The Secrets of the Panther

BLAKE

FOUR DAYS LATER

I was sitting in the driving seat, driving back to the pack. I couldn’t help but feel so happy and content with my life. I glanced over to the passenger side and saw Izzy had nodded off.

I smiled.

I looked back to the road but quickly glanced in the review mirror at Allie, who was also sleeping in her seat.

The cabin trip was perfect, and we all had a fantastic time. Allie had the time of her life and even tired herself out by eight in the evening. We did loads of trail walks and also swam in the lake. I needed to spend time with Allie and Izzy before Izzy, and I began our roles as Alpha and Luna.

We had been on the road for an hour but had to stop twice for Izzy to be sick. The pregnancy is affecting her system. She still can not sleep, but Puna seems to sleep more for them.

I mind-linked the pack doctor, who told me it must be because of the power that has gone as it isn’t there anymore. Her ability was based on feelings and emotions, so being pregnant, she would have to feed it everything she felt throughout the pregnancy. The pack doctor told me to monitor her, but if she can not sleep tonight, he can give her something.

“Are we there yet?” comes a voice from the side of me. I turned to look at Izzy, who was leaning back but staring at me with a smile.

“Not long, love,” I said. I placed my hand on her thigh and gently squeezed. She closes her eyes and looks around at the scene.

We just came onto the pack grounds, and a few people were enjoying the sun. “Are we announcing to the pack about the baby today?” she asked with a yawn.

I smiled.

“We might as well,” I said as I looked over at her and turned back. I pulled up outside the pack house where my father and mother were waiting for us.

I stopped the car and turned to look at Izzy.

“You feeling ok?” I asked as I placed my hand on her flat stomach.

Izzy smiled. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Find ɴøᴠel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“I’m fine,” she says. “I mean, we both are fine. I wish this little monkey would let me sleep and eat.” She sounded defeated; she was having a hard time.

Before I could say anything, “my baby sister is a monkey,” said a small voice. I looked over the passenger seat to find Allie staring at me with a massive grin on her face.

“You know, you may have a brother instead of a sister,” I said to her. Allie made a face. “Nope, a sister.”

Izzy laughed. I looked at Izzy. “you know Alpha’s have sons first,” I said.

Izzy stopped laughing but stared at me. “Well, this might be a first for alphas then,” she said.

Is there something she’s not telling me? I wonder if she knows, but my mother told me it is too soon to know the sex of the baby yet.

Axel stirs, and when I look back at him. He had a big grin on his face. “I would like another girl,” he said. “Especially if they look like mate and Allie.”

I nodded, but said nothing. I looked back at Izzy, who had an amused look. “Axel agrees, huh,” she says.

I grinned.

In all fairness, I would love whatever we have; just as long as the baby is healthy, I would be happy. And thinking of having a girl before a son, I like the sound of being different.

“Come on, sweetheart and angel,” I said, looking between them. “Let’s get out of the car.” I turned and climbed out of the car. Once I closed my door, my mother was helping Allie out of the vehicle, and Izzy walked toward me. She smiled.

“How was your little break?” asked my father. I looked over my shoulder at him and smiled. “Just what the doctor ordered.”

My father grinned. “Your mother told me your news; I can’t wait to be a grandfather again,” he says.

My mother comes around with Allie hanging on her side. “Well, I hope to have another granddaughter,” she says as she kisses Allie’s cheek. “I think having more girls around the place would be amazing.”

“Well, us alphas have sons first,” my father says.

Izzy looked at him as she wrapped her arms around my waist. I placed my arm around her and smiled. “We will see,” I said to my father. “Allie wants a sister.”

My father looked at Allie and smiled. He walked over to my father and kissed Allie’s cheek. “We shall see,” he says to her. Allie frowns, “it’s my sister,” she says adamantly. She was definitely adamant that we were having a girl.

I turned to look at my father. “I want to all pack members for an announcement,” I said to my father, who nodded. “We may as well do it now, as Izzy might not be feeling too great afterward.”

My father looked at Izzy with concern, but Izzy spoke to him. “I’m ok; I’m not sleeping much, only Puna is, and I can’t eat much,” she said.

My father nodded. His face goes blank, and a pack link opens up to my father, telling everyone that there will be an announcement by the training grounds in fifteen minutes.

A few members offered to take our things into the pack house.

After a few moments, we headed over to the training grounds. Allie told my parents what she had been up to and what she did at the cabin. As we got closer, Izzy stopped, ran over to a nearby tree, and threw up. After a few moments, she wipes her mouth and comes to my side.

“I hate being sick,” she said, looking slightly paler. I could feel the exhaustion setting in through the mate bond. We need to do this now.

I looked at my father, who was staring at Izzy.

“EVERYONE, CAN I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE,” shouts my father. All the pack members were standing on the training grounds. They all stopped talking to one another and looked at us.

Many of them were smiling and even bowed. “Alpha Blake and Luna Izzy have an announcement to make,” he says and moves to the side. He stood next to Allie and my mother, who were smiling widely.

“Welcome everyone,” I say. “This is only a brief announcement, but both Luna Izzy and I want to announce that we are expecting our second child.”

There was loud shouting and clapping that erupted around the training grounds from everyone, and everyone shouted congratulations to us. We shook everyone’s hand until Izzy wanted to be sick again. We all walked back to the pack house.

Izzy went for a lie-down while Allie and I watched a film in the games room with Dale and Lena. I was worried about Izzy; we needed to figure out what was happening. She can’t keep this up for much longer. We were all settled watching Frozen for the zillionth time when an omega came running into the room.

“ALPHA!” she screamed. “IT’S LUNA.”

My heart went to my mouth, and I bolted up the stairs. Lena stayed behind to look after Allie, who was scared.

Dale followed me, and we both ran to my room.

As we ran in, Izzy was lying on the bed, shaking violently. But her eyes were bright green; it was Puna.

“NEED POWER NOW,” she screamed. I looked at Dale. “Mind link Lena to come,” I said to him. “She will know what’s happening.”

Dale goes blank, and a few minutes later, Lena was running through the door with Kat hot on her tail.

Kat stared at Izzy, who was still shaking, but Puna was forward still.

“NEED POWER,” she yelled.

Lena looked at me with concern. “I’m going to get the amulet and book,” she said. “I need to do this. The baby is affecting Izzy more than Puna.”

I stared at her, but she left before I could register what was happening.

I walked over to Izzy and placed my hand in hers. Puna’s eyes locked onto me. “MATE,” she says through clenched teeth. “MATE.” I place kisses on her hand while Kat takes her other hand in hers. We both tried to calm her down, but nothing seemed to work.

Lena came running in and had the page of the book she needed opened. Dale was next to her, his eyes never leaving Izzy. Concern and fear ran through his eyes for his sister.

Lena moved closer to the bed and placed the amulet on Puna’s head. She says the words, and Puna’s eyes go bright green, and so do the eyes on the charm.

Axel was staring but not saying a word. I couldn’t help but stare at him; the concern was written all over his face.

After the ritual was spoken, the power was back in Izzy. I could feel it flow through our bond; it was trying to do something but couldn’t determine what.

I stared at Izzy, but her eyes were now closed.

Lena removed the amulet and looked at me. “She is resting now,” she said.

I nodded.

“I think we should all let her rest,” said Dale.

Kat was reluctant to leave, but Lena and Dale guided her out. There was no way I was leaving Izzy. I needed to know she was alright.

I stared at her, but I could feel Axel move. “Mate ok,” he says quietly. I looked back at him. “How come we didn’t know what was happening?” I asked him. Our eyes never leave Izzy.

Axel sighed. “I think the baby was trying to use all of mate’s energy,” he said. “I was surprised that she lasted like this.”

I nodded.

Izzy hadn’t slept tidy for weeks, but looking at her now; she was sound asleep.

The door opened, and I glanced up to see Allie standing in the doorway. She said nothing, but her eyes were glued to Izzy. She walked over to the bed and climbed in beside Izzy. She placed her hand on her mother’s face and leaned into her. “Mummy and baby sister are sleeping,” she says. “Can we sleep with them?”

I looked at her, and I didn’t even want to argue with her, as I knew she was feeling exactly the same as I was.

I said nothing. I moved from the side and went in behind Izzy as Allie snuggled into her chest in front of her. I pulled her closer and placed my hand on her waist, only to be met with a small hand.

Allie placed her little hand in mine, and we moved to Izzy’s stomach. I don’t know how long we were lying like that, but I was in a dark slumber and was sent to sleep.