KARA/CAROLINE

As Will placed a dried plate away in the cabinet over my head, he gave a swift stolen kiss to my cheek.

Giggling, I pulled away, and flicked dish water at him. "Do your job, Mister!"

He chuckled, nose scenting down my neck and arms caging my waist. "My job is to love you, so I think I'm doing just fine."

A shiver rose up my spine. "Will," I lovingly complained. "Just let me do the dishes."

He kissed just under my ear. "I love seeing you do the dishes."

I twisted my neck to see him, sponged hand stalling over the frying pan. "What's that supposed to mean?" He had made a lovely steak dinner, I figured I'd take the washing.

He stepped away and grabbed a cup to dry. "Not that you're my maid." He leaned back almost sitting on the counter as he toweled around the glass. "I just mean this house has only been me for so long. I didn't realize how empty it was. I love seeing you here. I'm happy I finally found my mate." He grabbed over my hand and squeezed. "It feels too good to be true."

I went back to scrubbing, my face trying to hide a smile. "Good answer," I admitted.

He put that glass away and grabbed another to dry. "Catherine and Blake get back tomorrow. Maybe you and her can go get that grey paint you wanted when she's finally ready to tear herself away from Blake. She probably would want to buy paint too."

"Really? That would be amazing."

"Maybe we can even start taping everything off tomorrow after council. Be all ready."

I rinsed the pan and then placed it in the drying rack and spun to reach my arms around his neck and held him tightly. "I'd love that. I'm so excited. I love the idea of painting my own house."

He held me tight, arms richly warm against my back. "I love you, Kara."

"Love you, William," I then leaned up and kissed him soft and slow, lips pillowy against mine.

But before I could deepen the kiss, or distract us from the rest of the dishes, a knock sounded at the door.

Will growled an expletive under his breath and strode to the front door. "I told everyone we were not to be disturbed."

Since we'd gotten home a few hours ago, Will had turned both our phones completely off and I figured that meant he was blocking any incoming links as well. I didn't think he could block them from me, so whoever it was at the door never tried to contact me. I went back to washing the last of the dishes.

He opened the door, probably ready to shout at the disturber, but reared in shock instead. "Jeremy? What do you want? I said we'd be back for tomorrow's council."

"I know and I'm sorry, but look, we have a problem."

"Get someone else to handle it tonight."

Jeremy exhaled loudly. "I can't. We need Kara."

Even from my peripheral I noticed Will bristle. "No. She needs to rest after her ordeal today. I will not have you begging for favors. Now leave."

Will began to shut the door, but Jeremy must have shot a hand or leg in the way. "I know she needs to rest, but we have a situation. Jack told Elaina that Max could be here, and she's going insane."

Will allowed the door open. "Who's Elaina?"

"Dan's mate. Listen." He stepped in the front room and Will stepped back out of his space. "Jack was stupid. He found Elaina and told her that Hightop had Max as a werecreature down in the basement. Obviously, she went bonkers thinking her lost kid was here. She came on a rampage and demanded to see him. Mrs. Whyte didn't know what she was talking about and asked her to leave. Elaina wolfed out and started tearing up the foyer. Mrs. Whyte called security and now Elaina is in Security's cells screaming to see her son. I told her we don't even really know if it's him or not, but she isn't hearing it."

I had stopped the dishes and was looking their way.

Jeremy's eyes met mine. "Kara, we need you to go heal the small mutated so Elaina can get closure. She needs to know if that's her son or not, before she does something that gets her thrown in the actual dungeon."

Will spoke for me. "No. She will tomorrow. Dan's mate will just have to wait."

I dried my hands on a towel and walked out to them. "So wait, what's the story?"

Jeremy relayed the background of his friend Dan and the healer line.

Looking up to William, there was a clear no in his eyes. I spoke. "Jeremy, will you please wait in the hallway?"

"Kara," Will started to complain, but I cut him off.

"William and I need to discuss this. We'll let you know our decision in a minute."

Jeremy gave a nod and closed the door behind him.

"We can wait one day," he already started.

"I don't think we should," I disagreed. "If it really is her Max, she will stop at nothing until he's safe with her."

He studied me for a moment. "Is it Max?"

I bit over my bottom lip in pause. "I don't know. I can't call to their inner wolves in that form, but I do think I remember some sort of familial tie. It was a small boy from Fremont, so maybe."

"You need rest after Lawrence today."

My lip instead turned to a coy grin. "Will. If that was really the case, you shouldn't have climbed in the tub with me, and I should be in bed sleeping right now."

He started his own grin remembering.

"Look, I've had a lovely bath. I've had a lovely dinner. And I've had the whole afternoon to calm down. I didn't go off to heal all those people in the cavern, I didn't go off to heal all the people in the dungeon. And I could have. I know my token now, so I could have just done it. Can we compromise that I do go heal the small boy tonight? And then you take me home? I do the others tomorrow."

He exhaled, thick brows coming down in concern as he pondered.

I continued. "Will, we know nothing of a mother's drive to protect their child. If you are feeling this way to protect me, I would guess it's that much worse for a momma wolf trying to find her lost offspring. Jeremy said she made a mess of the lobby, another day without knowing she could really hurt someone, or even herself."

He gave a simple nod. "I'd still rather you not, but I can see your point. I have seen mothers be very protective. And if she feels a third of how I want to be protective over you," he combed fingers through my hair, "maybe we shouldn't leave her alone."

"One small boy to heal tonight and then you carry me right to bed."

His lips lifted in a one sided grin, eyes starting a twinkle, surely imaging something other than sleeping. "I think I can agree to that compromise."

My beam followed and I leaned up for a kiss. "Good. Let's go tell your brother."

He grabbed my jacket off the coatrack at the door and handed it to me. "It's probably chilly in the basement right now."

"I will accept this compromise as well," I laughed and put on the jacket.

William opened the door and Jeremy smirked the moment he saw my jacket. "Whipped already little bro?"

William rolled his eyes and grabbed my hand already starting to guide us to the elevator. "We came to the decision as a couple."

Jeremy followed behind. "Kara?"

I turned back momentarily to wink, "I totally have him whipped."

Will had a wide grin but was shaking his head to himself. He knew it was true.

We took the elevator down to the main floor. Most of the times people only used the elevator when they had groceries to take home or someone was hurt, so I guess Will thought that meant me right now. I wasn't feeling the need to rest my legs, but it made him feel better, so I didn't complain. I was used to elevators in the human world anyway.

The rest of the floors underground we had to take the stairs, it wasn't so bad, but my fingers were getting antsy. My thumb kept rolling over my wedding band as if I was taking in energy from it with every step.

Jeremy left us just before the basement floor, going off to security. He'd wait for William's signal and let Elaina out of the cell there and allow her to come check if the boy was hers.

My heart ached for her. I really hoped it was her Max and not another child that got sucked into this mess.

We stepped onto the dungeon floor and as the sounds of the wailing creatures drove into my ears, I felt my muscles tighten, the healer trying to push me out. I had braced myself for the feeling, so with a deep breath I shared reigns, allowing my feet to be guided to the creature she could heal.

Will stopped us in front of the small creature and kissed my temple. "Stay centered. Remember to use your ring. Let the world flow through you, don't use your own energy."

I turned to him with a soft smile. "I will do my best."

He called over to a guard for the keys and put in the lock. "Do you need me to help you again?"

I was already trying to hold the healer back so I shook my head no. "I think I'm okay today." I looked over the small creature, huddled to the back of the cage then did a slow spin on my feet and checked out the rest of the werecreatures around the room. "But I feel like I might not be able to stop after one. You may need to help that."

"Then I will do my best too. Try to stay in control."

"I'll try," I whispered, biting my lip and then I stretched through my neck in preparation for the small creature. "Okay, I'm ready."

Will's hand twisted and the cage opened. It was so much different feeling in side by side control. I had to move my own feet, instead of just being blindly led. Maybe this timid boy was a good one for me to start with as well since he didn't speed to jump up at me when I entered.

Instead, he looked like I was the frightening one and huddled worse into the corner. And then I realized he was hurting. The power of being a werecreature was overpowering his little body.

I knelt next to him and set my hands on his coarse fur.

He screeched some unholy wolf call and head whipped back to bite me, but the healer was ready for him and one palm already closed around his snout.

And healing began.

I let the power flow through me, draining into him. I poured healing through myself and as energy gushed, I smiled, feeling his small body shift. First his feet grew into toes, then legs lengthened, body started receding in the covered fur. The boys fight slowed as his muzzle pulled back into human lips and his head rolled back against the far wall, eyes closed.

Placing that hand instead on his shoulder, I pumped in more healing as his spine straightened and bones cracked. And in another minute of flow, it was done.

My breath was coming in and out in deep pants, and while I sat and pondered the small boy with light skin and dark brown hair, I could feel inside me was different than in the cave laboratory. Then, I felt powerful and strong, like nothing could do me wrong. Now I felt lethargic and cold, even though I was wearing the jacket.

I looked over the ring expecting to see my ruby missing, but it was as beautiful as ever. Even with the new flow of tire, I smiled, happily remembering that the ring meant I had a mate who loved me and took care of me.

"Everything go okay?" William asked hopeful.

I turned to him with the smile still on my face. "Yes, of course."

He grinned back. "Should I call for Jeremy?"

I nodded and tried to sit straight and act like I wasn't needing to rest already.

Aaron, the other guard I healed the first day down here, came upon us in human form. His dirty blonde hair looked nice against the dark blue of the uniform he wore. He was holding a tan blanket and behind him two men were holding a stretcher. "Beta Female Kara, we can take it from here."

Standing, I stepped out of the cell, letting them arrange the child on the stretcher.

They had barely moved him over when Jeremy opened the door and guided a fraught looking woman down the stairs.

She was wearing the hospital grey sweats and flat shoes. Her dark brown hair was in a tangled mess around her shoulders and her eyes were wide and red with crying puffiness. Her fingers shook with anticipation and worry. "Max! Is it him! I need him! My baby, my baby!"

When she took in a small form on the stretcher just coming out of a cell, she gave a horrified bellow of pain and ran the stairs taking three at a time. She raced up to the stretcher and stopped in paralyzing pause as she took in the small form.

"Max," she whispered so low that it was barely lips moving and she fell to her knees, inconsolable sobs of pain and joy ripping through her entire body.

"Let him down," William ordered the guards, and they lowered the stretcher to Elaina.

Tears streamed down her face as wails sang from her throat and she pulled his unconscious body to her heart. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry my baby. I love you. I love you so much."

I tenderly stepped toward them and bent.

"Are you... Healer Kara," she hiccupped my way.

"Yes," I said with a warm smile. "Here." I placed my hand on the child's forehead and poured more energy in, calling to his wolf to wake, feeling more sands of vitality drip from my hourglass.

I opened my eyes to watch the boy's heavy eyes lift and take in the face above him. "Momma?" he asked in a quiet voice.

She lit like the treasure of a thousand planets was before her and a new wave of crying sprung free as she tightened his small body to her chest. "Baby baby baby! Yes, you're okay. You're okay baby! I love you! I love you so much!" Her hand glided over his hair again and again.

I turned to Jeremy. "Why don't you escort them to the hospital wing and have them both get checked out."

He nodded and stepped toward the pair, arms on Elaina's shoulders. "Come on ma'am. Let's get Max to the hospital. Do you want me to carry him?"

"No, no. I can do it." She still looked in shock that Max was there at all.

I couldn't imagine the horror of losing both your husband and child and reached for William's hand to help me up. He pulled me to a stand and held me close to his side. Are you alright?

Yeah, though I knew he could sense the lie. Just ready to get home now.

Jeremy guided Elaina with Max up the stairs and all on the ground floor watched their retreat.

William looked to me, a smirk now appearing. "Now, what of our bargain?"

"What bargain?" I grinned back.

"This one," he whipped me up into his arms and started walking to the stairs. "The one that I get to carry you to bed."

I threaded my arms around his neck and nuzzled down into his warmth. "Well, I guess a deal is a deal."