Chapter Twenty-One

Dakota

Despite my curiosity about where Cardian might whisk me away to, we hung around the house until Terrick was back to normal a few hours after Duke filled up a few blood pouches for him. After the donation was complete, Duke said something about speaking with the other Alpha vampires about helping out until the babies came.

"He's worried about my parents coming over if we don't figure it out," Scott yawned as Terrick slept next to him.

"Would that be a bad thing?" I asked.

"Not exactly. They'll be up in a week or so anyway. He might be worried what they'd say if they thought he and Blithe weren't taking care of me," Scott shrugged.

"I don't think that's it," Cardian shook his head. "I think Duke just naturally wants to help people. It's in his personality. Those babies," he pointed at Scott's full moon pregnant belly, "are his family too."

"We're all pack," I nodded.

"Thanks for going to get him," Scott said, smoothing Terrick's hair in his sleep.

"It started out as a search for a live donation kit," Cardian chuckled. "Duke just volunteered to help."

"Oh, those are under the bed," Scott grinned. "We don't use them, but they're there. Duke said something about taking Terrick hunting when he felt up to it. Something about now that he's a shifter too hunting would probably aid him in getting what he needs. He hasn't hunted before, I don't think. At least not since I met him."

"Eh, his pit hound will know what to do," I shrugged. "If he's anything like our wolves, he'll know."

"I hope so and I hope it helps. I feel so bad. I didn't even think about it and ---"

"Nope," Cardian shook his head. "It's his job to know when he's given what he can. It's not always easy to tell right away how donating is affecting someone. Sure, we're primed to feed our mates, but everyone has their limit and feeding five people is a lot."

"I do have blood when you guys need it," I laughed.

"Nope," Cardian shook his head. "Well, nope for me. Unless I'm dying, I won't drink from you. It's against the laws of nature. What Scott and you do, blood wise is between you two, unless you're pregnant at said time."

"Cave vampire," I teased him.

"Understanding the exact building blocks of why such a feeding on a non-emergency basis would be against the natural order of things doesn't make me a cave vampire," Cardian puffed up in a way that made me want to kiss his neck. "We have these little hooks on the cells that deliver blood to the right places. Those little hooks grab onto the right parts of the blood and make sure more of it gets used than wasted. It's different for omega vampires. It's not that it gets wasted. It just gets stored with other forms of energy like fat and glucose to help with heats, pregnancy, and chest feeding."

"Mate, I don't have any sort of hooks that I know of. I'm not a vampire."

"Doesn't mean you won't be adversely affected by blood loss."

"Wouldn't it be the same if I fed Scott then?" I arched a brow.

"Perhaps, but that's different."

"How so?" I asked him.

"By saying I won't feed from you in a non-emergency I'm controlling my body. By saying I won't allow you to feed Scott, I'm controlling yours," he shrugged.

"Fair enough," I nodded.

"It won't hurt you to donate to him."

"How do the hooks work?" I asked. "I mean, when an Alpha vampire feeds their omega mate?"

"I don't think the hooks are involved. Sure, maybe some of them get passed on through feeding, but as far as I understand the science, the hooks control how the blood is stored and moved. The genes that control them just work differently depending on the Alpha/omega gene. Betas can go either way and some have no hooks at all. Though, less and less betas are being born."

"Do you want to know why I think that is?" Scott asked.

"Yeah. A good theory is always fun," Cardian nodded.

"More of them are choosing true-mates in the Other World between lives. I think that betas aren't people who don't have soul mates. I think they just haven't decided on them yet. I think in between lives if they meet someone and they choose each other they get to have the true-mate response if they meet them in their next life."

"I like that," I grinned. "I've always liked that theory of yours."

Terrick stirred in his sleep and slid his hand over Scott's belly. He moved it around stopping here and there.

"He's counting the puppies. At least, that's what he claims he's doing. He swears he can feel them through my skin," Scott grinned.

"He can probably feel their energy," Cardian suggested.

"Maybe it's his pit hound who feels their energy," I added on.

"Could be," Cardian nodded.

"You two are adorable together," Scott grinned. "We'll be okay if you guys want to go ahead and start your matingmoon."

"I'm making sure he's okay before we take off." Cardian said. "Once we go unless an emergency happens…" he let his word trail off.

"I don't blame you. I can't believe you two have waited this long," he said and glanced at me. "If you wait much longer, you'll get slapped with heat."

I bit my cheeks to keep from smiling. I could think of worse fates than being trapped in a house with Cardian for a week to romp. Though, I was getting close if the idea of an uncomfortable heat that tried to boil my brain, sounded appealing.

"I'm alive," Terrick murmured, half asleep.

"And Duke will be back to check on everything this evening too," Scott added on.

"We love you guys," Terrick yawned.

"But we're okay. We appreciate everything you've done to help us and will do, but we don't want to be the reason you guys are miserable and putting off your claiming vows. If something happens we'll let you know over the pack link or send someone to tell you, if you're not answering there," Scott said, running his fingers through Terrick's hair again.

"And if you go into labor, you'll get me, right?" I asked.

"Of course! Seriously, Dakota. We'll be okay," Scott said.

Cardian glanced at Terrick who cocked his head to the side as if listening to something. For a moment, I thought they heard more dead things but then realized they were discussing things over their family link.

"Come on," Cardian said, taking my hand in his.

"Do I need to pack?" I asked.

"We're not going that far," Cardian shook his head.

"Do they know where we're going?" I asked as he led me down the hallway.

"I told Terrick. Though, I don't think anyone would have trouble finding out. I'm sure Bobby or Liam would tell them if there was an emergency, if they didn't sniff us out themselves."