XANDER AKA ZANE'S POV  "Right go again! You need to give more if you want to survive my training program... MILES!! Come on, I know you have more. Let's see it!"  I have been here for just over 3 years now. Out of the dozen recruits I put through my program, I have produced 7 groups of 8 guards. King Noah then decides where they are needed and sends them there. I stand at the edge of my private training field and watch as my new recruits run through my introduction process. I smile, as I know at least 1 if not 2 will quit by the end of this session. We have been out here since 4 am. I have had them going nonstop since then.  "AGAIN!"  I make my way onto the field and walk in between each of the recruits as they run through the routine I showed them once early this morning. I step up to Miles. He is one hell of a fighter. He just needs the extra discipline t

SKYLER'S POV"Samuel! Slow down, stop running in the house. Where are your sisters and brother?"  Samuel stops for only a second to look at me and reply. "Playing in the backyard of the packhouse, waiting for the party to start."Today is Samuel and Emma's 5th birthday and we are having a big pack party for them. The backyard of the packhouse is all decorated for the party. Our family is complete for now. Even though there is always a small piece of my heart missing, Cole still hasn't returned. I occasionally get a hint of his scent while out on patrol, especially around my birthday, but I can never actually find him. It was hard, and it took Elijah, Nathan, and Katie a lot of patience, but I have finally come to terms with what Xander did that night. I still don't know how I would go if I ever saw him again, but I miss him. After all, he was the one that saved me that day from my father and gave me the family I have now. I

COLE'S POV  As Elijah and Nathan leave the cells without saying anything more, I get up from my knee and move over to the cot in the corner of the room. I lay down and look up at the ceiling, not that I can see it as it is now pitch black in here after they shut the outer door. After touching Skyler for just that short amount of time, I feel better and Xander, even though he had blocked me out, has calmed down as well. The rage that has been building has backed off, not by much but enough to allow us to think that little more clearer.  Even though I asked them to allow me to return to King Noah, I know that they won't let me. We have always settled things between us in our own way. I don't know what punishment they will give me, but they will make it something that none of us will ever forget.  I am not sure how long I have been laying here but I wouldn't be surprised if it was somewhere around the 4 to 5-day mark. I heard arguing at the cell's

NATHAN'S POV  It has been 3 days since Cole has completed his punishment, but both Xaiden and I believe he deserves more than what he got. He attacked not only his mate but our mate as well. He then ran away like a little coward, not staying to face the consequences of his actions. I can feel that Skyler has forgiven him as there is no longer that extra pressure coming from her down our mate bond. I know both Alice and Skyler need him, as Alice has been showing more and more of the side effects from him starting the mate bond between them. The deprivation of a mate's touch for so long and so soon after the marking can have a really devastating effect on both the male and female. Not only does their temper start to become uncontrollable, but their wolf can also go insane. We were lucky that Skyler had Elijah and me, but Cole and Xander had no one. I don't know if I can trust him around her. I can't trust yet that he won't do it again.  Skyler has bee

SKYLER'S POV  I wake the next morning, still wrapped in Elijah's arms. I sigh, stretch a little, and smile as Elijah growls low and kisses the back of my neck and shoulder. I turn in his arms and kiss him, but pull back and push against his chest as he runs his fingertips over my ribs and tickles me. He stops and then gets this sly look in his eyes he always gets when he is planning something that I am not going to like to start with, but will enjoy. He then pulls me back to him and kisses up and down my neck and chest, making me let out a mix of a moan and a growl, which then turns into laughter as he tickles me once again.  It takes me a little while, but I manage to squirm and wriggle out of his hold and off of the bed. I then head into the bathroom, turn the water on and step under the water as soon as it has warmed. I feel much better after the time with Elijah last night, and even Alice feels a little better. At least she is talking to me agai