Chapter Nine
This chapter's picture is by VampireWolfSamantha!
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The next morning I woke up confused. I didn't usually end up in a different place than where I went to sleep.
I was in a bed, nice and warm under blankets. It took me a couple minutes to realize where I was.
When I did, I whipped the blankets off and went for the door. I almost twisted the knob when I noticed I was completely naked.
I let out a surprised squeak before rushing to the dresser. There were clothes my size. I put on the leggings and a shirt a size too big because I didn't want the belly bulge to be really obvious.
Then I continued on my mission. I was going to smack Mikko and hopefully it would leave a mark.
It was morning, probably early morning because the dining room table was full. The pack was still getting ready to start the day. I didn't spot my victim, so he was either asleep, or in the kitchen.
I spotted his shirtless body right next to the stove, waiting for someone else to finish gathering their food. I grabbed the closest thing to me, which happened to be the toaster, yanked the cord from the wall and threw the thing right at his head. I wasn't dead on, but I hit his upper back.
I saw his shoulders move in a sigh as the toaster clattered to the floor. He put his plate on the counter before turning back to me. "That was uncalled for."
I put my hands on my hips. "So was ruining my trip with Nikki."
"We'll talk in private." I reached for the stack of plates, but before I could get them, I was in a restraining grip. "Fine, we'll talk now."
He lifted me off my feet and carried me down the hallway to an unoccupied room. "You're acting like a child."
"Well compared to you I am a child!" I yelled. I was mad, hungry, and hormonal. It was like the evil trinity for my bad behavior.
He rolled his eyes. "I'm not going to stay here two more days because you're acting out. Today the arrangements will be made so I can finally go home."
"Well just go! I sure as hell don't want you here."
He took a deep breath and paused. So I jumped in again.
"How did I even get here?"
"Nikki brought you home because I ordered her to."
"She didn't bring her phone. I would've heard mine go off."
He shrugged. "There are other means of communication within the packs."
I turned on my heel and left him in that room. I had had enough. I grabbed breakfast and joined Nikki's table. She didn't need much sleep and she didn't sleep well in any bed that wasn't hers. We didn't talk about her having to bring me back here because I knew it wasn't really her fault.
I don't know if it was me being hormonal, or if it was because I was afraid of what he was going to say, but I really didn't want to talk to Mikko. I didn't want to have to move away from my family and friends when I needed them the most because I got knocked up by the wrong guy.
But if he were telling the truth about having enemies, then I wouldn't have a choice. I'd have to go with him for the sake of my babies. I couldn't put them in any more danger than they were already in.
Nikki had to stay downstairs when the time finally came. She couldn't be in on his little powwow that I was supposed to have with Mikko, Finn (the head alpha), my dad and Jerry, (the alpha here).
I knew the four were already in the office waiting for me to make my appearance. They had probably already started the conversation without me. But with powerful men in the room, I knew the conversation was going to end up being about what they wanted, what they thought was best for my babies.
I rested my hand on the handle of the office door and hesitated. Why did this have to be so complicated? Why did I have to sleep with Mikko that night? Why couldn't it have been someone else? If babies had been such a no-no for so long, then would having a girlfriend be so bad too? Would we even try to make something like that work?
I tried to stop thinking about it, but I couldn't. I just needed to suck it up and get this conversation over with.
I twisted the knob and walked in. The four men weren't even talking yet. They were just sitting on the sofas, waiting. They each had a small glass with some kind of alcohol.
Three of the four seemed to be in their own thoughts. The one that didn't was looking right at me with a smile. Being the only one I didn't recognize, I knew that man had to be the head alpha. He didn't seem big and intimidating like Mikko could easily give off, he seemed...fatherly. I knew that was all for show.
You couldn't be all warm and fuzzy when you were putting every pack under your will. This man was probably ready to kill everyone here if they stepped out of the line he had drawn.
He smiled at me when I took a step into the room. "You must be Emily." I just nodded once in reply.
"Since we're going to become very well acquainted, you can just call me Finn." How was I supposed to talk to the one that had a continent's worth of wolves at his beck-and-call?
My dad and Jerry shook off their thoughts and turned their attention to me. I didn't like being the center of attention.
Mikko didn't look over. He was probably embarrassed and maybe a bit ashamed that he let this happen. I know I was when I found out about this.
"Mikko says you're refusing to come with us to our lands." Again, I just nodded. Finn smiled. "You don't have to worry. No one here is going to make you do anything you're uncomfortable with."
Mikko let out a huff. He didn't have to tell me what I already knew was going to happen. I was going to be on lockdown until I gave birth. Mikko's babies and Finn's grandchildren wouldn't be put in any unnecessary danger.
I knew that everyone was sure of what was supposed to happen. If I planned on being a good little girl, I'd go along with what they had to say. They knew what was best for me and for my children, right? I should've just wished them all good luck on their argument. I had been told I was as stubborn as a mule.
"How about we sit and talk about this for a bit?" Finn offered gentlemanly towards the sofas.
I took the sofa that no one had been using. It was the love seat and no one ever really used it. It wasn't big enough for two werewolves, but it didn't feel comfortable enough for one. It was perfect for a little human like me. I sat on my feet since they were cold anyway. Whenever I could get away with walking around barefoot I did.
The three wolves took their places again.
"As you know," Finn started, "this creates a bit of a security issue here."
Dad reached out for my hand. We were close enough that neither of us would have to reach for the other, so I took his hand. It was as much for my reassurance, as it was for his.
"When Mikko's enemies come here to judge if the rumors are true, the pack members here would be put at risk. It would be safer for everyone involved if you just came with us, at least until the children are born."
"You want me to pack up my life because of the possibility that something might happen? Because maybe a rogue will come create problems for the pack?"
"It's not so much a maybe. It's more of a when." Jerry said. "The word is going to get out. Someone's looking for this opening."
"But that could be months away, maybe even years." I tried to reason with these people...wolves. "No one's going to be here tomorrow trying to kill me because he knocked me up."
Mikko didn't respond until Finn nudged him to pay attention. Mikko bit off a growl by finishing his drink then setting his glass on the table. His eyes were golden now. Mikko wasn't a part of the conversation anymore, his wolf was.
"The wolves that would be coming wouldn't kill you. No, that would be way too easy. They would take you away, where you wouldn't be found." My dad's grip on my hand got a little tighter. "They'd let you carry to term and give birth to my children. Then they'd use you."
Dad growled at Mikko. It wasn't playful, or a warning. It was a threat...a very stupid threat. Mikko eyed my father for a second before getting back on track. "They'd only need you until the kids were old enough to eat real food, then they would torture and rape you before burying your body so it would never be found."
Dad let go of my hand and stepped in front of me, blocking everyone from me.
"That's a brave notion." Mikko didn't even sound concerned with my father's distress over this conversation. By not standing, he told everyone that my father wasn't a threat to him. "But that would save her maybe a minute before they took her."
"She's safe in her home, with me." I knew the difference in my father's voice from human to wolf. His wolf was in control too. Soon all the wolves would be out to play and the conversation would be well over.
"Soon she's not going to be safe with you acting as her personal bodyguard." Mikko shot back.
"Both of you stop." Finn didn't even raise his voice. "We're going to keep this a strictly human meeting, so these wolves better recede before we try this again."
It took a few second before my dad sat down again. When he was seated, I rested my hand on his arm. There wasn't even much time before I started feeling ill. I had usually had a pretty good buffer time between feeling the puking coming and I actually losing my breakfast. And I was glad I did.
I was up and over the back of the couch as fast as I could and out the door, down the hall and in the nearest bathroom as fast as my legs could take me. Usually I didn't have any sickness, but when I did, I was in the bathroom for thirty minutes, minimum.
The first knock came after the first bout of puking was over. It was then I could sit back and look around. I missed the toilet a little bit. The mess had missed the floor, but instead it got on the clothes I was borrowing.
"Em, it's Nikki. I have Seven-Up and some crackers for you...and some tissues."
I smiled and wiped my eyes. Throwing up had always made me cry. "Okay, hold on."
I didn't want to answer the door in puked on clothes. So I stripped to my bare minimums before opening the door. I unlocked it and cracked it open for her. I threw the clothes in the tub and turned on the water.
Nikki nudged open the door and slipped in without opening it very much. "You have guests outside."
I groaned. "Let me hurl out my guts in peace."
She set everything down near the sink before leaning against it. "I'll bring you something to change into."
I nodded and rested my head on the side of the tub. "Okay, thanks."
"I'll be right back."
While she was gone, I finished cleaning off the clothes. When she knocked again, I was well into round two of puking. She knew not to come in right then.
When that was over, she came in with new clothes in hand. "You think you'll be done soon?"
I slowly shook my head. "I think this will go on 'til round five."
She laughed a bit as she got comfortable on the floor, guarding the door from any unwanted intruders.
"Do you want to get dressed now, or when you're done here?" She asked even though she knew the answer.
"After." I muttered. It sounded to me like I had a sore throat, but I knew that was just from the trauma of throwing up.
"I told the guys in the hall to take a hike."
I nodded once and looked over at her. "You don't have to keep my company."
She smiled. "Of course I do. We're going to go through this together, so you're not even going to be alone while you puke."
"You're such a devoted friend." I teased.
"Just remember this when it comes time to name those kids." She winked, making me smile. "So how did the big talk go?"
I shrugged, "It didn't get very far before their wolves joined the conversation. Then, when they were calming down, I had to puke."
"Well, it doesn't look like that conversation's going to be happening any time soon."
I nodded. "It probably wouldn't have ended well anyway."
"Why not?"
I kept a small smile as I looked at her. "Mikko's trying to scare me into going with them willingly."
She sighed with an unhappy, but concerned look plastered on her face. "What did he say?"
"Well, it was his wolf, but he said that I wouldn't have to be worried about being killed because they wanted to take the babies after they were born, then they would kill me after having a bit of fun first."
She shook her head. "That's probably what made you puke."
I shook my head. "You know it would take more than a warning of what might happen to make me puke like this."
"He still shouldn't have said that to you."
I just shrugged and waited for the next sickening wave to come.
I was wrong. I had six bouts of throwing up before I felt stable. Nikki brought me a skirt that went down to my ankles with a weird green print. I liked that it was light and that it flowed. The tank top was a light brown color that matched the skirt pretty well.
I fixed my hair and played a bit with Margaret's make up. After feeling so horrible this morning, it felt necessary to be pretty for the rest of the day. Margaret still wasn't happy with her brother, but she wasn't cursing the day he was born anymore. Well, that was until Mikko had tried to talk to me again while we were having girl time. She followed him out of the room.
While she was gone, Nikki's voice got lower. "Don't you think it's weird?"
I raised a confused brow at her. "What's weird?"
"That the guy that knocked you up was Margaret's brother, on the night they were celebrating the joining of the packs through your ex and her?"
"Do you think there was some kind of conspiracy to make sure that I wouldn't be ruining their new plans for the future?" I asked jokingly.
She shrugged. "I'm not saying that. It would make sense, but I don't think they'd plan for you to get pregnant."
"And what do you think they'd plan?" I completely stopped putting on makeup and turned to her.
"Maybe they just wanted you to get stuck on Mikko long enough for everything to solidify between Eddy and Margaret." She was nodded, believing everything she was saying.
"Then how wouldn't he know about my pregnancy when everyone else found out? Why wouldn't he come question me about it?"
"Maybe you convinced him that you're an easy lay and that you slept around after Mikko left."
I rolled my eyes and turned back to my makeup. "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard."
"You say that now. But tonight you're going to call me and yell at me 'cause you can't sleep because you know what I'm saying makes a lot of sense."
"How would they know that I would go for Mikko?"
She scoffed. "Men would go for Mikko."
Margaret found us giggling when she came back. She looked proud of herself, so Mikko had smartly taken his sister’s advice and left us alone.
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