Chapter 13

I awoke to the sound of a door closing; James was finally back. I longed to be held by him, so I quickly left my bed to see him. I caught him in the hallway; his red eyes were glowing more intensely than normal. I rubbed my sleepy eyes with balled fists, "James, what time is it?", I asked. "Really late.", he responded; he seemed distant and distressed. "Would it be an inconvenience...", I paused briefly, " Will you stay with me tonight?" His demeanor softened. He leaned down and kissed my forehead, "Of course.", he smiled.

He whisked me up into his strong arms and carried me back into my room, placing me gently on the bed. He adjusted something at the window of the room before he started undoing his shoes. "Do you mind if I get comfortable?", he asked. I shook my head, "Not at all." I blushed as he stripped down to his underwear, leaving his clothes and shoes in a pile on the reading chair. I could see his lean, muscular body dimly lit by the light from the hallway as he walked back over to close the door. The butterflies started to stir. Pull yourself together, I thought as I took a deep, calming breath.

The room was so dark now; the only light emitted was from under the door. I felt his weight shift on the bed as he joined me. His skin was cool to the touch. I still welcomed his embrace willingly. I nuzzled my face on his chest, and my head fell into the crook of his armpit. He stroked my back lightly with his fingertips, and I pulled the blankets up over us before wrapping my thigh over his hips. I tucked my foot between his knees and traced the line between his pectorals. His scent and the rise and fall of his chest lulled me to sleep.

...

When I woke up, I was facing toward the blacked-out window. James was spooning me, and our legs were intertwined. I didn't want to leave him yet, so I gently stroked his arm that was lying across my waist and repositioned my hips so that my back was flush against him. I lay there inhaling his scent and enjoying the pleasant feeling of being next to him. I didn't leave until the uncomfortable urge to relieve my exceedingly full bladder surpassed the ecstasy I felt lying next to him. 

I got up and opened the door quietly and only wide enough to squeeze through, I didn't want to disturb him with the light. I went to the bathroom immediately. Last night was amazing, I slept so soundly, truly at peace with the situation. I went to the kitchen and rummaged around to figure out something to eat. I decided to make myself brunch. I made some muffins, eggs, and bacon. Before plating my meal, I cut up some fresh fruit to add and got myself a huge glass of whole milk.

I took my food to the sitting room and decided to eat my meal while I finished reading Jane Eyre. I added a few more logs to the fire before sitting down in one of the chairs. I made sure to be careful not to soil the book, eating methodically with one hand while I turned the pages with the other. Charlotte Brontë had such a way with her words that I could easily add this to my list of favorites.

Time passed quickly while I was reading, it wasn't long before James emerged from my room, just as I had finished the book. "Good morning, sleepy head.", I said, giggling since it was technically nighttime. He was still in his boxers, allowing me to admire his body in the light this time. "Did you sleep well?", he asked. I could feel my cheeks blushing, "I did; I hope that you did too." I was grinning sheepishly while ogling his chiseled body. He stared at me in confusion before looking down at his bare body. "Let me get dressed really quick.", He said before turning away from me and heading back to his room. He returned a short while later with a grave look on his face. "Let's talk.", he said as he let out a deep sigh. Oh no, this was serious. Was it regarding what he learned from his father? He sat down in the chair across from me and pulled my hands to him, resting his forehead on my hands, refusing to make eye contact with me.

"I promised you that I would tell you what I learned." He started. I gulped but sat in silence as my stomach twisted. "I'm so sorry, Kara.", he continued. Tears welled in my eyes; I could tell this was going to be devastating for me to hear. I bit my bottom lip as I waited to hear about my catastrophic future. After a long pause, he picked up where he left off, "My father has done terrible things, I didn't know anything about this, you have to believe me." This had to be pretty bad if he thought it would change my viewpoint of him. I breathed in deeply, closed my eyes, and exhaled. I moved my hands to his chin and forced him to look me in the eyes; he was crying; he was crying blood. I backed my hands away nervously. He looked at me forlornly, desperately seeking comfort from my touch.

He reached back for my hands. "Please.", he begged. I allowed him to hold my hands, but I kept them close to my body. I sat in uncomfortable silence as he started to speak, "If Sylas had never met me, he might have left you alone. If he had left you alone and your previous reincarnations alone, you would have all lived long lives, normal lives." "Reincarnations?", I said, befuddled by his statement. "Please, let me finish. I have to get this all out, and then I will answer all your questions to the best of my ability." He interjected. I nodded in understanding.

He began again, "Sylas wants your child, our child more specifically; there is a prophecy that he has been trying to fulfill for at least 80 years since he first came across a scroll written in Sanskrit." "I didn't know what the blood bond would do to you.", he protested, "I thought it was simply a marriage ritual that vampires did to show their commitment to one another." I could see the anger in his eyes as he continued, "Our blood bond was the beginning of your mate bond being severed. I think that's why it was so painful for you." He paused and sighed deeply, "If I had known that in advance, I would have never done it. You have to trust me."

"The prophecy has two paths now that the blood bond has been done. You mate with me within 19 days, and you will have a little girl as a result; she will be a Dhampir-Wolf hybrid, but you lose your wolf in the process. She will be very powerful and have the attributes of both her parents without the disadvantages. Sylas told me that after she is born, I can turn you into a vampire, but without that intervention, you would die without your wolf."

He let out another anguished sigh, "Your true mate has been triggered and now has the ability to track you; it's likely that he is already on his way here now; if he makes it in time, he must kill me, and reclaim you by mating with you before the 19 days ends and your bond with him is completely severed. If this happens, I will, of course, no longer exist, and your firstborn with him will essentially become the leader of all werewolves. You would maintain your wolf and should be able to shift after you have mated with him. Most importantly, you will live as a normal werewolf after this." 

Tears fell from his cheeks, staining the area rug red. He said, "I love you, Kara, and I don't want to lose you, but your happiness is the most important thing to me. I will go along with whatever you decide. I'm so sorry, Kara. Please forgive me."

I sat there speechless, staring off, dissociating myself, in a catatonic state, for a long time. James was pleading with me to say something, anything. His voice faintly fell on my ringing ears. He wanted me to tell him that I hated him, that I despised him, that I never wanted to see him again. I couldn't. He grabbed my cheeks, "Say anything.", he pleaded. He started again saying the opposite, "Tell me you love me too; tell me you want to be with me." He tried everything to snap me out of it, but I couldn't respond. My vision blurred as the ringing in my ears intensified, drowning everything out. Black specks began to encroach on my vision. I knew that I was going to pass out; I could feel it coming. My heart was racing rapidly; I was going into shock.