=Eloise=

It has been two weeks since the refugees have come to us for help, while Dylan has taken the brunt of the responsibility in caring for them...My Alpha has been stressing out over the logistics of keeping them, what's worse, more have arrived.

"What's wrong My Alpha?" I asked as I rubbed his shoulders, he was sitting on the edge of the bed trying to get ready for the day.

"I couldn't get through to the Council yesterday, I tried them all day...some of the other packs are starting to pull their protection claiming they are needed back home."

I hated that I didn't have any answers for him.

"I'm gonna have to take matters into my own hands pretty soon."

"What are you saying Rocco?" I asked with worry as I hugged him from behind.

He ran his warm hands over my thighs smoothly and released a heavy sigh. In the near four months of us being together he seems to have aged so much with all we've had to face.

"I'm going to have to see Dorian...these people need there's homes and businesses, children aren't going to school we don't have enough medical supplies and food to cover our pack plus them and other packs are withdrawing their support...these people need to go back to Harmond, it's their home."

At this I removed myself from around him.

"We can't just abandon them." I replied sadly, "there has to be another way."

"And we won't My Heart, if all else fails I will challenge him to gain rightful possession of his land, once I have Harmond I can get the people back into their places and our pack can expand."

"You make it sound so easy." I said hopeful.

He shook his head sadly, "it's a big risk even if I win...we'd be taking a financial dip because the council will see it as me only wanting to expand the pack, they'll tax me like crazy."

"We'll managed...but what if you lose?" I asked curiously.

He remained silent.

"Rocco?"

He looked at me and his stomach grumbled. "I'm starving My Heart...can we continue this conversation after breakfast?"

But the conversation never came as when I stood up to walk to the kitchen I suddenly collapsed.

. . .

"I understand Alpha, but it really is quite common, especially given the stressful environment in which you've both been under for the past few months."

I began to stir, the light was too bright and I squinted and lifted my hand to shield my eyes, that's when I noticed the IV in my arm.

"My Heart!" Rocco sounded anxious before he rushed over to my side. "You don't know how worried you made me."

"What happened?" I asked.

That's when a stout woman approached me with a straight line smile. "You collapsed at home, possibly due to either dehydration or exhaustion."

I shook my head, "all I've seemed to be doing lately is napping." I protested, but it was the truth. I constantly felt like I was being pulled in so many directions that when given the chance I find myself just shutting my eyes and drifting off.

"That may be so Luna, but like I was telling Alpha, these small naps throughout the day don't suffice to the full nights sleep you're depriving your body...especially for a woman in your condition."

"My condition ?" I asked as I looked at her and then at Rocco.

He gave me a smirk before he spoke. "My Heart, it seems that the moon goddess has decided to bless us with a future leader of this pack."

"I-I'm pregnant?"

To be honest I wasn't one hundred percent sure how I felt, I had so many emotions flooding through me that I only smiled at Rocco in an attempt to ease his worry.

"Did you call my sister?" I asked.

"I did, she is with Dylan and Grace...they should be here in a few minutes."

I nodded..."My Alpha, would you mind doing me a super big favor?"

"Anything My Heart."

"I have a feeling I'm going to be here until tomorrow, will you please go home and make an overnight bag for me?" I asked, as much as I love him, and part of me is excited and happy about this pregnancy...I kind of just needed a moment away from him so I could let out those other feelings without him seeing and getting hurt by my reaction.

"Oh My Heart I can send for one of the pack member to do that-"

"NO!" I shouted, he looked at me confused. "No Rocco, I don't want anyone just rifling through my underwear drawer."

His eyes turned dark at the mention of anyone else seeing my underwear. "I'll be back shortly." He said before he kissed me deeply and then left.

I was alone and let out a long breath, with it fell the tears I was hold back.

As much as I might want a baby with Rocco, now was the worst possible time, plus I don't know the first thing about being a proper mom.

Suddenly a knock sounded and Juliette and Grace peeked their heads in followed by Dylan. They looked every bit a happy family and I smiled but couldn't stop the tears.

"Luna what's wrong?" Dylan asked as he pulled a chair over for Jules and Grace to sit down on.

I shook my head..."I'm pregnant."

"You should be happy." Juliette said smiling, "you and your mate are going to have a baby."

"I am happy." I (ugly) cried. "Just bad timing?"

"Whys that's?" Dylan asked more serious now.

I know I should've held it in, these were private matters but I had to vent and who better than Jules and Dylan...they're family.

"Rocco is stressed about the Harmond members, other packs are pulling their support and he can't get ahold of the council...Rocco was talking about challenging Dorian or something like that but I don't even really know what that entails, says even if he wins it won't be easy for us as a pack financially."

There was silence for a good three minutes before Dylan moved.

__________

-Dylan-

I took in my Luna's words of despair and worry and my stomach knotted as my wolf and I both knew what we were about to do in the name of our pack.

Eloise was right, being pregnant right now is not ideal but is something this pack needs.

After she finished I mauled it over, made a mental pros and cons list if you will, and doing this had more pros than cons.

I would challenge Dorian in my Alpha's place, this way if I win then it's a clean break from Dorian Travers and the pack remains intact...financially the council would keep their taxes as is since their wouldn't be an expansion of any kind, just a transfer of power...of course if I lose...

I die.

I looked over at Juliette and Grace, I know if anything were to happen to me my family would do anything to take care of Grace properly...but what's more, Juliette had begun to love Grace like her own, and it made me happy knowing that if I did end up losing, Grace would still have a parent figure in her life.

I leaned down and kissed both of Graces round little cheeks before quickly placing a brief kiss on Juliette's lips, when I pull out of the kiss she looked at me with curiousness in her eyes but a small smile on her lips..."take care of our Gracie." I said before leaving the room.

I had given Juliette my keys to hold when we got into the hospital so I knew I'd be shifting.

I wasted no time running out to the woods I removed my clothes and shifted into my wolf, I shook out my fur before collecting my clothes in my moth and bolting toward Harmond.

It took me about ten minutes to get there but when I got to the outskirts I shifted back and put my clothes on.

I walked straight into the little town, it seemed like a ghost town as I roamed the streets, but I finally found a group of girls, they had to be high-schoolers.

"Any chance any of you know where Dorian Travers lives?" I asked polietely.

I didn't want to arise any suspicions, and lucky for me I had dressed up decently (knowing I was spending the day with my two favorite girls).

"You a friend of his sir?" One of them finally asked.

"More business associates than friends...and I've come to talk about his family's business if you will."

They all looked at each other and one of them pointed out the directions for me. I thanked them before making my way over to his place.

I walked right up to his pack house and knocked on the front door.

A Hispanic woman answered the door with a bored expression. "Can I help you?"

"I'm here to see Alpha Travers."

"My fiancé is a busy man...is he expecting you?" She asked a little sharper.

I had grown impatient and my wolf was clawing to come out now that we were so close to the man who had hurt Juliette.

I pushed past her and found Him sitting in an office, the door wide open.

He picked up on my scent, "well if it isn't the lesser known Wylde." He sneered.

"Travers."

"What brings you here?" He asked casually.

"I Dylan Wylde have come to challenge you Dorian Travers for your title and your land."

He looked me in the eyes, his eyes had no happiness whatsoever in them they were dark and close to lifeless.

He held out his hands, "well then...shall we name seconds?" (he asked in reference to a fighting partner)

"I don't need a second, just you and me." I sounded.

"Very well...a fight to the death a presume." I could almost hear the pleading in his words.

Roc was right, Dorian had wanted this...he had pushed his pack members away in hopes it would get back at his parents...but more so, he knew someone would retaliate and he hoped they would end his suffering and heartache at having rejected his Mate by killing him.

"A fight until submission or unconsciousness...you're not getting off the hook that easily."

Now anger actually flashed across his eyes, I knew I was right, he had expected me to kill him and now he knew I wouldn't.

"Let's get this over with Wylde."