"Kara, run!"

She looked over her shoulder and saw the black wolf tackle the attacking soldier. Her gaze swept the battle field and she saw the fires burning around them. The temple was destroyed and several young ones lay wounded from the assault. Her pulse quicked as she checked each one but found no sign of her child. Someone caught her arm and she met their brown gaze. Rafe tugged her to follow him and she let him drag her to some cover.

"Mom!"

She caught her flying son in her arms and held him tightly to her. He looked up at her with his black eyes and she kissed his brow. Rafe met her gaze and nodded one time. She sent him a thankful smirk and looked over her shoulder at the battle. Her grandfather was being guarded as he was assisted from the fighting with a limp and her mother had a soldier pinned beneath her paw.

Her gaze sought out Joseph and she watched the black wolf tear the throats out of each opponent with his iron jaws. He was covered in their blood and his eyes zeroed in on her. She held her son tighter and watched the man fight his way to them. Each soldier that tried to strike him down was dead in midstride and he padded through the dead until he stepped into the coverage beside her. She didn't hesitate to wrap her arm around him and breathe him in.

He checked the boy for any signs of injuries and said "We need to get moving."

"We shouldn't let them take our home."

He met her gaze and said "There is nothing left here."

She wanted to stay and assist the warriors in their struggling but felt the hand catch her wrist. He wasn't giving her a choice and she watched him shift back into the black wolf. He stared back at her and she put their son down to change. The little one was still learning his form and rode on his back as they took off into the woods. His half siblings fell in around them and she felt Rafe take position to her left to keep an eye on her as well.

Her paws followed Joseph but her thoughts wandered back to the battefield, conveying the orders to meet up when they had found a secure location. She closed the link to her kind and focused on memorizing the details to their unknown destination for future relaying.

"Kara."

Her eyes opened slowly and she stared at the thick woods in front of her. She glanced behind her at the man watching her and turned back to the front. The new group of warriors were practicing their new forms and she felt the emotions pressing into her thoughts again. A strong hand settled on her wrist and she met the black gaze.

"What is it?"

She shook her head and said "Nothing."

He wasn't convinced but she knew he wouldn't push it. The dreams had started hitting her when she was awake a month ago and not one of them were the same except for the war. All of them had war between their kind and the government and left the dreaded knowledge of of the future war buried into her bones. A shiver slid through her without warning and his body stepped close enough to warm her with his body heat. She looked back at him and saw his gaze sweeping the area.

"Time to head in."

She nodded and watched the warriors turn their way. They were still shifting from land to air forms and back but his quiet order wasn't ignored. Zeke approached them with Angel as the men headed into the temple for the night and their presence confirmed the order to any doubters. When the woods were empty, the two headed in and Joseph glanced back at her. She was still blocking him as her eyes swept the area again and he waited for her to make the next move.

She never let him see the dreams but he could tell when she had one and it bothered him. They were only supposed to attack her in sleep but lately she has been zoning out for several minutes and he could feel the usual pull on her. Her mind would instantly cut off all contact with him and he wouldn't be able to reach her until she came to. He wanted to know what she was seeing but even if she wanted to share them, she couldn't allow it for her own sake. Green eyes finally returned to him and she shifted as she headed inside for the night.

He followed without a word and watched her climb the stairs. Leon was watching them from his quarters and waved him over. He spotted her slipping down the hall to her room and followed the leader inside to his private room.

"How was practice today?"

"The men are getting the changing down better. It will still take time for them to fully understand their new abilities."

"And you? Have you found any other form?"

"I don't need one."

Leon didn't hold back the slight frown and said "I'm worried about Kara. These new lessons must be wearing on her."

"She's holding it together."

The man met his gaze and shook his head. He wanted more than the vague answer but wasn't privied to it unless the woman said otherwise. When no other questions came, Joseph left the man and made his way through the hall to her quarters. He stopped outside the entrance and slowly entered. His jaw tightened as he made out his sisters and Emily sitting in the room with her and she kept her gaze from him.

Emily smiled up at him and said "We are giving you the night off. Let us take care of her for one night."

"Don't."

He saw Angel focus on him as that simple request filled his head and she glanced at Kara. The woman picked up on the silent conversation and stood up. He watched his sisters leave without a word and Emily glance back at Kara.

"Are you all right with this?"

She nodded and watched her mother slowly leave them alone. He remained still as she rose and walked into the hot springs. His eyes followed her clothes to the ground and she dipped beneath the water. Silently he joined her and slid his arms around her. Her back pressed against his chest and he burrowed into her neck.

He could breathe her in and forget the weight they were both carrying. Closing his eyes, he let the silence surround them and heard a distant sound. She felt him pull back and slowly looked over her shoulder at him. His presence filled her before she could block him and he met her gaze when he heard it again.

"Kara."

She closed her eyes and said "I didn't know how to tell you."

He caught her face in his hands and said "You did."

She looked up into his black eyes and said "This is the last thing we need. I can't protect our people for the war if I can't train properly."

He couldn't hold back the smirk and said "I wasn't going to let you train them anyways. I will teach them how to fight the soldiers."

"Joseph."

His smirk faded and he said "I will not risk you getting hurt."

"I know what I am doing."

His thumb slid along her cheek and he said "I know but this isn't just your fight."

She closed her eyes with a sigh and he kissed her brow. His arms slid around her and she listened to his steady heart beat. His hand slid over her spine and he brushed her hair from her shoulders. He lowered his mouth to the faint scar on her shoulder and slid his tongue along it. She felt the jolt of hunger waken and tried to remain still as he removed the last traces of the mark.

His administrations of healing were too sensual to keep from wanting him and when he applied them to her side, she bit back the growl. The man was too tempting when he was seeing to the healing marks like this and the hot water around them made her ever more sensitive. She felt his arms circle her waist to keep her prisoner and she sighed as his mouth slowly worked a path up her stomach. His mouth slid over her breasts and up her neck to her mouth. She met the hunger kiss and her fingers curled into his hair.

His arms lifted her off her feet and she circled her legs around his waist. He carried her out of the hot spring and lowered her onto a rug away from the doorway. Her hands slid down his back and his hands sculpted every inch of her. He curved her hips and lifted her bottom just before surging into her. She let him take her over the cliff until he was too exhausted and sated to attempt one more time.

Her pulse was pounding as his head settled on her breasts and she slid her fingers slowly through his damp hair. Her body was too satisfied to move and she couldn't find the voice to say a word. Slowly he kissed her and she breathed him in. His hand settled onto her stomach and she felt the slightest stirring of a third presence. He met her gaze and she couldn't hold back the smile.

"What?"

She kissed him again and said "I thought you were going to be upset."

"Not about this. If it had happened before you I wouldn't be happy."

"Only because you didn't know what that was."

His black eyes sparked and she laughed. All the weight she carried on her shoulders were gone when it just them and his guard was down. His hand on her stomach kept the connection with their unborn fresh in her mind and she wrapped her arms around his neck. He lifted her off the ground without a word and carried her into the bedroom. He felt the fire spark to life against his bare back and lowered her into the warm bed.

She curled up in his arms and let his presence devour her. His hand slid through her hair and she held his gaze as his free hand slid over her flat stomach.

"Just tell me when you know."

"Know what?"

"If I am going to have to worry about future challening mates."

She smiled and said "I thought I would leave it as a surprise."

He didn't hold back the groan and she nuzzled his neck. His arm tightened around her and he felt the tiny presence connect with them again.

"Don't make me raise this child myself."

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. It was a fear for most mothers but he knew this fear was from her dreams.

"I won't."

She curled closer and let his words wrap a layer of security around her. If it was just them when this battle hit she wouldn't be worried and would find a way to handle whatever loss she suffered. She closed her eyes and listened to his steady heart beat until she finally fell asleep. He watched her sleep all through the night and couldn't find the strength to look away. He didn't know how the rest would find out but he was certain the women had known and that is why they were wanting to take care of her.

The idea that Zeke and Griffon would find out before him from Gabby and Angel left him silently groaning. He doubted Emily would have been able to keep her mouth shut as well and Leon would be laughing in the near future.

"You are supposed to be sleeping."

He smirked at the groggy voice and watched her slowly open her eyes. She had slept the entire night without a nightmare and was actually drowsy waking up. His hand slid through her hair and she met the kiss. She straddled his waist and his eyes closed as she took him into her. The woman didn't have to give him any warning before seducing him.

It was a genetic flaw in their bloodline to always be at the edge around their mates and she was no exception. Her hands slid up his chest and she took her time riding him. She could feel the pressure and need mounting and quicked her pace. He sat up captured a tempting breast with his mouth and she leaned back to give him more access. His hips took over the quick pace and he pounded into her as she rode him and he played with the captured nipple.

Her release left her trembling as he poured himself into her and she wrapped her arms around his neck. He captured her mouth and she slid her fingers through his hair. She slowly pulled back and he groaned as she climbed out of bed. He saw her look back over her shoulder and then shift on her way to the hot spring. He wouldn't say it out loud but she knew he enjoyed these mornings of hunger and teasing as much as fighting and killing.

The little tease had found a way to turn his bloodlust into passion for her and built a craving in him that he couldn't fight. She had changed his mindset entirely even before he claimed her and when she had been captured he had given up the notion of ever walking away. He had that time of silence to show him what it would be like and now there was no way he could ever walk away if he lost control. Losing control over his bloodlust was a distant fear these days and it was all because of her. If he felt the slightest itch for a killing she was there physically or mentally and it was gone.

His thoughts stopped when a scent hit him and he sat up. Someone was approaching and he shifted as he slid from the bed. He saw her stepping into the room with the towel around her and he bared his teeth. She didn't have chance to step past him before Zeke strolled into the room with a big grin on his face. Her hand tightened around the towel and the man quickly averted his eyes to the growling wolf.

Joseph guarded the bedroom as she disappeared inside and Zeke let out a chuckle. He held his brother's gaze and the man watched him stay defensive.

"I can still give you a good licking."

The wolf snorted with his hackles still up as he disappeared into the bedroom briefly and Zeke shook his head. When the man reappeared, he wasn't any less defensive and fangs were almost visible.

"What do you want?"

Zeke smiled and said "I got wind of something this morning."

"And you thought you had to come in here."

The man laughed and said "I hear I am going to be an uncle."

He looked away and watched her step into the room. She had her hair up for the lessons later on and a pair of worn jeans and a black shirt. Zeke slid his eyes over her and heard the low growl.

"I was just trying to see for myself."

She rolled her eyes and said "You should just ask instead of studying me like a rabbit."

The man laughed again and asked "Is it true?"

She felt the body press next to hers and the hand rest on the small of her back. He wasn't relaxing this time around the half brother and she knew it was because of her.

"Yes."

Zeke smiled and said "The others will be thrilled."

"I'm sure they already know."

He shrugged and said "Mates can't keep things from each other, espeically about family."

Joseph rolled his eyes and she smirked. He was the exception in this room and that just made Zeke's delight even more.

"My little brother is going to be a father. I feel sorry for the poor pup."

This time the growl drove the man out of the room and she bit back the laugh. He was back in wolf form and staring at the flap as if daring someone else to enter. She shook her head and slid her hand through his coat. He nuzzled her hand before shifting back. They left her quarters and headed to the steps for their morning hunt.