His face looked relax and he was sound asleep. Leaning against the door frame, she counted every breath he took and took one for her own. Closing her eyes, she left their quarters and stepped into the hall. She swept her eyes over the residents moving around, she leaned against the railing and looked down at her hand.

"Mom?"

She glanced down at her side and watched Mikhail take her hand. He looked up at her with questions flooding his face and she ruffled his darkening hair. As he has grown he has begun to lose his blonde hair he took from her and was gaining the black mane that flowed through his father's bloodline.

"How is he?"

She wrapped an arm around his shoulder and said "Resting right now."

"Is he going to get better?"

Nodding, she stepped away from the railing and said "Let's go get some breakfast."

He smiled and said "I'll get something for Dad!"

Laughing, she followed him down the stairs and watched the guards glance their way as they slipped outside. The walk into the clearing was quiet and she watched her son take off in his wolf form. Sitting in the grass, she breathed in the fresh air and felt the first stirring in her mind. He was trying to keep distance between them to shield her from the pain that never wanted to leave and she closed her eyes. Her gaze snapped forward and she watched Mikhail drag a catch towards her.

Smiling, she shifted and took the kill from her son. He looked proud of himself as they walked back inside and she caught the strut in his step. Rolling her eyes, she followed him up the stairs and stopped outside his father's quarters.

"Can I give it to him?"

She stared down at him until his pep disappeared and he sat in front of her. His ears fell back a little and she nudged his face. Mikhail nudged her back and took off down the hall towards his friends. She waited for him to leave her sight before slipping inside and carrying the food over to the hot springs. Silently she entered the bedroom and shifted as she approached the bed.

His eyes were still closed but she could feel his focus settled on her. Slowly she slid an arm under one of his and helped him sit up. He bit back the groan as he was assisted onto his feet and she helped him into the hot springs. The scent of his breakfast forced him to look away and she guided him into the water. He sat in the water agaisnt a boulder and let the heat work on his body.

His gaze followed her as she took the meat from the room and he closed his eyes. The scent of blood slowly lingered back to him and his gaze snapped open.

"Kara."

She reappeared at the entrance and brought the meat back into the room. He watched her put it back on the floor and waited as she joined him. Her hands slid over his arms as she inspected the slow healing wounds and he caught her wrist. A faint scent of blood lingered on her skin and he saw the healing tear in her skin.

"What did you do?"

She pulled her wrist free and said "It's okay."

"Kara."

Her fingers slid through his hair and his thoughts stilled as she worked them into his knotted muscles down his neck and into his shoulders. She checked the wounds over his torso and slowly stopped the massage.

"You need to eat."

Joseph turned his black gaze on her and she helped him out of the bath. He wrapped a towel around him before taking a seat on the waiting blanket and watched her slip into dry clothes. Silently she worked her hair back into a braid and met his gaze. Her hand slid through his hair on her way out of the room and he shifted. The change strained his healing body and he slowly tore a bite off.

The meat flooded his senses and he carefully ate the rest of his breakfast. The bones were scraped clean by the time she resturned with Mikhail and the boy ran over to him. He felt the hands running through his coat and he watched the boy burrow into his side.

"I'm glad you ate it. That'll help you get better."

He saw Mikhail look back at his mother and heard him let out a sigh. She waited for him to slowly detangle himself from his father and watched him leave the quarters again. He waited until they were alone and climbed to his feet. Kara looked back at him as he walked into the living room and settle by some floor cushions.

"Feeling better?"

He watched her approach slowly and could feel her examining him slowly. He felt her hand settle in his coat and she settled into his thoughts. She was listening for any reactions and he held her gaze.

"What did you do?"

"Joseph."

His shifting happened faster and he caught her wrist. He could still smell the blood on her skin and examined the healed tear. She felt his tongue slip over the closed wound and let the contact slip through her. His eyes turned back to her and he released her wrist.

"You gave me your blood."

"You haven't been responding well to your parents'."

"I don't need anyone's blood."

She stared back at him and said "I am doing what I have to do to keep you alive. Your body has been pushed beyond its limits and you were broken when I got to you. I barely managed to keep you with me bringing you home. Your parents offered their aid without hesitation but they knew it would only barely help."

"Is this the first time?"

She nodded and he caught her chin. His eyes stared into hers and she felt his resolve slowly settling in.

"Not again."

"Joseph."

"I cannot be dependant to get well off of your blood. It could make things worse."

"How much worse could all of this get? You are too weak to go outside and hunt. Your son misses you and so do I."

His hand released her chin and he slid a hand through her hair. She leaned into his hand as it settled on her cheek and closed her eyes. She could hear his pulse pounding steadily back to her and felt him pull her to him. His arms secured her to him and she met his black gaze. His mouth settled over hers and she let the taste ease the emptiness in her.

"Kara?"

She felt him pull back slowly and slid her hand through his hair. Her hand fell away as she stood up and he returned to his wolf form. She pulled the skin aside and watched Zeke settle his gaze on his baby brother.

"You look better."

Joseph stared back at him and Zeke smirked. He looked down at Kara and she followed him out into the hall.

"Angel wants you at the birthing."

"I know."

"Just don't let my brother keep you locked up to himself now that he is moving around."

She rolled her eyes and said "I won't."

He left her at the doorway and she walked back inside. Joseph was still in the same spot and she ran her hand over his head.

"You need to lie down."

His hand pulled her into his arms and she settled into his hold. He slid a hand through her hair and watched her eyes slowly drift closed. Carefully he shifted to his feet and lifted her into his arms. The strain was minimal and he lowered her into bed. She burrowed into the sheets and he brushed a locke of hair out of her face.

He dressed in clean clothes and slid into his boots. Carefully he left the bedroom and stepped into the hall. He heard the busy atmosphere from the other residents and walked towards the stairs. Eyes fell on him as he descended the steps and he felt someone approaching from behind. Leon held his gaze and they walked outside.