by Crystal Dawn
“Fine. Let’s go inside. Would either of you like a drink?” Dez asked politely.
“I just want to check you out then get back home.” Doc said.
“Be nice.” Ariel warned.
“That was nice.” Doc replied.
“No bedside manner.” Ariel muttered.
They headed into the kitchen from the back yard through the screened in porch. It was perfect for the weather right now before it got too hot. It kept the bugs out. Mosquitoes were awful at night this close to the river. That might also be because of the ponds on the property. One was large and well stocked with fish. Dez planned to go fishing once she got her big projects done.
“Let’s go where you can lay down on the couch.” Doc instructed.
Dez led them through the kitchen to the front room which was the living room. She laid down on her overstuffed leather sofa. Her desire was just to get this waste of time over with. Trying to relax, she lay still as he checked her blood pressure, heart rate, and pressed on her stomach.
“Ah ha.” He mumbled.
What was that about? He continued to check things out even taking her temperature. Once he was done, he began to write out a prescription. What the hell was that for?
“Congratulations.” He said as he handed her the scrip.
Prenatal vitamins. That was what it said. “This can’t be right.” Dez challenged.
“I assure you, it is. But feel free to take a test from the grocery store to verify.” Doc said.
“He’s right, Dez. I already knew, but I wanted him to confirm my dreams.” Ariel declared.
“Why didn’t you warn me?” Dez asked.
“So you could do what?” Ariel questioned. “There was nothing to be done. Besides, you know the dreams don’t work that way.”
Yeah, she knew. It looked like she would have miniature JC all her very own. That was alright. She could handle this. “When?”
“Wolves carry five months, humans nine so you’ll carry about seven. That’s the average for unturned wolves. If you turn now, you might cut it down to six and delivery will go much easier. You could be anywhere from three to four months along. I believe you have a slight baby bump. I’m surprised you hadn’t noticed yet.” Doc observed.
“I’ve been hungry. My food choices haven’t been the best. I thought I’d gained some weight so I was working harder to lose it.”
“You can continue to work as much as you can handle, but eat more meat. Make sure you get at least eight hours of sleep. Pups can be a hard pregnancy if you stay human. The delivery can be rough too. I’m not trying to convince you of anything, just inform and prepare you.”
“If you want to change, all you have to do is tell me.” Ariel pipped in.
Dez nodded. She needed to think about things. “I need to go shopping.”
“I know. We’ll go together, but you have to be in disguise.” Ariel insisted.
Dez smiled. Finally she would get out into the world. “Anything.”
“Remember you said that. I’ll come get you tomorrow.”
Ariel and the doctor left so Dez now had time to think things through. Would she tell JC? Eventually she would have to. This little being would be part of him too. If he didn’t care, that was fine with her. She’d get through this thing alone.
Now that she understood more about her strange cravings, she went inside to cook a medium rare steak. Dez grilled onions, made a salad, and fixed a loaded baked potato. It was a huge steak, but she ate it all along with the other foods without apology. It was strange calling her baby a pup, but that’s what he or she was.
In that moment, she decided she needed to make the change. She had a little person to protect and danger still stalked her. Even though the case was airtight, Big Mick’s lawyers had managed to put the trial off again and again keeping him out of jail during the delay. Everyone knew he was searching for her hoping to take her out of the trial. At the least it would reduce his sentence, at the most it might see him set free.
The next morning she was ready when Ariel came. At least she thought she was until Ariel pulled out a granny outfit complete with a wig. “Good morning, Mom.”
“Oh my God!”
“Don’t even argue. Anything, you said. This is anything.”
“It’ll draw attention.”
“But no one will think you’re you.”
Dez couldn’t deny it so she dressed in the granny dress. Once she was dressed, Ariel let her keep her sneakers on, she sat still while Ariel fixed her up. The wig fit perfectly and the makeup made her look horrendous.
“You’ve done this before.”
“Maybe.” Ariel smiled looking sneaky.
“There’s a story there.”
“There is and I might tell you someday, but not today.”
It was a Friday, the best day for yard sales. They began to find them just miles from her home. Ariel was driving one of the trucks they used on jobs so it had a double cab and a full bed. It would hold a lot of stuff. That was good because she needed everything.
The second yard sale had a lot of old junk. Looking through it she found an old dilapidated crib. It had some broke spindles and desperately needed TLC. She aggressively bargained with the woman selling it. They were both tough negotiators, but she got the price she wanted in the end.
“Good job. You’ll have a lot of work, but that’s an antique. It must have been left in a shed and forgotten for years.” Ariel assessed. “You got lucky. The rails aren’t spread out more than two inches. Most antique cribs I’ve seen are dangerous because baby’s head can get through. This one was either made different or fixed at a later time.”
They went on buying many more things including boxes of baby clothes. By the time they headed home after eating lunch, she felt like the old woman she resembled. “I want to do the change as soon as possible.” Dez admitted.
“Get a goodnight’s sleep. We’ll do the ceremony tomorrow.
Chapter 9
Waiting
Two months had passed. Nothing had changed as far as her situation according to Tyne. The asshole trying to kill her was still at large. JC had worked hard to prepare a case against the crime boss who’d targeted his pack, but the many leads they’d followed all led nowhere. They were able to get the minor players, but none of the key people.
Without Dez around, his wolf had agreed to stick to work until they had their chance to get her back. The problem was, nothing seemed to help. He’d be talking to Tyne soon, this time he would demand a chance to see her. His wolf growled in agreement.
“What’s up today, Boss?” Tanner asked.
“Another dead end. Most of the money was recovered, but the guilty are getting away with their crimes. It eats me up. I’ll admit Nat was amazing, but when I asked her about Dez, she froze me out.”
“I guess they didn’t like the way you treated her.” Tanner observed.
“Whose fault was that?”
“Ultimately yours. We didn’t know you led her to expect more. You don’t ever do that.” Tanner admitted.
“Be that way, Asshole.” JC declared.
“Hey, I won’t lie to you. I can be wrong, but it will never be on purpose.” Tanner vowed.
“I don’t think I can wait any longer to see her.”
“Call Tyne. You guys have been friends for a while. Maybe he’ll help you. I heard he had trouble with his mate before they bonded too.”
“Maybe he would have some sympathy.”
Tanner went back to work while JC got busy with his phone. “Tyne.”
“Hey, Buddy.”
“JC? You’re calling early.”
“I’m going crazy. This nightmare just won’t end. You have to come through for me. You wouldn’t have sent her to me if you didn’t trust me with her to begin with. We all make mistakes, but our whole life shouldn’t be fucked over because of one.”
“Okay, first of all, I didn’t send her to you. That was Ariel. She decided where Dez would go. She always has
a plan in place. As far as the second part, my mate would cut my nuts off if she knew I did that. I kinda like my nuts just like they are.”
“She doesn’t have to know you helped me. If I don’t get to see her soon, I’m going to tear up the countryside around Ariel’s pack.”
“A properly timed visit to Ariel might solve your dilemma.” Tyne theorized.
“She’s been visiting Ariel?”
“And her doctor.”
“She’s dating the fucking doctor?”
“Most people would not draw that conclusion.”
“Why else would she be seeing the doctor?” JC asked.
“That’s something you need to think about. You left a bad enough taste in her mouth dating anyone isn’t on her mind.”
“Wholly crap! Is she sick?”
“I’ve told you enough. She should be going to see him in three days if nothing changes. Just act like you came there to talk to Ariel about her. Try to act surprised. Can you do that?”
“I can do that.” JC started thinking about the trip. Damn! He wished he’d asked what time.
He called a meeting with his betas, all of them. They would have to decide who would come with him and who would stay behind to deal with everything concerning the pack. His betas gathered quickly picking up on his sense of urgency. Laying out the details, he asked for questions.
“Who is going with you?” Tanner asked.
“That’s what we’re about to decide. At least two of you need to stay here to make sure everything is taken care of while the rest of us are gone.”
“I’m ready for a road trip. I’ve got some new medical personnel that can cover for me while I’m gone.” Grant offered.
“I’d be glad to have you. Dez may be sick. She’s been seeing Ariel’s doctor.” Grant shot him a funny look that he didn’t understand, but he nodded. “That’s one.”
“I’ll stay to take care of the accounting and keep an eye on any bills that need paid or employee difficulties.” Harvey said. That wolf didn’t like to go anywhere. The last trip hadn’t went well so he preferred to stay home.
“That’s okay. You might have to do a few other things too.” Harvey nodded. He’d do whatever was necessary.
“Well fuck! I’d like to go, but I guess I’ll have to stay.” Tanner declared.
“Why?” JC asked.
“Usually one of us, you or me, is here to handle things.” Tanner explained.
“So Jack and Cade, what about you?”
“I’ll stay so Tanner can have his vacay.” Cade smirked.
“I’ll go if you think you’ll need me.” Jack offered.
“I’ll take you since I have no idea what I’ll need. So Harvey and Cade will stay while the rest of us go. We’ll take the Hummer so we have room. We’ll leave at dawn in three days’ time.”
Everyone left so he was in his office alone. He prayed to the goddess he would be able to get his mate back. JC knew that he’d never be happy again if he failed to convince her to come back with him.
Two days passed with him a bundle of nerves. People were afraid to talk to him because he was so irritable. Waiting had never been his strong suit. Waiting this time was killing him as each second slipped by slow as hell. When he went to bed that night, he knew in the morning he’d finally be able to take some action.
When morning came, he dressed in a pair of his favorite jeans with a well-worn and much loved T-shirt stretched across his chest. Even though he wasn’t on his bike, he wore his black leather biker boots. They looked good, they were comfortable, and they were tough enough for any possibility.
He met up with his males letting Tanner grab the driver’s seat. JC sat shotgun with the other two guys in the back. It was a beautiful day as they set off to Missouri to get his female back.
Chapter 10
Nesting
She’d seen several of her cousins go through it. There was this need to make everything perfect for the baby. It was called nesting. It was just an urge she couldn’t escape. Ariel suggested she just go with it, do what came naturally.
Dez worked on the crib having already found spindles to replace the broken ones. She’d worried about using the stripper to remove the layers of paint and varnish so she’d talked to a local shop teacher at the high school and for a small donation they had stripped and varnished the crib for her while she had gotten all the needed supplies. It gave the students some experience so everyone was happy.
They had the crib done in two days. It looked fabulous. She found a mattress that was on sale from a closeout store. Getting a bargain made her feel good even though she could afford to pay full price. It was just the thrill of getting a bargain and fixing stuff up to look as good or sometimes better than it ever had before.
She now had much of what she needed for a little one. A little one she was sure she felt kicking when a flutter moved in her belly. It made her feel closer to her baby. Her doctor’s visit was coming in the morning, but the morning sickness had abated. Everything seemed to be going fine now. Dez wasn’t sure the visit was worth the risk of being seen out and about.
As she settled in for the night, she missed warm arms to hold her and someone to share the experience of carrying and eventually having her baby. Too bad JC had been just another disappointment in a long line of disappointments. She and the little one would be fine without him. Someday she might find someone to share her life with, but for now she was no longer looking.
When morning came, she got ready quickly. She wanted to eat with Ariel so she would get the premium breakfast her cook served. As she drove along the road, she tried to stay on the lookout for anyone that paid too much interest in her. No one stood out. She arrived at the height of the breakfast crowd, a couple hours early for her checkup. If she was risking the trip, she might as well visit a while.
Breakfast was better than expected. She managed to snag some eggs Benedict. It was a gourmet treat she rarely got. Her coffee was cut to one cup, but as long as the coffee was good she could deal with it. Doc had assured her she could drink it since she was a werewolf now, but she was cautious.
“Ariel, there’s a breach on the edge of pack lands.” A guard said.
“Send a squad, whoever’s available, but warn everyone else.” Ariel said. She looked at Dez considering what to do.
“Are they after me?” Dez asked, but she already knew.
“Let’s get you a rifle so you can sit on the balcony. Just don’t shoot any of my people.” Ariel instructed.
They went to her closet, it was loaded with firearms and explosives. She gave her a hunting rifle, the kind that was used for hunting deer. “Are you sure it will take them down?” Dez asked.
“It will if they’re human.” Ariel replied.
“Are you going out there?”
“I’m going wolf along with several of my pack. You’ll know who we are for sure.”
“Be careful.” Dez yelled after her.
Ariel turned. “Always.” She said then she disappeared from sight.
Dez hurried upstairs to the third floor balcony. She sat in Ariel’s chair leaning the rifle on the rail. Using the sight to find her targets, she saw the wolves attacking a group of men. One was about to shoot Ariel so she got him first. Her hit was in the shoulder of the arm holding the gun. The gun fell so he bent over to pick it up. She shot him in the ass.
What an idiot! He knew he was in her sights, but kept trying to harm one of hers. He beat a hasty retreat now leaving his gun behind. Dez looked for her next target. It wasn’t easy picking one as crowded as the battlefield was. These guys weren’t smart enough to be scared of the wolves, but once she hit them twice, they ran.
Some new guys hit the field. They looked familiar and they were on Ariel’s side. There were three big guys. She almost passed out when she realized one was JC. What was he doing here? Maybe he just came to see Ariel? It was possible. Dez ignored them to turn her attention back on the fight. The tide was turning as more of the enemy were suff
ering injuries until finally, they turned running away.
Maybe she could get away too. Not right now, JC and his males were walking to the house with Ariel. They stood under the balcony talking. “I see you have a sharpshooter, but not a bloodthirsty one. I would tell him to shoot for the kill.” JC admitted.
“Did you know that in war the wounded are often a drain on the enemy’s resources?” Ariel asked.
“So you told him to do that?”
“No, but I approve of it. Let them run home to lick their wounds. They’ll think twice before they come back.” Ariel assured.
“You haven’t changed my mind.”
“Good thing I don’t have to. Your opinion is noted, but discarded.”
JC laughed. “I like you.”
“That’s not important either. Why are you here?”
“You know exactly why I’m here.” JC said.
“I can guess, but you’ll have to tell me for me to know.”
“I’m here for Dez. I can’t live without her.”
“Without her or what she is?”
“I decided I had to have her back. I had no idea who or what she was until I tried to find her.”
“I’ll see if she’s interested in talking to you.” Ariel said.
Dez slowly pulled her rifle in laying it down on the floor. She moved back into Ariel’s writing office just as her phone began to ring. “There’s someone here for you.” Ariel explained.
“Do I have to see him?” Dez questioned.
“You’ll have to eventually. There’s things you need to tell him. You might as well do so now.”
Dez knew Ariel was right. It still didn’t make things easier. Would he notice her baby bump? What would he say about the baby? She didn’t know. “I’ll be down in a moment.” Dread rolled over her as she made her way down the steps. She’d been through so much, had so much more ahead of her that seeing JC was not what she wanted right now. That didn’t matter because lately she’d been pushed along with the current problems in her life.
“There you are. Sit down here so we can have a talk. Sara will bring us some green tea. Anyone hungry? No? Okay. Thank you Sara.” Ariel said as Sara set glasses and a pitcher of green tea on the table.