VANNESA
He glared at me as if I had grown another head, his eyes burning with mixture of anger and frustration.
The intensity of his stare made me feel as if I had committed some unforgivable offence. It was clear that if he were in better condition, he would have taken immediate action to teach me a lesson.
Are you playing with me right now woman. He asked in an even tone. I know I’m not in the state to even look her in the eyes but she’s still my mate. He exclaimed.
Yes, she’s your mate, as you exclaim, but she’s just your mate in your head, not in your heart. You threw it in her face when you walked away from her, holding another woman’s hand. How do you think she felt?
The pain that etched across her face was undeniable. It held a mixture of disbelief and heartbreak.
You did introduce her to us as your mate and we believed you. But it takes more than mere words to be a true partner. It takes loyalty, commitment, and respect. The hurt she felt was immeasurable, a wound that cut deep into her soul. It wasn’t just the physical act of holding another woman’s hand that had hurt her; it was the underlying message it conveyed that she was replaceable, insignificant.
To add on, she’s not in that vampire’s hands.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, Alpha, I must return back to the house before we lose another member.
I excused myself and made my way carefully back inside, heading straight for my bedroom. There, I swiftly and cautiously combined various herbs, making sure to add the final magical touches. Once finished, I proceeded to the basement where everyone was being gathered.
There were a lot of injured members, and I cannot handle them alone. I enlisted four healthy members, provided them with herbs, and instructed them on how to use and apply them. As they set out to tend to the wounded, I couldn’t help but feel a wave of exhaustion wash over me. The stress and physical exertion had taken its toll, but there was no time to rest. I pushed through, fueled by determination that I was making a difference.
After a long time of tirelessly attending to the injured, my body grew weary, and my mind yearned for respite. Yet, I couldn’t ignore the nagging worry that had settled in my heart.
I pushed the elevator button and slipped inside, my mind wandering about the things I said to Jayden.
Was I too harsh on him? I quickly stopped the elevator from closing when I saw him limping towards it. I waited for him to enter, but he just stood there and asked about Jerome’s condition.
“Will he be fine?” he asked, hope flickering in his eyes.
I can’t give you the answer yet, jayden. You saw how much silver was in his body. If it was an ordinary wolf they’d haven’t made it to the pack house alive.
I worked on him. So we have to wait and let the magical herbs take its course. You don’t look good yourself. Let’s get you treated.
Don’t mind me. I need to do the burial preparations before the sun goes down.
Do you know how you look right now? You’re in a state of constant decline, with no chance of recovery if you step away for even a second. Let me get you treated first. It won’t be long. I said but he was adamant about not letting me assist him until he completed his tasks.
I sighed heavily before casting a spell and directed it towards his throbbing leg. As the magic took effect, his appearance improved.
He shook his leg and quickly vanished out without another word.
When I reached my room the first thing I did was to check on Jerome.
As I gently brushed my fingers against Jerome’s pale skin, I could feel the coldness that had settled within him. It was as if his very essence was slowly slipping away, leaving behind an empty shell of the vibrant person he once was. I knew time was of the essence, and I had to act swiftly.
I stumbled in panic and fear as I rushed towards my closet, desperately searching for my green scarf which I use to conceal my important belongings. After locating it, I retrieved a small glass bottle containing Catriona’s blood, which I had taken without anyone’s knowledge. Holding the bottle in my
hands, I studied it intently, knowing that this was the very same blood that had healed Jayden after an attack. I hope that it would have the same effect on Jerome.
I hurried back to where I had laid him. I took a deep breath and began reciting the incantation. The words flowed from my lips, carrying with them a desperate plea for healing and restoration. The room seemed to grow still, as if the very air held its breath, waiting for the magic to take hold.
With a surge of hope, I carefully poured a few drops of Catriona’s blood onto his lips, watching intently for any sign of change. The liquid glistened against his skin, almost as if it was being absorbed into his very being. A flicker of warmth passed through my fingertips, as if the blood was awakening something dormant within him.
Minutes felt like hours as I continued to hold my breath, waiting for a response. And then, a faint tremor coursed through his body, so subtle that it could have been mistaken for a figment of my imagination. But I knew better. It was a sign, a glimmer of hope that the spell was working.
As the seconds passed, the colour slowly returned to his features and his breathing became less laboured.
I collapsed onto the ground, my body trembling with fatigue. Every muscle ached, and I could feel the weight of exhaustion dragging me down. As I lay there, gasping for breath, a sense of relief that I was able to help him washed over me. I had pushed myself to the limit, and now, finally, I could rest.
Before I could settle into a comfortable position, a familiar voice echoed in my head, urging me not to rest just yet. It warned that the dangerous fang boy would return and demolish the house, putting everyone inside at risk. The voice insisted that both Jayden and I needed to take action before it was too late. As the voice faded, it left me with a pounding headache.
My heart skipped a beat as the urgency in the voice reverberated through my mind. I knew exactly who it belonged to- Catriona’s spiritual guardian. The words carried a weight of impending danger, making my muscles tense and my mind race. Without a second thought, I jumped to my feet, adrenaline coursing through my veins. The urgency in his voice left no room for hesitation. I had to act quickly to protect everyone in the house.
When I reached the main living room I found no one. It was clear that they were aware of everything that was happening, and it was certain they were all huddled in their rooms. This was actually a relief, as it allowed our minds to be at ease. As I opened the door to go outside, the strong smell of fresh blood hit my nostrils and made me feel nauseous. I stopped for a second, breathed in and out before I made my way towards where Jayden and the others were gathered. The cremation was already underway.
Everyone was present, watching in agony as the fire slowly burned out. It was customary for them to remain there for hours until the fire was completely extinguished. This had always been their way of respectfully bidding farewell, led by their alpha.
I quietly made my way through the crowd until I reached Jayden. “We need to talk immediately,” I whispered urgently, “It’s about the safety of the pack,” I added, anticipating his objection. He glanced at the raging fire and reluctantly agreed to follow me.
Once I had reached a safer distance, I got straight to the point. “You need to prepare the men. That vampire is going to come back with full force.”
”I’m aware of that,” he replied.
“Alright, so what’s your plan then?” I asked
He raked his messy, dirty hair before continuing. “I want to send my people in a proper way before we make a plan. Thanks to you, he won’t be back now. By the time he comes back, we’ll be ready.” He said, prolonging her stare at me.
“Do you have a way of helping me wake my wolf? I would appreciate it if you have.” He added, avoiding my gaze.
He looked weary and helpless. “I can’t lose any more members,” he added, his voice slightly wobbly.
Fine, I’ll awake your wolf. But before that, you need to inform the guys and prepare them. I will create a boundary around the mansion where those vampires won’t be able to cross in case they attack before we are ready.
Alright then. I’ll let the guys know. He said and then turned to leave but suddenly stopped. He turned to me. Thank you vanessa. We’re family. So we are in this together. I said. He gave me a light smile before marching away.
I walked to the centre of the mansion compound and created an invisible circle. Stepping into the circle, I closed my eyes and concentrated. I channelled the magic from the circle into my hands, lifting them to form a boundary. However, my concentration was interrupted by a faint image of me holding a naked baby girl.
My heart skipped a beat as I opened my eyes, my hands still raised in mid-air. The image of me holding a naked baby girl lingered in my mind, causing a rush of confusion and curiosity. Who was this child?