Robert’s PovMy eyes are swollen shut. Not that it matters much anyway, even if I could open them fully there isn’t much to see except four stonewalls and a leaky ceiling and even that is poorly lit.I don’t know how long it’s been, days at least. It’s been long enough that I’ve lost any resemblance of hope that the Pack would be coming for me.They’ve been trying to get rid of me for years now and this just happened to fall perfectly in their lap. I bet Almara’s comment about me being a traitor was preplanned between her and her beloved fated mate.The thought makes me laugh out loud and then the realization that I probably look crazy makes me laugh harder. Whatever. It’s not like anyone can hear me anyways, or if they can they pretend that they can’t.Maybe I should’ve been a traitor, that would’ve worked out better in my favor. I certainly wouldn’t be stuck here that’s for sure.The sad thing is, I can almost guarantee that I felt them howl for me. Something inside me picked up a c
Almara’s PovI feel like I have this route memorized by now, which is something I never thought I’d say nor wanted to say.We make our way back to the outskirts. I’ve thought about warning Arthur about the dead bodies that are probably still lying there, rotting and beyond recognizable, but I figure he’s probably seen more dead bodies than I can even fathom.It’s the middle of the night, at this rate we’ll reach the outskirts at the early morning. We walk in silence. Something about the forest in the middle of the night doesn’t breed the desire for conversation. However, the journey is far from quiet.The woods are filled with a concert of crickets, owls, and a few deer. I want to suggest hunting one but bite my tongue. I refuse to give Arthur a reason to say he was right in that I should’ve stayed behind.Technically, I am behind. Arthur and Cody are a few feet ahead of me. Occasionally, Arthur will turn back and wait for me to waddle my way up, and I tell him to keep walking. I can
Almara’s PovI wake up to Arthur gently pressing his warm lips against my shoulder. Despite his body heat, chills cross my body. I smile and burrow my head further into my pillow as he scoots closer from behind and holds me tightly.Maybe Arthur, Grace, and I can go out to breakfast today. There’s this cute little brunch boutique not far from our house that I’ve been wanting to check out- oh right. “What’s the matter?” Arthur breathes into my ear, and for a blissful moment nothing is the matter.“We still don’t have Grace,” I say suddenly feeling restless despite the high thread-count sheets and the fact that I haven’t slept in a real bed in like a week.“But, today is the day we get her back,” Arthur says and I realize he must have also slept well. He’s in a really good mood. Maybe my need to rest was felt by everyone and I wasn’t a burden after all.Unfortunately, the mom guilt starts to kick in. I needed a rest and slept in a warm bed while my daughter is out somewhere in the unkn
Almara’s PovWe’re halfway back to the outskirts of the vampire territory and we’ve seldom said a word to one another. There isn’t much to be said. My entire thoughts consist of Grace and of my mother and I’ve already exhausted expressing my worries.There isn’t anything new or left to be said about it, and the more I try to put them out of my mind to focus on the nearing mission, the more I find myself struggling to stay focused at all.With still no response from my mother, I’m beginning to think that she’s probably trapped by the vampires and it’s likely I’m heading towards her anyway. Maybe she’s with Grace.The land stretched before us is a grassy hill, trees are being scarce as we near the boundaries of the lifeless land. With less trees also means less opportunity to hunt. We have some snacks left that we took from the motel this morning, but I want to save those for when we’re a bit nearer.“We’re going to put an end to all of this,” Arthur tells me reassuringly. I numbly nod.
Almara’s PovThe familiar has us walk in front while it keeps a steady pace behind us. I can feel its eyes like daggers into my back, its every move causes my skin to crawl. Though I’m facing forward, all I can focus on is what’s happening behind me.I’d much rather be walking behind it. We could try and veer away and escape, launch an attack, or discretely communicate with one another. Though it’s for those very reasons that we are being walked ahead and though we are in front, this feels much more submissive. It’s humiliating.Zack, Arthur, and I walk in a straight line. I’m starving and my feet are swollen, but I don’t dare say anything about it now. The chirping birds seem to grow quiet as we near and pass them as if some evil force that even they can pick up on silences them.The bright sun that once illuminated the blue sky and cast sharp shadows has resided behind some thick clouds causing the drop in temperature and shapeless, diffused light to cover the land. If we hadn’t bee
Almara’s PovThrough the rest of the march through town, the familiar continued announcing our defeat. With each declaration, it becomes more and more apparent that I may never see my parents again. We may never see Roman or Eleanor, Robert or Cathy. I can only hope that I get to see Grace.Unlike the first town paralyzed with fear and crawling with more familiars, some of the other areas we crossed through resulted in wolves taking out their phones and recording us. Instantly the message is sent across the world wide web.Even though we tossed our phones, it’s like I can feel the buzzing in my pocket burning a hole in my pants. Hushed whispers get passed between wolves as we make our way past them. I catch glimpses of words and I can only make out a general sense of their comments and questions.It would be the same things I would wonder. Is the war over? Did we lose? Who’s the new Alpha? What do we do now?What I want to do is scream the answers back at them. The war is not over, at
Almara’s PovThe familiars have backed off, though not by their own accord. I look around and among the newly freed-up space is Delfino, standing tall with a look of irritation.His long black robe trails behind him, and his hands are laced together and hidden in his over-sized sleeves. His one eye is squinted, while the other twitches, and his mouth is a cross between a grimace and a snarl. The thin blue squiggly veins are his paper-white skin pulsate.I search the now emptied space and find Arthur standing weakly. The gash on his forehead has been reopened and he has blood matted all over his fur it’s hard to tell the source of the injury. Zack stands with much trouble, gripping at his side. His lip is split and his one arm dangles at an awkward length.“Follow me,” Delfino says while turning his back as the crowd continues to part and make way for him to pass through. He doesn’t look back to see if we follow, but I’m worried if we don’t the familiars will go in for the attack again
Almara’s Pov“What are you talking about?” Arthur asks in a low growl while eyeing Delfino suspiciously.“The cursed familiars,” Delfino nearly shouts and then quickly lowers his voice. “We want out,” It seems painful for Delfino to even be admitting this, and if he’s going to say what I think he’s going to then it is especially hurting him.Am I wrong for enjoying this? Absolutely not. Lily chimes in. I take a step closer just as Delfino begins pacing again.“What do you mean you want out?” I ask“And what does that have to do with us?” Arthur asks crossing his arms over his chest, revealing a long and jagged scratch across his forearm that I haven’t yet noticed. I swallow my gasp.I instantly no longer care what it has to do with us. If there’s a way to put an end to my husband getting hurt then I’ll do whatever it takes.Delfino takes a deep breath and closes his eyes, he looks as though he may be sick. “As you can, unfortunately, see our land is being overrun.”Arthur laughs, “We’
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&