Chapter 1

Blair Montgomery walked through the streets of her hometown. Her long dark hair whipped around her face as she crossed the main avenue heading towards the park. Her long, smooth and graceful gait turned heads and most turned away as soon as they caught sight of her tri-colored eyes. Lavender, turquoise and gold they drew as much attention as the gun strapped to her thigh.

Night had fallen hours ago and Blair still searched out her prey. He saw her before she saw him. He tackled her into an alley and slugged her in the face. Gah that hurt. Straightening from her slumped position on the wall she looked into his eyes and he staggered back.

"Demon slayer." He whispered and began to walk backwards towards an open door at the end of the alley.

"Yes, I'm a demon slayer and I don't take kindly to a demon like yourself touching my face." She said as she walked towards him slowly with a smile on her face.

He shrieked before running down the alley. Blair scoffed and whipped out her gun. With a steady hand she took aim and fired. One shot and his head exploded, his body burst into flames seconds later. When would they learn that running away never worked? Especially when the slayer had a gun. Shaking her head she holstered her gun and began walking out of the alley wiping the butt of her leather pants that had touched the slimy alley wall.

Blair stopped in her tracks as she heard rustling in the trash cans to her right. Slowly her gaze traveled the small alley. Nowhere to run if it was bigger than a demon. In these alleys you never knew what might pop out at you. Suddenly she was thrown up against the alley wall. Blair tried to fight but her hands met nothing but air as she was lifted of her feet by her neck. Her vision began to grey and she knew she was close to fainting. If she fainted what would happen to her?

Her body made the decision for her when black dots began to cover her vision and suddenly she was in darkness.

********

Gabriel Laurens walked into the alley that led towards his house that he shared with his pack. Barely paying attention to where he was going he tripped over something hard enough that it had him falling straight to his face. Slowly he got up to his feet and looked around for what had made him trip when he saw black leather boots. His eyes traveled up the tight leather pants that molded to an amazing body. A silky red shirt covered some of the biggest breasts he had ever seen.

Taking a deep breath he looked her over. She was unconscious and hurt, judging from all the blood. Getting to his feet he thought about what to do about her. She wasn't exactly normal from what he could smell in her blood. Sighing he shrugged and picked her up. Maybe one of the guys at the house knew what to do. Taking off at a run, he started down the alley when he heard the most frightening thing of all. Her heartbeat matched his own. His mate was in his arms.

Looking down at her in shocked amazement that he had found the one person he had been searching for his whole life in an alley. As he ran he swore to himself someone would pay for what happened to her.

********

Blair opened her eyes and saw a white ceiling. Light poured in through a large window. The red curtains fluttered in the wind. Turning her head she took in the rest of the room. There was a dresser with a mirror, a nightstand and a lamp. Blair frowned, how had she gotten here and where the hell was her cell phone, her gun and house keys? She thought just as the door opened.

As the door slammed into the wall Blair didn't even flinch she was to mesmerized with the man that stood in the opening. He had dark hair, so dark it was nearly blue in the sunlight. His eyes a mossy green. He was ripped, his black t-shirt bulged in all the right places. He wore leather pants that bulged in a very telling way.

"Where am I?" Blair asked him getting up off the bed, now that she was standing she noticed how much taller he was compared to her.

"Still in the city." He replied with a smile making his face twenty times more attractive.

"The time?" She asked a bit irritated that she had to ask him that.

"A bit after ten." He said staring at her openly.

"In the morning?! That can't be? How did I get here?" Blair began to rant as she paced back and forth in the small room, "I have to get out of here." She said and headed towards the door.

"Hey calm down!" He said grabbing her arms forcing her to look up at him, "You're fine, I found you in an alley off of the main street. You were pretty beat up so I brought you back to my place." He said slowly watching as the panic he had seen spring into her eyes when he'd told her the time receded.

"What's your name?" Blair whispered looking into his mesmerizing green eyes.

"My name's Gabriel. How about yours?" Gabriel asked with an encouraging smile on his lips.

"My name's Blair." She replied pulling on her hands when his tightened around hers.

"You're Blair the Slayer? No way!" He exclaimed looking into her eyes as if that would confirm the truth of his claim.

Blair narrowed her gaze on him. What could he possibly know about her, "What if I am?" She asked him when his hold on her wrists loosened.

"Nothing. I was just curious." He replied with a shrug, "I bet you're hungry." He said and began to walk back out of the room before turning to look at her when he noticed she wasn't following him, "Well, come on." He said and kept walking out of the room.

Blair followed after him slowly, looking around every corner and peeking into each room they passed. Nobody seemed to be home other than him. Blair frowned after him, "What made you bring me here instead of calling the police or an ambulance?" She asked curiously as he led her down a flight of stairs that led into a large kitchen.

The room was bright with all the light that streamed in and there at the kitchen table sat three other men. All three looked over at Blair at the same time, "Finally she's awake." One of them said as he stood and walked over to her. He was just as tall as Gabriel, his hair was a muddy brown, and his eyes were a light hazel. He smiled down at Blair as he extended a hand in greeting, "Hi my name's Micheal."

"Hello" I said shaking his hand, "My name's Blair." and got the same exact reaction from him and the other men as Gabriels'.

"No way!" All three exclaimed, "Gabriel you saved a slayer." They were all clearly impressed with his heroics and it made Blair frown. They acted like dogs taking their cue from their... Alpha.

Blair immediately straightened her spine as she realized she was in dangerous territory. She was inside a wolves den.

Chapter 2

Blair mentally kicked herself in the ass. How hadn't she noticed the scent of them as soon as she had opened her eyes? Slowly she looked at Gabriel, he was the Alpha. Micheal was his second, that much she could tell, "So do you guys have a dog?" she asked nonchalantly as the scent of wolf permeated the room.

"Uh, no?" Micheal replied hesitantly and glanced at Gabriel over her shoulder.

"Oh come on. Cut the crap, I already know you're wolves." Blair said with a glare as she looked them over. They all seemed shocked that she had figured out what they were so fast.

"What about you? You're not a normal Slayer." Gabriel said with a glare of his own.

"We have never scented anything as sweet as you." One of the guys still sitting at the kitchen table said with a mischievous grin.

"Well that's comforting." Blair replied sarcastically as she glanced around the kitchen impatiently.

"Well anyways seeing as my Alpha is too preoccupied with making a complete ass of himself I will introduce myself. My name's Bradley or Brad, either one is fine." He said his baby blue eyes twinkling softly.

"I'm Nick." The guy sitting next to Brad said with a small wave. He looked exactly like Bradley in every way except for his eyes which were a dark brown.

Blair stared at the four men gathered in the kitchen. They really were the hottest thing on the face of the planet. They were extremely more attractive than some of the gods she'd met while she had been living in her mothers temple in Egypt, "Have any of you met your queen?" She asked them looking at Gabriel with narrowed eyes. She still didn't trust them completely.

"I have, once." Micheal said with a half smile as Blair turned to look at him with wide eyes.

"Did you also know that she is queen of the Vampyres as well?" Blair asked them curiously wanting to know how much they knew about their queen.

"Everyone knows that within the packs. We're not ashamed of sharing our queen." Nick said with a shrug, "Besides us wolves stopped fighting with the vampyres, they weren't worth the bloodshed."

"Well, its been nice meeting you and thanks for rescuing me and all but I really should get going." Blair said as she glanced around for the front door.

"Sorry Blair but you can't leave. Every rogue in the city knows who you're with, they know we don't take kindly to women being beaten. Especially in our alley." Gabriel said with so much determination that Blair was taken aback by the way his eyes dilated and became even brighter.

"Well I'm very flattered but I have to leave." Blair said as she glanced outside taking in the crowded street below. Demons would be pouring out of the wood works.

"Too bad." Micheal said with a shrug as he poured himself a cup of coffee.

Blair couldn't believe what was happening. They weren't going to let her leave, "How about one of you guys leaves with me?" She suggested looking back at them hopefully.

"Fine, but you're to come right back here." Gabriel said before stomping up the stairs. Seconds later the slamming of the door reverberated through the house.

Nick glanced at Micheal and Brad before looking back at Blair, "Gabriel can be bit over-protective."

"Yeah I can see that." Blair said still looking at the door Gabriel had walked through.

"Why do you want to leave so badly?" Brad asked her as she walked out of the room and up the stairs.

"I have too. There are some things that just can't be put off because I was knocked unconscious by a specter." Blair said as she walked into the room she had woken up in and bumped into Gabriel, "What are you doing in here?"

"Uh, this is my room." He said with a grin as she continued to stare at his bare chest.

"Oh. Well that changes things," She whispered unable to tear her gaze away from him.

"I guess so." He replied with a laugh before walking back into the room leaving the door wide open. Blair walked in behind him looking for her missing gun, "I'm not giving you what you're obviously looking for."

Well duh, Blair thought to herself looking at him. He really had taken her gun the first chance he'd gotten that was for sure and not only had he taken her gun he had also grabbed the ammo in her jacket pocket, her cell and keys. He really had some nerve, "Well can I at least get my keys back. I do need to get inside my house. You know I need clothes and some other stuff." I whispered the last looking away from him.

"Those I'll give back to you." He said with a half smile on his face and dug into the top drawer in the nightstand and grabbed her keys out. Before he handed them to her he pulled them back and looked her in the face, "You'd better be back before dark." he said with a fierce look on his face.

Blair stared at him. He was being completely serious, "Fine. I'll be back before dark." She said through clenched teeth. Maybe if she cooperated he would give her back her gun.

"Ok. Brad and Micheal are going with you." He said and handed the keys to Micheal who stood right being Blair.

Blair could only scowl as she followed Micheal back downstairs. They were completely serious about her coming back. She frowned when she noticed that Micheal walked at her back and Brad led the way to the front door and outside to the morning sun. I looked around and saw that the neighborhood looked familiar. Trees lined the sidewalks and the houses were set far apart from each other. Blair frowned as Brad led them to a car and had her sit in the back seat while he took the passengers seat and Micheal drove.

"Do you know where I live?" She asked them and Brad turned around in his seat and gave her a cheeky smile.

"Yeah we know where you live. We tracked your scent pretty far from where Gabriel found you." He said softly as he looked at Blair as if searching for injuries that were probably already healed.

"In my profession thats normal."she replied with a shrug as she looked away from him and stared out the window staring at the passing scenery.

"Well not with Gabriel watching your every move." Micheal said from the driver's seat as he turned onto my street.

Chapter 3

Blair hesitated at her front door. There was a scent, almost undetectable, around the house. If she walked inside there could be anyone inside waiting to attack. If she had her gun she wouldn't have even hesitated, she would have barged in. As it was she let Micheal walk in first.
Slowly she made her way into the foyer, sweeping the staircase and hallway that led to the rest of the house.

The scent faded as soon as she stepped completely inside the house, "I'll be upstairs. Packing." Blair said irritated that she had to pack up and move in with some random wolf pack.

"We'll be waiting." Brad said as he took a seat at the bottom of the stairs.

"Whatever." Blair said and stomped up the stairs and into her bedroom. Slamming the door closed she walked to her closet and grabbed a couple suitcases out and began to pack as fast as she could. The less of her scent she left behind the better.

Taking a deep breath she zipped up her suitcases and walked out of her room and down the stairs. Micheal and Brad were still sitting on the bottom step, "Do you strong men want to help a little weakling like me?" She asked sarcastically as she hefted my suitcases over them and set them down on the floor, "Well, lets go."

Micheal stood and stretched before walking out the front door with one of the suitcases. While Brad grabbed the other. I locked the front door and walked after them to the car, "How long am I going to have to stay with you guys?" She asked them once they were settled in the car on their back to their house.

"Depends. It's up to Gabriel and whether or not he decides to let you go." Micheal said glancing into the rear view mirror.

Blair had caught his meaning though, "What do you mean it 'depends'. I can't be stuck inside a house not being able to hunt or anything without permission from your precious alpha." She spat at them as she had an uncontrollable urge to rip her hair out in frustration.

"Sorry Blair but its up to Gabriel if you hunt. He doesn't want you to get hurt." Brad said and his eyes widened as if he had said something he shouldn't have said.

"Are you kidding me?" Blair shrieked in frustration glancing from Brad to Micheal and back again.

"Blair if you have a problem with that let Gabriel know." Micheal said with a mischievous grin on his face.

She frowned at that and nodded. She would take it up with Gabriel. She would hunt with or without his permission and whether she got hurt or not was her problem. A slayer lived to die. All slayers knew the moment they were old enough to understand their history that they only loved once, and that was never going to happen for her.

"So Blair, you have a boyfriend?" Micheal asked a bit curiously making Blair frown at him.

"No." Blair replied with a disgusted look on her face, "What would posses you to ask a slayer such a question?"

"Well I don't know. Most people have someone they care about in their lives." Micheal replied with a shrug glancing back at her before looking back at the road.

"Well the answer's no. Not because I don't want one but because that would put him in danger." Blair explained with a shrug of her own.

"That's pretty considerate of you," Brad said looking back at Blair watching the way she frowned at him and Michael, "You know most wolves would take offense to the fact that their mate wouldn't date them because they would be put in danger." He said and turned back around when she looked at him with her mouth wide open in disbelief.

When they got back to the house Gabriel was standing at the living room window. Micheal sighed and shock his head at his cousin's obvious infatuation with Blair. It made him a bit sick knowing that would probably happen to him when he met his own mate. Hopefully it wasn't a slayer like Blair. There was nothing wrong with slayers but after what Blair had said maybe a hunter, a predator, shouldn't mate.

Micheal watched Blair barge into the house, walk right up to Gabriel and point her finger in his face. Oh he was going to get it now.

********

Blair was furious. She had caught all the little hints Micheal and Brad had thrown at her in the car. Gabriel had mated to her. Why would he do that? Mate himself to a monster like her, "You...you...you asshole. Why would you mate with me? Why me? Out of thousands of women in the world why would you, stupidly, pick me?" she raged at him as soon as she stepped foot into the house.

"It wasn't on purpose." Gabriel replied as he slowly backed away from Blair.

"Really? That's pretty hard to believe." Blair scoffed at him before turning on her heel and stomping up the stairs, halfway up she stopped and looked down at him, "Find a different room to sleep in." She said and continued up the stairs.

Gabriel stared after and looked over at Micheal and Brad as they walked in through the front door, "I told you not to tell her." He said to them as he sat on the couch with a bit of a defeated look on his face.

"We didn't tell her anything Gabriel." Micheal replied looking down at his cousin with a frown on his face.

"Well she found out and now she's pissed at me. I'm sleeping on the couch for the next couple of weeks." Gabriel said with a shake of his head.

"She kicked you out of your own room?" Brad asked with a laugh and continued laughing even though Gabriel scowled over a him.

"Yeah she did." Gabriel replied with groan as he looked over at the stairs hoping that Blair would come back down stairs and if she didn't he would just have to go up.

********

Blair paced the bedroom as she thought back to what she had learned about the mating of wolves. If she remembered correctly it only happened during a run. Gabriel must've ran with her in his arms, because she sure as hell didn't remember going for a little run with him. He should have just left her in that alley.

"Blair." Gabriel called from the other side of the door.

"What?" She replied looking over at the door with a frown, what could he possibly want?

"Can you open the door?" He asked her through the door as he heard her muttering to herself.

"You can open it your damn self." She replied as she sat on the window sill and stared out over the crowded street below.

Gabriel took a deep breath before opening the door and peeking in, "Blair I know what you must think of me." He began only to cut off when he saw the look on Blair's face.

"It's not your fault. We had an impromptu mate run that's all." Blair replied with shrug from where she sat.

Gabriel stared at her, so she wasn't mad about being mated, "So why are you mad?"

"Because Gabriel, I'm not what you think I am. I'm not just a slayer." Blair said standing from the window sill and stalking over to him.

"So what exactly are you then?" Gabriel asked her with a slight frown on his face.

"I'm an immortal slayer. That's why I don't hunt with the others of my clan. I can't die and that's why I was never supposed to mate to anyone. Especially not a wolf. Not only that but your precious queen is my 'owner'" Blair said with a shake of her head looking away from him

Gabriel stared at her. Immortal. Different. Unique. The three words his queen had said would describe his mate and of course she would know those things, she knew who she was, "Well you're my mate and my mate doesn't hunt alone. If she hunts, I hunt." He said looking her in the eyes.

Blair stared at him. He was serious. He didn't care that she was never going to age or get sick or even die or even that she killed at his queens whims and wishes, "Gabriel what made you save me?"

He stared at her for a couple of seconds before saying, "I tripped over your feet. It was weird one, second all I was thinking of was getting home and the next all I could think about was you. If I had left you there we would've never met and besides that wouldn't have been very honorable of me to just leave you there."

Blair shrugged, "Anyone else wouldn't have done what you did, you would've saved me whether I was half dead or worse. That's how mates think. We wouldn't be able to go hunting together all I would worry about is you getting hurt and vice versa. That's why it's dangerous for slayers to mate. They are always on the hunt."

"And I would just be a distraction to you is what you're saying." Gabriel said, starting to understand why she was hesitant about being mated.

"Yes," She said looking away from him and as if by some invisible force she looked back at him, "Why do I feel compelled to look at you whenever you walk into a room or I smell your scent?" She asked him abruptly taking a couple of steps backwards until she sat on the edge of the bed.

"It's just the mating." Gabriel said with a shrug, "I can't believe I mated to a slayer. My mom kept saying it would be a vampyre, and trust me I wasn't ready for that type of adventure." Gabriel said with a shake of his head.

"Gabriel?" Micheal said from the doorway, "You need to come look at this." He said and walked back out of the room.

Gabriel frowned, "Stay here." He said to Blair and followed Micheal down the stairs and into the kitchen, "What's going on?"

"You're never going to believe who's here." Nick said as he walked into the kitchen from the living room.

"Who's here?" Blair asked as she made her way down the stairs looking at all of their faces.

"I told you to stay up stairs." Gabriel growled at her.

Blair rolled her eyes, "And you thought I was going to listen to you. You wolves are so domineering." She said and began to walk into the living room.

"No, Blair, don't walk in there." Nick said taking off behind her.

Blair was frozen in the doorjamb of the living room. Sitting on the couch was the wolf and vampire queen. Her long black hair trailed on the floor, her eyes were tri-colored, turquoise, gray and gold. Her body was slender and she could.t have been no more than 5"2', "Blair." She said her voice like whiskey as she stood and walked over to her.

"Yes, Queen Meredith." Blair said walking further into the room.

"You know I have a cousin named Blair. Such a pretty name." She said as she wandered the room.

"Meredith you should sit." A man said from the corner of the room. When he stepped closer Blair frowned he was a vampire but he sure didn't smell like one.

"Blair this is my husband and mate King Blake of the Vampires." Meredith said as she continued to wander the room aimlessly.

"Hello." Blair said still staring at Blake. His hair was dark, his eyes an eerie turquoise that flashed silver and red whenever he looked over at Meredith.

"Please, sit." Blake said gesturing towards the couch.

Blair widened her eyes, "No thanks, I'd rather stand." She said as politely as she could.

"Understandable," He said with a nod, "The reason my lovely wife dragged me all the way to the city is because a couple of Valkyries will be coming for a visit and unfortunately they expect to see her personal Slayer present."

Blair took a deep breath, "No, the deal was simple. No one sees Meredith's personal Slayer. No one." Blair said looking over at Meredith who was standing at the window watching the birds.

"They expect you there and besides it's an order Blair." Blake said with a frown, apparently not wanting to force her but doing so anyway.

"Well I don't take orders from you." Blair replied and looked back at Meredith, "Meredith, you know I can't go." She said taking a step towards her.

"Blair any other day I would agree, but I need you there, you're family whether you like it or not and family sticks together." She replied with a smile, "Besides it's not an order, it's more like a family decision. We all want you there." She said walking towards Blair and grabbing her hand, squeezing it gently.

Blair took a deep breath as her emotions began to get the best of, "I can't," she whispered back.

"Well then I guess we'll just have the meeting here." Meredith replied with a grin before turning to look at Blake as if he could say no.

"No, you wont, Meredith." Blair said looking at her, "I'm not family anymore, not since the day they made me your slayer. It's because of you that I'm immortal. It's because of you that I'm different." Blair said with hostility as she stalked towards Meredith.

Meredith just stood there, calm and collected, "Blair, I no longer need a Slayer, I need a commander to lead my army against the demons. That's mainly what the meeting is about." She said softly looking at her encouragingly.

"That's really what's going on here?" Blair asked her as she stopped in her tracks a few feet away from Meredith.

"Yes, Blair." Blake said with a smile as he walked towards the kitchen, 'I'll just go let the guys know to pack up."

Blair stared at Blake as he walked out of the room, "Do I really have to go?" she asked Meredith.

"Yes." Meredith said in a tone that made Blair glance over at her, "So go on and grab your things, I'll be with Blake in the kitchen." She said and walked out of the living room leaving Blair standing in complete shock and amazement.

Chapter 4

Gabriel stared at Blair from where he sat in the passengers seat of the car. Micheal drove towards the large woods upstate where Meredith's home was smack dab in the middle of nowhere. Blair finally looked up at him and growled. She actually growled at him. Gabriel was a bit taken aback by that because as far as anyone knew Slayers didn't growl like a wolf or have any weird characteristics unlike the rest of their world. They were as normal as a human, except Blair wasn't like any normal Slayer. He kept forgetting that.

"What are you staring at?" She asked him before leaning forward in her seat and tapping Micheal on his shoulder, "You might want to turn the headlights off." She suggested as a sign up ahead warned of a fine if anyone was caught driving after dark on the road they were on.

"Why do we have to turn them off?" Nick asked from where he sat next behind Blair.

"Lots of things live in these woods the lights are bothersome." Blair said and leaned back in her seat, "There is a turn up ahead, it leads straight into the woods towards Merediths home."

"Well, I'm not bothered driving in the dark in the woods with lots of trees all around going sixty miles an hour." Micheal said before pulling over and looking at Blair, "Look I grew up with the headlights stay on in the dark, so I guess you're driving." He said and got out of the car and opened the passenger door.

Blair rolled her eyes and got out, "You wolves are so weird." She said before getting in the drivers seat and taking off down the dirt road.

"It's going to be weird staying in the queens palace." Nick said as he poked Brad in the back of his head to wake him up.

"Don't even worry about that, worry about all the visitors." Blair replied as she turned into a large garage.

"What is this place?" Brad said groggily as he finally stopped snoring after the past couple of hours.

"Just a little garage." Blair replied with a shrug as she shut off the car and climbed out, "You guys can get the bags out of the car, just leave them here and they'll be taken to the rooms." She said as she walked over to a door and as she was about to grab the handle it was opened to reveal Meredith.

"Finally you're here." She said excitedly grabbing hold of her hand and dragging her inside the large foyer, "Come on, there's a couple people here to see you." She said with a smile as she led Blair down a hall and into the large kitchen that easily fit over fifty people.

"I don't want to see them." Blair said jerking out of Merediths hold on her hand.

"Blair, really, I know your mother will have a couple of things to say about that." Meredith said just as a man and woman walked in with Blake through the back door.

"Blair," The woman said as she walked over to her and hugged Blair as if her very life depended on it, "I'm so glad to see you." She said as she leaned back to look into Blairs face.

"Mom," Blair said looking into her mother's turquoise and gray eyes. Her mother hadn't changed and of course she wouldn't, being an Immortal was part of being a royal, "I'm glad to see you too." Blair lied effortlessly.

"Don't lie to your mother Blair Marie." Her father said from where he stood next to Blake. He, of course, hadn't changed in appearance either. His eyes were still gold, his hair was still thick and dark, and he was still fit, for a wolf.

"Dad." Blair said barely glancing at him, "Is Roxanne here?" she asked looking anywhere but at her parents, Prince Nicholas and Princess Phaedra.

"Yeah she's upstairs in the library." Blake said and watched as his granddaughter walked out of the room and up the stairs, "Will you never learn." He said looking at his daughter, "You left her to be claimed by the wrong goddess, the Greeks are in an uproar. Nike and Atlas are furious." Blake yelled at Phaedra who looked away.

"She walked in to the room on her own. I warned her never to walk in until Nike or Atlas came for her." Phaedra said with a shake of her head as she walked over to Nicholas who wrapped his arms around her.

"Yes you warned her, but she was curious, like any child is," Meredith said as she walked over to Blake and placed her hand on his shoulder, "My love, this was meant to happen." She said and placed a finger to his lips when he opened his mouth to argue, "Forget about the Greeks, let them fight their own war, we have our own to fight."

Blake took a deep breath before looking down at Meredith, "Fine, let's go upstairs, Roxanne is a great mediator."

*******

Blair walked into the large library and immediately saw her cousin Alexander sitting at the desk with his wife Roxanne sitting on top of it. Alex looked up as soon as he heard the door open and was shocked to see his cousin, "Blair." He exclaimed as he stood and walked over so fast he blurred.

"Alex," Blair said as he pulled her into a hug, "I see Roxanne has been taking care of you."

"Yes I have." She said as she hopped off the desk and walked over. Her golden hair swung in an invisible wind, her eyes glowed a bright, nearly blinding turquoise, "We went to visit a couple months ago and you weren't home." She said with a frown on her face.

"Sorry, I was busy." Blair replied as she sat at one of the cushy chairs in the large, over sized library, "How's everybody doing?" She asked becoming more and more curious the longer she was home.

"Everyone's fine." Alexander said as he stared at Blair with a knowing look in his eye, "Are you mated?" He asked curiously as he walked over to her and began to sniff her hair.

"Back off, and it was accident." Blair replied with a hostile glare in his direction as he held his hands up in front of himself and walked over to the fireplace before breathing fire into it.

"How do you accidentally mate with someone?" Roxanne asked curiously as she sat down in chair across from Blair and leaned forward extremely intent in what Blair had to say.

"I was on a hunt, and then I was attacked by something. Gabriel found me while I was unconscious and the next thing I knew I had a mate." Blair said looking over at Alex with a shrug, "Shit happens."

"Yeah, but that really sucks, not even knowing your mate until you open your eyes. Is he hot though." Roxanne asked wanting to know more.

"You know sometimes I wonder how you and Alex met. Because if I'm not mistaken you're a Valkyrie and they live with Aleha." Blair said with a frown as she stared from her cousin to Roxanne.

"Well like you said shit happens." Roxanne said looking over at Alex with a look in her eyes that promised retaliation if he opened his mouth about Aleha.

"So where's your mate?" Alex asked changing the subject.

"He's right here." Meredith said as she walked in with Blake, Gabriel and her parents.

Taking a deep breath Blair looked over at Gabriel and couldn't help the smile that came to her face. How was it that he could change what she was feeling just by walking into a room? She watched as he walked over to her and sat down next to her before grabbing one of her hands in his own, "You okay?" He whispered to her making goose bumps raise on her skin.

Blair nodded, "Now I am." She replied softly as she looked down at their hands intertwined together.

"Good," He replied looking over at her parents, "Can you please leave, you're making my mate uncomfortable." He said as politely as he could. Phaedra and Nicholas nodded and walked out.

"You know that was pretty rude." Roxanne said as she stood from where she sat to let Alex sit down as she stood behind him.

"I don't care." Meredith said before Gabriel could say anything, "Besides Blair is part of this family and sometimes things go awry." She shrugged and began to wander the room, unable to keep still as her thoughts raced.

"Anyways, why exactly am I here?" Blair asked with a frown as she looked over at Blake since Meredith was a bit random and would say pretty much whatever came to mind.

"We've learned the demons are beginning to gather in mass. As if something is calling them." Blake said taking a deep breath, "Meredith has been waiting for the war to finally come to its end and she can almost see it." He said looking at Meredith with so much love that everyone in their world envied them for it.

"They have never gathered. They are solitary creatures whatever is calling them is strong. Strong enough that they the demons are coming out during the day and wandering around the cities." Roxanne said with a shake of her head, "They are getting bold."

"The demon I killed the day Gabriel found me wasn't that strong. He even when ran when he figured out what I was." Blair said with a frown as she looked over at Blake.

"We've recently learned that they'll most often stay in heavily populated areas, unlike before when they used to cower in fear of being found." Alex said looking out the windows, "They have evolved. a lot faster than anyone expected." He added with a worried look on his face.

"Meredith, your family is beginning to gather in the living room." A woman said as she walked into the room and stood next to Meredith. She was identical to Meredith only she had long red hair, that glowed eerily in the light of the fireplace.

"Marie," Meredith said with a shake of her head, "They are your family as well. Please try to remember that." Meredith said as she walked out of the room with Marie.

"What's happened since I was last here?" Blair asked with a frown as she stared at the door through which Meredith and Marie had disappeared through.

"The houses at the edge of the property have been attacked," Blake said as he looked over at Gabriel who was just sitting there taking everything in, "And a couple of the other wolf packs have moved closer to the house, you might know a couple of them." He said to Gabriel.

Blair looked at Blake and Gabriel. They acted like they knew each other, but then Blake's powers were completely under his control. He knew how to dig through your thoughts for information without you even noticing he was in your mind sifting around, "So I'm basically here to fight whenever there's an attack?" Blair asked with a frown as she stood from where she sat next to Gabriel and began to pace.

"Basically," Blake replied, "Now that you know what's going on with the demons we can begin on your training." He said with a grin on his face that made Blair a bit nervous.

"Training? What kind of training?" Blair asked turning around and looking over at Blake with an astonished look on her face.

"Blair, you have your own powers. Powers that your mother, my daughter, was never able to help train you in because she didn't have the abilities. That's why Roxanne and a couple of your cousins are here. They're going to help you." Blake said with an encouraging smile.

"Did my cousins even agree to this?" Blair asked sarcastically knowing her grandparents had made the decision for them, and whether they liked it or not they had to follow through with that decision.

"Not exactly." Blake said as he stood and walked over to her, "You are my granddaughter and whether they like it or not their future queen." He said grabbing onto Blair's shoulders and making her look at him, "We are glad you're home." He said and hugged her to him.

Blair couldn't help the tears that came to her eyes, "I'm not going to be anyone's queen."

"You already are," Roxanne said as she looked over at Gabriel, "He's the Alpha to the largest pack your grandmother has under her control." She added when Blair looked over at Gabriel.

"That was you?" Blair said looking at Gabriel with an astonished look on her face, "You were the one that pushed me into the river, you're the reason I got sick and you're the reason I became a Slayer." Blair said stalking over to Gabriel, "No wonder I'm your mate."

Gabriel was speechless. Blair was that girl that his cousin had dared him to push into the river. He had been a young wolf not knowing any better. He had never backed down from a dare and she had looked strong enough. Without thinking twice he had pushed her in. His cousin, Ryan, had taken off through the trees when they noticed she wasn't coming back up. The next thing Gabriel knew the Royal's had descended at the riverbank and Meredith had turned on him. She had whispered words in his ear. Even know he remembered those words. Immortal. Different. Unique. Words that described Blair.

Gabriel looked at Blake, "Am I really the reason she became a Slayer?" He asked with a frown.

"The river, it has specters. A Slayer who had died many eons ago attached herself to Blair." Blake explained, "We had no way of knowing, until she turned fifteen, that the specter would attack anyone who threatened Meredith, either with words or actions."

"That's why I was sent into the city." Blair said looking away from them and turning to look out the window.

"No you were sent into the city to flush out the demons and your mate." Roxanne said, "We never expected ten years to pass before you met your mate. Phaedra wanted to bring you back, but Meredith said no that you needed to find him." She said looking at Gabriel with a soft smile, "But he found you and we're so happy he found you."

Blair looked at Gabriel and smiled, "Well if it weren't for you, I wouldn't be home right now." She whispered as she walked over to him.

Gabriel stood and met her half-way, "I'm sorry I pushed you into the river." He said as he pushed her hair out of her face.

"I'm over it." She replied as she shifted closer. The heat from his skin almost a call to her own, Blair couldn't help the pull towards him and before she knew it they were locked in a soul-searching kiss so steamy that she swore the windows fogged up and the fire burned hotter, brighter.

"Well I guess that's our cue to leave." Blake said with a chuckle as Roxanne and Alex left the room closely followed by Blake.

Gabriel didn't notice that they were now alone. All he could think about was the woman in his arms. His mate. No one would ever make her feel unwanted because he would always want her, "Mine." He growled as his mouth roamed from her mouth down to her neck where her heart beat erratically.

Blair couldn't think of anything as Gabriel pulled her closer to him. He had initiated the mating ritual, it was her choice to either respond or pull away. She knew she couldn't pull away and in her mind she could clearly see her inheritance, her wolf, pacing waiting for her to make her choice. Blair knew that if she didn't make it fast enough her wolf would make it for her. With a deep breath she pulled Gabriel away from her neck and looked him in the eyes, "Yours." She whispered so softly before he crushed his mouth against hers.

Gabriel could feel his wolf howl as Blairs' own wolf howled, apparently approving of their mates. Blair was his forever and he was hers. As he slowly pulled back he looked into her eyes and he could clearly see her wolf rising slowly to the surface. They needed to get out of here, was all Gabriel could think as he felt his own wolf close to the surface.

"We need to go to a room." Blair said her voice so seductive to Gabriel's ears, "Come on, this way." She said and grabbed his hand before running out of the room, down the hall, up a flight of stairs, before stopping in front of double doors, "This is our own apartment." Blair said and opened the doors.

Gabriel didn't notice the apartment and how it was decorated all he cared about was the woman who was holding his hand. With a jerk she was back in his arms and the way she looked up at him, as if he was all she would ever need, made his wolf come closer to the surface. He pulled her close and lowered his mouth to hers as he backed her into the large room and the doors closed behind them.

Blair wrapped her arms around him and pulled him closer as his lips began to trail down her neck to her shoulder before going back up to her neck. Blair could feel her body heating up as if molten lava flowed through her veins, "Mine." She whispered before pulling him close and sinking her teeth into his shoulder. Her wolf no longer an inactive participant.

Gabriel growled, "Yours." As he sank his own teeth into her shoulder making Blair release her hold on him and moan.

Blair held on to his shoulders when he released his hold on her and looked up at him as she stroked a finger down his cheek as he backed her onto the bed. Slowly he lowered her onto the bed as he flicked her shirt off and threw it into a corner. Blair couldn't help the urge to try and cover herself but stopped when Gabriel shook his head.

"You're exquisite Blair." He whispered as he laid down next her.

Blair smiled before leaning over and capturing his lips in a kiss as she took off his shirt and threw it towards the same corner her shirt was. Gabriel moaned as his hands began to roam over her body making her writhe and arch into him. When his mouth captured one of her nipples in his mouth she shuddered at the sensation. More, that's all she could think. More.

Gabriel could hear that command in his mind, "Yes, more." he said as he released her nipple and before he knew it he was on his back, he sat up and captured her lips as she took off her boots and his own.

"You heard me?" She whispered looking at him as she finished taking of their boots. Gabriel nodded and captured her lips again as his hands roamed up and down her back making Blair moan when he slipped her jeans off and pulled her closer.

Blair had a hard time thinking straight. Gabriels scent permeated the room and all she could do was moan and writhe as he explored her body. They dipped,curved, and traced every part of her body and before she knew it he was kneeling between her thighs, looking down at her fully naked.

Gabriel stared down at Blair in awe of his mate. She was so much more than he thought he would ever have. Slowly he began his journey down her body, feeling how wet she was made his wolf howl loud enough that anyone standing outside of their rooms would wonder what was going on. He looked up at her and saw that she was looking down at him a flush going up her chest and into her face. It made him grin, she was nervous.

She couldn't help the flush that came to her skin. She was nervous but not as nervous as she thought she would be. Excitement flooded her system as he stroked a finger through her wetness making her arch into his touch, "Please Gabriel." she whispered and his head jerked up at her soft words, "Please." She said again and that was all he needed.

His mate was begging him. Her wolf no longer cared for the slow seduction. She wanted fast and Blair agreed. He crawled back up her body as she slid her hands up his back and pulled him close so she could capture his lips in a kiss, "Blair." He whispered as he cupped her face in his hands as he slipped inside her.

Blair couldn't help the moan that burst from her lips as he thrust in and out. Her nails raked down his back, "Gabriel." She groaned before arching into him, pulling him close and biting him on his shoulder making him loose control. Blair writhed against him as she wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him deeper into her.

Gabriel could feel Blairs thighs shaking as she came closer and closer to orgasm. He grinned when he felt her tighten around him. Then he shuddered as he came and pulled her close and captured her lips. He laid down next to her so he wouldn't crush before pulling the sheet over them.

"When you woke up this morning did you think you would be in bed with your mate that night?" He asked her with a grin on his face as she cuddled to his side.

"No but I bet you didn't think you would be here either." She replied with a laugh making Gabriel stare at her.

That was the first time she had laughed around him, "You're right, I thought you would make me sleep on the couch." He said with a laugh of his own as he thought back to what she had said in his house.

"Maybe I would've made you sleep next to me with a whole bunch of pillows going down the middle of the bed." She said with a smile as her eyes twinkled with amusement.

"That would've been torture." Gabriel said with a smile, then he frowned, "Your cousins aren't going to try anything when they train you right?"

"I don't think so. Of course I haven't seen them in a while, unlike Alex and Roxanne who work in the city, they stay here." She said with a shrug, "My aunt Gail and her mate Cade made it a point to stay in contact along with Alex and Roxanne. My grandmother and grandfather would visit every once in a while." She said with a yawn.

"Well now you have me." Gabriel said pulling her close as she drifted off to sleep. He looked down at her and smiled to himself. His mate wasn't who he had expected but he knew that was usually the case. He smiled when she shifted closer and draped her leg over his. He fell asleep knowing she would be there when he woke up.

Chapter 5

When Blair opened her eyes light streamed in through the large bay windows. Turning away from them she saw Gabriel laying on his side, his eyes open and on her. She smiled at him before she leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his lips. Pulling back and she grabbed the blanket that covered him and ran towards the bathroom. When she got to the door she hesitated, "I'll be right back." She threw over her shoulder before walking in and closing the door.

Gabriel laughed from where he laid on the bed completely naked. With a shake of his head, he got up and put on a blue robe that was hanging over a door before walking out of the room and looking around their apartment. Lots of windows, was his first thought. His second thought was, where was his pack. Just as the double doors swung open and Micheal, Nick, and Brad walked in.

"Dude, what the hell?" Nick said as he threw himself on the couch that dominated the room. Gabriel frowned how hadn't they tripped over that last night?

"Yeah, why do you get a suite of rooms?" Micheal asked with a frown, "I gotta share my suite with these two assholes." He said with nodding over at Brad and Nick, who were now engrossed in the tv.

"I have to share too." Gabriel replied with a laugh and ducked when Micheal went to punch him.

"Sharing with who?" Nick asked looking over at them.

"He's sharing with me." Blair said from where she leaned on the doorjamb to the bedroom wrapped in the blanket, "I told you I'd be right back." She said looking at Gabriel before walking back into the room and slamming the door closed.

Gabriel winced, "Thanks a lot guys." He said as he walked back into the room to find Blair digging through the closet, "What're you looking for?" he asked her as he leaned over her shoulder to see what she was doing himself.

"Looking for clothes," She said looking at him from over her shoulder, "You know my grandmother loves to cook, you should go see if she made anything." She said before turning back to the closet.

Gabriel shrugged and walked into the bathroom. Twenty minutes later fully dressed he walked downstairs and into the kitchen. Sitting at the large table was Meredith and Blake, "Gabriel, the person we wanted to see." she said as she looked up from her plate.

"What's going on?" He asked curiously as he sat down across from them.

"Do you know what being mated entails?" Blake asked him as he pushed his plate away and looked at him.

"Well when you mate they're the only one you'll ever find that attracts you." He said truthfully, because that was all he knew about being mated no one really ever explained it to him.

"It's not just that Gabriel, you can't spend any length of time away from your mate. You can spend a couple hours away but not more than 24 hours. I learned that the hard way." Meredith said, "The females have a harder time with any length of separation. She will basically shut down, her emotions will be erratic, and when she does see you again be prepared for her to think you're not really there." Meredith explained as she looked over at Blake.

"Afterwards she will not let you out of her sight for a couple of months." Blake said with a chuckle as Blair walked in.

"Is aunt Gail coming over?" she asked as she walked over to the refrigerator and looked at what was inside.

"Probably, we're not sure." Blake said with a wistful smile as he looked over at Meredith.

Blair frowned at her grandparents they were acting weirder than usual. Shaking her head she put it out of her mind, "Gabriel you should eat something. Knowing Meredith she'll want to go for run before she starts training me." Blair said looking at her grandmother.

"I'm not training you. Your cousins are." Meredith said with a shake of her head.

"If you want me to stay here I suggest you train me yourself." Blair said looking at her grandmother with a hopeful look on her face.

Meredith rolled her eyes before she nodded, "I'll train you but I'm not going to go easy on you just because your my granddaughter." She said as she stood and walked out the back door that led to the deck and out to the forest.

Gabriel stared at Blair with a shocked look on his face. She was crazy. He had heard about the Queens sudden outbursts of rage when she had first taken the thrones nearly two hundred years ago. The things he'd heard were meant to scare and intimidate and now he wondered if they were even true, "Blake, how did you and Meredith meet?" He asked curiously as Blair walked over with a bowl of cereal and sat down next to him.

"She had just arrived in town the day before, her adoptive mother had passed away, she came here with her whole pack. That was the main reason we even talked in the first place. I wanted to make sure they could at least blend in." Blake said with a wistful look on his face.

"So basically, you guys mated the same day you met?" Blair asked him with a frown on her face.

Blake burst out laughing, "Hell no, she actually put that off till the last possible moment, well until we had our mate run." Blake said as he stopped laughing a haunted look on his face, "Exactly a year later my sister was killed, Your great aunt Angela, Abbie's twin sister." He explained looking over at Blair who nodded.

Blair had known someone in her family had been killed when her grandparents had met, "How did she die?"

"She was the first demon queen, Meredith killed her." Blake replied as he stood from the kitchen table and walked out.

"Your aunt was a demon." Gabriel asked Blair a bit astonished.

"I wasn't even born yet, neither was my mom or any of my aunts and uncles and all my cousins." Blair said with a frown.

"I remember a time when Meredith wouldn't even come to the alpha meetings." Gabriel said, "All of the new Alphas would actually laugh the first time they actually saw her." He shrugged when Blair stared at him, "She's pretty small. Most of them couldn't believe that they took orders from her."

"I could see that happening," Blair said with a laugh, "She's never really been my queen, even though she is, she never acted that way around me. It was almost like she understood what I was going through." She said with a smile as she remembered all the whimsical presents she would get from her grandmother, "She bought me a dog once, he's still around, I think one of my cousins has him now."

"She doesn't act like any alpha I've ever met. Most of them are really stuck up and betas aren't any better. But your family is different." Gabriel said with a shake of his head, "You're all alphas. Alphas always want to be on top, but your family is a pack of freaking alphas. That's freaky." He said making Blair laugh.

If he only knew exactly how different her family was, "There are more than wolves, Valkyries, and vampires in my family. We actually have a couple of dragons, and fairies. I think one of my Aunts actually has a bit of Angel." She shrugged when he stared, "You'll get to meet them, eventually." She added as she stood, leaned towards him and pressed a kiss to his lips, before walking outside to stand in the sunlight with Meredith.

*******

Meredith smiled at Blair as she came to stand next to her, "You know it's weird, before I met Blake my life had been empty, not even my pack could fill the whole, or anyone really." She shrugged, "Yes I've done things most people, most Immortals, wouldn't think of doing. I know I'm feared, that's why I stay here and only interact with my family. They are the only ones that have never judged me." She said as she turned to look at Blair with a smile, "Now let's get this over with, what exactly can you do?"

"I can shoot a gun and not miss the target." Blair said with a smile, while Meredith frowned.

"That won't work." Meredith as she walked over to the large shed near the woods, "Try this." She said and handed Blair a sword before grabbing one for herself, "The last time I did this was with your aunt Gails mate." She said with a laugh before taking her stance, "Let the sword do the work."

Blair didn't know what her grandmother was thinking and before she knew it she was knocked to the ground, "Ok," she said as she picked herself up and felt the sword pull her forward, "Whoa, hold on there." She said to the sword and felt like a complete idiot. Really Blair, she thought to herself, your actually talking to a sword?

Meredith smiled at her granddaughter before slashing at her. Automatically Blair countered her move and before they knew it they had disarmed each other at the same time, "Well, you didn't beat me." She said with a smile, "So you're good with a sword and a gun, anything else?" She asked as she moved to put the swords away.

"No, I can't even shift." Blair said looking away. A wolf that couldn't shift was a dead wolf. Just like a distracted Slayer was a dead Slayer.

"Well that's easily fixed. Close your eyes." She said as she walked over to Blair and placed a hand to her forehead, "Now, take a deep breath."

Blair did as Meredith told her and felt the rush of heat along the surface of her skin. She nearly screamed out in pain, as it was she clenched her teeth and held it in. Slowly she began to feel like she was on fire and collapsed to her knees as her back arched, bones popped and snapped and that's when Blair screamed out. The pain becoming unbearable as her nails lengthened and fur appeared on her body.

Meredith looked at Blairs' wolf form and smiled, another white wolf in the family. Blair would be the fourth white wolf in a sea of black, mahogany, brown and gray, "What did you do?" Blair said in her wolf form making Meredith stare at her, only she was able to do that.

"I helped or at least I think I did. Can you turn back?" Meredith asked cautiously as she stroked Blair's white fur.

"I don't know." Blair whispered as her senses became amplified. She could hear hearts beating, blood rushing through veins, the scent of the trees, and another more intoxicating scent. Turning her head she saw Gabriel on the grass a couple of feet away.

Gabriel had heard her scream out in pain and had vaulted over the balcony and ran towards her as she had collapsed. Before he could reach her Blake had tackled him, knocking him to the ground. When he finally looked up Blair wasn't there at least not her human form. taking a deep breath he got to his feet and walked over to her, "Maybe I can help?" He said as he stroked a hand through her fur and felt Blair shudder.

Meredith nodded and backed away. She knew she couldn't help her anymore. The first transition from human to wolf was painful but she had never seen anyone react that way and then she hadn't known how turn back and there was no way for Meredith to explain that. she had been a natural. Her first transformation had been smooth and effortless unlike Blairs.

"Blair, Close your eyes and think of being human, of standing on two legs and having opposable thumbs." He said with a smile looking into Blair's eyes, "Most of us have bit of a problem when changing back. We usually end up naked."

Blairs eyes widened before she closed her eyes and concentrated on being human, a fully dressed human. She felt her skin tingle and when she opened her eyes Gabriel was staring at her. Blushing she looked down at herself half expecting to be naked in the back yard, with who knew how many eyes on her, but she wasn't. She was still wearing her jeans and white t-shirt.

"You're definitely unique." He said as he helped her to her feet.

Blair launched herself into his arms, "I didn't think I'd be able to change back." She sobbed into his shirt as he held her close.

"It's ok. I got you." Gabriel said as he cradled her to his chest as she continued to sob.

"Blair there's more you need to learn." Meredith said as Blair finally calmed down enough that she was able to stand.

"What else would I need to know?" Blair said with a frown as she wiped her tears away and stepped behind Gabriel as Meredith stepped towards her.

"Our family is connected to the Seven Fairy Kingdoms. My aunt Keeley is Queen of the Second Kingdom, while my mother was also Queen of the Wolves she was also Queen of the First Fairy Kingdom." Meredith said peeking around Gabriel to look at Blair, "When my mother died she left me two thrones to do with as I pleased and I did, until I met Blake." She said glancing over her shoulder at Blake who stood a few feet away, "Then I had three thrones. Not only was I a queen three times over but I had been Claimed. A ritual as old as time, a god or goddess, presents himself or herself to you. If you accept their proposal, you can embody them and use their powers against your enemy. The proposal however is forever binding and you are forever their vessel." She whispered the last as she walked away to pace, "Now I need to know if you can fly."

"Fly? Why would a wolf fly?" Blair asked incredously.

"A wolf that has fairy and vampire DNA are exponentially more powerful than any creature. Two beings that are powerful, while the third brings clarity and control over your more basic emotions. Something not a wolf or vampire can claim to have." Meredith said with a snide glance at Gabriel and Blake.

"Thanks a lot." Blake said with a smile as he looked over at Blair, "It might be awhile before her wings come in. Keep an eye on her." He said looking at Gabriel before heading back towards the house.

"Do you want to wait Blair?" Meredith asked her not wanting to put her through anymore pain, because if she did she knew Gabriel would attack her and then she'd have to hurt him.

Blair looked up at Gabriel before looking back at Meredith, "Let's just get it over with. Gabriel, go back to the house." She said pressing a quick kiss to his lips.

Gabriel looked at Meredith when Blair pulled away, "Anything happens to her I'll kill you." He growled at her. He looked Blair and stroked a finger down Blairs cheek, "I'll be inside." He whispered before turning on his heel and walking back inside.

"Turn around," Meredith said and when Blairs back was facing her she ripped the back right down the middle. As she expected there were already slits on her shoulder blades where the edges of the wings were already beginning to peek through. Taking a deep breath she grabbed hold of the end and began to slowly pull them out.

Blair stiffened as she felt something like silk sliding against her skin. It didn't feel like the transformation from human to wolf. It was more soothing. Like Gabriels touch on her skin, "What's going on?" She asked Meredith glancing over her shoulder and all she saw was gossamer wings, near transparent turquoise with golden swirls at the edges, "Those are mine?" she said with wide eyes.

"Yes they're extremely fragile right now. Go sit in the solarium. I will send Gabriel to you." she said giving Blair a little push to get her moving before walking back towards the kitchen.

Chapter 6

Blair was sitting in the solarium soaking up the sun when Gabriel walked in, "Hey." She said as he walked over to her and pulled her into his arms. She wrapped her arms around him and held him close.

"Why did you never think to transform into your wolf?" Gabriel asked her as he encircled her waist with his hands, "And why didn't you tell me anything?" He added with a growl before he stalked away from her to stand near the floor to ceiling windows that covered the east facing wall.

"I didn't even know I had a wolf, let alone that I could turn into one." Blair replied placing her hands on her hips as she cocked an eyebrow at him, " And I didn't tell you because of the same exact reason." She added as she walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist

Gabriel looked over his shoulder at her, "I get where you're coming from." he said as he turned in her arms, "Did Meredith say when your wings would retract?" He asked her as he stroked a finger over one making her eyelids flutter.

When Meredith had touched them she hadn't felt anything but a soothing touch, but when Gabriel touched them her body heated. She looked up at him and noticed that his eyes were glowing, "No, she didn't say anything about that. All she said to me was to stay in the solarium because my wings were fragile." Blair shrugged trying an failing to stop his stroking finger, "They will probably go away on their own. Which is what I'm hoping for." She added with a shudder as he continued to stroke the upper part of her wing.

"They're really sensitive." Gabriel said with a grin as Blair shuddered again.

"Only with you. Meredith touched them and I didnt feel what I feel when you touch me." she replied as she lifted a hand to brush his hair off his forehead, "Before I met you I never thought I would actually be able to fly let alone be able to transform into my wolf and now I can probably do both." she said as she walked to one of the couple dozen lounge chairs that was in the room and sat down.

"Before I met you I never thought I would find my mate. Now that I have, I'm never letting you go." He said with a chuckle as he sat down next to her on the same lounge chair and pulled her into his arms.

"I sure hope not, because I'm not letting you go either." She said looking over at him with a soft smile on her face.

"Gods, my eyes they burn." Brad said as he walked into the room with Micheal and Nick trailing behind him.

"Shut up, we're not even doing anything." Blair said as she looked over at them.

"At least not now that you guys walked in." Gabriel said with a smirk as they sat down.

"Thank the gods we walked in when we did then," Micheal said sarcastically as Nick sat down next to him and started poking him.

"Right." Blair said rolling her eyes as she felt her wings slowly begin to retract into the slits on her shoulder blades.

"Actually Meredith told us to stay in here with you guys." Nick said still poking Micheal who was by know scowling in his direction.

"Would you stop?" Micheal said pushing Nick off of the lounge. He fell to the floor with a thud making Micheal, Brad and Gabriel laugh.

"That's not funny." Blair said coming to her feet and helping Nick to his own, "He could have gotten hurt." She said looking at them as their mirth faded away, "That was rude and uncalled for. Apologize." She said turning her gaze on Micheal who had a grin on his face along with Gabriel and Brad.

"Um." Micheal said a bit stumped. No one had ever told him to apologize for treating a beta as they should be treated.

"If you don't apologize," Blair began as she stalked towards Micheal, "I'll make your life a living hell."

Gabriel stared at Blair as her eyes began to glow with powers she probably didn't even know she had, "Apologize Micheal." He ordered him. As soon as Micheal muttered his apology, which Nick accepted, Blairs' eyes stopped glowing.

"Is this how you guys act towards each other?" She asked them and watched grimly as they nodded, "Well not anymore, treat each other as equals. It might be hard for you wolves

to understand but it does hurt when you treat each other like that. It might not hurt you," Blair said looking pointedly at Micheal, Brad and Gabriel, "But you're not the one on the floor, or in the river." She said as she flexed her shoulders and her wings retreated all the way into the slits on her back before she stormed out of the room.

Gabriel closed his eyes and mentally kicked himself. How could he have been so stupid? They had just treated Nick how her cousins must've treated her for having the spirit of a Slayer, "Fuck," He said as he shoved off the lounge and walked away from his pack.

"Sorry Gabriel. I didn't know she would react that way." Micheal said shaking his head before standing and walking out of the room.

Nick looked from the door to Gabriel, "Sorry guys I feel like this is my fault." He said with a sad look on his face.

Brad patted him on the back, "No way. It was definitely not your fault. Micheal shouldn't have reacted that way and besides we shouldn't have laughed." He said looking over at Gabriel who had begun pacing.

Gabriel was pissed. He had basically laughed at his mate when he'd laughed at Nick. Taking a deep breath he turned and walked out of the room. He had to find a way to make it up to her. He just had to. When he saw her standing near the stairs. He couldn't help but think that she looked ready to be reprimanded for saying what she'd felt.

"What?" She said apprehensively as she looked into his eyes.

"I'm sorry." He said unable to think of anything else to say.

"For what exactly?" She asked him cocking an eyebrow at him, "I mean you did laugh and you didn't say anything to stop the behavior even though I'm sure you knew what was going to happen. So what exactly are you apologizing for?"

"All of it." He said grabbing hold of her hands to pull her close, "I didn't think and I reacted badly."

"You all reacted badly." Blair replied looking away from him and back to the stairs as voices drifted up.

Gabriel frowned as Blair became pale as the voices drew closer, "What's wrong?" He asked her cupping her face between his hands making her look at him.

"I have to go." She said and rushed down the hallway and up the stairs that led to their rooms.

Gabriel was still frowning at the top of the stairs when Meredith found him, "Where's Blair? She's not in the solarium."

"She just ran up the stairs." Gabriel said looking at Meredith, "What did her cousins do to her? She's terrified of them. All she did was hear their voices and she took off."

"Wouldn't you be terrified if you heard the voices of your tormentors as a child. Phaedra never let Blair explore her powers and by the time she was brought here," Meredith shook her head, "Her cousins had already gotten to her. She assumes they're more powerful than she is because she was always the target of their jokes, the meanest jokes.

"Do they regret it?" Gabriel asked and felt pretty dumb. Of course they didn't and if they did they had probably never shown her that they were.

"I'm sure they do," Meredith said, "But we'll never know, Blair always hid in her rooms whenever her cousins came here."

"Great," Gabriel said sarcastically and stalked off up the stairs. Her cousins tormented her and now she was mated to one of her childhood tormentors, because he had tormented her by pushing her into the river. As he mounted the stairs two at a time he thought to himself that no one would ever torment her. Unless it was him. In their bed. He grinned at that as he got to their double doors and swung them open.

"Gabriel," She exclaimed when she saw him, "Nobody followed you right?" She asked peeking around him as if making sure there really was no one behind him.

"No I wasn't followed." He said even though she could see that, "Blair you have to face them at one point or another."

"I'd rather die." She said with a shudder, "Well I'd rather not face them, I'll stay up here and you can go down and join them."

"What makes you think I'll go hang out with the people that tortured my mate?" Gabriel asked her with an shocked look on his face.

"Well, I don't know." She said with a shrug. With a sigh she sat on the large couch. Gabriel was right she would have to face them, sooner or later. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Trying to summon up some type courage.

"The only way I'll go downstairs is if you come down with me." He said walking over to her, grabbing hold of her hands as he helped her to her feet.

"Why did I know you would say that?" She asked him with a smile before it faded away, "I'll only go if you promise not to leave me alone with any of them." She said looking up at him with pleading eyes.

"I promise." He whispered as he leaned down and captured her lips in a kiss. Pulling back he caressed her cheek with his hand, "Let's get this over with." He whispered as he grabbed hold of her hand and led her out of the room ans down the stairs.

Blair hesitated at the landing of the staircase that led down to the kitchen were she could clearly hear her grandparents, Alex, Roxanne, Micheal, Brad and Nick. Blair tightened her hold on Gabriels hand as they began to come down the stairs. When they stood at the entrance way Meredith did a double take so shocked she was to see Blair, especially when her two cousins stood a couple of feet away from her.

Blair looked everywhere but where her two cousins stood, taking a deep breath she let go of Gabriels hand and sat down next to her grandmother, "Glad to see you're joining us." Alex said with a smile.

Blair smiled back before looking over as Gabriel sat down next to her and grabbed hold of her hand, "Grandma, has there been any news?" Blair asked curious to know if they had heard anything from the guards.

"Nothing good." Blake said as he sat down across from Blair, "The guards are reporting more people missing."

Blair looked at Blake. He was worried, she could tell by the hard set of his face, "Are we going to do anything?" Blair asked looking around the room her eyes still avoiding her cousins.

Meredith shook her head sadly, "No, if they are missing it's for a reason. They were either taken to be part of their army or food."

Gabriel growled as one of Blairs cousin walked up to the table, "We have to do something." Aiden said as he leaned on the table with his hands.

Startled, Blair jerked back and tightened her hold on Gabriels hand. Looking up she stared into her cousins gray and gold flecked eyes, his dark mahogany hair was swept back from his face and he seemed to tower over her, "Back off." Gabriel growled making Aiden look over at him before looking back into his cousins terrified face.

Taking a deep breath he looked away from Blair and met his identical twin brother Quinns eye. Opening a telepathic link to his brother he said, 'She's scared of us.'

Quinn looked at Blair and frowned, 'Why? It's been ten years.'

Aiden shrugged, "Blair. Quinn and I have something to say. When we were kids you were our only cousin. What I'm trying to say is, we shouldn't have played all of those pranks on you." He said looking sincere, "We were older, we should have been playing them on each other instead of you and protecting you from this asshole instead of acting like him." He said nodding towards Gabriel and making Blair frown.

"Why didn't you stop then?" Blair yelled and stood from her chair as her eyes began to glow.

"We were kids, Blair." Quinn said softly making Blair look up at him, the only way to tell them apart was their eyes. Quinn had blue eyes with silver flecks, but everything else, they were complete matches.

"You had no right to treat her that way." Meredith said as she placed a hand to Blairs shoulder, "You're lucky she doesn't send you into exile."

"She doesn't have that kind of power." Aiden gaped at Meredith who merely smiled at him.

"As my heir, yes she does." Meredith said making Blairs mouth drop open in shock, "Blake and I decided last night that Phaedra will not make a very good queen, she's to easily influenced." She said with a frown before looking at Blair, "You, on the other hand are strong of mind and will, that's what our kingdom needs."

"A Slayer for a queen." Quinn said in astonishment, shaking his head in disbelief, "What will the people say?"

"They actually have encouraged our decision," Blake said calmly, "They had celebrations when Blair returned behind the Line. Meredith and I talked to people from the surrounding packs and clans. They were ecstatic to have their princess back."

"The people care more for Blair than they do Phaedra. They want someone strong not weak." Meredith said looking over at her with a smile, "I will be stepping down as queen to only the Northern Wolves, once I feel you're ready, I will step down from the Southern Wolves." Meredith said with an encouraging smile as she took hold of Blairs hand.

"But..." Blair began and faded away when Meredith glared at her.

"Blair we've already made the decision, you will be queen to the Wolves." Blake said ending the conversation as Meredith continued to glare at Blair.

Gabriel stood from his seat and walked towards the large window were the sun was just beginning to peek over the trees. His life had changed in a measly two days. If only he'd had enough guts to pull her out of the river. The decisions they made affected their entire future. Would she still have been his mate if he had pulled her out of the river?

Meredith looked Gabriel as she heard his little metal monologue. He was so confused. It made her smile as he looked over at Blair with love in his eyes. He didn't even know it yet. All he knew was that his wolf had claimed her, but his heart and mind belonged to Blair she was his first thought when he had awoken, she dominated his thoughts.

"Gabriel, you will be king." Blair said looking over at him waiting to see his reaction.

Startled, Gabriel looked at Meredith who nodded, "That was pretty much the plan all along. Blake and I had hoped you would mate with Blair." She said nonchalantly as she shrugged as if it was no big deal that they had planned Blair's life to the minute detail.

Blair looked over at Meredith, "Really? You really had to plan out my life without discussing it with me first?"

"Shut up Blair, you know you like where you've ended up. Queen of the Northern Wolves." Alex said with a laugh as he rounded the table and pulled her into a hug.

Blair frowned, but had she really have to go through everything that had happened to get to this point? She looked over at Gabriel who was staring at her with wide eyes. Blair stepped away from Alex and walked over to him, when she was close enough to touch him he took a step back, "Gabriel?" She whispered, "What's wrong?"

Gabriel continued to stare at her as swirls of turquoise curved around her arms. Grabbing her arm he pulled it up to her eye level so she could see what he was staring at, "What is this?" He asked just as the house shook violently.

Chapter 7

"What the hell was that?" Quinn said as the house shook again.

Meredith's eyes opened wide as she looked over at Blake, "Could it really be them?"

Blake shrugged and looked around. Blairs eyes shifted around the kitchen as the house shook once again as lightning began to crash outside. Just as suddenly as it started it stopped. Suddenly there was a bright flash of light making everyone shield their eyes. When Blair opened her eyes she saw a man and a woman standing in the middle of the kitchen.

The man was at least 6'10" while the woman barely reached his shoulder. His hair was as dark as the night while hers was the complete opposite so blonde it was nearly white, "Atlas. Nike." Meredith said as she took a seat on the top of the island.

Nike looked over at Meredith and smiled, "You always knew I would come to Claim her." She said before looking at Blair, "Hello, my name's Nike Goddess of Victory." She said as she walked up to Blair and laid a hand on her shoulder.

"Hello," Blair replied looking uncertainly at Nike and Atlas as he stood next to her and mimicked Nike.

As soon as Atlas' hand touched her shoulder she flinched as a current, that felt like lava, went through her. Suddenly she felt as if she couldn't breathe. Nike and Atlas released her shoulders at the same time and she collapsed on the floor. Gabriel stared at Blair before collapsing next to her. Gasping for air Blair reached towards Gabriel and grabbed hold of his hand.

Gabriels eyes opened and stared into Blairs teary eyes, "What's happening?" He heard Micheal ask from what seemed very far away.

"The claiming." Nike said as she knelt in front of Blair and watched the swirls of turquoise travel up her arms, curve around her shoulders and lined her hairline in swirls. Looking over at Gabriel she noticed the same happening to his left arm, frowning she looked at him more closely before staring up in shock at Atlas, "It's him." She said her eyes filling with tears as Atlas looked down at the man, who held Blairs hand, speechless.

"It can't be," He said and knelt in front of Gabriel and stared into his eyes, Nike's eyes. Atlas looked up into Nikes eyes and watched as tears coursed down her face, "When the claiming's over we'll be asking a couple of questions." He said, no one made his Nike cry.

She nodded silently and grabbed hold of Blairs left hand and Gabriels right hand, anchoring herself to them, she made sure her son would come back safely from his journey through the Elysian Fields and back, but she didn't know what she could do for Blair. Her journey would be much different. More painful.

Blair couldn't breathe, it was like another being was pushed inside of her. Something her body wouldn't or couldn't do. In the back of her mind she wondered why when her wolf materialized. She could clearly see her pacing her mind back and forth as if waiting. She lifted her nose to the air and suddenly there was a woman walking seductively forward out of the darkness, she looked exactly like Blair, her eyes the color of blood and in her mouth. Was that vampire teeth?

Blairs eyes widened in surprise, she knew she had a wolf, but a vamp? And who the fuck was that coming up behind her? He had pointy ears like a fairy, he had muscles everywhere, his long dark hair trailed near the floor, when he looked up Blair was mesmerized his face was a near exact match to Gabriels except Gabriel didn't have that long jagged scar that ran from the tips of his eyebrow down the side of his face and his eyes didn't swirl with what looked like blood. Every step it took left bloody prints of glowing red blood. She was looking into the face of the Slayer. He smiled at the vamp who had looked at him seductively and held out her hand towards him. He grabbed her hand and pulled her close, "My love." He whispered in her ear.

Gabriel stared at Blair, as a golden light filled his vision. He arched on the ground as he felt himself being filled with what felt like electricity. As his vision returned he saw Blair trying to stand. Slowly she looked at him before grabbing hold of Nike and launching her half way across the room before straddling Gabriel and biting him on the neck. Gabriel stiffened at the sharp pain before she was wrenched away by Atlas but not before she'd swallowed a mouthful of his blood.

Gabriel stood on shaky legs and watched as Atlas held Blair in his arms tightly as she wriggled trying to get free, "Run Gabriel," Meredith said to him, "Run to your rooms. Now. While you still have the chance, but you must know, we will let Blair go after you. The claiming has to be finished."

He stood there frozen for two seconds before taking off at a dead run up the stairs all the way to the third floor where Blairs and his room was located. He had just gotten the door opened when Blair tackled him into the room, unable to do more he broke her fall so she wouldn't get hurt. He looked into her eyes and stopped breathing as they continually flickered from red to silver and back, "Blair." He whispered.

Blair looked down at Gabriel, "Mine." She growled in his ear before pulling back to give him a seductive smile then she leaned forward and bit him on his shoulder.

Gabriel jerked at the pain, but as suddenly as it had hurt it faded away to pleasure. How was she doing that? Was this how a vampires bite felt like? Nothing but pleasure? What had happened to her during the Claiming? When she pulled away blood trailed down her chin and plopped on his bare chest. Were the heck had his shirt gone?

As if reading his mind Blair lifted a piece of cloth that sort of resembled his shirt. slowly she set it back down on the floor as she leaned forward and captured his lips. Automatically Gabriel flipped her onto her back. Expecting her to struggle to be on top he was surprised when all she did was wind her arms around his neck and pulled him close for another kiss. Groaning he sank into her unable to deny her what she wanted, "Yours." He whispered back unable to say anything else.

Blair could barely breathe as Gabriels blood coursed through her. The vamp had come out to play, but he wasn't who she wanted to play with. Slowly Blair looked up at Gabriel and unable to hold the Slayer back he came out of her eyes in a black mist and entered Gabriel through his mouth. Gabriel closed his eyes for a brief second, when he opened them they were no longer his own but the swirling red of the Slayers, he pinned her with his stare. Finally, now they could play.

Gabriel didn't know how she'd done it but he now had the Slayer's spirit within him. He could feel it prowling around his mind. Once he looked into Blairs eyes however he couldn't control himself. Almost without any thought at all he had stripped her clothes and his own off. When he entered her she moaned loud enough that he was sure the people in the kitchen heard her. Slowly. Oh so slowly he withdrew and pounded back into her over and over again.

Blair arched off of the marble as Gabriel worked her body into a heated frenzy. Unable to take anymore she shattered in his arms. The vamp inside of her sighed as Gabriel pulled her closer, nuzzled her neck and suddenly bit her making her convulse in his arms as she orgasmed again. As he pulled back her vampire faded away, satisfied.

Gabriel stared down at Blair as her eyes stopped flickering and returned to their normal hue, "You okay?" He asked her as he rolled off of her and pulled her on top of him.

"As okay as I'll ever be." She said on a sigh as she rested her forehead against his chest before she popped her head back up and looked at him with concern staring into his eyes as they faded back to their natural mossy green but now they had swirls of turquoise and specks of gold, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just feels a bit weird having a Slayer treat my mind like it's his own personal abode." He said with a grin trying to ease her tension, "I'm perfectly fine." He said when she gave him a doubtful look.

"You better not be lying to me." She said with a sad smile. She had given him the Slayer as a last attempt to not let her Vamp find someone other than Gabriel to satisfy her. Blair wanted her to only want Gabriel the only thing she could think of was, what if he had something the Vamp couldn't resist? The Slayers spirit however had willingly left her and gone into Gabriel when she'd had that thought.

Gabriel chuckled as he held her in his arms. They had to get back downstairs and figure out what the hell Nike had been talking about? They really needed to talk, "We should get dressed." He said as he noticed that they hadn't even bothered closing the door.

Blair sighed and nuzzled his neck, "Why?" she asked as she closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder

"The doors are open." He said and watched in amusement as her eyes popped open.

"What?" She said and glanced at the doors. Anyone who walked by would be able to see them. Getting up in a flash she ran into the bedroom with Gabriel following at a slower pace.

"It's okay. They're all probably still in the kitchen." Gabriel said as he grabbed a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt and put them on.

Blair shrugged, "Doesn't matter. My family is pretty nosy." She said as she slipped a pair of black lace panties and a black lace bra before putting on a pair of jeans and red top.

Gabriel shrugged, "Come on," He said with a chuckle as he held out his hand for her to take.

Blair rolled her eyes and put her hand in his when she noticed the turquoise swirls that ran from his wrist all the way up his arm and spread up the side of his neck, "What the..?" she said as she traced the pattern before looking into his eyes.

"That's kind of what I want to ask Nike." He said as he led her out of the room and down the stairs.

*********

Nike and Atlas glanced towards the stairs as they heard someone coming down, "They're fine." Atlas said reassuring everyone gathered in the kitchen.

Nike kept her eyes on the stairs and when Gabriel walked in holding Blairs hand she smiled over at him. He on the other hand frowned at her, "What did you mean when you said 'it's him'?" He asked her as he sat at the kitchen table and pulled Blair into his lap.

Nike looked uncertainly at Atlas, who nodded, "Gabriel what do you know of your mother?"

Gabriel looked uncertainly at Micheal, should he tell her the truth or the lie he'd lived with his entire life. One he almost believed. Taking a deep breath he said slowly, "I never knew my mother. At least not my birth mother. The woman I knew as my mother was Elisa Laurens. When she found me I was near death so she bit me and turned me into a werewolf."

Nike narrowed her eyes slightly, "Where were you found?"

"That part I never really found out." Gabriel said with a chuckle, "Why are you asking me these questions exactly?" He said as Blair began to brush a hand through his hair.

"Would you like to meet your mother?" Atlas asked him and watched Gabriel frown.

"I assumed a long time ago that if she truly wanted me then she would've searched for me." Gabriel said with a shrug, "It would be nice to meet the woman." Gabriel said as he shifted in the seat and Blair sighed as she rested her head on his shoulder.

Nike stared at her son, "You really thought I would even think of abandoning you?" She said as tears welled up in her eyes and cascaded down her cheeks.

Gabriel stared at Nike. She couldn't be his mother, that would mean that Atlas was his father, "You're my mother?" He asked uncertainly as she stood from the chair she had been sitting at.

"Yes," She said softly as Atlas pulled her into his arms and stared at his son, "You were never supposed to...to mate like a wolf, or anything else." She said looking angrily at Blair making Gabriel growl at her.

"Whether or not I was supposed to mate as wolf it's already done and once its done it cannot be undone and if it can I'll fight it every step of the way." He said determinedly as he hugged Blair to his side. She wouldn't be taken from him. He... he loved her. Gabriel was shocked at his own mental admission. In less than three days she had changed him.

Nike looked into Gabriels eyes and saw something that most women in the mortal realm would kill for. True love. "We understand." She said looking at Atlas and seeing the same look in his own eyes.

Gabriel looked down and noticed that Blair had fallen asleep, "What's up with this?" He said lifting his arm in the air pointing out the turquoise swirls.

"In time you'll be able to hide them, as will Blair. These markings on you mean that you're protected by us." Atlas said with a shrug as he looked down at Nike who had finally gotten her emotions under control, "We should be getting back. If you need anything Gabriel, please don't hesitate to ask." He said with a smile as he and Nike began to fade.

Gabriel stared at the spot his parents had stood before looking at everyone gathered there, "This doesn't leave this room." He said and gathering Blair in his arms carried her upstairs to their bedroom.

*******

Yawning Blair stretched and looked to the side. Empty. Sitting up she searched the bedroom. Empty. He couldn't have gone far

, she thought to herself as she stood from the bed and looked down at herself. At least he'd changed her clothes, shrugging she wandered towards the bathroom. Cocking her head to the side she heard the shower running. So that's where he's wandered too. Stifling a laugh she sneaked inside the bathroom and pulled the glass door open, "Boo." She said and had the pleasure of seeing Gabriel jump in surprise.

He narrowed his eyes on her as she doubled over laughing, "You think that's funny?" He said grabbing her arm, pulling her into the shower fully clothed and sticking her head under the spray.

"Gabriel," She squealed before she had a mouthful of water, "I'm still dressed." She said before he pushed her under the spray again.

"So?" He said with a wicked grin on his face. Grabbing onto the t shirt she was wearing he pulled it over her head and let it fall to the shower floor with wet plop before cupping her breasts in his hands and thumbing her nipples making her throw her head back in a moan so low that only his wolf heard it.

Blair clutched at his shoulders when he lifted her up in his arms and had her wrap her legs around his waist, "I love you." She whispered in his ear as she nuzzled his neck.

Gabriel froze, cupping her chin in his hand he lifted her face so he could look into her eyes. There were tears making their way down her cheeks, "I love you too." He said just as softly and lowered his lips to her.

Blair drowned in his kiss. So sweet and full of love. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close. She'd had so many firsts with Gabriel. The Claiming had brought it all into perspective for her. She wouldn't loose him, no matter who his parents were. He was hers like she was his, "Yours." She whispered as he entered her making her close her eyes, arch into him and moan out loud.

Chapter 8

Hours later Blair came down the stairs and looked around the empty kitchen. Pausing in the doorway she frowned, where did everybody go? "Gabriel," She called up the stairs and heard him come up behind her.

"What happened?" He asked her as he took in the empty kitchen and frowned.

"I didn't hear them leave. Did you?" She asked him as she stepped into the kitchen and Nick popped out from behind the open pantry door.

"Boo." He said and laughed when Blair jerked back into Gabriels chest.

"What the hell Nick." Blair exclaimed, "Do you

know where everybody took off too?" She asked him as she sat at the kitchen table.

"Meredith and Blake took off earlier this morning. Micheal and Brad are in the solarium." Nick replied as he dug through the refrigerator before grabbing the pickle jar.

"Oh." Blair said softly before looking out the windows into the forest. As her eyes scanned the trees a shadow moved making her narrow her eyes. She watched it drift closer and closer to the edge of the forest. Growling she stood from the chair and walked to the sliding glass doors.

"Blair? What's wrong?" Gabriel asked her as he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Something's in the forest." She whispered as she continued to follow the shadow that drifted ever closer. Without thought she ran out in the back yard. When she was halfway to the forest the shadow charged. When it came out into the light Blair took in its appearance.

Taller than any demon she had ever seen he was at least 6'6", he circled her as she circled him, slowly she looked up at him, his face seemed familiar. She couldn't place it but she'd seen him before, "Who are you?" She growled at him and watched him stop moving and look at her with a slight grin on his face.

"What you hear is my ego deflating," He smirked, "I'm the demon Queens newest pet, but she's a bitch. All she wants is the head of a fairy on a platter and personally I feel that's a bit gruesome." He said with a shrug making Blair frown.

A demon that didn't like bloodshed, "So why are you here?" She asked him cocking her head to the side as he looked around.

"Well I sorta escaped from her dungeon." He said sheepishly continuing to look around.

"Did someone follow you?" Blair asked him becoming a bit nervous as he continued to look around.

"No, at least I don't think so." He said looking back at Blair with a worried look on his face, "I came here, because Nike and Atlas sent me."

Blairs mouth dropped open in shock. The gods had sent a demon, "Why?"

"Don't know," He said with a shrug, "By the way my name's Daichi." He said, "And if she figures out I'm here let's just say that I'm fucked." He glanced around again and spotted Meredith who had walked out of the forest a couple of feet from where he'd appeared.

She stopped in her tracks and stared at him, "Daichi?" She said as if she had just seen a ghost.

"Meredith!" Daichi said excited to see at least one face he recognized, "It's been years."

"I thought you were dead. She told me herself." Meredith said as tears gathered and she ran to him pulling him into a tight hug.

Daichi hugged her back, "No, she kept me in her dungeon. I remembered you telling me to summon Nike if she ever got me, and I did but the Queen had cast a type of spell. She couldn't hear me until this morning." He said as he pulled back.

Meredith turned and looked at Blair, "Blair this is the leader of the Royal Guard." She said, "My best of friends, he knows all my secrets and as I'm sure you can sense a demon. An incubus to be correct." She said as Blake came out of the woods.

Blair frowned an incubus protected us? How? By having sex with our enemies without them knowing? Seriously what was Meredith thinking? "So he was captured?" Blair said with a frown as something rustled in the forest behind Daichi.

"I was captured and put in the Queens dungeon for a couple months, then she decided beating me wasn't fun enough." He said with a shudder, "You know just because I'm an incubus doesn't mean I'll do it with just any random person. It's against my moral code." He said making Blair frown at him.

He was really weird, was all Blair could think when she heard the rustling again, "I think someone followed you." She said as something came through the trees at a full run and tackled Blair to the ground before it began dragging her through the wet grass by her hair into the forest.

Blair thought quickly and almost cried out when it yanked on her hair hard enough to have a couple strands break. Palming the knife she constantly kept in her lower back she sliced her hair off. She fell back to the ground with a thump and whatever had dragged her into the forest stopped and turned back.

"Kill it Blair." Meredith said as she ran up behind her.

"Ssshe can't kill me." It hissed as his forked tongue slithered in the air. His whole body was covered in scales except for the short cap of brown hair on his head.

"She might not be able to on her own." Meredith said transforming into her white wolf and knocking him off his feet.

As if nothing had happened he stood back up. Blairs eyes widened before she transformed into her own wolf and grabbed him around his neck. Locking her jaw she swung him around like a rag doll and let him bang into a tree with enough force that the tree rattled before it crashed to the ground. Meredith then pounced on him before she started mauling him while growling, "No one touches my granddaughter."

It wasn't working. Nothing seemed to keep him down long. Looking at Meredith she saw that she had transformed back into her human self and turquoise swirls covered her body and what looked like golden dust fell to the forest floor. Before Blair could think she was in her human form with her own turquoise swirls covering her body, "We'll kill him together." Meredith said her voice echoing with power.

"Together." Blair repeated her own voice echoing with power as they stalked him. He looked nervous now.

Meredith held her hand out towards him and a bolt of lightning shot out of her hand knocking him to the ground a smoldering circle on his chest where his heart should have been. Blair mimicked Meredith and fire engulfed him. He screeched as the fire covered his whole body before he burst into dust. The scent of burning flesh lingered in the air making Blair wrinkle her nose in disgust. That was a scent she would never be able to forget.

"We need to get back and find out what Daichi knows." Meredith said walking over to Blair, "Nice job by the way." She said patting her on the shoulder as they turned away from the pile of ashes.

"Thanks." Blair said with a grin as she noticed that Meredith still had her clothes even after transforming into a wolf. Looking down at herself she saw she still had her own leather pants and silky blood red shirt on. Her boots though had disappeared.

Meredith smiled, "I hope you weren't fond of those boots." She smiled with a sheepish look.

Blair smiled awkwardly, those had been her most favorite boots, "No." She said as they neared the tree line, "I hope Gabriel's not mad that I chopped my hair off. Literally." She said as she hesitated.

"I'm sure he'll be okay with it." Meredith said encouragingly as she pulled her into the backyard where Blake and Gabriel stood with worried looks on their faces.

Gabriel waited until Blair was in front of him before he pulled her into his arms, his hands at her waist as he buried his nose in the side of her neck. When he ran his hands up her back he didn't feel her hair. Frowning he pulled back and noticed that her hair only reached just below her shoulders, "I like it." He said his frown replaced with a smile.

"I've never had my hair this short." Blair said running her hands through it self consciously.

"Are you okay? Blake wouldn't let me go after you guys." He said frowning over at Blake who had Meredith in his arms smiling as she told him an elaborate story half of which she probably made up.

"I'm fine." She said with a smile looking up at him and stroking a hand down his cheek.

Gabriel turned his face into the palm of her hand and pressed a kiss to it, "I'm glad you're okay." He said as they started back into the kitchen.

"Gabriel, you have got to hear this," Brad said as he rushed into the kitchen with Micheal and Nick trailing behind him, "So we were talking to Roxanne and get this apparently Merediths whole pack isn't made up of wolves at all. They're hybrids. Valkyries, fairies, wolves, vampires, and even gods." He said with a look of wonder on his face.

Blair shrugged, that last part wasn't really true unless you counted Gabriel she thought to herself, "Is that weird?" She asked Brad with a smile because she knew the answer. It was weird for these creatures to actually meet let alone mate with each other and produce offspring.

"Well, yeah." He said with a nod as he looked around at everyone when they started laughing at him, "What?" He asked as he plopped down on a chair.

Blair continued laughing unable to get enough air to form a coherent answer, "Blair calm down." Micheal said with a chuckle as he looked at Brad whose face was so comical that he couldn't help the laugh that burst out of his lips.

Blair finally caught her breath, "The reason we're all hybrids is because of Atlas and Nike. My family is their personal guard, they protect the Fairy, Vampire, and Wolves from the Demons. Like the incubus and succubus." She explained and shrugged when Micheal, Brad, and Nick gave her a frown, "They want their guard to be stronger than any other. That's why when Meredith and Blake mated it was like an answer to their prayers. A natural born Fairy Wolf combination taking in a Vampires essence."

Gabriel thought that over. She was right what could be more powerful than a Fairy who had magic and discipline under its control. While the wolf and Vampire that lived within had brute strength? Nothing could defeat a mixture of the creatures. He had been in his own share of fights and he knew from experience that wolf territory fight could be brutal and dangerous for everyone involved, "So if your family protects my family, why didn't they protect me?" He asked angrily looking from Blair to Meredith.

"We're not allowed in the heavens," Meredith looked away, "Besides none of us had any clue you existed." She said as Blake grabbed her hand in support, "Honestly if we had, Blake or Keiko, or even Abbie, Blake's sister, would've made me go after you."

"Meredith doesn't do anything willingly. The only reason she turned Mitch, Abbie's mate, was because Abbie had to literally beg her." Blake said from where he stood with a sad look on his face.

"I wasn't that heartless back then." Meredith exclaimed pulling away from Blake, "I couldn't control them, they would lash out on everyone including you. The only way I could think of to protect everyone."

"By pulling away from us?" Blake yelled at her and for the first time Blair saw her grandmother loose control. Her skin began to glow with an eerie light as if she couldn't control how much power she would use.

"Leave me alone," She said when Blake tried going near her, her voice echoing in the large kitchen as it had in the forest. She turned on her heel and walked out all around you could hear glass shattering.

Blake looked around sheepishly at everyone there before he followed after her. Seconds later a door slammed, items could be heard being thrown and then racking sobs. Blair closed her eyes at pain she heard, no one would ever be able to understand Meredith except Blake. She would always be a mystery even to her own family.

Yawning, Blair looked around the kitchen. Everyone was standing around awkwardly shifting their eyes everywhere but Blair and Gabriel. There was a weird tension in the air as if they could all sense that something wasn't right.

********

In the forest red eyes watched Blair as she yawned. Straightening from her position the queen of the demons walked deeper into the forest back to the camp her army had set up. Soon it would be time to attack them. Even if the gods stood behind that mutt Meredith she would make sure she killed her first. Yes it was true she secretly envied the beautiful queen who had never aged past the age of 18.

She had admitted it. Queen Meredith was of course more beautiful than any creature and Queen Linsay was even more envious half a century later. Scoffing, Linsay stomped her foot, even all these years later she was still planning on how to best kill someone with the protection of a goddess who never lost. Shaking her head she walked into the camp and into her large tent. She would find a way to kill Meredith and if given the chance her whole pesky family. The protectors of the Gods, Linsay snickered at that, with them gone the gods would be completely defenseless.

Stripping out of the dirt and mud spattered clothes she tossed them in a corner as she walked over to the tub and slipped in the steamy water. Laughing at her own cleverness she soaped her body. Daichi hadn't talked if only she'd had more time with him. Three years and all the blood he had spilled in her dungeon and not even a whimper had come out of him. Until the night she heard calling out to Nike. That bitch had stolen her prize. That same night Daichi had been set free and he'd run straight for Meredith like she knew he would.

She'd sent one of her best warriors after him, Slither hadn't died in vain. She know knew what kind of powers those hybrid whores had at their disposal. She would be able to fight those measly powers that they commanded, "Synthian." She called and a tall, dark haired man with glowing blue eyes was shoved into the tent, "You will leave this camp tonight. I know you helped Daichi escape." She said and with a wave of her hand he was no longer standing inside of her tent. If only she could be there when they found him. She chuckled to herself as she entertained herself with all the bloody and gory details she imagined they would do to him.

Chapter 9

There was a rippling in the air as the body of a tall, dark haired man materialized on the floor in a fetal position. Daichi gasped and ran over to him, "Synthian." He said and cradled the mans head in his lap, "She let you leave?"

The man shook his head, "She sent me here to die." He said as blood began to pour out of his mouth, ears, and eyes.

Daichi looked around nervously, trying to staunch the blood that seemed to just pour out of Synthian. Blair couldn't move, could she save him how her grandmother had saved Mitch? Before she could even think about doing that Meredith came back into the room and pushed her forward towards Synthian, "Bite him." She commanded when Blair landed on her knees next to him.

Looking up at Meredith and then at Gabriel who nodded, she leaned forward opened her mouth and bit him. He arched up off the marble and began to convulse as the blood that had been pooling around him seemed to reverse its course. Blair could barely think as she pulled away and stared at him in awe as Synthian continued to convulse before passing out. His chest rose and fell steadily. Blair let out a relieved breath as Daichi picked him up off the floor and began climbing the stairs, "Thank you." he whispered and disappeared around the corner.

Blair looked around a bit dazed. The room was spinning in front of her eyes. Slowly she collapsed on the floor and shivered as Synthians' blood coursed through her. What kind of creature could he be? He certainly wasn't a demon, vampire, or wolf. Could he be a god? What kind of god willingly chose to live here? Especially with the Demon Queen?

"Synthian was once an Angel. He fell because he wouldn't kill..." Meredith trailed off looking over at Blake, "Because he wouldn't kill...you, Blair." She whispered, "That's why you had to save him. He gave up his life in the heavens for you. It was the least you could do. Mitch had left the safety of his kingdom to warn me of an attack and instead he was injured by his own guard." She said shaking her head and walking back over to Blake as Gabriel helped Blair to her feet.

"Thanks," She whispered to him with a soft smile, "So basically I just paid him back?" She asked curiously as she leaned heavily on Gabriel for support as he knees became weak.

"In a way," Blake said as he looked at her with a worried look on his face, "Are you feeling alright?"

"Not really," She said before Gabriel lifted her into his arms, "My head hurts." She whimpered as she rested her head on Gabriels' shoulder.

"Your going to lay down until you feel better." Gabriel said and walked out of the room.

Upstairs in their bedroom he laid her down and sat at the edge of the bed, "Blair, I don't ever want you to do that ever again." He said with a growl as he looked over at her with a worried look on his face.

She was so pale, Gabriel could barely see the rosy tinge of her skin. He knew he had almost lost her when she'd bitten Synthian. She knew it too but had let it go. She was tired. More tired than a vampire would be after changing someone or even a wolves first transformation, "Okay." She whispered as her eyes fluttered closed and she slept.

Gabriel stood and began to pace the room. He was angry. She'd almost left this world, that cold she'd felt. Gabriel shook his head not wanting to think about it. Looking back at the bed he saw her curled up on it. Since she'd given him the spirit of the Slayer he knew where some of her confidence had lain. He had made her fearless and invincible. Even though she already was by having his mother standing behind her and her family. The only thing he couldn't figure out was why the Demon Queen wanted to kill Meredith. What had she done to her to make her hate her so much?

Shrugging he turned on his heel and stared out the windows over the expanse of forest that seemed to go on for miles. He missed the city. All the noise and sounds of people. Shaking his head he pulled away from those thoughts. He could probably never go back to the city to live. Not without Blair. She had gotten underneath her skin and he couldn't help the love that seemed to pour out of his heart for her. She was his mate.

Micheal, Nick, and Brad walked into the room and stared at their cousin. How he stared at Blair. Nick shuddered at the thought of having a mate. He liked the freedom of not having one. Micheal and Brad would never admit it but they were terrified that they would find their own mates, "Gabriel, is she ok?" Brad asked walking into the bedroom and looking down at Blair.

"She said she was." He said and continued to stare at her. Watching as her chest rose and fell with her breathing, "If something happens to her I don't know what I'll do." He said as he sank to the floor and put his head in his hands.

Micheal looked down at Gabriel, "We'll keep her safe. Nothing is going to happen to her. We promise." He said giving Brad and Nick a wide eyed look, "Come on Gabriel, you need to get out for a bit." He said his eyes flashing red.

"No, he should stay here." Nick said as he pushed Micheal out of the room and slammed the door closed, "Gabriel we have to talk. Micheal went out a couple of nights ago, when he came back he was muttering something about a ghost and killing Blair."

Gabriel looked up at that, "What?" He exclaimed, getting to his feet, shocked. He'd grown up with him. He knew that killing a wolves mate essentially killed the wolf that lived, "Keep him away from here and tell Meredith."

"She already knows," A voice from behind Nick and Brad said softly.

Gabriel looked over and saw his mother, Nike, standing by the door, "What happened to Micheal?"

"He's mated, to a pretty little ghost," Nike said with a grin, "He was muttering about her because he now knows why you found Blair in the alley. His mate attacked her." She said as she walked further into the room.

Gabriel frowned, "Oh. Well then..." He trailed away as a thought hit him, "How can he be mated to a ghost?"

"This ghost is not a ghost anymore." A soft voice from behind Nike said before a pretty heart shaped face peeked around Nike. She grinned over at them before coming closer towards the bed. She was short, only about 5'2". Her red hair came just below her shoulders, "Hi my name's Elena and there's no need to tell me who you are because I already now." She said with a wave and a smile.

"Hi..." Gabriel said with a frown, "How are you not a ghost anymore?" He asked her as he looked her over. She was so much different than what he would have expected Micheals' mate to be.

"I'm sorry I attacked Blair, but I was told to, and well I've been following you guys for awhile now, and I'm rambling." She said looking away her olive skin tone turning a bit pink.

"No, no you're not." Nick said with a smile, "You're just explaining yourself. Now you said someone told you to."

Elena looked sheepish, "Well, someone named Meredith told me too." She said just as said person walked in and nonchalantly gave Elena a kiss on the cheek.

"Welcome to the family," She whispered to her and as she pulled away she heard Gabriel's growl, "Don't growl at me you overgrown mutt. Aren't you happy you found your mate?" She asked him.

Gabriel sighed, "Yeah," He said looking over at Blair as she groaned and sat up on the bed.

"What the hell? Who are you?" She asked Elena who had rushed over to the bed and sat down next to her.

"I'm so so so sorry." Elena said as Micheal walked into the room with a sheepish look in his face, "I didn't mean to hurt you." She exclaimed giving Blair an unexpected hug.

Blair awkwardly patted the young woman, who had apparently attacked her, on the back, "It's okay." She said with a frown as she looked over at Gabriel.

"Elena, when did you and Micheal mate?" Nick asked her as she hopped off the bed and ran over to Micheal launching herself into his arms and wrapping her own around his neck and pulling him close.

"Hmmm," She hummed as she tapped a fingernail to her lips, "Must've been about a week ago. Right?" She asked Micheal with a smile.

Micheal smiled and nodded, "Yeah, just about." He said and gave her a peck on the lips before putting her down, she was at least a foot smaller than Micheal. Such a contradiction between the biker looking man and a little angel. Well ghost.

Blairs eyes widened as she noted the soft glow of the afterlife still clinging to Elena's skin, "Wait, you attacked me in the alley?"

"Yeah," She whispered softly looking down at the floor, "I'm really really sorry."

Blair sighed, she couldn't stay mad, especially when she looked into her remorse filled eyes, "It's alright." She replied with a shrug as she thought it over. If she hadn't attacked her she would've never met Gabriel, "How are you not a ghost anymore?"

"Well, I'd rather not say." She said as a soft blush came to her face when looked over at Micheal.

Blair frowned and then it dawned on her. She had taken a bit of Micheal to become 'human', "Alright, if you don't want to say anything we aren't going to force you." Blair said with a grin as she stood and walked over to Gabriel who automatically wrapped her in his arms before pulling her away abruptly, "What's wrong?" She asked him as she looked up into his face.

"Did you hear that?" He asked her with a frown as he tilted his head to the side as he caught the faintest sound of a heartbeat.

"Hear what?" She asked him with a frown as she looked around the room at everyone gathered there.

"Did you guys hear it?" He asked everyone else who nodded without hesitation. Slowly Gabriel looked over at Blair. Could she really not hear it or was she just acting? He didn't know, but that sound. The heart that beat so softly was coming from her and he knew it wasn't her heart because he could hear it clearly over the softer one. This heartbeat however seemed to seek out his ears and made him smile uncontrollably. Placing a hand to Blairs lower stomach, he felt more than heard the heartbeat. Pulling her close he nuzzled her neck and whispered, "Another heart that beats."

Blair pulled back enough that she could look into his eyes. So bright with happiness before she looked over her should and stared at her grandmother, "Am I..." She trailed off as Meredith nodded, "How long?" If she really was carrying a little alien inside of her she wanted to know how long it had been there. She had done so many thing that could've hurt the baby.

"Not long, a couple of days at the most." Meredith said with a smile on her face.

In the last couple of days she had been unconscious for countless hours, she had fought a demon and made love with Gabriel countless times, "Oh god," She sighed out, "I'm going to miss out on the Hunt. The funnest day of the Fairy Year. She whined making Meredith and Nike laugh.

"Congratulations." Nike said walking over and pulling her into a hug.

"You're going to be a grandma." Blair said to Nike on a watery laugh as tears gathered in her eyes.

Nike laughed and looked over at Meredith, "You'll be a Great-Grandmother." She said and laughed even harder when Meredith's eyes widened.

"You're right," Meredith said with a half smile, "Micheal, Brad, Nick, Elena how about you come with me. I'm sure Nike didn't just pop in here for no reason other than to explain Micheal's behavior." She said and led everyone from the room except for Nike who stood next to Blair with a grateful look on her face.

Chapter 10

Nike smiled at Blair and Gabriel, "I came to ask Gabriel if he would like to live in the Heavens, but that is now irrelevant. He would never leave you Blair. No matter how much I didn't want this destiny for him there's nothing I can do." She said walking over to the large windows and looked up at the passing clouds.

"Nike, you should've never came and tried to make me that offer." Gabriel said with a growl, "I would have never taken your offer. I love Blair and my destiny is with her. No god or goddess will ever make me change my mind. I belong here."

Blair smiled hesitantly, "The offer is appreciated but he declines." She said a bit nicer than Gabriel would have wanted. Personally he felt she should've cursed and railed at Nike for even trying to make such a suggestion. Blair walked over to Gabriel, she had read his thoughts clearly as if they were her own, she placed a hand on his shoulder and when he looked down at her she smiled, "I would have but I'm trying to be nicer than what I used to be." She said and he nodded. It was harder to control his anger now that the spirit of the Slayer lived in him.

Nike nodded and faded away. Gabriel looked down at Blair and smiled, she had a soft glow about her. It could be the fact that she was pregnant but this glow was different. It was like she had gold, red, and blue glitter thrown at her. He slid a finger down her cheek and there on his finger was the glitter. Blair looked down at his fingertip and her eyes widened. Was that fairy dust?

Gabriel stared at his fingertip and as if compelled he went to lick the glitter off when Blair grabbed hold of his hand, "No. No please don't do that." She whispered desperately trying to stop him.

"Why not?" He growled at her as she held onto his hand in a vise grip.

"Because if it's what I think it is it might cloud your judgement." She said softly and that was an understatement. If he ingested the dust many things could happen, he could loose control or they could have amazing sex or he could hurt her or the baby. If he did that he would feel guilty and that was the last thing she wanted him to feel.

Gabriel stared at his fingertips before looking into Blairs' eyes. They were wide and brimming with tear. Wiping his hand on his pants he looked over at her with a smile, "Happy?"

She nodded silently, "I don't ever want you to lick the dust on my skin." She looked away before glancing back, "I'm going to shower and stuff." She said softly before walking into the large bathroom.

Gabriel stared at the closed door as he heard the shower turn on. Shrugging he walked out of the room and into the large bathroom that everyone on that floor shared. It was nothing like the one in the suite with its large stalls of showers against one wall, toilet stalls against another and sinks to his left. Sighing, he knew it the best he would get for now.

Blair sighed as she rested her forehead against the cool marble wall as the hot water of the shower pounded on her back. A baby. Was she even ready for a baby? Was Gabriel ready for a baby? She scoffed at that thought, it was obvious by the way he'd looked at her earlier. Looking down at her flat stomach she couldn't believe that in a couple of months it would be bigger and full of life. How could she even think about bringing a baby into a world full of demons, war, and hatred? Sliding down the marble she pressed her face into her hands and sobbed.

Gabriel walked out of the bathroom and walked back into the room. The shower was still running but under the sound of water hitting marble he could hear Blair sobbing. Rushing into the bathroom he slid open the glass door and pulled her into his arms, "Blair what's wrong?"

All Blair could do was shake her head and continue sobbing. How could she tell him that she was terrified of being a mother? Especially with the example she'd had, "I'm scared." She whispered against his chest.

"So am I." He whispered to her as he buried his face in her wet hair, "We didn't exactly have the best examples for parents but i know we can do this." He said lifting her into his arms and carrying her back into the room, "Sleep for a bit." He whispered to her as he pressed a kiss to her lips and laid her down on the bed. He watched her for a long time until she drifted off to sleep before he joined her on the bed. As he pulled her close he covered them and fell asleep to not only one heartbeat but two.

*****

Linsay laid in her large bed waiting for the guard with their nightly report. Sighing, she turned on her side. She would find out what all the celebrating was about. the night was filled with happy voices, laughter, and music. It was irritating, all that noise, "My queen we know why the creatures of the woods are celebrating."

"And why is that Leon?" She asked him looking over her shoulder at him.

"The princess is expecting her first child." He said and backed out of the tent as fast as his long legs could carry him. Linsay's form had changed from the beautiful woman to that of the monster that lay beneath.

Hissing and growling she got off the bed and dressed in her battle gear. Walking out of her tent she raised her voice to her army, "We attack them tonight."

Her army rushed to obey her. Swords clanked as they were put in their sheaths. Spears, quivers full of arrows and bows were grabbed and strapped on. Knives, potions, and every weapon they had accumulated in the last couple of years were grabbed. In less than ten minutes her army was prepared for battle. A long and bloody battle. In seconds her army of ten thousand demons rushed into the forest. Linsay smiled as she heard the screams of terror and then metal against metal. The battle for the Fairy Forest had begun.

*****

Miles away Meredith came awake with a start. rushing out of bed she ran into the bathroom and brushed her teeth, a luxury she wouldn't have in the battlefield. Suddenly Blake was there his cell pressed to his ear, "Dispatch the Warriors into the forest, now." He ordered before hanging up and handing Meredith the phone.

Meredith smiled at him before dialing her aunt Keeley's number, "The forest is under attack." She said calmly into the phone as she rushed back into the room and grabbed a pair of leather pants, a silky turquoise shirt and sneakers.

"Yes I know. The Guards are already at the front lines." Keeley said hurriedly, "I have to go Meredith, the family will get to the house as soon as they can."

Meredith hung up and tossed the phone to Keiko who walked into the room in her own pair of leather pants, sneakers and silky blood red shirt, "Get the packs together." Keiko nodded and walked back out of the room the cell phone pressed to her ear, "Blake, I'm going to go wake up Blair." She said and walked out of the room and headed down the stairs to the third floor. When she reached the double doors she opened them and walked towards the bedroom door and knocked.

Gabriel opened the door with a smile but when he saw Meredith's face it disappeared, "What's going on?"

"The forest is under attack. I'm assuming Linsay will also be there. We need to be ready." She said looking him in the face, "Get ready to go to war, we leave in ten." She said and started back to the door, "Wake up Blair."

Gabriel stared after Meredith before walking over to the bed and giving Blair a soft kiss on the lips. Her lips curved into a smile before she opened her eyes, "Meredith was just here, she said the forest is under attack. We leave in ten." He said as he pulled her up off the bed.

Blair smiled and wrapped her arms around his waist, "I love you." She whispered before giving him a kiss. Pulling away she walked to the dresser and grabbed a pair of black lace panties and matching bra before opening the closet doors and grabbing a pair of leather pants, a turquoise corset and sneakers.

"Meredith was wearing nearly the exact same thing." Gabriel said as he got dressed in a pair of leather pants, black t-shirt, and boots.

Blair shrugged, "Great minds think alike." She said as she reached into the closet and grabbed two .22s, putting one in the waistband of her leather pants on her lower back and the other in a shoulder holster. Walking into the bathroom she brushed her teeth, waited for Gabriel to do the same before walking out of the room and down the stairs into the large kitchen where her whole family had gathered. The patio doors were open wide to let in the cool night air.

Spilling out on the back porch and onto the backyard her family picked up weapons. Guns, spears, knives, swords, bows and quivers of arrows. Meredith walked over to Blair and handed her a couple of knives, a sword, more ammo for her guns and a leather jacket with many pockets, "Here you'll need this." She said before walking away to stand near Keeley, "The packs of the West are ready to go in." Meredith said to Keeley, who was watching everyone as they got ready for war.

"Whenever you want to send them in you can." She said before looking into the forest behind her.

"You shouldn't show fear." Meredith commented as she her aunts face filled with fear.

"I'm not afraid. I'm worried." She said unconvincingly.

"You can't lie to me Keeley." Meredith said as she looked over the yard, "I have to find Blake." She said and walked away.

Chapter 11

Blair stood at the edge of the forest. Standing at her left was Gabriel, Meredith stood to her right, the rest of her family stood next to them as well. Taking a deep breath she looked over at Meredith who merely smiled before she took off at a run into the forest. Blair was right behind her with Blake, Gabriel and the rest of their family right behind them. In seconds they reached a village.

Blair took in the scene before her. Bodies were everywhere, covered in blood as the village burnt to the ground around them. Turning she saw the fairy guards in full armor come out of the forest, "Meredith we have pushed them back towards their camp." A guard said as he stepped forward, "We haven't seen Linsay though."

Linsay chuckled as she stepped out of the forest and launched herself at the guard before anyone could react she had twisted his head and he fell to the ground. Dead. She looked over at Meredith and smiled, "Hello Merry. It's been awhile." She said with a wicked grin on her face before she looked at Blair, "You're the one I really want." She said and lunged towards Blair who flicked her off like she were a fly. Standing she dusted herself off before clapping her hands and a circle of light burst out of the palm of her hands.

Blair flew back and landed a couple of feet away. Growling, she stood and stalked towards Linsay who still had a smirk on her face, "You messed with the wrong wolf." Blair growled at her before lifting her hand, palm out and a fireball burst out of her hand. Hitting Linsay square in the chest making her fall to the ground.

She scrambled to her feet and looked over at Blair. The smirk was still plastered on her face as she walked forward, "That's all you've got, you mongrel." She taunted Blair who hissed and bared her fangs at her.

Blair growled as she began to stalk around Linsay and before she could dodge out of the way Blair launched herself at her. While in mid air she transformed into her wolf and grabbed Linsay around her neck. Slowly, so slowly she began to sink her teeth into her, "Do you want to die slowly and painfully or fast and painless." She growled low enough that only those closest to her and Linsay heard what she'd said.

"This is exactly what I wanted." Linsay hissed as she slipped her hand into her pocket taking out her switchblade she sank it deep into Blairs stomach.

Blair yelped loudly and started to back away from Linsay as blood poured out of her. She involuntarily transformed back into her human form and pressed a hand to the large wound. Roxanne came out of nowhere and grabbed onto Blairs hand. Roxanne, being the daughter of Woden and Freya, she could heal with a touch, "Have you forgotten my gift Linsay?" She taunted the demon queen as Blairs wound began to stitch itself back together.

Linsay cursed herself. How could she have forgotten the gift of healing? Only a Valkyrie in love could use it and Roxanne was very much in love, "Apparently." She huffed and braced herself as Blair launched herself at her.

"You crazy bitch!" Blair exclaimed as she punched Linsay dead in the face, "I can't believe you pulled a human move." Blair shoved Linsay off her feet and straddled her waist and began punching her in the face. When that wasn't enough for Blair she started to bang her head on the floor.

Suddenly Linsay opened her eyes and stared at Blair before bucking her off, "I'm crazy?! Really?" She said as she rolled onto her stomach and tried to get to her feet before Blair gained her own.

"Yeah." Blair said as she stood and leaned against the tree behind her.

Meredith looked back and forth between them, "And here I thought I was the crazy one in the bunch." She said making Linsay laugh.

Blair stared at Linsay in complete shock, "Grandma are you kidding?" She asked as she straightened and began stalking Linsay again.

Linsay followed her with her eyes and almost lunged at her but held her ground. Shifting her eyes she only caught glimpses of Blair because of how fast she was moving. The only thing she could do was wait and see what Blair would do. Blair looked into Linsays's eyes and she could literally see the fear on her face, there for all to see.

Blair couldn't help the laugh that burst out of her lips. This only made Linsay more afraid knowing that her time was growing short. Blair lunged unexpectedly, she wrapped her legs around Linsay's waist, her eyes meeting Linsay's right before she grabbed her head and twisted it. Linsay collapsed backwards in a heap as Blair leaned forward, opened her mouth and bit down on Linsay's throat. There was a sickening crunch that echoed around the still burning village.

Blair stood in the middle of it all staring down at Linsay's dead body. She had ripped out her jugular. Blood covered the ground and poured out of Linsay in spurts. Blair looked down at herself and saw that she was covered in Linsay's blood. Her hair dripped with blood and the metallic taste of it was in her mouth. Taking deep breaths through her mouth she looked around her family who stared at her in shock. Except for Meredith and Gabriel who walked over to her and pulled her into his arms, "You did it." He whispered and suddenly the forest was alive with cheers and the noise of celebration.

Blair gagged as her mouth became filled with saliva she knew she was about to throw up. Jerking out of Gabriels hold she ran to the nearest tree her hand covering her mouth before she threw up the blood she had accidentally swallowed. Gabriel walked over to her and smiled, "Take me home." She whispered and he lifted her into his arms and started running back to the house.

Once there Blair rushed upstairs and into the bathroom. She hovered over the toilet as she threw up again, "No more running." She moaned as she pressed a hand to her forehead before leaning into the toilet and throwing up again.

Gabriel stood in the doorway with a half smile on his face, "Is this what I'll be waking up to?" He asked her and had her eyes flashing up to his.

"I hope not." She groaned and pressed a hand to her abdomen, "I can already feel him moving." She groaned before reaching up to flush the toilet before she could Gabriel was already doing it for her and helping her to her feet.

He watched her walk to the sink and brush her teeth before splashing cold water on her face, "Let's get you in the shower." He whispered turning and walking over to the shower. He jerked his hand back as the taps turned on their own and the water became warm. He looked over at Blair who had a smile on her face as she walked over to him undressing before she walked around him and got in the shower. Two minutes later she was pressed up against the marble as he kissed her senseless.

*****

3 months later

Blair blinked her eyes open and looked around the room. Next to her Gabriel was deep in sleep. Blair smiled at him before she swung her legs over the side of the bed and struggled to sit up. She looked over at Gabriel, she didn't want to wake him, but the way things were going she wasn't going to be able to get up without his help and she really needed to use the bathroom, "Gabriel.' She whispered brushing his hair out of his face as his eyes opened and pined her with a lustful gaze, "I have to use the bathroom."

Gabriel chuckled as he stood and stretched before helping her stand. He chuckled again as she rushed into the bathroom. Only four months and she already looked like she was about to give birth. When she walked back in he smiled and offered her a hand from where he stood in front of the open bay windows. Smiling she eagerly put her hand in his and laughed when he pulled her close and kissed her before he rubbed a hand down her belly. When he felt the baby bump his hand he smiled again and pressed another kiss to her lips, "I love you." He whispered to her and when she whispered it back he kissed her again.

Blair smiled, he hadn't been able to stop touching her since that night three months ago and she had found she could deny him nothing. Nothing at all. She pressed a hand to her belly when she felt the sharp pain again, in the shower it had been so intense she'd had to clutch the wall to keep from sliding onto her butt, but it was nothing compared to this one that made her cry out and hold Gabriels hand in a death grip.

Gabriel carried Blair to the bed, "I'm going to get Merry." He whispered to her giving her light kiss before rushing out of the room.

Merry walked in two minutes later with Gabriel, "I could hear you all the way upstairs." She said with a smile as she pressed a hand to Blairs large belly. Orbs floated out of Blair and formed into a baby in Merry's arms. Crying so loudly the bay window shattered.

Gabriel stood dumbstruck in the doorjamb as he stared at the baby, "It's a boy." Meredith said and walked over to Gabriel. She wrapped him in blankets before handing him to Gabriel, who could only stare down at his son.

He opened his eyes and they were tri-colored, gold, lavender, and a moss green ringed his eyes. He blinked up at Gabriel and reached for his face with a smile. Gabriel felt tears gather in his eyes and he looked up and over at Blair who was smiling over at them. He walked over and passed the baby to her.

Blair smiled down at him and passed a hand through the dark mop of hair on his head, "What should we name him?" She asked Gabriel still looking down at their son with wonder in her eyes, "He should have his own name, my family tends to recycle names. There's at least ten Kincades, Gabriels, and Lucas."

Gabriel nodded at her statement, in the last three months he had met her whole family and she was right they recycled names like he took showers, "Colton." He said looking at his son.

"Colton Laurens." Blair whispered looking down at their son, "We named our son after a gun." She laughed and shook her head.

"At least he doesn't share his name with half the family." Gabriel said with a grin as he pushed a piece of Blairs hair behind her ear.

"The family is going to want to see him." Blair whispered and felt Gabriel stiffen, "It won't be that bad."

"Good thing they love me." He said and pulled Blair in for a kiss before placing one on his sons forehead.

Blair sighed happily. Who would've thought that inside a year she would be mated and a mom. Certainly not her and looking up at Gabriel she smiled, "We should get married."

"Are you asking?"

"No. That's not my job." Blair said sticking her tongue out at him.

Gabriel smiled at her before giving her a kiss, "I'll be right back." He said and walked into the closet.

Blair smiled as she heard drawers opening and closing and Gabriel saying "Fuck!" As a loud crash sounded from the closet, "Are you ok?" She asked him laughing as he stepped out of the closet with a small velvet box.

Gabriel looked into her eyes and opened the box. Inside nestled in white velvet was large blue diamond ring. Tears gathered in her eyes as he knelt next to the bed and grabbed her left hand, "I always told myself that if I ever found the woman that makes my heart stop I would marry her on the spot." Gabriel looked away for a second before looking back at her, "I didn't quite manage that because I didn't think I would be terrified that you would say no, but I do know why I was terrified. It was because I loved you so much that not only my heart stopped but my whole body. I can't function without you. I want forever Blair and I will get it because I love you and you love me. Blair will you marry me?"

She looked into his eyes before pulling him close and pressing a kiss to his lips, "Yes." She whispered against his lips, "Yes, I want forever but only with you."

Impressum

Texte: Naiyomi Nieves
Bildmaterialien: Naiyomi Nieves
Lektorat: Naiyomi Nieves
Übersetzung: Naiyomi Nieves
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 12.03.2012

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