KEENA I can't sleep. I can't even rest. I toss and turn on the little cot in my cell, trying to get comfortable. But there is little comfort to be found in this dark and damp dungeon. Laying on my back I stare at the ceiling and pray to the Moon Goddess to offer me some sort of relief, but she does not appear to be listening. Just as I am about to drift off into, what I can only assume will be, a restless sleep; when a searing pain bursts through my chest. With no one around to see my weakness, I scream out loudly in pain. Once again it feels like I am being stabbed through the heart and every cell in my body feels like it is on fire. I know this pain now. It is the pain of my mate sleeping with another woman. Tears stream down my face as I clutch my heart and look up at the ceiling, praying for the pain to pass quickly. But it doesn't. If anything, it seems to be lasting forever. Minutes turn into hours and the pain in my chest burns just as painfully as it did when i

JAREKI am sitting in my father's office watching him pace back and forth like a mad man. The floor shakes as each one of his footsteps grows heavier than the last. I know that he spoke to Keena's father earlier today. I do not know what was said but apparently it was not good. "Would you stop pacing and tell me what is going on?" I grumble at him. "The King is coming for his daughter," my father chokes out. "I can only assume that he is going to bring the royal guard with him." "I thought you said they wouldn't come for her," I growl loudly. "She is my fated mate, they cannot just take her from me." "They can if they know she didn't come here willingly," the wrinkles on my father's face become more and more deep as he continues to pace his office. "And why would they know that?" I try to remain calm. "I had to ask for the amulet somehow," sweat is forming on my father's brow and dripping down his face. "We have to leave," I say, trying not to panic. "Let's take

KEENA My eyes fly open and I cannot believe what I just saw inside my mind. I was strong enough to leave the void twice now. Not only that, I believe that I am strong enough to control my powers. I just need to believe that I am strong enough. I cannot believe that it took me so long to figure it out on my own. Of course, Mother and Sister Edith didn't explain this to me because it was something that I had to figure out on my own. I would have never believed that it was this easy . I raise the sleeves of my sweatshirt and the runes are still on my arms. How do I prove that I am strong enough to control my own powers? The heavy footsteps pounding on the ceiling of the dungeons breaks me from my concentration. There is something going on in the pack house above me. The footsteps sound frantic and it is accompanied by the sound of people screaming at one another. Slowly I try to get to my feet but the pain in my leg is too intense. If only I could use my powers I might hav

WARD Just like I was ordered, I ran ahead to the Crescent Moon Pack. I would arrive an hour before the rest of the Royal Guard and get the Princess to safety before the fighting begins. I easily slipped through the border surrounding the Crescent Moon Pack. None of their guards are protecting their border any longer. It is wide open. They must be preparing for war. Hiding amongst the trees on the border of the pack I mind link the King. 'Your Highness?' 'What is it Ward?' The King mind links me back. 'I think the pack has mobilized their warriors. There is no one guarding the borders.' I inform him. 'They were fucking tipped off,' the King growls loudly in my head. Get to my daughter before they run with her. 'Yes, Your Highness,' I say before I cut the link between us and move silently through the trees. The back of the Crescent Moon pack house is nothing but dense forest. That is how I plan on getting close. I expected to run into more obstacles but no on

KEENA"I think we should take her to see Ward," my mother says softly and my heart starts beating hard in my chest. "I am not sure that she is ready for that." I can tell that my father is dead set on me going to see Ward. "And I think it would be good for her," my mother retorts, giving my father the death glare. Faris wheels a wheelchair into the room and looks at the tension between our parents. He lets out a sigh and clears his throat so our parents turn to look at him. "I am going to take her to see Ward," he says confidently. A low growl escapes my fathers chest as he turns his attention toward Faris. "She isn't ready to see that," he snarls. "He is her person," Faris says with a frown on his face. "I wouldn't want someone to keep me from my mate or my person." I look at Faris and whisper a "thank you" under my breath. Faris gives me a little wink and offers me his hand to help me out of the hospital bed. My father doesn't say a word while Faris helps me into