I sighed as I lay tucked into Kieran's sleeping frame. I traced the taught lines of his abdomen with my fingers as he slept, liking the feel of his warmth beneath my fingertips as I traced his muscles slowly.

I kissed his cheek softly as I looked up at him, admiring how his long lashes fanned over his cheeks, his beautiful lightly sun kissed skin on full display. I let my eyes slowly wander over his sharp and defined features. From his close shaven beard, to his thick masculine brows that framed his face perfectly.

I sat up as I just looked at him as he slept. I smiled when his eyes opened and he was looking right back at me.

"What are you doing love?" He said quietly, his voice huskier than normal from his recent sleep.

"You're beautiful." I said honestly.

He smiled and reached toward me, bringing me down to lay against his chest.

"It takes beauty to see beauty." He said.

I couldn't help but laugh.

"Too cheesy?" He questioned and I nodded as I stood up from him on the side of the bed where my robe hung.

I had just slipped it on when a harsh knock on the door sounded, breaking the peaceful morning we were having.

Despite me being dressed, Kieran stood up boldly and unashamedly as he made his way to the door, opening it fully as he stared at who was on the other side of it.

My smile vanished as Alexander stood there with a stunned look on his face . Kieran eventually moved as I shoved past him as Alexander did his best to stare at the ceiling as he spoke.

"I just came to see how you were doing, but you're...occupied, I'll be downstairs ." He said as Kieran chuckled as he slid on his boxers.

I chuckled as Alexander made a quick retreat downstairs.

I turned to a grinning Kieran.

" Put some clothes on." I said laughing.

"But you love me without them." He said wiggling his eyebrows as I tried my best to push his huge frame into the closet.

"I'm going to take the kids downstairs!" I yelled.

I opened the door to the adjoining room to see an already bouncing Willow in her crib as she jumped up and down on her mattress.

She chuckled and sat down at being caught.

"I saw you LoLo!" I said pointing at her as she laughed.

I watched as she scaled her crib, dropping to the ground but losing her balance as she dropped on her butt.

She smiled up at me as her little teeth showed.

I picked up the twins as Willow snaked herself around my leg and I slowly hobbled down the stairs where Kieran had breakfast started as he made homemade waffles.

"Daddy!" Willow yelled as she saw him.

Kieran scooped her up, peppering her face with kisses as she giggled.

I smiled when Alina and Daniel walked in, Alina holding her week old daughter named Lily.

We had a nice brunch and I spent the afternoon cuddling with Kieran and the kids on the couch as we watched Disney movies.

It wasn't until night began to fall that the nervousness in the air came to light, especially when Alexander walked in with my mother.

"Clara is on her way, when you are ready, we will be in the clearing." Alexander said quietly.

I nodded, and I didn't fail to notice how he stopped and kissed my mothers cheek softly and a small smile lit itself up on her face.

I always knew my mother had a connection with Alexander but she'd always felt obligated to be with my father, though she did love him and a part of her always will, but it was time for her to heal, do what she wanted to do for a change. I just hope she's doing things because she's ready to move on and better herself, not because she feels pressured to.

I waited until Alexander was gone until I walked over to Alina.

"I need you to braid my hair." I said as I pulled her up the stairs after she handed Lily to Daniel.

Alina was highly confused when I instead threw my hair up in a bun and ran to the closet, grabbing a duffle bag from behind my vanity.

"Alina. I don't know how this is going to go, but if things start to look like I'm not goin-

"Charlotte, no. You're going to be fine. Everything-

"You don't know that. No matter what we can't trust Clara. If things are looking bad, I want you to take the kids as fast as you can and get on the jet. Kieran doesn't know. You guys have some old family friends over there in Bora Bora. I called them, there's a house there ready for you if we need it. Promise me, please. Please Alina. If I die I can't let my kids die too." I said to her.

Alina wiped her face of tears, nodding as she took the bag from my hands.

I hugged her, wiping her face before I walked downstairs.

Kieran took my hand as we walked outside together, our family following us, no one speaking the entire few minutes it took us to reach the clearing.

I didn't have to see her to know she was there, and that this was really happening. The only thoughts that ran through my my head was that now was the the time to show my true colors, I was literally fighting for what I loved.

One of us wouldn't walk away from this.

Kieran kissed my head before he released me and I made my way towards Alexander who stood in the middle of the clearing, Clara standing on his far left, poised and ready to fight.

"Charlotte. Because Clara broke pre challenge rule, you get to choose the fighting form." Alexander spoke.

"Both human and wolf." I said immediately.

Alexander nodded as did Clara.

I breathed in deeply as I walked toward the center of the clearing, blinking slowly as it began to rain, as if the sky itself showed its disproof at what was happening.

I didn't know the air horn had gone off until Clara was half way across the field, sprouted into her auburn wolf and was lunging right at me.

I breathed in, grounding my feet into the ground as I braced for the impact.

At the last second I shifted, the sound of our beast colliding matching the clap of thunder that echoed off the trees.

We went catapulting back, rolling in the grass, Clara's jaws snapping at my face the entire time, trying for the obvious and quick kill, her claws just grazing my neck.

I tried to growl, cringing at the pain that blossomed in my throat and I knew she had definitely penetrated my larynx, but I still managed to use my hind legs to shove her backwards. I jumped up quickly, shifting human, not caring I was naked as I ran at her full speed, letting my my claws extend as I approached her shifting frame.

I clawed her thigh, growling as I brought my claws down across her bottom half.

She reached up, gripping my fallen hair and dragging me down next to her, I felt her fist connect with my cheek and I brought my own fist up, colliding with her lip as she cursed.

She morphed into her red tinted beast again, wasting no time as she bit onto my exposed arm. I cried out as she thrashed her head about, my wrist definitely broken in more than one place.

I clawed my good hand, gouging her eye as hard as I could and she howled in pain, releasing me with enough time to shift.

I held my injured paw against my body as Clara shifted human, her eyes an obvious bloody mess as she screamed in pain.

I waisted no time, jumping upon her disoriented frame and I began ripping at her body, her scent and the one of blood, both mine and hers, quickly invading my senses. I could taste the bitter metallic taste in my mouth, but I didn't stop, not until her screaming was silenced.

My vision was clouded as I shifted human. I felt nothing but pain radiating from my wrist, I looked down, cringing at the site of my nearly mutilated fingers and oddly bent wrist, all covered red in crimson.

"Help me." I croaked out as I used my good hand to clutch my throat, staring up at the dark thundering clouds as the rain fell onto my sore body, washing me of the red that covered me.