Page 27

"Right. Do you remember when you told me that paranormals can only conceive one time during the year?"

Aiden nodded.

"Okay, for humans, we can conceive every month of the year. For a human woman if we don't conceive our wombs shed their lining in preparation for pregnancy for the upcoming month." She looked at him and he was staring at her, waiting for her to continue.

"So basically every month my womb contracts, ripping the lining away from my uterus and I bleed and discharge that lining for about three to four days all while in excruciating pain." In fact, all the bouncing around had kicked her cramps up in high gear, she could tell this month was going to be a bad one for cramps, it figured.

"You mean to tell me that you are bleeding internally, right now?" Aiden's face drained of color. She nodded. He picked her up and put her in the center of the bed.

"What do I do? Should I get a doctor, my mother?" Meryn almost felt bad at his level of panic, but her cramps were making her more evil than usual.

"I'm okay for now. But I noticed when we were packing that I only had one tampon left and I used that this evening, can you run to the store and pick up some more?"

Meryn you are going to hell!

Aiden nodded quickly, a shell shocked expression on his face.

"Will they help? Should I leave you alone? Maybe I should have my brother examine you." Aiden paced beside the bed nervously.

"You want your brother to examine up inside me?" Meryn asked amused. His head snapped to her and he growled.

"No! Of course not!"

"Aiden, this is a natural part of being a human woman. The pain should subside in a day or two, then I'll be just fine. Until then I'll be very, very cranky." At least he couldn't say he hadn't been warned.

"Okay. Right. Okay. You stay right there in bed. I'll have Marius bring you up a snack. Do you need an extra blanket?" Aiden's concerned face hovered over her. She shook her head.

"No Aiden, I'm fine." She smiled up at him.

"Okay. Be right back. Don't move!" Aiden was almost to the door, he paused and ran back to the bed. He kissed her gently as if she would break and then raced from the room. When the door shut Meryn smiled to herself and curled up into a small ball as another wave of cramps started. Somehow, knowing that her badass mate was going tampon shopping made enduring her cramps a little easier than normal.

CHAPTER SIX

Aiden ran down the stairs, heart pounding. He skidded into the dining room and all eyes turned to him.

"That was quick brother." Adam teased.

"Alpha Unit move out. We have a mission." Aiden barked and turned on his heel and headed out the room. Behind him, he could hear chairs being pushed back quickly and footsteps racing to catch up to him. He grabbed the keys to the SUV from the foyer table and went to the start the car.

Minutes later his men were in the car checking their sidearms and pooling their weapon stashes together.

"Aiden what's the target? Did you get a call while you were upstairs?" Colton asked.

"No I ..." Aiden didn't know where to begin. The idea that his mate was upstairs in pain and bleeding internally made him feel ill. Whatever she asked for she would get. Clearing his throat, he continued, "Did you know that human women have the ability to conceive every month?" He asked. Around him the men shook their heads.

"Well evidently, when they don't conceive their wombs turn inside out and shed their lining. It's extremely painful and causes internal bleeding." Aiden took a shuddering breath.

"Do you mean to say that Meryn is going through this now?" Colton looked shocked.

"I could barely tell she was in any pain, she's very brave." Aiden appreciated the level of admiration in Keelan's voice.

"Human females are truly mysterious beings." Gavriel added.

"They are. She does this every month. How does she survive? Wouldn't she die from blood loss?" Aiden gripped the steering wheel and turned the car onto the main highway. At their current speed they should be at the human city of Madison in little under twenty minutes. He was sure he could find tampons there.

"Since it happens every month I don't think she'll die from blood loss. What's the mission?" Darian asked.

"She needs tampons. Evidently it helps with this process. We have to secure the location of where they are being sold, acquire them and then get them back to my mate post haste."

"You can rely on us Aiden." Colton's hand appeared from the backseat to clap him on the shoulder. Suddenly he didn't feel quite so panicked. He wasn't about to let anything happen to his mate and he knew his unit had his back.

Not soon enough for his liking, they parked at the local grocery store, Duck In.

"Everyone ready?"

"Yes Sir!" The men sounded off. He nodded and they exited the vehicle. When they walked into the store the cashier stopped what she was doing and stared. Aiden glanced behind him. Darian had walked in with a crossbow strapped to his back.

"Darian, maybe you could leave the crossbow in the car."

Darian shook his head. "No sir, you're distracted with concern over your mate's health. We need to be hyper vigilant."

Aiden thought about it for a second then nodded his approval. He clapped Darian on the shoulder.

"Good man."

Together the five men walked up and down the aisles. Everywhere they went eyes followed them.