There were a few minutes of silence when Rose took over Skylar's body to have a chat with Vin. But before she could even start saying something, Vin beat her to it.
"Rose, if you leave us, please be sure it's because of Death and not because you have to sacrifice again. Don't do it anymore and be with Death this time." Vin, Vincencio's wolf, spoke seriously yet smiled curiously at the corner of his lips.
"Vin..." Rose whispered his name.
"I'm already happy with them. I'm contented. I'll take care of our babies." Vin assured her.
"You knew she was having a twin." She chuckled softly, guessing.
"We're mates, my human was just slow when panicking." He chuckled, feeling at ease.
"I could tell." She said as her giggling tone faded and became serious, asking gently as if she was afraid of something, "But are you sure about this? Our last generation to be together?"
"Rose, your heart doesn't belong to me anymore. It has been with Death already." Vin replied gently, but there was a crack in his tone, making Rose glance at him. She wiped his tear before he looked at her and continued gently, saying, "Go home. Back to her, completely."
"Vin..." Rose called coldly before asking sternly, making Vin flinch a little before looking away, "She's not visiting you, has she?"
"Ops?" Vin reacted, almost like a whisper.
"VIN!" She exclaimed, glaring and hitting his chest playfully, making the man chuckle genuinely.
"In all seriousness, Rose, go home when you feel it's time." He said, turning their conversation serious before adding, "And true, she has been visiting me, checking on you through me, and there were times, she cries from longing, but she can't. It was not about pride or fear, but because of her duty as what she is."
"I know." She sighed and snuggled into his arms, where he caressed her shoulder with tenderness.
"What makes you stay this long?" He asked curiously, looking at the ceiling.
"Skylar, Vincencio, you, and now our babies." She responded honestly, making him sigh.
"We'll be just fine. You've been living for centuries longer than I am." He assured her before asking her, "You have been transferred from one vessel to another. Aren't you getting tired?"
"In all honesty, I am. But it's Death's punishment to me, and I don't know how long it goes." She admitted with a heavy sigh and in her heart. She misses her before adding sadly, "No matter how much I miss being just near her, I can't. I couldn't imagine when she won't let me."
"Have you tried?" He wondered carefully.
"In this generation? I have ever since Skylar's memory has been locked." She replied honestly.
"And now?" He asked softly, still caressing her arm.
"Now? I haven't." She admitted sadly, as if she worried about something she was not ready to face - Death's rejection.
"I could sense you're afraid, but at least try." He said softly, before giving her hope, "She might have already ended her punishment before you even know it."
"Vin..." She whispered, worrying about being rejected.
"I'm not forcing you. If you're not ready, then don't." He said with assurance before adding firmly, "But promise me you'll go home to her. Both of you need each other."
"Sounded like she has been telling you everything." She sighed, smiling before yawning.
"She does, so you'd better get ready for getting home." He chuckled and kissed her head before adding a tease, "Who knows, she might surprise you by picking you up here."
"Hope she does..." She agreed softly and rested deep inside Skylar.
But all of that conversation has been clearly heard by the person herself, Skylar, and a tear escaped from her eyes before sleep completely took over her.
***
At three in the morning, Skylar woke up before Vincencio. She looked at him carefully, smiling, but there was something aching over her chest. She sighed. She took a moment, channeling her energy and calming herself. It wasn't long before she felt a sudden shift in the air in the room. She looked over Vincencio, but he was still sleeping, not even sensing the malicious energy engulfing the room.
"Who's there?" Skylar asked firmly, but there was no answer, before demanding, "Show yourself."
She narrowed her eyes in the very dark corner of the room. She could feel enormous dark energy, which she could tell wasn't any night creature she had encountered before. It was beyond reach, a god perhaps.
"You're nothing like us, aren't you?" She guessed calmly but firmly before adding what she noticed. "You emit more than we could, so, please, if you may, show yourself and state why you're here."
There was silence, making Skylar sigh and snap her fingertip, showing her blood curse power. It spread drastically throughout the room, searching, reaching the dark corner, and before it could touch anything, Skylar flicked her hand again, stopping the blood from spreading. She sensed something familiar with the dark energy at the corner of the room.
"You...I've sensed you before..." She said, trying to remember before asking, "Have we met at my cell at the Black Tower Prison?"
'Who do you think I am?'
Skylar flinched as soon as she heard the voice. She knew that deep, cold, and amused voice before, and it was the voice that had been whispering to her whenever she was on the bridge of death.
"Death." She muttered softly.
'Do you know why I am here?'
"You tell me." She said coldly, despite a little agitation creeping out from her sweaty palms.
'Not a word about what I'm about to say. Keep it only to you, as it connects to your fate.'
"Go ahead and tell, I'm all ears." She said, focusing herself on what Death was about to tell her.
'Sophia's soul has to travel to the Moonlit Ville. Hand the orb to Alicia Irie. She knew it, and they'll understand once you step into their land, alone. Don't stay more than a night. Create three Soul Debt Collectors through your blood curse, then travel back to your company, and leave one there as a watcher.'
"Why in my company?" She wondered when she heard her company.
'Don't you want to protect your pack who works there, especially your daughter?'
"Fair enough." She replied in understanding before wondering about its time, "When should I do this?"
'You will know when. But don't forget what I've instructed. No skip. No shortcuts.'
"And if I do?" She wondered, making the air suddenly shift, shivering down her spine. It was a grim vibe.
'I'll come personally to take what matters to you, slowly, tormenting.'
"Noted." She understood before asking something else, "But aside from my task, you're here for her, am I right?"
'You're not wrong, but you're not right either. I'm not here to get her but to watch her. I'm here to give you your first real task in the future.'
"Okay, but why are you not meeting her?" She asked curiously.
'It's not time to return, but her time here is now ticking. Make the best out of it. Learn everything that you need to learn from her, because soon, you'll take over what she's been doing here.'
"You're general?" She guessed, making Death's voice chuckle amusingly before correcting her.
'Silly. You're not even close to what she is truly capable of. Your job is to collect souls and cultivate them for another chance, but also to collect dark souls to balance them. And you've done pretty well on extracting it from Rudolf. I'm impressed for a first timer.'
"I see. I hope I won't be doing any of it during my pregnancy." She sighed, hoping her serious night task wouldn't happen anytime soon.
'Don't worry, it won't. Rest some more. Vincencio is waking up, and another thing, Skylar, name your second child next to mine and Rose.'
"Why?" She asked curiously, making her heart throb nervously.
'You'll know when you give birth.'
Skylar was about to ask more, but Death's presence was already gone, making her sigh and subconsciously touch her flat belly. She was thinking about what Death had told her before sighing, letting her back rest at the headboard of the bed. She glanced over Vincencio and gently caressed his head, making him stir.
"Hey, you're awake." Vincencio greeted, smiling, before he kissed her hand.
"I'm still drowsy, though." Skylar replied, slightly giggling before apologizing, "Sorry for making you worry."
"None, taken." He assured her before turning serious, asking carefully, "But tell me, what truly happened because even my sister-in-law won't tell me a thing."
"This." Skylar said, taking Vincencio's hand and placing it on her abdomen, saying, "I'm pregnant."
"I already guessed, but hearing it from you..." He muttered weakly, sobbing already. He got up from his seat and sat beside her, kissing her temple, saying, "...I'm overjoyed. I'm completely happy about this news. But, wifey, don't do it. I thought something bad happened to you."
"Okay, I won't do it anymore. I'll just slap you with truth." She chuckled, wiping her own tears, while her forehead leaned against his.
"That's harsh when you said it like that, but it's better." He chuckled, savoring the happiness swirling between them.
They kissed like they hadn't kissed before. It was deep and passionate until they parted to breathe, smiling, filled with joy.
"Wifey, you need to rest, and no stress allowed." He reminded softly.
"Hubby, I still needed to work. I had to prepare the transfer of ownership to Irina." She reasoned that Vincencio understood her point before she added, saying, "And besides, you're still my charming employee, aren't you?"
"I want to resign and be reinstated as your hubby." He grinned teasingly.
"Aren't you already mine?" She scoffed playfully.
"Reinstate me." He pouted, teasing, making Skylar chuckle, shaking his head.
"You're already reinstated, alpha Vincencio." She teased, winking at him, making Vincencio blush hard.
"Damn, I don't call me that. I'm getting turned on." He admitted, making her laugh.
"Oh my, you wanna do me in the hospital?" She teased, and he chuckled.
"Wifey. Such a tease." He said lovingly and kissed her lips one more time, before whispering, "I'm going to be a father again."
"Are you sure you're a father?" She teased, reminding their reverse position in their marriage.
"Fine, I'm the mother." He said with sarcasm, but Skylar took it lightly.
"Hahaha, better." She laughed, agreeing to Vincencio's surrender.
***
It was not long when the couple arrived at their pack, everything was quiet, making their property felt like a ghost town as their car passed by. Skylar frowned, looking at Vincencio, confused as he drove the car closer to the pack house. When they arrived and got inside, everything felt normal - too normal, until Skylar went to the backyard where she heard a small giggle from their daughter.
"MOMMY, DADDY! WELCOME HOME!" their daughter ran toward her parent and hugged Skylar's leg. But Skylar noticed the mischivious smile from her.
"Baby, what's going on?" Skylar asked curiously, and before the kid could respond, all pack members showed up.
"SURPRISE!" They shouted in unison. Skylar gasped and saw Medina with Irina holding a congratulatory banner.
"You knew?" She asked curiously, making everyone nod.
"I've sensed it, Mom. Everyone does except Dad." Irina answered on behalf of the pack. Skylar smiled warmly, wiping her little tears away, making Irina hug her too.
"Yeah, your Dad is slow even when I'm carrying Trixalyn before." She agreed teasingly, making the other laugh.
"Hey, I'm here," Vincencio interjected, sounding offended, but he wasn't. He was happy.
"Intend to." She chuckled teasingly but kissed his cheek.
"Harsh treatment. I'll cook instead." He faked gasping, pouting a little before crouching down, asking their baby, "Wanna cook with me, baby?"
"YES, DADDY!" She responded excitedly before adding a tease, "I wanna cook better than Mommy."
"HEY!" Skylar reacted, offended but smiling.
"WE LOVE YOU!" They said in unison and kissed both of her cheeks before they ran to the kitchen.
"She grew up fast in a day," Skylar said softly as she noticed her baby girl's growth.
"She's a hybrid, Mom." Irina reminded and kissed her cheek, pulling her inside the house, leaving the pack on the grilling station.