Chapter Twenty Four

*Emily's POV*

Today is the day Zack is bringing a doctor to our home to examine me and talk to us about our options when it comes to having children. The doctor should be here any minute. I am freaking out. I do not want kids or at least not with Zack. I have a mate out there somewhere. I want kids with him. Gaining some courage, I walk into the kitchen determined to tell him my feelings.

"Babe, can we talk?" I ask him wearily.

"Sure. What's on your mind Angel?" He asks back curiously.

"I know I have never talked much about this with you, but I should now. Wolves have these life partners that we call mates. I have not found mine yet, but I really want to wait to have children until I find my mate. You and I are both immortal. It is not like we have a time limit on when to have kids. You should save your sperm for the girl you find after me. Zack.... I know I will find my mate one day." I say confidently.

There is a moment of silence before he moves closer to me capturing my eyes in his. I feel captivated. "Emily you are excited for this appointment today and ready for us to start a family. You will do as your told by the doctor and you can't wait to get pregnant." He says and I repeat it to him dazed.

When the doctor arrives, I am anxious and ready to see what he has to say. Zack talks to him in private for a few minutes before he comes over to me and wraps an arm around me. We walk into our bedroom and the doctor has me undress from the waist down. I do as he says and straddle my legs open to allow him access. I feel his cold hands feeling around and then I feel the cold metal speculum insert into me. He takes some samples and then takes the speculum out. He then grabs an ultrasound machine and inserts it into me. After taking some measurements and pictures her takes it out.

"Emily, I am going to insert my fingers in and press down on your belly to check your uterus. This may be a bit uncomfortable." He informs me.

He inserts his fingers and applies pressure on my belly. It is uncomfortable but not painful. He does this for just a few seconds before completing his exam. He gives me time to put my clothes back on and then I join him and Zack in our living room. The doctor explains that we have 2 options to choose from. We can either complete IUI each month, which means the doctor would monitor my ovulation and then he would insert Zack's sperm into me during my ovulation. Option number 2 would mean we choose to do IVF which means the doctor would put me on hormones injections and complete a surgery to remove any eggs I produce. He would then take Zack's sperm and fertilize my eggs. After he would put the fertilized eggs into my uterus and hope they stick. The doctor informs us we have enough sperm for 8 rounds of IUI or IVF. We decide to try the IUI and see if that works. The doctor leaves me with some prenatals and his number to call on day one of my period.

"I can't wait to make a baby with you." I say and hug Zack.

"Me either Angel." He says and kisses me.

*Braxton's POV*

It has been 2 months and there has been no sign of Emily. Logan and Leah ask me every day about mommy, and I have no words for them. I feel like I am failing as a mate and father. Laura has not been happy with bottles and sometimes it is a struggle to get her to eat. The pups have been going between my parents’ home and Emily's parents’ home as I have been staying at the pack hose waiting for any news to come. I have been going to each pack looking for anyone who knows the rouge wolves that helped Emily's captor last time. I am hoping they can give me some information. Laura turns 1 next month and I cannot imagine Emily not being here.

"Dude, Brax, go home and take a shower and eat something. Get some sleep." Connor says to me.

"I can't stop searching for her." I say back.

"We won’t stop searching for her, but you know Emily would want you to still take care of yourself." He says nudging me.

"You're right. I trust you to attend the meeting with the next pack leader I have scheduled." I say yawning.

"Of course. I’ll come find you afterwards."

I finally head home for the first time in a week. Getting in the shower and letting the hot water fall on my back brings back good memories with Emily. I miss how she would sneak into the shower with me and wrap her arms around me and complain about how hot I had the water. A smile creeps onto my face. 'I miss you so much baby.' I say to myself. Stepping out into the shower I put on a pair of boxers and fall into bed. Our home went from hearing the kids running around to complete silence in just a few weeks. I have refused to change out our sheets on the bed. Emily's pillow still smells of her wildflower shampoo.

A few hours later I am pulled out of my sleep to Connor opening our mind link. "Braxton, can you meet me at the pack house? I have some information from the pack meeting that I think you may want to hear."

"I’ll be there in 10." I say.

I rush to get dressed and run to my car. 'Please let there be good news.' I think to myself. I pull up to the pack house and put my car in park. Connor is having a heated discussion with his mate, so I decide to wait in the car until she leave. When she leaves, I step out of the car and walk over to him.

"What's the news Connor?" I ask.

"The pack meeting you had set up proved to give us more information than we intended. A female wolf came forward and said she was dating one of the rouges that was helping Emily's captor when she went missing this time. She claims she overheard one of their phone calls and knew the vampire was taking Emily out of the country. She was able to give us an address to the vampire’s mentor, but said the mentor left the home because he did not agree with what Emily's captor was doing. She does not know when he will return. I have already packed a bag and plan to go myself to speak to this vampire if he is there. You need to stay here. Your pups are already missing one parent. I just wanted to fill you in before I left." Connor says to me quickly.

"I am guessing that's why your mate is pissed. Thank you, Connor. Call me when you get there and let me know what is happening. You have a more leveled head than I do right now, it is probably better for you to go." I say and pull him into a hug.

Connor leaves shortly after and I head over to Emily's parents’ house to check in on my pups. When I pull up Emily's dad has the twins outside playing. They are overjoyed to see me, and I scoop both up into my arms. Hugging them brings me so close to Emily. Leah looks just like her mother and it tugs at my heart to look into her eyes. I must get Emily back. I need my mate and our pups needs their mother.