Page 101 of Monster. Me.

"Oh! I know who you are. Marlow told me he once met two guys who helped him with a car. He said you were looking for workers and told me to contact you, because I'm a carpenter."

The man nods again. He’s apparently not fond of speaking.

He reaches into the SUV, pulls out a business card, and hands it to me.

"This is to encourage me to call?"

A nod.

"I’ll do it if this ends well, but chances are slim." My voice trembles slightly.

For a brief moment, he studies me intently, as if trying to reach into my soul. Then he makes a gesture with both fists, thumbs up, like he’s rooting for me.

"Thanks for the help. I’ll make sure your car gets returned, even if I end up dead," I sigh. "That’s usually how it goes for most monsters. They slay us."

He smiles sadly, places a hand on where his heart is, then points to me.

Somehow I understand the gesture, and I know he feels for me and wishes me luck.

I nod. "Thanks."

In a more hopeful mood, I get in the car, start the engine, and drive off, gripping the wheel tightly and feeling my heart pounding fast.

Unexpectedly, I’ve been given a chance by Fate. In the middle of the forest, I ran into a being who turned out to be benevolent.

I can finally move. I have a chance to catch Marlow. I have to stop him, even if it’s the last thing I do. I need to look him in the eyes and tell him I love him. At least that one thing before everything collapses and I’m swallowed by the void where all damned beasts fade out.

MARLOW

The only upside to being at this damn airport with Rupert is that I’m not crying.

Even though I feel like hysterical sobbing… But I don’t want to show that idiot my feelings, my despair, my terrible breakdown, and the sense that I’ve lost everything.

I’m pregnant, and he’s the father.

It’s still hard for it to sink in.

I’ve always longed for this, and it’s the only thing keeping me afloat, because it’s the goal of my life, the wish I’ve had ever since I was old enough to understand what I wanted from life.

Meanwhile, I have to bottle up all my emotions.

We’re sitting in the departure lounge with a handful of other passengers. The planes leaving this airport are tiny, carrying no more than fifty people.

Not far from me, two curly-haired boys are playing.

I watch them for a moment. They’re not twins, but they look similar enough to bring the idea to mind.

Will I even manage to carry this pregnancy to term? I’m an alpha, after all. Will my hormones be able to handle it? And what about Rupert and me? I doubt I’ll be able to live with him, but we’ll have to work out some kind of co-parenting arrangement.

One where I won’t have to look at him too often. Or ever!

Rupert isn’t in a good mood either. He sits staring at his hands, lost in thought.

I wonder what he’s thinking. Does he regret losing his little triangle with Caspian and Juan? Is he angry that such a stupid situation complicated our lives this badly?

Well, he started it!

Something draws my attention: a strange commotion farther down the airport, shouting, and the sound of running feet.