* * * Max’s POV * * *The silent strength I receive just from her holding my hand, is all that’s going to keep me going now.Send me to war, send me to fight genetically modified crazed wolves and I’m fine. Nerves of steel. But ask me to walk towards where my mother is potentially buried. I could curl up and cry. I could sit in a corner rocking while repeatedly hitting my head against a wall. What if she’s not there? What if she’s there? What if she’s really dead? I need Eve’s strength more than I can express. And I greedily take every ounce of strength she offers me. We walk at a steady pace away from the nature reserve, the pack discussing the fight and the challenges they had faced within their quadrant. The rabid wolves had been extremely difficult to kill, and it had taken teamwork to take them down. “Will we be holding a funeral for our fallen pack members?” Keith asks.“Of course. It’s the least we can do for any pack member. Any fallen pack member will be honoured in their

* * * Max’s POV * * *I wish I can say that over the years I have gotten used to people dying. I never have. I don’t want to. It tears a hole through me whenever somebody I care for dies, no matter the circumstances. But I don’t want it to “not matter” either. I don’t want it to be something that just passes. My pain and my scars are a testament to the love and the relationship that I had for and with that person. And if the scar is deep, so was the love. So be it. Scars are a testament to life. Scars are a testament that I can love deeply and live deeply and be cut, or even burned or lacerated, and that I can heal and continue to live and continue to love. And the scar tissue is stronger than the original flesh ever was. Scars are a testament to life. Scars are only ugly to people who can’t see the beauty of what once was. It has been years since I had seen my mother, and yet I have always hoped that she was alive and well. I had loved her deeply, the way a boy does. The way a mummy’

* * * Max’s POV * * * Lucas is sitting there, his shaggy brown hair blowing in the wind. He looks as though the wind will blow him over if he were to stand. The poor guy is petrified. Damian has checked the cameras that were triggered by the motion detection, the guy has come alone. As far as we can see, the camera’s and detector’s only cover a 300m range around the boundary wall. I arrange for a patrol to scout the area and make sure he hasn’t brought any surprises with him. Poor guy. Sent like a lamb to the slaughterhouse by his Alpha. Only, I won’t prove his Alpha right. As long as he does as he is asked and poses no threat, I won’t kill this young man. I wait for the patrol to finish their lap. ‘He's definitely alone, Alpha. We have run a mile radius and can only detect one scent’. Jessica informs me. I will speak with this Lucas, now. Lucas stands as I exit through the gates and walk towards him. His legs are trembling as his fear takes over him, and I can tell that his wolf

* * * Eve’s POV * * *Max returns to me, exhausted and covered in bruises. It reassures me that Nate is able to recover quickly. His mood has lifted, and he’s looking forward to future training sessions. His eyes are wide and full of life, and he seems carefree for the moment. He rushes towards the porch and swings me around in his arms, making me giggle in delight like a young child. “Max, you’re making me dizzy,” I squeal. “Thank you,” he tells me as he kisses me passionately.“For what?” I ask him.“I don’t believe I have thanked you yet for being my strength and support after finding my mum. I think I would’ve perished if it weren’t for you,” he tells me. “Max, we’re together no matter what. I’ll lift you up when you don’t have the strength to stand. When you have no courage to face the world, I’ll do it with you. I’m with you every step of the way, in the good times and the bad,” I tell him. And I know it’s true; this man has my entire heart and soul. “Let me make you some din

* * * Max’s POV * * * Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. My alarm blasts the sound of a horn repeatedly until I turn it off. I sit in bed, rub the sleep from my eyes, and take a deep breath. Today is the day I will challenge Alpha Derek and finally stop this madness; I have trained hard and feel confident in my abilities and our plan. The only problem is that I have no idea what Alpha Derek has in store for me. I look down at Eve, smiling up at me, but her eyes tell me she is worried. “Good morning, beautiful,” I say to her. “One more day of hardship, and we should finally be able to live our lives as the Moon Goddess intended. You can do this, Max. I believe in you,” she tells me as she sits herself up. “We are well prepared, and our pack is strong, we will save all who we can and build them a strong and happy home,” I tell her. “Famille vient en premier,” she whispers. “Famille vient en premier,” I say firmly. She has made it our pack motto, and I truly believe it. This pack is fami