“No Auri.” Morgan’s voice was firm.
“This isn’t just you though. If its a year or two, I can train. Be better. I can…”
Morgan stood up and I felt him loom over me, the old vampire presence starting to emanate from him. “I said no and that’s final.”
Tears sprung to my eyes, feeling angry and frustrated. “Why not! This is more my fight than it is yours! Why would you deny me that chance?”
“Because I’m not losing you again Auri!” Morgan yelled. He was walking away from me.
“Do you think I can’t do it?”
“No, I don’t think you can!” He turned from where he was walking and yelled at me.
Stunned, I stepped back. Max was behind me and his arms held my shaking shoulders.
“I think you will die at the hands of him. I think he will whistle and you will die beca
“I’m headed out, thank you for the dinner!” Morgan grabbed his suitcase and now clean laundry. “Sure Papa!” I gave him a small wave. “Call if you need anything.” Max added. We were sitting on the couch after Morgan had done a little reading for me while we waited for his clothes to dry. I got up, confirming that the door was locked. After that, I headed up the stairs. “I’m gonna go to bed. I’m really tired after that.” I stood in front of my door before deciding it would be okay to sleep in there tonight, not wanting to disturb Max. He came up behind me though and put his hand on the door. “Where do you think you are going?” I turned around, aware he had me caged against the door and no way to escape. I smiled. “I figured I would sleep in my room. I didn’t want to bother you tonight.” “Why would you ever bother me Auri? Other than get me hot and bothered.” He leaned into my ear, growling the last sentence.
I heard the whirl of the machines first. Taking deep breaths, the smell of bleach and antiseptic hit my nose and physically recoiled from the smell. Squeezing my eyes shut, I tried to remember where I was, what was I doing. Max, kissing me. Morgan finding out. Then the rush came. Morgan almost killing Max. Taking away Morgan’s attention. Max taking me to a hospital of some sort. Then Micah. The machines started to beep faster and I remember his touch, his words. He took it away, he managed to take everything I had left. Reaching up, I touched my hair that now was just below my jaw. Burying my face in my hands, I cried.“Well, took you long enough to wake up. Been out for two days.”I growled.“Now see here pup! We don’t normally serve your kind here, so you better be happy we didn’t just toss you out. The only reason your here is because Max looked like he was going to collapse and you’re Morgan’s daughter.”
“MOM!” I screamed as I woke up. It was raining and thundering. Drenched in sweated, I hugged myself, rocking back and forth. I had dreamt about the hunters, when they had taken us away. I screamed when they had taken her away. Taking deep breaths, the emotion was overwhelming. I was being crushed by it. Drowning it in. Being set on fire. Everything was on fire. I choked out sobs. My heart was breaking apart, piece by piece. Frantically, I pressed my finger into my cut on my hand. I felt nothing. No pain. I screamed again and curled up into a ball. Hours passed as I cried, as I was washed with memories. Max’s sweet touches and kisses, his words of love. All of it made my skin sting. Morgan’s attack, his abandonment felt like I was set adrift in the sea, alone during a storm. Logan’s goodbye was a sword in the heart. My head hurt but if I closed my eyes, Micah was leaning over me. Touching me, whispering in my ear that he had stolen everything from me. Finally exacting his rev
“You’ve lost your DAMN mind.”I laughed, the wind whipping through my short hair. I was currently on top of an SUV as we wove through traffic on the highway. Ahead of us was a caravan of SUVs as well.“You know, even a blind person can see they are getting away!” I yelled over the sound of the wind.Danger grunted. “Fuck off Astra.”I laughed but it was cut short as the car lurched forward and I had to grab onto the rails. I could hear his laughter but he wove quicker between the traffic. The group of cars suddenly got off the highway and I braced myself as Danger crossed three lanes of traffic to follow. It was a more rural area and he stepped on the gas as he closed the distance between the cars.I was vibrating with excitement. I let go and stood up on the car, balancing myself. Then, with a swift crouch, I launched myself off the top of the car and landed on the last SUV in the caravan. I made a pretty
***Bryan’s POV***I was driving in the Mercedes, Denise in the passenger seat. We were headed into the city just outside the pack territory. I decided a month ago that I was going to reward the captains for their hard work. Take them out and have them enjoy an evening. I didn’t trust having all captains out of commission for a night so I took 6 of them last weekend and four of them today. These four were the new recruits Hector had chosen. They were good but young. They had wanted to go to clubbing. Since meeting Denise I thought my club days were over but she insisted coming with me today. Hector also joined after some coaxing. He hadn’t taken a break in a long time.We pulled up to the club and there was a much longer line than I was expecting. Usually this place was never this busy. The boys who drove the Jeep pulled up behind us and jumped out. We gave the valet our keys and headed to the door.“Beta Bryan, chose a hell
I felt her chuckle under me and hugged me with one arm. Denise and Hector didn’t say anything as I held her close. I considered her my best friend, they knew that. After a while, Denise would coax stories out of me, of the two of us. Hector and I spent most of our time with her while she was at the pack and boy did we have stories.Logan being Alpha always limited our relationship, he would always be above me. But with Auri, she never let Luna get to her like that. She always valued friendship over anything and so I considered her my best friend.“Not gonna lie, I didn’t expect that.” She patted my arm and I let her go. “I figured I was either going to be yelled at or demanded to leave.”“I mean, we are wondering what you’re doing here.” Hector stepped up.Auri smiled and held out her arm and waved him in. Suddenly, the facade of Hector crumbled. He rush
“Seriously though, Auri. Why are your eyes like that?” Hector sat down where Denise had been sitting.Auri turned and put her hands on her hips. “What makes you think I wasn’t being serious? What reason would I lie to you guys at this point?”Hector and I looked at each other, shocked. “Because…we would be…”“Be what? Disappointed? Shocked? Sad? Please boys, I’m not a child. I don’t need your approval to live my life how I deem is necessary.” Auri turned back and started rummaging through the cabinets, smelling different boxes.I saw Denise throw a look over my shoulder, basically telling me not pursue it.“What’s it called?” Hector didn’t catch Denise’s look.“Nova.”All three of us stopped. Even Denise stopped pouring the water. She was still pulling out different ingredients, as though it was nothing. As though
***Auri’s POV***It was weird being back. I followed Hector down the halls and he opened the door next to him. I peered in and it reflected every other guest room in the house. Hector put my bag down on the bed and I followed in. He flicked the switch in the bathroom.“If you need anything, I’m next door.”I balled up my fist. “Can you…warn Bryan and Denise…”“Warn?”I was quiet for a moment. Over the years, the drug didn’t lost its length of time for potency like I thought it would. I figured my body would build up a tolerance for it. But the only thing that happened was the dreams. They came back after the first year, but when I woke up, I wouldn’t remember them.“Sometimes, I scream when I sleep…” I said quietly. “I don’t remember the dreams when I wake up but they still happen from time to time. It’s why I don&rsqu