Chapter 100


    -Dorothy-


    Fac’s surprise party was just as morous and decadent as I expected it to be All of her and Angie’s


    closest friends, most of them young soldiers who fought alongside us in the battle with the Tally,


    gathered outside our cottage as the sun began to


    set,


    Angie had twisted Ignatius’s arm into letting her hold the party in our garden. ording to Angie, ours


    was the best ce for proper partying, and we couldn’t exactly disagree.


    And so, Ignatius and to got to work decking out the ce in preparation. I had tried my best to get


    involved in the nning, it was an exciting event after all. But I couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that


    Ignatius had sparked with his talk of


    vampires.


    The forests, which had always felt so protective and weing outside our windows, now seemed to


    team with enemies only I could see


    Ignatius did his best to distract me, and for the most part, he seeded. But no matter how many


    candles I lit and streamers I hung. I couldn’t quite manage to enjoy myself.


    1 scooped up both Elias and Amelie into my arms and stepped out onto the porch to stand beside


    Ignatius. He gave my elbow a small squeeze and junted out his chin towards an approaching to.


    I couldn’t keep my hold on the twins for long after they caught a glimpse of their favorite ymate.


    to was almost krocked to the ground from the force of two tiny redheads barrelling into him at


    breakneck speeds.


    Everyb*dy hushed when Igantius gave the signal, and we all waited in silence for Angie and Fae to


    make their appearance, to did his best to quiet the twins, but they were far too invested in using his


    arms like jungle bars, swinging back and forth in their matching party attire.


    Angie had taken Fae down to the hotspring earlier that evening, and Go d only knows what the two of


    them got up to down there. When they finally made an appearance, and were greeted by all their


    friends, both Angie and Fae were flushed and fr a zled


    It’s safe to say they did more than just take a dip in the warm pools.


    Fac gave a cry of surprise when we all popped up to shout our congrattions. The small woman


    pressed both hands over her mouth, tears pric king at her eyes as she turned to Angie Angie beamed


    down at her mate, pure love and affection evident in her expression.


    The night was off to a wonderful start, and one of Gideons brothers popped the first bottle of


    champagne in honor of the star-crossed lovers. A few more bottles were popped soon after, and a


    bittersweet toast was made, as an ode to Angie and Fac’s fallen third party.


    As I stood on the balcony, watching over the celebrations, I couldn’t stop the mncholic pang in my


    chest. Even the most beautiful of celebrations, a union between two unlikely trackers, was tainted by


    grief and loss,


    Sensing my sadness, Ignatius came to stand behind me, curling his arms around my waist and


    propping his chin on my shoulder.


    “Gideon loved this kind of thing he murmured as we watched Angie and Fae sway to the music that


    red from the speakers Ignatius had set up earlier. “In fact, he would always be wasted before the


    party had even begun.”


    “He would have loved it,” Lagreed, leaning into him. “Tim so d they at least still have each other.”


    I looked up at Ignatius. His dark eyes darted from side to side, tracing the movements of the two


    dancing women. I would never get tired of looking at him. Everyday I spent with him I found something


    new to love. Something new to lose,


    I turned in his arms and rested my head against his chest, listening to the steady thump of his heart. I


    had memonized that sound so well, I could recognize it anywhere.


    03 Fri, Jan 26.


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    “You know, Ignatius murmured into my hair as I wrapped my arms around him, “my life changed


    forever, that day that T found you out on khall territory. I think a part of me always knew we were meant


    to be together.”


    My face twisted into a mork grimace as I lifted my head. “You mean you saw me on the floor, all beaten


    and blo ody, and decided ‘man, what a pretty mate she’d make?”


    Ignatiusughed out loud and I couldn’t help but cr ack a smile at the sound of it. He tilted my chin to


    meet his gaze, his lips. brushing against mine so delicately. “Something like that.”


    When my smile didn’t quite reach my eyes, his own expression softened. “Everything’s going to be


    okay, Dorothy. You know that. Whatever bu llsh it is going on with these vampire rumors, we can


    handle it. You’ve wanted this family, this life, for so long I’ll be da mned if I don’t do my best to ensure


    you keep it.”


    I opened my mouth to answer, but I was interrupted by a cry from to, Both Ignatius and 1 turned to


    ser Elias triumphantly holding up a long lock of to’s hair. to was rubbing his skull with an


    aggrieved frown and Amelie was standing beside the two,ughing uncontrobly.


    Angie and Far rushed to to’s aid, early scooping up a reil-headed tyrant and whisking them away for


    a dance.


    “Poor to,” I chuckled, those two will be the death of him.”


    “What are we going to do when he gets kids of his own. Ignatiusmented at my shoulder. “He’s the


    best babysitter in the pack


    “to has yet tond himself a single date. The kids will be grown up by the time he wees his own


    children into the


    world


    “You have a point. His dark brows knit together, and a smirk yed across his lips as we watched our


    friends attempt to Lame our rowdy children. Considering we took care of them day and night, it only


    seemed fair that our friends get a taste, even if it was just for a few hours.


    The warm evening air was a luxury after the chill that seemed to set in my bones when I let myself


    spiral. The first stars were. making their appearance overhead and the warm glow of the fairy lights we


    strung up earlier enveloped our small crowd like a golden halo.


    “I want everything to stay exactly like this, I said quietly while Ignatius stroked my wispy hair. “I don’t


    want this to change. I don’t want to lose anyone else.”


    Ignatius squeezed me tightly, twisting me in his arms to k*ss the “And you won’t. Things are only going


    to get better from here


    In that moment, with his lips pressed to mine, I believed him. Hei myself rx, felt my tigludy coiled


    muscles unfurling. I allowed myself to truly feel the fatigue that all of my anxieties had caused me. Het


    him hold me, close to his heart and felt


    safe there.


    And then that moment ended.


    “Ignatius, sir” A breathless subordinate interrupted our embrace. “Sir, we have a situation”


    Ignatius broke away from me with a frown. “Vampires?”


    :


    “The young


    man shook his head. The whites of his eyes were ufortably apparent, bulging from his head like


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    he’d just seen a ghost. And as it turns out, he had,


    “Not vampires. This… It doesn’t make any sense. But it’s true, I know it is, the stories are too specific to


    be false,”


    Ignatius tightened his hand around mine and we both listened to the shaking shifter’s tale. A west wind


    suddenly cut through the warm evening air, plunging me into icy rity.


    As the subordinate spoke, Ignatius’s expression morphed into one of disbelief, then concern, then


    horror. My face remained a stoney mask, calms and serene, as I listened to the frantic rambling. But in


    my chest, Renee had started howling, and my stomach was twisting into knots.


    11:04 Fri, Jan 26 G.


    My nightmares had crept into my waking hours. ording to the rumors, glimpses in passing, and


    stories shared between packs, Johan was back.


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