BirthControl (9 page)

“This is the problem with living with your grown ass sons,” she muttered as she sat on the sofa.

“Mom. You know you love being with us,” Tyrone said as he walked into the kitchen. Later, he walked out with a bottle of water and two cans of soft drinks. After handing her the water and Tyrese the soft drink, he sat next to her on the sofa.

“We’re not going to let anything happen to you or our brothers or sisters. Don’t worry mom. We’ve got this,” Tyrese said.

She nodded, knowing they’d die defending her and her babies. The idea of losing her sons pissed her off. It wasn’t their responsibility to look after her or their siblings. Silas had some explaining to do.

“I talked to Renee. She said to give you a kiss.” She pecked each of their cheeks. “She also talked about getting an abortion…” she let the words hang out there for a response.

“Mom…” Tyrone said taking her hand. “I know all of this coming at you has been a lot. First, finding out about us and then finding out about yourself. A lot happened in the last few weeks. But…”

“Whatever you decide, we’ll back you,” Tyrese said taking her other hand. “You didn’t ask for any of this. Not this lifestyle, not this world, and not having more children when you were ready to do all the things you missed by having us so young.” He squeezed her hand. “Whatever you want to do, Rone and I will back you.”

She struggled to swallow and keep the tears back at the same. Touched, she squeezed their hands. “Love you,” she whispered.

The twins stiffened and before she could ask what was wrong, Silas walked through the front door. As much as she hated it, warmth curled in the pit of her belly and flowed lower. It was all she could do not to clamp her thighs together. Instead she looked at him, determined to be stronger than her whacked libido.

Her sons started to stand but she grabbed their hands tight and tugged. The three of them would face him this time. A cool tingle flew over her back and then disappeared.

“Still shielding, I see,” Silas said as he walked further into the room. She met his gaze and was sure there had been a flash of sorrow.

“What do you want?” she asked, angry that she wanted him to feel bad for the situation they were in. It wasn’t his problem. It was hers and her sons. They’d figure something out.

“There were some things that happened tonight that can never happen again. I need to be sure of that.”

The sobriety of his words, coupled with the hardened planes of his face, sent an odd chill rippling over her skin. Was he talking about the sex? No, he’d said he’d come to her for that. Her brows furrowed as she gazed at him while he stared at her sons.

“I’m thinking of having an abortion,” she said into the silence. The idea had been gathering steam ever since the boys mentioned the new threat, but maybe it was something to consider. Just as soon as she gave life to the words, she knew she’d never go through with it.

Tyrone and Tyrese both squeezed her hand as though in warning. But it was too late.

“What?” Silas asked, his turbulent blue eyes stared down at her.

She licked her dry lips, opened her mouth and then shut it again. Wariness raced through her at his dark look. “It… it seems like me having my babies is causing all kinds of…of problems. There are people who want to kill me and the babies just because we’re different. I’m not sure…” she spoke haltingly, trying to return his intense gaze. “I’m not sure I want them to live like that. Hunted, living with the fear that someone would hurt them just because their mom’s human.” She shook her head while closing her eyes. “That’s not a gift, Silas. That’s a death sentence.”

“No,” he said slowly, his tone dangerous. “The Goddess gives life. To abort is to throw the gift in her face. You cannot survive her wrath at such an offense.”

“What? I…the Goddess?”

Silas nodded. “I have told you many times, the litter you carry is a gift from her. I am over three hundred years and have never sired pups. You have been blessed by the Goddess to carry life. It should be celebrated, not destroyed.”

Jasmine released her sons’ hands. “What about those who would kill my children? How will the Goddess protect them?” She stared up at him in expectancy.

“They’re my litter and I am responsible for protecting them.” Silas stepped forward. “No one will harm my pups.”

“Children,” she corrected automatically as a weight lifted from her chest. He may be a sexist jerk, but she believed he’d keep her babies safe.

Tyrone snorted. “Strange you say that here, now…”

“When you remained silent on the matter in front of the Alphas,” Tyrese finished.

She glanced at her sons and then gazed at Silas. Had she been premature in giving him her trust? “Silas?”

He waved away her question. “There are things going on that I cannot always explain. Nor do I choose to explain now. The two of you serve me, not the other way around. You threatened an Alpha.”

“He was being an asshole,” Tyrone said in a condescending tone.

“Which means you threatened me.” Silas stepped closer to the sofa and this time she didn’t try to stop her sons from standing.

“How did they threaten you?” she asked in the prolonged stillness, eager to get them talking. “You said they spoke to someone else.”

“Yes, but each Alpha is bound to me. They carry my crest, my last name. To attack one of them is to attack me.” Silas paused. “You knew that and threatened him anyway. Right?”

“We will not allow anyone to harm our mother or the babies she carries.”

Jasmine’s brow rose at the monotone synchronized sentence from her sons and tried to see their faces. “Rone? Rese?”

Silas chuckled. “They have bonded in some way and are one. I cannot break into their thoughts without destroying them both, which I don’t want to do. I want them to assist in your security detail.”

Jasmine’s head whipped around as she jumped up. “What?” The blank look had returned to the twins faces. Their stance, their facial expressions and speech was identical. “Is this more wolf-human stuff?” She stared in disbelief.

Silas shrugged. “It’s fascinating. And not something full-bloods are capable of doing, at least not that I’ve ever heard or seen. I doubt most breeds can take it to this level either. Your sons are unique and I’d hate to destroy them. But make no mistake, I will. Tonight in fact, if we don’t come to some sort of understanding.” He stood in front of the three of them with his hands behind his back as if he were discussing the name of a book instead of killing her first-borns.

“What?” She looked at him with panic radiating in her chest. “What are you talking about? What kind of agreement?”

He glanced at her, then returned his gaze to Tyrone and then Tyrese. “For starters, there can be no wolves that I cannot access mentally.
None
. Your boys decided to block me tonight during a volatile meeting. When they did that, they missed the strategy I sent to them and Jayden. As Patron, I have a responsibility to oversee my people and insure rules are followed. These pups broke a major rule.”

“Okay…okay,” she said in desperation, while wanting to smack her silent sons on the head. “They broke a rule, did it cause a problem?”

“If they had heard my thoughts, they never would have challenged the Alpha or announced to every Alpha in the meeting that they were breeds with a human mother. I had kept that information quiet for a reason. It’s called security,” he said
in a deadly quiet voice, his eyes glowed like chips of emeralds
.

Jasmine flinched as the heat of his anger filled the room. That’s when she recognized his clenched jaw and balled fists. One moment her sons stood on each side of her, the next they were thrown back, slammed against the wall and then pinned on the floor, struggling to move.

“Stop.” She turned to go to them.

“Every step you take in their direction, it’ll be worse for them. They are men, Jasmine, not boys, and they will take their punishment. Stop babying them,” Silas snapped.

“I’m not…” She froze.

A scream of pain ripped from Tyrone as his wolf lay panting on the floor. Tyrese grunted as he flashed through the change.

Stunned, she stared at the creatures who were her sons. In this form they looked identical, except for their eyes. Tyrese’s eyes were an eerie light brown and Tyrone’s were a deep dark brown, almost black. As the silence wore on, each met her eyes with something akin to shame.

“Rone?” The large dark brown wolf blinked as he stared at her. “You’re beautiful. I love you no matter what, remember that.”

She gazed at Tyrese. From this position, he looked larger than Rone and his breathing appeared labored. “Rese, you are beautiful and I love you no matter what form you’re in. I’m proud of you both.”

Howls rose in the room from her sons and then stopped abruptly.

“What do you plan to do?” Her breath caught. Her legs were frozen in place as she searched his face. She took a step toward Silas, her hand outstretched. Right now she’d get down on one knee and beg if that would keep her sons from feeling more pain.

Silas glanced at her. “No abortion.”

She nodded. “Okay, you have my word. No abortion. Release them. Please, they’re in pain.”

“You pack and move to my compound in West Virginia by the end of the week. I don’t want to argue with you anymore about this. I want you and the pups…babies safe. I don’t need to be distracted with you trying to out-maneuver me.”

She glanced over her shoulder at the two large wolves panting on the floor and nodded.

“No, Jasmine. Say the words. Give me your word that you will move into my compound and stay until the children no longer need you.”

“What? When did you add that part about not needing me? That could be when they’re grown. I’m not staying with you until then.”

“How long then?” He crossed his arms and looked over her head toward the twins.

“I don’t know. I can’t think about that right now.”

“Five years? Ten years? Fifteen? I need a point of reference,” he said as though she hadn’t spoken.

“What? Five. No that’s before elementary school. Ten. No. That’s right before junior high.” She sighed. “I don’t know, Silas. I’ll stay with them until they finish high school.”

She met his stare until he nodded. “Release them. I gave you what you wanted, now release them.”

“Do you understand what just happened?”

Jasmine shook her head, certain she’d missed something. “What are you talking about?”

“A few minutes ago, do you realize what happened?” he asked again.

Her brow furrowed as she tried to understand. “We came to an agreement about the babies?” She rubbed her flat stomach as she glanced over her shoulder to the twins. They were still panting, but she couldn’t be sure they weren’t in pain.
Hang on boys, I’ll get you out of this
.

Silas released a long sigh that grabbed her attention. “You just made a deal to protect your children. For you, a human, they’re your pack.”

She stiffened at the implication and not liking the direction of the conversation. “Not pack, family.”

“Same difference.” He shrugged. “The point is, we make sacrifices for the betterment of the pack. You don’t really want to go to West Virginia. You don’t want to stay any longer than a day, but because it’s what’s best for your pack, you’re willing to give up your personal rights or desires for the good of all. Your sons are the same way. They made a public declaration that anyone who attempts to get to you or their siblings would have to kill them first. See? Pack mentality, not that much different.”

Her heart slammed against her chest as her fists flexed in and out. “Your point?” she gritted.

“My point is the wolf nation is my pack. The good and the bad. I have a hierarchy in place so that a million wolves can live peaceably across this country. I govern with rules and those rules must be followed.”

“Release them, Silas.” She didn’t want to hear his lecture while her sons lay helpless on the floor.

“No. Not until they submit and bond.”

She was too incensed to speak. Hadn’t he promised to release them? She raked her memory, he hadn’t. Damn, she’d agreed to his demands without bargaining for her sons’ release.

Silas stepped around her and faced Tyrone and Tyrese. “Your hotheadedness caused a problem tonight and as much as I like you pups, I will not tolerate your disrespect. No wolf shuts me out. No wolf.”

A warm breezed brushed against her cheek. Popping sounds filled the air. Agonized grunts and screams of pain broke her paralysis. She ran toward her sons, only to be stopped by some type of invisible wall. She punched and kicked, but could move no closer. The twins were returning to their human state in slow motion. She got the feeling they weren’t controlling the change by the grimaces they wore.

“Stop that. Stop that right now, Silas. Leave them alone.” She continued yelling, but he ignored her. By the time they looked human, their faces were lined with pain. Their chests heaved in an attempt to gain lost breaths. Silas walked to Tyrese first and spoke to him. She tried to hear what was said, but couldn’t.