Authors Note:
This book is a Wattpad exclusive if you're reading this anywhere else then my work was published without my authorisation.

Armon sits up in his bed. He scrambles for tissue as he feels his chest tightens. He pulls a tissue out of the box beside his bed and he coughs into it. It is dampened with blood and he crumples it in his fist then throws it onto his floor. The entire floor is littered with tissues that are all stained red.

Armon forces himself out of bed and he wipes sweat from his brow. He trembles with the cold and stumbles into the bathroom. He turns the shower on and then turns to the mirror above the sink. His cheeks have sunken into his face and he has heavy eye bags. His skin is pale and speckled with unkept facial hair.

He knew the signs the second he started feeling sick but chose to keep it to himself. He would rather die on his own terms than be chained up and kept alive by magick for longer than necessary. But it is getting worse, he knows it is. He knew it the second he started swinging in and out of consciousness.

And when he started seeing him everywhere.

He pulls his clothes off and leaves them laying on the floor. He steps under the hot water and it's scalding against his skin but it feels good to feel something. At the first sign of it he drove off the property. He knew he needed to create distance between himself and his pack before he did something to hurt anyone.

Armon reaches out and leans against the wall of the shower. Trembles run through his body and he waits for them to pass before straightening.

He quickly and quietly moved to his apartment in town and it provided the peace and solitude he needed but regardless of how much time he spent he couldn't bring himself to end his own life, despite knowing that it's the only way. He knows he will have to do something soon. He had awoken on the road leading to the reserve. The road to his pack. His home.

He feels weak in his leg and then all around him the whispering starts. He leans against the wall and he sobs. The whispering grows louder and he shuts his eyes and covers his ears. There's a deafening silence and he knows better than to open his eyes.

"Open your eyes..."

"No no no..."

"Open your eyes Armon...I know you understand why it has to be this way...I know you understand what needs to be done...why you need to be the one to do it."

"Please no...please..."

                                                                                                    ❄

Naomi turns her face to the shower and the water lands on her chest. It's hot and the air around her is covered in thick steam. It has been two days since the breach of Sigrid and ever since then Naomi had been feeling an unshakable cold.

Raurlin steps into the shower behind her and he wraps his arms around her. Naomi leans back against his chest and their hearts beat in sync. Raurlin had been worried about Naomi since Sigrid's attack. She was closed off...reserved. Jackson had assured him it was the trauma of, well, everything and that she would come round.

"Are you okay doll?"

"Yes. I'm done. I'll see you downstairs for breakfast."

Naomi steps out of the shower and wraps a towel tightly around her body and she walks into their room, closing the bathroom door behind her. She dries herself quickly then dresses in a thick warm winter dress and thick tights. She brushes through her hair then towel dries it and she opens the door and walks out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

Raurlin steps out of the shower, wrapping his towel around his waist. He walks into the room and he sighs heavily. There's a knock at the door.

"It's open."

Jackson pushes the door open and he sticks his head around the door.

"Oh sorry I'll come back."

"No it's okay, Jax, come on in."

Jackson walks into the room and shuts the door. He kicks his bed slippers off and flops onto the bed. He watches as Raurlin rummages through the cupboard for an outfit.

"Did you have a good sleep, alpha of alphas, king of kings?"

Raurlin glares at Jackson and Jackson laughs as Raurlin walks into the bathroom, clothes in hand.

"Jax, I'm worried about Naomi. She's completely shut down. She won't talk about what's happened."

"Take it easy Raur. It's been all of three days. Give her time to process. She'll come round. She hasn't said anything about what Sigrid has said?"

"She won't say anything. Sarah's still out?"

"Out cold. The spell really took it out of her. That and sharing her body with Idonea. Do you think Idonea is really still around?"

Raurlin walks out of the bathroom and he settles onto the bed beside Jackson.

"I have no idea, Jax. All I know is that's about as much witchy pop-ups as I can handle."

Jackson nods his agreement and the two fall into silence.

"Have you given any thought to how you want to rule two species?"

Raurlin nods his head slowly "yes. I think I want to keep Mikain as the alpha and Stellan as the king."

"And have them report to you? Sounds like a good plan, Raur. That way not much needs to change. Hopefully Sarah will be awake soon and we can head home. I don't think I've ever missed home this much."

Raurlin laughs.

                                                                                          ❄

Sarah settles down at the dinner table. Mikain is sitting at the head of the table with his son in his arms. He is gently rocking him as he's sleeping. Sandy is sitting beside them and she's digging into a bowl of butternut soup. Beside her Dezra and Brody are sharing a joke and laughing. Jackson sits down beside Sarah and Stellan sits down beside Jackson.

Raurlin kisses Naomi's temple as he carries their bowls of soup to the table. He sets their bowls down beside Stellan before sitting down beside him. He drops an arm around Stellan and Stellan smiles brightly at him. Naomi watches on from the kitchen counter. Their last night with the wolves in the mountains and it couldn't be more perfect.

Naomi sets to work with cutting some of the fresh baked bread for the table. She cuts up the full loaf and starts buttering half of the cut up slices. She lays the slices out on a large glass platter dish and from behind her it sounds as if the front door is opening. She looks up at Mikain with a frown and Mikain returns the frown. He calls out behind Naomi.

"Armon? Is that you? Where have you been?"

Armon drags his feet into the kitchen and Naomi turns to face him. She swallows down a gasp as she sees him. He is a skeleton of himself and she can barely recognise him. She takes a step backwards and the lower of her back rests against the counter. Raurlin is about to stand and Mikain holds a hand out to him and shakes his head. He gently places his baby into his wife's arms and he stands up slowly.

"Armon, you don't look so good buddy. Why don't you come sit down?"

Armon starts sobbing and he bangs his palms onto his ears. He looks around him as if surprised by his surroundings.

"Mik? It's really you? He brought me here. He wanted me to but I don't want to but if I don't...I can't but I have to..."

Armon leans against the counter and he is motionless for a few seconds. He looks up and his eyes look as if they have a glaze over them. He looks at Naomi and he starts sobbing again. Naomi takes a slow step towards him.

"Armon, hey, it's me, Naomi. Why don't you come sit down?"

Armon nods and he takes Naomi's hand. They take a step forward and Naomi turns to face the table. As she does Armon mutters something. Naomi frowns but before she can turn to face him he lunges for the counter and he grabs the knife off of it. He drives it from Naomi's back into her heart and onto the counter.

Naomi coughs and in front of her there is blood splattering on the counter from her lips. She tries to inhale but there is screaming around her, screaming in her ears. Naomi's eyes close and her body goes limp. All at once all she can feel is cold. She can feel the darkness that is engulfing her. But something inside her snaps and it's as if it's snapping back into place.

She opens her eyes and inhales a few strangled breaths. She straightens, the knife still lodged in her back. She reaches to her back and she grasps onto the handle and she pulls it out. It drops onto the floor and the metal clanging against the floor is loud. She turns to Raurlin and her eyes are a bright gleaming red with a golden halo that seems to be pounding.

Armon's words are still echoing into her mind.

"Wake up, Naomi."

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Authors Note:

Thank you to every one that has taken the time to read, vote and engage with To Claim A Crown. The second book in this series is already underway and I cannot wait to share it with all of you! Stay tuned for snippets into the second book as well as more supernatural book-related content.

-C.