Shifters Pen

8

Nostradamus sat across from myself, and a very guarded Luke, at the table in the back corner that the elder vampires normally occupied. The rest of the cafeteria was empty. Harold and two werewolves were starting to peel potatoes for 1000 men. Yeah, it was gonna take a while, but shepards pie was worth it.
  Nostradamus eyed Luke, and then myself. “I know,” he said simply.
  I blinked. He knew? How? We hadn’t told anyone. Not even Kevin and Joe knew. Maybe he knew something else. Maybe he knew about my skinwalker changes. “Please, Nostradamus, clarify for me what exactly you know.”
  Nostradamus blinked. “I know everything that happens in this jail. Everything. I know that you smelled like a bird, reptile, and rabbit, as well as a wolf on a night when there was no full moon. I know that Joe Branson left the cell you share with him, and he spent the entire night with Zeke. Meanwhile, Luke spent the night with you. I know that a wendigo is talking about veal after working in the kitchens with Lucy, even though he is getting a steak meal for repairing the cooler. I know that Lucy healed Harold. And I know that she is pregnant.”
  Luke stiffened beside me. He was ready to kill a vampire.
  But I was curious, “Has it ever happened here before? You’ve been here long enough that maybe you’ve seen it.”
  He nodded. “I have seen it. The female vampires who come through are unable to produce offspring, obviously. However, the men still have a lot of fun with them, especially once they know they can’t get pregnant. Werewolves and hexenwolves can become pregnant though. However, once they are pregnant, and it is known by everyone, well let's just say there aren't enough guards in the world to protect against that. No female has ever made it out of here alive. I have seen so many women just stand in the hallway when there is a 30 second countdown until doors shut, and they are killed. There have been appeals made to the warden to remove the woman once she is pregnant. It is impossible for him to do so. He tries every few hundred years, just to see if he can. He can't. I have seen it over and over again. They really should build a place just for the females, but they haven't.”
  My heart sank, “They just kill themselves?”
  Nostradamus nodded. “They don't want to bring a child into this place.” He watched me, “However, you are different.”
  Luke asked, “Because she is a skinwalker?”
  Nostradamus acknowledged that, “That is only partially what differentiates her from the others. She is a shifter, but so is everyone in here. No, she's mated, for one. And for two, she is here by choice.” His eyes bored into Luke's, “I don't think I need to tell you the strength of fate. This has not just happened. You are of the wolves. You know this was intended. You both can feel each other's emotions. It's disgustingly sweet. Makes me glad that females are not frequent inmates.”
  I asked, “So, what do you think is going to happen this time?”
  He smiled, “Oh, but it is already happening. You are destroying the prison alpha. One glance and I can see he is undone. Your pack loves you luna. You cook. You heal. They will do anything, for you. At first they will let you cook and be pregnant. If Luke survives the challenges he will be plagued with guilt. He will never make it past the first test. Or he will be the first alpha to surrender his post.”
  Luke blinked, “Wait. What? Guilt?” He felt hopeless.
  Nostradamus nodded. “I am a vampire. I eat bleeding creatures. I don't feel guilty about it. It is what I am. It is why I have never made it out of here. If given a choice between a rat, a goat, or a human, well the choice is obvious. You wouldn’t have a chicken nugget if presented with the choice between that and a steak, would you?”
  I could understand that. Guilt. “Do you know how to get out of here Nostradamus?”
  His smile was small, “For a price.”
  Luke frowned, “What price is that?”
  He sniffed, “Just a small taste. I will not ask for payment until you reach the next level.”
  He wanted to drink my blood. Ew! But he could help me out of here. “I'm going to try on my own for a bit first.”
  He nodded, “Of course. Consider my offer, but remember it takes time to work through all 5 levels. You have 9 months, give or take a week.” His piece spoken he stood, bid us goodbye, and left.
  Luke and I sat there a moment. He said, “It's test day. Let's do our best. You don’t have to do anything with him.”
  I kissed him. He was right. I wouldn't need the help of a vampire to get through this. I had him. One taste and I wanted more though. How could Luke affect me like this? All reason went out the window around him. My chest was pressed against his.
  He pulled away, whispering, “I will see you soon.”
  I groaned, “But other people will be around then.”
  He chuckled and sucked on my ear lobe, “Don't worry. I have a plan.”
  My brow raised, “Oh, and what is this plan?”
  “You will see.”
  All I could see was a full, long day of cooking. And all I wanted to see was his naked body pressed to mine. He left with difficulty and I had to get to work.

  The test was the same one I had faced for years, but for the first time I paid attention to the questions. What were they trying to learn about me? What would I have to say to get to level 2? There was one question that was blank. I usually left it blank and just accepted I'd never pass this fucker. But maybe it was key to it. I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders, cracked my neck.
How do you feel? My mate is pregnant. I am terrified for her, for our child. Will I be able to keep them safe here? I killed a boy, and the man who should have protected him. I hate myself. I can't even offer my mate a proper home.
  I set the pencil down. My chest felt squeezed.
  My eyes found Harold. He was staring at his test, not able to read any of it. I turned in my test and went to him. I knew every question by heart. I guided him through it.
  Kevin grabbed me by the back of my jumpsuit. “Join me.”
  I followed him to his cell. “What?”
  He blinked. “What? We have known each other since we were cubs. What is eating you? What did Nostradamus want with you this morning?”
  I nodded, and whispered in his ear. “Lucy is pregnant. Found out last night.”
  His eyes flew to mine, eyes wide. “Dude!”
  I nodded, and pulled his ear closer again. “She's my intended.”
  He blinked. “The moon goddess has a horrible sense of humor. What did Nostradamus want?”
  “Basically he made sure to tell us that no female had made it out of here alive after committing suicide because she was raped so much. But he could tell her how to get out for one little taste.”
  Kevin scoffed. “That prick has been here longer than anyone and he is still in the level one testing area. I'm not sure I would take his advice.”
  I nodded, but wasn't sure I felt that way. Nostradamus had figured out Lucy was pregnant without ever scenting her. I didn’t want him biting her. But I didn't want her stuck here. I really didn't want my child to be born here.
  “So, that's why.” He heaved a deep breath.
  “Do I really look that bad?”
  He nodded. “You need to call a council, before things go crazy.”
  “I will. I just need to wrap my head around it. It's like- like being hit by lightning. I could use your help.”
  He nodded, “Sure.”
  With that I headed to my next stop. Joe Branson. The lycan worked mopping floors. This time of day he would be on the 3rd floor. It wasn't hard to find him. He had a booming voice that resonated, “Move your damn feet or I'm gonna dump the mop water all over your bed.” His threats weren't idle either. I had washed bedding that was damp and smelled like pine sol.
  He was in the cell of a hexenwolf named Kyle. The Hexenwolves were not loved by werewolves or lycans. They were humans, who wore the skins of wolves to turn into them. Kyle had his feet tucked up on the bunk while Branson mopped the floor.
  “Branson, I need to talk to you.”
  Not looking up he asked, “This got anything to do with Lucy?”
  “Yes.”
  “What did she turn into last night?”
  The mother of my unborn child. “A wolf.”
  Kyle said, “But it wasn’t a full moon. Is she a Hexen-”
  “No!” Both Branson and I shouted at him.
  Kyle's mouth dropped open, “You mean she's a wendigo?”
  I stepped into the cell, “What did you call my mate?” I was ready to kill him.
  Branson said, “Man, I just mopped the floor!”
  I wasn’t here to kill Kyle. “You just watch your mouth you little parasite. Branson, join me in the hall.”
  Joe Branson was not a man who I could order around, and he took his sweet ass time mopping the cell. When he came out he frowned down at me. “What?”
  “I owe you a favor.”
  He snorted. “From the smell of my cell you owe me more than one.”
  I nodded, “How would you feel about having your very own cell?”
  One brow lifted. “You moving your mate to your cell?”
  “No. She has to be up early to cook breakfast. I will trade cells with you. You take mine.”
  He looked at the ceiling, scratching his chin in thought. “I will let you know.”
  I wanted to beg him, but that would make me look weak. All there was to do was to walk away. Or kill Joe. But he and Lucy were friends. No. I just had to convince him that it would be in everyone's best interest to switch cells.
  My thoughts swirled just as much as the washers and driers. I was going to be a father. I wasn’t worthy to be one. Was I even worthy to be mated to Lucy? Was this my true punishment? Did the moon goddess truly hate me?
  As soon as I entered the cafeteria I could sense her joy. All that bullshit fell away. How could this ever be anything but a blessing? She was my mate. Mother of my child. I was going to be a father. I was going to be a better one than my own father. I was going to get her out of here, and we would be fine.
  Once I was seated I told Kevin, “Notify the council of a meeting in the laundry room tonight.”