Xena''s POV


    A ripped shirt hanging off a garbage can with a basketball resting where a head should be made me m on the brakes. My heart leaped into my throat as I stopped my motorcycle suddenly, knowing exactly what that looked like from a distance.


    Ryder pulled up beside me, while William had already yanked off his helmet and was rushing to Ama''s side. She was shaking, her face pale as paper. I couldn''t me her-for a split second, I''d thought it was a body too.


    After a moment, Ama gave me a small nod,posing herself. William returned to his bike, helmet back on.


    "Let''s keep moving," I said firmly, and we all revved our engines. Even though we''d taken an alternate route, we made it back to the pack house in two hours. No Rogues attacked us, but my nerves were still firing on all cylinders. My heartbeat hammered in my chest,


    palms slick with cold sweat inside my riding gloves.


    "Why don''t you girls go change, then meet us in the office?" William suggested, pressing a


    gentle kiss to Ama''s forehead.


    "Okay,” Ama agreed, hurrying up the stairs.


    I turned to Ryder, my voice tight with concern. "You should send warriors to scout the route, make sure it''s safe for humans."


    "Already on it," he nodded, heading into his office.


    As I walked toward the bedroom, I heard soft sobbing. Rounding the corner slowly, I found Ama crouched on the floor, her shoulders shaking. Seeing her like this-so vulnerable and


    broken-sent a shock through me. This wasn''t the strong, vibrant Ama I knew.


    "Ama? What''s wrong?" I knelt down beside her, my voice gentle.


    "I''m sorry," she choked out between sobs. "My hormones are so unstabletely. I''m usually the brave, strong girl, buttely I don''t even recognize myself." Her voice trembled, tears streaming down her face. My heart clenched seeing her this way,


    "Honey, you''re pregnant. It''s okay. These things happen," I said, gripping her shoulders and helping her to her feet. I walked her to her room, and she fumbled with the door handle before pushing it open. We made our way to her bed, and I eased her down onto the edge.


    "I hate that I can''t be who you need right now," she said, her eyes red and swollen, filled with guilt. Her words struck a chord in me, reminding me of my own moments of weakness, that feeling of helplessness I knew all too well.


    "I don''t need you to be anyone but yourself," I told her softly. "You need to focus


    on your baby. This much stress during pregnancy isn''t healthy for you. Maybe you need a few days


    off?"


    She looked at me, confusion washing over her tear-stained face. "Would you be okay with


    that?"


    "Why wouldn''t I be?" I asked, surprised by her uncertainty.


    "William thinks we all need to be present, but we were hoping..." her voice trailed off.


    "Just say it," I encouraged with a small smile.


    Ama took a deep breath. "Can I work reduced hours? With the baby and my


    hormones...and now all this stress." She shook her head. "I need to get my emotions under


    control."


    “?


    agree,


    and of course you can take time off. We still need William, but you can stay in bed. Hell, you can work from bed if you want. I don''t mind at all. I just want this baby healthy." As I spoke, I felt a fierce protectiveness rise within me. Ama wasn''t just my


    friend-she was family.


    "I love you," Ama said, wiping away her tears and wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug.


    "I love you too. You''re like a sister to me. I''d do anything for you." I meant every word.


    "Will you wear that pink swimsuit?" Ama joked, a hint of her usual yfulness returning.


    "You''re ridiculous," Iughed, pulling away from her embrace. I walked to her closet and grabbed the sexiest thing she owned. "Wear this. I''ll go change ande back for you."


    "Okay, I''ll wait here."


    Leaving her room, I headed upstairs toward mine, just in time to catch Ryder walking through the door.


    "Hey," I said, jumping out from behind him.


    "What took you so long?" he asked, closing the door behind him.


    "Ama had a breakdown. She wanted to ask if we could reduce her workload, make it part-


    time." I walked to the closet, pulling out my ck swimsuit. As I spoke, I felt a twinge of


    guilt for putting so much on my friends'' shoulders.


    "What did you say?" Ryder asked, pulling his shirt off over his head.


    "I said it was fine, but we still need William, and if she wants to work from bed,


    she can."


    Ryder nodded, reaching for his swim trunks.


    "I agree with your decision."


    "Any news about the Rogues?" I asked, stripping down to change into my swimsuit.


    "Not yet. Still checking around." Ryder frowned, his brow furrowing.


    "Do you think I overreacted?"


    "Not at all." Ryder grabbed two beach towels while I slipped on my cover-up.


    He gave my ass a yful smack as I slid my feet into my flip-flops. "Ready?" I asked.


    "Yeah, let''s go," Ryder said, opening the door for me.


    We walked to William and Ama''s room. After knocking, Ama opened the door with a smile


    on her face. "Hey, ready to go?"


    "We''re ready."


    "I had them bring the cart around," Ryder said as we all walked out together. "Perfect,” William said, taking Ama''s hand as we made our way downstairs to the waiting golf cart. It had four seats-Ryder and I took the front while Ama and William settled in


    2.41 am 7


    the back.


    Ryder drove through the trees until we reached the pond we''d visited before. The water glimmered in the sunshine, a wee escape from the tension of the day, Chapter Comments