เข้าสู่ระบบTHE DREAMAnnie had that strange dream again. In the dream with that stranger, she found herself completely smitten by him.She wore a dress—heavy fabric, corseted, in deep burgundy. She stood someone in that hut again. "Annitore!"The voice made her turn. It was him.Around his neck hung a necklace with a familiar pendant. Half of a triangle, broken clean down the middle. The edges weren't jagged—they were smooth, deliberate. Like it had been meant to be separated."My love, I've been searching for you," he said, his voice familiar in a way that made her chest ache with so much love and tenderness.Annie smiled widely at him.He reached for her, and she saw her own hand rise to meet his. Around her neck—the necklace with the other half of the pendant. Its broken edge is a perfect mirror to his.When their fingers touched—Annie gasped awake.PRESENT DAY The bedroom was dark, and early morning light was just beginning to filter through the curtains. Beside her, Killian's side of the
"A truce?" Annie's voice climbed. "With Candice? The same woman who—""Tommy and Connor are the real enemies. They're the ones who orchestrated all of this."Annie's breath came faster. "You're alive because you made a deal with—""I'm alive because of you." Killian's voice broke. "You came for me. You and Peggy burst in there like angels and saved all of us. If you hadn't—" He couldn't finish. Couldn't even think about what would have happened."But I broke my promise," Annie said, fresh tears spilling. "I promised I'd stay home. I promised I wouldn't do anything. But the baby—our baby spoke to me, Killian. Told me you were in danger. And I couldn't—I couldn't just sit there and let you die—""Hey." Killian cupped her face, tilting it up so their eyes met. "You saved my life. You saved Dante, Kael, Adam, Onika—all of us. You were extraordinary.""But I left you—""You were extraordinary," he repeated firmly. "And I'm so proud of you, Annie."A sob-laugh burst from Annie. "Really?""I
He looked like death. His clothes were torn and bloodstained. Bandages wrapped around his wrists where the wolfsbane chains had burned him. More bandages at his throat, covering the puncture wounds from Candice's fangs. His face was pale, drawn, with dark circles under his eyes deep enough to drown in.But he was standing. He was breathing. He was alive.For a moment, no one moved. No one spoke.Then Kael took a single step forward, his expression caught between hope and terror. "Killian?""Is it really you?" Dante's voice was barely a whisper. "Or are you—are you one of those things now? A Wraith?"Killian's lips curved into the faintest, most exhausted smile. "It's me. I wasn't turned."Onika's breath hitched. Tears sprang to her eyes. "Oh god. It's really you Alpha."The room exploded into motion.Kael crossed the room immediately, pulling Killian into a crushing embrace. Killian gasped—in pain and relief—as his brother held him. "You're alive. You're alive. I thought—we all though
"An excellent question." Candice resumed her pacing, faster now. "Vampires attack people all the time. That's what we do. But the Ravens, attacking someone connected to the Zerok family, while rumours conveniently circulate that I'm planning war?" She shook her head. "That's not a coincidence. That's orchestration.""What are you saying?""I'm saying someone set us up." She stopped abruptly, her eyes widening with realisation. A laugh escaped her—sharp and incredulous. "Oh. Oh, those clever little bastards.""What? Who?""Tommy and Connor."The names hit Killian like a physical blow. "Tommy and Connor? What do they have to do with this?"Candice turned to him, and for the first time since he'd met her, he saw genuine emotion on her face. Not amusement or cruelty—but recognition. Understanding. "Just last week, Tommy and Connor came to me. They were... desperate. Begged me to help them.""Help them with what?""To take down the Zerok family." She said it matter-of-factly, watching his
The words hung in the air.Annie's eyes went wide, her mouth falling open. Fresh tears spilt—but these were different. Not entirely grief. "A boy?" Her voice was barely a whisper. "I'm having a boy?""Yes." Peggy's hands slowly lowered, the magic dissipating. "A very strong and healthy boy.""Oh, my god." Annie's laugh was half sob, half wonder. Her hands pressed against her belly with new meaning. "A son. Killian's son. We're having—""A boy!" Kael whooped suddenly, his grief momentarily forgotten in the rush of joy. "We're getting a nephew! A little warrior!"Dante's face split into a grin despite everything. "Yesss! I knew it. I knew it was a boy.""You did not," Kael said, "You said the other day that you were sure it was a girl.""I changed my mind.""That's not how predictions work Dante—" Onika said smiling. "Shut up, I'm celebrating." Dante moved to Annie's side, taking her hand. "A nephew. A son. He's going to be incredible, Annie. Just like his father."The mention of Killi
ANNIE'S FLASHBACK ---------Annie had been sitting in the living room, after Killian and his team left to deal with Candice, when she heard her baby speak.The voice was small.Hi, Mommy.Annie wasn't startled because this wasn't the first time. She had gotten used to hearing the baby talk.Her hands trembled as she pressed them firmer against her stomach. "Hi, Baby?"You have to go save Daddy. He's in danger."What?" Annie whispered, "No, sweetheart, Daddy's fine. He's just—"He's going to die, Mommy. You have to go. Now.The certainty in that tiny voice—the absolute conviction—sent ice through Annie's veins. Her breath came faster. Her heart hammered against her ribs."I... I promised him I'd stay. I promised I wouldn't do anything stupid—I have to stay here for the sake of the baby—I mean for you.""I'm stronger than you think Mommy.""What?" Annie asked in utter disbelief. "Save Daddy. Now." The baby echoed. Annie's hands shook so badly she had to clasp them together. This was







