Almara’s PovThe buzz regarding the fire and orphanage has not died down, despite the lawyer who smoked the cigarette took the blame for the entire situation.Just the other day, we have received our 158(th) piece of hate mail. Hate-mail. The Hurricane Pack has only ever received fan mail. While I’m sure there are always some stray dogs who don’t know loyalty, at least they kept to themselves.It seems people have already made up their minds and are sticking to the conspiracy
Almara’s PovLaying low only works when we stay confined to the house. Which I was happy to do for a couple of days. Those first two days were bliss. Just Arthur and I raising Grace, loving on one another, lazy mornings followed by peaceful evenings.But now, by the third day after that public announcement, my skin is starting to crawl.Unfortunately, any time Arthur and I would leave the house to take Grace for a walk or get a cup of coffee, we would be bombarded by the press or at the v
Almara’s PovA week had come and went with my parents dropping hints about Arthur and I needing to help around the house or get jobs. No free rides, my father had said. While they were happy to house us for as long as we needed, we also had to contribute in some way- which is totally fair.Especially since Arthur and I have no idea how long we plan on staying here. We arrived with the understanding that a date for leaving was to be determined. Truth is, we both want to work or have something to do.
Almara’s PovInside the diner, the place looks exactly as I left it. Except maybe a little cleaner before the crowd of the day comes in. The dining room is empty allowing The shuffling in the kitchen to seem louder than usual.“C’mon Grace.” I say quietly and hoist her up on my side.“Food. Food.” Gracie says. I nod.“That’s right. People eat here.” She’
Almara’s Pov“Want me to stay back?” Arthur asks leaning in to whisper in my ear. I’ve lost my voice, so I just nod. Cathy starts to approach us and luckily my legs still work so I take a few tedious steps towards her.She has every right to be mad at me. The last time we talked was in jail and that didn’t end well. Then we were supposed to get breakfast and I cancelled on her. Then I cancelled on her again only for the world to see me on what appeared to be a date.I still haven’t called her back or tried to explain any of it to her.“Hi.” She says, sounding just as unsure as I feel.“Hi,” I reply, not quite knowing what else to say.“I didn’t know you were in town.” She says gesturing towards Arthur and Grace behind me. I suppose this can be added to the list of things I’ve neglected to discuss with Cathy.“Life has been”“Busy?” Cathy says, finishing the sentence for me. There’s a slight jab to the heart by the way she says it too, like she’s heard it all before.“Not necessarily i
Almara’s PovThe night finally comes to an end. By the end of my shift, I’m still soaked in dirty dish water, my body is sore from leaning over the awkward height of the sink and then only bending over further to access the dishwasher.Grace is beyond fussy out of boredom. I brought a ton of toys and books to try and keep her occupied and gave her what attention I could in between washing dishes, but ultimately she was confined to her play pin that I had set up along a dirty white wall.Meanwhile, the other cooks and dishwashers kept giving me mean looks and saying how I should find somewhere proper to leave my daughter and that no mother should be treating their daughter this way.At least Emma eventually left me alone but that was only because it was slammed tonight. So, she was making a ton of tips and piling the dishes high for me to wash. Now I stand in the back parking lot waiting for Arthur.When I see his car roll up, I can barely keep it together anymore. He steps out of the
Almara’s Pov“How was the interview?” Arthur asks when he returns home from work. His black fitted training tee hugs his muscles perfectly. I’m sitting on the front porch of my parents' house with a glass of cheap wine. Grace is asleep and my parents are out with some friends.Until Arthur walked up the driveway, the view was mediocre compared to our view back at his parents' house. Over there are rolling hills, dazzling stars, and woods peaking out in the distance.Here is a neighborhood where the houses are piled too closely together like each one is trying to not get trampled and stand taller than the one next to it, blocking the view of the sky.Growing up I always appreciated the pack-like feel, but now that I’ve had a taste of open field it’s hard going back. I take a long sip of my wine and force myself to swallow. I’m a little tipsy by now and still the flavor is just as bad.“About as good as this wine.” I say tilting the glass and letting some of the liquid spill out onto th
Almara’s PovOne year exactly has passed since Arthur, Grace, and I moved in with my parents. They have been generous enough to not once ask when we were leaving, to be honest I think they like having the extra company. As long as we keep working and show we’re contributing then they’re happy.We’ve even worked out a schedule where they watch Grace as I still go to work at the diner and Arthur goes to work at the training center.The horribleness and initial shock of rea
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&