-MILA-I sat on the balcony of the hotel with a cup of coffee in my hands. My eyes were on Lobo who was inside. He was speaking to a demon whose name I had forgotten.I could only assume that he was trying to get to the bottom of who betrayed us to Lowell because his arms were flying around animatedly.While watching them, I got an idea. I would ask one of the demons what the smoke could have been. I gave up on Lobo telling me the truth, he had no interest in discussing it. And even though he knew I wasn't buying the explanation he gave me, he wasn't budging.He turned, his eyes meeting mine. I frowned, it was almost as if he knew what I was thinking.I smiled at him, and although he smiled back, it didn't reach his eyes.He definitely knows I'm plotting something, I thought.He turned saying something to his friend and then he walked out to me."How are you feeling?" He asked."Fine. I'm enjoying this coffee. How did your talk go?""Well, I should know who's behind it by the end of
-MILA-My mouth hung open in disbelief. Lobo just threw Ronan off the balcony."Lobo!" I shouted when I came out of my surprised daze."He shouldn't have touched you.""You just killed a man because he was doing what you asked him to do. You killed him because of something I did. You can't do that!" I screeched, jumping to my feet."He was to keep you safe. Not hurt you. There are other ways to enforce rules.""Lobo, you killed him. What do you think is going to happen now? A body is laying on the ground. Do you not think someone is going to call the police?""Demon. His body has vanished."I couldn't believe how casual he was being about this."Lobo, are you kidding me? That's not the only point here. You can't just kill people.""He isn't a person. He's a demon.""That doesn't matter. You can't just go around killing people, or demons."He finally turned to me, a somewhat empty look in his eyes, "I can. If they touch you, I will kill them. Anyone."I took a step back, I wasn't sure
-MILA-I tossed and turned beside Lobo all night long. I had an uneasy feeling still.I knew Lobo wouldn't hurt me, but I still couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong with him.Seeing the strange way his face changed was a big reason for it too.I hadn't mentioned seeing it happen, something told me it was better to keep that little piece of information to myself.I turned in bed to look at him while he was still asleep. I lost count of how many times I did this.I was half expecting him to have some sort of weird glitch going on again.But he looked normal.His eyes snapped open and I jumped in surprise."What's wrong?" "Nothing." It struck me as strange that he just woke up yet his eyes were bright as if he hadn't been asleep a few moments ago."You were staring at me funny."I laughed, "Sorry. I was just looking at how peaceful you look when you're asleep. It's quite the contrast to when you're awake.""You make me sound like a monster."I raised my brow, giving him a
-MILA-When Lobo arrived back at the hotel he was in a noticeably better mood than before."Did it go well?" I asked."Yes. Did you go for a walk?""No, I didn't get to it yet.""We can have a walk together? I can show you the town seeing as you haven't seen it before.""I think I'd rather stay here. I have a killer headache.""Have you taken something for it? I can go and get you some painkillers.""No, it's okay, I'm sure it will pass soon. It's probably because I haven't slept properly last night.""Are you sure? I don't mind running down to the pharmacy.""I'm okay. Let's stay in and order room service." As much as I wanted to go for a walk in the fresh air, I didn't want to risk someone doing or saying something that would make Lobo lose it.The last thing I wanted was to be responsible for an innocent person's death.I felt bad enough about Ronan.Lobo sat down, pulling me over to sit on his lap, "I have a surprise when we get back home.""Oh? I suppose if I ask you what it is,
-MILA-Lobo and I should have been celebrating our engagement, but instead, he was out with some of the Pack members, they were patrolling the Pack grounds. After my glimpse of Betty being killed, we decided to play it safelyAnd I was laying down with an excruciating pain tearing through my stomach.Betty was with Shauna in the corner of the makeshift room, while I rolled around in agony.'This smell of the damp forest is making me sick." I complained. "We need to speak to Lobo about it. We can't carry on like this. Lowell is dead, the threat is gone. The humans should be thankful to us for saving their asses again." Betty spoke in a very entitled manner.."I'll talk to him when he gets back, I doubt I'll be getting any sleep with this pain bothering me."Shauna looked over sympathetically, "The herbs I gave you for pain will begin to set in soon.""I hope so. It feels like my insides are getting ripped apart." It really did too. I had been experiencing searing pain in my stomach fo
-MILA-"We need to talk about Shauna," I said when I got into the car with Lobo."What now?""She's acting really strangely." I proceeded to tell him what I had overheard and how she acted afterward."So she's definitely up to something. When we get back we will confront her.""I think it has something to do with Betty because their friendship is more strained now than what it was. They were close at one stage, and now they aren't that close. Betty seems to be very snappy with her."He frowned as we drove away from the Pack grounds, "Do you think she has Shauna has something to do with the vision you saw of Betty being killed?""I don't know. I hope not, because we're leaving them together now, so anything could happen.""Shauna would never be so stupid to do something like that, surely."I gave him a look, "We don't know what's going on with Shauna right now, so I don't think we can know that for sure.""I don't understand why she would do something that she's so ashamed of. It's not
-MILA-The moon hung low in the night sky, casting a pale silver glow over the backyard area of the hotel room as Lobo and I stood at the edge of the back porch. The looming threat of the rogue werewolves weighed heavily on our minds, and a sense of urgency pushed us to find a solution. My heart raced as I looked at Lobo."Lobo, we can't just wait around. We need to take action," I said, my voice tinged with determination.He nodded in agreement, his eyes fixed on the horizon. "You're right, Mila. Alpha Zeke's Pack is counting on us to find a way to neutralize the rogue threat.""We can't risk a full-on attack," I mused, my mind racing through the possibilities. "But if we could make contact with the rogue pack's leader, maybe we could reason with them. Find a way to prevent further violence and offer them a spot in our Pack."Lobo's gaze sharpened, his eyes reflecting the moon's shimmering light. "You have a point. We need to track them down and demand an audience with their leader.
-MILA-The air was charged with tension as Lobo and I walked toward the cabin. The towering trees loomed over us, casting long shadows on the forest floor. Lobo's presence beside me offered some comfort, but my unease persisted. We were on our way to meet Alpha Zeke, and I had a feeling this was going to end badly. Something told me he wasn't going to be very happy that we went to the rogues alone.Lobo's hand brushed against my side as he matched my pace. His golden eyes were a mirror of my own concerns, but he remained steadfast. We had a plan – or at least, the beginnings of one.Alpha Zeke's cabin came into view, it looked different in the daylight. It was both intimidating and awe-inspiring, a reflection of the power he held. As we approached, two sentries flanking the entrance lowered their heads in acknowledgment of our presence. The giant wooden doors creaked open, revealing the dimly lit interior.Zeke sat at the far end of the den, his massive form radiating authority. His g
-MILA-Lobo.I paused mid step, Theo was forgotten.I fell to my knees as I shifted back into my human form and Lobo immediately came over and placed his jacket around me."Are you okay?"I shook my head. The fever was worse, my limbs were weak and shaky, my body flushing between chills of ice and boiling heat.Betty came over to help me to my feet, "The fever is worse."Lobo looked between the two of us, "Fever? She's sick?"Betty nodded, "Yes.""Why the hell are you running around on this stupid scavenger hunt then?!"Despite the growing pain in the joints of my body, I straightened, "Now is not the time for arguments, Lobo. I need to get to the cure.""The cure?" He looked at me in disbelief, "You're burning up hotter than a furnace and you're worried about the cure?"Betty cleared her throat beside me, "Mila, I'm with him on this one.""We must go on, we are so close." Theo piped up.Lobo glared at him, "Who the hell are you?""A friend of Elena's. I know how to get to the cure."
-MILA-My eyes widened as I looked at the hilt in Elena's pocket. Betty was walking slightly ahead which gave me no chance to warn her about what I was seeing and my heart rate sped up in panic.Was Elena the one who would kill Betty?My mindwas racing, I had to find a way to stop the vision from happening, but I didn't have the slightest clue how to do that.An idea struck me,but I wasn't sure if it would work or not.I took a deep breath and tried to concentrate on Lobo."I don't know if you can hear me-""I hear you, baby, what's wrong?""I need your help. We're on our way through -" My thoughts were interupted as Betty yelped, a figure running at such a speed it was blurred came rushing passed us."What was that?" I asked, pausing to look around."Mila?"Theo seemed calm, "It was a vampire.""Excuse me?" I spun to him with wide eyes, "You said there weren't any vampires here!"He chuckled, "I guess I was slightly mistaken." He spoke with a comical tone to his voice. He spoke as if
-MILA-The test was all but burning a hole through my pocket. But I couldn't go anywhere near it with Theo right beside me.Betty's eyes were glued to the road ahead as we drove toward the spring with the cure.Theo was barking directions and Elena was dead quiet.I turned to look out the window, and said a silent prayer that the test would be negative.If it was positive I wouldn't be able to take the cure. And if I couldn't take the cure, all of this would have been for nothing."What test, Mila?"Shit! I jumped with fright, I hadn't realized that Lobo could hear me. I wasn't even trying to communicate with him at all."Mila?"I didn't look at Elena when I responded, "I'm fine. This fever is killng me." It wasn't a lie, the fever did seem to be getting worse.Theo turned to me, "Perhaps I can distract you a little?"I turned with a frown, "And how do you plan to do that?""I would like to know more of your mate."It seemed strange to me that he would ask about Lobo so suddenly."Why
-MILA-I sat with a blanket around my shoulders curled up on Theo's sofa after having emptied the contents of my stomach. The nausea was strong and I was extremely fevered.Elena and Theo stood together talking in hushed tones while Betty sat on the arm of my chair."I don't trust him." She whispered."Neither do I. Something is up.""Are we going to go with them to the spring?"I nodded, "Of course we are. I need that cure. For all we know I'm getting sick because the Goddess is pissed at me."Betty frowned, "Or you're getting sick because the prophecy is already underway."My head spun in her direction, "What?" A shiver ran down my spine, that was a possibility I hadn't thought of."You have the symptoms."I shook my head, "No." I was in denial. I didn't even want to think that it could be true.Not now when I was so close to the cure."How about you take a test before we leave?" Betty suggested.I glanced over at Elena and Theo, "I don't want them knowing anything about this.""Don
-MILA-We arrived after sundown in the small homely town. The cottage styled houses lined the roads with picturesque front yards and trees set behind them.The moonlight cast blue hues along the bark of the trees."It looks like something out of a fairytale." I commented, slightly in awe of the beauty of it as we drove along."It's a pretty old town. They try to keep it as close to the original as possible." Elena spoke with pride in her voice.I wanted to ask why she left such a beautiful place, but I didn't want to pry."Why did you leave?" Of course, tact was not one of Betty's strong suites.Elena shrugged a shoulder, "I fell in love with a man who shattered my heart and in an attempt to heal, I ran away."The silence that fell between us was dense with sadness. When Elena spoke, she spoke with such emotion that I could feel the heartbreak rolling off of her."Is he the one who thinks wolves are monsters?"I wanted to reach over and smack Betty.She really didn't know when to stop
-MILA-"Can you turn that racket down?" I asked while holding my pounding head.We were drivng toward Elena's hometown and the music on the radio wasn't helping my already pounding head."You're suffering because you refuse to eat." Elena stated matter-of-factly.I rolled my eyes and laid on the back seat. My head felt as if there were tiny construction workers in it, hammering away."When will we get there?" I wanted this all over and done with, the sooner it was over the sooner I could attempt to move forward."It takes a few hours." Betty responded.A few hours? Although it was only now reaching sundown I was already growing impatient."Mila. You better get your ass back here."My eyes darted open but I didn't dare tell Betty and Elena what I had heard.With the way the pair had panicked earlier, I didn't want to risk spooking them any further."When we get to my friend, let me do the talking. He's a little panicky." Something in Elena's voice told me she was hiding something.I sa
-MILA-I stood with my arms crossed over my chest while leaning against the hood of the car while staring at the little motel. Elena was inside the motel arranging rooms for us."I thought Lobo would be mad and want nothing to do with me after this." I spoke suddenly.Betty scoffed, "Like I said before, you clearly didn't think this through.""Obviously not. And now I've put the two of you in danger.""Elena has her own reasons for this, that's not on you. And as for me, I haven't belonged in that Pack for a very long time. I just needed a shove to leave."Her words surprised me, I always assumed that Betty wanted to be apart of the Pack forever.Before I could question her, Elena stepped out and came toward us giving a thumbs up."We've got rooms. We need to check out tomorrow at eleven. But we'll probably be gone before then, right?"Betty nodded, "Yeah, we need to get to your hometown as soon as possible," she looked around the parking lot, "Is there anywhere I can stash my car? If
-MILA-The trees blurred as we drove past. Betty and Elena were talking up a storm in the front while I sulked in the back seat. Although it was by my own doing, I still couldn't get over the pain I was feeling over my choice."Mila?" Betty glanced into the rearview mirror before turning her attention back to the road."Yeah?" I asked, the single word seemed to take more effort than usual, feeling as if it sucked a boat load of energy from me."Are you-""Don't ask if I'm okay, because I'm not, and I don't know when I will be."Elena turned in her seat to face me, "I think you did the right thing. You made a selfless choice based on love. Not many of us would be able to do that.""Well, it doesn't feel like I've done anything good.""Why is it so important to become human again?" Betty asked."When I was with Lowell, I knew the day would come where I would be marked. But he made it sound easier. Since I've been marked it's been hell. I hate this. And now with the prophecy... I can't d
-MILA-I woke up feeling a heavy dread in my stomach and a sense of anxiety beginning to set in, complete with nausea.I looked over at Lobo who was asleep beside me, it was one of the first times he was actually sleeping in for a change, it was also one of the few times where he looked completely peaceful.It calmed me slightly to look at him and a smile crept onto my face, a feeling of warmth spreading through me.I sighed, snuggling closer to him while admiring his beauty.It came to mind that he was misunderstood in many ways. It was easy to see why, he had a way of oozing power.His very presence demanded respect.But that was only his outward appearance. Deep within, he was a soft and caring man.I would even go as far as saying he was emotional and fragile.Suddenly a frown came to my face at the thought. He was willing to give up his whole life for me. Was it fair of me to expect him to do that?The answer was no, it wasn't.I was being incredibly selfish. With a heavy heart,