I didn't see Mikko until the afternoon of New Year's Eve, making me officially 25 weeks pregnant. I wasn't very happy that he could just vanish for a couple days. The guards said they didn't know where he was. Finn wouldn't tell me. No one was cooperating with me.

I didn't even think it was Mikko who had come through the door. I thought it was Nikki. She usually came over after finishing her work to relax for a few hours. This time would've only made her about an hour or two early.

Which was perfectly reasonable, we were going to get ready for the New Year's Eve party together. I was curling my hair and putting it all into curlers to set.

I was stunned…momentarily. "That, sure as hell, was more than a couple of hours!"

He just gave me a shrug and walked into the room. "So maybe it took me longer than I thought."

"You could have called. You could have let someone tell me where you vanished to!"

He rolled his eyes and stood next to my bed. "It doesn’t matter where I went—"

I knew exactly where Mikko was going with this. It was the only way he went when we got into arguments. "We're not in a relationship, I know your excuses!" I was irate. "Don’t give me that bullshit Mikko. You've been gone for days without any kind of excuse!"

He huffed. "I didn't know I was supposed to give you excuses for where I go."

I narrowed my eyes on him, "I could slap you right now."

He smirked. "I would love to see you try."

"Why did you even come back?" I snapped.

"Your guards need to be with their packs and families today. I don't want to keep them away from their loved ones."

I scoffed. "Since when do you care about anyone but yourself?"

He stared at me, but didn't say anything back.

I turned back to what I was doing. "Why don't you go do something in another room? You're good at leaving, so it shouldn’t be very hard for you."

I watched him leave through my mirror. He kept his eyes on mine and I let him know exactly what I thought of him at the moment. I wanted him far away from me. How many times could he hide behind the fact that we're not in a relationship? Whose fault was it that we weren't?

Mikko kept away from my room, just as I had asked. The men who had been guarding me each said goodbye before leaving. They were all good men and deserved to be with their packs and loved ones.

A while later Nikki came into my room when I was finishing up my hair.

She gave me a confused look as she walked in. "What's Mikko doing here?"

I huffed. "He's decided to give the guards a break to go be with their families tonight."

She barked out a laugh. "It will take those men hours to get home. Some of them might not make it until tomorrow. If he were being considerate he would've came back yesterday."

I nodded as I unzipped my makeup bag. "I already told him he's a selfish bastard!" I raised my voice with the last two words to ensure that he had heard me.

She smiled and threw a bag on my bed. "I couldn't decide what I wanted to wear tonight."

We took our time getting ready. It was eight at night before we were ready to leave the house.

We had reservations at a restaurant. We had reserved a table big enough for all the guards, but they were gone now. We chose the restaurant because it was close to Tye's house. He was the one hosting the New Year’s Eve party. That meant that not just werewolves would be in attendance. There would be humans, mostly people that Nikki and I had gone to school with. A lot of those women were looking for someone to settle down with and marry.

Dinner wasn't as fun as I had originally planned it to be. It was just Nikki, Mike, Mikko and me. Mike and Mikko casually chatted while Nikki and I couldn't wait to leave.

When the time finally came, I couldn't have been more relieved.

I really was mad at Mikko for leaving me hanging. What if I disappeared for a few days and no one knew where I went? What if no one offered him any information?

Nikki and I went to the car and waited for the men to pay the bill.

"Did he say anything?"

I shook my head. "Of course not. All he said was that it's not my business," I said bitterly. "One day I am going to get him back and he's going to regret ever crossing me."

She leaned back against the seat. "Well if you need help with that, just let me know and I'll provide backup."

I spotted Mike and Mikko walking out of the restaurant. "Will do."

Mike gave Mikko directions to Tye's house. I decided not to talk while in the car. I had nothing to say to Mikko anyway. Until he could man up and treat me like he should, I wasn't going to talk to him.

We were at Tye's by 9:30. I could tell by the amount of cars on the block that not everyone was here yet. Usually the three blocks surrounding Tye's house made parking a nightmare. Not that I would have been an issue this year. He emptied his driveway this year for me since my belly was huge. Big bellies tended to make werewolves a little nervous.

When we walked in I could hear Tye's nervous voice. He was in just as much of a panic as I thought he'd be.

"What's going on in here?" I asked in a teasing tone.

Tye let out a small growl, which was instantly returned by another, more threatening growl from behind me. Tye paled a bit when he saw Mikko. Tye, like everyone else, hadn't been expecting Mikko to make an appearance.

I smiled at him. "It's funny how scared of him everyone is."

Nikki huffed, grabbing my attention. "That's only because you're not worried about him knocking you around."

"True enough." I turned back to Tye. His panic had been replaced by fear. "So what do you need help with?"

The fear turned to annoyance as I changed the focus. He jerked his thumb behind him, to his beautiful girlfriend, who was sitting on the couch nursing a glass of wine. "That whore was supposed to have this place clean and food cooked."

Nikki laughed. "You think a human would get that all done out of the kindness of her heart?" Nikki looked the girl over. "I'd bet the only thing she's good at is spending your money and tussling in the sheets."

He huffed and walked into the kitchen without a retort. It wasn't a surprise that Nikki let Tye know exactly what she thought of the woman. She didn't have the ability to hold back. The girl hadn't been around long, and probably wouldn't be for much longer.

I followed Tye into the kitchen. "So what do you want cooked?"

He waved his hand across the counter, lined with grocery bags. "All this shit."

He growled as he ripped open a bag, sending food flying. I managed to catch a small bag of produce.

I patted his shoulder. "I'll get it. Don't leave this kind of stuff to a girl you hardly know."

He grinned and kissed my cheek. "That's what I have you and Nikki for!"

He quickly made his way out of the kitchen and up to the second level.

"Well," Nikki said indignantly, "just like a man to run away."

I smiled at her and got started on the other woman's job. It didn't take Nikki and me long to get the food cooking. Tye had mostly bought food that just required heating up. We found some meat in the fridge, so we cooked that too knowing that food was not going to last long among werewolves. Once everything was well on its way to cooking, I stepped out of the kitchen. I immediately set my eyes on a pair of people in the living room, too close for a casual conversation.

I stepped closer and got a better view. It was Tye's useless girlfriend and Mikko. Her smile was definitely beautiful. Her body language suggested she was more than willing to offer herself to him. And Mikko, as shameless as he was, was flirting right back with the woman.

I cleared my throat loudly enough to break Mikko's flirting with the woman and also gaining attention from other wolves in the room.

Mikko's eyes became suspicious.

"I need your help," I said sweetly.

The woman started to size me up, but her eyes stopped on the baby bump.

"You have Nikki." He suggested.

I shrugged my shoulders. "You know we can't open jars sometimes." I wanted to smack him in the face, but I'd wait until I got to the kitchen. "We're weak, little things, remember?"

He knew what I was doing. The smirks from the other wolves in the room told me that they knew what I was up to too.

He stood up with a groan. "A weak little thing isn't what I'd call you."

I smiled and led him into the kitchen. Once far enough in, I turned on him and poked my index finger into his chest. "Stay away from her," I ordered. "I don't care if you want her for a night, stay away from her."

Mikko swatted my hand away gently. "You're giving me commands now?"

I nodded. "It seems like that's how it's going to go today."

"You can try," he said with a smile.

"Every stupid rule you've given me, I'm giving you. You'll stay away from those whores because it disrespects me. If you don't listen, I'll find a willing guy and have my way with him."

He crossed his arms over his chest. "No one's going to sleep with you."

I crossed my arms over my chest, mimicking him. "There is more than just your kind here tonight. I'm sure I'd do just fine, belly or no belly."

Mikko stuck his head out of the kitchen and scanned the area. There were guys who were human here. They would be afraid of Mikko, but they wouldn't have to listen to him.

He looked back at me with a set jaw. "Fine, if you can get the girls to stay away from me."

"Fine." I agreed. "You can't go looking for them either."

"Whatever you say." He was obviously amused as he walked out of the kitchen.

Nikki smiled at me. "Go you."

I sighed and leaned against the counter. "Now I'm going to have to ward off a horde of whores."

Nikki smiled and reached over to rub my belly. "It won't be that hard considering you have a baby bump."

I nodded and looked down at said bump. "Yeah, but I didn't sign up for all of this."

She shrugged and turned back to arranging a snack tray. "Well suck it up buttercup."

I stuck my tongue out at her and picked up a carrot stick. I peeked out of the kitchen to watch Tye's girlfriend walk up to Mikko, who had been a good boy and walked towards a group of males.

When she tapped on his shoulder, he turned around with a smile. Obviously this girl wasn't going to play hard to get.

When she turned on the charm, I sighed and leaned against the doorway.

"Tye," I called for him loudly enough for the woman to hear. "Tye," I called again, earning a glare from the woman. He came down the stairs, in new clothes. "Check your woman before I do."

He leaned over the railing to look at her. She had taken a couple steps back. Mikko was smirking at me.

"What'd she do?" he asked, not seeing the misbehavior I had caught.

I rubbed a hand over my bump, just for her to see. "Your woman is overstepping her boundaries."

He sighed and came down the steps. When he saw that she had been close to Mikko, he filled in the blanks. He closed his eyes tightly and scratched his forehead. "I don't have time for this shit right now."

"Tell me about it." I sympathized. No one had time for this.

"Come here," he told his woman. He even held out his hand for her. She reluctantly went over to him, feigning her innocence. Tye took her upstairs.

I gave Mikko a warning look before turning back to Nikki. She smiled at me. "Sometimes you make my life so interesting."

"It's not my fault. This is his fault." I pointed at Mikko.

She nodded. "Oh, I know."

By the time eleven thirty came around, the party was in full swing. Tye and his girl came back not long after they went upstairs. When they came back, his girlfriend avoided Mikko or any other man in the house. Of course she gave me a few spiteful looks because of me tattling on her.

I wasn't even bothered to stop the woman from talking to Mikko. I had seen Tye's girlfriend go to her group of friends and tell them what happened. Those same girls were now surrounding Mikko, flirting shamelessly.

They all saw the belly. They all knew I was his baby mama. I had a plan, so I wasn't worried about it. When it came time to watch the ball drop, I would take Mikko away from the women.

Well, that was the plan until Tye's younger brother Bart came into the house. 

After Bart arrived, I didn't care about the plan anymore. Mikko could go have all the women in the world. I didn't see Bart often, but when I did, I had the greatest time.

Last time I saw him, I was with Eddy and definitely not pregnant.

"Whoooo-we," his voice boomed through the house, "I thought you told me this was gonna be a small party big brother?" Bart had been loud since the day I had met him.

Tye smiled and was up instantly to hug his brother. Bart never wanted the change, so he stayed human; he was thirty-five and looked it. Tye looked like the younger brother since he was in his late twenties when he was changed. Looking at the two, you wouldn't think Bart was the younger brother.

Nikki and I got up off our chairs and followed Mike over to him. Bart hugged Mike, then Nikki.

When it was my turn, he froze and stared at my baby bump. Then he smiled teasingly at me.

"Someone's been having a little too much fun." I laughed and hugged him. He rubbed his hand over the bump. "You're so big," he chuckled, "Where's Eddy at?"

"Well this is awkward," I winced, "Eddy is with his wife... and they're not here."

Bart's face was priceless. He didn't even have anything to say.

I smiled at him. "It's really not a big deal."

Bart's brows furrowed as he looked at his brother. "You could've warned me, asshole."

Tye sheepishly shrugged. "It's been a long time. I didn't think about it."

Bart looked back at me. "So where's your new guy?"

I took a deep breath and thought about what to tell him. Mikko had made is very clear that we weren't in a relationship. "This is a little awkward for me too. I'm not in a relationship with the father."

"Really? You?" he laughed, "Miss goodie-two-shoes."

I playfully pushed him. "Yes, that's what I'm told."

He laughed. "Well that's good then."

"Good isn't the take most people I know have taken on it."

Bart smiled at me. "Yes, but most of them didn't want to do this."

He grabbed both sides of my head and pulled me into a kiss. I was instantly surprised, but I knew this was Bart. I trusted him. And I knew that this was just to rattle me. Bart got his kicks out of rattling people's cages.

I couldn't help but laugh while he held my lips to his.

He smiled widely when he let me go. "I don't know why anyone would let you go. Those lips are very kissable."

I laughed. "One day you're going to kiss the wrong woman."

Tye cleared his throat and motioned towards the living room. I looked over to see Mikko staring over here, not at all okay with what he witnessed. Bart looked over too.

He looked back at me with a smile. "What happened to 'no man'?"

"I'm not in a relationship with him. He's made that very clear."

Bart scoffed. "I know as well as you do that he still thinks that he has a claim on you."

"Yeah, he thinks he does."

Bart gave a quick sigh. "Guess I'm going to have to apologize then."

I rolled my eyes. "Yes. It's annoying, but he's stronger than I am."

"Really Bart, just let him be mad." I suggested.

"No thank you," Bart shook his head. "I don't want to have to watch my back tonight."

Bart walked towards Mikko completely unthreateningly. Everyone looked on eagerly to see what was going to happen. Mikko wouldn't hurt Bart. He was the family member of a pack member and I hadn't fought against Bart when he had kissed me. Everyone else knew Bart was just messing around. That was something Mikko should have understood.

After a few words, which I couldn't make out with all the noise, I saw a smile spread across Mikko's face. With that, I knew I didn't have to worry about Bart, so I went outside. I needed to take a walk before going back in there.

It wasn't long before Nikki came out after me. "You know the ball drops in like three minutes right?"

I sighed. "Sure, sorry. I just needed some air."

She gave me a small smile. "I understand. I just didn't think you'd want to miss the ball drop."

I nodded. "You're right."

One of Tye's girl's friends hung herself on Mikko’s arm, looking at the television, waiting for the countdown to begin. I walked into the kitchen and grabbed an empty champagne flute and poured some cider for myself. I could still toast and have a drink with everyone. I bet I'd get a few looks from people who thought I was actually drinking champagne.

Bart's elbow was sticking out, so I slid my hand through and latched onto him. I needed someone who was alone. Everyone else would be giving their significant others kisses to celebrate the New Year.

The show cut away from the newscaster to focus the shot of the ball drop. The ball held still at the top of its pole.

I couldn't look over to see Mikko make out with the other girl, so I made sure I kept my eyes on the screen and my hair shielding my view of him. I just couldn't stand to look at him.

When the ball started dropping, I could hear everyone counting down with it. I couldn't be happy about what this New Year was going to bring me. The only good thing I was going to get out of it was two babies. This year was going to bring me pain, and arguments, and self-consciousness. I couldn't see anything to really look forward to this year.

"Three… Two… One… Happy New Year!" Everyone yelled together.

Bart hadn't counted down with the crowd either. He tapped his glass with mine. "Here's to another year, huh?"

"Yeah," I sighed and nodded, "Happy New Year."