My Hunted Mate
Sixty Four

Corinna

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

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

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

"1 really didn't want to disturb you, but none of us are really sure howto handle the situation. " He confesses, walking across the room andperching 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 notthere anymore. " I rant, choking over my words as I try to fight againstthe 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 tohappened 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 dothis without him, how can I do this without him? * By now I am inhysterics 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. * Youare family, you have been since you set foot in this house looking likeyou had been rolling around in the dirt. You are a strong woman andyou will learn to live as a vampire, you live in a house full of them! Andany one of us will help you when you need it. The same goes for beinga mum. Being a first time parent is a learning experience and no oneknows what they're doing at the start, same as you, but you havesupport. You have people. "

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

"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 wantto 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 changeand feed Elias, it doesn't take long for another person to knock on thedoor. Gia enters the room with Jack following behind her like a lostpup.

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

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

" Thank you. " I mumble.

" How is he? " Gia nods toward my arms where Elias is laying, staring upat 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 inher eyes.

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

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

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

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

Once I've placed his dummy in his mouth, I climb from my seat on thebed, 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 ontomy finger tightly.

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

" 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 areyou 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 vampireand then you come back a vampire. " Jack mumbles.

" Half correct, I still have to drink from him again to complete thetransformation. " 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, whoshuffles awkwardly on his feet.

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

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

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

Phoenix rushes in, his eyes landing on Jack and Gia. " Oh hello, I didn'trealise 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 thanmy hand. The inside of the jar is filled with a crimson red substance thatI 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. "