Lucy's POV The hospital room was cold, but Ryker’s voice was colder."I think it's time we paid Nyra and the other elders a visit." ********The Elders' home gave me chills whenever I came here. When we entered, they were all already in a circle, cloaked and humming.Waiting for us.Nyra's face broke into a grin the moment she saw us—or more specifically, the twins."The moon smiles upon us," she said in a voice that made my skin crawl.Ryker didn’t waste a second. He stormed toward her and grabbed her by the throat."Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t snap your neck right now and end your pitiful life," he snarled.Nyra, unfazed, gasped out the words: "Because it would bring death all through the land and not to mention a heap of bad luck."She was cocky.Ryker let her go with a hard shove. I stepped closer, my heart racing, holding one of our daughters close to my chest.Nyra adjusted her robes and smiled like nothing had just happened. "Now, child… You must choose.""Choose?
Lucy's POV I was going to die.The dagger spun through the air like a death arrow, headed straight for me. Time slowed down as it came, my heartbeat so loud it could be heard from miles away.But then, someone saved me.Vick.He jumped in front of me and took the hit. The dagger buried itself deep in his chest. He fell to the ground with a loud thud, blood soaking his shirt almost instantly."Vick!" I cried out, tears running down my cheeks.He looked up at me with pained eyes, coughing, blood trickling from his mouth. "Lucy…I'm sorry... for that night... at the club," he whispered.I sobbed harder. My arms were tied so I couldn't move, my wrists bruised and bleeding as I tried to force my way out of the ropes. I wanted to hold him, to at least thank him, to scream at him for being so stupidly brave. But alas, I was stuck in one place.Vick's eyes closed slowly, and I watched his chest rise and fall one last time until no more.My heart shattered as he took his final breath.Ryker m
Ryker's POV "Stop hiding behind the pack and come face to face with me like a real Alpha would!" I roared, my voice slicing through the quietness of the battlefield.My chest was rising and falling with anger and rage. Every inch of me burned with the need to protect what was mine—Lucy and our babies.“You say you're powerful but you only hide behind the pack," I growled My eldest brother, Hayden, stepped forward with a smug smirk playing on his lips. "Oh, little brother," he said with mock concern, "the pack is only here to witness you fall. Do you think anyone still believes in you as a capable leader?"I didn't answer, but honestly, I didn't need to. The events of the past week haven't exactly been my best.Before I could blink, two out of the five of my brothers charged at me.I barely managed to dodge the first, but the second slammed his fist into my gut. Air rushed out of my lungs, and I stumbled back, spitting out blood onto the dirt.“Ahhh" I screamed in pain. I could feel
Lucy's POV Pain ripped through me like fire as I screamed, clutching the sheets beneath me. It felt like the world was spinning around me. Kara was shouting something, but I could barely hear her."Push, Lucy! I can see the head! Just one more!"I clenched my teeth, tears rolling down the sides of my face. I didn’t think I could push again. My body felt like it was torn apart, and I was tired.But then—a cry. A loud, yet beautiful cry.I sobbed in relief as Kara held up the baby, quickly wrapping it in a cloth."You did it, Lucy! One down, one more to go," she said, panting. "Okay, Lucy, you have to push again. We need to get the other baby out.""I can't," I whispered, my head falling back. "I'm so tired, Kara, I don't think I have another push in me."Kara turned to Eli, her hands shaking. "Eli, sweetie, take the baby and hide in the closet, okay? Do not come out, no matter what."Eli looked terrified but nodded. Kara gently handed him the baby, and he ran into the closet, closin
Ryker's POV The trees were quiet—a little too quiet. My feet moved silently over the mossy ground as I crept deeper into the forest. There was something about the atmosphere, something I couldn't place my fingers on.Almost like I could feel them—my brothers. Their presence thickened the air. I followed their scent trail to a cave hidden behind thorns and rose bushes. I crouched low, pressing my back against the cold stone wall as their voices echoed from inside.“I should be Alpha,” my youngest brother hissed.“You?” another scoffed. “You barely made it through the last battle.”“You think you’re any better?”“Well, yes." “Enough,” my eldest brother cut in, his voice low and sharp. “It doesn’t matter who’s next. Not until Ryker is out of the picture can we be at ease. That bastard still breathes! And while he does, none of us are safe.”My stomach twisted. So it was all true.He went on. “We kill him first. Then we talk about leadership after.”I clenched my fists, every muscle i
Ryker's POV "No."I blinked, looking at Lucy with confusion."No?" I asked, my voice low but rough. "Lucy, you heard what my brother said. They’re not backing down until I’m dead. This isn’t a fight we can win head-on."She crossed her arms, the fire in her eyes burning brighter than I’d ever seen."I know. I heard what he said," she replied, her voice calm but firm. "But I’m not running away just because the odds are looking slim. That’s not who I am. And it sure in hell is not who you are either."I stared at her. This was the woman carrying my children. She stood tall like a warrior."Lucy, if we stay, they’ll destroy everything. They’ll destroy you." I stepped closer, brushing a strand of hair from her face."And if we leave?" she said, "What will we come back to? I would rather fight to the end than run away and come back to nothing. I won’t let fear decide for me—not this time."My chest tightened, not with fear but with pride. Damn it, I love this mad woman not just for her be