Marie was restless and in truth angry. It was now ten o clock at night and Sam had still not returned and she had still not fallen asleep. Too many questions were running through her head. Ephraim was one or more than one of her children's great great grandfather. So, what did that mean for her? would he want some kind of say in how her child was raised? Would she be given the option to leave? Not that she planned on leaving any time soon, but would she even have the option? And honestly, she didn't know how to feel about Ephraim being a relation to her child. Would Billy want to one day visit and then everything she held as hers would fall to pieces?

Marie put her hands-on her belly. A soft kick was felt under her hand and Marie gasped.

She held back a quiet sob. Her children's first kick. One of them anyway. This was not how she imagined it. Well honestly, she never imagined it all. She never planned to have kids. With the way her parents treated her and the way her siblings turned out but most of all the lifestyle her family chose to live. She would have never raised children in that environment. So here she was, and she had no clue what to do.

"Mi alma? What's wrong? Why are you crying…?"

Marie opened her eyes to see Sam kneeling down before her. They were on eye level. When had he come in? and when did she start crying?

"Nothings wrong per say. Its just that the babies kicked, and I don't know what to do. I never planned to have kids and now you all are telling me that Ephraim is related to them all by scent! What if Billy decides he wants to see his father and he finds me! And why did it take you so long to get back here? and did you know that your tribe doesn't like me! And that treat me like I'm some bug under there shoe! What's your game here Sam!?"

Sam to her surprise and her annoyance, let out a full belly laugh but she could tell he wasn't laughing at her.

"oh, Mi alma, what a spitfire you are. I love that about you. Now don't you worry about Ephraim, your officially apart of the black family in his eyes, he won't let anyone harm you and neither will I and why it-"

"Wait ...did you- did you say love?" Marie asked as she interrupted him.

Sam looked her dead in the eyes and said "yes. Yes, I did, and I know it may be fast and you may not feel the same way which is completely fine. I don't expect anything from you, nor do I expect a response… I know a good woman when I see one and you Marie, are a great woman. I apologize for keeping you waiting so long but I had an emergency that had to down with the shadows. We have another member...three more actually. Jared, Collin and brady. Collin and brady are only twelve and it pisses me off because their too young to phase and another problem is Jared. He so angry, but he's also very disrespectful."

Marie eyes widened. He told her he loved her, and he just acted like nothing happened. But he also said he didn't expect anything from her...

This man was a saint. He was too good for her and why did her heart melt every time he came around.

And what was this about young boys phasing?

"Sam…what do you want from me?"

Sam, who was still kneeled before her smiled.

"Nothing at all Mi alma. I just want you safe and happy. That's it. now what else is bothering you?"

Marie bit her lip and then asked

"Why do you all phase? Are their more like you?"

Sam smiled.

"I knew you were itching to ask. We phase because of other beings that threaten our existence. Unfortunately. My shadow is going through a civil war of sorts. Thiers another tribe not to far from here and they phase into wolves. And in between them is a small group of werewolves. Now here's the difference. The shapeshifter wolves are men that can turn into wolves… but they don't need the full moon to phase. However, the werewolves that live in between us and them do need the full moon and they turn into full wolves. They still have two legs tier just…wolves' legs."

"So…what's the issue? Why can't you all just...I don't know stay on your own land…or...live in peace?" Marie questioned

Sam laid his head gently on Marie's knee.

"The wolves don't like the werewolves and they want them...dead. but that's only one part of the problem. Our biggest problem is a group of hybrid humans. They are half human…and don't laugh when I say this, but they are half human and half…dragon."

Marie's eyes bugged out of her head. She had seen and heard many things but half human and half dragon?

"yeah. I know. I laugh my butt off when my dad and uncle eppy first told me. I didn't believe them but then…when I phased…I saw one for myself. it was pretty scary. So, there you go. That's why our tribe phases. There are too many threats on all sides, for us to just be regular humans. Besides the state of Washington is full of so much forest and wildlife why wouldn't supernatural creatures want to hide. you can run away now. you have the full truth…I take you anywhere you want to go."

Marie eyebrows went huge. He was serious.

"...y-you would let me leave? If I just wanted to pack up ad go back to my old life…you just let me go?"

"I would try to convince you otherwise, but I would never force you to stay."

Marie felt her eyes filled with tears again.

"Darn it Sam. You are such a good man. Why are you not married yet?"

Marie immediate regretted her question. Sam's eyes filled with a look of sadness, anger and hurt.

"oh…sam. oh, Sam I'm sorry. I didn't mean to- "

"no. no its not you." Sam said as he sat up and looked at her again. "...it's just...its I have never dated or been with anyone, never had a special someone… and then I met the most beautiful women in the world. She has the most kind and caring heart I have ever seen and her she is a spitfire. But …she's been hurt and hurt in the worst way and sometimes I feel helpless because I don't know how to make her see how beautiful she is."

Marie was in awe. Here he was amazing her again

"oh sam. I don't know what to say. No one has ever said those things to or about me before. Its just…its just too good to be real. At least that's how it feels. I keep waiting for the carpet to be pulled from under me, you know?"

Before Sam could speak, Marie jumped as she felt all of her children kick.

"What's wrong?" he asked

Marie quickly took Sam's hands and placed them on her belly.

Sam didn't say a word as his face burst into a ray of emotions. First, bewildered and then it soon turned to one of happiness and complete peace.

"oh Marie…this...I've never…" he couldn't explain.

"I know sam. I know."

The duo silently sat like that, meditating on the three small lives that intertwined with theirs.

…

Ephraim ignored his wife's cold glare as he quickly cut up the tomatoes. Whether they knew it or not, Sam and Marie were staying for dinner, no they were staying for the night. Sam was exhausted and he needed a good night's sleep. Being chief and Alpha was a big responsibility and Ephraim couldn't be prouder of the young man. He taken everything that hit him with stride, but it wasn't just his tribal roles, he handled everything with a level head. From his childhood traumas to the very women that he had fallen in love with.

Marie. Ephraim already swathe sweet girl as his own. Mainly because she was carrying his great great grandchild but also because of her wonderful personality. She was kind and respectful, but she also had this glow about her, and it wasn't just the pregnancy. However, he could tell that behind that smile was a lot of pain and hurt.

"Why are we harboring that pale face? She needs to go back to where she belongs." Kara hissed.

Ephraim hissed back, warning his wife to keep her voice down. He knew deep down; his wife was a good person but ever since her accident she was bitter. Kara had been the first Female jaguar to phase, and she had been treated special but one day while driving, a drunk driver, specifically a white teenage boy with brown hair. The teenager was drunk and hit his life head on. Causing her legs to be crushed and rendered useless. To make matters worse, the teenager had been given two years with the possibility of parole. It had been his first and only offense. This of course made Kara bitter. She felt the boy got a way Scott free because he was white. From that day on she had been prejudice against all whites and hearing that Marie was pregnant with her great great grandchild only fueled the fire.

"She belongs here Kara. You need to let go of your prejudices and move on. You cannot stay bitter all your life, especially lashing out at innocent people. Now when Marie and Sam come in here, I expect you to treat her properly and since you want to talk about how horrible they are, let me tell you that some sick bastard Forced one of our grandsons to rape her. and then after that that Sam sick bastard raped her and before that she had had relations with her husband. So, the women who is carrying our only legacy is possibly carrying children from three different men. Her husband's family are a bunch of criminals' and our only son and grandchildren are involved in it. So, I suggest you shut up before you scare are only remaining family members away."

Kara stared up at him in complete shock.

"exactly." Ephraim hissed. She had nothing to say. That was exactly his reaction when he saw inside Sam's head.

With that said, Ephraim went to make a phone call.

….

Sam groaned as he heard the knock on the door.

"go away," he ordered sleepily and yet angerly.

The door opened and the warm but yet firm voice of his father filled the room.

"its time to eat. Don't keep Ephraim and the shadows waiting."

That was it. no hey, son you ok? Good job son.

Of course, Sam couldn't be too angry, his father was the silent type and mainly showed his affection by physical touch. He was more feral then Sam was.

Sam shifted and quickly froze. He was spooning Marie…and she was still asleep. He quickly and yet quietly tried to remove himself before Marie spoke.

"don't go….I…I normally freak out and totally shut down when anyone especially any man touches me…but, not you Sam…having you…having you hold me like that…that was the best sleep I've had in….in months…"

Sam didn't know what to say, so he simply scooped Marie back up. Dinner would have to wait