Almara’s POVI offer to drive, but Bess insists I really ought to be in bedrest. I did just give birth after all. I don’t tell her I offered to drive not out of kindness, but because the adrenaline of seeing Arthur is making me jitter with nerves, and I don’t think I can sit still in the passenger seat.Still, there’s no arguing with Bess once her mind is made up. We buckle into her RX061924 model car, which for Bess’s homely and modest appearance for where she lives, this car is wildly out of place. This is the newest sports model car with the f
Almara’s POVNo other reporter asks another question. They all wait in hinged silence, wanting the answer to the first and only question asked- who is this old woman?Bess raises her chin the air and speaks with a calm confidence. “I am Elizabeth, generations past female alpha of the Hurricane Pack. Victorious over war with the vampire nation.” She speaks with pride in her identity, but disappointment in it being revealed.As soon as the words leave Bess’s mouth, it&rsqu
Robert’s POVIt's as if the very air got sucked out of the atmosphere, just for me. I take slow strides towards my father. My grin spreading the more his knuckles whiten at his side. I ignore the rolling cameras and the brightening of lights, but it's obvious no one is ignoring me. Finally.I come to stand right before Roman. I hope the camera's are capturing the building of sweat on his temple. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he's nervous. As he should be. He spent the last few decades ignoring me and now I have everyone's attention, I finally have his at
Roman’s PovStanding back watching Robert run off like a pathetic wimp fills me with a miserable sense of regret. How could this weakling come from me? He’s probably more like his mom. I think back to that skank, I don’t even remember what her face looks like. Some memorable one nightstand that was.It’s not even cold out, yet my breath comes out in visible huffs of hot air. Sweat rolls down my back and blood pumps through my veins.I spit some blood on the ground. I&rsq
Almara’s POVI fold my arms across my chest and try not to look so annoyed. The temperature is beginning to drop and I wish I had brought a bigger jacket. I’d be warmer if I was allowed to hike around and actually look for my husband, not just stand on guard in case he comes this way.“Don’t be so disappointed, sweetie. At least you got me.” Bess says.“I’m not disappointed. I’m just cold.” I tell her, hugging my arms tighter around
Almara’s POVI lean in close as Bess discloses her plan. The news crew looks at us from afar with curiosity, wondering what we could be planning. Once Bess tells me the plan, I fall into action. I hang back looking annoyed, which comes easily, as she walks us to the news anchor.Bess reaches the media team and the anchor peers at me through raised eyebrows. Bess is telling them that she just spoke to Roman and half the team is splitting up to another location. Bess agrees that the public have the right to know, but it doesn’t seem the anchorman is buying it.
Almara’s POVThe voices become clearer, and our footsteps become quieter. Mark and I have adopted talking through hand signals. He tells me to wait where I am and to get low behind this shrub. He moves stealthily forward towards a tree that’s a few feet closer.He motions for my attention from the tree he’s crouched behind and holds up three fingers and points to another nearby tree, which means stay three paces behind and meet me at that tree. I nod that I understand and watch him go. My heart beats wildly in my chest.
Robert’s PovThe patrol car cruises up to a slow stop. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” I hear the officer who arrested me mumble under his breath. I don’t bother asking him what’s going on. I’ve already tried to make light talk and I’ve gotten nothing out of him. Not even his name.I’ve hardly gotten a good look at the guy. All I know is he’s tall, broad shouldered, and his burnt auburn hair is just beginning to gray on the temples. In other words, I might be able to take him in a fight.
Almara’s Pov5 Years Later“Cheers,” Arthur sys clinking his mixed drink of vodka and lemonade with my non-alcoholic lemonade. I’m pregnant, again. This pregnancy is completely different than my first two, I actually get to relax. Which is exactly what we’re doing in the manicured garden of our backyard.We sit stretched out on zero-gravity pool chairs, sweat
Almara’s PovAfter a much-needed week of rest and restoration, Arthur and I are back on the vampire territory. I suppose that it can officially be called that again now that it has been reclaimed.My body healed magnificently after months of not only growing another being, but also fighting a war. It’s amazing what good rest and proper nutrition can do. Of course, the real healing ingredient came from the sacrificial love of my wonderful husband.Even though he suffered his own inju
Almara’s PovFinally, after several journeys back and forth from our homeland to the enemies we come to the final steps. We saw plenty of wolves making their expedition back home and there was a unspoken agreement that what everyone needs right now is peace.Thankfully, no one came up to us with questions, grief, or comments. It’s like we have this new kinship with the gammas in our world that we didn’t before. We seem to understand each other, or at least truly see one another.
Almara’s PovOn the way home we make a pitstop to a very special place. “Why are we seeing more dead bodies?” Grace asks, her tone telling me we are nearing a full-blown tantrum.“This body belongs to someone very important in our family,” I tell her calmly and hike her up on my hip. I’m not sure if my words got through to her, or maybe it’s her father's serenity as we ascend up one final hill to where Bess lays.Bess’s gravestone is set apart fro
Almara’s PovWith the vortex closed off and gone, the air becomes breathable again and the storm lessens. Still, my paws squelch in the wet terrain.Unfortunately, as I look around at the battlefield and see the piles of bodies slumped over one another, I think it’s more than just mud causing the stickiness.I try not to look down at the innocent blood shed on the ground. As I take careful consideration to step over and around the bodies, I tell myself they chose to come out and hel
Almara’s PovCathy and I weave through the castle, barely missing rubble crumbling off from the stony walls. We leap over counters, using everything we have in us to catapult ourselves past knocked over statues of gargoyles and shredded velvet furniture.“Catch!” Cathy calls out and reflexively I snatch a jagged shard of ceramic in my hand. I recognize it from a broken pot on the ground. Then out of the corner of my eye I see something else flying at me, though I don’t catch it this time, I duck.
Almara’s PovI’ve never seen Cathy look more confident and proud than she does at this moment. She stands tall, cuts strewn across her body, but they only add to her tough exterior. She’s covered in her enemy’s blood and she has a thrilling look in her eyes.“Have you seen Arthur?” I ask cutting to the chase. Cathy nods back towards tall white cabinet doors. I turn back to look at my mother who nods in confirmation. I rush over to the door and throw it open.
Almara’s PovI awake to a familiar beeping sound. It’s faint at first, like a distant call from far away until it’s suddenly blaring in my ears. My eyes shoot open and the blood in my body rushes to the important organs and I sit up with a jolt.“Where’s Grace?” I ask before I can make out anything else. “Arthur? Robbie?” I call out, hoping the sound of my distressed voice will cause Robbie to cry back.“Shhh,” a gentle voice says with
Almara’s PovArthur flings open the door, this time it breaks off the hinges. I guess there’s no changing our mind now. I keep Robbie wrapped up in both my arms and under my shirt.Arthur uses his body to guard mine, outstretching his arms and a puffed-out chest as he keeps his eyes zeroed in on every moving body around us all while moving us forward and falling in exact pace with each of my steps.We fight through sideways rain and vicious winds, it dawns on me that this storm isn&