I whirl around to see a large group of masked men, running towards me.Two of them are holding bows and standing at the back of the group while the rest hole dangerous looking weapons. Their movements are fast and coordinated. I try to dodge their attacks as they move in silence, the only sound, the sound of the daggers and swords moving in the air.One of them ends at my heart and I quickly lift my hand, the dagger going straight through my palm. My scream is silent and as I try to push him back, one of the archers shoots at me and this time I am unable to avoid it.The arrow pierces right above my heart and I let out an agonised scream within my bond, for Lucas. Any other time, a cry for help like this would have garnered a fierce response. But this time, there’s nothing.Even if he's blocked his bond, he can still feel me. I know he can. It's something we've tried and tested. And as I keep fending for myself, trying to protect my unborn child, something inside me
Everything hurts.That is what I wake up to.A bone deep agony that is consuming me.When I open my eyes, I’m staring at an unfamiliar ceiling and I blink, feeling empty.This is a familiar numbness, one I thought I would never feel again.I seem to be laying in a bed.Turning my head to the side, I see a familiar figure sitting in the arm chair, half asleep.I stare at Lucas's profile.Has it really been more than a year? I don't know why but it feels like I’ve loved him for way longer. Which is why it feels right now like I’ve lost everything.The true mate bond which had once been my biggest security has now tuned into my own prison.Death would have been kinder, I muse to myself, idly.I shouldn’t have asked Kayla to save me.All the fight that had been inside of me has faded away and I feel like an empty husk right now.I can see Kayla sleeping on the couch on the other end of the room.Maybe I stir or maybe Lucas wasn’t really sleeping be
“Now that everyone is here,” I begin, my voice hoarse. “Let’s get to-““Wait,” Carmine says.When all eyes turn towards her, she pouts, “You didn’t answer my question.”I don't have to look at everyone to see the anger in their eyes. Even the people who are not from my pack have looks of disgust on their faces.I don't smile or get angry. Instead, I study her, "What are you doing here? I should ask that question. You are not allowed to be here.”“Don't be ridiculous, Sarah,” Lucas frowns. “We are here to -““I don't believe I was talking to you,” I meet his eyes. “Did I say so otherwise, she is going to jeopardize this mission and she's not allowed to be in the room. In fact, neither are you.”Lucas’s face darkens, “Hold up-““As of this moment, you have become a liability, Lucas,” I say, coldly. “I'm speaking as your Alpha, in case there are any misunderstandings. If you are warming her bed, then you cannot be trusted. Carmine has proven herself to deliberately
“How could you think I would poison you?” Lucas’s voice is unsteady.I shrug, “I wouldn’t put anything past you at this point. Either way, you are no longer in a position to tell me what to do.”“I was never in a-““Yes, well,” I straighten up. “I have things to get done. From now on, you can sleep in Carmine’s room. You are no longer welcome to my bed. You wanted to starve me of touch like Hunter did? I’m not as weak as I was then. I will do the same now. Carmine is welcome to you.”I can feel myself crumble even more but I hold my head high as I walk down the steps, my head held high.Whatever Kayla did to me last night to get rid of the poison, the phantom isn’t going away. I can feel the sharp agony with each step as if the healing is still taking place inside of me. I almost welcome the pain.It drives away the mental anguish that I’m forcing back with each breath. The letter that I had Clara write for me in in my pocket.I know it's a relatively s
I just want to know what kind of poisons I have been given. And if that means, I have to give Samantha sanctuary, I’ll do that. Considering her life here, she won’t be missing out on much.Later that night, I step into the woods, feeling weary and exhausted.And yet, I can feel that the poison is out of my system. I feel better. A part of me knows that it wasn’t Lucas who was poisoning me but after how he has been behaving, I don't know what to believe. Maybe he was wrong. Maybe he lied to me. Maybe if one mate of the true bond pair dies, the other has a way out rather than madness.Everything I know about the true bond mating is from him.Even putting that aside, I had known my previous fiancé for my entire life. I have trusted him and loved him and not once have I considered that he would stab me in the back the way he did. So why did I believe that Lucas wouldn't do the same?He's been in my life for barely over a year.My hands tremble as I think back to all t
He just gives me a patient smile, “How are you feeling?”I blink, stretching my neck a little, "Just a bump on the head but nothing serious. What are you-?”My question trails off when I see the bodies lying on the ground around me. They seem to be almost sleeping except for how pale and waxy their skin is.“Ah,” I move back from the one closest to me. “Did you-?”“I was a little peckish,” Malcolm shrugs. “I knocked them out before I fed from them. But I sadly had to kill them. They weren't very good people.”“I see,” I mutter, feeling dazed. “What are you doing here?” He shrugs, “Passing by. I've been hearing whispers so I was curious about this village. This seems to have been an odd infestation in the surrounding villages.”He seems almost amused and a little bit intrigued.“But you seem different from the last time we met, little one.”Now that I look at him, there is no hiding the age in his eyes.He is the first vampire, the original Sire. “Yes, w
“I know it sounds hard to believe," Malcolm says after a brief moment. "How do I not witnessed it myself, I would not have believed it either. But I watched that half-breed feed one of the mated pair the blood, and I watched as a transformation came over him. He went from threatening them for daring to touch his woman, to threatening her.”It would be so easy to believe him, to think that Lucas has just been under some spell, but I can't shake everything that has happened to me at his hands recently. Each and every incident is like a separate slash against my heart.I just want this whole nightmare to be over but even if something is done about it, the relationship between Lucas and I has been altered forever. The kind of scabs he has turn off from my previous wounds and the damage that he has wrought upon my heart, I don't think I'm capable of recovering from that again. A part of me has become broken forever.It is the girl that I locked in the cage that begs me to save him.
Kayla steps out of the woods and I freeze when I see that both her eyes and her hair are fire.Before I can say anything, her words register on me and a slow horror builds inside of me, “What? What is she saying?”“Aife,” Malcolm breathes. “You’ve awoken.”“Not entirely,” The Phoenix speaks, her voice so melodious and cruel that it makes me wince. “I felt your presence. I warned you, didn’t I? I told you what would happen with your greed and ambition for power. You left the world in shambles. Did you finally find what you were seeking? You even imprisoned me. You used me, your oldest companion, the one I once called mine.”There is a burning energy in the clearing and I can hear the wealth of pain and anger in the Phoenix’s voice. When I look at Malcolm, his face is pale and filled with a deep regret, “I was foolish, Aife. Ever since - ever since you fell, I have wandered this earth, my own punishment.”I want to say something about there's no room for me in this con
SarahThe days that follow are sad ones. We all have to come together as a pack to work through the loss of so many loved ones. “I really thought we were finding peace,” Dustin says, as we gather together three days later. “I hoped it would stay.”“We’ll find that now,” I tell him. “There are always going to be times of peace and times of conflict. I’ve learned we have to accept that as a way of life. That’s the downside of being in a wolf pack.“But the good days outnumber the bad. And we’re strong, we’re fierce. We’ll get through this and defeat any enemies that might come up next. We just have to trust in each other and have faith in the pack.”The words resonate with me as I say them. Despite all the hardships, I’m more devoted to this pack than I ever have been. I’ve learned to accept the ups and downs which are easier to manage now that things between Lucas and I don’t feel quite as fragile.“That’s why you’re a great leader,” Dustin says. “You inspire us all to do just
LucasAs I watch my baby in Sarah’s arms, I’m happier than I ever thought I’d be. A son and a daughter. It feels like now our family is complete. Though I’m open to more children in the future. Right now, I’m just content.Sarah and I tend to be rough sleepers though. So, as Sarah dozes off, I take Evelyn from her arms and place her in the bassinet. Then, I join Sarah on the bed.“She’s beautiful,” I say, cuddling my sleepy mate. “You’re beautiful. I’m so grateful to you for bringing our children into our life like you have. “I know it’s never easy. I won’t even pretend to understand what you go through. But you give up so much for our family. I appreciate that more than I can express.”“And I appreciate you,” she says. “You’re a wonderful father and a fantastic husband. I’m so glad to share all of this with you. I’m so grateful to be building a family with you.”I kiss her and the warmth of having my true mate in my life envelopes me. It just feels so natural and right when y
Sarah“That is an incredible offer,” I say, my eyes staring right into Azar’s. “You’ve promised so much, and I know we’d both prosper within a formed alliance. However, we can’t promise our daughter’s hand in marriage.”My words prompt a hearty response. Some are mere whispers while others are outright defiant. Many can’t believe that we would turn away from this. But we have to do what’s right for our daughter.“Now, I’m not shutting down the idea of a future marriage completely,” I clarify. “Maybe our daughter will end up with your son. Maybe they will be mates.“But we’ll have to wait and see once she’s old enough to decide. Since we’ll be allies regardless, they’ll know each other. They can spend time together.“If our daughter decides that your son is her mate and they both love each other, then they can get married. We’re going to leave that up to her though. We don’t want to make such a big decision for her before she can even consent to it.”Azar’s demeanor falls. It re
LucasSarah looks at me with an expectant look on her face, and I’m just not sure what I should say. The kiss still bothers me. It hurts me. As her mate, I have reason to be upset.The guilt still haunts me though. It reminds me of how I hurt her. It whispers that I deserve this. I know that I deserve this.“It’s nothing,” I insist.“Lucas, please open up to me,” she says. She takes my hand in hers and looks at me with those eyes I never can resist. “I saw you and Azar last night,” I confess. “I saw the kiss.”Sarah looks at me with shock and guilt written upon her face. I hate that. It’s proof that what I saw was true. They did kiss. She betrayed me.“I know I betrayed you horribly,” I continue. “So, I understand that I deserve that. But it still hurts, Sarah. “I thought we had moved past all of that. I thought we were solid. I thought we weren’t ever going to let anyone get between us again. But I guess I was wrong.”Jealous tears through me as the kiss replays in my min
LucasI’m surprised then when I wake, Sarah isn’t beside me. I panic. After everything that’s happened, I simply can’t help it. There are too many ways things can go wrong.I need her near me. I need to always know that she’s okay.After a deep breath, I realize that something feels wrong. Something seems off. I walk to Fergus’ room and see him sleeping peacefully. I tuck the baby monitor in my pocket and step outside. I won’t go far, I can’t go far without Fergus, so hopefully she’s close by.It doesn’t seem like she is at first. I look all around our home and don’t see her. Then, I go towards the back yard and I stop.Sarah is there, but the tree line, but she’s not alone. He’s with her. The anger from earlier boils within me again.I know I shouldn’t be jealous, especially not after what I did to Sarah. I have no right to worry about that after all I put her through. And nothing truly awful has happened between them. I don’t have a solid reason to be upset.Besides, I tru
Lucas“You don’t have to give an answer right now,” he rushes in to say. “I’m not expecting you to be sure of anything right now. It’s just something to think about.”I’m so taken off guard by this that I don’t know a single word to say in response. I have tried to push aside my fears that he wants to seduce Sarah and getting to know them all a little better has helped me to do so.My daughter though… I never thought he’d be after my daughter. Arranged marriage? “That’s a big topic,” Sarah says slowly. “We’d definitely need time to think about it further. We’d have to talk through this amongst ourselves.”“Of course,” Azar replies with a pleasant smile. “I’m not trying to force your hand or anything. Take as much time as you need. It is a big decision but I think it’s the right one.”We don’t stay out much longer than that. We circle back to the gathering for a little while. But everyone is tired, so we all head back home soon after.It’s only once we’re back home that every
SarahI take a moment to give Lucas a hug and another kiss before we step into the area where the feast is being hosted. I can sense that he’s still a little insecure about things, but he had no reason to worry. I’m going to be true to him always.I’ll admit though, I am intrigued by this new pack. I wonder about the kinds of magic they can do. I’m curious about all they have to offer.As we walk towards their Alpha, the pack starts to congregate together, which is a little strange. Before this, they were mingling with everyone else. There seems to be a shift though as we approach them.“We’re so grateful you’ve accepted us,” Azar says, flashing that friendly smile. Is there anything flirtatious about it? I don’t really think so.“To show our gratitude, we would like to show you something,” he continues. “A little show before dinner.”I hesitate. What if this is something malicious? I don’t know anything about this pack. Is it a trap?They’re already here though. They could tr
LucasAfter everything else that’s happened, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about this new pack joining us. It’s not like it’s uncommon for packs to approach each other, especially if they think a mutually beneficial alliance can be formed.The fact that packs are now approaching us like this shows our growth. I’m proud of Sarah for bringing this pack to greatness like this. I’m happy to welcome newcomers in.It’s just that there’s been a lot going on lately. And it still seems like a risk to allow anyone new to come into this peaceful place we created.Then, I realize that I’m sounding a bit like how Liza sounded when we brought Brandon in. It gives me more empathy towards her but also makes me realize that maybe I’m being a bit paranoid.It will be good to have another alliance. This could ultimately be beneficial to us. So, I help answer questions as the pack follows us. I remain as engaging as possible as I get to know them.“You’ve truly created something impres
SarahChills run down my spine as I listen to this prophecy about our daughter. I always knew our children would be great. But I never expected something like this.Could it be true?I assume it is considering the way this prophecy has been delivered. What does it mean though? How do we deal with something like this?Before we can ask any questions, the bubble floats off into the sky which grows lighter again. The lights turn back on. The candles are re-lit.Lucas and I look to each other as everyone looks to us for answers. Yet I’m stumped. Usually I know what to say, but not this time.“I have no idea where that came from,” I admit. I’ve found that when it comes to being Alpha, the best way to approach these sorts of things is from a place of honesty. “However, I can say that I feel blessed.“It’s clear our daughter will be special. I don’t know exactly what that means yet, but we will take care of her to the best of our ability. We’ll cherish her just as we do Fergus. We’ll