“I love you too. However, I’m not much of a warrior at the moment.” He chuckles, “Yasmine, you are carrying three of my pups in this beautiful body of yours, so it is my duty to protect you and them at this time. You don’t need to be that warrior at the moment…” Tears fill my eyes at his words and then slide down my cheeks. Zachariah reaches up his hands, sliding them on my cheeks, wiping the tears with his thumbs and continues, “I know you hate feeling as vulnerable as you do right now, as you have always been a fighter, and that is one thing I love about you. I will not treat you like a girly girl, but at the moment, I will treat you as a female, a female that is carrying pups, and a female that is mine…” He then once again leans in and places his lips against mine in a soft, loving but dominant kiss, allowing all his feelings for me to flow from him to me through that kiss and the mate bond overwhelming me even more. I wrap my arms around his neck and whisper through our link.

I look up at him with a little fear in my eyes. He looks over at Summer and says, “We will finish this discussion later. Okay?”   “Of course, Alpha.” Zachariah then carries me out of the office and up to our room. He lays me on the bed. I am not surprised when a little while later Ava knocks on the open door to the bedroom. I look over at her and smile. She enters and as she sits next to me she says, “So, what seems to be going on here?” “I don’t know. I felt my stomach tighten.” “Is that all? Was there any pain?” “No, no pain, just the tightening.” “Okay, can I take a look?” “Sure.” She does her checks, shaking her head every now and then. Fear starts to build in me as I then ask, “What’s wrong?” “I believe that you have entered the first stages of labour. Now I am gathering with Darius. Your labour was quick?” “Well, I guess it was. Valentino the bastard had sedated me, for

I then put Julius back in his crib. Taking a step to the side, I look into the incubator at the pups inside. I then raise my eyes to Ava and she says, “Yes, Yasmine. You can take them out and have a hold. They would benefit from your touch and scent.” I smile as I then look back down at the incubator, unlock the side, and pick up one of the little pups inside. I step back a little and Zachariah steps up, slipping his hands inside and picking up the other little pup. Zachariah then turns around and walks over to the chair in the corner. He sits down and then motions for me to join him. I walk over and carefully sit on his lap and lean into him. We then settle back and cuddle out little treasures. I look down at the pup in my hand. I know it is a female, but I also know that everyone else will see a male until we take care of Kastrath. I look at Zachariah and whisper, “Two unisex names, ones suitable for either a male or female…” “Okay, what did you have in mind, my little warrior?

I let go of Summer's arm and walk over to where Zachariah is standing with Julius and Dakota; I frown and he tilts his head to the side and I then smile as I see that Zaire now has Blake in his arms. I look back at Zachariah, and he says, “I haven’t been able to pry her away from them. When one stops holding her, the other takes over.” “They will protect her with their lives, and she will be one spoiled little pup…” Zachariah then looks at me with a serious face as he says, “Look, we discussed it. They are travelling back to the pack with Charles. Charles will be staying at the pack to help Jade, while Zaire and Farris return to us.” “I’m surprised that they agreed to that.” “They had no choice. We need them with us. It is also why they are travelling back with them so that they can spend just over a day close to Blake. It will strengthen t

>LORELEI< As soon as I heard Belle's voice, I lifted my head and looked out Yasmine’s eyes. I couldn't believe it. It was her; I hadn't seen her in so long. I couldn't help it when I heard her call my name. I take over, forcing Yasmine to shift. I push her to the back of our mind but I don't cage or block her so that she can still see and hear what is going on.I purr loudly as I rub my head, neck and then the rest of my body over her before pulling back and then jumping at her. She giggles as she used to do, wrapping her arms around me as I make her fall to the ground. I lick her face, making her laugh more before she pushes me off. We then roll around on the ground, playing. I manage to get back on top of her and wrap my jaw over her throat. I growl low, making her giggle and say,"Okay, okay you win..."I huff my victory against her throat. Just as I let go, the flap