Capture

Khan definitely had fire, fire that was directed straight at Neema.

The male exploited his sickness so he could have her at his beck and call, he had her running around mindlessly doing errands for him. She spent every second from the moment he woke listening to his demands, being dictated by the almighty Alpha who could barely do anything. She had weakened him like he had never been before and she could sense the derision he held for her because of it. She had crippled him, the Alpha, and he could barely comprehend it.

He was livid but because he was crippled there was little he could do but demand Neema’s full devotion to him and his needs and she gave it.

She bathed him with a cloth at least three times that day, fed him, stripped his bed sheets and remade them. Cleaned his room, gave him head massages, foot rubs and back rubs. She sat by his bed all night even when he was sleeping just in case he woke demanding her help with some other miniscule problem. As much as she hated it in that moment she would have done anything to make the male better and he knew it.

There was an unspoken threat to her family that would manifest if Khan did not get better. He never spoke the words but she could see it, feel it. He knew she was desperate to have him better and so he milked it but come morning there would be no special treatment. When the sun rose the next day Khan would be expected to act his usual part as the overbearing Alpha who was in the midst of finalising the trials.

It was one of the longest days of her life but when Khan stood before her the next morning she knew it had been worth it. His hair was tied back in that tight ponytail and he was in his typical black garments to match his clearly black mood. His jaw ticked furiously and his eyes flamed with anger but when he spoke none of it carried through.

“I’ll be in my office if you need me” came from his mouth as he made his way towards the door, his gait was a bit wobbly at first but it soon straightened out into his stiff posture by the time he made it out of the room.

Neema released the sigh she had been holding and collapsed onto the freshly made bed. She was knackered, absolutely exhausted. He had woken her up at this godforsaken hour when not even her siblings were awake and she had only had about an hour of sleep.

She was fatigued but so grateful that he was up and moving, at least he was one less person she had to worry about now. She had an hour or two to have a nap before she would have to get up and prepare the gremlins next door and then she would be back in her bed to have another nap until nursery was done.

When Neema awoke from her nap the sun was beating down on her back through the window, the light causing her skin to glow with warmth. Her mouth was dry and sticky with dehydration and her eyes were still bleary but she knew it was time to get up.

A knock on the bedroom door had her stop brushing her teeth as she made her way out of the bathroom towards the door. She was still in Khan’s room and so she had no idea who would be looking for him at a little after 7 am in the morning. Sahina stood at the threshold of the door with a wide grin on her face and a chocolate muffin and orange juice in her hand.

“Welcome to the land of the living Neema, what time do you call this.” She chided as she handed her the gift and took a seat on a chair by the bed.

Her eyes twinkled with mirth as she looked at the dishevelled state of the female before her. Neema’s hair was ratted in locks her clothes were draped over her shoulder and her eyes still looked droopy as if she was not quite awake yet. What made Sahina laugh the most was the way in which Neema ate the muffin in two full bites, not one crumb was left as she gulped down the orange juice and looked at her friend as if she had more food hidden in her pockets.

“What are you doing up so early” croaked Neema in a surprisingly deep voice, her eyes widening at the sound.

“Early? It is 2 in the afternoon” her voice carried over Neema’s shoulders as she ran to the door of the adjacent room and yanked it open to the sight of the empty unmade bed of her siblings.

Her head flicked back over er shoulders as she stared at Sahina in shock and fear.

“They are with Vanya. They were not in the mood for nursery so I took them to play. Jana was asking for you but Caillum seemed a bit preoccupied.”

Neema heaved a sigh of relief as she propped her body up against the bed frame, tremors still wracking her body as she tried to gain control over her emotions but her body was shot. She had reached her breaking point, the fear of loosing her siblings and the little sleep had her frame shaking with her tears. She was emotionally and physically spent, there was no way she could get through the day as she was but she needed to be around her siblings or else she would never be calm.

“Maybe you need to get an energiser, just for some energy. You have to take care of yourself before you can take care of them.”

Neema reluctantly agreed that the only way she could continue to be the best caregiver for her siblings was if she was on top form and she hadn’t been for a while. Since the moment she stepped foot in the compound she had been slowly sliding down a slippery slope that led to nowhere good. She needed to get back to her top form so she could be mentally and physically present in the growth of her siblings.

As if Emmaline knew exactly what Neema was doing in the infirmary she began pulling out small little white pills and a syringe with a blue liquid in it.

“I knew you would need this. You look half dead.”

Neema could barely stand as Emmaline grabbed her and pulled her towards a chair by the desk. Her body was still shaking but this time it wasn’t because of the fear it was down to pure exhaustion, her body was crashing and sleeping now wouldn’t help her. Her body needed vitamins.

“Before I give you anything I am going to give you a check up, just to be sure on how much of the energiser you actually need.”

There was an edge to her voice as she looked at the twitchy Neema, her legs were shaking as she tried to fight the fatigue but her lids were shuttering. Emmaline had to practically carry her over to machine because there was no way Neema was moving, how she even got down here was beyond Emmaline.

The loud humming sound of the machine starting up accompanied the soft sighs of Neema as she got comfortable on the bed. The machine formed a sort of lullaby as it soothed her body to a halt, no twitching no shaking just calmness. The lights flickered on as the blue laser trailed over her skin, analysing her scars and healing any remaining ones that hadn’t completely healed. The machine pulled her into a dream like state, her body felt light as if she was not inside of it. it was the most rested she had felt in ages and the medicine had not even been administrated yet.

She was startled out of her doze when the machine started making a loud screeching noise, the ringing sounded like an alarm had gone off in her head, echoing around her skull and vibrating through her body. The laser flickered wildly, a red hue surrounding the booth she lay in.

“What does that noise mean?” slurred Neema as she tried to raise her voice above the sound. Her body groggily climbing to a half sitting position as she shuffled out of the machine before the bed started its recline. Sitting at the edge of the moving bed Neema’s eyes flickered to attention as she took in the worried face of Emmaline, she bit her lip and stared pensively at the screen with disbelief and apprehension. Whatever was wrong with Neema was clearly not good.

The transparency of the device allowed Neema to see a series of squiggles and colours through it though none of the lines made any sense to her. The red squiggle on the screen was flashing erratically and symbols and numbers began appearing. Shaking Emmaline out of her stupor she questioned her again, hoping to get an answer this time.

“What does that mean” her eyebrow raising in question.

Emmaline’s head titled up toward her friend, her face riddled with worry lines and her mouth set into a grim line. The news she was about to tell share was not going to be met with welcoming arms, there was no way that Neema would rejoice at her predicament but she would be stuck with it anyway. No drugs in the compound could cure her of what she had. She would be forced to deal with it for the rest of her life, there was no other option.

“That flashing red light means, well it means you’re pregnant”.

Pregnant. Neema couldn’t believe that she was carrying a little ball of life in her womb. A little part of her just nestling under her heart, waiting until it greeted the world. It was shocking, she knew the possibility was extremely high in her case but to actually be pregnant was a different matter altogether. She just couldn’t believe it. Words failed to fall from her mouth. She was shocked into silence.

Khan was finally getting his damn heir and she did not know how to feel about it, she hated her “mate” and she hated the way her child was conceived but did she hate her child? Could she? As soon as the thought entered her mind she knew the answer. This was her child first and Khans heir second. This little ball was hers.

“I have to tell Khan but maybe not yet.”

He was already passive-aggressively mad at her, if she added a baby into the mix with all of her activity he would be livid. She would be forced into bed rest especially with all the fighting and abuse she had been put through these past three weeks. There was no way he wouldn’t worry because this was probably the only chance he would get at having an heir from her. As much as Neema wanted to take it easy she knew that it was not an actual possibility, she wasn’t strong enough to defend her family if they were attacked by another wolf and she needed to make up her absence to her siblings. Whether they noticed that she was missing she felt as if she hadn’t seen them in years.

With them being in the nursery and her spending time with Khan and then dedicating the past three days to his healing she felt as if they had grown without her, grown to not need her. She need to reinforce herself back into their life.

But if Khan knew she was pregnant he would definitely take her siblings away from her, she was clearly struggling and her health was weaning. He would see that as a sign to ship them off to some human haters or wolf lovers and then where would she be without them.

She could see her future already lonely days where her brother and sister would only be allowed to visit her for a couple of hours a week if she were lucky. He liked her siblings, he was maybe even growing to love them but his precious little heir would trump them and their feelings any day. As much as she loved this child inside her she would never sacrifice her siblings wellbeing for her baby. Khan would.

He would be overbearing and his dominant levels would only increase. He wouldn’t beat her anymore but he would isolate her until that pup was born and reached a healthy one year mark. One year with no one but Khan. She couldn’t tell him but deep down she knew she would, she wasn’t a cruel woman. Khan had no one in this world, his fault or not. She had family and he had nothing, the child would be good for him she only hoped he did not make her regret telling him.

“I do not think it would be smart to lie to him Neema, if he found out he would go crazy”

Neema knew she was running a risk by not telling him straight away, as in right this hour but she knew that a few days of calming down time for both of them would be good. In a couple of days’ time she would be healthier and he would see that she was capable of taking care of her siblings and this growing life. In a few days he would be calmer, he would not be angry that she had bested him. He would have a clear mind when deciding how to deal with her family’s future.

They weren’t in a good enough place for her to confide in him right now but hopefully in a couple of days they would be better.

“I just need a bit of time to get better and then he will see I can do this”.

When Neema got like this there was no convincing her otherwise. She was stubborn to a fault and when her mind was made up that was it there was no changing it for her.

“Forget about him, let’s see this baby.”

Appetite

Neema was in a daze as she made her way down the corridors, she wasn’t even looking for the small roman numerals that indicated what corridor she was in. Her mind was reeling. She had taken the news as graciously as she could but deep down there had been a twisting in her body. She was going to be the mother to Khans heir and it had taken them a little over three weeks to figure that out.

Even worse was that she had just a little over five months to come to grips with being a mother and to figure out how she would deal with three children. It would be hard, ridiculously hard but there was not one child she would give up to make it easier on her.

Even the little ball of cells in her stomach was a child that she would never give up, the baby was hers now, it was part of her family and she would secure their future. With or without Khan her family would have a secure home by the time this baby came to the world.

By the time she had made it back to her room it was 5 o’clock and she had not seen her siblings for a whole day. Had not heard their little laughs or seen their little smiles, she couldn’t cope but she definitely felt better. That shot that Emmaline had given her had lived up to its name, she had energy for days.

“Mama, I made drawying” squealed Jana as she attacked Neema as soon as she stepped foot through the door. The picture was mostly scribble with a big dot of blue that was clearly an ocean or some kind of water but Jana was proud of it and that was what mattered. Caillum was close on her toes as he flung himself at her as well.

“Look Neeya, I made a drawing as well.” His dark black hair was sprawled all over his face as he shoved a picture in her face. She caught the stank look Jana shot him over her shoulder and she couldn’t hep but cry with laughter, her siblings were way too much.

Half carrying them half dragging them over to the bed she plopped down with them as they climbed all over her, hugging and kissing her. She had missed them and they had clearly missed her as well. The difference in them was so much it left her emotional. Caillum was coming out of his shell and Jana’s English was getting there. She still had a long way to go but her words were negligible.

“I love you guys.” She murmured as she hugged them to her chest, this was the only chance she got to cuddle with them while they were awake because normally they were on the go. Running around causing havoc and loving life.

As if she heard her thoughts, Jana wiggled from Neema’s arms and clambered back off the bed as she headed back over to the pencils that were on the floor.

“Love you more Neeya” whispered Caillum as he sighed into her arms, his black locks snuggling into her chest as he wrapped his arms tightly around her. Caillum was such a soft soul who had been through way too much for his age, there was a soft spot in her heart that she would always have for her little brother.

“Khan has invited all of you to dinner.” Called Sahina as she made her way out of the bathroom, the sound of the flushing toilet almost drowning out her words.

A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she sat up from the spot she was laying in, Caillum still glued to her chest as his violet ringed blue eyes shuttered closed. His chubby cheeks squishing as he sunk his face into her chest.

“Dinner huh, why am I not surprised.” Khan was definitely better now.

He was back to calling shots and making demands of her and her family, he’d had the whole day to plot his next moves and Neema was not surprised at his choice. The best way to shake up Neema was to threaten her family and though he hadn’t quite done it he had reminded her that he could. They were all under his control.

Neema sat on the bed picking at her dress as she waited for Caillum to finally exit the bathroom. He was becoming more and more independent as he became more confident in his knew home.

When he emerged from the bathroom he was dressed in a pair of grey chinos and a checker shirt, his little feet clad in a pair of smart shoes. His long curly hair was tied back into a ponytail like Khan often wore his. Whenever they were invited to dinner Khan requested tat they dress in something other than the uniform jumpsuits they usually wore. The jumpsuits seemed to be something that only the new humans wore, they were not quite part of society and their clothes were a reminder of that.

Jana was in a pink tutu skirt and a white top with red pink and yellow flowers on it, her little white socks peeking over her black dolly shoes. Her hair was tied up into her trade mark pigtails, the golden hair neatly brushed from her face and her clothes stain free for now. Neema had traded her jumpsuit in for a tight khaki dress, the long dress hugged around her ships and had a small split at the bottom. The top swooped low to show the little bit of cleavage she had, her body had begun to fill out from the food she was eating but she was still nowhere near healthy enough to give birth to a pup yet.

“Time to go” came khan’s clear voice. He stood with a grinning Jana in his arms as he motioned Neema and Caillum over. Today he had his long black locks out, the silky strands hanging past his collarbone in loose waves. His mouth was spread into a wide smile as he watched Jana trying to plait is his long strands, her little fingers twisting and knotting his hair and her small brow knitted in concentration.

The sight of them two together caused a fluttering feeling deep Neema’s stomach. His thick arms wrapped delicately around her little sister in the way a father would. His sharp eyes softening as he listened to Jana’s constant chatter, nodding his head and even responding as if he actually understood her words. She couldn’t remember if she had ever seen khan smile but the sight was so mesmerising. The delight in his eyes was clear to see, it had Neema breathless. If he was always like this, so open and caring she could almost see herself trusting him.

Taking hold of Caillum’s warm hand she followed the laughing duo down the corridor, a smile meeting her face as she envisioned khan treating her child that way.

He clearly had a soft spot for her siblings even if he was cruel to her, it almost made her relax towards him. Almost

When they sat Khan was automatically wrapped in conversation with his father and Jana. Her little sister refused to be separated from him, her small arms clinging around his thick neck so she could perch herself on his lap as she ate sloppily. Neema would have fun washing her later, that girl got food in the weirdest places. One time Neema had found a piece of chicken under her armpit how it got there the toddler couldn’t explain. Caillum sat beside her eating with equal amounts of energy as his sister.

Carson was on the other side of the table speaking to who she assumed was his mother and occasionally his father. She had never seen the two of them interacting before but his father was actually engaging with him, even Khan made occasional grunts and words in Carson’s direction, there was still a tension between the two brothers but their weird relationship was definitely improving. Maybe all it took was a fight and everything was as good as knew in this wolf society. She obviously was not the only person who noticed the difference training had made to him physically and personality wise, it was a shame that Vanya was not able to come to dinner.

“So have you decided where your new pack will be located.” Questioned Khan’s father as he looked to Neema and raised his voice a little louder to indicate she was invited into the conversation.

“Hmm, I am thinking of a more rural setting, what do you think?” replied Khan as he motioned for Neema to respond.

This was the first time he had ever included her into one of his conversations let alone ask her opinion. She had been of the mind that he was mad at her but he hadn’t made any snide comments and now he was asking for her opinion. His behaviour went against all that she knew of him but she would answer anyway because it was what he requested of her. His hazel eyes staring deeply at her as he tried to gage her emotions.

“I agree, I think that my siblings and umm the uh pup would enjoy the forest or lakes” she murmured softly her cheeks colouring as she hinted to her pregnancy.

She struggled to speak of a future for her siblings without taking into consideration what her baby would want and need, she only hoped he hadn’t picked up on her stumbling over the word.

Khan’s hazel eyes deepened as he automatically took a whiff at her neck, his mouth falling into a wolfish grin as he nodded his head in pleasure. His father’s eyes lightened as he smiled at her response, her words were clearly what they wanted to hear, the mentioning of a pup brining more joy to both men then she had seen in the few weeks she had been here.

“It would be a good place to raise pups, especially the brood Khan will be having” came a loud and obnoxious voice from across the hall his bushy eyebrows rising in a supercilious manner. His harsh lips raising in a cruel and mocking grin as he glided into the room as if he was the gods gift to man.

In the corner of her eye Khan tensed and his claws begun descending past his nail beds, his body shifting as he tried to rearrange Jana on his lap without hurting her. The tension spread through the room like a lightening cloud, there was clearly some hostility between these two strikingly similar males.

“Ryan” snarled Khan, his scowl setting the table into silence. Everyone was aware of the rivalry between the two.

“Brother. Your mate is looking nice and” Ryan hesitated for a moment as his beady hazel eyes gaped at Neema. His thick tongue pooling out of his mouth to lick his bottom lip as he leered at her.

“Delectable, and I have quite the appetite” he chuckled out his deep voice sending chills running through Neema’s body.

The man was a repulsive swine, staring at her so lasciviously in front of everyone, he was another Khan. A self important goat who thought the world begun and stopped with him. She was tempted to show him that she was more than a scrap of meat for him to chew on till he reached bone. Her hands clenched as prepared her body fro attacking but Khan’s paws gripped hers before she could stand and attack the approaching man.

The resemblance between the two was uncanny, they both had the same brown skin and hazel eyes, their nose shape was identical but Khan’s brother had a thinner face with high cheek bones. His lips were wide and thick and his jaw clean with no beard, he looked like a smaller and more feminine version of Khan.

Neema could see the muscle in khan’s temple throbbing as his eyes flared in derision. He picked up an oblivious Jana and placed her in Neema’s lap, his arms flexing in preparation for a fight. A fight that he would definitely be starting. Neema quickly placed her hand on his forearm but maintained eye contact with the repulsive man, squeezing khan’s arm she plastered a fake smile on her face.

If she couldn’t attack the male, then neither could Khan.

“I always make an effort to please my mate” she grinned as her free arm twisted one of her loose curls. This was how there mating had always been, behind closed walls they clawed at each others skin but in front of everyone else they were one unit. The dishonesty made her sick but it was the only way she could avoid more of his anger.

“Sorry I didn’t get your name was it Brian? Khan never mentioned he had a brother other then Carson, now I understand why he forgot you” she chirped out sweetly as her arm began making soothing circles into khan’s arms. His flexing hands began to unclench as he twisted his hand to grip hers the hold soft but secure. Her hands became clammy with the warmth they were emitting and she fought the urge to yank her hand back. This display was getting way too familiar for her liking.

His eyes conveying his gratitude as he grinned in the direction of his clean shaven brother, eyes sparkling with mirth and pride. Using his grip on her arm he pulled Neema towards him and covered her soft, full lips with his. Her body a stiffened as she fought a battle, her mind winning out as she bit his lips. His blood leaked into her mouth as he forced her lips open with a sift tongue, his mouth moving in a slow dance as he lured her lips to move against his. Her mind was roaring to see his blood. The taste was not enough she needed to see Khans red leaking from his body because he dared to take what she was not willing.

His eyes twinkled as if he knew what she was thinking, reluctantly he moved away from Neema with a quick nip to her bottom lip. Her loud growl causing him to laugh as he shook his head and cleared his throat.

“As you can see my mate’s efforts please me” he growled out as he subconsciously trailed his fingers down her back, her nails digging deeper into his lap at every stroke along her back and drawing that awaited blood. She did not want his touch whether it was for show or not such touches were not welcomed.

But the bond sizzled, the bond needed, wanted their touching. It thrummed through their bodies and caused Neema’s nails to dig deeper, it was becoming harder to fight the craving that roared through her blood.

“Excuse me, I seem to have lost my appetite” gritted out Ryan as he flung the chair back, the screech of the legs against the floor disturbing the silence. The wooden chair flying across the room and smashing against the wall. He took one last hate filled glare at his brother as his heavy feet stomped out of the hall, his body shaking with rage and indignity.

The hall was filled with a chilled quietness after Ryan’s abrupt departure, the sharp clang of cutlery filling the air.

The gradual noise of people talking rising above the whirling thoughts in his mind. An appealing scent lingered in the air and he automatically knew what it was. Neema sat beside him her body tense from his touches her fork picking at her food. The scent was not hers. Neema smelt of honey, her fragrance was sweet and calming. Sultry and soft, she turned his head whenever she was near by.

This aroma was different, it was seductive. Dark and alluring, warm vanilla and musk. It was not enough to deter him from Neema’s side but enough to have him wondering. His animalistic nature clawing at him to find the source. The hazel of his met the penetrative green and he automatically knew what he had found. The fluttering lashes of an auburn female at the end of the table was a sharp contrast to that of Neema’s soft brown. Her eyes luring him in with in unspoken promises.

The taste of Neema still lingered on his lips. Her flavour was euphoria to his starving body no female could ever compare to Neema and her effect on him.

His fingers still trailed against her glowing skin as he looked upon the stranger. He felt as if he was cheating, touching her warm supple skin as he contemplated his options. His lip titling upwards as he acknowledged the beautiful faire skinned female. Her pale skin glimmering against the candle light