E P I L O G U E

Nineteen Years Ago

Wolfe POV

"Come on baby" I squeezed my pregnant Mate's hand a little tighter "Just a little bit farther. We're almost at our special place."

"Wolfe..." Noëlani panted out a pained whimper "Wolfe...I think she's coming."

My eyes widened as I turned and quickly picked up my Mate, my body automatically moving and running even faster through these woods at her words.

My daughter barely turned 24 weeks old yesterday and while I knew that it wasn't impossible for infants to survive out of the womb this early on in pregnancy, the tension leading up to this moment, as well as the added stress of tonight's attack, would not be without consequences on my two girls.

"Hold on baby" I kissed the side of her head "I'll get us there soon and both you and baby girl will be just fine."

"That's not all Wolfe" my Mate whispered, her voice shaking as she held up a bloody palm "One of them managed to hit me."

I swore loudly, something I rarely did in the presence of my Mate, and the pounding in my heart was suddenly heard in my ears at the implication.

The arrows our enemies were using were enchanted, using a special type of poison that only grew in one realm.

The Faelands.

It made sense for Noëlani's people to be upset with her, considering she gave up her crown and untainted purebred status for a Wolf Shifter like me.

We expected them to come...eventually.

What we didn't expect was for my people, my fellow Heirs, to betray me.

Tÿr was obvious because of his utter disdain for me since the moment we met, for some unknown reason, but to know that the others were involved with him too absolutely gutted me to my core.

These were the men and women I once considered my closest friends and confidantes, the ones who I thought shared similar principles and morals as I did when it came for the good of the Shifter community.

It just...it fucking hurt me to my core to know that these people, some of who I've known my entire life, gave my family and I up without batting an eye.

And to know that they not only willingly sacrificed my family but also some members of their own, just for a taste of corrupted fae powers, led me to believe that I never truly knew them at all.

I was snapped out of my thoughts when I felt my wife grip my bicep, her blue ethereal eyes glowing bright as she looked straight ahead.

"We're not alone."

My head snapped around and I couldn't mistake the shockingly brightly colored silver blonde hair no matter how hard I try.

"Eliza?"

My best friend since we were in diapers, and the true heir of the Fenrir Pack, skidded to a stop on front of us.

"WOLFE" she cried "I would have come sooner if possible but Tÿr locked me in Phoenix's room and I couldn't..."

My Wolf let out a menacing growl at the name of her traitorous husband.

"I love you like a sister Liza" I shielded my Mate and child away from her line of sight "But I won't hesitate to put you down if you're here to harm my family."

Her eyes welled with tears "I would never do that to you" she whispered.

"Your husband would."

Her eyes flashed "I'm nothing like that monster."

"You might not be like him," I snarled "But you did marry and mate with him. That alone makes me question your morals and which side you truly align with."

"First loves makes you do stupid things" she murmured, angrily wiping a tear away as she looked away "And a unborn, innocent child makes you want to stay and attempt to work things out, even when you know deep inside of your heart that it was never going to work and you should have left a long time ago."

Another squeeze from my bicep had my head snapping down to my mate.

"We can trust her." She said, looking sorrowful at the sight of my old friend "She's not here to harm us."

"How do you know?

"Just call it a feeling or women's intuition" she kissed my bicep "We have to keep moving. I can feel them getting closer as each second passes."

I looked at my best friend whose eyes were shining with regret, sadness, and a small bit of guilt.

"How much do you know about delivering a baby?"

She shot me a dry look

"I practically delivered both of my children myself."

"Perfect" I said seriously "Then how do you feel about delivering mine?"

~~~~~~~~~~

Eliza (Nix's Mom)

"Please, just take her" Wolfe pleaded with me, his eyes glistening with unshed tears as he continued to stare down at his daughter "Give her what we couldn't...give her a chance at a normal life...she shouldn't be persecuted just because of who her parents were."

Sobs wracked my body as this tiny little bloodied being was gently placed in my arms, her barely audible wails etching themselves on my already broken soul.

"Take her yourself Wolfe" I cried, gripping his wrist "There's still time for you two to escape. I can stay and..."

He cut me off with a gentle pat to my head, the gesture so familiar and reminiscent of our younger days that a fresh wave of tears started falling again.

"It's too late for me" he whispered, caressing a large finger across his daughter's tiny head "They won't stop coming for me until they're sure I'm dead. The one advantage we have is that they don't know about her..."

"I can't condemn her to that life..." He glanced at the small cabin behind us, the labored screams that once filled the air were now completely silent "I won't condemn her to that life. Noë didn't want that for her"

"Besides, it's too late for me" he raised up his poisoned ridden arm, the one that matched his Mate identically "The one good thing about the Curse of a True Mate bond. The Gods knew I couldn't live without her so they decided it was my time too."

"Wolfe...." I whimpered and looked down just in time to see the beautiful little girl in my arms grip onto a loose piece of my hair "She needs you..."

He sent me a sad smile.

"No she doesn't" he said softly "She's her mother's daughter. I have no doubt she'll survive and conquer the world just like she was born too."

Shouts sounded from behind me, startling me so bad that I nearly jumped ten feet in the air.

Wolfe's daughter let out a little wail.

"Go!" He ordered me, his icy eyes flashing "Go right this instant or else Noëlani's death would have been for nothing."

"Wolfe" I panicked, reaching for his arm again "I can't do this. I can't keep her safe. I can barely keep my own children safe."

"You can keep her safe" he patted my head once more, the gesture feeling like a final goodbye "And do you want to know why I believe you can?"

"Why?" My lips trembled.

"Because you're the true Fenrir Heir, one of the most fiercest wolves I've ever met and the best mother to two wonderful pups. I know you'll care for her like she was your own" he urged me forward "I'm sorry you Mated with a psychotic piece of shit who cherish power over his own family. You deserved so much better Lizzie."

The shouts started getting closer and closer.

I tensed, my wolf pacing anxiously and urging me to get away from danger as soon as possible.

My spine straighten and I quickly dabbed my tears away, a second away from taking off when Wolfe's last few words halted me.

"Wherever you take her, just make sure they know her name."

I glanced back at him "Her name?"

He smiled, and for the first time in our entire lives, I watched with wide eyes as Wolfe Lupine, one of the most powerful Alphas and Heirs in the world, break down in tears.

And even though Tear after tear streamed down his face, the sad smile he wore was still proud.

"Nova Nyx" he murmured lovingly "Our little North Star. The only star we need to guide us together through the darkness that is death."

~~~~~~

It wasn't even six minutes later when a large explosion sounded from the cabin's location; thick, black fumes engulfing the entire night sky.

It was in that moment, that singular life changing moment, did I know that the man I called my best friend, the one I once considered my true first love, was dead.

And somehow, deep in my heart, I knew I was next.

Because when Tÿr finds out about my betrayal...and he always finds out...I knew he wouldn't let me live to se another day.

I just hope, for the sake of children and this little bundle of life in my arms, that I get them to safety before he does.