RALPH
I clenched my jaw at the sudden incident, my mind racing to process what had just happened. Damien’s mark, with its protective power, was something I hadn’t anticipated. The pain from the searing energy still throbbed in my bones, a stark reminder of my inability to control the situation.
Keilah got down from the bed, grabbed her robe, and slipped it back on with trembling hands. She walked over to where I was sitting, her eyes filled with a mix of concern and confusion. Gently, she touched my shoulder, her voice soft. “Ralph, what happened? You looked like you were in pain.”
I looked up at her and let out a bitter laugh, the sound harsh. “It looks like I can’t do anything for myself, even with my own woman,” I said, the frustration evident in my voice.
“What are you talking about?” she asked, perplexed.
“Damien’s mark… it’s protecting you. It’s like a barrier that I can’t break through.”
“You mean that vampire’s bite was for protection?” she asked.
I nodded, my expression grim. “Yes, it is. And it’s not just any power. It’s meant to keep you safe from any harm, including from me.” I got up and threw on the robe before sitting on the bed. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my thoughts. “The council, they think you’re a threat because of your mother. They believe she had something to do with my mother’s death.”
Keilah’s face paled, and she sat down next to me. “Ralph,” she started, pausing to take a deep breath before continuing, “what if what they said is the truth?”
I turned to her, my brows furrowing. “Of course it’s not true. I know what they’re trying to do. They want me to unmate you. And if I do, they’ll kill you.”
Her eyes filled with uncertainty, and she hesitated before speaking again. “The thing is, I don’t know if I’m going to sound pathetic, but it’s the truth. My entire life, I’ve been having this weird dream. It’s about two best friends, but one of them betrays the other by stealing her man and then getting her gang-raped. And the bad friend in the dream… she has my face. The other woman looked exactly like the one in the picture I accidentally broke in your bedroom.”
“Okay, that’s enough,” I interrupted. “I’ve heard you, but your dream doesn’t match with anything real.”
She looked down, her fingers twisting together in her lap. “I know it sounds crazy, but what if it’s some kind of premonition? What if my mother really did something terrible?”
“Keilah,” I said, my voice softening, “dreams are just dreams. They don’t dictate our reality.”
She sighed, leaning her head against my shoulder. “I want to believe you, Ralph, but I can’t shake this feeling that there’s more to it.
She opened her mouth to say more, but I cut her off, gently tilting her chin up so she had to look into my eyes. “Keilah, what do you see when you look at my face?”
She hesitated, her eyes searching mine. The silence stretched between us, charged with unspoken emotions. Finally, I asked again, my voice softer but insistent. “What do you see when you look at me?”
A blush crept up her cheeks, and she bit her lip before responding. “I’m just seeing your cute face,” she admitted, a shy smile tugging at her lips. Then, almost on impulse, she dropped a quick kiss onto my lips.
I couldn’t help but smile at her gesture, but I quickly regained my seriousness. “Mate, we need to be careful. Don’t wake the sleeping monster now because I’m not ready for any more bloodsucker magic,” I warned, my tone lightning at the end.
She nodded, her eyes wide with understanding and fear. “Back to the point,” I continued, “what I meant when I asked you what you see when you look at me is because I’m way too old for your dream to be true. There’s no way your mother would be connected to this. My mother’s death was at the hands of someone else she trusted too much.”
Keilah’s face softened as she processed my words, her fingers lightly tracing patterns on my arm.
I watched Keilah as she absorbed my words, her fingers continuing their gentle dance on my arm. It was a soothing gesture, one that momentarily eased the tension in my body. I took a deep breath and decided it was time to steer the conversation to something more important.
“Keilah,” I said softly, placing my hand over hers to still her movements. “Let’s drop this conversation for now. We’ve got more pressing matters to talk about-us, and the child growing inside you.”
She turned to face me completely before saying, “When I told you I was pregnant,” she began slowly, “you seemed to have already known about it. Did Dahlia tell you, too?”
I shook my head. “No, it wasn’t Dahlia who told me. It was Isabella.”
Keilah’s brows knitted together in a frown. “Isabella? But how did she-” she stopped before adding, ” I almost forgot she’s a witch too.
She looked down, her fingers now resting still on my arm. After a moment, she lifted her gaze back to me, her eyes searching. “So Ralph, what do you think about the pregnancy? About being a father?”
I felt a lump form in my throat, and I swallowed hard, trying to find the right words. “Keilah,” I began, my voice slow and measured, “Honestly, I’m not sure yet how I feel. I never really dreamed of starting a family. It’s not something I ever pictured for myself.”
Her face fell, and she bit her lip, the disappointment clear in her eyes and she whispered in a voice so low I almost didn’t catch it, “Does that mean you’re not happy about this pregnancy?”
I felt a pang of guilt at her reaction and quickly reached out, taking her hands in mine, “listen mate, don’t misunderstand me. I don’t want to lie to you because I want to make you happy. But the truth is, I’m not happy or sad about this pregnancy. I tightened my grip on her hands, pulling her closer. ” This is all new, and it’s a lot to take in. I’m not dismissing the child or the idea of being a father. I’m just trying to process everything, and my main concern is keeping you and the baby safe.”
She looked at me, her eyes searching mine for any hint of dishonesty, a tear slipping down her cheek. I reached out and gently wiped it away, my thumb lingering on her soft skin. “We’ll figure this out together,” I promised. “I may not have all the answers right now, but I’m here for you. And I will protect you both, no matter what.” She nodded slowly. “I understand.
“Rest now,” I suggested, my voice gentle but firm. She opened her mouth to say something but then closed it, nodding in reluctant agreement. I tucked her warmly under the covers, ensuring she was comfortable before heading to the balcony.
As I opened the door, a fierce gust of stormy, rainy wind blew in, making me almost slam it shut. The noise startled Keilah, who sat up quickly, her eyes wide with concern. “Are you okay?” she asked, her voice edged with worry.
“I’m fine,” I reassured her, smiling. “Just caught off guard by the storm.”
I decided to join her in bed, but something in the distance caught my eye. Squinting through the rain, I saw a man clutching a child, both of them holding onto a tree and battling the ferocious storm. My heart pounded as I focused on the scene, trying to make sense of it.
“Do you see what I’m seeing?” I asked my wolf, hoping for his familiar, reassuring presence. But there was only silence. I frowned, the lack of response unsettling. Was he angry at me for what I had nearly done to Keilah? Or had Damien’s magic somehow affected our bond? “Wolf, are you mad at me? I asked, and still no answer.”
“Ralph?” Keilah’s voice brought me back. “What’s wrong?”
“There’s a man and a child out there. It looks like they’re stuck,” I said as I walked towards the bed. She was already up, and in just a few steps, she was at the glass door. She let out a gasp.
“That poor child and his father are going to die if they don’t get help,” she said, looking terrified. Then she turned to me.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked, even though I knew exactly what she was getting at. She stared at me with disbelief etched onto her face before saying, “Aren’t you going to help them?”
“Why would I help them?” I retorted, making her go silent for a moment.
“Did you just say that?” she asked, moving closer to me. “Why would I help them when their own fellow humans are ignoring them to die?” She stared at me, bewildered, but I didn’t give a damn. “I’ve never and will never intervene in human affairs.”
“You’re going to be a dad, Ralph, for God’s sake,” she said.
“What does that have to do with me being a father? Let them die. Are you related to them or what?”
Her eyes widened with a mixture of shock and disappointment. “Ralph, this isn’t about being related to them. It’s about doing the right thing. About setting an example for our child.”
I scoffed, shaking my head. “Setting an example? By meddling in matters that don’t concern me? Humans are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves-or not. It’s not my problem.”
She took a deep breath, struggling to contain her frustration. “One day, our child will look to you for guidance. They’ll see your actions and learn from them. Do you want them to grow up thinking it’s okay to turn a blind eye to suffering?”
“Why should I care what our child thinks? They’ll understand that sometimes, you need to look out for yourself and not get dragged down by others’ problems,” I replied coldly.
She looked at me, her expression softening but still resolute. “You’re wrong, Ralph. Compassion isn’t a weakness; it’s a strength. And if you can’t see that, then maybe you’re not ready to be a father.”
Without another word, she turned back to the balcony door, her eyes scanning the stormy scene outside. “Where did they go?” she asked frantically, her voice trembling with worry.
I shrugged nonchalantly. “They’re probably dead by now.”
Her gaze shot back to me, a death glare that pierced through my soul. The intensity of her look made me shift uncomfortably, a heavy sigh escaping my lips. Reluctantly, I got up and walked over to the balcony door, peering out into the torrential rain. The tree the man and child had been holding onto had broken, and I saw no sign of them.
Just as I was about to tell Keilah to let it go, I saw them at the far end of the hotel, clinging desperately to the parking poles that were swaying ominously in the fierce wind. My eyes darted to Keilah, who looked tense and distressed-an emotion that wasn’t good for her in her condition.
I turned back to the door, my resolve hardening. “I’ll go help them,” I said, my voice firm. “But on one condition.”
“I accept whatever condition,” she cut in, her desperation clear.
“You are not to leave this room until I come back,” She nodded without hesitation, her eyes filled with relief. “I promise. Just be careful, Ralph.”
“Stay here,” I reminded her, giving her a reassuring look before stepping out onto the balcony and leaping over the railing into the storm.
The wind and rain hit me like a wall, but I pushed forward, my senses heightened by the urgency of the situation. The ground was slick, and the howling wind made it difficult to see, but I kept my focus on the distant figures. As I got closer, I could hear the child crying and the man shouting for help.
Reaching them, I saw the fear etched deeply in their eyes, their grip on the poles weakening from fatigue and fear. “Hang on!” I shouted above the tumultuous wind. I reached out, grasping the man’s hand first, pulling him urgently toward safety. The child clung tightly to his father, his small frame shivering with cold and terror. It was evident that time was critical; without prompt medical attention, the child’s condition could worsen rapidly.
With a final, desperate effort, I managed to guide both of them to a more sheltered spot, away from the worst of the storm’s fury. “Stay here and keep the child warm,” I instructed firmly, my voice cutting through the howl of the wind. “The storm won’t last long, and when it passes, take him to the hospital immediately.”
Assured they were as safe as possible for the moment, and I turned to head back to my mate.
As I climbed up towards the room, a sudden, fierce gust of wind made my hand slip off the rail. I managed to steady myself with the other hand but still struggled to reach the balcony. Just as I was about to make it inside, I lost my balance and plummeted toward the ground. Desperately, I tried to shift into my wolf form to cushion the fall, but something was wrong-I couldn’t shift. I hit the ground hard, the jarring pain making bells ring in my head. Darkness crept in, and I blacked out, the storm’s roar fading into a distant echo.