He shrugged. “They were in an all-terrain vehicle. We got a few of them, but she was taken, back behind Red Creek walking trail.”

I pounded my fists into the cold, hard ground. No! Tara. I had to control my breathing to keep from shifting. My wolf wanted free but looking at Earl, I saw that he was hurt.

“Let me look at your arm.” I stood. It was bleeding pretty bad. I wasn’t sure how he would feel about me healing it with witch magic he didn’t know about. “I can call our pack doctor.”

He shooed me away. “Nah, we have our own medics. I ripped my stitches from the bullet wound. I’ll be fine, just wanted to tell you about your friend.”

Sweet Tara. I sighed. “Thank you.”

He nodded and turned to walk away, but I grabbed his hand and squeezed it gently. “For everything. I would be dead if you hadn’t pushed me out of the way the other night.”

He chuckled. “I think I am the one that should be thanking you. You draped yourself over me like a shield. I’m an old man and I’ve lived a good life. Next time don’t bother.” He winked and tipped his hat. “And I’m sorry again about your friend,” he added.

“We’ll get her back,” I declared.

He twisted his handle-bar mustache and said, “Okay,” and walked away.

Shit, this was so bad.

Max and Kai emerged from the woods. Both shirtless, in cut-off sweatpants, eyes yellow.

“It’s not your fault.” Kai put a hand on Max’s shoulder, but Max shrugged him off.

“Yes it is! If I had mated with her, I would have been in constant communication. She wouldn’t have been moping in the woods.”

Kai put his hands out to stop Max. “No, it’s my fault. I told her not to go alone. She lied and said she would take someone with her. I should have assigned someone to go with her to make sure.”

Max shook his head. “She’s smart and beautiful and she’s my mate. I should have told her that. I should have married her! What the hell am I waiting for?”

“It’s my fault!” I shouted, shutting them both up. “Everything. Devon’s death. This. It’s all my fault. The vampires want me!” I stormed into the house and slammed the door, scooping up Luna and lying with her in my bed. This was getting to be too much. All of these people were getting hurt over me. The vampires wanted my blood. Maybe I should just do the spell with the witches and become infertile. Not tell Kai. But the moment I thought that, baby Avery popped into my mind. I wanted that with Kai. I shouldn’t have to give up on the dream of being a mother. No! I stood. I just needed to find Layla and kill her once and for all, and I would start right now.

‘Call the council. We need to have a meeting and come up with an idea to find Layla and get Tara back NOW,’ I told him.

I felt his feelings. Apprehension that doing so might cause me danger but also that it needed to be done.

‘I agree,’ was all he said.

Sulk

After a while of sulking, I put Luna down and went to Emma’s to take my shift helping with baby Avery.

When I got there, the lights were low in the living room. Avery was asleep in a cradle and Diya was rocking her.

“Hi,” I whispered.

Diya gave me a look of concern. “Are you okay? I heard about the shooting … and Tara.”

I sighed and rolled my shoulders, remembering where the bullets had entered my back. Amazingly, I felt fine. “Yeah, I’m okay. Thanks. Kai is going to the council to have a meeting and we’re going to find Layla and get Tara back,” I said with certainty.

Diya nodded and there was an awkward moment of silence. Then she gestured to Avery, smiling. “Isn’t she perfect?”

I nodded, watching the tiny infant sleep. Her bottom lip was puckered out and her breathing was slow and steady. “She is.” She was also our pack’s first cub. Pride, adoration, love; those words didn’t even begin to express how we all felt.

“Guess what? Trent and I are having a boy. We just found out today.” She smiled, patting her belly.

Wow, a boy. Seeing these happily mated couples I had brought together having children made me feel complete, like I had a purpose, a good purpose.

I gave her a hug. “That’s awesome. Have you thought of a name?”

She nodded. “Mason, after Trent’s father.”

Now that everyone was having babies, I was feeling my own biological clock ringing. Seeing Avery born had changed something within me. The loss of Tara, the RAIDOS shooting. I needed some good in my life. I had made a decision. I wanted a baby. Now. I was ready.

‘Kai?’

‘Yes, my love?’

I smiled. ‘Throw out the condoms.’

Excitement burst through the mate bond and I chuckled.

“So, what do I do?” I asked Diya nervously, gesturing to Avery. I had babysat a little in college but not a newborn. She was so fragile and tiny.

Diya chuckled. “Keep her alive. That’s about it at this age. Diapers and wipes are over there. Wake Emma if she cries and starts rooting. That means she is hungry.”

I swallowed nervously. “Rooting?”

Diya smiled at me. “Sucking fingers, making an O-shape with her mouth. Trying to breastfeed over your shirt.”

I laughed. “Okay.”

All of a sudden, I heard snapping noises. I gasped and looked down as fur started popping up all over Avery’s body. She was shifting.

“Oh my God, is that okay?” I asked Diya.