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We both laugh before she sobers. “Can you make me a promise?”

Liz had no idea that she could ask me anything, and I’d do it for her.

“Sure,” I say, even without knowing what she wanted.

She grabs my hands, turning so we face each other. “Promise me you will give love a try. For me.”

“Elizabeth,” I start, but she cuts me off.

“I mean it, Michaela. Forgive yourself and let love in.”

I couldn’t argue with her. As I said, I’d give this woman anything she asked.

“Okay,” I say.

She beams, wrapping her arms around me. Her big belly hits mine, and once again, my niece kicks me to say hello. Liz laughs as she leans back and rubs her stomach.

“This baby is dying to meet you.”

“Trust me, I’m more excited to meet her.”

“You know, you’ve got me believing it’s a girl now, too.”

I shrug.

“Welp, we better head back,” she says, placing her hands on her hips. “Chayton is summoning me. Ever since I hit my third trimester, he has been on my case about not going far.”

“He’s right. You need to get as much rest as you can before she gets here.”

“Not you too.” She shakes her head before calling Miko out of the water. He runs up to us and shakes the water off his fur, spraying the both of us. Liz softly chastises her baby boy, but I freeze.

The smell is light, but it is there.

“Miko,”I say into the pup’s head. I never thought I’d see a startled and confused looking wolf.“Call your father. And no matter what, stay with your mom.”

It’s the last thing I say before the vampire rushes out of the trees. I immediately pick up on its direction. He’s not coming for me; he’s charging straight toward Liz and Miko. If I were another wolf or human, I’d be too slow. But thankfully I’m neither.

Before he can get close to them, I tackle him from the side, knocking him through the foliage on the ground. We roll until we come to a stop. I land on top of him, the blade to my right cuff out, and pointed at his neck. His eyes widen when he realizes who and what I am.

Her scream has me turning in their direction. While I was busy with this vampire, another one approached them. Miko is doing his best to keep him at bay. Snarling, I stand, grab thevampire at my feet and hurl his body through the air until it hits the other one. I move like a blur, keeping Liz and Miko behind me. The two vamps stand on their feet. When the new one sees my cuffs, he looks shakingly at the other one.

“What do we do now?” he asks the first vampire.

“If you want to live, you better reconsider this,” I warn them both.

I’d love to capture these two and question them, but I can’t risk them hurting Liz or Miko. Hopefully, I can track them back to wherever they go.

I think the first one knows my plan. His dark eyes narrow on me. He glances to his right toward the crop of trees and then back to me.

“It’s only one of her. I say we take the risk.”

The other one turns to face me with a smirk. I guess their minds are made.

“Dumb move,” I say, before I charge.

I kill the first one before he can even register my blade slicing into his neck. The second one is a little more prepared. He tries to claw at me. I lean back, avoiding his sharp nails.

“Michaela,” I turn in the direction my name was yelled. A fucking feral is racing toward them. My distraction caused me to take a claw across the jaw. My skin opens up instantly. Shit, that hurt.