Prologue

I sat there, rubbing my big belly as my husband played with our boys. I watched as the little ones laughed alongside their father, Jacob, my youngest, was so sweet and caring. He makes our whole pack feel good; hard to believe he’ll be ten next week. Then there’s our oldest, Neil. He’s sixteen and has already shifted; he will be a great Beta to our next Alpha. As for this little one, we wanted to be surprised. We chose a name for a boy, but if it happened to be a girl, we had no idea. 

There were nights that I would get small visions, but nothing short of little noises and glimpses of the little one, but even I couldn’t tell if the sweet child was a boy or a girl. I could feel the little one’s kicks become fierce, which caused me to yelp. Andrew looked up at me, worried, “Is something wrong, my darling?” I shook my head and smiled,

“No, dear. The baby’s just kicking.” He got up from the floor with Jacob,

“Should I call the doctor?” I smiled and shook my head, 

“No, I’m fine.” I rubbed my belly, “We’re fine.” Jacob ran over to me and rubbed my belly softly, 

“How much longer?” He asked softly; Andrew and I smiled at him,

“Not too much longer, son,” Andrew told him. Neil came over to Jacob and scooped him up, making us all laugh. 

“I remember being so impatient when mom was expecting you. I was ready to be a big brother, to protect you. I know you’ll do the same.” Before I could take in the tender moment, I felt a sharp pain course through my body that caused me to double over. Andrew was quick and helped me up to take me upstairs, 

“Neil, call the doctor. Now!” Neil took Jacob to another room as he called the doctor. Andrew helped me up the stairs. “You sure you’re okay?” I gave him a look, and he laughed, 

“Do I look okay?” 

“Emily, you look beautiful. I swear, it’s like every pregnancy, you get more and more stunning.” I grinned when another wave of pain surged through my body.

I was in so much pain that I was going in and out of consciousness. There were times that the doctor couldn’t get me back but managed to. I was trying so hard to push my baby out that I didn’t realize how weak I was getting. I could hear my husband muttering something under his breath. But then, I didn’t hear anything; all I could see was this bright light that almost blinded me. I wasn’t scared; I was at peace. It was then that a glowing figure appeared in front of me, and she smiled, “Hello, Emily.” I don’t know how I knew. I just did; this was the Moon Goddess herself. I knelt before her, and she helped me up, turning me to see the doctor still trying to get my baby, 

“What’s happening?” I asked her; she placed a hand on my shoulder, 

“They’re making a choice, you or your child.” I watched as my husband started yelling at the doctor; tears were pouring from his eyes. 

“I want my child to live, even if he has to grow up without me….” The Moon Goddess stepped away, 

“Emily, you are the purest wolf I have ever met. You deserve to live.” I smiled lightly, thinking of my child, “With your daughter.” I froze for a moment and shot around, 

“Daughter…?” She nodded, 

“I want to bless you both. I have someone extraordinary planned for her. Your daughter,” 

“Nuray.” I cut her off, “Her name is Nuray.” She smiled,

“Nuray will be a great she-wolf, a powerful wolf.” I thought for a moment, my husband is a Beta; does this mean that she’ll be with an Alpha? My brain rushed with hundreds of questions. 

“Are you ready to meet your daughter?” I nodded but then thought for a second, 

“How do I know this is real?” I asked, “Am I truly here?” She giggled and got down to my level, 

“Look to your daughter for reassurance. Then you will know.” It didn’t make any sense, but I knew better than to argue with the Moon Goddess, real or not. I nodded then turned back to my family,

“I’m ready.” Before I knew it, I was screaming as I felt my daughter leave my body. 

“It’s a girl.” The doctor announced; Andrew kissed my lips and made sure I was okay before meeting her. “Let me just make sure you’re okay, Mrs. Levette.” 

I was so excited to meet my daughter. Andrew led the boys into the room once she and I were cleaned up and decent; Jacob crawled up into the bed beside me while Neil stood next to his father. We all looked at the little blessing. Jacob spoke up, “She has white hair.” I smiled; this must’ve been what she meant. I haven’t had a chance to tell Andrew about what happened to me, but he didn’t ask questions or anything; instead, he looked to our son and said,

“She’s a blessing from the Moon Goddess herself.” I smiled and kissed his lips, then Neil chimed in,

“What’s her name?” He asked; I looked over to my husband and smiled, 

“Her name is Nuray,” I replied, holding her out to Neil. He cradled his arms and held her close; the little bundle yawned and stretched her tiny arms. The smile that crossed Neil’s delicate features made my heart melt. Jacob came closer to his brother before mimicking Neil’s arms; Neil smiled and helped Jacob hold Nuray, 

“Gently,” Neil said softly; he moved his hands but was close enough to catch Nuray. Nuray started cooing and gave her brother a big smile. What Jacob said next nearly brought me to tears; he brought her ear closer to him and whispered in her ear,

“I’ll protect you. As long as I’m here, you’ll be safe.” Andrew wrapped an arm around me as we watched our children. 

The more we watched them grow, the more unique we discovered Nuray really was. Her white hair was nothing compared to her piercing blue eyes; one look could render a person speechless from those blue oceans. Years began to pass; we gained a new Alpha, and Neil became the Beta. Once retired, Andrew dedicated the rest of his life to helping me with Jacob and Nuray. A fifteen-year-old and a five-year-old are challenging to keep track of. Jacob would train with the warriors after school while Nuray would come home and help me in the kitchen; Nuray wasn’t like most children. She was eager to learn whatever she could. If it was up to her, she’d be right beside her big brother, training to be a warrior, but she settled for helping me in the kitchen. 

One day, she came home from school and ran straight to the kitchen and started helping me with dinner, then she asked me the most crucial question in a young she-wolves life, just not for her age. “Mommy, when will I find my mate?” I instantly froze. Did she even know what a mate is? I pondered this for a moment too long when she rolled her eyes, this caught my attention, so I asked,

“Do you know what a mate is?” She nodded her head excitedly; I braced myself for what could possibly come out of this child’s mouth, “What is it?”

“It’s like you and daddy!” She squealed; I gave her a questioning look, then she explained, “Daddy was chosen by the Moon Goddess for you. So, who did she choose for me?” I wanted to mentally slap myself in the face for not changing the subject, but I decided to tell her the truth,

“Well, I don’t know, sweetie. But, I know you’ll find him one day,” then I thought for a second, “maybe not if your father and brothers have anything to say about it.” We giggled while she mixed the bowl, then she gave me a big smile,

“I’ll get big and strong, so they don’t have to protect me!” Her eager little face made me grin ear to ear as I booped her nose, 

“Yes, you will, my darling.” She giggled; I can’t believe I nearly missed all of this. If I chose not to come back, she wouldn’t have me answer these questions. I love my family, but I fear that things would never be the same if something were to happen to me. There will be a day that they will no longer have me, but I pray it’s not anytime soon because I don’t want to miss a single day of being a wife and mother. 

But my biggest fear was realized when Nuray turned eleven. I became ill; doctors didn’t know what to do and feared I wouldn’t be around too much longer, which they were right. A month after celebrating life, my family had to mourn my death…