Jewel's POV

It took my brother almost three whole days before he could finally convince his alpha to let Fenris and me stay in his cabin. I had to join the pack, but Riley was able to perform the joining. Riley had to go back with his pack because of his duties, but I didn't mind the isolation. Fenris would often pop back to see his family, or work in the bar where we first met.

A month passes quickly, and Riley told me that most packs now believe that the Grimm Reaper was dead. And in a way, she was. That part of me was no longer alive. The patrols came by the cabin twice, and like Riley promised, they left me alone. I found that I liked living in the cabin better than I did in my small cottage by the coast. But I missed the ocean breeze.

I had met Riley's mate, but we didn't get along that well. We only pretended for Riley. I learned that she was expecting their first pup, and a longing for my own filled me. I had known when I marked Fenris, that I would never bare his child. I wasn't sure how he would take the news, so I hadn't told him. But I knew that I would have to soon.

His family was something else. His mom claimed that I was perfect for her son, which made Fenris smile when she said it. His father on the other hand, didn't like me. I could tell by the way his eyes narrowed when he looked at me. Maybe he didn't like the fact that I was a wolf, but I didn't care. I loved Fenris with my whole heart.

Before I knew it, six months had passed. And not since my parents were killed could I remember being this happy. But as they say, all good things must come to an end. I was out in the woods, searching for berries. My plan was to make a berry cobbler for Riley and his mate when they came for dinner that evening.

The breeze gave me the first and only warning; the smell of death and rotten eggs. Rogues were heading this way and I knew that they weren't planning anything good. Berries forgotten, I raced towards the borders. I had to stop them before they breached. Riley, where are you?

I'm on the other end of the territory with the alpha and most of the warriors. Why?

What are y'all doing that far from the pack house?

Alpha Riker wanted to make a treaty with us. What's going on Jewel?

How fast can y'all get back?

Most of us could be there in an hour, tops. Would you please tell me what's going on?

Rogues. I told him and I could feel his shock. You stay in the cabin Jewel. We're on the way.

If I stay here and do nothing, then they could cause serious damage to the pack. I have to help.

Jewel... I dropped the link and waited. Moments later, they emerged before me. "Shift." I spoke, looking at the leader. He shifted and stared at me. "Who are you?"

"My name's not important. But what is, is the fact that you're about to attack the home of the Grimm Reaper." My statement brought laughter from the rogues, but I kept my face straight. "I heard that the Reaper was dead."

"So had I. But it's not true."

"And how do you know that it's not? No one knows what the Reaper looks like." I nod at him and suddenly smile. I could tell that he was getting nervous. "That's true. But only a few know what I she sounds like. Am I right, Amos?" I asked him and his face paled.

Amos and I had fought once, and I had come very close to killing him. The only thing that saved his life was a pair of human kids that stumbled into the clearing where we were fighting. "This is my home, Amos. You and your horde are threatening it."

I could see the false courage in his eyes as he took a step forward. "You may have a reputation for killing, but there's no way you can kill us all."

"That is true as well. But I will take you with me when I die." I didn't let him have any time to prepare for an attack. I launched myself into the air, shifting as I did. My wolf landed on him, and I ripped his throat out. The rogues started attacking me, and I fought back, hard.

Wolf after wolf fell dead at my feet, but I didn't stop. I had to distract them long enough to give Riley and the rest of the pack enough time to get the women and pups to safety before heading this way to help. Leah had blocked Fenris from our bond the moment we shifted, and I knew that it was smart. He would have been worried as he felt the pain that came from the wounds I received as I fought.

Where are you Jewel? Riley's voice echoed in my mind and I almost sighed with relief. By the border just behind the cabin.

We're on the way. Hold on cucciolo.

Only for you capo. It wasn't long before I could hear the sounds of hundreds of wolves racing towards me. My fur was covered in blood; some of it mine and the rest belonging to those I had killed. Suddenly, a wolf slammed into my side and I slipped. That was enough for another to sink its teeth into my neck and draw blood.

Just then, I caught sight of the alpha's wolf as he and my brother shot into the fray. Power surged through me, and I managed to throw the wolf off. But I was getting weaker from the loss of blood. Riley and I fought side by side, and I did my best to hide my fatigue. More pack wolves surged from the forest as the rogues began dropping like flies.

Most of the rogues around me were dead, so I stopped to catch my breath. I knew that if I didn't stop the bleeding soon, it would be too late for me. From the corner of my eye, I caught sight of a black wolf slowly creeping up behind Riley's wolf. Letting out a growl, I lunged forward just as the rogue jumped. Our bodies slammed together and we fought to get a death grip on each other.

My teeth sunk deep into his neck as his claws dug deep into my sides. I refused to let go as we fell to the ground. Ripping his throat out, I knew that I was finished. I managed to take two steps towards my brother before I collapsed. The fighting was over, but I didn't notice. Riley's worried face appeared before me and I gave him a weak smile. My body shook as I shifted back. He gasped when he saw the extent of the damage done to me.

"Thank you Jewel." He spoke as he started crying. "Anything for family capo." My breathing became labored as I tried to clear my eyes. A dull fog began to settle around Riley and I kept shaking my head. "Tell Fenris...I love him." With that, my heart stopped beating and I took my last breath. My unseeing eyes stared up at the sunny, blue sky as my brother sobbed over my body.

Third Point of View

Fenris' sudden appearance in the midst of the wolves startled them, but he didn't notice. The only thing he saw was the body of the woman he loved locked in the arms of her brother. The empty feeling that filled his heart and soul told him what he didn't want to know; she was gone. He sunk to his knees beside Riley and gently took Jewel from him.

The wolves watched as the fairy began to cry. They felt his grief, though they didn't really know the girl well. All they knew was that she had been the Beta's sister who preferred to live away from the pack. The Alpha stepped forward and began to speak.

"I know that there is nothing I can say or do that will heal the pain caused by her passing, but I swear to you that every new generation will know to whom they owe their lives to. My pack will never forget the sacrifice that Jewel gave in order to protect them."

The bodies of the rogues were ordered to be burned where they lay. Fenris carried Jewel's body back to the pack house where the female wolves took her and prepared her body for her burial. The next day, the graveyard as packed. Everyone had showed up. Riley and Fenris had stood in front of the casket, both men fighting to keep the tears at bay.

Riley spoke of how they grew up, and how their father had raised them. And then he spoke of how they were killed and how both Riley and Jewel thought the other had been killed as well. Riley went on to tell his pack how his sister had became someone who was hated by every race in their world just so she could bring justice to those who had killed her family. The pack stood silently as they listened to their Beta talk. Respect for the woman who had given her life for them, grew in their hearts.

One by one, the wolves walked past Jewel's casket and left flowers. It wasn't long before the entire thing was covered. Finally, only Riley and Fenris remained at the grave. "What will you do now?" Riley spoke first, his eyes not leaving his sister's final resting place. Fenris shrugged. "I don't know. She had a place in England that I think I'll go hide out for a while. What about you?"

"I have to stay with the pack." Riley's answer held a double meaning. Both men knew that he couldn't leave Jewel either. "You're always welcomed here my friend." Riley said as he shook Fenris' hand.

"I'll see you soon Riley. Oh, and if you ever need me for anything, just call my name and I'll be there." With that said, Fenris disappeared in a blink of an eye. Riley just shook his head. He would never get used to the fairy being able to do that. With one last look at the casket, Riley joined his mate and they slowly made their way to the pack house.

****

The witch's eyes flew open as the black mist in the crystal ball before it died down. Her eyes met those of the young woman before her. "You're child will have a very difficult road before her when she turns sixteen."

"What happens?" the woman asked as fear filled her eyes. "Are you sure you want to know? Even if you learn of the future, some parts you cannot stop from happening."

"I want to know."

"Fine." Sighed the witch as she leaned forward. "During the year of your daughter's sixteenth birthday, you and your mate will die. Nothing you can do will prevent your deaths. But you can prevent how your daughter reacts to it."

"What do you mean?"

"You can send her to stay with family that year. Or there's another way." The woman looked at the witch and she kept talking. "There's an all shifter boarding school in Switzerland. My suggestion would be to send both of your children there when the youngest turns four."

"Would that prevent her death?" The witch nodded her head yes, but it was a lie. Jewel was meant to die on that day, no matter what her parents did now. The only difference it would make would be if she died belonging to another or her mate. But this, the witch kept to herself. "How can we afford to send both of them?"

The witch snapped her fingers and two sealed letters appeared on the table before the woman. "Send these with your children and you'll find that everything will be taken care of. Just make sure that you and your mate have all of your affairs in order. Sixteen years will come and go before you know it." The woman quickly grabbed the letters, thanked the witched and hurried from the cottage. The witch watched her leave with a sad smile on her face. Maybe this time would be different, she hoped.