Camden woke up, her eyes fluttering open as she became aware of Clayton's arms wrapped around her. Gently, she tried to extricate herself from his embrace, mindful not to disturb his sleep. "I'm awake," he mumbled sleepily, releasing her from his grasp. "I thought you were asleep," Camden said with a yawn, stretching her stiff muscles. "Nope," Clayton replied, opening his eyes and stretching himself. "How did you sleep?" he asked, his voice still tinged with sleepiness. "Better than usual," she replied, a hint of surprise in her voice. "I didn't even hear the nurses come in during the night," she added, feeling a slight sense of relief. "That's good," Clayton said, stifling a yawn as he sat up in bed. They looked at each other, the weight of the previous day's events hanging heavily in the air, creating an awkward silence."This is weird, isn't it? Do you want me to go?" Clayton asked, glancing out the window at the soft pink hues of the morning sky, his fingers absentmindedly rubbing
As Camden ate her breakfast, she couldn't help but think about everything that had happened with Clayton. She'd let him stay over. In fact, she had sort of made him stay over. That was never her intention, but then when he was with her, she couldn't help but fall back into the comfortable, familiar rhythm she had with him. It felt like they were in some kind of orbit around one another, and, in spite of his moronic actions, the orbit still held strong. She found herself tracing her fingers over the necklace once again. The action was soothing and calming and she could already tell that she would feel naked without it around her neck.Lost in thought, Camden reclined on her bed, contemplating her complicated feelings and the uncertain path ahead. Just then, the doctor entered the room, interrupting her thoughts. "Good morning," the doctor greeted her as she scanned Camden's chart. "How are your ribs today?" she inquired, concern lacing her voice. Camden's frown deepened as she admitted
Matt let out a heavy sigh, the weight of disappointment palpable in the room. Camden frowned, her heart aching at the sight of his deflated expression. "I'm so sorry, Matt. I never meant to hurt you," she said, her voice laced with genuine remorse. Matt offered her a small smile, trying to mask his sadness. "It's not your fault, I guess," he replied with a sigh. "You didn't plan for the Moon Goddess to give you two mates. I mean, technically speaking, you didn't have to save Clayton..." he added, looking up at her with a wry smile. In response, Camden playfully shoved him and returned his smile. "So what now?" she asked softly, eager to know where they stood with one another and find some direction amidst the emotional turmoil. Matt's eyes softened as he contemplated their next steps. "Well, I guess we go ahead with the Unbonding Ritual," he replied, sadness lacing his words. "Maybe the Goddess will give me a mate that I won't have to share the second time around," he continued, his v
Matt realized how broken Camden truly was. Despite her attempts to hide it, he could see glimpses of her pain seeping through her facade. He knew some of what had happened to her with the rogues in the woods, but the full story remained a mystery. Regret washed over him as he realized he hadn't pressed her for more information at the time, and now it felt like too much time had passed, and their bond wasn't the same as it had been then. Nevertheless, he decided to give it another try. "Cam, what happened with the rogues? Who was Jamie?" he asked, the name lingering in his memory. Panic seemed to grasp her at the mention of the name and he heard her gasp. "Where did you hear that name?" she asked in a whisper, her eyes wide with surprise. "When I was in the woods trying to rescue you. I heard some of the rogues calling that name. Does it mean anything to you?" he asked, hoping that the mention of this name, which obviously sparked some kind of emotional response in her, would encourage
Camden was wheeled into the sonographer's room, with Clayton right by her side, visibly jittery but bubbling with excitement. "Are you doing okay over there?" she asked, chuckling at his nerves as he helped her onto the bed. He nodded, his eyes brimming with happiness and anticipation. "I've literally never been better," he replied, his joy infectious. Just as Camden was about to say something else, the sonographer entered the room. "Miss Woods!" the sonographer exclaimed with a beaming smile. "Let's see what's cooking," she added cheerfully. "I'm Amy, by the way," she introduced herself as she approached the sonogram equipment. Camden felt a bit awkward but managed to introduce herself and Clayton. "Uh... I'm Camden, and this is Clayton," she gestured towards Clayton, who stood next to her, clutching her hand like it was a lifeline. "Daddy?" Amy said in a questioning tone. "That's me," Clayton said with unmistakable pride. Amy smiled warmly, putting Camden at ease. "Excellent. Well,
Camden wished the moment with Clayton would never end. He held her with such profound adoration and protection that she felt overwhelmed by the love emanating from him. She longed for things to go back to the way they were before, but she knew that Clayton still had a long way to go to prove himself. Despite that, in this moment, she was more convinced than ever that he would be an incredible father.Clayton gently set Camden back on her bed, and she mentioned her upcoming appointments. "I have an appointment with the chiropractor shortly," Camden said, "And then I'm having my cast removed." Clayton looked uncertain as he asked, "The chiropractor?" Camden sighed and explained, "They found what's wrong with my ribs. One of them is dislocated, or as the doctor so elegantly put it, a 'popped' rib." She emphasized the word, 'popped'. Clayton made a disgusted face. "Ugh... Sounds gross," he commented. "I know," Camden frowned again, expressing her agreement. "So apparently, the chiropracto
Camden returned to her room, her rib repositioned and a boot replacing her ankle cast. As the orderly wheeled her in, she noticed Clayton. She smiled, happy to see him, but his attention was focused elsewhere and he barely spared her a glance. He had a look of sheer determination on his face as he walked through her room from surface to surface, rummaging through any cupboard or drawer in sight, throwing her things into a bag as he went. Confused and annoyed, she asked, "Clayton, what are you doing?" "We have to leave. Now," he replied firmly, still focused on the task at hand. Camden's annoyance began to mix with fear. "I just got my boot off. I'm still healing, Clayton. I can't just leave. I need the doctor to reassess my injuries and tell me what needs to be done next. I'm still on medication and stuff," she pleaded, bewildered by his sudden urgency. "There's no time. Right now, Cam. We have to go," he insisted. Clayton swiftly unlaced the back of her hospital gown and pulled a t-s
Camden, Clayton, and Matt continued their journey, leaving behind the safety and refuge of the Blood Moon Pack. The spruce and pine trees lined the path as they ventured onto a dirt road. The silence inside the car grew heavy until Camden couldn't contain her curiosity any longer. She turned to Clayton and asked, "Where are we going?" Clayton let out a deep sigh before answering, "Scotland." The revelation took Camden by surprise, and she couldn't help but respond with astonishment, "Scotland!?" "Well, that's the plan at least," Clayton replied, his gaze fixed on the passing trees outside the window. Camden didn't know what to say, so she simply said nothing. Instead, she stared out the window, still trying to figure out how her father could possibly have found her all the way out here.As they drove on, something caught Camden's eye, and she let out a gasp. Startled by the sound, Matt abruptly hit the brakes, skidding to a sudden stop as he assumed she had seen a hazard he hadn't. "S
Matt let out a sigh, wanting to be done with the conversation now. "Just make sure you keep your end of the deal. I'm doing this for Cam... and for what we used to have," he said, his gaze drifting off momentarily as if lost in memories. "You know, I considered going with you, but I know how threatened you feel by me," Matt teased, trying to keep a straight face but unable to do so. Clayton scoffed and chuckled. "I might actually miss you, Matt. Not the part where you trailed after Cam like a lost puppy, or the way you'd watch her move, or the way your hands lingered on her a little too long..." Clayton went on, leaving Matt with a sheepish expression on his face. "But I'll miss you.""God, Clayton, I'm not going to die! Well, actually, I might if they ever find out that I knew about this and never said anything... But let's hope that doesn't happen. Just figure this shit out, okay? If I can help the two of you in any way, let me know, but something tells me this journey doesn't involv
Instead of leading him to the lounge, as Clayton had anticipated, he led him back to the kitchen. The change in setting made the conversation seem more serious. More threatening.Matt took a seat, followed shortly by Clayton, who sat directly opposite him. Matt didn't beat around the bush. "You know I know," he stated. It wasn't a question. Clayton shrugged, seemingly unfazed. Matt sighed before continuing, "Where are you guys going?" he asked, his tone firm and serious. "We don't know yet. We still need to decide. I only just found out about all of this," Clayton replied, feeling a bit annoyed. It was pretty unreasonable of Matt to expect them to already have a plan when he had literally only found out all this life-changing stuff a few minutes ago. He felt like he needed a minute to reflect and to think it all through."Clayton, I'm not fucking around when I say this... If you hurt her, I will fucking end you. We might not be mates anymore, but I still feel responsible for her and p
Camden couldn't help the tiny sob that escaped her lips. To think that Clayton had wondered his whole life whether his parents had loved him broke her heart. Her pregnancy hormones were kicking into overdrive and she could feel that she would start to spiral soon if she didn't regain her focus, so she pressed on, hoping to lighten the situation with a little levity. "Also," she went on, wiping a tear from her eye, "I figured while I was getting the inside scoop on your family history, I'd ask about your real name," she explained. Clayton perked up, very interested to hear what she was about to reveal. "Well, I didn't ask about your first name. I don't know... I felt weird about it. I felt like too much would change if I had to start calling you something else now on top of all this other stuff and I know you as Clayton and it—" she was rambling on when Clayton cut her off. "What is it?" he asked, unable to disguise his curiosity. "Wolfe," she revealed with the tiniest hint of a smile.
Clayton couldn't help the smile that spread across his features. Despite everything Camden was telling him, he couldn't help but feel joy in this one, singular moment.Camden was also wearing a small smile, happy to see his happiness, but simultaneously worried about what the future held for them all."I knew it was a boy," Clayton whispered softly, gazing into Camden's eyes which looked back at him with uncertainty. She nodded. "She said we'll have a girl too. But the girl won't have this... gene, or whatever you call it," Camden replied, sounding a little relieved. Clayton's smile grew even wider and Camden's heart all but burst as she saw his eyes twinkle with excitement at the prospect. "How lucky are we?" he asked, his voice low but filled with anticipation and love. "Well, that has yet to be determined because there are so many things we need to take into consideration here, Clayton," Camden replied, grounding Clayton back in reality. "Like what?" he asked, the momentary high be
Camden followed, trailing behind him as he settled back down at the kitchen table once more. His anger and frustration were all but palpable and Camden felt guilty for having brushed him off and ignored him just now. "How much did you hear?" she asked as she settled back down in her seat. "It doesn't matter. Start from the beginning," he instructed, taking a deep breath as he tried to relax. Camden figured there was no point in trying to sugarcoat things or beat around the bush. It was his truth and he deserved to know. "I told you, I had an... experience. I don't know if it was a vision, or if it was a dream, or if it was something that really happened, just on a different plane of existence. To be honest, I don't want to get too philosophical about it, because it makes me uncomfortable. But I know it happened, and I know it was real because Matt just proved it," Camden explained, fiddling with the sleeve of her wet hoodie. Clayton said nothing, only watching her, waiting for her t
"Sorry... I'm sorry," Clayton immediately apologized, seeing how his reaction had startled Camden. He quickly got up and went to the sink, grabbing a cloth to stop the beer from dripping down onto her lap. "I'm so sorry, babe," he continued to apologize as he soaked up the spilled beer from the table, "I was frustrated. You guys aren't telling me what's going on," he tried to explain, but he knew it was a poor excuse."I need to make a call," Matt announced as he headed out of the kitchen. Light lightening, Camden was up, chasing after him desperately while she left Clayton to mop up his spilled beer and mope as he continued to be ignored."Stop!" she cried, tugging at Matt's arm as she caught up with him in the lounge. "Camden, please... this is hard enough as it is..." he said in a small voice. It was then that she noticed that his eyes were glistening as if he were on the verge of tears. Her anger and panic began to dissipate as he stood in front of her, unmoving."Please..." Camde
"So, when are we leaving?" Matt asked as he stripped off his soaked sweater and pulled a beer out of the fridge. "Want one?" he offered Clayton. "It's not even 6am!" Clayton exclaimed in disbelief. "It's been a rough night," Matt replied with a shrug as he snapped the can open. Clayton regarded him for a moment then relented. "Okay, fine," he agreed, gesturing for a beer from the fridge. Matt smiled and handed him one before taking a long drink of his own.All the while, Camden sat at the kitchen table, fiddling with a pamphlet about the Standing Stones. "You alright?" Clayton asked, resting his hand on her shoulder as he stood behind her. "I dunno..." she admitted, continuing to toy with the pamphlet. "You're soaked, why don't you go take a shower or at least get changed into some dry clothes?" Clayton suggested, brushing a drenched lock of hair behind her ear.She sighed, but made no effort to move, still pressing and folding the paper in front of her. "Baby?" Clayton murmured, brus
"Matt?" Camden whispered, shaking him lightly. He groaned and furrowed his brow, as if annoyed by the intrusion. "Matt?" she whispered again, but suddenly she heard Clayton's voice ringing through the air. "Camden?"She looked up, searching the perimeter of the circle for Clayton. Spotting him, her heart skipped a beat. He stood beside the circle, torn between rushing in and waiting for some kind of confirmation that the ritual was over.Camden wasted no time; she rushed to him as fast as her legs could carry her. Leaping over the salt circle, she jumped into his arms. He caught her eagerly, but his face suddenly fell as he exclaimed, "Babe! The circle!" worry etching his features. "It's fine," she said. "She broke it. There," Camden pointed behind them to a clear break in the salt before smothering him in kisses."I was so worried about you," Clayton murmured, holding her cheeks and looking into her eyes before pulling her to him in a fierce hug. "I'm here. I'm fine," she assured him
Camden sat quietly, contemplating everything she had just learned about her mate and what the implications were for her. She drained her glass of wine with a series of long, deep gulps, only to find that it had been refilled as soon as she moved her hand away from her lips. She let out a small incredulous laugh. "Okay, so quick recap here. Clayton is from a bloodline that dates back to the beginning days of werewolves, he can shift into a werewolf, in the traditional half-man, half-wolf sense, my son will also have this ability, and the whole world will want to kill them for this? Did I miss anything?" she asked, pursing her lips as she waited for Selene's response."Yes. The bloodline cannot die. The end of the Lupi Noctis bloodline will be the beginning of the end for all werewolves," Selene added gravely, her gaze piercing through the dim light of the stone circle. "Their existence is intricately tied to the balance of the natural and supernatural world. Without them, the balance w