BK 5 - Chapter 19 - Heat
**Roseville, California**
Cat was devastated to learn about the loss of Atzi and Xipil. She, Trey, Melanie, Saxon, and Valerie were preparing to go to San Diego to see the cubs and check on their family. She was tired of hearing things secondhand and wanted to be where they were having trouble. Even though it seemed that most of the trouble was gone now, she still wanted to see for herself.
She went upstairs carrying some hot tea for Milo. He wasn't feeling well after being marked. Marcy hadn't wanted to go to school; she wanted to stay home to take care of him. Milo insisted she went and then helped him when she got home. Cat loved seeing the little family they were becoming already. When she got to the room, Milo was lying on the couch with his head on Samantha's lap.
"Hey, I have some herbal tea for you." She sat it on the table in front of them.
"Thank you, Cat," Milo said as he slowly sat up with Samantha's help.
"Trey and I will be leaving today to go to San Diego. Melanie, Saxon, and Valerie are going with us. Are you going to be okay here?" Cat sat in a chair across from them.
"We can stay somewhere else if you'd like. We don't have to stay in your house." Milo replied. He was grateful for everything they'd done but didn't want to outstay their welcome.
"Nonsense. I'm glad someone will be here while we're gone, and since you're helping out with the group homes, it makes sense that you stay close. This will give the three of you the chance to really connect, and you all need that." Samantha and Milo smiled at each other.
"Thank you for everything," Samantha said. She was so thankful that people like Cat existed, trying to make the world a better place one life at a time. Or, in their case, three lives at a time.
"You're welcome. I'm going to go pack. Please let me know if you need anything. Once Milo feels better, enjoy yourselves. Marcy will likely have some bad days, so I want you to be prepared for that. Just support her and let her know it's okay to be angry, sad, or whatever other emotion she may have. Your love and support are the most important things for her right now." Cat stood and hugged each of them. They both felt better just from her touch. Once she left, Milo laid back down with his head on Samantha's lap. She ran her fingers through his hair.
"Are you feeling any better?" She asked. They had spent the day getting to know each other better, and Marcy would be home in a few hours. Everything was moving very fast, but they wouldn't have changed anything for the world.
"A little. Where do you see us going in the future? Do you want to return to your pack?" Milo asked. He had another idea but wanted to see what Samantha thought.
"I'm not hung up on going back to the pack. I've kind of felt like an outcast anyway because my mate was gone, and I've spent all my time looking for Marcy. Did you have something else in mind?" She asked.
"I was thinking we could stay here. I really like what Cat and Trey are doing, and I would like to continue helping them. What do you think?" Milo turned over to face her; she smiled at him and leaned down to kiss his cheek.
"I think that's a great idea, and I think it would be good for Marcy too. I love you." Samantha smiled at him. Milo raised up and kissed her on the lips.
"I love you too."
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**San Diego, California**
Lisa and the others were still reeling from the loss of Atzi and Xipil. They all decided to stay home from work and school. When Cat called and said they were coming down, all of them were relieved. They needed their family now more than ever. Even though they were adults, sometimes they still needed their parents and grandparents.
They cleared out the room that Atzi and Xipil had used. They didn't have anything there other than a couple of bags. Johnny and Cole didn't want to sleep in there; they said they'd rather sleep in the living room with Randy. It was going to be crowded with everyone, but they wouldn't have it any other way.
Alex hid Atzi's book in his and Kiersten's bedroom. He didn't want anyone to know they had it. From the letter Atzi had left, it seemed like the twins were going to have enough trouble in the future without adding to it now.
"What's going to happen to us?" Johnny asked, leaning against Lisa. He and Cole were devastated over losing their grandparents, but the family had been so supportive, and they knew they did what they had to in order to save them all.
"What do you want to do?" Lisa asked, putting her arm around him. He looked up at her and then down at his hands.
"I like it here, but I would like to go back with Grandma Cat and Grandpa Trey. Do you think that would be okay?" Johnny had been worried they may not want him and Cole, but he had felt comfortable surrounded by such a big family. He and Cole didn't have any other family, so the werelion family was their family now.
"I think that's an excellent idea, and they will love to have you there. I'm going to miss you and your brother, though." Johnny loved Lisa like a mother. He couldn't remember his parents like Cole could. Lisa and Jayce were the ones out of everyone who spent the most time with him, telling him stories and helping him with schoolwork. However, he still wanted to go back with Grandma Cat and Grandpa Trey because it was too hard being in San Diego, where his grandparents were last.
Jade and Bill were lying in their bed talking. They were discussing their future because some of their plans were changing.
"Are you sure this is what you want?" Bill asked her. She was only eighteen, and he didn't want her to feel pressured.
"I'm positive. I want our baby to grow up with our family's cubs. If we wait, he or she may not have the same connection as we have. What do you think? Are you ready to start trying to get pregnant? I know we had talked about waiting." Jade stroked his handsome face, and he beamed at her.
"I've been ready since the day you said I was your mate. You are my whole world, and adding a baby into the mix makes it that much better. I want to give our kids the life I didn't have." Bill kissed Jade, letting his tongue play with hers. In just a few months, she had changed his whole world.
"I love you. Now make love to me." He quickly removed his clothes and hers.
"I love you too, my beautiful mate." He made slow, sweet love to her.
Later that night, Cat and the others arrived and settled in the house. They were already talking about taking the cubs home with them. Johnny asked them very officially if he could return to Roseville with them. Randy made a feast for dinner, and they were eating when suddenly Lisa broke out into a sweat. She started fanning herself.
"Are you okay?" Jayce asked. She turned to him and nodded with a big smile.
"I'm in heat; let's go. We'll see everyone in a few days." They ran upstairs without another word.
"Uh, I'm in heat too," Breanne said as the heat spread through her body. She grabbed Dustin and pulled him out of the room before she started stripping her clothes off.
"Is it normal for three females to go into heat at the same time?" Carmen asked. Everyone looked at her and noticed her face was red.
"Why do you ask?" Cat asked.
"I'm in heat, too, and I thought that was weird." She replied while standing up. Patrick lifted her in his arms.
"I guess it could be normal with you all being marked almost at the same time and living in such close proximity," Cat answered as they left the room.
"Well, I guess it's a good thing we're here because they're going to be out of commission for a while," Melanie said. Jade and Bill smiled at each other. If they had their way, there would be four pregnant women in the house.
