The Forbidden Daughter

CHAPTER 2

ELAINA POV. (TALIA’S MOM)

I woke up before my alarm again, as usual, but this time it wasn’t out of habit but of the dream I had. I roll onto my back and stare at my ceiling as I recall the dream I had. The day I lost everything. It always starts the same way with my sister Britney waking me up in a frantic fearful scream. “ELAINA! ELAINA WAKE UP”

I bolt upright in bed to my sister Britney shaking me awake, franticly. Fear written all over her face. “Brit what’s wrong?” I ask starting to feel panic rise in my stomach. “We’re under attack, we need to get to the safe room NOW” Britney screams at me as she drags me out of my bed. Once in the hallway I can hear people running, screaming and loud fighting growls outside.

“Where are mom and dad? “I ask starting to panic as we basically jump run down the stairs into the next passageway towards to safe room where other woman, children and some elderly members of our pack are also heading. “Moms already there helping to get the members settled and dad’s fighting outside” she replies.

“I don’t understand, rouges never dared to attack us for years why now” Everyone knows we are the biggest and strongest pack; I mean it would be suicide to attack us.” I ramble to Britney as we reach the stairs down the hall we came running down. Elaina stops to turn to me, fear still etched onto her face. “Lainey, We’re not being attacked by rouges” she says panicked. “It’s vampires”

My blood runs cold. “B-but why?” I ask as I feel nausea rise in my throat and a hand squeezes my heart in fear. “I thought we had a peace treaty with them, why would they attack us? I ask as she continues to drag me down the stairs. Before she can answer the wall down the wall gets blasted into pieces, the shock of the blast sends Britney and me to be thrown back hard. I grunt in pain as my head spins. I feel someone pull on my arm and I focus my eyes at the person to see its Britney. She’s shouting something at me, but I can’t hear her because of the singing in my ears along with the pounding headache. I let her pull me up and we make our way down another flight of stairs into a frantic crowd of pack members in wolf and human form, running up and down to get to safety.

With all the pushing and shoving I lose my hold on Britney’s hand and we get separated. “BRITNEY” I yell for her and I faintly hear my name from somewhere in the crowd, but I don’t see her. I try to get further into the house but I get pushed back until I find myself outside and I freeze at the site in front of me, one hand clutching my mouth to hold back a scream. Pack warriors lay dead everywhere. Limbs are torn of and there is blood all over the place seeping into the grass. Tears run down my cheeks at the sight before me. What am I supposed to do? I can’t fight in my condition; hell I can’t even shift because of it.

I look around in panic, no idea where to go until my eyes land on a figure at the edge of the house. A vampire. His clothes are ripped in some places and is covered in blood. He looks at me hungrily and he takes a step towards me. Fear runs through me and that’s all I need to start running for my life towards the forest. I’ll have a better chance to lose him in there than to stay and meet a certain death.

I dodge fights happening around me and I enter the forest at a full out run but I was stupid to think that I could outrun a vampire because before I made it to the trail run I got tackled to the ground. He flips me to my back and I frantically try to fight back but he pins my arms above my head as he sneers down at me. “Not so fast princess” he says in a lustful tone as a shiver of disgust runs through me. “The King said that he want you alive to kill you himself but he never said we couldn’t have some fun with you first” he says as his eyes and hand roam over my body. I start sobbing and pray for the Moon Goddess to help me. The next thing I know, the vampire is tackled off me to the ground. I recognize his scent and a wave of relief spills through my body. DRAVEN!  I scramble to my feet and back up to a tree facing them as they glare at each other.

Draven has his back to me as they growl and snarl at each other. “You will not touch her” he snarls and I can feel him emit his powerful aura making the vampire take a step back but I know he won’t back down because he is under the Vampire kings orders. They launch at each other head on. “Dray be careful” I scream out to him. Even though he is powerful to hold his own, I can’t help the fear I have of losing him. The fight is brutal, but it swiftly ends with Draven ripping the vampire’s head of. I whimper in relief and sink down to the ground as my legs give way under me. Draven comes running and takes my face in his hands cupping my cheeks and lifting it up to look at him. “Are you okay”? Did he hurt you? He says as he looks over my body in search of any injuries. I shake my head.

He pulls me into a tight embrace. “A-and the baby? Is the baby alright?” He asks as his one hand comes to rest on my abdomen. “Y-Yes, the baby is fine” I say, nodding my head and sniffle. “Come on I have to get you out of here” He says as he lifts me bridal style as though I weighed nothing and starts running to the border fast. “But my pack, my f-family? I can’t leave them Dray. Because of me they want my pack and our baby dead. “I sob against his chest. Draven doesn’t stop or falter in his haste to get me away from the slaughter. “I-I’m sorry Elaina but It’s too late. You can’t go back, and I will not allow it and don’t for one moment think this is your fault. We were paired together as mates for a reason and I do not regret it for a second. He says with a voice full of emotion as I continue to sob into his chest.

We reach the end of my packs territory to see a car standing off the side to the road, Jack already waiting behind the wheel. He runs around to the passenger side of the car and lets me down. “Jack will see that you get to safety and he’ll be looking after you both” he says putting his hand on my abdomen again and I look at him confused. “W-what do you m-mean? Your coming with me, aren’t you?

He looks at me with a pained expression and realization sets in. “No no, you can’t do this! Stay with me” I plead with him, gripping the front of his shirt but he shakes his head. “I’m sorry Elaina, I’ll only put you and our child in more danger” he says, and I can hear his voice is close to breaking. He takes out something from his pocket and puts it into my hand. It’s a small key. “Jack is going to follow this road until you get to the 3rd town. Once there, punch in the coordinates that are engraved on the key. I-It will lead you to an unmarked safety d-deposit box that will have everything you n-need to start over.” He says as tears fall down his face. “No please don’t send me away Dray, I can’t do this without you”

“You can and you will” he says and kisses me passionately as if this will be the last kiss we will ever share and maybe ever will. “I will a-always love you.” He says and steps back from me. “I, Draven Cruorem, c-command you, Elaina Lupis, to get in the car and to follow my instructions and to flee to safety until our child comes of age of 18 when he or she will be able to protect him or herself.”

More tears fall down my cheeks as I feel his command take hold. With a heavy heart I get in the car and the two men only nod at each other. Jack takes off and speeds down the road, I turn around in my seat to look back at Dray, but he was already gone.

*END OF DREAM*

I feel the wetness of my tears running down the side of my face and I wipe it away. My heart still aches for what I have lost. I don’t even know if any of my pack or family has survived, I don’t even feel my bond to Dray anymore for years now which can only mean rejection or death.

I sigh deeply and get up. Today is my baby girl’s 18th birthday. I smile as I think back on how far we have come, and I know Dray would be proud of her. I quickly take a shower and get dressed to go make Talia a birthday breakfast and to give her her present. I sneak out my room and to the kitchen and start to make all her favorites including waffles with bacon strips. A little while later I gather everything in a tray and walk into her room. Talia is sprawled out on her bed, sleeping on her stomach. Her laptop is still open beside her with earphones around her neck with her raven black hair all over the place.

My heart swells up with emotion. Even though she has grown into a beautiful young woman, she will always be my little girl.

After setting the tray on her bedside table I gently shake her awake. She groans and mumbles something like “5 more minute” and turns on her side. I giggle and shake her again. “Happy birthday Talia” I sing to her. She turns over, looking groggily at me with a smile on her lips. “What? It’s today already? She asks getting fully awake now.

I put the tray on her lap. “Awe thanks mom” she says and plants a kiss on my cheek before taking a big bite of her waffles. We chat cheerily until she finishes eating and take the tray from her. “Why don’t you shower and get dressed then come get your present.” I say and wink at her while walking out to the kitchen. She squeals in excitement and rushes to her adjoining bathroom. I quickly clear up the dishes and was about to put the last plate in the drying rack when Talia joins me in the kitchen practically skipping which makes me shake my head at her. “Come on, I’ve got a big surprise for you before Jack gets here with the moving truck with the rest of our stuff but first you have to close your eyes okay?”

She closes her eyes with a wide grin on her face and I grab the garage keys. Just in case she peeks I put my hand over her eyes and lead her outside to the front of the house to the garage. I push the button on the remote to open the garage door and wait for it to open while Talia shuffles foot from foot in excitement.

“You ready?” I ask and she nods excitedly.

“You can open your eyes now” I say while I let my hand drop from her eyes. She gasps loudly and stands frozen for at least ten seconds before she lounges at me, engulfing me in a death grip hug.

“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” she screams while jumping up and down, nearly making us fall over. She lets me go and rushes into the garage and coos over her Kawasaki Ninja ZX10R, completely black with specks of glitter green in between, making it sparkle in the light with a matching helmet.

She’s been nagging me since she was 15 for a motorcycle and even though she crashed Jack’s motorcycle twice, I just can’t help but not give in. I just hope she matured enough not to crash this one.

A rumble of an engine draws our attention and we both look to the street to see a big white moving truck stopping at the curb and a tall man steps out from the truck.

“JACK!” Talia screams in delight and rushes into the Vampire’s arms and he scoops her up, twirling them around. “Hay little wolf, how have you been? He asks, kissing her on the cheek as he sets her back on her feet. “I’m good, I’m so glad you’re here.” She says happily while linking her arm in his. “Look what mom got me” she says pulling the vamp along with her to her new motorcycle. “Hi Lainey” he greets me, also landing a kiss on my cheek and a hug. He looks to Talia as she continues to coo over her present and he shakes his head. “I’m glad to see that she can still act like a little kid instead of the serious person she usually is.” He says still looking at Talia.

I sigh. “Yeah, I just wish Dray was here to see her grow up, it’s not fair.” I say and close my eyes to hold back the burning of tears. Jack wraps his arm around my shoulders in a comforting way. “He’ll be proud of the young woman she has become, of you too.” He says confidently.

Talia comes over and hug me again. “Thanks again mom, you’re the greatest. Now I’ll be able to give grandpa Jackie here a run for his money.” She laughs out as Jack scowls at me calling him grandpa. Which in reality is the truth because he is getting close to a hundred years old but doesn’t look a day over twenty-one.

“Don’t you even think about it, missy! I say in mock seriousness. “You break it, you fix it”

Talia laughs. “Don’t worry mom, I’ll take good care of it.”

“I better get going if I don’t want to be late on my first day at my new school.” She says sprinting back into the house.

“Don’t forget to take your dosage before you leave” I yell after her as she disappears inside the house.

I turn to Jack. “Do you think it was a good idea to move back so close to my father’s pack? Don’t get me wrong Jack, I love being back, it’s just that… what if we get discovered?” I ask.

“Coming back will throw them of our tracks. They would not think to come looking for you here, at least not for a while and we can’t keep her hidden forever Elaina. She did just come of age.” He says. “At least if anything happens, we will be there to protect her and as far I know no one knows about her because they are still only searching for you.”

I feel slightly relieved, but I got this feeling that it won’t last.

Talia returns with her school bag with her usual dark grey hoody on. “See you later” She says before slipping on her helmet. “Okay Talia and try not to get expelled out of this school. Graduation is in a few months so please don’t draw attention to yourself.” I call to her as she starts up.

She nods and gives it a few revs before bolting out of the driveway and down the street.

My gaze follows her down the road until she disappears around a corner.

“Come on, let’s get the last of the boxes in the house before I start to melt into a puddle.” Jack says chuckling and heads to the truck.