ALEKSANDR We called for the warriors to come for reevaluation first. We started with those who had the day off from patrols, and then would slowly start working through different groups. Although I wanted to be there for the evaluations, I also didn’t want to be separated from Rieka, so she came along as well. I held her close and did my best to protect her, and she didn’t seem to mind, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that I didn’t feel like she was safe. It was a painful revelation that I didn’t trust my own pack to protect my mate and their luna. If I really wanted to break it down, I trusted at least fifty percent of them and I was feeling fairly confident about their loyalty. The other fifty percent I was suspicious of but had yet to see any evidence of betrayal to back up my suspicions. It was most likely just because they were the pack members I didn’t know as well. As we began to observe the evaluations conducted by Ivan, Jericho, and Gina, I started to get

JACINDA Everything went black, and then there was an immediate flash of light and I found myself standing in a large, open field surrounded by flowers and a small stream off in the distance. The sun was shining, and birds were chirping in the trees at the edge of the clearing. It was peaceful. Quite possibly the most peaceful moment I’d ever experienced in my life. Part of me wanted to lie down in the grass and take a nap, but my brain kept reminding me that I was here for a purpose, and I needed to figure out what that was. Standing in the field, slowly spinning around, my eyes were searching for any sign that could indicate why I was here. After making four rotations and not seeing anything helpful, the desire to lie down had grown significantly stronger and I was tempted again to rest in the peacefulness of this place. I almost caved, but then I forced myself to stand strong. Walking would be helpful to keep me awake and alert, I decided, so I began walking towards the smal

ALEKSANDR We had recruited and trained a lot of new, young wolves since Emmett left the pack. We all agreed that one of the best ways to keep him on his toes, should he attempt to return, was for there to be a lot of wolves he didn’t know running patrol shifts. The young wolf before me now, who’s name I’d learned was Jack, swallowed audibly as Jericho nodded his encouragement. “I was running a route with my partner, Heath, when we caught an unusual scent just outside the territory. We were near the hill at the north, northwest edge, so we decided to split up.” Jack glanced nervously over his shoulder at Jericho again, but quickly turned his attention back to me. “Heath went up the hill to look around from a higher vantage point, while I circled around the northeast side of the hill. He didn’t try to hide himself, because we though if he was seen by whoever it was, they would be less likely to look for me.” I had to admit that was a smart move. Expose one patrol to keep the ot

JACINDA It took another 8 hours before I was strong enough to get out of the bed, but even then, I wasn’t back to my normal self. Visions had never affected me like this before, and recently I’d been feeling stronger than ever, so what had happened that I had become so helpless and weak? After 3 days I could tell that Emmett was worried. He doted on me like a sick child. If it had been anyone else, I would have felt annoyed by their apparent pity, but he was my mate, and I could feel his genuine concern. He did not pity me. He had even neglected his own needs to focus on me. Without shaving for a few days, he had grown a full beard and I was surprised that it was much darker than his hair. It could use a trim, but otherwise I realized I liked it. It was actually rather sweet to see this large male trying to prepare food for me and handle me so delicately. When we’d made love before it was rough and needy and aggressive, but now, he moved gingerly, like he was worried he wou

RIEKALis and I have been meeting daily so she can do her best to train me in how to use my gift. No two seers are exactly the same, so my abilities may vary from hers, but she said it was worth trying to teach me everything she knows.Frustration was building as I struggled to complete simple tasks, but Lis kept reminding me that I might not have the same skills as her so I might not be able to do all the things she could do. It felt like I couldn’t do anything. So far, the only gift we had in common was visions through dreams.We decided to focus on the dreams and see if I could manipulate them, or if I only received information through them. Lis suspected that since I have seen Jacinda in my dreams and spoken with her, that I would have some sort of control in the dream world, but I was feeling discouraged and doubtful.“This doesn’t seem to be working.” I groaned in frustration as I sat up on the bed. I was fully dressed and trying to dream without sleeping. Lis said that s