My Hunted Mate

Corinna

After leaving Dahlia, I had made my way upstairs to find Lila who was in the nursery swaying on a white rocking chair that had not been there before, holding a sleeping Elias in her arms.

I took my son into my arms, bringing him across the hall to mine and Kai's room, crawling onto the bed with him curled up by my side and I have been for the past two hours.

A soft knock on the door causes me to turn my head toward it as it opens, Phoenix pokes his head into the room with a light smile in my direction then he fully enters the room.

"1 really didn't want to disturb you, but none of us are really sure how to handle the situation. " He confesses, walking across the room and perching himself on the end of the bed.

" What do you mean? That person downstairs is no longer your brother, he is no longer my mate, he died and I brought back his body. He is not there anymore. " I rant, choking over my words as I try to fight against the lump forming in my throat.

" You still have to feed from him. * Phoenix mumbles.

I shake my head rapidly, tears falling from my eyes. * No. No, I can't. This wasn't supposed to happen like this, this was supposed to happened when we were ready, when I was ready. " I sob.

"1 know. " Phoenix sighs, a frown taking over his features.

"How am I going to learn to live as a vampire and be a mother alone? How am I supposed to raise him alone? This is all wrong, it's so wrong. He wasn't supposed to die Phoenix, but he did and so easily. I can't do this without him, how can I do this without him? * By now I am in hysterics and have woken up Elias, who watches me with his big grey- blue eyes that only make the ache in my heart grow.

" You are not alone Cori, do you hear me? * Phoenix says sternly. * You are family, you have been since you set foot in this house looking like you had been rolling around in the dirt. You are a strong woman and you will learn to live as a vampire, you live in a house full of them! And any one of us will help you when you need it. The same goes for being a mum. Being a first time parent is a learning experience and no one knows what they're doing at the start, same as you, but you have support. You have people. "

When Phoenix finishes his speech, I have somewhat calmed down, tears still stream down my face but my breathing is beginning to regulate. " I don't want to feed from him, I don't think I can. I whisper, sniffling quietly.

"You have to, you don't have a choice. It's that or.. " He trails off.

* Die. " I finish his words.

He nods. " I'm afraid so. "

" But I. I can't be near him again, I can't see him like that, I don't want to remember him like that. " I admit.

Phoenix sighs. " I'll figure something out. " He promises.

He disappears from the room after I thank him, leaving me to change and feed Elias, it doesn't take long for another person to knock on the door. Gia enters the room with Jack following behind her like a lost pup.

"You're still here? " I ask, surprised by their presence.

" Yeah, We're leaving shortly but I wanted to check on you. " She smiles sympathetically.

" Thank you. " I mumble.

" How is he? " Gia nods toward my arms where Elias is laying, staring up at the spotlights on the ceiling with wide eyes.

" He's fine, eating, sleeping. Usual baby things. " I shrug.

" Rina.. I'm really sorry about Malakai. " She mumbles, pity shining in her eyes.

" Please don't, I can't think about him right now, not with the state of things. " I look away from her, clenching my teeth.

" The state of things? What do you mean? " Her voice is full of confusion as she speaks.

My eyes snap back to hers. " What? I.. I brought him back- well.. Not really him, he's feral and not himself anymore. "

" you did what now?! " She screeches, giving me a awkward smile when I glare at her and gesture toward Elias, who had jumped in my arms at the noise and is now crying from the fright.

Once I've placed his dummy in his mouth, I climb from my seat on the bed, standing so I can sway him back and forth lightly in my arms, shushing to him as I run my thumb across his tiny hand that grips onto my finger tightly.

When Elias has calmed, I turn to Gia. " I thought you knew, I used my gifts to bring him back, but he's gone mad, he attacked me and drained me."

" Drained you? " Jack interrupts. " Don't you mean fed on you? "

" No. He- he.. killed me. " I whisper, cringing at the thought of it.

" That's a joke right? Cause otherwise you wouldn't be here or what are you a wolf, witch and a ghost now? " Gia snorts.

" He fed me his blood before the fight Gia. " I tell her.

She shakes her head. " Yeah, and?

" That's how they turn people.. You die after drinking from a vampire and then you come back a vampire. " Jack mumbles.

" Half correct, I still have to drink from him again to complete the transformation. " I add.

" Oh my god, you died? " Gia gasps, making me roll my eyes subtly. " Oh babe, we can't leave yet, not like this! " she directs toward Jack, who shuffles awkwardly on his feet.

" We need to get back to the pack G, I don't think- " He starts but his persistent mate cuts him off.

" We're staying, that's that. You have a Beta for a reason and he can manage for another day or two. " Gia snaps.

" Gia, you really don't have to do- "I say, but don't get to finish due to the bedroom door swinging open.

Phoenix rushes in, his eyes landing on Jack and Gia. " Oh hello, I didn't realise you had company. "

"It's fine, what's going on? " I ask him.

Instead of actually answering me, he simply holds up a jar smaller than my hand. The inside of the jar is filled with a crimson red substance that I immediately recognise as blood, but my eyes on furrow in confusion. "Is that blood? " I mutter, tilting my head to the side ever so slightly.

" Yes. " He nods. " Mal's blood, specifically. "