Bloodlines

Anna

After the howling that sends shivers down my back, I stand with Dean while he talks to the families of the deceased. I hold onto his elbow the whole time. I watch him do his thing, talking to the families and consoling them. He's good at it, that's for sure.

It's only when Liam and Julia come up that I listen. Julia doesn't know what's going on. What all the howling means. She doesn't understand that she will never see her mother again and that soon she will lose her father. Is this what it was like for my mother?

I interrupt Dean. "Can I see her?" Liam nods and hands Julia over. I prop her on my hip.

Dean smiles before turning to Liam and saying something about avenging Eve's death.

"How are you feeling?" I ask Julia.

"Scared." She looks around with her big brown eyes and wraps her tiny arms around my neck. "Where's mommy?"

My heart crashes. "Your mommy is somewhere really special." My voice cracks. I blink back tears.

"Really?"

"Yeah." I clear my throat. "Do you remember the warrior tales from story time?" Julia nods. "Your mommy is with them."

"Fighting the bad men?" Her eyes light up.

"She's fighting the bad men so they stay away. So she can keep you safe."

Julia releases my neck. She plays with my chain. "When will she be back?"

"She won't," I say. "But she needs you to be safe, which is why she has to fight." Julia stays quiet. I look over at Dean. He and Liam watch me. Dean holds a ghost smile on his lips. It makes my stomach do funny things.

I hand Julia back to Liam. His eyes are bloodshot but he holds himself together. He no longer has blood down his chin either.

"Mommy's fighting," Julia says to her father. He nods and they walk away.

Dean pulls me into a tight hug. "You were great." He gives me a squeeze before releasing me and taking my hand. "Where'd you come up with all that?"

My throat clogs up. I take a deep breath before replying. "Your mother said it to me when I asked where my mother was." Dean squeezes my hand. He looks at me but I can't bring my eyes to his. I keep my eyes straight ahead and I try not to blink. But I know he knows what I'm feeling. "Is he going to kill himself?"

"No," Dean says. A tear falls down my cheek. "But their bond was strong. He'll probably be dead by morning." I cover my mouth and bury my head in Dean's chest. Sobs rock my body but my cries are muffled by Dean. He rubs my back and holds me close. But I can't do it.

I push away from him and wipe my eyes. "I can't do this Dean."

"Do what?"

"Be your mate. Pretend."

"Shh." He looks around but nobody heard us. People drop flowers in the graves and say their goodbyes. They're all distracted.

"It's everything I'm against. Having a mate tears people apart." I wipe my eyes again, but the more I wipe, the more that fall.

"No it doesn't."

"Julia is going to grow up without parents because of it. I grew up with out parents because of it. Who's going to look after Julia? She has no family like I did." My tears stop falling. "Are you going to move her next door like your parents did with me?"

"Anna, just calm down. Something will be figured out. Liam may last longer than I said."

I huff and turn away. In my line of sight is Jessica and she looks hungry.