Chapter One

Four Years Later.....

Airen's POV

I slammed the truck door closed with a sigh. I turned and leaned up against the truck crossing my arms and closing my eyes taking advantage of the rare moment of peace.

Life hadn't been easy these past four years (as if it had ever been).

After getting the phone call about my father I rushed out of that hotel room. I was impressed that I hadn't managed to wake up the man who had claimed to be my mate. At first, I had considered looking into the whole human mate of a werewolf thing. More specifically how I, the human, was supposed to know if he was really my mate.

But once I had gotten home that changed.

I had given a brief and somewhat explanation of why I needed to leave to Melissa that morning, but not about the night before, not that she didn't try to get details.

I had gotten home just over a day later to find my father practically comatose. He had had a massive heart attack due to stress. Work and life in general had finally caught up with him.

The doctors had put him in a medically induced coma so his body could have a chance to rest and heal. Everything froze. We all put our lives on hold for him. Elena postponed her wedding, Marcy delayed going back to school and Mom took a week off of work.

I had already planned to live at home and attend law school online, so my plans didn't change much. I just did school on my laptop in a hospital ICU room instead of my house so my dad wouldn't be alone. I, Elena, and Marcy took shifts at the house and hospital sitting with our dad and grandmothers so no one was left alone and mom could go back to work.

Thankfully two weeks later the doctors said that he was strong enough that they could wake him and a month later he was walking Elena down the aisle.

Our lives seemed to get back to normal until my morning sickness started.

Due to his heart attack, Dad had been forced to take it easy at work and work from home on light duty. And due to overworking myself between school, work, and taking care of everyone the doctor had placed me on bed rest by month 6 of my pregnancy stating that I was at risk of miscarriage or complications during birth if I didn't listen to her.

My family had of course readily agreed with her. They took care of me and made sure I got plenty of rest. I didn't like being cooped up inside not being able to go anywhere or do anything so I studied. And thanks to months of nothing to do other than study I graduated from law school a year early.

Though even with all of that bed rest I still had nearly died during labor.

No one knew why, only that my body was weak and I was slowly fading away. No matter how much I ate I lost weight. Not that I'm complaining, but I was healthy over 30 pounds ago. Now I was bordering on dangerously skinny.

No matter what I did, I had little to no strength or stamina and even the smallest tasks winded me.

If the doctors and my mother had their way I would be in a hospital on a hospital bed. But that was unrealistic.

My dad had suffered his second heart attack just over a year ago and that had nearly killed him. He was weaker than he ever had been in his life and couldn't do much, not for lack of trying. Both of my grandmothers were still alive but required almost constant care at this point and though we had a nurse, it wasn't enough.

My mom had to work, Marcy had a life to get back to and so did Elena. That left me. On top of all of that, I had a son that I needed to take care of.

So I took a legal consulting job with a private firm that paid well and allowed me to work from home. Mom and I took shifts with my grandmothers and Elena and her husband were currently living in the guest house in the backyard while they built their dream house not far from here, so they helped a lot too.

"Mommy!" a small voice squealed.

I opened my eyes and smiled at the little boy rushing towards me.

My son James, looked just like his father. Dark hair and skin with those same piercing blue eyes.

"Hi, baby! Ready to go?"

I swung him up and onto my hip trying not to wince at the shakiness in my arms.

"Yup. Nani gave me cookies!" He said holding out two treasured chocolate chip cookies.

"She did?" I replied with a smile. I looked up and my mom and gave her a knowing smile.

"He helped make them so he should at least get some." My mom explained as she walked up carrying a tray of cookies.

"You know this thing is being catered right?" I asked.

Mom rolled her eyes.

"Of course I do, but we'll be there all day and Rachel loves my cookies."

I sighed but didn't argue. Rachel did love a good cookie.

Rachel Evens was my best friend growing up and was still very close to me. We had grown apart in high school and college but when I moved back to help take care of the family we had re-established our friendship and grown extremely close.

Rachel owned and ran her own ranch not far from my parent's house. I had begun taking James out there to see and play with the animals when he was little. I had even named Rachel as godmother, though I didn't tell anyone except for my sisters.

They understood why I didn't choose them. Neither was ready for nor did they want kids of their own, though they both loved and doted on James as the fun aunts.

Rachel had gone to an international rodeo where some of her prized cattle were being shown and auctioned off a few months ago. She was gone for two weeks and had come back all dewy-eyed and in love. Apparently, I wasn't the only human mated to a werewolf around here.

Rachel had met her mate while at the rodeo and now they were getting married. I smiled thinking about the gentle giant my best friend was marrying. He was perfect for her and vice versa.

To be honest, seeing them together and happy made me reconsider trying to find Johnathan. But then I remembered why I hadn't.

Mom's phone rang as we settled into the truck to leave. Sighing she answered.

"Hello?"

Silence as the other person spoke. Mom frowned looking stressed and concerned.

I glanced back at my son who was in his car seat in the back. He seemed to be watching and listening to his Nani's phone conversation intently. I frowned. Of course, he would have werewolf hearing, but he was only three. He didn't need to be listening to adult conversations.

"We already paid you." Mom said to the phone.

I sighed turning the truck on. Now I knew who had called. The other reason why I wouldn't try to find Johnathan.

Not only was my life overwhelming and there were far too many burdens that he did not need, but we were also involved in a bit of a situation.

Since I was little a vampire clan had lived on the outskirts of the county. For the most part, they were peaceful and left us, humans, alone so long as we left them alone.

Then several years ago that changed. The vampires had taken over the town and most of the county and the smaller communities surrounding the town. They then claimed that everyone had to pay them tribute or face their wrath.

At first, no one took them seriously. Then the clan attacked and left dozens of innocent people dead. After that everyone took them seriously. For a few years, it wasn't so bad. Then they began to raise their rates and even when people paid tribute, they still kidnapped and killed some people, just for the fun of it.

It was a huge mess and knowing what Johnathan is I wanted him nowhere near it. It was bad enough that James was here in the middle of it. So far we had managed to keep his presence hidden, but that wasn't a permanent solution. Soon he would begin to smell like a wolf if he hadn't already and then I don't know what I would do. I dreaded that day. Images of vampires carrying my son off as he screamed for me haunted my nightmares every night.

I shuddered.

"Fine. Fine! You'll have the rest by the end of the week." Mom hung up the phone with a sigh.

"Maybe I should-"

Mom turned blazing blue eyes to me.

"Airen Nicole Carter you will do no such thing."

"Mom, it's me they want. I started this. If I had just listened..."

"Then this still would have happened. Somehow, someway they would have broken the peace eventually. It is not your fault so stop it. You will not turn yourself over to them, period."

I huffed.

"Fine."

"Good." Mom nodded after studying me for a moment, satisfied that I was telling the truth.

"Now drive, we have a wedding rehearsal to get ready for."