Maddie parted with Michael at the packhouse, leaving him to talk to her father and their combined forces. Though she wanted to be a part of the team, hearing everything her mate had learned about the enemy so far and planning the next moves to counterattack, she had a promise to keep. Her throat was thick as she walked the familiar halls of the pack hospital. There was more movement around her than she expected. There had been a few minor injuries from the faux attack, but it was odd to see Dark Night and Silver Moon wolves recovering side by side under one roof. It gave her hope that her father’s trust was extending to the rest of the pack. It gave her hope that the future she envisioned at her mate's side would come to fruition. Her father had told her where she needed to go but, now that she had arrived, she couldn’t take the last step into the hospital room that Jess was in. Not only did she have to face what Daniel had done to her, but she also had to share what had happened to

Michael POV - Madeline’s soft breaths were slow and rhythmic. They soothed Michael as he sat at her bedside, keeping watch over his mate as she slept. He knew he should get some sleep too, it had been two days since he last rested, but with the decision made to attack Wild Shore the next day, he wanted ever spare moment to be spent with her. Erik was beside him, his gaze fixed to Jess. Where Michael relaxed with his mate’s breath, Erik watched the rise and fall of Jess’ chest as if any hitch in it would make him snap. After almost watching her die, Michael couldn’t blame his friend. If he had seen Madeline bleeding out, death’s cold hand reaching for her, he too would obsess over her every breath. It was hard enough that she had been taken from him and he’d soon be leaving her again, entrusting her safety to the pack that almost lost her the first time. He felt more at ease knowing Erik would be staying on the Silver Moon territory whilst they enacted their plans. Erik didn’t wa

Maddie POV - “Would you just sit down.” Jess grumbled from the bed, where she had been watching Maddie pace back and forth across her room for the past thirty minutes. “I will in a minute.” She promised, though she had said the same five minutes earlier. Maddie couldn’t help it. She was jittery, nervous energy fuelling every step and she felt like she’d scream if she stayed still. She understood why she couldn’t go with the teams to find Lewis at Wild Shore or protect Dark Night, but somehow staying in the safety of her home just felt wrong. Her mate was out there, facing her enemies, saving her friends, and she couldn’t do anything but wait. It was torture, wondering if he was okay, if they had found Lewis, if he’d be home soon. It curled something black and sticky in her gut, the vile feeling growing and poisoning her confidence every hour that ticked by. “Come on, you’re making my stab wound hurt.” Maddie stopped and stared at her friend, who was now pouting and crad

Maddie POV - It wasn’t long before any shock Maddie had over her situation melted into rage. Dark Night had fallen, she had hundreds of refugees to care for, her friend was missing, and someone had taken her mate. The chilly breeze could do nothing to quell the anger bubbling beneath the surface as the midday sun loomed down upon her, its light spilling into the large clearing of the forest. They were deep into the mainland, far away from their allies and everyone around her was alert. As if she knew exactly where the enemy would appear from, she glared between the trees before her, watching the shadows for the first signs of a presence. With Beta Rowan, Beta Connor and Erik at her side, she bristled with confidence, knowing whatever happened she had them protecting her back. She stood at the front of them, clad in her leather bodice and training gear. Her hair was braided back, and she kept a tight reign of her pheromones, which wanted to slip free and instigate a fight. The

Nala POV - A sharp pain rang across her skull, as her head smacked against the floor, but Nala only allowed a grunt to leave her lips. She didn’t have long to recover before she was yanked back to her feet at the Gamma’s order. She was left wobbling, and blinking her vision back into focus, but she put up a messy guard anyway, knowing the next blow would only come harder if she didn’t. Nala tensed, waiting. The next strike came to her stomach, forcing the air from her lungs and sending her stumbling backwards. She kept her feet beneath her, and mistakenly let a victorious smirk cross her lips. In a blur of movement, another fist came for her face, cracking across her jaw and sending her back to the floor. A satisfied grunt echoed from somewhere above her, signalling the end, and Nala wheezed her relief. She was still recovering from the survival trial. Daniel, and his arsehole lackies, had beaten her within an inch of her life two weeks ago, and spending the last four days ba