ALLISON.Quinn strode ahead of me, her steps brisk and confident—almost excited. I quickened my pace to match hers."Where are we going exactly?" I asked, trailing behind her like a nervous pup. She seemed oddly enthusiastic about this whole thing."You’ll see," Quinn replied over her shoulder, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. That was never a good sign. Knowing Quinn, a smirk meant mischief, or worse, drama which was exactly her favorite thing.As we rounded the corner, I froze at the sight in front of me. Quinn led me into the living room, where an unwelcome ambush awaited. Wesley lounged casually on the armrest of a couch, twirling a pen between his fingers like he didn’t have a care in the world—not until he saw me though. His head snap to my direction and a smile quickly stretched across lips as soon as our eyes met. Mason leaned against the opposite wall, his arms crossed tightly, the veins in his forearms bulging with poorly contained irritation. But his face lightened a bit
ALLISON.Once the door closed behind them, I let out a breath of relief and turned to Wesley.“Well, that was… something.” I shook my head in disbelief.Wesley chuckled, opening his black briefcase and pulling out his stethoscope. “Welcome to your life, Alli. Now, sit down. Let’s see how you’re doing.”I sank into a chair, trying to relax as Wesley knelt in front of me and began his examination. His hands were steady and professional, but his voice held the same playful warmth I’d come to expect from him. After a few minutes, he leaned back and sighed.“What?” I asked.“Well, it’s not life-threatening, but the baby is a bit weak.”My heart sank.“That’s what Lena said too,” I admitted quietly.Wesley gave me a reassuring smile. "It’s not uncommon. Some babies have a weak grip in the early stages of pregnancy, but it can improve with time. The key is rest, a healthy diet, and avoiding stress. And… You’ll also need supplements. Herbal remedies are especially good for Lycan pregnancies."
ALLISON.I sat on the chair beside Emily and Wesley on the seat beside his Beta. To put it mildly, the atmosphere was a bit awkward—but almost not in a bad way. It was more on the amusing side, really. I was in disbelief that I was even sharing the same dining table with all twelve of them. What a crazy time to be alive.Quinn sat at the head of the table, looking like she was about to preside over a council of warlords. Her looked excited as she surveyed the room. I drank some water to ease my nerves. Damn, I could already feel the drama she was about to stir up. Emily, sitting beside me, kept fidgeting, her wide-eyed expression darting between the intimidating men like she couldn’t believe she was actually here."So," Quinn began, catching the attention of everyone. "How do you guys exactly feel after finding out that Allison is pregnant and one of you could be the father?"Emily, who had just taken a sip of water, promptly choked. She coughed so violently that I thought she might n
ALLISON.I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.“Arrangement? I’m not a child of divorce. You’re making it sound like we’re in the middle of a custody battle,” I spat.Liam’s expression hardened, his arms crossed over his chest. He didn’t look interested with the food on his plate anymore. Good, because neither did I. This stupid charade made me lose my damn appetite.“Stop being stubborn, Alli. It’s impossible to leave you alone at this point,” Liam insisted.I turned to him and frowned. Was he for real?“What do you mean by that?” I couldn’t stop the sharpness in my voice. “I’m not some helpless little girl. In case you don’t know, I’m a Gamma, third-in-command of the Flower Moon Pack. As much as I appreciate your help, I refuse to be treated like a weakling.”Liam rolled his eyes. “Didn’t look that way when you almost died twice in a day.”I bit back a retort, my body stiffening. That hit too close to home. But I couldn’t believe that he just says that straight on my face!River st
ALLISON.I scratched the back of my head, feeling more embarrassed now.“During the Howling Night,” I muttered, feeling like my face was on fire.Emily burst out laughing. “Goddamn it, Alli. That’s why you disappeared! We thought you just got lost in the crowd. I didn’t know you were... getting some.” She waggled her eyebrows.Quinn cackled beside her, and I buried my face in my hands, too embarrassed to look up.Emily’s eyes widened as realization hit her. “Wait. So that’s why Liam Miller has been acting all obsessed with you.”I groaned. “Ugh.”“Liam isn’t the only one obsessed. All five of them seem pretty hung up on her,” Quinn chimed in.Emily laughed. “Well, you must’ve done something right during that Howling Night to have all five of them chasing after you.”“They’re probably just sticking around for the baby,” I muttered, bitterness edging my words. “It was a drunken night. I don’t even know who the father is.”Quinn shook her head. “Not all men would stay and protect a child
ALLISON.Quinn never begged for something unless it was necessary. I knew she just really cared for me. I guess I should stop making her worry about me.I felt a lump in my throat. I didn’t want to do it, but I knew Quinn was right. It was the most sensible thing to do. Not just for me, but for my baby. Yeah, I have to prioritize my baby’s well-being from now on. My baby shouldn’t have to suffer because of my silly attachment issues and fears.“Okay, fine. Let’s do this schedule thing or whatever,” I conceded.Emily pursed her lips. She looked oddly excited about this.“But!” I quickly nudged my hand in the air.“Here we go…” Emily mumbled.I ignored her. “I don’t wanna talk to them about this. I don’t want to make it seem like I’m forcing them or something. They’re not required to do this, okay. If they’re willing to be my part-time bodyguard, then sure, I’ll take it with a grateful heart. But… if they’re too busy. Then, it’s cool. No pressure of anything.” I cleared my throat. “Also
ALLISON.“Months? It’s been going on for months?” I blurted in disbelief.“Unfortunately, yes, that was the information that I got.” She cleared her throat and gave me a knowing look.Based on the information that she got. Did she mean Daniel? He was the only one that I knew who was actively investigating about the attacks.“Five packs have been attacked across three different states. We were the sixth target and I’m still not sure why we managed to land in their hit list, but we sure as hell, survived it, while four of the packs were completely annihilated. It was a total disaster,” she added.“We have the Moonstone pack to thank for that. They got there in time,” Latisha said cheerfully.Tsk.“Yeah, I’ve thanked Alpha Miller enough for his contributions,” Quinn replied, her expression indifferent.“Are we going to push through with the alliance that he offered last time?” Gasper asked and briefly surveyed me across the table.Ha, he didn’t had the guts to ask me directly so now, he
ALLISON.“You asked me how I managed to know that the attack on your pack would be yesterday, right? And how I managed to track down some of the masked staggers who attempted to flee when Miller’s men came as backup.”“Uh, yeah. What about it?” I asked, a bit hesitantly. If I remembered correctly, he mentioned that he’d only tell me about it in private. I guess this was as private as we could get.“I know someone…. Who has some sort of power to see through the future,” he confessed.“Are you talking about a seer?” Wow, he knew a seer? That’s wild. They were a rare breed of witches, even rarer than the crimson witches.Daniel smiled and shook his head. “No, not a seer—not a witch. Just a… normal human.”“A human who can see through the future?”“It’s a bit complicated but that basically is. I didn’t want to ask for her help, but I had to seeing how things have turned out right now.” He bit his lip and sighs. “I went to ask for her help yesterday and that was when she foresaw the attack
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