My Commander(50)

"Ah Meryn, I actually wanted to talk to you about something." Byron started. Meryn had a feeling she knew what he was going to say.

"Yeah, Dad?" The expression on his face was priceless. She had been right. He wanted to be called Dad. He swallowed hard.

"Um ... how is the computer working for you?" He changed directions quickly.

"Better than Aiden's, that's for sure. Hey, can I ask you something? Are paranormals allowed on Facebook? Or is there some super duper paranormal version?"

"No, we use the same version of Facebook as the rest of the world, we just have to be careful about what we share. All devices have Geo-tagging disabled." Byron explained.

"Hmm." She pulled up Facebook and went back to work.

"Well, as it stands, we have three interviews. A promising young man from London, one from Germany and another young man from Japan. I've never heard his family name before so he may be new to serving. Honestly, all of this back stabbing and pettiness because Daphane Bowers doesn't feel like everyone is paying enough attention to her future grandchild, is ridiculous. As if it weren't that time of the year for shifter birth announcements." Adelaide shook her head and Meryn froze.

"What did you say?" Meryn turned to Adelaide.

"About Daphane?"

"No, about shifter birth announcements."

"Didn't Aiden explain about our conception windows?" She asked.

Meryn nodded. "But why did you say what you did about birth announcements?"

"Meryn, shifters get pregnant around Summer Solstice. It's October, most couples wait until after the first trimester to announce anything, it's bad luck. That's why there are always shifter birth announcements this time of the year." Adelaide explained.

"Oh my God." Meryn felt the blood drain from her face.

"Please be wrong, please be wrong, please be wrong." She muttered to herself over and over again.

"Meryn?" Adelaide and Byron stood and walked over to her. Meryn quickly scanned the site she was on and sat back feeling sick.

"I know how they were linked, the two missing couples. They had both posted birth announcements on Facebook within a day of each other." She whispered. Adelaide gasped and grabbed Byron's arm.

"Byron!" He was already moving. He grabbed his jacket and was heading to the door.

"Good work Meryn, call Aiden and let him know. I'm convening an emergency council meeting. We need to send out a public warning to stop birth announcements." He ran through the door. Meryn was frozen in her chair.

"Meryn. Meryn. Call Aiden." Adelaide pushed the desk phone towards her. With a shaky hand, she dialed Aiden's cell.

"Father?" Aiden's voice sounded confused.

"No, it's me. Meryn I mean."

"Why are you on my father's desk phone?"

"He let me use his computer. Listen, I found the link between the two couples, they were both pregnant. They posted a birth announcement on Facebook within a day of each other." She explained. He began cursing a blue streak.

"Your father is calling a council meeting to stop birth announcements."

"I've got to go, I need to update the unit leaders. Meryn, stay with my parents today. Don't go out on your own."

"I won't. I promise. Aiden?" Meryn hesitated.

"What is it, sweetheart?"

"Be careful, okay? I've kinda gotten used to you."

"I will. I promise. Love you." He whispered.

"Love you too." She hung up the phone and stared at it. When she turned, she saw Adelaide standing near the doorway, staring out, a haunted look on her face. She went to her and wrapped her arms around her waist. Adelaide gave a low cry and hugged Meryn back tightly.

"This is why I've always wanted a daughter." Adelaide pulled back and wiped her eyes on the back of her hand. She smiled down at Meryn.

"Aiden would have promised to kill whatever was bothering me and then he would have left to go train to make sure he could. Sometimes you just need a hug." Meryn laid her head on Adelaide's shoulder. She breathed in the older woman's perfume and buried her face in her dress.

"Is this a mom hug?"

Adelaide laughed. "Yes, this is a mom hug you darling girl. How about we take over the kitchen while Marius isn't here to chastise us and make a huge mess making cookies?" Adelaide suggested. Meryn could definitely get used to having a mom.

"Only if I get to introduce you to the joys of eating cookie dough."

"Deal!"

They walked to the kitchen and Adelaide began pulling out ingredients.

"Adelaide, can I ask you something?" Meryn measured out the brown sugar, she poured some into the bowl and ate a teaspoon. A cup in the bowl, a teaspoon for her.