ログインRaven POV I screamed. Not the kind of happy or joyous one, but one filled with pain and the agonizing rage that I aimed solely at my mate as I squeezed his hand with a death grip. "Damn you Hades, you did this to me," I screeched as he winced. I was fairly certain I'd broken several of his fingers, although he made no complaints. Wise man. "You're doing great, sweetheart," he soothed. I glared. He swallowed hard. The nurses looked amused. I was definitely not having the kind of birth experience I'd read about in books. This was pure torture and the worst part was that pain relief was virtually nonexistent because shifters absorbed it too quickly into the bloodstream. "The head is crowning," the doctor said from between my legs. It felt like I was pushing a huge watermelon out of a teeny tiny hole that refused to grow. If I'd known how painful childbirth was, I might have had second thoughts. "Come on honey, just a few more pushes," Hades murmured. "Easy for you to say
Raven POV I saw the exact moment that Marissa's head shot up and a look of disbelief appeared on her face as we walked inside her room, Damien trailing reluctantly behind me. Her eyes widened and she looked on the verge of passing out as her eyes swung to look at a disgruntled-looking Damien in shock. "No," she stammered, putting a hand to her mouth, "it's not true. It can't be," she shook her head adamantly, "this must be a trick of some kind. There's no way you could be..." she trailed off, a look of fear crossing her face. She knew how much Damien hated her. It was written all over his face, along with the merest hint of longing in his eyes. The mate bond will do that to you. Make you question every decision, every life choice, and what your future should look like. I'd lived it. "No mistake," Damien's voice is icy, "pretending you can't feel it isn't going to do you much good Marissa." It was more like a threat than a simple statement. I winced, feeling sorry for both
Raven POVThe aftermath of the battle was horrendous. Everywhere you looked, you could see the remnants left behing, the blood spattered all over the grounds, the broken branches of trees, the metallic scent of old blood in the air. A permanent reminder of what our pack had endured and the courageous warriors who had fought to keep every pack member safe. I dreaded to think how different the battle might have gone. I stood there, lost in thought, my hand touching my stomach, breathing deeply, a small smile on my face as I pictured my unborn child growing inside of me. Hades arms wrapped around me from behind, his head resting on top of mine. For a moment there was nothing but silence. "We did it," he murmured, "we made it out alive."I exhaled deeply. My father and Damien had also been involved in the fighting despite my protestations. My father had declared he had lost me once already and he wasn't about to lose me again. Damien had echoed the same sentiments. "Is it just me or is
Third Person POVThe first thing she notices is the pain. A sharp, burning sensation that throbs with the slightest movement. Her eyes flutter open ever so slowly, and she blinks at the bright white light, temporarily blinded as it dawns on her that she's in a hospital bed. Just as she struggles to sit up, a voice instantly sounds from beside her, shocking her into stillness."Let me help."Raven. Marissa's eyes widen as her ex-nemesis rushes to her aid, sitting her up and plumping pillows behind her back as though it comes naturally, no sign of wariness or suspicion on her face. "What are you doing here?" Marissa rasps, Raven seating herself beside the bed. "I thought that you...""You saved my life, Marissa," Raven interrupted, shaking her head, her eyes narrowed, "I owe you.""You owe me nothing," Marissa almost snapped, "I tried to kill you, and that's not counting everything I've ever done over the years. I should be locked up in a dungeon awaiting my execution."Raven's express
Hades POVI met the hunter head-on. Arrows flew around me as I zigzagged. I met the first hunter and snapped his neck, darting to the next one. My men surrounded me. I could see Jackson’s wolf fighting determinedly out of the corner of my eye, Aeress behind him as Jackson did his best to protect her. I caught a glimpse of Raven fighting against Marissa and felt a sense of concern that I forced myself to cast aside. I had more important things to deal with right now, like protecting my pack from these cold-hearted bastards.Several hunters attempted to surround me. I kicked out, causing several to fall. I dodged the arrow shot at me and clamped my jaws around the offending hunter’s arm, tearing it off without mercy. As he screamed and clutched at it, I bit him around the neck and twisted, dropping him to the ground carelessly. I slashed at the next hunter rushing towards me, slitting his throat and watching as he fell, his mouth opening and closing in shock before the life died from hi
Raven POVMore than half of the hunters had been extinguished simply by the traps we’d set. I felt a sense of satisfaction, looking at the dismal group beginning to swarm onto the grounds. They were weakened. Stupid. A wise person would have retreated and regrouped but hunters had never been the sharpest tools in the shed. They were arrogant, overflowing with confidence, certain that in the end they would become the victors. Only the game had changed this time. We weren’t meekly surrendering; we weren’t simply prepared to let them take us out. We were prepared, and it was evident that we had confused them by our desire to make them extinct.Marissa. I'd expected her, even though I didn't know what her end goal was this time. But her pleas for help to save her had ignited something inside of me. I could hear the desperation in her voice, hear the fear. There was no deceit in her voice, and when her own mate had sent a poisoned arrow her way, I realized how much trouble she was truly in







