I watch the wolves dancing around the bonfire, celebrating the mating ceremony of the young couple.The smell of the barbecue wafts over and my mouth waters at the scent of the cooking meat.Before I know it, a plate is held before me and Lucas, my mate of one year, steps in front of me, smirking, “Hungry?”“No,” I stretch out the word, guiltily. “I just ahead two slices of cake.”Lucas’s smile is warm now as his eyes lower towards my stomach, “Well, considering you’re carrying our baby inside that bottomless pit of a stomach of yours, you deserve freshly grilled lamb skewers.” I take the plate from, narrowing my eyes at him, “Why do I feel like that was an insult?”He just grins, pressing a kiss on top of my head, “Eat as much as you want. You need it.”He leans against a tree watching the festivities and I settle in the circle of his arms, chewing on the seasoned meat, “Things have gotten better, haven’t they?”“With you as an Alpha, how can they not?” Luca

“Lucas!”My heart is ready to jump out of my chest.“How-?”The teenagers are still crying and Lucas murmurs, “Al- Call Ali-“His eyes slip shut and Hank jumps into action, “We have to carry him back.”Laura's body is cold and I know that she is no longer with us.Whatever is wrong with the arrows is clearly affecting Lucas. However, it is probably the bond between us which is holing him tethered.Lucas and I are true mates, a rare bond in the shifter world, which elevates our powers and abilities. It is something we have not told the pack, a secret we must conceal for our own safety. We are each other's greatest weakness. If one of us dies, the other descends into madness.“Let’s go,” I try to steady my voice, before summoning my wolves.A few of them who had been following us, trot over.“Aliya,” I tell them. “Get her.”Hopefully the witch will understand that she is needed and come to the den.“How can Aliya help?” Timothy asks.The fact that Lucas

“He needs more time,” Aliya shakes her head. “The poison has spread all over his body.”She gives me a meaningful look, "It's a miracle that he's alive right now.”The first time that I met Aliya, she had had a weird personality, a mixture between childlike and wise. It wasn’t surprising because her entire coven was murdered by Lucas’s previous pack. The two of them had gotten their revenge when Lucas’s parents has also been viciously killed by his pack. Lucas dealt with his trauma in a different way but Aliya retreated into herself, unable to cope with the loss. But ever since she has started interacting with my pack, she has begun to relax. She is still strange in her mannerisms but she’s well liked. She refers Tina’s company or those of the children.“But he’ll live, right?”Aliya’s voice is low, “It’s your bond which is keeping him tethered right now. You need to be by his side. For him to recover faster.”I swallow and look around at the overflowing infirmary, “

“Sarah!” I hear shocked cries around me as my vision grows dark.I can feel the arms supporting me and then I hear Tina’s voice.“Sarah, Lucas is-“I’m already running towards the den, not even listening. My heart is beating so wildly that for a moment it feels like it’s going to burst out of my chest. I pass by startled pack mates as I rush towards the infirmary.I burst inside and nearly fall over my own feet when I see the tall, familiar figure of my mate, leaning over the bed.“Lucas?!”Lucas looks up and then it’s as if everything within me settles within a heartbeat.“You’re awake,” I mumble, stumbling forward.He reaches me in long strides, catching me in his arms, “I’m fine. I’m sorry if I worried you.”“Worried?” My tears are hot, burning the path along my cheek. “I went through hell. I kept thinking you wouldn’t wake up and -“He holds me closer to him, “As if I could leave you by yourself.”I close my eyes, finally able to breathe easier

My eyes fly open.But there is nobody there and there is no change in my wolves behavior. They just pace around, one of them coming to sniff at my belly and settling down near me in a protective manner.My hand comes to settle on my flat stomach, “I think you're making me hear things, baby. You'd better stop it.”I don't hear any other voice after that so I know that I imagined it.Still, it's a weird thing to imagine.I feel better when Lucas returns with a deer.I don't tell him what I just experienced because I can see how protective he is being and I don't want to upset him.It's pretty dark and we decide to sleep for the night before we go inside and begin.However, my sleep is plagued with disturbing dreams and I find myself jerking awake at some point, my heart pounding.Lucas moves, half asleep, “Sara-““I’m fine,” I touch his shoulder. “Go back to sleep.”He doesn't say anything more and I sit up, feeling tired but anxious.My wolves are als