The girl giggled and touched mynose. “You’re pretty,” she told me. I could feel Kai’s eyes on me.
“You’re prettier,” I told herback, nudging her nose with mine.
“You will make a wonderful mother,”Kai’s mother said as she sat next to me and Violet. I met Kai’s eyes andblushed. I wanted children. I always had but not if they would be born into anunsafe world. I wouldn’t have children selfishly. I didn’t want my daughter tobe hunted by vampires as I was. I sighed. I don’t know. But the thought ofhaving a child with my nose and Kai’s eyes, with both of our strong spirits. Itmade my belly flutter.
Isabelle, who we nowaffectionately called Izzy, came and grabbed Violet from me. “Is she botheringyou? She has been asking me all morning to come and see you.”
I smiled. “It would be impossiblefor her or Connor to bother me,” I told her.
She laughed. “Okay, then I willsend them both your way the next time they have a tantrum about eating theirvegetables.”
We all laughed. Izzy seemed tohave come out of her shell. I knew all too well what that kind of trauma did todampen your spirit. She had bounced back with her family by her side. Tristanwas working a 24-hour shift at the local fire station. Her whole family hadsettled well into the move from Portland to Mount Hood.
We made our way outside. The restof the pack had arrived. 107 members in all, including Tristan and thechildren.
Kai jumped up onto a picnic tableand addressed the crowd. “Weekly pack barbecues are mandatory, as well as dailytraining sessions. We can train apart in smaller groups, but once a week wetrain together as a family. I have some exciting news to share with you.” Kainodded to Emma who tipped her head back at him.
“Emma is pregnant.”
The pack roared with excitement,clapping and cheering. Emma blushed and held her stomach.
“We have been blessed with moremembers. Soon Violet and Connor won’t be the only children running around themountain. Our family is growing and I am honored to welcome two new familymembers. My blood sister and brother, Diya and Jai, will be joining our packafter Trent and Diya wed.” More clapping as Trent gave Diya a kiss.
“This coming weekend, Aurora andI will have to travel to the Annual Alpha Council meeting. I will be leavingthe rest of you to protect Emma and the young. When we get back, there will bemuch to discuss.”
He looked at me.
‘Council meeting?’I asked him. ‘Whenwere you going to tell me?’
‘I don’t want to bring you. It’snot safe. But every Alpha and their second must be in attendance. I think thisis where Spirit will give you the pairings. I think you will expose yourself atthis conference and I am helpless to stop it.’
My blood ran cold. Hundreds ofAlphas and their seconds all in one place? That’s why Kai was so mad last nightwhen I told him what the Shaman said. If that’s when I had this massivedownloading vision, I would have no other choice but to expose myself. It wasscary but it also might be brilliant. It might be the only way to keep thewerewolves from turning against me. I could tell from the look on Kai’s face thathe would do everything in his power to keep me from going.
Protect
The next week was spent traininghard. I pressured Kai and he told me more about this council meeting. Once ayear, Alphas and their seconds got together to talk about werewolf law,territory, hand down judgments and most importantly talk about mating and theissues with our dwindling race. This year, it was held in Canada. Hundreds ofour kind would converge on a four-star werewolf-owned hotel and carryout theweekend like a business conference.
An Alpha and his second weremandated to attend. Kai pleaded with the council to allow him to bring Maxinstead of me since I wasn’t exactly caught up on werewolf politics but it wasforbidden. I must attend. I wasn’t sure whether to be scared or excited.
Something had been bugging me allweek. I hadn’t talked to Sylvia since I last saw her and she had offered toopen me up to my powers as a witch. I approached Kai in our small training roomdownstairs, he was lifting weights. Sweat gleaned on his muscles. He was alone.
“I want to see Sylvia aboutopening myself up to my witch powers,” I blurted out. I never was good withkeeping secrets.
Kai finished his rep and placedthe weights slowly on the ground. He wiped his face clean and looked at me.
“Why?” he asked.
“I know you want me to be one hundredpercent werewolf, but I’m not. I want to explore this part of myself. It mighthelp me one day if I get into trouble. I could protect myself better.” I chewedmy lip. I also had a super curious personality and the thought of doing a spellexcited me.
“Okay.” He sighed, soundingdefeated. “I agree it might help you if you were to have more tools in yourarsenal.”
Really, no big fight? “Thank youfor understanding.” I gave him a kiss and left to call Sylvia.
***
Sylvia had requested privacy,much to Kai’s dissatisfaction. We were in a dense part of the woods a few milesfrom the house. Sylvia had a large blanket spread out with a bunch of crystals,herbs and a large, worn book.
I sat there nervously while sheset up. “So, I heard you had a run in with the vampires?” she asked coyly.
