The next morning I woke up in a frantic rush to get to the bathroom. I got there and in position to puke my brains out, when the sensation left as suddenly as it came.

So I sat there for a while, just to make sure that the feeling wouldn't come back.

I was sitting on the floor, rubbing my belly when Mikko's large frame darkened the doorway. "You feel okay?" His eyes scanned over me, double checking for any outward signs of injury.

I nodded. "I'm okay. It was a false alarm."

He leaned on the frame and crossed his arms over his chest. It made his biceps look bigger than normally. "And are you going to sit there all day?" He was smiling down at me.

I shook my head. "Of course not. I'm just making sure that I'm going to stay okay."

He strode into the bathroom and crouched down in front of me. "Want some help getting up?"

I sighed then nodded. "Sure."

I lifted both of my hands up for him to grab. With a smile, he took them and helped me off the ground. "Are you going to be okay?"

I was hopeful about my stomach not turning queasy. "I think so."

"Good then." His beautiful smile widened. "I have heard that you have a tradition to uphold."

I couldn’t help but smile at him. His nice charismatic personality was back. "Yes I do."

He stepped to the side. "Well I don't want to be to blame for screwing up another tradition, so you'd better get going."

I stared at him for a moment wondering what his move was. Was he actually going to be nice today?

Was this all an act? He was acting very similarly to the man I met at the bar. I liked that version of him. I wished I could have that all the time. That would make my life extremely easy.

I stopped by my closet to grab my robe. It was chilly and until the fire got started, I would be cold in the house.

Dad was at the kitchen table, reading a newspaper.

His smile wasn't as bright as normal, but it was still a smile. "Merry Christmas."

I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed. "Merry Christmas."

He patted my arm and leaned his head on mine. "Nikki called and said they'd be here in an hour."

Mikko sat down on the side of the table opposite of my father.

I kissed the side of my dad's face before starting breakfast. If I only had an hour, I was going to need every minute of it.

It was almost an hour later when I heard two cars come up the driveway. I looked out the window trying to see who it was.

I felt Mikko's eyes on me. Dad had left the two of us in there to take a shower before they got here.

"What's wrong?"

I shook my head and turned back to get the potatoes out of the oven. "Nothing. I thought I heard something."

"It's just Mike and Nikki. You don't have to worry when I'm here."

"Yeah, yeah."

I finished everything up by the time Nikki came bursting through the door. "Merry Christmas!" She shouted. "I love this holiday!"

Mike came into the house managing to balance way too many gifts. "You've given her a reason to spend all our money." He huffed as he shut the door with a kick of his foot.

I smiled and gave my best friend a hug. "Merry Christmas Nikki."

She swayed side to side a couple of times before pulling away and rubbing my belly with both hands before kissing the baby bump twice. "Oh I can't wait for them to be here."

Mikko took an armful of the gifts from Mike before walking with him into the living room.

Nikki hugged my bump, resting her head right at my belly button, trying to hug the babies. "Oh I've been thinking of next Christmas all morning." She said dreamily. "The next ten Christmases are going to be the best!"

She finally stood after Mike came back into the kitchen for food. "Leave her belly alone. They'll be out for you to smother in a few months."

"I know, but it's just hard to wait!" She said excitedly.

I handed her a plate. "Eat. Then presents."

She stuck her tongue out before taking the plate. "Fine then."

I followed right after her, loading up a plate of food for breakfast. We reminisced about past Christmases, tried to get Mikko to tell us about some of his past Christmases, but he wouldn't. After breakfast we all went to the living room and took our places. It was tradition that dad would pass out the gifts before we would start opening them.

Of course we all bought each other something everyone could use or wanted. Gift giving was just as fun as watching someone open something you bought for them.

Mikko tossed a box to me.

I eyed him suspiciously. "What's this?"

"Open it and you'll see."

I very slowly opened the box and peaked in. Nothing gleamed at me through the small crack, so it wasn't jewelry. Thank goodness.

I opened it to see a small block of plastic with a Mercedes symbol on it. I picked it up, confused. "What's this?"

Nikki burst into laughter and nudged Mike with her elbow. "I told you she wouldn't know what it is!"

I gave her an unhappy smile. "What is it?"

"Press the button on the side," Mikko said. When I looked at him he smiled at me. "Press it."

So I did and a laser cut key swiveled out of it. My jaw dropped. "You bought me a car!"

He nodded once with a smirk. "You need something safe to put my kids in."

I had been planning on replacing my sedan when the time came, but he beat me to the punch.

Then it clicked. I had heard two cars when Nikki pulled up.

"You were in on this?" I pointed an accusatory finger at her. "You can't keep secrets worth a damn."

Mike laughed. "That's why she didn't know until we left to come here."

Nikki shot us both an unhappy look. "I can to keep secrets!"

"So you want to check it out?" Mikko asked standing up. I nodded and took his offered hand to help me up. He kept a hold of it as he led me out to where the car was parked.

"It even has a bow!" I said in amazement. "I've never gotten a car with a bow on it!"

Nikki laughed and skipped towards the passenger side of the car. "Open it up. I want to check it out. Mike wouldn't let me drive."

I couldn't erase my smile as I got closer to my new huge care. It was black with silver accents. It was completely beautiful and probably worth more than I'd ever be willing to pay for a car.

We hopped in and played with the buttons for a while before Mikko hopped in the back seat. "Why don't you take us for a test drive?" He reached back and buckled himself in. "It snowed, so take it easy."

Nikki and I exchanged a look before I started the brand new car and drove out of the driveway.

The first drive, in a new car, is incredibly exciting. More-so when the car was a gift and you didn't have to pay a dime for it! Nikki played with the buttons while I drove. Mikko would reach forward and swat my hand if I tried to mess around with settings as I drove. The first swat stung enough to prevent me from doing it again.

We were having a fantastic time, until I decided that I needed some warm apple pie and vanilla ice cream. When we got to the grocery store parking lot, it was close to empty, just like I had expected it to be.

There were three parked cars and one with a person in it. I had assumed that the driver was waiting while someone ran in for something. I parked my brand new, shiny car in an area that would've been easily avoided by others, so we had a little bit of a walk.

Nikki laughed at me. "You think someone's going to ding your car already?"

I stuck my tongue out at her while I unbuckled and opened my door. "Yes. New cars are a magnet for scratches, dings, and fender benders."

She unbuckled and opened her door. "Whatever you say."

I took one step out when I heard an engine being way too loud for the icy parking lot. I had both of my feet on the pavement when I saw the car. It had been the one I assumed was waiting for someone.

It was coming right at my car with no intention to stop. Instead of freezing in my spot from terror, I scrambled to get back in my car. The car would at least offer some protection in the collision that was about to happen.

I wouldn't have even had time to shut the door by the time that car hit. I closed my eyes and braced for it, but the hit never came, but I heard the crunching of mangled metal.

"Holy fuck," Nikki whispered.

I looked over to see Mikko dragging a man out of the car.

"Console." He growled. Nikki and I both heard him clearly. We both reached for it, but Nikki swatted me away. She grabbed a syringe and quickly got out of the car. It was standard practice to keep syringes in center consoles of werewolf cars. Just in case. She injected the man who was fighting Mikko, causing him to fall limp immediately. "Pop the trunk." His yellow eyes told me there was no room for arguments. We were in public and kidnapping a man.

Mikko made sure the man was unconscious before shutting the back hatch. I could see the damage the car had done to him from the impact. Mikko's skin was already littered with contusions and deep lacerations. He needed medical attention and I was the only one with that expertise.

Mikko reached into the car, probably unaware that he was bleeding. He wasn't gushing and making a bloody mess, but the bloodstain on his shirt was slowly getting bigger.

I opened the door to the car only to have him look back and give me a death stare with those amber eyes glowing with fury. I swallowed my fear and stepped out of the car. Finn had suggested that I keep my backbone when it came to Mikko. I assumed that it included his wolf too.

Mikko pulled out two bags out of the other man's car before walking towards my car again. Up close I could see that his shirt was ripped from the center of his chest, diagonally down to the side of his left ribcage. The collision had done some serious damage to him.

"Let me take a look at you," I said as I took a couple steps away from the car.

He shook his head. "We need to get out of here. I need to get you out of the open." His voice was much too deep and gravely to be purely human.

"They're not coming right this second and you're bleeding."

He threw the bags into the backseat. "There's a tow truck coming to clear this mess out. We need to leave before a crowd gathers."

"You can bleed out." I really didn't want to go anywhere until I had Mikko checked out. If he passed out from losing blood, we really wouldn't have any protection.

"It's not that bad. Climb into the passenger seat. I'm driving." He ushered me into the car, not giving me any opportunity to check out his wounds.

I climbed over the center console all while Mikko kept a hand on me. Nikki was already in the backseat, keeping an eye on the kidnapped man.

"Tell me if he even flinches." Mikko ordered, making Nikki nod in response, not once taking her eyes off of the man in the back.

Mikko started the car and pulled out of the parking lot like a bat out of hell. Once we were away from the main part of town, he took one hand off of the steering wheel and put it on my stomach. I felt a slight tremble, so I looked at him. He was probably as worked up as I was, even more so because he was the one cut up.

I put my hands over his and moved it towards a kicking baby. Maybe knowing that his babies were fine and still happily cooking would take the edge off whatever he was feeling. I knew he was furious and probably worried as well.

He squeezed lightly just before he let go to turn onto a side road to the alpha's house. Anyone who set eyes on Mikko would know he was furious just by looking at his body language.  His amber eyes hadn't stopped their furious glowing yet either. He was truly scary right now, but I was more afraid of what he was planning on doing than how he'd react to me.

If Mikko hadn't been there, I could be dead. I could've been kidnapped. Something very bad would have happened if Mikko hadn't been there to stop it.

To say Mikko was in a bad mood when we got to the alpha's house was an understatement. The bleeding he had still hadn't stopped. I could see that the blood stain was noticeably larger than it had been when we got into the car.

He left the car running, barely stopping to put it in park. Nikki watched the man until Mikko dragged him out of the back of the car. He then literally drug the man through the dirt and to the rear entry of the basement, so he wouldn't have to drag this man through the house.

Nikki gave me a gentle smile. "I guess we'll have to get you pie another time."

I let out a small laugh. "Yeah, I guess so, huh?" She followed me into the house. "That guy was a werewolf, wasn't he?"

Nikki nodded once. "Yeah, he was. He's not going to make it through an interrogation with Mikko."

I nodded. "I know. I can't say I feel bad for that guy. He did try to run me over with a car."

"I'm surprised Mikko hadn't killed him right there." Nikki huffed. "He should have." Nikki rubbed my belly before her phone started going off. "It's Mike."

She went towards the patio while I went to the kitchen. I still wanted something sweet. I couldn't help but just stare off into nothing, thinking about how close that call had been. I was almost murdered because I was having Mikko Madill's children.

This man wasn't the only one out there waiting for a good opportunity to get at me. I tried to close my eyes and relax, but I couldn't. I had to get a new car now. The generous gift was always going to remind me that I had almost died. All this drama I was withstanding almost meant nothing. I would've lost everything.

I leaned against the counter, but it didn't help. It felt like I couldn't breathe.

More of those bad men are going to come after me.

I started breathing faster, trying desperately to get a satisfying gasp of air.

These bad men are always going to be after my children.

My chest started hurting. On top of everything else it felt like I was having a heart attack!

How am I supposed to protect my children? I can't stand up to a werewolf.

I slid down to the ground with my hand at my chest. It hurt so much and I couldn't breathe.

I can't always be dependent on others for the safety of my children and me…but I will never be able to do it as a human.

I was hyperventilating and freaking out when I was scooped off the ground, into a big, firm grip. "Shh," the deep voice cooed into my ear. "It's okay. You're safe."

I still couldn't get enough air. The person sat me on the counter before bringing their big hands up to my head. "You're having a panic attack." I recognized those amber eyes. "You're safe. The babies are safe. No one can get to you here."

I started crying. Not gently either. I was uncontrollably sobbing. I could only gasp for breath in between my tears. Mikko brought my face to his chest and let me cry into his shoulder. I was past terrified. There wasn't a label on the feeling I had realizing that I had almost died. Mikko could have easily died. He stopped a speeding car with his body.

I didn't hear Nikki come in, but I heard her get shooed away. I heard several people get shooed away, but none of them could stop the tears that were streaming down my face.

Mikko stayed patient, waiting for me to finish my crying fest. I kept my head to his chest until I realized that his chest had been full of blood last time I saw him.

I sniffled and pulled away from him, wiping my face with my hands as soon as I was able to. He was still in the bloodied shirt. "You're still hurt."

He nodded and winced as I tugged his shirt apart, ripping it more to get a better view at the laceration. He grabbed the end of the tear and finished the job. The shirt was ruined anyway. He slowly slid the shirt off like a vest.

"What's broken?" I looked towards his side.

"Several things are broken, most likely." He gave me a small smile. "Are you doing better now?"

"Yes." I nodded with another sniffle. "I think my breakdown is over."

I reached for a paper towel, but Mikko stopped me. "I'll get it."

He grabbed the roll and a bottle of water. "Go ahead nurse." His face was smiling and his voice was teasing, but those eyes, they said that this man was a wolf on the edge. He was ready for someone to give him an excuse to end their life.

I wet a folded up paper towel with the bottle of water. "Are you okay?"

He shrugged. "I'll be better after I finish with the one in the basement."

I nodded and brought the wet towel to his chest to wipe away the dried blood.

"I thought you would've already been done with him."

He shook his head. "I could feel you freaking out up here. He'll stay for an hour while I make sure you'll be fine."

I applied pressure to the deepest part of the wound that hadn't healed enough to stop the bleeding yet. "This part goes to the bone."

He nodded. "That was the brunt of the impact. I'd say that car got up to forty-five before I could stop it."

I kept my eyes on his chest. "Thank you for stopping it."

He smirked and put a hand on my belly. "Anytime."

I cleared my throat since it was feeling a little dry. "We're going to have to decide what we're going to do, since there's actually a threat now."

He nodded. "We'll talk tomorrow."

I checked the part I was pressing on; the bleeding had stopped with some pressure. He was already well on his way to healing. "Is Albert going to set what's broken?"

He half-sighed, half-growled, "He's not keen of the idea of setting my bones in my current state."

I looked at his eyes and smiled. "Because the wolf ascended?"

He smirked and nodded. "He's likely to end up with broken bones."

"You're fine with me scratching at your wounds." I pointed out as I wiped the paper towel over the wound one last time to clean it up.

"You're pregnant with my kids. It would be counterproductive to hurt you."

"What if you keep focus on me while he sets your breaks?"

He ground his teeth as he thought about it. "I don’t think you'd like the distraction it would take."

"Oh yeah?" I tossed the wad of soiled paper towels at the garbage can, and made it without getting splatters of blood anywhere. My aim was getting better. "Why's that?"

"You'd have to distract me," his eyes flickered to my lips before returning back to my eyes, "…intimately."

I flushed at the idea. "Y-you mean just a kiss right?"

He smirked and nodded. "I'm not going to undress you with Albert in the room."

"Fine. Let's try it. You can't let those breaks heal more than they already have."

He nodded once. "I'll go get the unfortunate doctor and we'll try."

I felt nervousness creep into my system. I had agreed to be close with Mikko while his wolf was ascended, while his broken bones were going to be set…What was I thinking?