23. Ajax

I've never imagined I'd ever experience an attack of this magnitude after having a baby two weeks ago, and yet that's exactly what happened. Everything had been going perfectly fine. Jake and I were in the playroom area of the pack where the orphaned children of the pack were playing with the adorable pups of the pack members. I held Athena close to my chest, cherishing the warmth of her tiny body against mine, just as Jake did with his own precious baby girl, Artemis. It was a peaceful afternoon filled with laughter and joy.

But it all changed in an instant. It was so sudden that it took us a moment to realize what was happening. I watched in horror as our mates, Dillon and AJ, ran into the yard growling and snarling, their fur bristling with adrenaline. They were joined by their friends, a united front against the intruders. Jasmine, our fierce warrior, herded the running women, elderly, and other teens and children into the safety of the pack house, with Anna and Beth helping her. T