My little brother ran over to me and I immediately picked him up. I got a disapproving stare from him but I ignored it. "Hi baby," I whispered holding onto him as tight as I could without hurting him.

"LiLi why're you here? Why didn't you come home," his baby voice was gone. My heart broke into little pieces, I wasn't there for them, I wasn't there for him.

"This," I paused not really knowing what to say. "-is a new place I'm staying in, remember I went on the hunt bud?" I finished my sentence and Beau's head turned to look at the Beta putting it all together. He was a smart child he just didn't have the resources he needed to be taken care of properly. No matter how hard I tried.

My nana was just staring at me, she looked thinner than last time. Even though her eyesight was bad I knew she was staring at the bruises, scabs in the shape of bite marks and the puncture wounds from claws. Her eyes portrayed her emotion of fear and so did her pasty white face. My Nana was the person who taught me how to act around the Weres, she was wearier than me around them and now I was the reason they were in one of the creatures lairs.

I looked over towards the Beta who was staring at my brother. I gave him a warning look, before settling my brother back on the floor. Smiling at my brother I leaned down and whispered in his ear, "Why don't you and Nana decide what you want for dinner?"

I grabbed the Betas arm dragging him into the sitting room. He didn't resist my touch, he actually leaned into it not use to me initiating physical contact. "Why are they here?" I whisper shouted at him.

His dark eyes looked at me questioningly. "Don't you want your family here? I thought it would be great to have them here especially while we start our own." I gave him a look that could only be described as a nasty one.

"You touch a hair on either of their heads and I promise you, you'll regret it." I walked out of the room without giving him a second glance. I could hear the low growl behind me but I payed it no attention. If I ignored it hopefully it wouldn't have an effect on me. The first sight that met my eyes when I walked back into the kitchen baffled me. Here was Emmett buttering bread while my little brother took out the rest of the topping for a sandwich. He glanced down at my brother with a glimmer of something in his eyes, not hatred or distaste, it wasn't a look that most Weres gave a human but I couldn't place my finger on it but then again I didn't really want to. I stepped up behind Beau and began to help quietly. A comfortable silence settled around us and I lost myself in normality of taking care of my brother until I could feel a hand snake it's way around my waist. I looked up to him to communicate my annoyance through my eyes, but he wasn't looking at me. His eyes focused on the back of Emmett's head, his lips curled back exposing his teeth.

"Mine." He purred lowly while lowering his nose to my head breathing in my scent.

Emmett didn't react to him, but he turned to Beau with a soft smile. "Do you want any sauce with that buddy? A few chips on the side?" He winked, the response he got was a giggle while blonde curls bounced up and down meaning a yes. Emmett and the Beta tensed at the same time and I could see the glazed over look in both of their eyes.

"I need to leave mate. You stay here you should be safe with him." He glanced towards my old supervisor with a sharp gaze. "Don't take your eyes off of her, but you are not to touch her." He snarled at him before walking out the door. The house rattled with the force that he closed the door with. I breathed a sigh of relief, he was gone for a while and I could spend time with my family without being so tense.

Bony arms wrapped around me and immediately I melted into them. I missed the security of my Nana's strength that I sometimes needed. She always had been the safety net that I could sometimes lay down in when I needed to. I knew why her hands tightened around me, she thought she'd never see me again. I understood this because it was the same reason I squeezed her back.

I opened my eyes and could see the shadow of Beau and Emmett pass through the doorframe of the sitting room and soon the noise of the TV flooded the hallways. It was strange seeing how relaxed Beau was around him.

"He's visited us a few times since you were taken," she whispered.

"Who? Emmett?" I frowned in wonderment letting go of her.

"Yes, he came around with food his reasoning being that no one else was there to do so, he also paid for my medication and took me to see a Doctor who had proper medical equipment." Her eyes weren't as harsh like they normally would be when talking about one of the Weres. Her eyes had a softness to them, but not the kind she had for Beau or I. It was only faint, like thick ice only beginning to thaw out. Her orbs held more then just that though, curiosity leaked from them and I'm sure the same could be said for my own. Why was Emmett concerned about my family? Who were of a complete different race to him. It was unheard of a Werewolf helping a human who was not their Mate.

I went to check on my brother and my heart panged seeing Beau relaxing into Emmett's side. His head gently rested on his chest while he watched Scooby Doo. I had already gained the attention of the more threatening figure in the room, but as I stared at him calmly watch the Television with my brother I began to question if he really was all that threatening? He clearly wasn't as bad as the Beta. He stood up but it didn't even faze my brother, he didn't move or even blink since he was so consumed with the flashing colors of the cartoon figures.

We stood in the hallway and suddenly I felt very small, Emmetts towering height and wide shoulders took up a huge chunk of space but I didn't feel intimidated. His eyes looked at me the way they always did, but this time I plunged myself deep into his dark pools. I wanted to understand why he helped my family in my absence. Emmetts eyes always came across as being cold but that was because I never wanted to see anything past that, it was really hurt that lined his irises. Then the emotion that had been there so many times before when he looked at me and I had purposely brushed past it, because if I started to believe it I would have to question the behavior that I wore like an armor to keep myself safe.

Emmett cared about me. It was the same tender look he gave to my brother. I swallowed a lump that had been building in my throat since I started working at the farm and noticed how Emmett seemed to always be present outside of the job. Following me home in the fringing of the trees as I would pretend to not recognize that he was there. The shadow that would watch me leave my house in darkness in the early hours of the morning and follow a few feet behind me. He had been watching over me and not in the weird stalker way that I thought at first but in a protective manner. He made sure I was safe.

"Are you okay?" His voice was low so Beau couldn't hear.

My lip slightly wobbled and I wanted to punch myself in the face for showing any sign of weakness. But if I was to let my guard down for a minute it would be to this secret protector of mine. I shook my head and his thick arms pulled me into a hug. Tears soaked his grey t-shirt but he was unbothered by it. "He hurts me all the time. I don't want my family to stay here. They can't be around him."

"The Alpha has been having meetings some of which I've attended about the Beta. Lilah you need to understand we don't behave like that. It's not normal behavior," he softly stroked my hair his voice still to low for anyone but us to hear.

"He wouldn't listen to the doctors," I murmured out. My face still pressed securely to him. I could feel his body tense.

"What do you mean?" His tone of voice changed slightly to something a bit more serious.

"He asked them to put five of them inside me, they told him it wasn't a good idea but he ordered them to do it. He had them impregnate me with five of his spawns!" I choked out, it felt a lot more real now that I had said it out loud.

"That's not good Lilah, this is not good." The panic was fresh in his voice and I couldn't ignore it. I wouldn't be able to ignore anything anymore with my family now here in this prison. I needed to be on guard and ready to protect them with my life. Emmett had been quiet for more than a few minutes making me feel awkward. I moved back slightly peeking up at him only to realize that he was in his trance due to mind linking. I moved away from him going back to watch over my sliver of joy who had a head of golden curls. I would sacrifice myself to keep him safe. I would kill to keep him safe and I would have no problem attempting to murder the Beta if his violent behavior was used on either of my family members.

As if sensing my stare he turned his head towards me grinning, I only now noticed that his front teeth had fallen out while I was gone. I wonder what else had I missed out on. I heard the front door opening and blocked my brothers small figure from the view of the Beta if he decided he was going to come in. Deep lines sat in between my eyebrows and along my forehead as I looked at the body standing in front of me. It certainly wasn't the Beta, it was the Alpha. His presence nearly filled the whole room and unintentionally he tied a knot in my stomach. Why was he here? The Beta had left already.

"From the look on your face Lilah I can tell you're overthinking. I'm going to ask you to relax for me, okay?" His voice was soothing and calm. I imagined his voice was like a soft plush blanket wrapping me up in safety and I didn't like it one bit. Just because I had a moment of weakness a moment ago and was vulnerable in front of Emmett didn't mean I was going to act the same with him. My eyes narrowed as I boldly stared at him. His lip twitched at the corner in amusement. Seeing his facial structure made me frown even more, he was a clone of Emmett. He was slightly taller with a tighter haircut and had a clean shaven face. "I can see why you're so interested in her brother." A grunt was the only reply he got.

"Are you here to talk to me?" I asked unsure of myself. My annoyed cold and unfriendly shield was back on and I was not ready for it to crumble.

"Yes I am-" he looked towards his brother. Emmett came into the room whispering something to Beau. He nodded excitedly running into the kitchen to my Nana. Soon all three of them went out to the back garden. "-I'm sure you're aware that Donovan doesn't act like you would expect a mate to treat the other half of their soul."

"Why? What way should you treat one?" I was in no mood to discuss the abuse with the Alpha. He was probably going to try to convince me it was my fault. Most of their race would blame me because I'm human, I don't understand the Werewolf customs.

"With love, respect and care." He didn't even think about it before answering me.

"Is that how you treat your mate?" I dared to ask.

"My mate is dead but yes that is exactly how I would treat her." I cringed a little feeling a little guilty for being so blunt.

"What does this have to do with me?" I felt like I was in a sand pit of confusion I was falling into it quicker and quicker with every word the Alpha spoke.

"Well ever since Donovan mated to you strange activity has been happening around the immediate territory. Do you know anyone by the name Philip Anderson?" The blood drained from my face as soon as I heard his name.

"Is Philip okay? What wrong?" My heart began to hammer against my chest not liking where this was going.

"Philip's body was discovered four days ago-" my hand covered my mouth in shock as tears brimmed my eyes. "-have you ever had contact with this man?" I began to sob while nodding my head yes. "Would Donovan have ever been present when you interacted with him?" I shook my head no while the salty rivers stained my face. He was utterly confused but I wasn't.

"D-D-Do you th-think he d-did this?" I hiccuped while my voice cracked.

"Well if you never had contact with the man while Donovan was present, I don't understand why he would have a motive to do so," he scratched his chin while looking at me in the state that I was in.

"He said if he ever smelt his scent on me again he'd kill him. But I haven't seen Philip since before the Hunt," I whispered out my voice still breaking.

"You had sex with Philip?" He questioned slowly putting the pieces together. The palms of my hands dug into my eyes as I nodded my head again yes. "Well that would be a huge motive for Donovan to kill him."

"How did he die?" My voice was clear and sharp. I tried containing the tears.

"I don't think you need to know it is extremely gruesome-" I quickly cut him off repeating myself again. "Philips body was found outside on the streets of his front garden with his head removed. His torso had been sliced open like ribbons and his ribcage had been cracked open, his heart had been removed and so had his genitals. The scary thing about this Lilah is that the claw marks on the body aren't any match to a wolf claw neither are the bite marks, they're extremely different."

"Donovan has been leaving a lot during the night time the past two weeks he doesn't think I notice but he always comes pack covered in blood, I thought it was animal blood! Oh god I'm so stupid!" I had slept in the arms of Philips murderer covered in his blood without even knowing it. "I don't want my family staying here. I want them out of here!" The Alpha nodded hearing the urgency in my voice.

"I can arrange that they stay in my house where they will be safe away from him. I'm assuming now that you're pregnant you'll be less likely to be injured." I hadn't really gone that far ahead with the benefit of being pregnant maybe it'd calm him?

"I would prefer it if they stayed with you." Once my family was safe and away from him I was content.

"Lilah I have a plan that could help your situation-" his eyes glanced towards my still flat belly. He pulled out small sachets from his pocket. "-this is a concentrated powder version of Silver. Maybe if you consume small doses of it, it could help you lose the pups in a discreet way?" He was uncomfortable with the idea of killing the pups that were inside of me. "We need to understand what is wrong with Donovan before we have another five of them in my pack." He clarified.

"Thank you!" I was astonished. He was going to help me. He handed me at least thirty packets secured by an elastic band. I slipped the packets in my bra until I could find a hiding spot.

"You should hide them well, somewhere he won't think of checking. You also need to eat it with food to digest it properly and make sure to brush your teeth and drink your tea so he doesn't notice the smell or taste."

Beau came inside with rosey red cheeks from running around outside and Nana was tight lipped knowing who was in the kitchen. Emmett looked at me and we had a wordless conversation.

Please take care of them while they aren't with me.

Anything for you he nodded.

The hall door opened and I knew it was him. I acted natural as if nothing that just happened actually happened. His heavy footfalls was all I could hear while I focused on my breaths. His hands landed on my shoulders a little too tightly telling me he wasn't to happy seeing me sat across from the Alpha.

"Ah Donovan I just arrived a few minutes ago I came to congratulate you!" The Alpha was convincing to his dazzling smile to loose and energetic aura.

"Thank you Cousin. I didn't know you would be stopping by otherwise I would have waited around before attending to other things." His thumb ran up and down my cheek softly as he was stood looming behind me.

"You'll be seeing a lot more of me. Seeing as Emmett nor I will be having children I think it'd be great for us to be involved with helping you and your mate with the pregnancy. Speaking of which I offered Beau and Diana residence at my home. Now before you say anything I insist they stay with me. After all you and your mate will need all the time you can get preparing for five pups."

"Very kind of you Rowan, how did you know we're expecting five pups?" His fingers pinched my shoulder lightly thinking it was me.

"Oh I rang the clinic to see how everything went today." I understood what the Alpha was doing. He was letting the Beta know that he finds out everything without having to really dig. There was no way Donovan could refuse the Alpha's offer either, he was the Alpha after all and what he says goes.

"Well it is getting late so I will be leaving now, are you ready?" He glanced towards the three people standing behind him. Soon he stood to his towering height. "I'll be over tomorrow to see if you need any help."

I gave Beau a big kiss at the front door and hugged my nana hoping I would in fact see them tomorrow. The Betas hand rested over my tummy the whole time we stood at the door watching them leave. The door soon closed leaving us alone. But what was I alone with and what was growing inside me.

Hey guys would love to hear your thoughts and what you would love to see next!

Go ahead and check out my other stories if you have time. Hope you enjoyed this chapter ~Ari