A month has passed since Arthur’s father tried to attack me at the gallery. Arthur still has no idea what happened. When Kaylee had come back, Roman had acted like nothing was amiss. I had just stayed silent. I wasn’t sure if my voice would have been stable enough to pull off any kind of performance.I tried not to think about it. The wedding was only a week away and there was a lot to get done before then. Arthur had ordered Molly and Noah to give me the week off so I could focus on it. At least that was the excuse he gave them. Really, he just wanted me to rest and not stress out about anything.Which I appreciated. It was nice being able to relax fo
The wedding was only three days away. The seamstresses had called and told us that our wedding attire was ready for the last fitting. If everything went well, we could take them home today.The dress fit me like a dream. It was everything that I had ever hoped for in a wedding dress. The seamstresses had done a wonderful job bringing my design to life. I hadn’t been able to see Arthur’s suit, but he pretty much said the same thing. He said that I had done a beautiful job.I was glowing with pride when it was over. The final fitting had only taken an hour and we had already loaded the clothes into the car. I thought we were just going to go back home, b
Sofia It was the day before the wedding. So far Sofia’s plans had come to nothing. She wasn’t sure how the girl had won over Roman. When he had called her to say that he was no longer going to do it, he hadn’t given her an explanation. Perhaps she had underestimated her.Whatever. She was finally out of the hospital which meant that Arthur could no longer hide from her. She was going to show him exactly what he was giving up. Sofia knew that if Arthur just saw her, he would come running back.But first she needed to get b
The rehearsal dinner was going to be a dress rehearsal as well. I particularly needed to be sure that I could walk in my dress and heels. I didn’t want to embarrass myself in front of the whole pack by tripping and falling.I stood in front of the full-length mirror, staring at myself. The dress was just as perfect as the last time I put it on and now that my makeup and hair were done, the whole thing seemed to be more real. I actually looked like a bride. Not just some girl playing dress-up.I couldn’t help smiling at myself and doing a little twirl. Of course, Arthur chose that moment to come in through the side door.
I wasn’t aware of where I was going until I arrived at Noah’s house. I couldn’t remember how I got there. I just knew that I had to get somewhere safe and despite everything that had happened between us, Noah’s house was still safe to me.The rain that had started to pour on my way here drenched me in seconds. Of course it was raining. It was like the sky had somehow found a way to mimic my emotions. Or maybe the Moon Goddess was just that cruel.I rang Noah’s doorbell, rubbing my hands over my arms, the lace sleeves doing nothing to fight the chill. I glanced down in dismay. In my rush to get out of the chapel, I hadn’t stopped
The next morning I woke up with a splitting headache. Not because I was hungover or anything, but because I’d basically cried myself to sleep. You can’t cry that much without some consequences. It just added more insult to injury.As I sat up in Noah’s guest bed, I put my head in my hands. The constant throbbing of pain made it hard to concentrate on anything. I knew if I got up and got some medicine, I’d feel better, but I couldn’t seem to make my body move. Not when even the slightest movement brought more pain.But I had to take care of myself. Because I was alone now and there was no one else who could do it.
NoahThe alpha was a complete idiot. Noah could not imagine what had possessed him to choose the shallow princess over Almara. Still, he supposed he should be grateful. Almara had come running to him and he was all too happy to give her as much comfort as she needed.That first night had been torture though. He had held her in his arms, undressed her, bathed her. His hands had touched every inch of her skin and it had almost driven him mad with desire. It had taken everything, every last bit of strength, to keep from ravishing her.Noah longed to claim her.
AlmaraAfter another elaborate meal, Noah offered me a cocktail. I almost said no, but then decided that I didn’t care. There was absolutely no reason that I shouldn’t indulge myself. After all, I would only have one. There was no way that I would get drunk off just one small cocktail.The drink he handed me was a deep red and smelled like cinnamon and apples. There was even an apple slice on the rim of the glass. As I brought it to my lips, I caught the faintest scent of blood. I paused and pushed my nose deepered into the glass, breathing out so that the scents would bounce back stronger.
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&