AN: I'm not going to make you wait any longer. Most of the characters and setting belong to Annette Curtis Klause.

Chapter 13

Vivian was scared. For what seemed like the hundredth time she looked out into the dark sky through her bedroom window. The moonlight washed everything with its milkiness, but she found little confort in the view. Her eyes wanted to see black fur dotted with stars.

Inside the room, there was stillness. Vivian watched the little breaths of Delilah play on her brother's spiky black hair while they slept, side by side. Almost twins brought together by fate. A human mother would have screamed in terror at the sight of her baby sleeping next to a wild puppy, but Vivian relished the sight. She heard a tiny knock on the door.

Esmé entered, wearing a very familiar cotton bathrobe over what appeared to be pink pajama pants. "Since when did you get to wearing actual pajama sets?"

"Since you moved out. We all grow up, Viv." Vivian looked at her children impulsively, smiling softly.

"Have you heard anything?"

"No, the search parties have only been out for a couple of hours though."

"Hours seems like ages."

"Tell me about it." Vivian glanced up at her mother, remembering Tomas was one of the runners in the search. "I came to see if you needed anything."

"I'm fine, mom... Really." Esmé just stood there, never averting her eyes from Vivian's. Maybe it was the stress, or the late hour, or the fact that she hadn't really had one-on-one time with her mother in days, but all of a sudden, hot tears were trailing down Vivian's cheeks. Uninvited, unannounced, they were coming, and it was all Vivian could do to keep her sobs quiet. Esmé, however, seized the opportunity to hold her grown daughter close, giving Vivian a stable shoulder to break down on. "I'm not fine. I'm ... terrified" she breathed, afraid that if she gave her fear a voice it would somehow have power. "I… there's no real happily ever after for a loup garou, is there?"

"No…There isn't. But we have to try." Esmé let her daughter cry for a while longer, then calmed her down. "Vivian, that's enough. We need you." And just like that, once again she stopped being a needy child, and became a leader, Vivian nodded, quickly drying her face.

"Thank you, mom."

"You're welcome, baby," she said, exiting the room as quietly as she had entered. Vivian winced involuntarily at the mention of that pet name. That was what her husband called her. No, husband's too formal. Gabriel is my protector, my provider, my lover, and I miss him more than I should. Vivian grabbed his pillow, and buried her face in it. There, in his clean and masculine scent, she found the peace she was looking for. But the blankets and down comforter could do nothing to warm her. She longed for the heat that eternally radiated off of him in waves.

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"How many more days until we're back?" asked Nathan, cleaning the blood off of his hands and licking some new wounds.

"Two days at the most. We'll leave at sunrise." Gabriel looked away quickly, concealing all emotion. He was angry, tired, sore, and he missed Vivian.

Before he had met her, back when it was just him and whichever girl he happened upon, life had been a lot simpler, and a lot emptier. Back then, a mission such as this one would have been handled rather carelessly, but quickly. Now they had the added pressure of having to rest and hide their tracks. Now they had to mind the number of casualties.

"What are you going to do about Aiden?" Gabriel looked up at Nathan, still keeping a stoic expression on his face.

"I'm not sure. Technically he hasn't done anything to our pack. But if he dares..." Gabriel didn't finish, he checked himself before he said anything else. Nathan understood though, there was a deep ingrained hatred for that particular human. The kind of hatred born out of jealousy and pride, the kind Nathan had been unfortunate enough to witness on more than one occasion.

"We should rest." Gabriel nodded, and changed into his true form, to be ready for whatever came next.

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Vivian woke up a few hours later, glancing around the room. Her children had been moved from their crib. Without thinking, she ran down the hall, but stopped short at the top of the stairs. Katherine, the redheaded half-human little girl had Delilah in her arms, and Willem's girlfriend Emily had Jacob.

Exhaling, Vivian went back to her room to get ready for the day. If a fight was imminent, she would be ready. Aunt Persia had forbidden Vivian from entering her own healer's den, the converted shed, because they had enough supplies, and enough healing materials to last for months.

The last time they had a vision session, Vivian had failed miserably. According to her aunt, her mind's eye was clouded by worry and longing. The only vision that came to her mind was the ones in which she was with Gabriel.

She was a teenager, and was nervous. In her vision, she was anxious at this man and the warmth that radiated off of him. Vivian disliked his swagger and arrogance. Now she longed for him, for that warmth. But the vision was deemed useless, so Vivian put on a sweatshirt, pants, and sneakers, and went out for a run as a human. If she ran as her true form, Vivian couldn't fend off the temptation to run right into the reserve to look for her beloved.

She found peace in the rapid thumping of her heart, and in the icy air entering her lungs. Finally, sweating and exhausted, she returned to the inn, to check on her children before going back upstairs to take a shower.

The alpha female had just finished putting on a pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt, and was about to quickly blow dry her hair, when she heard a knock at the door. Vivian pounced on her bed, faster than she should have, and ran to open it. "What is it?" Willem looked startled at how quickly she had answered.

"You have a visitor. It's…"

"Aiden." For some reason, Vivian had a feeling she would have to confront him sooner or later, especially after seeing him on the television. "I'll be right down." She didn't bother drying her hair, just piled it on her head and ran a ponytail through it.

Aiden had been sat down, rather rudely, in the library. This room was just as large as the others, and just as comfortable, with several shelves stacked with books and expensive computers resting on neat desks. From where he sat, he noticed a redheaded girl playing with a blonde baby sitting on a rocker. Across from him, an attractive blonde was holding a dark haired baby boy and humming.

Vivian had always been trusting of other people, and apparently agreed with the old adage, it takes a village to raise a child. She watched him looking around the room, looking stuffy in his suit, his gold wedding ring glittering dully.

Aiden noticed her entering the room from a door to his right. She hadn't changed much. Vivian was still gorgeous, and fit. Her features were softer, and she seemed kinder, probably because of her children. However, all of her kindness faded as she sat across from him, thrusting the cup of coffee in his direction. Vivian was pure ice.

"Why are you here?"

"Vivian… first of all, you have to know I'm on your side."

"There are no sides."

"From where I'm standing, there are. Your… I have reason to suspect creatures like… may be involved in recent killings that have taken place on the outskirts of this reserve."

"Wasn't that what you thought last time? And you can say it, you know. It doesn't bother me one bit… my people. My creatures. Me." He winced. The two other girls in the room could feel the tension, and quickly cleared out.

"I…" Aiden composed himself. He was a proffesional, and he knew what he was talking about. "There's evidence that can't be explained. Large footprints, like that of a wolf, and people disappearing."

"It's not my pack. Or people like me." He paused, startled.

"That may be so, but…"

"But nothing. Why are you here?" she snapped, growing more and more impatient with his stammering.

"Vivian! I just came to make sure that…"

"You're wrong! Again! Was poetry not paying the bills? Did you decide to become a ghostbuster instead?" That last comment struck a nerve. He put his cup of coffee down, nearly missing the wooden coaster.

"I see you haven't changed much."

"Neither have you," she said, avoiding his gaze and crossing her arms in front of her.

"I'm here to help, and when you're ready to accept that… when you're done being stubborn, you can give me a call." Aiden got up, and handed her a business card. There, in plain black and white, was his name and two phone numbers. She thought of crushing the card, but kept it and watched him leave the library. He might be helpful later on. We could use an ally. She dismissed the thoughts, and went back to her pack.

A few faces looked up at her, full of curiosity. She shook her head as if to say that he didn't have anything important to tell, and they returned their eyes to the television. Vivian sat down on the sofa, where Gabriel usually sat, and twirled the business card in her hand.

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An hour later, Vivian went back upstairs quietly. Her children were already in their crib, asleep. Since Gabriel had left, the crib had been moved from the nursery, the room adjoining theirs, to her room. The alpha female changed into her white cotton nightgown, and rested her head against the soft wooden railing of their crib, watching their little shoulders rise and fall.

Vivian tried to sleep, resting her head on his pillow, but she woke up minutes later, restless.

She paced over to her children again. Delilah stirred in her sleep, and changed into a tiny pup. Vivian grinned, then noticed little gold eyes opening and looking up at her.

A strange feeling crept onto her, like a vision that was slowly clouding her eyes, or at least trying to. "Jacob?" she whispered. Jacob's little golden eyes were fixed on hers, calm, warm, happy. Vivian closed her eyes, and tried to clear her mind.

This time her vision was clear, and she was standing in her room. The floor was swaying like water. Jacob was three. His spiky hair had grown out into a full head of curls. "Mama?" he said, his child's voice loud in the quiet room.

"Show me…" said Vivian, trying to sound as loud as Jacob did, but barely managing just above a whisper.

"I can't. Not here." His golden eyes looked out at the curtain, and she nodded. Vivian stepped out of her realm of visions, and took her baby boy in her arms, wrapping him in a blanket. Silently, wordlessly, she passed all of the rooms where pack members were deep in slumber, and walked down the stairs and out the back door.

The grass was wet with dew and cold against her bare feet, and the breeze blew her hair and gown around in lazy circles. When she breathed out, she could feel little puffs of air pause in front of her. Still Vivian kept walking.

"Tell me where daddy is," she said, stopping right at the edge of where the forest began and the backyard ended. Vivian closed her eyes, and saw.

Gabriel and Nathan were making their way south, still not entirely sure of where they were going. They were miles away, but picking up speed. They crossed a group of Reserve Guards with scary precision. Not one of them bothered to look up at what they thought was the breeze. They passed a familiar rock. That would be her landmark.

"Mama…" Vivian was suddenly forced back from her vision, gasping. The sun was rising, tinting her moon pendant pink and orange. She had almost spent too long. Vivian walked back to the inn quickly and deliberately, holding her baby closer, filled with renewed energy and hope.

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As much as Gabriel wanted to keep running, they still had to stop to hide their tracks. Then there was the matter of hiding a different kind of evidence. Gabriel had to keep Nathan's temper in line, making sure there wouldn't be an excess of missing Guards. A few casualties could easily pass off as having gotten lost in the woods, but any more and the lot of them would be whipped into a frenzy.

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The pack leader was sorely tempted when the humans brought out search dogs. The dogs could pick up on their scent, but were ignorant to what they were looking for. Not realizing their blood kinship, the dogs eagerly tracked them wherever they went. The simplest solution would have been to get rid of the humans and the stupid beasts in one fell swoop, but they just had to keep moving forward.

"If it comes to fighting, we have allies in other packs," said Nathan, panting as he kept running. When they were forced to lay low, they changed to humans, so it would be harder for the dogs to pick up on their scent.

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

Meanwhile, the search party was getting frantic. They weren't any closer to finding Nathan and Gabriel, and had encountered several Reserve Guards. The first time they met with a Guard, they acted instinctively. The man barely had a chance to scream when he was killed by beasts the size of legends. The second and third time the loup-garoux were met with more resistance, but human bones were fragile.

Willem and the Five, Tomas and Adam had split up, only to reunite empty handed.

"We've got company," said Tomas, licking blood off his fangs.
"How many more are there?"

"It doesn't matter. We could take them all," said Ulf, gnashing his fangs furiously.
"No! Don't be stupid."

"We have to go back," said Willem, trying to be reasonable.
"But we still haven't found Gabriel or Nathan..."

"I'm sorry Adam. But the Reserve Guard was brought out here for a reason. Something is happening, and we have to be ready. We have to go back. The pack needs us." Adam's shoulder's fell. He was resigned but concerned for his pack just the same.

They agreed to go back, and were making their way towards the inn, when they caught a scent in the wind. The humans were getting impatient, and frustrated. They were looking for something they weren't even sure was missing. Tomas looked at the party, as if to tell them to be extra careful, and they moved on. Then they caught a scent of liquor, and a gun was fired.

They sped up their pace, knowing that if they were caught, it could be fatal for everyone involved.

"Damn humans."

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Vivian's leg hopped up and down with nervous energy. The rest of the pack were eating breakfast, but she had lost her appetite. As much as she wanted to ask Esmé or Aunt Persia for help, she was sure she knew what their response would be.

"No Vivian, there's no way in hell you're leaving your pack to go look for them. They don't need your help. They know where they're going." Vivian shook her head, trying to get her mother's voice out. Oh moon goddess, give me strength. She watched the triplets hand out plates of food, smiles in all of their faces. Their raven hair and tanned skin reminded her so much of Gabriel.

Maria, Mercedes, and Monica were his only remaining family. She owed it to them to make sure their brother was safe.
But could she leave her pack?

Jacob hiccupped, and Vivian looked down at the baby in her arms. He was already a handsome boy, his golden eyes half hidden under long, thick lashes. His spiky hair bristled against her neck when she bent her head to kiss him. Then she knew what she had to do.

Emily looked up from her half eaten plate of food, and noticed Vivian taking Jacob somewhere. Assuming the baby needed to be breastfed, she looked back down at her plate, shuffling her food around. Emily hoped Willem was safe.

Jacob was quiet as Vivian unlocked the door to her healer's shed. She placed the baby in his rocker, and prepared the necessary materials. Moments later, she had made the same silvery liquid she used for looking at her visions, and lit some incense. Jacob was spiritually stronger than she could ever hope to be, and he would help her reach Gabriel.

She picked up the tiny boy, who had fallen asleep, and held him against her chest, over her heart. Vivian took deep, cleansing breaths, and looked at the silvery liquid. Moments later, she was back in the realm.

Jacob was there waiting. He was six years old. "Come on Mama, we don't have a lot of time." The little boy bent over; as she had seen her pack members do so many times before, and changed.

Vivian's heart stopped as she watched her son go through the motions. She watched the black fur cover him, as rich and dark as his father's, and smiled when his spine popped into place. His golden eyes caught the rays of the moon, and glinted like they were lit up from within.

Remembering she didn't have much time, Vivian changed, and felt the moon pendant swing against her chest. Jacob looked at her, and she bowed her head. He would be her leader. They raced into the thick foliage of the forest to go look for Gabriel.

They would guide him home.

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The pair had stopped to take another rest, when Gabriel had a strange dream. In his dream, he saw a gorgeous golden loup-garou trailing behind a raven haired pup. He was still a human. "Vivian?"

The golden haired one walked up to him, and licked his face. His heart stammered, and he was happy again. Then she nudged him to stand. But as soon as he stood, Gabriel woke up. He opened his eyes, but closed them again desperately. He wanted to see that dream again. Gabriel exhaled deeply, knowing that was impossible.

He was about to get Nathan when he felt a gust of wind brush against his face. Maybe he was delirious, but Gabriel could have sworn it felt like Vivian. She liked brushing her palm against his ever present five o'clock shadow. Then he felt a gust of wind against his leg. His eyes grew wide as he realized what was happening. It had happened once before, when he had found Delilah. Somewhere a spirit was forcing him to react. It was guiding him.

"Nathan…" The green eyed loup-garou sprang up, and joined him. "We have to go." Gabriel doubled over, and changed. Nathan didn't ask him where they were going, noticing the determination in his eyes. They weren't lost anymore.

The search party ran as fast as the wind itself, and held back triumphant howls as they saw the edge of the forest. They thundered onwards, stopping only to open the plastic box hidden behind a bush, and collected their clothes. Willem was barely dressed, the sides of his button-down shirt mismatched, when he ran into the living room.

Emily saw him enter, and ran into his arms, laughing and crying. The rest of the pack females ran outside to be reunited with their friends and partners. Then Willem stopped, looking for a familiar pair of golden eyes. "Where's Vivian?"

"Where's Jacob?"

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Mother and child were sitting on a rocking chair. She was looking up, daydreaming, and breathing deeply. He was asleep in her arms. The heavy musk of incense permeated in the room, but still she kept rocking on the chair. The pack members were looking through all the rooms in the inn for her. Then Esmé called them to order.

"Your alpha female is capable. She had to get out of here for a moment, to clear her head." They all stopped their search, and went to the living room, to wait. Esmé caught Aunt Persia's eyes, and they both bowed their heads, hoping that Vivian wouldn't be in the realm for much longer.

It was surreal running with Jacob by her side, her mate trailing in front of her. Occasionally he would get sidetracked, having to hide from some Guards, but she always stopped and gave him a nudge to continue. He couldn't see her, but he could feel her gentle reassurance.

Then they were close enough that Gabriel knew exactly where they were. He went ahead. Jacob stopped, letting the two older males move on, and Vivian paused next to him. They changed back to their human forms, but they were fully dressed. He was wearing a white shirt and pants; she was still in her white nightgown.

"You have to go now, Mama."

"…Thank you, baby." Jacob looked down at the floor, grinning. Then looked up at her and threw his little arms around her knees. Vivian kissed his curls, but then was forced back to the real world.

Vivian gasped, not sure of how long had passed. She looked down at her baby boy, but he was still asleep. Vivian felt her eyes well up with tears, but wiped them away quickly. She was proud of her son, but needed to move on. She got up, holding her baby close, and stepped out of the shed.

Esmé was standing out there already. She took the sleeping baby from her daughter's arms. "Go to him, Viv" she said, handing Vivian a pair of jeans. Vivian turned on her heel, forgetting that she could get there faster as a loup-garou.

She ran as fast as she could, feeling her muscles clench and release with the effort. Gabriel was close. She could smell his scent, the same scent that was ingrained into her being. Nathan broke out of the forest before him, leaving Gabriel to finish hiding the tracks. He found his pants where he had left them, and pulled them on, limping back to the inn.

Gabriel was half human, half loup-garou, and bent over to wipe away the oversized wolf prints. The breeze blew in a smell of warm vanilla, incense, and sweat. His heart skipped a beat, and he turned around. Vivian was bounding towards him, running as a human. He would have met up with her, but he was frozen on the spot.

Not having seen her for a few days, he had forgotten exactly how much power she had on him. He was suddenly weak at the knees, and couldn't breathe. Vivian had tears in her eyes as she pounced on him, her legs wrapping around his waist familiarly. His lips met hers, and they were frantic. Vivian could taste the exhilaration and lust. He could taste her sweetness and the salt from her tears.

Finally she slowed down, kissing the scratches on his face and neck, and he pulled on his pants with one hand while he held her up with the other. Gabriel wouldn't let go of Vivian for a while, and he walked with her, as a human, all the way to the inn. She locked her arms around his neck, and buried her face in his neck. "Te amo," she whispered into his ear, and he trembled.

"Oh, baby."

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The pack members were seated on the sofas and chairs that had been pulled into the living room, anxiously awaiting the return of their leaders. The tension was electric. Finally Vivian and Gabriel walked in, their fingers laced tightly.

Everyone paused, not sure who was going to speak first. The television which had been blaring news for the past few days was playing a commercial about a car dealer in town. The pack leaders stood in front of the television, and Ulf turned it off with the remote from where he was on the couch.

"As many of you are aware, the Reserve Guard has been called in to investigate some strange sightings in the park. We did well to leave behind as little evidence as possible, but there is still the matter of what they were looking for," said Gabriel.

"I have reason to believe the disappearances were caused by a different Wendigo," said Vivian, looking at the business card on the coffee table. The freshly bandaged Nathan was sitting next to his brother, who took his hand firmly.

"Before I make any decisions, I want to know what you think. I will not act without my pack's consent," said Gabriel, his golden eyes looking at all of the people in the room. "We can't let the Guard face the Wendigo on their own, but maybe that is not our battle. What say you?"

"I say we fight. Those stupid humans would be ripe for the slaughter out there alone," growled Ulf, getting up suddenly. Everyone voiced their approval.

"There's no doubt we should fight… But if there was some way to get the Guard on our side or at least off our trail…"

"That's impossible, Will."

"I know, but I'm just saying that would make things a lot easier." Several voices spoke up at once, and Vivian was having a hard time hearing all of them. Gabriel held her hand tighter, growing impatient, but still determined to hear every option.

Her eyes once again settled on the black and white card. "I have an idea," she said, not loud enough for the pack to hear, but just loud enough for her mate to listen.

"What is it, baby?"

"…Aiden." Gabriel scrunched his brow, not sure where she was coming from, but willing to hear her out. "He said I should call him, and that he was willing to help. Maybe there is a way to get them… the Guard… on our side." Gabriel nodded, raising his voice to end the discussion.

"That's enough for tonight. A lot has happened, and we should rest." Finally the voices died down, and in silence the pack filed out of the living room.

Gabriel followed Vivian up the stairs and down the hall to their room. She glanced at him, then at the open door in their room that led to the nursery. He let go of her hand and walked in, stepping closer to the crib. He smiled, seeing Delilah changed into a baby loup-garou, asleep next to Jacob.

"They're so small," he whispered, picking up a blanket and covering both of them with it. Vivian's cool hands pressed against his muscled stomach and pulled him away from the crib, and pushed him into the bathroom, where a warm bath was already running.

Later, when they were clean and relaxed, when she had cleaned his wounds and made up for his absence,Vivian and Gabriel settled into their bed. Vivian rested her head on the soft spot between his shoulder and chest, breathing him in. She could feel that heat coming off his skin, burning her. Gabriel had one hand tangled her long gold hair, and a happy rumble caught in his throat.

AN: I apologize again for the wait, but this is something I think is worth posting. Please review!