Page 62 of Alpha's Redemption

“So don't reminisce about a past that no longer exists. That was just the foundation of a better future,” I tell her, and my hands go to my belly—my future, Valen's, and my kids'.

“So come on, let's shop before I need to pee again. I know that is definitely in my near future,” I laugh, and so does she. We climb out of the car and head inside.

We pick out a few things but, not knowing the genders, we opt for neutral colors. However, on the way to the next store, I notice my mother is becoming fatigued and irritable, not at me but at herself as she tries to keep up. I’m looking at crib sheets and mobiles when she makes a strange noise down the aisle. I glance over my shoulder and see her clutch a rack, her body trembling, making the stand shake under her grip.

“Mom?” I wander back over to her and touch her arm. Her head whips up, canines protruding, and bloodshot eyes stare back at me as she snarls. I stagger back a step and she takes one toward me before shaking her head.

“What did you ask?” she says, looking at me expectantly, like I asked something of her. “Oh, this is cute,” she gushes, holding up a onesie against my belly. Did I imagine it?

“I'm kind of tired. I was thinking of heading home soon,” I lie. Seeing that frightened me.

“What? We just got here. Didn't you want to go to Baby Bunting?” she asks me, and my eyebrows almost rise into my hairline. We just left there!

“We went there first,” I tell her, and she seems confused.

“We bought the bassinets,” I remind her, and her brows furrow.

“I must be tired,” she murmurs, so softly I almost miss it.

I need to speak to Dad and Valen. It’s like a switch had flipped within her, and so suddenly.

“Come on, we’ll get you home,” I tell her, leaving my basket. I text Dad to come get her, not wanting her driving.

He meets us in the parking lot, and despite me telling her he was coming to get her, she seemed surprised to see him. Dad places her in his car and hands me Mom's keys so I can get back to my car.

“Is she always like that?” I asked worriedly.

Dad sighs. “Yes. When she’s due for another dose,” he says, looking in the window at her.

“It shouldn't be coming on so quickly,” he said, his eyes darkening to black.

“Nixon hasn't stopped treatment?” I asked.

“No, he wouldn't risk it. But the vaccine is not lasting as long now. Wearing off faster, like she’s becoming immune to it.”

“I’ll speak to Valen and see what the scientists have come up with. If need be, go to the media and declare the vaccine isn’t working. Maybe we double the dosage?” I ask.

“Nixon would kill me,” Dad says.

“Not with everyone watching, he won't. He’ll have no choice but to agree or admit his vaccine doesn't work and let other pack scientists in to help. If he does that, he’ll lose his sponsors from the other cities. Big pharma won't back him if he can't disprove that it doesn't work,” I tell him, and Dad nods.

“It will buy us time to find a cure,” I tell him. Dad nods again before turning to me.

“Have you sold that land yet? Nixon said the other day he was going to file against the pack soon if it isn't paid,” he says guiltily. I shake my head. Valen said he would sell some of his shares and help cover it until we can sell off the land, but it looks like I may need to dip into Valerian's trust. I’ll have to put it back though.

Valen could pay it, but a lot of his money is also the pack's money, not just his to blow how he likes. As it is, our pack is already questioning his authority, what with all the media attention; we don't need tensions to rise more. It could make everything fall apart if he did.

“I'll speak with Valen and try to call a pack meeting. We need to get this taken care of before it’s too late,” I tell him, and he nods, giving me a quick hug before climbing in the car to take care of my mother.

ChapterTwenty-Seven

Everly

Another four weeks later.

Life is hectic. I’ve just hit my second trimester, and the hotel is only a few weeks from being finished. Macey and Zoe are doing everything at the moment, from school runs to managing the renovations, now that the structure is fully fixed. Kalen is running the homeless shelter, while Dad works for my pack and Valen his.

Valen's scientists have managed to replicate the inhibitor that Nixon created and have started working on finding a cure. Mom is getting blood tests but the vaccine needs to be administered every few days now; as we suspected, she’s becoming immune to the vaccine. The disease has also brought on early onset dementia; she’s losing her grip on reality. Dad is beside himself, and Ava is devastated.

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