Derrick’s POVElder Winifred’s words penetrate through the darkness that has begun to surround me. “Only you can save her now, Alpha.” My body stiffens in her arm, my head snapping in her direction so I can meet her all too knowing eyes. Is there really a way that I can save Salara from this fate? I jump to my feet, all too eager to do anything to save the woman that has become so important to me in such a short time. Grabbing hold of her wrinkled hands, I pull Elder Winifred from her position on the floor and stare eagerly into her sparkling eyes. “I will do anything to save her.” Movement stops all around me. Everyone is interested in what Elder Winifred has to say. She lifts her hand up to pat the side of my face affectionately before she whispers in my mind, ‘All you have to do is mark her.’ A gasp leaves me as I pull back away from her quickly, startling the doctor from his place beside me. How is marking her going to save her from the poison that has been injected in her from

Salara’s POV My brows crinkle in confusion when I open my eyes and find myself curled up with Derrick on what looks to be my old hospital bed. Memories of what happened to me come flooding back to me causing my body to stiffen in Derrick’s hold and my heartrate to pick up speed. Something must have alerted Derrick to my awakened state because his eyes suddenly pop open and I am faced with those gorgeous forest green eyes of his. We stare at each other in silence for what feels like forever before excitement lights up the gorgeous green color of his eyes and he jumps up into a sitting position, pulling me along with him. The sudden movement causes pain to rocket through my body starting from my neck, causing a grimace to appear on my face. Seeing this, a look of guilt covers Derrick’s face as a strange smell begins to ooze from his body. My nose wrinkles at the unpleasant scent, but I say nothing to the anxious Alpha sitting beside me. His hand moves up as if to touch me before set

Salara’s POVIt’s a shame that Derrick and I couldn’t have been more than what we were while I was still alive. Now that the chance for us to be together is no longer an option, I realize how foolish I had been to keep my distance from him. Maybe if I had allowed myself to fight past the fear of Henry and told Derrick everything that was going on then none of this would have happened.Derrick could have kept me safe from the abuse that I have encountered since arriving in the Evergreen Pack and could have kept Henry far away from me. It really is true what they say, hindsight really is 20/20. I let out a tired sigh before motioning to move towards the last place that I saw dream Derrick.Before I can pop open my eyes to gaze at his beauty one last time before I go to wherever you go when you die, he opens his mouth and says words I wasn’t expecting to hear. “You are not dead Salara.” Guilt radiates from his anxious words causing me to pause in my motion. A frown tugs at the corners o

Salara’s POV A week has passed since I learned that I will shift into a werewolf on the next full moon, which will be in exactly eight days from now. To say that I am nervous about my first shift would be an understatement. Thankfully I have Evelyn to help coach me as I prepare my mind and body for the upcoming full moon. Evelyn has been great to me since finding out that I have officially been marked as Derrick’s mate. If it was up to her I would already be living with him and standing by his side as his Luna. Something that a huge part of me longs for more than the air that I breathe. But unfortunately, Derrick has been doing a damned good job of ignoring me since leaving my hospital room. I spent two days locked away in the hospital room unable to even take visits from Hayden after learning that Henry has taken even more from me. It finally took Evelyn to appear and remind me that I am needed in order for me to finally pick myself up so I can be here for my daughter. And Miguel.

Derrick’s POVSalara is testing my patience with her outburst right now. I know I should have been the one to be there for her this last week, but I have been busy with rogue attacks and other pack business. Not to mention I was trying to give her space to come to terms with everything that has happened. ‘Liar.’ Hunter says in my head. I ignore my wolf and keep my concentration on the very pissed off mate pressed up against me. The smell of her arousal is driving me crazy and the longer I stay locked in this room with her, the harder it is becoming to stay in control. It wouldn’t do to treat her harshly like her husband has. “No, Salara.” I tell her as gently as I can, but even I can hear the bite in my voice. “You are being flooded with new sensations from your wolf side and it is messing with your head.” I push her away from me and place space in between us. “You will only regret anything we do in the morning.”She glares at me in response. The sound of her racing heart fills my e