Page 18

Nothing mattered except saving Willow, stopping the hunters, and punishing the traitor, Rian. And then, after…nothing mattered except the Willow and the baby.

Our baby.

I stare at the rhythmic line of our child’s heartbeat and rest my hand on Willows's still-flat stomach in reverence. That I would have a mate and a child? I would never have believed it.

Sara finishes taking Willow’s blood and slips from the room with a sympathetic smile.

Thanks to the hunters and Rian’s treachery, I may lose everything. Kaiden and Jet fought alongside me, but I know they heard all our pack secrets revealed. I’m sure they will have their questions. I don’t want to go to war against men who have become my friends—but it wouldn’t be the first time.

And I don’t want to lose my love.

I know she’s waiting for an answer. I saw that she knew the truth when she looked into my eyes. Now, she’s just waiting for confirmation, or at least some kind of explanation. Perhaps she’s hoping I’ll deny that vampires are real or that our child will harbor such a beast.

I’ve never considered myself a coward, but as I prepare to tell her the truth, I know it’s genuine fear coursing through my veins. I know they say the truth will set you free , but that has not been my experience in life.

“I don’t know why the child lives,” I say honestly, my voice hoarse. “I know there are many myths about vampires, but I’ve never heard of something like this. I know many who have died, none that have come back to life…like this.”

She seems to think about my words, and I can practically see her scientific brain at work as she appears to consider her next words carefully. “Tell me I’m not crazy, Rowan,” she says quietly, “I heard them. Rian and the hunters. They were talking about your vampire DNA and killing all the elders who have it.”

A story as old as time, I think to myself as I sink into the chair beside her bed. I know she expects a simple answer, but this may be the only chance I get to tell who I really am. I’m not sure it will matter, but she is my mate, and our child lives; I have to try.

“I don’t remember much about my parents,” I begin, “but I know they loved each other, and me. For a time after their death, there were people who knew them, and they told me the stories of how they met and how happy they were to have a child. Unfortunately, not everyone was happy about their love.”

I take a deep breath. I’ve never been comfortable talking about my parents or my past. Griffen knows most of it, but it’s not like we sit around talking about it or analyzing our feelings. Sitting here with the weight of Willow’s pregnancy consuming me, I can’t help but imagine how my own parents must have felt.

“My father was the alpha of an ancient pack of shifters that ruled the entire eastern border in France, though, of course, the borders in the Old World were rather different back then,” I add, watching as her brows raise, but she says nothing as I continue, “My mother was different. She had no pack or family and was hunted across the continent. When my father found her, he should have killed her. Instead, he realized she was his mate, and they fell in love. His pack forsook him. They ran…had me…but were eventually killed.”

I can’t bring myself to look up as I utter the words I know Willow has been waiting for. “My mother was a vampire.”

Deafening silence falls over us. I realize I’m still holding her hand, almost unwilling to let go in case I never get to hold it again. I stare down at her slender fingers in mine and wait for the reaction that is sure to follow. After a pause that stretches forever, I hear her let out a steady breath. “That does make sense.”

Her calm voice takes me by surprise, and I risk a glance, finding her staring at me with compassion shining in her eyes. I try to speak, but my words die on my tongue as she gives me a gentle smile. “Tell me about them. Your parents. The vampires,” she says.

I close my eyes, taking in a deep breath before continuing, “The vampires were a mix of good and evil, much like everyone else in the world. Some wanted to live in peace with humans, others saw them as nothing more than food. It was those who considered them lesser beings that caused the most harm. The wars between the vampires and shifters intensified around the same time. Eventually, hunters rose up against them, seeking to eradicate them from the planet. The vampires had weaknesses, like enhanced light. Eventually, both hunters and shifters killed so many of them that true vampires ceased to exist. Even halflings, like me, are a rare occurrence now, hunted into near extinction until a safe haven was created.”

Willow’s eyes go wide. “The Nicholson pack.”

I nod. “So much death, Willow, so much pain. There was a time when I relished the fight, and perhaps I still do in some ways. But as the centuries went on, the wars remained the same—the same hatred, the same righteous killing. I grew tired; I wanted my people to find peace.”

Willow squeezes my hand, speaking softly, “And now you find yourself hunted again.”

“I am used to it, love. I will not be defeated.” I lift her fingers to kiss them. “But I will not let them hurt you or our baby. I will kill them all. This is not your fight.”

She sighs, suddenly looking conflicted, and I hold my breath, afraid of what comes next. “There’s something you should know…about me,” she says quietly.

Stroking her hand, I smile, asking, “Is it a day of revelations?”

She smiles weakly, and I feel my heart clenching. “It’s quite strange, I think. Our stories are a little similar. My mother was a shifter, and my father a human.” I nod, already knowing she is half-human. “They were so happy. We were so happy. I didn’t even realize what it meant. To be different and hated for it. One day, they came—the hunters, they came for my parents. I think my parents always knew they would eventually.”

“But why?” I ask, feeling the weight of her raw emotion through the bond.

“My father,” she replies shakily, “was a hunter who fell in love with a shifter. He was a traitor to them.”

I pull her close to me as her tears fall, kissing the top of her head. “But a hero to us, no? That a hunter can fall in love with a shifter should give us all hope that hatred can be overcome,” I whisper into her hair. “We are made from the same type of love. One that has to overcome.”

The sound of her soft voice soothes me as she speaks again. “You’re a good man, Rowan. Your parents would be proud of you.” She pauses for a moment before adding, “And I am proud to be your mate. To have our baby.”

The hope and acceptance in her voice almost floors me; I sweep her into my arms, my lips brushing hers, demanding entry. Her lips part, and I taste her, the sweetness of her mouth mixed with tears. Her arms wrap around my neck as I deepen the kiss, her body pressing against mine, craving the contact, our tongues dancing slowly. I can feel the shivers running through her body, which only intensifies my connection with her.

We break apart, panting, and I look into her eyes. “I won’t let anyone hurt you or our baby ever again.”

She nods, tears streaming down her face, “I know.” She sniffles, then smiles slightly. “You are mine, too, you know.” Her hand runs down my chest to my stomach, making my eyes cloud with lust.

“Now, love.” I chuckle, “Sara will have my head if I allow you to get too excited.”

“Allow,” she laughs. “Will you allow me to show you how much I love you when we go home.”

We both pause, realizing the gravity of the words that have been spoken. She blushes and looks almost uncertain for a moment. I brush the hair from her face and kiss her again reverently. “I love you, Willow. I will spend the rest of this long life telling you that every day.”

We are disturbed by Sara and the nurses, who are desperate to check on the baby again and talk to Willow about the blood results. After assuring me that everything looks good, I slip from the room and let the lunas see Willow again. The clinic's mood is dramatically different from a couple of hours ago. I emerge into the hall to whoops of joy, everyone celebrating our miracle baby.

Jet steps forward and slaps my back. “There could be no better news today.”

I nod, fighting back a wave of emotion. “We can’t believe it either,” I manage.

“Thank the goddess,” Grayson smiles. “Truly a miracle.”

Kaiden steps forward and shakes my hand. “It’s been a hell of a day, Rowan. We’re all thrilled and relieved for you and Willow.”

I look around the corridor, taking in the warmth of my fellow alphas. Knowing that Kaiden and Jet witnessed the hunter's attack, the revelation of my vampire beast, and the conversation with Rian, it seems even more incredible to have their support. After the cheers and congratulations die down, I steady myself for the difficult things that need to be addressed.

“Kaiden, Jet,” I say, addressing them and then other alphas. “You came to our aid today. We have much to discuss regarding our captive and our next steps. I need retribution, but we need to know what that looks like.”

The men around me nod soberly. The hunter will be interrogated, and we will determine if the wider threat is contained or if there are more imminent attacks. I take a steadying breath before continuing, “Today, you learned of the Nicholson pack heritage. Our vampire heritage. We have fought long and hard for our peace, and we don’t want war, especially with those we consider friends. It’s clear the hunters know about us, our weaknesses…”

Kaiden steps forward. “ You are our fellow alpha and friend, Rowan; nothing I heard here today changes that.” His eyes shine with sincerity as he speaks, nodding toward Jet. “We saw a shifter fighting for his mate. And you may have something extra, but that changes nothing for me.”

Jet nods. “I saw a fighter today…and a friend. I’m proud to stand with you, vampire or not.”

Alder chuckles, “Aye, I always thought there was something of the oldest families about you, Rowan. And it never meant anything more to me than that.”

I stare at him for a moment, the knowing glint in his eye. It’s true that Alder comes from the packs in Scotland and is probably old enough to remember the end of the vampire era himself. I nod gratefully at him. “I appreciate that, Alder; I traveled through Scotland when I left the Old World. I knew your clan; they were good people.”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Alder scoffs, laughing good-naturedly.

With a promise to sit down and discuss the ramifications of the Nicholson vampire heritage later, when Willow is settled and the pack has dealt with the captive hunter, we focus on the immediate potential threat of further attacks. I call in our reserve pack members and divide them into patrols while my fellow alphas arrange for their own land to redouble defenses.

“We simply don’t know if this was a one-off or if there are more hunters out there,” Cade points out.

“Before Rian…died,” I say, “he told us that the captured hunter is their local leader, Simon. It seems unlikely that another attack would be imminent without their leader, but we need to increase patrols and surveillance. Rian may have helped them, but they still managed to infiltrate the very heart of my pack. That cannot ever happen again.”

Everyone nods gravely, equally aware of how badly today could have ended.