Emma gently rubbed her growing stomach while holding her squirming daughter to her chest. He was gone. Here she was widowed at the age of twenty with a one and half year old child and twins on the way. Looking over to her sister and brother-in-law she tried to draw strength from them as the line of sympathetic people streamed past her. It was a cloudy day and there was a rumble of thunder in the distance.
She was startled from her thoughts when an ice cold set of hands grasped her own, drawing her eyes to a pair of blood red eyes. Her heart raced, but she calmed. Beside the man was a woman with similar eyes.
"Ma'am, my name is Peter Whitlock," the man introduced himself. "I'm distant kin of your late husband. I'm so sorry for your loss. If there is anything you need, ever, you just call and I'll be there." He said handing her a card with various phone numbers on it.
Emma watched him and who she assumed was his wife leave. She had a niggling in the back of her mind, but it passed as more mourners greeted her throughout the day. Her sister took her sweet little Caroline from her. Just as the last of the mourners were leaving the skies opened up. One of her husband's fellow soldiers assisted her from the chair and escorted her to the waiting car. Caroline was already strapped into the car seat and fast asleep.
Leaning her head back against the seat she let her tears fall and her grief forward. Silently her tears spilled down her cheeks. Her husband, her best friend since they had been children, had been killed in action on his most recent deployment. She could still remember when she had told him over Skype that they were pregnant again, and then when she had told him it was twins! He was so happy and full of life. Then just three short days later his caravan was ambushed and half of his team was gone.
Her mind traced back to when she first met him. He was such a handsome boy, cocky and full of life, but still so sweet. They had been childhood sweethearts and then she had to move because her daddy took a job up north. They had kept the family farm and left the running of it in the safe hands of their trusted foreman and his family. Then when she was thirteen they had moved back.
Daniel took one look at her and told her that he was going to marry her someday. She had laughed, but in his infinite wisdom at the age of fifteen, he had known. They had been inseparable ever since, dating throughout high school and marrying as soon as she was old enough. He had come home on leave to marry her, and then left immediately after the honeymoon to go back overseas. They were thrilled to find out they were expecting Caroline. He had been home for a few weeks for her birth before he had to go back.
When his deployment was done he had returned home to her for a few months. He was home for Caroline's first birthday and a few months more when they got the call. They had received word that he would be deploying again. Emma was terrified, just like she had been the first time she had seen him off when she was sixteen. He had smiled that crooked, cocky smile and told her he'd see her soon. God, her heart ached to see that smile again.
She had found out she was pregnant with the twins shortly after he had been deployed. They were thrilled to expand their little family. And then her world stopped. When they showed up at her door her legs gave out and she didn't remember much after that. Her mama had caught her before she hit the ground and they helped her into the living room.
Nothing could ever prepare her for the grief, the pain, the numbness that consumed her. It was only her children that kept her going. How could she even begin to hope to do this without him? How could she begin to fathom living the life they had planned together without him by her side?
"Emma?" Jesse her sister said softly. "We're at the house now."
Emma nodded and turned to take Caroline out of the car. Her sweet little girl and the two children she now carried within her womb anchored her. She was blessed to have them, even though it was difficult, she knew that they would be okay.
Emma stood, holding her little one to her chest and walked towards the brightly lit large farm house. This had been her family home for generations and would continue to be so for many more. Daniel's family had their own holdings not far from here, but his older brother would take over the Brown Ranch. Emma and her children stood to inherit all of the Williams family estate. Her daddy was the sixth generation to hold the Williams family land.
An apt business man and retired military man, Robert Williams, or Bobby to his friends, was a loyal and kind man, but lethal and ruthless to those that threatened his family. He had instantly liked Daniel, but had immediately and irrevocably despised Michael, her brother in law. Emma liked Mike well enough, but he had always rubbed Danny and her father the wrong way. Her sister was head over heels in love with Michael Davis and had three beautiful children with him.
However, she also knew that Michael had a darker side. Though it hadn't happened in a very long time, Michael had come home drunk and enraged and taken it out on her sister Jesse. Daniel and her daddy had beaten Michael severely for it. Jesse was livid, but never said a word against their father. She went back to Michael and he seemed to change his ways after that.
Emma knew that their relationship wasn't perfect. She knew that there were cracks under the perfect façade that they portrayed to everyone else. She could see that her sister was tired and often flinched away from Michael. She could see that the children flocked to Jesse, but were weary of their father.
Sighing, Emma shook herself from her thoughts and walked up the steps to the wide, wrap around porch and into the family home. She and Daniel had plans to build their own home once he came home from his deployment, but that would never happen now. She had lived in her parents' home and raised her daughter here in the safe and familiar surroundings of her family's ranch.
Her mother rushed forward and took Caroline from her. She watched her mother take her daughter upstairs to her room to put her down for a nap. Her attention was drawn to the corner of the room where she saw Peter Whitlock watching. There was something about him that she couldn't quite put her finger on, but she shook herself and allowed herself to be led into the parlor by one of her husband's friends. The surviving members of his platoon had shown up in full force. He was given a full military burial. His flag was on the mantel of the nearby fireplace. Her father had taken it for her at the cemetery.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of faces and names. Her husband's friends stayed by her side, making sure that she didn't need anything. They promised that if she ever needed anything that they would be there for her. She could see that this was difficult for them as well. They would all be leaving the following day, back to the very place that her husband had been killed to finish what they had started.
Tears stung her eyes as she thought of them returning to such a place. She couldn't imagine how difficult it would be for them. Some of them she met when they had come home with Danny over the years. She remembered some of them from when they came home after basic training. It was bittersweet to see them again.
All the while she felt the eyes of Peter Whitlock and his wife on her. She knew that they wouldn't hurt her; inherently she knew that she was safe with them. She didn't know how or why she knew this, but she knew. She watched as Peter stiffened, then stood looking towards the door. Two men entered the house and made their way to Michael. Jesse stepped away from her husband as soon as she had seen them and went to the back of the house where the children were playing.
Peter watched the men carefully and then glanced towards the door where two men approached. He straightened and went to greet them. Emma watched as they talked quietly and glanced in her direction. Peter approached and led them men towards her. She shifted herself up and made her way towards them, excusing herself from the people that had been hovering.
Peter greeted her with a sad smile. "Emma, I'd like you to meet my brother, Jasper and our good friend Garret Harrison," he said introducing them. "This is my wife Charlotte." He said drawing the blonde woman to his side. "As I said earlier darlin' if you need anything, you need only call and I'll be here."
Emma nodded tiredly and looked around at the red eye people standing in a semi-circle around her. She heard a sharp breath being drawn and turned to face Jasper as he stared at her. Peter reached around and smacked him in the back of his head causing Emma to snort in amusement.
"Damn it Peter," Jasper growled. "What was that for?"
"You're makin' the lady uncomfortable," he said firmly.
"Apologies ma'am," Jasper said softly. "Wasn't my intention. I'm sorry for your loss. Peter told you earlier that your late husband was distant kin and we came to pay our respects."
"I appreciate the sentiment," Emma murmured quietly. "Nothing ever prepares you for something like this. I knew when he enlisted it could happen, but you never really think that it will happen to you." She said gently rubbing her stomach.
"If it's not rude to ask, how far along are you?" Charlotte asked sweetly, almost wistfully.
"Right around three months," Emma said laughing softly. "Don't let the massive belly deceive you, it's twins this time. Little Caroline is upstairs sleeping, she was with me at the funeral and burial."
"She is beautiful, Emma." Charlotte replied with a smile. "Do you know what you're having yet?"
"Not yet, but I'm thinking girls again," she said with a smile. "Mother's intuition and all that."
Jasper was smiling at her softly before his head whipped around to where Mike was now arguing with the two men that had come. He nodded to Peter and they shifted Emma back towards the parlor and blocked her from the men as they dragged Mike out of the house. The men around the house immediately went to break it up and ask them to leave.
Emma closed her eyes as she watched her sister rush by. She knew that nothing good would come of this. The hair on the back of her neck stood up as she watched the men slam into their car and speed away. Mike shoved Jesse away from him as he barreled over to his truck and drove off after them. Her father helped Jesse into the house.
"Damn idiot," her father snarled. "Of all days for his bad habits to catch up it had to be today."
"Dad!" Jesse gasped. "This wasn't his fault they came here."
"Yes it was, Jesse," he ground out. "You've excused his behavior and habits long enough. I love you darlin' but I'll not be giving you any more money to cover his habits. He can pay his own damn debts. If you want to stay with him fine, but the children will stay here. I love you, but I cannot allow them to go back knowing the storm that's coming."
"Daddy!" she gasped. "You can't do that!"
"Jesse Ann, you listen to me," Robert Williams roared at her. "We all overheard those lowlifes threatening Michael, you, and the children. You want to go back home to that, fine. But you will not be taking the children and that's final."
Jesse yanked her arm from her father and stormed out of the house. Her father watched her go with a defeated look. He knew that trouble was coming and there was nothing he could do because his daughter would never listen. He could try to get the kids, but she would hate him for it.
Emma watched as the male around the room visibly relaxed. The Whitlocks and Garrett also relaxed slightly, but watched the door quietly. There was something off about them, something different, but she couldn't put her finger on it. She heard a cry from upstairs and turned knowing that Caroline was awake from her nap.
Excusing herself and waving her mother off, she made her way up the stairs to get her daughter. Emma changed her daughter and carried her down the stairs to the kitchen. Placing her in her high chair she set about getting her fed. Looking at the clock it was hard to believe that it was already after five in the evening. Guests had slowly been making their departures over the past hour.
Her mother led the Whitlocks and Garrett into the kitchen. Her father greeted Peter and Jasper warmly. It turns out that the Whitlocks owned the neighboring ranch. They too had kept their ranch in their family for generations. Emma watched them out of the corner of her eye as she cajoled Caroline to eat her dinner.
"She's beautiful," Charlotte said coming up beside her. "She looks so much like you."
"Thank you," Emma said with a tired smile. "She's a ball of sweet and silly."
Caroline shrieked and giggled batting her food covered hand against her mother's cheek just to prove her point. Emma laughed softly and gently wiped her daughter's hands cleaned and then her face. Charlotte laugh softly watching Caroline with a wistful look in her eyes and Emma reached over and grabbed her hand comfortingly.
Across the room Peter watched and spoke quietly to Jasper and Garrett. Being a vampire, he spoke faster than the humans in the room could catch and lower than they could hear.
"She's a special one Major," Peter said looking pointedly towards the women.
"Why are we here Captain?" Jasper asked sharply.
Garrett snorted and shook his head at Jasper. "Really Jasper? You haven't figured it out yet?" he asked in amusement.
Jasper pinned him with a look, his eyes flashing dangerously. "Who is she Peter?" he demanded.
"She's important, Major." Peter replied. "Important to us all, but especially you. She's who and what you've been looking and waiting for all along. You know this. You feel this. Say it, say the word out loud."
Jasper glanced at the young woman talking softly and gently to Charlotte. He could feel that she was somewhat weary of them, but even still she was trying to comfort Charlotte. He watched as she picked up Caroline and held her out to Charlotte for her to hold, surprising all of them. Watching her he couldn't fool himself or deny it. He felt it and her as soon as he walked up to her.
"Mate," he whispered hoarsely.
"Mate," Peter replied seriously. "Major, a shit storm is coming and she's at the center of it. She's being hunted, they're being hunted."
"What?" Jasper hissed dangerously. "You had best explain and then we need to plan."
"I don't know for certain, but something is coming." Peter said in frustration. "I had this feeling that we had to be here now because something is coming. Something dark is coming and it's coming straight for the little lady and her kin. Major, we need to keep her safe and get her and the baby out of here."
"We can't just take them," Garrett interjected. "Them disappearing will draw too much attention."
"Her brother in law has drawn the attention of something bad," Peter said staring off into space. "He's involved with something that was best left alone. You need to contact Carlisle, Jasper. We are going to need more help to deal with this."
Before they could continue their conversation, Bobby Williams reentered the kitchen and turned to the men bringing out his several times great grandfather's journal. He had left the room to go to his office in search of his ancestor's journal to show the Whitlock's his ancestor's promise to watch their family land in repayment for Major Jasper Whitlock saving his life in battle.
Jasper gently took the journal and read the words. He caught a brief flash of a memory from his past, his human days. He and his neighbor had enlisted at the same time and swore to look after one another. They had promised each other that should one of them fall, the other would look after the family of their fallen brother.
Jasper Whitlock and Silas Williams had grown up together. Silas too had lied about his age when he enlisted in the Confederate Army and they had both kept the other's secret. They had fought side by side in a number of battles, watching the other's back. It was the last battle before Jasper had been turned that he had saved Silas's life. Silas, though grievously injured, had survived and was sent home to recover. He was released from his duties as a soldier. Jasper had continued on, rising in the ranks and succeeding until the day he met Maria.
Shaking himself from the memories that were resurfacing, Jasper carefully closed the journal. Swallowing thickly, he turned to Bobby Williams and nodded. Looking at the man he could see the family resemblance to the boyhood friend he knew so long ago.
"He was an honorable man," Jasper said softly. "His words and deeds should make you proud of the man he was. We are of our ancestors." He managed to choke out.
Bobby nodded to the younger man and watched him carefully. His instincts were flaring as he watched the young men. They were his neighbors. This was the first time anyone had seen any of the Whitlocks in many, many years.
"So how have you boys been?" he asked. "We've been keeping tabs on the Whitlock ranch for your kin for the last few decades. We had thought that there were none left."
"Our family has other family homes that we had been staying in over the years," Peter replied genially. "It was only five years ago when we were digging through the legal paperwork from our grandfather that we found that the family holding here in Texas were still standing and operational. As soon as we tied up loose ends, we decided to come home to our family roots."
Jasper watched his Mate's father carefully. He could feel his suspicion and the slight fear spiking. Jasper knew that this man was far smarter than most humans and his instincts must be screaming at him. He subtly sent waves of calm at him, hoping to sooth the man's frayed nerves.
"Well, we had best be going soon," Jasper interjected. "We've taken enough of your time. You and your family are in grieving and you have our deepest condolences and sympathies. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to call on us."
Robert Williams accepted the business cards and phone numbers from the gentlemen and shook their hands. He nodded to the young woman that was with them and led them to the door. He watched his daughter, his poor little Emma, as she put on a brave face and thanked them for coming. Caroline, his darling granddaughter babbled happily and toddled over to him and tugged for him to pick her up.
He gently led his grieving girls back into the house and locked the doors. The incident with Michael and his associates had made him uneasy. He had called the sheriff and a few of his friends on the local police department while he was in his office earlier. They would be sending out patrols just in case.
Robert passed Caroline to his wife and nodded for her to get the girls and grandchildren upstairs to get ready for bed. He expected Jesse to return and for there to be trouble. Something felt off about the whole situation and he couldn't shake it. He almost wanted to call the Whitlock boys back, but there was something off about them as well.
Sighing he locked the recently installed deadbolts, deadbolts that Jesse and her bastard of a husband didn't have keys to. He went to his office and unlocked his gun cabinet. Taking out his shot guns and rifles, he loaded them and brought the additional ammo with him.
"What is going on Bobby?" Hazel asked in concern.
"Michael brought trouble, Hazel." He said tiredly. "Those men that showed up threatened him and this family."
"You expect trouble tonight?" she asked in a shaky voice.
Rubbing a large calloused hand over his face he nodded. "I expect trouble to show up tonight. I think it best if perhaps you take the Emma and the kids and get them down in the storm shelter in the basement." He said softly.
Hazel regarded her husband carefully before heading up the stairs to explain the situation to Emma. Emma looked at her mother in shock as she heard what she was saying. Schooling her features carefully, she turned to the children and said they would be having a special sleepover down stairs. She gathered the kids and everything that they could possibly need in the coming hours. Her mother helped her to settle them in the thick walled room in the far corner of the basement. She ran upstairs and grabbed her cell phone and tucked the hand gun that Danny had gotten for her in her pocket.
She passed her father on the stairs and hugged him fiercely. "I wish Danny was here," she said in a tear-filled voice.
"Me too, darlin'. Me too," he replied emotionally. "Now you get in the basement with those babies."
"Call them daddy," she urged her father. "Call the Whitlocks, please. They're the closest neighbors we have and they said they'd be there if we need anything."
"I don't know that I want to involve anyone else in this mess," he said hoarsely. "Now go, please."
Emma entered the storm shelter and tucked in the children. Her mother looked at her sadly before walked towards the door. Emma realized that her mother meant to stay with her father regardless of what was coming.
"Momma," Emma whispered. "Please call the Whitlocks. Please be safe. Convince daddy to call someone, please. I can feel it in my bones that something is not right."
"I will, Emma." Her mother said with a sad smile. "You stay safe and you take care of my babies for me, Emma. Promise me, Emma that no matter what happens, no matter what you hear you will stay here and protect the babies. Promise me."
"Momma!" Emma said sharply, nearly waking the children. "Please don't go. Have daddy come down here, we can wait it out. Please."
"Oh, honey, you know he won't come. I'll call the Whitlocks now, but you stay put." Hazel said firmly.
Emma tried to protest but her mother shut the thick steel door, whispering for her to stay put and stay safe. Emma heard her mother moving things in front of the door before it got silent. The thick walls and door of the reinforced storm room muffled most noise.
Emma fished her phone out of her pocket and the card that Peter had given her earlier fell out. She immediately prayed that she had enough service and sent a mass text to each of the mobile numbers he had listed. Almost immediately there were replies telling her to stay put and that help was coming.
Emma jumped when she heard a loud bang reverberate throughout the house above. She squeezed her eyes shut and prayed that her parents were alright, but deep down she knew that whatever happened after tonight she would be alone in the world with the children. Tears poured down her face as she waited.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Emma moved to brace her back against the door of the confined room. She would use whatever strength she needed to make sure that the door didn't open. She felt her phone vibrate and looked down at the message lighting up the screen. It was one of the numbers she had texted telling her that they were there, but to stay wherever she was until they text her to tell them her location.
Emma waited and kept vigil over the children. She rested her hand protectively over her abdomen. Closing her eyes she prayed that they would make it through the night. A small whimper drew her attention to the far corner of the room. Her niece, Kayleigh, stirred before cuddling into her older brother Ryan. Ryan was five, Kayleigh was four, and the youngest of the siblings, little Jimmy was three.
Emma watched them sleep, looking to her little Caroline cuddled in with the other children. Swallowing thickly she was certain she could feel the moment that her mother, father, and sister left this world. Tears fell silently and thickly down her cheeks as she waited. Her hand stayed gently on her stomach, as if to shield the life she carried within.
Her phone vibrated again, this time another of the numbers replied that more help was coming and to stay put. Closing her eyes, Emma knew that whatever was happening and had happened was awful. Something awful had occurred upstairs in the home her family had lived in for over a century.
She looked down at her phone willing it to say that everything was fine, that everyone was alive and well. Her eyes grew heavy and she struggled to stay awake, to keep guard and watch over her charges. As she was beginning to nod off her phone vibrated again. It was the first number asking where she and the children were.
With shaking hands she replied that they were in the storm shelter room in the basement. Closing her eyes she swallowed thickly and waited. She heard shouting and loud footsteps on the bottom of the basement stairs. She didn't call out because she had a lump in her throat, keeping her from replying. Her grief swamped her as she heard the voices and footsteps getting closer.
She recognized the voices of the Whitlocks as well as Sheriff Cunningham as the started moving things away from the door. Sheriff Cunningham called out for her to reply, but she could only manage to whimper quietly. Looking over at the children she knew she would have to do something.
"We're in here," she called out.
She moved to turn the large lock on the door. As she twisted it, the door was pulled open by a frantic and grief stricken Sheriff. She saw his blood soaked clothing and knew that her parents hadn't survived whatever had taken place upstairs.
"No," she whispered hoarsely. "Please no, please no."
Charlotte stepped forward, pushing the men out of the way and embraced the young mother. By now the children were awake and wide eyed, staring at the strange people at the door of the fun sleep over room they were staying in. They instinctively knew that something was wrong and began to cry as a group. Emma pulled away and crouched down to accept them into her arms.
Sheriff Cunningham watched the young woman he had watched grow from infancy comfort the children. The Davis kids were now orphans, as was Emma herself. Whatever Michael Davis had been involved in had brought some sick wackos that slaughtered the other members of Emma's family. As it stood they would most likely have to be brought into protective custody.
Charlotte knelt before Emma and wrapped her arms around the young woman. Her eyes stung with venom and not for the first time in her immortal existence she wished that she could cry. Turning towards her mate and sire, she looked at them with an almost feral look on her face.
"Ms. Brown, we need to get you and the kids out of the house," Sheriff Cunningham said gently. "Do you have a place you can go?"
"They'll stay with us at the Whitlock Ranch," Jasper stated firmly. "They'll be close enough to settle whatever needs to be done, but out of the way of your investigation."
"How was it you know the family again?" the sheriff asked suspiciously.
"Our families have been friends and allies of sorts since the Civil War," Jasper replied. "We got here as soon as she and her parents texted us, but it was too late. You were pulling in just as we were. Offering them a safe place to stay is the least that we can do for our neighbors and friends."
Emma nodded tiredly and tearfully in response. "We'll stay with you, but will be out of your hair as soon as possible. I'm sure you've got better things to do than to have a house full of kids throwing off your routine," she said softly.
"You can stay as long as you need Little Bit," Peter said kindly. "We wouldn't have offered if we minded. I know Charlotte would love to have kids running around."
Emma and the children were ushered upstairs with jackets covering their faces so they couldn't see the carnage. Emma gagged as she smelled the thick metallic odor of blood in the air. She leaned heavily on Jasper, who held her firmly, but gently to his side.
Once they were outside and away from the focal point of the gore, the sheriff gently took Emma's statement. He nodded because it matched with what Bobby had told him over the phone earlier that evening. He handed her his card and urged her to lay low with the kids for a while.
"You think we're in danger?" Emma asked in a hushed tone so the children couldn't hear.
"I would strongly suggest that you and the kids get somewhere out of here," the sheriff urged. "Whatever Mike was involved with is not good, Emma. Whoever it was that he pissed off, this could very well follow you. I'll be in touch."
Emma and the children were led to her SUV. The children were strapped in and Emma was gently put in the passenger seat. Jasper took the keys and drove her towards his family home. Peter, Charlotte, and Garrett piled into their pick-up truck and followed.
It was a short ten minute drive that had them pulling up to the front of the large farm house. It was much like her own family's Emma noted. Jasper cut the engine and helped her get the kids out of the car and into the house. Charlotte helped Emma get the children settled down again to sleep in the guest rooms upstairs before getting Emma settled in the Master bedroom. She tried to protest, but Charlotte was adamant that she stay there for the time being.
Emma fell asleep in the large bed with Caroline tucked against her side. It was a fitful sleep, but she slept none the less.
Downstairs the Whitlocks and Garrett stood around the island in the kitchen. They had all smelled the stench before they even made it to the house. Werewolves or Children of the Moon had shown up and killed the Williams and Davis families. It was only because they were interrupted and because it was not in fact a full moon that night that the entire family wasn't wiped out.
"I almost lost her," Jasper bit out in a feral voice. "They will pay."
"Did you call Carlisle?" Peter asked.
"I was going to in the morning, but you're right if werewolves are involved then we need more help." Jasper said gruffly.
"You need to tell him to talk to The Brothers," Peter said cautiously. "Tell him that you've found your mate and she's extremely important."
"Why would I let the Volturi know of my mate?" Jasper snarled.
"Because we need to use every avenue open to us in order to protect her," Peter said in exasperation. "We need to contact your shifter friends as well."
"Do I even want to know why? Are one type of wolves bad enough?" Jasper cried in anger.
"We are going to need their help and they can help guard her and offer another layer of protection," Peter said holding his hands up submissively.
Swearing vicious, Jasper picked up the phone and started dialing. He just prayed that he wouldn't regret what he was about to do. Looking up at the ceiling he listened to the heartbeats in the rooms upstairs and focused on his mate and her children with a soft smile on his face.
"Carlisle, I need your help."