CHAPTER SIX

Lazily, my arms reached over my head as I stretched my sleepy body. It was a typical Monday morning. The aroma of fresh coffee brewing swathed my senses. I had the overwhelming urge to roll over and cuddle against the pillow, just to enjoy a few more precious moments before my day started. The smell of fresh coffee evoked my senses again. Calling to me; drawing me from my warm place of rest. With a sigh, I climbed out of the bed and made my way down the stairs, following the delicious aroma.

As I walked into the kitchen, I noticed Daniel sat in his normal place with the daily newspaper in one hand and a cup of coffee in another. I smiled. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, he was his father‟s son.

“Morning,” I said, lured to the freshly brewed pot of liquid gold.

“Good morning,” he replied as his eyes lifted from the newspaper. “Sleep well?”

I nodded as I stirred the creamer in my cup. “Very.” It occurred to me I wanted to talk to Daniel about his run last night. “How did it go last night?”

Daniel‟s face brightened. “Well, I thought it went well.” His lips twitched a couple of times, and his eyes brightened with a hint of humor. “I was thinking it is a good thing we do not have neighbors. The way you howled last night, I thought they would have expected I had a wild animal trapped in my bedroom.”

Swiftly, I turned around to face Daniel in astonishment. Did I actually howl last night? The memories of last night‟s events replayed in my mind, searching for the evidence to back up the accusation. Heat burned against my cheeks as the memory came flooding back to me. There were no words in my defense. It was not the moon that brought out my howls last night.

“Well, I suppose I could blame that one on you.” The embarrassment was clear in my voice.

He chuckled softly, folding the newspaper and sitting it down on the table. “Then I have done my job well.”

The Alpha male was emerging. Proudly he sat back in his chair and crossed his arms over the muscular chest that threatened the threads of the forest green sweater he wore.

“Yes, you did.” I admitted, swallowing my pride. I needed to change the subject before he had the chance to embarrass me any further. “So you were going to tell me about last night‟s run.”

Daniel‟s eyebrows rose. “Oh. Well, it went smoother than we expected. By the way, we managed to obtain a blood sample before we killed the beast. Your boyfriend may be correct. They are searching for something.”

Ignoring the word boyfriend, I continued with my inquiry. “Did you ever figure out what it is they‟re searching for on the mountain?”

Daniel shook his head. “No, but they are concentrating their efforts around the wall. Holt suggested it might be something hidden inside the perimeters of the wall. I‟m guessing it probably has to deal with the reason why the wall was built in the first place.”

“Have you called Jason?”

“Yes, I called them yesterday. Jason and Heather are coming tomorrow morning.

He has some loose ends to tie up today. Speaking of which,” he glanced at his watch, “I need to run to the clinic. Run some tests on this blood sample. I would like you to go to Mom‟s until I return home.”

“Daniel…” I began to protest when a loud growl rumbled from my stomach. I noticed he had a piece of uneaten sausage on his plate. Immediately I reached over, grabbed it and popped it in my mouth. “I‟ll be fine.”

Carefully, he watched my every move. “Julie, what is going on with your stomach?”

“I don‟t know. I‟m starving.” I glanced around the kitchen and noticed a breakfast plate on the stove.

“Well, eat your breakfast before that thing tries to eat someone.” He kissed me on the forehead as he rose to his feet. “And yes, Mom brought over a blueberry pie. I took the liberty and put a slice on a dessert dish just for you.”

Blueberry pie! That was exactly what I wanted. I wolfed down my breakfast and nibbled on the pie as Daniel and I watched the rest of the morning news.

From the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Daniel as his body became rigid.

Daniel‟s face suddenly changed. He grabbed his stomach as he braced himself on the table. My attention immediately went to him as I froze in mid bite. Daniel‟s face was pale, ghostly pale, almost as pale as Richard„s. The color was depleted from his lips.

Tiny beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

“Bathroom!” I shouted with a mouthful of the pie.

Immediately, Daniel jumped up from the table with his hand covering his mouth.

He shot out of the kitchen toward the bathroom downstairs. A second later, I heard the door slam. My eyes drifted to the wondrous pie in front of me. Those delicious blueberries were calling my name. I turned toward where Daniel made his exit. I couldn‟t help from wondering as I stared blankly into the living room. What happened to him? We just finished breakfast and I felt fine. Although, I still wanted my blueberry pie.

Feelings of guilt swept over me; pulling at my heart to check on the man I loved. I pushed myself away from the table, wiping my mouth with my napkin. I knew I needed to check on him, Daniel had been in there too long. As I made my way through the living room, I heard the most horrific noises. Violent roars came loudly from my downstairs bathroom. It sounded more or less like I had Leo the Lion trapped inside my bathroom.

As I knocked on the door, I hated to ask the million-dollar question. It was so cliché.

“Daniel? Honey? Are you okay?” It was such a stupid question. I hated to even ask, knowing the answer; of course, he wasn‟t all right.

Another loud roar. No, I guess not.

“Do I need to call a doctor? Do you want to go to the hospital?” I tried to be soft, but that was impossible. My voice rose over the roaring noise from behind the door.

“NO!” He managed to yell out. “I will… be just….” Another roar.

“Okay. I‟m going to get you that seltzer stuff. Don‟t worry about the pie…I mean kitchen. I‟ll clean it up.”

There it was again, another roar. I nodded my head; there was nothing left for me to do. I headed up the stairs to my bathroom. There were some Alka-Seltzers in the medicine cabinet for cases such as these. I grabbed a blue package of the fizzy stuff, pulled one of the Dixie cups from the wall unit and filled it full of water. I dropped the two tablets in the cup and waited. Daniel appeared in the bedroom doorway. He looked awful. I handed him the fizzing liquid. He motioned me away with his hand.

“I took some of that pink stuff.” His voice was weak, still holding tightly to his stomach.

“You should really lie down. You look terrible.”

“No. Shower first.” He announced as he moved toward bathroom. “Go ahead, I will be fine.” With a wave of his hand, he dismissed me.

Reluctantly, I left the bedroom and making my way back down stairs, I checked the bathroom for any mishaps. At least Daniel was clean. However, I needed a little bleach to clean up the smell. I clicked on the overhead fan then headed to the laundry room. A little bleach would take care of this. Being a Lycan, one‟s senses are highly sensitive to smells.

After cleaning the bathroom, I returned to the kitchen to finish off the dishes. I was in a bit of a hurry to check on my wolf man, and finish off my pie.

Once I had finished cleaning the kitchen, I headed upstairs to check on Daniel, after I finished my pie and a cup of coffee. He was sound asleep on the bed. I didn‟t want to bother him. His color had returned. He looked so handsome. His face was so…so sexy.

The black hair tossed against the pale cream sheets. The long dark black eyelashes closed, waiting for a kiss to awake them. He was so appealing. The broad shoulders rested against the bed. The sheet folded over the middle section of his stomach. The strong muscular arm folded over his stomach. The ripples in that stomach were so alluring. So….my hormones over took me. He was sick for crying out loud! What was wrong with me? I was becoming a bitch wolf in heat! A cold shower would do me good at this point. Instead, I took a hot shower.

Fresh and clean, I crawled into the bed next to my sleeping prince. He was my handsome man. He smelled good. There was no scent of sickness around him. What happened? I wondered. Hopefully, this was the end of it.

I snuggled against his body, feeling his warmth against mine. He shifted slightly, wrapping his arms around me. Yes, I did love this man. Daniel made me feel safe when I was in his arms. When I was in his arms, my problems disappeared. But Daniel couldn‟t be with me all the time. I could take care of myself…sometimes. It just depended on the situation I guessed.

Daniel appeared to be fine. A trip to the mall would be a good adventure for me.

Gently, I kissed Daniel on the forehead as I slid out of his arms. Wearily his eyes opened.

“Where are you going?”

“I‟m going to make a quick trip to the mall. Are you going to be okay?” I leaned over and place my hand on his forehead.

“Yes, I will go with you.” He shifted under the covers.

“Daniel.” I shot out. “Stay here. I‟ll be fine. It‟s daylight and I don‟t think anything will happen. You need to rest. Whatever bug you have needs to run its course.”

Reluctantly, he nodded in agreement.

* * *

The mall was packed more than usual with Christmas shoppers. And teenagers browsed the mall with their friends, shopping and chatting. Everyone was preoccupied with his or her own lives. Not one of them knew the truth of what lingered in the darkness as they slept at night, the danger that lingered closer than they knew.

I came upon my favorite store for clothes. A younger woman smiled to me as I walked in, and her name pinned on her badge identified her as an employee of the store.

“Do you need some help?” She smiled brightly.

“Oh! No, thank you. I think I can find what I need.” I responded with a smile.

Thoughts of what happened earlier ran wild in my mind. I sighed loudly, and placed my hand on my head. I still wondered how Richard could have such an effect on me. The answer began to sink in; it had to be his spell. I was immobilized for a moment, just long enough for him to bite me if he wanted. No, that couldn‟t happen again, I thought, as my fingers pulled back the latest clothing fashions.

After I chose a couple of outfits, I made my way to the sales counter, Richard still lingering on my mind. What if he had bitten me? What would have happened? Didn‟t he make it clear he was waiting for the right time?

“OH!” The revelation hit me. He was waiting for the right time! He was planning to bite me! Now, I was sure of it! That was his intention!

“Dear, did you forget something?” The sales person asked with a confused expression on her face.

“Yes, I did.” I spoke mainly to myself. “I think I‟m ready to pay for these.”

I placed the items on the counter, pulled my wallet out and chose a credit card.

After I paid for my purchase, I left the store. Yes, Richard was waiting. His plans were to take me. There was so little I knew about the vampires. One thing I knew about myself, was my sex drive was to the point of becoming a nymphomaniac. Ever since I awakened as a Lycan, I had the insatiable desire for Daniel. It was as if I couldn‟t get enough of him.

I wondered if it was this way for all of us. Daniel didn‟t mind I was oversexed, but, of course, what man wouldn„t? There were the exceptions when he would make me wait a few times here and there, just to gain more control of himself. Richard had awakened something else in me, the wolf rage that I‟d purposely tried to harness. Something more of a challenge to Richard. Why didn‟t I see this coming?

The Bath & Beads shop was just around the corner. It wouldn‟t take me long to find what I needed. After I picked out the shower gel sets, I headed to the checkout. Again, I paid for the items then promptly left the store. My stomach growled, checking my watch I realized it was already after six. I was starving. I was growing hungrier by the minute.

I turned and felt someone catch me from behind. The hand squeezed around my arms. A hard body pressed into my back.

“You need to tell your boyfriend we‟re coming after him, you and the whole Lycan clan.” The voice was rough, and he reeked with the stench of werewolf.

I didn‟t turn around. “You will be killed before you have a chance to blink,” I growled lowly. Twice in one day. Give me a break.

Roughly, he laughed next to my ear. “Such a pretty bitch wolf you are. I might have a little fun with you before it‟s all over with. Mmm…you do smell delicious. Good enough to eat.” He growled in my ear.

“You will die where you stand if you even dare try.” I growled back.

He laughed low and heavy in my ear. “See you on the next full moon, bitch.” He snapped then released me.

By the time I turned around, he was already gone. Carefully, my eyes searched each person, looking for this werewolf person. How did he know what I was? Was it my Lycan scent? I turned around again. There was no distinctive person in the crowd of shoppers. I sniffed the air. The scent was still strong as it lingered around me. The trail was distorted through the crowd of people as they passed by me. It would take a wolf to track the scent to its owner, which was impossible at this point.

My hands were full. I moved swiftly to the mall exit and my car. This was a direct threat. Daniel needed to know of it immediately. I opened the car door and tossed the packages into the back seat. I carefully looked around the parking lot before I got into my car and promptly locked the doors. Times like this called for a little extra caution. A few months ago, Casey was abducted from her car. How easy would it be for them to grab me? Surely, they wouldn‟t try something like this now. Would they? I looked around again. No one looked suspicious. I grabbed my cell phone and called Daniel.

Thank Fate, he always answered on the first ring.

“Julie?”

“Daniel, I was just approached by a werewolf in the mall. He told me to tell my boyfriend that they were coming after him, me and the whole Lycan clan.” I rambled out a little breathless.

“What?” he broke out in the phone. His voice was tense and full of concern. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, I‟m fine. Will you call Thomas?”

“Yes, of course. Do you want me to come and get you?”

“No. I‟m headed back to the house now.” I said starting up the car.

“All right, listen and be careful. Call me immediately if you see anything strange.”

“I promise.” I clicked the phone closed.

I shoved the Spyder into gear and pulled the car out of the parking space. As I pulled onto the interstate, I hit the accelerator. The car‟s engine whined and the car sped out. Once I made it to the interstate, I could pretty much handle anything. As I gave the car a little extra speed, my eyes darted to the rearview mirror for anyone who might decide to tail me.

The drive to the house didn‟t take as long as I thought, probably because I was driving like Daniel. I pulled up in front of the house. It was no surprise when Daniel met me at the front door. Nervously he grabbed the shopping bags and escorted me inside the house with his hand on my arm. He locked the door behind us. Yes, I was somewhat spooked, but Daniel„s concern was making it worse. I remembered clearly the damaged they inflicted on Casey. I, for one, was not planning to become the next victim to be mauled by a werewolf.

Daniel set the shopping bags on the sofa, then turned to me and pulled me tightly into his arms. I almost collapsed, not from fear, but the fact I remembered I was starving.

In my trauma, all I could do was think about food.

“I called Dad. Are you okay? Do you know who it was? Did you get a chance to see his face?” He rambled too many questions for me to answer all at once.

“Yes, I‟m fine. No, I didn‟t see who it was.”

“Julie, I‟m so glad you are all right.” He pulled me to him, hugging me tightly. “I was terrified. I‟ll call Dad, and let him know you are here.” He said, placing a kiss on top of my head.

I returned the hug. “Daniel, I need something to eat.”

He released me slowly, carefully eyeing me and then gave me a slow nod. I gave him a quick kiss, and headed toward the kitchen. He had the cell phone in his hand already prepared to dial Thomas.

Daniel was on the phone with Thomas as he walked into the kitchen. The smell of food cooking was apparent. Thank Fate Daniel already cooked, and from the looks of it, enough for an army. I grabbed a plate and filled it full of food.

Daniel watched me intently as I piled the delicious food on my plate. I glanced his way a couple of times. Briefly, he chatted with Thomas while he kept a steady eye on me.

The conversation ended, and he clicked the phone close.

“Are you sure you are all right?” he asked as I continued to pile food on my plate.

“Yes, I‟m starving,” I mumbled as I grabbed a glass of tea.

Curiously, he watched as I forgot my manners. I shoveled food into my mouth like a half-starved wolf. Daniel shook his head as he prepared his plate, with not nearly as much food as I had obtained. Quietly, he joined me at the table.

Between chews, I nodded as I listened to Daniel„s onslaught of chatter. Most of which graciously reminded me of his propitious plans for my well-being. My thoughts, of course, concentrated on the food in front of me. One comment he made that caught my attention was of Jason and Heather. They would be arriving tomorrow morning.

This was a good thing. I couldn‟t wait to see them again.

When I finished my plate, I was satisfied. Daniel raised an eyebrow as he looked from my face to my plate then back again. It was a long moment before he actually spoke.

“What?” The feeling of gas welled inside my chest.

“Julie? Are you sure you are all right? I mean you ate more than normal. I mean enough for three people. I do not mind the appetite, but this is a little unusual for you.”

“Nonsense. I‟m fine.” Something caught my attention. I sniffed the air. My mouth watered. Fruit. Berries. BLUEBERRIES! “Daniel! Do we have any blueberry pie left?”

He shook his head again. “Maybe I better get it for you. I am a little afraid of what you might do to it.” A soft chuckled escaped him as he moved away from the table.

Patiently, I waited as Daniel sliced the pie and placed it on a dessert dish. Another pain of gas threatened my chest. This time there was slight burning sensation.

Heartburn. Was there something wrong with Daniel and me? Daniel, with the violent roars of Leo the lion, and me with indigestion from hell. I wondered if it was a virus that attacked Lycans.

“Daniel, are you feeling better?” I asked as I pounded my chest with my fist.

“Apparently better than you. I am fine now. I guess it was just something I ate this morning that did not agree with me.”

“I ate the same thing, and it didn‟t affect me.” A gust of air escaped my mouth in a manly belch. “Excuse me,” I proclaimed as Daniel raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

“As you were saying?” He placed the pie in front of me.

“Oh, it‟s just a little indigestion. I‟ll be fine.” I picked the fork up and cut into my pie. “Jason and Heather will be here in the morning?”

“Yes, I will pick them up at the airport around eight. We are going from the airport to the clinic to analyze the blood sample.” He paused as he sat down across from me at the table. “Julie, do you realize the danger you were in this evening?”

In mid bite, I froze. “Daniel, nothing happened to me. Yes, I do realize it was a threat, not just to me, but also to all of us. What do you want me to do?”

“For one, don‟t go out by yourself anymore. Do you know how this worries me?

How much I worry for you?”

The concern on his face showed there was more threat than what I actually feared. I understood the threat very well, but somehow I felt Daniel was not telling me everything. Did something happen in those woods last night he failed to mention? I wondered.

“Are you planning on going back out there tonight?” I asked as I shoved the last bite of pie in my mouth.

“No. I am going to stay here with you. Let the others nose around for a change. I cannot take the chance of leaving you alone.”

“Daniel, please don‟t do this.” The last thing I wanted was for him to hold me captive in my own home. I wouldn‟t be able to stand it.

“It is something I must do.” He said as he pushed his way back away from the table. It was the end of the conversation.

For the rest of the evening Daniel paced around the house, silently checking through the windows for any threats of danger. The only time we spoke was when I told him I was going to bed early and good night. He remained downstairs, patrolling the interior of the house.

As my indigestion lifted, I felt I could finally go to sleep. A couple of fluffs on the pillow and my head rested comfortably. Slowly, I drifted, allowing the night to consume my thoughts.

CHAPTER SEVEN

It was Tuesday morning, and I‟d slept longer than usual. It was already 8:00 a.m.

My first guess was I would have probably slept longer, if the sound of a roaring lion hadn„t awakened me. The sound of Leo the Lion was roaring loudly from the bathroom, and then the phone started ringing. At this point, I was fully awake. I grabbed the phone from the cradle and placed it to my ear.

“Hello.” I stated as I moved out of the bedroom.

“Julie? Hey ya, lass! It‟s Jason.” There was no doubt in mind it was Jason. The Irish accent immediately gave him away.

“Hey Jason! I hear you are going to be coming in this morning.” My voice was filled with excitement.

“Yeah well, Danny boy was supposed to pick us up at the airport at eight. Is he still there?”

“Oh Jason, I‟m so sorry. Daniel is in the bathroom. Maybe you can take a look at him when you get here. He‟s sick.”

“Sick? What on earth? Wee bit much to drink, did he?” Jason chuckled.

“No, nothing like that. This is the third time he„s been violently ill.”

“Well, I‟ll take a look-see at „im when I get there.”

“I‟ll send a limo over to pick up you and Heather. Hang tight, I can‟t wait to see you both! Are you hungry?” I rambled on.

“Yeah, I would say we are. You know me, hungry as a wolf.” He chuckled.

“All right, see you in a few.” I said turning off the phone.

Immediately I dialed the limousine service. They would have Jason and Heather picked up within a few minutes. I returned to the bedroom. Daniel was lying in the bed again. He was very pale. With his pale lips, he looked as though he was turning into a vampire. I shuddered at the thought.

“I arranged a limo to pick up Jason and Heather.” I informed him as I walked over to his side.

“Thank you,” he replied weakly.

“Daniel, I‟m going to have Jason look over you when he arrives. You look awful. I mean, really. I haven‟t seen anything look so pale except those vampires.” I tried to joke with him. The frown on his black eyebrows let me know he was not in the mood.

“Not funny,” he said, holding his stomach.

“Can I get you something? The pink stuff?” I watched as he shook his head.

“Okay, I need to get cleaned up. Will you be okay for a few minutes? I‟ll need to get breakfast started.” Daniel waved me off.

I turned and closed the blinds, allowing the room to darken a little. Maybe he would sleep it off. He did look very sick. In a way, I felt bad for leaving him in such a state.

I rushed through the shower, dressed, and then checked on Daniel one more time.

He was sleeping soundly, so I quietly padded down the stairs to start breakfast.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I felt like Charlotte in the kitchen. I wanted to cook everything in sight. I figured I would call Charlotte and invite them over for breakfast.

The thought faded, when I realized it was Monday. Thomas had already had breakfast.

He was probably on his way to the office. So much for inviting extra guests. The second thought ran through my mind, my culinary skill in the kitchen. Today would be the day I conquered all, at least I would give it my best try.

Within a few minutes, the bacon and ham were cooking nicely on the massive gas range. I prepared French toast, something even I couldn‟t mess up, and coffee brewed as I prepared scrambled eggs. After I decided I needed something else, hash browns came to mind. I knew Daniel loved hash browns and fortunately for me there was a frozen package in the freezer. This one was the easiest. With the no fail microwave instructions, they would be ready in a few minutes. As I checked the refrigerator for anything else that appeared appetizing, I saw the pie again. My mouth watered. There were two slices left, and without hesitating, I grabbed the dish and a fork. Oh well, I would have room for just one slice.

I gobbled down a slice of pie, followed by a few sips of coffee. All while I watched the breakfast as it continued to cook. Soon the breakfast was ready, and this time I managed not to burn anything. Just then, the doorbell rang. I ran through the living room to find Jason and Heather standing at the front door.

“Well, where‟s the ill laden lad?” Jason chuckled.

I pointed up the stairs. “Bedroom.”

“I‟ll go and give him a once over,” he announced as he headed up the stairs.

Heather followed me to the kitchen. We chatted briefly about Daniel‟s illness over a cup of coffee. Her face held more concern than I cared to see. We discussed the symptoms as she helped me arrange the breakfast items on the platter. Everything smelled wonderful and I was still starving. We both filled our plates and moved to the table.

Jason walked into the kitchen, and motioned for me. He had an odd expression on his face I couldn‟t read. The anxious feelings swept over me again, strong enough to put a hold on my appetite.

“What‟s wrong? Is he all right?” My heart tightened with fear. Could it be worse than I feared? Was something really wrong?

“Nope, he‟s going to be fine. I gave him something for the nausea. But I need to check you out.” His voice sounded serious.

“What do you mean? What‟s wrong?” My voice was a little louder, as the high-pitched tones tingled in my ears.

“Just a simple test Julie, nothing to worry about, I need a sample from you as well.”

He waved a plastic cup at me.

“A urine sample? For what?”

“Just give me a sample and leave it in the bathroom. I‟ll let you know in a few minutes. I‟m looking for something specific, and it‟s a lot easier this way. Unless you prefer a blood sample.” Jason waved the plastic cup to me again.

Since I was already a needle-phobic, I cringed and gladly accepted the offer as I moved slowly, taking the cup from his hands. There had to be some reason he was testing me. Maybe it was a virus. Fear shot through me. Daniel was so pale. Did this have something to do with the blood sample from the werewolf? And he didn‟t tell me?

Could Daniel be turning into a vampire? My stomach knotted. My ears started to ring.

Once in the bathroom, I almost fainted at the thought. I left the sample on the counter as Jason requested, washed my hands and then headed back to the kitchen.

When I returned to the kitchen Jason was already eating from Heather‟s plate. He rose to his feet without speaking. Chills ran down my spine as I watched him walk past me to the bathroom. I plopped down hard in my chair. My eyes firmly fixed on Heather as her lips curled into a smile.

“Love, don‟t look so grim. It‟s really not all that bad. Daniel‟s going to be fine.” She smiled.

My gaze met hers. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I wondered. My stomach growled again.

“You‟d better eat. I heard that growl.” She chuckled softly.

I shoved a forkful of food in my mouth. Yes, I was starving. In between bites, I tried to talk. I wanted to know what they thought was wrong with Daniel. Fate knows I couldn‟t lose him. Heather shushed me and motioned me to continuing eating. We ate our food in silence as we both waited for Jason to return.

A few moments later Jason appeared in the doorway, wearing a huge grin on his face. Heather‟s face suddenly brightened. My face, of course was grim. I couldn‟t imagine what he was thinking; apparently, it wasn‟t as bad as I had thought.

“Well, congratulations lass. You‟re pregnant!” He announced.

For some reason, the words didn‟t register. My fork dropped to my plate. I froze.

Wait. Daniel was fine. I was . . the three words didn‟t register clearly.

“I’m what?” I whispered.

“With child! Julie! I‟m so excited! You and Daniel are going to have a baby!”

Heather squealed. “I had my suspicions, when you told me Daniel‟s symptoms. My suspicions were correct. Daniel is having your morning sickness.”

I still remained in a frozen state of shock. With child? Pregnant? Those words were foreign to me. Daniel and I never discussed having a family. I couldn‟t be. Not at a time like this! Not when we were in the middle of a war.

“Julie? Are you all right?” Jason added. The concern was evident on his face.

„Yes, I guess I‟m a little shocked. Worried mostly.” I spoke softly.

At the same time, I was becoming a little excited. A child was inside of me, one that Daniel and I created. How wonderful would it be to bring a little Daniel or Danielle into the world? Martin Knight would have been elated to have a grandson or granddaughter.

A smile crossed my lips at the thought.

“Ah-h there it is.” Heather smiled broadly. “The glow. It has just settled in.”

Yes, she was right. After the initial shock wore off, I realized the gift inside of me.

No wonder my appetite was tremendous, I was eating for two.

“I guess I need to call Charlotte. I‟m sure she will be excited.” I spoke out.

“I already called Mom.” Daniel said standing in the doorway.

The warm color of his skin had returned. The smile on his face broke rivers of emotions in my heart.

“We are going to have a child.” He smiled broadly.

The tears finally fell from my eyes. I pushed away from the table and moved to Daniel. The strong arms folded around me tightly as I rested my head on his chest. His joyous thoughts were not hidden from me as I could hear them clearly. Daniel was truly happy.

“She is on her way over. AND yes, she is bringing you some blueberry muffins. It was the first thing she asked.” He chuckled softly.

“How did she know?” I stepped back from him.

“Well, she asked me what you had been craving. I told her blueberries. It seems I have had the same craving because of you. Apparently, I am going to be going through this pregnancy with you.” He rolled his eyes as a soft smile crossed his lips.

Jason laughed and nodded his head. “You most definitely are my friend.”

Daniel rolled his eyes again. “Well, now I am hungry. I hate to ask, but is there any pie left?” I couldn‟t help laughing with him as I motioned for him to sit down at the table.

A few minutes later, Charlotte arrived with a dozen freshly baked blueberry muffins. The basket was still warm when she sat them down on the table. Thomas already knew the good news via Charlotte. Good news travels fast among Lycans.

Charlotte and Thomas were ecstatic that they were going to have a grandchild.

Plans were already being discussed between Charlotte and Heather for a baby shower. Here we go again. Casey was the only one absent from the celebration. We had always shared our life‟s events, no matter how good or bad they were. I wondered how much things would change between Casey and me now that she has gone vamp. Would she be the same Casey?

“Julie?” Charlotte broke my thoughts. “Thomas says he will be here in about an hour. He is leaving work early to come and celebrate with us. I hope you don‟t mind. I will plan a little dinner party tomorrow evening. I am just so excited.”

I had a feeling the word “little” meant around a hundred people. However, it didn‟t even occur to anyone that Daniel and I still had to confront the Council. Well, we were only a few weeks away from our wedding date.

“Charlotte, don‟t you think we should wait until after Daniel and I are married to announce this? What about the Council?”

“Absolutely not! Besides Daniel is the Council now. You do not understand Julie.

When one of us is with child, the entire clan becomes a part of it. It is a grand event. A new birth is shared with everyone. I remember when your mother was pregnant with you and I was pregnant with Casey. It was wonderful!” She voiced out in a chipper tone.

“Yes, I guess I‟m still learning.” I said softly.

My handsome man, the man who stood so tall and elegant, gleamed with joy. I felt the joy in his heart. He didn‟t mind if his child were a boy or a girl, as long as it was healthy, Daniel was happy.

“Oh!” Charlotte started. “Julie, I must warn you of a few things. Just in case.

Actually, you and Daniel both. While you are pregnant, you will go through a few more changes. You will become more protective. Daniel will as well. It is a natural instinct with us.”

“You will find that you and Daniel will become more of a „pack‟ so to speak.”

Charlotte spoke softly. “Everything about you will increase: your strength, your senses and especially your instincts. You will even have a greater connection with Daniel. If you are ever in trouble, he will be the first to know.” She paused and glanced to Daniel.

“Daniel, you will feel her in a way you have never felt before. The connection will be stronger. You will be linked in a way like no-other. You will hear her clearly in your mind, no matter where she is.” She finished.

“What about the werewolves? I can‟t just let Daniel go out there alone.” I was now worried about him.

“Lass, we will have Daniel covered. Right now, we all feel the same way. Keeping you safe. I can speak for Heather when I tell you we are both excited for you and Danny boy. Our instincts are high at this point as well.” Jason chimed in.

Yes, I did feel the protection they were offering. It was an odd sort of feeling. We were all behaving like a true pack. However, my soothing thoughts soon turned to the blueberry muffins. Laughter filled the kitchen as they watched Daniel and me devour them.

“Jason,” Daniel began. “You feel up to coming over and seeing the clinic I set up? I need to check out the blood sample.”

Jason‟s eyebrows rose. “Of course, I‟m up for it. I want to see what you‟ve put together. Have you hired an assistant yet?”

Daniel glanced to me then back to Jason. “Well, my assistant is currently handling something more important.” He smiled broadly, his attention now on me.

“Well, you two have a great time. I‟m going to take Heather into town and pick out a dress for the wedding.” I returned his smile.

Daniel showered and dressed, then returned downstairs to steal another muffin before he left with Jason. Heather and I took my dad‟s Jag to Nancy‟s Boutique. A small store centered outside of the Atlanta city limits, the quaint little store where Charlotte purchased all of her formal attire was a specialty boutique that catered to and fared well among the wealthy.

I chose a medium blue floor length dress for the evening. The long sleeve dress was very elegant, straight and form fitting. The silver embroidery down the right side gave it the shimmering effect.

Nancy and I picked out an elegant gown for Heather. I was surprised how sexy it looked on her petite figure. The full-length black evening gown fit her perfectly. And, based on Nancy‟s recommendations, we chose a loose gold belt to accentuate her waist with gold jewelry. The dress was plain, but when Nancy was finished adorning it with gold accents, it was beautiful and Heather was gorgeous. I was sure Jason would appreciate how the dress flattered her. We roamed the boxes of shoes for the perfect match, and Nancy made the adjustments for both gowns and sent us on our way.

Tomorrow morning they would be ready to be picked up. Even though Heather insisted on paying for her dress, I further insisted I would take care of the bill. It was a gift, one of which I owed to them. Besides, I knew she could not afford the dress considering that Nancy‟s dresses were all designer originals. The bill was well over what Heather would consider paying for a car! I put it on my tab. It was a way of life for my family.

We returned to the house. Heather was exhausted and went straight to her room for a nap. I was still running on adrenaline. There had to be something in this house to entertain myself. The thought of the Dark Wolves crept back into my mind. This was something I could do. I wanted to see if there was any information on the Dark Wolves.

Maybe I could find something that would help Daniel.

The doorbell rang as I made my way back into the living room with a bowl of popcorn. As my eyes glanced to the front door, an immediate rush of fear flooded over me like a heavy rain. It was Richard. At this point, I didn‟t know what to do. So much for the perimeter of the house being protected! So much for Lycan bodyguards! Slowly I set the bowl down on the coffee table, and moved toward the front door.

Richard stood outside and waited patiently as he saw me moving toward the door.

My heart froze for a second to two as I contemplated opening the front door. The black long sleeve sweater he wore enhanced the pale color of his skin. I assessed his attire, admiring his choice in black Kenneth Cole jeans and shoes. Even I had to admit he looked very handsome despite the pale features.

As I opened the door, Richard removed his sunglasses. The inhumanly beautiful creature now stood before me. The tinted contacts he wore hid the beautiful crystal blue diamond-like eyes. My heart skipped another beat as his eyes appraised me in a seductive manner. There was no reason I had to fear him, especially when Heather was just a scream away.

“Richard.” I managed flatly.

“Julie.” His deep voice was thick and lustrous. The tones tingled in my ears.

“And you are here because?” I tried to hide the alluring qualities as my hand gripped tightly to the doorframe.

A spark of humor flickered in his face as a smile donned lips. “Actually, I wanted to talk with you concerning the information I found. May I?” He gestured with his hand for me to invite him inside of the house.

The air was chilled outside, so I went against my better judgment and stepped aside to let him enter. A warm smile crossed his lips as he moved past me through the threshold of my home. A few steps and he turned toward me.

“You have a guest?” He inquired as his eyes drifted up the stairs.

“Yes, Heather and Jason are staying with us for a little while.” My voice strained.

His attention was upon me again. “Hmm.” He began as he took a step toward me.

“So we are not alone then.”

“Richard, I swear to you…” I huffed out in a breath.

A small chuckle escaped him as he took a step away from me. His hand rose to his mouth to cover the laugh. “You do have a beautiful home, Julie. It was my intentions of complimenting you before, but I was somewhat distracted.”

“You are always distracted, Richard. As you were saying about the information.” I urged.

“Ah-yes, please accept my apologies. It seems I have found some rather interesting information on your werewolves.” His voice was silky and smooth. It appeared the more he spoke, the more I was drawn to him.

“Please enlighten me, if you will.” My voice was firm and sarcastic.

My eyes narrowed slightly as I wondered if this was a trick. Richard appeared to be calm and very sure of himself. What type of information could he offer me?

“A lady would ask a gentleman if he would like to have a seat.” His gaze drifted around the room. “Is this not what you would call Southern Hospitality?”

“Yes, a lady would.” I walked past him into the living room. “However, I am no lady when it comes to you.” I sneered. “Sit Richard, and please tell me what you have to say.” I sat down on the sofa and motioned for him to sit down.

Richard moved slowly and fluidly toward the chair I offered him. As I watched him walk, I was awestricken once again. He moved as a man in control, confident and sexy.

The way his legs moved with his body sent chills over my arms. Damn, he was too sexy for his own good. I shifted slightly on the sofa as I watched him seat himself in the chair across from me. My heart skipped another beat as I watched him lean back in the chair. The air of arrogance preceded him in the most unnerving way. Any woman would admire this in a man. It was what most women wanted. A man who knows what he wants, but Richard was no ordinary man. He was in fact a vampire. It was a fact which I constantly needed to remind myself. Does this quality add to the sense of sex appeal?

For me, it most certainly did.

This inhumanely beautiful vampire had that type of confidence in his own abilities.

It was this air of arrogance that drew me to him. Just watching him as he moved, walked across a room made my heart flutter. How was it that this vampire had this ability?

“I found out our werewolf friends are searching for something inside of the mountain. It appears there is an item which is hidden deep within the mountain itself.”

“Do you have any idea what the item is?” I leaned forward; my curiosity over this new found knowledge appeared to have the best of me.

“No. There is one person who would know. I have already made arrangements to meet him.” Richard glanced around the room again.

“Who is this person? How does he know what is hidden there?” My questions rushed out of my mouth.

Richard‟s gaze shifted only for a second. Even in that small second, I noticed his eyes travel past me and up the staircase. Without even questioning, I knew something about Heather bothered him. Maybe it was the fact I was not alone with him.

“His name is Mithras.” Richard began as his attention fell upon me again. “I said he might know what is hidden up there. The answers you seek still remain open.” He inhaled a slow breath and leaned forward placing his arms on his knees. “Julie, there is one more thing.” His voice was low and soft.

The moment he moved, my heart fluttered once again. It appeared that even moving an inch closer bothered me. It was without control of myself that I immediately stood to my feet. I needed distance between this beautiful vampire and me. Reminisces of our first kiss clouded my mind.

Slowly I crossed the floor to the bar, allowing a little distance between this vampire and myself. I had the uneasy feeling Richard was not going to stop. He didn‟t seem to be the type to give up so easily.

There was a flash of sudden movement in my peripheral vision. Richard had moved, standing behind me as his floral fragrance encumbered my senses. The familiar smell of lilies and carnations lingered against my senses, even heavier than before. My eyelids drooped as I tried to breathe without inhaling the intoxicating scent. Slowly my hands gripped the granite counter, holding tightly as I fought the effects of this exquisite scent.

“In my scurry to uncover the secrets behind your werewolves, another precarious secret revealed itself to me. One of which, I was most intrigued in its origin. Of course, I had to explore more into this wondrous thing.” The coolness of his breath fanned against my hair. The sweet scent overloaded my senses, leaving me helpless once again. The desire to have his lips once again on mine, tasting the sweetness of his kiss overwhelmed me.

“What may that be, I wonder.” My words came out through gritted teeth.

I felt my hair as it was pulled away from the side of my face, exposing the flesh on my neck. The temperature in my veins rose as I felt the coolness of his lips against my skin.

He inhaled a deep breath. “Mmm.” He paused. “Oh, I think it is something you would enjoy immensely. A bit of information your dear Daniel and the people you consider your family and friends may have hidden from you.”

The muscles in my arms trembled. The tones in his voice tingled in my ears. I couldn‟t think. Confusion had taken over my mind. As I fought hard against this wave of intoxication, I remembered, it was his spell. It was the spell of a vampire.

I bore down against his spell, turning to face him. My will had to be stronger than his.

“You‟re lying.” I hissed between clinched teeth.

Richard chuckled softly. “No… my dear.” He whispered. “See I know a few things about you, some of which you don’t even know about yourself. Your mother for example.” His hand lifted slowly to my face. The pale finger locked onto a strand of my hair and twirled it around his finger then brought it to his face. “You never knew who or what she was. Maybe she wasn’t what you thought.”

I blinked a couple of times, staring into his beautiful face. The lips that once touched mine carried that kiss which still haunted me.

“If you will,” He began as he leaned closer to my face. “Trust me and I will tell you everything I know.”

I inhaled a deep and ragged breath. My mind swirled from his scent. “Wha-at ma-ake-s you-u…” The words shuddered out of my mouth. “Th-hink I can trust you.”

“Because my lovely, I am the only one who will give you what you desire.” He leaned closer to my face.

Richard took a step back away from me. Something had changed about him. His eyes had become bloodshot. The linings of his eyelids were almost a blood red. I watched as his body tensed and become rigid. The beautiful features suddenly became distraught as his jaw clinched tightly together. For a moment, I had considered the fact Richard might indeed attack me. Was he actually losing it?

Apparently, he gained control of himself and spoke in a strained voice. “Soon and very soon I shall return for you, my lovely.”

A soft kiss feathered against my skin, my eyes closed tightly, my body trembled.

Richard was in control of himself. Just how badly did he want me? I wondered. When I opened my eyes, he was gone. My trembling fingers lifted to touch the skin where the soft kiss lingered. At least this time, I thought, I didn‟t faint.

Richard‟s new information left me in a quandary. What if Daniel and the Maxwell family knew about my mother? What if there was something about her they were keeping hidden from me? Charlotte had said once; she knew what my mother was. Was it something that would cause me pain? All of these thoughts ran through my mind in a rush. I was tired of being in the dark. I wanted the truth. For now, Richard appeared to be the only one willing to provide me with the answers I was seeking. The biggest question remained, could I trust this inhumanly beautiful creature with my life? There was only one way to find out.

Daniel and Jason returned later that evening. There appeared to be some odd static in the air concerning the two of them. Even Heather noticed the difference. After a quiet dinner, quiet meaning no one spoke during the entire dinner, I watched as Daniel lingered by the kitchen counter staring blankly into the wall. My heart was beginning to break. I didn‟t know if Daniel realized it or not, but it felt as though he was putting a certain amount of distance between us.

I crossed the room and moved beside of him. “Daniel, will you talk to me about this?” Gently I placed my hand over his heart.

The expression on his face was now grimmer than ever. He shook his head, and then ran his fingers through his hair. His hazel eyes narrowed into a glare. My heart fluttered. This was bad, worse than before, and it was written all over his face.

He sighed. “We have a lot on our plates right now.”

“Daniel, we will get through this.” My heart hoped he would tell me this torture he was enduring. Something happened and I knew it. Daniel was withholding it from me.

Hope failed me as Daniel moved away from me. He paused and gave me a kiss on the forehead. From there I watched as he slowly walked back into the living room and out onto the patio closing the door behind him. A feeling of dread washed through my heart. Something else was bothering Daniel. The fear that washed over me was more or less if he knew if Richard was here again. The need to eat had left me and he was my concern now. I did what any woman would do…I went after him. He was standing on the patio, leaning against the railing.

The chill in the air swept over me, sending a shiver down my spine. Daniel was staring out into the woods; he turned his head slightly to side as I touched his back.

Raising his arm, he slid it around my back. I looked into his eyes and my heart shattered.

Daniel‟s teary eyes met mine. He was in pain, a very deep emotional pain.

“Julie,” He began. My heart pounded loudly to the point my ears were ringing. “I want you to know I love you more than my own life.”

“I know.” I spoke softly.

“I could not bear it if anything happened to you. When Dad told me about the mall, I immediately had flash backs of Casey. I could not handle it if they did something like that to you. You do not understand what would happen to me, if they hurt you that way.”

“Daniel,” I wanted to say so much, but the words caught in my throat. Still I felt he was not telling me something. “We will get through this.”

“I know we will.” He sighed again then turned back to look out through the woods.

His arm slid away from me and returned his hand back on the wooden railing.

The heart inside my chest broke as I turned around and went back into the house.

“Julie?” Daniel‟s voice was soft yet there was a brokenness I heard clearly.

I turned to face him, he hadn‟t moved one inch. “Yes?”

“I just want you to be happy.” The words were barely above a whisper, yet they rang loudly in my heart and ears. For a split second, I felt as though I was losing Daniel.

Hot tears streamed down my face. The heart inside my body shattered into a million pieces. What had I done? I brought my trembling hand to my mouth, to cover any sound that I may make. Did he not realize I loved him more than my own life?

Could he not see I would die for him? I stood frozen for a moment consumed by the overwhelming pain I was feeling. Daniel never moved. He stood motionless with his back turned to me. I didn‟t know what to say. I needed to put some distance between us.

I pushed my way back to the kitchen to clean up. It was making no sense to me. Tears continued to stream down my face, I needed answers, but this wasn‟t the time. My heartfelt the crushing waves again, tearing at my soul. A gush of air erupted from my chest as the tears continued to flow. I raised my head and looked around the kitchen.

Chills prickled down my spine, I loved Daniel so much. A certain amount of guilt swept over me concerning Richard. How could this have happened?

Heather and I were in the kitchen when Daniel made the announcement he and Jason were going to see Thomas. I was ready to go with him, when his weary eyes looked into mine and said the words that tore through my heart.

“Not this time, Julie.” The hurt in his voice matched the pain in my heart. “I want you and Heather to stay here until we come back. There are some things I need to discuss with Thomas and the Council. Please be careful. We may be back later than expected, so don‟t wait up for me.”

Those were the last words I heard from Daniel before I went to bed. As my eyes closed, I couldn‟t help feeling the distance between us. What could be creating this? I wondered if it was because I kissed Richard. Then it dawned on me; Daniel could have detected Richard‟s scent in the room. Why didn‟t I think of that before! Maybe I should have told him Richard came over. I turned over in the bed again.

The argument continued within my mind, until I finally became too exhausted to continue with the war. There had to be some other explanation as to why Daniel was doing this?

Tomorrow would be another day and hopefully, a day of answers. My plans would be to seek out Richard, then confront Daniel. I only prayed the answers wouldn‟t be as bad as I feared.

Finally, my thoughts faded as I drifted off into a deep sleep. The darkness covered me as my body relaxed. Yes, tomorrow was another day.