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Sebastian's POV

When I woke up Amelia, I assumed, had been moved to a different medical tent where she was being treated. Sleeping had allowed my body to heal as most of my wounds were closed. They weren't completely healed but it didn't hurt as much to move. I pushed myself up and threw my legs over the side of the cot to place my feet on the ground. I grimaced when I stood to my feet. I felt like one giant sore muscle. I slowly walked to the exit of the tent pulling back the flap to see it had grown dark outside. The moon hung high in the sky, it must have been close to midnight.

The wolves who had obtained minimum injures were carrying the bodies of those who passed to the huge piles of wood. They were going to burn all the bodies. 

I scanned the area to see if there was anyone that I knew alive. Quinn and Mia lit up when they saw me. They both jumped to their feet and rushed toward me. I groaned as Mia wrapped her arms around me. "Ow." I groaned making her step back quickly.

"I'm sorry... we thought you were dead." a small chuckle bubbled from my chest.

"I have found out that I am really hard to kill. You can't get rid of me that easily." I said to them. Quinn pulled me into a light hug after he made sure I was ready. I accepted it. It was nice to see familiar faces. They both looked terrible. They looked as bad as I felt, their faces were badly beaten.

"Where's Tyler?" I asked after a few moments once I noticed his gay ass wasn't present. "I am surprised he isn't here punching me in the face."

Quinn looked at the ground and cleared his throat, "Tyler is hurt pretty bad. They aren't sure if he is going to make it through the night." 

"Where is he?" I asked making Mia point to one of the medical tents. The three of us made our way there. As we walked I noticed it had snowed a bit in the last few hours. Mia held back the flap and I ducked inside seeing the many who were injured. Tyler laid three cots from the back and I pushed my way past a couple nurses to make my way over to him. They were not kidding about his condition. 

Tyler's gut had been basically ripped open. I could see they had tried to stitch what was left closed, but it looked like an infected mess. His chest rose and fell rapidly like his could barely catch a breath. Seeing him like this was going to make me throw up. I turned around quickly and left the tent with haste. I leaned over and just vomited bile. It burned in my throat as it came up. The force from the hurling reopened the wound on my stomach. Mia started to rub my back to sooth me once she came out of the tent.

"Is he alright?" I looked up to see the voice had come from Kaden... Recently upgraded to alpha Kaden. Seeing him boiled my blood and I was not completely sure why. Maybe it was the fact that he had completely fucked me up during the battle. That, and he wanted my girl. 

In a split second my hand connected with the side of his face causing him to stumble back. His minions were quick to his side, ready to protect him from me. Pathetic. At least I don't get other people to fight my battles.

"Look Sebastian, I know you are angry with me, but we need to put this behind us. There are bigger issues at hand." He said rubbing his jaw from the impact, "Guys I'm fine. Leave us." His minions dispersed, wary to leave his side like I was going to explode again. I wanted to, but I wasn't sure if my body could take anymore exertion.  

Killing Derek and Ace had given him power. I could feel it pour off of him now that he had claimed the title. In the days to come he would become stronger and faster. I also knew I wouldn't be able to take him in my condition. 

"We need to put our differences aside. There are people from your pack who have not been accounted for." He ran a hand through his hair before gesturing to the pack house. "A few I am sure you know." Mia had stayed behind as I followed Kaden. I stayed silent so that he would continue. "Andrew and Ally are two out of several." 

The thought of having Andrew still running around freely made my stomach flip. He was very unpredictable when it came to his motives. He supported Ace and that's really all that mattered. There was a part of me that thought he may try and finish what Ace had started. However, he would need to be an alpha to do that. I believed that he would be desperate enough to find a way. 

Kaden and I walked through the front door of the pack house after walking up the porch steps. Megan and Amelia's Grandma were at the kitchen island, I noticed that there were spell books all over the place. The pendant was amongst the mess, a huge crack across the surface of the ruby gem. Kaden turned back when he noticed I was no longer following him. 

"Come on." He said waving me over. His voice had gotten the women's attention and my eyes connected with Megan's. She gave me a small smile before she put her nose back into the book in front of her.

Kaden led me into an office space where Steven was sitting with the Elven King and Adele, Quinn's mate. 

"You will have your payment, your grace. I am in your debt, but I will pay it." The king nodded and they stood with robotic grace. They practically floated out the room leaving the three of us alone. I shook my head of my trance and focused on Steven. He looked even more exhausted than he did just hours before, "You're looking much better." he observed taking his glasses off.

"You wanted to see me." He motioned for me to sit in one of the chairs across from him. 

"I wanted to apologize for my bitterness towards you. I need you to understand that my daughter is very important to me. I am going to need your help tracking down your friends. They cannot go running around the territory without a pack." I sighed at his words.

"Is this going to be some form of punishment?" I asked remembering the last time he had asked me for a favour.

"No, Sebastian." He said, "Since your father is gone, I am going to need a Beta. I want you to be my Beta." 

"Have you forgotten that my father is dead because I killed him?!" My voice was much louder than I intended. 

"Sebastian, you were under the influence of dark magic. None of us blame you for what happened." That may have been true but I blamed myself for what I had done. I had a feeling I would never come to terms with it, the same way I still hadn't come to terms with Trina. "You belong in this pack. You were born into this pack and I want you by my side. By Amelia's side." My head shot up at the mention of her name.

"You didn't want me anywhere near her before. What's changed?" I could feel Kaden's eyes from behind me. He seemed bothered by Steven's decision.

"I have come to terms that you are mated. That is a force that I cannot fight. No matter the effort, you two will always been drawn together the way I was drawn to her mother." He fell silent after he mentioned his wife. By the pained look in his eyes I realized that Amelia's mother hadn't made it. She was gone. I thought about how it made Amelia feel. She must have been devastated. At least she hadn't been the one to do it...

"Now, we are preparing to burn the bodies of our warriors tonight. I will see you later on in the evening. Sebastian, please let me know what you decide. I need you to know that I do want you here and part of this family." I took the formality as him needing his space. He needed the rest, that much was clear from the bags under his eyes.

Once Kaden and I left the room he turned around to face me. He clearly had something to say to me by the savage look in his eye.

"You aren't the only one who's mated to her. I am too." He spit at me. 

"What the fuck are you talking about?" I asked. There was no such thing as having more than one mate. She was mine and mine only. He stepped forward, he so close to me that our noses were practically touching.

"You heard me." Rage was being to take over my body. Maybe he had forgotten what my right hook felt like in between the time it happened and now, "May the best man win." I felt his spit land on my face before he turned away and stalked out the door. I wiped my face with the back of my arm. 

May the best man win. 

~

"God I hadn't realized how hungry I was." I moaned shoving campfire cooked hotdogs into my mouth. My body was so starved for sustenance that I just kept eating. 

"Slow down or you'll make yourself sick again." Mia teased, chewing softly. She didn't have much of an appetite compared to Quinn and I. Quinn stopped chewing a sniffed the air doing a 360 on the log to look behind him. 

"Adele." He whispered with his mouth still partially full. 

"I wanted to say goodbye." Her voice was like butter coming out of her mouth. "This will be the last time we see each other."

"Please don't say that." He pleaded. She just gave him a sad look before planting a kiss on his cheek.

"You know we can't Quinn. I am truly sorry." She didn't even let him respond before she sauntered off and joined her father. The portal to the realm had been opened, the big purple door shimmering in the night. He watched them travel through with a look of defeat pasted on his face. 

We watched the portal slowly close behind them, the purple glow faded until the space it had once filled was just empty air. Quinn rejoined us by the campfire. I held out another hotdog and he just shook his head. Silence fell over us as we all just stared into the flames. I felt bad for Quinn, I knew what it was like to be separated from your mate. 

My mind flickered to Amelia. I wasn't allowed to see her at the moment, not until she had recovered enough to regain consciousness. I missed her. I exhaled, tilting my head back to watch the vapour rise into the night air. The sky was clear tonight, allowing the stars to be strikingly visible.  

"May I have your attention!" Steven called out from the pack house porch. His voice turned several heads including ours, "We have taken a heavy loss today. More than we had ever anticipated. I am grateful to all of you, for your strength and your sacrifice to protect our territory and our family." The crowd was silent as his voice echoed through the trees. "The people that we have lost have rejoined our Mother, our Luna. Where they will find peace and eternal rest. I feel your grief and your sorrow as if it was my own. Tonight, we honour them. We honour our warriors and our loved ones for their courage on the battlefield." his voice cracked. I could tell he was on the brink of tears.

"I lost my wife." I could see the way his lips trembled from where I was sitting. "She was courageous and wild spirit, like many of those who are now gone. Now, we will burn their bodies so that they may join our Luna." Greg handed him a torch after he was finished. Tears had now begun to fall down his face as he placed the torch under the first pile. It took a few moments but the would caught fire, "Goodbye my love." 

Greg took the torch from him and proceeded to light the other piles. I watched as Mrs. Winters pulled her son into her arms. Steven's body was shaking violently as grief took over his body. I stood to my feet and stood by one of the piles. My father was on one of them, I just wasn't sure which one. Mia pulled up beside me and took my hand in hers. 

"It wasn't you." She said trying to reassure me. 

"I was there the whole time Mia. I wanted to kill him. I wanted to kill Amelia." Dark magic or not, those thoughts were mine at the time. I wanted to follow through with it. I craved it. 

The heat from the fire burned my cheeks but I didn't bother taking a step back. I looked up through the flames to see the front door to the pack house had opened. I didn't need to see all of her to know who it was. I dropped Mia's hand and made my way through the burning corpses. We made eye contact. Mate.

Something was wrong though. When I was finally close enough to take her in. Her wounds hadn't healed at all since I had last seen her. She still smelled like blood and infection. I wanted to take her into my arms but she looked so fragile, that the force from my arms would cause her to turn to dust.

"Amelia." I called out to her. Her eyes were filled with so much sadness that I was ready to crumble at the seems. I was ready to cut off my left arm if it meant making her feel better. I could feel her pain as if it was my own. She was being torn apart by seeing her father and by the overwhelming smell of burning flesh. I could feel the way she grieved over her mother. She took a step forward and pressed herself into my chest. I was frozen by the sudden contact.

I slowly relax and wrapped my arms around her, placing one of my hands over the crown of her head. Her fingers bunched together the fabric of my long sleeve, like somehow if she loosened her grip I would disappear. 

"What's wrong? Why aren't you healing?" I asked her pulled away slightly despite her protests. 

"I can't-" she stopped in the middle of her sentence avoiding eye contact with me.

"You can't what?"

"I can't shift. I think I'm human again." My eyebrows drew together in confusion. She was human? "It must have happened when I healed you."

"You still smell like a werewolf. Your scent hasn't changed." I told her pulling her close to me again. I was never letting her out of my sight again. She pulled back from me and looked over to her father who was now sitting on the porch steps next to his mother, "Go. I'm not going anywhere." She limped over to them letting her father pull her into his arms.

I suddenly felt very cold without her pressed against me. I made my way back to where I had left Mia and Quinn to see they hadn't moved anywhere. Mia gave me a small smile but I could tell she was just as drained as the rest of us.

"Why don't we head to bed." I suggested to them. I knew I could probably use it. Many of the others had begun to disperse to their living quarters for the night. The bodies were going to burn for days and the sun was going to rise soon. 

"How are we supposed to go back to normal after this?" Mia asked me with her arms wrapped around herself. To be honest, I had no idea. I had no clue how we were going to go back to school after winter break and pretend like nothing happened. I had no idea how I was going to go home and face my mother everyday, knowing that she knew I had killed her mate. 

"I don't know." I managed to say after several moments, "I guess we just have to try and find a new normal, just like we did after we turned for the first time." She leaned against me after I spoke. I wrapped my arm behind her back to comfort her. 

"I think you're right. We have to try." She said quietly. "Let's get some rest."

She pulled away from me and began to make her way to our tent where our cots laid waiting for us. I looked towards the sky once more before my eyes fell on Amelia's figure. Tonight was going to be a long night for her. I was confident I would see her once the sun rose. I couldn't wait to finally have her to myself.

Amelia's POV

Rest had not come easy after dad and I decided to retire for the night. I had tried to sleep in my own bed but I simply couldn't, which is why I ended up sleeping next to my father like I was nine years old again and I'd had a nightmare. The sun was peaking through the curtains that covered his window. I laid on my back looking at the ceiling while he snored softly. I didn't want to wake him, he need the rest because he was more exhausted than he would admit. 

I slowly pulled back the duvet to pull myself into a sitting position. I grimaced at the movement as pain shot through my ribs. Since I was back to being my weak human self, they weren't healing as quickly as I had become accustomed to. I carefully retracted my legs and placed them onto the floor. My father didn't even stir.

I made my way downstairs and say my grandma in the kitchen. She had a huge silver bowl under her arm that was full of mix. Her hand was whisking quickly. I smiled when I saw her tongue sticking out in concentration. 

"Hi sweetie." She said putting the bowl down once she saw me. Her reached up and rubbed her cheek leaving a streak of flour, "Dirty Paw moved out this morning." She kept moving through the kitchen as she spoke. Pouring the batter on the waffle press made it hiss before she pressed it shut.

So Kaden was gone. He didn't even say goodbye to me.

"Kaden left that note on the table for you. He told me to give it to you once you had waken." I walked over to the table and picked up the small envelope. My name wasn't even written on the front. I looked through the window in front of me. The fires were still burning, the snow around the piles completely melted from the heat. I couldn't help but think that my mother was one of the bodies that were still burning. Memories of last night made my eyes swell with tears. The pain I had felt seeing my father in the condition he was... Him carrying the burden of losing the woman he loved. I sighed clearing my throat which burned from fighting the tears. I opened the envelope and unfolded the letter;

'Hey Lia, I have to go back to Dirty Paw territory today and I didn't want to wake you or your father considering the night you have both had. I promise you that we will see each other again soon. I know that you and Sebastian are tied to each other in a way that I may not be able to overcome, but I need you to know that my feelings for you run deeper than I have let on. I know you are drawn to me too, even if you do not know it yet. I will not let you go without fighting for you, because you deserve to be fought for. I love you Amelia. - Kaden'

I folded the piece of paper and placed it back in its holder. I wasn't sure how I was supposed to take this. I cared deeply for Kaden yes... but I was not sure if my feelings were more than friendship. The Moon Goddess told me that I would have two mates, and I could not deny there was a pull towards him. He did make me feel safe in ways Sebastian has never, mostly because he was trying to kill me nine times out of ten. With my abilities gone, I couldn't be sure if my wolf called to him the way it had called to Bash. I tried to recall the moments that I needed him...

"Amelia come eat." Grandma said drawing me from my thoughts. She put down a plate on the table, motioning me to sit and consume the fresh waffles she had just made. To be honest, I did not have much of an appetite. I sat down and cut a small piece to shove in my mouth. I knew I needed to in order to comfort her. I had realized that she cooked when she needed to work through things.

My mind drifted back to Kaden. He was an alpha now, he would no longer live the life of a normal teenager. I had my doubts if he would even have time for me, despite his promise. 

~

"Dad, can I talk to you?" My father looked up from his desk to see me standing in the door way. Even though he had slept, there were still massive circles under his eyes. "Dad, I am concerned about my- my abilities. They still haven't returned." 

"I have actually been making some phone calls, out to our allies in the west coast." He said taking his glasses off and setting them on the table. 

"We have allies in BC?" He nodded leaning his chin on the top of his fists.

"They are experienced in- how can I describe this- they are experience in recovering wolf spirits. I think they may be able to help both of us." 

"So when are we leaving?" I asked knowing he had already made up his mind.

"Now that Caine is recovering and awake, we will head out tonight. I want to have you back before Christmas break is over." I wasn't expecting him to suggest leaving so soon, but now that we had the pendant in our possession there was a chance he could also get his own powers back.

"I would like to graduate high school, yes." I chuckled. 

"Go back your things. I would take the chance to say goodbye to your friends." He waved his hand to dismiss me. I sighed, I thought all this moving would have stopped by now. I hadn't even settled into grandma's place. 

I was so emotionally exhausted from these last few months. I had moved to this town thinking I was normal and boy was I wrong. I ran my fingers through my hair and thought about Sebastian. He would not be happy that I would be leaving tonight. 

Sebastian's POV

I literally had to throw Greg and the other guards off of the porch to get inside the pack house. I bounced up the steps, two at a time in order to get up as fast as I could. I found Amelia in her room packing her things. 

"Were you going to tell me you were leaving? Or was I supposed to hear it through pack gossip?" I couldn't stop my voice from being snippy. She didn't even bother to look up from the clothes she was folding, "Are you going to answer me?" 

She sighed and looked up with her sea green eyes. She looked sad and defeated.

"Father and I are leaving tonight to head West. There is a pack there that is known for-" she paused sightly as she folded another t-shirt, "dealing with broken werewolves like myself. Dad believes they may be able to help both of us." The sound of the zipper filled the room as she closed her duffle-bag.

"You would think that I would be used to saying goodbye to you now." I whispered. Her eyes shot towards me to take in my expression.

"We will only be gone for a couple weeks. I am sure you can keep yourself busy." I stepped closer to her. Her scent was driving me wild. I wanted to kiss her, to give her something to remember me by. I wanted her to know that I would wait for her.

I was now inches away from her, "I'll wait for you." I told her. She shivered at my touch as I stroked her arms. She tilt her head, looking into my eyes deeply to see my intentions. Her pupils were blown as they flickered down to my lips. 

I leaned my head down and closed the space between us. I had waited for this moment for a very long time. Her lips were soft and warm beneath my own. She was frozen at first but she melted into me. I held her face between my hands and I felt hers travel up my chest. I pulled back with a smile on my face to see her cheeks were bright red. 

"I want you to remember that while you're away." I whispered running my thumbs over her cheeks. She placed her hands overtop of my own. God I wanted to kiss her again, "I will be here when you get back." I assured her. I dropped my hands and pulled her into my chest. The wolf part of me did not want to let her out of my sight. She needed to go though, to get the help she needed. She would need all the strength she could get.

I stepped back and kissed her forehead before letting her go. I could feel my heart ache in my chest, "Goodbye Sebastian." She whispered to me as I made my way out the door.

~

Mia came up beside me to watch Amelia and her Father pack the car. She place the palm of her hand on my back and gave it a few rubs, "She'll be okay." she spoke trying to reassure me.

"It pains me. It pains me to see her slip out of my grasp again. I can't even begin to describe the way I feel." The anxious feeling inside of my gut and chest was hard to hold back. It took everything out of me not to kidnap her. My instincts to keep her safe were driving me mad as we watched her get inside the Toyota.

"How long will she be gone?" Quinn asked pulling up beside us.

"I'm not sure." I answered him. The car started to make its way down the designated driveway and I watched it as it disappeared out of sight. I felt disappointment swell in my chest. The uncertainty of her return made me nervous. I already missed the way she felt against my body, the way her lips felt against mine. The next couple of weeks were going to be torturous.

"Come on Bash, let's go for a run." Quinn said bumping my shoulder. Quinn and I actually had things in common for once, both of our mates had left us behind. I didn't hesitate to shift onto all fours, the others followed suit. I shook out my black fur, feeling the wind whip it around. It felt good to shift. 

The three of us took off into the woods. Our paws tore up the snow as we whipped through. My lungs filled with the cold bitter winter air. They burned with every breath but it felt absolutely liberating. I hadn't realized where we were heading until the barn came into view. The sun was setting over the lake where everything had begun. It still amazed me that the structure was still standing.

I shifted back into my human form. My feet melted the snow beneath my bare feet, they went numb from the contact. 

This is where is all started. The place where we were bitten. The place where I killed Trina and the place where I had seen Amelia for the first time.

~

FRIDAY

Amelia had been gone for a few days now. My heart was heavy with anguish, as it was getting harder as each day went by. I missed her terribly. Caine had kept me close over the last couple of days, he had shown me kindness since my mother had refused to see me or allow me to come home. I had moved into Amelia's old room, which still filled with her light scent. I knew it would be gone soon, masked by my own.

I was in Caine's office with a couple of people, who I had learned were Amelia's cousins. They too had alpha blood running through their veins, meaning that they could also qualify for the position. Caine was talking to us about the activity going on around our border. We had been quite unsuccessful in learning the location of Andrew and the others from Ace's pack who had been missing. Caine was concerned that the longer they were left unfound, the worse it would be for us. He believed Andrew may seek revenge against us, as one of Ace's true followers. I agreed with him, Andrew was truly faithful to Ace and what he stood for.

The door suddenly flew open drawing all of our eyes. Quinn stood in the doorway breathing heavily.

"What is it Quinn?" I asked him as he was trying to catch his breath.

"There... was... a breach of the border... someone here." God I thought he was going to pass out from lack of oxygen. Caine pushed his way past us and made his way to the front door of the pack house. I followed closely behind, my curiosity getting the best of me. The door was wide open and Mrs. Winters was already standing on the porch looking at the nude stranger who had managed to get passed the guards and onto our territory. He had a smile on his face as he looked at her.

"Hi grandma." He said to her. I searched his features and took in the small details of his face. He had the same green eyes of Amelia and Steven. His hair was the same shade as Amelia's, it even shimmered gold the way hers did in the sunlight. Mrs. Winters made her way down the steps and placed her withered hands on either side of his face.

"You look so much like your father." She whispered to him. 

"I am sorry to break up this reunion, but who the fuck are you?" I asked catching his attention.

"My name is Connor. I am Steven's son."

Him being here meant only one thing; there was one more person who was eligible to be alpha.

Another person who would compete with Amelia for the title.