Luke's P.O.V.

I woke up during the night with the burning urge to pee. I groaned lightly as I unwound myself from Anastasia. I trudged to my bathroom still half asleep. I sighed as the cool air hit my bare skin as I walked back to bed. I paused for a moment, appreciating the beauty in front of me.

Ana was asleep on the right side of my bed, which worked out fine since I preferred the left, with her back to me. My wolf whined sleepily, wanting to maximise the peace with our mate before we left.

She moaned softly as my arms surrounded her again and I pressed a soft kiss to her cheek. I breathed in deeply as I stroked her stomach, waiting to succumb to sleep again.

"How did it all begin Luke?" Ana's soft voice stirred me out of my doze. She didn't need to explain what "it" was.

I sighed and pulled her closer to me, pressing her back firmly to my chest. "It was a house party. I had just turned eighteen and I was ready to conquer the world of alcohol. I either drank way past my limit or I'm a lightweight because I blanked out and woke up in a bed with Isabel. I started freaking out and the whole promise thing slipped out. I'm not going to lie, I've always thought that Isabel was pretty and I had heard rumours that she liked me so it worked out for everyone."

Ana was quiet before she rolled over to face me with her eyes half lidded with sleep. "Until I came along," she half smirked.

"Until the best thing that's ever happened to me came into my life," I kissed her forehead and saw her smile. "Come on love, two hours until sunrise."

Ana sighed happily as she nestled her head into my chest. I growled contentedly as my fingers stroked her back until her breathing evened out and my eyes slammed shut.

~

I woke up the next morning as I felt a pair of soft lips caressing the skin on my neck. I smiled as I opened my eyes to see Ana looking up at me. I cradled her face as she smiled sadly when my thumb rubbed her cheek. This was going to be hard for the two of us, neither of us had been away from each other since we marked each other and this wasn't the easiest of missions.

"We need to get going," Ana murmured. I leaned over and kissed her softly. A moan escaped my lips as Ana kissed back with an urgency that lit a flame in me. She gasped as my lips left hers and drifted towards her neck. Her body pressed even more into mine as I sucked hard on her mark, nipping when I felt like her. Her moans encouraged me as her hands roamed every inch of my skin that was available. I pulled back as her hands drifted to the top of my boxers.

I smirked as I saw the skin on her neck burned red in dim dawn light. "We need to get going," Ana rolled her eyes as I threw her words back at her. I watched her lazily as she climbed out of bed and headed to the bathroom first. A cold feeling of dread filled me as the reality sunk in that I was leaving my mate in a couple of minutes.

We were quiet as we got ready. I tied a leather band around my ankle to hold my clothes when we shifted back. Ana tried to hide her fear and sadness but she couldn't, I felt her fear and worry and I tried to comfort her as much as possible. I kept my arm around her as we brushed our teeth. Ana slipped on a pair of shorts while I pulled a vest and shorts.

"Hey," I pulled her to me before we left the room. "I'm going to be fine." I pressed a kiss to her forehead. I hugged her close as she smiled begrudgingly.

There was a knock on the door but we didn't let it disturb our peace. "It's time Luke," Dad's voice broke the quiet. Ana pulled back sadly and we headed downstairs.

"Just be safe out there. You are to come back here in one piece, alive and breathing," Mom pulled me in for a hug.

"I will Mom," I hugged her tight and kissed her cheek. Dad didn't say anything and the rush of fresh air into the house told me that Ana was already outside. Dad, Ana and I walked in silence to the meeting point where Harvey was already.

Luke.

I looked at Dad in confusion. He rarely talked to me using our mind link but even now he was keeping most of his mind closed off from me. I looked at Ana who was walking ahead of us, surprised to find her the subject of Dad's attention also.

When all this is over, don't hold back when it comes to her. Not for the sake of the pack, for the sake of you and your mate.

I swallowed lightly as his words sunk in. Marrying Ana, mating with her, starting a family, all of that were in the cards for us but Ana was actively pursuing college and I had decided on a gap year. A deep primal part of me told me that Dad was right, we had waited too long for our mate; we were ready for this.

One step at a time. I replied as Alpha Ashworth, Damien, Nyal, Axel and Harvey came into view.

"Just know that this plan does not have my full confidence Simon," Dad muttered as he shook hands. Ana was in Axel's arms as they talked mentally. The soft expression on his face had me doing double takes while giving them their privacy. It was only then I realised that Axel, I and probably Damien and Nyal all had the same weakness; Anastasia.

"It's simple, the Nightwalker pack has set up camp a couple of miles away from here. We're going to gain first hand intelligence. No contact, no conflict, just information so we can plan our next move," Damien stated plainly.

I watched as Ana slipped out Axel's arms into Nyal's. "And our back up plan in case we get caught?"

"We go on the defensive," Harvey answered. "Don't attack unless it's a matter of life or death."

"Good plan," I muttered sarcastically as Ana moved on to Damien. My wolf whined as the minute we had to leave drew near.

"Alright boys listen up," Alpha Ashworth said grimly and Ana drifted to me. "Your main focus is numbers; how much are we up against. We also want information on any devices, weapons, etc. that they may have. You have forty eight hours before we send reinforcement...reinforcements."

Ana's shoulders shook in silent laughter. Basically, her father was saying we had two days before Ana came to wreak havoc with some company. I held her close as Alpha Ashworth talked to his sons and Dad talked to Harvey. Ana held me tight, her worry unsettled me but I stayed calm and strong for her.

"Let's go," Damien said sadly, casting one last look at Ana before running ahead to shift.

I looked down at Ana as she tiptoed and kissed me. "Just come back to me," she murmured before releasing me. I kissed her hard one last time before sprinting ahead and shifting with Harvey. My heart broke as my wolf pined to see our mate one last time but if we turned back, we wouldn't go anywhere.

~

They're stopping. Harvey said as we slowed our run. We'd only been running for two hours at most. Running with Harvey was no fun, he kept his mind closed so we ran in silence, keeping the others in sight. I looked up as Damien gestured for us to shift back.

"Our scent is less noticeable while we're human," Nyal explained as Harvey and I huddled behind an outcrop of rock. "We're also downwind."

I could hear the footsteps and growling of wolves I pulled a smaller rock out of the stack and peeked through the crevice. "There's got to be at least fifty wolves here. Their camp site, it's like a small army."

"And imagine we're only fives miles away from the Blackwell border," Axel muttered from where he was looking out. "What's the plan bro?"

"Lay low," Damien decided, receiving an approving nod from Harvey. "The camp is too busy to go closer."

I rubbed my mark as the skin tingled, it wasn't itching or burning, in fact it felt comfortable. I was faintly aware of someone else's emotion, like a warmth in my chest and a whisper in my mind.

"You alright Luke?" Nyal's question brought everyone's eyes to me. Every action and reaction were under scrutiny because we had no clue what our enemies were capable of.

"It's my mark," I answered vaguely. As predicted, Axel and Harvey lost interest but Damien and Nyal kept looking at me.

"Can you tell what Ana's feeling?" Damien asked. I nodded and breathe in deeply, focusing on the faint feelings.

"She's happy," I answered. My insides panged in longing. "She's probably with Penny who gave birth," I suggested.

"Makes sense," Damien agreed.

"She's a sucker for babies," Nyal added.

My heart clenched at the thought, the future of Ana and I taking care of our kids. They would never feel unloved or unwanted, that's for sure but right now, I was here to make sure that we had a future to look forward to.

"Get some rest," Damien grumbled as he settled in the shade from the midday sun. "We start creeping around at sun down."

I found myself a hidden cool crevice in the stone, gritting my teeth at the grating feeling of the stone against my bare back. I sighed as Ana's feelings faded from the back of my mind but her presence was still with me as I fell asleep.

~

"Wake up." I opened my eyes to Harvey standing up next to me. "We're ready."

"They've gone out to hunt," Nyal grunted as he stood up. "Damien and Axel have given us the all clear, they're at the outskirts."

"Let's go," I muttered and wasted no time in shifting. Harvey and I approached slowly, following the scents and pawprints. I felt hardwired, all my senses on high alert for the slightest change.

Nyal joined his brothers and with five wolfy nods we set off. Damien and Harvey were taking north of the camp, Axel the east, I was keeping to the west while Nyal stuck to the south. It was frustrating not having a mind link with everyone and it was every man for himself.

I sniffed around, keeping my nose to the ground, searching for the thing that scared me the most; the poison that burned even Ana, the stuff that made Kenna's wounds difficult to close. In my mind, it was a major threat because it could harm humans and wolves.

My muzzle pulled back as I caught wind of a sour smell. I padded softly into the camp. My ears were up as my eyes focused in front of me. My stomach retched as the smell got stronger when I finally found the source.

What are you doing Luke? Harvey asked as I shifted back into human form.

We need to find a cure for this stuff, I answered as I opened the crate. It was filled with mock grenades and clear tubes of some purple liquid. I breathe in deeply as I picked one up, it was safe to touch but definitely dangerous if deployed.

The hairs on the back of my neck rose as I pocketed two of the grenades and tubes. I stripped down and shifted again. I stood still as I heard the faintest breath and the earth tremble.

HARVEY! I shouted as I bounded north as fast as I could. I didn't hear Nyal or Axel and I pushed myself even harder.

I bared my teeth and lunged for a wolf who was in mid tackle on Harvey. My teeth closed around the offender's neck, a technique I learnt from Ana and I pushed my full weight on him as we fell to the ground. The wolf tried to break free from my grip but I held on, constricting his airways until he passed out.

I yelped in surprise and whisked my head around as someone sunk their claws into my rear. I kicked at my attacker but he didn't let go until Damien barrelled into him. I growled and lunged again, meeting the wolf that was going to attack Harvey in mid-air. I howled in pain as the wolf's claws sunk into my chest. I slashed at his face and sent him scampering.

Luke!!! Harvey shouted as a wolf clamped down on his leg. Damien and I rushed to him but ten wolves immediately blocked us. I attacked, swatting and biting anyone I could.

Harvey! I reached out to him but I got no response as his wolf screamed in pain and he blacked out. Nyal and Luke jumped out behind the attacking line and chased after the wolf who was dragging Harvey's unconscious body. I felt claws and teeth rip my flesh as I fought and joined the chase.

I skidded to a halt as Nyal and Axel were standing at the banks of a roaring river. I growled and ran around, trying to find a way across the river.

HARVEY! I shouted and howled, listening over the water for a response.

"He's their hostage Luke," I turned around to see Damien in human form standing behind me. I shifted back, not caring about the nakedness.

"We need to go after him," I spat furiously.

"And we are but four of us can't do it alone."

My chest heaved as I looked at them.

"Let's get our packs. This is war."