The plan wasn't a bad one.
Semi was a tad resentful that it had come from Danielle.
'We'll have to pick an environment we can control that doesn't set of alarms for Harris.' Osei said.

They were all comfortably seated outside the patio behind the meeting room so the wolves involved in the scheme of things could participate.
Loki, Malaki, Lupé, Liza, with Bozer and North: the mates of Liza's sisters.

Athen and Mira sat next to the other and listened in as well and offered words of advice when necessary.
The sun had just set and the warmth with it.
'There's another problem.' Valentina said.
'Getting Nicholae to the meeting place, of that's successful we still don't know how we're going to exorcise the demon from his body.'

Clarissa raised her hand.
'I can help there.'

'You know exorcism?' Cayden asked surprised that such a naive looking girl dabbled in such a gritty line of work. That was the same thought running through Semi's head. Osei was also surprised but at the fact that she made the offer in the first place. Her soft features and large doe eyes gave her an air of innocence and fragility, like even a gust of wind would spook her.

'I could.' She replied.
'There's a book Danielle grabbed, from the Alpha's house. And it has an exorcism spell but we might need a number of things.'
Semi frowned, not recalling leaving any of her Gemma's books behind at the house.
'What are the chances of everything being in one place?' Cayden asked.

'Thank you for offering to get these things with Clarissa, Cayden.' Osei smiled grabbing his shoulder.

'But did I really?' Cayden batted his eyes as Osei, who only smiled back too.
Liza and her twin brother snickered.
'Then I'll need backup. Lupé and the runt.' He meant Liza since he pointed at her.

'Agreed.' Osei said in agreement.

Liza simultaneously groaned with Lupé and rolled her eyes at Cayden who sent her a mocking smile.
'I love it when a plan comes together.' Danielle smiled.

'We're not done. We'll need a test subject for the exorcism.' Semi sassily interjected.
'I'll have to practice on an actual demon first before we try it out on Nicholae.'

'Who the hell told you you're performing the exorcism? You're not even going to be in the same section of the map as Harris. You're staying here where it's safe.'
Semi looked sardonical.
'Well I'm saying so, you're not the boss of me. I have enough experience to handle the situation when things go south. Clarissa won't be very useful to you then- no offense.'
She said to Clarissa.

'No offense, Semi,' Danielle interrupted. Semi tensed ready to take offense.
'But I'll have to agree with Osei here.'

'Of course.' Semi muttered under her breath.

'You're too delicate to be let into the crossfire.'
Semi wasn't sure if Danielle really meant it or if she was being sarcastic. Maybe she was just over imagining things.
'And that's final.' Osei added.
'This meeting is over.'

Osei, we talk. Athen walked away expecting Osei to follow, which he did.

'Come on Clarissa lets take a look at this list.' So Danielle, Cayden and Clarissa left as well.

So now she's the boss?
Loki scoffed.

You have to admit it is a good plan. And I'm sorry Semi I'll have to agree with her.
Malaki said risking the scornful look from his twin and the Alpha female.
We have to forgive her at some point Lo, she's here to save Osei and she's helping Valentina. She's trying to make things right.

Well then she shouldn't have made it wrong in the first place.
Malaki shook his mane at his stubborn brother.
Sometimes I think your head is made of bricks.

I can only imagine how you're feeling about all of this.  Whatever her name is said to Semi who was smiling at Loki and Mal's squabbling. She was glad that she wasn't alone in still hoarding certain feelings against Danielle.
Still she had to see things from Malaki's point and she was.
An apology to Danielle was long overdue, she knew the error of her ways and seriously had to repent instead of acting like a jealous bitch. Who knew? Maybe in the process they could even learn to become friends if that was ever a remote possibility.

'I'm getting by. Don't worry about me.'

I know you don't share a bed with my son anymore. So does she? Mira, the mother of the twins and quadruplets asked.

Not as far as Semi knew.
That kiss was the only intimate thing Danielle and Osei has shared since her return.
But even if they did do something... intimate.
It'll be karma coming back to bite her in the ass for the sins of her past.
Particularly, her sleeping with Osei while he was still dating Danielle.
She was ashamed to admit that she had been weak to his fever-laced advances.

There was absolutely no denying the way Osei looked at Danielle. It was written all over his handsome face. And just how he came to her defense was enough evidence that in the past months he'd been hers, Osei had never really forgotten about Danielle. And damn it, that shit hurt her to admit it.

Why are you even here Liza, this is grown up stuff. And you too Lupé. Malaki said to them.

Are you just now acknowledging us? Liza sass always made Semi smile.

Unless you have mates this conversation is rated R. Loki said in support of Malaki.

You don't have mates either. Liza smartly remarked.

Now you want mate for Liza , after all years of pushing her be like sisters. They get puppers already. Mira cut in.

That's not what we're saying. No we don't want her losing her innocence. Loki groaned giving an exaggerated shudder at the change of subject.

So you want her remain alone and never fall love. And be lonely always?

Stop twisting our words ma. Malaki cried covering his eyes with his paws.

I'm not lonely. Liza said in her defense.
I have Cayden, Osei, you, her, the puppers, the girls, Lupé and Valentina.

And what are we? Chopped eyeballs? Loki asked immediately taking offense at the absence of his name.

See ma. Sometime Lo and Mal too.

Oh shut up. Their mother replied.
And you Lupé.

No ma. Please Leave me out of this. I'm going to the place. I hear Cayden calling me.

I'm coming with you. Liza said and then followed her brother.

No you two going to listen me.

Worry Lo and Mal, they're older. Liza yelled over her shoulder breaking into a run.

No they're lost causes. Their mother's response had all of them cracking up.

'But guys, she's on to something. You two need a mate to carry on your legacies.'
Mal and I have decided that if one of us finds a mate then the other has too
'Wait, what? You two want to share a mate?'
Yes exactly.

Osei thinks we're mad for even contemplating it. They told her and she had to agree.

'There are so many problems with it. Like how much time would each of you spend with her and how would you know who is the fathered whom?'
Simple. We're always together so time won't be a problem and well our children can call both of us daddy.
Semi laughed because they had to be joking.
'What's so funny?' Danielle asked

We have to go. Loki turned tail and Malaki politely followed his brother giving the girls the privacy they needed.

'They don't like me very much.' Danielle stated taking a seat beside her.

'They need to get used to you again that's it.'
It might not really be a lie, Semi thought.

'And how long would that be?' Danielle joked.

Semi breathed in and out.
'Don't worry about it.'

The silence fell on them and stretched out to where it almost became awkward.

'Yes. I still love him.' Danielle shattered the silence with even more awkward conversation starter.
'And he loves you.' The words poked holes in Semi's chest but she said them anyways. What was the use in fooling herself.
'Oh, is that what he told you?' Her voice wasn't hopeful, only it was sarcastic.
So Semi frowned at her.
'No. But it's obvious.'

'And it's also very obvious that he loves you too.'

Danielle must be delusional.
'He's never said he loves me.' Semi admitted for stupid reasons. Still, it was the truth. But not once in the months of being together had Osei ever uttered those words to him.

'Same here.' Danielle sighed.
'I picked up every single moment I spent with him and analyzed it in my mind like a book. Page after page. Stone after stone.' She acted out her words and laughed.
'Not once.'
The two girls sat in a moment of silence.
'Words aren't his strength.' Semi ruefully smiled.
'He's been through a lot.' That was all Semi was willing to admit because talking about it or even briefly dwelling in it would bring her to tears.

'I know that. And that's why I say he loves you.'
What did Danielle know that she, Semi, didn't.
'I think the two of you need to sit down and talk. There's too many unanswered questions hanging over both your heads.'
Like the impending rejection?
Did Osei and Danielle discuss it already?
Semi mentally put a hold on her escalating panic.
She's be ready for whatever.
'I will.'

'I'm sorry.' Semi said. Finally the apology she'd been yearning to give came out and it was such a relief. 'I'm sorry for everything.'

Danielle nodded.
'I want to say it's okay. But I don't think it'll ever be.'
Danielle sighed.
'I said somethings that I meant. And I'll try to see things as you did, but it was still mine...'
The pain in her voice broke Semi's heart bringing tears to her eyes. As an expecting mother she fully understood what she had done to Danielle. She would kill anything that tried to take her baby from her.

'But for his sake,' She turned to glance at Osei. He stood beside Bozer hands on his dread locks deep in conversation.

'Remember the day I called you to tell you he wasn't feeling well?' Semi said.

'Semi I don't need to know how it happened.'

'He thought I was you. And I was too weak to really stop him.' That was the short version of the story. But that was what she wanted Danielle to hear. He thought Semi had been Danielle.

'Was that before or after you found out you were in love with him?'

'After.' That's why dejecting his kisses was impossible. 'But I regretted it after the deed was done. And when he rejected you, I couldn't have heard better news.'

'That's why it was easy for you to... do what you did.'
Semi shook her head. 'I was just so angry, then I believed he was going to die and you had helped out him there. And the last thing I wanted was his son to suffer the way he did. You called the father a monster, you were scared of Osei. I thought it would be better if the child was never born.'
'I'm not proud of myself. And I'm not proud of the fact that seeing you here still makes me jealous when I infact have no right to really be.'

Danielle laughed.
'I'm really furious with you. I've fantasized about pulling your hair out.'
Semi chuckled a little.
'but weirdly I understand your actions. I also realized that, then, I couldn't be with him,'
Semi was surprised.
'Not when I wasn't ready to understand his world or be completely in it. I wasn't the one for him then.' She wasn't sure about now either.
'That's the truth I'm holding on to.'

'I swear a cat fight would have been the closure you too really needed.' Clarissa softly joked 'And my bets would have been on Semi, no offense Dani.'
Semi saw the affection the two girls had for each other from their light banter.

'Thank you Clarissa for ruining the moment.' Danielle laughed.

'We can still go at it. Once I pop the bun and Osei's in the clear. Then we can erupt like the way we really want to.'
Semi jokingly said.

'Don't tempt me.'

'You two are really something else.' Clarissa admitted.
'You really are.'
And she wasn't wrong. But their mutual love for Osei was truly the only reason they were being so civilized to each other now. There was enough chaos around.

'Y'all are ready to go?' Semi asked Clarissa noticing her back pack and traveling gear.

'I packed a few clothes since we're not sure exactly how long this scavenger hunt will take.'

Danielle went to hug her.
'Don't be afraid, everything is going to be fine.' She whispered to her friend.

'I know.' Clarissa looks up at Valentina's window.
'Is anyone going to tell her that too?'

Semi waddled to her feet.
'I'll handle that.'

When Semi was gone, Clarissa said,
'I know Jeffery hasn't been the best of friends but he's also hurting. I'm not sure how long I'll be gone, be his friend.'

Danielle frowned at the odd request.
'Rissa, I hope you're not falling for him. He's a criminal.'

'He made mistakes. Something everybody here knows very much about. I'm not telling you to his BFF, just be civil to him and at least visit him from time to time.'

'I'll try.' Danielle said.

'Thank you.'
Danielle watched her join Cayden in the black SUV.
She was very perplexed, Clarissa hadn't denied the 'falling for' accusation Danielle had casually thrown.
She didn't like it, not one bit.