Chapter 196

Almara’s Pov

I wish Arthur told me a war was pending. I would’ve held off on showing him the pregnancy test I bought. Then again, I really didn’t want to take the test by myself, only to get a positive result also by myself. I can’t believe we’re having another baby.

I’m ecstatic, truly and I know Arthur is too, but what we’re not admitting is how terrified we are. Tension between the Vampires and the Wolves has been growing and it seems inevitable that a war is going to start.

All the major media platforms are reporting on this and it’s all anyone can talk about. Apparently, the Vampires have come into some kind of new power and are eager to flaunt it. At least that’s how it appears.

I am two months pregnant now and the morning sickness is keeping me bound to my bed so all I can really do is flip through the T.V channels or scroll on my phone which is slowly driving me crazy.

My phone also hasn’t been the same since it’s been hacked, and apparently, I’m not the only one. Across the nation, werewolves have reported to their phone companies suspicious activity on their phone like the camera randomly going off, apps crashing, photos duplicating or deleting.

Many werewolves have decided to ditch their phones and resort to howling when they want to reach someone in their pack. The spontaneous calls are both thrilling and primal, but it’s perpetuate the unspoken fear that something is going on.

I suppose Arthur stepping into the limelight, willingly or not, is also inevitable as everyone is looking to our Alpha out of the need for a leader right now.

Unfortunately, I too am looking at him in need of help as this pregnancy progresses, but my needs are put on hold for the time being considering thousands of lives could be at stake-including Arthur’s.

The worst part is, I can’t even go and help him- not that he would want me to. He’s made it very clear that he wants me nowhere involved in this war, that I need to stay home and protect our children. Which, somehow, I’m supposed to do with a spinning headache and nausea.

A knock on the bedroom door interrupts my self-pity party. “Come in,” I say. My mother cracks the door open and sticks her head in.

“Just checking to see if I Can get you anything,” She asks, her voice syrupy sweet.

“No, thank you.” I tell her and try to sound strong, but it’s a futile attempt. My throat his hoarse, I barely slept so I know I look weak, my eyes have serious dark circles.

“Can I get you anything, mommy?” Grace asks, wiggling her way between her grandmother’s legs. At least she never fails to bring a smile today. Seeing her makes me think that maybe Arthur is right. I may be bedridden, for now, but it’ll pass and Grace needs at least one parent with her.

Though my mom has been a wonderful help in keeping up with Graces endless energy. I’ve tried telling her that she’s doing too much and I should really be the one toughing it out and taking care of my daughter, but my mom is quick to dismiss me.

I think she’s actually enjoying being around for this pregnancy since she was hardly involved in the last. “You can give me a big hug,” I tell her and before I can even finish the sentence, Grace is already around the side of the bed throwing her arms over my waist.

“Why is my brother or sister making you sick?” She asks with her face squished into my side.

I stroke her hair, “I don’t think he or she is meaning to it’s just a thing that happens sometimes.” Grace nods, but I can tell she doesn’t understand and that’s okay. She doesn’t need to. “Now, go downstairs. I need to talk to Grandma alone,” Grace gives one final squeeze and then scurries past my mother.

My mom comes into the bedroom and brings the door mostly to a close. I motion for her to sit on the bed and when she does I scoot myself up a bit.

She looks worried, and I know it’s not for me. I’ll be fine. As odd as it may sound, being sick is actually a healthy sign of pregnancy. What has my mother so worried is what has everyone else on edge. The pending war.

“Arthur called me earlier with some news,” I say. I’ve been keeping my parents in the inside loop and I wish I had more positive news to deliver, but every time I’ve given an update it’s only been worse and worse.

The last piece of information I gathered was vampire spies in our banking system. Of course, when the spy was found out he turned into a bat and still hasn’t been found.

The werewolves retaliated by sending over a drone disguised as a bird over their land, but that was shot down in less than 24 hours. The shooting down of our drone alone gave more information than we could have anticipated.

Of course, we haven’t been able to retrieve our spyware so who knows what the vampires are using it for. Studying the parts? Using it to make a replica?

Only one thing is for certain, if they have the ability to send over spies and shoot down our military equipment, they’re stronger than when we last saw them.

“Arthur and his team is talking about making the first moves,” I say and feel my heart increase in beats per minutes. Essentially, Arthur wants to send himself as leader and a pack of other wolves into vampire territory so scope out the land.

He wants to see what’s new because obviously there’s been some kind of development and if we can see what that is then maybe we can come to learn specifically what it is they’re after. If we’re able to provide this desire, without giving up too much of our own power, then maybe we can avoid a full-blown war.

The problem is, if the vampires thought we could provide whatever it is they want then why send the spies? Why send Arthur a creepy voicemail? It makes the most sense to just write out the demand and negotiate. Of course, vampires are bloodthirsty so they might prefer a war.

This normally would be a laughing stock among the werewolves, as it has been for years, but these recent actions the vampires have taken can’t be ignored or simply brushed aside. Which is why I’m actually nervous about Arthur going into their territory.

Not to mention, the last time he was in contact with a vampire he got bit. I just don’t think we can go through that again, especially not with Grace being five- it would be too much for her to handle, at least when she was a baby I could shield it all from her.

Also, if he and his pack get caught then there’s no saying what the vampires would do, only that it wouldn’t be good.

“Oh Almara,” my mother says grabbing my hand. “You know he wouldn’t go if he couldn’t handle it. This is Arthur we’re talking about after all.”

I try my best to seem calm. “I know that, mom. Of course, I just thought you would want to know. I know he’ll be fine,” I say and my mother just lingers her watery eyes on mine. She knows I’m lying.

The truth is, I’m a nervous wreck.