Chapter Two

Annie sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, the gentle knock soft and hesitant, pulling from her light slumber.

“Can I come in?” The soft feminine voice asked, it was familiar and she nodded before realizing they couldn’t see her.

“Yes,” Annie called out as she pushed herself up, trying to smooth out her hair.

It was the woman from before, the one who had hugged her when she thought that Sam was about to send her away. The beautiful athletic women, her hair a messy ponytail of blue and pink strands. “I made you some tea.” She said with a smiled that made Annie’s heart do a flip.

“Thank you, Candy.” She realized she liked saying her name as she scooted to the edge of the bed as Candy sat down holding out the steaming mug to her.  

“It’s no problem, I thought you might need something.” Candy blushed as her eyes shyly met Annie's. Her fingers brushed against Annie’s as she accepted the colorful mug and Annie sucked in a deep breath at the sparks she felt.  

Her eyes shot down to their fingers. She wanted to ask Candy if she felt that as well, but didn’t want to seem weird to the pretty shifter. Annie had no doubt that Candy was part of Drake’s pack. She gave off the same aura as Beau and the other wolves gave off. That almost feral nature that all shifters seemed to have about them. There was something about her though that seemed to call to Annie, make everything she felt about what had happened with her sister and what might happen in the future seem a little less dim.

“Did you feel that?” Annie finally gave in to the nagging question.

“I did,” Candy said biting back a smile, as her eyes met her mates blue eyes. Eyes that reminded her of family vacations to the sea, the waters crisp and clear and so very blue.  

“What, what does it mean?” Annie asked, her eyes darting to Candy’s lip as she lightly bit the soft flesh. Annie had never found women sexy before, but that simple bite made butterflies dance in her stomach and arousal course through her.  

“You’re my mate.” Candy breathed out. She wanted to lean forward, to press her lips against Annie’s full lips. To bring her hand up and see if her skin felt as soft as it looked, to rest her hand on her belly. Feel the kicks of the baby, a baby she knew she would love no matter what. It was a part of her mate, how could she not?

“I’m not a wolf though.” Annie said, frowning as she pulled the mug back and inhaled the fragrant steam. Beau had told her that only wolves had fated mates, and that if his came around she and her sister would have to learn how to get along with her.  

“It doesn’t matter. To me, my wolf knows. I know you’re it for me.” Candy said, worrying her lower lip.  

“I’m not sure what I should say.”  

“You don’t have to say anything.” Candy said smiling. Annie nodded her head as she lifted the warm mug up and took a small sip. The lemon ginger tea soothing and made her stomach rumble.

“This is really good, thank you.” Annie said before taking another sip.

“I’m glad you like it, maybe I can make it for you again?”  

***

Candy wanted to kick herself. She didn’t know why she was having trouble trying to think of something to say to Annie. Normally if she liked someone, it was easy, all she had to do was tell them she liked them. It was so easy to do that with her previous partners. A night of fun or a few days of it and then she could go back to pining away over Eli.  

This was her mate though, she didn’t want this to be a random hook up or a few days of fun. She wanted to woo Annie, to make her feel loved and cherished. To see her heart shaped face light up with a smile, see the hurt and the pain she saw be replaced with happiness. Happiness that Candy hoped she could be a part of.

“Would you like to go to the clinic later and we can have my mom check on your baby?” She asked.

Annie’s face dropped and Candy wasn’t sure what she had said that was wrong. Most of the women who came into the clinic were ecstatic over their pregnancies. Could it be the thought of who she had the baby with?

“We don’t have to, but I figured it would help you feel better to know that the baby is fine.” Candy said watching her mate’s face fall and the tears start, Annie’s shoulders sagged and her chin hit her chest.

“I don’t want to be pregnant. It was never supposed to be like this, I messed up so badly.” She said in a gasping sob, Candy leaned over taking the mug from her hand and sitting it onto the nightstand table.

“It’s okay, we’ll figure this out together.” She said grabbing Annie’s small hand in her own calloused ones. Years of holding drum sticks had left her hands calloused and rough.

“I don’t know what to do, it’s not just one baby. I couldn't let Beau know that, I didn't trust him and the pack doctor was helping me hide it.” Annie sobbed harder, the salty scent of her tears hitting Candy almost as hard as a punch to the gut. She moved closer, wrapping her arms around Annie, tucking the woman’s head to her shoulder.  

“It’ll be okay.”  

“No, it won’t. I’ve messed up before, but never like this. What if Abby doesn’t make it out alive? What will I do without her?” Annie’s thin shoulders shook and Candy got a grasp on how thin her mate really was. She need rest and to be taken care of, not to worry herself sick.

“Eli is strong and Drake will find her, I promise. Owen may be a bloodsucker, but I trust him. And that demon, I don’t know him but he seems to want to keep your sister safe too.” Candy blurted out as she rubbed her hand in a soothing circle over Annie’s back.

“I just need her to come home.”

“She will, they’ll bring her home. We could wait on the porch if you’d like.” Candy suggested, she had hoped before that they would find Abby. Now she needed them to find her for her mate. She didn’t think her mate would be able to handle it if they didn’t.