Chapter 7

Kagome sat with her back to the mouth of the cave on a frosty February afternoon. The

entrance to the grotto now adorned icicles that were cold enough to stick your tongue to. Kagome

was trying to spend as much time as possible away from the den as possible. It was the first time

since she arrived months ago that Kagome had felt uncomfortable among the wolf clan.

It was the beginning of mating season, and traditionally there was only one litter of pups… and

they belonged to the alpha male and female. Somehow in the months that Kagome had spent with

the pack, she had become the alpha female. It was a testament to Kouga's will, which was almost

unrivaled.

"A king deserves a queen," was his reply when she asked him to choose another female to be

in charge. "A queen must not only be voluptuous, but she must be clever and possess concealed

strength. She must understand the difference between a carnal relationship and an emotional one.

She not only represents herself and her pack, but she must teach the young pups what it means to

be the alpha female. She must be a cross between every man's desire and a saint. I have seen you

grow over the past few years. You've changed. You are my empress, my alpha female. You don't

give yourself enough credit."

Kouga brushed her hair away from her eyes as he smiled and looked into her eyes. It wasn't

that he was a bad guy. He was nice, compassionate, loving, protective, and handsome; but, there

was something about him that was missing. Kagome couldn't put her finger on it. All she knew was

that she wanted to spend as much of her time away from the den as possible, until mating season

ended and everyone went back to acting like themselves.

"Kagome, our children will have my quick legs, and fierceness, and your smile, eyes, and

brain."

"That's nice Kouga," she smiled awkwardly. Three more months…I can hold him off for

three more months!

Inuyasha awoke with his head throbbing. Not just throbbing, but pounding. As he opened his

eyes the room began to spin around until he was so queasy that he had to lie down and sleep.

When he awoke again, he found himself underneath dark satin sheets. He sat up and jumped

out of the bed with passion. The harder he tried to remember how he got there the fuzzier his

memory got.

"Ow!" the cry came from someone in another room. Inuyasha searched for the sound until he

reached a living room with a raven-haired woman in lavender nightie kneeling over something. He

was trying to creep into the room when a floorboard creaked under his foot.

Only when she turned around did he realize that the woman was Kikyo. Everything about her

had somehow changed. Even her aura, which should have been a dead giveaway to who she was,

was somehow different.

"Quiet, or you'll wake the baby. He bites in his sleep, just like his father," Kikyo moved so

that a bassinet was in view of Inuyasha. He made his way up to see the baby. The child had fierce

hair the color of clouds, and little claws. It was too late to try to remain quiet. The infant opened

looked up to reveal a set of radiant amber eyes.