I lunged forward, shifting instantly. I grabbed the attacker bringing it to the ground. Its lifeless body landed with a sickening thud. I looked at Aura, I expected to see blood. The only blood was around her mouth. She was spitting and trying to wipe it off with her paws. "I shifted back, are you hurt?" I knew I sounded frantic.She shifted, "not mine," she said holding out her arms showing me she wasn't injured. I looked at the wolf lying on the ground. Its throat was ripped open. I knew I hadn't done that. I looked back to Aura. She watched me trying to decide if I was mad. I sent my emotion through the bond. She smiled before jumping into my arms as she realized how proud I am. When I finally let go, I looked at the dead wolf. "What was it doing here?" I couldn't figure out how a wolf had gotten onto my territory, past all of my security, and made it in here to attack Aura and me. Aura stared at it as if it may jump up and attack again. The wolf was at least double her size, yet

I was sitting in a chair, an ice pack on my head. "What happened?" I asked. Aura was sitting up on the bed holding something in her hand. "Well, welcome back, Alpha." Doctor Kloth was watching me from his stool. "How are you feeling?" "I'm fine, embarrassed but fine." I could feel the blush creeping up my face. Aura was watching me with a baffled look. "You upset?" she looked as if she may burst into tears. "Aura, I'm not upset. I am happy! I wasn't expecting two at once, but I am excited. Are you excited?" "Yes," She was glowing. "So Doctor, What do we need to do and what should we be careful of?" I was hoping to move past the part where I passed out. "She needs to take the vitamins I have prescribed. No shifting. That is very important. Aura, you understand right? No shifting. It is too dangerous for the babies."Aura nodded yes. "Let's see, no hard exercise. Light workouts are fine, but no running long miles or anything like that. Try to keep the sweets to a minimum, and ea

The council meeting was set for tomorrow. Alpha Jared and his mate were arriving in a couple of hours; Alpha Naral and his mate were arriving with them. Alpha Oren and Luna Adina would be pulling up any minute. Aura was in our quarters, she had been dealing with morning sickness again. I paced back and forth waiting for Alpha Oren to arrive. I was not looking forward to this meeting. If things did not go well, a pack war was very likely. I saw the sleek black limousine pulling up the drive. I knew it had to be them. Once the car stopped, the driver came around opening the door. Alpha Oren and Luna Adina stepped out; they smiled when they saw me. "Oren, Adina, welcome to Night Claws Pack." I held my hand out to Oren, and Adina gave me a hug. "It has been a while, my friend," Oren said. "Yes, it has, too long," I smiled politely. "Draven, I had heard you found your mate. I see you have her mark but, where is she? I would love to meet her." Adina's eyes sparkled. "I apologize, s

I picked up the shard of glass from Aura's hand. The blood on it was not hers, it was a scent I didn't recognize. I turned it over in my hand a few times. "Where did you get this?" I asked hoping it would provide a clue. "Room," Aura said, pointing up the stairs. "Our room?" I asked. She shook her head no before pointing to herself. "Your room?" I tried again. She nodded yes. She shook like she had the first few days she had been here. I linked Malachi telling him to bring guards, we had to search both outside and inside for any intruders. I pulled Aura to me, "it's ok, no one is going to hurt you." I heard howls from outside signaling the arrival of Malachi and the guards. They stopped in front of me."Is our Luna hurt?" Malachi asked as he shifted back to human form. The other guards shifted back waiting. "No, she is just scared. I don't how this happened or who's blood it is but, it was in Aura's original room. I need you to search my quarters as well as the entire pack house

I waited, they had sounded a war cry meaning they would be launching an attack at any time. I ordered more guards to the border. I stood there listening to the sounds of snarling wolves, it sounded like they would attack but they didn't cross the border. We waited, and the sounds of snarls slowly began to dissipate. Silence once again filled the air. What was that all about? I had never heard a pack sound a war cry without attacking. I was frozen in place when I heard the noise behind us, this had been a diversion, they weren't attacking us here, They were attacking the pack house! "Aura!" I screamed before shifting, I ran as fast as I could in the direction of the fighting. I heard my pack howling, alerting everyone we were under attack. I reached the populated part of our pack land fast, wolves were fighting wolves, and fur and blood flew. I pulled a wolf off the back of a warrior, he used the moment to rip out the attacker's throat. I kept running, I reached the pack house, my gua