‘Did he put magic on me? Did he threaten you? If so, then I don’t want to drive home without having a talk with him,’ Kai roared.

I sighed.

“Fine! He stopped time and told me that Spirit had crazy plans for me because a war with the vampires is coming! He was warning me, okay?  Happy?” I screamed in the car, making Diya jump.

Kai’s knuckles went white while his mother leaned forward. “Tell us what he said about the vampires, dear,” she coaxed me.

Kai shook his head.  ‘No.’

“I’m sorry, mother, but you are not pack. I need to protect my pack and my mate. I will learn of what was said and decide if I want to share it with other packs.” There was a finality in his voice. The Alpha had spoken. His mother sat back and lowered her head in a submissive gesture. I chewed on my lip, feeling bad.

‘See? I told you!’ I shouted into Kai’s mind. ‘Why did you push me?’

‘When we get home, I want you to replay every single word that the Shaman spoke to you.’

I sighed. It was already past midnight. This was going to be a long night.

***

I woke up groggy and unrested. Kai and I had been up until dawn arguing about what the Shaman had told me. He wanted to take the apache tear from me thinking it was spelled and he didn’t want me having it. I kept it anyway. He was unsettled with what had been said. He didn’t want me coming out to the werewolves; he didn’t like the idea of me being downloaded with hundreds of mate pairings. He said for the first time in his life he felt helpless to protect someone.

I rolled over, his half of my bed was empty. I sighed. After showering and getting dressed, I made my way into the kitchen.  A bunch of the pack members had come over to say goodbye to Diya, Jai, and Maya.

“Why didn’t you wake me?” I asked Kai.

He kissed the top of my head. “I was just about to. I figured you needed the rest. Pack barbeque before my family leaves. It will be the first barbeque with the entire pack. Everyone is coming in from Portland.”

I smiled and turned around quickly when I felt a small tug on my finger. It was Violet. We had all become enamored with Isabelle’s children.

“Is it true you are a veterinarian? I want to be a veterinarian, too!” she shouted. I smiled picking her up and placing her on my hip.

“I’m a veg-e-tarian but I’m sure you will make a wonderful vet-er-i-narian.” I said the two different words slowly.

The girl giggled and touched my nose. “You’re pretty,” she told me. I could feel Kai’s eyes on me.

“You’re prettier,” I told her back, 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 and blushed. I wanted children. I always had but not if they would be born into an unsafe world. I wouldn’t have children selfishly. I didn’t want my daughter to be hunted by vampires as I was. I sighed. I don’t know. But the thought of having a child with my nose and Kai’s eyes, with both of our strong spirits. It made my belly flutter.

Isabelle, who we now affectionately called Izzy, came and grabbed Violet from me. “Is she bothering you? She has been asking me all morning to come and see you.”

I smiled. “It would be impossible for her or Connor to bother me,” I told her.

She laughed. “Okay, then I will send them both your way the next time they have a tantrum about eating their vegetables.”

We all laughed. Izzy seemed to have come out of her shell. I knew all too well what that kind of trauma did to dampen your spirit. She had bounced back with her family by her side. Tristan was working a 24-hour shift at the local fire station. Her whole family had settled well into the move from Portland to Mount Hood.

We made our way outside. The rest of the pack had arrived. 107 members in all, including Tristan and the children.

Kai jumped up onto a picnic table and addressed the crowd. “Weekly pack barbecues are mandatory, as well as daily training sessions. We can train apart in smaller groups, but once a week we train together as a family. I have some exciting news to share with you.” Kai nodded 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 more members. Soon Violet and Connor won’t be the only children running around the mountain. Our family is growing and I am honored to welcome two new family members. My blood sister and brother, Diya and Jai, will be joining our pack after Trent and Diya wed.” More clapping as Trent gave Diya a kiss.

“This coming weekend, Aurora and I will have to travel to the Annual Alpha Council meeting. I will be leaving the rest of you to protect Emma and the young. When we get back, there will be much to discuss.”

He looked at me.

‘Council meeting?’ I asked him. ‘When were you going to tell me?’

‘I don’t want to bring you. It’s not safe. But every Alpha and their second must be in attendance. I think this is where Spirit will give you the pairings. I think you will expose yourself at this conference and I am helpless to stop it.’

My blood ran cold. Hundreds of Alphas and their seconds all in one place? That’s why Kai was so mad last night when I told him what the Shaman said. If that’s when I had this massive downloading vision, I would have no other choice but to expose myself. It was scary but it also might be brilliant. It might be the only way to keep the werewolves from turning against me. I could tell from the look on Kai’s face that he would do everything in his power to keep me from going.