Roan Black ✔ #Wattys2017

Roan Black - Twenty-nine

Chapter Twenty-nine

Audrey was only briefly relieved to see Drake walk into the living room. She hadn't known that he was found and for second considered hugging the man. Her nerves however, got in the way when she saw Tessa following behind Drake, both wore a serious and intense look upon their faces. Turning back to Roan, she wasn't reassured when she found the same serious and intense look on his own face. "What's going on?"

"Audrey. How much do you remember of what happened the night you were kidnapped?" Roan asked, watching Audrey closely. He watched her eyes widen, then turn thoughtful.

"It was all real?" Audrey whispered. A part of her had wished it was all a horrible nightmare. Looking from Roan to Drake, to Tessa and seeing them all nod their heads made her breath catch. "I remember Tessa coming over, trying to get me to stay here while you were away. I refused of course." Audrey shrugged, "later I sat down on the couch, watched tv. The window shattered- a large wolf stood there staring at me."

Audrey wrapped her arms around herself, remembering the yellow eyes clearly. "I was frozen. I knew I couldn't outrun a wolf, but I wasn't going to just stand there and let it kill me. I was about to run when my front door exploded into pieces..." Audrey peeked up at Tessa who looked guilty. "Tessa stood there. I mean, I was sure I was dreaming. She just took out my door like it was nothing..." Audrey couldn't sit any longer. The memories were so crazy and the more she said the crazier it was.

Pacing back and forth, she ignored everyone else as she continued with her story. The fact that Tessa had flashed fangs at her, the fact that Audrey felt enormous guilt over leaving Tessa and then what had happened in the cave up till the point of when Raven had bit her.

"After the bite, I don't remember much. I do remember the sudden and overwhelming pain. It was as if my entire body was engulfed in flames. Everything after is bits and pieces. I thought I heard your voice, telling me- no demanding me to wake up, but I couldn't open my eyes. They were so heavy.." Audrey stopped pacing and looked to Roan who had sat as still as a statue through her telling of what happened.

"Was it real? Are- are you vampires?" Audrey felt her heart rate speed up, thinking on the fact of the blood, what she'd saw Tessa do and what Raven had told her. She knew deep down it was true, but she needed to hear it.

Roan didn't move. He couldn't. The thought of his mate, the woman he was supposed to protect coming so close to dying left him feeling as helpless as he'd felt in the cave. Now, it was time to lay it all out for her. The fear of overwhelming her further had made him hesitant, but hesitating had gotten them all in this mess to begin with. Finally controlling himself, he stood slowly, noting that Audrey took a cautious step back. The action made a sharp pain pierce his heart, but he didn't blame her. She'd been through a lot, and it wasn't nearly over.

"Everything that you've said is true. Raven, as you know was a werewolf. Drake, Tessa and myself are vampires. You. Are. My. Mate." Roan stated, watching Audrey. "This whole mess is my fault. If I had just told you the truth from the beginning then maybe I could have avoided all of this, but I was- afraid that if I did that I would lose you. Once I knew Raven was the one stalking you, I should have mentioned it then, but I didn't." Roan laughed humorlessly. "I thought that I could protect you. I failed, miserably."

Audrey swallowed thickly, then took a deep breath. "I wouldn't have believed you if you'd told me right from the start..." She didn't want him blaming himself entirely. She would have ran the moment he began sprouting such nonsense to her. "Raven bit me.. He said he wanted to turn me into what he was." The dread filled her. "Am I? Like him I mean?"

Roan bowed his head, he himself wasn't sure. The only sure way to know was when the first full moon hit. "I don't know. I bit you moments after I ended Raven. I hoped that since you are my true mate, that your body and soul would accept me. We brought you home after, Tessa cleaned you up and put you to bed. I stayed with you for four days, never leaving you."

"Of course then we had to make him leave you so that he could take care of himself." Tessa muttered from the background.

Audrey's eyes widened, "four days? I was out for four days? You bit me?" Again her hand went to her neck, but felt nothing but smooth skin. "If both you and Raven bit me, why do I not have a mark? Why do I feel perfectly fine?"

Roan shrugged helplessly, "it could mean many things. It could mean that either my or Raven's bite worked and it healed you, transformed you."

"So your saying that I'm either a wolf or a vampire now?" Audrey nearly shouted. She hadn't thought. It was so stupid on her part, she should have known, but in her defense she thought for a moment that the entire event was just her going crazy.

"Yes." Roan answered simply.

"When will I know for sure?" Audrey resumed pacing.

"Raven had planned his attack. The next full moon is tonight." Roan said grimly. Wanting more than anything to hold Audrey when she stopped pacing and stared down at the floor. He knew she was confused still, frightened. There was also a possibility that she hated him, blamed him and he would accept it, but it didn't mean he would let her do this on her own.

"Tonight...." Audrey felt numb, she thought she could handle the answers, but the more of them that came out the less she felt. "I need to go home.." Not wanting to hear more right now, she turned towards the door only to stop when Roan called out to her.

"Audrey, you shouldn't be alone right now. You just woke up..." Roan feared he'd never see her again if she walked out the door.

Audrey tensed. "I'm just going next door. I'm sure you'll be able to hear me or something if anything comes up. Raven's dead you said, so he isn't a threat to me anymore... I need time..." Not giving Roan the chance to stop her again, Audrey ran out the door and didn't stop until she was in her cabin. She was momentarily surprised to see that her front door and window had been replaced, but all she wanted to do was lay down. As strange as it was, even for being out for four days she felt drained.

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Sorry it took so long to get this up. My kids are being little demons lol.