The next week went by normally. Thane and his entourage left a few days after I decapitated whatshername, after working out some of the battle strategies. He planned on declaring war in a month. I hadn't talked about it with Cain, but I assumed he would let me fight since I was far more skilled than most of his men.

Cain and I had been getting along relatively well all week, despite the usual quarrels that usually started with him telling me no, me throwing knives at him because he told me no, him pinning me down because I threw knives at him, and then us making out. We had almost mated more times than I could count, and I could tell his wolf was extremely on edge, needing the release. My wolf wasn't much better, often wanting me to jump him anytime he walked into the room. The only thing stopping us was me saying no anytime he wanted to take it further. To his credit, he didn't push it once I said no.

I didn't plan on saying no anymore after the ceremony.

Cain shook me awake, making me groan. Go away, I whined, putting the pillow over my head.

"I have stuff I have to do today in preparation for the ceremony, pup. I want to give you something before I leave," Cain's voice was happy.

I groaned again, but resurfaced from underneath the pillow. This better be good, I warned him.

Cain produced a large gift bag from behind him. I raised my eyebrows. What's this for?

"It's traditional for the Blood Alpha to give his mate a present the day of the ceremony," Cain ruffled my messy hair. I playfully bit at his hand, making him tweak my nose.

I took the bag and ripped out the tissue paper that lined the top. When I peered in the bag, I was surprised to see fur.

Another pelt? I asked, confused. Although I appreciated the one he already gave me, I didn't see a reason for another.

Cain rolled his eyes. "Will you please just open it all the way, mate?" His hand stroked my half-ear gently. For some reason, he loved to run his finger over the jagged cartilage.

I pulled the thin black fur out of the bag and unfolded it to take a better look. Upon further inspection, I noticed that the fur was in the format of a cloak. It even had a hood, and a small clip where it would fall around my chest so I could connect the two sides.

You made me a fur cloak? I asked, surprised.

Cain looked into my eyes lovingly. "You always wear your old cloak, which is far too thin for how cold my territory gets. I know that the pelt makes you warm, but I also know you prefer the freedom the cloak allows you. I thought you would like a more versatile version of the pelt."

My heart swelled. I knew that his gift was not only symbolic of his promise to take care of me, but also of his promise to allow me more freedom and personal liberties.

He froze as I threw my arms around him in a hug. Typically, I only wrapped my arms around him to choke him out.

He returned the hug, nuzzling his face into my neck. "Can I assume you like it then, little mate?"

I love it. Thank you, Cain. I kissed his cheek and he stiffened.

"You said my name. Not Alpha," Cain choked out. I hesitated, realizing that I had been calling him Cain in my head for the past few weeks as I slowly warmed up to him.

We continued to hold each other in silence until Cain pulled away. "As much as I wish I could spend all day holding you, I need to go finish working out some of the details for tonight."

Can I walk around your territory for awhile? I'll bring Carter with me. I bargained, knowing he would say yes. I had taken quite a few walks with Carter accompanying me the last few days.

"Yes, pup, but please be careful. War is on the horizon," Cain warned.

Aren't your borders secured? I asked.

"Yes, but we still haven't found whoever tried poisoning you, and who knows how they snuck on to our territory. I will let the patrol guards and Jax know that you'll be wandering so they can keep an eye out for you," I nodded as Cain spoke. I began to understand that most of his controlling behavior stemmed from him being worried that someone would kill me. As I began to show my capability, he started trusting me more on my own, only leaving me with one guard, typically Carter.

"I'll see you at the ceremony, pup. Please behave," He placed a chaste kiss on my lips before leaving.

I sighed, debating on going back to sleep, until ultimately deciding to just get my lazy ass out of bed. I got dressed in black leggings, a black long sleeve shirt, and black boots, since Carter and I were going to go walk through the snowy woods. I had come to love the winter that enveloped Blood Lake.

Finally, I threw on my new cloak, fastening it under my chin so it wouldn't fall off.

I headed downstairs, where Carter was already waiting. Where's Gwen? I asked him. Typically she spent her mornings with us, meaning that we both spent our morning antagonizing Carter and thinking of new ways to give him a heart attack.

"She's helping set up stuff for the ceremony tonight. She begged to be the one allowed to dress you and do your makeup," Carter informed me.

Oh, no. I was genuinely fearful of whatever she was planning. She had been begging me to let her give me a makeover for weeks, which I strongly declined every time, much to her dismay. I love her, but her tastes are far too girly for me.

"She'd kill you if she saw that sour look you just gave," Carter laughed, and I joined in, knowing he was right. Our trio had gotten extremely close, and I felt the security of a family.

How's life as a father treating you? I asked Carter as we stepped into the cold. I pulled the cloak tighter around me, thankful for the warmth. Carter had also bulked up and let his facial hair grow out, so I doubt he felt the cold as harshly as I did.

"I hardly sleep, I have to change diapers every day, and I constantly listen to cries," He began, making me snort. "And yet, it's the happiest I've ever been."

Sounds awful, I honestly replied. Why anyone would want to deal with that is beyond me.

"You couldn't be more wrong, Luna. Lily and Rose are my entire reason for living. Every day I spend with them is the best day of my life," He said wistfully.

I scoffed and bumped my shoulder into him. You know how corny that sounds, right?

Carter shrugged, unbothered by my crude statements. "You will understand when you have pups. Lily filled a gap in my heart I didn't know I had."

I rolled my eyes at how sentimental he had been since becoming a father. I wondered if Cain and I ever had pups, if he would be that emotional over it. I doubted it.

We continued walking deeper into the woods, stopping occasionally to throw snowballs at each other or playfully spar.

Suddenly, I heard a twig crunch to my right. Carter instantly dropped all hints of playfulness and his expression was serious.

We both turned to the sound of the noise, but didn't see anything.

"We should get back, Luna. I don't have a good feeling about-" His voice was interrupted by the sound of footfall approaching us.

"Run, Ares," Carter commanded me, making me shake my head. Whatever was coming, we would fight it together.

I summoned a sword for Carter, which was his favorite weapon of choice. I conjured two daggers for myself, holding both hands out in front of me as I sank into a defensive position.

Within seconds, ten wolves had us surrounded. Rogues.

Cain, come quick. Ten rogues in the North Forrest. I'm with Carter. Hurry. I mindlinked Cain and closed our mindlink so I wouldn't be distracted by him trying to contact me.

"Well, well, well. Look what we have here. The Luna of Blood Lake with only one guard. This will be easier than I thought," The man closest to me grinned wickedly, his yellow canines poking out of his mouth viciously.

"Who are you working for?" Carter demanded, holding the sword in front of him dangerously.

"Ares will find out as soon as we take her to him," The yellow-toothed man responded, and his manic eyes made him look deranged.

I snarled, sick of the idle chat. I threw the knife at him, which sank into his throat effortlessly. I smiled as blood shot out from the wound and soiled the white snow where he fell.

I threw the other dagger at another man, who was more prepared than his chatty friend, and stepped out of the way, but the dagger still managed to clip his shoulder. He growled, and shifted into his wolf. I summoned a sword and when he ran towards me, I plunged the sword into his chest. I slightly missed his heart, so he painfully bled out on the ground, not dying right away.

Carter was also holding his own, and beheaded two of the wolves who attacked him. I dropped my sword and summoned more knives, wanting to keep distance in between me and the savages. I figured that knives would kill more of them faster.

Carter and I stood a few feet apart back to back, and split up the remainder of the wolves. I had successfully thrown knives into all of the ones on my side, and turned around to see how Carter was fairing.

I gasped when I saw the compromising position he was in. He had killed all but one of the wolves. The man that he was unable to kill held Carter's sword against his neck.

The man was shaking as he looked at all of his fallen companions. "This wasn't supposed to happen. He said you would be able to be taken.." The man's voice trembled in fear.

Carter spoke my words for me that I mindlinked him. "She says if you let me go then she will let you live."

"Liar!" The man cried out, and his hands were shaking so badly the blade cut into Carter's neck shallowly. I growled in warning, holding a knife, ready to throw it if he moved an inch. "She's killed more rogues than anyone. She is the Reaper. There's no way I walk out of here alive."

"You have her word that she will let you go if you drop your weapon," Carter's voice was strong, even though I could see the fear in his eyes.

"She killed my mate," The man scornfully cried out. "She knows no mercy. I'm already dead. This won't make a difference."

I noticed the decision in his eyes too late.

He used the sword to deeply slash Carter's throat. I knew right away the wound was fatal.

I threw the knife into the rogue's forehead, and he screamed as it impaled him as though he had a unicorn horn.

The rogue fell to the ground, and I ran towards Carter, who was bleeding out on the snowy ground. The blood that was gushing from his neck into the snow contrasted harshly.

Carter was holding his neck to try to staunch the bleeding, but we both knew that he couldn't live after a wound that deep. His head was barely still attached to his neck. If he wasn't a Delta, he would have been dead already.

I sobbed as I held Carter in my arms, feeling his warm blood seep into my clothing.

It's my fault we were out here, I'm so sorry Carter, I spoke through the mindlink as tears continued to pour down my face.

It's okay, Luna. Getting to sacrifice my life for yours is the greatest honor, he spoke calmly through the mindlink, even though he was choking on his own blood.

I heard Cain and his men finally reach our location in the forrest. It didn't matter. They were too late.

Take care of Rose and Lily, they need to know that I- that I- lo-love... Carter's voice trailed off, and I felt his bond to the pack sever as his breathing stopped. Blood trickled out of his mouth, and his blue eyes that once held so much life were now cold and dead.

I used my fingers to close his eyelids, and let out a pained wail so loud I was sure that even the Moon Goddess could hear me.