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.
I opened my eyes to find that it was still dark. The bedside clock read two in the morning. My mouth felt like there was a cotton ball in it. I guess that’s what happens when you fall asleep without brushing your teeth.I groggily sat up, my head spinning as I did so. I would have to ask Noah later what had gone into that drink. It had been delicious, yes, but it was obviously much too strong. I hoped the baby would be okay.Go get some water, Lily demanded and I obeyed without hesitation. Water sounded wonderful.I tiptoed across my room, opening the door slowly. I d
ArthurArthur watched in alarm as Almara ran out of the chapel. He wanted to go after her, but he had to deal with Sofia first. He didn’t think Almara would get far and this wouldn’t take very long. At least he hoped it didn’t.He pulled away from Sofia and held her at arm’s length. She was looking up at him with so much love and reverence that his heart ached for her. He knew what it was like to have his heart broken and he did not envy the feeling. He hated that he had to do the same to Sofia.“Sofia, I am sorry about your in
Sofia This couldn’t be happening. Not to her. Not to Sofia Pierce. She was the one who every guy wanted to be with. She was the one who every girl wanted to be. She did not get rejected. She did the rejecting.And she certainly didn’t lose to women who looked like her. When Sofia had first shown up at the chapel, she had thought maybe the magazine picture hadn’t done the other woman justice. That, maybe, she was actually prettier in real life.But now Sofia knew better. The other woman was just plain. There was a
Arthur Three days. It had been three days since Arthur had last seen Almara. It had been three days since she had been locked away inside Noah Cunningham’s house. It had been three days since Arthur had decided to camp out on the edge of his property, just waiting for her to come outside.Arthur had calmed down somewhat in those three days. He was no longer angry at Almara’s decision to run into Cunningham’s arms. She must not have thought she had anywhere else to go. Which was certainly true. Arthur would have tracked her down instantly.
Sofia Sofia felt ridiculous. She was sitting in the passenger side seat of her own car, wearing a balaclava that was messing up her hair, and listening to the steady clack clack of Dana’s nails on her steering wheel. She thought she was going to go insane.They were sitting in the alley, waiting for Almara and Arthur to appear. It had taken three days for Arthur to find her. Apparently he had camped outside of where she was, shirking off his duties as alpha. It had been enough for Sofia to question if what they were doing was the right thing.
Almara I rode in the ambulance with Arthur, trying to regain my wits. I honestly have no idea what had happened. One second, my hand was in Arthur’s and it felt like old times. The way he had been looking at me had stirred something in my chest. I had thought that maybe I had made a mistake.And then that car had come out of nowhere, heading straight for me. If Arthur hadn’t pushed me out of the way, it would have hit me head on. There’s no way I would have survived it.I clasped Arthur’s hand in mine, careful to ke
For the first week, the doctors kept Arthur in a medically induced coma so that he could heal. I never left his bedside. Visitors came and went, but I didn't. I practically lived in the hospital. I wanted to be there whenever he woke up.Today was the day that the doctors took the IV out of his arm. Arthur could wake up at any point. The doctors had said it was basically up to him. They couldn’t really determine when he would wake up, just that he would eventually do so.I had freshened up in the bathroom and was sitting by his side, waiting. Exhaustion was pulling at me so I laid my head down on his bed, closing my eyes. I must have drifted off to
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&