Blood moon

Chapter 68. Wake up

Morning light filtered softly through the half-open curtains, filling the room with a warm glow. Andrea Smith blinked, struggling to wake up fully as her mind adjusted to her surroundings. For a fleeting moment, she felt a strange sense of calm and security, as if she were in a place where she could finally let her guard down. Slowly, her memory began to connect the dots: the kidnapping, George Garroway, the Halland family.

Andrea sat up carefully, feeling the soft touch of the sheets against her skin. Her gaze fell on the room around her. She was in a large, cosy bed, the sheets a soft shade of cream. The walls were decorated with rustic details and family photographs, and the scent of wood and nature filled the air. She brought a trembling hand to her belly, where she discovered a warm blanket covering her legs and belly.

The memory of her rescue flooded her mind. Hunter Halland, the man her heart had been beating for from the first moment their eyes met, had appeared like a fierce wolf to free her from George Garroway's clutches. There had been moments of fear and anguish, but now she was in the safety of her home, surrounded by the werewolves who had rescued her and who had taken a place in her heart.

Her face still felt swollen from all the crying she had done the night before, it was hard not being at home and trying to understand this new world, it was all very difficult for her, it was like trying to cover the sun with a finger, she could hear the footsteps around the house, there were many people, she didn't know and now this would be her new home, she tried to stay calm, but the more she thought the worse her nerves got.

The faint sound of footsteps made her turn her head towards the ajar door. Hunter entered the room, his expression turning from concern to relief as he saw her awake. His gaze met Andrea's, and a soft sigh escaped his lips.

—Andrea— he murmured her name as a whisper of gratitude and joy.

Andrea smiled, tears filling her eyes as she watched him approach. Hunter knelt beside the bed, his hand reaching out to caress her cheek with overwhelming tenderness. She leaned her head into his touch, feeling the comforting warmth of his touch.

—You're safe now— Hunter assured her in a soft but firm voice —Nothing will happen to you while you're here.

Andrea's hand found his, intertwining their fingers as if she feared he might vanish at any moment. Hunter's mere presence filled her with a sense of protection and love she'd never experienced before.

—I... it's been a lot of things, I've wanted to tell you a lot of things— the woman tried to explain.

—You don't have to, you have all the time in the world, I know it's hard to digest— the werewolf could see in her eyes that she was still tired and she was terrified —You haven't eaten yet, we could find something nice for you to eat.

At that moment, the door opened again, revealing Harley with a gentle smile on his face. His eyes fell on Andrea with affection and complicity, understanding the intensity of the bond between her and her brother.

—How are you feeling— Harley asked with his characteristic calmness, stepping forward to join them.

Andrea swallowed, feeling the weight of emotion and uncertainty weighing on her. She looked from Hunter to Harley, feeling a lump in her throat as she struggled to find the right words.

—I'm grateful— she finally said, her voice trembling with emotion —To both of you. For everything.

Hunter and Harley exchanged a meaningful look before smiling comfortingly at Andrea. In that instant, it didn't matter what past or complications might arise. They were bound by an indestructible bond, and now, with the fragile miracle of life growing in Andrea's womb, they had one more reason to protect and love.

—I didn't want to interrupt you, I just wanted to know that you were all right— Harley said, feeling very vulnerable because now he didn't have a way to protect her, as he had once promised.

—Hunter didn't want things to be awkward, they had talked the night before, they had agreed that Andrea needed as much stability as possible, especially during the pregnancy.

—Hunter, can I talk to her? Harley wasn't used to having to ask her permission, but he wanted his brother's eyes to stay their normal colour and not change to the crimson of hellfire.

Hunter required all his self-control not to make any gestures with his face, he walked away slowly without looking at either of them, the wolf inside him whispered that he needed to protect her, this was his woman, this man wanted to take away the love of his life, the baby in her womb had to be taken away from this man who is capable of corrupting anyone.

He closed the door and walked away. She didn't want to be tempted to listen in on their conversation, she wanted to trust them both, it was her brother and the love of her life.

—I'm sorry for everything, I know I lied to you and took advantage of you— confessed Harley Halland.

—Shut up— Andrea interrupted him —I'm not a saintly dove, you didn't force me to sleep with you, I did it willingly, because I liked you, I also knew I was with Hunter, even though our relationship wasn't serious, I loved him and I love him, but I still got involved with you.

—If I hadn't taken the step, none of this would have happened.

—None of this? Would you have prevented the kidnapping?— she asked with mock interest, she felt confused and devastated, but here she was trying to comfort the man who had helped bury her.

—If I hadn't come to your house that night, there would have been a security team of werewolves standing guard— the man's statement took her breath away, but she thought about it for a second, because she saw George Garroway fighting Hunter.

—Do you think those men would have protected me from George— the human woman stood up to look at him.

Harley hesitated for a long time before answering her.

—No, I don't— Harley finally admitted aloud.

—You're an i***t, you don't have to blame yourself, I know you intended to fight him if he showed up, that's why you slept with me, for my safety— she rejoiced when she realised in the man's face that she had read his intentions and had not been mistaken.

—I just wanted...I wanted you, I've been selfish, a long time in my life, but I thought no, I've given everything for this pack and I wanted something for myself, your love was so pure, away from this chaos and any of them, I wanted someone who wanted me, not the wolf, not the charge, someone who could see me for who I am— he had been too sincere.

—I know, I could feel it when you kissed me— Andrea exclaimed as she approached the glass doors, she could see the men prowling around the house, she imagined they were part of the pack.

—What?— the man didn't understand the woman.

—You wanted to focus on me, you seemed to forget the world, as if you were drowning in my kisses, I know that feeling, as if you wanted me to be your lifeline— they both fell silent in the face of the stark truth.

Harley passed his saliva.

—You're with Hunter now, and I wanted to apologize for my lack of sanity, but I want you to know that everything we experienced together was very real to me.

They both fell silent, each intoxicated with their own thoughts. I could feel the tension in the air, as if it was something visceral, there was one more question to be asked.

—What if the child is yours?— Andrea asked —You know I feel strongly about Hunter and he feels strongly about me, we seem connected, but that doesn't make the baby I carry inside me belong to one or the other, I don't control it you know, what if the baby ends up being yours?

Harley had been asking herself the same question for a long time, they had agreed to let her choose her life, but what if it was her child? Hunter didn't take it well, knowing his younger brother, he would surely say that he would take care of the baby as if it was his own because he was interested in his girl.

—I have no idea, but we talked to Hunter and we want you to be the one to decide, we will do the test when the baby is born, while that happens, we will be there to support you—said Harley.