Matt, Carl, and I are currently heading back to my old pack's territory for Morgan's Luna Ceremony. Oliver is driving our black Land Rover with Jax sitting next to him on the passenger's seat. Following us in another car are Morris, Charlotte, and Morgan's parents—Julie and John Bates—who I recently met. Three more vehicles complete our convoy—one ahead of us and two behind our cars for security measures.The last couple of days had been pure chaos. Daniel's threats of a future attack, the mystery surrounding my powers, and the possibility I might have an expiration date left us on the edge of a Cerebrovascular accident. Between Matt, Oliver, Jax and I, we read every book, manuscript and report in the pack's library and the Alpha's Office. However, the amount of information we gathered about Yeti was concernedly little. Even more disquieting was the possibility of a thi

***Naomi's***My tears flow like an open tap. Artemis begged me to run back to our mate, but I refused. He needed to understand I am not to be taken for granted just because we marked each other.  The grip on my dress tightens as I make my way through the trees. I have been running for ten minutes, and I am headed to my parents' cottage. The moonlight comes and goes as the clouds sail the dark sea of stars. My bare feet dig into the cold mossy ground from ditching my heels back in the packhouse as I push my empty shell closer to the warm yellow light, peeking through the vegetation branches in the distance.I halt my movement upon reaching the front door. My hand rises to knock but misses as it opens, revealing my aged Father; he hadn't lost his sharp senses.  Stepping aside without a word, he signals

***Matthew's POV***I watch with horror as Naomi falls to the floor in pain. My instinct compels me to help, but Gabe and Rob hold me back as instructed by my father. Their tight grasp around my arms has me wrestling for freedom.-"Do something. They are going to hurt our mate." Alex begs through our bond, clawing his way to the surface.Despite the wolfbane, Naomi's pain and suffering still flow through our bond. I can feel every bit of it as she grabs the silver chains bracing herself for what's to come.This all began during medieval times when the trial was first implemented after an evil shadow witch killed the Alpha King's Luna and manipulated him using a spell to convince him she was his

***Naomi's POV***My steps guide me to Matthew's office. Everyone had gathered there to discuss the recent attack on our lands and the Beta couple's abduction—Charlotte and Morris.Dr. Reyes had assembled an emergency hospital in the packhouse's old medical quarters to treat the many werewolves wounded in battle. The battlefield was near the retired hospital facilities, allowing the medical team to treat everyone quickly. The stable patients were mobilized to the new hospital downtown, creating more patient accommodation.Matthew, fearing my energy manifestation and consequent cocoon stage had drained me, had insisted I take the evening off. But as usual, I had other plans. Whatever happened in the realm of souls had fully unlocked Blizzard, and I no lon

***Naomi's POV*** Stirring from my sleep, I notice something is anchoring me under the soft blanket. I open my eyes to face the fireplace burning coals now almost out. Matt's sudden declaration made me cry for a long time, to the point I had fallen asleep between sobs. As I try to sit up, I experience resistance at my waistline and Matt's husky voice. -"Going somewhere?" I lay back down, but this time, facing him. His eyes are closed, and the dark circles around them are gone. A clear sign he had managed to rest. -"No. I am right where I want to be." A smile forms on his face, and he opens his eyes, placing a chaste kiss on my forehead. -"Do you want to go for a walk? It stopped snowing."