Unsurprisingly, the healer was a complete bust. She repeated the same thing as all of the others: that it was impossible for me to have pups because it went against the natural cycle of life, and the Moon Goddess would never permit someone to cheat the system. I swear if I ever got my hands on that Moon-Bitch, I would beat the hell out of her, mystical being or not.

Cain tried to lift my spirits, and as always, swore that whether I could bear children or not, he would remain my mate.

What a crap situation. I never wanted pups, until I realized I couldn't have any. Whatever loser came up with the phrase "you always want what you can't have" may not have been that off base.

Instead of focusing on my inability to start a family, I decided to focus on my favorite pastime: punching the absolute shit out of people.

When Cain and I completed the Blood Ceremony, a huge influx of strength went into me. The Blood Lake elders hypothesized that because I have Alpha blood in me from Wilson and my mother, once I became the Alpha Female, it activated more of my Alpha senses and abilities.

The new strength was incredibly fun, I had to admit. I was getting more and more hits on Cain every time we sparred, and he said he wouldn't be surprised if one of these times I would be able to best him.

I still was able to kick Axel's ass, but since he became Beta once Gwen killed Jax, he also got stronger. It made fighting him all the more interesting.

"Hello? Earth to Ares? You ready for this ass-whooping or what?" Axel's voice brought me out of my thoughts.

I had come down to the training center for an emergency fighting session. Every time after a healer told me the bad news, Axel was always there to be my punching bag, but just one that hits back. What a great friend.

I snorted. When have you ever been able to whoop my ass, pup?

Axel smirked. "Just last week when I punched you so hard in the side of the head, you got a 3 inch welt. Totally worth Alpha Cain almost whipping me into oblivion."

I laughed at the memory. Cain was so angry when he saw the thick bump he nearly shifted on sight. Luckily, I had become quite skilled in the art of distracting Cain. Sigh. Men are so simple.

And somehow, you still didn't knock me out, I taunted him as I cracked my knuckles. Even though I knew I would win, Axel always was improving on his fighting skills, and made sparring interesting. Sometimes he was even able to hurt me pretty decently, which was a welcome distraction from the internal pain I felt over my infertility.

"You guys are being pussies. Start punching each other already; I'm bored," Gwen whined as she ate a handful of popcorn and washed it down with an unknown alcoholic liquid in the flask she always carried around.

"Oh yeah, Gwendolyn? If you're so bored why don't you come down here and fight me yourself?" Axel wickedly grinned at the fiery redhead with an attitude.

"First of all, I already had my training session this morning, which sucked and left me with a huge bruise on my thigh. And secondly, I'm about two flasks deep in vodka and if I try fighting someone, I'm going to get popcorn and vodka slush all over the ground, and the last time that happened, Cain made me clean it up as a punishment," Gwen pouted, already tipsy I was sure.

For someone who had lost their best friend and their mate within the same month, she seemed to be doing okay. I didn't necessarily see a problem with her drinking herself to sleep every night, even though Cain disagreed.

"Oh a bruise? You poor thing. Hopefully you'll survive. What do you think, Ares? Do you think the little princess can survive a bruise?" Axel jested at Gwen.

Gwen threw a handful of popcorn at Axel, who growled and reached for the bowl, as Gwen giggled and tried to yank it out of his reach.

I rolled my eyes and decided not to get involved. Those two are so immature.

To occupy the time, I decided to throw knives into the high training ceiling. I got about 7 stuck in the roof when suddenly a disappointed sigh that I recognized all too well filled my ears.

"Really Ares? Have you grown tired of beating my pack members and have now decided to inflict violence on my property?" Cain was suddenly behind me, and had his arms wrapped around my waist.

Umm, would you believe me if I said that the ceiling was looking at me funny? I tried defending myself.

Cain chuckled lowly in my ear; a rare sound. "No, pup, I wouldn't believe that. I would, however, believe that you just got bored and decided to throw knives at something. How many times have I found knives in places they shouldn't be?" His tone was scolding.

You should be thankful, Cain. I could be throwing them at you. I consider this huge personal growth, I rationalize, even though I know he wasn't really mad. These days, there wasn't anything I could do wrong in his eyes. He had become extremely protective and desperate to do anything to make me happy.

"Whatever you say, pup. I seem to recall you not being able to get many knives to actually pierce me, but maybe my memory is fading," Cain turned me around in his arms and winked at me.

I shrugged. You are getting old, Cain. Isn't memory loss a part of becoming elderly?

He playfully growled at me, and used his canines to snap gently at his mark on my neck. While his head was near mine, I took the opportunity to initiate a fight. I leaned my head in the opposite direction of his, so he would think I was giving him better access, when in reality, I used the distance to snap back my head at his, head butting his head so hard I could feel my skull vibrate. Sick.

"One romantic moment with my mate. That's all I've ever asked for," Cain groaned as he pulled away and rubbed head where I smacked into it.

C'mon, babe let's spar. Axel is being a pussy and harassing Gwen, and I have a lot of unresolved anger to get out, I begged, and even drew a knife so he knew I meant business.

"As much as I would love to properly teach you a lesson, you little minx, I actually came to get you because we have some issues to discuss regarding Red Crescent."

My ears perked up at the mention of my old pack. Since Wilson was MIA, Red Crescent was technically without an Alpha. Cain and I stepped in to take control of the pack until Thane can find Wilson, and worked with Sebastian, Wilson's son/ my half-brother, to manage the pack.

Okay, fine. We can go do boring pack stuff instead of fighting. That's totally not lame or anything, I said, just to be bratty.

"Oh, mate. We can work out your aggression later. Business first. And put the knife down, would you?" Cain turned around, waiting for me to follow him back to his office. "And when I say put it down, I mean on the ground. Not in my ceiling."

*****************************************

Once Cain and I returned to his office, he sat in his armchair with a serious look on his face. "As you know, Sebastian has had a hard time quelling rebellions that have arisen due to Wilson's absence. The pack is starting to get anxious without a formal Alpha, and until Wilson is killed, he is technically still the Alpha."

Yes, I'm aware, Cain. I've talked to Seb about the rebels. I told him to kill them and use their bodies to set an example, I told him dismissively.

"The thing is, Ares, it's more complicated than that. Sebastian can't kill his own pack members for disobeying him when he technically isn't the Alpha. I have a feeling that Red Crescent members would not respond well to it, and I fear it would make the rebellion worse," Cain responded, rubbing his beard pensively.

Okay, so what do you suggest? I leaned forward in the chair opposite him.

"I suggest that you and I take a trip to Red Crescent tomorrow and instill fear in the pack members, and hopefully curb any thoughts of rebellion. We can take Axel and a few other warriors just in case, but from what Sebastian says, it seems like the Red Crescent pack members fear you badly enough to not try anything? What's that about?" He questioned. He didn't fully know all about my past while I was in Red Crescent.

I thought back on all of the times that I had beheaded people or otherwise disfigured and mutilated them in front of the entire pack as punishment or during a duel.

Who knows? Could be anything, really. I responded to Cain after the long pause.

Cain stared into my eyes, trying to figure out what I was thinking. After a moment, he spoke. "I see. Whatever the reason, we will both go to Red Crescent tomorrow."

I smiled. For some reason, I had the feeling this trip would mean I would get to kill someone. I'm back, baby.

I'M THE UPDATING QUEEN, BABY.

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THOUGHT OF THIS CHAPTER.

XX
VVITICUS