The morning after moving into our penthouse, Xander walks me and Meadow to the shop. He checks to ensure that it’s safe and that no one broke into it. Well, no one but his family. They brought our things from upstairs to the penthouse. I’d consider using the space as storage, but I know Xander is serious about moving my shop closer to our building. I have mixed feelings about that. This shop is the one that my parents bought after we left Levana’s coven. But it is also the place where they were murdered, and when I think of that, I can’t leave this place quickly enough. It’s as busy today as it was when Xander was here with me and I had just reopened after being away. I’ve been away again and once word is out that we’re back, people come rushing in. Thankfully, Meadow is here to help me and I’m not overwhelmed. At one point, I look out the window and I see Jesse standing across the street, watching the shop. I go open the door. “You may as well come inside, Jesse,” I say, not rais

After getting ready and stopping to get Avery, I go by my office to get the two guards that I intend to take with me today. Instead, I run into Cayd and Tate. “What are you two doing here?” I ask. “I wanted to see if you needed anything?” Cayd says. “Actually, I do. From both of you,” I say, looking at Tate. He has bonded with Cayd, but I want us to be close too. “What kind of help?” he asks. “Well, apparently the nasty witch Levana is hunting witches that didn’t fight against the Guardians and I’m going to find them, bring them here and give them a safe place to live. I’d love it if you would come too. I could use another witch,” I say. “What do you mean, ‘another witch’?” he asks. “Tate, Cayd, meet Avery. She was part of Levana’s coven.” Avery waves at them, but Tate doesn’t move. “How do we know that we can trust you?” Tate asks. And this is one of the reasons I want him with me today. He’s not a typical thirteen-year-old. He’s been through a lot and he’s cautious. “Maeve

“What’s wrong with her?” I ask, moving toward Maeve as Cayd catches her. I feel slow, sluggish. I should have reached her before he did. I stand up, wobbly and unsteady on my feet. It’s an uncomfortable feeling for someone who is used to being very strong. “Let me take a look at her,” my mother says, striding into the room. “Move that blanket,” she directs. “NO!” Avery and Amir say at the same time. “Only Maeve can remove it. And to answer your question, Alpha, you don’t battle death without it taking a toll on you,” Amir says. “I’ve got you,” I hear Jesse say and I turn just in time to see him catch Meadow. “Dad!” I say, just as Tate begins wobbling on his feet. “Take them upstairs,” I say and my mother comes to wrap her arm around my waist, helping me to stand. “Let’s get them back to the penthouse, they’ll be more comfortable there and this group needs to get settled," my mom says, taking charge. “I can walk Mom, get the pups,” I say, seeing Lynn’s kids huddled in a corner

Maeve’s shop is close enough to the office that I can keep a low-level connection between us during the day. She may not be able to feel it, but it helps Einar and I stay calm knowing we can always feel her, even if we can’t always hear her. That will change once she’s moved in to the new shop downstairs. Then, I’ll be able to hear her thoughts and feel her emotions easily. I was working with my father when I felt the first bit of unease. I had waited and when it didn’t go away, I had tugged on the bond. When I felt her relax, I was about ready to return to work and then, her anxiety went through the roof. I was terrified that something had happened to her and I raced to find her. Once I realized that my mate thinks she’s pregnant with our pup, and after confirming that she isn’t feeling anxious because she’s not ready for a pup, my anxiety went through the roof. My mate is human, she’s showing signs of a werewolf pregnancy, a pregnancy that lasts 5 months, not 9 months. Human bodies

Over the next month, we get into a routine. Lynn and Avery watch the shop on the weekends, and Friday evening after work, Maeve and I head to the pack lands, have Maeve checked by Dr. Teresa and then spend the weekend with the pack and our family. So far, Maeve’s pregnancy has been easy. She gets stomach cramps sometimes, since her stomach is stretching faster than it would with a human pregnancy, but Lynn has been helping her with some witchy salve that she rubs on her stomach every morning and every night to help her skin stretch more easily. I don’t like the stuff. For at least an hour after she puts it on, it overpowers her strawberry scent, even now that it’s stronger with our daughter. But, it makes her more comfortable, so I suffer with the scent. As Dr. Teresa predicted, as soon as the machines were turned off and Einar tuned in, we could hear our pup’s heartbeat. Now, four weeks later, I’m able to hear my little girl’s heartbeat all the time. It’s not enough that I can hear