Chapter 47

~Farren POV~

I sat straight up from my troubled slumber, awaken from yet another dream. I pressed the palm of my hand to my forehead, trying to ease to dull aching that was beginning there. Curse my half human side.

I was prepared to get annoyed, when I felt strong arms surround me from the side. Love washed through me. Even in his sleep, Spencer knew when I needed him. His eyes fluttered lightly before shutting again. "Farren?" He mumbled. "I'm okay. Bad dream, go back to sleep." I leaned down and kissed his hair. We hadn't shared a passionate night together yet, mostly because I had cold feet, but there was also the possibility that I could hurt him. But all the same, I loved having him beside me in the night.

I gently laid back down beside him, laying my cool hand on his bare upper arm, just below the shoulder. I felt his blood racing beneath my palm, and I soaked it up.

My thoughts slid to Galen. He was such a beautiful and perfect child. He hardly cried, usually only if he needed something, and he only screamed if Aaden didn't get dinner in his mouth fast enough or he was hurt. That temper came from Derek Hale, and Derek Hale only. I smiled to myself. I envisioned holding a little boy that looked like Spencer. Although it scared the hell out of me, I had to admit that I wasn't opposed. Maybe one day.

It had been almost a month since we'd attacked and taken down Natalie, and Peyton had followed shortly. Our mission now was to take down Kyle Jacinto, a vampire who had been under my father for nearly fifty years. If I had thought at all that I could sway him to fight with us, I would have been wrong. Kyle was a good 'friend' and loyal wasn't a good enough word to describe his allegiance.

Once he was out of the way, we were down to the meat of the war. Lorcan Kern. I hadn't seen the bastard face to face in almost three years. I was sure he was looking forward to beating us down. But I had something he didn't, and that was Derek and Aaden.

It had always been a sick dream of his to collect and enslave the Alpha and his Luna, whomever they would've been. When Talia Hale and her husband Sage, had died in that terrible fire, all inheritance had gone to Derek as the male, despite the fact that Laura was the oldest. She'd still been an Alpha, just not as high in regard as Derek.

I'm sure it had more than pissed Lorcan Kern off when Derek had sworn in to the opposite side of this war. The terrible thing was, and I'd hide it forever if I could, Lorcan had discovered Aaden before we did. He hadn't been totally sure, but it was so obvious, especially when I took Derek to look at her way before we'd recruited her. The protectiveness in his eyes had betrayed him, and I had known for sure. It wasn't but two months later that I would have brought her into this mess.

With my mind so busy, I was startled when I heard a crash downstairs, then yelling. My first thought was that this was an invasion.

I threw my robe on and ran downstairs. I both loved and hated what I was presented with.

~Aaden POV~

"WHERE IS SHE?!"

I sat straight up, immediately laying my hand over my son. He was still sleeping soundly, like the dead. Derek had sat up also, but I had missed it in making sure our son was okay.

"What the hell?" Derek muttered.

"Where the hell is she? I haven't seen her in over a year! WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?!"

"You cannot be fucking serious," I growled, throwing the covers aside. "Stay with Galen, I'll be right back."

I pulled down on the little slip like covering I was wearing, feeling a little exposed as I walked into the hallways. "Calm down, please, we can settle this calmly."

That was Farren's voice, both tired and slightly irritated. The other voice, though, was my main concern. "Calmly?! You've hidden her out in the damn boondocks! I WANT-" "Mom!" I said, stomping down my excitement at seeing her after so long.

"My baby," she said, suddenly the picture of tranquility. She rushed over, wrapping her arms tightly around me. I felt my anger diminishing, and realized how much I had missed her. "Yeah. Hi, Mom. Can I ask what the hell you're doing here?" She pulled back, looking at me with this face that said I should know.

"I came to see you of course! Where's Derek? I should get to actually say hello to my son-in-law, shouldn't I?" I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Mom? News flash, it's two thirty in the morning. My husband, and every other sane person in this house, is asleep."

"Yes, yes. Do you have any idea how long it took me to find you?" "Mom…" I wanted to scream at her! She was in so much danger it wasn't even funny, and if I knew her, and I did, she asked around, possibly even had professionals hunt us down. She could have just killed us all.

I grabbed her arm and hauled her into an adjacent room, slamming the door. "What did you do to find us?" I hated the scared look on her face, but I had to know. "I made some calls. Had your cell tracked." "Did anyone you talk to look scary? Unhuman almost, and deadly?" I had to come right out with it. My child might be at stake, my husband, friends and pack also.

"No, Aaden, sweetie, what are you talking about? Are you in trouble? Is it drugs? Oh for the love of everything, please tell me it isn't drugs." "Mom, focus! Drugs are the least of our problems. Who did you give my information to?" "Only the police looking for your number. Aaden, what's going on?" "Mom, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but what you've done…if it ends up in the wrong hands…"

"Lord have mercy, Aaden. What the hell is going on? I demand an explanation now." "I can't tell you everything Mom, if I do, it will involve you too." "I know you can't understand Aaden, but I am your mother. A mother will die for her child. Now you tell me what the fucking hell is going on, this instant!"

Oh, but I understand perfectly. Could I get her to believe me? Should I lie? What if….?

I calmed immediately as I felt Derek enter the room. "Aaden?" "Derek. What are you doing up?" "I fe-, er, heard the yelling. Mrs. Carrow, you're looking radiant." Derek said in his usual, always somewhat bored voice. "Cut the bullshit," she replied, holding her arms out and giving Derek a big hug, "how are you, son?" "Been better," he said, giving her a brief squeeze, "what are you here for?" She sighed, "Must I explain wanting to see my daughter and her husband? I haven't seen you in almost a year and a half. Is that not reason enough?" "Mrs. Carrow-" "Rose or Mom." She demanded. I stifled a laugh.

"…Rose," he started again awkwardly, "we're in a trying place right now. It's not completely safe for everyone, including yourself, to be passing around knowledge of our whereabouts." "Oh, with this not safe stuff again," she nearly growled, "I gave my daughter to you to protect and love. What are you guys in trouble for?" "Mom-" I was loudly interrupted by Galen's sudden screaming.

I knew that cry. He was hungry and there was not going to be any settling until I was feeding him. I hadn't wanted her to find out about her grandchild this way, but better late than never.

"Who the hell is that?" My mother, confused, asked bluntly. I sighed. "I didn't want to tell you this way, but….follow me." I saw Derek's face light up. Always so prideful of his son. I smiled.

"Tell me what?" She asked, following me into the hallway and to the den where Farren cradled my very upset son. I felt my heart lighten, my eyes change, and love run through me as I leaned down to hold my son. He calmed a little as I nestled him into the crook of my arm. I turned for slight privacy and lowered my shirt to feed him. Once he was latched on, I turned. Derek's face was almost visibly shining with happiness, but my mother's face was a mixture of hurt, terror, excitement and many other things. "Please don't be mad," I said to her, gaining her stunned eyes, "I didn't say anything because my pregnancy was bad. You wouldn't have been happy to see me that way. There was a lot going on." I looked down into my nursing son's face.

Tears pooled in her purple eyes before spilling down her soft cheeks. "Is he real? I'm afraid if I take a step, he'll disappear." I laughed then. "He's real, Mom. Isn't he beautiful?"

She said nothing, but instead came closer, looking down onto his face. She gently brushed away the hair from his forehead, and, almost in a scared movement, leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to the back of his downy head. I fed him just enough to hold him and pulled away, turning him so she could see him.

She reached out and softly rubbed his cheek with the back of her finger. He gave her a bright smile before reaching up and gripping it. "Oh," she sighed lovingly. "Do you want to hold him?" I asked, already pushing him toward her. She took him, looking into his warm little gray eyes, and pressed a kiss to his cheek. He gurgled and she cuddled him close.

"What a surprise," she said, sounding as though she might tear up again, "I have a grandbaby. What's his name?"

"Galen. Galen Spencer."

**I hope you all liked the reintroduction of Rose! I wanted her back in the story for a while, so here she is! She's going to be a great strength to Aaden, but how will she react when she's been told the whole, real truth? Please tell me what you think!**