Chapter 29

LAINEY I walk into the pack house at daybreak, absolutely exhausted. We rescued five more Omegas and took out another hive. If Gia does show up, she won’t have anything here. We have two known hives left. The largest of all the hives and both in close proximity of each other so we will take them out at the same time.

Last night, the moon was blue. I’ve never looked at the moon. Never has any interest to. As a vampire, it didn’t really affect me. I think last night, the Lycan in me took notice. It was beautiful. Tonight it’s full.

Hunter and I were supposed to stand under it, but with Gia as a threat, it’s going to have to wait.

We need to kill off her army.

I hate the timing of it. I was really hoping to be bonded to Hunter before I told him what I had to tell him. I certainly can’t wait until the next moon. It will be too late.

I need to tell him at the right time though. It’s not something I can just blurt out. I have to handle it delicately so that he fully understands it. That will require time which we don’t have right now.

I open our bedroom door and silently smile.

Closing the door behind me, I see Hunter sleeping on his stomach. The sun’s light playing on his back muscles.

I heel toe my bare feet slowly to the bed.

I peel off my dress and drop it on the floor.

I pull off my panties as I walk and step out of them.

My eyes not leaving his body as I lick my lips. If I could breath, I’d be holding it.

I get to the bed and reach my hand out slowly.

In a heartbeat, Hunter grabs my arm, pulls me on the bed and lays on top of me, slamming his lips on mine. I didn’t even have time to yelp.

He pulls back, dragging his teeth across my bottom lip.

He smiles. “Good morning.” He bounces his brow as he fixes my hair.

“How long have you been awake?” I smile and arch a brow.

He looks away and looks back. “Um…panties.”

I laugh and cup his cheek. Kissing him passionately.

He rolls over and gets up. He grabs a pair of pants and throws them on.

I roll on my side and lean my head on my hand. “Are things all set for tonight?”

He nods as he throws a shirt on. “Yep. Zanders still holding the ball, but we still have a full unit deployment. We meet you at sundown. I’m going to the office to work for a few hours, then…my sweet little bee…I’ll be back to show you exactly what I dreamt last night.” He leans to my lips and kisses them.

I giggle. “That good, was it?”

“Oh, yeah.” He stands. “You were hot.”

I roll onto my back. “Really.”

He scrunches his nose. “And oh so dirty.” He grins.

“I wasn’t.” I smile.

He leans back down. “Don’t lie. There’s a dirty girl in there, I know it.”

I laugh on his lips and push him away. “Go. I need my sleep.”

He laughs as he leaves the room.

Once the room is quiet, I hear the voice. It’s trying to reach out. I feel it. My brows stitch together as I push it away. I can’t listen to it right now. We'll meet soon enough.

****

“OK. STANDARD PROCEDURES. WE KNOW THE DRILL. KILL AS MANY AS WE CAN AND DON’T TRY TO BE A HERO. NOW, LET'S BREAK UP THESE HIVES!” The team leaders all bark orders.

Hunter kisses me. “Let’s recuse your ladies.”

We drive the hour across the desert to the forest. On the other side is a few small cave. The second hive is about a half hour more away. We split in two.

We stop and I look up. The moon isn’t near its peak, but the area is already a deep blue.

We fill the trees and rocks and wait. As always, I smell them and feel them, but it feels different. I get a shiver, but I don’t know why. My stomach does flutters and I hold it while I look confused at the cave entrance.

Hunter looks at me. “Are you sure…”

He’s interrupted with a voice I was not prepared to hear.

“Lainey.”

I close my eyes and lower my head.

I raise my head and stand.

“Just the little vamp I’ve been looking for.” Gia steps out of the shadows in a black short jumpsuit. Her ankle boots clicking on the rock. Her eyes glow green. “You killed my son.”

I step up on the outcrop. “Yes, I did. If he were here, I’d kill him again.”

“You have courage. Not the Omega I knew.” She scowls.

My eyes narrow. “I’m not an Omega.”

“Oh, I have no problems showing you just how much of an Omega you are.” She folds her arms.

“Where’s the rest of them, Gia?” Hunter growls.

“Around, Alpha. Spread to the winds. Killing humans and rebirthing them into the top creature on the planet.” She smirks.

“Is that why your army is barely anything?” Hunter crosses his arms.

She raises her arm and points. “Tell me, Alpha, is that nothing?”

We turn and on the horizon the back ground moves with speed. It’s hundreds.

“MOVE! MOVE!” Hunter yells as he climbs down.

The shifters shift and take to the sand.

I look back at Gia.

“I didn’t forget about you.” She points up the foothill as every Rock and crevasse comes alive.

“Back up!” I yell at my sisters and we retreat.

“Either submit to me or die! The choice is yours!” She throws down her hand and the vamps in the hills, fly down to meet us. We all clash in a huge battle for freedom.

My sisters tear into Gia’s fighters. We trained hard for this one moment.

Gia sits on her perch, watching. I’m knocking her off it.

I fly at her, but am knocked off course by another vamp. Gia steps out of the way and I lay my punches and my teeth on her minion.

I’m on a mission to end her now.

I grab the vamp and sink my fangs into the back of his neck, severing his spine and I twist his head off.

I run at Gia, flaming hot. A loud growl comes my chest.

She may not be Damon, but she’s close enough. I enact my revenge now.

I feel something stir inside me as we exchange blows.

I swipe my hand and large claws come out. They cut Gia’s chest and her clothes are coated in blood.

She hisses at me as I look at the wolf claws on my hand. Turning them around, my eyes flick to hers.

My eyes glow gold and my mouth opens to canines. My other hand fills with claws and run at her.

She tries to climb the rock, but I jump and grab her ankles. I throw her off the foothill into the dirt.

I jump and land on my feet. My eyes still glowing, I tilt my head, glaring at her.

She stands and flashes her fangs. “What are you?” she growls.

“Your executioner.” I growl back in a demonic tone.

I run at her and jump into the air.

My Lycan bursts out of my clothes and I land. I grab Gia’s head, lift her up high then throw her to the ground.

My black, man like form, roars at her. She struggles to her feet and runs at me. She swings and my wolf blocks it. My muzzle snaps at her head. She arches back.

She throws more punches. I block then grab her arm and break it. She stumbles back. Her quick healing fixed it.

Using her vamp run, she blurred in front of me and uppercutted my jaw. I flew backwards.

I got up and rushed her. I sink my teeth into her shoulder. Her strength pries my jaws off.

She spins around and jumps on my back. I fall hard on her. I heard several bones break.

I break free and get to my feet.

Hunter and a group of wolves show up as Gia jumps on my back again. I try to get her off again, but she lifts her arm and drives her nails into my spine.

The shock and pain of it forces me to shift.

“NO! LAINEY!” Hunter runs up.

I feel Gia's hand twist and break my spine.

“Hunter…” A tear slips out my eye.

“LAINEY!!!...YOU BITCH!!”

I crumple to the ground to see Hunter lunge over me.

The noise dies down.

It’s quiet.

The voice. It reaches out. It’s soft. It tells me everything’s going to be OK. It’s OK.

Another tear slips out. Then I feel it. A heart beat. Just one. My body feels a warmth growing.

I lift my shaking hand. My vision rises my veins.

Another beat and I see my own blood move. I feel my back and side soak with blood.

“Hunter…” I weakly say.

It’ll be ok. He will come.

I hitch a breath as my heart beat becomes two. Then three. I feel it. A heat. My body is warming with every beat.

My eyes flicks to the sky. The moon is peaking. A lump develops in my throat.

As I lay dying, I didn’t think my only love would be so short. That our love wouldn’t create beautiful things.

Hunters touch electrified me. Even the thought of him takes my breathe away.

My heart starts a rhythm. Then I feel it. Something snap in my new heart. It pulls me, but I can’t move. I start to cry and smile. It was true. The voice was true. He told me. But it’s too late. I cry as I close my eyes.

I’m weakened by blood loss. My healing isn’t working as fast as it should.

“Lainey? Oh God, please….”

I hear him. I feel him roll me over.

The reality comes back and I hear the battle. It’s gotten closer.

“I have to get you out of here.”

He picks me up and runs me into the forest.

The blood is pouring out. It’s too late. “Hunter…stop.” I struggle. “Stop.”

He stops. “Lainey…I have to..”

I shake my head in his arms. “I have to tell you something before…” I couldn’t say it. “Put ne down.” I whisper.

“What? No…” He looks at me.

“Please.” I choke.

He sits us down and places me in his lap.

His cheeks are wet. “No…Lainey you can’t…”

“I'm…sorry…” He holds my hanging head by my neck.

“No….” He chokes and shakes his head. He sniffs. “No…you…um….you just need blood…”

I shake my head.

“Yes…Yes, you do….Baby, come on…” He bites his wrist and holds it up.

“I…I need…too much…” My voice is faded.

“I don’t care, Lainey! Fucking eat!” He grinds.

I shake my head and cry. “I’ll kill you…” I choke.

“EAT, GODDAMN IT! PLEASE!” He growls out his cry.

I call my fangs and he holds his wrist to my mouth. As I start to drink, I feel my spine start to heal. I feel my heart and the bond.

Hunter is huffing out breathes as I take his life.

I feel his heartbeat start to slow. I cry as I drink. I see his eyes start to close and his grip on me loosen.

I lost all hope when the voice yelled stop!

I rip my mouth off him and he falls onto the forest floor.

I crumple onto his chest and sob.

“Hunter!” I cry as I hold him. “No!”

As I sob, the voice tells me to listen.

I quiet down. I hold my shaky breath and lay my ear on his chest and listen. My eyes look aimlessly. Then I hear it. Like it’s off in the fog. A heartbeat. I smile and laugh. This the most wonderful sound I’ve ever heard.

The voice tells me to feel.

I close my eyes and the growing bond snaps back and forth. I bite my lip. I didn’t kill him. He’s still with me.

I raise my head and tap his cheek. “Hunter….Hunt…Wake up…” I wipe my eyes. “Baby, wake up.” I shake his head gently by his chin.

“Lain?...”

“Yes! Yes, I’m here.” I smile and start to cry again.

“Wha…” His eyes try to open.

I gently kiss him. “I had to heal. It was almost too much.” I sniff.

“…Ok?...” His slit eye turns to mine.

I nod. “Yes…I’m ok.” I hitch.

He struggles to smile. “I…love…”

“I love you, too.” I choke and let out a giggle.

I place my lips on his and I feel his arm wrap around me. Slowly he kisses me back as his healing starts to catch up. The bond gets a little stronger with each pulse back and forth to my now working heart.

It was a feeling I never thought I’d feel again.

He pulled me back. “I knew…you were…mine…” He struggles.

I smile and look into his eyes. “I knew you were mine too. I knew a long time ago.” I whisper.

He tries to sit up and I help.

He holds me. “Mate.” He moves my hair out my face.

“Mate.” I trace my fingers around his cheek.

He kissed me hard and I felt his strength increase.

This, right now, is the moment. The moment I tell Hunter what he needs to hear.

I break apart and look into his eyes. “Hunter, before we do this, I have to tell you something. I’m not sure what you’ll think or if it will change your mind.”

He shakes his head. “Lainey. Nothing could ever change my mind. I promise.”

I stare into his eyes and press my lips together.