189Sophia’s POVIt was happening. It was really happening. After months of waiting, months of uncertainty, fear, and hope, she was finally here. My body was aching but not as much as I guessed it should be.I glanced over at Ian, who stood by my side, his hand gripping mine tightly. His face was filled with anxiousness. His thumb rubbed small circles against my palm, trying to soothe me, but I could feel the tension in his grip. This was a moment that neither of us could control, a moment we could only experience.“You’re doing amazing, Sophia,” Ian whispered, his voice low and steady, although it was trembling. His eyes met mine. “Just breathe.”I nodded, though the pressure in my abdomen made it hard to do anything other than focus on the next breath. I squeezed his hand in response, letting him know I heard him, even if I couldn’t find the words right now.The room around us was a blur. I barely registered the blur of voices—the midwife, a nurse—guiding me through the process. My
190Jenny’s POVThe news hit me like a tidal wave. I stared down at the test in my hand, my heart pounding in my chest, unsure whether to scream in shock or laugh in disbelief. Pregnant. I was pregnant.Jacob was in the kitchen, making us a late breakfast. I could hear the soft clatter of pans and the gentle hum of music from the living room, but I couldn’t move. For a moment, I felt frozen in place, my thoughts racing.We weren’t trying for a baby. We weren’t ever going to try. I was a vampire and even though Sophia was able to get pregnant, it didn’t mean I could too. But here it was, plain as day. The test didn’t lie.I felt a mixture of emotions swirl through me—happiness, fear, excitement. All at once, it seemed like everything in my life was about to change. But most of all, I was happy. I was so happy. Everything that had happened the past year ran through my mind all at once. The attacks, falling in love with Jacob, turning into a vampire, fearing that Jacob would leave me for
191Ian’s POVThe weight of my child in my arms was heavier than I expected, but not in a way that tired me. It was a weight that filled me with awe, a kind of responsibility I had never imagined could feel so peaceful. Ava’s tiny fists curled against my chest, soft breaths rising and falling in the perfect rhythm of sleep. For the first time in what felt like forever, everything was still, everything was peaceful.I sat in the rocking chair near the window, dim light filtering thought the curtain. The house was quiet—Sophia was resting in the bedroom, exhausted but content after the birth. I had barely left her side since she’d gone into labor, unable to help the overwhelming sense of protectiveness that surged through me.But now, as I held this tiny life in my hands, all the fear and chaos we had gone through seemed to fade away. It was just us—our family.“Hey there,” I whispered softly, my voice barely more than a breath as I gazed down at my child. “You’re finally here.”I felt
1Sophia’s POV.I bit my lip hard as I walked down the stairs, my heart beating hard in my chest. I feared my parents could already hear how hard my heart was beating from the kitchen. I couldn’t believe I was about to do this. I mean, I shouldn’t be doing this but it wasn’t like I could tell them the truth about where I was really going to. I could hear my siblings, Sarah and Simon, bickering in the kitchen. This was just a typical Friday evening in our house. Sarah and Simon were back from school early and that was why they had the energy to start bickering right now.I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans and quickly tied my hair into a bun as I approached the kitchen. I was supposed to be using an hair bonnet right now. It was one of the rules of our kitchen but right now, mom will pardon me as far as my hair was tied.“Good evening Mom,” I greeted. “Good evening dad. You’re back early,” I said as I smiled at him. I knew exactly when he came back. I had been staring out of my window
2Sophia’s POVI knocked on the door of Jenny’s house once and waited patiently for her to come get the door. It took a while before she came to open the door. Immediately she did that, she turned around and began walking to the direction of the stairs sluggishly.“Uh…what’s wrong with you?” I asked with a raised brow as I walked in and shut the door behind me. Clearly something was wrong with her…or she just woke up. That was probably the better option.“Just…keep quiet, I’m trying to get back to my beauty sleep,” she mumbled as she trudged up the stairs. I rolled my eyes. Of course she was only acting this way because she had just woken up.“Maybe I should just go back home if you’re that displeased with my presence,” I joked, feigning annoyance as I spun around on my heels and began to walk to the door.“Jeez, you can’t even take a little play?” She grumbled. “Fine. I’m sorry. You know I’m pleased by your presence. Don’t go,” she said in a robotic voice.I chuckled and shook my hea
3Sophia’s POV. The security barely even checked our ID as he allowed us into the club. Jenny grinned at me and nudged me a bit before tucking a strand of her hair between her ears. This was my first time at a club, but it certainly wasn’t Jenny’s first time so I had to follow her every step. I didn’t even know what to order, but I wasn’t ready to have alcohol. Not yet.Jenny had a bright smile on her face as we managed to push past a sea of sweaty bodies and get to the bar. We set there and she grinned at me before turning to the bartender. “Give me a margarita, please.”“And me too,” I said. It wasn’t like I knew what to order anyways. I tucked my hair behind my ear and looked around. It was a Friday night and a lot of people were here. My eyes was most especially on the ladies. The way the were blending in effortlessly here and their flashy designer bags that they didn’t hesitate to show off.“Let’s get on the dance floor,” Jenny said, giggling a bit after one sip of her margarita
4 Ian’s POV. I could hear the heartbeat of different people. Some fast, some normal, some oddly slow. I could smell the blood. Hot, running. Fresh. Just how I liked it.I closed my eyes, trying to shut everything out and just enjoy the music and whiskey. I couldn’t feed. Not now. I had my fill just a few days ago and feeding now will not be the best option. It might only attract attention to me. I had a way of attracting attention to myself anyways.Running my hands through my hair in frustration, I inhaled deeply and the smell of hot, fresh blood clouded my senses. Gritting my teeth, I downed my shot of whiskey and rubbed my face. The bartender came over to me, looking at me with suspicious look. “Do you need anything sir?” He asked.“Another glass,” I answered.“But sir, you’ve been drinking for a while and I suggest you take water first. You’re going to have a terrible hangover tomorrow,” he told me.I stopped myself from narrowing my eyes at him. Did he think I cared? Did he thi
5Sophia’s POVMy heart was pounding wildly in my chest as I watched this beautiful stranger. He watched me back, a small smile on his face. He was actually indulging me in this. I couldn’t believe it.I bit my lips hard enough that it almost drew blood. But then I stopped. I knew some people hated the sight of blood and he might be one of them. I didn’t want to scare him off like this.I gulped. I wondered what mom and dad and the twins will think when they see me here in a bar, trying and failing miserably to flirt with this handsome guy.He kept watching me, as if trying to consider whether it would be worth it to indulge me.My heart was still pounding wildly and I feared that he could hear it with the way he was giving me this amusing, knowing look. Finally he answered me. “Where would you like us to find out?”I shrugged. I didn’t think it would be nice to leave the club and go anywhere with a stranger, dressed like this. Dad might be on his usual nightly patrol with his men and
191Ian’s POVThe weight of my child in my arms was heavier than I expected, but not in a way that tired me. It was a weight that filled me with awe, a kind of responsibility I had never imagined could feel so peaceful. Ava’s tiny fists curled against my chest, soft breaths rising and falling in the perfect rhythm of sleep. For the first time in what felt like forever, everything was still, everything was peaceful.I sat in the rocking chair near the window, dim light filtering thought the curtain. The house was quiet—Sophia was resting in the bedroom, exhausted but content after the birth. I had barely left her side since she’d gone into labor, unable to help the overwhelming sense of protectiveness that surged through me.But now, as I held this tiny life in my hands, all the fear and chaos we had gone through seemed to fade away. It was just us—our family.“Hey there,” I whispered softly, my voice barely more than a breath as I gazed down at my child. “You’re finally here.”I felt
190Jenny’s POVThe news hit me like a tidal wave. I stared down at the test in my hand, my heart pounding in my chest, unsure whether to scream in shock or laugh in disbelief. Pregnant. I was pregnant.Jacob was in the kitchen, making us a late breakfast. I could hear the soft clatter of pans and the gentle hum of music from the living room, but I couldn’t move. For a moment, I felt frozen in place, my thoughts racing.We weren’t trying for a baby. We weren’t ever going to try. I was a vampire and even though Sophia was able to get pregnant, it didn’t mean I could too. But here it was, plain as day. The test didn’t lie.I felt a mixture of emotions swirl through me—happiness, fear, excitement. All at once, it seemed like everything in my life was about to change. But most of all, I was happy. I was so happy. Everything that had happened the past year ran through my mind all at once. The attacks, falling in love with Jacob, turning into a vampire, fearing that Jacob would leave me for
189Sophia’s POVIt was happening. It was really happening. After months of waiting, months of uncertainty, fear, and hope, she was finally here. My body was aching but not as much as I guessed it should be.I glanced over at Ian, who stood by my side, his hand gripping mine tightly. His face was filled with anxiousness. His thumb rubbed small circles against my palm, trying to soothe me, but I could feel the tension in his grip. This was a moment that neither of us could control, a moment we could only experience.“You’re doing amazing, Sophia,” Ian whispered, his voice low and steady, although it was trembling. His eyes met mine. “Just breathe.”I nodded, though the pressure in my abdomen made it hard to do anything other than focus on the next breath. I squeezed his hand in response, letting him know I heard him, even if I couldn’t find the words right now.The room around us was a blur. I barely registered the blur of voices—the midwife, a nurse—guiding me through the process. My
188Jenny’s POVThe day had finally come—my wedding day. I should’ve been nervous, or maybe overwhelmed by everything, but instead, I felt oddly calm as I sat in the small room at the back of the church, waiting for my moment to walk down the aisle. My fingers traced the intricate lace on my wedding dress, a soft white gown that had been perfect the moment I saw it. It was exactly how I had imagined my wedding to be—simple, intimate, and with the people I cared about most.Sophia sat next to me, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “You look incredible, Jenny,” she said with a smile that reached her eyes.“Thanks, Soph,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant, but there was a catch in my throat. “It’s kind of crazy, isn’t it? That I’m actually doing this?”She laughed softly, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “A little bit, yeah. I thought you were joking last week when you said you and Jacob are getting married. But you and Jacob are meant to be. I’m just happy you’re doing
187Ian’s POVThe sun was setting, making the vampire realm look pale. It used to be pretty to look at, but now the usual beauty felt hollow. Some parts of the ground was still red from all the blood that had dried on it, and though the air was quieter, it felt heavy. I stood in the middle of the courtyard, watching as the survivors moved about, trying to restore what had been broken.It wasn’t just the buildings that needed rebuilding. It was us—me, Sophia, the council, everyone.As the king, I had always known the weight and responsibilty of leadership but never like this. The battle exhausted on all of us, but there was a strange sense of relief hanging in the air, as if the worst had finally passed. The constant fear was gone. For now, at least.I felt Sophia approach before she spoke. Her presence felt like a soft, steady energy that I could feel even when I wasn’t looking. She stepped beside me, her hand slipping into mine, and for a moment, we just stood there, side by side, lo
186Sophia’s POVThe air in the realm felt different after the battle settled down. The energy that pulsed through the vampire realm seemed dulled, weighed down by loss and grief. The rogue faction was defeated, but the victory felt hollow. So much had been sacrificed. Too much.I stood on the edge of the courtyard, looking out over the horizon. The sun was setting but I barely noticed its beauty. My thoughts were heavy with the weight of everything that had happened. Lyanna was gone. The thought of it felt like a punch to the chest every time it crossed my mind. She had saved us, saved me and our baby, but the cost was her life.“I can’t believe she’s gone,” I whispered to Ian, who was standing beside me, his hand resting on my shoulder.Ian’s expression was hard, his jaw clenched as he stared out at the horizon. He hadn’t said much since the battle ended, the stiffness in his body telling me how much he was struggling to keep his emotions in check.“She was one of the strongest witc
185Lyanna’s POVThe visions had been coming in waves—dark and scary. I’d seen this battle long before it arrived, the pieces falling into place, the danger coiling around us like a snake waiting to strike. But no vision had prepared me for this.The air was thick with the stench of blood and fury, and the sounds of bodies coliding with each other filled my ear. I was at the edge of the battlefield, my senses tingling with the power I held. Magic pulsed in my veins, begging to be released, but I held it back, waiting for the right moment. Timing was everything.In the distance, I saw Ian fighting Mike, lunging at each other, blow after blow. Ian was struggling, that much was clear. Mike was pushing him to his limits, and it took everything in Ian just to stay on his feet.And then there was Sophia. I could feel her fear from here, her desperation. She was with Jacob, fighting off a swarm of rogue vampires, her body slower than usual. Her own power was wearing out. The pregnancy was ta
184Ian’s POVIt felt as if the world itself was holding its breath, waiting for the battle to begin. We were in a neutral territory, a clearing deep in the forest that was between the vampire realm and the outskirts of the human world. I could tell that the place had seen conflict before, the ground stained with the blood of wars long past. Now it would see another.I could hear the sounds of my forces assembling behind me—vampires sharpening their blades and stakes, speaking in low, tense whispers as they prepared for the fight that would start any moment from now. The weight of responsibility hung heavy on my shoulders. I had never wanted this, to be a king at war. But here I was, leading an army to stop a rebellion that threatened everything I had fought to protect.Sophia stood at my side, her eyes scanning the area. She was pale but resolute, and I could see the fire burning in her. Even now, pregnant with our child, she refused to leave my side. I had argued, pleaded with her t
183Ian’s POVI paced about in the room, my heart beating hard and fast and my mind running through different thoughts. Every moment felt like a taut wire, stretched thin between the safety I wanted for Sophia and the threats that I couldn’t fully shield her from. The attacks had slowed, but that only made me more nervous. It was like the calm before a storm, and I could feel the storm brewing.Sophia was sitting on the couch, her hands resting on the gentle swell of her stomach. Our child. It only made me think harder about all the different things I could do to keep Sophia out of danger.“We need to talk,” I said, breaking the silence.Her gaze met mine, steady but expectant. “I know what you’re going to say.”“I don’t think you do,” I replied, running a hand through my hair, frustration leaking into my voice. “Sophia, I need you to stay in the human realm. You and the baby—”“No,” she cut me off, her voice firm. “We’ve talked about this already, Ian. I’m not staying behind while yo