Page 52 of The Alpha's Forced Pregnant Mate

The roar of motorcycle engines, and the sound of tires on gravel.

When I realized what it was, I roared with my second wind, fighting back even harder than before.

Laura and I only needed to hold the line for a minute more, because the Red Canines had arrived.

Chapter 19 - Whitney

I fought for consciousness, but it just wouldn't come. I was aware of the hardwood floor under me, the musty-smelling air around me, and the sound of battles raging outside. But the poison from the dart was keeping me securely under, and it felt like I was floating in outer space.

But the floaty feeling was the better of the two situations I was facing because when the dreams came, they were both incredibly realistic and powerfully traumatizing all at once.

Over and over again I dreamt of the ones I cared for the most being killed. My parents, who had moved back to Norway long ago, freezing to death. Laura and the rest of my team being torn apart fighting demons, Faye and Sienna in demon clutches, and Julian having his throat ripped out by a shadowy, nameless wolf.

I tried to fight my way back to the surface, but there was no escape. I was trapped in a nightmare, and there was nothing I could do about it. In a fit of desperation, I reached for my mate bond, and then that tiny well of magic within me that I used for simple spells. The only power my witch blood had given me.

It didn't wake me up, but slowly, the nightmares faded and the dream changed. A bright figure appeared to me, stepping out of the darkness and pushing it aside like a heavy velvet curtain. She was impossibly tall and glowing, her beautiful body clad only in gossamer strands of light. She seemed to be made of sunlight itself, and as she came closer I could see that her features kept shifting between human and wolf.

"Whitney," she said in a voice like wind chimes. "You have to embrace your blood gift if you want to reach your full strength."

"I can't," I tried to argue, but my voice wouldn't work. I tried to lift my hands to touch her, but I was paralyzed.

"It doesn't matter if you only have a little witch blood—you can still get stronger. You need to train harder, and reach deep within yourself for the power that is waiting for you."

"Why? Why do I need it?"

"You must protect your child," the glowing woman said. "Your child is destined to be powerful, but they will need your guidance. You must embrace your blood gift if you want to save them from their fate."

"I don't understand."

She smiled, and her eyes were sad. "You will. In time."

"How can I save them if I'm just a hunter? That's not enough."

"It is. You are stronger than you know, Whitney Gray. The work will be hard, but at the end of it, there will be joy unlike any you've ever known. With the Alpha at your side, you are unstoppable."

I could feel the tears streaming down my face. “Okay. Okay. I will try."

The dream shifted again, and I found myself standing on a battlefield. The glowing woman was at my side. There were dead demons all around us, and the stench of blood was thick in the air. She looked at me and grinned, bloodthirsty—a goddess of light, and a goddess of battle, all in one.

"We did it," she said, gripping my arm. "We won."

I grinned back at her, relief washing over me. "We did it," I echoed. "We won."

"Now, inhale, and awaken."

I woke up in my mate's arms, gasping for air. It took me a moment to realize where I was, and what had happened. As my heartbeat slowed and my breathing returned to normal, I was able to take stock of my situation. I was inside the old, abandoned house, lying on the floor with Julian holding me. Laura was standing over us, a concerned look on her face.

"Whitney," Julian breathed my name like a prayer. "Whitney. Whitney. You're awake."

"I'm awake," I mumbled, my throat dry. I could taste something bitter on the back of my tongue and wondered if it was the sedative. Besides that, though, I felt…good. Strong, even.

"I need to get you out of here," he said urgently. "This is dangerous."

I frowned, trying to remember what had happened before I'd lost consciousness. I'd been attacked by demons, and I knew they'd wanted me for something. I looked beyond Julian and was shocked to see that a full-on war was being waged outside of the old house. "What in the hell—?"

"No time for chit-chat," A tall, thin figure brushed an angry Laura aside and knelt next to us. Saul grabbed my face and checked my pupils before Julian could protest, but Saul seemed satisfied and brushed his hands together. "She's fine. Give her a blade and let's end this."

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

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