Beckoned (Book 1) The Brazil Werewolf Series

Epilogue

Hello, Lovelies, 

I want to thank you for reading Beckoned.  It means a lot that you gave this book a chance.  I truly hope you enjoyed the book.   I hope you will join me for Summoned.  

I will be writing an author's note.  It should be posted by tomorrow.  Again thank you.  

I hope you enjoy the epilogue.  If you do, please consider voting.  Comments are deeply appreciated.  If you have questions, comment or send me a message.  

-XXXX Amanda

**********

I stared at the little plastic stick, blinking. I felt my heart swell as I rubbed my stomach gently and grinned widely, marveling that a little life lived in there.

I opened the door of the bathroom and rushed out, almost running over Andre as I did. A grin lit up his face as he gazed into my bright eyes. He tilted his head, studying me.

"What has made you so happy?" he asked. "I hope it has something to do with me."

"Of course," I said, ecstatic. I kissed him on the lips before handing him the stick. He looked at it, confused. "I hope you want to be a daddy."

His eyes widened as he stared down at the stick, studying it, appearing a bit dazed. Finally, he looked up. "Really?" When I nodded, he picked me up and spun me around. "Do you know how much I love you?"

"Yep." I grinned. "Less than I love you."

"Not a chance." He kissed my nose before nuzzling it for a moment.

My eyes widened, excited. "We have to tell our parents."

He beamed. "I'll tell them." Seeing my pout, he grinned as he took my hand in his. "We'll tell them together." He laughed. "I'm a bit worried about leaving you alone anyway. Every time I do, someone tries to take you away from me."

"I don't think you have to worry about that anymore," I said as we walked through the park.

"Well, let's just say that my nerves haven't calmed from the last time."

I rolled my eyes, then smiled, excited. We found Sophia and Gavriel sitting with my mother outside of their home. My excitement almost died as I glanced at my mother. She appeared pale. Dull, lifeless eyes stared out from her sad, drawn face. She had lost weight, seeming smaller than she had during the height of the fever.

"We have some news," Andre said. Everyone looked up, including my mother. She tilted her head, finally interested in something happening around her. Andre glanced at me. I smiled, nodding, as we said, "We're going to have a baby!"

Sophia jumped and put a hand over her heart. "I'm going to be a grandmother?!" She clapped her hands. She looked at my mother, who smiled softly. "We're going to be grandmothers, Fiona!"

My mother stood slowly and hugged me. "I'm so happy for you," she whispered, her eyes filling with tears. "I can't believe my baby is going to have a baby."

"Oh, Momma," I cried, hugging her. "I'm not a baby anymore."

"You will always be a baby to me," she said and smiled. "And I hope you know that. I love you so much."

"I love you, too, Momma."

She patted my cheek. "I know you do, baby," she whispered as she sat back down.

I continued to glance toward her as Gavriel and Sophia gushed over the news. Her smile never reached her eyes. Sadness rolled off her in waves. Andre must have sensed my worry because he made excuses to leave.

We walked back silently. When we finally arrived home, he turned to me. "She'll be okay, Aurora," he whispered, caressing my cheek.

"I'm not so sure," I said, frowning. "After I was kidnapped, Garridan had tried to talk my father out of it by telling him I was bonded to you and being without my mate could kill me." I wiped a tear from my cheek. "If that's true, my mother could die without my father."

He winced. "Maybe he's lying and there is a possibility that she isn't blood bonded to him," he said, biting his bottom lip. "So, it's possible she'll be okay. Maybe there's a way to break it. Either way, she'll have to decide what to do herself. She'll have to trust us to find a way though, and it will take time."

"I know," I whispered hoping we had enough time to find a way to make her well.

**********

That night, the wind whipped around the motorhome hard enough to rock it. I sat up, looking around, frightened when I did not find Andre beside me. I stood and walked into the living room, shocked to find him with Sophia and Gavriel.

I frowned as I looked at them, dread gripping my heart.

"What is it?" I asked, glancing at Andre. I tapped into his emotions, sensing his worry.

"You can't get upset, Aurora," Sophia whispered, gaining my attention. "You have to remember the baby."

I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. I took a deep breath. "What's happened?"

"It's Fiona," Sophia whispered. "When I woke up, she was gone."

"Gone?" I asked, the color draining from my face.

"She left you this." Sophia handed me an envelope with my name scrawled across it in my mother's familiar hand.

I frowned as I grasped it, tearing it open and staring at the paper, tears blurring my eyes. I blinked, allowing them to fall down my face as I read the note aloud.

"Dear Aurora,

Before I tell you what has happened, I want you to know how very much I love you. You are my baby, but you've grown up and now have a family of your own. My decisions do not affect you as much as they used to. I am happy about the baby and I will come back frequently. Do not think I won't be in your lives.

This decision was a hard one to make. I didn't want to leave you, but I have to. I am drawn to your father. Maybe I even love him. I feel bad for what he did, but it has faded and I think I understand his motives. I must find out what this is. I cannot believe what Sophia tells me...that it is a bond he forced on me. Your bond wasn't forced. You chose it. Maybe I chose mine.

For now, know I love you. Please, try to forgive your father. I'm sure he loves you.

Love always,

Mother"

I stared at the letter for a few moments, turning it over as if there would be more on the back. I shook my head as more tears fell down my cheeks.

"Is there a way to break a bond?" I asked, terrified, looking at Sophia.

"Not that we know of," she whispered, "especially the blood bond."

I looked at Gavriel, who shook his head. "We choose our bonds," he said, staring at me. "Your mother had hers forced upon her. She's obsessed, as is your father. Thankfully, she won't be harmed by him or anyone else. He'll be protective...very protective. Still, I don't see how their bond could be broken. I haven't ever known anyone who even tried it."

I began to cry and felt Andre wrap me in his arms. I didn't know what to do. Andre and I loved each other before mating or blood bonding, but my mother had been frightened of my father. She had changed so completely, she now believed herself in love with him.

I looked up at Andre. He kissed me gently, then looked into my eyes. "We will find a way to save your mother. I promise."

I nodded, but the situation seemed hopeless to me. How was my mother going to break his bond? If my father beckoned, she would always go to him, just as I would always go to Andre.