Osei and Semi arrived at the banquet in style. They drove the current model of Nova, Nova Genesis.
A brand made by a human living in the valley and sold exclusively in the valley. It was such a luxury brand that the families were the ones who owned most of the limited editions.
Osei had purchased one just to throw it in their faces.

Now he wished he hadn't bought the car because it meant he had to drive back when what he really wanted to do was run.

Nicholae's suggestion had rocked him much harder than he'd expected.
Danielle, coming to the valley? He mentally scoffed. She'd rather let him die.

He wanted to slam his fists in the steering wheel but Semi was right beside him.
He didn't want her to know he was thinking about her. Because then he might have to admit to the other times he had been thinking about Danielle.
And Osei hated himself for being divided into three part. One loved Semi wanted to make her and their growing family happy, the second one that still loved Danielle and regretted how everything had finally played out. The final part hated her and never wanted to see her again. Because of if he did, there was no telling what he might do.

He glanced at Semi who had been quiet the whole trip. Cayden too.
The tension was glaringly present.

Semi had seen the wall go up and didn't try poking at it like she usually did. She just let him be.
Her hands gently caressed her belly and her eyes had a distant look. She was also lost in her own world.
She reached for his shoulder and lovingly squeezed it.

'Have you thought about where we're going to park the car?

Osei was surprised by the odd topic.
'Behind the Cabin.' He replied.

'An you think the pups will simply leave it be?'

Osei laughed, he knew full well what the puppers would do to their new play thing.

'I'll just threaten death and they'd leave it alone.'

'They don't fear your death threats.'

Because they knew he never meant them.
Then we'll threaten them. Loki offered.

'They'll work and pay it off if anything happens to it.'
Semi laughed along with Cayden at the idea. It made Osei feel more at ease.
His guilt about thinking about Danielle when Semi was with his lessened.

'I told Nicholae to find Danielle.' Semi confessed.
The lightness was replaced with the tensed silence.

Osei tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
'I told you we'd discuss this.' Osei said in a low tone.

'Yes. And I know how long and sometimes, unreasonable the discussions will be. This is about saving your life and I'm not taking any risks. It's happening whether you want to or not. Discussion over.'

Badass. Loki commented.
Loki. Malaki tried to warn in a serious tone. His attempt was futile of course.

'How do you know she'll come.' Cayden asked them. Because from what he'd heard, this Danielle girl wanted nothing to do with Osei or his pack.

'I don't know for sure. But all we can do is hope.' Semi responded.

She can't come here, it won't be very safe for her. Malaki advised. No one saw him glance at his brother who jogged at his side. They two wolves shared pregnant looks but no promises were made.

Loki and Malaki stood watch by the Nova. Cayden recounted the events at the banquet to a very nosy Liza.
Her nephews and nieces sat around her enamored by the things they didn't understand only because their aunt was.

Semi called it in early complaining about swollen feet.

The den was alive with activities. The hunters were ready to leave the den while the den mothers tried to round up the pups so there would be no stow aways with the hunters.

Osei went alone into Athen's little shed to give a short and sweet report of the night simply out of respect for the former Alpha.

That no what I need to know.
Athen said.
Osei averted his eyes.
'I'll be fine Athen. I just got shot by a silver bullet, that's it. And it's taking its time to heal.'

The old wolf snorted at his flimsy excuse.
Go. Your mate wait.

And that was the end of that discussion. His relationship with Athen had been rocky nowadays. To fix that, Osei had to tell him the truth about Danielle and his moment of weakness. That, that was too long of a story to tell.

Semi was asleep when he reached their bedroom. He carefully removed the rest of his clothes and got into bed with her.
He gently turned her on her other side to face him and it was then he saw her puffy eyes.

'Semi.' He shook her shoulders.
'Open your eyes and look at me.'
His request had the opposite effect, Semi shut them tighter.

Osei sat up and pulled her along with him. He took great care with how he handled her.

'You're not going to back to sleep until you talk to me.' Osei meant every word and Semi knew that too.

       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Why didn't he just leave her alone, Semi thought to herself.
He should've left her to cry in secret and get a good start in because she'll be doing a lot of that in the near future.
Unfortunately Osei wasn't going to let her be, at least not until she spoke to him. If she didn't he'll come poking around her head and definitely find out what she's hiding from him.

She deliberately opened her eyes with and feigned drowsiness.

'You're back so soon.' She said rubbing her eyes.
Osei took her hand from her face.
'Why were you crying?'

She grimaced at his tunnel vision when it came to issues he cared about. His narrow mindedness was frustrating especially in this particular instance.

She wouldn't tell him everything, she simply couldn't. Semi knew how much Osei hated secrets being kept from him. And her secret had the power to move mountains and the power to turn their new found love into unfathomable hatred.

'Fine. I don't want to lose you.' She cried.

Osei sighed.
'You're not going to lose me Semi. I thought we already agreed that Nicholae would find Danielle.'

Men were so daft sometimes. That there was the other problem.
'Here I am looking fat and pregnant. Danielle will still look like her old self.'
His eyes shone with the understanding of his mate's worries.

'She'll be gorgeous and exactly how you'd left her. What if you leave me for her?'
Semi whined.

Osei was genuinely surprised by her worries.
That would never happen.
'Did you forget that she betrayed me?' He softly asked, trying his best not to make her cry anymore.

'Did you forget she was lied to by the skunk in the tent? She thought she was helping you.'

Semi cried even harder.

'I can't believe what you're saying right now. Are you defending her?'
Semi flopped back onto the pillow.
It had sounded as if she was defending Danielle. But sooner or later, Danielle's betrayal will look like nothing in comparison to what she had done.

'Semi.'
She didn't let him finish.

'What if I did something to make you mad? Would you leave for her?'

'I'll never leave you. You listen to me.' He picked her up once again and looked into her eyes.
'There isn't a single thing that you could do that would change how I feel about you and everything between us. Do you understand that? Nothing.'

Semi nodded. She was deluding herself, yes. But that was her best option. She'd cherish what she had with Osei until karma came knocking.

Then he kissed her. It was a sweet and reassuring kiss with enough passion behind it to make her heart flutter and her stomach flip.

The sheets rustled when she moved to straddle Osei.
The pressure against her bottom was evidence of the effect she still had on him.
With Semi, Osei needn't hide his true self, she knew everything about him. His shameful past and his darkest secrets yet she loved him.
The more time she spent in this Alpha's presence the further in love she fell.

'I don't like seeing you cry )d). Ebu M'akoma. Wo ye m'akoma.'

Semi heart sped at the translation. Granted it wasn't a declaration of undying love but it was damn close.
The translation was 'It breaks my heart, you are my heart.'

Semi kissed him with her whole being. She poured every ounce of her love in that one kiss.

Osei deftly gathered her skirt out of the way and shifted her lace panties to the side.
She was already ready for him. Hot, wet and swollen.
Osei sharply inhaled the wafting smell of her arousal which drove him insane.

Semi lifted herself on her knees and steadily lowered herself to comfortably take all of him inside her.
She wantonly threw her head back when he was fully nestled in her. Their breathing turned haggard but neither of them moved.
Her muscles clenched and released around him ripping out a throaty moan from Osei.
His hands traveled up her shirt and cupped her heavy breasts. He smiled to himself when he thought about how big they'd gotten because of her pregnancy.
To his delight, she cried out as he rubbed and tugged at her sensitized bossom.
Semi disposed of her shirt to give him full reign.
His hot mouth captured a dark nipple and tenderly pulled.
She arched her back and ground on him. The act had Osei lightly grazing her nipple with his teeth and then his hands traveled to her hips to guide their dance into a steady rhythm.
His lips sought hers and he drank in the sweet nectar only she could provide. In that moment they needed each other like a dying man needed water.

Her hands went to his hair as she clung to him until the very end.
Even as they slept they held on to each other, each one holding on to a different fear.

A/N
Wwwhhhhhaaaattt?
Semi, noo!
So guys, I want to hear more of your conspiracy theories. What exactly do you think Semi is hiding?
And what do you think will happen if Danielle were to return?
Would Osei really leave Semi for her or will he still see what Danielle did to him as a betrayal?