"Let's look at this logically..." Ben started. All eyes swung to him. He backtracked. "Okay, as logically as possible when dealing with Meryn. She's pretty surface level when it comes to her emotions. If she's mad, she punches you. When she's happy, she jumps around and tries to kiss your face. So if she said something about matings maybe she's worried about something else in your relationship."

Aiden gasped and turned to his brother. "I think you nailed it. I..." he hesitated and looked around. The men gathered closer. Gavriel rolled his eyes, the warriors were worse than the old women at the sewing circle when it came to juicy news.

Aiden cleared his throat. "I told her she had to stop interrupting our training sessions and I asked her about children again," he admitted. The men sucked in their breaths.

"Well no wonder she was acting out this morning." Darian nodded.

"Why would she act out?" Aiden asked.

"Because, my old friend, she doesn't like being told what to do and she is terrified of bringing a child into a world where psychotic killers are killing and mutilating pregnant women and their unborn children," Gavriel explained. He paused and let the words sink in. Aiden turned milk white.

"There's no way I'd let anything happen to her or our child," Aiden protested.

"Not to sound like a bastard, but wasn't she attacked at the Alpha estate like a month ago?" Quinn reminded him. All eyes glared at the young witch. He held up his hands defensively. "It's true isn't it?"

"He's right. Of course she'd be scared. What can we do?" Aiden resumed his pacing.

Gavriel noticed that this had now become everyone's problem. The men all frowned and no one spoke.

"Maybe we could install some sort of alarm system at the house?" Keelan suggested.

Aiden looked at him like he was a genius. "Keelan, that's brilliant! What kind of alarm system?"

"Couldn't we just get what humans use? They are easy to install and would alert us if anyone tried to break a window or come through a locked door," Gavriel said suggesting the easiest solution.

"We can do better than humans!" Sascha scoffed.

"We sure can! Oh, I know. What if when the door opens an axe swings down and cuts the intruder in half?" Graham, the bear shifting Delta Unit leader, suggested. Gavriel stared. Keelan, Darian and Colton looked at each other nervously. They had to live there too.

"How would the axe know it wasn't one of us?" Keelan asked.

"Good point," Graham murmured, rubbing his bearded chin. The men all nodded.

"Isn't that your mate's car?" Darian asked as the car in question drove down the driveway.

"Yes and unless my eyes are mistaken, Ryuu and Meryn are with her," Darian said.

"That's perfect. We can install whatever protective measures we come up with to the house while they're gone. Okay men. Let's head to the armory and see what we have to work with." Aiden started walking toward the small building that housed all of their weapons.

The men followed behind Aiden talking excitedly. Only he, Darian, Keelan, and Colton lingered back.

"We're going to die, aren't we?" Keelan asked morosely.

"All in the name of love. Come on men, if we're quick enough we can keep them away from the explosives," Colton said.

Gavriel watched the dust cloud settle over the dirt road where his mate had just driven.

I hope your day is going better than mine, zain'ka moya.

CHAPTER FOUR

"Oh fuck me! I forgot about the damn sewing circle meeting. Abort! Abort!" Meryn cried from the backseat.

"Too late, we've been spotted," Elizabeth pointed to a woman was waving at them enthusiastically in front of the house.

"Damn, that's Horseface. There's no turning back now," Meryn groaned.

"Horseface?" Elizabeth looked at the woman and immediately saw why Meryn had dubbed this woman with the nickname. It wasn't exactly kind, but very accurate.

"I'm terrible with names," Meryn admitted.

When they came to a stop Ryuu got out of the car and held the door open for Meryn. Elizabeth got out and walked around to stand by her friend.

"Meryn, dah-liiing! We didn't know you would be coming today. How wonderful! I was just saying to Daphane how we missed you at our little meetings. Better late than never I always say. Who is your friend?" she asked, turning to her.

Elizabeth plastered a smile on her face and held out her hand. "I'm Elizabeth Monroe. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"I'm Rosalind Carmichael. Monroe? You wouldn't be any relation to Broderick Monroe would you?" she asked.

"Yes, he is my father."

Rosalind's hand went to her throat in a nervous gesture. "Oh dear, what an honor. Come on girls, this way. I'm sure we can brew some more tea for you two dears." Rosalind picked up the basket she had retrieved from her car and pointed to the door. Ryuu stepped forward and took the basket from her hands. Rosalind tittered at Ryuu blushing. Meryn rolled her eyes and followed the woman inside. Rosalind waved at them and went into the drawing room excited to be the one to share news that they were coming to their meeting.

"Meryn, what on earth are you doing here?" a soft voice asked, sounding surprised. A lovely woman dressed in a bright yellow dress walked towards them from the hallway carrying a small sewing basket.

"Hey Mom, I kinda forgot what day it was. I wanted to introduce my new friend. We didn't mean to crash your sewing circle meeting," Meryn explained, unwinding her scarf.