The following afternoon they boarded the plane and returned to Arizona. Even if they were absent only three days, Amy missed the ranch, it was now her home but most of all she missed Alba. She got down on her knees and laughed as Alba’s long rough tongue licked her face.
“I missed you,” Alba mentally projected.
“I missed you too and I worried you would have the pups without me. You look like you might explode.”
The wolf gently nipped her arm and Amy rubbed the spot. “I didn’t mean that as an insult, you are beautiful.”
Amy saw a similar look on Ivan’s face, but his was from a lifetime of love and it was a heartwarming sight. He turned on his heel, left the room, and returned in wolf form.
Ivan followed Alba over to her favorite rug and lay down beside her. He began grooming Alba and she didn’t seem to mind.
As Amy and Marcus turned to leave the room, Alba whispered gently into Amy’s mind, “The pups will be here soon.”
Amy smiled and told Marcus she was starving. They went to the kitchen so Amy could eat.
She had questions about her prospective change into a vampire, “Will I drink blood from the wolves?”
“You will be able to drink from me and the wolves.”
“You said it was sexual, will I feel the same way?”
Marcus let out a soft growl that Amy was growing accustomed to. “I’m not sure how it will be once we are bonded. I’m aware of one other bonded pair and they don’t seem to have a problem with feeding, but if it is sexual, I will be killing a lot of wolves.”
“Good because I will be doing the same thing.” Amy said with conviction.
Marcus grabbed an assortment of food out of the refrigerator and began feeding her. She occasionally took a small nip at his fingers. They were laughing as Amy’s bites got harder.
Yvette, the female wolf that had been shot, walked into the room. With a smile on her face she said, “Get a room.”
Marcus did just that. He picked Amy up and carried her to their bedroom. It was good to be home.
Early in the morning, they strolled downstairs to the garden to watch the sun come up. Marcus left her in their favorite spot as the horizon began to shine.
Over the next week, Amy learned more about the wolves and the life she would lead as a vampire. Marcus’ clan accepted her. Amy spent time by the pond writing and unable to resist, she wrote about vampires and werewolves. She was secretly in love with the vampire books written by Stephanie Meyer. Knowing a vampire in real life, Amy had to the laugh at the image of Marcus sparkling. She wasn’t sure if she could become a successful fiction writer, but she was willing to give it a try. That driving need for her next story was absent for the first time in her adult life. She was ready to settle down. She was brought up by her mother and never thought of having a family of her own. Amy’s father, a war correspondent, was killed overseas when she was only a toddler. Her parents had never married and her mother believed marriage would hurt her career. That was the way Amy was raised and before meeting and loving Marcus, it made perfect sense to remain single.
During that week, Marcus shared details of his many business ventures with Amy. She loved listening to him talk about his work. Truthfully she loved listening to Marcus talk about anything. She would get that dreamy look on her face and he would notice. They also spent a lot of time in bed making love. They couldn’t get enough of one another.
Amy knew Marcus and Ivan had long meetings about Victoria, but nothing had happened to disturb their peace during the past week.
Alba tried to stay by Amy’s side when Marcus was away even if only in another part of the house. Amy could see clear evidence of a pending birth and when Alba was laying on her side the movement of the babies could easily be seen. She knew Alba must be uncomfortable, but she never complained about the babies. What she did complain about was Ivan. The poor man could do nothing right. He was staying in his wolf form more and more as the week drew to a close.
Amy and Ivan went on short daytime excursions around the property leaving Alba behind. She was in her nesting phase and needed to be home. Amy enjoyed her time with Ivan and asked a million questions about Marcus. He replied to all but a few and recommended that she ask Marcus about those he was unable or unwilling to answer. She knew Marcus was extremely lucky to have Ivan and Alba by his side. They were loyal and they loved and respected him.
Marcus’ property was vast and they covered most of it on their outings. Amy saw wolves everywhere. One afternoon, Ivan told her to move slowly and look in the direction he was pointing. Amy could see the difference right away. It was a real wolf.
“Our scent usually keeps them away and it’s rare to see one, but it does happen on occasion.” Ivan whispered softly.”
“You don’t hurt them do you?”
“No, but we will chase them away if they get too close to the ranch. We are very territorial, but we have no need to kill them. They wouldn’t taste very good.”
Amy slapped Ivan on the arm and he laughed. They were becoming friends.
At the end of that wonderful week Ivan, Amy and Alba were in the dining room. Ivan and Amy were playing cards and using the formal table so Alba could stay by the fireplace. Instead of taking her favorite spot on the rug, Alba was pacing around the dining room and wouldn’t settle down. She finally left, going through the door leading to the kitchen.
“The babies are coming.” Ivan said as his eyes followed his wife from the room.
Amy felt a short sense of panic. The babies were coming. Would they be okay? Would Alba be all right?
“The babies, are you sure?” She asked as she too looked at the door Alba had walked through a few minutes before.
“Alba has been in labor for more than an hour and is unable to lie down. I can smell it. I think we are in for a long night.”
“You think you are in for a long night? I can’t believe you said that. No wonder you’ve been in the doghouse.”
Ivan realized Amy was nervous and it made him smile.
Amy glared at him and the grin left his face, at least until she followed after Alba. Then his grin came back.