Fallon POVThe wolves assemble and prepare for a battle. We are unsure what will happen when we rush into Umbra's place and pull Bruce out. Ryan is afraid that Bruce will try to kill me. I know Bruce had a part to play in my life and what Umbra wants with me, but I don't think he would harm me. I have been wrong before?"Calm your mind. The wolves will rush the building, with Alpha Mayhem leading the way. I will go in next, clearing the path for you and Libby. Libby will put a protection circle around you until you reach Bruce. Be careful. I will be in front of you and Libby Behind you," Ryan says. I know he is nervous. We found each other and have a future now. He doesn't want to lose that, and neither do I. "Do all reapers rush into battle with werewolves and a witch? I have to do this without all of you trying to baby me," I respond. Everyone treats me like a child. At least, that is how I feel. I know they are trying to protect me, but it is so annoying. I am eighteen years old
Fallon POVWe arrive back at the wolf territory. Libby is not speaking to any of us. She understands why her brother had to be killed, but it doesn't make any of it any easier. I have watched her cry until my heart aches for her. I did not want to kill my friend. I did not want any of this to end this way, but it happened, and there is nothing I can do about it now except move on from this horrible event. "He loved you, but he was so messed up. Umbra and the ancestors pushed him to make sure you became a reaper, and now look. It cost him his life," Libby sobs as she gets out of the truck. She races to Mother Agnes for comfort. I get out of the truck with Ryan. He puts his arm around me to comfort me. "He would have never stopped hunting you. You did the right thing. Libby knows it, but she needs time," Ryan says, trying to comfort me. "I know," I say. I lay my head on Ryan's chest and close my eyes. Ryan picks me up and carries me home. "You need to rest," Ryan says. Maybe he is
Ryan POVI leave Fallon with Libby and Mother Agnes so the three of them can chat and not talk about Bruce. I know Libby is having a hard time, and so is Fallon. This will be the hard part for her as a reaper. What will she do when she is forced to take a life? Will she embrace her duty or fall? Fallon has to harden her heart. I begin to patrol the grounds, watching and listening. It is important that Fallon is safe. I hear someone following me. The branches break, and the bushes move behind me. I turn to see who it is. "Who is there?" I call out. A wolf leaps out of a tree, Chaos. "What do you want?" I ask him. Chaos and I begin to circle one another. I shift as I watch him. He is here to kill Fallon. "She is dead, and you know it. She has to die," Chaos growls. "Over my dead body, Chaos," I growl. Chaos rushes toward me, and the two of us begin to fight. I hear other wolves coming, but I focus on Chaos. I have to kill him. "Umbra sent you to kill her!" I growl as I swipe acros
Fallon POVI feel beautiful and happy as I look in the mirror. Libby left with a wolf escort just long enough to retrieve Mother Agnes's wedding dress from her home. Libby said she felt as if someone was watching her but was not sure if their intentions were good or bad. It was odd and unsettling in a way but not too alarming. Maybe because she has a lot of wolves with her, she feels safe. "You look beautiful," Mother Agnes says. I took the dress, the lace, and the beautiful designs on the dress, and my heart sings with hope for our future. "I love this dress, thank you," I say. Mother Agnes touches my long red hair. She guides me over to a chair and begins to braid my hair. "On our wedding day, your hair should be braided," Mother Agnes says. I watch her as she slowly braids my hair. "Did you braid my mother's when she married?" I ask her. This question brings tears to Mother Agnes's eyes. "I did braid her hair. I should have told her to run and not marry that hunter. I am sorry
Fallon POVRyan sets me down and pushes me behind him to protect me. "You think you are strong enough to defeat me," Chaos howls at Ryan. "Run, Fallon," Ryan screams at me. "I will not leave you," I say. I stand beside Ryan, ready to fight. Surely, my father's pack will hear the howling and come to help. We do not need help, and you can take him down quickly. Use your magic. Ryan is in my head. He doesn't want me to run, but he wants Chaos to think I am running away. I run in the opposite direction until I am deep in the woods. I can hear Ryan and Chaos fighting. I wait until Chaos is not thinking of me. I want all of his attention on Ryan. I feel a hand touch my shoulder. I look behind me to see Alpha Mayhem and several wolves. "We are going in, and you stay here, Fallon," Alpha Mayhem instructs me. I protest. This upsets me. Why does everyone still treat me like a child? "I can take Chaos down. I am not a child!" I argue. "Rush Chaos!" Alpha Mayhem instructs his wolves. "I k
Fallon POVOver the next few weeks, Ryan and I were together to improve my reaping skills, Libby helped with my magic, and Alpha Mayhem helped with my wolf training. By the end of the month, I am ready to take on my role as the reaper of the supernatural community, and the most important thing I need to do is kill Umbra. It is all I can think about it. Killing Umbra consumes my mind and my body and infects every part of my life. "You have to let the hate go. If you do not, you will end up like your mother, BITTER!" Libby fusses at me. She is correct, but I cannot stop thinking about it. I want Umbra dead for what she did to my family. She needs to die. I sit down in the grass, and Libby joins me. We have spent most of the day working on spells, but my mind is elsewhere. Consuming my mind is nothing but these thoughts every day. I want this to stop. "Your mind should be on your husband and your new life, not on death. You have to move past this. Your life and your magic will suffer,
Libby POVI return home, leaving Fallon to spend time with her husband and build a relationship with him. Fallon deserves some peace and happiness. I hope she finds it. I honestly think Ryan and Fallon will be happy. Fallon will be an amazing mother, and Luna. Ryan will be a wonderful father and Alpha. The two of them have a bright future together. I can hear you. We need to talk. A voice is calling out to me. I step outside and listen to the wind. At first, I thought it had to be the ancestors calling out to me, but that was no Onya, Sonya, or Anna's voice. I listen again. Nothing! I return inside my house. My children are upstairs doing their thing, and my husband is in the backyard cooking dinner. I have to talk with him about the reaping. My husband was born a hunter, but he changed his name and chose me all those years ago. He turned away from everything he was born to do. Why? For a family and a life with me. Now, as the children are almost grown, I can give him all that back
Libby POVCrane gets the girls and tries to calm them as I pack a small pack for each of them. I know they are old enough to do it, but we have to move fast. Talone will be back soon, and I have to get my family safe. Crane and I rush into the garage with the girls behind us. We get into the car, each with a small bag to live out of until this is over. I smile at Crane, who I can tell is worried. Crane trained his entire life as a hunter. He is damn good at it, a natural-born killer, but he gave that life so I could have a normal life and a family. It is the exact same thing Fallon is doing to be with Ryan. She is giving up the reaping to be a wife and mother. I smile at that thought because I know how much joy my family has given me. "STOP!" an old voice call. The garage door begins to vibrate. She is back, and she will kill us. I close my eyes to start another protective shield. The one around us must not be strong enough to keep Talone out. The car door opens, and a woman gets