Chapter 32: Thirty-two.

Daniel was in a foul mood. He and Sammy had arrived fifteen minutes early and her relations fifteen minutes late. All he could think was of the opportunity missed in that half an hour, and no matter how hard he tried to concentrate on the discussions at hand, his mind kept wandering as he thought of all the noises he loved hearing his mate make.

Alice's laughter stirred his attention back to the present and he was concerned to find himself the centre of attention. His arm was draped over the back of Sammy's shoulders as they sat together on their side of the booth, and while he could control himself from downright squirming under Alice's gaze, he couldn't help the desire to pull Sammy in closer. It was almost like a compulsion, to keep her as close as physically possible.

"Oh, you've got it bad, huh?" His mate's grandmother smiled compassionately.

Daniel smiled back awkwardly, "She's my mate," He stated, as if it was a foreign concept to the company they had.

Sebastian scoffed, "For now," he muttered under his breath, an Daniel tensed.

But, it was Sammy who spoke, "Shut up! Look I get it, you have issues with the concept of the mate bond. Heck, I did too at first. But he is mine, so stop trying to stick your fucked up opinions where they don't belong." She ranted, grabbing her wine glass and taking a large sip.

"It's not an opinion, it's a fact. You are handing him the reins to hurt you. I'm only saying it for your own good." Sebastian threw back, the atmosphere tensing.

"You are my little brother, but we only just met. Stop disrespecting him, or I will walk away, do I make myself clear? I am not your mother, and he is not Martin. Drop the over protective act, Sebastian. It is wearing thin." Sammy retorted.

"She is right, Bast," Alice chimed in, trying to mediate. "Your father was cruel to your Mom, in how he treated her. It was hard for you to see, I know that. But, Sammy is stronger than Michelle, she had to be, because as bad as he was to his mate, what he did to her was worse. Now stop this nonsense, before you allow your prejudices to lose you any hope of knowing your sister. If you push, she will choose him. That is how it is supposed to be. I mean look at them, they are a prime example of a young mated couple, constantly needing contact with each other, fighting for one another, and their arousal? Goddess, I can smell it across the room."

"Oh my god!" Sammy shuddered, covering her face and burying her head onto Daniel's chest to hide.

Daniel just barked out a loud laugh, instantly warming to Sammy's grandmother, while automatically stroking Sammy's back affectionately.

"Oh, don't worry Dear," Alice spoke, "It will calm down in a day or two, can't be helped when you're ovulating."

Sammy's head shot up, almost bludgeoning Daniel's nose with her skull in the process.

"I'm what?" She asked in shock.

"Ovulating, Dear," Alice repeated, tapping her nose, "I can smell it, when your body releases an egg, for Daniel to fertilise..."

"Oh Fuck," Sebastian shuddered.

"I know what it means," Sammy interrupted, "I was just shocked to hear it, because I'm on a contraception that is meant to prevent that."

Alice laughed, "Oh no dear, doesn't work on werewolves

or hybrids, especially when they find their mates."

Daniel suddenly paled.

"They what?" Sammy snarled coldly, turning to Daniel

"I think Bast, and I will go look at the desert trolley," Alice interjected, standing quickly.

"I'm okay thanks, Grams..." Sebastian began.

"Now Sebastian." Alice growled, making the young man jump up and follow her away.

Sammy was staring at Daniel as he looked sheepishly at her, his usual golden tan looked worryingly pale as he searched for the right words.

"You knew this?" She asked without emotion.

"Well, yes. But, no because I didn't know that you were on contraceptives," he offered, as if that would absolve him.

It didn't.

Sammy looked astounded, "That's your justification?"

"I thought we were just going with the flow. Not trying, not not trying," Daniel mumbled.

"No, Daniel. You said you wanted me pregnant, but wouldn't push it. Yet today, you've been obsessed. Tell me it has nothing to do to with my cycle. Please tell me  you weren't trying to trick me into getting pregnant?" Sammy asked horrified.

"What? No, no way, I would never do that. I just forgot okay, werewolf reproductive systems, isn't normally at the forefront of my mind. I've been a little more preoccupied by ensuring you're alright," Daniel ranted off exasperated, "I can't deny your hormones don't affect my wolf, they do. But I wouldn't ever intentionally try to do that to you."

Sammy saw the sincerity and panic in Daniel's eyes, and her anger disintegrated.

Her voice softened, "I'm still annoyed at you," she stated, her body sagging back into his slightly. "That kind of irresponsibility isn't okay, Daniel."

"I know I'm sorry. Honestly Sammy, it was a genuine oversight." Daniel sighed, "And, for the record, I want you to want to carry my young."

Sammy sighed, "I do, Daniel. Just not yet. But if there are anymore genetic skeletons in my closet, I better hear about them from you!"

"Okay, okay," Daniel surrendered, over the moon to hear Sammy did want to mother his young, and willing to submit to anything she wanted at the news.

"Oh, and Daniel," Sammy added, as he pulled her close and started trailing small circles on her exposed shoulder.

"Yes," he asked, wondering if her were part cat as he was so close to purring.

"We aren't having sex again for the rest of the week." Sammy stated calmly, while cosying in further to him.

Daniel wasn't just speechless, he was horrified. His mouth dropped open like a fish, then closed only to open again as he stared at her in disbelief.

Sammy didn't even lift her head to make eye contact, only reaching for her wine glass again.

She took a sip and said, "Don't look at me like that, I'm not taking any chances. Apparently contraception isn't effective, meaning we are lucky we aren't pregnant already. Now, what do you want for dessert? I really enjoyed the cheesecake the last time we were here, but the red velvet cake looks delicious as well." She asked changing the subject.

"No." Daniel forced out, still horrified.

"No dessert? Really? But you have such a sweet tooth, Honey." Sammy responded, chewing her lip in thought.

"No, not the damn dessert. No, to the no sex. What the hell is wrong with you?" He spat dramatically.

Sammy arched her eyebrow, "Daniel, it's only four days. Jeeze, you're acting like its four years."

"Still no. Sammy, you're being ludicrous," Daniel argued, making Sammy laugh.

"You look like a child whose lost their favourite toy," she giggled, "And, you don't get to veto me saying no, Daniel. That's not how consent works."

"Damn right I do," Daniel continued, pouting as he spoke.

Sammy couldn't help ut she laughed again.

"It's only four days, Daniel, calm down," Sammy answered smirking, "Or are you not up to the challenge?"

"No I'm definitely not up to it, it would be torture," he answered, completely missing her trying to gain the interest of his competitive nature.

"Daniel, we are not going to have sex when I could end up pregnant," Sammy spelled it out slowly for him.

"Four days is just stupid, your egg is only viable for what, forty-eight hours or so, and your already there, so tomorrow night should be fine." He mansplained adamantly.

Sammy froze, before swallowing down the vomit that tried to forced it's way up.

"Are you telling me I have already released an egg, Daniel?" She asked in shock.

Daniel suddenly leaned over to her neck and inhaled deeply through his nose. His senses were flooded with her scent. He could smell it all, her earlier arousal, her steak dinner, the cherry hints of her red wine, but more than that, he could scent that her blood sugar levels were slightly dipped, and her hormones were flaring in all directions, and yes, she had already released her egg, either yesterday evening or through the night.

"Yes, its subtle but the luteinizing hormone has already peaked," he answered, inhaling again just because he could.

"Daniel!" Sammy all but shrieked, pulling him back from his bliss as she scowled at him.

"Yeah?" He asked, annoying her with his absent mindedness.

Sammy slapped his arm, "We have been at it like fucking rabbits all week, and you're saying 'yeah'?" She scolded him. "Forget it, we aren't having sex again till it's confirmed I'm not pregnant!"

"Sammy, but that might be weeks away!" He pouted, looking pained.

Sammy smirked, "No, Daniel, thanks to your irresponsibility, it could be months! Nine freaking months!" She snapped out.