Twice Tempted: Between Two Alphas (Mia and Cameron)

Chapter 93

Chapter Ninety-Three

MIA

Michail and Declan are positioned in front of me. No doubt Cameron demanded they take up this

protective position.

Jace and several other wolves are beside Cam, in their wolf form. Cam’s shifted back to human and

he’s talking with Cassian.

Both men are covered in blood and though healed, they look like something out of a horror movie.

Shredded clothes. Blood and dirt caked on their bodies. A few minutes ago, they had flaps of hanging

skin.

I’m too far away to hear what they’re saying but I’m not worried about that. Cam will fill me in since

they’re waiting for Ashley…

I respect Cam so much for calling her.

As Merilee’s father, he could’ve made the call to negotiate with Cassian for his child without bothering

to get Ashley’s advice or consent, but he didn’t take that agency away from her. Even with all the

horrible things Ashley’s done, Cam still honored her as the mother of his child.

That said a lot about who Cam was as a person and a leader.

When Cam’s phone rings, I hold my breath.

He answers and nods.

Then he holds his hand out to Cassian.

They shake.

Chills traipse up my spine.

It’s done then.

I don’t know if I did the right thing or not. I’m not even real clear on how Cassian can save the baby.

I glance at the brunette that stands dutifully by his side. In changing, her demeanor has changed too.

Shoulders are squared. Her chin is high. The softness I’d glimpsed of her in my vision…it is gone.

Maybe that’s my imagination.

Or perhaps any ‘softness’ was her humanity, melting away as she became something else. A creature

that would feed and hunt and potentially kill the same humans she had once been.

Cam approaches. “Let’s go,” he says.

His men and the few women that have fought alongside him file into the woods. Declan stays behind

and drags the bodies of the dead wraiths into a pile. He pours fuel on top and burns them.

It’s important to destroy all evidence while it’s still night. The dark smoke during the day would prompt

too much attention from local game and wildlife wardens.

The wraiths, devoid of their connection to Cassian, are like husks of corn. They burn fast and bright,

bits of orange ash drifting skyward.

If it wasn’t such a macabre scene it would actually be a pretty sight.

I shudder and take Cam’s hand.

Together, we lead our pack back into the night.

“What happens now?” I ask him.

“We’ll deliver Merilee to Cassian’s lands in the far north.”

I’m not keen on the idea of us entering vampire territory. What’s more, leaving a baby with

bloodsuckers…

“Eric and Ashley will meet us there. They’ll stay with Cassian until such time as the transition is done.”

“So he’ll change her, your daughter?”

Cam nods. His features are grim.

This is a very serious decision he’s making. One that will surely have repercussions within the pack–

and beyond.

Hybrids are exceptionally rare.

They’re also reviled.

Not vampire, not pure wolf or lycan, they struggle to assimilate into either species.

Are we setting up this baby for a life of exile?

Cam squeezes my hand. No. He won’t allow for that. His child will be accepted.

Merilee will be loved.

“We’ll figure it out,” I say.

Again, he nods.

His stress radiates through our mate bond and I stop walking. He turns to me, his brows drawing

together. I hold his face and go up on my toes. I kiss him gently.

Family is everything.

So is love.

He dips his head to rest his forehead against mine.

No words are spoken or needed.

We are together, this is our family.

It is enough.

We begin the long trek through the woods, most of the team has shifted. They’ll run ahead, keeping

under the cover of night and then shifting only once in the pre-established camp area that is the pack

base in this southern territory.

The private lands are essential for maintaining safe corridors that are expressly human free. Even in

these vast stretches of wilderness, there are people. Hikers, campers, hunters, naturalists.

Each and every one of them is a threat to our way of life.

And now, due to the deal Cam is striking with Cassian, there will be vampires on our doorstep too.

I’m not comfortable with this.

But I am reminded of New Orleans.

Maybe there is a way to co-exist.

It’s nearly another day before we make it back to Healmsworth pack, and upon arriving, my kids come

running. Jacelyn leaps into my arms.

She hugs me tight and I breathe her in.

Her hair tickles my nose and the feel of her heals my heart.

“I missed you, sweetheart.”

She snuggles closer.

Aaron stands in front of me. He isn’t as emotive. But when I hold out my arm, he barrels into my side

and slings his arms around me. I stroke his hair and then squat with Jacelyn in my arms so I can kiss

his nose.

“Hey buddy. Love you.”

He nods.

My kids each hold one of my hands, and Cameron holds Jacelyn’s too. We walk into the main hall

where a huge feast is laid out.

The warriors from tonight stop to wash their hands and to accept congratulations from the senior

wolves that are assembled. There’s a lot of backslapping and fist-bumping, those one-armed bro hugs

and cheers for the success of their mission.

We’re stopped multiple times as we make our way to the front of the room.

It’s the same raised dais where a few years ago, Cam forgot about me and mated someone else.

My dad stands there now, tears in his eyes. He’s happy and relieved to see me.

He has made sacrifices and he harbors regrets.

I feel it though, the emotion underscoring his actions–it’s love.

Claire crushes me in a hug. Jace drags me in next. “Morgan?” I ask him.

Jace shakes his head. “I came back for Cam. But I’m going after her.”

I nod.

Even Cam’s father approaches. He drops to one knee in front of me and the whole hall goes silent.

“You saved my son, Mia. And in doing so, you saved this pack. And knowing now, the way you fought

and how you’ve saved Merilee…” his eyes are watery when he lifts his head.

I’m speechless.

I’ve always felt like an outsider.

Like I wasn’t good enough.

“Thank you,” he says. “Luna.”

I gasp.

When I lift my eyes and gaze out at the wolves assembled, their joy and appreciation for what I’ve

done, those little microaggressions and resentments I was feeling, they melt away.

In the entire scheme of life…it’s not about how we fail or the mistakes we make or even who we hurt.

It’s about perseverance and forgiveness and love.

I hold my hand out to Cam’s dad and when he stands I give him a quick hug. Jacelyn’s glued to my

side and Cam’s dad picks her up.

My son jumps up so he has to hold Aaron in his other arm.

“You’re going to need more hands,” I tell him.

The old alpha smiles. Cam moves closer to us. I realize I haven’t told him.

“What’s that now?” Cam asks. He looks between me and his father.

I take his hand and place it over my stomach. “You’re going to be a dad again.”

His eyes light up like I just handed him the world.

There will be many battles ahead. I still have to decide about my Sight. And we’ve not handled the

threat of Philipe.

But for this night, we are united. We have each other.

And it is enough.

I close my eyes and bask in the moment…

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Hi Readers!

Taylor Caine here.

I’m so thankful for your support and feedback on this story! If you can’t tell, I’m obsessed with these

characters and I really love the world. Hope you do too!

I’m working on Jace and Morgan’s story and on Eric and Ashley’s. Cam and Mia, yeah, they still have

struggles ahead too.

But every obstacle is worth overcoming because there is nothing more important than pack/family, and

no greater gift than love.

Thank you for reading! I really appreciate it and look forward to creating more books with you!