Chapter 72: Fangs And Blood

Chapter 72: Fangs And Blood
Nelly

The sun had barely begun to peak over the horizon when the heavy crimson drapes were thrust open, the bright morning light spilling into my room. I stirred, my body aching pleasantly from the night's passionate encounters, and blinked my eyes open to find Quinn standing at the foot of my bed, his eyes burning into me. The look in his gaze sent a shiver down my spine, a mix of anger, hurt, and something far more primal.

"Quinn," I whispered, my voice hoarse with sleep and the echoes of last night's passion. "What are you doing here?" I knew, but I wished that I didn’t. Until I met Vincent, I didn’t know what love was. I didn’t think that I would have a family either. I love Quinn and his pack, but I am a vampire now and about to give birth to another of Vincent’s children. How can I help Quinn understand?

Quinn's lips curled into a sneer, his eyes flicking to Vincent and Alec, who stirred awake at my words. "What am I doing here, Nelly?" He took a step closer, his voice dropping to a low growl. "I should ask you the same question. What are you doing with them in bed with both of them?"

I sat up, the sheets pooling at my waist, my body on full display. I felt no shame, no modesty, only a calm determination. "Quinn, this... this is something they and I have chosen. It's not for you to judge."

Quinn's eyes flashed, a hint of the wolf he concealed shining through. "Chosen, Nelly? Or forced upon? I know how possessive Vincent is. He wanted me to force you to come home when you ran to get space during your pregnancy with Alexis. I let it be your choice to return..." 

He paused, his voice catching on the words. "I did that because of my love for you. I thought you could love both Vincent and me, yet you chose to make love to them."

I stood, my chin raised, my eyes filled with a newfound strength. "Yes, Quinn. I choose them. Both of them. And I won't apologize for it. Vincent is my mate, my husband, and the father of my children. I will always choose him. Alec has been a good and patient friend, something I thought you were too. I am not a possession, Quinn!"

Quinn's expression darkened, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. "Very well, Nelly. If this is your choice, then let us settle this. Man... wolf... to man." He turned to Vincent, his eyes hard and challenging. "I challenge you, Vincent. For Nelly's affections. Alpha versus alpha, winner takes all."

A hush fell over the room, the tension palpable. Vincent stood, his expression calm and controlled. "As you wish, Quinn. But know this - I won't go easy on you. Nelly's heart is hers to give. I won't fight for it if it's not offered freely."

Quinn scoffed, turning on his heel and striding from the room. Vincent followed, Alec and I close behind. They made their way to the grand ballroom, the echo of their footsteps the only sound in the otherwise silent mansion. The ballroom was bathed in soft, dappled light, the grand chandelier casting prismatic refractions on the polished floor. Vincent and Quinn stood facing each other, their bodies tense and ready. We watched from the sidelines, our hearts pounding with anxiety and fear. I wish I could fight, but I am pregnant and must think of the life within me. 

Quinn was the first to move, his body shifting, contorting, as he morphed into his wolf form. The transformation was swift and brutal, his clothes shredding, his body growing, his features contorting into a snout filled with deadly teeth and claws. Vincent watched, his expression calm, his body still human.

"Changing the rules a bit, aren't you, wolf?" Vincent drawled, his voice deceptively casual.

Quinn growled, a low, menacing sound that promised pain and retribution. He lunged, his body a blur of fur and teeth, his aim true and deadly. But Vincent was ready, his body shifting, contorting, as he too changed form. His eyes glowed red, his body expanding, his features sharpening into the chiseled perfection of a vampire. He is beautiful and deadly in this form…a bizarre gift from my parents’ experiments.

The clash of their bodies was brutal, the sound of tearing flesh and crunching bone filling the air. I gasped, my hand flying to my mouth as the two figures tumbled, growling and snarling, across the polished floor. Alec reached out, his hand capturing mine, his eyes no less horrified.