RPOV

Blood. Pain.

A body collapses to the ground.

Screams echo in the distance.

Emptiness.

Alone.

Cold.

Since that fateful night, Rose had been haunted by the same recurring nightmare—Mason.

The screams she had involuntarily unleashed, the sickening snap of his neck, and his lifeless body dropping to the ground. Then, the overwhelming guilt and the relentless reliving of that dreadful moment on an endless loop.

The nightmare had plagued her every night since their escape, and she bore the weight of blame squarely on her shoulders.

"If I were a better Guardian," she'd think, "I would have been faster. Maybe if I hadn't confided in Mason, he'd still be here, not chasing down Strigoi to prove himself."

Those haunting red eyes seemed etched into her mind, taunting her, breaking her spirit.

"We were just kids," she whispered, but the words never eased the guilt.

The nightmare gripped her tighter, pulling her deeper into its clutches. Just as she descended into that all-too-familiar abyss, she was abruptly jolted awake.

Gasping for air, Rose stumbled out of bed and rushed to the bathroom, her stomach in turmoil. Her throat burned with the taste of bile.

And now, she found herself alone on the cold bathroom floor, clutching a pregnancy test in trembling hands.

"Shit," Rose muttered, staring at the pregnancy test with wide, disbelieving eyes. Two pink lines on the stick conveyed a message she couldn't fully comprehend—she was pregnant. Tears welled up as she struggled to process this overwhelming revelation.

Her thoughts raced. What would she do now? For weeks, she'd battled unexplained bouts of nausea, which had abruptly interrupted her tormenting nightmares.

Feeling lost and confused about the changes occurring within her body, she had taken the test in a desperate quest for answers and some semblance of peace.

She didn't know what to do. This couldn't be real, she thought, still hoping she'd wake up from this nightmare. But the bathroom floor felt cold against her trembling legs, and the pregnancy test in her hands remained undeniably real.

She reached for her phone, her fingers trembling as she texted the one person she felt she could turn to, the person she'd do anything for—Lissa.

Rose* Hey, can you come over? I need to talk to someone.

Lissa* Why do I have a nail appointment? I don't really think I can.

Rose* Please.

Lissa* Ugh, fine. I'll be over in half an hour.

Still in shock, Rose didn't pick up on the annoyance in Lissa's response. The wait felt like an eternity as she paced anxiously in her room, her emotions a turbulent storm.

Finally, a knock at the door interrupted her restless pacing. "Hey, Liss, come in," Rose called, welcoming her friend inside.

But as the door closed behind Lissa, her indifference was palpable. "I came all the way down here, Rose. What do you want?" she snapped, clearly disinterested.

This was the same Lissa she'd known for these last few months—the Lissa who had returned to the royal crowd and developed an "I don't care about anything" vibe. At this moment, Rose longed for the old Lissa, the one who had been her confidante and closest friend.

Rose took a deep breath, summoning the courage to share her news. "Umm, I-I'm pregnant," she stated, her voice trembling with worry.

Lissa's response was callous and dismissive. "Seriously? That's all? Surprisingly, it didn't happen sooner, you know, being a blood whore and all. So, who's the father? Jessie? Adrian?" Her words dripped with disdain.

The mention of "blood whore," a derogatory term Rose despised, sent her over the edge. "I'm not a blood whore!" she exclaimed, her frustration boiling. "That's none of your business, thank you very much. I told you because you're supposed to be my best friend. You're supposed to say, 'It's okay, Rose; we'll figure something out,' not call me the thing I hate the most. Especially when you know it's not true. I've only slept with one man in my entire life."

Her anger unleashed, and Rose couldn't contain her tears any longer. "I'm pregnant, and I feel so alone," she sobbed, the weight of the situation crushing her.

A flicker of nervousness flashed across Lissa's face as she responded, her tone shifting. "Rose, you know that's impossible, right? Dhampirs and dhampirs can't have kids together."

Rose's heart sank. Lissa knew who the father was when she said it was the only person she had ever slept with. She had told Lissa about it after it happened, wanting to talk about it. Even though she wasn't in love with Mason, they both got drunk off some whiskey they had stolen from a guardian and the next thing they knew, they had done it.

The truth struck her like a blow. "Well, you're talking to the one who's pregnant with his kid!" Rose shouted, hurt and betrayal evident in her voice.

Lissa's response was chilling. "You're such a freak of nature, Rose. Mason would be rolling in his grave and relieved it's not his problem anymore. You should have died with him. It would have been better for everyone."

The cruel words echoed in the room, piercing Rose's heart. She collapsed against her desk, consumed by grief, anger, and confusion.

This was when the delusion started. Mason's ghost appeared before her, his voice trying to speak to her. When she finally understood him, he said, "Run," in a hoarse whisper.

Hours passed as she continued to sob until a loud banging on her door shattered the silence.

Assuming it was Lissa returning, Rose opened the door only to find a group of seven guardians led by Alberta and a doctor. Instinct kicked in, and she slammed the door shut in their faces.

"They don't know anything," she muttered, seeking reassurance amid the chaos.

Determined to escape the clutches of those who sought to control her, Rose hastily grabbed a burner phone she never thought she would need and packed a duffle bag with clothes and her trusted weapons.

With her mind set on freedom, she quickly escaped through her window, darting towards the cover of the nearby woods.

An hour passed, and there were no signs of pursuers. Taking a deep breath, she dialed a number on the burner phone—a number she never thought she would need to call.

"Hello?" a familiar voice answered, a voice she hadn't heard in a long time.

"Nik? I need your help," Rose pleaded with her.


OK I KNOW, MASON AND ROSE DIDN'T HAVE SEX IN THE BOOKS BUT IN THIS STORY THEY DID, ANY WAY IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS LET ME KNOW