Astrid's POVI reclined on the chair after Dad stepped out to get the peppered roast meat that I have been craving recently.I was considerably larger now considering the fact that I was in my early trimester. My ankles were swollen, I couldn't see my feet and I was pleased to report that I now waddled instead of walking.I also got tired and napped very quickly any time that I wasn't eating. My wolf didn't lend me much of her strength because due the fact that she had limited reserves seeing as we hadn't shifted in a while.She saved that strength for guarding the baby and I could feel her wrapped securely around the baby, continuously protecting it and it warmed my heart.I heard a knock on the door. That was fast.I hadn't expected Dad back home for some time.I opened the door only to see Alpha Jaxon standing there."Astrid."I panicked."I'm afraid you have the wrong person."I tried to slam the door close but Alpha Jaxon didn't hesitate before putting his hand between the door a
Astrid's POVI was probably being a weak ass by letting Alpha Jaxon in so easily but I wasn't heartless.The sandstorms here were ruthless as I had grown to discover in my months here. They could strip the flesh off a mortal and kill them but for a wolf, an Alpha like Alpha Jaxon, he wouldn't die but sustain massive injuries.I suspected that he had used the circle to travel like I did, meaning that he didn't have anywhere else to ride out the storm. That was the only reason I let him in.The only one.Alpha Jaxon smiled at me like I had done something bigger than tell him to come in."Thank you."I ignored him and the way his smile made my heart flutter as I walked back into the house heading for the staircase that led to the bunker.The stairs had become a struggle as I progressed further into my pregnancy but as this alongside walking around the house was the only form of exercise that I got, I always did my best to waddle through the staircase at least twice a day.Today, however,
Astrid's POVAlpha Jaxon was bleeding and it was taking all of me to hold back from going to him and helping him bandage his wound.Instead I threw the first aid kit on the bed of the guest bedroom that he had retired to.His steel cold rates met mine but I did my best not to flinch against the quiet intensity of his gaze."You can't stay here," I informed him. "I've spoken to my Dad so you can spend the night but you need to be out first thing tomorrow morning."I turned to walk away but his next words pulled me to a momentary stop."Do you think you will ever forgive me?" Alpha Jaxon asked me.My treacherous heart leapt in my chest and it took me a few moments to summon strength.I didn't turn to look at him as I responded. "What do you think?"I didn't wait for him to respond to me before I walked out of the room.I slept fitfully at night, my dreams filled with images of Alpha Jaxon. In my dreams, he didn't kiss my cheek but my lips. He didn't stop pushing my gown up until it was
Alpha Jaxon's POVAs we walked into the helicopter, Astrid leaned on me more and I heard a grunt of pain from her.I froze as I perceived a hint of blood from her. She was bleeding.I didn't know if it was normal for a labour or problematic seeing as I had never been in a labour room before today but the extreme look of pain on Astrid's face had me worried.Caleb was at my side in seconds bowing. "Alpha."I looked around for the person that should have been right next to him."Where is Dr Rachael?"Caleb shook his head, a deeply regretful look coming over his face."You said to cons urgently so we left too quickly, she couldn't make it in time but she is getting the pack hospital ready for us and—"Astrid grunted, a loud gasp escaping her lips and her hold on me tightened with the scent of blood in the air thickening and my fear rose inexplicably."She doesn't have that long!" I growled at Caleb.He bowed again. "My apologies, Alpha."It wasn't his fault that we called the helicopter
Xavier's POV"I'm coming back for you as soon as I can," I told Astrid but she was still limp and unconscious, unable to hear my words.Maybe that was why I was even able to say them at all or the shame from facing her after all I had done would have killed me."Until then please be safe and forgive me." I whispered finally.I knew there was a high possibility of her forgiveness being a long time coming but I would beg all my life if that was what she wanted.A few seconds later, Alpha Jaxon, escorted by some of his men, was at my side and taking Astrid from me. As I expected, he was far more focused on her unconscious form than he was on me.That was what enabled my escape.I escaped from the swamps shortly after Alpha Jaxon's men took Astrid for treatment.I could have run away with her before they came but if I had, we would have been caught in minutes with her weight dragging me back but I remembered what I had done to her and knew that when she woke up, I would be the last person
Xavier's POVI didn't think twice before leaping on the Vampire King that had appeared in my bedroom suddenly, I would think about how he had gotten here later.Before he could blink, it was right in front of him with my class to his throat and I could see his eyes slightly widen with surprise.Even I was surprised. I had never been this fast before.Then the Vampire King did the last thing I would have expected from someone in enemy territory that had a claw to his throat.He laughed and he laughed hard as though I had done something amusing.Gritting my teeth at the unnatural sound I decided to end his life in that minute only for my father to growl at me."Stand down, Xavier."I didn't move an inch. Did my father realize what he was asking me to do?"Father, he is a vampire."Before I knew what was going on, Dad shoved me up against the wall, his teeth bared at me as he held my neck forcing me into submission."I just told you to stand down!"I was beyond shocked. Did my father jus
Xavier's POVMy world shattered that minute when I realized that I had become what I hated the most. A vampire hybrid.A part of me was the same as those emotionless bloodsuckers who cared less about anything but themselves.It might not have been my choice to become this but I couldn't make myself attack the Vampire King who looked way too satisfied by my shocked reaction to finding out the truth.Dad seemed more apologetic but his words were unfeeling when he spoke to me probably because of the fact that the Vampire King was standing right next to us."I'll give you some time to come to terms with this news." Dad said finally I stared at him for what felt like the longest time.Come to terms with this news? This wasn't just news, it was now my reality, how could I just accept it like that?When my Dad noticed that I was still silent, his time sharpened, any softness completely disappearing."If you fail me, Xavier, you should know that you are no longer my only shot at having an hei
Astrid's POVWhen I woke up, I was in an empty space.The colors seemed off and it felt like every step I took echoed.Hugging my arms around myself, I looked around."Is anyone there?" I called out but there was no response and in the back of my head, I began to recall how I had gotten here.I recalled the painful birth. The blood that was everywhere. The feel of my daughter's skin against mine and the pout on her lips.I recalled confessing my feelings to Allha Jaxon and the shock at seeing tears stream down the face of one of the strongest people that I knew.Did… did this mean I was dead? Was that why I was the only one here?Goddess no!I fought back a sob. I had a lot left to do. I had my daughter. My beautiful daughter who wouldn't have a mother if I died.I had a father that I was just getting to know. How could I just break his heart like that?I had a man that I loved more than I knew was possible and he might love me almost as much as I loved him if not more.For the first
Ten years laterAstrid's POV"The Crimson Moon Pack has successfully launched a multi-species academy in the interstate that will be our first step in cementing the centuries of bad blood between vampires, werewolves and witches."The entire hall fell silent listening to her and I guess even as her mother I was also in awe of Valerie's boldness and confidence.She was well-spoken for a child. Well, not that she was still much a child any more at ten.She would have her first shift in three years and then she would have a more active role in her position as Alpha King.She met my gaze across the distance between us and I gave her a subtle thumbs-up that had her smiling brightly before continuing her speech.No one would be able to tell how anxious she had been when she had been rehearsing this very speech with me."I know it will be hard. Everyone has lost someone. Even though I lost my dad to this fight, we will make sure their deaths are not in vain." Val's voice didn't crack even a
Kiara's POVIsn't it funny how the difference between a villain and a hero is the person telling the story?After Alpha Jaxon found out that I had been lying to him about being the daughter of the Alpha King, he left shattering my heart into so many pieces that even breathing was difficult for me.After he left, I hid myself in the grand expand of the supreme witch's home. She must have known that I was there but she didn't come looking for me.People like me didn't matter much to people like her.Until we do.That day for me was the day I left my hiding spot to get food to eat.One might wonder why I did just leave. But how could I leave when I had nowhere else to go? I no longer had a pack house, I no longer had a big sister to look out for me. Even the pack that I had betrayed Alpha Jaxon for had thrown me out.I had nowhere.In my haste to hurry back into my hiding spot after stealing some food, I took a wrong turn and found myself lost in the maze that was the Supreme Witch's res
Astrid's POVAs I hugged Alpha Jaxon, I felt at peace for the first time in a long while.The war was over. The vampire hunters killed the vampire king in our fight prior to meeting with Alpha Jaxon and the screams I heard leave his throat would forever live within me.We had lost people but I had faith that in time we would be able to rebuild and—A loud screech pierced through the air.What the fuck was that?I pulled away from Alpha Jaxon breaking away from our hug to see a massive shadow overhead.Goosebumps crawled over my skin as I realized that the form of that… thing was distinctly familiar."Those are…" My voice trailed off as my heart refused to believe what I was seeing."The monsters from the swamp." Xavier completed it for me.So it wasn't just in my head. They were really here.More of the creatures flew overhead, swooping in."What are they doing here?" Alpha Jaxon was as perplexed as we were.Last I remembered, Alpha Jaxon had informed me of the witch putting up a spel
Alpha Jaxon's POVFor Caleb.That's what I said within myself for every swing of my blade that cut down a vampire.Today's battle felt different whether that was because of my resolve to get rid of as many vampires as possible or because of something else.It didn't matter though.I beheaded the vampire heading right towards me in one fell swoop even as the frontlines of the vampires pushed against the werewolves."Hold the line!" I called out both in person for my allies and through the pack link for my pack members.We were on equal ground today due to the terrain so if we let their considerably larger force get through our front line, they would crush us regardless of how hard I fought.It was, to be very simply put, a numbers game.My frontline held and the battle thickened.I trode forward, step by step with enemies and friends alike at my side clashing and dying in different forms.From wolf to partial shift, to human and vampire form, they fought and the field ran red with bloo
Astrid's POVWhen I neared the border to the Crimson moon pack, I was moving as fast as I could.The Alpha hunter had won't to get the remaining two telling me that they would meet up with me in max two hours.Which gave me two hours to reach Alpha Jaxon and make a plan on how we were going to rendezvous with the army and the vampire hunters.Reaching the borders I heard a loud screech."Let me through! I need to talk to Astrid!"The guards didn't seem ready to let whoever that was through the borders."Leave or we will have to deal with you using force." The guard warned.The female sounded like she felt insulted by the guards' words."Using force? Who the hell do you think you are to talk to me like that?!"That voice. That voice was so familiar and the arrogance that laced those words could only belong to one person but what was she doing here?I walked faster so that I could see her face for myself to confirm but her next words confirmed my suspicions before I saw her."I am going
Astrid's POVYou see, there was something I didn't tell the Alphas about the vampire hunters.During my time in the bunker, Dad had told me about them when recounting the tales of the war.Three vicious heartless ferocious fighters who seemed to never age. Some said that they were bigger monsters than the vampires.I guess I would find out.I headed out trying to push away my father's cautionary words from my head but I couldn't.The vampire hunters had promised him help but at the moment when he needed them the most, they didn't show up.If they failed me this time as they had my father before me, then we were as good as dead."Princess." Elder Gideon seemed shocked to see me at the door of his house.Admittedly, it was a rare occurrence for me to be there at all. I always tried to keep a very professional relationship with the Elders before they could think to question my authority as a woman leading their pack"I need you to look after the pack for me in my absence," I said going s
Astrid's POVAlpha Finn tried to bluff his way through the situation."Do you really think they will betray me like that? You must have lost your mind, Astrid."He took a threatening step towards me only to be blocked by a much larger older Alpha on a buzz cut and with an unfriendly face.The Alpha looked down at Alpha Finn with barely restrained disgust."I think we are the ones that lost our mind following a hybrid."Alpha Finn took an almost unnoticeable step back but I saw it."Alpha Nicolai, can't you see she is trying to divide us?" He said cautiously.Alpha Nicolai bared his teeth at him."All I can see is a vamp whore."Then faster than I could blink, Alpha Nicolai reached out and tore Alpha Finn's neck open.A blow like that would have killed a wolf but for a hybrid like him, he healed almost immediately but the other Alphas were already crowding in on him slashing and tearing him up faster than he
Alpha Jaxon's POVI didn't tell Astrid the reality of this war.I didn't tell her about the stench of death that I woke up to. The blood, the pyres that never stopped burning and the senseless endless death.Astrid not coming here with me was without a doubt, the best decision I had ever made.The vampires fought to injure or maim us with obscene speed knowing that now we feared injuries as much as we did death blows hence why we opted for large-range weapons like swords, bows and fire bombs instead of just our claws now.But even with my intense strategy, it was still a numbers game. A game that we were slowly losing.The explosion rocked the earth and the last of the vampires began to retreat. We had won today's fight. Only the goddess could guarantee tomorrow's win."Fall back!" I called out for my men and our allies. "Take our injured and fall back!"Where did Caleb go?This was the time we were supposed to meet so t
Astrid's POVIt had been three months. Three months since I saw Alpha Jaxon. Three months since I touched him.I went to bed in my room with his clothes next to me because of how much I missed even his scent. I missed him more than I knew was possible. So much so that I found myself crying on the harder days.But that was only possible at night when I was alone in my room with Val.In the daytime, I was the backbone of the Crimson Moon Pack. The one the people and the elders looked up to in Alpha Jaxon's absence."The harvest last month is half what we used to have." Elder Gideon said and I could barely hold back a tired sigh.Between how much we were pumping out into the battlefield to feed the people there and the poor yield this season, it was to be expected.My hand beneath my jaw, I met Elder Gideon's gaze."We need to boost our output."Elder Jared, the bane of my existence these past three months scoffed."