KARA/CAROLINE

We'd slowly fallen into routine over the next three months. The werecreatures were all healed, as best as we could find. At least we hadn't made any new creature discoveries in the last two months, so we were assuming they were all gone. But we were ready if any others popped up.

My dad was as ecstatic as I imagined he'd be, learning about his new grandbaby on the way, and was there as a witness when we got our real marriage certificate when the representative showed up at the pack again.

Rick was settling into the new wolf life better than I would have imagined. He had offered his old apartment in Seattle for anyone wanting to go on vacation, or to stay and go to school there. I think Bree and Jeremy were planning on using it for their upcoming honeymoon trip.

Rick was truly trying to turn a leaf to being a better person. He was down to one last scar now and really trying to be civil with William and I. I think his ultimate plan was to transfer to Fremont once he was finally fully forgiven though. They had more need for a doctor than Hightop, and he had a good medical background, for werewolves at least.

He agreed when, with his money, we'd put in a spectacular playground for all the children of the pack, right next to a new dog run and obstacle training course. All the children loved the new play area, and all marveled at the new pets. Those dogs got more attention than they knew what to do with. They even learned to love the word Hightop.

As for me, I've grown into my gift and have been able to control it quite well. In fact, my singing was now a morning ritual for the pack.

It was nicer than running off to the hospital every day, and gave everyone a boost, not just the really sick. Sure, I sped off for emergencies, but most of the time I just wandered the halls in the morning for a half an hour.

This morning was the musical Oklahoma. Again. It was my favorite to sing, especially seeing how beautiful the early hours looked from over the amazing Fish Lake forest treetops.

Little Lexi Kedge was ready at the beginning of fourth floor hallway B, all alone, as was her typical morning routine. She pouted as soon as she realized I was not singing Disney songs today. They were obviously her favorite.

William squeezed into my hand and then dropped it in favor of picking the little girl up and putting her on his shoulders, like usual.

No matter how sad she looked only a moment before, she was full of giggles and happy squeals then. Her hands wrapped around his forehead and she waved to any apartments that had families standing in their doorway eager to get the morning pick me up.

A healing song. The ultimate morning cup of coffee.

♪ Oh what a beautiful morning, Oh what a beautiful day,

I've got a wonderful feeling, everything's going my way! ♪

When the healer of my inner wolf brightened my eyes, I stopped at one open doorway and a lovely young mom with pink tips in her hair held a blue bundle out. I hadn't met her yet, but I'd seen her face passing this hallway in the morning every day. A new mom would definitely be needing an every morning healing song.

I grabbed the wrapped baby and rocked the sweet boy in my arms a moment, switching my projecting voice for a shallow whisper and watched as his fevered cheeks lightened until just a sweet hint of baby pink remained.

I held the infant for a moment longer, and one of William's arms came around me in loving support. His other arm was still steadying Lexi or his hand would almost certainly be over my stomach. He loved placing his hand there, giving his heat to our expected. I was excited to be a mother, but he was over the moon with joy, and it made me so grateful that we'd found each other, even if it took two decades.

I handed the baby back to the mother and she smiled, her dark circles finally lightening with the whispered music.

The three of us continued the rest of the hall, with my song strong for all to hear and when we got to Lexi's home we passed her off to her mother and then William fist bumped with Lexi's brother Liam.

I think it was fun for the children around the pack to see William come with me and acknowledge them too.

We waved goodbye to the Kedge's and then went on the rest of the hallway to the stairwell.

When my song came to a close and we started down the steps, Will grabbed my hand in his again. "You're going to make a wonderful mother. I love to watch you with the children."

I gave a grin up to him and kissed his cheek. "I can't wait to see you as a father too. Kids love you."

He chuckled and looked back up to the last landing. "At least Lexi does."

I snickered back. "It's all the kids, just Lexi is the most outgoing when it comes to the astonishing beta."

Blake's enthusiastic link then bounced between us. Beta! Healer! I did it! I finally cracked DOSS's security code! I can see Lawrence's trial. Hurry!

We'll be right there. William answered.

We both sprinted down the stairs and ran for Blake's office in the control room. Blake had been trying to get into DOSS's system for days.

He had the door opened for us and Eric was already there looking over his shoulder.

His room looked like some futuristic astronaut's office. Four regular sized computer monitors were positioned around him in an arc, with a giant screen right in front of him. Blue lights flickered from his keyboard and computer box and all kinds of electronic devices were hanging from the walls from speakers to wires to hard drives to things I didn't even have names for.

He was the epitome of movie type hacker. I guess he'd have to be to keep werewolves off the internet with everyone having a camera in their pocket nowadays. Catherine said he was always really good with computers, but technology was moving so fast that he decided to go to school for a bit more in depth training.

William pulled up a chair for us and I leaned forward to the large screen in front. "This is Melvin's hearing?"

Blake nodded, massive headset bobbing. "Yes. Jeremy and Garrett are there testifying, so I was able to hack the cameras in the room based on their location. But darn, if it wasn't still tough. DOSS's got some good protection. Oh, it looks like it's almost to the final verdict, so I got through just in time."

We quieted as we watched.

The courtroom was large, and head to toe in brown paneled wood. Long white lights like glass lanterns hung from the ceiling and across the back wall was a massive American flag. To the left were the jury box with golden chairs and then the high judge's stand.

Garrett and Jeremy were seated in long pews with lots of other people to the right.

Melvin Lawrence was sitting at a wooden desk in the center looking furious. His skin still sagged, but there was a fire in his eyes that wasn't there when he was hovering over me in his lab. An oxygen tank was still glued close to him, threading the tube under his pointed nose.

A guard announced the judge, and he came in from a door near his booth. He had dark skin and harsh eyes, dressed in the black gown you'd expect a judge in. The crowd rose for him and he took his seat.

Ten minutes of business past as those of us in Blake's office waited with bated breath. Even Catherine found herself there, now sitting on Blake's lap.

When it was finally time for the jury to read their verdict, juror one stood. A woman with hair waved like she was from the forties and wearing a pressed brown pant suit held a clipboard before her. She had a tight and toneless sound as she spoke. "In the case of Melvin Lawrence verses The Department of Supernatural Security, Dr. Lawrence has been charged with: murder-first degree, extortion and embezzlement of government funds, corruption, abduction..." and she went on and on with multiple charges.

William's arm came around my shoulder and he rubbed tenderly. "Breathe sweetheart."

I nodded and took a breath, not realizing I was holding it. My lip was nearly bursting under the pressure of my teeth.

The juror continued. "We the jury, find the defendant guilty on all accounts."

Our small room erupted with delighted cheers at the same time that Melvin erupted in rage.

He stood with the power of a weightlifter. "NO! You can't lock me up! We need to find the healer! We can use her and cure cancer! Cure everything!"

"There is no healer," the judge spoke in a huff. "We have been over the evidence again and again. The Fremont line is dead. Even almost extinct with your incompetence."

"No! She's real! What about the girl from the certificates?"

You can tell the judge's patience was wearing thin. "Michelle Sidney is from Sharp Mountain Pack, not Fremont. And she is most definitely a werewolf, not a healer."

"I mean the other one!" He cried and a military man came and shoved him back into his seat.

"You identified Michelle Sidney as the one who you abducted."

He grimaced. "I know that, but how am I supposed to remember what she looked like. Their species is all the same!"

I turned to William. "Michelle was the girl we sat next to trying to get the marriage certificate."

He nodded. "And she did look similar to you. Much younger, but same strawberry blonde hair."

We turned back to the screen in horror when my name was spoken.

"Caroline Peter's is a human and from Seattle. Still not from Fremont."

"What!" I cried in a rush. "They know we were there?! We didn't write our names or anything!"

Blake shrugged. "They have thermal imaging cameras and facial recognition and who knows what other kind of tech the basic population doesn't know about, everywhere in that compound. They probably identified you two when you were still five blocks away."

William's arm tightened around me protectively, but he didn't say anything.

Melvin continued his rant, the speakers squeaking to keep up. "It was her! She was the one who healed me!"

The judge's fingertips tapped on his desk. "Dr. Lawrence. We had eight cameras on them in that single hallway and they stopped right were the guard left them and never moved. They spoke together as a couple. I will repeat the evidence again, that they did not put their hands on you. They did not, in fact, come even inside your room."

"Well how do you explain my lung cancer being gone!?"

"The cancer in your brain and leg are still active. The lung cancer has gone into remission, just like it has in years past."

"You're wrong! She healed it! It got better that day!"

The judge sat back in his chair, rocking. "She is not a supernatural healer. Miss Peter's is a fully licensed veterinarian. She has helped cure the disease. We have heard testimony from one of the creatures you created. Mr. Jeremy Merris has given full testimony, under oath, that werewolf bodies can heal the disease and that with competent medical care, her competent medical care, they were all able to make a full recovery."

I looked back to the small figure of Jeremy in the background. He looked incredibly pleased with himself.

Eric chuckled. "Good for you Jeremy. He absolutely told the truth. It might have taken ten more years, but I'm betting werewolves could heal."

"No! It's her I tell you. Don't you understand?! She's the healer. The cameras even showed she had an elevated temperature! She's not a human!"

The judge sighed. "All lycan mated humans have an increase in core temperature. It happens once the wolf imprints so that the human can accept the wolf's touch. We have already discussed this."

"It is her!"

"Dr. Lawrence. This is not time to build your case. You have already been sentenced." He looked around the room and to a guard. "Dr. Melvin Lawrence. You are pronounced guilty by fair and just order. You will be taken to our cells and readied for life punishment. This case is dismissed." He banged a gavel and Lawrence went into a frenzy, oxygen tube flying.

Two guards raced forward and caught him by the arms and started dragging him out through a side door.

Catherine turned back, a smile large on her face and tears studding her eyes. "That's it. He's guilty."

Blake twisted his gamer chair back to us and nodded, rubbing over Catherine's arms. "Life sentence. Sounds like you've got your justice."

I looked at William, a glossiness blurring my eyes. "Life. We did it. He won't hurt anyone anymore."

"No Love. You did it," and right there in front of all the watchers, kissed me with all the relief he felt.

Melvin would never harm another wolf again.

Melvin would never harm my wolves again.

I pulled away from the kiss and smiled at the faces surrounding me. The people I considered my best friends in the world. Sure, we have had our own trials and I was certain more trials would come in the future, but we would always make it through. With these friends, right here, some friends old and friends new, we would be able to do it together.

the end