Hidden Killers: Hunters in the Wind (Book 2)

41 - Abby POV

It was a few days before Christmas, and boy, was I swelling up like a balloon.

I was now nearly two months pregnant, but, for my mother and my human friends, I was nearly six months. I hope no one actually questions the timeline. Apparently, I will swell up quite big due to carrying an Alpha pup, even if they are half human, so no one should question it. The only interrogation I have been getting about it is from my mum.

The question - are we having a boy or a girl?

Myself and Colt found out the other day, but I promised my mum that it would be a part of her Christmas present.

Still wondering what to do with dad's present. I had ordered them in advanced, I think just before we were due to go to London so that they were here on time. I will probably sell it off - it was a new helmet for his bike - as I don't feel like giving him anything when he wants to take from me.

For the pack, we had settled in nicely into our new packhouse. I think having the build up to Christmas has helped everyone settle as we have decorated every inch of the place; I even helped the twins make paper chains for their rooms.

I had been helping everyone set up for the annual Christmas party they hold for the pack. It was usually an evening dinner party so that families could spend the day together.

But, for the first time ever, we had invited people outside the pack. OK, just the Denast Coven and the guards that work at Mansfield Today with myself and Jason. This was our way if thanking them for the help they have provided us back in October.

Not everyone is feeling the festive cheer. Maeve still hasn't woken up. She had lost a lot of blood and doctors reckon her heart had stopped for a few minutes, but it's been a month and no one knows when she will wake.

We brought food into the room every day for Adelaide, Auntie Kenna, Faye and Clarke. Adelaide and Clarke were the only two that would leave the room for long periods of time to go to work, but even that was with reluctance. Tina has temporarily taken over the Head Chef role again here at the packhouse since Faye won't leave the room. Auntie Kenna is just as bad, her fellow Coven members have had to keep an eye on her house and clean it for her she hasn't been back in ages.

As of this moment right now, I was doing another bar shift at the pub. Mum was helping Dean and the others cook in the back; it was so much easier when Maeve was here. I miss her.

"How are you holding up, sweetie?" My mum comes out front to check on the customers before she came to me. We had told her that Maeve had been attacked on a night out with the girls so wasn't fit to come in for the meantime.

"My sister is in the hospital and my dad wants my child dead. Other than that, perfectly fine." I had been monotone mood for god knows how long. They say pregnancy was suppose to be a wonderful time, but the universe was definitely finding ways to bring that time down.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Have you spoken to dad lately?" This was me deflecting. I knew she had only in the last couple of weeks gone back to the house; she had been staying here since the argument at the pub last time dad was here.

She turns to look out the window, gazing across to where our house sits. "We talk..."

"Just not about me or Colt or the baby we are having, right?" I huff as I continue to clean glasses.

"I always thought that, when you found the right man, or woman, they would just be another piece added to that puzzle. But this..." You could see she was trying to hold in her emotions as she processed it. "Is there anything he can do to make amends?"

No! That was the answer mum! He wants my child dead! He wants my mate dead! He wants my sisters and their Coven dead! He wants my new friends dead along with all the pack that I have come to care about dead!

But I can't tell her that, can I? I can't even tell her that dad cheated on her. That will bring up questions about how I found out which will lead to explaining the journals followed by how dad decides to hunt the beings people only thought were in a fairytale. Yeah, no matter how much I wanted to, I couldn't tell her that.

The only answer I could say was "Accept that Colt is in my life, that I have new friends who play a key role in my life and accept that I am keeping this baby." I cradle my bump, I could feel them inside of me and all I could feel was this overwhelming sense of love and protection.

My mum watches this interaction unfold infront of her. "OK, I will talk to him."

"And if he doesn't accept it, what will you do?" I raise my eyes at her.

She steels herself. "I don't want to think about that - making a choice between my daughter and my husband is not a choice I want to ever make." You may have to make that choice mum, one day.

"But, I would like to extend an olive branch. To you, to Colt and to all your friends." She takes the cloth to mop up one of the tables as she makes her offer. "I want you all to come here for Christmas dinner at lunchtime."

The pub, like the packhouse, had its own annual festivity, we just usually held our Christmas dinner at lunchtime with games afterwards.

"I will offer it out, but I think we can make an appearance; just know that we will have to leave as we have a party to attend to in the evening." I smile at her. I may hate my dad right now, but I loved my mum with all my heart still. She shouldn't be punished for his actions.

Also, lately, I have been eating so much food as I have been so hungry. Apparently, that is also another symptom I would experience from carrying an Alpha, so I could probably eat two Christmas meals in one day comfortably. Good thing I am still running at the moment.

"Lovely, let me know as soon as possible and I will make the arrangements."

"You know you normally have enough left for an army anyway." We both chuckle and continue with the remainder of our shifts.

I hug my mum goodbye and we go our separate ways. Driving my car back to the packhouse, I couldn't help but notice the change in atmosphere as I entered. There felt as if there was a small buzz in the air.

I grab one of the warriors, Carlos, as he walks by. "Hey Carlos, what is happening round here? And where is Colt?"

"He is in the pack hospital delivering food to the McGraws."

I give him a thank you before making my way over. The energy in the atmosphere seemed to grow as I saw nurses rushing around the foyer of the hospital.

I clock Colt on the other end and push my way through. "What is going on?"

"It's Maeve. Her heart is going haywire."