BLACK

(13) Losses

EDITED

I get a call. Not the right kind of call, but the wolves of Vardousia found the way to contact me. Pain struck my stomach, or almost did. Mostly I imagined it. I wanted the pain in my heart to reach there, to squirm through my capillaries and strangle the life inside of me. The more I thought like that, the more and more I felt sick.

Through my tears, not once did Aris show. Usually he was there in the blink of an eye, ready to hold me at the drop of the hat. Yet not this time. Perhaps it was because it was almost night time, so he was up and away hurdled into pack business and treaties. No doubt taking reign of Vardousia.

However my brain couldn't battle out the thoughts with the emotions, and I just chased myself in circles with rotten teeth biting the bloody tail. Lucan, as horrible as he was, was my mate. Despite everything and anything, he had accepted me the moment he saw me despite all the media. All of the lies and the rumors. He called me his baby and sweetheart, when all of the world only had ugly names for me. He welcomed me to his pack and his arms when Aris couldn't stand the sight of me.

This time, I ran from him. I couldn't take the heat. I was Luna of seven regions, one uncharted, and I felt more alone than I ever had been even when sharing a body with another. Aris had to of known by now, four months passed. I grew bigger each day with an Alpha's baby inside me. I was just nearing 16 weeks, but I hadn't dared utter a word to anyone but Cesare.

"Don't tell me that!" I was heated. "Don't dare to tell me everything is going to be okay!"

One reason I feared telling Aris, was he would blow up. Something would happen, or someone would get hurt. Yet now I had nothing left to fear, for the worst person Aris could hurt was already killed.

"Noire, I'm not lying! You can't give up, I won't let you." Cesare wasn't angry. He had one of the strongest reigns on his shifter, keeping him at bay more often than not. "There's too much you have to live for!"

They were remorseful telling me of Lucan's passing. They were well aware of the recent death of Roman. And less than a year ago, Jonneth. Killed. I internally scoff. Aris had probably ordered them not to tell me, but I knew. I knew they meant mangled, and shredded. I knew they meant he would have a closed casket at his funeral, that no matter how hard they tried, there would still be missing fingers and chunks of skin. The rogues were relentless, unresting. When they killed, they had no laws. No limits. My Lucan, if I ever wanted to see his face again— or the closest resemblance I could get, it would be in our baby.

"Like what?" I shout. "Tell me what's so good, and guarantee it won't be taken away from me!"

Cesare's blue eyes turn cold, his golden dark beneath his cheekbones. "Me. This baby. Your son? His care takers have him on lock down for every corner he takes, no ones going to take him from you."

"Don't you see it?" The anger still burns above embers inside of me. "It's not a coincidence. The people I love are being mutilated, and I don't know why! One by one, someone is taking them from me, and they're going to take you too. It's only a matter of time," I hyperventilate.

Cesare takes my arms into his, trying to calm me down. "Noire, you're not thinking straight. No one is going to take me away from you."

The water works explode open, my face ugly in distraught. "You're so innocent, Ces. You don't see it. This isn't just coincidence, someone is after me, and they're starting with the people closest to me."

"Even if that were true," He rubs my back. "It's not going to happen, okay? I'm strong, and we've got a secure pack. There's been no threats or slip throughs for almost a decade. I'm safe, you're safe. Don't forget you live with Aris for a reason."