Chapter 32

Back at the kingdom…

Tristan’s POV

I knew Roman mentioned it could take a few days, but I was starting to worry. Till now he’s the only man to ever go there and return alive, there’s a reason that place isn’t even someone’s plan Z. With all the healing it might do it’s still a huge risk.

I had to admit though, I was proud of my daughter. I followed through all of the requests and preparations she left for the war, and it couldn’t have been better. Even if the roles were reversed I wouldn’t have thought this out to the extent she did.

Tessa, Theo, and Luca did their part of the job to protect their pack too. Most of the innocent pack members have been sent all over. Sadly even human ground didn’t seem too safe as of this moment. These vampires have been known to be ruthless and stop at nothing.

We had to find some way out of this, and our hope lay in the hands of Roman and Tallulah, now I didn’t know how long exactly we’d have to give them if we should initiate the backup plan: Start the war without them. I didn’t want that; I don’t want to have to deal with the fact Tallulah might not come back.

“Mr. Tristan,” I heard someone call and turned around to see Ayla walk into the room. Her hands fumbling and by the look on her face, I wasn’t going to like what she had to say.

“Yes, Ayla?” I asked, walking over to my desk and sitting down.

“Uhm, Natalia’s situation has worsened,” She informed me. I closed my eyes for a moment, we can’t lose her. Not after everything she had once done for us.

“How bad?” I asked, pointing to the seat across me for her to sit down at.

“I’m afraid to say she might not last longer than two days,” Ayla mumbled, disappointed. It was her future mother-in-law after all.

“Does Luca know?” I asked, raising a brow at me.

“He has not been informed yet sir,” She responded. Once this is all over we should do something special for the medical team, they’ve been working non-stop and the bags under their eyes sure were proof.

“Keep it that way,” I ordered, knowing it sounded bad, but it was in everyone’s best.

“Are you sure, sir?”

“He’ll drop everything to come here and right now his people may need him for when the war starts,” I explained, watching as she nodded and seemed to have backed off from the idea.

“Alpha Giovani also gave me some terrible news,” She informed me, standing up and fixing herself a glass of water.

“Go on,” I motioned with my hand, waiting for the worse news.

“There has been yet another case, this time however it seems they didn’t die immediately,” She traced the edge of her glass, looking at me.

“So the same thing like Natalia?” I raised a brow at her and got a shrug.

“You could say that. These victims however won’t last as long as Natalia,” She sighed.

“I see you‘ve informed him about the new cases,” Luna Maria said as she walked into the room, closing the door behind her.

“We now know they’re closer, just two cities away,” She continued, taking a seat next to Ayla.

“I see…” I mumbled, staring at the letter my daughter left in case she didn't make it back in time or back at all…

“Sir, there’s no choice but to prepare further for war,” Luna Marie added.

“I know that, I shall inform my people soon and I’ll also send out the message to others,” I got up and led the way to the door for the two. I sighed and turned back around. Not a minute later I heard a knock and cursed quietly.

I had lots to do, and I truly couldn’t handle more bad news. I looked over at the door and saw Tallulah stepping in, “Missed me?”

“Tali, oh my god you’re safe,” I jumped up from my seat and ran to her, pulling her into my embrace.

“Did you ever doubt me?” She chuckled, wrapping her arms around me. I kissed the top of her head and pulled away, looking over at Roman who just joined the room.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect with the—” I was saying when I saw the mark on her neck slightly glow. “You two mated?” I looked over at Roman, confused. Last I checked he didn’t want that.

“Oh, um.” Tallulah looked over at Roman.

“It was solely to be led on the right path,” He answered firmly.

“Did it work?” I wondered. Hoping this wouldn’t lead to a breakup.

“Immediately,” My daughter answered.

“Excuse me, I have things to do,” Roman said, “I’ll deliver the things to the lab so they can start working on the cure. After that, I’m heading to my room. I wish to only be disturbed when war is upon us or when the place is on fire,” He added and looked between Tali and me. When neither of us said anything he took his leave.

“Everything okay with him?” I turned to Tali, pulling her in for a hug again.

“We’re both sleep-deprived,” She mumbled against my chest.

“Oh, I see,” I kissed the top of her head again.

“Yeah… How’s everyone? Did you follow through with the plans I left for you,” She asked, walking over to sit down by her desk, the seat I had kept warm for her till she came back?

…

Just like the father and daughter started to catch up on everything they missed out on, soon Tallulah had left to go get ready for bed. She could use a warm bath, meal, and a good night's rest without having to worry some plant will strangle her to death.

The lab received the healing water and plants and had immediately started working on a cure. The healing power of the water was incredible, for once the medical team had hope again. They were able to create a prototype and had also found the time to test it out on a blood sample. It all seemed good, Ayla now had to give it to Natalia however she was slightly scared to do so, scared to mess up.

Ayla steadied her hand and picked up the shot, she cleaned Natalia’s arm and slowly pierced the needle through her skin and injected her with the cure. Natalia had no response to the cure, which was expected. It’s not supposed to work immediately. Within the next four hours the green in her veins became faded, her pale skin slowly turned back to the tan color she had before. By the time it was morning Natalia looked like she only had a cold, nothing more. Everyone was happy with the results, this meant once the lab had finished replicating a vaccine they’d go out to war prepared.

Roman’s POV

Two days had passed since Natalia had woken up, all healthy. We’ve been preparing for war for days now and it seems like the vampires were taking their time. I passed through the halls, on my way to the meeting room as I had been called there.

“You called, Uncle Tristan?” I raised a brow at him, I looked and saw Natalia in the room.

“I did indeed,” He commented and looked at my mother.

“Is everything okay?” I raised a brow at him.

“Your mother wants to have a private talk,” He pointed to my mother.

“I don’t, can I go?” I rolled my eyes and wanted to exit the room.

“Just have this talk first, will you?” He stopped me from leaving. I sighed and turned to her.

“Roman, it’s really good to see you again,” She said, sounding so sweet but I knew exactly what she was.

“I don’t have time for this, Natalia,” I crossed my arms, watching her carefully.

“I understand you’re mad at me, but I had no idea what Skylar did and—” she started to say, but I heard this thing before, and I was over it.

“You are my mother, you were meant to hear my side, but your pride and image meant more than your own son,” I accused but knew it was true.

“Roman, sweetheart, it wasn’t like that,” She got up and walked over to me. I stood still as I looked down at her. How dare she try acting innocent.

“Then why wasn’t I given a rightful trial? You were too worried what the pack would think and when you kicked me and Skylar you were praised for being a true luna,” I reminded her, hate seething through my lips as I let the words out.

“It was—listen, I’m sorry for everything, okay? I mean it and I hope we can go past it,” Natalia gave what in my opinion is a half-assed apology.

“No, Natalia, I don’t get it. Why do you people feel so entitled to my forgiveness? Does it bother you that much that you were an ass?” I raised a brow at her, she lifted her hand to touch my cheek, once again I pulled away before she could touch me.

“I didn’t raise you like this?” She scoffed, a hint of anger dancing in her eyes. In the past, I’d worry about how I angered her but now it only made me laugh.

“And grandpa Nicholas didn’t raise you to kick your own child out, yet you did it,” I reminded her, walking to the door and opening it up for her to head out.

“Roman—” She walked up to me, looking into my eyes for a moment before giving up.

“Natalia, you should go to your pack. Your people need their unbiased Luna,” I mumbled, breaking eye contact.

“Fine, but we will talk about this again after the war,”

I watched as she left the room then headed out too. A few hours after Natalia had gone to her pack I was in my room, laying down and reading when I could hear lots of noises coming from outside. It was pure mayhem; I could already tell what was happening. I got up and gathered my things, barely lacing my boots correctly, I rushed out the door.

“It’s happening, isn’t it?” I asked Uncle Tristan who gave me a nod.

“We should get going, they passed through the borders, we managed to barricade them but they’re not backing off,” He informed me as I followed him out, Tallulah in front of us, by the look on her face I could tell she was nervous, this was her first war.

We rushed to the front, going through our wall of soldiers. I looked up front and that’s when I saw her, the woman who ruined my life, Skylar White.

“Roman Sterling, I’m surprised you’re still alive,” The other blonde smirked at me. She sure has grown; you could tell she was a lot more confident now.

“Could say the same thing about you, Skylar, Didn’t know you hung out with the bloodsuckers,” I commented, looking over at her company, there were a lot of them… And they had some superhuman advantages.

“Believe it or not they’re much better than wolves, much better than your mother and your bitch,” She replied, trying to get a reaction from me but she was correct, nothing to argue about.

“Good for you,” I rolled my eyes. “Now enough with the chit-chat, we want you and your people out soon,” I raised a brow at her.

“That won’t happen,”