BK 5 - Chapter 17 - Smoke
**Roseville, California**
Milo, Samantha, and Marcy stayed outside talking until dinner time. Melanie brought over some of Marcy's things so she could stay at Cat and Trey's house with Samantha and Milo.
After dinner, they all watched a movie. Marcy sat between her mom and Milo, holding each of their hands. She was barely paying attention to the movie. She was too happy to have her mom and Milo with her. All the time she was with her grandpa, she never felt loved, but now she was surrounded by it.
When Marcy began getting sleepy, Samantha helped her get a bath while Milo got the bed ready. Samantha couldn't get over the fact that she was with her daughter again. Marcy was so smart that it made her proud. After her bath, she ran into the bedroom and jumped into the bed, moving so she was lying in the middle.
"Okay, come lay down with me." She said to Samantha and Milo. They looked at each other and smiled. They were just as happy as Marcy was at finally having a family.
"I'm going to take a quick shower, and then I'll be in," Milo said. He walked into the hallway, and Samantha followed him.
"Are you okay with this?" She asked, leaning against the wall just outside the bedroom. He turned to her and smiled.
"Yes, I'm fine. I would do anything to make her happy. How about you? Are you okay with this?" He asked, gently stroking her face with his hand. They had so much to talk about, not to mention she marked him, and they hadn't had a minute to process it.
"I'm more than okay. It's obvious that Marcy loves you, and I can see why." Samantha stepped closer to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She pulled him down to her and kissed him. It started slow, but Milo wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him while deepening the kiss. When his tongue touched hers, they both moaned with pleasure. Milo pulled back when they needed air, but he didn't let her go.
"Does kissing always feel like that?" He asked, kissing her forehead. Samantha smiled at him.
"You've never kissed anyone?" She asked in surprise. When he shook his head, Samantha's heart melted. She loved being his first. "It only feels like that when you're mates. It will be even more intense once you mark me. Everything between mates is intense."
"Everything?" Milo asked, swallowing nervously. Samantha smiled and kissed his cheek.
"Yes, everything. I better get back to Marcy; hurry up with your shower. I promise when we do more, I'll take it easy on you." She chuckled as she left him standing in the hall, staring at her stunned. Samantha was beginning to feel like her old self again. She couldn't remember the last time she felt so free and happy. Actually, she could remember the last time. It was the day she was with Marcy at the library. When she walked into the bedroom, Marcy was sitting up waiting.
"Can you read me a story while we wait for Milo?" She asked, even as her eyes grew heavy. Samantha put on her pajamas, crawled into bed, and sat beside her.
"Do you have a favorite story?" She asked as Marcy leaned against her. Samantha wrapped her arm around her and almost cried with happiness.
"I like *If You Give a Mouse a Cookie*," Marcy replied. Samantha gasped in surprise.
"I read that book to you all the time when you were with me." She told her.
"Really? Grandpa never let me have books. I like to make up stories, too." She yawned and snuggled closer to her mom. Samantha pulled up the story on her phone and read it to her. Just as she finished, Milo walked in. Marcy opened her eyes and smiled as she and Samantha lay down.
"Come on, Milo." She said, patting the area next to her. Milo looked at Samantha and then got into the bed with them. Marcy laid on her back, and they each turned on their sides to face her. She took their hands and laid them on her belly so they were both hugging her. "I love you guys."
"I love you too," Samantha said, kissing her cheek.
"I love you too." Milo smiled as Marcy closed her eyes. He looked toward her mom and moved his hand to cover hers.
"I love you, Samantha." He said softly. She linked her fingers with his.
"I love you, Milo." They all got the best night's sleep they'd had in a long time.
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**San Diego, California**
Jackie couldn't believe Satan tricked her and said he wanted nothing more to do with her. How could he do that to her? She needed Atzi's book, and he was supposed to help her get it. She screamed in frustration as she banged her fist on the table.
She opened her spell book and looked for the spell she had been looking at before Satan gave her the fake spell. Jackie was sure it would work for what she wanted to do. It was the only way to get rid of the old witch and have the power transferred to her.
She looked over it and had everything she needed. Jackie practiced a few times and was sure she had it down. After mixing the ingredients together, she put them in a small vial and made sure the lid was tight. The first thing she needed to do was get Atzi away from the werelion family. Jackie had the perfect plan to achieve that. She laughed as she finished preparing everything. It was time to put her plan into action.
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The following day, Kiersten and Alex were home with Atzi, Xipil, and the boys. They were doing homeschooling while they were staying in San Diego. Kiersten had a funny feeling that something was going on. Atzi and Xipil had been doing a lot of whispering, and she kept hearing her and Alex's names as well as the cubs. Whenever she asked them if everything was okay, they would just tell her it was nothing to worry about.
"Lunch is ready," Randy said, coming to the living room where the others were. They went to the table and sat down as he served chicken fettuccini alfredo and fresh garlic bread. The cubs were in their bassinets sleeping in the living room, so they left them there. Alex could keep an eye on them from where he sat.
The conversation was light during the meal, but Kiersten couldn't help feeling something was wrong. Just as she was about to say something, there was a bang, and the house was filled with thick white smoke. Everyone started coughing, and their eyes watered.
"Alex, get to the cubs," Kiersten yelled. She stood up and moved in the direction of the living room, but she was having trouble breathing.
"I'm going there now. Someone open the door and get this smoke out of here." Alex replied. The smoke started clearing as he got to the bassinets. He thought he was seeing things at first, so he rubbed his eyes.
"No, no, no, we have to find them." He yelled.
"What happened? Kiersten asked as she made her way to his side.
"The cubs are gone." He said as he cried. Kiersten screamed and clutched her stomach, falling to her knees.
"Grandma, Grandpa?" Cole asked. Alex looked over to where the couple had been sitting, and their chairs were empty. On the table, there was a note.
*Please take care of Cole and Johnny. We'll make sure Emma and Roger are safe. Love Atzi and Xipil.*
