The punishment started as soon as we got to the car. Arthur kept me in his arms, settling me into his lap. His body heat and the wine were turning my skin into an inferno that I couldn’t escape from.I squirmed in his lap as the heat spread all the way to between my legs. I made a mewling sound deep in my throat when I couldn’t find any friction. Arthur’s arms around me tightened.“Patience is a virtue, little wolf,” he breathed into my ear and I squirmed some more. I ground myself into his groin, but the angle was wrong. I still couldn’t feel anything. I moaned in frustration.
Two Weeks Later Today was not a good day. I wasn’t feeling well. I had barely made it through the morning with Noah and now that I was at the gallery, I felt even worse. All day I had barely been able to stomach anything more than a few sips of water. Every time that I tried, my gag reflex would kick in. Noah had been very concerned, but I had waved him off. It was probably just a stomach bug. Molly hadn’t been as nice. She’d yelled at me all day for being slow and not having enough energy. Unfortunately, Noah hadn’t come with me today so
ArthurArthur couldn’t believe his luck. The very first time that they had sex during Almara’s fertile period, she had gotten pregnant. It must have been a blessing from the Moon Goddess because it was nothing short of a miracle.You should take it as a sign, Caleb said pointedly.A sign of what?A sign that you’re supposed to be with Almara. Not Sofia, Caleb clarified and Arthur paused, really considering what Caleb was saying.
Almara After my impromptu nap, I was discharged from the hospital with strict instructions to drink plenty of water and get lots of rest. The first one was easy, the second one not so much. Arthur had been on the phone making wedding plans. He’d delegated tasks to pretty much every single member of the pack. Everyone had a job to get done. I was almost afraid there wouldn’t be anything left for me to do. I jumped as he slammed his phone down on the seat of the car. A muscle in his jaw ticked as he gritted his teeth. When h
NoahNoah was annoyed. Extremely annoyed. No matter what he did, the alpha always managed to get in his way.He’d had her in his grasp. She had let him kiss her. She would have let him do more, but Kaylee has opened her mouth. And of course Arthur had come running. And now? He’d done something even worse.Even as a recluse, he had heard that the date of Almara and Arthur’s wedding had been confirmed. Three months. He only had three months. He had to up his game if he was going to steal her away.
AlmaraAfter my embarrassing break down at Noah’s, he had insisted on going to the gallery with me as well. He’d been glued to my side the entire time, never leaving me alone for even a second. What was it with the men in my life suddenly treating me like I was some fragile, delicate creature? I didn’t think being pregnant made me that vulnerable.What’s even worse, is that he put himself in charge of escorting me home as well. I told him it wasn’t a good idea. I could only imagine what Arthur would do if I came back with Noah in tow. He barely tolerated me being around Noah at work.
ArthurArthur sat in his office, seething. He could smell that asshole all over the room. While Almara had told him about Noah’s visit, she hadn’t said anything about him coming into his office. What the fuck?He had tried to trace the scent, to see where exactly he had gone, but Noah had been smart. He’d made sure that his scent couldn’t be tracked to any one location. So Arthur had no idea what he had touched or if he had even taken anything.Arthur’s only consolation is that Almara hadn’t been in here with Noah. So wha
Almara The next two months passed by in a blur. It was full of work, wedding planning, and hospital visits. It was an endless cycle of wash, rinse, and repeat. To be honest, it was mostly a blur. I could barely remember the specifics other than the baby was doing fine.Arthur had been a godsend throughout the whole thing. I had unfortunately developed debilitating morning sickness halfway through my second month. There was hardly a time where I wasn’t running for the toilet. It had started to hinder my work so Arthur had hired an assistant for me.
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&