But when I push open the door to our suite, I can tell already that Sinclair is mad. Frowning, I close the door behind me, looking towards where he sits at his new desk by the window, already glowering at me with his arms crossed. “What is it?” I ask, confused.

“Ella,” Sinclair snaps, standing and striding over to me as he gestures to the darkness outside the window. “You were goneall day- and while I don’t care about that, you didnotanswer your phone the entire time -”

“My phone,” I say, frowning up at him and passing the baby over to the arms he holds out, silently asking for him. “I don’t even think I brought it

“Yes,” Sinclair growls, frowning down at me even as he lifts Rafe to his shoulder and begins to lovingly stroke his back, welcoming him home and giving me a lecture at the same time. ” Irealizedthat you left your phone behind after panicking for three hours that something had happened to you.”

“Why didn’t you just contact Conner?” “I did!” “Well then what’s the problem?” I ask, exhausted and crossing my arms over my chest, truly not getting it and honestly maybe too tired to try.

“The problem,” he growls, turning to give Rafe a kiss on the cheek and run his eyes over him, ensuring that he’s okay – which, of course, he is. “Is that I was hesitant about you even going to the Refugee Center, let alone staying thereall day- ”

“Well, we didn’t go to the Center all day,” I murmur, turning away from him and heading to our expansive closet which is basically a second bedroom where we keep all of our stuff in beautiful, neat little cabinets and racks. “We went to the Wolf Camp almost immediately.” “WHAT!” I turn to glare at my mate where he stands at the door. “I don’t know why you’re freaking out, Dominic,” I snap, starting to lose my patience a little bit. “We were totally fine, and -”

“It’s incredibly dangerous in those camps,” Sinclair says, storming forward to loom over me. “I donotwant you and Rafe there where anything could happen -”

“Too bad,” I say, objecting to the command in his voice and crossing my arms, looking up at him stubbornly and slowly shaking my head. “Because we’re going back tomorrow. Actually, not back – we’re going to the Human Camp” And then I see Sinclair’s face turn a shade of red I’ve never seen before. I blink in surprise, taking a step back as I watch him just get…angrier and angrier. My breath hitches in my throat – not because I’m actually afraid I know he’d never hurt me – but I’ve just never… pushed him this far.

 

Chapter 405

“Dominic,” I murmur, reaching for him. “No,” he snaps, taking a step away from me and shaking his head. “You’re taking this too far, Ella – I know you want to help, but Icannot have you putting yourself at risk like this!” He sputters for a moment, turning away from me and hanging his head, bringing a hand up to cover his face.

I reach for him, seeking him through our bond, not understanding this reaction and needing to know –

He opens his heart to me when I gently ask him to through the bond. He lets me see all of his fear, all of his anxiety, all of the guilt that already rolls in him when he even thinksabout the possibility of losing Rafe and I when he could just keep usso safe-

And my heart breaks, for what feels like the eightieth time today, as I stare at my mate’s back, his broad shoulders.

“I’m so sorry, Dominic,” I whisper, closing the distance between us and wrapping my arms around his waist from behind, resting my head against his back, closing my eyes. “I hear you Ifeelyour fear for me. But I…I can’t not do this….”

“Ella,” he says, his voice cracking with the strain of his worry, of not understandingwhyI’m pushing this so hard-

But before he can continue, I let out a deep breath and pass him my own feelings down the bond and along with them, the memories I have from today. Of little Leah, and her sunken pale face, and how fresh her skin looked after I spent an hour holding her hand. And little Philip, who lost a hand, and whose wound was badly infected-

Who will never grow that hand back, but who now will live, and be fitted with a prothesis, and live a full life –

And the memories of adozenother children who I helped – who needme, 1 who aren’tsafeunless I’m there to help them. The bareideathat I would ever, ever give that up, just to keep my own self safe?

It’s absolutely unthinkable to me.

“You’re forgetting who you chose as your mate, Dominic,” I murmur, my arms still wrapped tight around him.” Please, please don’t ask me to turn away from them. Ican’tdo it – not when I’m theonlyone who can help them like this. The only one who can really take away their pain.”

Sinclair turns towards me then, staying so close that I’m able to keep my arms around his waist, and he settles his free arm around my shoulders, Rafe still curled up in his other. As I look up at him I see that his eyes are wet with tears. I reach up a hand to gently wipe away the ones that start to fall down his cheeks. “All right, Ella,” he says, his voice gruff. But then he shakes his head at me, not giving in completely. “I see it now – I understand and…and you’re right, to hold you back from this would be to ask you to betray who you are. And who you are is the reason I love you. I get it.”

I nod, looking up at him, sending a pulse of love and gratitude down our bond. Because I really am just so grateful to be with a man who understands who I really am, down to the core of my being. And more than that a man who is willing to bend, even though he’s never been a particularly pliant person, when I tell him what I need.

“But we’re doing this on my terms,” he continues, a little bit of his growl coming back to his voice even as it’s still thick with emotion, and worry, and tears. “All right?” “All right,” I whisper, agreeing to it freely because I know he’s already given in so much. It’s my term now. “Your terms, Dominic. Whatever you say.” “Damn right, whatever I say,” he snarls, a little playfully, and I grin up at him, loving it – loving him. And I raise myself on my toes, tilting my head back, hoping for a kiss – which he gives me, freely. A

good long one that tells me how much he loves me, but also how much he intends to protect me, to keep me safe. Even if I insist on going into what are essentially war zones every day.”

Trouble, through and through,” he sighs when I finally pull away, just an inch. “You’ve known that for a long time, big scary Alpha,” I murmur back, giving him a smart smack on his rear that makes him jump a little and then laugh. “Thought you’d be used to it by now.” “Yeah,” he sighs, letting me loose a bit. “Me too.” And then he starts a bit as I pull away further now, looking down at his crisp white shirt which is now…well, not so crisp, or so white, but instead covered in a fine layer of brown dirt.

“What the hell did you do to me…” he murmurs. “It’s really dirty at those camps,” I sigh, stepping away and crossing my fingers. “I’m sorry – was the shirt expensive? I didn’t mean to -” And then he laughs, giving me my own smack on the ass and nodding towards the door in our closet which also delightfully leads to the bathroom. “Shower, immediately,” he sighs, “filthy girl.”

I laugh and give him a wink as I saunter away from the door, “you like me filthy,” I call over my shoulder, “and you know it.” “Don’t listen to your mother,” Sinclair murmurs, pretending to cover Rafe’s ears. I laugh as I start to pass into the bathroom. ” We’re not done talking!” he calls after me. “Didn’t think we were!” I call back, and then – happy – I strip off my clothes, looking forward to a nice, long, hot shower.

About an hour later, after I’ve showered and eaten the food that Sinclair ordered up for me, we’re finally settled in bed in the dark. Or, the near-dark as I lit a little magnolia- scented candle on my bedside table, wanting to be able to see the changes in his face as we talk.

He’s so handsome, I think, smiling at him over our baby, who rests between us, babbling little nonsense words and grabbing his feet as he rolls around on his back. Why wouldn’t I want to stare at him whenever I can?

Perhaps intuiting my line of thinking, my mate smiles back at me and reaches. out a hand, slowly letting his thumb drift over the line of my cheek. I turn my head a little and kiss that thumb, hoping he knows

how well I love him. But…well, I think he does. Because I know just how much he loves me – he shows me every day. I very much hope that I do the same for him.Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated For All Books Updates…

“So what’s your plan, trouble,” he murmurs, his deep voice so resonant that I can almost feel the vibrations of it through the mattress. Rafe turns towards his father, laughing a little with joy at the sound of it. I smile and stroke my baby’s belly, pleased at how much he loves the sound of his daddy’s voice. “I need a team,” I whisper, looking up and meeting his eyes. “A big one,” he agrees. “I’m not letting you go there again with just Conner, Ella. I know that you believe in the good in everyone but there are people out there who would hurt you.”

“Okay,” I agree, nodding once. “But…can I have Conner?” “Do you like him?” Sinclair asks, tilting his head to the side. ” Should I be jealous?” And I laugh, reaching out and giving him a smack on the shoulder. “Don’t be ridiculous,” I murmur. “But no, he was very good and helpful today. And he’s nice, and Rafe likes him too.” I shrug. “But…I don’t want to derail his career. Would it be bad, to bring him on board with me?” “Not necessarily,” Sinclair answers, thinking as he speaks.

“It would be a diversion from his current plans but,” he shrugs, “if he does well protecting the Queen, it could be quite a good mark in his favor. Would you like me to speak with him?” “Very much,” I say, my eyebrows going up. All right,” he murmurs. “Who else?” ” Cora,” I say quickly, though I bite my lip. “If she can be drawn away from the Clinic, which…well, which Roger might like. But also…” I laugh a little, looking up at my mate. “I want Hank too, if I can have him.” “How long are you anticipating this project will take?” he murmurs, frowning at me.

“Hank might be willing to leave the clinic for a few days to help an emergency refugee situation, but he’s very passionate about the work he’s doing there. I don’t see him leaving it not willingly.” ” Well, I don’t want to ask him to do that,” I sigh, looking up at the ceiling as I think it through. “Isabel, certainly, I need. What about James? Did you…did you have a good talk with him today?”

” Yes,” Sinclair says, and I turn my eyes back to him. “Though I’m afraid I want him myself, Ella, unless you can make a good argument for why no one else can take his place on your team. I want him to train as an ambassador.” “Really?” I ask, my eyes going a bit wide. “But he’s …military…” “He’s also smart,”

Sinclair counters, “and charming, and good with people, and trustworthy. And we may be in a situation in the future where an ambassador who knows the ways of war is going to be quite an asset. “Do you want to send him to Venda?” I ask quietly. Slowly, Sinclair shakes his head. “Or major problem,” he murmurs, “is still with Atalaxia.” And I go cold as I realize that…well, that I forgot all about Atalaxia – this incredible force looming behind us. But as I look into my mate’s eyes, I realize that he hasn’t forgotten about it – not for a second. And that, even if Sincalir’s worried about me? The main focus of his worry is on this other nation that’s still harboring my uncle, and very well might be planning to support Xander in his desire to take our child.

 

Chapter 406

I sigh, closing my eyes for a second. “I forgot all about the Atalaxians,” I murmur.

“You’ve had a long day,” Sinclair replies, even though that’s not really an excuse. Not for a Queen, who needs to balance it all. I take a moment to collect my thoughts before opening my eyes and looking at him again.

“What I want,” I say quietly, “is a big team to go solve a lot of the overarching problems with the refugees. Doctors, lawyers, social workers anyone who can help us start to patch the big problems there, to get these camps functioning not as a holding space but as a system that helps people get back to their lives, or start new ones.”

I think more on his question of how long I think this will take. “But once that’s done…” I shrug a little, “I won’t need such a big team, once that’s accomplished. But I still want systems in place that help people, and I want to run them. Would that be…possible?”

“I think it’s very possible,” Sinclair says seriously, reaching out a hand to stroke my hair. “And I think it’s very good of you to want to do it. When do you want to start?”

“Tomorrow,” I say, my eyes going wide. “I need to go to the Human Camp – I need to see if anyone there needs to be healed immediately, especially the children – ”

Sinclair laughs, shaking his head at me. I make a little squeak of protest at his wanting to delay me, but he shakes his head, letting me know that I’m misinterpreting him. “I’ll make sure you have the bodyguards to do it, first thing in the morning. The lawyers and social workers – they’ll take a bit longer. Is that all right?”

“Yes!” I breathe, suddenly incredibly excited. And then my eyes fill with tears again as I smile at my mate, as I scooch closer across the gigantic bed until our baby is frankly squeezed between us, wanting to be close to my mate and our child at the same time. ” Thank you, Dominic.”

“Of course, Ella,” he says, kissing me on the forehead. We stay like that for a long moment, passing love between our bond in a steady loop, each of us connecting with Rafe so that he feels it too. He gives us a contented little burble in reply.

“Although Ella,” Sinclair murmurs, making me look up at him.

“What?” I ask, curious and a little worried. “This time?” he says, leaning in to hold my gaze, making sure he hears me. “You’re taking your phone.”

And I laugh, nodding and tucking my head under his chin, perfectly happy and excited about our new plans. Okay, love,” I sigh, content. “I’ll take my phone. I promise.”

Cora

I’m completely beat that evening as I unlock the door to our little house – but even if I’m almost too exhausted to feel my own feet beneath me, I can’t help but smile as my key twists in the lock. My key, I think, grinning. My lock. My house!

As I push the door open and look around, I still can’t quite believe it – that Ella and Sinclair gave us this house, that it’s really ours. At first it felt a lot like Roger and I were just living here, that it was just a loaner or something.

But as every day passes, and we feel more and more relaxed here….

Well. It starts to settle in. That this is my home, with my mate.

And I smile down at my belly, running a hand over it even though I’m not showing at all. Because in a couple of months, we’re going to bring a little baby home here. And he’s going to grow up calling this place home.

And it’s such a rich, wonderful anticipation that…well, I lose my breath a bit, I’m so happy. But I inhale deeply and look up when I hear my mate at the top of the stairs.

“Hey,” Roger says, smiling widely and starting to hurry down them, eager to be at my side. He reaches me almost in an instant, pushing the door shut behind me in the same moment that he wraps and arm around my waist and kisses me.

And I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him back, smiling as I do so – because this, too, feels a little unreal, especially after the horrible things that I saw today. Roger, mine, my mate – waiting for me, in our house.

How the hell did I get so lucky?

“Where you been, gorgeous?” Roger murmurs, moving his face back from mine just an inch, his arms still wrapped around my waist. “I was surprised you weren’t home when I got here.”

“I know,” I sigh, shaking my head a little. “It was…a crazier day than I thought it would be.”Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated For All Books Updates…

“Really,” he says, surprised. “What happened?” And then he lets me go, moving to the door to twist the lock and then taking my hand, leading me into the kitchen where I’m sure that there’s some kind of takeout waiting for me.

“We went to the refugee camp, the one with the wolves,” I tell him, smiling with pleasure as my suspicions are confirmed. Roger opens the fridge and pulls out some packages of my favorite Thai noodles. He starts to put them into a bowl for me as I sit down at the table and continue. “There were

so many children there who needed help. Ella healed the ones who needed it most – but it was…it was a lot.”

“I’m surprised to hear that,” Roger replies, bringing me my food along with a big glass of cold water. “Well – or maybe not to hear it. But I’m surprised that I didn’t know that it was so bad that so many children were suffering. That seems like the sort of thing that Sinclair would be on top of.”

“We’ve been gone for long time, and we’ve been distracted,” I say, starting to slurp up the noodles eagerly, so hungry that I’m unable to help myself from being messy. But in my heart, I know Roger couldn’t care less, so I allow myself to dig in and indulge. “I guess Sinclair didn’t have all of his information systems in place to give him all the details.”

“Are you guys going back?” Roger asks, curious, and I hear a little hesitation in his voice.

“Yes,” I reply, continuing to eat as I look up at him. “Tomorrow, if we can. But to the human camps. There’s just… so much to do. So many people who need immediate help – and Ella really can provide that immediate care that other doctors can’t. And she needs me,” I say, giving a little shrug, “or else she’ll have an emotional breakdown over each and every kid.” I smirk, remembering how she was today. “And try to adopt them.”

Roger laughs at this, shaking his head a little, because he knows Ella’s personality well enough by this point to understand exactly what I mean. But then he quietly looks at the floor, raising my suspicions.

“What?” I ask, putting my fork down and waiting. Because I know there’s something he’s not saying. Roger just sighs and looks up at me.” Can’t you guess?”

“You’re worried,” I reply, shaking my head a little. “That it’s too dangerous.”

“Knew you were clever,” he says with a cheeky wink. I open my mouth to protest but Roger just raises a hand, asking me to wait. And, obliging my dear mate, I do. After a moment he starts again.

“I trust you, Cora,” he says, taking a deep breath. “But you are pregnant. And even beyond the baby, you’re aware that I’m…” he shrugs and I smile already, anticipating the joke, “mildly fond of you.”

I laugh aloud and he grins at me, holding my gaze. “Cora, after everything that we’ve been through, you know it would kill me if anything happened to you, right? So, would you mind if I asked Sinclair to ensure that you’re going to these camps with a heavy guard?”

I open my mouth to agree instantly, but then I hesitate.

“What?” Roger asks, encouraging me to speak.

“I don’t mind the guards,” I say honestly, “but we’re going to the human camp. And…I wonder if it’s good for us to show up with like, twenty wolves to help a group of people who patently distrust wolves.”

“A good point,” he says, nodding and looking off into the distance a little. ” I’ll bring it up with Sinclair. But do you mind, overall?” he asks, looking back at me again, “the idea of an increased guard?”

“I do not,” I say, smiling at him and giving a little shrug. “Though I imagine Sinclair’s already got it planned.”

“That’s what’s nice about having an Alpha brother,” Roger says, laughing a little. “He solves your problems before you ever even know they existed.”

“He also gives you houses,” I point out, reaching for my glass of water and taking a big gulp.

“Yeah…” Roger says, hesitating and rubbing the back of his neck, looking down at the floor.

“What?” I ask, picking up on a hesitation in Roger’s voice that’s new to me. I stand up, finished with my noodles and go to stand next to my mate at his place leaning against the granite countertop. “What’s wrong?”

“Are you ready to get pissed off?” he asks, looking up at me through his eyelashes a bit.

I cross my arms, saying nothing, just waiting for my mate to continue.

 

Chapter 407

Roger’s silent for a long time, smirking at me, making me answer.

“I make no promises,” I reply after a long moment, shaking my hair back in a lofty way that makes him laugh. “But seriously, what is it?”

“Well,” Roger sighs, letting his shoulders drop and looking at me squarely now that some of the tension is gone. “Sinclair wants to give us more than a house now. He also wants to give us…a wedding.”

My jaw drops a little. “A wedding?” I ask, baffled. “But we’re…we’re wolves,” I say, wrinkling my nose. “Or at least – mostly wolf,” I say, glancing down at my belly where my little hybrid baby is growing.

“Yeah, he wants it to be a wedding and a mating ceremony at once – a symbolic uniting of the wolf and human worlds. Because I’m a wolf,” he says, pointing to himself, “and you’re a human,” he continues, pointing to me. “Or at least, sort of.”

I still shake my head, confused.

“And he wants it to be on TV,” he says, grimacing as he drops the final bomb, “like a royal wedding, for the entire world to see.”

And, just as Roger predicted, I immediately get very, very pissed off.

“This is such bullshit,” I murmur, pulling my cell phone out of my back pocket and immediately starting to text Ella to tell her precisely what I think of this plan.

“Wait,” Roger says, laughing a little and reaching for the phone, “just give it a minute -”

“Are you seriously on board with this?” I snap, looking up at him, my anger transferring immediately from my sister to my mate. “After I’ve told you, like a thousand times, that I want our mating ceremony – whatever it is 1 to be special, and meaningful? I mean, if we were just going to do it any old way we would have done it by now

“Cora,” Roger says, drawing my attention away from my tirade and covering my phone with his hand, stepping close to me, “I am on board with whatever it is you want, all right? So, let’s put the phone and the rage away for a few minutes and just talk about this. But no one is going to force you to do anything you don’t want to, okay?”

I take a deep breath then, turning towards my mate and putting my phone on the counter, sliding it away from me. “Okay,” I agree, nodding but looking down at the floor.

“What’s up,” he murmurs, putting his hands on my hips and pulling me close, resting his forehead against mine. “Why did that make you so angry? It was just an idea.”

“Because,” I sigh, sorting through my emotions as best I can. “Because what we have, Roger,” I continue, putting my hands on his chest, “it’s so important to me. It’s – it’s the best thing I’ve got, and so much more than I ever thought I wanted, or could ever have.”

Roger makes a soft, sweet noise of understanding then, drawing me closer and wrapping his arms around me.

“And it’s not that I don’t want to help Ella,” I say, my voice slightly muffled against his shoulder, “and like…the nation, or whatever. I just…this is important to me. I want it to be right, just this one thing.”

“All right,” Roger murmurs, his arms wrapping me up even tighter, making me smile. “I understand, and I agree. It’s a no for us.”

“I’ll tell her, okay?” I whisper, and I feel him nod his head. And then, sighing with relief that I have him on my side and that I just have him at all – I let my body relax against Roger’s and breathe in his warm, rich, comforting scent, letting it wrap all around me.

“So,” he says after a few long moments of relaxing against each other, “can I just give you the mark now?”Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated For All Books Updates…

“What!” I shriek, going tense in surprise.

“I mean, if we’re not going to do it publicly- why wait -”

I pull back from Roger, staring up at him, trying to ascertain whether or not he’s serious

But the moment I see the big wicked grin on his face I scowl and smack him on the chest, knowing that he’s teasing me. “No, Roger,” I growl. “I still want it to be right! I’m not going to just let you bite my neck when we’re hanging out in the kitchen and I still have noodle -breath!”

“I like noodles,” he murmurs, stepping close and lifting a hand to slide his fingers under my shirt to the place where my neck meets my shoulder, where he intends to mark me. “And you smell amazing right now – ”

I laugh, shoving him away. “I smell like dirt and field hospital,” I reply, shaking my head and stepping away. You’re just listening to your wolf too much-”

“Well he won’t shut up Roger groans, tilting his head back even as he laughs. “Seriously, Cora, it’s bite her now, do it! On a constant refrain, whenever you’re around!”

My own wolf perks up inside of me, raising her snout smugly to the sky and giving a little howl of triumph. I want it too, she says, giving a wolfish little grin, but I know how to contain myself.

“Well, my wolf,” I say smugly, crossing my arms over my chest, “says your wolf is being an impatient brat.”

“Yes,” Roger growls, grabbing me by the waist again and pulling me close, obviously. Like man, like wolf. This is implied.”

“Well,” I reply, laughing and smiling up at my handsome mate, my eyes sparkling. “Your wolf had better take some lessons from mine. Because he still has some waiting to do.”

“I’d like to meet this wolf of yours,” Roger murmurs, kissing me swiftly and then nudging me with his nose. “She sounds judgmental. And cruel. Like someone else I know.”

“Excuse you,” I growl, giving him a little shove on his chest that doesn’t move him at all. “She is beautiful and refined and self-contained.”

“Well, I want to see this for myself,” he says, giving a happy sigh. “Do you want to show me?”

“How?” I ask, suddenly eager. Because if there is a way – then yes, I absolutely want to do that. I mean, I know that Roger can sense my wolf- but to really see her, to meet her, this part of me that I have to keep inside because I’m half human? What does he have in mind?

“I’ve been thinking,” he says, cocking his head to the side, “about this little thing they call the dream state. Did Ella ever tell you about it?”

“Yes,” she says, my eyes going wide.” Yes, she did!”

Unfortunately, we don’t get to the dream state for a long time because we’re too excited about it to actually sleep. So we go through our evening routine as best we can, with both of us showering, and then relaxing quietly in the bedroom, and then laying in bed reading boring books until we’re drowsy enough to actually drift off.

I glance over at Roger pretty much every two minutes or so to see how he’s doing, and then suddenly between one glance and the next – I see that he’s breathing deeply, with his eyes shut and his mouth slightly open.

Eager, but feeling my body getting ready to shut down, I put my book away and switch off the light, leaning close to Roger to press a kiss to his cheek before I put my head on my pillow. Then, after reaching out to place a hand on his slowly-rising chest, I close my own eyes.

As instructed, I keep myself focused on the goal: to open my mind enough to allow Roger to come in, to send him a little invitation down my mating bond.

And as I feel myself begin to drift off, I do my very best. Come with me, Roger, I say internally, in half of my own voice, half my wolf’s. Meet me there.

 

Chapter 408

When I blink my eyes open, I gasp a little at the gorgeous sight before me. Ocean stretches as far as the eye can see in front of me and there, at the horizon, just the tiniest sliver of a sun can be seen, finally taking its own rest below the horizon.

I look to my left and right and chills stumble down my spine at the beautiful beach that stretches out in each direction – perfect white sand against which the surf lightly crashes, lined with palm trees and scrubby forest with no human buildings in sight.

All of this beautiful, untouched nature makes the super plush beach day bed that I’m sitting on even more incongruous, though, and I laugh a little as I look down it. But my laughter fades as I admire my flowing white dress, and the crisp white sheets, and the amazing warm breeze that brushes against my skin. The bed has four posts from which gauzy fabric flies, and candles are scattered around all of it.

It’s so incredibly beautiful that I lose my breath. And I lose it again when I see the handsome man walking across the beach towards me.

“Hey, gorgeous,” he says, grinning at me with his hands in his pockets. ” Looks like it worked.”

Laughing in wonder now, I shake my head at my mate. “I thought – I thought it was supposed to be a forest!”

Roger shrugs, looking around at the beautiful landscape, the evening breeze lifting his hair. “That’s Ella’s dream state. I guess this is yours.” Then he turns to me, the corner of his mouth lifted into a little smile. “Thanks for letting me in.”

“Come sit!” I say, scooting over to make room. My mate obliges me, seating himself on the bed. I look him over, laughing. “Why are you dressed in linen pants?” I ask, wrinkling my nose.

“You dressed me like this!” he protests, waving a hand at himself. “I have no control!”

“I did not,” I laugh, shaking my head. “You look like you’re going to Margaritaville to listen to some Jimmy Buffet.”

Roger glares at me a little and then closes his eyes, concentrating. Between one blink and the next, his clothing changes so that he’s now in a more familiar black pants and white button- down shirt, though it’s not as crisp as something he might wear with a suit. Definitely more beach casual.

“Oh,” he murmurs, looking down at himself. “I guess it was me.”

“We could have just taken it off,” I say with a shrug, scooting closer and reaching out to touch him, to run my hand over his shoulder and his arm. To my surprise, he feels completely corporeal exactly as he does in the real world. “Can you feel that?” I ask.

“I can,” he confirms, a little pleasant shudder passing through his body. Then he takes my chin in one hand and leans in to kiss me, just a soft touch of his lips on mine. “Can you feel that?”

“Mmhmm,” I say, leaning back and grinning widely.

“This is so cool.” Roger says, flopping back onto the bed and staring up into the sky with a wide smile on his face.” Now we can hang out all the time – all day and all night.”

“Nah,” I say, leaning back as well and putting my head on his shoulder. ” Sometimes I will lock you in dream jail when you piss me off. And then I will come here, and have dream margaritas all by myself.”

“Cruel,” he growls, snapping his teeth at me and making me laugh. “Just as I said.”

“Oh yeah!” I say eagerly, sitting up suddenly and looking all around as I remember where all of this started. ” Where’s my wolf?!”

“I don’t know,” Roger says, sitting up next to me and likewise looking around.

“Why don’t you know?” I ask, turning to him, confused. “Haven’t you done this before?”

“No, Cora,” he says, rolling his eyes at me playfully. “You’re my first mate which is kind of required for the exercise. I have never done this before either. Everything I know about this comes second-hand from Dominic.”

“Oh!” I say, and then I start to laugh. He sits up and laughs with me, even though he doesn’t know what’s funny.

“What,” he murmurs, taking my face in his hands like he can’t resist and kissing me again between words, ” what’s so funny?”

“It’s just so cute,” I whisper, still giggling. “Usually I feel like the naïve one with all of this wolf and shifter stuff! But finally we’re on the same playing field! I get to pop your dream cherry!”

Roger laughs along with me, nodding and kissing me and pulling me backwards on the bed with him. ”Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated For All Books Updates…

Anytime you want, Cora,” he murmurs against my mouth as his breathing starts to get heavier. “You’re the boss in your own dream – I’m ready when you are.”

“Really,” I murmur, rolling him backwards a bit so that I can straddle his hips, placing a knee on either side of him and laying my stomach flat against his. And then I run my hands through his hair, bringing my mouth back to his. “Anytime I want?”

But before he can answer me, simultaneously, Roger and I both gasp, our eyes going wide. “Oh my god,” I say, freezing on top of my mate, staring into his face.

“Did you,” he whispers, not even daring to blink, “did you feel that too?”

And I sit up in a flash, my hands flying to my stomach as I look down at it. Because that that was from the baby-

And then, quite suddenly and totally without warning-

It comes again.

A single, steady pulse of…happy.

“Oh…oh my god,” I murmur, tears suddenly springing to my eyes. “Seriously, Cora,” Roger says, his voice shaking, and I turn my eyes to his face as he works to prop himself up on his elbows, “am I imagining this?”

“No,” I say, shaking my head vehemently and laughing a little desperate laugh, “I mean unless we’re both imagining the same thing. Do you do you think it’s the dream?”

“Or,” he says, reaching out to touch a tentative hand to my stomach, “is our son actually…”

“…happy,” I finish for him.

But we get our answer the moment Roger’s palm presses flat against my stomach, because it comes again.

Happy…happy…

And then I really do burst into tears, burying my face in my hands. Roger sits up, wrapping his arms around me, and I feel his shoulders shaking a little with his own tears.

Because our little boy – he’s finally big enough, now, to not just be a little bundle of cells in my body – but instead a little person in there, feeling his own very real little feelings, big enough finally to start to pass them to us through the bond –

And we’ve finally got the first one. And it absolutely shatters my heart into pieces to know that the first thing he’s telling us is that he’s happy.

“Oh my god,” Roger says, still crying as he takes my face in his hands and starts to kiss me again, passing his own feelings along the bond to me, and along to the baby through their own bond, which is attached to mine. Roger sends the baby joy, and happiness, and pride, and love –

And I send it all too –

But then I worry that we’re overwhelming the baby, so I stop –

“Don’t stop,” Roger says, his lips still against mine, “let him feel it.”

So I don’t I pass my baby all the love 1 in my heart, and my excitement to meet him, and what a treasure he is to me already –

And the baby starts to pass it all back to us faster now –

Happy, happy, happy.

And Roger and I cry harder, laughing with each other, holding each other tight.

 

Chapter 409

After a few minutes of this – or maybe an hour, I honestly don’t know how time works here – the baby’s happiness fades away and then into silence. But not in a bad way – more like he just…

“He fell asleep,” Roger murmurs, laughing a little and falling back on the bed, taking me with him since his arms are still wrapped around me.

“It’s too early for the baby to sleep…” I murmur, confused. “That happens around like, the seventh month -”

“All right, Dr. Cora,” Roger mutters, and I can hear him rolling his eyes, even though I can’t see it, which makes me laugh. “Considering that we’re hanging out on a magical dream beach, passing our emotions down a magical bond with our unborn child, I don’t really think that your medical knowledge is coming into play here -”

“Oh shut up,” I murmur, slapping his chest and sighing with contentment. Roger laughs and takes a deep breath of my scent.

“That was amazing,” he whispers. I’ll never forget that as long as I live.”

“Do you think we just felt it because we’re here?” I ask, still likewise thrilled. “Or, will we feel it when we’re awake too?”

“I don’t know,” Roger replies. “But maybe something about being in the dream amplified it. I guess we’ll find out.”

“Yeah,” I say, happy, content. Because as much as I want to feel it all the time, I am also content to wait, to experience all parts of this pregnancy in their own time. “I guess we will.”

And I close my eyes and relax against my mate, little shivers passing through me as he traces his fingers idly over the skin of my back, both of us still marveling in the magic of that incredible first connection with the baby.

But suddenly, something changes. And I open my eyes to see my wolf standing there on the beach, just a short distance away.

“Roger,” I say softly, starting to sit up. He opens his eyes and looks where I’m looking, likewise catching sight of my wolf in the sand, staring at us, her tongue hanging happily from her mouth.

“Oh,” he says, likewise sitting up and holding me close against him. “Wow, Cora…she’s beautiful.”

But I don’t reply as I look at my wolf, at all of the thousand shades of brown that run through her fur, from tawny to chestnut. Because I know that she’s not here to be admired – though she’s enjoying that too.

Come with me, she says – and I know, instinctually, that Roger hears her as well. I have something to show you.

We both eagerly get to our feet as we look at each other, laughing. Because neither of us feel an ounce of fear, even though this is completely bizarre. When we’re standing, my wolf dances in an eager circle and then trots away from us along the beach.

Roger takes my hand and we follow, walking quickly, both dying to see what she’s leading us towards.

Before we get far, another shadow detaches itself from the forest and comes bounding towards us. Roger laughs as his wolf dashes over to us and eagerly presses his head to Roger’s chest, nuzzling

against him.

“This is so cool,” Roger murmurs, shooting me a grin before his wolf comes to press his snout into my own hands.

Hello, Roger’s gigantic wolf says as I marvel at his size, at the way he nearly comes up to my shoulder and can completely encircle me when he winds himself around my body, as he does now. You are mine. You should let him bite you!

I laugh, cooing to the wolf “soon, soon,” and running my hands through his warm fur. Roger laughs as well and puts his arm around my shoulder when his wolf dashes off towards mine.

“Told you he was annoying,” Roger murmurs.

“He’s perfect,” I reply, sighing and turning my face up to his for a kiss. But before our lips can meet, my wolf gives another little yip, calling us forward. Confused, but pleased, Roger and I start out again.Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated For All Books Updates…

“I have no idea what is happening,” Roger says, grinning.

“I think it’s gonna be good,” I say, peering after my wolf. “She’s really excited.”

We both quicken our steps when my wolf stops beside a little patch of green bushes and again turns in her eager circle. Her prancing gets even more eager as we get closer.

Come come, she says, her tongue lolling as Roger’s wolf stands proudly at her shoulder. We want to show him to you.

And then a moan tumbles from my mouth as I fall to my knees in front of the little bundle of fur sleeping there on the beach in front of me, nestled lovingly into a little soft bed of leaves. Roger almost collapses next to me, his hands hitting the sand hard – I think saving him from falling flat on his face in shock.

“Oh,” I say, my voice trembling and my entire body shaking as I reach out towards the incredibly perfect, incredibly tiny little wolf pup sleeping in front of us. “Oh, you…”

And as I reach my fingers out, I barely, just barely feel the brush of fur against them – though not completely, as if he’s still half out of the dream – or more than half –

You can’t touch him yet, my wolf says, her voice full of love and pride. He is not big enough. But soon.

Roger moans wordlessly as he reaches out too, to try to touch the tiny infant pup, and I feel his own shock and disappointment and joy and wonder as he, too, just barely feels the ghost of fur against his fingertips.

Because even if we haven’t met our baby yet this…this is his wolf, his soul. And he’s so, so beautiful…

Tears are slipping down my cheeks again as I lay down next to the pup, as I study every inch of him, and feel Roger curling up next to me to do the same.

“He looks like you,” I say through my tears.

“How can he look like me,” Roger says, his own voice hitching with emotion, “he’s a…a wolf…”

“His wolf looks like your wolf, you idiot,” I murmur, laughing and reaching out a single finger again to trace the line of my son’s wolf’s snout, which I can barely feel. His little nose is still pink with his youth, not even turning black like it will when he’s older and his little ears are now just 1 triangles pinned flat against his skull –

But all over he’s fuzzy, and he’s warm, and his little ribs are rising with his breath, and his little tiny paws are the cutest things I’ve ever seen –

He is a good pup, I hear Roger’s wolf tell us, proud. I like him.

We both laugh at that – at the simple, flat way Roger’s wolf states things – and I glance over my shoulder to see my own wolf prancing and pressing herself close to Roger’s wolf, raising her snout to tap her nose against his, agreeing with the sentiment.

“I like him too,” I say, resting my head down so that my nose is inches from the baby’s.

“Yeah,” Roger says, curling up behind me and peering over at me so that he, too, can stare at the pup as much as he wants. “We’ll keep this one, for sure.”

I laugh at my mate at his weird, dry sense of humor that always keeps me guessing and then, to my grief, the world slowly starts to fade as the dream brings itself to an end.

“Oh no,” I cry, suddenly frantic, wanting to stay here forever – for days, for weeks if we can to watch him grow maybe see him open his eyes –

“It’s all right,” Roger murmurs in my ear, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “We’ll be back.”

“That’s right, little baby,” I say, turning back to my son, who sleeps peacefully on. “We’ll be back. We’ll see you here soon.”

“We love you so much,” Roger murmurs.

And then his voice fades, and the vision fades, and all that is left is rest.

 

Chapter 410

When I wake up the next morning the dawn sun is already streaming through the windows, and I am absolutely – hands down – the happiest I’ve ever been. I’m curled up against my mate’s side, my hand still on his chest where I placed it when I fell asleep, and when I look up into his face? I see him already smiling down at me.

My mouth bursts into a smile.

“Well,” he says, turning fully towards me now and nudging my nose with his. “That was an incredible dream, wasn’t it?”

“Do you think it was real?” I whisper, desperately, desperately hoping that it was.

“I do,” he replies, nodding. “I don’t think…well, the things that you made up the beach, the landscape… they were all pretty static, no?”

I gasp a little, offended – “It was not static! It was intricate and there was a breeze I could smell the salt -”

“No, Cora,” he says, laughing, “I mean like, unchanging. The things that changed – you, me, the feeling the baby passed to us, and the wolves? Those all seemed very real.”

“Yeah,” I say, relaxing again and snuggling close, tucking my head beneath Roger’s chin. “I think it was real too.”

“He’s a really cute pup,” Roger murmurs, sleepily kissing my hair. ” Way cuter than Rafe.”

“I know, right?” I mumble, yawning. But we don’t have to tell Ella and Dominic that.”

“No way,” he replies. “No need to hurt their feelings. They’ll find out soon enough. We’re quiet for a moment before I ask my next question. “Did that go…how you thought it would?” I ask, hesitant.

“No,” Roger says instantly, laughing. “Honestly, Cora, I thought we were going to have way more *** -”

And then I burst into laughter too, because that’s what I had expected as well. I don’t know what Sinclair told his brother, but from everything Ella has said? It sounds like the dream state has been a place for them to really explore their relationship in a very physical way – after all, they had *** there first, before they ever did with their real bodies.

And while I can certainly see Roger and I using the dream state for that kind of exploration in the future? A part of me is really, really glad that mine and Roger’s experience brought us closer in a different way.

Because right now, I feel so much more like a family than I did before we went to sleep. And it’s not that we weren’t a family before – but now that we’ve…we’ve felt him? Met him, just a little bit?

The baby is so real to me now, so vividly himself, already, that I can’t help but think of him as my son, and me as his mom, and Roger as his dad, and us – all of us – as a very real family.

“I know,” Roger says, placing a finger under my chin and turning my face up to his. “I feel exactly the same way.”

I laugh then, curious. “Wait, how do you know what I’m feeling?”

“You’re passing it down the bond,” he murmurs. “Are you not trying to?”

“Not intentionally,” I say. “But…I was thinking about you. And the baby. So maybe it just…went.” He nods, agreeing, understanding.

Then, curious, I reach out and take Roger’s hand, giving it a little squeeze and passing a curious little pulse down our mating bond to him, seeing if I can do it intentionally. I’m still not used to this wolf stuff, and I don’t know how good I am at it. “Did you feel that?” I ask.

“I did,” he murmurs, pleased. ” You’re curious.”

“Yes,” I reply, smiling happily. And then I close my eyes and concentrate, still keeping one touch on the bond between me and Roger but also giving a little tap on the bond that I now feel so much more powerfully between me and the baby than I did yesterday. I give it just a little nudge.

And to my shocked pleasure, the baby responds, nudging us back.

My eyes flash open and before I can even ask, I see on Roger’s thrilled face that he felt it too.

And then I laugh, and look down at myself, and send another little nudge, this time with a question attached.

…Happy? I ask.

It takes a moment, but then the reply comes and I feel it ring through me like a bell. Happy! My boy sends back, and I laugh, and feel myself start to cry again. Happy, happy.

And then he curls away again, content.

“He’s happy,” Roger says, choked up, taking my face in his hands and kissing me again. “And I don’t think I’ve ever once been happier, not in my whole life.”

“Same,” I reply, laughing at how stupid it sounds, to say it so simply like that. “Roger, I feel exactly the same.”Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated For All Books Updates…

Ella

When the car turns into Cora’s driveway, she’s already standing outside her door with a to-go mug of tea in her hands, a big smile on her face. Rafe gives a little squeal of anticipation when the car stops and Cora starts to walk towards it.

I look down at my baby, strapped into his car seat, in surprise. “Can you tell when your auntie is near?” I ask, curious. But, obviously, he doesn’t reply.

“Well, you’re very bright and chipper today,” I say when Cora opens the door and peers into the car, blinking a bit in surprise at the two extra men in the row of seats behind me, and then at the guard sitting beside Conner in the passenger seat.

“I am indeed,” Cora says, climbing into her seat and closing her door behind her. “Um, what’s all this?” she asks, a little hesitant before murmuring a hello to Rafe and leaning down to kiss him on the head.

“Sinclair wanted us to have extra guards,” I say, giving a chagrined little shrug. “Do you mind? I told him he could.”

“Yeah,” she says, after smiling around at everyone and saying her hellos as Conner pulls away from the house. “Actually,” she continues, ” Roger had the same idea. Did they coordinate this morning?”

“Probably,” I say, rolling my eyes and making my sister laugh. I shake my head, thinking that our two wolf mates sometimes really do have the same mind, even if they’re such different people.

“So!” I continue, leaning forward and grinning at Cora. “Why are you so happy this morning?”

“I’ll tell you later,” she says, waving a hand at me while she glances around at the four men in the car.

Sensing that Cora wants to keep her reason for her happiness private, my grin deepens. “Oh!” I say, leaning forward, “so you and Roger were…”

And then I lean forward, trying to scent her over Rafe, to see if I can prove my suspicions correct –

“Ew, Ella!” Cora gasps, leaning forward to smack me in the arm. “Stop doing that it’s none of your business!” And then she blushes terribly as I burst into laughter. Cora glances around at all of the men who are pretending, quite studiously, that they can’t hear us at all.

But I just laugh and turns away from my sister to look out the window. ” Fine, fine,” I say. “But I’ll get all your secrets out of you soon enough.

It’s a cheerful ride to the Human Camp – – Cora is clearly riding high, and I am feeling good myself. But things start to change as we approach and we’re able to see a little bit of what we’re going to be working with through the fence before us.

“Oh geeze,” Cora says, leaning forward to peer through the chain-link. “This looks…Ella, this looks worse than what Isabel showed us yesterday.”

“She said I would be,” I reply, grimacing as well. But even a glance tells me that Cora is right – that Isabel may have been underselling the difference between these two refugee camps.

When we pull into the spot and begin to climb out of the car, Conner and the guard in front – Anthony, who was likewise with us at the bunker 1 step out first, looking around to ensure that all is well. When Rafe is safely strapped to my chest, Cora and I step out next, the extra two guards following. A big smile breaks out onto my face as I see Dr. Hank standing awkwardly at the entrance to the camp, Isabel at his side.

“Hank!” I call, waving to him as I hurry over, Cora following slowly behind. I turn to see a little frown on her face, but I ignore it as I give Hank a hug and smile at Isabel. “So, you two have already met?”

“Yessss,” she says, turning to raise an eyebrow at me. “Though I wish you’d have told me he was coming.”

“I was asked to come,” Hank insists, frowning at Isabel in turn.

“I didn’t say you weren’t,” Isabel says, looking at him cooly. I hesitate now, looking between them. What was…what’s wrong?

“May I have a word, Ella?” Hank asks, nodding over his shoulder to an empty space behind him where we can speak alone.

“Sure,” I say, stepping aside with him. But he sighs when Conner and another guard step forward as well.

“It’s all right,” I say, putting up a hand to stop them. Both hesitate, but they let me go when Hank and I step a few feet away. Hank has, after all, been cleared as a trustworthy person and certainly not a threat. “What’s – what’s wrong, Hank?”

“You’re underestimating this, Ella,” he says, frowning at me and glancing over at Cora, Isabel, and all of the other men. “Going in like this? It’s never going to work.”