I own Callan, Lakin, and Nick. All of the other characters belong to the wonderful Patricia Briggs.

Callan

I don't know why, but I feel like there's something terribly wrong Callan thought to himself. I feel like there is something amiss. I talked to my wife a little earlier so, she should be fine. I'm okay. My parents are long gone and I don't have any living children. My pack bond seems to be fine so it's not one of them. What am I missing?

Callan got off his horse and got a nice cool drink of water. Even though it's autumn it's still hot working outside, even for a werewolf. I guess I should get one of those ATV things with air conditioning, but there's nothing like riding a horse. As Callan was taking another drink of water enjoying the view a loud ringing startled him making him tense. He fished around until he found his new cell phone. He hated it. The only reason he carried it with him was in case Emily went into labor when he was in the field working. He looked at the screen to find a voice mail and a missed call from Emily. As he tried to call her back the low battery button flashed and the phone went dead.

"Damn it. Emily is going to kill me because I forgot to charge this thing again. I'll be glad when she has our son and I can get rid of the thing," he muttered to himself. He climbed back on his horse and went to go check fence. An hour and a few fence posts later, that feeling came back ten fold. He could tell there was something terribly wrong. He heard a familiar truck engine headed his way. It was Bobby's truck flying through the pasture slinging mud, headed strait toward Callan.

"What the hell are you doing? You're scaring all the cows," Callan shouted at him knowing he could hear me.

"Callan, why haven't you been answering your phone? There's been an emergency. It's Emily," he said in a panic.

Callan ran up to his open window and asked, "Where is she? What happened?"

"She tried calling my house and when we got back home and saw we missed the call. We called her back and she didn't pick up the phone. We drove over there with some baby stuff they've been talking about and we found her. She was on the floor of the kitchen by the phone. She was bleeding real bad. My wife's at the hospital with her now and I came to get you."

Callan ran to the passenger door hopped in and said, "Drive! Now!" Bobby put his foot to the floor and sped to the hospital. "Bobby, have you heard anything? Is she okay? Is our son okay?"

"The last time I checked in she wasn't doing to good. They're worried about the baby not getting any oxygen. I think they're going to do a c-section ASAP."

"She's not due for awhile. How can they do that so soon?" Callan asked.

"I don't have any idea. I think that's what I overheard when I talked to them last."

The rest of the trip to the hospital was silent. Callan was remembering losing past children and wives. He didn't really believe in soul mates until he found Emily. She was the other half of him. She made him feel more alive then he's felt in centuries. She was patient and took time to explain the newer technologies to him. He's always shied away from new technology. He was born old school and wanted to stay that way. She brought him into this century and still embraced his out of date way of doing things. He didn't know what he'd do if he lost her. "I won't loose her," he said looking blankly out of the window. "Bobby, I can't lose her."

"I know, Callan. We've got your back. Don't worry. It will all work out," Bobby said. Callan could smell the lie. Bobby didn't believe she's going to make it.

"My Emily is a fighter. You'll see," Callan said and bolted to the hospital as soon as Bobby slowed the truck.

Tearing his way through the crowded emergency room he cut in front of everyone to get to the main desk. "Where is Emily Harvey?" Callan demanded.

"She's being prepped for surgery sir. Who are you?" the tired woman asked with a blank stare.

"I'm Callan Harvey, Emily's husband. Take me to her now," he said with a low growl.

The nurses' attention perked at the growl and she took a moment to look at Callan. He was a handsome man with short brown hair and intense green eyes. He looked to be in his mid-twenties, but those eyes made him look older and wiser. He was about six feet tall and had muscle on top of muscle. The way he carried himself screamed predator just in case she missed the growl. Her eyes bugged out a little in recognition of what he was and said, "I'm sorry Mr. Harvey she's already headed to surgery. You won't be allowed in now."

"I didn't ask you to take me to her I told you. She's my wife and she's carrying our son. Take me to her right now," Callan said shaking.

The nurse was dumbstruck for a moment and said, "Please follow me Mr. Harvey. You'll have to wash up and put on scrubs before you're allowed into the room. It's for the mother and baby's safety," she smoothly added pointing to the scrubs and surgical scrub area careful not to turn her back to him.

Callan quickly took care of all the necessary precautions and walked into the room. Emily was laying there hooked up to several monitors. She was pale, too pale. They were giving her blood transfusions that made her smell weird. Her face was scrunched up in pain; she looked sick, and tired.

"Emily," Callan whispered.

Emily looked at him and smiled for a moment before her eyelids fluttered closed and the monitors went crazy. There were nurses and a doctor running around trying to stabilize her. They injected her with several things and restarted her heart twice. They did a c-section quickly trying to save our son. The doctor handed the blue un-crying baby boy to the nurses and continued working on Emily.

This was all so surreal to Callan. He'd lost so may people over the years but, nothing has ever felt like this. All he could do was stand there shaking. He was shaking with the terror of losing the love of his life and his son. He was on the brink of the change. It didn't help that the full moon was in a couple days. Callan just stood there unable to move watching Emily die.

One of the nurses guided him to Emily's side. They had finally gotten her stabilized and they started cleaning her up. Her skin was usually a golden tan, but now was unnaturally white. Her long blonde hair was wet with sweat with messy curls around her face. She looked nothing like she normally did. She was always put together. He'd never seen her without makeup as long as he'd known her, until now. Callan slowly clasped his hand in Emily's as he listened to her breathe and the slow rhythms of her heart.

"Mr. Harvey can I have a word with you," the doctor asked.

"Will she be alright?" Callan asked without looking away from her face.

"It's a miracle that she's alive right now. She may have some brain damage, but be won't know for sure until she wakes up. Your son," he said hesitantly.

"My son, where's my son?" Callan asked slowly turning his gaze onto the doctor.

The doctor flinched and said, "He went to long without getting any oxygen. I'm sorry Mr. Harvey. Your son didn't make it." He took a step towards the door when Callan took a deep breath. He started shaking worse than before. He was having a hard time reining himself in so he didn't shake Emily's hand he was desperately clinging to.

With watery eyes Callan said, "Get out and leave my son." He didn't have to tell them twice, they all cleared out. He reluctantly released Emily's hand to go pick up their son. They had cleaned him up too. He looked perfect. Ten fingers, ten toes, a head full of hair just like his moms. Callan had lost several children over his long life and it never got easier. He clung to the fact that when Emily wakes up and she's fully recovered they can try again. Werewolves have an extremely high infant mortality rate. She knew that it may take several tries before she could carry one to term.

I should have been home Callan thought to himself. If I'd have been home I would have gotten her to the hospital right away and none of this would have happened. He kissed his son and gently laid him back in the crib. He walked back to Emily's bedside and pulled up a chair. He laid his head beside their clasped hands on the bed and started whispering to Emily, "Please wake up. I can't do anything without you. I… I don't know what to do Emily. Please." He continued to plead with her for the awhile, until the machines she was attached to came to life again.

Several people rushed into the room and pushed Callan out of the way to work on Emily again. Callan started sobbing uncontrollably.

"Time of death," the doctor started to say.

Callan started shifting and yelled, "No, get out! Get out! You're lying! She's alive!" He howled and the alpha of his pack entered the room.

"Callan stop," he commanded using his alpha influence to make Callan obey. Callan was a lot older and he out ranked his alpha. The command rolled off of Callan without making him pause. Callan charged the alpha. Bobby was behind him and he started evacuating staff and innocent bystanders. Half way through the change Callan was vulnerable, so he did what has always kept him alive without fail. He let his wolf take over completely…

Lakin

"Oh, how does it feel having your ass kicked by a girl? Honestly this just isn't fun anymore. This is like taking candy from a baby territory," Lakin said as she continually pushed buttons on the PS3 controller.

"Shut up! It's just beginners luck and you're not kicking my ass. I'm letting you win. I figured if you kept winning I might be able to convince you to stay in town a few days extra," Nick said with a grin putting down his controller. "Rematch?"

"No, pick a different game or something," Lakin said and sighed. "Nick, you know that I have to leave the day after tomorrow. I have to get resettled for my last semester. Plus the shop called me yesterday and asked if I could start working a week early. I need the cash so I told them I'd be there," Lakin said.

She walked across her bedroom and leaned against the window frame. She was really going to miss being home. She watched the snow fall, lightly dusting the fence line that separates the yard from the pasture with the horses. It rarely snowed in Briggs Texas, but every time it did they always made the most of it. It was beautiful, the snow covered barn and trees looked like a picture in a magazine. By tomorrow it would mostly be melted, muddy, and still cold as hell. That's usually when we get the four-wheelers involved. Lakin wasn't a fan of living in her dorm on the campus, but it was necessary to become a preternatural doctor.

"Lakin? Hello…?" Nick said waving a game in front of her face.

Lakin looked at him and said, "Sorry I spaced out. What?"

"I was going to ask you to marry me, but the offers off the table with an attention span like that," Nick said and laughed.

Lakin smiled and said, "Oh please, like that would ever happen."

"Hey you're going to damage my ego with comments like that. My egos fragile, you know."

"I'll have to take your word on that," she said with an eye roll.

Nick chuckled and said, "We tried that route once and it didn't work out so well."

"I know. Do you remember when you took me out on our first date? You didn't want to piss me off buying me flowers, so you bought me a screwdriver and put a ribbon on it. My mom was so pissed off at you for not bringing me flowers. The look on your face was priceless. You thought you would have to worry about my big bad werewolf dad, but it was mom you should have been worried about."

"What? She was scary to a sixteen year old boy. Hell, she's still kind of scary. At least she likes me now."

"To your knowledge," Lakin mumbled.

"I heard that," Nick said.

"Heard what?" she asked innocently. He looked at her and shook his head.

"I miss hanging out with you like this. It's better than an hour phone call twice a week, scaring off my dates," he joked.

"Yeah I'm the one scarring them off," Lakin teased and he threw a pillow at her. "I know. You could visit me in the city. I'd introduce you to some slutty college girls. Wait, then I'd never see you, never mind. That would defeat the purpose of you visiting me."

"No I liked where that plan was heading. Maybe I could get someone to cover me missing a few days on the farm. I think I could make that work for slutty college girls," Nick said with a fake dreamy voice. Lakin threw the pillow back at him and he caught it before it hit him in the face.

"After this semester are you going to that super secret supernatural school?" Nick asked.

Lakin sighed and said, "I'm going to try. We can't afford it. It's more expensive than any Ivy League college I've looked at. It's going to be six years or so before I graduate. It'll be worth it in the end. I'll be one of the first licensed Preternatural MD's. I'll be able to help the victims of werewolf attacks, like dad, and any other creature we're allowed to know about."

Nick shook his head, "I still don't think there're vampires Lakin. If there were wouldn't they have come out of the coffin by now? The fae came out then the werewolves. What do you thinks next witches, vampires, and the loc ness monster?"

"We'll have to agree to disagree," Lakin said dismissing the topic knowing he was staying blind on purpose. She couldn't blame him it's a lot to process.

"You doubt Nessie?" Lakin's dad said as he entered the bedroom smiling. Wyatt Spencer was a tall man and a country boy through and through. He always wore a pair of Wranglers and black ostrich boots with a button down western shirt. His skin was a golden brown where the sun beat down on him working in the fields on their ranch. Since the change he'd lost his wrinkles, scars and grey hair, but he still had his farmers tan.

"Not you too Wyatt," Nick said. Lakin stuck her tongue out at him and he laughed.

"You never know Nick," he said with a smile. "Sorry to interrupt, but Lakin the pack has officially requested your presence at the pack meeting tonight. They want you there for a discussion. What did you do?" he asked knowing his daughter had a mischievous streak like his own.

"I haven't done anything since I came to town Dad. I swear. I haven't even talked to any of the pack since I got back. Except when Chase text me the other day and told me to stop by his house, but I didn't. I had plans. Oh, and when I answered the phone when Al called you. I don't know why they'd have me come to the meeting tonight," Lakin said. Honestly Lakin hadn't had time since she'd been home to do anything that would get her in trouble. It's not that she was bad. She just liked to irritate people she probably shouldn't to make a point, usually.

"They told me not to worry that you'd be fine, but I know you so I had to ask," he said smiling.

Nick looked worried, "You didn't give Chase any puppy chow or anything like that right Lakin?"

Lakin grinned and said, "Would I do that?"

Her dad and Nick both said, "Yes."

"Okay, I would. I swear I didn't, even though that would be hilarious," Lakin said giggling.

"I have to go finish some stuff before it gets dark. Please stay out of trouble Lakin," Nick said as he hugged her. "I'll pick you up tomorrow for your last hurrah. Call me and let me know how the meeting goes okay?"

"I'll call you and let you know. See you tomorrow."

Nick grabbed his coat and left. They could hear him telling Lakins' mom goodbye too.

"Why don't you date that boy? I've always liked him," he said leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed.

"We did Dad, when we were teenagers. We weren't a good fit. We lacked the spark that makes a good pair, like you and mom. You two fit together just right and you have the spark. Anyone can see it if you take the time to look. We talked about it and we're better as friends," Lakin said.

"I still say you should date him. There aren't very many nice guys these days."

"I know, but nice doesn't equal soul mate. When are we leaving for the meeting?" Lakin asked ending the conversation about Nick.

"We leave in thirty minutes. I hope you weren't lying to me about not doing anything that would piss of the pack," he said.

"You could smell the lie if I did."

"Not all of the time. Sometimes I know you did something and when you deny it, it smells like the truth. I don't know how you do it, but I know you do it," he said a little proud.

"You can't scent a lie from a truth, even if it's not the whole truth," Lakin said with a smirk.

"You shouldn't be that good at lying. Now I'm worried about you," he said in mock horror.

"I was a teenager with a werewolf dad. I learned quickly. At first you busted me every single time, then I learned the little secret of half truths and I've been golden ever since," Lakin admitted.

"You're too smart for your own good sometimes Lakin. Be ready to go in thirty minutes," he said over his shoulder.

Callan

Callan had woken up in a parking garage naked and covered with blood. The last thing he could remember was his alpha trying to keep him away from Emily and then it was all blank. He'd let his wolf take over and he still lost Emily. Bobby found him and brought him some pants. Bobby had been there as his wolf killed anyone who stood in his way. Bobby smelled of the same blood he did, but he wouldn't talk about what happened. Callan didn't remember. He only knew that his wolf was hungry for more blood. He had been constantly fighting him for control ever since. It made him twitchy and cranky. A cranky werewolf was never a good thing.

Callan was in a white van with Bobby, two males, and a female. That was all that remained of his old pack. They took Emily from him and no one could stand in his way to get her back. Callan hadn't lived this long to find his soul mate just to have her taken from him by a bunch of pups. He will find her and he will kill anyone who tries to stop him. The pack was terrified of him and obeyed him completely now. With the exception of Bobby, he'd been very helpful throughout the situation.

"We have to stop for gas if we plan on making it to Briggs," Bobby said from behind the wheel.

"Stop at the next gas station and we can take a little break. We have to be there in time for their meeting tonight. It will be the best way to confront everyone and see if they know where Emily has been taken," Callan said firmly.

After months of searching for a lead, they found their former alphas cell phone. The alpha of the Briggs Valley Pack was the last person the alpha had spoken to, so that was where Callan was headed.

When they stopped everyone got out to stretch while Bobby filled up the gas tank. Callan walked inside and started grabbing armfuls of junk food and drinks. Werewolves have a high metabolism and eat a lot. He walked over to the hot box that they had fried food in and decided he'd take it all. Between the junk in his arms and all of the fried junk that should feed everyone.

"Can I help you sir?" a woman asked.

Callan froze as he looked at the woman on the other side of the counter. She had familiar long wavy blonde hair and blue eyes. It was his Emily. He dropped everything on the counter and stared at her in shock.

"Sir are you alright?" she said concerned.

"Emily?" he asked.

"No, sir my name's Jane. Can I help you with something?" she asked.

"Yes, I'll take all of this food please," he said still staring at her. As she was bagging up all of the food, she kept glancing up to look at Callan. When he caught her staring she blushed and smiled.

Callan stared intently into her eyes and said, "I want to take you home."

She blushed an even darker red. He could hear her heartbeat increase rapidly. She hesitated lost in thought for a moment. "Hey, cover the rest of my shift please. I've got to go," she yelled to the guy on the register. Bobby was at the register paying for the gas and food.

"I found Emily Bobby. I found her!" Callan said to Bobby as she was getting her purse.

"Are you sure that's Emily?" Bobby asked skeptically.

"Of course it's Emily look at her," Callan said.

"I really don't think that's her Callan," he said.

Callan stopped and glared at Bobby. "Do you think I wouldn't know my Emily if I saw her? Was that part of your plan? Are you helping them?" Callan growled. He had Bobby pinned against the counter holding him by the collar of his shirt.

"Callan, I'm not working for anyone. I just don't think that woman is Emily and you've got to know that's not her too." Callan looked at Bobby for a minute and decided to let him go. Bobby has been loyal to Callan at every turn. His loyalty just saved his life.

"All of you go and kill some time while I go to Emily's. I'll call you after she gets her memory back so you can help move whatever she wants to our house," Callan ordered. Bobby tried to say something again, but he was already outside with Emily on his arm.

Callan was so happy to finally have Emily back. Bobby didn't know Emily like he did. He's too skeptical for his own good.

He watched her as she drove the winding roads to her small cabin. It was very isolated. The nearest neighbor was a couple miles away. Callan took his eyes off of her long enough to assess the area around the house. Small home, few trees, no close neighbors there's nowhere for a spy to hide. So, most likely who ever had taken her didn't keep an eye on her. They must have thought tampering with her memory would be enough to keep her from me.

Callan still didn't know why someone would want to take Emily away from him in the first place, but he'd be more than happy to ask when he finds the person responsible.

They got out of the small car and she said, "I'm sorry I'm so quiet. I'm just really nervous. I've never done anything like this before, but there's just something about you."

Callan smiled at her and nodded. She led him into the living room. He sat down on the old couch and waited for her to join him. I have to trigger her memory somehow, Callan thought to himself. If she has amnesia there's not much I can do, but if her memory has been magically tampered with that's different. There's always a way to break a spell. Callan would bet money that it's a spell. They wouldn't risk injuring her. For some reason they want her alive. Maybe this is a trap to get Callan where they want him. Suddenly paranoid Callan checked out the living room and looked out of the windows again. Satisfied that he's not being spied on at the moment he sat down to wait for Emily. She slowly walked back into the living room wearing red lingerie carrying two glasses of wine.

"Do you want to start in here or go straight to the bedroom?" she asked shyly and sat down the glasses on the coffee table in front of him.

Callan took her by the hand and said, "You shouldn't be drinking." He pulled her close to him on the couch and kissed her. She clung to him as hard as she could. Callan reached down to feel her stomach and he came to a dead stop.

"Where's the baby?" he asked.

"I don't have a baby. What gave you the idea that I have a baby?" she asked confused.

"You really don't remember do you?" he asked her. "I thought the kiss would break the spell. That's how it always works in the stories."

"What are you talking about? What spell? You're starting to scare me," she said scooting away from Callan.

He reached out and touched her face lightly. "It's okay, there's no reason to be afraid Emily. We'll take you to a witch and get this spell reversed. It'd be better if we knew what witch spelled you in the first place, but I'll find someone to do it for us."

"Shit, you're crazy. I always like the crazy and dangerous ones. Leave or I'll call the police," she yelled covering herself up. She quickly moved towards her phone. Callan was too quick for her and disconnected it.

Callan could smell the woman's fear. His wolf perked up at the scent.

She ran into the bedroom and went to her night stand. Callan walked into the doorway to find her with a pistol aimed right at his head.

"Get out of my fucking house," she yelled.

"What did you say? Emily wouldn't ever say something like that what's wrong with you?" Callan asked starting to get angry.

"I already told you my God damned name isn't Emily. Leave or I'll shoot," she yelled still holding the gun on him with shaky hands.

"You're not Emily," he said growling with anger rolling off of him in waves. He was fuming and that scared her more. He took a step towards her and the pistol went off. Callan looked down at his wounded left shoulder and he lost it. The wolf came out to play.

By the time Bobby and the pack found them it was to late. Callan was passed out and covered in blood again. Bobby ordered the others to start a fire and make it look like an accident. They had to keep the secret that werewolves are capable of inflicting that type of damage or the Marrok would see to it that they were no longer breathing. Callan was stone cold out of it and he probably would be for another hour or so. They cleaned him up and put him in the van. As they drove away the house was consumed with flames and it would look like an electrical fire. They were in the clear and headed to Briggs Texas. Bobby didn't know what to do, but he hopped the Alpha there could help him take care of the problem.