Rosy’s story:

I swallow hard and refuse to let my fear show on my face as Unca loads the last of his equipment into his vehicle. I glance at Timny who will travel back with him to retrieve Wade’s car and then quickly look back at Unca.

"I’ll be hearing from you soon." Unca tells me and brushes a kiss on my cheek. He smiles as he looks at Jazzy where she is sitting in a chair wrapped in a blanket waiting to say goodbye to him. She is in human form and there is a healthy blush to her cheeks as she grins at the man who undoubtedly saved her life.

"Thank you Unca Dunka," she says softly, and the rather gruff old man smiles down at her.

"No, thank you sweet child." he tells her gently. "For allowing me to see there is still magic in this world."

I watch as he climbs into his vehicle and I wave goodbye as it slowly pulls away.

"Mitchell take Jazzy inside. Now!" Wade orders firmly and I know with a sinking feeling that my freedom is about to end. I sense rather than hear the movement either side of me behind me and I fight the urge to look behind me or flee. After all I did give my promise I would do as I am told.

"I’m to go inside and to the secure room?" I ask without looking away from the disappearing vehicle.

"Yes." Wade answers firmly. I wait until the vehicle is nearly out of sight before heading inside and making my way to the room where I had spent my last heat. I turn to face the door nervously and I don’t have long before Wade is in the doorway.

"You will remain in here until I am certain you will not try to run off again." Wade tells me forcefully as he catches hold of one of my arms and forces me to walk to the cage. He abruptly pushes me into it and shuts the door, locking it.

"I need to see Doc about birth control!" I state.

"I have decided you will not be given that option. When you are ready I will send Edwin in here and he shall breed you, willing or not. You will settle down and produce the next generation of werecats." Wade orders.

"You do not have that right!" I yell angrily, "It is my right to choose! My right to choose who and if I risk pregnancy!"

"You lost that right when you brought a human here and pointed a gun at us. You are not human and it is time you stopped running away whenever it suits you. You put the entire clan at risk when you informed your uncle of our existence. Now you pay!" Wade snaps angrily.

It starts to sink in that he means what he is saying and is not making empty threats.

"Micah, I want it to be Micah." I say struggling to stay calm.

"Do you think that I am not aware of the fact Micah is very lenient with you and does not make you follow his orders? That you continue to defy him nearly every day? No it will be Edwin. I cannot trust Micah not to cave in to the pleas I am sure you would bombard him with, and use birth control so he does not breed you, hoping to win favour with you. Edwin will do as I command." Wade tells me coldly. "Maybe having a kitt of your own will make you consider your actions more carefully - stop you acting foolishly and making dangerous choices."

"Wade please, please don’t do this." I beg as I clasp the bars of the door in my hands. "I did it to try to save Jazzy, I didn’t mean to defy you or challenge your authority."

"Enough! The subject is not open to discussion." Wade snaps tightly.

"What are you going to do? Keep me locked up until I am too heavily pregnant to try to run?" I demand as my mounting fear starts to turn to fury. I look past Wade to see Edwin standing behind him, grinning in anticipation and I shriek my rage as I look around for something to throw at him. Wade slams the room door and I hear the key turn in the lock and another shriek of rage rises in my throat.

I begin to pace the cage looking out at the room beyond, studying it carefully. There is a new small ‘cat flap’ installed in the bottom of the cage door and I presume it is to pass my meals through. A bucket sits in a corner with a lid on it and I recognise my toilet facility from last time. I scan each wall closely, memorising everything even the pattern on the wallpaper as I pace. Apart from the table and a lounge in the outer room and the bed within the cage, all furnishings have been stripped from the room. The only sound other than my pacing is the faint hum of an air conditioner somewhere at the end of one of the vents on the internal wall. I growl low and angry as I continue to pace. Already I have a set pattern to my steps as I move around the cage. Not long before dusk the room door is unlocked and Marissa comes in with a tray while Wade stands just inside the doorway watching. I go to the far side of the cage and turn my back on them rather than look at them in my anger. I want to scream and yell but I refuse to give Wade the satisfaction of seeing how scared he has me.

Wade has to be bluffing; there is no way he could really be going to do as he threatened. He is just trying to scare me, make me more reluctant about defying or disobeying him in the future. I listen as Marissa approaches the cage but I refuse to turn and look at either of them. I wait until I hear them both leave the room before starting to pace once again.

It is dark before I stop pacing and I sit on the floor glaring at the tray of food that has been pushed through the flap of the cage door. Finally I get up and approach the tray. I knock the lid off the dish on it and stare at the mixed grill someone has prepared. There is even extra bacon and I pick the dish up to eat hungrily. It will do me no good to become too weak to fight when the time comes. I dismiss the cup of coffee and reach for the can of coke, opening it and drinking the liquid thirstily.

I listen to the noises in the house slowly coming to a cease. In my distress I imagine I can hear the faint sounds of soft breathing before I move to begin systematically testing each individual frame of the jail like bars. Finding no weaknesses I retreat to the bed and lay down to try to sleep. The faint sound of the room door being unlocked brings me off the bed to stand facing the door of the outer room. I watch as it opens and I snarl when Edwin comes into the room.

"Hey Rosy, I thought we could talk some." he tells me with a smile.

"Get out!" I growl at him.

"Look we both know what will happen when I come into that cage with you…" Edwin starts.

"You like your females unwilling do you? Because let me tell you I would never choose you, I don’t want you. You are not an option." I snarl at him, livid.

"Don’t be like that Rosy. You’ll want me when the time comes." Edwin tells me softly.

"Correction! My heat will want a male, any male! I will never want you!" I say in a cold calm voice.

"You will, just wait and …" Edwin tries to tell me.

"Get out!" I yell at him and he takes an involuntary step backwards. "Get out! Get out! GET OUT! GET OUT!" I scream as I grab the cage bars and pull at them ineffectively in my rage.

I continue to scream abuse at him barely aware of when the room door opens and Wade comes in to grab Edwin and drag him from the room, shutting the door and locking it behind him. I am in such a rage I continue to yell and shout abuse at Edwin even though he is no longer where I can see him. Slowly I settle down enough to return to pacing the cage with a low snarl rumbling in my throat. My inner cat does not like being in a cage and even though I want to change forms I am unable to due to my extreme agitation. It is the small hours of the morning before I curl up on the bed to sleep. I wake to the faint aroma of cooking food and sit up on the bed to watch the room door patiently. It is nearly an hour later before I hear light footsteps approaching the door and I straighten up in anticipation. I hear the sound of the door being unlocked before it swings open and Marissa walks into the room carrying a tray.

"Good morning Rosy," Marissa says brightly.

"Marissa can you ask Doc to come and see me please?" I ask softly.

"I am sorry Rosy but I will not defy my husband." Marissa says apologetically.

"Marissa, you told me I have the right to choose. Please don’t let them take that right away from me. How would you feel if it was Jazzy in here facing what I am going to face?" I ask desperately as it finally sinks in that Wade had not been trying to scare me into submission.

"Jazzy is a good girl, she would have no intention of threatening her Alpha or any tomcat with a gun or exposing our existence to a human." Marissa tells me with a frown.

"Don’t you see? I had no other choice if I was to help Jazzy. No one would listen to me!" I implore her.

"Take your food and eat." Marissa says as she pushes the tray through to me.

"I was in a situation much the same as this when Sam, Mitchell, Dwayne and Alex first found me. I was locked in a zoo animal cage and the strays that had me would come into the cage and take me against my will, force me to do what they wanted. How is this any different other than the ones about to do it to me now claim to care about me?" I ask frantically.

"That is it! No more!" Wade yells and strides into the room. He wraps a gentle arm around Marissa who is very distressed and guides her from the room, locking the door behind her. I move to the far side of the bed and sit down on the floor shattered. I can’t eat or drink in my state of apprehension and rest my elbows on my knees as I hang my head miserably. The house is quiet outside the room and eventually I lie down on my side and curl up into a ball of misery.

It is lunchtime before I stir to eat my cold breakfast and time passes without any sounds from the other parts of the house. It is just on dark when I hear someone come into the house. Within a few minutes the outer door is unlocked and Wade stands in the doorway while Marissa brings my tray to the cage. I can’t help noticing she looks as pale and strained as she did when Jazzy was sick, I feel remorse for causing her distress. After all I know she is not to blame for my predicament.

Micah’s story:

The storm clouds sit low on the horizon; the air is heavy and oppressive, promising an electrical storm. I look away from the encroaching storm and look back towards the main house. I stand looking towards the house for several minutes before returning to the lounge room and sitting on the lounge. Hopefully today will be the day Rosy asks Marissa to pass on an invitation to a tom. I have little doubt it will be me, or maybe Steven. But definitely it will not be Edwin. It can’t be!

The afternoon Don Caruthers had left Wade had escorted Rosy to the secure room. I have no doubt he has locked her in to prevent her leaving before she was punished for stealing his car, and more seriously for pointing a loaded gun at us. It had been late when we had heard Rosy screaming abuse at Edwin and then Wade ordering him away from the room forcefully. Sam and Mitchell had wanted to go to the house and drag Edwin outside to give him a beating. I had been thankful for Baxter’s steadying influence, I don’t think I would have had the drive to prevent them doing it.

Jazzy is recovering; she is at Stephan’s and Aunt Abigail’s until Rosy’s heat is over. Wade had decided it best for Jazzy to be away from Rosy for the moment and Doc had agreed although he had seemed reluctant. Stephan had sent his best warriors to collect Jazzy and take her to his compound by light plane.

"Hey! What are you doing?" Donovan asks brightly as he pauses beside us in the lounge room.

"Waiting." Steven tells him with a grin.

"Well I’m gonna go see if Marissa has any more of those biscuits. And I might go talk to Rosy through the doors again. She didn’t answer me yesterday." Donovan informs us.

I send a dark scowl his way but make no move to get up and give him the cuff across the ear he deserves.

"Donovan, leave your brother and Steven alone. Just because you got to talk to Rosy and they aren’t allowed in the house there is no need to tease them." Baxter scolds firmly.

Donovan whines but moves away leaving us be. I hear the screen door slam behind him and then there is silence in the quarters. I know Sam and Mitchell are somewhere nearby worrying over what punishment Rosy will receive. I haven’t told them but I intend to try to reason with Wade, try to get him to keep the severity of her punishment down. I get to my feet and pace to the window by the TV restlessly, I rest one hand against the side of the window frame as I look out at the darkening sky.

"I don’t like the look of that sky." Malcolm says as he pauses in the door from the hallway. I hear others behind him and the screen door slams making me turn to face the room in irritation. I watch as Malcolm walks into the room followed by others and realise everyone is here for lunch.

"Nothing doing yet?" Mikkarl asks quietly as he glances between Steven and me.

"Not yet." Steven confirms.

"Who wants hamburgers?" Mikkarl asks as he heads for the kitchen. "Some of you set out the salad makings. One of us might need a good feed."

Lunch is a hurried affair and I am only half way through my second burger when Donovan comes running into the quarters. His face is pale and he looks like he is about to be sick as he glances around wildly, faint whimpers of distress coming from him.

"Has something happened to Jazzy?" Mitchell demands as Donovan looks around frantically.

"No, no!" Donovan is crying as he shakes his head. "It’s horrible, can’t you hear her?"

There is silence and I make out a faint noise, possibly someone yelling, the sound carrying in the thick air before the storm.

"She wasn’t asking for him, she didn’t want him. But Wade sent Edwin into the room, into the cage …"

I don’t hear any more over my own roar of pain and rage as I head for the front door. I am just outside the screen door about to run for the main house when I am tackled from behind. Even as I yell and fight against the hands restraining me I can hear Rosy screaming at Edwin above the noise.

"…I don’t want you! Not you! I don’t want it to be you! Go away! Just go away! No! Stop it! Stop it! Don’t … leave me …no … don’t want you, didn’t ask for you …"

Her screams gradually die down until they can’t be heard and I squeeze my eyes shut tight as I allow myself to go limp and my forehead to rest against the ground beneath me. Her silence means her inner cat has taken control, accepting the tom with her.

"The worst of it’s over for her." Baxter says gently near the back of my head. "It sounds like her cat has accepted it. It’s no use Micah." I am lifted to my feet and I try to shrug off the strong grip on either arm but find I am fighting an impossible battle as I am slammed up against the wall of the quarters and held there.

"Calm down boyo, calm down." Baxter orders. "Let’s go inside and I am going to have a talk to the lot of you."

I am forcibly walked inside and someone turns the TV on while I am sat in the middle of the lounge, Steven on one side and Dwayne on the other.

"Justin keep a look out at the hallway door, we don’t want Wade walking in on this." Baxter says firmly and stands in front of me. "I have been friends with Wade ever since I first met him when he came over from America to represent his family in an international werecat meeting. Not once until today have I ever doubted his decisions, let alone outright disagreed with anything he has done. You go over there now, drag Edwin out of that cage, give him the hiding he deserves, and Wade will kick you out of the clan. How will you help Rosy then?"

I glare at his boots. I don’t want to look at him. I don’t want to see he supports Wade’s decision and I don’t want his pity. I feel Steven hook an arm over my shoulders as he pulls me against his side, his head tips towards mine and I begin to realise I am not the only one suffering. I look around the room. Mitchell is sitting beneath the window openly crying while Sam paces back and forth in front of him, pounding his fist into an open hand over and over again. Donovan is collapsed in a chair sobbing noisily; Chris and Timny crouched beside him talking to him in low voices.

No one is unaffected. Mikkarl is trying to calm Pete who is here, not having left after arriving to find Jazzy deathly sick. Even Malcolm who is usually emotionless is visibly upset. I look up to find Baxter watching me closely, his eyes moist and deeply troubled.

"I will not let Edwin move back here and have Rosy!" I snarl.

"Well you got some planning to do." Baxter says bluntly. "Donovan. Do you know if Doc saw Rosy when she was first locked in the room?"

"No I don’t …" Donovan stops mid sniffle as the significance hits him; he looks at Baxter for a moment. "Rosy was begging Wade that since she had to have a baby she wanted to pick the father."

"The bastard!" Mitchell shouts in anger and pain as he gets to his feet. "He’s got no right to decide that."

"You can bet it’s what he has decided for her punishment." Baxter says flatly. "Force her to become a nice settled little mother. Stop her from thinking beyond herself and her own kitt."

"We need to get Wade to let Rosy out of that room ASAP. A lot of her nightmares are about being locked in a cage. It’s one of the few things she does remember when she wakes up from one." Sam says tightly.

"Rosy comes back here as soon as I can make Wade let her out of that room and cage." I say tightly.

"How are you going to stop her running away or hurting herself?" Pete asks worriedly.

"We’ll all help look after her." Malcolm says. "Shower her with attention and affection. Heck we do it to Jazzy all the time, isn’t it about time Rosy realised it’s how we treat she-kitts."

"We don’t leave her by herself." Chris puts in.

As I listen to the ideas coming from the warriors and realise that Rosy has won all of their hearts in one way or another. Hope begins to grow as I realise no one else wants Edwin back here, not even his one-time best friend and former work partner Malcolm.

"When Rosy comes out of the cage I’ll challenge Edwin for the right to be with Rosy. It’s not the first time something like that has happened and there is no way I am allowing Edwin to take Rosy away from here. This place is her home now." I say with conviction.

"What if Rosy doesn’t want you?" Sam asks tightly.

"I think Micah will respect your sister’s wishes a lot more than Edwin would." Baxter says mildly before I can reply.

Sam glances at Baxter then back at me before looking away once again. Mitchell who is still standing just behind his brother gives me a hard glare but I don’t look away.

"You aren’t going to hurt Rosy are you?" Donovan demands as he stares at me.

"Rosy will need help and protection if what we think is happening is true. If that is all she wants from me, then I have to accept that’s the way it is." I tell him levelly.

"Whatever is decided it is not going to be easy." Baxter says firmly. "That poor little she-kitt is going to be a mess, forced to accept Edwin. Then there is going to be a lot of worry for the safety of both herself and any kitt that may result." He holds up his hand as Sam, Donovan and Pete go to speak.

"Firstly we can only guess at why Wade sent Edwin into the cage. Donovan did you hear anything either of them said before you came over here?" Baxter asks.

"Not really." Donovan says and hesitates a moment. "I was in the pantry getting some of the chocolate chip biscuits Marissa made when Wade and Marissa came into the kitchen. Marissa was begging Wade not to do it, that it wasn’t right."

"All we can do for the moment is wait and see how things turn out, if Edwin does move back here. Then decide what to do," Baxter says evenly.

"Do you think Wade is going to order punishment for Rosy?" Mitchell asks worriedly.

"Isn’t this enough?" Sam asks through clenched teeth.

"I’ll try to talk to him over the next few days." Baxter says quietly. "After having to listen to Rosy’s reaction he might be more likely to go more gently with her."

"Why the hell does he keep treating her like any other stray?" Malcolm demands. "Rosy is clan not a stray!"

"What is it with this clan? Why is everyone trying to put a label on that poor little she?" Baxter demands. "Yes she should have been born clan, but she wasn’t! And from what you lot say she identifies herself as a stray. We have all heard you can’t trust a female stray, first chance they get they try to eliminate all female competition. Would you Williamson boys rather your father took chances with your sister’s safety?"

"I am not listening to you stand up for Wade!" I say tightly as I get to my feet. I am in no mood to listen to this conversation.

"Why don’t we all go over to the workout shed?" Baxter asks. "Some good old fashioned sweating should help you all feel better."

It is quiet in the quarters as I walk through the screen door and along the hallway before turning to go into the sunroom and towards the bedrooms. I suspect I will find Sam and Mitchell in their room. They have been very detached from the other warriors over the last three days. Edwin had only stayed in the cage with Rosy overnight. The next day he had emerged from the main house, got into his vehicle and driven away before any of us had gotten close to him. Sam and Mitchell had wanted to chase after him and give him a beating for going into the cage with Rosy. Luckily it had been easy to dissuade them from pursuing him, getting them to wait here in case Rosy was allowed out of the containment room. I stop at their room and look in, I am pleased to have found them, but both of them have closed looks on their faces as they turn to look at me.

"I was just looking for you pair to tell you Baxter, Dwayne and I are about to go and speak to Wade about Rosy being allowed to return to the quarters." I tell them as I stand in their doorway. Sam glances at Mitchell and Mitchell gives a shrug.

"Rosy should have come out of that cage by now if Edwin left of his own accord." Sam says tightly.

"I intend on finding out why she is still in there and what punishment Wade has decided to insist on." I tell them levelly.

"Our sister is locked in a cage or in a room." Mitchell snaps viciously. "Knowing what she has been through Wade is not punishing her! He is torturing her. Wasn’t sending your brother in there punishment enough? Being pregnant nearly sent her crazy not too long ago."

"The Were Board of Governors isn’t going to like her being a single mother and I sure as hell am not letting Edwin marry my sister even if she is pregnant to him." Sam snaps tightly.

"I’ll take full responsibility for her." I say as I meet the eyes of first Sam then Mitchell. "If Rosy will have me, I’ll marry her and treat any kitt as if it was my own flesh and blood."

Sam narrows his eyes and goes to speak but I beat him to it.

"This isn’t about her possibly being pregnant; it isn’t about righting a wrong. When … when Rosy took off with Wade’s car it hit me that I’m in love with her. Then this shit Wade has pulled sending Edwin into the cage with Rosy, it made me realise how much I love her. A kitt, if she is pregnant, if that is what Wade planned. The kitt will be Rosy’s kitt, how could I not love it?" I ask seriously.

"You’re a good tom Micah, but there just might be a huge problem." Sam says with a tired sounding sigh. "Mitchell and I have been talking and we think that maybe with all that has happened to Rosy she probably can’t handle any tom mounting her. She never let you even try to mount her just before we left for the meeting. There were things that went on at the Alpha meeting with Connor and Kell, and we all heard her reaction to Edwin."

"You’re not the only one who has wondered about that. I’ve heard about what happened with Rosy accidentally presenting to Connor." I admit evenly.

"It’s Rosy’s choice what she does once we get her out of that house." Mitchell says evenly. I eye him silently for a moment. Finding Rosy has matured his instincts quickly, Sam is a force to be reckoned with but unless I miss my guess, Mitchell will be the one not to underestimate.

"I never said it wasn’t Rosy’s choice." I say quietly. "So do you two want to come while Baxter tries to talk to Wade? Rosy is your sister after all."

"I’d sure as hell like to hear what Wade has to say for himself." Sam says tightly.

"There’s one thing I want to get straight here and now." Baxter says just a few feet away. I give a startled hiss and spin around to face him as Sam and Mitchell come out of their room to eye Baxter silently; suspicion evident on both their faces.

"I wouldn’t be surprised if you young hot blooded toms are considering trying to overthrow Wade. Now is not the time. Jazzy is not well enough to step up as Queen to the clan. And has the Were Board made a decision about restoring territory to Rosy or are they waiting to see how she adapts to clan life?" Baxter asks evenly. "Now is not the time for a revolt. The clan would need one or both of those she-kitts in full health and not under punishment for a serious transgression."

"What makes you think we’d turn against Wade and Marissa?" Sam asks with narrowed eyes. "If it wasn’t for them and Kurt Black, Mitchell and I would have most likely been victims of a hostile takeover ourselves."

"You two would not be the sons of Jeddah Black if you were willing to accept what has happened lying down. Not to mention you Micah, you’re too much like your mother’s father not to want to right this." Baxter says evenly. "The plan for now is to go over there and I talk to Wade, negotiate his letting Rosy come back here."

"We go and see about getting Rosy back home." I agree quietly.

"That’s all I need to hear." Baxter cuts in quickly. "If Wade asks me in the future if I heard any of you talk about possible trouble from this I can honestly say all I have heard is mutterings against Edwin."

When Baxter turns and heads for the hallway I hesitate a moment as I glance at Sam and Mitchell before turning and following Baxter. I hear both of them follow and I smile savagely to myself. Having Rosy’s brothers with us will carry a lot of weight in bargaining with Wade. Outside Baxter is waiting with Dwayne and he moves to walk beside me as I head for the main house. It is obvious Wade has been waiting for us when he steps from the front door and walks to the yard fence. Cantrell Yates and Mal Inness follow him to stand back behind him. Was Wade expecting trouble? Cantrell and Mal are certain to be backing for him in case of trouble from within the ranks of his own clan I realise instantly. Suddenly I am glad Baxter is here with his steadying influence and knowledgeable advice.

"Mal, Cantrell." Baxter says on a friendly note and steps up to the fence to offer his hand to the two visiting Alphas.

"Baxter." Wade says sounding slightly reserved.

"Wade." Baxter gives a quick nod and glances towards the house door as if expecting someone else. "Sam and Mitchell here are looking for their little sister; they said she should be out of the cage by now."

I hear a low growl come from Mitchell and glance behind me, Sam has placed a hand on Mitchell’s shoulder and Dwayne is stepping closer on the other side.

"Rosy was charged over several serious crimes and I have ruled on her punishment." Wade says tightly and I immediately sense we are not going to like the punishment he has decided on by the way he has crossed his arms and is glancing between us.

"Why weren’t we told so we could see her and ensure she knew her rights?" Sam demands tightly.

"Kurt Black was here and spoke on her behalf." Cantrell Yates says evenly. "As it is Wade is only insisting on punishment for one of three charges and being mighty lenient at that. He could have decided on punishment and had it carried out without asking the advice of any of us."

"What punishment have you decided on?" Baxter asks cautiously as he looks towards Wade. My heart is pounding and I can hear the low growls coming from Sam and Mitchell. I can only think of two crimes but I know Wade would have been very thorough with his charges.

"I believe Rosy had the best of intentions when she acted as she did so I am only acting on her theft of my car." Wade says evenly and I hear sharp intakes of breath behind me. We had been expecting charges over the gun or exposure of our species’ existence.

"Six months in a cage and frankly if it had been me I would have been pushing for maximum sentence on her two major crimes. Female or not she acted like a feral stray that needs to be put down." Cantrell says with a hard frown.

"Six months in a cage! That will kill Rosy!" Mitchell yells in anguish.

"Micah, Dwayne." Wade says with a glare of authority over Mitchell’s cry. "Take Sam and Mitchell back to the quarters and ensure they remain there until they have calmed down. Baxter I want to talk to you."

"Do as your Alpha ordered." Baxter says firmly jerking his head towards Sam and Mitchell. Sam and Dwayne have hold of Mitchell who is struggling in their grasp, undoubtedly he wants to remove Rosy from Wade’s house immediately.

"Now Micah." Baxter snaps with such authority that I forget I am head warrior and he is nothing more than an outlier.

I take hold of one of Mitchell’s arms and with Sam on his other side we force him to walk back to the quarters. He is silent and I do not doubt for one moment that he is planning some attempt to remove Rosy from here. I pause at the door of the quarters when the others are going inside and glance back towards the house. Cantrell and Mal are by the door while Wade and Baxter stand by the fence. Baxter appears to be talking as I turn away and head inside.

"…He’s going to kill her that’s what he’s going to do!"

I hear Mitchell’s angry voice before I reach the lounge room, I pause in the doorway and take in the scene before me. Sam has hold of Mitchell and he is trying to contain his younger brother.

"What the hell is going on?" Steven demands with agitation as he turns to look at me. Mikkarl and Callum are also in the lounge room glancing between the struggle going on between Sam and Mitchell, then at Dwayne and myself with growing alarm.

"He’s trying to make Rosy go crazy and kill herself." Mitchell roars with anguish. Sam is finally forced to throw his brother to the floor and pin him down bodily.

"Calm down!" Sam yells at him.

"Wade has given Rosy six months in a cage." I say angrily.

"Is that all?" Steven asks in disbelief.

"Isn’t that enough?" Mitchell demands angrily. I glance his way. His face is tear stained and Sam is trying to brush his own face against his shoulder while restraining his brother. I stride over to them, push Sam aside and lift Mitchell to his feet by the front of his shirt.

"Your sister is alive and we can work on getting you and your brother in to see her." I snap angrily as I glare into his face. His mouth is opening and closing silently as he struggles in my grasp causing me to tighten my grip.

"For God’s sake let him go Micah! He can’t breathe when you hold him off the floor like that." Steven yells at me and I realise that both Sam and Dwayne are trying to rescue Mitchell from me. Stunned I release my grip and back up several steps as I take deep breaths.

"We all need to calm down." I manage before heading for the kitchen sink. I turn on the cold tap and splash water over my face several times before filling my cupped hands and putting the water on the back of my neck. I brace my hands on the sink for several minutes before turning the water off and turning around to face the other room. I hear Baxter whistling a happy tune as he approaches the quarters and I am ready to grab him and shake some sense into him as I hear the screen door open and then his footsteps in the hallway.

"I got some good news for you lads," Baxter says lightly as he walks into the lounge room. "We are about to turn a bedroom in this building into the biggest cage about. Put bars on the windows and reinforce the doors so the building can be secured as necessary. Anchor points for a chain are to be put in at several places as well."

"What are you on about?" Dwayne demands beating me to the question.

"A few weeks in the cage in the secure room, a pregnancy test

– which he mentioned under his breath out of ear shot of his friends, and Rosy gets to come back here. Wade is convinced she will try to run." Baxter says as he looks around meeting our eyes. "Marissa made her feelings known over this matter while I was over there. Since Edwin is happy to go off on work assignments and leave Rosy all by herself, Marissa is spending as much time as she can with Rosy but she wants Rosy out of the cage."

"Can Mitchell and I go see Rosy?" Sam demands with a quick glance towards his brother.

"Afraid not. Wade intends that Rosy learns a healthy respect for werecat laws." Baxter says with a shake of his head.

"So he did it, he really sent Edwin into the cage?" I ask even though I know the answer. All my hopes that Wade had not enforced his decision were to no avail.

"There’s no undoing it boyo." Baxter says quietly.

Rosy’s story:

I stand in the corner of the cage my gaze averted as Wade fastens a collar securely around my neck, locks it with a key and attaches a strong but light weight chain. He gives it a gentle tug to ensure it is secure before taking a firm hold of the chain and taking a step towards the door of the cage.

"Come on Rosy. Time for you to come out of here." Wade tells me quietly.

It has been four weeks since my heat has finished and Doc had been here yesterday to draw blood for a pregnancy test since my period hadn’t arrived. I don’t need to hear the results. I know I am pregnant. Edwin had come into the cage with me when I came into full heat. I had screamed my denial at him but my inner cat had betrayed me. She had submitted to him once he placed his hands on me. I had been passive as he mated with me until he was sated the following morning. Angered by the betrayal of my own body and my inner cat I became very aggressive towards him and Wade had yelled orders through the door until Edwin finally left the cage.

"Come on Rosy," Wade urges patiently and I follow him from the cage. I don’t react when he hands the chain to Edwin and I am left to follow Edwin to the main part of the house.

"Is that leash and collar really necessary?" Marissa asks as she comes out of the kitchen wiping her hands on her apron.

"At this stage it is. I can’t trust Rosy not to try to run away." Wade tells her.

Marissa sighs heavily and shakes her head. "I’m sorry but I still believe what has been done is wrong."

"Oh come on Mum, aren’t you happy you’re going to become a grandmother despite the fact Jazzy didn’t end up pregnant?" Edwin asks.

"Thank heaven for small mercies." Wade mutters before dropping a quick kiss on Marissa’s cheek. "We’re just taking Rosy over to the quarters since the warriors are so keen to have her move back in there."

I follow when Edwin leads off only too happy to be out of doors once again after far too long shut up in the cage. I look around eagerly once I am outside noting how the seasons have changed in the past six weeks. I stop at the door into the quarters not wanting to have to go back inside after such a brief time, but Edwin grasps the chain inches from the collar and drags me inside knowing I will have no option but to follow.

"Alright men, I hope you have those anchorage points in like I ordered." Wade says ahead of both Edwin and me, and I hear movement in the lounge room as I follow Edwin along the hallway towards it.

"Yeah we do," I hear Sam answer.

"Where are you Micah?" Edwin demands as he all but drags me behind him. I realise with some surprise that he is not comfortable in the quarters.

"I thought I told you never to come in here!" Micah growls.

"I got a little present for you." Edwin says as he walks into the lounge room pulling me behind him on the leash. Micah starts growling and I try to stop from getting closer but Edwin is ruthless in dragging me into the centre of the room. He pulls me past himself and pushes me towards the others. I keep my head down in shame and don’t look around.

"You can have her now. Give her another few months and you can take that collar off her because she’ll be too heavy in kitt to run." Edwin sneers. "Even you should be able to catch her then."

"Get out of my house before I kill you." Micah snarls and I whimper as I sink down to kneel on the floor. I have nowhere to go except back to that dreadful cage. I pull at the chain that is still attached to my collar and feel relief when Edwin releases it and I am able to gather it onto my lap.

"Micah!" Wade growls in warning.

I crawl towards Micah hoping for protection from Wade’s displeasure. I am greatly relieved when Micah moves to stand between Wade and me where I crouch on the floor.

Micah’s story:

I watch in disbelief as Edwin drags Rosy into the quarters on a leash and collar. She stumbles along with her head bowed and shoulders slumped. He is cocky and smart as he all but flings her towards me. I can smell her fear and distress and worry it could not be good for her in her pregnant state.

"You can have her now. Give her another few months and you can take that collar off her because she’ll be too heavy in kitt to run." Edwin sneers. "Even you should be able to catch her then."

His taunt sends rage flooding through me, every instinct screams at me to protect her.

"Get out of my house before I kill you!" I warn him savagely. I am horrified when Rosy sinks to the floor and begins pulling at the chain in fear.

"Micah!" Wade growls in warning.

When Rosy crawls towards me I move to stand between her, Wade and Edwin. They brought her into my house, now it is my duty to protect her, even if that means from them.

"And I want you to leave as well! You gave him my, my she-kitt and let him breed her even though we could hear her screaming her refusal from over here when he did it! And now he comes and throws her at me like some discarded toy he doesn’t want anymore!"

"You will remember that I am the Alpha." Wade snaps angrily.

"And that makes what you’ve done all right?" I demand. "What you allowed him to do?"

"I’ll be back to talk to you in the morning when you have come to your senses." Wade tells me.

"Where’s the key to that thing?" I ask angrily as I motion towards the leash and collar.

"It stays with me," Wade says firmly.

"She can’t change with that on!"

"Precisely." Wade says and heads for the door.

I can only watch as Sam and Mitchell move quickly to Rosy. She is on her feet almost the instant Mitchell speaks to her, cuddling close like any frightened she-kitt. I want to protest, I want to be the one to hold her but reason dictates I give her time and space. It is a big possibility she doesn’t want any tom near her after having Edwin forced on her, not to mention her earlier experiences. I turn away to send a text message to Baxter Barnes. He’d had to return to his home and job but had asked me if once Rosy was out of the cage could he return and meet her properly.

Rosy’s story:

"And I want you to leave as well! You gave him my, my she-kitt and let him breed her even though we could hear her screaming her refusal from over here when he did it! And now he comes and throws her at me like some discarded toy he doesn’t want anymore!" Micah growls aggressively sounding very angry.

"You will remember that I am the Alpha." Wade snaps.

"And that makes what you’ve done all right?" Micah demands. "What you allowed him to do?"

I cringe inwardly, even though a name was not mentioned I know Micah is referring to Edwin. I feel my shame increase, I am pregnant and the father of my unborn kitt has abandoned me.

"I’ll be back to talk to you in the morning." Wade states.

"Where’s the key to that thing?" Micah asks tightly and I know he means the collar around my throat.

"It stays with me." Wade says firmly.

"She can’t change with that on!" Micah snaps.

"Precisely." Wade tells him before turning and heading for the door. I am silent as I crouch on the floor listening to Wade and Edwin’s footsteps recede and the screen door shut behind them. I can smell two strangers in among the toms and stay very still trying not to attract attention. Wade’s punishment has instilled into me a sense of how many mistakes I made, the biggest ones being my actions when my uncle had been here. I pointed a gun not only at Wade but also at Micah, Edwin and Dwayne as well as making it clear I would point it at any warrior I felt threatened by. In effect threatening and disobeying the leader of my clan, the most dominant tom and the entire policing force for the clan.

"Rosy?" Mitchell’s voice is soft and I scramble to my feet hurriedly. I bury my face against his chest and I am relieved to feel him stroke my hair as he cuddles me against him. Someone is having a closer look at my collar and I tilt my head to the side letting them get a better view.

"Hey Rosy, you okay?" Donovan asks quietly and I feel a hand begin stroking my back.

"There’s no way to get a pair of bolt cutters under this thing to get it off." Sam mutters and I turn my head to look towards him. He smiles at me and strokes my cheek with the back of his fingers.

"Take the chain off it." Micah orders and I feel the slight tugging at the collar before the weight of the chain is removed.

"Are you the only one allowed to hug Rosy?" Malcolm asks with a forced laugh.

"That’s up to Rosy." Mitchell says quietly and I shake my head as I press my face against his chest once more. I just want my brothers and the safety and security they give to me.

"You can’t stand there all day. Sit on the lounge," Sam orders and I co-operate as Mitchell sits on one end of the lounge, seating me in the middle while Sam moves to sit on my other side.

The TV is turned on and Mikkarl and a tom I don’t know are soon playing a game on the x-box. I relax as I tuck my feet up beneath me and lean into Mitchell’s side while he has his arm around my shoulders. I glance around from beneath my lashes noting everyone is here plus the two extra toms I had picked up on. I find no censure in any of the eyes that readily met mine as I glance at each tom nervously. Even Micah shows no anger towards me and I begin to relax. I need the support of all here if I am to nurture and protect the life growing within me after Edwin’s callus abandonment of me.

I glance at Sam and he looks my way as if he felt my gaze. I smile timidly and move to lay down with my head in Mitchell’s lap and my legs across Sam. Sam grins at me clearly pleased and places his hand just above my knee to give my leg a quick squeeze. I grab his hand and slip it beneath the shirt I wear and place it over my stomach just below my navel. I hesitate a moment before reaching both hands under my shirt to slip the top of my track pants down so his hand rests on my bare belly. I am aware of my need to strengthen the bonds I have with my brothers and I start to use their strong paternal-like instincts towards my unborn kitt. I am surprised at the sense of safety and security the contact starts to build within me and I relax against my brothers with a contented sigh.

"Can I have a go?" Donovan demands and I glance his way. Everyone suddenly looks my way and it is all I can do not to roll onto my side and bury my face against Mitchell or the back of the lounge but I do cover my face with my hands.

"Maybe in a little while if you’re patient." Micah tells him in little more than a whisper.

"Why did Edwin give Rosy and the baby away to you? Doesn’t he want them?" Donovan asks. There is an angry hiss and I hear sudden movement making me jerk with fear but I refuse to uncover my face.

"I want to stay in here, Micah," Donovan protests and I can tell he is being taken from the room.

"Maybe you’ll think about how questions like that will make Rosy feel before you open your mouth." Micah says tightly.

Micah’s story:

I watch as Rosy makes herself comfortable on the lounge with her brothers. I notice the way she glances at the different warriors, scared little looks as if expecting disapproval. When she glances my way I give her a smile and she looks away hurriedly only to glance back at me. I meet her gaze as non-threateningly as I can and am relieved when she looks away without any signs of fear. For the first time I notice the dark marks under her eyes, not bruises but faint shadows telling of tiredness. It had been hearing her prowling the cage long into the night, the loss of appetite and signs of growing depression that had made Wade worried enough to release her from the cage before the official results of the pregnancy test came back.

I watch pleased as she stretches out using her brothers as pillows and I almost hold my breath when she places Sam’s hand on her stomach where the kitt is growing. I smile to myself as she acts the way I had seen another pregnant she-kitt act. Seeking the attention of her brothers and encouraging their interest in her growing kitt. I inwardly curse Donovan as he draws attention to Rosy bonding with her brothers. She whimpers softly and I am surprised when she only covers her face instead of trying to hide away.

"Why did Edwin give Rosy and the baby away to you? Doesn’t he want them?" Donovan asks. The words wound me and I hate to think how they make Rosy feel as I jump to my feet and drag Donovan from the room.

"I want to stay in here, Micah." Donovan protests as he tries to grab onto the door jam and stop me taking him from the room.

"Maybe you’ll think about how questions like that will make Rosy feel before you open your mouth." I tell him tightly.

Rosy’s story:

"Don’t make Donovan leave because of me. Edwin did it because he knew I didn’t want him. By hurting me he hurt Micah because Micah couldn’t stop him which meant he got some revenge for Micah having him kicked him out of his birth clan." I say quietly.

"Donovan being made leave the room is my punishment for his thoughtless words." Micah says firmly. "Don’t interfere."

I slowly lower my hands from my face and glance towards Micah uneasily but he only glances my way with a grin before dragging a now silent Donovan from the room.

"Yeah that is it in a neat little package. Edwin has been waiting for revenge since Micah took his place as Beta." Steven agrees.

"Do you think she’ll let Kirby and I put our hands on her belly?" a strange voice asks from very near by.

"Rosy?" Mitchell asks softly "Okay if I touch?"

"Ahuh," I murmur. "Everyone else can too but not all at once and let me know before touching." Mitchell grins at me and I feel his hand settle gently against my stomach. I glance towards the others nervously when I hear some soft growls, the kind they use when they’re fooling around or wrestling against each other. There is some playful shoving going on between several of them and I frown, half worried an argument will break out.

"What’s going on?" I want to know.

"Oh they’re just working out who gets the first turn to touch your baby belly." Steven tells me with a grin.

"There’s not even the slightest sign yet!" I protest.

"The blood test that Doc did came back positive. That’s enough for us." Micah says as he comes back into the lounge room and pauses beside the lounge to look down at me. I blink uncertainly when he walks away without even attempting to touch me.

"How are you doing Stray?" Malcolm asks as he slips his hand onto my stomach when Mitchell moves his hand.

"Ok." I say.

"That ugly coot over there is Kirby Lancaster, my new partner for work." Malcolm tells me.

"Hallo." I say faintly.

"Hallo Rosy. May I?" Kirby asks, he waits to place his hand on my stomach when I nod. His touch is light and brief not pushing the new acquaintance.

"Hey Rosy, good to have you back here." Timny tells me placing his hand on my belly. Chris, Dwayne and Justin are next in line and by now I have calmed down to where I am happy to lie back, relax and enjoy their attention.

"This is Callum, Timny’s brother. You can see neither of them got the good looks in the family." Mikkarl tells me with a grin as he places his large hand on my stomach. Callum moves to squat level with my shoulders. He grins at me as he makes a show of looking me over closely.

"Sam and Mitchell definitely got the good looks in your family." he tells me with a wink and a friendly grin.

"Oh!" I let out a startled exclamation and give him a slight push on his shoulder, "go away you flea ridden stray!" I say with a straight face only to giggle at the look of mock horror on his face.

"Looks like I better get a feel in while no one’s watching." Steven whispers dramatically as he reaches over, places his hand on my stomach and gives it a gentle rub before turning away.

"Oi Donny! You can come back in here now!" Micah says and I hear hurried footsteps coming from the other end of the house.

Donovan rushes into the lounge room and looks at me hopefully, "Can I touch your belly now?" he asks hopefully.

"You be gentle and move away when Rosy tells you." Micah warns.

"Is it alright to touch your belly?" Donovan asks hopefully once again.

"Yes," I tell him with a smile and Donovan kneels beside the lounge. He stares at my bare belly for several moments before putting his hand on it and rubbing in light circles.

"Do you think the baby can feel us touching your belly?" Donovan asks curiously.

"I don’t know. I’ve never thought about it." I admit. Donovan kneels there looking down at my belly. He glances at my face and I give him a smile. I see something flicker in his eyes before he looks down at his hand once again. I am totally unprepared for his move when he lifts his hand to cup my breast and brush his thumb across my nipple where it juts against my shirt boldly.

"Hey!" I squeal startled as I jerk away from his hand with a mixture of incredulous horror and surprise.

"You randy little bastard!" Sam yells at him as I scramble to sit up pulling my knees up towards my body and crossing my arms over my breasts protectively.

"I’ll teach you to keep your hands to yourself." Micah growls as he jumps to his feet from where he was sitting on the floor.

"I didn’t mean to! I just saw the way her nipple thing was showing through the shirt and I wondered what it would feel like, and next thing I knew I was touching it!" Donovan protests as he rushes to his feet and backs away as Micah advances.

"You ok Rosy?" Micah asks gently.

"Yeah. He scared me, startled me really. I didn’t mind him touching my belly but …" I break off looking away uncomfortably.

"You want to think about what you just did Donovan? You touch Rosy anything like that again and I will not take into consideration you’re just a teenager!" Micah growls angrily.

"I’m really sorry." Donovan says miserably.

"You moved yourself in here, you want to be treated like an adult. Well start acting like one and that means protecting she-kitts not scaring them." Micah snaps before turning his back on Donovan and returning to where he had been sitting.

"You right Rosy?" Mitchell asks me very quietly.

"Yeah," I answer with a nod and settle against his side.

"You seem happy." Sam remarks.

"I’m out of that horrible cage." I mutter and hide my face against Mitchell’s side.

"The Stray’s happy? Wow! Someone wack me!" Malcolm jokes and I can’t resist his teasing and I smile as I peek at him. He sees my smile and his grin almost splits his face in half. He growls softly and begins to crawl towards me up on his hands and feet. I realise with a start he is stalking me like the toms stalk each other in cat form when they wrestle and play. I feel a thrill of pleasant fear shoot through me even though I know he won’t hurt me. When he almost reaches the lounge I attempt to push at him with my feet. I don’t kick out at him but try to put my feet against his chest and push him off course. Malcolm laughs then growls playfully as he pushes my legs aside easily.

"Kfsst! Kfsst!" I find myself spitting with a faint laugh and the next second Malcolm pounces. I giggle and squeal as he pins me down on the lounge tickling my ribs and burying his face against the side of my neck as he blows loud wet raspberries on any bare skin he can find.

"Enough! Enough!" I finally protest between giggles and he moves away immediately.

"You are in a good mood." Steven sounds surprised and I look his way to see Micah on his feet and heading my way.

"Move!" Micah orders Mitchell and Sam and I barely have time to sit up on my thighs before Micah is kneeling where Malcolm was moments before. "How friendly do you feel?" Micah asks and then he is leaning over me and I cower down against the lounge.

I can hear his breath ragged near my ear as he curves his body against mine. His chest presses against my side as his hands find their way beneath my shirt to cup my breasts and roll the nipples between his fingers. I whimper uncomfortably as he pulls me onto the floor between him and the edge of the lounge, his body presses against my back as he nudges against the side of my neck as his lips work their way across my neck above the collar.

"Rosy! You don’t have to let Micah do that!" Sam snaps and I turn my head to look his way uneasily. "Micah is scent marking you, leaving his scent all over you to claim you as his."

I remember how much I had wanted Micah not Edwin, how it had hurt both my cat and I to have Edwin be the one to mate with me. I look away from Sam and concentrate on a spot on the lounge as I permit Micah to continue touching me. Fear and an overwhelming sense of rightness war within me and I tremble as Micah pulls my hips back against his making me aware of his desire for me.

"I won’t hurt you, I promise I won’t hurt you." Micah whispers huskily against the side of my neck and I turn my head towards him slightly. I give a startled cry as a hand slips beneath my track pants waistband. I tense but when his hand slips beneath my underwear I spread my legs obligingly as his fingers trace and explore my inner folds leaving nothing untouched. I gasp and jerk when he slips his fingers into my passage, I am shocked to find my body readying itself to accept him. He is gentle and his hand is pulled from beneath my underwear almost immediately.

I pull away when he releases me and I regard him suspiciously. He grins widely before lifting the hand he had down my pants to his face. He sniffs his fingers and grins before popping them into his mouth and sucking them as he pumps them in and out of his mouth several times.

"Way to go Micah!" Steven yells and there is general cheering from the other toms even my brothers.

"Rosy will smell like Micah everywhere." Dwayne shouts and there is more cheering.

I feel my face start to burn but I don’t take my suspicious gaze from Micah as he takes his fingers from his mouth and I tremble nervously as he leans in close. His lips brush against mine lightly several times before he lifts his head. I’m not sure what to think as he gets to his feet and returns to where he had been sitting. He glances back at me with a satisfied smile before sitting down once again. I watch him a few more moments before moving back up onto the lounge and drawing my legs up against my chest. The sensation of his fingers in my folds still lingers I have no doubt that Micah will mount me some time soon and I know that when he does it will be a lot different to what I endured beneath Edwin.

"You didn’t have to let Micah do any of that." Sam tells me gently when he sits down beside me. I expect Mitchell to reinforce Sam’s statement but instead he leans in close and makes a big deal out of sniffing me noisily.

"Dwayne’s right, you do smell like Micah!" Mitchell declares.

"No one smells me down there!" I deny instantly and I am mortified to hear Micah laugh.

"Micah wouldn’t have sucked your taste off his fingers if he hadn’t gotten his hand down your pants." Sam laughs. "And you just admitted he did just then!"

"What were you doing with your hand down Rosy’s pants?" Donovan asks slightly confused.

"Micah slipped his fingers up Rosy’s cunny so it would smell like him." Justin tells his younger brother. I groan and bury my face in my hands knowing my face must be burning brightly. I feel very embarrassed but at the same time some inner sense tells me that what I let Micah do is perfectly acceptable.

"Are you gonna mount Rosy?" Donovan whispers in awe.

"When Rosy is ready to let me." Micah answers.

"You’re not going to make Rosy scream and cry like Edwin did are you?" Donovan asks his voice thick with worry.

"Never!" Micah snaps and takes a deep breath. "If I even tried when Rosy said no, Sam and Mitchell would hang my hide out to rot in the sun."

"I’d help them." Donovan declares in a scared voice.

"Good boy," Dwayne murmurs.

"And so you should." Micah says forcefully. "Any tom, no matter who he is, should be punished if he does anything like that to a she-kitt."

"How long before we’re allowed to tell others that Rosy is having a baby?" Chris asks. I peek out from between my fingers and see all the toms have their attention on Micah.

"Ray will probably need to be told soon, but I want just us to know for now." Micah says firmly.

"I’d like to be able to tell Lotty sometime soon." Sam says.

"You can be sure Edwin will shoot his mouth off first chance he gets." Malcolm says, and Chris and Timny mutter in agreement.

"If he does, I want to be a fly on the wall when Micah gets hold of him." Sam grins. I lower my hands and turn my head to look at Sam; he grins at me and brushes his fingers against my cheek. I smile slightly at him and glance around the other toms. Micah is leaning against a chair, his arm propped on the seat looking very relaxed. He glances my way and grins at me before turning his attention back to the others.

"How would you guys feel about turning that large room we are sectioning off in the sun room into a baby room instead of a second lounge?" Micah asks.

"Does that mean you wouldn’t be moving out of the quarters and into the main house with Rosy?" Donovan asks.

"I don’t intend to take Rosy anywhere near Wade after …" Micah’s voice dies down to a growl and suddenly I have the urge to be close to him as if he could protect me from my fears.

"Sounds like Doc’s car," Mikkarl comments.

"Yeah he’ll be coming to give a personal delivery of the results of yesterday’s test." Steven says and everyone glances my way.

"He can come over here if he wants to speak to Rosy." Micah says firmly.

"I want to stay here where I feel safe." I say faintly. Micah looks at me with surprise. A smile slowly spreads across his face and he looks away without saying anymore. Clearly he is pleased with my remark. I wait tensely and when I hear footsteps outside in the gravel I sit up alertly.

"Someone’s coming!" I whisper.

"Rosy, over here in this chair." Micah coaxes very faintly.

"Go." both Mitchell and Sam hiss at once and I hurry to sit in the chair Micah had been leaning on. I am barely seated in it when I hear the screen door open and at least two lots of boots on the tiles of the floor.

"That you Doc?" Micah calls.

"Yeah."

"Who’s with you?" Micah asks as he gets to his feet and moves in front of me.

"Wade, Marissa, Ray and Edwin." Doc says as he appears in the doorway.

"Edwin had better get the hell out of my house." Micah snarls. "If I see him I’ll kill him!" he warns.

"Edwin just leave please." Marissa begs of him.

"Rosy’s carrying my baby!" Edwin growls. "I’m the one who started it in her." But the screen door bangs as he slams out of the quarters.

"Stand down Micah! I will not have any fighting around your mother or Rosy!" Wade orders as he comes into the room. He takes in the fact that I am in the chair behind Micah and he frowns angrily.

"Why don’t you have the leash on her and tethered to one of the anchorage points? She has a history of running away remember? And she would be completely at the mercy of any stray who managed to catch her now she’s pregnant." Wade says angrily.

"Wade, no yelling please." Marissa orders calmly as she brushes past her husband. "Can we all be calm and civilised please?"

"Rosy doesn’t need the stress." Doc agrees.

"Why is my daughter wearing a collar?" Ray suddenly demands. I glance his way and look towards Sam and Mitchell worriedly because of the rage on Ray’s face.

"Rosy has a history of running away from those trying to help her. She can be a bit unstable at times." Wade answers tightly.

"How are you feeling Rosy? You scared, anxious or worried at all?" Doc asks gently.

"I feel much better now I’m here in the quarters." I say and glance up at Micah. He spares me a half smile before glowering at his father.

"Not scared because Wade and Ray are in the room?" Doc asks.

"Some," I admit.

"So bad you want to run away from them?" Doc asks and I shake my head. "Why not?" he asks. I glance around the room at the warriors uneasily before looking back at Doc.

"Because the toms, all of them, will protect me." I whisper.

"Did they say they’d defy their Alpha?" Doc asks and I shake my head. "Well, then how would they protect you?"

"They’d stop me before I did something stupid. Well if they could." I admit.

"What? Like stealing a car?" Wade asks in a hard voice.

"They didn’t know I was going to do it. I didn’t tell them and they tried to stop me when they saw what was happening." I say with a shrug before adding defensively. "And I only did it to help Jazzy!"

"You should have told someone what you wanted to do." Wade says exasperated.

"She tried to only I was too worried about Jazzy to listen to her properly." Sam admits with a grimace.

"What am I going to do with you?" Ray asks exasperated.

"Leave me here with my brothers and friends." I say hopefully as I pull my legs up beneath me so I am sitting on the calf muscles.

"Leave you with your brothers and their friends?" Ray asks. I get to my knees in frustration before sitting back down and getting back up onto my knees.

"With my brothers and my friends." I say stress each word.

"No, I’m sorry but you’ll have to come with me. I’ll find you a husband who will look after you and your baby." Ray tells me and holds a hand out towards me.

"I want to stay here!" I protest leaning back into the chair and folding my arms across my ribs refusing to take his hand.

"Dad …" Sam and Mitchell say in unison.

"Rosy stays here." Micah states firmly as both Mitchell and Sam protest. "I hope Rosy and I have an understanding."

"I take it Sam and Mitchell approve of you choosing Micah." Ray says with a disapproving frown at me before he turns his attention to Micah. "We will have to have a talk before I leave."

"What about me? Don’t I get a say?" I ask uncertainly.

"You had your chance to say something earlier when Micah scent marked you, all of you." Sam stresses and I look away in sudden embarrassment.

"Fingers or a service?" Ray demands with an angry look towards Micah.

"It doesn’t matter which." Micah acknowledges. "Only the fact that Rosy wants to stay here with her brothers and me holds any weight."

"I believe Rosy would be better off away from where she has caused so many problems and there is so much conflict concerning her." Ray states firmly.

Micah’s story:

"You are not an Alpha and you have no warriors to ensure her safety. Do you want to take Rosy from the protection of Wade, who is an Alpha? Micah his chief warrior, and their supporting warriors?" Baxter asks coolly as he walks in from the hallway.

I am relieved to see Baxter has arrived. I had not expected Ray for another day, clearly I had underestimated him and the dislike he seems to have for my brothers and myself.

"As I said, I believe Rosy would be better off away from where she has caused so many problems and there is so much conflict concerning her." Ray says. "Once she is in a stable environment she will calm down and settle on a suitable tom."

I glance behind me at the chair where Rosy is, I find her glancing nervously between those in front of me and Baxter who is still in the doorway.

"Surely the best place for this young she-kitt is where she wants to be." Baxter says mildly with a grin directed at Rosy. "Since her running away seems to be of great concern, does it not make more sense to let her stay here? Where she wants to be so she doesn’t try to run off to return here?"

Wade is nodding slowly to himself and Doc is studying Rosy as unobtrusively as he can while Ray frowns angrily. Marissa smiles as she takes a step towards us, her gaze on Rosy.

" I know Jazzy will be excited to have Rosy still here when she returns from her holiday." Marissa says lightly.

"Good." Doc says firmly, "then there is no reason for anymore talk of Rosy being forced to leave and upsetting her. The pregnancy test I did came back positive so she needs plenty of rest and relaxation with as little stress as possible."

I can’t help looking at Rosy. She is sitting on her folded legs, one hand resting on her stomach below her navel. A slight pink blush colours her cheeks and she drops her chin slightly letting her hair fall forward and hide her face. I can’t help the slight sound of pleasure that escapes me, I know I didn’t help Rosy start the small life within her. But regardless of that fact already I love her kitt as well as her. She moves and I get a glimpse of one violet eye looking at me before she ducks her head and hugs herself self-consciously.

"I can double check the boys have all those added security measures in place Wade." Baxter says. "That will free you to see to your guest."

"I’ll be back to see my daughter before I leave!" Ray snaps and turns sharply on one foot, he hesitates in front of Baxter at the doorway and Baxter takes his time moving out of Ray’s way as they eye each other. When Baxter steps aside Ray is quick to leave the quarters and I hear the screen door slam behind him.

"Ah, much more pleasant in here now." Baxter says with a soft chuckle. "I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of meeting you properly. Although you do look familiar." Baxter walks towards Rosy stopping well back from her, he has a lot of experience in dealing with nervous young strays that had needed help to re-establish themselves after their first change.

"I need to talk to Ray and Edwin." Wade says with a slight nod before glancing at Marissa. "May I escort you back to your house my lovely wife?"

"I’ll see you later Rosy. If you have anything you need or just want to talk to me one of the toms can come and get me." Marissa says to Rosy with a smile.

"Okay, bye." Rosy says softly and I notice she seems to harbour no ill will towards Marissa. Rosy glances towards Baxter and quickly looks away but not before I notice the way her gaze flicked over him quickly. I realise she is sizing him up, working out for herself where he stands in the clan and whether or not she trusts him.

"I’ll be at the house until lunch time tomorrow, so if any of you want to see me about anything?" Doc says before following Wade and Marissa from the room.

I notice the way Baxter calmly turns his back on Rosy as he turns to watch the others leave. Clearly he considers her no threat even though she has yet to respond to his friendly overtures.

"You boys wouldn’t have some kind of a feed kicking around would you?" Baxter asks glancing around.

"I could do some sandwiches if that would be okay." Mikkarl says stepping forward.

"Anyone else hungry?" Baxter asks. His gaze lingers on Rosy for a moment before he looks towards Justin and Donovan.

"I’m hungry." Donovan agrees with a wide grin.

"You hungry Rosy?" I ask with a glance her way.

"No but I wouldn’t mind a drink." Rosy says quietly.

"Juice okay?" Mitchell asks, "The rest of us might grab a drink as well, celebrate the good news?"

It is hard to keep the slight smile on my face as I look at her. I don’t know what she thinks of being pregnant and after her nearly disastrous reaction to her earlier pregnancy I can’t help but worry for her. I watch as one hand moves to rest against her stomach, down from her navel. She glances at her brothers; there is a lot of uncertainty and possibly fear on her face.

"If you want to." her voice is faint with uncertainty.

"A drink sure sounds good." Baxter says heartily and glances at Rosy with a smile. "Would you like me to get you your drink pretty lady? It’s not often I get the chance to look after someone like you."