📎A/N. Hello my lovelies. 

Happy Mothers day to all you mothers out there. I hope you had/have a great day and are pampered by your families. The flowers are for you :-)

❤ ℳ

❧ ⚛ ✺ ≋ ≋ ≋ ≋ ≋ ✺ ⚛ ❧

Daniel ignored the call from Jo, his beta, and focused on the meeting. Locke Construction were halfway through the development of a commercial building when the city council changed the rules for its energy code. Some paper pusher, in their wisdom, had decided to backdate the changes, and thereby effectively shutting down the majority of construction sites across the city for non-compliance.

The affected companies were not about to take this lying down and managed to convene a special session of the city council to argue their case. For Daniel, the timing was less than ideal. There was enough going on with the Lycan attacks to keep him wholly occupied. This was just another distraction he didn't need.

His phone vibrated again, and he checked the caller id, only to discover another missed call from his beta. He again ignored it and weighed in on the heated discussion. If it was important, she knew to message him.

When he finally left the council chambers, four hours later, Daniel was in a much better mood than when he entered.

"I can't believe it took them that long to see sense," said Andy Lisowski, the owner of one of Locke Constructions competitors. "I have a good mind to sue for damages."

Daniel shrugged his shoulders. "But they did, and that's all that matters at the end of the day."

Lisowski scratched the back of his head and nodded. "Yep, but look how much money we lost in the interim."

When Daniel's phone vibrated again, he reached for it, thankful he had an excuse to leave before the others wandered over to join the conversation. They had been around a lot longer than Lisowski and begun to comment on how he never seemed to age. Perhaps it was time for Martin to step back into the role? It had been twenty-five years, and none of the current batch of people within the industry were around when Daniel stepped back into the role he'd rotated with Martin, his sister's mate, for the past century.

He made his excuses and headed towards the entrance. "Report."

"We may have a problem," said Jo.

What now?

"Not long after you left this morning, a car turn off the main road. We just thought that someone had made a wrong turn, so security closed the gates."

Daniel frowned. This was standard practice, so he wasn't sure why she was telling him this. "Continue," he said.

"They called me down when the driver was stopped and refused to leave. Turns out, the woman is after you and Alpha Johnson. I told her neither of you were here, and as she was on private property, she had to leave."

"Did you get her name?"

"Dr. Petra Baghurst."

At hearing this, Daniel picked up his pace and headed out the main doors. "What did she want?"

"She didn't say, but she refused to leave. She said she'd wait all day if she had to."

Daniel checked his watch. "Do you mean to tell me she's still at the gates?"

"'Fraid so."

"On my way. Do not let her in," said Daniel before he ended the call.

Just what I need.

Daniel jaywalked across the main, busy road. He had no time to wait for the lights. The sooner he got back to Nederland, the better. What the hell did that woman want? They'd already had a close shave with her after Parker's rescue. The woman was like a bloodhound.

It wasn't until he was well out of the city limits that a thought struck him. At first, he refused to believe it. However, as the miles lengthened, he couldn't shake his suspicion. Surely Parker wouldn't place them in danger? The thought festered until it was an open wound and rage clouded any other emotion. He recalled their earlier conversation and a low growl reverberated from deep within his chest.

Unable to contain his anger any longer Daniel dialed Parker's number.

"How could you go behind my back again? Do you have any idea what you have done? You've put us all in danger," he shouted out the moment Parker answered. "Sometimes I think this is all a game to you."

Parker remained silent for a significant time after he finished his tirade. From the light footfalls and click of a door, she'd now locked herself in her office. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Don't play innocent with me," said Daniel. "I thought we agreed there would be no secrets between us. How can I ever trust you again after you've done this to us?"

Parker let out a deep exhale, and he could hear the grating of teeth. "Have you completely lost your mind?" she asked, her voice now raised in anger. "I have no idea what you are accusing me of, and I don't appreciate being convicted of something I haven't done, or even understand what I'm supposed to have done."

"You've been in contact with that CDC doctor."

Parker's breath hitched. "I what now?"

"Don't play the innocent card now. Especially as she's sitting at our gates, demanding to see us."

"She's what?"

"You heard me."

"I might have heard you, but I certainly don't understand what you're telling me. What do you mean she's at our gates? Is that figuratively or literally?"

"At this moment, Jo is standing guard to make sure she doesn't try to breach the gates each time they have to open it to let a pack member in."

"Jesus, Mary and Joseph!" said Parker. "What's she doing there. I didn't contact her."

Daniel's hands tightened around the steering wheel. "You didn't?"

"No, and I resent that you jumped to the conclusion that I did. We will deal with that later." Parker fell quiet, and the shuffle of papers and opening and closing of metallic drawers was all he could hear, followed by the familiar sound of her laptop being snapped shut. "Where are you now? It's going to take me an hour to get home, especially in this traffic."

Daniel finished his stilted conversation with Parker and turned down the private road that would lead home. A measure of guilt ate away at him for his hasty accusation. If Parker didn't call her, what was she doing at their gates?

He wouldn't need to wait long. Ten minutes later, he stopped behind Petra's car. Jo and two others stood on the other side of the large gates that were framed by bookend sheer mountain faces. This part of the entry into the packs land was deliberately carved out of the mountain to restrict any possible breach without their knowledge.

By the time he'd exited the car, and headed towards the doctor's, she was already out and watching his approach.

"Good afternoon Mr. Locke," said Petra. While her expression was devoid of emotion, he could clearly feel her nerves.

Daniel towered over her and glared down at her. He fully intended to make her so nervous she'd leave. "Dr. Baghurst, I understand you've lost your way." He pointed in the direction he'd arrived. "The main road is that way."

Petra squared her shoulders. "I know exactly where I want to go, and it's through those gates."

"That's private land and nothing that concerns you is on it."

Petra shook her head. "That's where you're wrong. Does the name Carbine Jefferson mean anything to you?"

Outwardly, Daniel didn't flinch. Inwardly was another matter. This was the last name he'd expected her to come out with. "No, should it?"

"A few days ago, a handful of people were allegedly attacked. In addition to broken bones and bruises, they all were inflicted with some sort of flesh eating disease. Most died on their way to the hospital. One managed to survive the trip and hold on for another day before he succumbed to whatever was eating him alive."

"I'm sorry for their death, but this doesn't tell me why you are here."

Petra tipped her head, and her eyebrows rose upwards. "It turns out, the paramedic that tended to the sole survivor, became infected with whatever bacteria attacked the others. There was nothing the hospital could do for him, and he died the following day. As per standard operating policy, all deaths of this manner, come across my desk."

This was information Daniel was unaware of. However, he could already see where this was headed and immediately regretted his earlier conversation with Parker. He'd again jumped to conclusions and accused her of disloyalty. It was going to take him forever to make it up to her.

"You can imagine my surprise when the body of the man who infected the paramedic, is somehow released without an autopsy and ends up with you." She crossed her arms over her chest. "So, I'll ask you again. Where is Carbine Jefferson's body? And while we are at it, you can tell me what you know about this bacteria, and why you took his body."

"Dr. Baghurst, I have no idea what you are talking about. Mr. Jefferson was the brother of a close friend. She wanted to have a private funeral among family and friends."

Petra tapped a finger against her chin. "Hmm. That's odd. I spoke to his employer, and he said Carbine had no family whatsoever, and, to top it off, was an atheist. So it is a bit odd when he's released from hospital on religious grounds, and a sibling suddenly pops up from thin air."

"Blood does not make a family."

"That's true, but in this instance, the law states otherwise." Petra cleared her throat. "Mr. Locke, I don't know what the hell you have got to do with this, but I do know you are involved."

"Dr. Baghurst, I think you have outstayed our welcome and wasted a trip. This is private property, and I am politely asking you to leave. If you don't, I will have you forcibly removed, and I will be within my rights to do so."

Petra pulled a card from her pocket and handed it to him. "I'm staying at the Impasse Cottages in town. I'll give you till tomorrow morning to come clean. Otherwise, I will be back with two warrants. One to search your premises, and the second to arrest Miss Johnson."

Daniels head snapped to glare at Petra. "You've got no grounds to arrest Parker."

She arched an eyebrow upward. "Oh, but that's where you are wrong. I have plenty, including her fingerprints on all the items she handed to me with the chimera virus in it." Petra opened her car door and turned back to him. "Mr. Locke, I am not the bad guy here. I want to know what killed those people, and I suspect that there's going to me more victims out there. If I can find what got into their bloodstream, I might be able to find a way to fight it. My previous dealings with Miss Johnson should show you I can be trusted. But that trust will only go so far. I just hope that you make the right decision."

She shrugged her shoulders and got into the car. Before she closed the door, she said, "Either way, I will be getting to the bottom of this."

Daniel watched as Petra turned the car around, and headed back out to the main road. This day, if possible, had just gotten worse. The threat to Parker was a bluff. He knew it the moment she said it. However, she was not bluffing about returning with a warrant to search the property. Something that could not be allowed.

By the time he arranged for additional security at the gates, and made a few calls to confirm Petra was indeed camped out at the boutique bed and breakfast cottages, Parker had returned home.

Without referring to their earlier argument, she demanded to know about his conversation with the CDC doctor.

"I'm not worried about me," said Parker, after he'd briefed her on the doctors demands. "But if we lose Carbine's body we will lose our best chance to work out what sort of poison the Lycan carry."

"We will just need to get Alice another body to analyze." If they lost access to Carbine's, they would have no alternative but to get their hands on another infected werewolf.

"The only other two that we could have used are ashes in a funeral director's crematorium." Parker paused and reached out to place a gentle hand on his arm. "Perhaps this is a sign we need to ask for help. This is Dr. Baghurst's area of expertise. She is one of the best, and Alice can't do this on her own. You know that as well as I do."

Daniel snapped his arm away as if burnt. "No. I will not bring in outsiders. We can't risk exposure."

Parker narrowed her eyes and threw her fists onto her hips. "So, you'd rather see more innocent people die. Didn't we see enough of that with Wildfire." She lifted her chin and threw him a withering glare. "You're no better than Elise."

"How dare you compare me with that unfeeling genocidal maniac."

"No? Then how do you explain Alice's pain? She lost her baby because of the all the stress of the aftermath of Wildfire. What are we going to take from her now? Her sanity? Well, I've got news for you. She's already at the end of her tether, and we will lose her the next time."

Daniel's white hot rage erupted, and he stormed out before he said something he'd regret later. How dare she accuse him of being no better than Elise. He was nothing like her. He protected his people. All of them, no matter their genealogy or whether they were pack or not.

A heavy rock settled in the pit of his stomach. Alice and Dominic's loss had hit him hard. They had tried for so long to fall pregnant, only to lose it in her second trimester. While it wasn't common to miscarry, it did happen. Had he really pushed her so hard? Was he responsible for their loss?

Doubt began to cloud his judgment, and he headed outside. He needed a run to clear his head. Perhaps letting his wolf out might give him some perspective.

Alice pup not your fault. But next death will be.

Daniel stopped in his tracks at his wolf's comment. What do you mean?

If Alice not tell you she is hurt, you cannot know. This time you know.

This was not what he wanted to hear. Even if it was true, Alice should have come to him if she was having problems. If she was fearful for her unborn child's life, she should have said something.

Daniel cast his mind back and realized Dominic hadn't demanded Alice's duties be lessened. That could only mean she'd concealed it from her own mate. For all intents and purposes, she'd hidden the degree of her stress from all of them. However, this time he knew better. She wasn't coping as well as she had in the past. While she studied around the clock to come up to speed with the information she lacked, she was more vocal about her lack of knowledge, and her doubt at her abilities.

Perhaps it was time to seek help.

An hour later, fresh from a quick run and shower, Daniel walked into the main living area to discover Parker in the kitchen, chopping vegetables for a salad. His stomach rumbled at the scent of steak as it cooked over the grill. He'd not eaten since breakfast and was almost salivating at the smell.

Not sure how to apologize for his outburst, he decided to set the table to give him time to think.

"How can you be so sure we can trust her," he asked quietly as he opened the cutlery drawer.

At first, he didn't think she was going to answer, if her angry chopping was anything to go by. He was clearly still in the dog house. "She protected her source the last time, and she had no reason to. Besides, you heard her at the hospital, she's got the wolf gene. So, while she doesn't know it, she's also in danger of Elise's reach. Maybe, not this time around, but perhaps the next."

Okay, so while she was still very pissed at him, at least she was talking. Daniel stared at the fork in his hand and came to a decision. "She's not to know what we are, and I'll instruct Jo and the others to spread the word while she's here to be vigilant."

Parker's attack on the carrot stopped. "Does that mean you'll see if she'll work with Alice?"

Daniel placed the cutlery on the bench and made his way to her. He gently reached out and turned her to face him. "Don't think for a moment that I don't mourn for Alice and Dominic's loss. But as alpha, I don't have the luxury to show grief. The pack expects me to be leader, no matter whats going on. They look to me to keep them, and their families, safe. Every decision, bar one, has been for them."

"What was the decision you made for you?"

"In Elise's dungeon, when I chose you." Daniel curled a strand of hair between his fingers. He loved the way it felt on his skin. The scent of it when she walked into the room still caught him by surprise, and all he wanted to do was whisk her away and show her just how much she meant to him. "At that moment, I didn't care what the elders, the council or my pack thought. All I knew was that my life wasn't complete without you."

Frustration crinkled Parkers brow, and she hit him on his arm. "That's not fair you know."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm trying to be mad at you and you've just made that impossible."

Daniel pulled her into his arms and breathed her in. He closed his eyes and tightened his grip on her. "I'm sorry."

"I know."

He let out a sigh. "I should have trusted you, and have no excuse for what I said earlier."

"In time, you'll learn that I'm always right."

Daniel looked down to discover she was looking up at him with a mischievous grin. He cocked an eyebrow. "I wouldn't go that far."

Daniel pulled out Petra's card from his pocket and reached for his phone. "I suppose we'd better extend an invitation to Dr. Baghurst for tomorrow."

❧ ⚛ ✺ ≋ ≋ ≋ ≋ ≋ ✺ ⚛ ❧

📎A/N. So what did you think?? Poor Alice. I know she was having a hard time, but this was so heartbreaking.

And as usual, Parker and Daniel's tempers get the best of them. At least they kissed and made up... for now ;-)

At least they are going to get help. The only question is, how are they going to get Petra to keep it all on the DL?

I hope you enjoyed the chapter. If you did don't forget to click the little star... even you silent stalkers.

Take care, till next Sunday when we will continue our illicit rendezvous.

❤ ℳ