LAUREL’s POV   “You are carrying a child.” The doctor’s words echo in my mind and I become very still. It is strange, I feel as if I am watching a drama unfold before my very eyes. Pregnant? Me? It cannot be. I have only been with Helios for – “You are about two weeks along,” the doctor continues. “Laurel Moon?” My head snaps up from staring at my belly and I nod mechanically. Doctor Ramoth sucks in a sharp breath and looks from me to Caleb before shaking his head. He must think that Caleb is the father. I find that funny and suddenly let out a chuckle, surprising both men but the doctor does not share my humor. He looks to Caleb once more and says, “Would you mind excusing us for a bit? Caleb’s brows furrow but he does as the doctor asks and steps out of the examination room. And once we are alone, the doctor leans in and whispers to me, his tone deadly serious, “Laurel Moon, are you witho

LAUREL’s POV Death.It is inevitable. For all who are born are destined to die. It is a fact that everyone knows, including myself. But why do I find it hard to believe that death has claimed Helios. No, it cannot be. I shake my head. It is my turn to grab Rhode by the collar and I hiss in his face, “You lie.”Helios has never once lost a battle, he has never once yielded in combat. No one should have been able to slay Helios, he is the undefeatable Alpha of the Southlands. How can he be dead? It is a joke…it is a cruel joke. It has to be. Rhode’s lips quiver, he is in disbelief himself. “I am sorry, but it is the truth. I am so sorry…the guards found his body by the borders while on patrol. They are bringing his body back as we speak.” He breaks down into an uncontrollable sob and that is when the truth sinks in. 

LAUREL’s POV We sit on the steps of my porch, both Caleb and I. I have a blanket wrapped around me while he has taken off his shirt. It shirt hangs by a stick next to the bonfire we made next to my porch. The rain has finally stopped and in its place is a clear night with stars shining bright above our heads without twinkling.“Feel better?” Caleb is the first to break the silence.I nod, folding the blanket over myself.“Do you think you can win in the duel against Nox tomorrow?”I suck in a breath and look at the sky. “I don’t know.”It is an honest answer.I feel Caleb’s fingers graze against mine, his warm, mine cold and I look down to see him taking my hand and rubbing them with his.“You’re cold,” he says simply and I am suddenly reminded of how Helios once warmed my hands. My body instinctively acts and I quickly snatch

LAUREL’s POV I should be dead, but I am not. The sun, now high up in the sky shines down on me and its rays fuel the transformation in my body. It is something Deigo did not tell me about. I guess he himself did not know that. I draw in a breath and my heart gives a single powerful beat. As it does so, death releases its hold on me and slithers away. With the beatings of my heart comes a newfound strength that I have never felt before. If I could jump thirty feet in the air before in my wolf form, I can leap fifty in my human form now. If I could hear whispered conversations in the next room, now I can hear hushed talks a mile away. My sense of smell is a wonder; the musky ordor that prevails in the air hits my nostrils and I can smell my own blood mixed with Nox’s sweat. Hmm...Nox doesn’t smell very nice. Slowly, I open my eyes and turn to look at the man who is trying to murder me. He gasps, feeling the power in my gaze and with a flick of my finger, I push his hands away. The

LAUREL’s POV “Stop.” A voice speaks and the hands that were tearing at my blouse, violating me quickly stop and drop to their sides. I blink away my tears to see an outline of someone moving towards us. It is only an outline but the voice that spoke sounded devoid of life. The shadow pauses. The person finally steps out of the shadows and my heart all but stops a beat. Jamie. Never in my life have ever been so happy to see her. She is green from head to toe and naked as a newborn but she walks seemingly without shame. “What are you doing here?” Marty whirls around and growls at her. “Is this how you treat your one true mate?” Jamie asks him again, her voice remains flat and monotone. “It’s none of your concern woman. Leave before I whip you again.” Jamie considers her answer for ages. “No.” Then, she looks in my direction and directs the question to Marty bitterly, “Are you trying to fuck her?” Marty loses his patience and slaps her across the face. But to my surprise, Jamie