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Chapter Seventeen

Silver Lining

sorry, its short...I think lol

“So this is Essie in her true form?”

“Yes.” I sighed. After having to explain that five times, you think they would have got it by now.

“And she is in this position because she is pregnant?”

“Yes.” I said again, my voice clearly showing how agitated I was getting.

“So, Victor is most likely after her because of this?”

“Oh my god, YES.”

“Hey, don’t raise your voice at me! I am clarifying and checking my understanding you ass face.” Noel snapped at me. I rolled my eyes and winced as he smacked my upside the head.

I was seriously about to punch him in the throat.

My dad cleared his throat and I looked up. After Essie came into the house looking like something out of a sci-fi movie, Nate flipped shit and started calling everyone and their grandma to a meeting. I swear, he is like a light switch. One minute he’s this ‘oh I’m too cool for you so I’m gonna be an ass’ person and then the next he’s flipping off the walls like a bouncy ball.

So now, here I was, sitting in the meeting room with my parents, Uncles, Aunts, Navaeh, Nate, Essie and Lysander. Yep, the gang was definitely all here.

I just want to sleep.

“Essie, when exactly did you start to notice you were pregnant?” My dad finally asked. Essie looked up at him with no fear in her eyes, which was strange. People were normally intimidated by my dad, but Essie made it look like she was just talking to a random person on the street.

“I had my suspicions before I ran away.  It was one of the reasons I left actually. I refused to raise my child with that man that is if he didn’t take them from me after I gave birth. But when I met your son and his friend, he took me out to change and when I did, I tossed the idea of being pregnant out. It wasn’t until we started our mission when I noticed the changes and when my body started to rot on the way here; I decided it was the perfect chance to change. I left to go do just that, but I couldn’t. I ended up like this and that’s how I know I’m with child.” She explained it all as if it was the description of a book.

I found myself wondering how Essie used to be before Victor married her. I wondered if she was happy, if she smiled and laughed all the time. Because every time she talked, it sounded so…monotonous. Like she didn’t care about what she was talking about or who she was talking to. It was sad, and I hoped once we killed Victor, she could go back to being happy with her child.

“So from what Nikolai told us earlier about Victors lackey saying you were pregnant, that must mean Victor knows.” My dad said to no one in particular.

“He knows because he planned it.” Essie answered and we all looked at her confused. The fuck she just say?

“Care to explain?”

She nodded, “When a shape shifter couple plan to have a child, they do just that, plan. We are similar to werewolves with the fact that contraceptives don’t work for us. The only difference is, the male can choose when to impregnate his lover. That goes back to fact that we plan our pregnancies. You can sex all you want, but as soon as the male chooses to impregnate you, he will and then that’s it, you’re pregnant.”

“How does that even work?” Noel voiced the question everyone was thinking.

“It is hard to really explain. We are normally taught it as a subject in school, but I can try to explain. You basically have to both open your body up to it. We are taught to build up a wall, almost, that just makes sex sex, until we finally decided to have children. Then you both break down the wall and then you’re with child.”

“So that would mean you had to be willing too, right?” I asked and when she didn’t answer, I felt my blood boil. “He didn’t force you did he?”

“There was no forcing. He spent months making a drug that would affect my brain and make me take down the wall. He perfected this drug, injected me and then had his way. The only thing he didn’t do was let me know what had happened. I woke up and it all was just blank. He expected me to walk around not knowing I was pregnant until I couldn’t change and it looks like he won at that.” She looked down in her lap and I felt like there was a hidden meaning in her words.

“Essie.” I called out to her and she lifted her head, “I will never let Victor get his hands on you or your baby.” I promised her and I swear I saw the corners of her mouth twitch, almost like she was going to smile, but she didn’t.

“My son is right. This pack is being sworn to protect you. Victor has been a thorn in my side for a while now, so this is a perfect excuse to get rid of him.” My dad shocked me at his words.

“You were having problems with Victor before this?” I asked my eyes wide in surprise. My dad looked at me like I was an idiot.

“Yeah, he was partially behind the group of shifters that attacked us. He’s been trying to buy Emery, but I won’t let him. So now he has a reason to come here, and I have one to kick his ass.” He sighed and stood up, grabbing my mom’s hand. “Alright, this meeting is over. You all know your jobs and helping Essie with whatever she needs is added on top of them. Everyone else can leave expect for you guys.” He pointed to Tyler, Luna, Noel and Erin. Navaeh huffed and got up, walking out with the rest of us.

I gasped as I walked outside the room and was grabbed by my arm. I felt a familiar pair of lips on mine and sighed into the kiss.

“I’ve been waiting to do this all day.” Lysander whispered after he pulled away. I wrapped my hands around his neck as his gripped my hips. We closed our eyes, foreheads touching and just rocking side to side.

“Why don’t you ever talk?” I asked him, my curiosity getting at me. I had started to notice how whenever we began to discuss anything supernatural related, he rarely ever said anything. His silence in today’s meeting was proof enough.

“I just don’t feel the need. I barely know anything about this new life I have, so I don’t want to sound like the idiot newcomer by asking questions or throwing in suggestions that make no sense. I’m still thinking like a human.” I chuckled and opened my eyes to see him looking down at me with a smug smile.

“W—what?” I stuttered, his gaze making me feel uneasy.

“I don’t think I ever told you how much I love your eyes. They were the first things I saw when I first met you.” He whispered.

“Really? Well, your tattoos had me drawn in.” It was the truth. I’ve always had a thing for guys with tattoos. And stubble, not so much a beard, but a nice five o’clock shadow.

Ohhh yeahhh.

He chuckled and went to kiss me again but we were interrupted by someone clearing their throat. I looked up and saw Tyler standing by the door. “Your father wants to speak with you.” I nodded and went to tell Lysander to wait but Tyler pointed at him and said to bring him too. My heart began to beat wildly as I walked back into the living room. I had no clue what was going on and the atmosphere was tense.

“Both of you, take your shirts off.” My dad ordered after we stepped into the room. I looked at him like he was crazy and he gave me a ‘you better do what I fucking said’ look, that had me ripping my shirt off faster than lighting. I watched as everyone’s eyes widened and that’s when I realized they were looking at my arm.

Shit.

“It’s there isn’t it?” My mom asked and Luna gasped a yes. “I fucking knew it! I told all of you and not one of you believed me! I was like, his mates too sexy to not do anything with and you all were like nooooo. Well guess who was right? ME!” I watched my dad face palm and Tyler and Noel chuckle to themselves.

“H—How did you know?” I asked, my nerves getting the best of me. I had no idea why I was flipping out over this. Fucking Lysander was just standing there, looking like a bad-ass.

“Well one, you’re my son, you can’t lie to me. And two, we all noticed how strong the scent of spearmint and lavender was on both of you. Also, Luna wanted to know why you were wearing cardigans in the middle of summer. We’re not idiots, we can connect the dots.” My dad said and I sighed. Well, whatever. The truth was out.

“Yeah, we mated. I wanted to hide it because I didn’t want to deal with everyone bombarding me with planning the wedding and coronation. But seeing as we now have a pregnant shifter and her vindictive husband on the loose, I guess I don’t have to worry about either of those.” I chuckled nervously and closed my mouth when Luna and Erin glared at me.

“Oh, there will be a wedding and coronation. Victor is nowhere near the United States, so you can expect that bombardment because everything will be happening in a few days.” Luna demanded and I gulped the fear rising in my throat. I felt Lysander grab my hand and give it a squeeze and I sighed.

“Fine, it’s better to get it over with now.” I said and the girls all erupted into a cheer. They quickly left the room, talking about color schemes and flowers. I grabbed my shirt and put it back on, feeling uncomfortable seeing as every man in the room was buffer than me. Even Noel had muscles and he looked like a baby! I looked over to see Lysander, still standing there with no shirt on.

“Put your shirt back on!” I snapped, smacking his chest. He rolled his eyes and slid it on over his head. I heard someone make the sound effect of a whip and glared over at Tyler, who was now making the hand movements of someone being whipped. I suddenly got an evil idea and smiled at him.

“Mom, Erin, Luna! Your husbands agreed to be your guniea pigs for the preparations’!” I yelled and watched as their faces filled with horror when the women came back into the room and started to drag them off.

“You are so grounded when all of this is done.” My dad seethed and I stuck my tongue out at him. I turned and smiled up at Lysander, grabbing his hand. I think my mate and I deserved a long nights rest.

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

I frowned as I woke up to an empty bed. Lysander’s side was cold, so it meant he had been up for a while now. I slowly climbed out of bed and pulled on a pair of sweat pants and a short sleeve shirt.

It felt so good to not have to wear anything long sleeved, like you had no idea.

As soon as I opened the door, I was hit with the chaos going around the pack house. And I’m not talking about chaos over the festivities taking place in two days. I’m talking straight up panic. I watched one of the wolves, Shiloh, walk by and grabbed his arm to stop him.

“What’s going on?” I asked and he looked at me with wide eyes.

“It’s Miss Essie. She’s gone.” He told me and quickly walked away.

What?

I hurried down the stairs, asking everyone where Lysander was. Hell, I could care for anyone; I just needed someone to tell me what the hell was going on. I walked into the kitchen and saw Lysander talking with my dad.

“Please tell me I did not hear Essie is gone from Shiloh?” I asked, making their heads pop up and look at me. Lysander rushed over and wrapped me in a hug, kissing me and then letting me go. No one said anything and I started to get angry. “Dad?” I snapped and he ran a hand through his hair.

“Yes, Essie is gone. Navaeh went to bring her breakfast, but she wasn’t in her room. In fact, her room didn’t even look like it had been touched. We have all been looking around for her and when we still have not found her yet. Tyler and Noel left to go look around town an hour ago, but they haven’t given any word of finding her.”

“Why the hell did no one wake me up?” I yelled. I promised to protect her, to make sure Victor never got her. Now for all I know, he could’ve kidnapped her while we were all sleeping.

“I know where she is.” All our heads snapped up to look at Hazel as she walked into the kitchen with Nate.

“What?” I asked through gritted teeth.

“I said I know where she is, but she made me promise not to tell anyone. “ I stared at her, the fury clearly showing on my face.

“You didn’t even try to talk her out of it? What if Victor finds her?”

“She said she needed to do this on her own and that she would come back soon, but for now she just wants us respect her wishes. She’s safe, I’m sure of it.”

I looked over at Nate and he was staring at the ground. “You knew didn’t you?” He looked up at me and frowned. That was all the answer I needed.

“She may be your mate, but I’m your best friend and future Alpha. When you know information, you tell the Alpha.” I seethed and quickly shoved past them. I knew I shouldn’t have trusted Hazel. All she’s been doing is questioning my authority since we met. If her incompetence continued after I was made Alpha, I would have to banish her. Even if it meant Nate had to go too. I couldn’t risk her starting a rebellion because she didn’t see eye to eye with me.

I closed my bedroom door behind me and lay down on the bed, wrapping myself into a cocoon with the blankets. The house began to quiet down; meaning the news of Essie’s whereabouts had been spread. I had most likely been in here for about two hours and was started to drift off, when there was a knock on the door and it opened. I stayed still and felt the bed dip and then covers were pulled back and a warm body wrapped around me.

“You know this is what she wanted to do. Even if she came to you and you tried to talk her out of it, she still would have left.” Lysander whispered and I let myself sink into him.

“I know.” I finally answered and he nuzzled into my neck. We were getting married in two days, and I was getting crowned Alpha. I needed to let this go for now, and then I could worry as soon as it was over. After I was Alpha, I was going to find Essie and bring her back.

Then I was going to kill Victor Salvatore.

Once and for all.

god will Victor just show up so he can die already like forreal.

tired of his punk ass -.-'

picture is Nikolai's eyes. I freaking love characters or just people in general with two color eyes. *o* p.s. I suck at photoshop, so if it looks creepy to you...sorry...lol

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