*Blair*
The sudden shift in my world left me bewildered. It was like a bolt from the blue. One moment, I was lost in the sweet embrace of my mate’s passionate kisses, and the next, he was gone. He’d vanished without a word, leaving me to grapple with the confusion that followed. His warmth had dissipated, and all that remained was an empty space next to me.
The last image etched in my mind was of his piercing gray eyes, filled with an inexplicable pain. It was as if he couldn’t fathom the consequences of his actions, as though he believed he had no right to feel the way he did. In that heated moment of desire and longing, it became evident that he wanted me as fervently as I yearned for him. But he was fleeing from the overwhelming emotions and the unbreakable mate bond that tied us together.
No, not this time, Maddox. You couldn’t just walk away and expect me to let you. I had to stand up and fight for what was rightfully mine. The determination welled up inside me as I dressed quickly and left his room.
My search for him led me through the halls of our pack’s territory. I approached one of the guards, who seemed hesitant, perhaps aware of the urgency in my gaze. I inquired about Beta Maddox’s whereabouts, and he hesitated for a moment before reluctantly revealing that he was in the midst of an intense meeting in the conference room. He attempted to stop me, but with a determined push, I opened the door to the meeting room where a tense discussion was unfolding between Zander and Selena. All eyes in the room immediately shifted towards me.
“Blair?!” Zander’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Why are you here? Do you want something?”
“Umm… I know it’s a very serious matter, but I want to know what’s going on guys?!” I replied, my understanding of their plan still somewhat vague.
“Blair, we’re planning to get my son back from the clutches of the Vampire King,” Zander explained.
“Our son, Zander,” Selena corrected fiercely.
Zander remained indifferent, as though he hadn’t heard her.
“I want to come with you,” I declared.
“No!” To everyone’s surprise, Maddox interjected. “This mission is very dangerous. You can’t come with us, Princess,” he dictated.
“But why?” I protested, locking eyes with him in a challenge. “If you can go, in fact, you can do all that, but I can’t join you? Why?!”
“Don’t be stubborn, Blair. You are not coming with us, and that’s final,” Maddox declared with authority.
Oh, my mate, you feel you have that right over me, but you’ll have to earn it, not just assume it.
“No, you can’t decide for me. I will come, and I’ve made up my mind,” I said resolutely, turning toward my brother. “Zander, please let me help.”
Zander appeared confused and conflicted, glancing between Maddox and me.
But then Selena spoke up, “Blair, try to understand. Maddox is right. Where we are going is a very dangerous place. We’re heading into a battle against vampires. Anything could happen.”
“I know, Selena. I understand the risks, and I truly believe that, together, we can bring your son back home. Please let me come. I need to help,” I insisted.
“Blair!” Maddox glared, trying to resist my plea once more.
“It’s okay, Maddox. She can come. She’s my sister and has Alpha blood. She can handle those filthy vampires with ease,” Zander brushed aside those who were against me joining them in the fight against the vampires.
“Of course, she’s your sister, Alpha, and that’s precisely why we’re concerned,” Selena retorted.
“You don’t have to worry about her, Selena. I don’t need lessons from you on how to take care of my family,” Zander retorted with a fierce glare, his eyes locked in a battle of wills with Selena’s.
I watched in dismay as their disagreement escalated. It was all because of me, and I didn’t want to be the cause of their strife.
“Hold on! Hold on, guys,” I interjected, trying to diffuse the tension. “We need your combined strength for this battle. It’s about your son, don’t forget. If you continue fighting with each other, how will you stand together against the enemy?” I pleaded, my voice filled with urgency.
I saw Zander and Selena reluctantly break eye contact and step away from each other.
A throat-clearing sound drew our attention, and we turned to see the Vampire Prince Damon, who was clearly displeased. He narrowed his eyes at us.
“Excuse me? But a vampire is present here. So please, let’s be respectful,” Damon grumbled.
“After what your father has done, do you really expect me to show respect toward your kind?!” Zander snapped furiously.
“Alpha King, you know that everything is fair in love and war,” Damon countered with a grim expression.
“Yeah, right! But no one should make use of a small child unless they’re nothing but cowards,” Zander gritted out, his anger palpable.
“Alpha King!” Damon roared, his voice echoing with defiance. “Vampires are not cowards,” he snapped. “If you think so because I’m helping you, that’s a misconception. I’m doing this only for my mate and her son.”
Damon’s words were enough for Zander to lose his sanity. It was clear that a war was brewing, right there and then.
“Vampire Prince, one more time you call her your mate, and I’ll forget about right and wrong and will kill you right here,” Zander growled, his teeth bared.
He was furious with Selena, but no one could mention her that way. He had always been possessive of her. Alphas were known for their possessiveness over their mates, ready to protect and fight for them. Damon was truly tempting fate.
“You can’t just kill me, Zander,” Damon retorted defiantly. “Just because you can capture me so easily, don’t think you can defeat me. I am Vampire Prince Damon Shadowborne,” he snarled.
They both closed in on each other, about to collide, when Selena stepped between them, her presence a much-needed barrier.
“No, please, stop it,” Selena shouted, desperation lacing her voice. “This time, it’s not more important than my son. You guys can sort out your problems after I get my son back. But, please, for now, we need to work on this together,” she pleaded, her eyes brimming with tears.
“I’m sorry, Selena,” Damon mumbled and made a move to touch her, but Selena instinctively took a step back, while Zander let out a threatening growl.
“Damon, please!” Selena whispered urgently. “You know I’m with Zander. But you keep trying to ignore it and it will provoke him and get you into trouble.”
“But it’s true, Selena, and you’re my…” Damon began to explain desperately.
“Stop it, please. You may think so, but I don’t feel anything for you. Please, Damon, I already have so many problems in my life and don’t want more trouble right now. Right now nothing is more important than my son’s safety,” she said, looking at him with a plea for understanding.
Damon nodded, a heavy sigh escaping his lips.
“So, is it final, guys? Am I coming?” I asked, crossing my fingers with a hint of worry, fearing that amidst their fight, they might have changed their minds.
“Yes, Blair. The Alpha King has allowed it, so no one can refuse his order,” Selena declared, glancing at Zander in a challenge and he narrowed his eyes at her.
Oh, Goddess. This was going to be really dangerous.