SKYLER'S POV
I was sitting at my bedroom window, thinking over the last few weeks. I am now 3 months pregnant. We found out two weeks ago that we are having a boy. Elijah and Nathan are over the moon. With the way Nathan has been behaving, you would think it was his pup/son, not Elijah's, but then again, we are one family. I guess, in a way, he is.I feel really bad as it took me a couple of weeks to work past what had happened with Nathan and to stop thinking and seeing both of them as Alphas instead of my mates. I know he still feels bad about making me remember both what Cole and my father did, but I don't blame him for reminding me. Remembering is the only way I will one day get past what they did to me. I don't blame my brother anymore, but I don't forgive him either, because I now remember the birthday that changed him.
*FLASHBACK*
It's my 8th birthday. I get up early; I head to my fath
COLE'S POV I stop at a distance and watch as Nathan approaches Skyler, gets down on his knees in front of her and apologises to her for what happened on the training field. When I saw that she managed to put him on his arse, I couldn't have been more prouder because if she can get Nathan to the ground, something that only Elijah and I have been able to do and do with difficulty for the last few years. She would have no problem defending herself against anyone, including me. Elijah has taught her well. I then turn and run, allowing them to have their privacy. I stay away from both the house and the packhouse, knowing that Nathan and Skyler either completed the mating that day or in the days following. I run the border and even over the border for the next 2 weeks but I am starting to really struggle though, as the mate bond is pulling at me for physical contact and Xander won't stop growling in my head needing the contact with Skyler as well. I slowly ma
KATIE'S POVHappy Birthday to me!!! I got up early this morning and got myself some breakfast. I was hoping to bump into Max. He is always one of the first ones up to help with the pack's breakfast, but he isn't here. I was so hoping to find out if he really was my mate.Anyway, that was a little bit of a downer. I finished my breakfast and then went outside and shifted so I could do my scheduled border patrol. Exciting for a birthday I know, but some things have to be done no matter what day it is, but then it is a good way to allow my wolf out for a good run. I guess you are wondering why I can already shift, instead of having my first shift today. I shifted at the age of 15, I'm not sure why but I have heard that a she-wolf can shift early if her mate becomes of age before her and is around her at the time, she however still won't know her mate until she becomes of age. If her mate is not nearby, then she shifts with everyone else at 1
XANDER'S POV I knew it would happen soon. I could feel the weight of guilt getting heavier and heavier upon him. It was and is my fault we are here and until he made me relive what I had done; I hadn't realised that I had that in me. Yes, both Cole and I like our sex a little on the harder and rougher side. Me, just that little bit more, but to take Skyler as I did, was against everything we had always stood for. I get to my paws and shake out my fur, shaking off those thoughts. I make my way to the border and before I cross; I let out a howl, letting the patrol that is nearby, know that I am there. As I wait for them to approach where I am, I shift. It isn't long before I have 4 patrol guards standing in front of me. One throws me a pair of shorts and says, "State your business, rogue!" I growl a little. I may seem like a rogue at the moment, but I am not.
XANDER AKA ZANE'S POV "Right go again! You need to give more if you want to survive my training program... MILES!! Come on, I know you have more. Let's see it!" I have been here for just over 3 years now. Out of the dozen recruits I put through my program, I have produced 7 groups of 8 guards. King Noah then decides where they are needed and sends them there. I stand at the edge of my private training field and watch as my new recruits run through my introduction process. I smile, as I know at least 1 if not 2 will quit by the end of this session. We have been out here since 4 am. I have had them going nonstop since then. "AGAIN!" I make my way onto the field and walk in between each of the recruits as they run through the routine I showed them once early this morning. I step up to Miles. He is one hell of a fighter. He just needs the extra discipline t
XANDER'S POV I run for 2 weeks making my way back to the Royal Blood Moon pack territory, once I make it to the border I approach it carefully as something doesn't feel right. I look left and right, taking one step at a time until I cross over the border. It feels strange being back in our territory, the pack link that has just been a soft white noise in the back of my head comes back to life and I have to remember to turn the volume down. I however don't block it as the sound is actually quite comforting and I find I actually missed it a little. I stop when I hear someone coming, I turn my head one way and then another to work out which way they are coming from. I then find a bush and crawl underneath it and wait, I smile as a border patrol pair walk past. One of them stops and takes a deep breath, does a 360 turn scanning the area and then rejoins his partner continuing on his way. I go
SKYLER'S POV"Samuel! Slow down, stop running in the house. Where are your sisters and brother?" Samuel stops for only a second to look at me and reply. "Playing in the backyard of the packhouse, waiting for the party to start."Today is Samuel and Emma's 5th birthday and we are having a big pack party for them. The backyard of the packhouse is all decorated for the party. Our family is complete for now. Even though there is always a small piece of my heart missing, Cole still hasn't returned. I occasionally get a hint of his scent while out on patrol, especially around my birthday, but I can never actually find him. It was hard, and it took Elijah, Nathan, and Katie a lot of patience, but I have finally come to terms with what Xander did that night. I still don't know how I would go if I ever saw him again, but I miss him. After all, he was the one that saved me that day from my father and gave me the family I have now. I
NATHAN'S POV I knew as soon as Xander crossed over the border, not only did a message come in from the patrols that there was an intruder in the territory, I felt the slight shift in the pack link and our sibling link letting me know that he was near. Both Elijah and I have known every time he has entered the territory over the last few years, but as he has never ventured any closer than the edge of the woods, so we have allowed it to continue. After what happened that night between him and Skyler, Elijah and I agreed that we would never put her through that again. If there ever was a time that she was not comfortable with either of us, we would back off. It took a while, but we had finally helped her to move past that night and start to live, laugh, and be happy again. I feel a tug on my private link with Elijah. "Did you feel that?" "Yes, Xander crossed the border and is now sitting at the edge of the woo
COLE'S POV As Elijah and Nathan leave the cells without saying anything more, I get up from my knee and move over to the cot in the corner of the room. I lay down and look up at the ceiling, not that I can see it as it is now pitch black in here after they shut the outer door. After touching Skyler for just that short amount of time, I feel better and Xander, even though he had blocked me out, has calmed down as well. The rage that has been building has backed off, not by much but enough to allow us to think that little more clearer. Even though I asked them to allow me to return to King Noah, I know that they won't let me. We have always settled things between us in our own way. I don't know what punishment they will give me, but they will make it something that none of us will ever forget. I am not sure how long I have been laying here but I wouldn't be surprised if it was somewhere around the 4 to 5-day mark. I heard arguing at the cell's