I smiled as I held Ava, her teeth were coming in and I knew with how strong she was and how fast she's growing that she'd be walking soon. She spent the night with my parents and I'm just that short amount of time I had missed her incredibly.

Valor walked up from hunting, sitting at the picnic table as he took his daughter in his arms.

She squealed as Valor peppered her face with kisses.

I immediately hid my face in my hands when I saw the claw marks that still hasn't healed on his back as our family and friends came walking up.

Giselle immediately covered her face as she took note of Valor's back, her bell like laugh still managing to ring in the air.

I felt my face burning with embarrassment as everyone looked in the direction of Giselle's gaze.

"Been there, done that." My mom mumbled as she eyed me.

I cursed inwardly as Valor stared at me with a knowing smirk.

I was happy and I loved him, but I let my emotions get the best of me once again. I didn't tell him I was in my heat and we didn't use protection and I knew with my luck, it meant the probability of having a child was great.

I hadn't tried shifting and I was scared. Could I conceive this fast? I was here for a reason and if there was a chance I could be pregnant Valor wouldn't even let me blink in Stefan's direction.

I quickly covered my facial expression with a smile, but I knew Valor caught it. He was far too intuitive for my liking at the moment and I'd been trying to avoid him all morning.

He took my hand, beckoning me to the side as I struggled away from his grip, but the moment he touched me he froze momentarily and then his hands were gripping my waist as he ran his nose up my chest and across my collar bone as he breathed in my scent.

He stood up, his velvety eyes looking at me knowingly as his jaw set in a harsh line of disproof.

"Why didn't you tell me love?" He whispered.

"It was so sudden, and I didn't want you to worry and now I think I might be -

I quieted when Valor took my wrist and pressed his lips to it before sinking his fangs into it. I sighed out at the pleasurable feeling but Valor quickly removed himself as he licked his lips, closing his eyes in concentration as he tasted me on his lips.

"You're not." He whispered.

I stilled at the revelation. He knew exactly why I was so nervous, how he figured it out was beyond me.

I sighed out.

"But you easily could've been and still can be. We both need to be more careful." Valor said.

I nodded, I should've told him as soon as I knew it was coming and I felt bad that I kept it from him.

"I'm sorry." I said.

Valor simply smiled and planted a soft kiss on my lips.

I turned as a flash of auburn hair met my eyes and Veda and Teo stood in next to us as if they had been racing, both of them laughing and smelling of the hunt.

I lifted Ava who whined and I handed her a piece of watermelon so she could cook her aching gums and she quickly began gnawing away at it as she cooed.

"This is your child Willow?" Teo asked, admiring Ava and her red tinted brown eyes.

I nodded, but frowned when he turned to Valor.

"And you're the father?" He asked.

Valor hissed immediately.

My jaw dropped at Teo's accusation.

Both Veda and I were stunned and Valor went to move, but I placed my hand on his chest to calm him down handing him his daughter as I turned toward Teo who was growing nervous.

"I have been nothing but loyal to Valor from the moment I've met him. He is the only man I've ever been with or have ever wanted and will be the only man who shares my bed until I take my my last breath." I said as I looked up to Teo.

"I'm sorry. Please forgive me." Teo whispered.

I stood up straight, feeling myself itching for a prey. My wolf wanted to lash out at this man who accused us of being unfaithful to our mate, but I knew better than to let my emotions cloud my judgement and despite Teo asking ridiculous questions, he volunteered to help us. He didn't need to do this.

"Your ignorance, though unbecoming, is forgiven." I said to Teo, his body language holding regret.

"Thank you. My brother often doesn't know when to shut up or use his eyes or brain apparently. Ava is clearly the spitting image of her father." Veda said as she stared daggers at her twin and then smiled in my direction as Valor approached behind me with her.

"She is." I said smiling down at Ava.

"Now please, let's sit. We've got many things to talk about." Veda said.