Kayleigh The intensity of my heart beat feels like it’s about to hammer out of my chest. I catch a glimpse of Cillian, Andrei, and Gunner wrestling a horde of feral wolves. Gisella and I exchange worried looks while we battle against our own attackers and fight to survive. I keep an eye on our friends and allies, ready to lend a hand to anyone who needs back up. I spring in the air to stab my dagger into a rogue wolf’s heart before slitting the throats of two other werewolves as my feet land on the ground. Attacks are coming left and right and I’m trying very hard to keep up even though all I want to do is curl up in a corner and nestle in Cillian’s arms to seek refuge from my distraught heart. The realization that my baby is at risk is clawing at the edge of my thoughts. Blood rushes over my head and the nerves from my neck all the way to my forehead tighten as I feel another faint trickle of blood down my thighs. A few minutes ago, the healer asked if I was okay. I lied. I w

Kayleigh My voice echoes through the moonlit night like a loud ethereal boom, rendering all wolf bloods unmoving in shock. As for the rogue wolves and beta’s army, they are frozen in their places, held prison by my will, unable to move even if they want to. Just how I intended it to be. Understanding that the imminent emergence of my wolf puts our side at an advantage, Gio and Andrei start directing orders to take the opportunity to subdue our adversaries. Like a slow motion scene in a movie, I fix my eyes to the crimson-blood eyes that are looking straight at me with so much love and admiration. A wave of warmth dawns over me, making my knees weak as I marvel at the sight of my lover… my man…my Alpha. And the love of my life. “Mate!” The word leaves my mouth as soon as I lock stares with Cillian. A word I’ve been wanting to say to broadcast to the world that this man, this alpha, is mine… as I am his. “Mate!” His response beckons my whole attention, my whole body, and my wh

More cough. More blood. It could only mean that the internal bleeding is getting worse. I was hoping that the barrier would be fully lifted by now so I can get this weapon out of my body and heal. “No, no, no! You’re hurt.” Kayleigh runs to me before I can make it to where she was standing. “Baby, I’m okay. Calm down. How are you feeling?” I open my arms but she doesn’t come near, probably worried that she’d push the silver knife deeper. “That is my dagger… it’s laced with poison…” she points out. Kayleigh cups her mouth and stands frozen, holding her sobs in. I knew that. The mountain ash and wolfsbane mixture was meant to kill werewolves that attack her. My heart twists in ache. Watching her cry burns my chest with a need to wipe her tears away. I move my hand to grip the back of her neck and pull her close to me. “My love, don’t cry. Is our baby okay?” With my hand splayed across her jaw, I use my thumb to dab the tears falling down her cheek. “I think so. Cillian

Andrei What a fucking mess. I’m still trying to recover from the debacle that unfolded. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Cillian’s life is hanging on the brink of death. Fuck. Did I do this? Did my actions set this whole thing in motion? What is this heavy weight I feel on my chest? Could it be... guilt? It happened so fast. I moved Kayleigh out of the Beta’s line of sight as soon as I saw the traitor pick up the dagger and gear to hurl the weapon forward. But even if I didn’t make it in time to protect Kayleigh, Cillian made sure she was going to be unharmed, anyway. He caught the weapons midway. One with his hand and another with his body. Is there anything this guy can’t do to look heroic? Who would’ve thought that the concoction burnished on Kayleigh’s knife intended for the enemy is what would cause serious injury to her fated mate? Cillian sure has a flare for the dramatics. The guy could have just yielded to his coma without stir

Kayleigh Andrei is right. As soon as my wolf merged with my human form, I instantly knew what to do. It’s as if another brain was added to my head that I suddenly attained a new dimension of thinking. Not wanting to waste any minute, I rush to Cillian and immediately sink my fangs on his skin. Three bites to surround the stabbed part of his chest. In each bite, I release the Alpha Luna venom, a substance from my essence that can either kill or heal depending on what I will it to be. In this instance, it’s for the latter… it’s to rid the toxins from Cillian’s body and heal him. Bring him back to consciousness. Bring him back to me. I wait. But nothing happens. “The barrier is lifted!” Someone yells with an obvious edge of hope in her voice. I repeat puncturing my mate’s chest with more bites. Closer to the stabbed wound this time. Again, three bites bearing my venom. **Cillian, my love… Cillian… wake up. ** I