บททั้งหมดของ Bound by Fangs and Blood: บทที่ 71 - บทที่ 80

EVEWe moved to Haven three weeks later.The decision wasn't easy. Leaving Umbra Pack meant leaving everything we'd built. Madam Bella cried when we told her, though she tried to hide it."This is what's best for Lucia," she said, wiping her eyes. "I understand. Doesn't mean I have to like it.""We're not disappearing. We'll visit. You'll visit us." I hugged her tightly. "You're family. That doesn't change.""You better visit. That child needs her grandmother figure." She pulled back, composing herself. "And Eve? Thank you. For everything you've done for this pack. For me. You're one of the best things that ever happened to us."The words hit harder than expected. "I brought war to your doorstep.""You brought hope. Showed us that different doesn't mean enemy. That we can grow beyond old prejudices." She touched my face gently. "Don't ever think you weren't worth the trouble."The goodbye with the pack was worse. People I'd treated, fought beside, lived with for years. All understandi

EVEThe hospital refused to treat Lucia properly."We don't have specialists for this," the ER doctor said, looking at my unconscious daughter hooked up to machines. "She's not reading as human, wolf, or vampire. She's something else entirely and we don't have protocols for something else.""Then find someone who does!" My voice was too loud. People in the hallway turned to stare. "My daughter is dying and you're telling me you don't have protocols?""Ma'am, I understand you're upset—""My daughter used her power to save us from vampires who wanted to kill her for existing. She burned herself out doing it. And you're standing here with excuses instead of solutions." I grabbed his coat. "Fix her. Now."Adam's hand on my shoulder stopped me from doing something I'd regret. "Eve. Let me handle this."He pulled the doctor aside. Spoke quietly. Used his Alpha authority voice that made people comply without understanding why.I sat beside Lucia's bed. Held her small cold hand. She looked de

EVEThe first intelligence came through two months later.One of the sympathetic vampire clans had successfully infiltrated a Purist cell in Chicago. They'd sent us names, meeting locations, and most importantly, information about the leadership structure."They have a Council," I told Adam, reading through the encrypted files. "Seven members. Each representing a different region. They coordinate through a central figure they call the Architect.""The Architect?""No real name given. But this person designed the Haven attack. Planned every detail. They're the strategic mind behind the Purist movement." I pulled up what little information we had. "Brilliant. Ruthless. Completely committed to eradicating hybrid children.""So we find the Architect, we cut off the head of the snake.""In theory, yes. In practice, no one in the cells knows who the Architect actually is. They receive orders through intermediaries. Dead drops. Encrypted communications." I closed the file, frustrated. "They'

EVEThree years of peace made me nervous.Lucia was ten now. Sophie just turned eleven. Both girls training regularly, learning to control their abilities, growing into remarkable young people.Too remarkable. Too visible."Mama, can I go to the pack gathering tonight?" Lucia asked over breakfast. "Everyone my age is going.""What kind of gathering?""Just games and food. Sophie's going too. Madam Bella is supervising."I looked at Adam. He shrugged. "It's pack territory. Secure. Nothing's happened in three years."Three years. Long enough to get comfortable. Long enough to forget that comfort was always temporary in our lives."Fine. But you check in every hour. And if anything feels wrong—""We leave immediately. I know, Mama." Lucia rolled her eyes. "You've told me a thousand times.""And I'll tell you a thousand more until you're thirty."After the girls left for school, Adam found me staring at nothing."What's wrong?""Three years. That's longer than we've ever had without somet

CHAPTER 76ADAMThree months after Toronto, we got a message that changed everything.It came through Dr. Cross. Encrypted. Marked urgent."There's someone who wants to meet with you," she said over the phone. "Someone claiming to have information about Haven. About who funded the Purist movement.""The Architect is dead. The movement is broken. What does it matter now?""Because according to this source, the Architect wasn't the real leader. She was a figurehead. The actual power behind the Purist movement is still out there. Still operational. Already rebuilding." Dr. Cross paused. "Adam, if this is true, everything you accomplished in Toronto was just cutting off a limb. The body is still alive."I felt cold. "Who is this source?""A vampire named Marcus Thorne. Former Purist who claims he left the movement after Haven. Says he has proof of who's really running things. But he'll only talk to you and Eve directly.""It's a trap.""Maybe. Or maybe it's legitimate. Either way, you nee