I moved a hand through my hair and shook my head, pursing my lips in annoyance while I pulled my phone away from my ear.

"Daniel?" Parker asked with a small laugh in his voice when he saw the look on my face. "Are you ok?"

"No," I said and shook my head. "Have I ever told you how much I hate my uncle?" I asked and raised an eyebrow in question.

"A lot?" Parker asked with a small laugh in his voice while he raised an eyebrow in question. "Why? What did he do?"

"He called me a fucking kid," I said with a small growl in my voice. I tucked my head closer to my chest and bit back a tired sigh. "I am not a kid. I have not been a kid in fucking years."

My mate giggled and pulled on my arm so that I would turn my attention to her. She smiled and tucked her head closer to her chest, and mischief as well as a trace of sadness filled her eyes while she looked at me.

"What?" I asked and cocked my head while I studied my beautiful mate with a raised eyebrow. "What is it? What are you wanting, Katie?" I couldn't help but look at her with a small smile appearing on my face, for I loved this woman very much and loved that she was smiling at me.

'You are acting like a child,' she said and tucked her head closer to her chest, and her smile grew wider while she studied me. 'That is what I wanted to tell you.'

I bit back a small gasp and raised both eyebrows in unison while I stared at her shocked and impressed. "What?" I asked, earning a small giggle from my mate while she nodded. "You can't be serious. Are you serious right now, Katie?"

She nodded in confirmation, and her smile grew wider while she stared at me.

"How am I acting like a child?" I asked and raised an eyebrow in question, studying her.

My mate shrugged while her smile grew brighter, and it took my breath. She looked toward the hallway before she looked at me when realization and worry dawned on her face, and I couldn't help but frown, growing concerned.

"Katie? What is it?" I asked, and my frown grew wider while I studied her. I pulled her closer to me and moved a hand through her hair. "What happened, and why are you looking at me like that? Are you ok?"

'We need to check on Little Jessica,' she said and furrowed her brows while she bit the inside of her lip. 'I do not think she has left her room yet, and I am worried about her. I mean, she needs to eat, and I do not think she has done that yet.'

I pressed my lips into a thin line and slowly nodded, moving a hand through my hair while the weight of the world appeared on my shoulders again. "I know," I said, "and I have to check in with our other guests and see if they are ok and if they want to stay around and help with a fight."

"Do you want Sarah and I to do that?" Parker asked and looked between the two of us before he looked at me. "Or are you two wanting to do that?"

'Us,' Katie said. 'I want us to do that.' She hesitated and looked at me with a small frown on her face, furrowing her brows further while she cocked her head and studied her. 'Please? I would like to go see her.'

I hesitated and looked toward the area where my mother had gone before I looked at her.

A part of me wanted to go do what she wanted to do and check on my... cousin, but another part of me wanted to stay and make sure that Mom and my sister were fine.

It has been a while since she, Dad, and the doctor had left, and I had no idea when they would be done or if there would be any updates soon.

"We can stay here, Alpha," Trent said and looked between the two of us before he looked at me. He frowned and furrowed his brows, and I could tell that he was worried about my mother, too. "We will link you when either the doctor or your dad is out so that you can come back. I do not know how much longer this is going to be, but I do know that if the kid had not left her room to go eat."

I sighed and moved a hand through my hair while I slowly nodded and pursed my lips in annoyance. "Ok," I said and cleared my throat and shifted in my seat. "Let's go check on her, Katie. Parker and Sarah can check on the rest of the pack, if you all are willing." I looked at Parker.

Parker nodded in confirmation while they stood. "We can."

I breathed a small sigh of my relief and stood before I held my hand out for her to take, and my mate instantly placed her hand in mine and let me help her stand. I pulled her closer to me and kissed the top of her head before I pulled away from her.

My mate frowned and slowly blinked, looking very annoyed with me. She didn't say a word and looked toward Parker before she looked at me again with wide eyes.

I bit back a cheeky grin while I tucked my head closer to my chest. "Come on, Katie," I said. "Let's go see what is happening with my cousin, ya?" I raised an eyebrow in question.

She shook her head and pulled her hand out of mine, leaving me feeling a little defeated and sad because I had no idea why she didn't want to hold my hand. 'I want a proper kiss, Daniel,' she said, earning a small snort from both my Beta and his mate.

I bit back a small sigh of relief and raised an eyebrow in question while a small smile appeared on my face. "Oh?" I asked and cocked my head to the side, and my mate nodded in confirmation. "And why do you want a proper kiss?"

'Because the kiss on my head didn't suit my needs,' she replied with a small scowl on her face. She narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips in annoyance. 'So kiss me for real, please?'

I bit back a small smile and placed a quick kiss on her lips, leaving her stunned silence. "Come on," I said, keeping her in my arms with my voice barely above a whisper. "Let's go ahead and check on the kid. Ok?"

Katie frowned and looked at me, annoyed. She didn't say a word and placed her hands on my shoulders before she pulled me toward her so that I was lower and then placed a kiss on my lips.

I laughed and pulled her closer to me while I kissed her the way she wanted me to do in the beginning, and my mate kissed me back with the same amount of passion.

Finally, she pulled away and looked satisfied with herself while my group snorted.

"Better?" I asked and raised an eyebrow in question with a small smirk on my face.

My mate nodded in confirmation and pulled away from me. 'Now, let's go ahead and get everything else done,' she said and wrinkled her nose in annoyance.

I bit back a small laugh and nodded. "Yes, Luna," I said before I kissed her on her lips. "Let's go."

I looked at the group that were still gathered, looking at us with amused grins on their faces. "Let me know when there are any updates on my mother, please."

"Yes, Alpha," they said and bowed.

And with that, both of us left, leaving my group behind and me praying that my mother and my sister were still alive and well.

Even if it was only for a little while...