After talking about the ambush and the damage I did to the Jeep, Jess had enough waiting and started dragging me down the road. I don't recognize anything around me, but that's not a surprise since I was never allowed out of the orphanage. Finally, we come to a stop in front of a burned-down building. "Jess, where are we?" I ask her, and she gives me a pointed look. "This is where we used to live." She tells me as I look at the scorched building. I can't believe this is real. I never in a million years believed I would be back in this pack, not to mention standing in front of this horrible orphanage. "This is all that's left?" I ask as I walk closer to my childhood home. I'm not sad about the site, but I'm not happy about it either. I'm just glad the kids got out safely. "Some people said they saw Ms.Leana walk out and into the woods right before they saw the smoke. According to the fire expert, it started in the basement and was no accident. We think she intended to ki
Zion's P.O.V. After hearing everything Jessica had to say about Rain passing out after our arrival at the Blue Ricer Pack, Ryker and I began to worry that she wasn't as fine as she claimed to be. I ask her if she's sure that she and the pups are okay. She nods while her hand subconsciously lays on her growing belly. We aren't convinced, but we decided not to push her at the moment. I link Eithan, asking him to get the doctor to come to do a sonogram after we eat. He agrees and says he'll make it happen. I thank him before closing the link, putting my attention back on my mate as we walk through the pack house halls and into the dining room, where all the kids are seated and eating. "Are you feeling better than yesterday?" I ask her as I pull a chair out from the table for her to sit. "I feel fine. Still a little tired, but nothing feels wrong or uncomfortable." She says as she sits. "We should probably take her to lay down for a
Rain's P.O.V. After Taking a bite of my food and tasting the bitterness, I pushed the plate away. I knew something was wrong with it, but Zion took a whiff and was on high alert, as were the others, after feeling his tension. Christian and Eithan took a whiff of my plate, and suddenly, guards were rushing in along with the doctor. I linked them quickly, asking them not to alert the children. I didn't want them to be worried about me after finally being reunited with them again. They had way too much to worry about on their little brains, and I wouldn't be adding to that if I didn't have to. The doctor understood and verbally suggested I get a sonogram since I hadn't gotten one when we arrived. I agreed, and Zion helped me from my seat and led me out of the dining room. The doctor led us to a room where an omega had just finished setting up his equipment. He dismissed her quickly so we could openly discuss what had just happened. He explaine
Zion's P.O.V. After the guys and I joined Rain and the ladies in their conversation, Rain asked me if I would talk to Eithan about him and Morgan adopting the orphan siblings, Eligha and Chelsea. I tell her that Eithan asked me the same thing moments ago, which we both found amusing. I suggest we start by asking Jessica and Orian about their adoption of Joshy, thinking it may give them a shove in the right direction. A few minutes after beginning our conversation about Eithan and Morgan adopting the pair, a guard burst through the door in a panic as he looked from me to Eithan. "Alpha, my King. There's a problem in the basement." He says while panting. We're on our feet instantly. "Stay with Rain," I tell everyone as Eithan, Christian, and I take off, running out of the room and heading to the basement, following the guard. We reach the basement quickly, and all grind to a halt, rendered speechless by what we see. It's a bl
Rain's P.O.V. After the guard burst through our door, telling us there was a problem in the basement. Zion stands up from the bed, shouting his order for everyone else to stay with me as Eithan and Christan rush from the room. I look around the room to see everyone's faces full of panic. "What just happened?" I ask, unsure of what's going on. "I'm not sure, but I don't think it was anything good," Mathew says, and the room goes quiet. After fifteen minutes of silence, I hear someone coming up the hall quickly, followed by a fowl stench of blood. "Someone's coming," I say. Immediately, I'm surrounded by everyone as they all form a protective barrier right before the door opens. Zion walks in, and I realize the smell is coming from him, but I know it's not his. "Why do you smell like blood?" "There's been an incident," He says while looking at me questionably. "Lady Ezmerelda is sending some of her witches, and Sam is sending
Zion's P.O.V. While cleaning up the mess in the basement, one of the guards linked Christian, letting him know that the shelter had been cleared and was safe. He gives the order to move everyone unable to fight into the shelter quickly and quietly, making sure to get the Queen in first. I know that won't go down well with her, and I can't help but shake my head cause I'm sure he'll get an ear full after this is over. When the basement is clean, Eithan, Christian, and I make our way back up to the main floor of the pack house while discussing our plan of action. Christian lets us know that the guards on border patrol will be changing shifts soon. I nod my understanding as we make it to the kitchen. We make ourselves something to eat while waiting for the guards who have been on border patrol to come in so we can debrief them on the situation since they've been at the border and are unaware of the events that have unfolded in th
Rain's P.O.V. Panic sets in as Zion tells me Max is here and not to open the door for anyone but him, and I rush to the door, bolting it from the inside. I explained what Zion had said to Jess and the others and tried to calm down before we heard banging from the other side of the door. Morgan, Mia, and I freeze as Jess and the guys Jump into warrior mode, ready to protect everyone in the shelter. "If they've reached the shelter, does that mean they defeated Zion and the others?" Mia asks while on the verge of tears. I quickly wrap my arms around her shoulders. "If they had defeated them, I would have felt my connection with Zion sever. They're okay. They have to be." I say. "You're right." She says, trying to put on a smile, but I can feel how scared and worried she is. "Maybe we should see if he's okay?" Dosha says, and I agree. I linked Zion and told him someone was trying to get into the shelter. I get nothing from
Zion's P.O.V. I knew that telling Rain the plan would be hard for her to handle, but I didn't realize how hard she would take it or how it would make her feel. When we walked into the packhouse, Doctor Mikka wanted to discuss the results of her blood test with us. She was utterly emotionless throughout the entire discussion. He wanted to do another blood test, and she agreed and just sat there while he took the blood sample. She barely spoke the whole time. I try to make her feel better about the situation, but she snaps at me and leaves the room. I understand why she snapped at me, so I won't let it bother me. I only want to make sure she's safe, but maybe I should have let her make that decision for herself instead of making it for her. It's her life, and I don't ever want to make her feel like I'm trying to control her. I follow her as she walks to the dining hall. I stop at her side,wrapping my arms around her waist and
Rain's P.O.V. Opening my eyes, I look around to find someone has laid me down in our bed next to Zion. He's covered in bruises and has bandages wrapped around his chest and down his left arm. I try to reach over, but I realize my body is sore and stiff, and I can barely move. "Oh, thank Goddess, you're awake." Jess gasps, walking through the door. "How are the pups?" I ask the first thing that crosses my mind. "All three are safe and sleeping. Lady Ezmerelda is in the nursery with the twins, and Odett fell asleep watching a movie with Sam in the living room." She answered while walking over to my side of the bed. "Is Douglas dead?" I ask, slowly starting to remember everything that happened. "You leveled everything in the area. Orian found you unconscious, covered in blood, but he didn't think it was yours. He said it smelled like Douglas and his minions. You didn't even have a scratch on you." She said with a smile, helping me to sit up. "How is everyone?" I ask
Rain's P.O.V. After recovering from whatever hit me, I turned to see a female who looked so much like Lady Lena that it threw me off. Zion is just as surprised as I am, his face mirroring my surprised expression. Then I realized that the restraints that held Douglas in place were released, letting him recover and stand beside the lookalike as a group of his rogue army stood behind them. "Who the hell are you, and why do you look eerily similar to a dead woman?" Zion asks after he shifts back to his human form and takes his place beside me. "You must be talking about my twin. That foolish bitch refused to leave that weak coven and decided to go against me. She got what was coming to her." She said with a cackel. "I even offered to take her with me after I kidnapped you, but she refused and even tried to fight me. She might have been our parent's favorite, but she was weak, always letting everyone fight her battles for her." "You're
Zion's P.O.V. After Rain's speech, Mia suggested opening gifts, so Jessica and I helped her up and started walking towards the chair designed like her throne where all the gifts were. Midway through the walk, Rain started feeling some pain and leaned over on me. When I asked if she was okay, she said she was. I knew she wasn't telling me the truth, but I decided to ignore it and keep walking. Unfortunately, she doubled over before we could reach the chair, grabbing her side. I quickly picked her up and noticed liquid running down between her legs as Odett called for her in a panic. I yell for Doctor Jameson, knowing he's here somewhere. He tells me to get her to the suite when he reaches us, but I know he wants her in the makeshift delivery room. I rush through the crowd in a panic, thankful that they made a path for us, and up the stairs to our suite where I lay her down on the bed, only now noticing that our friends followed. Do
Rain's P.O.V. I stood quietly in the peaceful darkness that I'd become accustomed to and waited patiently, thankfully not feeling any pain. I didn't have to wait long as soon the brilliant silver light erupted, and Dosha and Selene emerged as the light dimmed, and I could feel their warmth radiating off of them. But soon, I notice the grim look on her face, and the peacefulness I had felt melts and gives way to caution. "Hello, my dear daughter," Selene says. "I have come to bring you a warning." "A warning about what?" I ask, my stomach in knots as panic sets in. My first thought is that something is wrong with the twins. "The twins will be fine, do not worry, my dear. I will watch over them as I did with Odett. I came with a warning about Douglas." She says, and my heart stops for a moment. "He knows that you are about to give birth and thinks that you will be in a vulnerable state. He is planning to make his move now." "S
Rain's P.O.V. When Zion opened the double doors to the Banquet Hall, I was shocked, to say the least. Everyone was talking, speculating what this gathering was all about, and then complete silence followed by gasps as everyone's gaze met Zion and me as the doors opened. I place my hand on my belly as Zion leads us into the crowded room. Everyone now has faces of relief and tears of joy streaming down their faces as they bow while we make our way past them and to a table set up for us. I feel an overwhelming sense of love and confusion pouring off of everyone in the room. As we reached our table, we were joined by the others in our group, including Morgan, Mia, and Nick, as well as King Arnald and Beta Mark. Zion pulls out a chair for me and helps me lower myself into it before he addresses the crowd. He goes into detail about the reasons for my disappearance while also apologizing to everyone for keeping them in the dark about the
Zion's P.O.V. I woke up this morning and felt something different in the air like something would happen soon, but I wasn't sure what that would be. I asked Ryker about it, but he wasn't sure either. Orian linked me to let me know that everything was ready and that everyone would start showing up in about an hour or so, but that he needed to see me in my office for an important matter. I told him that I would be down soon and quickly linked Jessica and Lady Ezmerelda to ask them to help get Rain ready while I went to handle a few things before the shower and celebrations began. As soon as I told Rain that we needed to get moving and that her sister and mother would be helping her get dressed, she started getting emotional, which I know is from the hormones. Thankfully, I saved myself by explaining that she wasn't fat, just very pregnant. That worked, and just in time, since Jessica and Lady Ezmerelda arrived the next second,
Rain's P.O.V. As soon as my head hits the pillow, I fall asleep, but opening my eyes, I'm surrounded by nothing but black, and I know exactly what's going on. I found the light silver glow and walked towards it before hearing the comforting voice of the moon goddess, Selene. I can't help but smile as she comes into view before panic starts, knowing that we only have a meeting like this when something terrible has happened or will happen. "Hello, daughter. I'm glad to see you in such good spirits," Selene said with a smile of her own as she reassured me. This is a good meeting. There's no need to panic. I've come to inform you of my plans for Odett's future." "What do you mean? Won't she be the next Werewolf Queen?" I ask her, my voice thick with confusion and fear. Was she planning to take Odett away from me and Zion? I don't want to lose her, but I know that Selene will always make the best decisions, and there's nothing I can do or
Zion's P.O.V. After Luna Morgan, Mia, and Nick's arrival, I quickly linked with Orian to suggest we give them time to catch up with each other. I say that, but in reality, I wanted to save myself and the others from the headache their squeals would cause. Don't get me wrong, I love the excitement in my mate's voice, but there are too many females in this suite at the moment. Orian agrees but thinks we should take Nick with us. "Do we have to?" I ask. "Yes, remember he was the one that drove them here. I imagine he's heard enough and needs a break." He responds with a laugh. "Fine," I tell him with a huff before turning my attention to my mate. "Well, ladies, King Arnald, Beta Mark, Orian, Sam, Nick, and I will leave y'all to the planning." We left the suite and made our way to my office on the first floor. Once in my office, I offer everyone a drink, and they accept. Orian pours everyone a glass and hands them out as we s
Rain's P.O.V. After returning to our suite, we all sat around and ate lunch while conversing about different things. I noticed Zion and Orian suddenly got quiet, and when I looked over, I could tell they were talking through the link. I automatically got nervous, thinking something had happened, but then I heard someone approaching the door before there was a knock. When no one moves, and Zion helps me up from the couch, asking me to get the door, I grow suspicious but still make my way to the door anyway. I notice no one is talking, but I know Zion wouldn't be put in harm's way. As I open the door, I'm hit with Mia and Morgans's excitement and their high-pitched squeals, and I can't help but let out my own squeal. "What are y'all doing here?" I ask them in disbelief. "We're here for your baby shower," Mia says while looking over my shoulder at everyone. "What baby shower?" I asked, whirling around to look at Zion. "Ask Jess