Page 9 of Anaki

As his palm connected with my skin, a gentle warmth enveloped my body, sending tingles down my arm. The sensation flowed seamlessly, cascading towards my side and settling in my hip, relieving the dull ache. It felt akin to a soothing, heated compress encircling the entire joint, easing the pain. In response, a contented sigh escaped my lips, a sign of immense relief.

As I fixed my gaze on him, I jerked away, realizing I was letting him touch me for far too long. The sharp twinge of pain shot through my hip, bringing back the ache once again.

Once I had let go, the sight of his eyes resembled a wounded puppy, and it weighed heavily on my heart, as if aching in tandem with my physical discomfort.

“Hey! You got some sharp teeth! You really are a vampire!” Luis’ voice screams excitedly from the bedroom. I stood up quickly, forgetting about the pain, and only concentrating on my son.

“Luis!” I let out a piercing shout, my voice reverberating off the walls as I clung tightly to the sturdy table, my fingers digging into the cool, smooth surface. The sound echoed in my ears, the intensity of it causing a slight ringing sensation. In a desperate attempt to navigate the sharp turn, I gripped the table with all my strength, my muscles straining under the weight of my fear.

Suddenly, Anaki seized my arm with a firm grasp. His touch sent a surge of electricity through my body, heightening my senses and fueling my determination. With newfound strength, I propelled myself towards the doorway, my feet pounding against the hard, cold floor. Each step reverberated throughout the room, creating a rhythmic thud that matched the pounding of my heart.

As I reached the entrance, a chilling sight greeted me. There, standing before me, was a mysterious, dark figure. The dim lighting cast eerie shadows across his face, accentuating the sinister smile that curved his lips. The corners of his mouth curled upward, revealing menacing fangs that glinted in the faint glow from the dark hallway. The air grew heavy with a sense of foreboding, as if danger itself had materialized in front of me.

And Luis had no idea.

There was no doubt about what I saw in front of me. Itwasa damn vampire. He had pale skin with a set of fangs. I’ve seenTwilight, I’ve seenThe Originals. The presence of him was too much, too overpowering and made me feel utterly small.

The vampire smirked, showing off not just one set of fangs but two.

Abuela was right; this was a vampire. Does that mean the other people in the room were something? Are they even human?

Chapter Four

Anaki

For the entire flight, I studied Elena’s condition to give her the best possible care. If I was going to be on a care team for our future Luna’s family, I was going to be the best. It gave me something to concentrate on and made the darkness fade inside me. Pouring drinks and listening to everyone else can drag you down. Not that I didn’t love my job, I was just lost in my own darkness now.

This change of scenery was good. Not to mention helping Locke and Emm. I was glad to help and be a part of a specific team. It was long overdue, because our president and the rest of the guys lacked finesse when saving humans. They didn’t have a personal touch and could have trouble rounding up frightened humans.

It was obvious that Emm hid her family for a reason, and until we knew why, we needed them with us. Our club and territory were a fortress. Along with Bones and Nadia being medical personnel, they should all be well taken care of. I’m not sure why they needed me that much, unless they think I will go mother hen, like I did Nadia when she first arrived.

Which I rather enjoyed.

As I crossed the threshold, a celestial force seemed to guide me forward.

It couldn’t be that easy, could it?

This had to be the will of the powerful goddess or the intervention of fate itself that brought me here.

Or Journey…

Upon my entry to the small home, a veil lifted from my mind, dispelling the clouds of despair that had plagued me for years. It was as if the sun itself had come out after decades of darkness, illuminating a path before me with newfound clarity and purpose.

She stood with her head held high, her brown eyes narrowed at us, the people who had come to turn her world upside down. She showed strength and stubbornness in her stance, even with the burdens she carried.

I knew she had a son, with a male who had treated her poorly. Thank the goddess he’s dead, so I didn’t have to hunt him down myself, because she was worth everything.

In that split second, I knew she was worth more than my previous mate ever was, in all the years I stood there pining for them.

She would be worth it. She would be worth pursuing because someone had broken her heart, just like mine had been. I would be the one who would heal her because she was already healing me.

I could feel the exhilarating sensation of my dragon stirring within me, its scales pulsating with energy. The sight of its shimmering blue and white hues danced vividly in my mind's eye. Suppressing the urge to fixate on the majestic creature unfurling within, I redirected my focus to the captivating woman standing in front of me.

I laid my hand on Nadia’s shoulder to steady myself and lowered myself to her ear. “Please do the introductions.”

Nadia’s back stiffened. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. I was supposed to speak; we had this thought out, but damnit, I couldn’t. I was stunned into silence.

I could hear Elena’s heart fluttering in her chest; she reacted to me. I puffed out my chest in pride at that.

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