The winds were around the base of the Lockwood Tower as Melanie got out of the Hummer H2. While not the most ecologically friendly vehicle on the planet, she had to admit it was comfortable, at least the way Keith had customized it. With handcrafted Italian leather seats, upgraded Fox shocks and a ton of other enhancements that she couldn't see, it was like floating on a marshmallow the entire drive back from Lockwood Manor. Even with her stomach, which seemed to have doubled in size in the past six weeks, she was comfortable.

"I'm sorry you guys had to have that car delivered all the way up to the Manor, Keith," said the giant of a man who was the purpose for the huge vehicle. Standing just over six foot six, Edward Stormstout was the sort of man who garnered attention regardless of whether he wanted to or not. "But that was about the best car ride I've ever had."

Melanie turned to see Keith, who was no small man himself at six foot four and about two hundred and thirty pounds climb out of the driver's seat. "Thanks, Edward. It's actually been a long time since I drove this car, we got it for a real estate deal that was over some pretty rough terrain, and we couldn't take any of the helicopters."

"In any case, this is one awesome ride. Makes my truck that I had in Canada look like total junk," Edward replied. He patted the hood like it was a thoroughbred horse before turning away.

"After you kicked in the side when you heard that we were getting betrothed, it probably was a piece of junk," Kimberly, Keith's twin sister and Edward's Mate, replied as she followed Edward out of the back seat. "Or did you forget about that?"

"You kicked in the side of a truck?" Melanie asked, turning. As the only non-shapeshifting individual in the Waldwyck family, she sometimes forgot just how different the various abilities her family could manifest itself. "Like, dent the panel kicked?"

"More like boot print visible in the side panel after it finished rocking up on its side hinges and almost flipping over," Kimberly deadpanned as she shut her door. "Thankfully our initial negative reactions didn't get in the way of finding something wonderful."

Edward pulled his Mate in close, the six-foot brunette Lycan looking tiny next to the gigantic man, kissing her on the lips. "How in the world do you think I could have ever resisted someone as beautiful as you?" he asked, wrapping his arms around her. "I'm quite sure that would be a pure impossibility."

Keith rolled his eyes and reached out, taking Melanie's hand. "Were we that goofy with our affection when we first Mated?"

"What do you mean were?" Melanie said with a laugh. "If it weren't for your son in my belly, you'd be challenging Edward to a race, seeing who can carry his Mate up the stairs of the Tower faster and get her into bed first.”

"She does have you there Keith," Kimberly said, sticking her tongue out at her brother. "Or should I tell Edward about all the things you two got up to?"

"All right, all right, truce," Keith said good-naturedly. "I give up. I guess that's what I get for having an Alpha Female as my sister. Come on, let's get inside, this wind can't be good for the baby."

"Now who's the worry wart?" Melanie said with a laugh. For days, Keith had been chiding his sister for being overly worried about Melanie's health, fretting over every bump, sneeze or draft of cool air. Still, the very early spring air was biting at her ankles, and she was happy to go inside the beautiful Lockwood Tower.

Reaching the elevators, the four of them climbed into the express elevator that was reserved for Keith and Kimberly's usage as the Clan Alphas. However, instead of going all the way to the top floor, it stopped one floor down, opening on a bare apartment that still bore the markings on the walls and floor of the recently removed furniture. "You guys good here?" Keith asked, looking at his sister. "You can both come up if you want."

Kimberly shook her head. "No, it'll be okay. I just want to do some planning with Edward, and then we'll be up for dinner. We have a lot to talk about, with the new Gathering starting soon."

"I agree. Okay, well, we'll be just upstairs. See you in a bit."

Kimberly and Edward got out, the doors of the elevator closing behind them. Kimberly flipped the light switch, and the dim space was lit up. While the space was lower than in Keith's penthouse one floor up, it was still immense, with ten foot high paneled ceilings that rose to almost fifteen feet in places. As opposed to the wood paneling and natural ambiance of Keith's place, however, the apartment was painted a utilitarian off white.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Edward asked as Kimberly walked towards the center of the apartment. Like Keith's penthouse, the center of the living room was dominated by a sunken circular area with a fireplace in the middle. "I mean, this was your mother's apartment."

"I'm fine. Really," Kimberly replied. "When I think of Mom, this isn't the place that I think of her. When she and Dad were the leaders of our clan, they were upstairs, or in the Manor. This apartment was supposed to be for me or Keith, but since neither of us was willing to have the other in a so-called demoted situation, we never used it. Mother had this place decorated for her after Dad died and Keith became Alpha, but she was almost never here. I would see her at the Manor, or over the Internet as she traveled the world. This place was nothing more than a placeholder, a spot she stayed instead of a hotel when she was in town, that's all."

"I see," Edward said. "I guess I can understand. Then, why’d you take another apartment on a lower floor when Keith became Alpha?"

Kimberly laughed and shrugged. “Because being an Unmated Lycan Alpha Female living with her Unmated brother would’ve been weird. Even still, I ended up sleeping in the guest room three or four nights a week. We are twins, and close."

Edward chuckled and pulled his Mate in for another hug. "That's good. Which is why we are installing a stairwell for going upstairs. I figure our little nephew is going to be running up and down those stairs almost unceasingly before you know it.”

"Most definitely," Kimberly replied. "And who knows? Maybe soon we can talk about him being joined by a little cousin."

"Uh-uh," Edward said with a grin.

"What do you mean uh-uh?" Kimberly asked, a small frown on her face. "I thought we agreed a baby would be fine."

"We did, but you only said cousin. I was thinking more along the line of cousins, as in plural," he growled lightly, pulling his Mate in for a kiss. "That is, unless of course you think I'm not going to find you beautiful and sexy after having a baby."

"You better not, Mr. Bear," Kim growled back, pulling him towards the depressed central ring of the apartment. The built-in sofa, while not as high quality as the one upstairs, looked soft and inviting to her right then, exactly what she needed. "Or else. I only have one regret."

"What’s that?" Edward asked as she pulled him down onto the couch. The furniture groaned, unaccustomed to someone of Edward's size sitting on it. "Hmm, seems we're going to need to get that reinforced when we do the renovations for this floor. But what is it you regret?"

"Not being able to have a baby now," Kimberly replied. She had for years taken birth control pills in order to prevent a forced baby by another Lycan Alpha, a not unheard of practice in some of the more violent clans. Her position made her more of a target, as the offspring would be exceptionally strong, a trait sought after by Alphas looking to cement their bloodline. Still, she had been off the pills for a week now, and would be back to her normal cycle soon.

"In time, my love. But first, we have three things to do."

"What's that?" Kimberly said as Edward's hand pulled the shirt from the waistband of her jeans. "Besides getting me wonderfully naked."

"First, we have a Gathering to get through and a Mating to announce. Second, we have to help Keith with his becoming Alpha Male of Clan Thornblood. And of course one other thing."

"Oh yeah," Kimberly said with a mix of regret and anticipation, her Lycan nature for combat struggling against her inner desire for peace and tranquility in order to have a family. "The war with the Silver Bringers."