***Gennie POV***
The next few days were utter bliss. Jonas and I are completely in love with Evie. Everything I had ordered with Sarah's help arrived. And I spent a good few hours in tears, laughing at Jonas trying to put the Crib and the Cot together. He tried his hardest to not swear in front of the baby, but he slipped up. At the moment, my father just walked in, unannounced but welcome nonetheless.
When he heard Jonas cursing, he ran over to the baby, who was in my arms having just fed, and gently put his hands over Evie's ears. He firmly admonished Jonas, ''You cannot talk like that in front of my granddaughter and future Grand Luna of this pack''.
Jonas and I had the same reaction to this pronouncement. We looked at each other for a few seconds, then looked at my father. With identical looks of horror on our faces.
''What'' My father snapped, still holding Evie's ears. ''I'm not wrong, am I'' he continued, glaring at Jonas now. I could see my father was upset, but I don't think it had anything to do with Jonas.
I held my hand up, then placed it on my father's arm. The swirl of emotion that hit me took my breath away, and Jonas was on his feet and taking the baby off me so quickly it seemed impossible.
''My darling girl, are you alright?'' My father questioned softly.
I looked at him, then at Jonas. He nodded and walked down the hallway to the nursery with the baby.
''Dad, what's the matter? What aren't you yelling me? You were so short with Jonas, you're lucky he didn't reprimand you. Tell me, please'' I could see him having an internal battle with himself, and I could have linked to him and heard his thoughts. I felt that was a huge invasion of privacy, and it was a line I would not cross. Unless I had too.
My father's shoulders slumped and he flopped down on the opposite sofa, and with a sigh he started to tell me. He only had to say a few words when I stopped him. My heart was racing, and I could feel myself getting hotter. I can't do this here, I thought to myself. Calling Jonas, who came running. I said ''Continue Dad, please'
I held out my hands for Jonas to clasp, and I immediately felt myself calming down. I was still shaking, but listened again to the news that had just burst our blissful bubble and sent a shiver right to my heart.
***Daniel's POV***
As I sat in the kitchen of the packhouse, I watched my soon to be wife, busy making breakfast for all who wanted to eat here. It was mostly the young unmated wolves and she-wolves that would eat in the dining hall. And as the pack was so big, that meant lots of food was made three times a day.
This particle day, I was distracted and didn't hear Martha call me until she shouted. I jerked aware and stared at her, shocked that she had shouted. When I realised she had called me a few times, I had the decency to apologise.
''Daniel, love. What's wrong?'' Martha asked. I could try to brush it off and blame some daydream or other. But as Martha was my mate, she had the uncanny knack of knowing when something was wrong.
"I can't get hold of Him. He's not answering. It's been over a week since he stopped calling. I have to admit I'm getting worried about him,'' I responded, dejectedly.
I saw her face soften and could see straight away that she understood my fear. ''You know what you need to do, love. She will want to know. They both will''. I nodded my head at her and gave her a sad smile. Martha stopped what she was doing, so she could come over and give me a hug. Doesn't matter how old you are, holding your mate close and sniffing in their unique scent always help. I pulled away and placed a kiss on top of her head. ''May as well go and see them now, although I hate to take bad news to them when they are so happy at the moment''.
Martha smiled at me and gave me a little shove. ''Go on'' she said as she scooted out of the kitchen.
All the way up the stairs, my stomach was turning over. I hoped I was doing the right thing. It's not like Genevieve is an ordinary Luna. She is practically a goddess. As I reached the Alpha and Beta floor, I felt sick. I shouldn't be doing this, but deep down I knew I had to.
When I got to the door of the apartment, I noticed it was on the latch, no doubt they had been carting all the new stuff for my granddaughter. So, as Genevieve's father and Evie's grandfather pushed in through the door. Only thinking now of holding that sweet little angel in my arms. It's amazing how much love someone can hold in their heart.
As I walked into their living space, I heard Jonas curse loudly, at what I don't know, and I didn't care. I flew over to Genni and placed my hands carefully over Evie's ears. Then shouted at Jonas for his carelessness in front of the baby.
There was silence for a moment, as I realised what I had done. As soon as Genni touched my arm, I knew she could feel all the fear and doubt my emotions held.
I sat down opposite her as Jonas walked away with the baby. When Genni started to scold me for talking to my alpha like that, I just nodded my head in agreement.
I was aware of Genni asking me to explain myself, so I tried. I had only said about three or four words when she held up her hand, which of course stopped me completely.
Jonas came rushing into the room, and Genni held her hand out to him. Then I was asked to repeat what I had said. So taking another deep breath in, I started again.
"It's about Lucas, I think something may have happened to him. I've not heard a word from him in over a week. You know your brother, he never leaves it more than two days before he gets word to me. Whether he uses the pack link. But now, there is nothing. No link. No Lucas. It's like he's vanished''. I finished speaking and hadn't realised I had shed a few tears.
I could see Genni looking at Jonas, as I found myself looking at him. But he wasn't my son in law now. He was my alpha and I needed help. So I just let the silence stretch whilst they both took in what I had said.
***Genni POV***
I just stared at my father with an incredulous look on my face. What was he saying here? No, it couldn't be that, could it? Was it true? I felt my heart speed up and sink at the same time. This has never happened before, and I was unsure what to do next. Jonas went to speak, but I forestalled him by asking my own question.
''Did I hear you right? I want to make sure I have one hundred percent of the facts before I weigh in.
Are you telling me my brother, my brother Lucas, is missing?'
Even before my father answered me, I knew I was right. My blood ran cold. I started to shiver. Seeing this, Jonas wrapped me in his arms. I could hear Jonas and my father conversing, but what was said? I honestly couldn't tell you what they said.
I could feel the burning in my body start and felt Jonas jump back from me. I looked into two worried faces and made it to leave the apartment, to get outside as fast as I could. But I stopped dead in my tracks. EVIE! I couldn't walk out of here and leave my baby. It was like someone had turned a hose on a fire. Just the thought of that sweet angel doused the burning. I spun around to look at Jonas, ready to tell him I was okay, but the shocked look on his face had me again stop in my tracks.
''Baby, are you okay?'' Jonas asked me tentatively. Was that fear I saw in his eyes, I was hurt that my Mate could ever look at me like that.
''It's okay, I'm okay' I said, trying to alleviate his fear.
''okay'' Jonas said slowly, ''could you maybe tell your hands that?"
I looked down at my hands and was astonished to see them radiate the ethereal glow I usually associated with my mother. Now that I was aware of it, I felt it. It seemed like an electric currant was pulsing and bouncing between each hand. As I moved my hands slowly, I swear, I could feel a ball of the ethereal light form. I was mesmerised by it. I brought my hands up and held them eye level. There were images within the ball. Wisp like figures made of smoke? It was incredible. I just stared at the ball, watching the little figures play out some story or long lost tale. I only became aware of the others in the room when Jonas gently touched my shoulder.
With his body contact, the images sharpened. I could clearly see my mother. See, she was with someone. I couldn't make out his face. But I knew it was a he. They looked to be dancing around each other, as one might do when playing or indeed, fighting. As the figures slowly morphed into a single person, the male. I could see a red tinge around him. They had clearly been arguing.
He was angry.
He was upset.
I immediately knew that this was no man.
The image I saw must have been from long ago, and maybe was the reason he was so determined to wipe out werewolf kind. At that moment, I felt the chill run down my spine as the wisp like eyes seemed to bore into mine. I quickly lowered my hands, and the light returned inside my body. I was shaking, the connection had been so strong for a second, I could have believed he was looking into my eyes.
No, this was no man.
I had seen him so clearly for a split second.
I remembered those hate filled eyes staring back at me.
I felt a cold shiver all the way down my spine.
No, this was no Man.
..
This was a vampire.
..
This was Zachary!