Marcel’s POVThe phrase ‘you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone’ comes to mind as we make our way back towards Pine Lake at a snails pace. I have always been fast, even for a Vampyre. Training and patrolling with the pack has been interesting, they aren’t as quick as I am but their endurance more than makes up for it. Travelling with these women is slow and frustrating. I know they can’t help it and I could run ahead and be back with Liberty in no time at all. It is at times like this that I really appreciate my genetic advantages.Nobody back home has any idea where we are. They don’t know we have Christian or that Zander and I are out here together. The witches insist that there are Katasan all the way up and down the coast in both directions and the only way back is through the mountain range. Fortunately we are passing through one of the narrowest areas and the valley is wide and as even as one could hope for. There are boulders in our path and an occasional fallen tree to

Chapter Fifty-ThreeAverson’s POV When Vitandi approached me with his plan, all of the anger I have been pushing down for years came bubbling back to the surface. I told myself that hating the Katasan, everything they stand for and what they did to me, would do nothing but make me bitter, so I bottled it up. I tried to get on with life as best I could, and told myself I wouldn’t let them take any more of my life from me.My world ruptured when Imelda told me my mate had died and my son was missing, but I pushed through the heartache and grief and told myself that one day the Katasan would pay for the years they stole and the loss of my family. Some days I let out a little bit of that pent up rage, like opening a faucet, it was the only thing that got me through the hardest times.I never really believed I would be able to punish them the way I wanted, I am only one man, so when a dragon and one of the Betas of the most notorious warrior pack asked me to join them, I didn’t need much

Esme’s POV “Doc Wood needs you now. Liberty is in labour, he needs blood, towels and blankets. There is no time for that, come on, we need to get the blood and back to Gabe’s spot.” I yell at Imelda. I can’t believe that whilst I’m telling her all this, she is gathering up potions and candles and daggers from her alter like she hasn’t a care in the world. “Imelda. Did you hear me? Liberty needs you.” I walk over and shake her shoulder but she is engrossed in her task. “You go ahead, I’ll be right behind you. There is something I must do first and it can’t wait.” There is no arguing with her, I can hear in her voice that whatever she needs to do is something she will not be dissuaded from. Whatever it is, I hope and pray it doesn’t cost us our Luna and her pups. “Whatever you are planning, make it quick, she didn’t look good when I left.” The image of the blood and panic on Liberty’s face won’t ever leave my mind. I don’t usually listen to my gut, I don’t have to, I have always been

Gerald’s POVLiberty’s body lies limp and unresponsive against mine as Doc Wood carefully holds the first born pup in his arms and desperately rubs it vigorously, all over.“A boy!” he smiles for a moment before his expression is taken over by concern. This isn’t right, he should be crying out with life, something is terribly wrong and there is nothing I can do to help. Liberty’s arm falls from her chest to her side and slaps the cold, hard stone.“Doc! Something’s happening. Her breathing, it’s different!” Unmistakable alarm creeps into my voice, and all eyes fall upon Liberty as I speak the words I had hoped never to utter. It is like something out of a horror movie, the way time seems to freeze and everyone stares at her in fear, scrambling to figure out what was wrong and what to do to help. All of the colour has drained from her face, her lips are turning violet and her chest is barely moving. Her breaths are shallow and so far apart, and the Doc is wearing enough of her blood fo

Marcel’s POVI like to think that in my long life and varied experiences, I have seen pretty much everything there is to see in this world. Since coming to Pine Lake, my belief in my own wisdom has been put into question on many occasions, as has my mastery of my emotions.Alma, Lena and Grace are another anomaly I can’t explain. Their power and knowledge rivals that of Imelda, which should not be possible, not unless they are all connected in some way, by blood or by magic. I can’t explain it and they won’t, not yet anyway. There is no denying the energy of the three of them individually, but when they come together you can feel it in the air like static electricity.By the time we reached the bunker I was certain that Alma is indeed a high priestess, and far older than her appearance portrays, and that she has taken the other two under her wing to teach them the ancient magic that has been all but forgotten. I was excited to introduce Alma and Imelda, the two of them are so similar,