Unwanted Mates

Chapter 4

Lucy was in the kitchen of the Emery home, softly humming as she worked. She had been with the family as their cook since before Tyson was born and had no intention of leaving any time soon. She loved the family, her work, and her little apartment at the back of the kitchen, and while she had never found her mate, she was content and never lonely. Lucy considered all the Emerys her family and had made a point of caring for them by ensuring they ate only the best.

She heard the front door open, and laughter filled the house. Lucy smiled as Darla and Everly carried their nieces into the kitchen and sat them on stools at the kitchen island. Lucy winked at the little girls and gave each another chocolate cupcake, containing the blood supplements they needed as vampire-werewolf hybrids.

“How did you know we wanted cupcakes?” Isla asked as her sister began to devour hers.

Lucy laughed, “Because you are just like your mother, grandmother, and aunts. You all love chocolate. You also need all the extra energy you can get since you will be riding Darla and Everly’s wolves on your adventure today.”

“Can I have another?” Willa asked as she licked her cupcake’s paper wrapper.

“Yes, but only one more. I do not want you to get a tummy ache,” Lucy said, giving Everly a worried look.

“I could feel how worried Lia is today, and I think it is because of how strongly Willa is craving blood,” Everly told Lucy through the mind link.

Lucy replied, “We can hope she outgrows it like Isla. Until then, we give her what her body tells her she needs.”

Everly nodded to her as Lucy placed two more cupcakes in front of the girls. Willa dove into it as if starving while Isla hesitantly took a bite.

Isla asked, “Are you sure Mommy won’t get mad if we eat this many cupcakes?”

“I promise she will not be mad,” Lucy smiled. “I made those special for you and Willa. They have extra things in them to help you grow big and strong, like your mommy and aunts.”

“OK,” Isla nodded, satisfied by Lucy’s answer.

“Now, what do you girls want to take with you to snack on?”

“I heard about those breakfast cookies and how good they are. I would love to take some with us if you have any left,” Darla grinned.

“I have an entire pan I hid just for this occasion,” Lucy laughed. “What else would you like?”

“I think we should probably add some fresh fruit, cheese, crackers, some jerky, and maybe a few sandwiches to that,” Everly said as she watched her nieces finish their cupcakes. “They are growing vampups and need to eat a few things that are healthy.”

“Vampups?” Darla snorted. “Why didn’t you come up with that one a long time ago?”

“I don’t know. It just popped into my head,” Everly grinned. “Can you think of a better term for two adorable little wolf pups who happen to be half-vampire?”

“I, for one, cannot,” Lucy said as she placed two small tote bags on the kitchen island. “I have everything packed for you girls. I put a bottle of water in for each of you even though I know you won’t need it if you stay in your wolf forms. I want you four to have fun and be careful. I do not want to hear that Julian or Kevin had to go out and rescue you.”

Everly feigned shock and gasped as she picked up one of the bags and said, “Who do you think we are? Lia or Logan?” she laughed and said, “I promise we will be careful.”

“That’s all I ask,” Lucy said.

She kissed their cheeks before she watched them leave the kitchen. Lucy was worried about Willa. She could not shake the feeling that this little adventure would not go well and could not explain why.

-

Everly carried Willa, and Darla carried Isla to the circle clearing the dragons used as a launch and landing pad. Hidden in the trees just outside the clearing was a building designed to be used by the community’s werewolves when they wanted to shift.

Tyson had disliked the thought of his wife and daughter undressing and dressing where others might see them. Tyson had worked with Jake and Eric, the alpha and beta of the Obsidian Werewolf Pack, to design something functional and easy to use in their animal forms. That led to the creation of a log cabin-style building with large stalls. All doors were either swinging doors that did not require knobs to be turned or curtains for privacy. It was the perfect design and led to several more being built around Obsidian.

Darla and Everly sat the girls down at the edge of the trees. They took their hands and walked the well-worn trail to the changing cabin. Everly was the first to shift since she would be carrying Willa, who would need help climbing onto the back of Everly’s wolf, River. Darla lifted the little girl onto River and laughed as Willa buried her face in the gray and white wolf’s soft, extra-long fur as she lay on River’s back.

Giggling, Darla said, “I would tell you to hold on, Willa, but I don’t think that will be a problem.”

“That’s OK. River and I don’t mind. We both love it when Willa lies on us and snuggles,” Everly said through the mind link. “After the night she had, she needs to get some wolf cuddles and relax. Help me keep an eye on her. If she falls asleep, we do not want her sliding off.”

“I will be right beside you with Isla. I will also carry all the snacks, so all you need to carry are your clothes,” Darla replied as she undressed and packed her clothing in the bag she would be carrying.

“I won’t argue with that. You are an alpha, like Lia. Your wolf is bigger and badder than mine,” Everly teased.

“That might be,” Darla laughed. “But when I get my dragon, I’m sure yours will put mine to shame.”

Darla finished packing her clothing into her bag and then shifted into her wolf, Frost. She had black fur tipped with white, giving her a frosty appearance. Her ears, head, and muzzle had extra white hairs scattered throughout, making them lighter, and they had collected more frost than the rest of her body. While she was gentle and loving, being an alpha, Frost was much larger than other werewolves, adding to her fearsome looks.

As Frost got down on her belly, Isla pulled a small step stool to stand on. She stood on the stool before climbing onto the wolf’s back, wiggling around until she was settled into place. Isla gave her a pat on the shoulder when she was ready. Darla stood, gathered their snack bags and her clothing, and headed for the door. Everly’s wolf, River, picked up their bag of clothing and followed closely behind.

When they reached the clearing, Everly set a leisurely, smooth pace, allowing Willa to doze as they traveled. Darla fell in beside and slightly behind so she could watch to ensure their little niece did not begin to slip during the ride. Isla was content to sit upright and ride on Darla’s back like a horse with a saddle, looking around at everything. They knew that Isla would want to pick flowers and do things along the way and were waiting for that to happen.

“Where does your dad want you to check the ground stability?” Darla asked.

Everly replied, “It’s the hillside on the other side of the meadow that is past the spring Lia always comes to.”

“Which means it will take us a while to get there, and Isla will want to pick flowers in the meadow,” Darla chuckled.

“You got it,” Everly said with a sigh. “I can come out here later if you don’t want to go that far with the girls.”

“I’m OK with it, but we might want to make the final decision when we reach the meadow. We can shift, have a snack, and let the girls pick some flowers.”

“Good plan. However, from the sound of Willa’s heartbeat and breathing, you will need to wake her up when we get there,” Everly giggled as she glanced at the girl sleeping on her back.

Darla laughed, “I can do that. Sadly, Willa needs the sleep, but she would be mad, and I would not blame her for it.”

The wolves hurried toward the meadow as carefully as they could. They were forced to pick their way around fallen trees, rock outcroppings, and dry washes that still held a trickle of water from recent rains. The aroma of the wildflowers that filled the meadow drifted to them on the air as they got closer.

Isla leaned forward and whispered, “Can we pick flowers?”

Darla’s wolf, Frost, laughed as she nodded her head. She loved that the one thing that was predictable about Isla was her love of flowers. Isla was destined to love them. Not only did most little girls like flowers, but Isla also had fairy magic, which made her need to connect with nature. Her mother’s fairy magic influenced plants, strengthening Isla’s love of flowers. Picking wildflowers was a good way for her to have the extra connection to the earth she needed.

“I’m taking Isla on ahead. Will you be OK with Willa?” Darla asked Everly.

“We will be fine. I think Willa is dreaming. I can feel her twitching a little, and her heart rate and breathing have increased slightly. If she wakes up before we get there, I will yell,” Everly replied before cutting the link.

Darla slowly began to pick up her pace and pass Everly. She could feel Isla grip her fur tighter as she held on. They had done this often and knew Isla would hold on tighter as they sped up.

When they reached the edge of the meadow, Darla placed the bags she had been carrying in her mouth at the base of a large pine tree. She lay on her belly, letting Isla hop off her back. Darla hurriedly shifted to yell instructions after her niece.

“Stay close until Everly and Willa get here,” Darla said as she pulled on an oversized T-shirt and shorts. “Then we will take a break and have some snacks, and you and Willa can pick flowers until your hearts are content. Sound good?”

“Sounds great!” Isla said as she bounced on her toes with excitement.

“Good,” Darla grinned.

She bent over to pick up the bags containing their snacks. As her fingers touched them, a sharp yip of pain came from the direction where they had left Everly and Willa. That was followed by a growl and more pained yips.

“Everly!” Darla screamed.

“She’s biting me!” Everly yelled through the link. “Willa’s biting me, and she won’t stop!”

Darla gasped, then turned to Isla and said, “Stay here, Isla. I need to help Everly with Willa.”

Darla waited for Isla to nod her understanding before she dashed off at top wolf speed to help Everly. Darla arrived within seconds to find Everly still in her wolf form. Willa was latched onto the wolf’s shoulder, biting down, causing blood to flow freely and drip onto the group. Darla stood gaping at the situation in horror before grabbing Willa off Everly’s back, only to have the child break loose from her grip and land on the forest floor.

Everly wasted no time shifting and moving away from Willa. She grabbed her bag and pulled on her shorts before holding her shirt against her chest with one hand. Everly was panting and wincing as she moved, showing she was in pain.

“We need to call someone to help us,” Everly panted. “Look at Willa. We can’t control her when she is like this.”

Willa stood in front of them, snarling. Her eyes had turned the same color as the blood covering her face. Her fangs had elongated, and Willa showed no signs of calming down.

“What do we do? We are too far out to mind link anyone,” Darla said as she inched her way to Everly. “Did you bring a first aid kit with you?”

“In my bag, along with a satellite phone. Give me the phone, and I will call for help. I’ll dial the number, and you can talk.”

Darla took a large bandage from the first aid kit before handing the satellite phone to Everly. Darla covered and put pressure on Everly’s wound to slow the bleeding as Everly dialed the phone.

“Who are you calling?” Darla asked, not hiding her worry as she pulled the phone from Everly’s hands and waited for the call to be answered.

“Aunt Bex. Who else would I call?” Everly replied, not taking her eyes off Willa.