Changes

Chapter 31

Alanna's POV

I made my way down the stairs, in need of a cup of coffee to wake up. Work at fixing and remodeling my house was in full swing. I noticed the coffee was already made with my mother's scent hanging in the air. I made myself my cup then followed her scent to the front porch where she was enjoying her cup of coffee as she watched Drako train with the twins. "How are you doing," I asked her as I sat down. It was still so strange seeing her look so young. If she was blonde we could twins. "It's amazing," She confessed. "One day I believed I would follow your father, but then I met Drako. I still love your father and he will always have a special place in my heart. But with Drako, he makes me feel alive in a way I never did with your father." I smiled, "Mom, you don't need to explain anything to me. I get it. And dad has always wanted you to be happy." He did anything and everything he could do to make her smile. From little things by leaving little love notes for her to find to big things by buying her dream house.

She nodded, "He was always good at that." She then looked at me, "How are you doing honey?" "My lower back is killing me," I grumbled. "It enjoys being in my back." She laughed softly, "Karma is really sweet." I raised an eyebrow, "Excuse me." "You loved being in my back," She told me before taking a drink. "Then you became a beautiful pain in my ass as you grew up." I rolled my eyes, "Thanks mom. I love you too." She laughed softly before we fell silent.

"Damn it Silver, would you just stop," Violet growled as she came around the corner of the house, Silver in tow. "Just this once, do as I fucking say," Silver growled back. "What's going on," I asked them. "She won't take my card and get the disaster she calls her hair, fixed," Silver answered. "I told you, it's not a priority, I'll get it done later," Violet argued. "Says the one who was scrolling through hair color ideas on her phone last night," Silver growled back.

"For future possibilities," She told him while rolling her eyes. My mother and I shared a look and then we both sighed. "Silver, haven't you stopped to think that maybe she doesn't want to because of how far along Alanna is and with the threat of the Elders, she doesn't want to take her chances? Getting your hair dyed takes hours. During those hours, she worries that something may happen," My mother explained to him.

"We can handle it," Silver stated. "I know you can, but the idea of leaving doesn't sit right with me," Violet told him. "I'll just do it later, or let it just grow out and cut out the color when it gets long enough." Silver glared at her, and I sighed.

"How about this," I said to them, cutting off all arguments. "I'm planning on going to the store today, not far from it is a hair salon that specializes in dying hair. I will be at the store for a while with Z, and if it ends up being like how it was last time we were there together, no one will want to be in the store with us. And Silver, you will be going with her, and you will sit through the entire process. I am growing tired of your constant bickering. Learn to pick and choose your battles, it will make your mating much easier on the two of you and everyone else around you."

I then looked at my watch. It had a light pink leather band, diamonds around the pearl colored face, and silver Roman numerals. He refused to tell me why he had given it to me, simply stating he wanted to. I stood and went inside to get a quick bite to eat. Z came in, completely showered and teeth brushed after he hunted for his breakfast. He wrapped his arms around me, chin resting on my head. We were silent, simply enjoying each other's company.

Nia then came in, bag in hand. "You okay," I asked her, noticing she looked worried. "Have either of you heard from Vlad? He didn't call me last night," She replied. "He's off tracking down that guy and he said he would call when he got to the hotel. I called the hotel and he never checked in. And I cant sense him with our mating bond."

I looked at Z and he had that far away look, as if trying to follow the warrior bond to find him. "When's the last time you talked to him," Z asked Nia. "When he came home to get what he needed and to feed," Nia replied. "I'll find him," Z promised her. He then gave me a kiss, "Stay here till I return."

He then went to his office. Axel, Talos, Silver, and Violet then came in. "What's going on," Violet asked me. "Vlad is missing," I told them. "His mating bond and warrior bond is cut off. Z is going out to find him." I could see the question in their eyes about if he truly was missing. Nia did too, and it caused her to snap.

"Look, I get he did some horrible things to cause you to not trust him, but Vlad is changed. The man you know, is not the man I know. My mate is a man who has sacrificed so much for me, and has done nothing but support me. I refuse to stand by while you all think so bad about him," She snapped at the four of them. Then she pushed past them angrily and went up the stairs.

They glared after her. "Enough," I told them. "She is right. Vlad once cared about nothing but money, power, and sex. He threw that all away to be with her." I have seen him care for her. He is so thoughtful, and caring. Its night and day. Once upon a time, I wouldn't have cared what happened to him. But the Vlad that exists now, is a good man who just wants to do right by his mate. I prayed Z found him.

Z's POV

I tracked Vlad to the point where the bond was cut off. I crouched down and ran my hand over the ground where there was blood splattered on the ground. There were also several piles of ashes. It looked like it took an army to capture him. It was clear they didn't know his history as the great Vladorian who once covered the ground in an ocean of blood and bodies in a single night with his knife as his only weapon.

There was a magic residue in the air, meaning they used a binding curse to capture him, cutting off the bonds. I noticed a trail of blood and followed it to a set of tire tracks. I dipped my finger into the blood and brought it to my nose. It wasn't Vlad's. It smelled young and male.

I took a picture of the tire tracks and called Cherif. "Yes," Cherif said when he answered. "Vlad was attacked when carrying out my orders. I'm going to send you a picture of the tire tracks of the vehicle they put him in. I need you to tell me which vampire lord owns the vehicle that matches them." I sent him the picture then stayed on the line to wait for the results. Cherif had the fastest program in the world. I knew he would be able to get me a name in minutes.

"Lord Sellias," He told me. "Do you need assistance sir?" "No," I answered. I then hung up. I knew where the Lord lived and it was time to pay him a visit.