by Sabrina Rue
A minute later, she handed the tube to him. He grinned at it in the light. “Well done! We’ll grab a bit more water to use in their new environment and we’re off to make our notes!”
Packing away their samples, the three of them stood and her children glanced at Gerald expectantly.
He chuckled. “Don’t let me keep you from racing to your family. Go on now. You’re faster than I am, that’s for sure.”
The twins raced to her and Justice jumped at her as Juliette hovered at eye level. They talked a mile a minute about the tadpoles, moss, leaves, and dirt.
“We’re learning all about the environment of West Texas Pack so we can monitor it every decade for changes.” Justice held her face and ended his sentence with a kiss on her cheek.
“That’s incredible. It sounds as if you enjoy it.”
“Gerald is the best. He finds the fun in things you never think about checking like bee pollination,” Juliette replied. “I never thought anything about bees before.”
Hope stroked her fingers over her daughter’s braid. “Are you hungry?” Shyly, she said, “I’ve missed you both so much.”
Were children understood Heat at a young age. They might not know the details but it was well-known that females of their Packs were out of commission for several days.
“We missed you. Tobi, the lady who runs the kitchen, taught us to make fudge. We saved some for you.” Justice looked past Talon at Phoenix. “Who are you?”
“Mommy’s Secondary Mate.” Juliette flew closer to a man who hadn’t gotten any warning about her kids. “You look shocked.”
He reached out to touch her wing and snatched his hand back. “How rude. I’m sorry, Juliette.”
“You can touch my feathers. You smell like Mommy and Dad. I won’t rip out your throat or anything.”
With the tip of his finger, he traced the tip closest to him. “So soft.” He smiled. “Incredible new things happening.”
She hovered closer and put her hand on his cheek. She stared at him for a long moment as her eyes glowed. “You’re a good doctor.”
“I try to be.”
“You’ll save the ladies and I’ll help.”
“That would make me happy.”
Juliette looked at Hope and said, “Let me show him, Mommy.”
“Show him what, darling?”
“You have a scratch on you. I can smell it.” Hope blushed brightly because she knew it was a scratch from Talon’s claws in the middle of the night. “It’s okay.”
She dropped to the ground on her little feet and Hope walked to her. Swallowing, she tugged down the waist of her leggings and showed her daughter the scratch along her hip bone.
“Mommy heals better now but I can help it.” Laying her palm over a cut that was healing much faster than a human wound, Juliette’s skin warmed.
“Honey…?”
“Ssh. Let me focus.” Placing her other hand over the first, her expression was intense. “Justice.”
He appeared at her side and put his hand on her shoulder with a whistle. “Here you go.”
Hope’s skin felt hot where her daughter touched her. Then she dropped her hand and Phoenix stumbled back.
Her little girl explained nonchalantly. “I don’t know where to focus sometimes unless it’s on the outside. I’ll learn where things are with Gerald’s help.”
Crouching, Phoenix smoothed his finger over Hope’s skin. He was speechless. He looked up at her with wide eyes.
“That’s a Daemon gift, Hope. Were kind don’t have healers. Even Daemon kind have few among them. I’ve only met one in my lifetime.” He looked at Juliette. “Your brother helps you. Can you tell me how?”
“Sometimes, I need a boost because I’m still small. He’s my battery. He can also tell me if my help works out.”
He stood and put his hands on his hips, thinking carefully. “Hope, your children can save lives. They can save lives.”
She stared at her daughter with new-found awe. “Did anyone in Montana Pack know you had this gift, darling?”
“No. I only ever helped Slade and he kept my secret.” Looking at her brother, she said, “I’m starving.”
“Race you back?”
“No, you cheat, Justice.” Juliette expanded her wings.
“And…go!” He disappeared in a swirl of smoke and sparks.
Phoenix’s jaw dropped and Gerald laughed. “That was my reaction the first time they showed me what they can do.”
Her Secondary Mate gathered her to his side and turned her toward the house. “Alright. Walk me through this. Tell me everything because if we can save these mothers and their babies, it could change the future for them and their Mates.”
Sighing, she said, “Well, my dad was something of a rebel…”
EPILOGUE
One month later…
“It’s going to be okay, Constance. Just push. Phoenix can see your baby’s head. He just needs you to push.” Hope held the small woman’s hand as she sobbed brokenly. “I know. I’m sorry it hurts. I’m sorry.”
“I can’t do it. I’m not strong enough…”
“You are strong enough. You’ve come so far and it’s almost over.” She wiped the woman’s brow with a cool cloth. “You can do this. I know you can.”
The girl gripped her hand as hard as she could, her other fisted in the sweat-soaked linens beneath her. Her groan of agony as she bore down was reflected in the red tightness of her face.
“That’s it!” Phoenix shouted from between her legs. “You did it, Constance! Well done!”
The new mother collapsed against the pillows, her eyes rolling back in her head.
“Mommy!” Hope stared at her daughter across the bed. “I can’t hold it!” She was sweating, shaking. Justice trembled where he gripped his twin’s forearm.
Staring down into Constance’s face, Hope realized what had happened. She was already gone.
“Darlings.” She pulled the sheet up to the small woman’s neck. “Darlings, it’s okay.”
Phoenix stared at the children in confusion. “Hope?”
She shook her head as she walked around the bed to her kids. Kneeling beside them, she whispered, “You saved the baby, Juliette. You can let go now, darling. Let go…”
“No, Mommy…no.”
She stroked her daughter’s damp hair off her forehead. “It’s not your fault, my sweet girl. Sometimes, humans are too fragile to bring Were babies into the world. Usually, the baby dies, too. That didn’t happen this time because you kept her alive long enough for him to be born.”
“Mommy…” She sobbed, squeezing her eyes tightly shut.
“It’s alright, my beautiful girl. Ssh. Let go, Juliette. Let go.”
She dropped her small hands from the rounded belly and blood immediately gushed from inside her, soaking the end of the bed and the floor beneath.
Juliette threw herself into Hope’s arms, sobbing brokenly. “I couldn’t h-hold it, Mommy. I couldn’t hold it.”
Stroking her back, she whispered at her ear, “You saved the child who would have died if you hadn’t been here. Death is stronger than you, Juliette. More powerful than all of us.”
Leaning back, she stroked her hands over her little girl’s face, wiping away her sweat and tears. Reaching around her, she pulled both her children into her arms.
“Your gifts are incredible and you’re going to make the world a better place. You already have.” She held their cheeks in her hands. “You are not gods. You can’t beat death. Sometimes, you can outwit it, like you did with this little baby.”
“If you hadn’t kept her going, this little boy would have died.” Phoenix tilted the little wrapped bundle so the twins could see his face. “Now, because of you both, there’s a child who will grow up and live a full life.”
“I-I didn’t save her for her Mate. He won’t know her now.”
“Many of our kind never do, Juliette. You do what you can for who you can.” He smiled. “Thank you for helping me s
ave him, sweetheart.”
Sniffing loudly, she reached out to stroke her small fingers over the baby’s cheek. “I’m sorry. I wish I could have saved your mommy.” She laid her head on Hope’s shoulder and Justice leaned against her other side. “I’m tired, Mommy. So tired.”
“Let’s take you home. Tomorrow, you can visit with the new baby and see the wonderful thing you made possible.”
Phoenix stood from the small stool and leaned to kiss the twins before dropping a kiss on Hope’s lips. “Let me get him settled and I’ll be inside.”
She nodded. “We have a new member of our Pack.”
“What shall we name him?” he asked Juliette softly.
“Anthony. After the man who should have been his father.”
“Anthony, it is then.”
She carried Juliette and held Justice’s hand as they walked back to the house. One of the girls from the kitchen held open the back door and she smiled at her.
She took off Juliette’s shoes and tucked her into bed. Holding Justice on her lap, she rubbed her back until she fell asleep. Leaning over, she kissed her temple.
Carrying her son into his room, she got him settled and held his hand. “Are you alright, Justice?”
He shook his head. “I wasn’t strong enough. I-I should have been able to give her more power.”
Kneeling beside the bed, she smoothed his hair from his forehead. “I know how much you gave her. As strong as both of you are, you must understand that you won’t win every battle and you won’t save every life. I’m sorry.”
He rolled to his side to look at her. “I don’t like it, Mommy.”
“I know, darling. I don’t like losing sometimes either but I think the wins make the trying worth it. Don’t you?”
“There’s a new Were in Texas Pack.”
“Yes. A little boy who’ll grow strong and fast. He’ll have friends in you and your sister.”
“He won’t have a mommy…”
“Not the mommy who gave birth to him but he’ll be adopted into a family in our Pack who’ll love and raise him as their own. He’ll be safe and happy.”
“Do you promise?”
She smoothed her fingers through his hair. “It’s Natural Law, darling. The way our kind have always lived. Protection of the Pack, protection of all those weaker.”
“Will you stay until I fall asleep?”
She nodded, humming to him the way she had when he was very tiny, not talking yet, and they had to be very quiet.
In under a minute, the exhaustion of the day took over and he drifted to sleep. Hope pulled up the blankets and went to check on Juliette once more.
Leaving their doors slightly cracked, she leaned against the wall outside their rooms and buried her face in her hands.
Strong hands held her shoulders. “Hope. Come here, sweetheart.” Talon wrapped himself around her. “It’s alright.”
“They’ve seen so much death. They’re strong but…they’re my children, still so small, and I don’t want them to hurt anymore.”
He kissed the top of her head. “The twins are old souls, Hope. They have a powerful drive to protect. Because of it, they’ll lose people along the way and it will always hurt them. All we can do is love them, hug them, and show them how to keep going, to keep trying.”
She wrapped her arms around his waist. “They’re not the only old souls, Mate.”
Chuckling, he said, “No, I’m just old.”
“No. You’re perfect. Absolutely perfect for me, Talon.”
He kissed her again and led her toward the kitchen. “I’m certain you didn’t eat. The kids will be starving in the morning but you need something now.” Arm around his waist, she smiled as Phoenix entered through the back door.
“Are the kids okay?” he asked softly. She nodded. “Are you okay, Hope?”
“I will be. Let’s sit and just be for a little while.”
They ate a relaxed meal together as the house quieted for the night. Sitting on the sprawling back porch, she stared out at the desert landscape that extended to the west.
“She’s afraid,” she whispered after a long period of silence.
“Juliette?” Talon asked.
Clearing her throat, she told them, “She’s afraid it will be me.”
Her Mates were still. “Hope?” She turned to look at Talon. “What are you saying?”
“After what happened when I gave birth to the twins, she’s worried about what will happen when I bring their little sister into the world.” She bit her lower lip. “I-I’m a little nervous myself, to be honest.”
They both knelt on the hardwood in front of her, their hands on her body as they pulled her close.
Talon rested his face in her lap and wept. She raked her fingers through his hair as he hugged her. Phoenix rested his hand on his best friend’s back and smiled at Hope.
“Another child to love. The gifts you’ve brought into my life, Hope. I’m so fucking grateful for you.” He lifted his face and stared into her eyes. “We’ll be careful. Our children won’t lose their mother. We won’t lose our Mate.”
He put his palm on her belly. “A daughter?” She nodded. “Is Juliette excited for a little girl to dress up?” He gave a watery laugh. “Our son will be outnumbered. That never happens in Were families…”
“Talon?” He met her gaze. “Can we adopt the baby born tonight? Justice is worried he won’t have a mommy.”
Phoenix murmured, “I-I was hoping I could talk you into it. He’s so cute. Strong already.”
“Let’s do it.” Talon grabbed her in a hard hug. “I love you.”
“I love you. I’m exhausted. I need sleep with both of you wrapped around me until I can hardly breathe.”
He picked her up and Phoenix tilted her face to him for a kiss. “You are magnificent, Hope Kassis.”
“It runs in the family…”
* * *
Four hours away, Desiree stared at the woods behind the house of Texas Pack.
She was restless, frustrated.
Since returning from Montana Pack, she’d avoided all but Harmony. With her Alpha, she trained harder than she’d ever trained at anything in her life.
What she loved about the woman was that she trained as hard as Desiree wanted and didn’t ask her a bunch of questions.
Questions she wouldn’t answer if she was asked.
Questions she wasn’t even sure she could answer.
Siphoning the rage off Juliette Kassis had shown her more than she ever thought to know in her lifetime. Things that had happened in the little girl’s life as well as things she simply knew from the people around her, from her brother.
One of those things was information about Desiree’s Mate.
She was too young for a Mate. Barely twenty, she hadn’t seen anything, hadn’t done anything, and didn’t understand more than the basics she’d need to know about the man who would claim her and be with her for the rest of her life.
Not a man.
Not a Were either.
Her Mate was Daemon kind. One of the oldest living of their race. She didn’t know his name, didn’t know when he would come for her.
At the heart of it was fear.
Since she was a little girl, she’d feared Daemons. Men and women who landed in the middle of Were villages and slaughtered every man, woman, and child they could.
Deep inside herself, she knew all of them weren’t the same. Just as not all Weres were like Gregor of Montana Pack.
Still, the fear was there.
Wearing nothing but her dressing gown, she walked to the back door and let it slip over her body and puddle on the steps.
Moving into Change, she ran for the tree line. Her Wolf was happy for the freedom she granted more often in the past weeks.
Being in her alternate form gave her clarity, temporary peace. It blanked the noise of the world around her and gave her the opportunity to break things down to their simplest parts.
The Blackwell name was h
undreds of years old. The Alphas in their line numbered in the dozens. They were old money, old blood, and respected around the world.
She felt too weak to possess the name.
Since she was a little girl, she’d been guarded, protected, and worried over until she wanted to scream. The only female Blackwell in two generations, the males around her were always on edge for her safety. Her mother even more so.
It was why Harmony had been such a breath of fresh air in a life that stifled her. The only person to ever hit her, the only one to expect her to sweat, to exercise, to take on the primal role of protector…even if it was only to protect herself.
When she was a teenager, thirteen or fourteen, she realized the only females around her age were human. Girls rescued off the streets and adopted into the Pack to grow in safety.
In adulthood, many of them chose Were lovers. Some bore Were children. Too often, they died for the honor.
She’d always known she wouldn’t be joined to someone who wasn’t her Mate, not even to secure a critical alliance.
Unlike many females, she didn’t have the luxury of making do, no matter how many decades it took for her Mate to be found. As a full-blood Were, she was infertile with anyone who wasn’t meant to plant his seed in her belly.
Always, she’d expected that male to be one of her people. She’d hoped to strengthen her Pack and her family.
Running the forest, she listened to the night creatures scurry from the predator she was. In Change, she was fierce, she followed her instincts, she could protect herself.
In her human form, only Harmony could be trusted to give her the same confidence.
The moon was barely a sliver in the sky and she didn’t scent any other Wolves in the area. She had the night to herself. It was the one time she didn’t feel scheduled.
She leapt the log and saw him mid-jump. Her landing was hard as she skidded to a stop.
A stranger in the forest.
She turned to run back to the compound, back to safety. Back to the people and the life that she knew.
“Wait, Desiree.” The voice that spoke to her was deep, almost melodic. “Please.”
