ALLISON.“W-We don’t know that yet,” I stammered as I felt the heat rushed to my cheeks.“I know.” Wesley smiled and kissed my forehead. My heart skipped a beat. “But that doesn’t mean you can get rid of me, Allison.”Wesley Morgan, the charming man that you are.He smiled as he twirled my hair with his fingers. "If you plan to talk with Mason next, you can check the library. He'd probably there.""You seem to know him a lot. Are you two friends?"Come to think of it, Mason even told Wesley that he'd found me. The viper seemed comfortable sharing information with him.Wesley chuckled. "Worse. We're cousins.""What?""Yeah, our grandfathers are brothers, so that makes him my third degree cousin," Wesley replied.Now, that's news. I didn't know that the infamous Mason Green descended from the legendary Morgan bloodline."Go on. I know you needed to talk to him too."Following Wesley's suggestion, I went to the library and he was right. Mason Green was there, settled on a plush couch whi
ALLISON.I felt my pulse quicken. “If you knew who I was… why’d you let me get close? Why let me…?” I trailed off, too flustered to finish the sentence. I gave this man a freaking lap dance because I thought I was doing a good job as a spy! I thought I was distracting him but it turned out he was having his own damn show!A ghost of a smirk played on his lips. “Because I wanted to feel you again. I’ve been craving your touch since the Howling Night. I hated it but I also desperately crave for it.”I swallowed hard. My cheeks flushed red in embarrassment.“I brought you here because I knew I’d never forgive myself if I something bad happen to you that night. I knew I’d never be able to sleep again if I couldn’t save you. But when you woke up, the first thing you did was to demand to get out of here.” His voice grew hard, his jaw clenched. “To what? Just to meet with the very same bastard who put you in danger in the first place! How can you easily brushed me off while you desperately l
ALLISON.“Are you all packed?” River asked me the next day. We’re set to go back to Missouri today so he came dropped by the Green residence to pick me up.Miraculously, Mason didn’t try to kill him this time. I guess our little talk yesterday helped him calm down a bit. Life was peaceful when I didn’t have three Alphas who were actively trying to rip each other’s throats.“I don’t really have anything to pack. The only thing I came here with was a silver bullet buried in my body,” I said which was true. Mason provided me some clothes that I wore for the past days that I stayed here but they weren’t originally mine. Melissa said that they were new clothes that Mason’s personal shopper bought for me but I couldn’t bring myself to claim that it was mine.“In that case, let’s get a move on before that viper decides to bomb my jet,” River said and I nodded my head. We walked to the great expanse of the golden-plated hallways leading to the main foyer.River offered that we use his private
ALLISON.River cocked a brow and offered me a plate of cheese cuts and salami.“Don’t mind if I do,” I muttered, reaching for a slice of salami.Delicious.River watched me intently as I ate, his smirk softening into something almost… tender. “You’re making that look delicious,” he murmured, a teasing glint in his eye.I felt myself blushing as I fumbled for another piece. “It’s just salami, River,” I mumbled, suddenly self-conscious under his gaze.Hudson’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “I’ll be honest,” he said, leaning back with a smirk. “I’m shocked you managed to convince our Alpha here to get involved. He’s usually pretty reclusive, you know. If I’d known he could breathe outside Chicago, I’d have bet money against it.”What’s the use of his private jet if he didn’t really travel much out of Chicago, anyway?Hudson was looking at me like I was an amusing sight. “I knew you were something when I first met you at the club looking for the Warlock Alpha. But I guess you’re even more
ALLISON.Shit. This wasn’t how I expected my return trip to Missouri to be like. I instinctively clutched my stomach. Normally, I would be down for a fight. But it’s different now. I’m pregnant and I need to prioritize my baby’s safety above all.“This is why I like to stay in Chicago,” River muttered under his breath. He sounded both bored and utterly disappointed.Two of the rogues began to pound on the limo’s window which made me jolt. The look on their faces told me that they weren’t joking earlier. They were really going to drag us out of this car if we didn’t get out soon.The tension in the limousine was suffocating. My hands were clenched so tightly on my lap that my nails dug into my palms. Damn it. The rogues circled us like vultures, their growling motorcycles revving ominously as if to intimidate us. Honestly, they looked more like a biker gang than actual rogue werewolves. Maybe, it was their twisted way of blending into human society. Not that it made them look less thre
ALLISON.Hudson tossed the machete back into the car and grabbed my arm firmly. “My Alpha can handle them. Marcus and Ethan could take on the rest. Oh, and we also have good ol’ Victor here. He’s not only a decent driver, he fights good too. Now, you and me need to get out of here. You’re not safe here. Now move.”Hudson nodded at the two other werewolves, Ethan and Marcus, that were with us in the car and the ghoul driver, Victor. They were also fighting off the other rogues, trying to create a way for Hudson and me to escape.The limo was useless with its blown tire, so Hudson’s eyes landed on one of the rogues’ motorcycles. He ran to it, pulling a rogue off and pounding his fist to his face, knocking him down. What a brute! Hudson cocked an eyebrow at the unconscious rogue on the ground before stole his bike, swinging a leg over the seat like it was meant to be his.“Hop on!”“What? I don’t know how to ride that thing!” I stammered.“Good thing you don’t have to. Yet. Now, come her
ALLISON.“About damn time!” Hudson yelled, a grin flashing briefly across his face.My relief was short-lived. One of the remaining bikers pulled out a gun, the barrel glinting silver under the pale light.“Hudson, he’s got a gun!” I screamed.“Yeah, you really should stop stating the obvious, boss!” His jaw tightened.The rogue aimed the gun at me and my hands trembled. Scenes of what happened back in Mason’s club flashed in my mind. My body hasn’t fully recovered from that and I didn’t know if I could handle another bullet today.The rogue rested his forefinger on the trigger but before he could pull it, a shadow dropped from the trees above. It was so swift, almost like a monkey swinging from branch to branch. My eyes widened in shock when I realized what it was; a body that was slightly bent down, sunken rounded eyes, fingers stretching into long sharp talons, razor-like teeth, and skin that wrapped around the bones like molten rubber—it’s a ghoul.Is that Victor? Hearing Hudson’s
ALLISON.I have never felt so scared and determined at the same time. I wanted to get out of there. To drive away but not because I was scared for myself but because I was terrified of what would happen to River and his men.I have to get to our pack as fast I could. Because only then could I ask for reinforcement. River needed a backup and I'll make sure to give them that even if I had to beg my packmates for help."Come on..." I muttered as my tired hand gripper around the handlebars. The motorcycle wobbled beneath me, my hands clammy with sweat. I wasn't joking when I said that I hadn't ridden one before. I'm shocked that I could even manage to kick this thing to life when I've been driving it with nothing but pure instinct.The engine roared as the uneven sway made my stomach flip. My foot nearly scraped the asphalt as I struggled to keep my balance."Damn it!" I cursed under my breath, steadying the bike. "Be a good girl, you metal beast."I almost begged the bike to steady itsel
RIVER.The third stop was the supermarket. The endless aisles felt like a maze designed to frustrate the shit out of me. I wasn’t used to doing groceries.We roamed around the huge supermarket but we couldn’t find the aisle with baby products in it. At some point, we’ve come to the women’s section where we found some sanitary napkins. This was more frustrating than I thought.“I think we’re lost,” Wesley said while looking around the nearby aisles with canned goods.“Let’s try the aisle on the left,” Liam suggested, leading us straight into the pasta section.“You might be a genius, Miller.” I crossed my arms, staring at the rows of spaghetti and penne. “Are we looking for diapers or ingredients for a damn pesto?”“You’re one to talk. You mistook a sanitary pad for an infant diaper,” Liam shot back.Fucker.“You’re all useless. Let’s try over there,” Mason groaned.Eventually, we found the right aisle and loaded up on diapers, wipes, and baby soap. Liam and I raced to the cashier, but
RIVER.“They’re all wonderful.” Daniel nodded in approval.“Awesome! So, what clothes did catch your attention?” the lady asked.“Everything.” Wesley crossed his arms. “We’ll take them all.”Her eyes widened. “All of them?”Wesley nodded and reached for his card, only for the rest of us to do the same. Fuck.“Woah—I, uh…”The poor woman looked utterly flustered as five black cards were thrust at her.“Put your disgusting cards away. I’ll pay,” I said in a sharp voice.“How about you burn yours? Wouldn’t want it to get declined,” Mason retorted.This bastard…“We’re in Colorado, it’s my turf. I’ll pay,” Daniel insisted, waving his card towards the poor lady.“Don’t act like you’re the prince of this state, Angel. The sales lady will get my damn card,” Liam argued, frowning.“Keep it up, guys. I have ten more of this,” Wesley said boredly.These goddamn idiots, I swear…The sales lady looked torn. She chewed on her lips while glancing at each of our cards demanding to get a swipe at the
RIVER.The first few hours after the baby was born were chaotic, to say the least. Allison’s vitals stabilized, but she was still in a magic-induced coma. While Quinn, Emily, and the three idiots were down in the nursery, cooing over the baby, I chose to stay back and check on Allison. Someone had to keep watch over Allison. Wesley was busy doing another round of checkups on her.I sat by her bedside, holding her hand. It felt small, fragile in mine, very different from her usual fiery strength. I missed the sound of her voice, her feisty attitude, the usual scowl on her face. Fuck, I missed her so much. My thumb brushed over her knuckles, and I pressed a kiss to her hand.Please wake up, Allison. Please be okay. The baby needs you. I need you.Wesley’s hand clapped my shoulder, jolting me out of my thoughts. "She’ll pull through, River," he said. His voice was calm, but there was a quiet reassurance to it that somehow made me believe him. Maybe because he was doctor or maybe because
DANIEL.“You’re not holding her right,” I chided him, carefully supporting the baby’s neck with my hand since River couldn’t hold a baby to save his life.River adjusted his grip awkwardly. “Hey, I’m trying, man. Stop nagging me.”His voice was a little too loud, and the baby let out a startled cry.“Great job, Perez,” Liam growled from the corner and stepped forward. “You’ve got a talent for making babies cry. Hand her over to me before you scar her for life.”River shot Liam a glare but he was already panicking because of the baby’s incessant cries so he reluctantly handed the baby over. To everyone’s surprise, her cries stopped almost immediately as Liam cradled her with surprising ease.“Shh, don’t worry, little one, it’s okay. I’m here.” Liam murmured; his deep voice soft. The baby hiccupped once but didn’t cry again, her tiny fists clutching at the air. Liam smiled faintly, the corners of his mouth twitching as he brought one of her hands close to his lips and kissed it lightly.
DANIEL.I thought it would be a quick recovery for Allison, or maybe at least a few weeks would be enough to get her all patched up but I was wrong.Eight months had passed and Allison still hadn’t woken up. Her belly had grown with the baby, but her heartbeat remained weak. She looked peaceful, but it wasn’t enough.Quinn held her hand, her face etched with worry. “What’s the plan now?”Quinn and Emily were here today. After settling the aftermath of the vampire attack in their pack, they would visit Allison in Colorado to check on her. I would also do the same thing. I would go back to Chicago for three days to tie up some loose ends in my pack before staying here to check on Allison for four days. That has been my routine for the past eight months and the other Alphas pretty much had the same routine too.I still hated the fact that I would get to see their faces every time I visit Allison. But I didn’t have the energy to fuck with them when all I could think about was Allison’s fu
RIVER.I’ve seen this scene before.How life slowly faded in the eyes of the woman who meant so much to me.“Allison!” I called her name as I struggled to dive deep into the river, catching her in my arms before she sunk even further.Her body felt so cold, like a bucket of ice, devoid of the warmth of life. No, it shouldn’t be like this. My fingers trembled as I stroked her face pale. She should be warm, alive.Not like this.“River, we need to get her to the bank. Let’s go!” Wesley’s voice snapped me back to reality.We waded through the freezing water, my arms wrapped around Allison’s body as I pulled her with me.The icy river bit at my skin, but I didn’t care. My arms were wrapped tightly around Allison’s limp body. Wesley’s voice was distant, almost drowned out by the pounding in my ears, but I forced myself to focus.“Get her to the bank, River!” he urged as he swam through the freezing water along with Mason and the remaining survivors from our men.The cold water slowed my mo
ALLISON.“Start the fucking jet. Now!” River yelled at the pilot to take off.Wesley took my hand and stroked my knuckles. He was so tensed as he glanced at the window too, checking the vampires outside. As the jet ascended, I thought we were safe, until I heard the metallic screech of vampires tearing into the fuselage.“Fuck!” Mason exclaimed.The fight wasn’t over.The sound of metal shrieking made my blood run cold. They were tearing into the jet!"They’re on the jet!" Hudson’s shout rang through the cabin.I turned in my seat just in time to see the flash of claws ripping through the fuselage. Ten vampires clung to the outside of the plane, their glowing red eyes glaring at us through the gaping tear in the metal."Bloody parasites," River growled, his voice dripping with venom. He yanked a silver crucifix from his belt, the edges were sharp, almost like a dagger. A crucifix was one of a vampire’s fatal weakness.He twisted it in his hand like he couldn’t wait to put it to use. H
ALLISON.But just when I thought that we would be doomed tonight, the white car who has been tailing them earlier pulled over. Four more of Wesley’s men poured out. Now, there was seven of us. The odds were looking better.The vampire ringleader didn’t look impressed. He let out a humorless laugh while gazing to our lot.“Oh, come on, bringing a couple of spare men to fight us? How predictable. I guess the Morgans aren’t shit, after all,” he mocked.As he stepped closer, I could see him clearly now. He stood tall and lean, his long, bleach-blonde hair cascading over his shoulders. His face was sharp, with a chiseled jaw and a devious grin that was dripping with pure wickedness.“You’ll be shitting on your grave once I’m done with you,” Wesley growled.The ringleader shook his head. He looked almost bored.“Hand that girl over, come on. I’ll give you a treat if you act like good boys,” he taunted.That only made Wesley snap. He shifted into his wolf form and I was at awe at his appeara
“Wesley… there’s still something you’re not telling me.” I gritted my teeth and narrowed my eyes at him.He took a careful breath. “They’re coming back, Allison. Daniel spotted the masked attackers a few miles away from your pack. He had some of his men with him that time, so they were able to stop them before advancing to your pack.”That must be the reason why Wesley has been acting tensed since morning and the thing about Daniel…“Is Daniel okay? Did he got hurt? Injured?” I asked, worried.“Daniel’s fine. He got off with minimal injuries and even managed to capture some of those masked attackers.”“Then why are we running?”There was still something he wasn’t telling me. I could feel it.Wesley’s jaw tightened. Then, he blew a heavy breath and gave up.“Because it’s not just them. Daniel found out during interrogation that there are… other organizations involved. They’re targeting you.”“Why?” My stomach churned.Quinn has also suspected this much but until now, I still didn’t kno