Darkness Chapter 44: Uneasy

**Vincent**

We set out to track down the trespassers, only to find that Quinn's men had already apprehended them. One of the intruders lay lifeless, while the other two were in custody. I immediately contacted Gary, stressing the urgency of the situation and the need to inform Greg. I had been relentless in enforcing our treaty with the vampire hordes, and now it was Gary's turn to do the same. As Gary arrived and took the trespassers into custody, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. His demeanor was uneasy, as if he were hiding something. I brushed it off, assuming he was simply anxious about upholding the treaty. But what if the humans were plotting against us? It would be a grave mistake on their part, as we held the power to obliterate them.  “Vincent...Quinn, I'm so sorry. I'll make sure we handle this,” Gary said.

"Thank you," Quinn replied stoically. "My pack only attacks when provoked. They are well aware of the territory boundaries, and we were well within our rights to defend ourselves." As we glanced at the lifeless body being carried away, a sense of unease settled over us.

"No, you are correct. Thank you," Gary responded solemnly before departing. As we began to make our way back to the main house, a foreboding sensation crept over me.

"Quinn, we must return immediately. I have a terrible premonition," I urged urgently, my voice tinged with fear.

Quinn nodded, “Same…” We double time it back just in time to see Nettie throwing a man against the house while another tries to come at her from behind. Not today dumbass. I come up from behind him and snap his neck.

Nelly's gaze meets mine, and a wave of relief floods through me. The thought of her nearly being attacked had my heart racing. She's always been fiercely independent, but now she's not just my fiancée, she's carrying our child. I find myself more protective of her than I ever was of Bianca.

As we go our separate ways and head home, once home, Nelly will be off to pick up her dress and meet with Carrie. When we arrive, Carrie is already there, having moved out and started dating Brandon. Typical.

With a smile, Carrie greets us, "Hey, are you ready?"

Nelly nods, “Yeah. Alec?”

Alec bursts into the room, breathless. "Apologies, boss, I got sidetracked," he pants. Nelly flashes him a knowing smile. Lately, he's been captivated by a female vampire, but his loyalty lies with Nelly. It's only a matter of time before we must address this delicate situation. "Let's move, ladies," Alec commanded.

As Nelly exits, I watch her with a heavy heart. It pains me to be separated from her and our child, but I trust Alec to protect them. Nelly is a fierce warrior in her own right. Now, my focus shifts to planning our wedding and honeymoon. The thought of our future together fills me with anticipation and longing.

**Nelly**

As we arrived at the dress shop, a wave of awe washed over me. The beauty of the place was overwhelming, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and nervousness. Carrie was chattering away, but I was lost in the moment, realizing that my wedding was just a month away.

Carrie grabbed my hand, pulling me towards the racks of dresses. "Come on, Nelly. Let's find you the perfect dress."

After what seemed like an eternity, I finally found the dress that spoke to me. It was simple yet elegant, just what I had envisioned for my special day. As I thanked Carrie for her help, I couldn't help but feel grateful for her support during this hectic time.

As I glanced over at Alec, who was sitting in the corner looking less than thrilled, I couldn't help but wonder about the world we lived in. Vampires had taken control of everything, including utility companies and even Hollywood. It was only recently that Vincent had allowed humanity to have phones again, a luxury that had been stripped away from us. “Thanks, Carrie. I appreciate your help,” I said as we were paying.

Carrie smiles, “No problem.”

“How is Brandon?” I ask.

“He's good. We are happy.”

I return her smile and say, "I'm happy for you both. Alec, we're finished here. Let's go." I genuinely feel happy for Brandon and Carrie. She deserves someone who will treat her well, especially since I played a part in Victor's death. As for Brandon, only time will tell if he's truly ready to settle down.

"Oh, thank goodness. Sorry, but that was painfully dull," Alec complains.

"Maybe you should have tried spicing things up a bit. Put on a dazzling dress. Live a little," I playfully suggest.

He shakes his head. "Not my style. But I'd consider granting you a wish if you could get Vincent to wear one."

I grin. “Now that's a challenge I will win.”

Alec sighs. “You are plain evil.”

“And your best friend is marrying it.”

Carrie comes up to us with all of the bags. She looks at Alec. “Sorry. She needs to look perfect next month.”

I take her hand to turn her to look at me. “Carrie, would you be my maid of honor? Brandon is walking me down the aisle. But l'd like you to part of our wedding too.”

She exclaimed with joy, "Yes!" As we said our goodbyes, my mind drifted to Tara. She was supposed to be my maid of honor, but it pained me to realize that someone I had known for nearly a decade had betrayed me. Not only had she betrayed me, but she had also betrayed her own family. Brandon had tried to reach out to his mother, only to discover that she had passed away while searching for supplies. He turned to Vincent for help, and what he uncovered was shocking. Aaron had ordered her death because she had refused to assist him.