Seven Months Later…

“You wasted unnecessary movement, Jesse. In a real fight, you don’t fight fancy. You use every opportunity, every tool at your disposal to your advantage. Even a little thing can be the difference between life and death.” Ethan offered his hand to Jesse to get up. The two of them had been sparring in the Lunar Manor inner courtyard since three in the afternoon. Both Ethan and Jesse had stripped to their boxers even though the ground was still covered in light snow. Both of them sweated from head to toe. Their skin glistened in afternoon sun. Jesse took his hand and they were at each other again. Jesse was Ethan’s pupil now and he taught him martial arts.

After Jesse recovered from the Alpha Strain virus, Ethan had taken his brother-in-law under his wing. It turned out Jesse adored Ethan. Sookie suspected that Jesse found the father figure in Ethan that he desperately needed. And Ethan was quite happy to have adopted the impressionable teen-ager as the younger brother he never had.

Watching the two most important people in her life bonding over martial arts made Sookie all warm and happy.

Jesse adapted to his life as a werewolf. He still had difficulties with his transformation. He couldn’t control it properly and Sookie knew even if Jesse didn’t want to admit it, the transformation itself was an excruciating experience for him. But luckily, Jesse was a happy kid. He took it in stride and smiled, not once complaining about it.

He had changed drastically ever since the accident. He became more mature, no longer stuck his nose where it didn’t belong. He studied and he helped around the manor without Sookie having to beg or yell at him to do it. He also kept his room tidy. Gasp! Apparently, Jesse remembered his incarceration in the dungeon of the factory. Well, mostly. He battled constantly with himself over compulsions of rage and hunger. He couldn’t control what he did. It was as if someone had taken over his body and he was forced to watch from the backseat.

Ethan was a good influence on Jesse. And Jesse idolized him in return. Jesse embraced his new life. He thought being a werewolf was gnarly—whatever kids’ lingo meant these days. Sookie was happy that everything went well in the end. She and Ethan got married a month later in a quiet, intimate ceremony.

Sookie blew a little breath. Her back was killing her and her feet swelled if she stood a bit too long. The pack physician warned her that carrying a werewolf pup was hard on the mother, especially because she was human. Human females were more delicate than female werewolves. Doctor Hartman assured her if she took days

easily and got plenty of rest, she would be fine. Human-wolf interspecies marriage wasn’t uncommon. Besides, she received plenty of help from the pack members. Ethan was incredibly supportive and protective and Jesse swore it was his turn to take care of her from now on.

Now, each time Sookie saw Jesse’s earnest face, she no longer felt like she had disappointed her mom. She kept her promise, keeping the family together. And now the family was growing…

“Sookie,” called Chloe from the door. “Didn’t Dr. Hartman warn you not to stand too often? Why don’t you sit down for a bit? I’ve made you some lemon tea.” Chloe was Grayson’s mother. She’s assumed the role of the female alpha for the pack since Ethan’s mother’s passing. Now that Ethan had taken a wife, Chloe was teaching Sookie the ropes. In a way, Chloe was like her substitute mother. Sookie couldn’t be more grateful.

Sookie was roused from her daydream by the window. Watching Ethan and Jesse bonding was incredibly therapeutic.

“It was nothing.” Sookie followed the older woman to the solarium. Chloe was approaching sixty but her body was like a super-fit woman in her thirties. Werewolves’ life spans were the same as humans, but they were gifted with great genetics making them appear younger than they really were. “I feel guilty if I lounge around all day. You won’t even let me help with chores.”

Chloe put the teacup on a Chippendale table that was flanked with a pair of high-backed chairs. The solarium overlooked Lunar Manor’s courtyard. Outside, Ethan and Jesse were still trying to knock each other out with their bare fists. They then laughed like they were having the grandest time of their lives.

“Nonsense,” said Chloe firmly. She was a hard taskmistress and the only one who called her “Sookie” in the Lunar Manor. Well, besides Jesse and Ethan. “Your health is your number one priority. Doctor’s orders remember? A healthy mother means a healthy pup and I won’t have it any other way.” Chloe watched her dotingly. “Drink your tea. Cook said dinner wouldn’t be ready for another hour. How are you feeling today, dear?”

Sookie took a seat with a sigh. Her pregnancy had just entered the third trimester but she felt like she was ready to pop. Her belly was alarmingly big; each time her unborn son moved or kicked, she was out of breath. “I’m good. Tired, mostly.”

“That is to be expected. Carrying a direwolf pup is more taxing I heard. They take a lot from their mother. That is why it’s important to keep yourself well-rested.”

“I’m well-rested, don’t you worry.” Sookie sipped her tea. “This is delicious, Chloe. Thank you.”

“The secret is adding some lemon zest while you brew it. Lemon is good for circulation and relieving fatigue. By the way, has Dr. Hartman set a date for the C-section?”

“No, not yet. He promised to let me know as soon as he receives the results of my blood test.” The pack physician deemed that her pregnancy was a high risk one and conventional birth was a risk she didn’t need to take. Sookie wasn’t a delicate flower by human standards, but compared to a female werewolf it was no contest.

“That’s good. Oh, I think you have a package from Ellie, is that her name?”

“Yeah, Ellie Sandford.” Ellie was Sookie’s former coworker at Home Depot. She was the one who reported her missing when Sookie failed to show up for work. Cain had detained her and Jesse for several weeks before the battle of the Underworld erupted. A week after that, Sookie contacted Ellie and lied that she went to Vegas and things just got wild. Ellie suspected nothing of it and accepted her excuse at face value. Cain had ordered his goons to dispose of her car and cleared their apartment. It was as if Sookie and Jesse had never existed in the first place if it weren’t for digital trails. Jesse’s friends and his employer thought he and his sister skipped town because of debt. Sookie never recovered her belongings. She didn’t have much, but photos and family mementos were irreplaceable. Sookie made peace with that. She was ready to make new memories with Ethan and the pack.

And the new pup.

Sookie was giddy all the time awaiting the arrival of her unborn son.

“It was nothing important. Stuff from my locker at work. But I have some of Jesse school pictures in there so I want them back.”

“What school pictures?” Jesse poked his head from the solarium door, face red and hair plastered in sweat. He and Ethan had just finished their training.

At present, Jesse was taking time off from school until he adjusted to his new life as a werewolf. Plus, Ethan had tutors to homeschool him so he wouldn’t miss a lot of his academic education.

Sookie wrinkled her nose, fighting her urge to barf. Her sense of smell was hyper-sensitive during this pregnancy. “Go away, stinky boy. I can smell you from here.”

“Don’t bother your sister. Take a shower first.” Ethan pushed him away from the door. He saw her and threw her his killer smile. “Oh, hello there, beautiful.” His eyes wandered about her person, undressing her clothes one by one with his gaze. But when he caught Chloe’s disapproving glare, he quickly mentally re-dressed Sookie fully. Ethan’s appetite for sex had intensified since they found out about her pregnancy. The more her body prepared for motherhood, the more lustful he was in bed. Dr. Hartman instructed them no more sexual intercourse for the last trimester for the sake of the pup. Suffice to say it had been hard on him. Pun intended.

“Alpha,” said Chloe icily. Hands planted on her hips. “Why don’t you take a shower too? Can you see you made your mate suffer? She’s a delicate creature.”

“I’m not a delicate creature. I’m just barfy,” Sookie inconspicuously covered her nose. Since the morning sickness kicked in, she tolerated her mate’s smell as long as he wasn’t sweaty. If he was, like after sex, she kicked him out of the bed until he got clean. She also hated the smell of coffee, anything sizzling on the grill, disinfectant products and a dozen other strange quirks.

Ethan lifted his palms in surrender. “Okay, okay. I’ll take my shower now.”

“Excellent,” said Chloe in a tight voice.

He stalked out of view while he mumbled something offensive.

“I heard that,” called Chloe. She shook her head.

Sookie laughed. Ethan thought Chloe was a pain in the ass. Chloe found the sentiment was mutual.

“Men.” Chloe still tsked. “They are basically boys with mustaches and bigger shoes, aren’t they?”

“And bigger dicks,” Sookie answered absentmindedly.

Now Chloe eyed her with a disapproval she usually reserved for Ethan. “Young lady, get your head out of the gutter once in a while.” Chloe sighed dramatically. “At least until the pup arrives. You two are hopeless. Well anyway, I have to supervise dinner preparation. Do you want anything from the kitchen?”

“I’m good. I still have to finish my tea.”

“Let me know if you need anything.”

“Okay.”

“Good girl.” Chloe went back into her doting mode.

Sookie watched her saunter away. “Chloe…”

She paused. “Yes?”

“Thank you.” Thank you for being my surrogate mother. Thank you for everything. You have no idea how much I appreciate all that you done for me.

Chloe smiled. “Anytime, dear.” She closed the solarium door quietly, leaving Sookie basking in the setting sunglow.

Sookie moved into a lounger near the window where it was most bright at the moment and curled up like a contented cat. She planned to cherish every second of her life from now on. Soon, the winter would melt away into spring when color would return to the world, once more; the start of another new beginning. She had a lot to look forward to.

But for now she wanted to soak it all up. Napping in the light like an overfed cat. A cat in a house of full of dogs.

I’m a kitty, hear me meow…