Chapter 5

A burning pain crossed through me, forcing a painful shout from my throat. My body was uncontrollably shaky. It felt as if I was being torn in half.

"Push, my brave girl! Push for your white pups!"

The voice was my mother's. Mom? White pups?

I forced my eyes open. I wasn't in the damp cave anymore. I was in a clean, makeshift room, lying on a soft bed. My mother was seated by my side, her face soaked with tears and stress, but alight with something that looked like hope. A fat, elderly woman I didn't recognise, the Wolf Doctor judging by the scent that smelled of medicine, was standing over me.

"Annie, you are awake! You dare not sleep, dear. The second one is on the way!" my mother exclaimed, stroking my forehead.

The second one. I groaned, the pain returning with a heart of revenge. I felt Nyx sighing heavily, saying nothing.

One final, strong push, and finally, the pain receded, replaced by an overwhelming peace, strange in its way.

The Wolf Doctor began rejoicing over me. "Two healthy boys, Mrs. Scarlett! A rare blessing, in particular, for a first time mother who has gone through such ordeal. They are both strong. Alpha blood runs through these pups, no doubt."

My mother sighed, drops of tears warming her face, staring at the two babies the doctor was holding up to her carefully. "Twins. I have grandsons! Thank the Moon Goddess!" She looked at me with shining eyes. "Annie, I was so worried when I found you in the woods, almost dead from hunger and weakness. I tried to rush you back to an old, small house on the right side of the Silver Sword territory. We will be safe here."

I couldn't speak, but only stare at the two perfect little faces. My sons. Proof of this strange mate of mine.

The door to the cabin suddenly burst open, hitting the wall. There was knock at all. Then, a tall figure stood at the doorway. His face showed that he was a strict man. In a jiffy, the small room was filled with the scent of his sweet perfume and real power. He was older, his jaw set hard, but his eyes were the same blue.

It was him, my assumed mate.

He never looked at my mother nor at the doctor, but at me, his eyes travelling down from my face to the two bundles in my mother's arms. A small evil smile spread across his face.

"So the Moon Goddess has blessed us with two." He took a commanding step into the room. "Well done, dear wolf."

"You!" I hissed, slightly shivering under the blankets. "How did you find me? What do you want?"

He let out a deep, self-satisfied laugh. "I always find what's mine. I told you I would return. It is time to claim my mate and my sons."

He moved to the bed, reaching to me. At once, a strong feeling of fear gripped me. He was powerful and possessive, and I knew nothing about whoever he really was. "Stay away from me!" I yelled, pulling myself from the mattress to the headboard.

My inner wolf was beckoning on me to run, not see him as my mate. "I-I'm looking for Damon! I need to see Damon!"

The smile disappeared from his face, going cold completely. He froze, his hand hanging in the air. The heat rose in the room, and I felt it set on me. "Damon?" he repeated, his voice soft in a strange way. "The Alpha who rejected you? Is that your first thought after giving birth to my children?" His sudden rage overwhelmed him. The power aura rolling off him was thick, and I felt like I was suffocating.

"I said Damon!" I said aloud, triggered by Nyx's suggestion to get rid of the powerful liar, for the safety of my babies, even if that means returning to the wolf that broke me. "He is my... my only link to the pack! I need his help! You can't just barge in here and claim me!"

He stepped closer, slow and threatening, his eyes never leaving Caesar's. "You will forget that Omega's name. You belong to me, and our sons are of my bloodline. The only pack you need to worry about is the one I lead."

My mother stepped in front of the man and shielded me, her voice finally regained. "Sir, please! My daughter is weak! You must give her time! Well, who are you?"

He looked down at her, a sign of disrespect and mockery in his blue eyes. "I am the one who gave her these boys. That is all you need to know, old woman. Annie, I will not force you now. But understand this: run to your rejected mate, and you seal his death warrant. I will be back for you." And with that, he turned and stalked out of the cabin as fast as he had entered, shutting the door hard behind him.

My mother collapsed into a chair, shaking. "Who was that, Annie? His power.it was wonderful. I've never felt anything like it, not even from the Martial Lord."

I kept mute, but I knew then my mom knew my state. I couldn't say a lot.

I looked down at my babies, their tiny fists opening and closing. My sons needed a pack. They needed the best protection they would have. And Damon, for his wickedness, was still an Alpha, still known by all. The strange man was too much of a risk.

"I need to go to Damon," I repeated firmly. "I need to get into the Silver Sword Pack. I have to protect my sons. If he sees them, he will believe me. They have to belong somewhere safe."

Days later, I left my mother and the Wolf Doctor to look after the twins and headed for the right side of the Silver Sword Pack's territory, the edge especially. My body was still weak, but my mind was strong. I approached the guarded gate with no resemblance to that shy girl who'd been cast out.

The two Beta guards, towering wolves both with Damon's cold eyes, immediately sighted me.

"Well, well, well. Look what the wind blew back," sneered one. "The rejected Omega. See her still hanging around. Are you alive, little Annie?"

"I need to see Alpha Damon," I said, trying to show confidence, although I was nothing but a shy, weak woman.

The second guard laughed and clapped me on the shoulder with a heavy hand. "You really think the Alpha has time for something as hopeless as you? He's with Luna Cassandra, planning the expansion of the pack! Get lost before we have to drag you away!"

The grip on my shoulder tightened painfully, crushing my still-healing body. "Take your hand off me!" I snapped, fighting against the Beta's strength. Suddenly, a shiny modern silver car pulled up, with Damon driving and Cassandra looking victorious and jealous beside him. The windows were rolled down. Cassandra's eyes narrowed as she said, "Damon, look! It is the poor Omega! I guess she is still obsessed with you even after all this time." Damon turned to me. His face was cold, and fishy. The sight of him, the memory of his betrayal, provoked my anger. I struggled free from the Beta's grasp and, for some reason, started running toward the car. "Damon! Wait! I have something important to tell you!" I rushed to the window, anxious to tell him about the twins, about power in them. But the Betas were quicker: They seized my arms, pinning them behind my back. "Alpha, what to do with this pest?" the first Beta asked in a tight, unyielding grasp. For one long, shameful moment, Damon watched me struggle, his face unreadable. Cassandra leaned over him and whispered something in his ear, probably telling him to send me away. 

Then, Damon looked at me with curiosity. And with a loud Alpha tone, he ordered, "Leave her!