KARA/CAROLINE

The next two weeks were a flurry of house painting and healing. William and I had painted the front room and master in the evenings, and during the days had been out to six of the local packs.

Healing all of the werecreatures at Fremont pack had been the most satisfying because I got to stand in the center of their holding cells and belt out my healing music, letting it flow through me like natural waves of the sea. It felt so fulfilling, but it was also the last time William let me sing freely.

Alpha David warned that I shouldn't let my true power be known out of Hightop. Even though Hightop was on friendly terms with the surrounding packs, David worried that some could start getting jealous. He'd had to deal with a little bit of that when he was a newer Alpha and my grandma's cousin was in the spotlight. No one came for her, but it did start pack contentions. He thinks I'd start the fight up again, and probably worse if they knew the true extent of my power.

So, from then on out, the next five packs I visited I pretended I was the usual healer and my hands went on each creature. They of course got their own quiet tune while I worked, so I still never had the tiring effects of draining my own lifeforce. It made healing take much longer than singing from the rooftops, but Alpha David warned that unfriendly eyes were everywhere.

Tarin lost her job as High Tech when Blake returned, so she got put in charge of getting all the healed wolves home. I was impressed with her. She was very accurate and kind. She even got the red headed woman on a plane clear back to her pack in Ireland. Tarin was a hard worker and always seemed to have great intuition, like when she sent me the bath stuff. I could see why she was Blake's replacement while he went to school. I thought maybe she could be good friends with me and Catherine eventually.

William and all the high ranked werewolves had invited the Alphas from every pack in a one hundred mile radius to join in a council meeting happening later in the morning. Eric wanted to coordinate a complete forest combing. They wanted every creature found and healed so this mutation would be extinct once and for all. It was a massive planning effort but seemed like it would go off without a hitch. Those with no creatures caught had at least heard of the effects and were willing to patrol their areas.

So that meant William and Blake would be gone all day long and Catherine and I were going to paint and decorate the day away.

Will opened the door to Catherine that morning and let her step inside.

"Catherine!" I laughed, "what are you wearing?" Silly girl was already wearing maternity clothes, front paneled jeans and a pink printed top that clearly had no bump to fill it out.

She looked down and fake pouted. "Don't you like it? I got it at the commissary."

I rolled my eyes and gave her a hug. "Of course I do, but you don't need to wear maternity clothes for like five more months."

She giggled with a squeeze back. "I know. I'm just so excited."

When we separated, Will smiled at her. "Good to see you Catherine. What are you two planning to paint today?"

With a sneaky grin to me, she told him with undiluted passion. "The nursery!"

My head tilted in question. "We already painted your nursery. Do you not like the cream color?"

"Not mine," she rolled her eyes, then stabbed us with her gaze, a finger dashing between us. "You two's."

"Catherine," I complained with a laugh. "I've told you forty times already, we don't need one yet."

"Oh come on," she then bent in a beg. "You're my best friend, you have to start." She then glanced to William with a dramatic wink. "Tell her we need to paint the nursery. You two are going to need it soon."

He chuckled. "You two paint it. Me and Kara will figure the other part out later." He then stepped to me and pulled me into a strong embrace. "Sweetheart I've got to go get ready for the Alpha meeting. Will you two be good?"

"We're always good," I told his chest.

He laughed. "I don't know about that. Blake's told me some of the trouble you two can get into."

I giggled and pulled away. "We'll be fine. You get to your meeting. You're not coming back for dinner, right?"

He shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry, no. We expect to be there late, and we've already told the Alpha's we will be providing dinner for them."

"Okay," I spoke, a mournful quality in my voice. "I'll see you when you get home then."

"Love you Kara."

"Love you."

He leaned forward and kissed me heavy, and I was well participating even in front of Catherine.

She giggled. "You two are going to need that nursery like yesterday if you keep that up."

He pulled from the kiss laughing and then placed a gentle kiss to my forehead. "Guess I need to get out of here then." And he grabbed his laptop and a handful of papers and went to the door.

I caught up and gave him another kiss and a good tush grab. He chuckled. "Bye Love."

"Bye. Have a good day."

Then the door closed and almost immediately I already missed him.

But a moment later, I twisted to Catherine and grabbed a pillow from the nearby chair and threw it at her.

"Hey! What's that for?" she laughed, knowing well what it was for.

"You're so mean!" I teased. "Don't pressure William like that. We'll have kids when we're ready."

She sat back on the couch with a bounce. "Oh puh-lease girl. That man has 'I want babies' written all over him."

The teasing air evaporated from my voice and I looked at the door like I'd see traces of the letters. "Really?"

She laughed. "Really. And anyway," she continued, "werewolf mating is all about having pups, so you know he's hearing the call."

"You think so?" I sat down on the opposite side of the couch.

"Yeees." Her eyes opened wide. "So when he comes home tonight, I want you to be all up in his face like 'honey, we is havin' those babies now' and he'll be all dragging your butt to bed."

A long laugh escaped me. "Okay, okay. Well maybe it could be time? I could at least ask what he wants tonight."

She leaped to the edge of the couch in a dance of enthusiasm. "Yes! Yes! That's what I'm talkin' about! We're going to have babies together!"

I shrugged soft but was wearing a grin. "Stop getting so excited. I haven't even talked to him yet."

"Oh, it's in stone girl. 'Kara is havin' Willy's baby' is already written there in granite." She mimed having a pen and signing our names for us.

"Whatever," I shook my head at her amusing nonsense.

We were quiet for a minute and then she spoke gingerly. "So... the boys aren't going to be home until late."

I turned to her. "Right."

"So what if we don't paint today?" Her brows lifted in excitement.

"What do you want to do?"

She leaned forward, like she was ready to share the world's best secret. "We're going to Grand Junction!"

"Colorado?" The new maternity wear had gone to her head. "You're crazy."

She laughed. "Pot and kettle girl. Pot and kettle." She scooted close. "Okay, so I did it. I found Mrs. Brock."

I startled straight. "What!? You found her?"

"Yes. And she's living in Grand Junction. It's quite a trip, nearly eight hours round, but I think we can do it before the guys even know we're gone."

I sat back against the couch unconvinced. "Uh, you sure about that?"

She sat back too. "Okay, so they'll find out where we're going eventually, but we'll be clear in Colorado by then. They won't be able to do anything about it." She squealed, "it's just a daytrip Carol!"

I eyed her. "You really found Mrs. Brock? Is she okay?"

A frown pasted over her red lips. "I think she's doing bad. She is super-duper in medical debt, but she's still alive. At least as of yesterday morning."

"You really didn't plan on us painting today, did you?"

She gave a wide grinch grin, "nope."

I laughed, "then why harass me with nursery comments?"

She looked smug, "duh, the boys can tell when we get all nervous and stuff. I get Will off sniffing out my lie, because he's looking at you being all cute and embarrassed."

"What did you tell Blake?"

"I told him the truth. We were going to paint your small bedroom, but we were going to go buy paint first. While we're in Grand Junction we'll stop at a hardware store. No lie!"

"You're a conwoman."

She looked pleased. "Yes ma'am."

I laughed, and then looked at the time. If we booked it, we probably could be home before nine. Then my eyes came to hers and she must have saw the sparkle because she squealed. "Road trip!"

We had driven for just over an hour when Will finally noticed.

Kara?

Oh, uh, hi dear.

Why do I feel like you're not on pack territory anymore? I turned to Catherine in the passenger side of my car. "We've been busted."

She giggled, and undoubtedly began bracing herself for Blake.

Probably because we're not on pack territory anymore?

Even his thoughts sighed. Where are you going?

To buy paint.

Our link was quiet for a moment. I'm guessing you don't mean to Loa.

Um, nope.

Kara, he groaned. Where are you going?

There was no need to lie now. Grand Junction.

His exclamation mirrored mine to Catherine when she told me. Colorado!? Kara, you can't take Catherine that far. Blake is going to lose his shit. He won't want his pregnant mate off kidnapped to another state.

We're planning on coming home tonight.

I knew he was rubbing his face. Well, you better be glad that we're on break. Blake's in the bathroom right now or he would have read this all over my face. I won't tell him outright, but if he asks, I'm not going to lie.

Thanks love, sorry!

He gave a grim chuckle. Hope you two know what you're doing. She's going to be in for it once he hears. And I may actually have to fight him if he thinks you kidnapped her.

It was Catherine's idea, really. We're just road tripping.

He was quiet a moment. Okay. I'm going to trust you. Drive safe okay? Will you text me when you get there?

I will.

Alright, well Alpha Sam just asked me a question so I've got to go.

Bye.

Bye.

Will.

Yes?

Thank you.

His thoughts smiled. Love you.

Love you too.

I turned to Catherine and burst out laughing.

She laughed too, our exuberance brightening the cab. "What did he say?"

"He says we're in a lot of trouble, and he may have to fight Blake if Blake thinks I kidnapped you."

"Oh my gosh!" She giggled. "He wasn't joking, was he?"

"I think he kinda was, but it was like he'd need to protect me from Blake's wrath."

Her hands covered her laughs. "Oh, he will not be coming after my Kara. I can guarantee you that! Mama wolf will be all up in his snout big time."

"Well," I tried to let my laughing slow, "you might be in big trouble once he figures it out. Will said he wouldn't tell him outright, but if Blake asked, we're doomed."

She winked, "well, me and Blake aren't under the absolute submission effects. I can sneak off without him feeling it."

"We better hope so, or we might have a big ol' wolfed out Blake running after us, and I can imagine that he'd catch up."

She made a funny face. "That's a horrifying thought. Isn't it?"

I nodded with a grin, wide eyes on the road. "Totally horrifying."

"Guess we better speed up then!"

And my foot hit the peddle begging the speed to go up just a little more.