I slipped outside and glanced at the moon just beginning to rise. It would be just about time for the boys to change their watch. The tree line was welcoming as I stepped out of sight of the house. Everyone was asleep, and Trace was still gone thank goodness. I slipped out of my clothes and Changed, shaking out my fur.
Daniella? Brian barked. I shot forward to stretch out my legs.
Don't have a heart attack. I'm only here to give you some news. Is everyone here? I asked, heading for the clearing about three miles up from the house. I sensed the rest of the pack convening to the same clearing.
Almost. Trace is still at the hospital and Sam hasn't even woken up yet. Brandon growled a chuckle. He was the first to arrive in the clearing and we pushed through the bramble at the same time. He sat down obediently across from me. He watched me curiously but I couldn't meet his eyes. How was I supposed to tell him the same men that had been after him just a few years ago were coming back with a new vengeance.
What's up Dani? Jason asked, circling me once before taking his place next to Brandon.
We'll wait for the whole pack. I threw my head back and howled, knowing Sam would be able to hear it from his house.
I'm coming, I'm coming! Sam grumbled, pushing himself towards the clearing. Soon the pack was assembled, all but Trace. I think I proffered it that way. It would make what I had to say easier if I didn't have to look into his eyes. The one person I positively couldn't live without.
What's going on? Is it about Derek? Brian leaned down into a playful stance. We already approve of him Daniella. There's no need…
It's the Gonzales Cabal. I snarled, and an answering growl rose up from the pack, all their hackles stood on end.
What? Jason snarled, his lip pulled back over his teeth.
The Cabal that is after my family is the Gonzales group. I honestly didn't know. If I had… I still wouldn't have refused them refuge. I looked over when Brian took a deep breath.
They'd still be here. Hell, we'd probably have made them come. his gurgled chuckle was dark. We'll kill the Gonzales bastard ourselves this time. Brandon can have the satisfaction of sinking his teeth into his neck. Brandon whimpered, his ears pressed flat against his skull. I trotted over to him and touched my nose to his forehead.
I can't go back Daniella. he whimpered, his eyes squeezed shut tightly.
I know Brandon. But you'll never have to go back. I promised, and turned to face the pack. James has promised his help. But I won't tell him until we know for certain. Kit may have made a mistake. I hoped he had. I hoped it was an entirely new Cabal that would underestimate our attack force. I hoped this wouldn't be the end to us.
Well, we're changing the watch now. You should head back and get some rest Daniella. Trace will want to know. Brian tugged affectionately on my ear. And don't worry. We've gotten through this before. We can get through it again. I took a deep breath and nodded slowly. Brian was always the one to smooth things over, give us the positive outlook. Even if it was hopeless.
I'm not sure how much we can handle this time. I admitted as we walked back to his house.
We're strong. And now we've got James' pack to help. Plus your brother and his little pack of misfits. I barked a laugh. It was humorless, and even the echo sounded haunted.
They would have been better to stay away. Gonzales surely knows by now Derek's relation to me. He'll kill them Brian. Just to get back at me. I faltered in a step and I hunkered low to the ground, trying to keep myself from lingering on the images of those Cabal boys. Their headless corpses…
Don't worry. It'll only bring on premature grays. Brian snickered and tugged on my ear. Go home. Get some sleep. Snuggle close to Trace tonight. Tell him in the morning so you can have this night of peace. I nodded and stood, if a bit shaky. Brian turned for his house and I watched him go. How lucky was he, to trust his future. He could cut his ties to my pack in a moment and leave if he wanted. To ensure the safety of his family. I had no choice in the matter. It was my family I was putting in danger. I took a deep breath and let it whistle through my nostrils.
I got back to my clothes the same time Trace pulled up and turned the car off. I loped over to him and he chuckled, dropping onto one knee to rub my head. I leaned into his touch, licking his wrist.
"What did I tell you?" he sighed as he kissed my forehead. I snorted and skittered around him, pushing on his back. Trace laughed and stood while he rolled his eyes. "Pushy wolf." he gathered my clothes up and followed me up to the porch. "How long were you out there?" I rolled my eyes and sat obediently at the door as he mounted the stairs. Trace sighed in exasperation and opened the door for me. I stuck my nose up in the air and trotted inside, yelping when he kicked me softly in the flank. "Bed, now." he commanded and I snorted, hunkering low to the floor. Trace raised an eyebrow in challenge and I huffed a sigh, taking the stairs two at a time. I jumped up onto the bed and burrowed under the quilt, peeking out at Trace when he closed the door. I hopped on the floor and Changed, wincing when the sharp crack echoed around the quiet house.
"I wasn't out there long." I promised. Trace tossed me a long shirt and I pulled it over my head. "I just wanted to make sure everything was going okay." I swallowed and climbed under the sheets, keeping my eyes on the comforter.
"And everything's not okay." Trace murmured, sitting on the bed next to me.
"No." I whispered, still not meeting his eyes. I considered telling him I was tired and taking Brian's advice to just curl up under the covers and fall asleep with Trace surrounding me. "Kit told me it's the Gonzales Cabal that's after them." I whispered, taking Trace's hands between my own. Trace froze, his breath halted in his chest and I could feel his shocked expression.
"Is he positive?" he whispered. He grabbed my chin and pulled my face up. "Daniella, is he absolutely certain?" he hissed, his eyes glinted with the same fear I'd been feeling since Kit had first told me. Trace moaned in horror and gathered me to his chest when I nodded. He was moaning the word 'no' over and over again. He knew as well as I did if the Cabal arrived here I was as good as dead.
"It'll be alright." I whispered in an attempt to calm him some. It was a hollow attempt, my voice sounded dead. Trace moaned again, his voice was thick.
"I'm not going to loose you." He whispered, more to himself that to me.
"Never." I kissed his hair and brushed a hand through the blonde curls at the nape of his neck. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close, his face buried in the crook of my shoulder.
"Will we tell the pack?" he hissed, still not looking up. I shook my head.
"They have enough to worry about now. They don't need to worry any more about me." I unconsciously felt my hand settle over my belly. I wondered how much worse it would be if I found out I really was carrying someone inside me. How much more worried would they be? Added onto that, if I told them my name was on the top of Gonzales' hit list. I'd never be allowed to leave my room, let alone the house.
"You did what you had to Dani." Trace whispered. "They wouldn't think you a heartless killer if you told them."
"Those poor boys." I groaned, the sick feeling returned.
"Daniella, they cut our baby out of you! They deserved much worse." he snarled, and I clenched my hand to my stomach, the scar that ran from my hip to my ribs was a bump against my fingers.
"They didn't do it because they wanted to Trace. They were apologizing. But I was trying to protect her… I didn't listen when they told me they were under orders. I ripped their heads from their bodies." I clenched my fists tight in his shirt. I still felt the horror of what I'd done. The lie I was still trying to keep up. I knew the pack knew better than to believe I'd been forced to cut their heads off. They'd seen the blood… I'd never felt so ashamed. Trace touched my cheek tenderly.
"It's in our nature to protect those we love." he whispered, his lips brushed against my temple.
"It's no excuse." I hissed.
"Daniella." Trace leaned back a little ways and lifted my chin so I was forced to look into his eyes. Eyes so blue they seemed to glow in the dark. "If you hadn't done what you had, you would be dead. And I never would have gotten to tell you I love you a million more times." He kissed my forehead.
"I love you too Trace. Never forget that." I whispered, tracing his collarbone. He pulled me close and rested us back against the pillows. I nestled into his embrace when he pulled the quilt up over us.
"Let's not worry about it until we know for certain it's Gonzales. Let's just enjoy this time together, and with your family." he breathed into my ear, his hand rubbed soothing circles into the skin on my back. "Should we call mom and dad?" I shook my head slowly.
"You know they'll leave their territory unprotected to come up and help." I whispered, my mind was already pulling me into sleep. Trace's familiar scent filled my head and calmed my racing thoughts.
"You're right." he nodded dejectedly. "How did your meeting with James go?"
"It was alright." I shrugged. "He was civil. He told me if he got to kill the bastards that killed his brother, he'd help." I could feel some of the tension leave Trace's body. A relieved sigh escaped his throat.
"I'll feel better with his twenty wolves helping us." he kissed my forehead.
"They'll send scouts." I warned him. Trace nodded slowly and held me closer.
"Our boys will know right away if anything's amiss." Trace tried to reassure me. It wasn't working. "Don't be scared." he begged.
"I'm not scared." Not for myself. But I didn't add that… Trace snorted in disbelief.
"You're body is as taut as a bow string." he ran a hand down my spine. Only then did I realize it was as straight as a pole. "It's okay to admit you're scared once in a while Dani. Even if it's only to me." I shook my head slowly, but not in denial. I took a deep, watery breath and squeezed my eyes shut against tears.
"I don't want anyone else to get hurt." I sobbed.
"No one else is going to get hurt darling. I won't let that happen, and neither will you." Trace brushed a hand through my hair, the movement soothed my high strung nerves just enough to allow my brain to slip into a fitful sleep.
Sunlight streamed through the window, warming my fear chilled skin. The last remnants of my nightmare clung to my mind, and I reached out for Trace's comforting hand, sitting upright when I couldn't find it.
"Trace?" I cried, my heart pounded with fear, my nightmare was coming true. "Trace!" I bolted from the bed and yanked the door to the hallway open.
"Dani." Trace was there at the top of the stairs, pancake batter splattered across his face. I sighed in relief and clenched my head between my hands. I tensed when Trace wrapped his arms around me.
"I'm okay." I whispered, leaning into his chest.
"Everything alright?" I looked up when Derek stepped out of his room, his hair piled on one side of his head. His eyes were still half closed. I managed a warm smile.
"I'm sorry I woke you Derek." I smiled, and reached out to smooth his hair down. "Just a bad dream. Go back to bed." he grunted and stepped back into his room, closing the door with a soft click.
"Are you okay?" Trace kissed my forehead and smoothed down my hair.
"It was just a bad dream Trace." I grimaced, and ran a hand through my hair. "I have to go into town. I'll be back in an hour." I promised. Trace grasped my hand when I turned back into the room.
"Dani?" he gave me the look that told me he knew something was up and he knew I wasn't telling him.
"I'm out of girl stuff." I mumbled to the floor and he chuckled, kissing my heated cheek. He never questioned me when it came to that and I hated the fact he believed me so readily.
"Oh, alright." he chuckled and nipped my ear, laughing when I jumped with a squeal. "Hurry back Mrs. Brevick." I rolled my eyes and shoved on his shoulder.
"We have company!" I reminded him sharply and he shrugged.
"It's not like they don't know what a husband and wife does behind closed…"
"Trace!" I gasped, horrified. Trace barked a laugh and kissed my forehead.
"Oh, alright." he hugged me once before he headed back downstairs. I dressed quickly and pulled my lank hair back into a hasty bun. It was still only Trace and I when I trotted down the stairs.
"Drive safe darling." he smiled as I grabbed a piece of bacon from the plate.
"Always do." I promised, pecked his cheek, and headed for the front door. I didn't want to waste any time so I just drove into town, greeted the people I knew politely, and got what I was aiming for. Unfortunately Cammy, Brandon's mate, was checking today and I knew she would wonder why I didn't go through her line once she saw me. I took a deep breath and steeled myself.
"Hey Cam." I smiled, and winced as I set down my items. She stared at them for a moment before looking up at me in surprise.
"You're pregnant?" she asked as she scanned the tests.
"I don't know yet Cam. Hence the tests." I gestured to the boxes. "Please don't say anything." I begged, through gritted teeth.
"Of course not." she winked. "Brandon told me about your family. Is it true there's a Cabal after them." she lowered her voice and I winced.
"It's the Gonzales Cabal." Cammy dropped the test she was scanning and stared up at me in horror.
"Why didn't he tell me?" she hissed, retrieving the test and scanning it.
"He probably doesn't want you to worry." I laughed. "Mates are idiots that way." Cammy laughed and rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, they are." she smiled as I paid. "What are you hoping for?" she asked softly.
"Right now? A negative. Just because of everything that's going on." I winced and took the bags. Cammy nodded gravely.
"Don't do anything stupid just because it's the Gonzales Cabal Dani." Cammy warned and I patted her curly red hair.
"Don't worry. Trace will never let that happen." I laughed when she glared unimpressively. "I'll stay safe Cammy. I promise."
"Good." She smiled. "And good luck." she gestured to the bag. I smiled once and headed for the bathroom at the front of the store.