-How the hell am I supposed to choose?

It was already the middle of September, Kagome was now 23 years old and was beginning her 22nd week. Her waist was getting larger and heavier while she thanked the Gods to be one of those women that only wears it in their belly. She was as healthy as she could be, given that her betas came to visit her once a week. She was now in the past, at Kaede's Village to see Sango and looking fo some help to clarify her thoughts and future moves. The demon slayer looked at her friend lovingly, remembering when she was picking her teammates back in her birth village.

-Well, you have to choose based on your own criteria. What are you looking for in a second-in-command, that kind of stuff. But I guess it's not that easy in that time of yours.

-Oh, dear Sango, you are sooo helpful. How in heaven's name am I supposed to know that?!

-I don't know how it is for human mates, but yokais tend to feel those kinds of things, especially wolf yokais. It's like instinct, they feel this kind of urge to take care of you. Those She-Wolves will probably revere you until the end of their life. And it's gonna affect every She-Wolves in your pack. And then all of their allegiance will turn from Koga to you. It's all inevitable.

-But no pressure, right?

-Kagome, you have the kindest heart and the most caring mind I have ever met. You can choose. Not for you, but for them. You know, deep inside, that this whole situation, this whole unknown thing, is hurting them.

Getting depressed, the miko decided to change the subject to a brighter one, absentmindedly stroking her midly HUGE belly. The laughing came back and the mood was lighter until both women heard someone coming while running and screaming like their life depended on it..

-MAMAAA!

-Shippo? What are you doing here?

-You have to come back like right the fuck now!

-What's going on?

-Imma tell you later, let's go!

-Shippo! You're hurting me!

-We don't have time!

Kagome, angry little pregnant woman, was not scared of the big bad fox yokai and decided to do something to make herself heard. So, she purified him. Just a tad, though. She didnt want to kill him!

-OW! Why did you do that!?

-I'm not gonna make one single step until you tell me exactly what is going on.

-*Sigh* It's Koga. He fell asleep in the gym so suddenly it was like he lost consciousness. One second, he was lifting himself off the bar and the other... But that's not it. If only it was.

-What are you implying?

-Mama... he's not waking up. It's been hours and we've tried everyth...

Everything went dark. Every sound covered by her own beating heart. Her balance was off. Gravity was pulling harder. A ringing came in her ears. It could not be real. She was dreaming and this was a nightmare. She had to wake up. She had to WAKE. UP. She had to. She had… SLAP!

-Sango!

It was like a bucket of freezing water on her head: shocking.

-Sorry Shippo, but she needs to move. Look at me Kagome. Look. At. Me. Only me. You are the Alpha. You have a scared pack that needs YOU. Only you. Now is not the time to think like a bride or a pregnant mother. Now it's time to be the leader I know you to be. So get up because we have to make it quick, the fastest possible. I'm coming with you, ok? And I'm not leaving your side. Miroku will understand.

Kagome shook her head and got off the ground. She was still somewhat in a cloud, foggy and dizzy, but Sango was right. She had people to take care of. She was an Alpha, she had responsibilities that were greater than herself and her babies. On the other side of the Bone-Eater's Well, they found Kazuko, her small form leaning against the door, her white silk blouse, black high-waisted dress pants and high heels so out of the decor, it seemed unreal. When the She-Wolf made eye-contact with her Lady, she straightened herself up and bowed her head, her long blond ponytail following the movement.

-My Lady. We moved Koga to his office bed and forbade everyone from getting in. Chika is actually calming everyone down or at least trying to. Ginta and Hakkaku are with Aiko who's checking him, making sure he doesn't have any physical injuries at least.

-That's good. Thank you. Now, let's get me to my mate and my people.

Sango smiled, following her best friend out of the small though her eyes kept catching sight of things that seemed like getting out of her craziest dreams, she kept trying to not be impressed by this world she had never seen before. Now was NOT the time.

Kagome kept stroking her belly in the back of the car. The twins were moving abnormally, as if they knew something was wrong. "Please be ok. I don't know what I'm gonna do without you. What we're gonna do without you". From her driver seat, Kazuko could see from the corner of her eyes the young woman. She was scared. They all were. But she knew, her Lady was stronger than that. She was going to rise above and show to everyone what a beautiful young leader she was. But for now, it was the time for the betas to prove themselves.

Once they arrived at the gym, they met a crowd.Sango had never seen a pack THAT big. So many people were worried about their alpha and they ALL came to see him. Because that's what they do in time of need: they show their compassion. On the other hand, Kagome's stress, already high on a daily basis, kept on rising and she was quickly becoming aggressive. With the hormones and her future husband in God knows what condition, people would forgive her. The crowd began outside of the building, well into the parking lot, and kept on going inside, thick and busy and careless. And loud. About halfway to the Alpha's office, they kept trying to get through, pushing everyone around, barely hearing each other, and the young miko had enough. She flared her reiki so much it actually made a purple-ish black smoke coming out of her in a very evil way, surprising and scaring those around her, especially Sango and Shippo, hit by some terrible déjà-vu directed toward an ungrateful hanyou. Every single body present in the building looked at that small innocent yet powerful being and then silence came. No one dared to speak, way too scared for their life. Kagome took a deep breath before elevating her voice but still not quite yelling.

-Alright! Listen up! I know y'all are worried. But so am I. And until we know exactly what is going on and what we're dealing with, I can't promise you anything or give you any update. But I especially can't give you a single thing if I can't even go in there to assess the situation. So please, make way, people!

She became Moises, separating the sea of people and creating a perfect path with Chiko waiting on the other side.