A genuine smile lights up Meredith’s face.  “Open them!  It’s not like they’re going to bite you.”  I look at Hakeem, both of our faces puzzled.  I turn back to the envelope that Meredith gave me.  Slowly, I wedge my finger under the flap, breaking the seal.  Hakeem undoes the bow.  We open our “surprises” at the same time that Meredith uses the remote to turn off the music that is playing loudly throughout the room. I stare at the contents of the envelope without fully comprehending what I am seeing.  My mouth is open, my eyes wide.  After a few seconds, I glance over at Hakeem and see the same expression on his face. I look down and what I see in my hands finally comes into focus.  A sonogram.  It’s a sonogram.  Two little beans seem to float in a black and white striated space. I look over to what Hakeem is holding in his hands and see a positive pregnancy test resting in the necklace box.

The next morning, while the happy throuple are sleeping in, Zak, Diego, Karamea, Liam, Sandra, and I make our ways to the dungeons. There are several members of the former Cancer, Lycaon, and Mene packs, along with the previous members of the M**i packs and rouges that had actively fought against us and we had imprisoned them, at least until the war is over. There were only 10 cells and about 30 wolves between the four packs and rogues to house.  They are a little cramped for space, but it is what it is.  There are four wolves in particular that we would really like to bring to our side.  Two are extremely skilled warriors that we needed five warriors to bring down.  One would be an excellent addition to our spy and scouting teams.  The final one is a rouge female who has obviously been abused by the wolves that she was with.  She’s refusing to leave them.  We’re hoping that speaking to two she-wolves will help her come with us. Th

About a minute after Clive is taken out of the room, while we’re still trying to figure out what’s going on with Brandon, we hear a howl from the interrogation room down the hall. “Something’s wrong!” My voice is tense and I run as fast as I can out the door.  Within seconds, we are standing in front of the second interrogation room. “Get her out of here and get some help!”  Karamea’s yell turns into a growl as she shifts, but I don’t see what’s going on in the room.  All I see is that the guard is carrying a she-wolf out of the room.  A she-wolf with long black hair and paling skin.  Sandra. Her shirt is covered in blood and she’s struggling to breathe. “Give her to me,” I order the guard.  I take her in my arms and lay her on the floor, ripping off my shirt and attempting to staunch the bleeding.  Her stomach is ripped to shreds, organs nearly falling out of her body.  Her eyes are begging me to do something.&

The news that Julian is attempting to bring Mathias and his allies to their side is not good.  Not good at all.  But we can’t worry about that right now.  We’ve got to get the families from Mathias’ pack.  We’ve got a job to do.  Time enough to worry about the western borders when we get back. “New objective, everyone.  Get the wolves we’re there for out as fast as you possibly can.  Kill any of Mathias’ men that you have to.  We’re not looking for stealth now.  We’re looking to get in and out, but also hurt Mathias,” Zak announces to everyone as we are loading into the vehicles that evening.  Several of us will be riding to the outskirts of Mathias’ borders today, about 24 hours of riding in the car.  Yay.  I can already feel my brain melting from boredom.  The warriors nod their affirmation and continue packing up the vehicles.  We’re almost ready to go. Zak pulls me and my mates aside.&n

I stand beside the body of Isaac, set on one of the couches in the packhouse.  Also in the room are Brandon, Arya, Devin, and Xander. The rest of the wolves are tending the fire, trying to calm the wolves from the three other packs who lost their mates today, and making another search of the territory for any sign of Mathias and his goons.  I have no idea how they made it so that Lacey didn’t feel what they were doing to Isaac.  Not until his death.  It happened at some point while we were in the air.  Charlie called us and let us know that Lacey collapsed, screaming in agony before she passed out.  She had been distraught since she woke, screaming that Isaac was dead and that her pup would never meet its father.  They had to sedate her and keep her in the hospital, hooked up to monitors to ensure that the baby’s health wasn’t compromised. I have never seen anything like what they’d done to Isaac.  Not only had they beaten the