CHAPTER THREE

Anthony's P. O.V

I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Ana, the woman I had fallen in love with, was a werewolf. My mind raced with conflicting emotions. I was a werewolf hunter, someone who had dedicated his life to taking down these creatures that had killed my parents. And yet, here I was, in love with one of them.

As I stormed out of the cabin, Ana sat on the bed, tears streaming down her face. I could see the fear in her eyes, and for a moment, my heart softened. But then my anger took over. How could she deceive me like this? How could I have been so foolish?

For three days, I wandered the woods, trying to make sense of it all. Ana was never far from my thoughts. What was she doing? Was she still in the cabin, waiting for me to return? Or had she fled, knowing that I was a hunter?

When I finally returned to the cabin, my heart was heavy. Ana was still there, waiting for me. I didn't know what to do. My duty as a hunter told me to turn her in, to make her pay for what her kind had done to my family. But my heart told me to forgive her, to give her another chance.

In the end, I did what I had to do. I couldn't keep living a lie. I couldn't keep pretending that everything was okay. With a heavy heart, I told Ana that we had to part ways. It was the only way to keep both of us safe.

Ana's P.O.V

As I packed my few belongings into a tattered old backpack, my heart was heavy. Anthony, my former companion and the only person I could truly call a friend, couldn't even meet my gaze. His eyes were filled with pain and anger, emotions that I knew all too well. My kind, werewolves, had caused him great suffering in the past. I could understand why he felt the way he did.

Leaving the cabin that had been my home for the past few months was like leaving a part of myself behind. The sense of loss and sadness was overwhelming as I stepped out into the chilly autumn air. Anthony rushed to my side, and I could feel his lips on mine, his arms around me in a tight embrace. Tears streamed down his face as he pressed some money into my hand and bade me farewell, begging me to take care of myself and my unborn child.

I walked away, doing my best to avoid the main roads and any members of my pack that might be lurking nearby. I was heading for a new town, a new territory where I hoped I might be safe for a little while. But as a rogue werewolf, I was considered a traitor to my kind, and no pack would take me in. I was in constant danger, and I knew it.

I arrived in the small town, feeling momentarily free as I entered unknown territory. But the fear quickly returned as I realized that my status as a rogue made me a target. I used the last of Anthony's money to pay for a motel room, grateful that it was run by humans and therefore relatively safe. I spent three days there, knowing that my meager funds wouldn't last much longer.

I needed a job. I headed down to a coffee shop that the motel receptionist had told me about. As I entered the cozy little establishment, I was hit by the delicious aroma of freshly brewed coffee. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and I felt a sense of hope. Maybe, just maybe, I could start a new life here.

Approaching the counter, I asked the owner, a strikingly handsome man with sparkling blue eyes and a dazzling smile, if they were hiring. His name was Richard, and he looked me over for a moment, his gaze lingering on my protruding belly. I felt a twinge of self-consciousness, wondering if he would discriminate against me because of my condition.

"You're pregnant," he said, stating the obvious.

"Yes," I replied, trying to keep the desperation out of my voice.

He studied me for another moment, and then his smile returned. "Well, that doesn't mean you can't work. We're hiring, and I think you'd be a good fit."

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding, feeling a glimmer of hope. "Thank you," I said, trying to keep the gratitude out of my voice.

Richard's P.O.V

As soon as I recognized that the pregnant lady standing before me was my mate, my mood soured. My mate is supposed to be mine alone. Why would she be pregnant for another man? The thought alone made my blood boil.

But as I looked at her, I couldn't help but notice the sparkle in her eyes, the excitement in her voice. She was grateful for the job I offered her. And why wouldn't she be? It was a good opportunity to start over.

I offered her accommodation at the coffee shop and her face beamed with joy. It was strange how I knew that she needed a place. Perhaps it was the pull of the mate bond, but I couldn't resist helping her.

"You can start tomorrow," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'm Richard by the way."

"I'm Ana" She said, her eyes beaming with excitement.

As I watched her walk away, I couldn't shake off the feeling of possessiveness. She was my mate, and I couldn't let her go. But at the same time, I knew I had to be patient. Love couldn't be forced, and she needed time to heal.

I sighed and went back to work, trying to distract myself from the thoughts swirling in my head. But the memory of her smile stayed with me, haunting me, calling to me.

Ana's P.O.V

I settled into my new job at the coffee shop, trying to keep my head down and stay out of trouble. But as the days passed, I started feeling a very strong connection to Richard, the kind of connection I had never felt before, not even for Anthony. I knew Richard was a werewolf, and I couldn't help but wonder if he could be my mate.

Despite my reservations, Richard was kind and understanding, never pushing me to reveal my past. But I found myself opening up to him anyway, telling him about my past as a rogue werewolf, always on the run for my life, and how I met and got pregnant for Anthony. To my surprise, Richard accepted everything about me and soon we fell head over heels for each other.

One morning, as I lay beside Richard, I felt a sharp pain in my waist. Before I could even alert him, I went into full labor. The pain was excruciating, and I knew something was wrong. Richard jumped into action, running frantically from one neighbor to the other to get help.

Thankfully, one of his neighbors, Alice, came to our aid and rushed us to the hospital.

Alice was also a werewolf, a member of the same pack Richard was in, she was a close friend of Richard so she didn't reveal to the others that I was a rogue werewolf.

Richard's P.O.V

I couldn't sit still in the hospital hallway. Every time a nurse walked by, I asked if I could go in to see Ana. But they all shook their heads, telling me to wait until the doctor gave the okay. My mind raced with anticipation and excitement. Would it be a boy or a girl? Would everything be okay?

And then, suddenly, a loud cry filled the air. I knew what it meant - the baby was here! My heart swelled with joy and I paced even more frantically. Finally, the doctor came out and told me the news. Ana had given birth to a beautiful baby girl.

I practically begged to be allowed in, and thankfully the doctor gave me permission. Bursting with excitement, I rushed into the room to see my new daughter and my tired but happy partner. The moment was indescribable - the sight of my little girl, wrapped in a soft blanket and snuggled in her mother's arms, made everything else in the world fade away.

As I held my newborn daughter in my arms, I couldn't believe how much love I already had for her. I cradled her carefully, filled with excitement and wonder at the little life that Ana and I had created together. Looking into her bright eyes, I knew that I would do anything to protect her and make her happy.

Ana asked me to name our daughter, and I felt honored to be given such a task. I thought of my mother, Dacia, and of Ana, the two most important women in my life. Combining their names, I came up with Daciana - a name that felt strong and powerful, just like our daughter would one day become.

As Daciana grew, I couldn't help but be amazed by her energy and determination. Even as a young cub, she seemed to have a fierce spirit that I knew would serve her well in life. Ana and I did everything we could to make sure that she had everything she needed, but it was clear that Daciana was special, different from other cubs.

I couldn't wait for the day when her werewolf powers would manifest, when she would truly come into her own as a strong and powerful wolf. 

Ana's P.O.V

I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled deep in my gut after visiting the psychic with my husband, Richard. We took our daughter, Daciana, to see the wise old woman just to get a glimpse of what the future held for our little girl. But what we found out was far from anything we could have ever imagined.

The psychic had told us that Daciana was the reincarnation of Azrael, the primordial werewolf who once walked the earth. The stories I had heard about him growing up were terrifying. He was said to be the most powerful and dangerous werewolf to ever exist. His second coming was said to be for the sole purpose of eliminating all werewolves, as the ancestors collectively defeated him then. The news brought a wave of shock and fear to Richard and me.

If the news got out, our young daughter would become a target. We couldn't risk her safety. We got home, put Daciana to bed, showered, and sat down to think of what to do, how to protect our daughter. My mind raced with possibilities. Should we run away? Should we hide her?

Richard insisted we stay and hide our daughter. He promised to protect her with his life. But rumors started flying that Azrael was coming back. The werewolf hunters became interested in finding our baby girl. The hunters believed with her blood, they could finally put an end to the werewolves. They already had weapons like silver bullets and wolfsbane that could injure and kill werewolves, but with Azrael's blood, they could wipe out an entire town without losing any of their men.

The rumors kept flying that the scientists at the hunters guild had already devised a means of making the weapon airborne. The only ingredient left was Azrael's blood. They are out to get my baby girl but not on my watch. 

We had to come up with a plan to protect Daciana before it was too late. Even if we succeed in protecting her from the other werewolves, how could we protect her from a powerful being like Azrael? And how would we keep her safe from the hunters who were closing in on us?