Hey there my lovely readers! I know my update schedule is pretty crappy but I appreciate ya'll sticking with me! To those who leave me reviews...You guys are seriously awesome. I'm talking, go out and buy yourselves a chocolate cake in the shape of boobies type awesome. Also as I'm posting this I have 138 follows and 69 favs. Ha. 69. It really is the small things.

"He's coming."

Those were the last words Bo had spoken before going into a near catatonic state. Lauren didn't know what to do, she had no idea who he was. For a second she had considered running back the way she had come, back to her car, and just driving away. Away from the woods, from whoever was coming for them, from Bo. But she couldn't. She couldn't leave Bo and she certainly couldn't leave an innocent baby all alone in the woods to god knows what fate. The howls got louder as did the sound of cracking branches, he was coming faster, each movement more frantic and determined than the last. Bo stood suddenly and without meeting her gaze motioned for Lauren to do the same.

"You need to hold the baby."

"But.."

Bo cut her off with a shake of her head as she placed the sleeping child in her arms.

"Whatever happens...You need to stay back and keep quiet"

"Why? What's..."

"Lauren, please...just do as I ask."

Lauren wanted to argue, wanted to tell Bo that she could help, that she didn't need protecting or whatever it was she was trying to do, but she couldn't. The look of desperation, fear and to Lauren's surprise, guilt on the dark haired woman's face made her unable to do anything except nod.

"Stand over there, near the path that you came in. Do not interfere, no matter what happens and even if every instinct is telling you to do so, Do. Not. Run."

Lauren did as she was told, she forced her legs to move away from Bo as Bo moved towards the source of the ever increasing noise. It didn't fail to escape her notice that Bo had positioned herself between the baby and the part of the trees he would likely crash through. Lauren felt her knees go weak but she forced herself to remain standing as a body crashed through the trees with another roar.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion as she struggled to take in the sight now in front of her. He stood well over six feet tall, his shirt and jeans ripped where his muscles throbbed, his eyes shone bright gold and his mouth twisted in a snarl of anger. She couldn't work out what type of Fae he was, at that moment he certainly didn't look as he should, rather as though he were mid-change. As his eyes settled on Bo he let out another roar. Sharp claws grew from his fingers as he advanced on her. Lauren swallowed the yelp brewing in her throat and held the baby a little closer. By some miracle, the newborn was still sleeping soundly. He dwarfed Bo but she stood her ground as he got ever closer and she remained unarmed and in a non combat stance. Oh God, she has gone crazy and is going to get herself killed, Lauren thought as she struggled to come up with something she could do to help. He raised his massive arms and grabbed hold of Bo's shoulders tightly. The grip looked painful but still Bo made no sound.

"WHAT DID YOU DO?!"

His voiced thundered through the clearing and as he spoke he shook Bo roughly. She didn't fight back. She did nothing but lower her head, unable to meet his gaze. Lauren watched his face contort in fury as he grabbed her face and forced her to look up at him.

"ANSWER ME!"

Still Bo seemed unable to speak. She kept trying to look away but this only seemed to anger him more. Lauren could only look on in horror as he picked Bo up by her throat and brought their faces level.

"DO NOT TEST ME SUCCUBUS!"

In a voice, much more suited to a scared little child than the strong and courageous succubus Lauren had grown to admire, Bo finally spoke.

"I'm so sorry, I failed you both."

At her words his faced softened slightly and his eyes changed from gold to the most amazing green Lauren had ever seen. The eyes looked familiar but at that moment she couldn't think why.

"I tried my best, I..."

"YOUR BEST WASNT GOOD ENOUGH!"

Back were the glowing gold eyes and the look of pure anger, and like a ragdoll he threw her against the closest tree. The blow was hard enough to shake even the biggest branches and knock Bo out cold. There was now nothing between Lauren and the very pissed off Fae, but he had still yet to notice her. He seemed to be struggling with an internal fight as his eyes rapidly shifted between green and gold. It was clear to Lauren that he wasn't acting completely out of rational thought or free will. They were both watching Bo, who had still yet to make a move. What if she isn't unconscious? What if she is dead? The thought was like ice water pouring inside her chest. Wake up please...be ok...I need you to be ok...I can't lose you. As if by some miracle, as if she could hear Lauren's internal pleas, Bo started to stir and her eyes connected with his before her gaze shifted to Kali's body. Or at least where Kali's body had been.

Hundreds of small vines had sprouted from the dirt between the dead grass and had criss-crossed together forming a blanket over Kali's body. They had been so consumed by his arrival that neither women had noticed the transformation. Bo couldn't take her eyes off the vines as they grew and swayed together and he turned to follow her gaze.

"Nononononononononononono..."

His words came out as one long sound as he stumbled over to Kali's body and dropped down to his knees beside her. Suddenly everything clicked into place for Lauren. He was Ryker, Kali's mate, the father of the baby she currently had cradled in her arms. Lauren could only watch as he sobbed violently and ripped the vines away from his dead lovers body. He picked up the body and held it tightly to his chest, his tears falling onto her cheek as he rocked back and forth. His body had returned to its normal size and the claws had disappeared. Lauren was certain that if his eyes had not been closed they would be their usual green colour. He was no longer a pissed off Fae ready to destroy anyone in his path, he was just a man mourning the loss of his lover. Bo stood up gingerly and limped over to him, the pain on her face evident with every step she took, but she didn't stop until she was close enough to drop beside Ryker and lay her hand on his shoulder.

It was at that moment the baby in Lauren's arms decided to make his presence known as he looked up at her with big green eyes. Ryker's eyes, she realisedas he began to cry softly. Lauren rocked him gently and did her best to sooth him. Ryker looked confused as his gaze shifted from his dead mate to the baby. Kali still looked pregnant, her belly was still swollen and the C-Section incisions were covered by her shirt. He assumed they were both dead, Lauren realised as a wave of guilt washed over her. Bo had told her not to move or make a sound, but Lauren couldn't help herself. She had been terrified by Ryker when he crashed into the clearing. He had been ferocious, an animal ready rip the world to pieces but Lauren was no longer terrified. Before her now was a broken man that thought he'd lost everything in the world he cared about. She walked over to him slowly and stopped a few steps away. She wanted to say so many things, wanted to apologise for his loss. For not being able to save Kali's life. She wanted to tell him how strong Kali was to hold on for as long as she did. She wanted him to know that there was nothing she wouldn't do to help him and the baby. But nothing sounded right in her head and the words just jumbled together, she opened her mouth and said the only thing that sounded right.

"He has your eyes." she said softly.

Ryker looked at her then, really looked at her for the first time. Emotions danced in his eyes; joy, mistrust, confusion, despair and finally acceptance. He kissed Kali's forehead and whispered something to her before placing her body gently back on the ground and standing up. Instantly the vines again began to sprout from the dirt and join together over the body. Bo made a move to remove the vines just as Ryker had done before but he stopped her.

"They are doing what must be done." He said simply before taking a few steps towards Lauren.

He was now close enough to take the baby from her arms but he didn't make any attempt to, instead he just looked at his son. He's nervous, Lauren realised, he has no idea how to be a father. A few hours ago he had a wife, time to prepare for a new addition to his family. Now his child is here and his lover is gone.

"You are right, he does have my eyes. But everything else, the shape of his mouth, his nose, everything, everything is Kali." he murmured as he smiled sadly at Lauren.

A light rain began to fall from the sky and chilled Lauren's bare skin and she couldn't suppress the goose bumps that spread across her arms. Ryker looked up at the increasingly darkening sky and let out a small sigh.

"We should get out of these woods before this storm really gets going. I have a cabin a few miles from here but on foot I doubt we will make it before things really let loose."

"My car is parked just by the entrance. If we hurry we can make it." Lauren replied, glad once again that she chose to take a car with plenty of space.

Ryker simply nodded at her. He reached for his son for a moment before hesitating and changing his mind. He turned away and began walking towards the direction of the car. Lauren quickly followed as she adjusted her jumper as best she could to avoid the baby getting cold and wet. It took a minute to realise that Bo wasn't following them.

"What's about Kali? We cant just leave her here."

Bo's voice was full of sorrow, she hadn't moved from her position of being crouched beside her deceased friend. Ryker looked at her with sadness and understanding.

"We must. Its part of the natural law."

"She will be all alone! I'm not leaving her."

Thunder rumbled in the clouds above and the baby let out a wail. Lauren could see that Ryker's patience was starting to wear thin.

"She is not alone Bo! All of this, the storm, the dead trees and grass, the vines, don't you see? Its all for her. The forest is in mourning. As a spriggan, Kali is bonded to the land. Mother Nature is her guardian now."

Bo looked as though she wanted to argue but a fork of lightning in the sky seemed to change her mind. The rain started coming down much harder as the three of them hurried in silence to Lauren's car. Bo and Ryker seemed lost in their grief and Lauren didn't really know what to say, she hadn't known Kali and anything she said would just seem forced and insincere. Once they arrived at the car Lauren quickly opened the doors and handed the baby to Ryker before he a chance to object. She positioned herself in the drivers seat, Bo climbed into the passenger seat next to her and a moment later Ryker climbed into the back cradling his baby in his arms. As Lauren drove she couldn't help but watch the father and son in the rear-view mirror. Ryker still looked nervous but he gazed down at the baby as though he were the most precious thing in the entire world.

"Are you cold?"

The question caught Lauren by surprise and she turned to find Bo staring at her, eyes fixated on her still mostly naked and now dripping wet upper body. If Lauren was cold before she now felt practically on fire from the heat of Bo's gaze. Bo herself was also wet and her vest top clung to her like a second skin, outlining the swell of her breasts and toned abs perfectly. God I want to touch her. The thought caught Lauren totally by surprise and caused an a dull throbbing between her legs. She looked away embarrassed, unable to meet Bo's gaze for fear of exposing her sudden desire to the succubus.

"Lauren, I want..."

Bo was cut off by the ringing of Lauren's phone. Oh god. I forgot to change the ringtone, was all Lauren could think as she struggled to get her phone out of her pocket. Tamsin's name flashed on the screen before she could turn it off and she could tell by the switch in Bo's body language that she had seen it too.

"Well...That's certainly subtle."

Lauren winced, Bo's voice was like ice. It cut through Lauren's burning desire and left her feeling cold. Bo was now as far away as she could be in her seat and her head was turned towards the window. Lauren had no idea what to say. She wanted Bo to finish her sentence...what did she want? There was no way she could ask now. Is Bo jealous? Does she think there is something going on between Tamsin and I?.

"My cabin is on the right." Ryker called from the back seat without looking up.

Lauren pulled up and stopped the car. The weather was still a little rough but seemed to ease off the further they got from the woods. Ryker got out first and unlocked the door of the cabin. He didn't turn around as he hurried inside. Neither Bo nor Lauren moved from the car, the tension was so thick it seemed to have them both frozen in place.

"Bo.."

"Lauren.."

They spoke at the same time, each cutting the other off.

Their eyes met in a nervous glance as each waited for the other to continue. Lauren didn't know what to say, being around Bo made her head feel fuzzy and all her words seemed to muddle together. She wanted to kiss Bo within an inch of her life and yet at the same time, run as far away as possible. Never had she felt this way around another person. Not even Lachlan. The thought hit her like a ton of bricks. Lachlan. Her husband. It didn't matter what she wanted, it didn't even matter what Bo wanted. She was a married woman and Lachlan owned her. At least that's how she sometimes felt. I cant allow anyone else to get dragged into my mess of a life.

It seemed like slow motion as Lauren watched Bo's hand raise and move towards her, Lauren's brain seemed to scream mixed messages at her. Her body hummed in anticipation at the touch, but she came to her senses just before skin met skin.

"How's Dyson?"

Bo pulled back her hand as though Lauren's words had scolded her. Bo looked confused and Lauren did her best to flash Bo a genuine smile, a smile she hoped was enough to mask the true feelings she was trying so hard to deny.

"He...He's fine. Lauren I.."

"That's good. I'm glad. He clearly cares for you a great deal."

Guilt flashed in Bo's eyes as she turned her gaze away.

"Sometimes things are not that simple."

Lauren felt her heart clench at Bo's words. She wanted to ask why, she wanted to understand Bo's struggle but she knew she couldn't. She couldn't get involved and risk having her own feelings exposed. If only you knew I was doing this for your own good.

"I'm sure things will work it out. You two are...clearly meant to be together."

Lauren almost choked on the last words. She had seen them interact less than a handful of times, she knew nothing of their relationship. The thought that Bo was meant to be with someone else should have made it easier for her to control her own feelings. It didn't.

"Is it as easy to believe the words as it is to say them?"

No. I don't believe them. If I did I wouldn't feel the way I do when i'm around you. I wouldn't want to fall into your arms and pray that the world stops for us so we could just 'be'.Lauren could only think the words, she couldn't say them. She couldn't let Bo know the truth, that everything felt so confusing and she felt like she was losing herself.

Lauren's eyes must have betrayed her as Bo's hand reached out again, and this time she couldn't think of any words to say to stop her. Bo gently caressed her cheek, the touch as light as a feather against her skin. It was such a simple action, yet it made Lauren's heart beat faster in her chest. It felt perfect and yet dangerous all at the same time. Lauren brought her own hand up and placed it over Bo's, and she heard Bo's breath hitch at the new contact. Their eyes locked and this time neither looked away, each forgetting their own conflicts and getting lost purely in the moment. Lauren wasn't sure who started to lean in first, who began the process of bringing their bodies closer, but she knew it felt right, that she wanted nothing more in that moment. Her rational thoughts kept trying to scream at her to stop, to think of Lachlan and Dyson and her job and every other reason this was a really bad idea. But each beat of her heart drowned out those thoughts and instead filled her with anticipation for how it would feel to have Bo's lips pressed against her own.

They were mere millimeters apart. Lauren could feel the warmth of Bo's breath against her lips, the heat of Bo's skin as their foreheads touched. The succubus had consumed her senses, taken her over completely and yet Bo was hesitating, waiting for Lauren to make that tiny last step. To make that final commitment and surrender to the kiss.

"Bo..."

The ghost of a whisper left Lauren's mouth as she took the plunge and pressed her lips against Bo's. It was everything Lauren thought it would be and more. Her heart felt like it might explode inside her chest, and a fire spread through her entire body. She felt like a light had been turned on inside of herself, illuminating her for the very first time. Their lips had barely connected before a sound made it all come crashing down.

**In touch with the ground. I'm on the hunt I'm after you. Scent and a sound. I'm lost and I'm found. And I'm hungry like...**

Lauren pulled back in shock. Duran Duran Hungry like the wolf? Dyson. Lauren couldn't believe what she had let just happen. They had kissed. I did it, I made the final move, what the hell was I thinking? That's just it, I wasn't thinking. I turn off my brain when Bo is around.

"Shit."

Bo murmured as she looked at her phone. The guilt on her face confirmed Lauren's suspicions about it being Dyson. Lauren felt like she couldn't breath. She needed to move, to get away from Bo. She felt claustrophobic, her feelings closing in, threatening to bury her.

"I should get inside and help Ryker."

Lauren mumbled as she hurried to open the car door. She made a mental note to avoid being alone in confined spaces with Bo in the future. Don't be alone with her and don't let her get too close. Not again.

"Wait! Lauren, we..."

Lauren avoided making eye contact with Bo and pretended not to hear her as she shut the car door and hurried into the cabin. Her heart was beating rapidly in her chest and her lips seemed to tingle as she struggled to push thoughts of Bo aside and focus on the scene in front of her. Ryker was stood in the centre of the room. Had it not been for the squirming baby in his arms he would have looked like a statue. Lauren approached him slowly and met his gaze.

"Is everything ok?"

He blinked a few times and looked around the room.

"I don't...know what I am meant to do.."

"Lets start by getting that little guy some clothes." Lauren said as she smiled at Ryker, and a ghost of a smile graced his lips as he nodded. He carried the baby upstairs while Lauren made her way into the kitchen to look for baby formula. She heard the cabin door open and sensed Bo's presence even though she couldn't see her.

"Lauren can we talk about what..."

"There is nothing to talk about." Lauren cut in abruptly.

"Please I think..."

"No. It never should have happened. End of." Lauren cut in again.

She could feel Bo's eyes staring a hole in her back but she didn't turn round, she couldn't bring herself to face the succubus at that moment. Be cruel to be kind. That's what they say isn't it? I don't want her to hate me but if that's what it takes...Lauren thought as she struggled to keep her feelings in check. Bo let out a soft sigh, the next thing Lauren heard was her light footsteps as she climbed the stairs.

An hour later everything seemed much more settled. The baby having been dressed and fed was now asleep in a moses basket. The basket was in the centre of the room as Ryker could not yet bare to let his son out of sight. Lauren was wearing one of Ryker's shirts while her own jumper was being washed. It swamped her small frame but she hadn't felt right about going through Kali's clothes to find something more suitable. The three of them now sat around the fireplace, each sipping tea and taking comfort from the heat of the fire. Lauren was trying her best not to dwell on what happened between her and Bo in the car, and Bo had not spoken another word to her since first entering the cabin. Even now she was sat as far from Lauren as possible, her gaze firmly focused on the glowing gold of the fire. The baby stirred slightly letting out a few quiet gurgling sounds. Ryker walked over to his son and picked him up gently, they gazed at each other for a few moments before Ryker moved his chair sat down in front of Lauren.

"I have just realised that I do not even know the name of the person that saved my son."

"I...I didnt..I mean.."

"Please do not be modest. Had it not been for you, he would not be with me now."

"My name is Lauren. Lauren Lewis."

"Lewis...Lewis"

Ryker mumbled quietly as he got up. He placed his son in Lauren's arms and began looking through a pile of books. Once he found the correct one he flipped through the pages till he found the one he needed. He smiled before sitting back down.

"Does my son look like he may be a famous warrior one day to you, Lauren?"

"I think he can be anything he chooses to be." Lauren replied as she gazed down fondly at the child in her arms.

"The name Lewis, it means Famous Warrior. I would be honoured if my son could bare the name of the person that saved his."

Lauren didn't know what to say, she gently stroked a finger across the babies cheek. He grabbed hold of her finger in his tiny fist and gazed up at her. Before Lauren had a chance to respond, Bo slammed her cup down with such force the china shattered.

"If I had done my job properly she wouldn't be here. You and Kali would have been picking names out of that book together."

"Bo, what happened was not your fault. I didn't mean to act the way I did and I certainly didn't mean to hurt you. I felt it, the moment Kali..when she..."

Rykers voice broke as he struggled to finish his sentence. He couldn't yet say it, couldn't utter the words 'Kali' and 'died' in the same breath. He crouched down beside Bo and waited for her to meet his gaze before continuing.

"Our souls were connected and then suddenly I couldn't feel her anymore. My inner lycan knew it had just lost its one true mate. It's rage and pain took me over completely, all it wanted to do was hurt and punish. But that rage should not have been directed at you. I saw how many bodies were in that clearing Bo. I know how strongly you fought to protect my wife and child. If you had not been there, if you had not called Lauren I would have lost them both."

Ryker pulled Bo into a tight embrace. Lauren watched as the two Fae held each other tight. She hoped that knowing Ryker didn't blame her would help Bo let go of the guilt she was feeling. They exchanged a few words in hushed voices, and Lauren did her best to respect their privacy and instead looked down at the child in her arms. Little Lewis she thought. A wave of pride washed through her and she couldn't help but smile.

Ryker released Bo and moved back to his own chair. Slowly but determinedly he spoke the next few words:

"I know who is responsible for this, his hands are stained with the blood of many. My brother will suffer for his crimes."

Another Cliff Hanger? Say it aint so! Ha. Drop me a review or a message (or even both) if you feel so inclined. They make me happier then a doctor at a test tube sale...Or me if that Doctor was Lauren and the test tubes were actually kinky sex to...*cough* um...review?