Thank you LarrissaFreeman for the picture!

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I honestly didn't know why I was giving him the time of day. Maybe a part of me felt bad. Maybe a part of me really thought he could change.

I shouldn't have driven out so far. I knew that when I started up the car. I knew I was making a mistake, but I still went. It was a thirty-minute drive from Mikko's house to get to the place where JJ was waiting. He wasn't allowed onto Finn's land without permissions and he didn't have it.

It was a cute little cabin, out of the way of most traffic in the area. My stomach was queasy when I stepped out of the car. I left the keys in the ignition in case I was in need if a quick escape.

When I got to the door, it quickly opened. JJ smiled at me, then looked around me.

"I thought you had your kids with you," he asked confused.

Had he really been expecting them to come with me?

"They're with their grandfather," I said as I stepped into the cabin, slightly irritated.

He shut the door behind me and locked it. A weird habit for a werewolf, but not unheard of.

I felt like I was being paranoid. Except for Mikko breaking JJ's jaw after using me against him, JJ didn't have a reason to want to hurt me. We had been good friend a once. Now I just felt defensive.

Always making mistakes...

Maybe that was why I had given him a chance, I pondered to myself.

"So, why did you beg me to come out here, JJ?"

He led me into the living room and offered the sofa. I took the offer because I was ready to pop. This baby was ready to be born, I could sense it, but I was weeks out from being full term, so I wasn't expecting him to make an arrival anytime too soon.

He sat down on the ottoman, close enough that he could put his hand on my knee. "I've met someone."

I rolled my eyes and readied myself to get off the sofa. "If you called me to let me down easy, I will kick you in the nuts JJ."

He shook his head with that same stupid smile. Like he knew something I didn't, but wouldn't tell me, which was annoying. "No. I didn't ask you all the way over here to leave. I want you to come with me."

"You want me to leave my children?"

He quickly shook his head. "No, of course not. I want you to bring them with us."

I shook my head in disbelief. One, there was no way Mikko wouldn't be able to track us down before we got too far, and two, I wasn't sure I wanted to go anywhere with JJ. Even to this cabin.

"And where would you take us? To your pack? Mikko would look first and rip your head off when he found you?" I asked, trying to use my tone to warn him off. This was a stupid idea. I didn't like being in the middle of this, and separated from my children.

"I'm not with the packs anymore," he said as though that solved every problem. "I've been in contact with a revolutionary."

Someone drank the Kool-Aid, I thought as I stood up. I needed to get away from this insanity.

"And who is this wonderful revolutionary?" My balance wasn't horrendous, so I was able to stand rather quickly.

I had to get away from him if he had joined up with one of Finn's enemies.

"He said I shouldn't tell you who he is until you are far enough from Mikko. He will protect you and your children from the horrors they will face if you make them stay with the Madill's." JJ was thoroughly convinced that he was right. That whatever this mystery person had said to him was he absolute truth.

But it wasn't. Only fools went against the Madill's. They were too strong and their numbers were too many.

"JJ, you can't believe this person. They're wrong," I tried to be as convincing and as gentle as I could, but I could see it in his eyes that he thought I was the one who was wrong.

"He's been around for almost as long as them, Emily. He knows their dirty little secrets and wants to expose them to the world for the monsters they are."

I started towards the door. "I have to go, JJ."

He had been pretty much brainwashed by an older, more powerful wolf. I needed to get away before he hurt me. I needed to get out of there before the influencing wolf showed up.

"You can't go yet. You need to hear me out."

He was quick to follow me. I felt my anxiety shoot up as he stayed close and tried to convince me as I walked to his car.

"Em, please just listen to me."

I got to my car and opened the door. He slammed it shut before it could open two inches.

"If I tell you who he is, will you promise to stay?"

I shook my head. I needed an excuse to get the name and get back to Finn's. I needed to switch tactics to get out of here. "I can't JJ. I have to get my kids, remember?"

He shook his head. "I can only tell you once you're ready to go. I can't let you escape to tell Finn what's happening."

"Everyone knows I'm bonded to Mikko. What makes you think you're not being watched right now?"

"Because," he said with confidence, "Finn had his telepath shut down the bond once you started dating me."

Did he think we were dating? Even after Mikko broke his jaw? He must've not seen Finn give permission for the block to be lifted.

"Let me go get my children," I pleaded.

He looked torn.

"JJ, I need my kids." My kids were my only ticket to freedom from JJ and I needed to play it.

He stood there for a moment, just looking at me before taking his hand off of door, finally allowing me to open it.

"You have to come back, Em."

I didn't say anything because he would've heard it in my voice. I got into the car and retrieved the keys.

"I have to go, JJ," I said as I looked at his hand, still holding the door open.

"Promise me, Em." His tone was starting to take a frustrated tone.

I nodded once to answer and started the car.

"Say it out loud," he commanded.

If I answered JJ out loud, he would know I was lying. JJ wasn't a new wolf who I could trick. JJ was trained by the packs. JJ knew my tale-tell signs of lies. He would be able to sniff out my lie.

I shifted it into gear and contemplated my next move. Whatever I did, JJ would try to stop my car and get me out of it. If I didn't get away from him, I would probably never see my triplets again.

I had to get home.

I couldn't trust anyone anymore.

JJ had switched sides and betrayed everyone he knew.

I shook my head and pushed my accelerator as hard as I could. Shock was all that kept JJ from holding onto the door and ripping it off.

The car bounced as I hit dips on the dirt road, jostling me in my seat, but as soon as I got to a real road, I knew that JJ wasn't alone. Whoever he was with had followers. I knew it because a SUV sideswiped mine, jolting me.

Adrenaline shot through me as I stopped the car. The SUV had kept going, but quickly stopped and was turning around.

I felt liquid, hot and sticky, pool between my legs. I looked down to see the clear liquid spreading all over my clothes.

"My water broke," I whispered in horror to myself.

I was too stressed out and my body was reacting to it. The baby would be fine, it was head down and ready, but I was alone and surrounded by enemies.

I needed Mikko. I had been stupid to come out here alone. So stupid. I felt a sweat break out as I reacted to the stress.

I needed to get to Finn's. I had no other option. I took a deep, calming breath and gripped the steering wheel, determined.

Two men got out of the car that had just sideswiped mine and started coming towards me.

I sped off again. I had to take risks and make risky maneuvers, but it didn't matter. When another SUV joined in the chase of me, I knew I wouldn't make it home to see my triplets today.

At least the triplets were with their father. I was very grateful that they weren't with me. Better just the two of us, than five of us.

I knew the triplets would be the main priority for the wolves to protect. They would be safe.

The car chasing pulled a pit maneuver on my car, causing it to spin out and forcing me to slam on my breaks. The car stopped and everything was silent.

Another strong contraction rocked my abdomen. Having a cesarean with the triplets left me inexperienced with having contractions as strong as these. They were painful, they were strong, and they were getting closer together. They were just five minutes apart now. This was all happening too fast.

I grabbed my belly and tried not to scream. I was sure that the added stress of being chased (and now caught) added to my labor process.

An amber eyed man opened my door, ripping it off its hinges. "You shouldn't have run."

He grabbed me by my upper arm and dragged me out of the car. He let me drop to the floor when my ankle refused to hold me up. The contraction let off and sharp pain pierced up my leg.

The man chuckled above me. "Looks like you're unable to walk."

"No shit," I said between clenched teeth. "What the hell do you want?"

"You'll have to talk to Marshall about that."

I looked up at him, shocked. The pain in my ankle felt like it went away completely with that name. "Marshall Alexander?"

He nodded once. "Yes," he said as he dragged me to his car, "that Marshall."

He slammed the door shut. I instantly jiggled the handle to find it locked. The back seats were caged off so I couldn't get at him while he drove. I tried kicking out the back windows, all to no luck.

"You should save your energy," he said with an oddly happy smile. "The baby's coming."

Another contraction hit again causing me to groan at its intensity. The space between the contractions was getting shorter. The baby really was coming, and soon.

The man drove for at least thirty minutes before he pulled up to some rental cabins. They were very popular for college parties, and, unfortunately, very far from any of the pack houses.

The contractions continued.

He carried me into the cabin since I could hardly walk as white hot pain shot up my ankle and calf each time I tried to bare my weight on it. Something was wrong with my ankle, obviously from the accident. The cabin was empty.

"Marshall will be here soon. You might as well get comfortable here."

I pulled up the bottom of my skirt. My ankle was already changing colors. "I need an ace bandage or something. My ankle's going to swell."

With a roll of his eyes, he walked over to the first aid kit hanging in the wall and went through it. He tossed the bandage to me. "Now shut up."

I pulled my foot up into a reachable range. "I'm in labor, shutting up is not part of the deal."

I tried to breathe through the next contraction, but it still hurt like hell. The plan had been for a cesarean again. This baby would've already been out of me and safe. The risk of something going wrong was too high for me to just relax. Which I knew did nothing but add to the risks during this delivery.

It wasn't Marshall who arrived two contractions later, it was JJ. He smiled at my distress. "What a beautiful sight." He clasped his hands together in joy. "Birth is amazing; don't you think?" He asked the bastard who brought me here.

The man just nodded at JJ, but sounded bored when he said, "Amazing."

JJ had a gun on him. I'm sure he had two or three. He wouldn't face Mikko face to face when he showed up. They would be loaded with silver.

I cried out when the next contraction hit. It came on quickly and was very unexpected. I thought I had at least another minute before this contraction hit.

"We're getting close." He squealed excitedly. "Have you checked to see if she's dilated?"

The contraction eased off again, leaving relief again. The man gave JJ a blank look. "What now?"

JJ huffed and rolled his eyes towards the ceiling. "Lord help us." He smiled at me. "The one who had been trained in all of this was recently killed by the father of your child." He took steps closer to me. "Looks like we'll have to wing it."

I shook my head and scooted away from him. "No way. Stay away from me."

JJ stopped next to me. "I'm just trying to help. If we just wanted the child, my man here would've cut it out of you. I need you to survive. They don't know how to care for a newborn."

I need access to one of the guns he had. If I could shoot those guns, I could get away.

I flinched away from him when he tried lifting my skirt. "Don't touch me!" I screamed.

I got the reaction I expected from an unstable dominate. He wrapped his hand around my neck and pulled me up to his face like I was nothing more than a doll. His grip was tight enough that he wouldn't lose control of me, but not tight enough to cut off my airway.

His face wasn't charming anymore. He looked like the real threat he was and I had been too naïve to see it. "Keep your mouth shut, before I decide to change my mind."

I grabbed into a gun. He realized what I was up to a moment too late and as he jerked away I pulled the trigger. The other wolf was in complete shock, so much so that he just stood still as I pointed the gun at him.

JJ hissed and panted on the ground.

"I can't let you two live," I reasoned out loud. I had been stupid and now this was the price. I had to pay for my freedom and the life of my child with their lives. "You'll just come for me."

I had to get away from here. I needed to get somewhere safe. I shot the other wolf four times in the chest, in a cluster where his heart was. He fell to the ground, dead before he landed. It was only a slight relief that my marksmanship was still sharp.

JJ hissed as he breathed. "You're not going to get far."

I aimed the gun on him. "Mikko is coming for me."

"He's not even thinking of you." He let his hand off the wound for a second. When the blood oozed out he quickly set the pressure again. "Mikko's looking for the traitor. He knows there was someone feeding Marshall information."

I pointed the barrel of the gun right in his face. "Who is it?"

JJ sneered. "As though I'd tell you that."

"Fine." It was most likely JJ who had been informing Marshall.

I couldn't bring myself to shoot him in the face, so I shot him square in the chest. His sneer faded as his eyes half closed. I quickly made my way out of the cabin to feel a contraction. It was so strong I stumbled. I quickly leaned on a tree for support.

That's how I walked for a long time. It felt like eternity. At least twelve more contractions occurred before I couldn't walk anymore. I felt the need to push. This was it. The baby would be born in the middle of the woods.

I was going to have to deliver alone, and I was terrified. This wasn't how this was supposed to happen.

My fear evaporated when I heard a wolf's growl. I slowly looked over to see a big wolf baring its teeth at me. There was blood matted on the wolf's back and chest. This wolf had to be JJ.

I felt my blood drain. I was so dead. I couldn't move. I was trying to deliver. Why couldn't life cut me one break?

I shot him. He should've died. Why wasn't he dead?

The wolf lunged at me and pinned me down, still careful about the baby bump. At least he still wanted my baby unharmed. I would take that. I would hand over my baby if I were going to die. Mikko would find him. Mikko would rescue the baby and kill both JJ and Marshall.

JJ sniffed around my torso. I stayed very still. I needed to be alive to deliver. The next contraction I would push. Hopefully it wouldn't take very much pushing.

He stopped over Mikko's mark and huffed. The wolf snarled and bit down around the mark. I screamed as the pain seared through my side, forcing a contraction out of fear. As well as the pain from being bitten by a werewolf, I instantly felt Mikko's shock mixed with my overwhelming fear.

Mikko was there in the moment with me, realizing what was happening. It felt as though he was a part of me. I felt him looking through my eyes.

JJ brought his teeth together a second later, digging out the mark. I screamed and tried to push him away. I was going to bleed out if I didn't get pressure. I looked down at the wound when the wolf spat out my flesh.

The wound extended down from below my breast to my last rib. I could see the white of my rib bones. He scraped the mark off to the bone. I knew that the connection with Mikko was gone. It had been severed with the flesh. He wouldn't be able to find me.

I was bleeding out. I wasn't going to make it through delivery.

He snarled in my face. I could see my blood dripping from his teeth. I grabbed the gun and brought it up to his rib cage. I shot three times as he scurried off of me. I shot again twice as he was retreating. Then when he turned back to face me, I shot once more. The bullet collapsed the front portion of his skull.

He was dead this time. Even werewolves couldn't heal a caved in skull, especially when silver was involved.

I took off my skirt and wrapped it around my torso to stop the bleeding. It hurt so much to move. It hurt so much to breathe.

I tied the knot tight and tucked it against the wound for added pressure.

I had to make it through delivery. I had to bundle up my son and give him the warmth I had left until he was found and taken to safety.

This contraction. I talked myself up. This contraction and the baby's born. He has to be.

When it hit, I pushed. Three hard pushes and I had a baby in my arms. I brought him to my chest and wiped his face clear of the mucus, clearing his nose from the gunk. When he started crying I couldn't have been happier. I looked around for a blanket, but I didn't have one. So I did what I had to do. I untied the knot keeping me from bleeding out quickly and wrapped the blood free section around my son.

I held him close knowing that this was it. This was the end of my life. My toddlers wouldn't remember me. The baby wouldn't even know I existed. I kissed his forehead and laid down, curled around him to protect him from the cold. I made sure that the angle I was holding him at would keep the eventual blood pool from touching him.

It didn't take long. The cold set in. My fingers and toes went numb, creeping up to my torso. Then the cold went away and I felt warm. I knew the end was very close once the warmth set in.

I closed my eyes and wished for someone to find my son quickly as I waited for death to take me.