CHAPTER TEN

KAY

The final months of my pregnancy would have been nearly perfect if not for a shocking event that happened when I entered my seventh month.

Up to that point, my relationship with Rain was gradually improving. It was especially nice that he wasn't putting any pressure on me, and I wasn't pressuring myself either.

We maintained a perfect balance that allowed me to slowly and genuinely warm up to him. I appreciated the space he gave me—no rush, no talk about 'love', no urgency to make any confessions. It allowed me to heal and eventually open up, step by step, in the tender atmosphere he created around me.

Rain was very easygoing and non-confrontational. His nurturing nature reminded me of Maurice, a trait I especially valued in alphas, and Rain embodied this perfectly. There wasn't a whim of mine that Rain wouldn't fulfill.

He cooked for me every day, coming up with new, surprising, and delicious dishes. He also enjoyed taking care of me in an even more personal way than Maurice ever did. Rain loved touching me, washing my entire body, drying and brushing my hair, and giving me long, soothing massages, which I needed, especially since my body was changing during pregnancy. He did all of this with such warmth and tenderness that it melted my heart, and I allowed Rain to slowly and steadily become an essential part of my life.

Every little discomfort, every tiny reason for dissatisfaction—Rain was the person who immediately jumped to resolve all my problems. I also appreciated that he didn't bring up the topic of us potentially moving to his house. Through our Bond, he seemed to sense that for reasons I couldn't fully comprehend, I preferred to stay at Adam's house and welcome my first child there. We had a silent understanding.

Occasionally, I wondered what it would be like if we moved to Rain's hometown. I'd be far from my brothers but close to Rain's family. It was a bit tempting, but at the same time, I was strangely attached to White Cliffs, where I was raised. I met Maurice here, my parents were buried in the local cemetery, also Adam and Marco still lived here. On some level, I knew I wasn't ready to sever all those bonds tying me to the past. Not now, anyway.

But I was also working a bit toward the future, the possibility that I would move out eventually. It was subtle and kinda subconscious, but something in me was slowly opening up.

It started one day when Rain's dad dmed on Messenger, and from that day on, we had many enjoyable conversations. Lake Nolan had a very pleasant personality. He never pushed his advice on pregnancy and newborn care, although he certainly knew a lot about it, having had eight children! Even though we only communicated through Messenger, we managed to build a bond that I might even call a friendship, certainly more so than the relationship I had with my in-laws. This also made me cautiously optimistic about the life I could someday have if I were to reside in their town. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad?

The Sanders, on the other hand, didn't take the news of Rain being my True Mate very well. Our contact slightly cooled off when it became obvious how much this would change things for me and my child. They understood that Rain was effectively taking Maurice's place and that he would be the father to their grandchild, actively involved in raising him. I felt like the Sanders quietly hoped that after the pregnancy, I would send him away, that he would disappear from the picture. Maybe they thought they'd have more influence that way? But now it was clear that Rain was here to stay, and that overwhelmed them. They didn't treat him with hostility but more like a necessary inconvenience—or even a necessary evil.

There was, however, one matter that Rain and I naively thought was over: the Dawson issue.

Of course, the police had received the medical documentation confirming our status as True Mates, and as far as they were concerned, the case was closed. But as it turned out, not for everyone.

Adam learned from one of his friends, who knew someone working for the Dawsons, that Harry Dawson hadn't fully recovered from Rain's attack. He suffered from recurring headaches and short-term memory loss due to the severe brain trauma he experienced on the beach. These memory lapses were a serious problem for him, and greatly hindered his work. Adam's friend mentioned that the Dawsons were furious over the fact that the police didn't pursue the case and the charges were dismissed after we submitted the documentation.

After hearing this, Adam and Rain decided to install cameras monitoring the main entrance and the terrace door—just in case. But beyond that, we didn't do much, probably naively hoping the Dawsons wouldn't risk anything. They would be the first suspects if anything happened to us—and would likely be prosecuted harshly for taking revenge on a True Mate couple.

What followed started rather innocently.

One night, Rain woke up and asked me if I heard anything. Of course, since I was sleeping deeply, I had no idea what he was talking about.

We ignored it and, after a brief sex, went back to sleep. Rain later checked the camera footage but didn't see anything suspicious—no one was lurking around the entrances.

A few days later, in the middle of the night, Rain asked me if I could smell something strange in the room, but I didn't notice anything. I watched him with some surprise as he sniffed around. He stepped out onto the balcony, then into the hallway leading to other rooms, still sniffing as he went. Rain even entered the small room we had set up as a nursery and… sniffed there too. But he didn't say anything more.

Then he returned to the bed, and since I could tell he was a little stressed out, I decided to help him release some of that tension. I lowered myself down and the moment my lips touched his dick, Rain let out a loud gasp.

"Fuck…" he mumbled, and his hands stroked my head as I started to work on him. It was a rare situation that I was doing it to him, so I had a feeling it would definitely calm him down, and… it did. Soon after this brief moment of passion, we went back to sleep, again. The matter of his sniffing was more or less forgotten

About a week later, Rain's touch woke me up.

Half-asleep, I thought he wanted sex, so I murmured encouragingly, only a bit puzzled by how heavy and barely conscious I felt, like I was moving through a jelly-like fog or my limbs were weighed down with lead. I tried to say something but could only manage a faint hum. What was going on?

I heard a strange sound, a very light, delicate hiss, but I couldn't understand what it was. It reminded me of the sound of a deodorant spray being gently squeezed.

"Kay…" Rain's voice sounded oddly slurred, as if he were drunk. "We have to get up… something's wrong…" he half groaned, half whispered.

"B-b-b…" That was all that came out of my mouth. Despite my intense grogginess, a part of me understood that something was terribly off. I felt Rain's hands trying to grip my shoulders more firmly.

"Please, we have to get up…" Rain gasped with difficulty, as if his mouth was gagged. I made an effort to turn onto my side and grabbed his shoulders. He half-slid to the floor and began pulling me toward him, more with the weight of his body than with any active muscle effort. Through my half-closed eyelids, I saw that he could barely move. He tried to grab his phone, but it landed on the floor. In the dim light that shone from the display, his face looked feverish, slightly swollen, and disoriented.

"Rain," I managed to croak out, but I couldn't do more. My consciousness kept slipping away. Only the awareness that something very horrible was happening kept me somewhat alert.

"Please, Kay, we have to…" came another hoarse plea. But I really couldn't move. I saw Rain growl in frustration, trying to muster more strength. He slid his other hand under my thighs and pulled me off the bed, so I fell into his arms. But he was sitting on the floor, unable to stand, holding me as we both lay halfway on the ground. It took him five attempts to place the phone on his stomach next to me. Then, Rain began crawling toward the door, very slowly, moving in a strange way, sliding his butt on the floor like a crab and supporting himself with his hands behind him. I was on his thighs, my head resting on his chest. He slowly dragged me out of the room, inch by inch.

Only then did I realize I was about to lose consciousness. Fortunately, he managed to slide us over the threshold, and we found ourselves in the hallway. I sensed that whatever was paralyzing us was concentrated in the room. Outside, I could take a deeper breath and… started coughing.

Rain continued his strange method of moving, dragging himself on the floor with me on his stomach. I saw how much effort it took him, the pale light from the garden lamp glowed through the hallway window, highlighting Rain's face, beet red with effort, veins bulging, and sweat streaming down his temples. I stared at his strained, tense features in a strange fascination, almost a trance. His teeth were clenched, his entire body fighting against some weakening force that was preventing him from standing.

He began to descend the stairs, sliding his butt down one step at a time, his hands lowering to the next step. In this awkward position, he gradually dragged me down. I couldn't move or help him, though my mind was still partly conscious. My body was so heavy I couldn't even twitch.

Seemingly, it took an eternity. Rain tried to shout, producing a hoarse sound that resembled 'Adam'. I knew he was trying to call my brother, maybe to warn him or ask for help, but Adam was sleeping in another part of the house, far from us.

Rain got close to the terrace door, which was… not locked, and it gave me pause—it should be closed! In a weak attempt to get his attention, I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. He probably wanted us to get some fresh air and was well aware that whoever caused this could enter the house anyway. Rain twisted his wrist awkwardly and, after several clumsy attempts, pulled the door handle—a gust of fresh air hit us.

It improved my alertness slightly, but I still could barely move. Rain had to drag me out onto the terrace, into the dim light of a solar lamp.

"What… what happened…" I stammered, still trying to understand what was going on.

Rain fumbled with his phone, but his fingers just didn't work right, then he lifted his head and mumbled, "Gas! Kay, it's bad—"

And I understood what he meant.

Panic and sheer terror washed over me.

From the direction of the forest, three silhouettes were approaching.

Such moments are unforgettable, forever ingrained in people's memory. The black figures carried baseball bats, walking like wild cats on a game hunt. I had a flashback to when Maurice and I were attacked by drunk alphas near the student campus. They also had bats. They beat Maurice, who fought like a lion and eventually drove them away.

I realized history was repeating itself, with Rain taking Maurice's place—but Maurice wasn't immobilized by gas then, and Rain was.

Those bastards, attracted by my cursed beauty… I hated them and the animal nature that could not be completely eradicated from alphas, though it could be tamed in some. Countless milligrams of testosterone coursing through their veins, robbing them of their humanity. Beasts, hideous beasts.

My eyes were fixated on their figures. As they approached the steps leading from the lawn to the terrace, stepping into the pale light from the lantern, I saw dark masks, covering their faces. The bats they held were the classic model—the cheapest training kind, but very effective nonetheless. I tried to make a sound, scream, protest, beg, curse—curse my fate, curse them, but it was futile, as only a pathetic squeak, like a helpless chick, came out.

My eyes rested on Rain's face, who was looking at them with raw, vivid terror in his eyes. He knew the worst moment had come, the worst scenario was unfolding.

He was incapacitated, paralyzed by whatever gas they had released into our room. I had no idea what it was. One thing was clear, it had affected his ability to defend us, he couldn't even stand. And yet he made the effort, slid me off himself, letting out a terrifying scratchy growl of effort, and tried to kneel.

I saw him tremble, veins bulging on his forehead, heard his heart pounding like a drum. Through our quasi-telepathic bond, I sensed his mental state—pure despair, feeling like he had failed me, knowing the most horrible thing was about to happen, something unimaginable, and he couldn't move his body, wasn't ready to fight.

Whoever attacked us must have known we were True Mates, so they used measures to prevent Rain from shifting into his fighting mode. Realizing this shocked me even more because they were… prepared. The first attacker's steps echoed on the patio surface, then the second and third, and now they were standing in a small semi-circle, like a Greek phalanx ready for battle.

Rain spread his arms as if to shield me with his body and made one more attempt to stand. It took all of him, I knew it—and I saw it, the visible proof of his superhuman effort, a stream of blood flowed from his nose, as some capillary burst as an effect of this effort. He managed to get into a half-kneeling position, blood dripping over his lips, but then weakness caused him to collapse back onto the terrace with a devastating groan. Our Bond told me everything, Rain felt with all his body that he ultimately failed as my protector—and it crushed him. Then he did the only thing he could in the last jolt of remaining strength, he rolled over toward me and covered me with his body.

Now his face was over me, our eyes met in silent horror. "For-give-me…" he groaned.

His despair poured into me, and I wanted to cry, not over my fate—but over ours, as they were entwined forever and now would be destroyed together.

I simply needed to say it, something that had been shyly unfolding inside me for these five months, "I adore you, you're…everything," I whispered, as those words filled me completely.

Rain's eyes closed for a second, and a tear, mixed with his blood, dripped onto my cheek.

The invaders took another step closer. One of them kicked Rain's phone, sending it far into the garden, and then raised a bat. Terror ran through my veins like thunder. My chest swelled strangely, and though I had no idea why my body took such a big breath of air—I acted instinctively, as panic settled in. My partially paralyzed throat produced something unexpected—a sound I had never made before.

It was by no means perfect, coming out scratchy and deformed, but it was a super-high-pitched voice that I half-consciously recognized.

My gas-incapacitated body tried to make the famous Omega Stun Sound, which only omegas being with their True Mates could produce!

The sound was meant to send a sonic wave that would deafen the alphas' sensitive ears—except for their partners—and cause piercing pain. It didn't sound as powerful as it should; I knew my lungs weren't working at full capacity, but it made a difference.

The man was already taking a swing intended to land the baseball bat on Rain's head, but his arms shook visibly as the Stun Sound affected him, and the bat slowed its trajectory when the hands holding it spasmed. It fell down anyway, but the impact wasn't as crushing. I felt Rain's body twitch; the bat didn't hit his head but his back, and he made a muffled groan—I also whimpered piercingly in shock.

Then, there was another sound.

This one was sharper and louder—more like a bang.

The man who hit Rain dropped to his knees and collapsed beside us, his covered face now turned toward us. The mask, initially gray, quickly darkened from the blood flowing out of a wound on his temple. I blinked in astonishment. What had just happened?

Two more shots rang out almost immediately, and two more bodies hit the terrace floor. I felt like I was still dreaming, trapped in some nightmare where everything seemed unreal and impossible—but it was real, fuck it was so real! We were attacked—shots fired from the direction of the forest had stopped the assailants. I had to keep repeating these facts in my head to stay connected to reality.

A dreadful silence fell. Whoever was shooting was good—he hadn't missed a single shot.

Rain was breathing heavily. He slowly propped himself up on his elbows, finally getting onto all fours, his limbs shaking. I lay beneath him, shielding my stomach with my hands.

Cursing under his breath, Rain very slowly crawled to the first attacker, who lay about three feet from us, and with a trembling hand, checked his pulse. He also pulled the mask up a bit.

"Jorah…"

I wasn't even surprised. It was obvious it could only be the Dawsons.

"Adam… Adam is in the house. Whatever they let in… it could still be there, some kind of gas…" I stammered, surprised that I could even form words, no matter how shaky they sounded. Did the Stun Sound somehow unplug my lungs a bit?

My whole body was in shock, and my mind could only focus on one thing: saving everyone I cared about. Rain said nothing. He crawled back to me, grabbed my shoulders, and slowly helped me sit up.

"Can you… hold onto my… neck?" he asked in a raspy voice, clearly struggling to speak himself, maybe more than me. The blood was still flowing from his nose, his face had an unhealthy shade of pale, as if he was about to faint.

"I'll try," I managed to say.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he began crawling toward the side stairs leading off the terrace, which connected to a path running around the house that would allow us to reach Adam's window. We dragged ourselves in that strange position—me clinging to his neck, half-sliding on the terrace stones, half-crawling on my knees. Every move he made was with immense effort, his whole body in pain, but he continued to move anyway. If I ever respected any human on this planet, it was Rain.

He failed… but he kept trying. In a way, it broke my heart for him.

We left behind the three bodies lying in widening pools of blood. After what seemed like a very long time, we reached Adam's window. Rain was silent, his hoarse breath and the shuffling of his knees on the path—the only sounds I heard.

Rain grabbed a handful of gravel and, with some difficulty, threw it at the window. But there was silence, no reaction… and I felt a chill of panic.

"Wait, didn't Adam say his friend might call tonight… and they were going to celebrate a baby being born… maybe he's not in his room?" I croaked out, coughing several times.

"I don't… know…" Rain's head was hanging low, his eyes shut tight.

"Anyway, he should have been back by now… it's past 1:00," I added.

Rain threw another handful of gravel at Adam's window.

"If the gunshots… didn't wake him up… gravel won't either," he muttered grimly, forcing himself to lift his head. He looked really bad, blood covering his chin.

"We need to get back and search for your phone in the grass… and call the damn police…" I groaned, feeling as if something rough and dry was stuck in my throat.

Noticing that we could speak a little better with each passing minute, I tried to move my shoulders and knees, to stretch a bit, but not much had changed. I still felt that strange muscle and joint paralysis; the effects of the gas—if it was indeed gas—were long-lasting. I touched my stomach, feeling a wave of fear that it might have harmed the baby too.

Rain, however, was still on all fours, looking like he was trying to gather his strength.

"We have to go back into the house… damn it, through the terrace," I insisted, "past them," I added more uncertainly.

Rain tried to get up, managing to kneel, but nothing more. He didn't answer. We sat like this for a few minutes, just breathing through it, fighting for control of our bodies.

My throat felt a little more open, so I decided to ask, "Rain, one of them hit you. Where did it land? Your kidney?" I feared the worst.

"No, it was a glancing blow across my back…" he hoarsely said, then he slowly turned his head toward me, and I noticed that his eyes were bloodied. "Kay, you… made that sound."

I blinked and nodded. "I tried, but it didn't come out as well as I hoped."

"Was it… that strange… omega sound… that only True Mates can do? Stun Sound?"

Making gurgling noises that were meant to be a nervous giggle, I responded hoarsely, "Yeah. It was pathetic, but…"

"No! Not pathetic! It worked, Kay… the bat missed my head. Thank you…" he whispered.

We were both silent for a while, our eyes locked. "We were a team… once more," he added.

I swallowed, feeling a strange wave of happiness. Yes, we were a team, even if we were the losing one. We fought with everything we had, despite our paralysis. For the second time, my intervention, however small, could mean balancing the situation in our favor. The thought of it was sweetly satisfying. I had never felt it before when Maurice was fighting for me and I just stood there, waiting. I felt like I mattered now, like me and Rain were more of a team than I ever was with Maurice, despite our failure. But nevertheless united. Partners. Until the end. My heart swelled in spite of the grim circumstances. I suddenly felt more… alive.

But the feeling was, of course, a bit bittersweet. There was something more, something happened.

We were saved… we didn't save ourselves in the end.

"Well, the honor of saving the day isn't mine either," I muttered.

Something grim flickered in Rain's eyes. "Yeah, and that's unsettling."

One minute of eerie silence came.

"Let's try to get back, we need to call those bastards from the precinct," I urged, looking around.

"Kay, whoever shot them might still be out there," Rain muttered, trying to move his arms side to side as if to shake off the paralysis.

He also coughed a few times and took a deep breath.

"Whoever it is, he shot at them, not us." My voice was now a bit more stable. "It's safe to assume he doesn't want to kill us; he could have done that long ago."

In the dim light, Rain's eyes fixed on my face. He cleared his throat and said, "Kay, we still don't know… who it is. We have no idea what he wants, I'd rather not face him crawling."

Another few seconds of coughing. "Maybe some hunter saw the attack and took matters into his own hands?"

"Or it can also be a person who wants you for himself."

His words were kind of sobering, but I shook them off. "I refuse to believe some rando would just show up; it has to be somebody we've interacted with lately…"

"That still does not exclude that the person wants you."

Our eyes locked. I hesitated and blurted out, "Maybe it's Moor?"

"The detective? Why would it be him, unless… he was their accomplice, and knew what they were planning."

"Or maybe Deputy Johnson… since his family is connected to the Dawsons."

We both fell silent, only our breathing and quickened heartbeats audible. We were obviously shooting in the dark with those guesses.

"But why would he suddenly change sides, risking charges of complicity… and losing everything he worked for?" Rain muttered.

Neither of us had an answer to that.

"One more thing," I murmured thoughtfully, "Moor is an instructor at the local shooting range. He would not miss. Three shots, three dead bodies."

Rain continued trying to move his limbs in circular motions, and didn't answer. I wasn't sure how long we sat there; neither of us was eager to crawl past the bodies on the terrace.

Then, suddenly, we heard a police siren!

"What the fuck? The police?" Rain straightened up and glanced around again.

"Whoever shot them also called the police?" I whispered in disbelief. It was really strange. Rain and I exchanged wide-eyed looks.

A few minutes later, we heard muffled knocking on the front door, coming from around the house, and the voices of police officers.

"Here!" Rain shouted.

Moments later, we heard the stomping of several feet. Three officers appeared before us, one of them was the same guy who had tried to flirt with me when we were at the police station. One was a beta, and the third, an unfamiliar young alpha.

As they approached, Rain quickly explained the situation to the beta officer. I admired his level-headedness; I found it hard to compose myself now, let alone put it all together in a way that made sense.

The officers immediately turned and ran around the building. Rain and I started crawling after them, moving on all fours with difficulty.

When we rounded the corner, we saw them standing over the bodies, the beta checking for pulses. I closed my eyes for a second—what a surreal scene. An attack… a shooting.

Again, another madness in my life. I cursed under my breath.

Unbelievable. Why couldn't my life just quietly move into… a new, calmer chapter?

RAIN

What happened next was total chaos. Swarms of police, medics, and even the coroner showed up. They also called in Deputy Johnson and the unfortunate Detective Moor, who stood over the bodies, rubbing their chins and debating in hushed tones.

I could see the looks they were giving us. Johnson's was irritated, while Moor's was more puzzled. A triple homicide in this small town was big news.

Kay and I were given immediate medical attention.

Specialists from a larger fire department in a neighboring town arrived, entered the house, and discovered two canisters containing gas of unknown origin and composition. They were secured and sent to a lab for analysis.

Adam got home an hour later, just as the ambulance was taking Kay and me away. The paralysis was wearing off way too slowly, and we still couldn't move fully. One of the paramedics was particularly worried about Kay, being extra cautious upon hearing that he was pregnant.

We were taken to a hospital in a neighboring town with better medical facilities. Adam followed us there, terrified, almost panicked. Soon after, Marco joined him, having been at his boyfriend's place before. Marco immediately insisted that we shouldn't even think about returning to Adam's house but should move to his place across town, near the coast.

The doctors examined Kay as the paralysis was gradually subsiding. An ultrasound showed no threat to the baby. His heartbeat was normal, and there was no sign of harm.

They asked us to spend the night under their watch, and the next day, we were discharged. As Marco requested, we drove to his house. Adam had to return to his place to gather our things so we could change clothes, being a bit wary of going near the bloodied terrace.

Marco's house was the Darnell family home—a large, elegant, very Southern-style mansion. It had even more space than Adam's house and was equipped with CCTV covering all entrances, the vast garden, and the driveway. At my suggestion, Marco called the security team the next day to install more cameras and motion sensors along the fence. The technicians showed us how to operate the system and advised us to review the footage regularly.

At first, none of us talked in detail about what had happened. Marco and Adam didn't push the subject.

The same day we moved in, Detective Moor called and informed us that the two attackers who had accompanied Jorah had been identified as Harry Dawson and his cousin Nicholas Dawson.

Moor's tone was completely different from before; he even expressed some sympathy.

There was no talk of my culpability this time. The medical personnel and the doctor who examined us confirmed that we couldn't move, and both Adam and Marco had alibis. Gas analysis results showed it was a paralyzing agent, very hard to obtain. Since Nicholas had worked at a gun shop that sold various 'self-defense means' under the counter, the police assumed that's how they got the canisters. Luckily for us, the gas caused only temporary muscle paralysis, which wore off completely after about 12 hours.

Detective Moor also mentioned that the shots that hit the three men were fired from a fairly long distance, perhaps around 30–40 yards, from the direction of the forest. Kay asked Moor about the weapon, if it was a rifle or a handgun, and the detective replied that it had to be a high-quality 9mm pistol, maybe even a competition type, not some cheap model, as it wouldn't be able to fire from afar with such deadly accuracy. However, no shell casings or traces of the shooter were found in the woods; either the shooter collected them or used a brass catcher.

The topic came up reluctantly this evening after Moor's call, when we were all back from the hospital and gathered in Marco's spacious living room.

"Who could it be?" Adam said in a hollow voice. He looked awful, still unwilling to return to his own home, even though the bodies had long been removed.

He had confessed earlier that he might sell that unlucky house because so many terrible things had happened there. Marco graciously extended his invitation to him too, so we were back to being a 'foursome', just like when I first came to White Cliffs.

Marco spoke up, "I have a few theories. Either it was a cop who got a tip-off about the attack but didn't want to go public to avoid backlash from the local community, or it was someone else who didn't want the Dawsons to beat Rain and rape Kay."

Adam shook his head. "I think you're wrong. I believe I know who did it."

We all turned to him, surprised by his certainty.

"Kay, do you know who John Sanders' brother is?"

Kay blinked and nodded. "His younger brother, Garry, was in the military for many years and was, from what I know… a sharpshooter."

Marco and I looked at him in shock, but Adam continued,

"I think the Sanders took that attack on Kay much more seriously than we thought. I think they asked Garry to help organize discreet protection to prevent this exact situation. I know how much they wanted to shield Kay when I talked to them on the phone about what happened at the gas station. Danny Sanders started sobbing…"

"Why didn't you tell me?" Kay murmured, surprised. "I thought they got the censored version."

"I didn't want to burden you with it, but he was really shocked that things like this kept happening. If I'm correct, they arranged for someone to watch over the property discreetly. They have the resources to hire a team of bodyguards to provide continuous surveillance. They knew how reluctant you were to accept help before, so I doubt they'd make a big deal out of it. Maybe they are not so… unpleasant people after all."

We all sat in silence, deeply pondering Adam's words. It made sense. The Sanders were the only ones with the budget to afford 24-hour protection and someone who wanted to stay discreet and avoid police attention. It fitted.

This realization calmed me somewhat, knowing I wasn't the only one protecting Kay. It brought me a sense of relief—there was always a backup plan ensuring his safety. Additionally, the news of a mysterious protector spread around town, which could only help us. Anyone considering further acts of violence against us would think twice about the risks.

However, something still bothered me. I told Marco and Adam that I needed some air, then stepped outside into the garden and called Detective Moor. He had generously left me his private number shortly before we were taken by the ambulance the day before.

"Detective Moor?"

A hoarse voice answered, "This is Detective Moor. Who's calling?"

"Rain Nolan."

All I heard in response was a grumpy grunt.

"I have a question for you. Who called in to report the attack? You guys didn't just show up on a hunch."

Moor sighed. "The dispatcher got a call from a burner phone. The person was whispering. The voice was unrecognizable, very quiet, with lots of interference and static, like they were moving, maybe running through a forest."

"Is there any chance I could listen to the recording?"

"Those are materials related to the investigation. Besides, I don't see the point. Our specialists couldn't do much with it. The person just said, 'Shooting at Adam Darnell's house, three victims'."

I was silent for a moment. "Even so, could I somehow get that recording from you? If it's not too much to ask? I really need it."

"And I need peace in this town! Not more damn bodies and elusive murderers!"

Now, his frustration was justified, for sure. But mine—also!

"Believe me, I want peace too. Kay has been a victim of yet another attack!"

"That's why you all should leave White Cliffs. I don't know if you are aware, but some people already believe Kay is cursed and brings bad luck to this town! Some even call him a 'cursed beauty!' There's always some kind of trouble around him."

I was shocked into silence. "How can you say that?! Is it his fault? Are these people brainless, thinking only with their genitals?!"

My anger was intensified by the fact that Kay confessed it was a nickname given to him by some students after he experienced attempted rapes on campus; it felt even more cruel and unfair.

Moor was silent for a long time, then unexpectedly said, "I'll see what I can do about the recording. I'm not heartless. I know he's pregnant, and these attacks… As a cop, I can't stand that such things happen in my town, constant chaos, and at its core, unfortunately—Kay!"

"So, you'll get the recording?" I snarled, feeling a surge of irritation.

"I said I'll see what I can do, but only because I genuinely feel for you. We haven't had a situation like this here in a long time; it almost seems like Fate has it in for you. On one hand, it made you True Mates, but on the other, it keeps hitting you with one mess after another."

I listened with some surprise. Earlier, I had suspected Moor might have had a hand in what happened, maybe even been the shooter. But my intuition told me that wasn't the right track. Moor might not like us, but he genuinely didn't want more trouble in White Cliffs.

"I'll be waiting for you to send me that file. I'll text you my email address in a moment," I said sternly.

We said goodbye and hung up. Imagine my surprise when, three minutes later, an email from an unknown sender popped into my inbox with a small audio file attached. 'See what I can do?' He surely did 'see' it in record time.

I moved to a corner of the garden and, with a pounding heart, hit play. A series of crackles could be heard, then someone's panting, as if he was indeed running and seriously out of breath. I heard a voice that sounded like a loud, strained whisper, words coming out in a broken, rough tone, "Shooting at Adam's house!", was the first, very quick and unclear sentence.

Then I heard the dispatcher asking for a repeat. "Shooting at Adam's house, Adam Darnell's house, three victims." The person said, and the last words were accompanied by a loud crack, then the call was cut off.

With my blood pressure quite high, I played the recording several times, listening to that voice—but it was just a whisper. It was obvious that whoever called didn't want to be recognized. It was hard to determine anything else, although I had the feeling that whoever it was, he was probably young. Definitely not an older person. It still didn't tell me much because if the Sanders had hired some bodyguards, they certainly wouldn't be old men. This person must have evacuated from the forest in a matter of minutes, sprinting to his car or hiding spot. Also, this explained why the voice was so out of breath.

I listened to the message probably thirty times, trying to mentally transport myself to that situation—catching the slightest nuance, tone, crack, anything that might tell me who this person was—but it told me nothing.

I went back inside. Kay was already in the room Marco had set up for us, and the brothers were finishing dinner. Our room had a beautiful, large balcony with a spacious view of the ocean. I considered it an upgrade compared to the forest lake, Juliet balcony, and the somewhat claustrophobic, enclosed atmosphere of Adam's hedged garden.

Kay was sitting on the bed, typing something on Messenger. His hair was down, and I felt my pulse quicken a bit.

He looked up at me from under his lashes and said, "I just talked to your dad. He sends his regards and asks… how's your back?"

Sighing heavily, I walked to the mirror on the side of the wardrobe and lifted my shirt. As I twisted, I could see a long black bruise on my back.

Kay approached me, his delicate fingers running over my skin, making me shiver slightly.

"By tonight, there won't be a trace of it," he said in a low, velvety voice filled with the promise of pleasure. "Our True Mates' power will heal you!" He winked playfully.

I slowly turned toward him. His lips were parted and moist, and for a moment, I was breathless, just staring at them, my desire growing with each passing second.

"Rain, everyone is talking about the mysterious shooter, but there's another hero no one has thanked or even mentioned."

I remained silent, looking at him.

"It's you, Rain. I saw your face during the attack when you tried to save me, pulling me out of bed, then dragging me down the stairs. I saw how much it cost you. You didn't give up, even though every move was a superhuman effort for you. You even bled from your nose. And then, when they came, you shielded me with your body—if that blow had hit my stomach, it could have killed the baby. Once again, you were the divider between me and danger," he whispered, his lips trembling slightly, his hands rising to rest on my cheeks. I saw two tears streaming from his eyes.

"To me, you're the real hero, not the one who shot at them. You fought for me again. Rain, you're important to me, so very important! I appreciate you more every day. I want you to know that I… what I said then… it's even more—" he interrupted.

"Shh…" I whispered, placing a finger on his lips, feeling his inner struggle. "I know, baby. I feel the same way. But for now, let's keep it as our secret, something existing in the space between us, not yet verbalized. A shy promise of the future: A new chapter?"

I realized I had called him 'baby', and he… didn't protest.

He just smiled gently. "See, even in this you understand me—in this space you give me… In it… everything changes, heals. It opens me up."

Kay brought his lips close to my ear. "And I like hearing you call me 'baby'."

Then he pulled back slightly and made a small gesture with his hand.

I turned and looked at the bed, in the direction he indicated.

How surprised I was when I finally noticed that on the bed was a nest he had made!

While I was in the garden, listening to the looped recording, he had been weaving a real, complete nest out of long ribbons, pillows, and a few of my sweaters.

For the first time, I saw Kay's nest, so exquisitely made, even though our lives weren't safe and peaceful, as yesterday's events had clearly shown. But apparently, it wasn't the point—Kay still had built a perfect nest.

Colorful and well-enforced. I bit my lip, fighting the urge to comment on it.

"You can say it. I give you permission, I give you the right, Rain."

His words were what I was waiting for.

"Your nest is beautiful, Kay! I'm so happy to see it! You don't even know how much it means to me."

For a moment, I stared in amazement, admiring the structure.

"You have no idea…" I whispered, "I've been so scared to talk about it for the past few months. We even had this heated discussion with Adam about it. Today, despite what happened yesterday, is… a ray of hope." I realized… the nest symbolized something in Kay that had healed—something that hadn't fully healed in the past few months until today.

"You argued with Adam about my nest?" Kay's eyebrows went up.

"Nothing of consequence, we were both just being smartasses about it. My dad actually helped me come to peace with the fact that I couldn't help you while you were distressed and kicking your nest."

"Your dad helped? How?"

"By saying Nature would heal you. That I should just trust the process."

Kay nodded. "I'm glad you didn't try to talk about it. It was my issue and mine alone. I could work through it undisturbed, just deep inside myself. And I succeeded."

I smiled and kissed his forehead. "I'm proud of you. You are incredibly resilient. So many things happened around us—a tragedy, attacks, the endangered pregnancy—and you still prevailed."

Kay smiled. "You helped too. You protected me exactly when I needed it, you gave me time and allowed me to pace myself. You were there for me all along."

But then suddenly I felt a wave of stress and whispered, "Not all along. I wasn't the one who successfully defended you against those monsters. I remember what you said: Maurice once faced a similar situation and defeated those bastards with baseball bats who attacked you. I failed at that."

Kay's face suddenly changed, his eyes widening. "No, no, Rain! What you did was even more important. You showed your vulnerability when you reached your limits. In the end, we are all just humans, not gods. Even TMs can't do everything! I could see when you realized there are things you just can't defend me against—you can't predict every situation, you can't foresee all the gas cans thrown at us or all the ambushes. But still, you shielded me with your body—essentially sacrificing yourself in my defense. It was a final gift, perhaps the most crucial. And that meant even more to me than if you had shot them in a spectacular act of dominance from a safe spot in the forest. The strength hidden within a weakness. It's exactly what I found in myself."

He made a wide gesture toward the nest. "A small, perfect space. And it's enough."

My heart sped up in my chest, overflowing with waves of happiness, as I glanced at his nest.

"Yes, the strength within weakness. Despite the paralysis in your body, you pushed out the Stun Sound that made the difference. I could have been hit in the head before the shooter came. We were a team, Kay," I whispered.

"We were a team again. Like I had never been before… not with Maurice!" His lips trembled, and I realized that Kay… was coming out of mourning. He was freeing himself at that very moment. "You're perfect for me, Rain. I can finally leave my past behind."

And then Kay pulled me closer and our lips met,

"Take me to the nest and make love to me, Rain—make love to me. I need you! With me, in me. In… everything!"

We fell onto the bed and the nest survived—it was surprisingly solid and strong, despite its seemingly fragile, pretty appearance, almost like Kay himself. My hands ran down his body, over his swollen, milk dripping nipples, over the swell of his belly, full of life. The power of creation emanating from his very being.

"You are perfect too, in every form, in every way…" I whispered as he spread his legs for me, offering himself to me, gladly, willingly, invitingly.

"Fill me, Rain, let us become one. I accept you inside. And in my heart. It is yours now."

And so, we became one.

KAY

Something woke me up in the middle of the night—some sound or maybe just a strange feeling of someone's presence. Rain's muscular arm was around my waist, his hand resting partially on my pregnant belly. Slowly, carefully, I untangled myself from his embrace, feeling a mix of anxiety and maybe even some excitement.

I looked at my nest. Despite us making love, it remained intact. I moved toward it and, in the dim light, touched the formation made of pillows, ribbons, sashes, and Rain's clothes. My fingers gently traced the fabric, and something inside me resonated with what I saw. Something finally unlocked within me—I was able to create a nest, my first complete nest ever! It was hard to grasp what had just happened. It almost felt like today was the first day of my true adulthood and maturity as an omega.

My other hand slid down to my belly. I felt a delicate vibration of life inside, the heartbeat of my child. New times were coming.

I was going to be a dad.

And for the first time, I truly felt READY—free of unnecessary fears, panic, and feelings of inadequacy. I was finally an adult, mentally prepared for the challenges ahead.

I stood up slowly and walked to the window, looking out into the garden. Despite this being our first night here, I didn't feel out of place. After all, I grew up in this house; I lived here with my parents. Though I hadn't wanted to return for years after their deaths—too many ghosts.

As I looked at the wide patio, I remembered the hours spent here with my parents, who, like Maurice, were my bubble of safety, my whole world. Their death was one of the hardest things I ever faced, something I couldn't really process at the time. My brothers and Maurice became my entire support system. I clung to them even more tightly then, painfully aware of how fragile life is.

My parents died in a plane crash, leaving the entire company on 23-year-old Marco's shoulders. I was just a freshman in college and couldn't imagine ever returning to this house, fearing the memories would overwhelm me and drag me into depression. I didn't want to feel like a scared child.

So, when Maurice proposed, I agreed without hesitation. I had lost one pillar of stability in my parents, but he offered me another, and I was grateful. It was like jumping from one leaf to another. I thought that was what I needed. Being engaged while in college made me feel better, giving me a continuing sense of security. It felt like it was another pillar in my life. We married the summer after I graduated.

Closing my eyes, I realized how distant that moment felt now. Back then, it seemed so important, but at this point, it felt like just one of many significant but not crucial events. I had moved from one fleeting sense of security to another, too scared to face what lay in between.

I turned slowly and looked at Rain. How wrong I was, assuming things would always be the same, that anything could be absolutely certain, that nothing random could happen. My parents died, and… Maurice died. I could never have guaranteed 100% safety and absolute peace. It was a harsh conclusion, but that's not what life was about. Maybe that was even the essence of it—our fragility.

Appreciating fleeting moments? The space in between?

Glancing at my nest again, I smiled. Inside, Rain slept, unaware of my nightly musings.

It was clear to me why omegas build nests. They create small areas of safety because only small areas of life can truly be maintained.

Nobody can control whether a plane malfunctions and crashes, if a car's brakes fail, or if three lunatics decide to invade somebody's home. The external world was beyond my control.

With Maurice, I was just a scared little omega who naively believed in the omnipotence of my knight while trembling in the corner, a proverbial damsel in distress. I thought I had found a new protector in Rain. But Rain was different. He wasn't a replacement bodyguard. There was this space inside him—this vulnerability. His presence in my life made me realize new things; he helped me see that I also had strength. I mattered; I was capable of doing things that influenced the course of our lives. Maybe… it was the reason I stopped being so afraid of becoming a parent?

Though I couldn't replace or control everything, perhaps I could still live happily—with Rain, in our uncharted land, our beautiful and chaotic terra incognita.

Staring at the dark garden, beyond which the ocean could be seen down the hill, my thoughts drifted back to the night of the attack—the terror, the helplessness. Life was just unyieldingly unfolding. I recalled my attempt to save us by making the Stun Sound, and then the sound of gunshots.

What if those shots hadn't been fired?

Would Rain have been able to get up? Would fighting mode have overcome his paralysis? Could he have defeated them? Or would I have managed to make another Stun Sound? Stronger one? I would never know. The chance to know the answer was taken from us the moment the shots were fired.

Surely, life was one big, unpredictable battleground.

Whether I was scared or not, things would happen, events would unfold. Maybe I could even save myself all that nervousness, that anxious preparation for things I couldn't actually prevent?

Strangely, I felt almost no stress about what had happened. I think Rain, Adam, and Marco were even more affected than I was.

I rested my fingers on the glass and closed my eyes.

And then, something Detective Moor said rang a bell.

Unexpectedly, a conversation from many years ago surfaced in my mind—a conversation I had with one person, full of emotion. I remembered a few sentences I had said with great conviction, boastful and even a little arrogant.

And just like that, something clicked inside me.

Two puzzle pieces fell into place, and I understood something incredible—the realization of what had really happened in my life.

My words, born out of insecurity all those years ago, had enormous consequences, catapulting my life onto an unexpected path. My heart pounded as I connected the dots, and everything became clear. I took a deep breath.

Now, I knew. I solved the puzzle.

Ghosts—I was surrounded by ghosts. But they would remain ghosts forever.

My God, the discovery almost overwhelmed me, I pressed my forehead to the window and sobbed for a while.

My life went exactly—as I chose it!

ME.

Clean cut.