I laid on my bed by myself, staring at the ceiling. I made sure Ryland left every light on before he left. I looked over at the window, we were in the middle of a blizzard and Ryland was organizing a meeting to go over what I knew. The winds would occasionally rattle the windows reminding me of the rattle of the keys when they would walk to my cell.

I haven't been sleeping, but I think I've been doing a good job at hiding it. I rested my hand on my swollen stomach before I decided to try walking a little. I stood up and walked over to the window watching as the snow pelted against the glass. This was something real, I could feel the cold draft hitting my face as I watched. It somehow brought me comfort knowing that this couldn't be a vision from him. I got yanked out of my thoughts when darkness surrounded my vision. I screamed shutting my eyes as I fell to the floor.

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Ryland's POV

I was sitting in my office with Jeremiah sitting across from my desk. He stayed silent and just looked down at his hands as I watched him.

"I do not share the same ability to forgive as my mate. I am glad you protected the pack, but she is apart of this pack, and she is pregnant with the future of this pack. Do you understand?" I growled at him refusing to let my eyes leave his face.

"I will never forgive myself for what I've done. I will regret it every day for the rest of my life. I... I just didn't...I didn't want to risk more of our people getting hurt. I've seen what he can do, I was just scared for the safety of our entire pack. I'm so sorry." He frowned.

"One mistake, one hair out of line, and I will have your head on a spike, do you understand me?" I growled lowly at him as i twirled a pen between my fingers.

"Go with Kolton and ensure the guests make it to the meeting chamber, I'm going to make sure all the pups are inside." I ordered getting up from my chair and leaving without another word.

I walked out the front door and felt the snow hit my skin, as I walked through the accumulating snow.

I scanned the nearby pack grounds and saw no one outside. The half shifters had created their encampment further in the woods just outside our territory as a semi-permanent encampment for the time being.

After scanning the nearby area, I made my way back to the house slamming open the door to be greeted with the dark. I went to flick the light switch and nothing. Great. A fucking power outage.

I mind-linked for someone to get the generators going when I heard a blood curdling scream echo through the house. Octavia. I didn't even stop to think as i sprinted up the stairs. I nearly shifted in the hallway at the thought of a threat. I slammed the door open; it snapped off of its hinges as splinters of wood flew everywhere. I scanned the room and what I saw broke my heart.

There was my mate rocking back and forth in the corner with her hands on her head as tears streamed down her scrunched-up face. I kneeled down in front of her and placed my hands on her cheeks causing her to jump until she came to the realization that it was me. Her eyes filled with tears.

"You're safe, Octavia. There was a power outage. The lights will be back any second now I promise." The look of horror never left her face as she stared at me with wide eyes. "Can I hold you?" I asked softly. She immediately nodded and held her arms out. I scooped her into my lap and softly whispered sweet nothings into her ear.

Her body was shaking so much, what the fuck should I do? I felt so helpless. I quickly stood up with her and walked through the dark hallway and down the stairs. I pushed open the front door and the blinding light from the snow reflected up at us. Her body instantly relaxed against mine as she got her breathing under control.

"He doesn't have you anymore, you're safe." I whispered as I held her tighter. A few minutes passed by as I held her small body tightly against mine. I growled when I heard footsteps approaching. I was fighting my wolf for control as I felt myself moving into my subconscious.

"What happened?" I heard Lydia's voice but refused to look anywhere but my mate. I growled lowly when she stepped closer, she immediately stopped where she was.

"Would you like me to check on her?" She asked softly, staying where she was on the porch.

I growled again, my mate slowly opened her eyes, blinking slowly as she stared up into my eyes.

"Safe." I breathed, nuzzling my face in her neck, breathing in her scent. "Safe." I repeated.

"Real?" She breathed so quietly; I barely heard it.

"Real." I spoke taking her hand and placing it on my chest so she could feel my heartbeat.  

She let out a breath of relief and then looking past me and to Lydia. I slowly turned my head and motioned for her to come over. She knelt down next to me and carefully took Octavia's hand causing her to flinch.

"What the fuck are you doing?" I growled viciously at her.

"I'm helping my sister." She snapped at me, gently taking her hand again. "I'm going to tell you this, only because you will understand." She whispered, refusing to look away from her sister.  "I went through the spell-book again and found something that will help us win the war."

"Like what?" I asked cautiously.

"We can use Octavia's mind to locate Cade and the rest of the people who did this to her. Then we can kill every last one of them."  She spoke barely above a whisper. "I can trap their souls, using dark magic."

"Won't that harm you?" I asked still staring at my silent mate.

"It's just a little dark magic, I will be fine." She snapped.

"No." We both looked in shock at the serious look that washed over Octavia's face as she spoke.

"H-He...will die...b-but not like t-that." She spoke, pausing occasionally to take deep breaths. The lights suddenly flickered on, on the porch and I stared at my tiny mate in confusion.

"He...wants to d-die." She said as a frustrated look washed over her face when she stuttered.

"We can kill him if we do it my way." Said Lydia. A look of anger washed over Octavia as she slowly sat up in my lap.

"No. No one will go in my head ever again." She almost growled out as she glared at her sister, she didn't stutter once. Her sister's eyes softened before they turned hard an almost vicious glint flickered through them. She went to open her mouth to say something, but I quickly cut her off.

"You heard my mate. She said no, so we will find another way. That is final Lydia." I growled before standing up with her in my arms. I gently placed her down on her feet and when she seemed stable, I just held onto her hand tightly.

"But what if there is no other way." She snapped at both of us, her eyes almost wild.

"Have you used more dark magic?" I growled stepping in front of Octavia.

"What the hell is going on out here?" Kolton walked out the front door with a confused look. "I heard yelling."

"How long Lydia?" I growled. Her eyes frantically snapped between mine and Kolton's.

"What are you talking about?" He asked confused. I felt Octavia tugging on my shirt behind me, I quickly turned looking her over to make sure she is alright.

"I'm ready to talk." She whispered looking down at the ground. "I-I just can we talk with just family first and you can repeat it at the meeting?" She was avoiding my eyes for some reason. Was she scared of how I would react? I carefully lifted her chin forcing her to look up at me and see the sincerity in my eyes.

"Of course." I leaned down and gently kissed her head. I completely forgot Lydia and Kolton were behind us as my sole focus never left my mate. Kolton looked furious and Lydia looked equally as angry as she glared at all of us.

I mind-linked Jeremiah and had him get the others situated in the living room so we could listen to my mate.

She gripped onto my hand tightly as we walked into the house and got situated on the couch. Her body was leaning against mine as she continued to calm her wild heartbeat.

"You don't have to, if you are not ready, love." I told her softly as she finally looked up into my eyes willingly.

"I don't know if I will ever be ready, and I have to." She frowned. "I saw—I know things." A few minutes passed and everyone made their way in. Brielle hurried to her daughter and pulled her into a hug as she looked her over for any additional injuries, as did her father. Brielle sat down next to her and the other sat down wherever there was an open chair or spot on the couch.

Jeremiah leaned against the wall as he cautiously looked at Octavia before returning his gaze to the floor in front of him.

They all stared at her waiting for her to speak as she fidgeted with her hands almost uncontrollably. I reached over and took her hand into mine and held it firmly on my lap.

"I..um...I....C..Cade he um..." She stopped and closed her eyes shut tightly. I pulled her onto my lap, so she was facing me. I lifted my hands up to cup her face, her eyes hesitantly opened as a look of sadness washed across her face.

"Say I am safe; I am not there anymore." I whispered to her. She looked at me hesitantly, but her eyes never left mine.

"I-I am safe...I-I am not there a-anymore." She loosed a shaky breath.

"Good." I smiled softly. "Want to try again?" I asked her. She nodded hesitantly and I helped her sit back to where she originally was positioned. She cautiously looked up at her family members before speaking.

"I-I think he is possessed. Or being controlled against his will." Everyone's eyes widened in shock, as did mine.

"H-He wrote me a note, he wanted me to kill him...But i-it was so much worse when that happened." She spoke with a shaky voice; I squeezed her hand in reassurance. "He wants a dagger, but i-if he wants it, it has to be terrible. H-He needs me to get it for him. "

Her mom took her other hand and squeezed it gently.

"Did he describe it? Or slip up about it?" She asked her calmly. Octavia shook her head with a frown.

"I-I just know it is in that place." She whispered.

——————————————————————

Octavia's POV

I followed behind Ryland into the meeting room. We reached the large wooden doors when he paused causing me to nearly crash into his back.

"Ready?" He asked lifting a hand to stroke my cheek. I just nodded and took his hand back into mine.

He shoved open the doors and walked at my pace to our seats.

I ignored the surprised looks that were being sent my way at the sight of my bruises and continued following after Ryland. I sat down in my chair and held my shaky hands on my lap, underneath the table.

There were at least twenty other people sitting at the large wooden table. I let my eyes follow all the white intricate detailing decorating the entire table.

"We have news regarding the threat to our packs, they are staking out at the temple, we rescued my mate from. We believe there is a weapon Cade is trying to get ahold of.  We will need all pack warriors to be ready for battle and here within the next couple of days. He is incredibly powerful and needs to be put down." Ryland growled. I refused to look up and see all the faces staring at us, I felt like a coward.

I felt myself zoning out as I stared down at the table.

"Alpha!" A child barged into the room.

Ryland immediately stood and looked at the kid with wide eyes.

"We are under attack." The boy cried.

No, no, no, no, no. I wasnt ready.