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The pack answers in unison, all but his mate, who peers up at him with uncertainty. Not weeks ago, this human had nothing to fear beyond mortal concerns. And now she’s found herself on the brink of war, her fate tied to a mate who will lead us to it. Without looking back at her, Devin’s hand reaches out for her and she takes his hand with both of hers.
“Jude, you’ll scout out his pack. We don’t know enough to go on the offensive. I want to know everything. Come back with intel and a plan of attack. We won’t give them any mercy this time.”
Jude acknowledges the command with “Yes, Alpha,” and the attention turns to us.
“Vince and Veronica will go to her coven. Tell them I want to know how the blood banks are run and go to Still Waters. Three vampires have been abducted. Find them. I want to know everything that’s going on. You have four days. No more than that. I also want you to take your fucking cell phone this time, Vince.”
“You got it, Alpha,” my mate says.
“What drug could possibly make us mortals?” I’m still reeling over this revelation. With all my thoughts running wild, I simply can’t imagine it. In centuries there’s never even been a whisper of magic or otherwise that could reverse our immortality.
“We don’t know. The drug in the shifter we captured is an amphetamine called Captagon. It’s highly addictive, plus it keeps them awake and energized.” Devin’s gaze finds Jude’s as he adds, “That could be a problem for you. I expect to hear back from both you and Vince, every hour on the hour. Call Lev. If Lev doesn’t hear from you, we’ll come immediately. Is that clear?”
They answer in unison, but my question is still left unanswered. “What about the blood, what’s the poison?” I can’t imagine this drug actually existing.
“We don’t know, Veronica. Keep her safe, Vincent.”
“That goes without saying,” Vince responds, his arm wrapping around my waist protectively. Although there’s a warmth to his words and touch, I can’t help the irritation. As if I can’t keep myself safe. I’m one of the elites of the immortals. Shaking off the disagreeable thoughts I ponder the idea of this rumored drug’s existence.
Something I could take that would rid me of this immortality; the thought lights a need deep within me I didn’t know I had.
I could be a mortal again. I could be mortal like my mate.
A chill stiffens my bones. I used to dream of what my life would have been like if that day in the rainforest almost two hundred years ago had played out differently. With the knowledge I have now, I’m certain it would’ve been fucking awful. Still, I’ve often found myself envious of humans. A small curl to my lips reveals a single fang and I graze the tip of my tongue across the sharp point. If I drank this tainted blood, would I still have my fangs? How long would I live? Long enough to grow old with my mate? A comforting warmth surges through my body at the thought.
I turn slowly in my seat in his direction. He immediately grabs my chair to pull me closer to him. My stomach churns at how cold I was to him just moments ago and so many times in the past few days. He doesn’t deserve how harsh I am toward him. I’m certain of this truth, yet I can’t help my reaction when he pushes me like he has. I know he means well, but I don’t care for it. If I were mortal, though … everything could change. This weight and burden could drift away.
I would give anything to grow old with him. Could I bear children for him? There’s no doubt in my mind that I would trade my immortality to have a child. I’ve lived long enough and experienced more than most would ever dream of. But the pull between Vince and me … this desire to carry a child, perhaps a wolf like him … I would give anything, drink anything. The temptation weighs heavy on my heart. I need to learn more of this drug. If it’s true, if I could be mortal again, I would sacrifice everything to have it.
Grace
“How do you know you’re pregnant? It’s way too early to tell, isn’t it?” I still can’t wrap my head around the idea that Lizzie could be pregnant. That she even said it.
There’s just no way to know that so quickly. It’s not possible.
“Dom and Caleb are convinced. They said they can smell it.”
“They can smell it?” My nose wrinkles slightly and I take in the sight of my best friend sitting at the end of the counter. In gray sweats and an oversized white T-shirt that I think is Caleb’s, she’s relaxed as can be as she drops this bombshell.
“They’re sure?”
“It’s too early for it to be certain, but that’s what they said.” Pulling the sleeves of my cream sweater over my hands, I keep my fingers tucked inside so I stop picking at the small tear in my jeans. Is she really pregnant? Everything has been too much too fast. I don’t understand why she isn’t freaking out right now.
“I don’t feel any different. I’m just telling you what they said.” She shrugs.
Lizzie pops a spoonful of yogurt into her mouth and closes her eyes before she tells me, “I fucking love strawberry yogurt. How come we never bought this before?”
I smile at her goofiness, although it’s subdued. Seriously, it’s just yogurt. “Didn’t know you liked it.” Shifting slightly on the barstool, I debate on getting into such a heavy topic, but it’s too important not to. “Are you happy?”
Her bright eyes soften as she readjusts her stool and the legs drag on the floor. She puts her hand out on the table, palm up. I put my hand in hers and she squeezes in response. “Happier than I’ve ever been.” Her reassuring words make my whole body relax.
“Are you really pregnant?” I can’t fathom that in only days she knows she’s pregnant. She shrugs her shoulders and goes back to scraping the plastic cup with her spoon, trying to get out as much as possible.
“They said between the two of them, there’s no way they weren’t going to knock me up during this last heat.” She giggles into her cup, now licking the sides of it since the spoon isn’t effective enough. I shake my head and hop off my perch to grab her another from the fridge.
“You’re ready to be a mom?”
She smiles as she catches the new cup I toss at her. “I can’t fucking wait, Grace. Can you just imagine it? A little baby, cooing at us, snuggling into my arms.”
