Today was the bloody day she was going to sit down with Osei and finally figure out where the hell she stood.
The waiting was driving her up the walls. Danielle's advice had been haunting her and finally she was ready to talk to him. She'd discussed this move with Valentina the other day after Georgina's visit and she too thought it was a good plan.
'Better talk now before it's too late.'
And she really would know.
Semi hated seeing her in so much pain constantly watching over Nicholae and talking to him as if he could hear her, maybe he could but none of them knew for sure.
Anyways this was the day.
Semi located Osei as he emerged from the tent frowning. Her courage shriveled up as if left up to dry in blasting heat.
No Semi, it's now of never, she told herself.
Dammit she wasn't a coward!
She'd almost taken on this Alpha before, albeit she ran away from him but when Worse came to Worst she still faced him and he was much scarier then.
But by George, the situation was different now too. Then she'd only known him as a monster and she hated him, now she knew him as her mate and she was in love with him.
Still she marched to him.
'We need to talk.' She managed to get the words through the nerves in her throat.

'What's with everyone and talking nowadays.'
She took his hand and led him away from prying eyes.

'You're getting better? Thanks to Danielle?'

Osei nodded.
'I already told you I was. Why are you asking?'

'Because I saw you Coming out of Jeffery's tent looking as though someone ate your food.'

'I found Clarissa with Jeffery... again. I don't like her with him.'
Neither did she but it was a small crush the girl had on Jeffery, hopefully it would die before it grew because Jeffery still loved Danielle.

'I think you should talk some sense into her. The man is a criminal and his father is a demon.'

'I'm the last person she'd be taking advice from, I'm mated to you remember?'

Osei didn't speak, he frowned more.
'Fine. Well since we're done...' He turned.

'Osei, Nothing is wrong? You wouldn't lie to me?'
He shook his head slowly.

'So why won't you allow me back into your head?'

'Because you wouldn't like what you see.'
He answered honestly; it was little more brutal than she would have liked.

'So when are you going to do it. You're killing me!' She laughed but her eyes flooded.

'Do what?'
He didn't know? Like he couldn't read her mind.

'Reject me!'
She spoke the words that gave her nightmares.
She covered her face with her hands trying to keep back the dam of emotions.

'Never.'

Maybe she misheard.
'What? But I... what I did.'

'I've forgiven. Look I'd have done worse if the roles were reversed. It hurt ... hurts like hell but I understand.' He smiled a little at her.

He didn't know what he was saying.
'But... Danielle is here and she still loves you and you her.'

He scoffed. 'I'm glad other people think they know how I'm feeling. It's quiet refreshing I tell you.'
He sounded sarcastic but Semi wasn't taking the bait.

'You can't deny that. You tell her everything. You even take her side on everything.'
He stopped her from saying any more.
'Semi, my decisions have always and will always be to protect you and the pack. I would drop dead first before letting you or the kiddo near danger.'

Semi sank down onto a log down near the bank of the pond.

'I won't lie and say I have no feelings for her. Hell it was months ago. But Semi you are my mate now. You are the one I want to be with until...'
Until he croaked. But what he said was.
'Until the end.'

'And what about Danielle?'
Call her shallow or greedy or selfish she just needed to know.

'When the time is right, I'll send her away.'
His eyes steadily remained on Semi, there was no sign of wavering.
'Our season is over. I've been able to let her go before and I'll be able to do it again.'
She searched his eyes for the truth but settled for what she found instead.
'So when are you going to come back to my room? I miss you.'
He sat beside her placing her head on his chest slowly caressing her shoulders.

'Ah, ouch.' She sharply winced, Her had going to her belly.
'I felt a strong kick right over here.'
She placed his hand over her belly so he'd feel it.
'With both legs. Sure is a mean one.'

'Come to think about it, we haven't really discussed names.'

'If it's a boy, Bonecrusher. I want a name that would strike the fear in his rivals hearts.' Osei joked.

'Our son would die a Virgin.'
They laughed.

'That's off the table. A girl?'

'That's easy. Asantewaa, after my mother.'

'We can agree on that.' Semi laughed. 'But we'll have to work in the boys name. Why not after your father.'

Osei sharply exhaled.
'Georgina... grandma... whatever I'll call her told me about him. I want to be sure about him first. You know.'
She nodded.
'I know.'

'What about your father? Chad is a good name.'
Semi laughed and shook her head.

'Hell to the No. His name was Innocent Nebuchadnezzar Blankson, even he hated it.'

'You're lying.'

'I thought Gemma was lying too.'
Osei fell of the log dying of laughter.
'That's definitely not an option.' He returned to his seat.
'I have a surprise for you.'
Osei kissed her hand and linked it with his.

'I wonder what it could possibly be.'

'You'll just have to wait.'
And if she believed him, they had time.

Semi was so excited about her little talk with Osei, she immediately went up to find the other person who would share in her joy.
So she carefully climbed the stairs out of breath when she got to the top.
She opened the door a little crack.
'Val, you awake?'

A shadowy figure stepped back from Nicholae and looked directly at where Semi stood frozen in fear.

'Listus Farga!' She screamed before the demon had a chance to make a move on her.
The explosion of pure light eventually dimmed but there was no one else in the room.

Semi went to Valentina and shook her awake.

'I think I saw Harris.'
The news chased away tiredness and brought her back to full attention.

Semi reached out to everyone and recounted the encounter.

It could have been Harris. Liza who had joined them spoke softly.

'But we set up the seals and wards. Demons can't cross over. The wolves would sense it and kill them.'
Cayden reminded them.

Clarissa stood there wringing her hands.
'Spit it out.' Osei commanded.
It seemed he'd noticed her nervous little behavior as well.
'I think Jeffery might know something about it.'

'He had something to do with his father's return?' Osei was quick to jump to that conclusion and Semi wasn't far behind.

'No!' Clarissa passionately objected.
She was already regretting saying something.

'It's alright Rissa. Osei won't hurt Jeffery. He can't.' Danielle stood beside her.
Well when Danielle put it that way, it made it sound like she was on Jeffery's side as well.

'He might have seen something else. The night his father visited him.'
So now they were having romantic fire side chats?
Semi may not have access to Osei's mind but she could tell he was about to curse or growl or do something that would scare Clarissa.
She tightened her hold on his hand sending her calming effects to him.

' That wasn't my father.' Jeffery said.
They brought him on the cabin porch for the first time since he was no longer a prisoner. Well no longer treated as a prisoner.
'And you know this because?' Cayden calmly asked.

'I saw him in his demon form, outside of possession. And that description doesn't fit the bill.'

He kept looking at Danielle and she kept glancing at Osei and Semi's interlocked hands.

'Sounds like the other guy though. What I'd didn't tell you was that something else came in here. It didn't look friendly, and I think it would be safe to assume it was here to kill me.'

'You saw a face?'

'No, it was just a shadowy mass. I couldn't even tell if it was a person. I got nasty goosebumps that's how I knew. I could feel the evil. Same thing with my father but this one was worse.'

'What now you're a psychic?' Osei growled.

'I'm telling you what I felt.' Jeffery bravely snapped back.

'I think I know exactly what it is. And I think it's after me.' Valentina looked at Semi, like she should know too, however she was completely lost.

'Jeffery's description fits a previous encounter I had. When I first... woke up. It was in the room with me. If Fauna hadn't arrived in time, I don't know what would have happened to me.'

She gasped.
'What if he isn't gone?'
Valentina rushed up the stairs leaving the others behind.

'Fauna is coming.'
Valentina spun around hearing Cayden's announcement.

'How do you know that?' Osei wondered.
None of the wolves have gave him their usual heads up.

'She texted me.'

We don't see anything.
The wolves on patrol reported.

'They could be using magic.'
Valentina suggested to them.

The two black SUVs came to a screeching halt.
Fauna stepped out followed by a pale blond man Semi recognized from the banquet at the Manor.

'I am Erik the butler, here on behalf of her ladyship Sonya Tchkovsky.'

'And what is it that you want exactly?' Osei didn't hide the hostility in his voice. How could he when his wolves hadn't been able to spot two large black vehicle driving straight in to his property. Sonya has some serious Mojo working for her and this unforeseen battle with her just raised higher in the stakes.

'Lady Sonya has asked that we search the property. By Draco authority as our support.'

The damn dragon military officials. Actual dragons we don't want to mess with. Cayden silently enlightened them.

Semi saw Osei's brain working over time. Either way he handled this they would be royally screwed.
Should he allow the search, they'd find Nicholae and his wound still fresh as the day Harris stabbed him. Obstructing the search made him look guilty too.
He looked at her and smiled and she knew which option he was going to take.

'Listen boy,' Semi looked heavenward knowing this wasn't going to end pleasantly from the way Osei even started.
'You came here without invitation, that's trespassing. And my wolves and I don't like trespassers.'

'Harm us in anyway and you'll have something else on your hands, Sir.'

'I wouldn't lay a finger on you. If you kindly get out.'

'Not without His Lordship.' Erik stood his ground.

'And you think he's here why?'
Osei could guess.

'Our sources.'
Erik looked at Fauna who stood stoically.

Semi caught Erik's meaning and sent a questioning side glance at Fauna, her expression remained passive.

'I knew that damn chauffeur wasn't to be trusted.' Osei intentionally groaned loudly.
Fauna looked up at him surprised that he believed she didn't give them up.

'So you are agreeing to kidnapping his Lordship.'

'Whoa there, boy. Don't plant words in my mouth. I said the driver wasn't to be trusted and you just confirmed that.'

They want to start something. Loki said.

Osei, tell him the truth. Malaki said.

'He came to us and fell asleep.' Osei barely managed to keep his composure as he repeated Malaki's version of 'the truth'.
Semi elbowed him, this situation was serious.
Osei knew that. He subtly shielded Semi with his body.
'Mr. Osei, you do not want to antagonize Lady Sonya.'

'She's antagonizing me By trespassing. You take your selves and your spies and get off my property. I won't be this nice next time.'

'We'll leave only if Lord Nicholae himself tell us to.'

'Well here's next time.'
Osei shifted and Cayden immediately followed.

'Semi. Inside the Cabin. with the girls. Take Fauna too.'

Semi was ready to fight him but he pleaded.
'Please. We already discussed this.'

To the butler's credit, he looked fierce and unafraid. He casually pulled out a gun from his holster and six other men flanked him.
Osei roared in anger. They dared to point their guns at his family. Someone had to die for their atrocity and he'd gladly start with the blond bloodsucker.

'Erik, put that away and listen to the Alpha.'
No one could believe their ears or their eyes.