Maxim was right.. as much as i already loved my pup, we could make more. I just needed my angel.

I needed my Nova. She kept the monster in me at bay.. helped make it easier for me to be around other wolves.. all i could think about was her.. more so than my own family.

Rinsing the shampoo out of my hair with a heavy heart, "Do you think he will come back at all?"

A pause.

"If he doesn't... i can order him to. But im going to give him time. He waited a long time to get what he had.. and lost it all in the blink of an eye..." he trailed off in thoight.

The moon was cruel that way.

What was her purpose? I know my mom had it coming but what about Gabriel? He suffered from losing her. What for? Why?

Once showered and wearing clean clothes, Maxim and I were heading back down the corridor toward the lobby which was now empty.

From what Maxim told me.. Dark Moon and Blue Moons medical staff had been working that past three hours saving lives of the severely injured.. performing surgeries on wolves that could be saved. Smart of them to have called them ahead of time.

The Clinic was full of doctors and nurses from each pack, the other wolves being cleared away.. told to go get some sleep. Only the high ranks were allowed inside the clinic.. and immediate family. Most were recovering..

Dark Moon and Blue Moon pack had taken all of their dead, the rest of the pack members taking them back home .. and that included Conrad..

I cant believe he's gone.

Eden tried to leave with them.. but they refused, saying she will be allowed at the burial ritual in two days.

How he died?

Not a single person knows.

He was just found.

Conrad had no mate. No heirs. Grace wouldn't count.. he never adopted her as his. Not legally among the wolves. Whoever killed him earned his title rightfully considering those things. In war.. it isnt perceived a challenge so if an Alpha is killed, the wolf who did the killing doesn't inherit their land and title. Unless there are no heirs.

Conrad's killer, .. whoever that may be could also be dead. His top two in charge wolves had stuck around.. to go over a few things with me when the air clears.

An Alpha.. the hardest wolf to kill, had lay slain in the Bloody Meadow.. Eden would mourn for him for quite sometime. I felt bad for her.

I felt horrible for my dad.. and Jack and Dahlia too.. Maxim.. Gabriel..

But i couldn't stop the hopefulness that bloomed inside my heart.

When i wolfed out, i went to Deacon's grave. I talked to him. It felt like he was there with me and thats the only reason i was able to come back intact with my humanity..

Nova.

Knowing she had that possibility of making it out had me racing back here.. and now i need to see her.. my wolf needs hee touch as im sure she needs mine. My touch can help her heal.

"Im gonna let you go ahead and go on in, man. I'll be in the lobby if you need anything." Maxims barritone voice spoke up. Nodding, i patted him on the shoulder and entered inside Nova's recovery room, holding my breath in panic, only to find her lying in a bed.. pale. Wearing the blue hospital gown.. gauze wrapped around her chest beneath.. while blood bags hung on a drip, giving her the life force she needed along with pain medicine.

Doc was there, standing inside the dimly lit room.. writing things down on a chart as i came closer, shutting the door behind me.

My heart was thumping in my chest.. all i wanted to do was hold her. So lifeless.. thats not my Nova. Chapped blue lips with tubes coming out of them.. her face hollow.. white as a ghost with dark circles emphasised beneath her eyes..

Rushing to her side, i brought a chair directly next to her and sat, facing her.. my eyes roving over her pale form.. tears prickling them. Shes not in the clear just yet. I cant lose her.

"Nova suffered serious damage." Doc's voice wavered with age as he turned to me.. "the spear missed her heart thankfully by a few centimeters. It would have been fatal if that had happened." He let me know how lucky she was, his tired eyes scanning my face.. hot tears falling down my cheeks that i never knew existed. "She has a collapsed lung.. which her body is healing itself more quickly now that we have her brothers blood pumping through her. He was a match.. the surgery.. although the silver burned through her body, i was able to cut around the damaged flesh and she began healing almost instantly. We just have to keep this blood pumping in her system and if theres no problem with infection, she should make it out okay." He informed me, down to business.. nevermind that i had spent many days with he and Daisy doing my recooperating.. he was reporting to his Alpha now, on the state of his Luna.

Inhaling sharply, i realised how lucky we were.. how lucky She and i both were..

I hesitated on the next question, looking up into his eyes.. debating if i wanted to know.

"What about the pup." My usually deep voice was but a whisper now.

A gentle smile caressed his face, showing smile lines. "The pup.. he will be fine." I let out a breath of releif, "if Nova manages to keep away infection.. here." He moved a maching over toward the bed, lifting her gown up over her neon pink panties to rest at the beginning of the gauze around her middle chest. She always had a love for neon and fluorescent coloured underwear and bras...

A low growl surfaced which had his eyes snapping to mine and i cursed. "Sorry Doc.. the wolf is a little on edge."

He only nodded as he pulled out a scanner looking thing, squeezing warm gel on the end before flipping a switch, bringing a monitor to life.

His hand moved and he put the scanner thing over her abdomen, moving it around. I came closer, edging to my seat and i held her hand in mine.

Ice cold.

She was cold but i still felt those tingles of the Mate bond but barely.. which meant she was there.. just barely holding on. Hold on my beautiful warrior.

A rythmic beating began pulsating through the quiet room as my eyes roved up to meet the monitor.. i was shocked..

"There." Doc pointed at the little amoebe looking blob with a round part for a head and two little arms and two little legs, flailing around as it floated around the screen in its safe little bubble. "That is your pup. Too early to tell the sęxx but ofcourse it will be a boy. No doubt about that." There was a smile in his voice and it was contageous.

My pup.

My son.

My mate

This was my family..

I will never let go of my family.

Tears of joy sprouted from my eyes as i witnessed the gift the moon had given me.. this time around it was different. With Grace, I only had protective feelings for the pup. But here? Seeing the pup I created with my mate? Out of pure love?

Its the single most happiest moment in my life aside from Nova telling me she loved me. Raising the hand i held of Nova's, i kissed it.. feeling her pulse spike.

I would die for this female. For my family. My pup...

"Oh my." Doc sounded alarmed which had me tensing up, heart racing.

"What. What is it Doc?" I was on my feet by then, ready to jump out of my skin.

He pushed his glasses up his nose, eyeing the screen that now had another little matching blob of pup dancing around beside the other.

"It seems there are two fetuses. Two pups, Alpha.. " he righted himself, beaming at me. "Your mate is going to have twins." He grinned ear to ear at the only happiness that had been brought his way today.

I stared in shock.. the other little guy had hidden his brother from our view. The two little guys wiggled to and fro.. their arms waving as if they were saying hi.

More tears flooding my face and i couldn't take my eyes off the screen, glancing down at my mate every so often.

"Im gonna be a daddy. Twice" i whispered. It was as if the moon was giving me what i had lost before, plus one. But this one came from my mate.. the key to my heart..

Doc wiped the gel from Nova's belly, flipping the maching off before tearing a strip of paper out of the machine and handing me a dozen photographs.. sonograms of my twin Alpha pups before he left me with my mate.

Holding her hand, her stomach still exposed, i rested my free hand on top.. all the pain and suffering i had dealt with today seemed to fade into the background once i applied my warmth to her belly which grew my young.

"Nova." I whispered as the tears kept coming, sobbing out my words like a big fůçķìng baby. "I love you so much baby girl. So so much. I promise sweetheart... when this is over.. when you are healed.. im going to spend the rest of my life making you so damn happy. Every single day. You have given me so much to hope for when i lost everything. I thought my life was fading before me but you my dear love have given me a million things worth living for.. and i want to make you smile every day. I want to make you fall more and more in love with me every day. I want nothing in this world besides you and our family... you and our pups are all i need sweetheart. I love you. So so much it hurts." A strangled cry came from me as i bent down and kissed her chapped cold lips, lingering while my tears dropped down onto her cheeks.

I laughed lightly, wiping my tears off of her face. I would need to tell Nic thank you for donating his blood to my mate. The brother she and I shared... he was going to be an uncle... twice to the second power. An uncle from both sides..

Nova's hand in mine became warmer.. her body changing. The blue and ghostly pale hue she held was slowly changing to a warmer shade as her body temperature heated up. Gasping, i glanced down at her belly and realised my hand had slipped a little lower, resting atop her neon pink lace covered apex. But that wasn't why she was heating up..

I felt the moon heard me. She didnt make Nova her warrior for no reason at all...

Nova was going to make it.

My being here . Talking to her.. touching her.. it was helping her.

Immediately i lowered her gown and pulled the blankets over her, stopping at the bandage below her breasts which were peaked.. the buds taunting me.

One day my sons will be feeding from those.

The thought warmed my heart and made me jealous at the same time but mostly warmed my heart.

The love of my life... she was going to make it.

I now had a reason to live.

○●○●○●○●○●○●○●○●○●

Nic

Leaning against the chair in the lobby, it was empty. But not quiet.

I could hear sobs coming from the large clinic, inside revovery rooms from mates and family members of those that were able to be saved..

I wonder where Grace is..

She had ran off into the woods hours ago and i let her.. giving her space. But she was wrong if she thought that she was my bad luck charm. If any, she was the only thing holding me together, keeping my wolf from lashing out.

It was her.

She was the reason as to why i havent lost my mind yet.

She may have lost everyone shes ever cared about but that doesnt mean she will lose me too. I wont let her. We belong together. Its the moon's will.

I need her.

Especially if my dad doesnt make it.. and Blake.

Realising im Blakes son?

Highlight of the fúcking year.

The first born Alpha...

But living with him and training- id finally come to terms with it. I want us to be okay.. he will never be my dad because i have a dad.. but he's like.. my friend who just so happens to father me.. its weird.

The death of Penny and Conrad still shakes my bones.. the way penny died.. it was a horrible death and i wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Even still, no one even knows who killed Conrad.

Gabriel has gone off the hinges, running off into the woods.. letting the wolf take over..probably to kill .

And my sister.. almost dying..

I didnt even think twice when they asked me to donate my blood to her. Thats my sister. My blood. My friend.

My poor mom.. i pray that shes okay. That she doesnt have to suffer the breaking of the mate bond.. she will whither away so slowly..

My eyes blurred as these thoughts rushed through my head and damnit i started to cry.. i dont cry. Not about shıť to do with family but when you are losing nearly everyone you've ever had.. it gets to you.

I sat there in the dim lobby as wolves came and went, crying like a damn baby in the corner, wiping my eyes with the backs of my hands.

Shıt has to work out. It just does.

The front door opened and i could tell it was Maxim. The wolf i once wanted to fight because of eden but now? Now i had respect for him. He went through so much and tonight he really took care of everything in Zaryn's place.. giving him a break.

He's an anomaly, that wolf. Most violent wolf alive was here as a friend of Zaryn. Of Nova.

I know about his infatuation for eden, i just hope he's not trying anything right now because that would just be tacky. I think Eden would be happy if she were to be with Maxim though. She changed everything about herself to be with Conrad but she could be her diva self with Maxim.

Damn, listen to me trying to play matchmaker at the wrong time. Go figure.

I shook my head silently, wondering how Maxim is still even going on with all the things he endured in his past.. witnessing the selling of his mate like some slave? How is the man not crazy?

I guess its why hes volatile instead.

"Hey." Maxim loomed over me, eyes flecking down to the seat beside me and i could feel the power radiating from him. My Alpha wolf recognized it and i straightened myself.

"Hey." I responded lamely.

He sat, eyes focused across the empty chairs on the other side of the lobby, forearms resting on his knees. "We good?" He turned his head to me.

I nodded. "Yeah. We are."

I could hear another door down the hall open and we both stood, waiting expectantly.. but what surprised me the most that it was Zaryn with a smile on his face.. tears.. but a smile.

"What is it, Zaryn?" I took a step forward which Maxim matched as we waited for his words.

Zaryn seemed over the moon and he held out a long strip of paper - photos.. sonogram photos.

"Nova is pregnant with twins.." he let out a small laugh filled with sobs as i took the paper and Maxim studied it over my shoulder..

Each little fetus had a head and two arms.. two legs.. well developed for just a week.

My heart sped up as i met his gaze, a smile forming on my lips. "Congratulations." I whispered.. i was going to be an uncle. Twice! To nova... and to Zaryn... so weird.

"What about Nova?" My forehead creased once i asked and Zaryn pursed his lips.

"Doc says she will be doing fine. We just have to make sure she doesn't get an infection... thats the only thing.." Another ghost of a smile.

Maxim passed me, hugging Zaryn, slapping him on the back. "Congrats man.. this is big... the moon has blessed the both of you." He laughed lightly before his serious expression took over. "Im glad shes going to be okay man. Really glad." I could have sworn i heard him sniffle but im chopping that up to my imagination..

"Nic.." Zaryn stepped forth, looking me in the eyes. "Thank you.. for the blood for Nova.. i dont-"

"Hey." My hand squeezed his shoulder. 'Shes my sister. You dont have to thank me, brother."

Maxim chuckled softly, "you get a kick out of saying that dont you."

Shrugging, i let a small smile play at my lips. It was weird... but interesting.

Zaryn sighed, looking older than he actually was, his gaze darting between us, "is there any news on my dad yet?"

Maxim and I both shook our heads at the same time that mom came rushing out of the corridors opposite from where Z came, her tired face finding its hugh.. a rose to her cheeks. Excitment in her pale green eyes that seemed to be filled with hope.. she looked at each of us, wringing her hands. "Jack and Blake are out of surgery... they are headed to recovery rooms on this wing of the clinic."

Zaryn and I looked at each other at that moment, sharing a smile..

"What is it?" Mom frowned, stepping forward.

Zaryn held out the sonograms to Mom who's eyes widened in shock, her fingers tentatively grasping the glossy paper. Her lips parted and those pale eyes were now searching between us, asking for answers

"Nova is pregnant, Dahlia. Twins. Shes out of surgery and resting in a recovery room.. you can go see her if you want.. but shes out of it." Zaryn seemed hopeful for once and i knew just then that everything would be okay.

We would all be okay.

Tears began dripping down moms cheeks as she pressed a hand over her mouth, a sob gettinf stuck in her throat as she launched herself at Zaryn. I can only imagine her wolf yipping with glee at the aspect of having grandpups and knowing her own pup will be okay.

Mom backed away, drying her eyes as she laughed lightly. "Well.. im glad something good has come out of all this.. death. Nova... shes going to be okay. I just know it." She sniffled, wiping more tears as she laughed lightly again, her coping mechanism.

"Well." She sighed, "im going to go see my little girl.. Nic.. Zaryn. If you want to go see your dads.. they are unconscious as well but.. they are finally out.. maybe it will help to talk to them?"

Nodding in agreement, i kissed moms cheek, gliding past her. First stop.. my dad. My real dad. The one who raised me. Jack

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°Seeing dad, i poured my heart out to him.. letting him know that he has always been and will always be my real dad.

No matter who gave me life, he was my dad. He raised me and never once did he disown me..

When i saw Blake lying there like Nova had been.. tubes coming from his mouth.. i thanked him.. for giving me life and for not taking mt choice away..

After spilling my emotional guts, i was tired at 2am.. mom suggested we all go home and rest but Zaryn wasnt going anywhere. He slept right beside Nova in a spare bed.. his wolf not wanting to leave his family.

I, however, took the walk and found myself striding through the back yard of the pack house toward the docks.. so much on my mind. I had been living with blake across the lake in Zaryn's old cabin.. so that was where i was going to stay for tonight.

I was emotionally drained.. my eyes barely staying open. My wolf whined for his mate all night but finally gave up,settling himself in the back of my mind to sleep. Thankfully since she arrived here, i have calmed down.. no more lashing out so to speak.

The moon was bright overhead, sending a glow to the waters surface like twinkling strands of silver splashing on top of the water.. a cool breeze sending goose flesh all over my arms..

As my feet hit the wooden dock, a figure in the dark, sitting on the edge of the dock, turned to face me and my heart stopped in my chest.

It was Grace.

The air blew her scent to me and i would recognize that smell anywhere.

"Grace? What are you doing here?" I came closer, noticing she was sitting with her toes dangling in the water.. her eye glazed over from tears.