“What’swrong?” Kai was in front of her in an instant looking at her belly. He wasalways worried about her.
“Ihave a crazy craving for Voodoo Doughnuts in Portland,” she stated.
Ibusted out laughing and Kai sighed.
“Youscared me. I thought the baby was hurt.” Kai exclaimed.
“No,the baby is hungry. Can you get an assorted dozen? Devon is at work and I’m notallowed to leave alone.” Her pale heart-shaped face pleaded with Kai.
“No,you’re not. Yes, we will bring them back for you.” He patted her belly. “Holdtight, little one. You will have doughnuts within a few hours.”
Ismiled. Was there anything sexier than a sensitive guy that liked babies andpregnant bellies, but could also kill a man with his bare hands? I don’t thinkso.
***
Wepulled our car up to the entrance of Multnomah Falls. Multnomah Falls was abeautiful public tourist spot in-between Portland and Mount Hood. We had set itup as a meeting place if we ever needed to meet. I had visited the falls dozensof times as a kid. I had hiked the area with my mom and Drake. My throattightened at the thought of my twin brother. Losing him was the hardest thingin my life. Sylvia had told me Matefinders were always female and always bornin a set of twins. The boy twin was her protector. Drake had pulled me from theraging creek to save me from drowning, but in turn had been swept up anddrowned. My father started drinking and became abusive after that.
“Aurora?Where are you?” Kai was peering at me with curiosity.
“Sorry.Issues,” I muttered.
Hesmiled and held my hand as we began hiking up the trail to the falls. It was aneasy hike and we passed by a ton of tourists taking pictures. Just before wereached the top, we heard her.
“Psst!”Dr. Tavern was on a park bench in a small pull out just off the trail. Wewalked over and she wordlessly began leading us away into a thick part of the trees.We followed her, but my guard was up. She was acting sneaky. I wondered if wewere being followed. Once she had led us far enough away, she turned to faceus. There was a bruise under her right eye. She had dyed her hair from blondeto jet black.
“Ohmy God, Dr. Tavern. Are you okay?” I knew the signs. I saw them on my ownmother’s face growing up. Dr. Tavern was a victim of abuse. She was on the run.She pushed a red button on a disc-shaped tracker. It was some type of signalscrambler. I had seen her use it before.
Shetouched her cheek lightly. “Please, call me Alexa.” Her voice was raw, like shehad been crying.
Ilooked at Kai. His eyes were yellow. “Who did it?” Kai had infused the power ofthe Alpha into his voice. It would be hard even for a human not to answer himtruthfully.
“Oneof the guys at RAIDOS. We’ve been dating a while. Things are changing there; he’snot who I thought he was. Anyway, I’m here to warn you. They have gotten wordof your wedding. They are scared of the vampires who have been increasingattacks on humans. They’re killing them, draining them of blood, not justfeeding from them.” Alexa pulled a blood-soaked shirt from her bag. “Can yousmell this? Tell me if it’s vampire?”
Kaitook it, but not before lightly squeezing her hand.
Kaibrought it to his nose and smelled. Then he growled.
“Vampire.Where did you get this?” he asked.
“Anightclub downtown. It’s called Pearl. There was a ‘gang fight’ there lastnight. Was all over the news. Last time I checked, gangs didn’t drain people ofblood.”
Isucked in a breath. “And then again at Safe Haven. These vampires are reallypissing me off.”
Alexanodded. “I wondered if Safe Haven was also vampires. Look, I’ve left RAIDOS.I’m hiding out at a friend’s cabin in Sandy. I’ll be safe there. Things havechanged and I don’t think you should trust RAIDOS anymore. They no longer wantto align with the werewolves. You say that you protect humans, but they aren’tseeing it. They want to make sure Aurora doesn’t become fertile and aid thevampires in creating children. I’m pretty sure they will stop at nothing to seethat happen.”
Furrippled on Kai’s skin. He was having a hard time holding onto his humanity. God,couldn’t a girl just marry the man of her dreams and live a happy life!
“Well,I guess we won’t be inviting them to the wedding,” I told her, trying tolighten the mood.
Shesmiled weakly.
“Comehome with us. We can protect you,” Kai told her.
“No,they are still watching you. They have drones all over your mountain. Theywould find me there and I can’t protect myself like you can. I’m just a human.”
Kaisighed.
“You’resure you are safe at your friends?” I asked her.
