We started running towards the borders when suddenly my phone rang. I hastily picked it up without checking the caller id.

''Athena, my precious; I would like to have a word with you,'' he says and I roll my eyes.

''Now is really not a good time Scott. '' 

''Oh Athena, it is always a good time to talk to me. I have things I need to discuss with you that require your utmost attention,'' he says sharply.

''Love, we need to go, '' Theo says with urgency in his voice and I look at him and then at my phone as I contemplate on what to do.

''Athena precious, if you do not discuss matters with me right now you can say goodbye to our deal and find yourself someone else to manufacture your designs. I am a very busy man; I have places to be at and things to do, '' I hear Scott say in an annoyed voice.

Theo holds his hand out for me to take as I stay put; clearly at crossroads. My family and friends or my career. I look back and forth a few times and take my decision.

''You know what Scott; that's perfectly fine. I also have someplace to be, so if you wish to terminate our agreement; fine by me. Just arrange to send all my designs back to me. Thank you and goodbye, '' I say monotonously and disconnect the call before he can even reply.

''Come on let's go, '' I say as I take Theo's hand in mine.

We reach the borders and come face to face with chaos. My eyes widen at all the mayhem. There is blood everywhere. The air reeks of death. Rogues all over the place and in the midst of it all; Caleb.

A growl forms in my throat as I catch sight of the traitor, anger boils in me like molten lava and I feel Theo's too. We both look at each other; ''Let's go give them hell love, '' he says with a smirk and I return one of my own as we run into the battlefield; Theo transforming into his wolf mid-air and landing right on top of a few rogues tearing them apart in an instant.

I choose to fight in my human form for now. I lift off one rogue who was latched to Mila's back and break his spine as she fends off another one. ''About time you got here; they just keep on coming!'' she shouts over the chaos and I give her a smile as I take down another one.

We keep on fighting, taking down rogue after rogue. I look around and see some of our own fallen people too. I lose focus for a second as my eyes become blurry with tears.

''Athena! Behind you,'' I hear Ethan's voice from a distance but I'm too late to turn as a wooden stake is lodged into my right shoulder and a loud scream escapes my mouth. I turn and I'm now face to face with my attacker. '' Athena! '' I hear Charles scream and the attacker's eyes widen in realization.

''So you're her, '' she says spitefully and I tilt my head in question.

''How do you know me?'' I ask and she laughs like a maniac. ''Our boss talks about you a lot, says he wants something from you. Makes me wonder what you have that the rest of us don't,'' she sneers as we circle each other, the stake still in her hand.

I bet she's talking about Caleb, that little shit has made everyone despise me. I size my opponent and notice that she is almost the same build as me, I see her doing the same as we continue circling each other.

''You know you shouldn't have attacked me from behind; shows how much of a coward you are,'' I say trying to rile her up. It works, and she lunges at me ready to strike again but I dodge it. Before she could recover from that I swiftly kicked her legs and she fell to ground letting go of the stake.

I picked it up and knelt beside her as I stabbed her on the thigh with it.

''You bitch!!'' she yelled.

''darling, I've been called worse,'' I say as I dig the stake deeper and her screaming intensifies. Blood starts spluttering from the wound and I look down on her.

''Has no one ever told you not to piss off an alpha,'' I hiss as my eyes turn red and hers widen in fear.

''Ah there it is; the fear, '' I smirk as I lift her up by the neck.

''You might win this battle but you won't be ready for what's coming next, '' she grunts. I increase the pressure on her neck, ''what do you mean?'' I ask her. ''What the heck do you mean?!'' I shout back when she doesn't answer and lower her to the ground.

''Guess you'll never find out,'' she smirks as she pulls out the stake from her thigh and tries to stab herself but I stop her midway.

''Tell me now!!'' I threaten and she smiles sadistically. She pushes me backwards and my back hits against a bark of a tree.

''He said you're very beautiful and that he has big plans for you, but to me you're nothing but a girl who is currently in my way, '' she sneers as she applies pressure on my right shoulder and I hiss in pain.

''Seems like it's your lucky day today because I won't be in your way anymore,'' I say and push my hand through her chest cavity ripping her heart out successfully.

I don't get a chance to celebrate my small victory as I hear a scream of despair from the other side of the field.

''Nooooooooo!!!'' I hear Hazel scream and I rush towards the sound of her voice. I have to jump over piles of bodies to get to her. What I see when I get there shakes me to the very core.

I see Rachel lying motionlessly on the ground as Cathy sits next to her with her head in her hands.

''No, no, no please, no. Tell me she is unconscious!'' I yell in despair as I sight a pool of blood forming under her head. I knew she wasn't unconscious especially from the amount of blood that was pooling but I couldn't bring myself to say it.

My legs gave away as I plopped to the ground staring at Rachel's body. Grief overcomes me and tears started flowing down. The fight is almost over now save for a few rogues who are being taken care of by the guards.

''Love what's wrong? I can feel your grief......is everything okay? Where are you?'' I hear Theo's voice in my head and a sob escapes me but I don't reply.

I compose myself and look around; Noah, Hazel, Cathy, Olivia and Ashton are all present looking at the body warily.

''Athena! Where are you? '' Theo's voice resonates but once again I don't answer him.

I continue staring until Charles comes up running and assesses the situation. 

''How?'' he questions looking at everyone and Cathy answers, ''A...a rogue, he came out of nowhere with a huge rock in his hand ready to hit Noah from behind but Rachel came in between them pushing Noah out of the way and she...she.... took the hit for herself...and... and then...'' she trails off as a sob escapes her.

''She is dead isn't she?'' Olivia asks the question that is on everyone's mind but none having the courage to ask.

Ashton and Charles walk forward and bend down to check for a pulse, but we all know she is no more. There is no heartbeat there and I sigh as I make an attempt to get up and that's when I sense him coming towards the field.

Our eyes lock and he takes long strides towards me. I get up and almost run to him but he's already by my side. I latch on to him as the waterworks start to flow. Theo tries to calm me down by rubbing my back slowly. I cling to his bare chest as I take in deep breathes. His scent helps in calming me as I breathe it in like oxygen.

''You need to stop crying and be strong for everyone love, we have to make arrangements for the body to be taken back, come now,'' he says in a soothing voice.

I take in a deep breath and compose myself as I wipe the tears away. I walk to Hazel and Cathy and we all hug each other tight.

''She saved my mate Athena, I... I don't know... I don't know what to feel; should I be happy that Noah is alive or should I grieve that my best friend died? '' Hazel says as her voice cracks.

''It's okay, it's okay to not know Hazel... come on let's get you back home and cleaned up. Cathy and I will be with you the whole time,'' I explain to her then give her a consoling hug.

''Athena, a minute please, ''Charles says.

Cathy and I exchange looks and I nod at her. ''I'll see you at home, '' She says and I give her a small smile in response.

''Tell me Charles, '' I say in a businesslike voice. '' I know it's bad timing but Benjamin wants to speak to us all right now. Let's go,'' he says.'

''can't it wait? I have to...'' I gesture towards my friends.

''Now. Athena,'' he replies in a stern voice and I follow him. 

We walk to the small area where all  the other Alphas and Lunas are gathered. Benjamin stands facing the group.

''I want to sincerely thank you all for showing up, I am utterly embarrassed by not agreeing to support you in the first place Theo; but when the attack happened on my borders you and your guard were there to fight by me. So thank you. From what I heard among the rogues this is just the beginning so I pledge myself to fight by your side. You two have my full support, '' He announces as he looks at Theo and I.

''Thank you,'' I reply and nod in respect.

''I understand we have all been through hell today, some of us more than the others; so we should all head back to our respective packs,'' he continues and we all proceed to leave.

''Wait a minute, where the hell is Caleb Jensen?'' Olivia asks aloud.

Oh yes; that little shit, I totally forgot about him. I also don't remember seeing him on the battlefield after we got there.

''That slime ball got away, '' Theo answers his voice filled with hate. ''As the fight ensued he managed to slip away; I should have gone for him first,'' he continues and balls his fists in anger.

''Theo it's okay,we will get him; but for now we need to get back to Crescent,'' I calmly say and rub his arm.

''Yeah you're right, let's go.''

The four of us; Theo, Charles, Mila and I walk back to our pack in silence. I can't believe Rachel is dead; it's going to take a while to get over her death.

We reach the pack and there is a heavy silence looming over the whole area. There is a crowd gathered over at Rachel's house. I can hear her mother's wails and cringe as goosebumps appear all over my hands.

The pack members part ways for us as we approach. I try to console Rachel's mom but it's to no avail. I couldn't help myself but cry too. I had lost one of my closest friends. 

''I'm sorry ma'am,'' I tell Rachel's mom and she cries more as I hug her. The funeral will be tomorrow morning together with other fallen members from our pack, which thankfully, were not as many.

We are currently walking towards our house; tired, beat and exhausted from the days' events when I see two people running towards us.

''Theo, Athena....'' Aiden calls and a look of confusion etches on my face. I thought they left to go somewhere safe.

''Aiden, what are you guys doing here and why is mom bleeding?'' Theo questions worry all over his face as he rushes to her side to help her inside the house.

''And where is Nadia?'' I ask as I don't see her with them.

''Caleb.... he...he tracked us down; we tried to fight him but he threw a pink powder on us and knocked mom and I out......he...he took Nadia with him, '' Aiden says visibly shaking.

''Oh god no!!'' I yell in frustration and I bang my hand on the door making the foundation of the house shake.

''He did what!'' Theo sneers as his breathing escalates.

''He will pay for this, I will make sure he suffers a fate far worse than death, ''Theo growls as I see rage build up in his eyes.