Chapter 6 - Family Matters

  ***Kiera's POV***

  The soft glow of candlelight flickered across the wooden walls of the pack house master bedroom, casting warm golden hues over the room. Kiera lay nestled in the crook of Leo’s arm, the steady rise and fall of his chest beneath her cheek grounding her in a sense of peace she hard learned to find comfort in. The past few weeks had been a storm of uncertainty, but here, in his embrace, everything felt still.

  Leo’s fingers traced slow, lazy circles over her bare shoulder leaving a tingling sensation from there bond. “You’ve been quiet tonight,” he murmured, his voice low and husky. “Something on your mind?”

  She tilted her head to look up at him, her lips curving into a small, hesitant smile. “I’ve been thinking… about us. About the future.”

  Leo raised a brow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Oh? And what exactly about our future has you lost in thought?”

  Kiera took a deep breath, her fingers toying with the hem of his shirt. “I think I’m ready, Leo.”

  His brows furrowed slightly. “Ready for what?”

  She swallowed, holding his gaze. “A baby.”

  For a moment, there was silence. Then, something shifted in his expression—his golden eyes softened, and a slow smile spread across his face. “Are you serious?”

  Kiera nodded, a little nervous at his reaction. “I know things are still dangerous, and maybe it’s not the perfect time, but—”

  Leo cut her off with a deep kiss, his strong hands cupping her face as he pulled her close. When he finally pulled away, his breath was warm against her lips. “Kiera, I know I have been putting this off for awhile... Just know ever since that day I saw you laying on that picnic blanket by the woods near your house, I knew in that moment I wanted to build a life with you, a family."

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  Her heart swelled at his words, and as he shifted to press her beneath him, his hands sliding over her skin with reverence, she knew this moment would be one she’d cherish forever.

  Then, the shrill ring of the phone shattered the tranquility.

  Leo cursed under his breath, reluctantly rolling over to grab the cordless phone from the nightstand. “Who the hell is calling this late?”

  Kiera sat up, pulling the sheets around herself as Leo answered. The moment he put the phone to his ear, his expression darkened. “Hello?”

  A crackling voice came through the other end, panicked and uneven. “Kiera—Leo—thank God. I don’t have much time. You need to listen to me.” Leo Immediately switched the phone over to speaker mode.

  Kiera’s stomach dropped. “Dad?”

  Her father’s voice wavered, and there was a distant sound of shouting in the background. “The sector’s on lockdown. They’ve closed the borders. No one’s getting in or out.”

  Leo sat up straighter, his jaw clenching. “What are you talking about?"

  “Three days ago, the news started reporting people getting sick in the downtown district. They told us to stay indoors, that it was under control. But it’s not. The government’s gone completely silent. No emergency broadcasts, no military response—just barricades and blockades. They’re leaving us here to die.”

  Kiera felt her breath hitch. “Dad… what do you mean? What’s happening?”

  There was a long pause, followed by a shaky inhale. “People are turning, Kiera. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before. They get sick, then they die… but they don’t stay dead. They come back, and they’re… they’re monsters.”

  A cold chill ran down Kiera’s spine.

  Her father’s voice grew desperate. “Listen to me. Your brother—he’s just a child. You have to come get him. I don’t care about me or your mother, but don’t let him die here.”

  Leo was already moving, throwing on his clothes with swift, purposeful movements. “We’re coming,” he said firmly. “Just hold on.”

  The line went dead.

  Kiera’s hands trembled as she clutched the phone, her mind reeling. This couldn’t be happening. Whatever was going on, it had to be connected to the meeting with President Randolf a few days ago. Yet they had heard nothing since.

  Leo grabbed his phone, dialing quickly.

  “We need to alert the others,” he said, his tone tight with urgency.

  The call connected after a few rings. “Sivren, it’s Leo. We have a problem.”

  Kiera swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched him move with unwavering determination. The weight of what her father had said settled over her like a suffocating blanket. Leo Quickly got off the phone and called James next asking if he would grab Hank too. It was going to be a long day.

  And they had no idea just how bad it was going to get.