Becoming the True King and Queen (Forbidden Child Book 2)

"I can't believe that Donald and Melody are already two months old," Sadie shook her head. "Billy is three months. It seems like time is just flying by us."  "I know. In a couple more months, our families will start their travels around the world. I know that it is going to be an adventure and a challenge with the children. I am just so happy that you are going with us," Skylar sighed as she laid Melody down for a nap. "Come here, Donnie. Are you ready for your turn?"  Sadie smiled, shaking her head, "I don't see how you feed two babies. I have a hard enough time with just my one."  Skylar chuckled, "It may actually be easier for me. I know you have to switch which breast you feed on each time. Since the twins eat about the same, I feed them on that breast all the time. Donnie eats on the right, and Mel eats on the left. It makes everything so much easier."  Billy was starting to whine from his playpen, making Sadie quickly pick him up before Melody woke up. Donnie was still nursing and didn't seem to mind the noise.  Sadie frowned, "I am going to take him up to bathe him. I hope he didn't wake up Mel."  Skylar shook her head, "Mel sleeps through Donnie's screams. Donnie is the light sleeper."  "Those two are as different as night and day, aren't they?" Sadie said, smiling at her sister.  Skylar chuckled, "You have no idea." Sadie turned and left Skylar alone in the playroom. It had been used as Skylar and James's room while Skylar was pregnant, and it was the perfect space for the sisters to get work done in the conference room while their children napped. The conference room had a door that opened to the same hall as the room. Skylar was enjoying planning their trip around the world with her sister.  Donnie had dozed off, and Skylar decided she wanted to go for a run with her husband. She mind-linked James, "Hey, where are you? I was hoping we could go for a run." "I am out at the training grounds. I will meet you out front in a few minutes. Who's watching the twins?" James answered her.  "Anna-Marie is. I am so happy that your mom is here with us. I know we are leaving in a couple of months, but she and the twins bring so much joy to our family," Skylar replied.  Skylar walked out the front door after handing her mother-in-law the baby monitor. James was walking up at the same moment. "Are you ready?" he asked her.  Skylar stripped her clothes, laying them on the steps, and shifted. She let a howl before she took off for the trees.  James hurried to follow her. They hadn't gone for a run together since before Skylar found out she was expecting.  James ran through the forest trying to catch up to his wife, but she was nowhere to be seen. He could smell her scent but couldn't figure out where it was coming from. He mind-linked her, "I know you are close. Are we playing hide-and-seek?" He laughed into the mind-link.  "Yes, you have to find me. Then I will give you an award," Skylar answered with her own giggle.  James stopped and closed his eyes so he could listen for Skylar. There were no sounds. The forest was oddly silent; this caused some alarm for James. "Skylar, listen. Do you hear anything?" After a moment, she mind-linked him back, "No, where are all the animals? It shouldn't be this quiet. I didn't notice when I was racing through looking to hide, but it is almost eerie." Skylar walked up with her half blue-white and fire-red coat. She nuzzled close to James and whined.  James mind-linked her, "The boys tell me they don't hear anything either. Jay is calm while Duke is on the edge of freaking out."  "Zara and Sky are telling me to be cautious and head home," Skylar answered.  They walked back to the packhouse and kept their ears perked up to see if anything was going on.  After they shifted back, they went to see Jackson and Andre.  "Dad, everything is too quiet out there. It is like something is about to happen," Skylar stated.  Melissa shook her head, "I noticed the silence a couple of days ago as well. I don't know what it is, but the warriors have been investigating it. The guards are all on extra alert as well."  "Melissa and I went for a run on Tuesday. We didn't see anything unusual, but we didn't stay out long. Jackson, Andre, Melissa, and I didn't want to bother the two of you. If something comes out of it, we will let you know," Sarah elaborated on what Melissa had said.  James shook his head, "I know I am not the Beta anymore. However, as the King and Queen of the Elementals, Skylar and I have a right to know if something isn't right. We don't want to be left out of the loop anymore. I know that we have the twins, and we are leaving for our Introduction to the Packs trip soon. That doesn't mean we don't need to know when something is wrong. Not only are you part of our Kingdom. You are our family."  Jackson nodded, "You both are right. We should have told you. We didn't know if something was going on. Wednesday and Thursday, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. We haven't heard anything about it today. We should have let you both know as soon as we thought something was wrong. We were thinking as your parents and not as your citizens. We will try to do better from now on."  There was a knock on the door, "Come in." Jackson sat behind his desk with Sarah standing at his side. Dalton and Abby walked in.  "We didn't mean to interrupt anything. We had a meeting with Alpha and Luna. We can come back later," Abby stated.  "No, stay. We were just leaving," Skylar said as she reached for James's hand.