Ok… so this chapter wasn't in my original idea for this story. It kinda came to me during Algebra II yesterday, lol. Sorry I wasn't able to post yesterday, it was because of that stupid error thing. So since I wasn't able to get on yesterday and my fans on the other site convinced me to write two chapters yesterday I have 3 chapters to post today. But on normal occasions it will be just one a day from now on. Oh and if you have time check out the poll on my page! Thanks!!

Chapter 49

After desert all of us migrated to the family room to watch the rest of the game. I've never been really that interested in football so I didn't really know what was going on. I just knew I should cheer when everyone else did. After a while though the cheers got quieter and slowly all the men in the family, including Kaase, fell asleep.

I was sitting on the couch cuddled up close to my snoozing imprint. He had his head rolled back against the wall and his mouth was open. His snores joined a chorus that echoed around the room. I looked over at the women. Isaac like the rest of the males had fallen asleep on his mother's lap. The three musketeers were outside and we could see them building a snowman through the big bay window. The women were relaxed and talked quietly among themselves.

"This happens every Sunday if you were wondering." Sarah laughed. "We eat a big dinner then they all fall asleep watching some kind of sport."

I smiled. "It seems very relaxing." I replied dumbly.

Ma smiled. "Yes, it is. Sunday has to be my favorite day."

There was an awkward pause for a moment before Deborah spoke, but I wish she had just kept her mouth shut because what she asked made everything a whole lot more awkward. "So," She asked, her face a little bitter. "do you love my brother."

I was taken back a bit by her straightforwardness but boldly replied. "I love him with all my heart."

She nodded. "Yeah? Do you know how many girls have come in here and said those exact same words?"

I felt my jaw drop. How dare she?! She knew nothing of my feelings for Kaase, how should she compare me to any other girl. Wait… other girls?

Sarah put a hand on her sister's arm and spoke calmly. "We are just worried for our brother. He's had his heart broken so many times."

How am I even supposed to respond to this? This reminded me of that rhyme 'While the cats away the mice will play.' Well in this family while the men are asleep the women will bitch. I felt my body start to tremble. I clenched my jaw and took a deep breath. "I don't think it's fair to compare me to the other women." I replied flatly.

"All the women that Kaase brings home are the same." Deborah spoke quietly, only because of the sleeping baby on her chest. "None of them are Dutch and they all end up breaking him." Her eyes narrowed.

Ma sat silent and listened to her daughter tear into me. Her face was emotionless. "I don't know how I to convince you that I love your brother more than my own life, but I do. Kaase makes me so happy and when I'm not with him he's all I can think about. I guess I can just ask that you trust me." That was the extent of my kindness, if she added another snot nosed remark I might tear her face off.

Luckily Sarah stepped in. Deborah opened her mouth to say something but Sarah tightened her grip on her angry sister's hand. "Yes, we'll just have to trust you." She smiled then took her eyes off me and out the window. "I hope this snow lasts a little longer, the kids have been having so much fun. This winter has been warmer than usual."

Their silent mother joined in the conversation and they continued to ignore me. I was grateful for that because I might not have much control over the next words that came out of my mouth. Instead I focused on trying to figure out what was going on in the game and on slowing my haggard breathing.

The sky began to darken and it was like a timer went off in the men's minds. All of them woke up, stretching their now stiff limbs from lying in uncomfortable positions. Sarah got up also and called the children inside. Kaase rubbed the sleep from his eyes and smiled down at me.

"Well are you ready to go?" He asked, his voice a little rough.

"Yeah." I stood up a little too quickly. "It was so nice meeting all of you." I smiled cheerfully at all of them.

All of them, except for Deborah who had her back to me while she was soothing a crying Isaac, smiled back and said their goodbyes. "Don't be such a stranger you two. We'll see you next Wednesday of course right?" Ma asked pleasantly.

"What's next Wednesday?" I wondered aloud, looking at Kaase for help.

"I haven't told her yet, it hasn't come up." He said to his family, almost apologizing. Then to me he said, "Wednesday is my birthday."

"Oh yeah, I'll be there." I replied quickly.

"Wonderful!" Ma exclaimed with fake enthusiasm. "We'll see you then."

I kept my pace human as we retreated from the house. I quickly got in the passenger door and resisted the urge to slam it. Kaase got in a couple moments after me. "Sorry I dozed off like that. I couldn't really help it."

I laughed. "So I saw."

"They were nice to you right?" He asked in a concerned voice as he backed out of the driveway.

"Oh yeah. Of course." I nodded, hoping I was believable.

"That's good." He stated, his voice still a little gruff from his nap, his face brightened a bit. I sighed and pushed buttons on the radio to find a station, then settled in for the drive.

Instead of pulling onto the highway to head back to Port Angeles he navigated down some back roads. "I hope you don't mind but the woods are almost as beautiful as you this time of day." He said in his strangled voice, he cleared his throat a bit.

I snorted and pushed him lightly. "My Romeo." I teased.

As we drove Kaase started to get more fidgety. He kept dipping down to look at the sky. His fingers drummed on the steering wheel, not matching the beat of the song playing. His free leg bounced impatiently.

"Is everything ok?" I asked, putting a hand on his arm.

"Yeah." He rasped. "Hey you're not in a hurry to get home are you?"

"No." I replied, puzzled.

"Good because I was thinking of taking a slight detour." He looked like he was avoiding my gaze. Had I done something wrong?

"Sure, that's fine. Are you sure you're ok?"

"Yeah." He snorted, voice still gurgling. Suddenly he reached for a knob next to radio and switched to four wheel drive. Then, quick as lightning, jerked the steering wheel to the right and veered off the road onto a trail even my wolf eyes hadn't seen.

I gripped the side of my seat as the truck bounced up and down. "Um, where are we going?" He didn't answer, I felt the truck speed up.

What was going on? What in the world was out here that he was so impatient to get too? I didn't see how this could be a detour. Like all his movements tonight, he stopped suddenly, laying his foot hard on the breaks.

He sat there for a moment, hands gripping the steering wheel. Then he spoke again, not looking at me. There was something different on his face, but I couldn't tell what. For some reason his hair looked a little longer, and had his ears always been a little pointy? "Leah, I've been keeping something from you."

I paused. "Um." I didn't even know what to say. "You can tell me anything Kaase."

"I know." He gurgled. "But I didn't want to tell you this until I had proof."

"What are you talking about, Kaase?"

He put a finger to his lips, still not meeting my gaze. "Shhh. Wait here."

He climbed down from the truck, surprisingly slow. His gait was stiff and labored, as if he was in pain. He stumbled forward a couple feet to where the moonlight glimmered down between the gaps in the canopy, a full moon. He stopped in the light and threw his head back. His whole body began to shake and his body grew larger. Hair emerged on his skin and grew shaggy. His finger nails grew long and claw like. His face distorted, forming a snout and his gaped mouth grew dagger like fangs that looked painfully familiar. His clothes tore slightly under his new stature with deafening rips. He clenched his fists and let out a long, pained and mournful howl. My imprint, was a real werewolf.