Prologue

1800s

20th century

Victoria paced the room with apprehension. She could hear her father speaking to his guest, though his voice was not entirely clear. She had a sinking feeling that they were discussing her betrothal to Lord Raven. Her forehead was coated with sweat, and the butterflies in her stomach fluttered uneasily.

A movement from behind startled her, and she let out a light scream, which died down when she saw that it was her lover, Felix. "Felix!" Her eyes widened. "What in heaven's name are you doing here?"

He pulled her into his arms, pressing his lips to hers in a bruising kiss. "To see my love," he murmured. Just as he was about to kiss her again, she stopped him.

"You must stop this, my father is in the other room talking to my future husband, and we are to be engaged today." His eyes darkened with unshed anger.

"Blazes, why? If you were mine, you would never be without hunger or my love."

Tears welled in her eyes as she spoke, "I know, my dear Felix, but it can never be. I am a blue-stocking lady, and you are but a farmer." She barely suppressed a sob.

He shook her gently, almost frantically. "Let us run away, right now."

Victoria wanted to agree, but she could not bring herself to be so selfish. Her father's status and honor would be shattered. Her father was a good man, and she would never bear the thought of destroying his reputation. "I am so sorry, Felix, but I cannot leave my papa. If I ran with you, where would we go? I love you more than life itself, but I cannot and will not break my father's heart. I do hope you forgive me."

She hugged him tightly, and after a moment, he returned the embrace. They broke apart, and Felix leaned in to kiss her again. His hands tangled in her hair, and the pins fell to the floor like raindrops. He lifted her and carried her to the bed, their passion flaring. But soon, his urgency became too much. He stood and removed his belt in a frantic motion, his heat escaping in a desperate rush. He lifted her gown and thrust into her welcoming heat. She moaned in response, feeling the weight of him as their bodies moved together.

She tried her best to stay silent, shuddering with the cry of his name. Felix groaned, releasing his tension within her. Her eyes flew open, and in a moment of clarity, she pushed him away.

"I told you not to do this again, Felix! You could make me heavy with child."

She rushed to a rag, cleaning herself hurriedly. As she wiped, she pulled her hair back into a bun, straightened her bodice, and reapplied her makeup. She turned to Felix, who had done the same.

"I hope to get you heavy with child," he muttered, a playful grin crossing his lips.

Victoria shot him a deep frown. "You can be a real dingbat sometimes."

A knock sounded at the door, and they both stiffened.

"Miss Victoria, it is time."

She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. "I will be right out."

She heard the maid's retreating footsteps and sighed deeply. "I will love you forever and a day, Felix." Without waiting for a response, she opened the door and stepped out to face her potential future.

The garden was filled with guests seated and waiting, and Victoria forced a smile as she entered. Her father's face brightened when he saw her. "Ah! There you are, my flower. May I introduce Sir Raven?"

Victoria curtsied and replied, "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, my Lord."

As Lord Raven stood, she couldn't help but notice his striking beauty. He was scarily handsome, with a hint of mischief in his eyes. He reached for her hand, intending to kiss it, but stopped short.

He turned to her father. "You said your daughter is untouched?"

Victoria's heart raced, and her fear became evident on her face.

"Aye, my daughter is untouched. She has been groomed from birth for you," her father said proudly. Lord Raven smiled at him.

"Then tell me, why does she smell of a male and spent passion?"

Before she could react, Lord Raven's grip tightened on her throat, lifting her from the ground. She gasped for air, but nothing came out. Her eyes widened in horror as she saw Raven's face transform. His eyes were now a deep ruby red, and his fangs gleamed in the sunlight.

"Monster! What in blazes are you?" she gasped, struggling in his grasp.

"VICTORIA!" A voice rang out, and she looked to see Felix standing there.

"You are the one who deflowered my bride and got her heavy with child!" His words stung, and Victoria's gaze instinctively turned to her stomach.

"No," she whispered, trying to rise but unable to.

"I love her, and I want to marry her," Felix declared, his eyes filled with passion.

Lord Raven's eyes blazed with fury, and before anyone could blink, he moved toward Felix with devilish speed and grabbed him by the throat.

"Goop! Insolent boy! You will regret the day those words left your lips."

Victoria stood and faced Raven. "Please! I beg you, do not kill him. I am the one who dishonored you, so please forgive me."

Her father, who had been in a state of shock, suddenly found his voice. "Guards! Arrest this monster!"

But as the guards rushed forward, Raven only smiled.

"Fools," he muttered, and with a gust of wind, all the guards collapsed, leaving only Victoria, Felix, and her father standing. Felix growled, shaking violently. His body began to change. His screams turned into howls, and hair began to sprout from his skin.

Victoria gasped in shock.

Lord Raven chuckled in delight. "What a surprise, this lad is a werewolf. Which means you are carrying a werewolf spawn."

He turned to Felix. "Go on, finish it," he ordered, before Felix collapsed, unable to complete his transformation.

Turning to Lord Clifford, Raven spoke coldly. "Lord Clifford, you and your daughter have soiled my honor and destroyed everything. I curse you to be stripped of your title and downgraded to a commoner."

Her father collapsed at his words.

As Raven turned his gaze back to Victoria, he moved with incredible speed, grabbing her roughly and sinking his fangs into her neck. She screamed in pain, her entire body feeling as though it were burning from the inside out. After what felt like an eternity, Raven pulled away, leaving her to collapse onto the ground.

"Do not worry," he said darkly. "You will live a human life, but your son—" He chuckled lowly, "Your son will grow up immortal. But you must take caution, for what he is, is far more beastly than you could ever fathom."

With those words, Lord Raven left, disappearing into the shadows.

Victoria slowly brought her hand to her neck, wincing in pain. She placed her hands on her stomach, still in disbelief that she was pregnant.

"Victoria?" Felix's voice called out softly. He stumbled toward her, his form now back to normal. He embraced her, and she clung to him.

"Why did you not tell me?" she asked softly. Felix looked down guiltily.

"I am so sorry. I didn't want to lose you, and that is why I didn't say anything about it," he confessed, his eyes filled with regret.

He looked at her neck in horror. "He bit you!"

Victoria nodded. "He told me I would have a human life and that I would be fine, but I'm scared for our child, Felix."

Felix held her tightly, whispering that everything would be all right.

Turning to her father, Victoria shook him gently. "Father?" But there was no response.

"Father, please wake up," she begged, growing more frantic when he didn't move.

"Felix, do something!" she cried. Felix attempted to rouse her father, but to no avail. Lord Clifford was cold to the touch, his body stiff and lifeless.

"I'm sorry, Victoria, but he's gone."

Victoria shook her head, disbelief written across her face. She held her father's lifeless body in her arms.

"No, father. Papa, I am so sorry I've betrayed you. Please forgive me for soiling your honor. I chose my selfish needs over your choice, and now I'll never get the chance to apologize. I'm so sorry, papa, so sorry."

Felix held her as she cried, her body trembling with the weight of her grief, until exhaustion overtook her and she collapsed. He carried her out of the castle, toward a new future—one that held both the pain of the past and the uncertain hope of the future.

One year later

Victoria moved slowly toward the laundry room. A full year had passed since the events that changed her life forever. She had tried her best to forget, to move on from the pain, but the fear of the child she carried lingered.

She had yet to experience childbirth, and the people in the town were beginning to talk. Victoria, too, was scared.

Felix entered the room, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "How is my wife and baby doing?"

Victoria laughed softly. "We're both doing well."

"Sit, and I'll bring you breakfast," Felix said, but just as she was about to move, something strange happened. Water ran down her legs. Her eyes widened in horror and joy.

"The baby is coming."

Felix immediately scooped her up and carried her to the bed, preparing to deliver the baby himself.

Later that evening, a small, beautiful baby was born.

"He has your eyes," Felix said with a loving smile.

Victoria looked down at their son, her heart full. "He's perfect. And look, Felix, he's normal. He wasn't affected by the bite.”

Felix smiled with relief. "Aye, my dear, he's perfect."

They looked out the window at the moon, which had taken on a strange red tint.

Victoria and Felix's story was coming to an end. It was the beginning of their son's life, and with it, a future yet unknown.