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Ariel's POV

My breath comes out slow and smooth as I slip a hair tie around the end of my braid. Today is the day everything becomes a reality. All this training, all these emotions, everything's coming together, winding down to this day.

Why... Why did so much effort go into this? Why put so much time into something that they could have put behind them?

No. This isn't something they can put behind. Not after the threats. Not after what they did to Raphael or what happened to me. Not after what happened to my pack, the deaths, and the pain. No, this isn't something that can be brushed aside. This preparation is worth every moment.

I glance sideways at Milo, he's sitting on the bed innocently. He never had to know any of this, Milo was safe from the pain, he didn't understand it. For a moment, I find myself jealous of my pet dog.

My bubbly Ana walks into the room, interrupting the train of thought. Her hair up in a ponytail, her clothes saying she's ready. The sweat on her forehead saying she's nervous. As am I, but I cannot show anyone else that. I am their leader, I need to be strong for them.

"It will work out," I tell her, determination seeping through my words.

"Liam and Amanda haven't been busting ass for nothing, I know," Ana says slowly. "It doesn't mean I'm not scared."

I smile softly, understanding what she was going through. I too am scared. Ana and I may never have been close, but as I grew as a person, Ana and I also grew closer. Not to mention, I had her mate working with Amanda so often, the least I could do was spend time with her. So we might not be best friends, as I was with June, but our relationship was good... It was good. It was healthy and it was building to be something great, I could feel it.

"You know," my beta female says slowly as she takes a seat on the edge of the bed. "I came here to tell you... You're amazing."

I blink a few times, the sentiment unexpected. Why would she come just to say that? "Thank y-"

"I'm not done," Ana walks over, looking me in the eye as she continues. "Our pack was the strongest in the USA. We overtook Darren's pack by sheer number. And, save for the pack we have been fighting, we were strong. It was the strongest pack and yet you alone, in training no less, made us look weak. You humiliated the pack. They looked up to you because you became a hero. You could fight like Raphael but you were harder than he was. You pushed us more and more. And because of that, we are stronger.

"So I want to thank you and tell you just how amazing you are, Luna Ariel. You made the strongest pack stronger, you showed us we cannot rely on a strong alpha but must be strong ourselves. Despite needing a leader, we need a community of strength. We need to be not only strong physically, but mentally. You gave us something to work for. You gave this pack hope again.

"Luna... Ariel, no matter what happens, I want you to know and understand just how incredible you are."

I stare at Ana. The normally bubbly woman holding a serious face, trying to express so much to me. I could hear the words she spoke, I know what she is saying, I understand it. But I don't necessarily feel it.

"It was my job," I say suddenly. "As Raphael's mate and as a Luna..."

"And you did it wonderfully... But it's not just because of your position. It's because of who you are as a person, you are a good person Ariel... are you ready to go?"

"I am ready."

She takes my hand and together we walk to the vehicles that would carry us to our battle. Raphie is standing in front of our car and I look at him. His gaze has me feeling stronger than before. Ana's words lifting me up and his presence giving me all the strength I could ever need. We were going to take back our lives so that he, the alpha who tormented us, could never hurt us, our pack, or anyone else.

Alpha Drake. You will suffer for what you've done.

I slip into the car and Raphael takes off.

Tension burns through the air. It feels like electricity. Raphie and I both knowing what's to come. A fight for our lives. Finally, our turn to make the first move. To be one step ahead. It's our turn to take the initiative.

The drive isn't excessively long, but the tension gripping the air makes it feel longer, makes it feel suffocating. The anticipation of knowing what is to come eating away at both of us. And not only us, but the pack members coming with us. The pack link wavering with all sorts of nerves. Emotions flowing through, unlike any other time.

Our destination quickly fills with the many cars, filled with pack members joining us. Each one having been somehow hurt but this cruel alpha. Whether it was through the deaths we suffered, or simply having their alpha taken from them.

Raphael looks at me, his gaze turning soft for a moment. "Ariel we're going to come out of this victorious."

"I know."

We share a look. A moment of softness. I lean over, planting the softest of kisses to his lips.

"Tell me how much you love me once we're done here," I say softly against his lips before pulling away and slipping out of the car.

The pack instantly puts the plan into action and it's all too efficient. Alpha Drake never expected anyone to come at him. Not if he didn't instigate it. His wolves weren't prepared for the stealth of mine. Getting into his office felt so easy, yet it made sense how easy it was.

He is at his desk, reading a paper as though his pack wasn't at war with mine around us. This disgusting man, this one radiated the power of the alpha. This one... This man was truly Alpha Drake. He clicks a pen, not once looking up at Raphael and I. Is he that confident he will win?

"I can't say I was expecting you," Drake's voice is smooth, the scratching of his pen on the paper painfully loud throughout the room. "Which is a first. You hid your plans so well."

Raphael's hand slips into mine, slick with sweat as I imagine mine is too. We are scared, but we are facing this together.

It's clear Drake's wolf is in control when his eyes flick to us. "Thing is, I have something you don't have. Information. Which is how I plan to evade your... What are you calling this mission?"

I frown, information on what? What could we possibly need to know that we would risk keeping him alive for?

"Oh come now," he stands, eyeing us with pure amusement. "You have wondered for years... Why does your wolf hurt you?"

I freeze up slightly, grip on Raphael's hand tightening. How could he know my wolf hurts me? How could he possibly know? Hardly anyone is privy to such information. He looks directly at me, knowing he's got me cornered. He is so confident. He knows I'll succumb to him. My chest tightens, of course, I want to know the answer. Not only for me, I know of others whose wolf hurts them. No one knows why a wolf would hurt their bonded human. And there are so few wolves who have such an issue, no one cares to find an answer. But an answer could mean a cure... And...

I've never moved so fast.

Drake is below me, on the ground, myself straddling his chest. My hand, claws out, digging deep into his neck. It's at that moment, I watch his wolf drain from him and he looks at me with very compassionate, very human, eyes.

"Thank you," he whispers out before continuing. "My child. My child is in my room. Please. Please protect him. This, what happened to me, is what can happen to those whose wolves hurt them... Don't succumb to it. But my boy... Please protect my boy."

I don't let go in time for his wolf to start healing. I don't because the man below me is Alpha Drake, the one who gave us so much pain. The life draining from his normal eyes, however, is what gets me to let go. It was never Alpha Drake in control... This whole time he was enslaved to his wolf. Not only that, he's saying it could happen to me. And... And I just killed him, the only person who could help it not happen to me.

Two strong hands find their way to my shoulders.

"Ariel," Raphael speaks softly. Through the link, I can feel he heard and understands everything. "You will never get to that point. No one will let you."

"I... I'm already getting there," I whisper in response, looking in horror at the blood all over my hand.

"No, no," Raphael quickly removes me from the body, taking me away as I start to panic. "Ariel I would have done it too. You saved people. You saved Drake. It's okay." He continues to whisper sweet nothings as he cleans off my hand.

After I can't tell how long, once I've calmed down, I notice Parker and Justin in the room.

"Hey... So... There's something you two need to see." Parker explains glancing nervously at Justin.

Together we walk to a dark bedroom. The scent reeks of the now-deceased alpha. But in the room is a crib, decorated in blue.

I walk up, knowing exactly who's inside. Drake's child, the one he spoke of when he was dying. This is his baby boy. The baby is asleep. His mother goddess knows where... His pack abandoning him.

Raphael slips an arm around my waist. "What should we name him?"

"I don't know," I reach in, picking up the small werewolf. "I didn't exactly have time to create a name list or make a poll."

I don't know how or when we agreed that Alpha Drake's son would be our boy, but we did and he's going to be the kindest alpha. His wolf will be nothing like his birth fathers. Raphael and I are his parents now.

"I kind of like the name Apollo," Raphael suggests softly.

"Apollo... like the greek god of the sun?" I raise an eyebrow, glancing at Raphael before looking back at the sleeping baby. "My little sunshine boy, Apollo," I drag a gentle finger over his cheek.

"Our son... You know how much I love you right?"

I nuzzle into Raphael while holding our son... Our sun. "You love me and our Apollo."

"You and our Apollo," he agrees.