Trouble is Coming

*Natalie*

 It has been one week since the pregnancy was revealed to Lucas, and he has not let me out of his sight for more than a couple of minutes. So, right now I am in his office hanging out with him and helping him get some of his pack paperwork done. Let's just say that right now, even though I want to yell and scream at him, I know he is being this way because he is protective and does not want anything to happen to me or the pups. Now I am double-checking all of the finances for the pack to make sure that what is needed gets ordered and finished on time, and I am just about to be done when Kaden walks into the office. And let me tell you, he does not look very happy.

 "Lucas, Natalie, we have a problem." Kaden says in an angry tone.

 "What is wrong?" Lucas questioned.

 "Well, I just got some news that the new Alpha of the River Rock Pack, Tyler Duncan, is officially challenging you for the right to be Natalie's mate." Kaden stated and then waited for Lucas's reaction to the news.

 Kaden did not have to wait long for Lucas's reaction to what he was told. Immediately Lucas started to growl, and his eyes started to change. Dom is getting ready to make an appearance. However, after a couple of minutes Lucas got Dom to calm down enough to keep control. Me, however, I was starting to feel numb. Like I could not summon any emotions at all.

 "He will be coming here with the previous Beta, Justin Moore. They are set to me here in three days, so on Saturday, at 2:00p.m." Kaden continued.

 As soon as I heard my father's name, I was completely numb. I was going to have to face the man that was one of the main causes for my abuse growing up, along with seeing my ex-mate who was no better than my father.

 Me: Midnight, I need you to take over. I just cannot do this right now. I need to get myself together.

 Midnight: You got it Natalie. You do what you need to do and I will get all the information here. Do you want me to block you completely?

 Me: If you have to tell the guys about what we went through, I want to be completely blocked.

 Midnight: Okay, let's switch.

*Lucas*

 Me: Oliver, Nathan, I need you guys to come to my office.

 Oliver: Heading there now.

 Nathan: On my way.

 "I just mind-linked Oliver and Nathan. They will be here in a couple minutes." I said to Kaden and Natalie. When I turned to Natalie, to see how she was doing, I was surprised to see Midnight's golden eyes looking back at me.

 "I can see the question in your eyes Lucas. Natalie could not, emotionally, deal with the fact that she is going to have to see both of the men that were the main culprits for our abuse growing up. She basically told me that I can inform Oliver, Nathan, and Kaden of what had taken place…but she wants to be completely blocked out for that. I can understand where she is coming from, not only is she protecting herself from the stress, but the pups as well." Midnight said while placing her hand over her belly.

 "Dang, Midnight, I am sorry. I knew that Natalie and you went through something in that pack, but my speculation is apparently nothing if Natalie wants to be completely blocked for that." Kaden says while hanging his head.

 "Kaden, it is okay. And Natalie said that she is not going to be blocked for the other stuff that we will be talking about. She just has to get herself right before being in control again." Midnight tells him with a soft smile.

 A second later there was a knock on the office door, and in walks Oliver and Nathan. Once they entered the room and noticed the aura and the golden eyes of Midnight, they knew something was going on.

 "Alright tell us what is going on. I can see that it is something serious." Nathan said while looking from me to Natalie.

 Kaden then repeats what he had told Natalie and I just a few minutes before. Hearing it for a second time does nothing for the anger that I am feeling. I mean really, the audacity of Tyler trying to challenge me for the right to be Natalie/Midnight's mate. Natalie is my mate…my pregnant mate at that.

 "Well, is this what caused you to be in control Midnight? I mean I love you sis, but even those eyes of yours scare me sometimes." Nathan said with a chuckle.

 "Yes, Nathan, this is what has caused me to be in control for now. I am going to give you the reason behind it. However, give me just a second." Midnight said while here eyes started to glaze over. Kaden and I knew what she was doing, but Oliver and Nathan did not. "Sorry about that. Natalie asked to be completely blocked for this part."

 "Wait, what part?" Oliver questioned.

 "Oliver, this pertains to our life before finding Lucas and Dom as our second-chance mate. It was not pretty living in that pack for us, but especially for Natalie. To this day we really do not know why they treated us the way that they did. And we have given up on finding that answer." Midnight said while looking between the guys.

 "Okay, so you're saying that it is basically bad right?" Oliver askes.

 "Let me start from the beginning and you can be the judge. When Natalie was about 8, she was made into a slave inside her own home. Natalie was forced to cook, clean, do yard work, do laundry, and be a handyman when something broke. It was not long after that that the beatings had started. Natalie suffered her first broken bone at the age of 9, all because dinner was burnt. She's had broken fingers, toes, legs, arms, ribs, nose and jaw. No one in the pack wanted to help her. Because of the abuse, I was able to see through her eyes since she was 10. Our pack members were not any better. It was like our father and mother wanted the pack to treat Natalie just as they did at home. It seemed like the only people who did not treat Natalie horribly was Tyler's mother and father. It had gotten to the point that I would not be surprised if the pack is in shambles now. That pack lost the only thing keeping them alive, and that was Natalie. Now, Tyler did not get bad with his part in the abuse, until we hit 8th grade. That is when he would push Natalie, as well as trip her in the hallways. He would pin her against the lockers, dump food on her shirt, and even set up a contraption to dump ice water on Natalie's head, which in turn caused her to get a cold. However, the worst that he has done was before we left with Lucas and Kaden to come here. We know for a fact that night we would have died after he had taken advantage of us." Midnight tells us as she starts to look down. Since I have known Natalie and Midnight, I have never once seen Midnight look like this. Like she was scared that what she just said would make me mad at her or Natalie.

 "Midnight, none of what happened is your fault. You know that right?" I asked her while walking over towards her and sitting down on the couch with her.

 "I know, but if I had been able to at least tell her that I was there with her but unable to communicate, it might have helped her realize that she was not alone in what was happening." She says while looking at me with tears in her golden eyes.

 "You know more than anyone that the Moon Goddess makes us go through things to become the best we can be. It is just some of us decided they want to take shortcuts and not be happy with what they are given." I said while pulling her into a hug.

 "I know." She replies.

 "Midnight, you and Natalie are inspiring. You realize that don't you? Like how many people do you know of that could survive what you guys went through and come out on top? I only know of one, and that is you." Nathan said with a brotherly smile.

 "I know it is rare to find someone who has gone through what Natalie and I went through, but that is because they are scared to come forward. They are afraid that if they voice what is happening to them, there will be dire consequences." Midnight states.

 "Well, let's get down to business. We need to know why now? Why is Tyler doing this now?" Oliver says.

 "I know that one. Midnight, you were right. That pack is in shambles. Many members are leaving due to pack neglect. No one is taking care of the pack house, and I was told that Tyler left Maria because he found out that you are the Midnight Queen. And he believes you are still rightfully his, even though you are mated with Lucas." Kaden announces.

 "How can he possibly think he has any right to be mated to Natalie and me after the abuse and the rejection? I mean seriously? Has he lost his ever-loving mind?!" Midnight demands.

 "Midnight, all he is thinking about is power. He knows that by being mated to you, he has power through you. So he may try to find a way to control you." Nathan says.

 "Nope, that is definitely not going to happen. Alright, let's get to planning on what needs to be done here on the pack territory before Saturday. Midnight, I need you to unblock Natalie for the next discussions. That way she can listen in." I said, and see Midnights golden eyes glaze. Once her eyes are focused again, I can see that her once-golden eyes are mixed with Natalie's vibrant green. When they look at me, they smile and nod their head.