65Ian’s POVI paced around my room, wondering if I should just go to Sophia and apologize, or if I should go back to the realm instantly and then come back later and speak to her.I ran my hands through my hair, feeling confused. Lyanna wanted me to apologize and talk to Sophia but my ego was too big to just give in to that just like that. But she was right. I should just speak to her. A part of me understood what Sophia was going through, struggling to adjust to a world thy she was not born into. It was hard, but she didn’t have much of a choice but to do that.I sighed, deciding that I’d go over to her and talk to her. I missed her so much. I missed her too much to keep punishing myself by not taking to her, because truth be told, I was punishing myself and no one else.“Ian, you ready or not?” Jacob asked, poking his head into my room and I nodded.“Yeah I am. But, I want us to makes stop at Sophia and Jenny’s apartment first. I need to talk to Sophia,” I replied.“You sure about
66Sophia’s POVJenny and I stepped back into the house and I paused, noticing that something was off. It didn’t take long for me to notice it. To notice the guy blending in the shadows, watching us. It was one of Ian’s men. The men he had told to be watching our every move. That was their specialty, blending into the shadows and watching us as if that was what they were created to do.But the strange thing was that he was inside the house. They have never been into the house before and…whk invited them in?My brows creased as I tried to remember who must have invited him in then I realized it had to be Jenny. Jenny had invited one of them in once, when we were moving here. He must have been the one. But that didn’t give him the rifjt to just come in here anytime he wanted without our permission. What was he doing here?“What do you want?” I demanded but got no reply. Jenny halted on the stairs and turned around to look at me with a puzzled look.“What are youztalking about?” She aske
67Sophia’s POV.I remained sitting on the kitchen counter, casually sipping a glass of orange juice while the doorbell rang continuously. I already knew who was by the door without even having to check. Today was Monday, and I had just gotten back from school a few hours ago with Jenny. And about ten minutes ago, they have been ringing the doorbell non-stop.The guy that Ian told to watch us in the house, Ben, was standing by the door, his eyes darting from me to the door, and back. He was probably contemplating on whether to open the door, or whether to just stay where he was standing and eat me take the lead.But I wasn’t ready to open the door for them. I wasn’t ready to let them in just yet. I ran my hands through my hair, roughening it a bit and then dropping the glass in the kitchen sink.“Oh my God. Isn’t there anyone in this house?” Jenny groaned s she came down the stairs. I couldn’t blame her. Even she was already tired of all that noise.“Didn’t you guys hear that there’s
68Jenny’s POVI was feeling very awkward.I was alone in the house with Jacob, and I was feeling very weird. We were the only ones inside the house. Lyanna had gone back to her place and Ian had taken Sophia back to his place for an alone time. I think they just wanted to fuck without having to worry about being to noisy or anything like that.Jacob, on the other hand, remained here with me, as per Ian’s request, so that he could keep me safe. Ian had called off all the men watching us so I guessed Sophia had worked her charm on him.I turned my head and looked at Jacob who seemed so invested in the cup of coffee he was drinking. I gulped and looked away from him. I found myself wondering if he’d have stayed here anyways if Ian didn’t tell him to. I ran my hands through my hair and my hand moved to the necklace he had given me.The vervain necklace. I made sure it was something I never took off no matter what. He gave it to me so that it would keep me safe from the other vampires. Bu
69Jacob’s POVI didn’t know why exactly I was sitting here, by the dining table when she was just a few feet away. Keeping an eye on her didn’t exactly mean that I should stay where she was. I could he upstairs in their guest room. I would still be keeping an eye on her that way.But no. Here I was just a few feet away from her, because I…because I couldn’t stay away from her.“Do you think…do you think they’d be back anytime soon?”I went stiff, and then I turned to her slowly and raised a brow like I didn’t hear what she said the first time. “What?” I asked. I was just surprised that she was even talking to me. We’ve been ignoring ourselves for a while now.“I said, do you think that they’d be back anytime soon?” She asked me again and I just shrugged. I didn’t think they’d be back anytime soon at all. It was unlikely.“I can’t say for sure,” I answered and she bit her lip, nodding her head before turning away from me. I hated the fact that I was painfully aware of every little thi
70Jenny’s POVI didn’t know what to he expecting when Jacob had told me to follow him after we had sex, but I certainly didn’t expect him to take me to my room and take me to the bathroom to wash me up. And then here he was, cuddling me on the bed even without saying anything.I didn’t need him to say anything, though. I already knew what he wanted me to know. I already knew he loved me. Or he felt something for me. Something of that sort. He had already implied it.But how did everything change so fast? Just a few weeks ago, we were telling each other that we hated ourselves. I was swearing to myself that I hated him. And now I was the one believing that he was in love with me.I rested my head on his chest, listening to the steady best of his heart. I wanted to ask him how he became a vampire, because I was sure he wasn’t born one. Or was he born one? Maybe that was one of the many things I didn’t know about their realm.I didn’t want to scare him away, so I decided to remain quiet
71Jenny’s POV“Dear God,” I murmured, walking around the kitchen with a scowl on my face as I opened and slammed the cabinets close. I was frustrated. I wanted something to eat and I couldn’t find any quick snack in the kitchen to eat. It annoyed the shit out of me.The last time I had gone shopping, I had made sure to stock the house up with junks so it’ll take time before we run out of that stuff. But here we were, barely a month after, already out of snacks.And I couldn’t tell who exactly was taking the snacks. There was Sophia, who lived in the house with me and I’ve never known her to have sweet tooth. And then there was also Ian, Jacob and Lyanna. I couldn’t bring myself to imagine Ian and Jacob taking this much snacks. The image seemed awkward in my head. Which left only on person. Lyanna.I scoffed with a roll of my eyes. I couldn’t bring myself to believe that she was the one honjad been feeding off on my snacks all this while that she has been coming to our place. It eemed
72Sophia’s POVThe doorbell rang for the second time in a row and I groaned as I got up from my bed, dropping the book I was reading and walking out of my room, down the stairs and then int the living room. I walked straight to the door and opened it without even checking to see who it was. I automatically knew it would be Jacob or Ian. Or Jenny. And if it wasn’t any of them then whoever it was wouldn’t be able to come inside if they weren’t human.But it was Jacob and Ian standing in front of the door. Jacob had a bored look on his face while Ian had a grin on his face, a bouquet of flowers in his hands.I beamed instantly, staring at the flowers with what I was sure was an adorable look and then taking them from him. “Is there an occasion?” I asked as I turned away and wallked back into the house, going straight for the kitchen.“Do we need to have an occasion before I bring my girl flowers?” He demanded and a blush crept up my cheeks as I placed the flowers into a small vase and t
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