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I would be much more afraid and confused by the state I'm in if it weren't for those within me, explaining everything.
My eyelids blink a few times staring around me. I look up to my right, Tresor standing beside me with a look of relief while I then trail my gaze around the room. I see Dante staring at me hard from across the room, Niles checking the monitors and asking, "Dot is it?"
My gaze lands on him and I nod.
"Do you know where you are?" Niles asks, his features soft.
I furrow my brows, nodding my response.
Niles arches a brow and replies, "Everything escalated quickly the moment you arrived. After putting you under, your baby was delivered shortly after, though when I tried to bring you back, you fell into a coma."
"It's been a couple of weeks," Dante speaks, breaking through Niles' explanation.
My throat is drying, parting my lips to speak before Niles asks, "Can you get her some water, Keveon?"
Tresor nods, turning from me for a moment while Dante walks closer to Niles, observing me. My gaze travels from both of them, Tresor returning as he helps me take a sip from the cup. It takes a bit, but I'm able to clear my throat, though it still feels like sandpaper is grating against it when I ask, "My baby?"
"In intensive care," Niles informs me, but reassures, "he's doing alright."
"He?" I ask, my heart beating fast.
Niles smiles and continues, "A little vampire," he pauses and glances to Tresor before saying, "Keveon informed us that he'll be taking primary care of the baby as your situation is not the best at the moment."
I almost forgot that Grandpa explained basics to Dante, his coven and pack understanding as well.
"Cormac will be here shortly with all of his mates," Dante glances to Tresor and asks, "do you plan on staying until after the council is brought down or will you return to Cormac's estate?"
"We'll discuss it upon his arrival," Tresor replies, a spark igniting in his eyes as I'm sure if Uncle Kev stays, it'll be of his choice and not one Tresor is making ahead of time for him. Either way, they're all going to be here soon...
"Can I see him?" I ask, my voice soft, though my natural strength begins to exponentially flood my being, Niles keeping his gaze on me while Tresor and Dante talk.
Niles asks with concern, "Are you feeling up to-"
He stops himself short the second I pull the IV from my arm, swinging my legs over the side of the medical bed and touching my bare feet to the floor. Niles takes a step back, Dante ordering, "You need to take it-"
"Where do you get the nerve to tell me what I need to do?" I immediately whirl around on Dante when I turn to the side, Tresor's features hardly shifting at my outburst. Staring at Dante hard, I state, "You don't know me, your perception of hybrids completely askew," his jaw clenches, his eyes searching mine.
Dante narrows his eyes and asks, "How do you-"
"I'm going to bet it was your werewolf mate's head you bestowed to Arthur, gaining his trust and favor to fill that fifth council seat," I can't help it...I'm angry...I glare at him, "if that's the truth, where you are going to admit it or not, then it shows your regard for your mates...and that of others in our situation."
Careful.
Tresor's voice slips soundlessly through my mind.
Niles remains silent, looking to Dante, watching for what his Alpha will do. It comes as a surprise to me when Dante tilts his chin up and tells me, "You're a captivating being that I clearly underestimated," he pauses a moment, nodding, "you are correct, I did kill my mates because I don't entirely believe in the facts presented to me regarding my brother's death and therefore, my trust for those who should be my soul tie is diminished."
I bite my tongue from divulging any further information.
How I so badly want to lash out about Rose and how he manipulated them all when he clearly didn't even trust Grandpa, Rose, and Marc...he kept himself guarded and his intentions under wraps.
It's infuriating...absolutely-
"You wanted to see your son?" Niles diverts the conversation as it begins to deflate, my gaze landing on him as I nod. I walk with him, leaving Dante and Tresor to themselves as Niles leads me to a separate room from the one we're in. He walks down the hallway, stopping just at the door before turning to me and saying, "For whatever reason or another that you're attacking my Alpha...please be careful. I know you're beyond his reach regarding your strength, but I caution you."
My features don't alter, not wanting to show how I feel about this situation. All I reply with is, "Thank you," because I am sure I'll hear about it from Grandpa when he gets here after Dante goes back at him about my knowledge.
Niles's lips form into a gentle smile, telling me, "Your son is through this door. You're more than welcome to spend the time you need to with him." Niles turns away from me and says, "You won't need anything for recovery, as it appears you're in perfect health now that you're awake. I'll be back to check in on you both in a little while."
Nile's footsteps fade away, back down the hallway as I stand outside the door. Taking even breaths, I try to reach out for the door handle, even managing to rest my hand on it for minutes...though I can't turn it. I can't bring myself to open the door. My hand shakes, fighting down everything until I snatch my hand away from the handle.
I can't...
...I don't want to get attached.
My back hits the wall next to the door, sliding to the floor as tears immediately spill down my cheeks, drawing in a shaky breath. I wrap my arms around my abdomen as I draw my knees up, my face burying into them as I release a small, audible cry.
"Dot?" My head snaps up the second I hear Uncle Kev's voice, tilting my head to the side as he quickly moves down the hallway. He kneels when he's in front of me, his eyes searching mine as he whispers gently, "Tresor switched places with me here, updating me with what happened to you...your grandpa will be here soon."
Tears continue to fall, breathing out as I whisper, "Where is Tresor?"
"I don't know," Uncle Kev looks me over, asking, "what's wrong?" He glances to the door, then trailing his gaze back to me, "Did they hurt you?"
"No..." my voice is watery, shaking my head and lowering my voice as I hear footsteps off in the distance, "...I'm not strong enough to see him...I'm a poor excuse for a mother, mine would be ashamed of me and how weak I am."
Uncle Kev shakes his head, cupping my cheeks as he says, "No, you're placed in a position where the very fabric of your being is at risk...don't do this to yourself, you deserve much more." He brushes the tears from my cheeks, smiling gently, "I love you, and I will take care of your son as mine and raise him. You don't have anything to worry about, I promise."
"They've arrived," Dante's voice haunts me, Uncle Kev slowly releasing my cheeks as we both glance to him. He narrows his eyes and asks, "What?"
"Give the new mother a break, she's emotional right now," Uncle Kev rises to his feet, helping me to mine as he does.
Dante snorts, shaking his head, "She's a pistol with no safety, so I won't lower my guard around her." His next comment is thrown at me as he says, "Keveon said he'll remain with the baby. Are you coming to meet your..." his voice trails off as he arches a brow, "...you know, I don't even know how to refer to those you know, considering up until your arrival here, I was under the impression you were a breeder slave of Cormac's."
"Friend," I reply quietly as I gather my wits about me, forcing down the emotions as Uncle Kev takes a step back away from me.
"I'll catch up in a while," Uncle Kev nods, looking to me once more before he leaves and heads into the room. I briefly hear monitors and machines echoing in the room before the door closes and I'm left alone with Dante in the hallway.
"Why didn't you stop me from nearly killing you?" Dante asks, curiosity getting the best of him.
I shrug my shoulders and reply, "I know how to act...unlike others..." I allow my words to trail off as I see his features shift. Taking a few breaths, I swallow the anger, pride, hate...everything I have for those who disrupted the ones I love...for their actions haven't taken place and they are guilty of no crimes...
...well, except for Dante killing his mates.
I take a few steps toward him, outstretching my hand as he looks at me hard for a moment. Breathing out, I tell him, "I'm sorry."
"Let's start over," Dante takes my hand and we shake, our eyes holding an intensity as I nod back. Even as he mentioned before he'd decided I was better off dead with the knowledge I hold back at Aohdan's estate...we could have been allies in another time and place...now, now is that time, especially if his feelings aren't clouding his judgment this time around.
We release our grip, Dante motioning for me as I walk with him down the hallway. He leads me to the different sections of the estate grounds, coming to stop when we reach a large living room. My heart drops into the butterflies fluttering around in my stomach, catching a brief glimpse of the undisturbed ambiance in the room...
...Grandpa Sebby has a smile on his face, sitting on a couch with...Marc, it has to be him..next to Grandpa Sebby. He has a hand on his thigh, laughing about something while Rose smiles, standing a few feet in front of them, just in front of a coffee table. Grandpa kisses Rose's temple, a giggle leaving her lips as she playfully smacks his chest, though he visibly staggers at her strength.
I feel it.
I know Dante feels it as well.
Rose's genes are unlocked, the marks clear as day on her neck.
The moment they sense our presence, Grandpa double takes and asks, "Dot, I didn't think you'd be up so soon after-"
"You didn't care to check on me..." my voice trails off, pain forming in the center of my chest.
Dante glances from them all, to settle his gaze back on me, the two of us standing next to one another just under the archway of the living room entryway.
They're happy and the Code of Conduct hasn't even been nullified, the council still very much seated in control, in power...
The moment Rose turns her gaze on me, I know it's true...
...she's no longer a dormant hybrid.
⊰♥⊱To Be Continued⊰♥⊱