I walked through the front door and leaned against the wall, slowly letting my tired legs lower me to the floor. I let out a tired groan, rubbing a hand over the skin on my neck. I knew Trace would have my head for running thirty-two hours straight again, but he could deal with it. What with Brian helping his mate take care of their newborn daughter, I was taking his runs as well as my own. Being Alpha, I had to make sure I wasn't overworking my pack, running that much longer to make sure everything was alright before turning in for a few hours of sleep. I swallowed thickly and chewed on the inside of my lip, wondering how I was going to catch up on sleep before my mate noticed.
I jumped when the phone rang and reached up, despite my aching muscles, picking up the receiver.
"Hello?" I groaned, my head falling back against the wall.
"Daniella?" said a voice so familiar, but I couldn't place it.
"Yes?" I asked cautiously, trying to place the voice. "Who is this?"
"It's Kit." I let out a relieved sigh and smiled.
"It took you long enough to call! I thought you'd fallen off the edge of the earth!" I laughed lightly, brushing back my hair. "How're the boys?"
"It took me a while to find them, but they're just fine." he assured.
"Can I talk to him? Derek, I mean." I asked quickly, my breath quickening when I thought about my little brother. How had he been fending for himself lately?
"He's asleep." Kit answered, and I noted Derek's loud snore echoing his words.
"Let him. What happened, how did you get them back?" I asked, my worry kicking in as I thought about any of them getting hurt just because I hadn't there. Because I had made no effort to look out for them. Unease twisted in the pit of my stomach when I thought of the last time I'd seen Derek's face, just before I'd disappeared just so the Edison group wouldn't kill me.
"Look, I'll explain everything later. Dani, I was wondering if we could come up and stay with you?" Kit asked, and by the tone of his voice, it sounded as though he expected me to say no.
"Of course dad." I rolled my eyes when he let out a relieved sigh.
"It's not just the three of us though. There are three other's with us. A necromancer, Chloe, a witch, Tori, and a doctor, Lauren. Chloe's aunt." he cleared his throat and I recognized his tone. He had more to tell.
"What is it?"
"The necromancer, she's Derek's mate." the background noise changed, and I could tell he'd stepped outside. I giggled.
"Do you expect me to hate her for stealing my brother away from me? Come on dad, I barely have a right to call myself his sister anymore. Not after what I did." I hung my head and itched my leg when the skin there crawled.
"You did exactly as I asked Daniella. You put them where I could find them again, then disappeared. It was safer for you all. He'll understand once we explain." I pressed the heel of my palm into one eye as tears threatened to spill over.
"Alright. How are you getting here?" I groaned as I stood, every muscle aching in protest, my feet cracking and bleeding again.
"We're catching a plane tomorrow morning. It lands at ten in Spokane. Gate twelve." I chewed on my bottom lip as I jotted the information down on the paper next to the phone.
"Alright. I'll need to get clearance from the southeastern alpha. But I'm sure he'll understand."
"Thank you so much Dani. See you tomorrow." I smiled softly.
"See you tomorrow dad. Tell Derek and Simon I love them, alright?" I swallowed back my tears.
"Of course." I sighed in relief. "I love you Daniella. I'm glad you're safe."
"Thanks dad. I love you too, bye." I sighed when the phone disconnected and set it back down, staring at it for a long moment. I looked up when an engine pulled to a stop just outside and a familiar gait moved closer to the front door. I pulled open the door when I saw him through the window and smiled.
"You look exhausted." he noted, pulling me into a hug.
"Trying to keep three young wolves in line can do that to you." I sighed, giggling tiredly when he kissed my neck softly.
"How long?" he asked, swinging me up into his arms and kicking the door closed with his foot.
"I have no idea what you mean." I leaned my head into the crook of his neck, nearly falling asleep as he carried me up the stairs.
"Dani, it's hard to run your hands and feet this raw." he looked pointedly at my cracked palms. I sighed when he shouldered into the bathroom, and set me down on the edge of the tub. "How long?"
"Thirty six hours." I mumbled, rolling my eyes as he pulled my muddy tank top over my head. Trace pressed his lips to my own, reaching towards the faucet in the tub. A wave of nausea rolled in the pit of my stomach and I turned for the toilet, barely making it in time to loose the deer Connor and I had caught earlier. Being in wolf form more than twenty four hours usually took its toll. Trace rubbed my back soothingly as steam from the hot water warmed the air.
"You need to sleep more. It's not good for you to take Brian's runs like this. You know the other's don't mind if you split it up…"
"It's not for long." I protested, leaning my back against the cold tile of the tub, my stomach settling within seconds. "Just until he and Clarissa get used to having Stephanie around. You know they would do the same for us if we had a newborn." I gave him a meaningful look and rolled my eyes when he grinned. "No, that does not mean I'm ready to be a mom."
"Well dang." he chuckled mischievously and I sighed.
"Just for that you can cook dinner tonight." I stuck my tongue out and turned off the water, slipping off my shorts, then sighing in relief as the hot water enveloped me, easing my aching muscles.
"You are having saltine crackers and ginger ale until your stomach feels better." he kissed my forehead. I pouted and slipped my head under the water, folding my arms over my chest. I thrashed when Trace's fingers closed around my nose, pulling me above the surface. "Fine, pasta or hamburgers?" he growled.
"Pasta please." I grinned, reaching up to hold his hand softly. "By the way we have to go to Spokane tomorrow." I murmured, reaching out to trace the back of his hand. "My dad finally called. He, my brothers, and some other's need a place to stay for a while." Trace nodded mutely, and reached up with his other hand to run his soft fingers along the line of my jaw.
"I'll call James, warn him we'll be in town for a couple hours. When do they get in?" he asked, sitting on the edge of the tub.
"Around ten in the morning." I smiled up at him, and patted his shaggy blonde hair.
"Are you sure you should go? Maybe you're catching the flu or something."
"I'm fine, don't worry." I smiled up at him softly. "It's all better." I promised, patting my belly. Trace nodded, some of the worry subsiding, and he grinned.
"So, I finally get to see your brother again?" he teased, flicking the end of my nose with his finger. I nodded, and reached up to brush some hair away from his face.
"He's probably completed his first Change. Which means we'll have to help him control his wolf." I warned quietly, and Trace nodded.
"I figured." he answered, then shrugged. "But we helped Chase just fine. Derek should be no different."
"We have to tell the boys." I sighed, leaning into Trace's hand as he cupped it around my neck. He grunted in acknowledgment to my statement, and rubbed soothing circles into my cheek. "And we should clean up the house." Trace only grunted again, leaning down and pressing his lips to my forehead. "We have to leave the house around seven tomorrow." I breathed, as Trace's lips brushed along my ear. "Trace." I scolded and pulled back, looking up into his bright blue eyes. He smiled softly, nodding his consent.
"I'll go call James. You just relax love." he stood, and moved towards the door. I leaned back into the hot water and sighed gratefully as my muscles began to relax. I rubbed a hand over my stomach, wondering why it had decided to act up recently. It was as though... I shook the thought away quickly and looked up when Trace walked back into the room, his eyes were dark now, a scowl turning down the corners of his mouth.
"I don't like it either, but we have to pick up…" Trace sighed, and held out the phone. I took it carefully and sighed in exasperation.
"Hello James." I answered calmly.
"Let's get one thing straight." he said, just as calm, "I don't like the fact that you have to come down, and I want just one assurance. I know how far away your city is, and that you are probably planning on staying in town for a little while. So, if you promise to keep yourself from Changing on our territory, my pack will let you alone. It is just you and your mate coming down, correct?" I cocked an eyebrow.
"You have my word, we will… refrain from Changing on your land." I snickered when James growled. "Oh, calm down. Jeez. Of course we won't Change on your territory. I'd expect that much from one of your wolves." James grunted an agreement. "But I must warn you, my little brother is a werewolf. He is held by the same promise I make for myself and my mate." James sighed.
"I don't believe we have met face to face quite yet." he growled, as though the thought. "What do you say we have lunch tomorrow. I'll even bring my mate." I felt my mouth drop. It was a sign of trust amongst werewolves to bring a human mate to a meeting between Alpha's. Actually, it was mainly to keep the fur from flying.
"That would be nice. Maybe we can work something out." I grimaced when James barked a laughed.
"You're optimistic aren't you?" he snickered.
"The glass is always full, 50% liquid, 50% oxygen." I laughed when James let out an exasperated sigh.
"You're annoying as hell. We will meet tomorrow at the Olive Garden on Wall Street."
"I thought Wall Street was where they managed stocks and bonds, not a place for fancy dining restaurants." I smiled up at Trace when he stifled a laugh.
"Smart ass." James grumbled. "What time is their plane getting in?"
"They get to the terminal at ten. So what do you say we eat around eleven?" I shrugged.
"We'll have the reservation under my name. How many?"
"Eight for my party." I answered quickly.
"Alright. Goodbye Daniella."
"Bye James." I piped, and hung up, leaning my head back against the tub lip. I felt the phone being pulled from my hand, and Trace leaned down to press his lips softly to mine.
"Well, Mrs. Brevik, now that we have that out of the way, what do you want to do?" he murmured, moving his lips to my cheek, then down along my jaw.
"We should probably check the guest rooms." I sighed, reaching for the wash scrub, when Trace grabbed my wrist, bringing my hand back up, and pressing his nose to my wrist. "Make sure they're clean." I sighed again and glanced up into Trace's face. He nodded, pressing his lips to the corner of my jaw. I reached up to trace the amount of his collarbone that was exposed by the 'v' of his scrubs.
"I can do that. You just rest baby." he kissed my forehead, and moved towards the door, grabbing the phone on his way out. I rested back against the ceramic lip of the tub, and rubbed a hand over my neck, trying to work out a kink.
"He's going to hate me." I sighed, softly scrubbing dirt away from my skin.
"I highly doubt that." Trace answered, and I shook my head.
"I wasn't there for him Trace. I just left! I should have done more." I pulled my legs up to my chest and rested my forehead against my knees.
"You did exactly as your father asked you to Dani." I looked up when he leaned against the doorstop. "And you're both alive and well because of it. Had you tried to stay with your brother, not only would he have been in the Edison Group's custody, but you would be a pincushion for those Company pricks." he regarded me with a soft look and shrugged. "You were seventeen when all this started darling. You couldn't even Change on command. I'm sure if it had happened now, things would be much different."
"It's still my fault." I mumbled, knowing he'd take the blame off my shoulder's either way. "We need to talk to the pack. Tell them about my brother. Maybe I can convince him to join us so we can help him through his Changes." I smiled when Trace knelt next to the tub.
"We can do that tonight if you want, but you need to sleep. I can go take care of it." Trace offered, brushing back a lock of my damp hair.
"I was hoping we'd have some alone time before my brother, and his superhuman hearing, gets here." Trace grinned and rolled his eyes.
"Daniella, I think you just need to rest for the next few days." he kissed my forehead and helped me to stand.
"You're the one that wants kids." I reminded him and sighed. "If anyone is following their group I want to make sure they're going to be alright. But we'd better get going, if we're going to talk to the pack." I stepped out of the tub, and grabbed a towel.