©ALL RIGHTS RESERVED TO SHERRY E MONTGOMERY UNDER THE COPYWRITE LAW OF 1988

THIS CHAPTER IS DEDICATED TO KERSTINEVANILLA FOR THE WONDERFUL JOB SHE DID ON THE COVER.

CHAPTER 19

MICHAEL'S POV

I can't believe that Michael has asked me to be responsible for his family if something happens to me and in the wolf world. Would he do the same if he knew that Maria is my mate? Would he ask me something so important if he knew just how much I failed her?

I can't get the questions about how much I have failed my mate out of my mind.

I am currently running the obstacle course at the palace in my human form. It has been six weeks since DeAnna was born and they will be heading home in the morning.

I have spent a good bit of time with the girls but not their mother. She has been spending time with the Queen and King learning about our world.

I have got to get use to calling them Papa and Grandma

Eve. When in private, this is what they want me to call them. Of course when others are present who don't know then I have to use their titles or names depending on who is with us.

To think that David and Eve are actually family now is something I can't get my head around, at least not yet.

I know you must be thinking that they aren't yet but in our world once you find your mate their family is yours as well.

I know it will be awhile before I can claim her. Actually it will be years. She is still mine.

Her children are mine as well. Lewis is their human daddy but Liam is their wolf father. Michael has asked me to be around them because he knows that I will protect them and he wants them to have someone they trust in their lives that belongs to our world.

Lewis stayed two weeks and then had to go back to work. He has been here every weekend.

Mom and Dad have been here twice to see the girls and Maria.

It will be hard on me if I see Maria all the time. I guess I need to talk with her before she goes home. After all I am in charge of her security detail.

As soon as I finish the obstacle course I call Maria and ask if I can come by and discuss the security that will be assigned to her and the girls.

On my way to the shower I call Maria and ask her if I can come by after the girls have gone to sleep. I will meet her in her private quarters sitting room. We will leave the door open so that there isn't any question as to what is going on and the servants can see that.

I knock on her door at 9 and she answers. She is wearing a pretty sundress that is a bright yellow. It looks good against her tanned skin. Her hair is down and looks great. Long silky hair reach almost down to her waist. Lately she has been wearing up pulled back and up but tonight it is down. She is very beautiful.

"Hi! Come on in." Maria says as she answers the door.

"How are you doing?" I ask her.

"Considering everything they tell me I am doing great...but truth is I'm not sure. I am learning so much at the same time I have a six week old baby and another one that is about to be 2. I'm tired." She tells me leading me to the couch as she takes a comfortable chair.

"Eve I wish I could help. You look great though." I tell her.

"Thank you. So want to tell why you are really here. I mean I know that we need to discuss the security and that Lewis asked you to be in charge. You know he trust you." She tells me as she draws her feet under her.

"I know he does and I will not do anything to break that trust. You know he asked me if I knew why your mate was. I told him I did. He told me he didn't want to know who it was. He just wanted to know if he would be good to you and the girls if something happened. I told him he nothing to worry about on that end."

"I know that he is afraid I will leave him for my soul mate. Thing is he doesn't understand just how much I love and respect him. I could never hurt him that way." She tells me.

I can't help but hurt as she tells me she loves him. I want to be with her so bad but I will just have to watch them for years.

"I am sorry Michael but I think you need to know where I stand. I know that you are my soul mate. I know that you will be there for me and that you said you are willing to wait but is this really what you want?" She ask me.

"Is it what I really want? Don't be naive. No it's not what I really want. What I really want is to turn back time and find you when Mary first asked me to meet you. What I really want is to take you in my arms right now and claim you as mine. But I know that that would be wrong on so many levels. Reality is I didn't find you due to my own stubbornness. Now I have to suffer the consequences and unfortunately so do you and many others." I tell her.

"You do know that though I love Lewis I am not in love with him. Never have been. The moment I saw you I fell head over heals in love with you though. I wish things were different but they aren't and neither are we. I am so sorry." Maria tells me with love written all over her face but at the same time the sadness is there.

"Yes I know. I see it. I know that you love him but I also know that you are in love with me. Our time will come but that will be years away.

"I need you to do something for me. Can you?" I ask her.

"I'll do whatever I can to make this easier for you." She says again with the sadness.

"Please understand that I am only asking this to make it easier on everyone." I almost beg her.

"I understand Michael." She says with trust showing on her face and in her voice.

"Okay here goes. Though I want to see you all the time, I really need to limit my contact with you. I am asking this because I don't want my wolf to get out of hand and force you. I believe if we talk over the phone and see each other in passing it will be a little easier. Baby its not what I want but its what is safest for all concerned." I tell her.

"Oh I understand. I understand you will also need contact with my children." She says again with the sadness.

I have put this sadness there. It is like a knife twisting in my heart.

"Okay so what will be the security?" She effectively changes the subject.

"Well first I will be moving to the take over the sub pack in Huntsville. While we have been here two pack houses have been put on the University of Alabama campus backing up to the Black Warrior River. We have purchased land along the River so that the pack members can run. The two house will be appear to be a Frat and Sorority house.

"We have wanted to be able to make it easier for young wolves to go on to major universities. After telling David and Bill what I wanted to do, they said if we would open it to other future Alphas, Betas and alpha children he would help with the cost. There will also be those who are trained as the royal guard. They will be able to go to the University and be there for four years. At the moment I will have 2 female and 2 males enter every year so that they can rotate and be your personal guards. The number will go up if and when we feel that there is a threat. I have already talked with Lewis. Since the two of you have been working with high school students forever you will take over as director for the Sorority house while Lewis takes the position for the Frat house. In truth your wolf will be in charge of the houses if something happens while I will be the sub pack alpha.

"You will be able to hire some of the 'students' to watch the kids and clean your house as well as doing the yard work and even act as drivers for you. No one will know that these young people are actually part of the royal guard." I tell her.

"Sounds like a good cover. How much of this will Lewis know?" She asks me.

"Lewis will know most of it. Well as far as the security is concerned. Lewis knows you are a wolf and that the girls will be when they find their mates. He does not know that the girls' wolves are awake. He needs to know things in order to help protect you. Plus he is your husband. We respect that. I respect that and I know that he has been to hell and back so I would never hurt him. He doesn't want to know who your mate is. Lewis has 15 to 20 years before the diabetes takes him. I will do whatever I have to to wait on you." I tell her.

About that time we hear DeAnna crying so we both in to her. Maria changes her while I check on DeNice. I watch with her permission as she breast feeds DeAnna as we continue to discuss the securities in more depth.

As soon as DeAnna has her back asleep I take her from her mother's arms and put her down.

I turn around and I catch an unguarded moment and she looks so ... I hold out my hand to help her up and the tingles run everywhere. I haven't felt this since the day she gave birth. I can't help it I move twig of her hair out of her face and look directly into her eyes asking permission to kiss her.

It's like I need this closeness to get me through the days to come. I lean in and kiss her gently but the kiss turns passionate. I'm not sure who it was or what happen but before we know what is happening we are in each others arms. We can feel the desperation in the kiss that goes on for a while.

That is the hottest kiss I have ever had and boy do I want more but we finally break apart because the phone starts ringing. Maria quickly answers it and Lewis is on the other end of the phone.

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THE NEXT CHAPTERS WILL BE JUMPING AHEAD A FEW YEARS.