Eden’s POVI woke up and immediately felt disoriented. Where was I? It was dark. And something didn’t smell right.“Morning, sleepy head,” Astrid winked. She was huddled over a small fire. The pot was steaming and boiling over. “I went scavenging and found some herbs my mom used to make tea out of when we were traveling. Doesn’t taste the best, but it will fill your stomach a little.”“I slept through the night?” I asked, rubbing my eyes.That surprised me. I must have cried myself to sleep.Slade is dead.The thought came into my head unbidden. Deep down, I’d been hoping it had all just been a dream. Or a nightmare, actually. An awful nightmare where wolves you love die.The look of concern on Astrid’s face told me otherwise.Slade was dead. It was true.“How are you feeling?” Astrid asked softly, bringing the pot over to me. “It needs to cool. We don’t have any cups. You doing okay?”“Yes.” No. “I mean, I’m all right,” I shrugged. I picked at the fabric of my dress. Zara was still i
Eden’s POV“Eden?”“ZANE!!!”The feeling of relief that flooded through me was unlike anything I’d ever felt. Zara and Miva had run fast, back to the pack border. We’d shifted back to human form the moment we stepped over.And only a moment after that…“Are you safe, my love?”The sound of his voice was like angels singing. It was only a mindlink, but it was so much more than I’d had in so long. I bounced up and down from excitement. Astrid watched me, a sincere smile on her face.“Tell Zane I say hello,” she chuckled.“Yes, I’m safe, Zane. And I have Astrid with me. She’s safe too.”“Astrid?” He let out a long sigh. “You don’t know how happy I am to hear that you’re BOTH safe.”I knew how much Zane loved Astrid. I could hear the happiness in his voice learning that his two favorite women were safe and together.“Where are you?” I asked.Astrid set about mindlinking the warriors back at the palace. We had no time to waste. We were telling everyone to meet us at the Merryfeather Pack n
Eden’s POVSmack.Storm hit Astrid upside the head.“What were you thinking?” he scolded Astrid. “Just taking off like that? And going into witch’s territory where no one could mindlink you? Do you have any idea how worried we were?”“Ow,” Astrid saying, rubbing her head. “I was chasing after THIS one,” she motioned to me. “If anyone deserves a smack upside the head, it’s her.”“It’s true,” I chuckled. “Zara broke out and took off. I’m sorry.”“Yeah, well,” Storm smiled. “She’s a loose cannon, that one. I personally can’t wait to pass her back off to Zane.” He was teasing me. We chuckled. It felt so good to all be back together.“Zane and the others should be here soon,” Astrid said.My heart fluttered. Not only would I soon see Zane, but I’d also see my grandfather. It was almost too good to be true. Just then, my stomach rumbled loudly.“Excuse me,” I said, embarrassed. “I guess I’m pretty hungry.”“We brought food!” Lucia said. “I almost forgot. Of course you’re hungry! Look at y
Eden’s POV“Shit,” Adrian said under his breath when he realized we were being followed. I knew I was slowing them down. It was hard to run fast with my pregnant belly. I glanced back a few times to see how many there were behind us.It didn’t seem like a lot.Fight or flight. That was the question. If we kept running, could he outrun them and make it to the field? Or would they catch us?In which case, the answer was to fight them.As long as there weren’t too many, I was confident I could take them.But not Adrian and Lucia. I had to get them out of here.I found a collection of large trees all grown together. I motioned for us to duck behind them. I could fight the warriors myself while Adrian and Lucia went ahead to the field.“Shift,” I told them, as we pressed our back up against the trees, hiding as best we could. “The warriors are too close. Let your wolves out and run to the field.”Adrian gave me a pathetic look. Right. His wolf was a damn pup. I almost forgot. Huh.“Lucia,
Eden’s POVMy blood froze. Lucia’s scream still hung in the air.No no no.He’d tracked them down, the fourth warrior. And now Lucia was hurt, I was sure of it. How could I have been so stupid? I’d left her alone. Her and Adrian. I thought I was doing the right thing by sending them off to find the field while I stayed back and fought the warriors.But now?She screamed again.I ran.I ran as fast as I could towards her screams. I tore through the forest like a mad woman, ducking under branches and leaping over logs.I paused. Which way? Where was she?“Zara, can you pick up her scent?”A hundred horrible thoughts ran through my mind. I’d made a promise to Murietta. Lucia was my friend.Oh god, what if she was…“HELP!”This time it was Adrian’s voice. He hollered loudly. That meant he’d shifted back. I tore towards the sound.I heard the growling before I saw it.I approached, cautiously. A wolf with auburn fur was circling the trunk of tree. His growl was menacing as he snapped his j
Zane’s POVOur spirits were high as we walked through the forest. Astrid was with Eden and they were both safe. There were no words for the relief I felt. Just hearing her voice, even if it was through a mindlink, was the most welcome, most wonderful sound in the world.So Alpha Skylar’s army was large. Far larger than we’d expected from the sounds of it. But Astrid had come up with a good plan. She was right. A lot of the packs had formed an alliance with Skylar ONLY because he promised them things they wanted. As far as Skylar was concerned, he’d soon be Alpha King.But he wasn’t king yet.I was still the king, the Lycan King. And whatever he promised them, I could give them NOW. Land, resources, money, protection. Whatever they wanted it was within my reach to bestow it onto them.They’d take my offer. They’d lay down their weapons. I was sure of it. There would be no more fighting. This war would end TODAY.Then we’d go back to the palace. We’d have a Queen’s Coronation for Eden.
Zane’s POVI felt like I wasn’t in control of myself. I went through all the motion that I’d seen so many times in the visions I had in the cave. Calista had told me you can’t change a vision. I guess this is what she meant.It was strange because I was there, doing everything I saw in the vision, but I already knew what came next. It was like watching a movie. A movie of myself and Eden.I was acutely aware of everything. The scent of the wild flowers, the feel of the gentle wind blowing across the field. The sun was warm on my skin. Beta Brighton, Alpha Miles, and Brinsle were all behind me as I ran to Eden. I couldn’t stop myself even if I’d wanted to.I had seen all of this before and now, I had to just go through the motions.I was filled with joy when I reached Eden, just like in the vision. I embraced her, then I looked down at her swollen belly.Our baby. That was our baby in there, almost large enough to be born. Relief flooded through me, seeing for my own eyes that the baby
Eden’s POVZane?Was it really him?I saw him across the field of wild flowers. I couldn’t believe it. My heart soared. He ran towards me and I felt like time stood still.And then..I was in his arms. Joy washed through me as he held me tightly. Then his eyes dropped down to my stomach. He looked so relieved. Relieved and shocked. The baby had grown a lot since I’d seen him. I was very pregnant now.He dropped to his knees and pressed his cheek up against my belly. I wrapped my hands in his hair. It felt so good, to be here, with him. Finally.But we didn’t have much time.Alpha Skylar’s army was close by. Much closer than we had anticipated. Astrid had sent out a mindlink telling all the warriors to come immediately to the Northern Field. We had to act fast.Lucia’s wolf moaned. Zane was kissing my belly and his lips felt like heaven. But we had to help Lucia.I told him to go and help her. She was badly wounded from the warrior in the woods and I felt sick to my stomach about it. Z