Thank you eshurrlock for the picture!

Emily

I was supposed to be resting, but I felt like I needed to talk to JJ about the date. I wasn't sure it was what I wanted right now. If I weren't pregnant with Mikko's fourth child, I would definitely be game for trying to make a real relationship with JJ.

I went in search of JJ and found him stuffing his clothes into a bag. 

"What's happening?" I asked as I walked into the room and shut the door behind myself. 

His shoulders moved in a silent sigh before he stopped what he was doing and looked at me. "The pack is leaving for a while. All contact is to be suspended during this time."

"And that means what?" I asked. "That we're not going to be allowed to talk to each other?"

He nodded and looked away from me, turning his attentions to packing up his belongings. "No communication at all. It would be a sign of a broken trust and the packs will never reach a compromise."

I couldn't help but smile. I knew Finn wasn't one to compromise, he demanded things and his packs listened. Though, they didn't always like it. 

"It's uncanny timing that this break comes days after our date." He looked me right in my eyes. I could see humor in his eyes, even if he didn't look particularly happy. "I have no doubt that this is somehow Mikko's fault. Who else would have an issue with us seeing each other?"

"I could think of a couple." I knew the pack, even though they didn't want to admit it, they didn't want Mikko and I to see other people. They wanted us together like a family is supposed to be together.

We had the most sacred of werewolf bonds between us: children. They were worth quadruple their weight in gold. They all thought Mikko and I should be together. 

I should've seen that before. I knew that seeing JJ would have consequences. Of course the tensions would rise.

I should have to wait to date JJ until after the packs were united. 

And I told him so. 

He nodded his agreement and moved his full bag onto the floor. "We'll be coming back soon enough. The air just needs to clear before we can."

I nodded my agreement. There was nothing that could be done now. 

Luckily the kids were with my family since they were leaving and wanted to spend as much time with them as they could before they left.

Abigail turned around the corner, into JJ's room.

Her expression was guarded. She was treading very carefully, and a part of me was curious, but I was mostly mad.

"This isn't all Mikko's fault, Em," she tried to reason.

"It might not be all his fault, but he definitely is involved in all of this," I motioned to JJ packing. "He's just being jealous and making everything harder.

Abigail signed in frustration. "Mikko doesn't want to make this harder. It's hard enough between the two of you as it is."

I started walking towards Abigail. "Don't get involved in this. I'm just starting to like you, don't change that."

It took a moment of staring to get her to move. Werewolves were very aware of unspoken communication. If I had backed down and not held my gaze with Abigail, she would've won. But being that I am connected to Mikko as I am, she couldn't stare me down for long.

I walked past Abigail.

"Looks like Mikko's going to get an earful," Abigail said as she leaned against the door frame. 

I looked back to see JJ give her a once over before shrugging. I ignored it. I really didn't care. What was going on between JJ and I was nothing serious, if he wanted to upgrade to a tough werewolf, I'd let him go. 

I stopped.

This wasn't worth the fight with Mikko. If I was willing to let JJ go, then it wasn't worth it.

"I can wait until they're gone." I tilted my head in JJ's direction. "There's always time to argue with Mikko later."

Abigail gave a satisfied nod. "Let's go keep an eye on those babies."

I followed Abigail to the living room while JJ followed us. 

They were gone two hours later. The alpha was itching to escape from Finn's territory. I couldn't blame him. 

I don't know how Finn's wives ever had a chance with arguing with him. 

Though, I pondered, is that what people thought when Mikko and I argued?

While the kids were napping from an excited two hours of play, I got up and walked over to Mikko, who was feigning a nap on. I tapped his shoulder, he opened an eye, and I pointed out of the room. With a sigh, he carefully got up and followed me out of the living room. 

"I hope you're not planning on arguing with me about that pack's departure."

I shrugged as I did my best not to make eye contact with him. He would see that I really had wanted to argue with him about it, but I was just too tired. 

"I don't want to argue," I stated truthfully. "I want to know why you keep things from me."

Mikko's brows furrowed together.

I could feel the frustrated it's-none-of-your-business on the tip of his tongue.

He growled, frustrated, and stood up. I was surprised he was able to hold his tongue.

"Let's go to the room upstairs." It wasn't a suggestion, so I bent and listened.

He was willing to talk to me, I couldn't pass up the opportunity trying to talk in that spot.

We went up to the room that was designated as Mikko's when we had to stay at Finn's home. The room was on the other side of the second floor from Finn's room. I'm sure that was intentional. I knew it was hard for dominate wolves to be together. If they weren't father and son, they would be rivals and unable to talk about anything.

Mikko shut the door behind himself.

I stood in the middle of the room. I needed pacing room. I would have to summon up all the patience I had to get through this conversation.

"First," Mikko said coming towards me.

I didn't move away from him. I stayed completely still.

He reached into my shirt at the collar. He stepped one step closer, causing his body to touch my protruding stomach. His fingers traced from my collarbone to the back of my neck. When he pulled his hand up and away from me, I felt the necklace move over my skin.

He smiled slightly. "I don't want you to be tempted to use your one good shot at killing me too soon."

I couldn't help but smile a little. "It's probably a good idea if you're planning that far ahead."

He reached behind me with his other hand, so his arms encircled me, and unclasped the necklace. That was the most complicated way of taking off the necklace. He could've lifted it over my head. He could have walked around me and unclasped it. But he chose to surround me with his arms.

I couldn't help but feel like he was up to something. Mikko was always up to something.

He took the necklace and walked towards the bed. He put the necklace on the center of the mattress.

"Alright, what is it that you want to know?" He let out a deep sigh when he sat down.

"I told you, I want to know why you keep things from me." I crossed my arms over my chest.

His eyes dipped down to my chest before he looked me in my eyes again. "I'll tell you whatever you want to know."

"I'm tired of secrets Mikko. I'm tired of being in the dark. What's going on with JJ's pack?"

His eyes never left my face. "That pack isn't trusted. They aren't complying with what Finn wants from them."

"Obviously," I stated matter-of-factly. "You can't negotiate with werewolves. You have to make them think it's their idea or have the leverage."

Mikko smirked. "Yes."

"So, what? The alpha thinks he can take on Finn?"

Mikko shook his head. "There aren't many wolves who can take on Finn."

"I know that already, Mikko."

He rubbed his hand over his mouth that I recognized as a gesture of his frustration. "The alpha thinks he can gain control over Finn's packs through you."

That made no sense. "Me?"

Mikko nodded. "Yes. Finn already told the alpha that you are one of his daughters. Finn loves his daughters." I could hear something in Mikko's voice that I didn't recognize. "He will do anything for his daughters. He will ruin lives for his daughters."

"So I sense jealousy in your tone?"

Mikko just shrugged once and looked away for a second. "Once it would have been jealousy, bitterness. Now it's just annoyance. Finn creates a lot of problems over what he loves."

I couldn't help but laugh a little. "What would they make me do? I'm bonded to you."

Mikko nodded. "And they don't know that."

"How do they not know that? It's not like it's a secret."

Mikko nodded. "In our pack, and some people in our other trusted pack, yes, they know. Packs that aren't ours, don't know anything."

"Why not? Why's it a secret?"

Mikko's eyes trained down on my belly. "What do you think I wouldn't do for my family?" He looked me right in my eyes. "What do you think I wouldn't do for you?"

That wasn't the response I had been ready for. I had no response for it.

Mikko's eyes lightened a few shades. His wolf was coming to the surface. He stood up and stretched his neck side to side until popping could be heard.

"I'm not trying to freak you out. I'm really not." He looked at me once more. "If other wolves knew I had a bond on you, they would use it to control me, which would influence Finn to do something stupid."

"And what? They'd kidnap me and keep me hostage until Finn gave them uncontested territory?"

Mikko shook his head. "They would take you, and hurt you. I would feel that through the bond and come for you, leaving the pack vulnerable. They think Finn wouldn't know what to do." Mikko smirked. "They don't know just how crazy Finn can get when he's angry."

"You never answered my question." Confusion furrowed his brows. "Why are you hiding things from me?"

Mikko shrugged. "I thought I was protecting you."

"I need to know things Mikko."

He nodded. "I can't tell you everything. There's a line I have to toe. You're not completely mine. I can't trust you completely until you are completely mine."

I rolled my eyes. "How am I supposed to protect my children, or myself even, without knowing everything I need to know."

Mikko sat on the footboard of the bed and crossed his arms over his chest. "I will tell you everything you want or can know regarding anything about you and the kids. I can't tell you about the plans for Finn. If they took you, you'd squeal and give them anything they wanted."

He was goading me. I don't know how I knew it because his face was serious, but I knew he was goading me.

"I can too keep a secret."

He shook his head. "I'm in your head sweet cheeks. I know everything."

"That's not fair."

He nodded. "I agree. But like I said, as soon as you're completely mine, you'll know all the skeletons in my closet."

"Something tells me it's going to be a pretty dark place."

Mikko's eyes went distant as he barely moved his head in what was probably supposed to be a nod. "It's not going to be pretty. But by the time that happens, you shouldn't be afraid of what you'll find."

I couldn't help the unlady like snort of disbelief. "Oh please, that means you're going to open up a little. With how long I've known you, that's never been an option."

He sighed. "As hard as it's going to be, I'm going to give it a shot. If not with you, it won't be with anyone else."

"You're good as seducing women."

Mikko held up one finger in the air. "None of that low ball shit."

I smiled. "There's the Mikko I know."

His eyes narrowed on me. "When you have access to my head, feel free to go through all the shit that you think you know. I'm very good at misdirection. That's my job little miss."

His eyes were lightened to a honey color that glowed against his skin tone. The way he stalked towards me told me that his wolf was ascended and influencing the human.

"It's been my job for a really long time to make people think they know what's going on when it's not true. I have a reputation to uphold." He stood to his full height in front of me, forcing me to look up at him. Mikko had a habit of making himself look smaller than he really is.

He circled behind me. I didn't move, or even flinch. As weird as it was to say, I felt safer around Mikko's ascended wolf than I did his human most of the time. His hands traced over my sides, over his mark, and rested on the growing bump. He growled in satisfaction. "I can't wait until the day you're inside of my head, Em."

I pulled away and rounded on him. He was too close for the comfort of my self-control. "Why don't you just tell me?"

Mikko shook his head. "I'm going to enjoy watching you trying to figure it out." Mikko's wolf was taking more control. I knew when Mikko's hands snaked around me and pulled me closer. "What else do you want to know?"

"If you think that I'm going to be in your head someday, why are you letting JJ get so close to me?"

He tapped his head once. "I know what's really going on up there."

"That's not fair."

He nodded. "I know. Now that the pack is gone I have to get out on Finn's orders."

"So what's the hold up?"

Mikko shrugged and took a step back. "Alright, no more funny business."

The wolf descended as Mikko's eyes turned a shade darker. "Whatever you want to know, and I'm allowed to share with you, I will tell you."

"Swear?"

Mikko nodded, "I swear."