Ash

I wake up the next morning knowing that this is my last day of peace before the war comes pounding on our doorstep. This is the day I will cherish with my friends and fiancé whom I don't know how much time I have left with. I will treat this day like my last day on earth so I will not have any regrets going into this war. I know that when it inevitably comes to someone I love's life versus mine, I will always save them.

I roll over in bed to see Braden still sleeping soundly. Small snores leave his lips as he breathes. I place a soft kiss on his lips and sneak out of bed as to not wake him. I change into my black jeans and a baggy forest green t-shirt that I tuck in. I walk out with my converse on my feet and head towards the kitchen where I can smell food being made. I notice the cooks rummaging around, cooking mass amounts of food for their pack and the White Stone Pack. They must be overwhelmed.

"Would you like some help?" I offer.

They all stop what they were doing and stare at me, wide eyed. No one speaks, no one moves a muscle. They don't even blink. They just stare blankly at me as if I just killed a puppy.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend..?" My apology comes out more of a question because I am confused and not sure what is going on.

Another pack member walks into the room with an apron on and glares at the cooks who aren't working, "What are you all doing standing there like someone just murdered a puppy? Get back to work, chop chop!" She claps her hands together a few times.

Everyone snaps out of their daze as this lady's words and begins doing what they were doing before I opened my mouth. The lady seems to notice me now and walks over.

"What can I do for you? As you can see we are quite busy and are in no way able to make any special requests no matter who you are," she states with a strong voice. I like her.

"I wasn't here to ask for anything, I was going to grab some cereal before noticing you guys making breakfast. I just offered my help but they all..." my voice dies off as I realize it is unimportant. "I'll just go, sorry for disturbing you."

"You were offering help? You? The 'Saviour'" she uses air quotes with her fingers around the word.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have interrupted," I apologize.

"No, but I guess it is okay if you were trying to help and not harass my workers here."

"Of course not, I would never," I truthfully reply.

She gives me an accusing glare but then lightens up slightly, "Doesn't seem like you would. Breakfast will be ready in twenty minutes."

I nod and excuse myself from the kitchen. I found the corner to see Amara standing there. I jump slightly at the shock. I didn't expect to see anyone else up and around.

"Sorry for startling you Ash. I just was going to check on breakfast when I overheard your conversation. Heidi likes you, that is unheard of," she seems baffled.

"Why? She seems like a nice lady," definitely my kind of people.

"Nice," Amara let's put a short chuckle, "She has been working here forever and practically runs this castle, ordering everyone else around. Not just other workers either, even the warriors and guards feel her wrath. You never want to be on the wrong end of the stick with that woman. She is lethal with her glares. She seems to like you though. I didn't know she was capable."

"I guess I just have a similar personality. She seems great."

"Glad you think so. So..now that you have a moment, I need to ask. Can I see the ring?"

I smile and look down at my left hand and lift it up to show Amara. I can't imagine how much she must have missed Braden, she is like a mother to him, at least in her eyes. She probably missed all of the big moments in his life. First steps, first word, first day of school, graduation, and so much more. This is the first big step in his life that she has been a part of and have been able to see.

"It's gorgeous, not too flashy. I never pinged Braden as the flashy type and I guess I was right. More like Noctis in that sense, she always liked the under the radar jewelry if she ever wore any that is. Me personally, I like the big rocks and the sparkles as you can tell."

Lifting her left hand, I get a good look at Amara's wedding ring and engagement ring. The engagement ring has a huge diamond with two slightly smaller diamonds on either side and even smaller ones lining the band. Her wedding band is a mix of a few different stones, there's a ruby, topaz, peridot and some I don't recognize.

"They are the gems that represent my family birthstones and Ash's birthstone as well," she points out her birthstone and his that stand side by side.

"They are beautiful," my lips turn into a smile as I look up at her.

"I can tell you aren't the flashy jewelry type either. I guess you and Braden really are made for each other," she sadly smiles, a few tears in her eyes.

"You should talk to him, get to know him and start a relationship. You should know who your son is and he should know who is other mom is as well."

"I will, thank you Ash."

I nod and a bell is rung throughout the castle signalling the start of breakfast to everyone and waking up anyone still asleep.

***

Breakfast was amazing, they food was superb. My cereal could have never beat this. I excuse myself from the table as some people continue eating but others have already left. Braden follows me to the kitchen where I find Heidi.

"Thank you all for breakfast, it was delicious," I comment and see many bow their heads in thanks. Heidi comes over to me from her spot where she was leaning on the countertop, overseeing the other workers clean up.

"Welcome Chosen One. Anything else we can do for you?" He asks and glances at Braden before looking back at me.

"No, thanks," I start to leave but before fully stepping out do the kitchen I turn around and peek my head around Braden's broad frame, "and my name is Ash, not 'Chosen One'," I use the air quotes this time and I see the ends of Heidi's lips curl up slightly into almost a smile.

Braden and I leave the kitchen and head outside to sit in the grass and relax. Soon we will start the last training session before the war. Both the White Stone Pack and the Royal Pack will train together with Braden, Noctis, Amara, Ash, and I leading it. This will definitely be interesting.

"How are you feeling?" Braden asks me.

I look down at my hands which are in my lap and then back up at Braden, "I am okay. Kind of nervous for tomorrow, I don't know what's going to happen."

"I feel the same way. The most we can do is train and prepare for tomorrow with a good battle strategy. All we can do is hope. You got rid of quite a few rogues yesterday, right? That means that there is already a good dent in their numbers. With this pack and Hayden's pack, the rogues will be defeated, we will come out of this war victorious."

I grin at Braden's optimism. He is so sure that we will win and I wish I could have that much positivity. I think we will win, I can't say with certainty but I have a good feeling that we will win. I just don't know what the cost of winning will be. Who we will loose.

"Everything is going to be okay," Braden soothes and brings me into an embrace. I melt into his arms and breathe in his intoxicating scent.

"We should probably start training. It will take a while with so many people. I can go find Amara and Ash if you can find your mom."

Braden nods and we split up once inside the mansion. I head toward the throne room where I have a feeling Amara and Ash are. They seem to be there when they have important things to do and an upcoming war is very important.

The guards open the doors for me and I enter the large room where the King and Queen sit on their thrones, talking to each other.

"Ah, Ash. Is it time for training?" King Ash wonders.

"Yes, we are all meeting out back. If you would tell your pack members that training is starting and if they would like to join, they should meet us all in the backyard."

Amara smiles and nods. I excuse myself and walk back towards the backyard where Braden and Noctis stand and pack members are trickling out. We are going to divide all of the warriors and fighters into five groups with each of us teaching one. So, as pack members walk out, we give them a number between one and five so they have a group once everyone is ready.

I take my group to the corner of the field by the tree line. "Hello everyone, I am Ash. How many of you have had to go into a battle before?" All but four put up their hands. "Good. I want you to get into pairs and I want the other four of you to pair up amongst yourselves."

People begin separating from the big clump into pairs untold everyone if waiting for instruction.

"I want you to choose between yourselves who will be on defence who who will be on offence first. We will start with this and then switch when I say so."

I see nods from around my area of the field and people's chatter fill the space before dying down when they have come to a decision. I shout begin and the sparing starts. I weave between the pairs, critiquing their technique. If I feel there is something that needs to be fixed that is very important, I walk up to them and pause the fight. I notice one person is leaving their stomach open for attack in their defensive stance. I pause the sparing and reach out for her arms, manipulating them to cover her face and stomach from any attack that may come her way. This continues until I have gone through all the pairs and I tell them to switch it up.

Everyone is sweaty and tired from the training and the sun is blaring hot in the afternoon heat.

"Take five minutes, go have some water and a banana then regroup here afterwards," I see many smiles of appreciation as they split up and go towards the pack house for food and water. Braden walks up to me.

"How is training going?"

"My group is doing very well, how about yours?" I ask.

"Not too shabby. Always more things to work on and I give them some pointers, but there are only so much new techniques that can be taught in a day and retained. I'm trying not to overwhelm them."

"I was thinking the same thing. Just helping out where it is very needed right now. Other tips can wait."

Braden nods in approval and gives me a sweaty hug. "Ew, Braden you are all sweaty and gross." I chuckle but hug him back.

"Well you are sweaty too but you don't see me complaining. I just want a hug from my mate and fiancé, is that too much to ask?"

"Of course not," I smile into his chest and give him a good squeeze to which he returns. I sense my group approaching and I let go of Braden but he has other plans. "Braden, I need to go continue training," I groan as Braden won't let go of me.

"But I don't want you to go. Just give more minutes," he pleads with a pout on his lips.

I shake my head with a grin, "No Braden, we need to get these wolves in shape, come on!"

He sighs and reluctantly let's go of my waist. He places a quick kiss on my lips before walking back over to his group. I turn and walk to mine.

"Okay, next..."

***

That's how the rest of training went, I gave instructions on what to practice and I gave small pointers on how to improve their skills. After a few hours, I dismissed my group, telling  them they did very well today and I will see them around. I made sure they knew that if they had any questions or wanted a couple of suggestions that I am always available and that they can come see me. The wolves run off, some into the woods to cool down in the lake I bet. Some went on a light jog in their wolf forms while a good chunk head inside to eat and shower. Dinner should be ready soon, within the next hour or so.

Braden, Noctis, Amara, Ash, and I got together in the centre of the field to talk. Their groups all did very well and they have high hopes for this war that is almost on our doorstep.

"Do you guys want to get in some sparing as well?" I question the small group.

"That is probably a good idea," Braden answers.

"Okay, how about Braden vs Ash and Amara vs Noctis?" I suggest.

"What about you?" Ash wonders.

"Oh I have someone in mind," I smirk as I see Frost walking out back.

Frost sees my smirk and stops dead in his tracks. He looks like he might run.

"Frost! Come on, you will be my partner," I wave him over and he inches forward until he is standing next to Braden.

"Why me?" He whines.

"Because you match my powers the most out of everyone here."

He huffs.