“Where did you think the nursery was gonna go, in the dining area?”

 (Small Fry Chapter 3)

Declan snickered, before sneaking a look over to where I was sitting.  He cast a lazy gaze over my legs, which were unintentionally on display, thanks to the short cut of the negligee.

“With a mother like that, I think all the boys in the tribe are going to agree with you.”  He said smoothly.

“You’re gonna love it aren't you, when they all come to you for your permission to date your offspring?"

“Ha!”  He snorted.  “Yes I am!  You know how Odysseus had to fulfill all those tasks, and it took him years to finally return to his wife?  I’m gonna be just as bad!  Any applicant that wants to come within ten meters of my girls, are gonna have to be the best of the best!  I’m gonna set such an obstacle course, most of them are gonna give up and slink away with their tails between their legs.”

“This should be interesting.”  I tittered, as I nursed my coffee in both hands.  “Only, I don’t think this planet has any Cyclops or Sirens left, I think they’re all extinct.”

“That’s what people thought about European Werewolves.”  He pointed out.  “Trust me B, if the boys have to get past me instead?  They’ll be begging for a Cyclops!”

I giggled back, “If the suitors saw you in European Werewolf form, they’d think they’re battling Cerberus.”

“Except for the fact that I don’t have three heads,” he said, before he paused.  “Then again, what about the tales of the ‘Hounds From Hell’?  It makes you wonder doesn’t it, about how much fiction is fact?”

“Hmm, it does a bit.”  I frowned pensively.  “I mean, your species of Werewolf is the oldest in the world.  So anytime a human saw one of you and lived to tell the tale; I wonder how often the truth was distorted and came out as a fable instead?”

“You got that right.”  Declan declared.  “I was used to the fact that I was the last of my kind.  Now with our first rug rat you’re carrying, I’m gonna have a whole litter to train.  I'll have to teach 'em not to become one of the monsters that people fear in the dark.”

“Maybe the legends are still being written?” I posed.  “Maybe we’re creating all new mythology of how the Last European Werewolf and the First Female Lokoti Werewolf, started an all new breed? Their strength and control, the world has never seen?”

“Oh joy," he grumbled, picking up his wrench again.  “But if my daughters mirror their mother with their monthly blues; it’ll be an all new PMT the world has never seen before.”

“Declan!”  I griped.  “We were having a nice conversation then, why did you go and spoil it?”

“I’m just trying to prepare for the future.”  He said simply.  “I’m gonna get our PA at Hodge Endeavor to start buying up shares in ‘Nutella’, so we can get unending free samples sent to us.  I’ll fill this house with choc hazelnut spread, so my moody wife and ferocious female young, will never go without.”

I growled under my breath and stood up to leave, when I paused to look back.

“Why are you pulling apart the beds, by the way?”

“We have a two bedroom house, B.”  He said coolly.  “Where did you think the nursery was gonna go, in the dining area?” 

“Oh.”

Declan's already organizing the nursery?  His gesture warmed my heart, at how the reluctant father was planning ahead for the baby.  I left him to his task and returned to the main bedroom, to get dressed.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You’re not going to be the last of the European Werewolves anymore.”

  (Small Fry Chapter 3)

However, the other symptom the pregnancy produced, was difficulty with getting out bed in the mornings.  I guess I shouldn’t complain, since I wasn’t experiencing morning sickness like other women in my condition.  But I felt exceptionally sleepy and sluggish.

BANG!  BANG!  BANG!

Huh?

BAM!  BAM!  BAM!

What was this, déjà vu?  Sleepily, I raised my head and looked about, to find Declan was missing from his side of the bed.   His digital alarm clock read as 9.13 AM, so that’s why.  I had slept in again.

BANG!  RRRIIIIIIPP!  BAM!

What the hell was going on here?  I stumbled out of bed in my negligee and meandered over to the doorway of the second bedroom.  I found Declan pulling apart our two single beds.  He was sitting on the wooden floor, with his tool kit open as he was unscrewing the wooden bed frames.  The mattresses had been taken off and were now leaning against the wall.

“G’morning sunshine!”  He sung.  “Man, after 273 years, your bed hair still cracks me up!  But at least I’ve gotten you out of those cartoon cow pajamas.”

“You’re full of it.” I said back.  “I still wear them, when it’s in the dead of winter and it’s minus thirty degrees.”

“That’s my B.”  He chuckled at my early morning language.  “Your coffee awaits, my lady.”

I slid down the doorframe to land on my ass before I reached over to pick up the cup, which sat beside his.

“Mmm.” I closed my eyes, as I savoured my first sip.

“You know with this pregnancy, you’re going to have to start drinking de-caff soon.”  He warned.

“Blasphemy!”  I almost choked on my drink.

“That’s what I hear pregnant women drink.”

“Yeah, but they’re just humans and I’m a Werewolf, so it’s allowed.”

“Let’s ask Ki the next time he’s over, shall we?”  He taunted.

“Do you want to wear this coffee?”  I threatened.

“Man, I love my wife’s biting mood in a morning.”  He laughed to himself.  “Maybe if Marcus had come across you first thing, he wouldn’t have been so quick to try to steal you.”

He was referring to nearly two centuries ago, when I was abducted by the few remaining European Werewolves left.  It was the occasion when Declan murdered his treacherous, man-eating breed and made himself the last of his kind.  That was until of course, he knocked me up.

I turned silent as I watched him pull apart the bed frame.  He unscrewed the end board, before moving up to undo the bed head.  He was wearing a pair of old jeans and his favourite blue-chequered, flannel shirt, but his supernatural muscles bulged underneath.  Once the bed frame was completely undone, he moved to our second single bed to disassemble it.

Then I sung teasingly, “You’re not going to be the last of the European Werewolves anymore.  So how do you feel about that, Mr. Sabre?” 

“I am still gonna be the last though, Mrs. Sabre.”  He corrected as he worked.  “Our daughters are gonna be half-breeds, which is fine with me.”

“Half-breeds?”  I screwed up my face.  “I don’t like that term.”

“And why not?”

“I don’t know, it just doesn’t sound right.”

“Then what are you gonna call our daughters?”

“Special.”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For 273 years my appearance never altered unless I did it deliberately to look older...

(Small Fry Chapter 3)

 

20^th December 2363

The pregnancy was life altering because everything around me, let alone inside me, changed.  

It changed the tribe’s previous views of me, as it changed my husband’s.  Not only was Declan watching closely but so too were the pack.  Everyone seemed fascinated, as they observed my shape shift, with some closer than others.

I had left behind a vision, a beautiful but barren creature whom people had put on a kind of pedestal; somewhat like a painting on the wall.  Like the two-dimensional art, I had always looked the same.  But now, everyone instantly noticed my changes, because they made me more life-like.

For 273 years my appearance never altered, unless I did it deliberately to look older with my changing academic identities.  And of course, this was excluding the change I went through, when I expanded to hunt on a full moon.  Otherwise, my breasts, abdomen, hips or bottom, always looked the same.  I kept this form for nearly three centuries, which was a broad-shouldered, athletic figure thanks to my Lokoti Werewolf physique. 

On this note, my appetite never differed, except for larger meals during the bitterly cold Alaskan winter.  However, after the first week of pregnancy, my husband instantly noticed the change in my eating.  I started to steal an extra piece of garlic bread, or a second bread roll with dinner, or even an extra piece of toast with breakfast.  My meals were increasing and after the first three weeks, I started to snack more. 

Declan would come into kitchen with an attack of the munchies and to his surprise, he would find me there.  I didn’t use to snack, instead I was quite happy with three meals a day.  But my cravings were starting up, like dipping celery sticks into a jar of peanut butter.

“You want a sandwich?  I can make you a sandwich.”  He offered, as he looked on pleasantly surprised.

I shook my head, “I don’t want a sandwich, I want celery sticks with peanut butter.” 

The next afternoon, he found me doing something similar but with carrot sticks and cream cheese. 

After a couple of days of this, Declan walked out of the kitchen carrying two plates.  On one were his sandwiches and on the other, were neatly cut up celery and carrot sticks.  He even put on the side, two small dipping bowls of peanut butter and cream cheese.

“Oh, Declan!”  My face lit up.

“Food is my department, remember?”  He kissed the top of my head.  “I can’t have your cravings putting me out of business.”

As was typical for pregnant women to crave odd things, I started to dip my celery sticks into Nutella as well as peanut butter.  Declan openly stared as I munched away.

“You’re not gonna start eating sardines and ice cream together, are you?”  He shook his head in disbelief.

“Shut up.”  I giggled.

Also, I noticed that he began to slowly build up the size of my meals.  If one night I craved more mashed potato, the following night I saw my serving had doubled or even tripled.  Then he watched closely as I polished off everything on my plate. 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

YOU AND YOUR CHILD ARE NOT IN ANY DANGER FROM US

  (Small Fry Chapter 2)

“Yesterday you frightened her, by trying to talk her out of having the baby.”  Ki frowned at Declan before looking to Caesar.  “With our appearance this morning, she must have thought we were trying to do the same thing.  It’s the Lokoti Werewolf in her, which is acting defensive.  She thinks she has to protect her baby.”

“Well, do I?”  I hugged my stomach, as if I were hugging my daughter.

“What?” Caesar blanched, as did all of the male Lokoti Werewolves. 

Suddenly the room was full of guilty expressions, except for my husband.

“Aunt B, no!  We certainly haven’t come here this morning, to try to force an abortion on you!  We came here to scan you and the baby and come up with a strategy on how to see you safely through this pregnancy.”  Caesar promised.

“Oh really?”  I looked on skeptically.

YOU AND YOUR CHILD ARE NOT IN ANY DANGER FROM US – Caesar thought my way – WE ARE ACTING TODAY TO ENSURE YOU REMAIN OUT OF DANGER.

“Seriously?”  I asked, still suspicious. 

“Aunt B, you’re going to need our help when it comes to the delivery.”  Ki spoke frankly.  “I’m willing to bet this won’t be as straight forward as a human delivery.  Caesar will be putting the entire pack on standby for the day you give birth, incase you need the blood of your kin to heal.”

“Are you for real?” I blinked in disbelief. 

“I’m going to scan you once a week and track your baby’s development.”   Ki organized.  “Your daughter will no doubt be bigger than a human child, but we’re unsure yet of her growth rate.  That, and I have to make sure your body is able to carry the child to term, or if you’ll make it to the last trimester.”

Then my husband surprised everyone, when he stood up to say firmly, “If B needs blood, it’s going to be me that gives it to her.”

“But Uncle Declan, we don’t know how much blood Aunt B will need -” Ki began but he was interrupted.

“B is MY mate and she’s carrying MY child.  If she needs blood, then it’s gonna come from me.”  He said determinedly.

Our Medicine Man opened his mouth to argue, but our First spoke instead.

“Uncle Declan is a European Werewolf and Aunt B is carrying a half European Werewolf.  It might be best for both Aunt B and the baby, if Uncle Declan does this.  Especially since European Werewolves are the fastest healers, of all of the breeds.”

Forrest pointed out to Ki, “Think of when Jenny delivered your three kids and how you opened your wrist for her.  Didn't you want to provide for your mate in that manner, let alone have another Werewolf do it?” 

“Fine,” he looked away, disliking that his medical opinion was being disputed.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Even the Council of Tribal Elders have called on you for your unique insight.

 (Small Fry Chapter 2)

I dropped to my knees on the floor beside the bed, to reach under and pull out my suitcase.  I tossed it open on top of the bed, when I attacked the tall boy next.  I opened the draws to pull out my clothes and had just thrown in my underwear, when the bedroom door opened. 

However, it wasn’t just Declan who walked in, but so did Caesar and Ki.

“Oh look, it’s ‘The Three Amigos’.” I said in a surly manner, as I continued.

“Oh look, as usual B is packing her bags.”  My mate responded in a similar tone, before he spoke to our First and Medicine Man.  “You see, at least once every fifty years, B says she’s gonna leave.  Now for human couples, this wouldn’t be seen as a major thing.  But when you’ve been married for 273 years, it adds up.”

“She’s done this that many times?”  Ki asked in consternation. 

“Hmm,” Caesar frowned, “this is worse than I thought.  Aunt B truly is more ‘Light Person’ than she is Lokoti Werewolf.”

“Don’t give me that crap about loyalty!”  I turned on them, before seething Declan’s way.  “I stood in the kitchen and told the leader of the pack to go to hell, for putting down my husband!  And he STILL sides with the pack over his wife!”

“Loyalty…?  LOYALTY?!”  Declan roared as his face reddened in anger.  “WHEN HAVE I EVER PACKED MY BAGS AND THREATENED TO LEAVE YOU, B?!” 

Next, the European Werewolf picked up my suitcase and hurled it against the far wall, scattering my things all over the place! 

“Er, maybe we should leave and let them sort this out…?”  Ki looked on uncomfortably. 

“We stay.” Caesar ordered.

“Fine!”  I retorted.  “I can buy new clothes!”

I started to walk over to my handbag, but Declan reached it first.  He picked it up and threw it out of the bedroom doorway, with Caesar coolly moving his head to the side.  He was acting like he was accustomed to my husband’s ferocious temper, whereas Ki looked nervous.

“Fine!”  I repeated.  “I can easily get replacement credit cards from my PA at Hodge Endeavor!”

“SIT DOWN B!”  My mate snarled.

He grabbed onto both of my arms, forcing me sit on the side of the bed.  I glowered back as my dark blue eyes burned turquoise.  He seethed in return, with his bright blue eyes momentarily glowing green.

“OK, now we’re going to talk about this calmly.”  Caesar began.  “Aunt B, although you outwardly have the appearance of a woman in her twenties thanks to being a Circulator; I acknowledge you as the oldest living member of the Riverclaw family.  I do not wish to offend you, nor do I want to downgrade your role over the many years.  Our families have always turned to you for counsel.”

I crossed my arms and stubbornly looked away, as the three males stood over me like they were trying to impose their will. 

“My father and I may share the titles of heads of the Riverclaw family, but you might recall the many times we've come to you for advice.  Even the Council of Tribal Elders, have called on you for your unique insight.  However, when you act more as a Circulator, it concerns us that you act less like a female Lokoti Werewolf.  It’s for this reason, we are worried about what kind of strain this pregnancy will put your body under.”  Caesar continued. 

Forrest agreed as he walked in, “I remember well, how much you and Uncle Declan were there for Maia and I, in the beginning of our marriage.”  He smiled sadly as he remembered his late wife with fondness.  “I remember how you helped her after her miscarriage.  I’m still grateful to you for saying exactly the right things she needed to hear, such as ‘it’s not your fault, problems with fertility happens to everyone’.”

Tyson walked in after, “When Samuel was born and Tania went through postnatal depression, I remember how you took her out for coffee all those times.  She would come back with renewed strength after talking to you.  She’d tell me, ‘Aunt B is nearly 300 years old and she still gets depressed from PMT every month.  If she can carry on then so can I’.”

“B’s PMT must be my worst enemy.”  My mate grumbled, as he sunk onto the bed beside.  “It’s thanks to those mood swings that I’ve nearly burnt our luggage set, to stop this nonsense of her trying to run away all of the time.”

This made the other males in the room chuckle in sympathy, thinking of their own war stories with the female curse.

“Aunt B, we know of the little things you and Uncle Declan do, behind the scenes for your families.”  Caesar continued.  “So now it’s your family’s turn to help you through this pregnancy.”

I arched my eyebrows, “Help me with it, or try to end it?”

This question made all of them look on puzzled, but it was Ki who cottoned on.

“Hang on,” the Medicine Man spoke up, “I think I can see why Aunt B is getting so worked up.”

“Then enlighten us, please!”  Declan cried out, exasperated.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You’re carrying a half European Werewolf inside you, a creature with teeth and claws.”

  (Small Fry Chapter 2)

“Aunt B,” our First greeted.

“Caesar,” I said perfunctory.

“I understand that yesterday you and Declan received some news which will affect your family.”  He began.

“Yes.” I shot off a glare to Ki.

However, he didn’t look remotely guilty for sharing my condition with the rest of the pack.

“I would ask that you consent to another scan by Ki this morning, and perhaps an examination.” Caesar said seriously. 

“Excuse me?”

“We need to take some readings of the cells that are growing inside you.”  Ki stated.

“Say what?” My mouth fell open in surprise.  “Why?”

“We need to ascertain how much the baby may resemble either you or Uncle Declan.”  Our Medicine Man elaborated.

“But why?”  I asked, taken aback.

“You know why, B.”  My mate said softly.

My overprotective Lokoti Werewolf instincts roared inside me first then outside second.

“Is that some kind of slur on Declan?”  I raised my voice.  “Are you worried about more European Werewolves being created?  I don’t care if I create an army of his breed, male or female!  I love my husband and I’m sick of the hypocrisy - ”

Then I was interrupted by a loud growl emitted by our First.

“Right now Aunt B THAT is the least of our worries!  We have to make sure that your body is even able to carry just one European Werewolf child.” 

“Oh please!” I rolled my eyes.  “Declan’s already been through all of this!  He tried to scare me yesterday, with a series of worst case scenarios and you know what I told him?  That he’s barking up the wrong tree!  This baby is also HALF Lokoti Werewolf!”

“But Lokoti Werewolves are born human, Aunt B.”  Tyson said gravely.  “This child will be born a Werewolf.  You’re carrying a half European Werewolf inside you, a creature with teeth and claws.” 

“Er, newsflash for you Tyson; DECLAN’S ALREADY BEEN THROUGH THIS!” I growled out between gritted teeth.

“Aunt B please,” Forrest said awkwardly, “we’re concerned for your safety.”

“Of course you are!”  I sung sarcastically.  “Just like you’d be concerned for Tyson here, if he were knocked up by a European Werewolf too!”

“Yeah, but I’m stronger than you, being a male Lokoti Werewolf.”  He tried not to laugh.

Caesar spoke in a low voice, “Bianca Grace Wisetail Elm Sabre, when your grandfather Emanuel Riverclaw chose my great, great grandfather Chiron Riverclaw, to be First upon his leave?  He made Chiron swear to keep a close eye on you.  When your Circulator mother took your Lokoti Werewolf father Hunter Wisetail, to the space time continuum with her?  He made Chiron swear again, to look after his only child; the tribe’s first female Lokoti Werewolf who’s also the world’s last Circulator.  Before Chiron left this life for the next, he passed the oath onto me.”

“Right that’s it!”  I hopped off the bench, to stand on my own two feet. 

            “Oh oh,” Declan muttered, as he watched warily.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Because we’re worried that you may not be Lokoti Werewolf enough, to carry a half European Werewolf inside you.”

  (Small Fry Chapter 2)

Once I’d finished, I stomped down the stairs.  I found Declan in the kitchen making himself, his mate and three other cups of coffees for our expected guests.  Crankily, I sat up on the kitchen bench, which made him move two of the cups aside, so I wouldn’t knock them over.  I watched him pour the boiling water into the mugs which had instant espresso in them, before he applied the milk and sugar, as he recalled who drank theirs which way.

“What was THAT supposed to mean?”  I glared however, his youthful face remained impassive as he carried out his task.  “Declan?”

“I’ve never seen you maul someone, B.”  He said coolly. “The only time I’ve seen you attack something with teeth and claws, was an animal during a hunt.  Whenever you fight a foe, you reach for your silver sword.”

“You mean my Katana.”  I corrected.  “It’s a Japanese sword, remember?”

“Whatever.”  He stirred all five cups, before tossing the teaspoon into the sink. He handed me my cup before picking up his.   I held my mug in between my hands, savouring the warmth before I took my first sip.  Declan continued, “This fact also worries me.”

“Why, because you’ve never seen me maul an enemy?”

“Sometimes you’re more Circulator than you are Lokoti Werewolf.  You don’t hunt as much as the male Lokoti Werewolves and you don’t use your predatory instincts as much as they do either.  You’d rather use your Circulator abilities instead.  This worries me about your pregnancy and I know it’s also worrying your Werewolf relations as well.” 

I looked back in surprise, to find his eyes were waiting to hold my gaze. 

I asked stiffly, “What’s this got to do with my pregnancy?”

            He spoke plainly, “Because we’re worried that you may not be Lokoti Werewolf enough, to carry a half European Werewolf inside you.”

But before I could rebuke him for saying something so stupid, we were interrupted by a loud KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

“Come in, Caesar.”  He called out knowingly.

We heard the front door open and the footsteps of four large males, enter then shut the door behind them. 

A second later, the elderly face of the 156 year old Forrest came to the fore, as he stood in our kitchen entryway. 

He was followed by the middle-aged appearance of our First, Caesar, who was 131 years old.  His son Tyson who stood behind him, looked like he was in forties and he was turning 100 this year.  Ki, who looked like he was in still his thirties when really he was 68 years old, stood beside our leader.  Such was the slower aging process of the Lokoti Werewolves, who could live for two hundred years.

All four sets of dark brown eyes were trained my way and their expressions were grave. 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Wake up, B! You’re carrying another European Werewolf inside of you."

  (Small Fry Chapter 2)

 

No matter how angry we were with each other, it didn’t interrupt our centuries old pattern of sleep.  Last night in bed, we lay on our sides, facing in opposite directions.  However, in our unconscious state, we inevitably came together with me curling up in his strong embrace. 

Thanks to his supernaturally hot body temperature, we never used an electric blanket, nor was the central heating left on overnight.  Winter evenings in Alaska could drop to -52°C and last night the fall temperature plunged past zero.  It made my nose ache from the cold, so subconsciously I dove my face into his hot chest, to warm up.

I was in such a comfortable sleep, tucked into my mate that when he suddenly sat upright, it startled me.

“Hmm?”  I stirred.  He sat still with his eyes wide, whilst staring at the end of the bed.   “Declan, what is it?”

“We’re about to have company.” He said stiffly.

“Huh?” I sat upright.  “Was that a call from the pack?  Are we about to fight something?”

Dazedly, I looked at the clock in the dim light of the morning, to see it was 7.23 AM.

“No, Caesar’s coming over with Forrest, Tyson and Ki.”  He reported, having received the message telepathically from our First.

“Oh… hang on, what?”  I had trouble processing, since I was still half asleep.  “But why?”

“Why do you think?”  He sneered.  “You think they’re bringing us breakfast in bed?  It’s about this baby business.”

“Oh.” I watched him climb out of bed and start to dress, by pulling on a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt.  “But why is Caesar coming over so early, to talk about the baby?”

“Because he wanted to make sure he was the first to give us a Baby Shower present.”  He said sarcastically.  “Wake up, B!  You’re carrying another European Werewolf inside of you.  Why do you think Caesar is coming here as First of the pack, bringing your Riverclaw relations with him?”

“I don’t know!”

“He, Forrest and Tyson, have the same concerns as I did yesterday.”  He said sourly, as he sat down to pull on a pair of socks then shoes. 

“But what’s it to them?” I asked in annoyance.  “What, is the whole pack going to get involved with this pregnancy?!”

“I wouldn’t be surprised, I think everyone knows.”

“What?!” I squawked.  “But isn’t that a breach of privacy?!”

Declan turned to give me an incredulous look, “What, are you going to sue our Medicine Man for misconduct?”

“How about I maul him instead?” I growled out.

“You maul someone?  Now that IS funny.” He stood up and left the bedroom.

“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?”  I threw off the bedcovers, before storming around the bedroom to dress.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“A baby Werewolf will probably move around a lot more than a human baby.”

  (Small Fry Chapter 2)

 

My mate looked on unimpressed, “Mr. Baker?”

“It’s my latest name in the academic circuit.”  I shrugged it off.

He asked grumpily, “And how old are you for this latest trip around fantasyland?”

“In my early forties.” I answered.  “So getting 'knocked up' won’t look too unusual.”

He reopened my laptop to look on my schedule again, when I snapped it shut once more.

“Quit it!”  He said in annoyance.  “I need to see how busy you’re gonna be in the next couple of months.”

“Why?”

“This isn’t a normal pregnancy B, this baby is going to drain you!  Can you imagine what it's going to be like when you venture off tribal lands?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?!” I fired up.

“A baby Werewolf will probably move around a lot more than a human baby.  You could be standing there on a podium, doing one of your lectures when all of a sudden your stomach goes all wibbly-wobbly.  Your audience is gonna think you’re giving birth to an alien!”

I growled in frustration at his continued negativity, before I rolled onto my back to stare up at the ceiling. 

Declan continued studying my schedule, as if he were making mental notes.  His newly youthful face was a mask of consternation, as his bright blue eyes were wide.  I could almost see the cogs turning in his brain, as he was planning for the future.

“I don’t think you should speak at the University in Cairo.”  He spoke again.

“Oh yeah and why is that?”

“Because it’s in January and it’s gonna be 40°C in Egypt that time of year.  I’m a European Werewolf, which means I’m hot blooded and you've seen how excessive heat makes me go nuts.  With the half breed inside you, it’s gonna create problems.”

“Ever heard of air conditioning, Declan?  They’ve had this nifty invention since the 20^th Century.”  I said sarcastically.  “Besides, I’ve never had problems with heat and I doubt I’m gonna start now.”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“A human doctor isn’t going to know jack about how Werewolves do blood transfusions,”

  (Small Fry Chapter 2)

 

Declan continued, “From January onwards, I don’t want her doing more than one lecture a month.  Then from June, she’s not going to do any for at least six months.”

“Excuse me?!”  I exhorted in surprise. 

“Maternity leave, B.”  He glared my way.

Oh, maternity leave…now why didn’t I think of that?  I had just been planning my schedule for months in advance and it had never crossed my mind!  It made it worse when Declan was the one who was anti-pregnancy.

“Yeah, you’d better take note of that, Aneet.”  I glared back.

“Would you like me to book you into seeing an obstetrician at the Hodge Endeavor Hospital in Anchorage?” She offered.

Aneet didn't know I was a Circulator or what that meant.  However from her confidentiality training, she knew that her boss was 'different' and my medical requirements had to be kept from the public eye.  But since I was also a Werewolf, I was hardly ever ill and if I were injured; the blood of my Werewolf kin could revive me.  I also had the tribe's Medicine Man whom was another Werewolf to treat me, or even the Medical Lab at Circulate HQ, which was run by the Circulate Mainframe.  The computer also oversaw Hodge Endeavor's Hospitals and the Legal Department, providing my mate and I with falsified birth or death certificates, to hide our real ages.

Abruptly, Declan darted forwards to cover the speaker with his hand, so she couldn’t hear.

“No, we do this with Ki.”  He frowned.   “A human doctor isn’t going to know jack about how Werewolves do blood transfusions, which is going to be a guarantee when you have this.”

I snatched my phone out from underneath his hand to say, “Thanks Aneet, but it won’t be necessary.  We have our own medical staff.”

Declan wasn't put off by my rudeness or glares.  Instead, he sat on the side of the bed to look on my schedule.  To stop him, I slammed shut my laptop.

“However, I will notify the Board of this news.”  She organized.  “Would you like me to contact your English relatives, the Worthall’s?”

“Um,” I thought on this, “I don’t think it’s necessary.  When Jarrod Worthall - the Engineer in ISF I told you about - calls next, I’ll let him know myself.”

“Very well.”  She acquiesced.  “Is there anything else I can help you with, Dr. Baker?”

“No thanks Aneet, I think that’s it.”  I signed off.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~