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Jude clucks his tongue against the roof of his mouth. “We wouldn’t lose it. Not unless we break the pack bond.”
Devin speaks up, “I don’t have any intention of breaking our bond. Not with you and not with Luke and Owen either.”
All four Alphas are a sight to behold on their own, but seeing them all at once, all in agreement is an intimidating sight. It reminds me of what the seers told me long ago. About how our pack would bond and strengthen ties to be an unstoppable force. It makes me wonder what we would need to be preventing, what we’d be fighting against. The vampires flash into mind, but they’re gone instantly. It would be foolish of them to fight against us. Three strong packs aligned together and close in proximity. It would mean death to them if they even considered approaching us.
For now, there is peace, or at least a stalemate. I look down at my son and back up to my mate and hope it will stay that way. But somewhere, deep in my soul. I know it won’t.
VERONICA
MONTHS LATER…
Vince’s hand travels along my belly with care. His fingertips barely touch my skin, leaving a tickle of goosebumps in his path. His silver eyes look up at me in awe as he bends to kiss my belly. I can’t believe what he told me. I can’t imagine it’s true...after all this time. Miracles and second chances aren’t meant for people like me…but then again I have Vince. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.” He closes his eyes and rubs his nose against my belly and down lower before humming with satisfaction. “You are most certainly pregnant with my pup.” His words bring a heat of love through my blood. My eyes close to push down the emotions and I lean my head against the pillow. His hands grab my hips and tilt them so he can bury his nose between my legs. A warmth of a blush travels through my chest and into my cheeks as I let out a short laugh.
“Is that why I feel so tired?” I smile wickedly as he takes a languid, hot lick down there. It’s been a few days since I’ve taken any blood from him, but I don’t hunger for it and my fangs have lost their length. It’s been so long since I’ve indulged in fruits and breads. The taste is nothing like I remember, but it offers me some strength. Only a small portion of what I’d once had. I’d started to worry that the exhaustion was something else. That in exchange for my immortality, the drug would deliver me death. It’s something that I wouldn’t have minded before, but knowing what I could have with Vince, the pull of a fated mate and all the beauties of a fragile life, I want to live. I want to experience this.
He looks up at me with a grin, “If your pregnancy is like wolves, then you’ll sleep all day.” I’m happy he’s finally smiling again. I worried him. He wasn’t fooled when I started to show the signs of the drug working. I’d only taken a little, but it was enough.
“But how will I boss my dirty mutt around if I’m always asleep?” He laughs at my playful question before sucking my clit into his mouth. With a moan forced from me, I push my head deeper into the pillow as my heels dig into the mattress.
“That’s right.” His warm breath on my heat sends another wave of arousal through me. “Get wet for your dirty mutt.” I can feel him smile against me as he pushes his thick fingers into my pussy. He curls his fingers and hits my g-spot, the sudden sensation sends me over the edge. My body heats and numbs as waves of pleasure rock through me.
“Fuck that was quick.” I barely register his words as my body trembles beneath him. He quickly pulls off his pants and settles between my legs. He doesn’t hesitate to push all of himself into me. My fists twist in the sheets as my body bows. My lips part in ecstasy as he rocks into my body.
With my eyes closed, I hardly register the sound of tires squealing in the driveway. It happens so fast. My blood turns to ice and I’m unable to stop it. My eyes open and I push against Vince’s heavy chest as I hear the guns being fired. In rapid succession bullets fly through the air, shattering the windows and flying past our bodies. I scream as Vince’s massive frame comes down around mine, caging me in and protecting me. “Stay.” His voice is strained as his cheek pushes against mine. Pleading with me to be still and quiet under him.
My heart pounds as I’m trapped and weak beneath him. Filled with nothing but terror.
The seconds drag on as our world crashes down upon us. The glass breaks and bullets spray with recklessness. Vince’s body jolts as one and then another and then another bullet hits him. He winces in pain, and I try to push against him. To help him. To do something. I would give anything in this moment to protect my mate and ease him of the pain. Tears pour down my face as I try to hold back my scream.
His body sways as his eyes lose focus. I shake my head as my hands grab his face. The rough stubble brushes against my palms.
“Vince.” His heavy body falls as his eyes roll back in his head. “Vince!” I scream in his face. “No! Vince!” This can’t be happening. “Vince!”
I lay screaming under Vince’s heavy, unconscious body. I have no strength, no speed, no immortality. I pound my fists against him. “Vince!” My throat burns as the screams are ripped from me. “Vince!”
I barely register time passing, the tires squeal again, and all I can focus on is my mate. I pound against him, begging him to wake up. My mind is a whirl of disbelief, chaos, and utter grief.
Devin storms into the room and grips Vince’s heavy body, lifting him off me. “Save him!” I scream at Devin as he lays Vince on the floor. This can’t be happening. My head shakes violently, denying the reality.
Tears cloud my vision. As I wipe them away, I still in fear. Clear tears, the tears of mortals. I stare back at Devin as his fingers dig into Vince’s shoulder. Vince screams in agony as the bullet is pulled from his flesh. “Vince!” A glass shard digs into my knee as I crawl to him and hold onto his waist as if my life depends on his. I don’t care about the physical pain, I only care about him. My body shakes as sobs are forced from my chest. “I’ll kill them Vince.” I swallow hard, “I’ll make them pay.” Vince rolls away from Devin and opens his eyes.
“Veronica.” I crawl up his body and spear my fingers through his hair. I kiss him with everything I have. The salty tears coat my lips, but I don’t stop kissing him. My breath comes in shallow pants as his hands press on my back and pull my body to his. My arm pushes against his chest and he winces in pain. I pull back, horrified that I’ve hurt him.
“It’s silver.” Devin’s tone is deathly low and filled with concern. “We need to get him to the shed.”
“But you got them out.” I search the ground for the fucking bullets. “Did you get them all?”
Devin shakes his head before leaning down to gather a bullet and hold it out for me to see. It burns his hands, but he only snarls slightly from the pain as it singes his skin. “They’re designed to splinter,” he says.
My lips part and eyes widen as I look at the crumbling bullet between his forefinger and thumb. My poor mate.
“It’s dissolving. We’ll do transfusions until it’s completely left his system.” My body shudders as I close my eyes and let the sadness wash over me. My poor Vince will be in such agonizing pain. I nuzzle my head into his chest, letting the tears fall.
“I’ll be all right, baby.” Vince is barely coherent, but he pushes the words out through clenched teeth.
“Who did it? Tell me you know. You have to know!” I search Devin’s hard expression for something. For anything.
“We will find them. And we will destroy them. I promise you that.” I nod my head in complete agreement. I will find every one of those bastards and suck the life from them.
And then I remember my mortality. I’ve never felt weaker in my life. I give myself a moment of regret and then my eyes harden in anger. I will make this right. I look at my wounded mate and then back to Devin. “We need to go to Alec, and we need to talk to my queen.”
This world is far from over.
