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Micah

"Will we continue or do you want to wait for your wife to return?" Kurt Black asks as he steps closer to the chair that Cantrell Yates is occupying.

I don't have to look at him to know he is about to try to intimidate me and take over control of this ... this process of revealing the results of the tests. I look to Cantrell instead of Kurt, I'm not sure I can stand against Kurt without Rosy by my side but I do know I will not back down easily.

"Would you like to sit down Micah?" Cantrell invites. "Feed time for the little one, or ones?"

His enquiry is in a friendly tone and I take the seat Lana had vacated, it places me directly opposite Cantrell. I glance up as Danny Doctrill steps forward, he holds a photograph out towards me and I glanced at it but leave it for Cantrell to take.

 "Alan Cummings was Kaytee's oldest brother," Danny said quietly.

"Kaytee supplied a DNA sample," Doc said as he handed envelopes to both Cantrell and I.

"Enough key points were matched between the two samples to satisfy both technicians reading the results that the older boy Terry is Alan Cumming's son. Analysis of the sample from Dacey Cummings showed he is not Alan Cumming's biological son. I consulted medical records for Jakob Perkins, going on limited information, it is highly likely he is the biological father. Blood types are the same," Doc explains while I run the palm of my hand over the envelopes. Cantrell reaches out to place the photo near my hands and I glance at it to see two boys that bare a some resemblance to Terry.

"Where does that leave the result for Dacey?" I ask firmly.

"With further information from Kaytee Doctrill along with her permission Jakob Perkins has been listed as the biological father of the youngest boy," Kurt Black says.

I don't take my gaze from Cantrell and I catch the way he stiffens as Kurt Black moves to place a hand on the back of the chair Cantrell is sitting in.

 "Wait! Wait! You can't start without us there!" Thelma Dorrington calls as she climbs from their vehicle.

I glance to where Edwin is climbing out of another vehicle that both of the older Dorrington brothers are also exiting. Glancing between both vehicles I see beside Ken and Jacob there are also four big strong toms well known for their loyalty to the Dorringtons. I grit my teeth and watch as the group approaches, Edwin walks well apart from his partner and the others even coming to a halt to stand more to my side of the table than the side Cantrell and Kurt occupy. Cantrell stands up to direct Thelma and Curly into seats back behind the seats behind him. Thelma has several large brightly wrapped presents that she balances on her lap and smooths trembling hands over.

"Shall we get back to the matter at hand?" Kurt Black asks from Cantrell's chair. I feel the subtle push from him to go along with what he wants. I frown as I glance between him and Cantrell who has an uneasy expression as he watches Kurt.

"Edwin," I say getting to my feet. I walk over to shake his hand searching his face as he returns my grasp firmly. Satisfied my brother is not against me in whatever is going on I return to stand behind the chair I had been sitting in.

"Take a seat Williamson," Kurt Black orders letting the power of his beast leach into his voice.

"I prefer to stand," I say dismissing Kurt before glancing towards Cantrell.

"I believe Tangwyn's results should be next," "Sit. Down." Kurt orders.

I feel the rush of his dominance hit me and I take a step backwards before I can stop myself , I grit my teeth as I refuse to give any more ground. Slowly I turn my head to meet his eyes, I see the anger flare in his eyes, smell the anger of his inner cat and bare my teeth in a mockery of a smile. I hold my ground refusing to back down even as I hear the faint sounds of others shuffling uneasily.

Stand, stand for our mate

I feel the laugh that bubbles up from deep within my chest as I take a step towards this once dominant tom.

"Did you really think Rosy would marry beneath herself?" I ask coldly as I find myself advancing until I am nearly touching the folding table where the envelopes containing Terry and Dacey's results sit. I glare at Kurt where he sits in the chair Cantrell had been using and motion with my right hand jerking my thumb up and out.

"Move so Cantrell can resume with the results," I say evenly. "Or we could just wait here like this until my wife returns and asks me to remove you, which I will do."

"Your wife holds no ground," Kurt bites out between clenched teeth. "No Territory, no Clan, no place within the Board for you," He is panting but he remains in the chair holding his ground.

I feel the motion as I flick my gaze down to the table for a millisecond and before he can react I spring up onto the table landing lightly on the balls of my feet. I grin baring my teeth in a vicious snarl as I look down at Kurt Black as he slowly looks up to meet my gaze. I can almost feel his gaze as he assesses me but I have no fear, I am healthy and fit, in my prime and bulked up with exercise while protecting my young growing family.

Eye contact is maintained as he slowly reaches behind himself to pull the chair from under himself as he slowly and smoothly stands up. He gives the chair a little bit of a shove and it skitters backwards before tumbling over. Both of us are motionless for a few moments before I drop lightly to the ground in front of him crowding his personal space and forcing him to take a step backwards. In a show of sheer intimidation and domination I follow him forcing him to give up ground as I keep tight control of my inner cat as he stalks just beneath my skin. I can feel my cat getting closer and closer to the surface but somehow I have the amazing control I have perfected dealing with my wife.

A genuine smile curves my lips at the thought and Kurt Black drops his eyes before turning his face away. Slowly I let my gaze drift over the individual Board members gathered around, eyes are dropped or averted and not even Mitchell meets my gaze. Only Malcolm dares to for a fraction of a second before dropping his gaze to my chest with a respectful nod towards me.

"Cantrell," I say with a nod in his direction before turning my back on Kurt and returning to the seat I had vacated.

"Disgraceful, disgraceful," Thelma Dorrington mutters in a tone meant to be just loud enough for me to hear.

I ignore her as Cantrell settles a chair opposite me and sits in it carefully. I watch silently as a replacement birth certificate is made for Dacey before Cantrell places it to the side as he carefully avoids looking me directly in the eye. Doc passes both of us another envelope and Cantrell runs the edges of the envelope between his fingers nervously.

"The results for your wife's oldest biological kitt came back exactly as stated on his birth certificate," Cantrell says an even tone. "Do you want to see the results for the twins next?"

"Can't you get to my Granddaughter already!" Thelma Dorrington demands crossly. "My Clan needs this young generation! None of my other sons has had a chance to produce a heir!"

"I want to see the results for the twins," I say firmly.

"Where are we up to?"

I welcome the jolt of Rosy's voice and turn my head to look towards the sound. I feel my love for her swell up inside me as she lets the screen door slip from her fingertips as she starts towards us. I need her at my side when I am dealt this blow that will destroy my world as I know it.

As she steps out of the shadows and into the sunlight it is almost as if I am seeing her as a stranger might. She has the lush figure of a mature female werecat but where many of the young mothers look soft and cuddly as if they spend a lot of time snuggled up with their young kitts Rosy doesn't. As she moves it is easy to see her body is slick with well-toned muscles that do not detract from her feminine figure. Her hair hangs just past her shoulders and as she reaches up to finger comb her errant fringe back off her face the sun glints off multi hues in her blonde hair while she carries the clothe wrapped bundle that is her mothers diary in her other hand. The old book seems to have become some kind of comfort to Rosy lately, never being far from her reach.

A childish screech from the building behind her makes Rosy stop and glance back that way, the screen door rattles as a small body presses against it from the inside with all the subtly of a tornado. Rosy hesitates a few moments before she gives a faint nod. The screen door is opened and it can only be said that Kali explodes out the door. Kali storms past Rosy in a typical determined fashion and heads straight for me.

 "Dad dad dad dad!" Kali chants in her little girl voice. She ignores everyone else. I allow her to climb into my lap so I can wrap my arms around her for these last few minutes that she is my child.

"Hey my girl," I whisper softly near her ear earning giggles from her. I hear Rosy walk up behind me and glance back over my shoulder at her, she isn't looking at me but watching Thelma Dorrington silently.

 "See how much she looks like my Andrew!" Thelma exclaims, "There's no denying she is a Dorrington!"

"I want to see the results for the twins," I repeat firmly ignoring Thelma Dorrington's outburst.

 "We're here to prove our rights to our granddaughter!" Thelma Dorrington says angrily. "If you have concerns over your wife's fidelity you can address it another time!"

"Cantrell just do the results please," Rosy says quietly.

 Doc hands Cantrell two envelopes then passes two envelopes to me, Kali immediately reaches for them but I gently remove them from her little hands.

"Kali do!" Kali demands.

"Don't touch Kali, let Daddy have them," I tell her gently but firmly.

"You don't have the right to have my granddaughter call you that!" Thelma Dorrington snaps venomously.

 "Thelma Dorrington," Rosy says evenly. The emotionless tone of her voice warns me has her temper under tight control.

"Sit. There. And. Shut. Up." Rosy continues in the same tone.

 There is total silence for several seconds before Doc clears his throat nervously and shuffles his feet for a moment or two before clearing his throat once again.

 "The results for the twins Malachi and Layla show you are their biological father Micah," Doc states formerly.

"Does the results also state I am their mother?" Rosy asks dryly.

I glance over my shoulder at Rosy slightly startled by her question, she looks down at me meeting my eyes for a moment as if she had felt my attention on her before she turns her attention to those on the opposite side of the table from us. I turn my attention back to Cantrell, Doc and Kurt who is hovering close behind them.

"Your claim as mother never was in doubt," Cantrell says soothingly.

"My wife asked a question," I say firmly. "Answer it."

"Yes." Doc states decisively. "Mitochondrial DNA confirmed Rosy is the biological mother of both twins, and you Micah, are the father."

"Sometimes an individual has to do what is best for the community as a whole," Cantrell says quietly, gently.

I look at him as he speaks but he looks away avoiding my eyes. My heart starts hammering painfully fast as I realise the time has come, my breath whistles in my ears and darkness dances at the edge of my vision. I dimly feel Kali twist in my arms, the coolness of her hands on my face as she becomes aware of my distress. I look past her but no one in front of me meets my eyes as I look around desperately. Thelma Dorrington is looking at Kali with a desperate aching plain on her face and it is all I can do not to tighten my arms around the small body on my lap.

Fingers dig into my shoulder, I don't need to look, I know the feel of Rosy's touch. I can't make myself release my hold on Kali so I press my cheek against my wife's fingers for a few seconds before straightening my head once again.

"You expect us to hand Kali over just like that?" Rosy asks in an odd tone. Curiosity and disbelief seem to fill her voice.

"Our Clan needs my granddaughter!" Thelma Dorrington says shrilly. "You and your husband will have his first born daughter!"

Rosy

 "You expect us to hand Kali over just like that?" I ask in disbelief.

"Our Clan needs my granddaughter!" Thelma Dorrington says shrilly. "You and your husband will have his first born daughter!"

I let my eye wonder over those across from us. No one meets my eyes, several of the Alpha's even go as far as to turn away. The feeling that they don't agree with what is going on grows in my stomach matching the pulse that throbs in my hand where I clutch my mother's diary tightly. I loosen my hold slightly, the throbbing in my hand lessens slightly but the pressure building behind my eyes and around my heart continues to grow slowly. I can hear Micah's breathing hitch slightly, his heart is pounding and I glance towards him. His arms are wrapped around Kali as she clings to him, arms around his neck. As if feeling my gaze she looks my way and meets my eyes, confusion deep in her eyes. I reach out to stroke her cheek affectionately, her eyes close at my touch as my fingers connect with her soft skin.

Her pulse flutters just under her jaw where my fingers linger for a moment feeling the familiar beat before I pull my hand away, my mind spinning through time and space. I grasp Micah's shoulder as I close my eyes to centre and steady myself. Slowly I open my eyes and look at those facing us, the sound of that heartbeat still ringing in my memory. Cantrell looks away as does Doc but Kurt tries to hold my gaze and fails after a few seconds.

"I'm sorry Micah," I whisper softly. I feel his involuntary flinch beneath my fingers but he doesn't shrug off my hand.

"Kali's results." I force steel into my voice and feel my fingers flex into Micah's shoulder and around my mothers diary. I feel like laughing hysterically until I burst into tears but there will be time enough for theatrics later. A few moments total silence with no one moving, Kali pats Micah's hand and chatters to him in her baby talk and everyone seems to come to life.

Doc places envelopes in front of Micah and Cantrell before passing an identical one to the Dorringtons. I watch Micah but he makes no attempt to touch the envelope. Cantrell is opening his envelope slowly, reluctantly. I glance to the Dorringtons where the old woman is getting to her feet with the envelope tucked under her arm, a triumphant look on her face. I put my mother's diary on the table as I pick up the envelope from in front of Micah. I glance at him but he doesn't move, doesn't let go of Kali. I slip my thumb under the tab of the envelope, flick it open and pull out the two sheets inside. I scan the top paper quickly, my heart is racing, my hands shaking and tears burn behind my eyes. I shuffle the papers so I am looking at the second one and I scan the results desperately. The hot flow of tears stream down my cheeks and I close my eyes as I tilt my head back lifting my face towards the sky for a few moment.

"Please forgive me Micah," I say as I kneel beside his chair. I move my hand down from his shoulder to rest on his thigh as I put the hand holding the papers on the same thigh to steady myself.

"Read it Micah!" I demand. I push it against one of his hands as I look at him imploringly. He looks at me slowly, a hollowness deep in his eyes before looking down where I am trying to press papers into his hand.

"I'll take my Granddaughter!" Thelma Dorrington demands. I look up to see her directly across from us. I force myself to my feet and glare at her through narrowed eyes.

"Open the envelope and read the results," Cantrell says gently as he gets to his feet and attempts to ease her back from the table.

"We have already put in a request with the Board for us to raise our granddaughter!" Thelma says hotly.

"The DNA test was run twice with both blood sample and cheek swabs." Doc says calmly. "All of the results came back the same. Kalika Rose is the biological offspring off Micah and Rosy."

I hear the sobbing gasp from Micah but I don't take my attention from the threat to my family that is Thelma Dorrington.

"She can't be! Kalika looks so much like Andrew!" Thelma denied on a hysterical note as she tore at the envelope fruitlessly in her haste.

"She looks like her biological maternal grandmother Jeddah Black," Cantrell announces, "Wouldn't you say Kurt?"

 "Yes," Kurt answers thickly.

"I'd know if she wasn't Andrew's! She is my granddaughter! I love her!" Thelma says thickly and I look her way to see her fighting in vain to stop the tears that were brimming in her eyes as she waved the papers in her fist dismissively.

"I'm sorry for your loss Ma'am," Micah says gently. He gets to his feet with Kali held in one arm, the papers with the results in his other hand. "Truth is Kali here is a very lovable little girl. Even when I thought there was no way she could be mine I loved her."

"How about we all take a half hour break," Cantrell says. "Then we will discuss reinstating your territory. You will need your own territory for your daughters."

"You can't just ..." Malcolm growls aggressively as he moves closer, his eyes darting between us. "What about Sasha!"

"Jeddah's land will always revert to her descendants!" Kurt Black snaps.

 "No," I say shaking my head. I give Malcolm a smile when he glares at me. "I don't want or need that land. I have ... Mount Warning has my soul, is part of me like I am part of her. I'll have my Mountain."

I glance at Micah, he still holds Kali and is running a gentle hand over her curls while she looks over his shoulder. I follow her line of sight and smile as I see she is looking towards our mountain. I can hear the mutters of disagreement coming from some of those behind Cantrell, I look their way for a few moments before I glance down at my mother's diary where it sits on the table. I smile to myself as I think of the things I learnt reading the words from long ago that are written in the pages.

Maybe it is time to share some of the secrets Jeddah had written down and left behind believing that I might find it one day.

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Authors Note

I will end Rainbow Reflection here. Don't worry you will see most of the Characters from time to time in the next were cat stories.

Sasha is waiting in the wings patiently for her story to be told.

Kia and Mikkarl will get a story.

I had planned to tell Sam's (and Lilly's) story but they are kind of silent at Present.

Then there is Steven and his family

I may even have a short story or 2 to go in Stories of Us.

MyGypsy.