I shook my head. I had to think of what I would say next. I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “When the goddess was giving me power, I felt something.”

He cupped my cheek. “Tell me.” The trust and devotion in his eyes settled me.

“My babe.” His breath caught.

“You’re pregnant with my pup?” I shook my head.

“Shush. Just listen.” I grabbed his hands. “When the goddess was filling me with power, when it reached my stomach, I felt it. The flutter of life.” I struggled to find the words. “But it was familiar. One I had grown to know, one I had memorized.” His brow furrowed.

“You aren’t making much sense. All babies move the same.” He tried to make sense of my jumbled words.

I shook my head. “In my first life.” I think in that moment he started to understand, and his face turned a little sad.

“What are you saying, Amy?” Toya’s voice was soft, but I could feel her behind me.

I shook my head. “I’m just going to say it out loud, and then we can argue about the ridiculousness of it.” Rowan waited patiently for me to figure out my thoughts. “The Moon Goddess said it wasn’t a guarantee, more like a prize, but I felt the flutter. The life that she was offering. If we manage to beat this back, if I do what she needs me to do, I can get back my son.”

Rowan swallowed past a lump in his throat. “Your son with Brandon?”

I shook my head and grabbed his hands that he was pulling away. “No. He wouldn’t be my son with Brandon, but our son. Our love. Our passion. Our blood, sweat, and tears. But his soul. The life cut too short, reborn in safety and love.”

He tilted his head. “So you’re not saying you have to mate with Brandon?”

I threw back my head and laughed. “Goddess no!” I wrapped my hands around his face. “The only time I will ever touch Brandon again will be when I am ripping his tongue from his mouth.”

Rowan smiled. “Our babe, our son.”

I nodded. “If we can get through this.”

He leaned in. “Well then, let’s finish here so we can make a pup.” He winked at me before he snagged a kiss from my lips.

“While this is all good and lovely, can we finish this? I have a bad feeling brewing.” Rick tried to sound joyful, but I felt the dread creep back in.

“Sorry.” I grabbed the shovel that Toya was holding.

“Don’t apologize.” Toya cut Rick a look. “Finding out you have a chance at getting your child back is momentous.”

Rick held up his hands. “It is.” He looked down at the grave. “I’m really not trying to ruin that for you, but we have one friend dead. More deaths are likely on the horizon, by the feeling in my chest. And I know I’ll have to leave my mate and kid here once again. And I’m pretty sure the shield is gone.”

His words hit all of us. “He’s right.” I cut in before anyone else could argue. “The shield will rebuild, slowly. That’s why my mother, Wendy, and Shelly are staying here with the girls, so they can run to the other house if they need to.” I met his gaze. “But the rogues here are gone, and the Moon Goddess said she would watch over the ones we left here.” I watched Rick’s worries melt away. “What we have to worry about is ourselves.”

Toya nodded. “Let’s finish here. We have a long way to go.” I nodded once. We all turned back to the grave and finished it quickly. I was still trying to find the pathway when I heard another scream come from the house. “She must be getting closer.”

I lifted a shoulder as we walked in. “This could last all night.” I told the rest to wait down in the living room when I started up the stairs. Rick walked over to his mate, who was watching over the two little girls.

Rowan, a little shyly, walked over to Carly. “Hey pup.” His soft words caught my ear, and I paused on the step.

“Hi Daddy Ro.” Carly’s voice was soft, but slightly hopeful.

“You don’t have to call me Daddy if you don’t want to.” Rowan settled next to her. “I’ll be whoever you want me to be, sweetheart.”

“I know, I talked it over with my daddy before he went with the Moon Goddess.”

I smiled softly as I continued up the stairs. The hope I had was warring with the dread pooling in my stomach. I wanted this: the mate, the pups, the life. But I knew that there was something coming that could take it all away.

And that something was coming fast.