“Desmond.” Olivia cried into my chest. Her arms were wrapped around my neck and my arms were wrapped around her lower back, holding her close to me. One of the goddesses was rubbing my back, another was rubbing hers. I didn’t care about saving face. I cried into Olivia’s arm, finally holding her again. The sparks were there but her scent was dulled by the water. We both were soaking wet. “I told you he could do it.” “Yes yes. You told me so. I get it.” Olivia was shaking and I held her as tight as I thought she could bare. The bump of her stomach pressed against me and I stared to cry in relief all over again. “Never again, my love. Stop trying to leave me.” She nodded, not saying a word. “It’s been chaos without you. Your whole family has been absolute chaos. Your older brother and mother especially. But then add in my parents, my friends, plus our kids. Olivia, you aren’t leaving me alone with those crazy people again.”

My eyes watched Olivia’s face. Her eyes were focused and she was biting her lip. It took a lot of effort not to smile. We were in a familiar position. She was sitting at the top of the porch, while I was a few steps below her, my head resting in her lap. Slowly and carefully, she was shaving the beard that had overgrown in the past few months. Her hands softly turned my head to the side and I closed my eyes, feeling the scrape of the blade against my skin.It was so quiet. For the first time in weeks, the house was just her, I and Nasir who was laying down at the far end of the porch. I hadn’t seen Ricky since the outburst at the dinner table. Olivia and Nasir also seemed more distant than usual. I was worried but every time I brought it up, she would ignore me or brush off the question. Now it was so bad, they were barely in the same room together.“Almost done. Just some final touch-ups.”I made a noise, acknowledging her but not moving

***Olivia’s POV*** I watched Desmond leave and I pulled my shirt back down. My heart felt raw, the emotions that he spilled into me were hard to handle. I knew he had been holding things back since I came back, trying to be my strength but I didn’t realize how much. I felt bad that he had been trying so hard to be strong and then coming undone when he listened to Ricky. Anger bubbled up in me. We had the serious conversation at the dinning table before everyone had arrived. We didn’t even realize we were yelling at each other for that long. Not until he stormed off. Nasir was even mad at me. It hurt, not having him close anymore but I wasn’t going to bend. I told Desmond alright and I wanted him by my side for a long as I could have him there but I wouldn’t risk him getting killed. Turning, I opened up one of the kitchen drawers. Tatiana had left two of the plaques that matched the other ones on the kids doors. It was left blank for when we decided on the boys names. Taking them wi

“I don’t invite traitors into my territory, James.” Desmond growled.“Traitors? When you have a Luna ceremony with a human? Surrounded by a bunch of filthy fey and coven bitches?”I growled this time at him. “You must have death wish coming here.”“What? You kill me in cold blood like you killed my mate?” He snarled and Desmond pulled me back further.“Actually, that was me. I threw a spear through her heart and for good measure I ripped her head off.” Alpha Bucho growled, stepping down a step from where he was standing.Alpha James cackled. “You did me a favor! Do you know what its like having a vampire mate? I am finally free. Free of my mate, free of my pack, free to do whatever the fuck I want.”“What do you mean free of your pack?” My voice cracked.“Oh dearie, I killed them all. I sent all my warriors to the Alpha King and then I killed every single one of my pack members. No one left. No one questioning my motives or buzzing in my ear that maybe I was wrong.” He growled, his ey

“Olivia, stop shutting me out!” Desmond slammed the document he was reading on the table.He looked at me, frowning, his glasses sitting on his nose. I had jumped slightly at his outburst. Nasir stood up and growled for a moment. Since the doctor’s visit two days ago, neither of them had left my side. Nasir even took up sleeping on the floor next to my side of the bed and during the day Ricky would be hovering.My eyes widened. “I’m not sure what you…”“How are we supposed to work as a unit when you are sitting here with your walls up? We leave tomorrow. I know nothing about what the hell you’re doing once we get there.”I took a deep breath. “Because I don’t really know myself, Desmond. I’m not a public speaker. I’m not some revolutionary who knows what to say and when to say it. I just want to stop both sides from killing one another.”Desmond rubbed his temples. “Olivia, I need more than just that.”“Desmond…”“I need more, Olivia! I can’t work with this!”I winced and Nasir growle