She said quietly, as she pressed herself against his side, "I was so worried about you."

He put his arm around her and said, "I'm sorry." "I wasn't careful, and I can't be careless any more."

She asked, "Was it the mages?"

He nodded. "Yes, but we can talk about it later." His eyes went to the house, where Ellen and Rio were waiting for their guests to leave while they stood on the porch. He kept his eyes on the Carl. He felt deep desire, which was something he hadn't felt for a woman in months, but it was more than just sexual attraction.

Any man who didn't see how pretty Ellen Brown was was blind. He usually liked tall, thin models, but something about her lush curves and pouty mouth made him want to throw her over his shoulder and bring her to his bed. He wondered what would have happened if her brother hadn't come in the middle of what they were doing.

"Uh-oh," said Nancy, cutting him off in his thoughts. She looked up at him in a thoughtful way, and her green eyes, which were the same color as his, twinkled with mischief.

"Uh-oh?" Carl looked at his sister from below. "What do you mean uh-oh?"

Nancy smiled arrogantly at him. She looked at the person driving."" We should go home.

"You clumsy idiot!"

"You moron!" Gina screamed at Maple. They were in front of Eileen, who was as still and stoic as ever. "You got him! "The head of the world's most powerful clan, and he escaped!"

Maple dropped down on one knee and bent his head, saying, "I'm sorry, Master." "Our mage squad allowed Carl to flee. He was able to manipulate and overwhelm our people. "I accept whole responsibility." He clenched his eyes tight, as if expecting hellfire to pour down on him.

"Get up, Maple," Eileen said, digging her claw-like fingers into his shoulders. "There's no need to apologize."

"However, Master, I failed you." Maple seemed really perplexed.

Eileen gave a harsh chuckle. "Certainly not."

"Master, I don't understand."

"Master!" Gina shrieked. "When he could have murdered Carl Baker, he let him flee!" She turned to face Maple. "Why did you kidnap him and then let him go?" You should have stabbed him in the heart the instant you got your hands on him!"

"The Master told us to bring him back here," Maple said.

Gina gazed at Eileen, wide-eyed and perplexed. "Master?"

Eileen smiled cruelly at them. "Do you think I would simply let Carl die quickly and painlessly?" No. This was part of the strategy."

The visage of the redheaded witch contorted into a horrible mask. "Plan? What is your strategy? Why can't we simply murder him?"

"My beloved," Eileen remarked arrogantly. "Killing himnow would only enrage the Lycans' hunger for vengeance." When that occurs, the Beta will take control, and with a powerful mate, one linked with the witches, and True Mate kids, it will only strengthen them and make them more eager to kill humanity."

"So, what is the true plan?" Gina inquired, her voice angry.

"I've started making preparations with our new allies," Eileen said. "We will use them to catch , prohimmise his devotion to them, and then assassinate him after they have secured his legacy."

"Is that prudent?" Maple inquired. "How can we believe your new allies?"

"We don't," Eileen said emphatically. "We'll keep them near, and after we have what we want, we'll murder them as well." I have no tolerance for animals that would betray their own species for what purpose? A sliver of land? No. We will eliminate these 'allies' and seize control.

"That's quite a tale, Carl," Barbie said. She was seated on the sofa in office at Jennifer Corp's Midtown Nevada headquarters.

Her husband sat next to her as they listened to Carl recount the happenings of the previous night. "And Carl from Sun Rock!" Just before Nancy's ball, I updated our database, and she was absolutely invited. However, I did not get an RSVP; otherwise, she would have been presented to you and Nancy immediately."

"Well, evidently she decided to go at the last minute," Carl said. "She just came in and met Nancy in the restroom."

Rickey Woods smirked. "We need to beef up security, particularly because anybody can get into our events." As chief of security and Carl's Beta, he was responsible for keeping Jennifer and the clan safe.

"Well, she wasn't just anybody," Barbie reassuringly patted her husband's arm. "She is both a Lycan and a head." Your men most likely imagined she'd already entered the ballroom."

"Sorry for the delay," Knox muttered as he walked into Carl's office, Nancy close behind him. "Darian, Al Doilea," he said, addressing Carl and Rickey with their honorific names. Despite the fact that he was married to Carl's sister, he nevertheless showed respect to the two men, particularly at the workplace or among other Lycans. "Barbie," he said to the other lady. Knox was a Lycan transferee, originally from Winstor but requested to relocate to Pretoria to join Carl's security squad. When he initially came in the city, his first buddy was Human Liaison Barbie Woods .

"Nancy, you should have remained at home," Carl grumbled as he saw his heavily pregnant sister struggle to sit. "You could have dialed 911."

"Uh, please, I'm great, just didn't get enough sleep," she said, settling onto the soft sofa and resting her palm on her abdomen. "Knox, we should absolutely enroll him in football instruction." We're going to have a real kicker on our hands."

Knox sat down next to her and wrapped his arm around her. "How about if it's a girl?"

"You know, girls can play football too," she moaned. "If True Mate infants weren't sonogram-proof, we'd know."

Dr. Brennan found at the start of Nancy's pregnancy that the ultrasonography just wouldn't function on her baby. Aside from immediate conception , one of the indicators of having a True Mate kid was that both the child and the mother were almost indestructible. Nancy had survived a poisoning, and Barbie had healed from a potentially lethal stab wound. Unfortunately, True Mate embryos most likely had some kind of protective barrier that kept ultrasonography waves out. Knox and Nancy were apprehensive, but they had to believe that their kid was healthy, even though they were sad that they wouldn't know whether it was a boy or a girl until after the delivery.

"Anyway," Barbie started, "now that we're all here." "What should we do?" Carl, it's clear that the magicians were behind your abduction. What were they after, and how did they find you?"

"Well, there was a lady..." he started.

Nancy smiled. "I guess there's always a lady."

"I'm not a monk, contrary to common opinion," Carl said dryly. "The short explanation is that I was at Andres and walked outside to get some fresh air when this lady I met followed me and attacked me with some type of potion." I'm not sure what she looks like since she may have used a glamour spell. Anyway, I went dark. I recall transforming into a wolf and fleeing from the back of a truck, but the potion must have clouded my memory because the next thing I know, I was hit by a vehicle and laying on the ground."

"Did you have blood on your clothes?" Rickey inquired.

His head trembled. "No, and I didn't smell anything like that either."

Nancy speculated, "You must have terrified the snot out of the magicians when you changed in the back of the vehicle." "And you were most likely inside Stone Rock area, since you couldn't have gone very far if you were still high."

"We should look for speed cameras and maybe collision records between Pretoria and Carl's residence, in case they lost control of the car." Knox proposed. "We must then report to the High Council and the Witch Assembly."

"How are the discussions with the Assembly going?" Nancy inquired.

Carl shook his head and moaned. "I'm afraid it's not looking well. Even after months of discussions, the witches and Lycans are still apprehensive of each other. And the magicians have gone quiet, so neither side believes there is anything to be concerned about."

"I'll speak to Fay," Barbie responded, referring to her aunt, who was also the leader of her own Pretoria coven. "We need to make some headway in these negotiations." Hopefully, the abduction of Carl will be sufficient motivation to get things going toward a true solution."

"Right," Carl said. "Now, let's get down to business," he said to Rickey. "Rickey, you mentioned working on a strategy to beef up our security forces?"

"Yes, I intended to conduct additional recruiting drives." I'm sure there are many Lycans in other clans who would be prepared to move..."

They all listened to Rickey's thoughts, added some of their own, and agreed to continue the debate later.

"Could we possibly have some lunch?" Nancy pleaded.

Knox kissed her on the lips. "Of certainly," she says. Barbie, Rickey, Carl, can you please join us? I requested that Noah bring some Chinese cuisine to our workplace. There's enough for everyone, even two pregnant Lycans."

"Sounds lovely," Barbie replied as she rose gently from the sofa. Her own baby bump was visible, so she began wearing more maternity clothing. Rickey assisted her by putting his hand on her back. "Then you should go home, Nancy."

"I'm not due for another two weeks," grumbled the younger lady.

"However, remember what Dr. Brennan mentioned about being near The Woods Medical Wing this close to your due date," Carl reminded her. "And, knowing how the magicians are becoming more daring, I'm not taking any risks."

"Neither am I," Knox said solemnly. "I'll take her home after lunch," he said, nodding to Carl.

"All right," Carl said as he headed to his desk. "I'll join you in a minute; I just have one more email to send." As the others left his office, he sat down and turned to his computer screen.

"Carl," Rickey had stayed standing after urging his wife to continue without him.

"What exactly is it?" Carl inquired. "Is there anything you need to talk about privately with me?"

"I'm simply...concerned for you, not only as your Beta, but also as a friend," Rickey said. He approached his desk and sat in one of the seats.

Carl reclined on his chair. "All right, what exactly is it?"

"Well, I don't get involved in your personal matters, and I always let you come to me for help," Rickey paused. "However, the last several months have been challenging for all of us." Most importantly, for you. As our leader, you bear the weight of the whole globe on your shoulders."

Carl drew his arms around his chest. "What exactly are you saying, Rickey?"

"Well, you've been preoccupied and overworked. I sometimes catch you looking into space, pondering about who knows what. And then there's the risk of going to Andres and hooking up with random ladies..."

"I'm not sure what you expect from me, Rickey. Carl remarked, "You know how it has to be for me, I don't have time for relationships." "Especially not right now." You realize that I sometimes need female companionship as a diversion. You weren't celibate, even if you weren't with Barbie."

"Yes, it is different. But you must take action and allow me to assist you."

"Are you promising to locate me women?" Carl said casually. "I believe that's going above and above, even for a Beta."

Rickey laughed. "No, no, I'm just asking if there's anything I can do to assist you... Please let me know after you've gotten whatever it is out of your system. I'll be your wingman, just like in the old days. At the very least, if I'm present, I can defend you."

"Will do, but don't worry, I won't be seeing Andres anytime soon." "How are the improvements coming along?" Carl inquired, abruptly shifting the topic. Rickey and Barbie were having his whole penthouse remodeled just for the baby (and possibly future additions), so they relocated to her residence a few floors below.

"Excellent, good," Rickey remarked, "we're still on track to relocate in two months."

"Is anything else fine?"

"Everything is OK; the baby seems to be healthy and robust." Last night, he or she kicked for the first time." Rickey grinned, which was unusual in Carl's experience with him but had become more often in recent months. It was clear that his buddy was pleased, joyful, and madly in love with his wife. Carl was envious, but he was relieved that Rickey and Barbie had finally chosen to be together after 10 years. It was the one nice thing that came out of the whole mage situation.

"Excellent news," Carl said. "All right, let's go join everyone before Nancy and your wife eat all the egg rolls."

Carl left his office at the end of the day, said good night to his admin Noah, and went down to Jennifer Corp's private garage. June Abby, his day's driver and bodyguard, was already waiting for him.

"Good evening, Darian," he said as he pushed open the door.

"Thank you, Abby," he said as he climbed into the rear of the town vehicle. The driver shut the door and sat in the front seat.

"Darian, just back to The Woods?"

"Yes," he said. Abby started the vehicle, and it drove out of the garage.

Carl looked out the window as they drove uptown. He had a busy day and got a lot of work done, but now that his mind was shutting down, he couldn't help but remember his talk with Rickey. His mind was also occupied with a particular delectable Carl who appeared to have gone under his skin. Ellen had been on his thoughts a lot during the last two days. The aroma of her and her sumptuous body stayed in the corners of his mind, taking over his thoughts whenever he had a spare minute. He couldn't get her lovely lips out of his head, how they curved perfectly against his. Of course, he envisioned much more than simply his taste. He imagined how her bare breasts would feel against his chest, what she would taste like if he licked her till she yelled his name, and how her lovely face would appear as she collapsed in his arms.

"Abby," he cried out to the driver.

"What exactly is it?"

"Do you have your GPS turned on?" Could you kindly do a fast search for me? "I believe I'd prefer to go out to supper first."

"Of cours," Abby said as she slowed the vehicle and stopped to the side. "Where do you want to go?"

"Look for eateries."

The other Lycan said nothing and just obeyed Carl's orders. He typed the address into the GPS gadget and waited a few seconds. "All right, . We can be there in an hour-and-a-half. Traffic is a bitch, oh, I mean, it's heavy traveling into Stone Rock this time of day, is that alright, sir?"

"No worries. Go ahead."