The next morning a loud knock came to Adrienne’s bedroom door. Wilder didn’t hear anything but Adrienne sat up and pulled the cover to her breasts. Wilder lay on his stomach naked next to Adrienne. “Come in Drayton.” Drayton rushed in and stood silent. “What is it?”
“I need to speak to Wilder.”
“He’s tired. He had a difficult day.”
“Not as difficult as mine. I need to speak to him,” Drayton insisted gazing at Adrienne’s covered breasts.
“What do you mean by that?” Adrienne asked Drayton. Her voice calm and understanding.
“What’s wrong?” Wilder asked turning on his back and sitting up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
“You two talk here,” Adrienne said reaching for her robe and Drayton handing it to her, his eyes scanning her body with lust. “I have children to see to.” She walked out of the room and left Wilder in bed and Drayton staring down at Wilder.
“Now what is so important, Drayton?”
“I thought you weren’t going to take Adrienne until after she mated with me?”
“I didn’t, now get on with it. What is so important?”
“Lycell is back. But he’s hurt.”
“What do you mean?” Wilder’s body bolted upward and he threw on a robe. “Where is he?”
“Robert is tending to his wounds,” Drayton said watching at Wilder.
“You didn’t tell me how he was hurt.” Wilder said.
“He wouldn’t tell me. He wanted to see you. He needed to talk to you first.”
With a few leaps, Wilder was out of the door, down stairs, and into the infirmary. His room was next to Devin’s. He past his son to find Lycell lying on an operating bed and Robert working on his shoulder. Wilder stood looking down, exhaling, and releasing several large breaths.
“Is he going to live?” Wilder asked.
“Yes. He had a bad fall. His arm is broken. We may have to put him in the hospital. I’ve seen this kind of injury with the Alaskan werewolves. If it’s not set right, he may never be able to use that arm.”
“He can’t go to a hospital. I need to speak to him. Don’t give him any pain medication until I talk to him. Do what you can.” Robert shook his head at Wilder and walked away standing in the corner.
“Do you understand? And don’t tell Mena or Adrienne,” Wilder said to Lycell.
“I understand,” Lycell said.
“When will my son be ready to travel?” Wilder said turning to Robert.
“He’s up and about now,” Robert said giving Lycell a shot. “It amazes me how your people heal so fast. Have you ever thought about allowing someone to do research? I mean I could do the research here. It could be lifesaving for mankind.”
“What have men ever done for me?” Wilder asked standing over Lycell, his lips making a hard line.
“Nothing, I guess except save your family,” Robert said looking Wilder in the eyes, bold and without reservation. Wilder raised an eyebrow and his forehead settle into rows, his eyes narrowed as if to say, do you know who you are talking to, but he remained silent and looked once more to Lycell, and without saying a word, shot one hostile look at Robert, and left the room.
***
Wilder found Adrienne in the nursery. The six wolf pups were sleeping and Adrienne sat watching them. She looked up. “They grow so fast.”
“I tried to tell you that when ours were born. But that’s not why I’m here.”
“What’s wrong, is Devin Ok?” she said bracing for bad news, her hands tightening on the arms of the rocker.
“He’s fine.” Wilder pulled Adrienne from her rocking chair to him, holding her tight in his arms.
“It’s Lycell.”
“Oh what has he done now? He’s looking for attention. I explained to him, six babies keep me busy. He wanted them,” Adrienne said making fun.
“It’s not that.” She waited. “He’s injured.”
“Doing what again? I swear he’s like a child. He rides those damn horses all over the ranch. I told him that he could fall in a gofer hole and he didn’t want to hear from me. Something about me being a female and didn’t understand.”
“Robert is taking care of him and he’ll be alright.”
“Maybe we should cancel the wedding for now. I’ll talk to Mena.” Adrienne started to walk away but Wilder caught her arm and brought her back.
“You can’t.”
“But why?”
“I can’t tell you, and don’t ask me anything further. Go plan the wedding, you and Drayton will need to be in Hawaii within a week.” Wilder turned, walked away leaving Adrienne wondering. When she looked up Mena was standing in the doorway.
“Come in Mena. Do you know what is going on around here? Wilder is keeping something from me. Maybe he thinks I’m too delicate. I’ve had far more rest than I care for, I could be dead and never rest this much.”
Mena walked around the bassinets looking fondly at the babies. “They are all boys and handsome. I wished I had a girl to marry one of your boys.”
“You will be able to adopt. Then we will see.” She stood thinking about Mena, remembering how she felt when the doctor informed her that she would never have children. Boy was he wrong, she thought. “Now tell me what is going on around here,” Adrienne insisted.
Mena looked at Adrienne, “Wilder is afraid my father will call a war with the Samsas and the pack isn’t strong enough yet. The Oregon pack may join them.”
“But why?” Adrienne asked her voice soft. “Does it have to do with you and Drayton?”
“My father doesn’t know that we’re not married. We deceived him. I love Robert, and with Lycell hurt, and your six sons still infants, his pack isn’t strong. Wilder needs that time to get Drayton out of the way, and try to prevent my father from finding out what we did until all your sons are old enough.”
“Old enough for what?”
“To do what we are created to do.” Mena tried to choose her words carefully but nothing she could say would end Adrienne’s fears. “Fight if we have to for the good of the pack, for our family of werewolves.”
“I have to talk to my men,” Adrienne said with a worn low voice. She sunk into the chair. “What a mess for my Wilder to solve.” Exhaling, “Meet me downstairs in an hour. We have a wedding to plan for Saturday.”
***
“Robert, I need to speak to Lycell. Drayton you stay here,” Wilder said with a grim look.
“What is it Wilder? I hate when you look at me with those steely blue eyes it’s damn right scary. You look as if I’m dying,” Lycell said looking up at Wilder.
“You’re not dying but it will be a long time before you will ride that wild horse of yours. Werewolves have no business on the backs of another animal. I thought you were going to take care of that business. You were supposed to use the truck. Now tell me what happened.”
“Nothing. I couldn’t catch up with them, the roads were slippery and they may have gone over a cliff. I don’t know what happened. But I didn’t do it.”
“Did anyone see you?”
“Of course not. I was riding my stallion in the forest near the highway.”
“We need to get Drayton married and out of here in a week, if not sooner.” His eyes settling on Drayton. “You have to impregnate Adrienne. Everything depends on you.”
“Hold on Wilder. Don’t you think that’s a lot to expect from a man that has never had a woman?”
“I have. Adrienne made love to me.”
Wilder and Lycell traded glances. “And you didn’t tell us?”
“I don’t ask you two what you’re doing in your bedrooms. You shouldn’t expect me to tell you my private moments with her.”
“Well I guess you are ready, brother,” Lycell said half laughing.
“Lycell should get some rest. He may need it. There’s something coming and we may not be able to avoid it.” Wilder nodded to Drayton and then smiled and shook his head. “Imagine that,” he murmured.