LIAM

I didn’t want to let Azalea go downstairs, but I knew it would only reinforce our strength as a pair if she reappeared later. I only worried about the others wondering why she was not completely healed yet. I did not broadcast her limitations during any of the discussions so far. While honesty was the best way to garner trust, I didn’t feel that information was pertinent.

Austin and I headed to the conference room where Alpha Michael and Alpha Andris were waiting along with Luna Jessalyn and Salali to speak about moving forward. Aidan had rejected our invitation, which overall wasn’t much of a loss. While he may be connected and influential, I didn’t take him as one to get his hands dirty. Jacob, Gentry, and Langston were waiting for us as well.

“Thank you for your patience,” I said to the room together.

“I am sure your mates were a little jarred by what happened,” Andris commented. “It is reasonable to need a moment after that. I guess we are here to discuss how we will proceed with organizing our forces?”

I nodded. “I appreciate the understanding. Yes, I would like to talk about how things will work moving forward.”

“I have only agreed to come to let you know that I will send you a contingent of my warriors along with our head warrior. I do not believe I am going to be any help to you in my state,” Luna Jessalyn said, standing from her seat.

“I understand. I want to apologize for your loss, Luna. I wish I would have gotten to meet your mate. I appreciate your support, and we will welcome your pack members like our own when they arrive,” I told her. She gave me a slight nod and left the room.

“Alpha, there was one thing that was not clear in your stories this morning,” Alpha Michael started. “How have you failed to kill this vampire Sire twice now?”

“My Alpha has sent me with the same question,” Lala said.

“And is there a plan to actually kill him this time? How does one ensure that the vampire is dead?” Alpha Andris supplied.

I walked over to the head of the table and took a seat. “I have someone to help us,” I began. “But before I bring him in front of you all, I need your promise that you will not attack him.”

“Attack who?” Michael asked.

“We have befriended a vampire who is a former member of Warwick’s clan,” Langston supplied, coming to sit next to me. Michael and Andris both had shocked expressions on their faces while Salali nodded at us.

“You have a vampire in your control, and you never thought to use him as a means of persuasion?” Alpha Michael asked incredulously.

“He is not ‘in our control.’ He has agreed to help us,” I corrected.

“And you are sure of his alliance to you and not his Sire?” Andris questioned.

“Yes,” I said, looking at all of them. I motioned to Austin to get Theodore. “He has actually saved my pups from a group of rogues. While he may not be on our side entirely, he is not on the side of Warwick and has agreed to help us. He can educate us all on the capabilities of our foe as well as how to eliminate them.”

Austin entered with Theodore following him. I stood to introduce him to the group. “Everyone, this is Theodore,” I said.

“Good evening, Alphas,” Theodore said politely. “And please, call me Theo.” I could tell there was some reticence about having a vampire in the room and working with us. “I guess I am here to tell you all how to get rid of my Sire and I.”

–

Theodore took everyone in the room through the basic information about vampires he had already given to us. Everyone listened with interest and respectfully waited for him to finish. When he was finished, we began discussing the best way to go about combining our forces and getting everyone prepared for war.

Everyone agreed that the fastest way would be to send representatives from each pack to B***d Eclipse for training that they could take back to their warriors. Once everyone had a chance to train our own people and begin preparing our packs for war, we would move on to bringing everyone together.

In the meantime, we also needed to gather more information on Warwick and his army. We were not sure how many had survived after the attack or if he was making more. Although the meeting was not long, we all left the room with more of a plan and confidence in what was to come.

I exited the conference room and linked Felix to see where Azalea was, hoping she was back upstairs in our room, safe and sound. To my displeasure, he said that Alpha Karsyn stopped her on her way upstairs. I hurried downstairs, wondering why Karsyn had not joined us in the meeting anyway.

When I got within earshot, I paused, listening to what Karsyn had to say. “I just hope he knows as well as you that if his attention is deterred in a way that causes any harm to my pack members, vampires will not be his only problem,” he finished.

There was a pause then Azalea cleared her throat, “I am sorry, Alpha but your concern is unwarranted. I am not sure what rumors may be whispered about me, but I promise you, I am no hindrance to Liam or our pack. My mate is entirely focused on eliminating Warwick and any other vampires that dare threaten our race.”

“Of course,” Karsyn said, his voice smug. “I just wouldn’t want to follow a fool into a battle for the fate of our kind. I am sure you understand.”

“If you think my mate a fool, then I am not sure you should fight this battle alongside him. My mate would not appreciate such loose support. I will be sure to relay your concerns, though. Good night, Alpha Karsyn. Sleep well.”

I hurried down the stairs to meet her. “Azalea, sweetheart, there you are,” I said, making eye contact with Karsyn. He swallowed nervously before nodding and turning to leave.

“Did you hear that then?” she asked silently.

“Mmhmm,” I hummed quietly. I looked around to make sure there were no prying eyes before scooping her up and carrying her upstairs. Felix left us at his floor, probably headed to his mate.

When we got upstairs, I deposited her on the bed before going over to our closet and grabbing her some pajamas. When I handed them to her, she smiled at me, the smile that’s only for me.

“I don’t doubt you for a second,” she said.

“I know you don’t, Little Luna. If only everyone else had the same confidence.”

LACEY

When I came upstairs, Felix was already lying in bed, shirtless and snoring softly. I chuckled softly before yawning. It had been a long day for both of us. My hands came to my rounding belly, and I rubbed it softly.

In only a couple of short months, our baby would arrive, and we would be a family. I pulled my clothes off and grabbed one of Felix’s shirts to slip into. I didn’t realize the snoring had stopped. When I moved to get into bed, I found Felix watching me with hooded eyes.

“Did I wake you?” I asked. He just shook his head. “You were snoring,” I pointed out. He crooked a finger at me, motioning for me to join him. I climbed onto the bed and then straddled his h**s. A smile flirted over his features as his eyes moved south to my stomach and his hands rested on my sides.

“Let’s find out the s*x,” I said. He was quiet, still watching my belly. “I know you are not sure if you want to, but let’s just do it. I really want to know.”

Finally, Felix’s eyes moved up and met mine. He nodded slowly. “Really?” I asked excitedly, and he nodded again. A squeal escaped my lips before I dived at him, stealing his lips with mine.

He kissed me back happily, then rolled us over, so he was hovering over me now. “Let’s get to work on number two,” he said playfully.

“We may need to wait until the first one arrives, but I am a firm believer in practice makes perfect,” I said happily. His face had a sexy grin on it; his hands lightly trailed over me, igniting every nerve ending.

Felix brought his lips down to my neck, peppering soft k****s over his mark. “Mmmm, you know you saved our Luna today?” I whispered. He shrugged. “I think that makes you a hero.” He chuckled softly. “Heroes should definitely be rewarded.” He hummed happily before his lips trailed up to my mine and shut me up.

ROBERT

I stood in the kitchen, looking through the doorway at Lyssa sitting in the armchair with Azly in her lap. She smiled brightly down at our granddaughter, playing exuberantly with her tiny hands and feet.

Leo trotted into the kitchen and retrieved his cup from the table. Lyssa insisted on these small plastic cups and plates when the boys got old enough to use them; I don’t remember Liam dropping things as much as my grandchildren do.

“You okay, grandpa?” Leo asked, breaking me from my thoughts.

“Yes,” I answered him, though my eyes lingered on Lyssa and Azly.

“Isn’t my baby the bestest?” he asked excitedly. He was quite attached to his little sister already.

“She is great,” I assured him.

“Can she sleep in my bed tonight? I will be super careful!”

“I don’t think that is such a good idea,” I told him, kneeling down to his level. “She needs to be in her baby bed. Why don’t you pick a book to read to her? Junior can help you read it.”

“Okay,” he agreed, happy with the compromise. He ran off to his room to look for a book. I sighed as I stood back up. Lyssa stood with Azly in her arms, locking eyes with me for a moment. She glared, letting me know she was still angry with me before following Leo’s lead toward the bedrooms. I walked into the living room, looking around at the pictures that Lyssa adorned our walls with.

She was proud of our son and grandchildren. She had even grown to care for Azalea over the years. She had pictures of Azalea and Liam from their wedding as well as various photos of them with all the kids. Azly wasn’t up there yet, but I suspected it would be much longer. I stood in front of the fireplace, looking at a picture of Azalea and Missy in particular.

She had always been so small. Short, thin, almost dainty even as a child. She was never too much trouble for me; Lyssa complained far more about the girl, but then I didn’t have much to do with her; I left all that to Lyssa.

I thought back to the day Liam came into my office, asking me to kick her out of the packhouse. It had been such an odd request. I know the kids teased her; I had always just let them be kids. There was a natural pecking order to things, after all, and packs were no different.

Liam insisted that we show the girl some mercy, not banish her to life as a rogue. I could not care either way but had given him his wish. When Lyssa brought her up to the office to inform her, she had looked dirty, frail. I didn’t understand why Liam was being so charitable to such a thing.

It made more sense now. He was going to reject Azalea but still felt the need to take care of her. I thought about rejecting my mate. She was a bit like Azalea; she wasn’t small, but she had bright red hair like my son’s mate. She went to Serenity Waters after my rejection; she found her second chance there.

I stared at the picture of Azalea and Missy. It was only a couple of years ago; I believe it was shortly after Leo was born. Azalea looked small, Missy almost as tall as her. But while she looked small and delicate, she also looked healthy and confident. Her smile was vibrant, and her posture tall for such a short frame. When I sent her away, she was fidgety and slouched; she made herself even smaller than she was.NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

Azalea wasn’t the same girl I kicked out of my packhouse years ago, and Liam wasn’t the same man I was.