Hello everyone.
I know its been a while but this has been hard year. Losing a loved one is hard. It's extremely hard when that person was the only one that believed in you. So in remembrance, I want to dedicate this story to my husband of 27 years.
**You left me here. You left too soon. Somedays, its hard to breathe. I still breathe though. I'm still moving. I will go on, even though each day feels like walking over shard glass. I love you and I miss you.**
Please read and enjoy. In all honesty, this will possibly be the last story that I write. I don't have a reason to write anymore.
All of the characters are above the age of consent. It is self-edited, so expect some errors. No sex yet, and if it happens it does.
*********
"Hello," Alexia Thompson answered her phone. She was hoping this was the break she was waiting for.
"Dr. Thompson, good news, the serum worked. We've seen remarkable improvement in rats that have dementia. I'm sending you all of my data to present to the board. If they approve, I will be honored to help you pioneer this new avenue." Her newest colleague, Dr. Randal Braxton gushed.
"Really, Oh my God! Randal, that is fantastic! Send me the data ASAP! OK." Alexia exclaimed.
"It's already in its way." Randal answered. He took a deep breath. "Alexia, we did it. We did it." He sighed.
"Yes, we did." She replied before hanging up. Hanging up the phone, Alexia sat. Tears streamed down her face. She had it. She had the cure to help her mother. All she had to do was get it patented and then she could go home. Just like clockwork, her phone rand once more.
"Alexia, she's lucid today. She asked for you." Boaz Thompson, her father whispered.
"Hi momma" Alexia whispered.
"Hey my little Alexia, my little girl. Where are you? Why are you hiding from me?" Lexi asked her daughter. It had been months since she'd been home.
"Momma, I'm coming home soon. I'm working now. You know I'm a doctor." Alexia explained.
Lexi sighed. "OK." Then once again, she faded. "Who is this? Who are you? Why are you calling me?" She demanded.
Bo took the phone. "Baby girl she's ok." He explained.
"Daddy, I'm trying, OK." Alexia sobbed.
"I know," Bo sighed. "Alexia, she is doing OK. At times she spaces out, but she always comes back. Don't stress yourself out baby. I'll take care of your momma."
Alexia had an amazing childhood. She grew up in Wildwood, the compound of a prominent family in Louisiana. The family was wealthy and owned many properties. As a member of the Gaines family, Alexia never wanted for anything.
The thing that made them unique was their unusual makeup. Alexia's family was not human. They were made up of various creatures. Her primary family consisted of werewolves. Her Aunt Margaret and uncle Lakota were pack alphas. Her other relatives were betas within the pack. She had cousins who were also members of various packs.
The Loess Falls Pack, the Thane Pack in California, and the Cortez pack in the Midwest were just as protective of her as her home family members. Not only did she have wolves watching out for her, her pack was also under the protection of powerful vampire clans. The Ivanov clan was family and Alexia was to be guarded at all times.
It didn't help the fact that her parents chose to remain human. As a child, Alexia grew up accepting people who were different. Then one day, in her teens, her mother, Lexi became confused. Although, her father did everything he could to hide the truth, she learned that her mother was different. She went to medical school, finished early to go into research. Now she had a possible solution. All she had to do was get it approved for use.
"Excuse me, Dr. Thompson, Dr. Ealy is on the phone." Student resident, Kayla interrupted her musings. Alexia sighed, and picked up the phone.
"Alexia, good morning. I was calling to see if you had any news." Dr. Lance Ealy asked.
Alexia smiled. When she entered the doctoral program five years earlier, many thought she would fail. Not Dr. Ealy. He was her biggest supporter, and when she chose research, he moved mountains to help her establish her practice. It wasn't all altruistic, he benefitted from their friendship as well. Often, when Alexia mad e anew discovery, Ealy stood right beside her basking in the glory like a proud parent.
"As a matter of fact, I have some promising news." Alexia declared. Then she explained what had been discovered.
"That's fantastic. I want you to present at 25th Annual American Medical Conference in the fall." Alexia smiled.
"I'll be honored." She exclaimed. She'd let Dr. Braxton know and he could accompany her to DC. Then she groaned. If she was traveling out of state, her family had to be notified so protection could be arranged. Once, a few years ago, Alexia decided to go to Georgia without notifying the pack, and the results were almost disastrous. She was besieged by a man, and almost kidnapped. Luckily, the local pack knew her family and intervened. Alpha Lakota read her the riot act. She never went off on her own again.
Picking up the phone she called home.
One of her best friend answered, "Hello".
"Good morning, is Aunt Tia there?" Alexia asked.
"Yes, but she's busy at the moment. Alexia, when are you coming home? We miss seeing you." Declan declared, sending to his brother.
"Declan, I'm working. Unlike you, I have a real job that requires grown skills." Alexia teased. The truth of it was that her cousins were two of the hardest working members of the Gaines pack. At twenty two, both were named betas and took their post seriously.
Declan nodded, "Alright then, I'll let you have that ne. Just so you know, Mom can't help you get rid of your detail. After that last incident, if you have to travel, pack goes with you." He added as Tia entered.
"Mom, Alexia" Declan announced.
Deacon rushed in, wanting to speak with her but he had to wait.
"Alexia sweetheart, what's going on?" Tia asked.
"Aunt Tia, I have to travel to DC for a conference in a few months. I know Alpha Lakota said I need body guards, but I have a colleague that's traveling with me. Do you think he could wave his decree?" Alexia asked.
Tia was confused. She was not privy to Alpha Lakota and had no idea why Alexia would ask her.
"Ask him, sweetheart. I really don't know what he would say." Tia answered honestly.
Alexia smiled, "I know, but I was hoping that maybe this time, you would ask him not to send Declan or Deacon. I really like this guy, and they'd try to scare him off." Alexia explained.
Tia laughed. "You know they see you as their baby sister. But, I'll talk to Dallas and see if he can inform alpha . Now, how are you, really?" She asked.
As a nurse, Tia was skilled at reading people. Alexia sounded a bit off, and her wolf grew concerned.
"I'm just a little tired. I've been working on this serum day and night for months. I just need rest." Alexia explained. Tia waited.
"Ok, but Alexia, your health is just as important as everyone else." She explained. "Hold on, deacon is here. He's dying to speak to you." She passed Deacon the phone.
Alexia smiled. Out of both of her cousins, Deacon was the one that knew her best. "Hey little girl, what are you up to?" Deacon asked.
Alexia laughed, "Working, cuz, nothing else. Besides, I know you've been busy. How many hearts have you broken since my last visit?" She teased.
Deacon laughed, "As many as you have. Come home soon, Alexia, ok. We worry about you. Besides I think you're hiding something. " He added solemnly. Alexia sighed. She missed them. Deacon knew something was up. She could never fool her family. As she hung up, she began to stroke her extended belly where her son grew. She never told anyone about the baby. Now she could no longer hide him. She was getting bigger and bigger each day. Soon, she would not be able to hide her secret anymore.
"You should tell them, Little One" a voice spoke from behind.
"Alexia sighed. "My dad would be heartbroken. Alpha Gaines would bring me home and put me and the baby under strict supervision. Then they'd have questions. I'm not ready to answer. They can't know the truth. I'm afraid that they'd somehow blame themselves for letting me leave home." She sighed. "I'm just not ready to tell them."
Lacy Hans, looked at the beautiful young woman. She was very brave. Her one regret was that she wasn't smart enough to stop the rape that landed Alexia in this predicament. No one knew, and right now that was the only thing keeping both of them off of the radar of their families. But soon, everyone would know. She knew her aunt and uncle would be disappointed that she failed at the task of keeping Alexia safe.
"But you blame yourself, Alexia. That man forced you. He was bigger, stronger, and he used that to his advantage. Maybe if I wasn't so distracted that night, I could have stopped him, and for that I'm sorry. If the pack blames anyone, it should be me." The vampiress looked around, "You don't have to keep him. You could always find a good family to adopt him." Lacy explained.
The look of sheer shock that crossed Alexia's face made her smile. "Would you give your baby away?" Alexia asked.
Lacy sighed, "No, never."
Alexia nodded. "He's mine. His father is gone, and he'll never hurt us again. We'll be ok."
She could not remember what happened that night.
She was exhausted from being in the lab when Lacy convinced her to go out. They went to a local bar, and were having a great time. A huge, burly man approached her and asked for her number. She gently rebuffed him. Lacy said something funny, and they went off to the dance floor. The two of them just had fun, dancing, and singing along. The night grew late and they were leaving she felt a sharp sting on her neck. She looked for Lacy and she was passed out. That was unusual. The next thing she remembered was waking in a dingy hotel room. Her clothes were gone. Lacy was panicking. From the bruises on both of their bodies, she knew. They had no idea who took them or where they were. Lacy left and swiftly returned with clothes for the both of them. She dressed and they called a cab and went back to her apartment.
Lacy wanted to take her to the hospital, but Alexia knew the pack would learn what happened, so she refused. She never reported the rape. A few weeks later, the man that accosted her in the first place and his friend were killed in a motorcycle accident. Few weeks after that, she vomited. She knew. Lacy picked up a test, and it was confirmed. She was pregnant, and no one could ever know what really happened.
"What will happen to you when the vampires find out?" Alexia asked.
Lacy stared out of the window. "What I deserve. I failed in my duties. This never should have happened to you."
Alexia nodded. "You're right, but it never should have happened to you either. Those men knew what they were doing. They drugged the both of us. It didn't matter whether you were there or not, it would have happened anyway."