Anastasia's P.O.V.

The following weeks were terrible.

I had been discharged from the hospital with strict orders for rest and to begin physical therapy but with most of my family in the hospital, I was soon re-admitted for stress and overwork, much to everyone's anger but not to their surprise. Luke and I were sharing a room so he could keep an eye on me, making sure I was not taking more burden than I could bear.

"Anastasia," his low voice laced with a warning as I sat typing away at my laptop. My eyes had not left the screen for hours and I could sense he was half inclined to throw it across the room.

"It's the school," I murmured, not even bothering to look at him. The blanket rustled as he relaxed. "I have asked them to defer my audition."

"And?"

I bit back my tears as I couldn't bring myself to relay the response I had gotten. I felt Luke sifting through my thoughts as I leaned back and sighed.

"Don't give up my love," Luke reached across to tilt my head towards him. "They said you showed promise, they still want you."

"Yes but how long are they willing to wait for me?" I murmured and laid my head on Luke's stomach as he ran his fingers through my hair.

"Bryan tells me that your lands were left untouched," Luke's voice had a deep timbre to it; one that reverberated with power, my wolf purred under the power that was our mate's.

"Save a couple houses on the northern boundary, but yes, relatively untouched," I traced the outline of his muscles.

"When are you planning a first move?"

"When at least Ari and Asher have been given the all clear," I replied. "They will go with the all the college-gens and start working. They can more than defend themselves if anything. Then the kids and finally, everyone else as they get the all clear for travel."

Luke's fingers stopped their wandering on the apple of my cheek, commanding my undivided attention. I met his steely gaze, "Yes?"

His warm hand cupped my cheek, "When do you leave?"

I kissed his stomach in an attempt to reassure him, "I'll be one of the last. More than likely I leave with Axel, Damien and Dad." The four of us were the hardest hit out of all of this, and not to toot my own horn, we were some of the most vital people in the pack.

His thoughts whirred by too fast for me to understand them. "And when do you want to come back?"

My breathing hitched for a moment. It wasn't priority but we needed to talk about the next step of our relationship; leaving my pack and officially becoming a part of his. "Definitely when my family can hold their own," I thrummed my fingers, "months from now?"

Luke bristled, "I don't think I can wait months."

His unvoiced fear hovered in the air. A power shift was evident between him and his father with even the simplest of conversation degenerating into petty but potentially deadly arguments. A lot of an alpha's power came from within himself but the remainder was drawn from the strength and faith from his pack and now most of the Blackwell pack had renewed or newfound respect and belief in Luke. While I doubted Jonathan would challenge Luke but I was not sure about Jonathan's wolf who could see Luke's wolf as a foe rather than family.

I hoisted myself up onto Luke's bed and pressed a kiss to my mark on his smooth skin. "I know."

Luke's arms coiled around me, his fingers playing a thoughtful melody along my spine. We stayed quiet, just the hum of the machines and muffled beating of ours hearts filling the room. Our thoughts wove in and out of each other with Luke thinking months ahead while I just planned day by day.

I looked up at him as his body tensed and every hair on his body stood erect. "Our parents are here," he muttered in response to my questioning look. I shifted in his arms as the door opened.

"Hullo Ana-bear," I grinned as Dad wheeled himself in, having been cleared for restricted mobility yesterday, we got him a motorised scooter so he could help out in the pack's recovery. "I hope you've been resting."

"For the most part," I commented. Family meeting this evening?

Sure Ana, Dad tried to probe into my mind to find out the reason but with a quick push and a discreet growl; I stopped him.

Luke cleared his throat, "To what do we owe the pleasure of a visit?" I locked my fingers with his, rubbing circles on the back of his hand, hoping to the calm the beast before a fight broke out between Luke and Jonathan...again.

Dad cast a sideways glance, assessing Jonathan whose wolf was riled up, "We managed to capture some renegades, we're having a pack meeting to decide what to do with them."

"I will be there," I looked up at Luke, "I can act as your proxy."

"No," Luke cracked his neck, "I will ask the doctor if I can be released for the meeting."

Jonathan sighed, "Luke, you are in no state to be attending this meeting."

A ominous warning growl rumbled from Luke's chest, shaking the window in its frame, "Is that true or is that what you want me to think?"

"We overheard your conversation yesterday," I clarified, placing a placating palm on Luke's chest and relishing the stunned look on Jonathan's face, "the next time you conspire, you shouldn't plot right outside the patient's room."

"Trying to keep me out of things when you very well know I have every right to make my opinion heard. You really are a snake through and through," the male beneath me ground out, shredding any last thread of Jonathan's patience.

"Alright you two," Emma stepped forward to rein in her husband, sparing him only looks of disgust. "The meeting starts at one o' clock. I'll make the necessary arrangements." With one last look at Dad, they left the room. I sat up and stretched before straddling Luke's lap. A small smirk played on his lips telling me that he had no shame about the fire he just started.

"You know you're not helping by instigating quarrels," I brushed his hair back, my fingertips touching his scar lightly.

"Yes but he doesn't help by rejecting reality," Luke's hands drifted to my waist. "What am I going to do when you go?"

"I don't know but we will be fine." Those beautiful blue eyes swirled with an unknown emotion and before I could register the distance between us his lips had captured mine with a fervour as if it was our last.

"Maternity ward is on the fourth floor guys," I laughed as Jason's traditional cockiness broke the quiet atmosphere.

"Hey guys," I greeted them as they greeted me and Luke. They were soon followed by the doctor with a wheelchair for Luke. I gravitated to the chairs as the boys helped Luke into the wheelchair. I chose a clean t-shirt for Luke and helped him put it on as the doctor called for the special van.

"Shouldn't you be using a crutch Ana?" Seth eyed my ankle that was in air cast.

I shook my head, ignoring the glare that sent my skin cold, "I'm fine."

"Seth, watch her," Luke's order made me roll my eyes but I was not fighting it. His wolf's need to protect me, to protect us, was in overdrive. Jason and Bryan stood on either side of Luke, ready to assist their friend and future alpha.

I looked at our little inner circle, "Let's go."

~

"Are we all ready to start?" My father had taken position as chair of the meeting as Luke and Jonathan sat on opposite sides of the meeting table in Jonathan's study.

Damien looked over at me and my chosen seat at Luke's side, the Ashworth pack had resigned itself to a neutral take on this matter. Just be careful, he warned.

I smiled at him, Your stubborn ass will shift to protect me if anything happens. He and Axel snorted, resenting their bed rest. Nyal was debriefing us on the Ashworth's proposal should our input be called upon.

"Are they volatile?"

Luke's wolf nudged mine, quietly redirecting my attention. Luke's overall calmness about the situation unnerved me and everyone else in the room. The man before the panel today was a far cry to the emotional boy who sat in the shadows months before.

Harvey spoke for the Blackwells, smelling the tension from a mile away, "They are stable. We have heard their pleas, they have seen the error of their ways and are willing to adopt our ways."

"I think I speak for everyone when I say that I am hesitant in letting them into either of our packs," Luke muttered earning supportive murmurs around the room.

Jonathan's irritated growl made me curl an arm around Luke who tensed, ready for the battle ahead. "And who are you to speak for everyone?"

Careful, I warned. There's no sense in fighting. His fingers stroked a reassuring pattern along the inside of my arm.

"I am no one," his voice was void of emotion, striking fear down my spine, "I just merely the man who destroyed a maniac who could have easily conquered our pack and every pack in his path. Forgive me for wanting to see that job completed."

Jonathan's wolf bristled, "Alright then," he flung his pen down, "what do you suggest we do?"

"Separate them," Dad fought to hide his smile as Luke suggested something similar to our plans, "blindfold them, taking them to different parts of the country and set them free. There is power in a pack, they won't survive without them. We can microchip them to monitor their movements."

"Why are we giving them the benefit of life?" one of the Blackwell elders spat out. "They did not give us the benefit of a doubt."

"But they did," Luke countered. "Kali spent weeks at the border of Ashworth lands taunting them yes, but giving them the chance to flee before things got physical. Even as he stood before us, he gave us a choice...a chance. As evil as he was, Kali was a fair man."

"I agree with Luke's suggestion," Dad piped up, "Nyal can have trackers prepared as soon as we're ready. My sons can disperse some around lands."

"We're ready to escort some mongrels," Bryan piped up, he, Seth and Jason had identical sadistic smirks pasted on their lips.

"I'm sure some of the younger wolves won't mind the task," Luke added levelling Jonathan with a cold stare, "with or without your permission."

"Now listen here boy," Jonathan's voice raised, "you are in no position to send my pack out on potentially suicide missions."

"This man," Jason fought back, "has the power to stop not one, not two but three packs in the middle of a blood thirsty war. I think he's more than in a position to give some orders around here."

"No one was talking to you," Jonathan growled out. His eyes were wild as the realisation that he had lost control of a huge portion of his pack. He knew that wolves around our age and maybe younger would follow Luke's command, essentially dividing the pack.

"Jason," Luke's quiet command made Jason snap his mouth shut and roll his shoulders back in an attempt to calm down. His eyes had not left his father throughout the entire exchange.

"Let's put it up to a vote," Dad suggested. "All those in favour?" I smiled as most of the room raised their hands. "Alright then, we will convene again for details."

"Luke," Jonathan called, "I would like to speak with you." His eyes fell to me, "Alone," he stressed.

Luke rolled his eyes, What is the point? You're going to be listening in anyways. I didn't bother to acknowledge 0Luke's thought as I kissed his cheek before linking my arm through Axel's and leaving.

I exhaled softly as the door clicked. "Anastasia," Dad beckoned Axel and I over to where my family congregated. Axel pulled me to his side as we sat. "You wanted to speak to us?"

My heart pounded as I swallowed, "My audition date had passed while I was in the hospital. The school responded to my medical excuse, they cannot reschedule an audition any time soon." I ducked my head as they swore. "But they said I showed promise, it is possible that they may consider a second chance audition."

Dad engulfed me into a hug, "Oh Ana-bear, I'm so sorry." The sympathy in their thoughts unleashed the dam of disappointment I was trying to stop as tears rolled down my cheeks.

Are you okay? Luke opened his mind to me. I nodded, knowing he could smell my tears. Dad was replaced by Jared as I listened into their conversation.

"Dad," Luke started evenly, "I have no intention of turning the pack against you."

"But you have divided them already," Jonathan snapped back.

Luke sighed, "If they want to follow me I cannot stop them. Dad, it's my birth right, I will become Alpha soon, actually a lot sooner than you may think. I am ready to lead."

Jonathan snorted, "Son, you are young. You have the entire world to see, to experience. There is so much you need to learn. You are not ready to lead. Maybe when you return from college."

"I'm not leaving the pack Dad," Luke revealed, "I have looked into online colleges. I am ready to lead."

"Son," Jonathan hesitated.

"Dad," Luke cut him off, "our pack was nearly decimated. You have to admit you made some and continue to make mistakes. When I faced Kali, I understood what evil is, I could see how power can twist the purest of minds. I can't let our pack fall into the same trap. There is so much we can do but you need to let me. I agree, I am young and have a lot to learn, but you need to guide me; not shut me out."

Jonathan was silent for countless minutes, "Alright, but my fundamentals still stand until you become Alpha. There is only so much I will bend them for you." He paused again, "You have changed Luke."

Luke's happiness shot through the bond followed by a wave of ice, "I hope so."

We looked up as Luke and Jonathan came out, Luke pulled me into his lap as everyone left, giving us some privacy. "I say that went rather well," my fingers caressed the skin of his neck.

His lips pressed against my mark, "It's the beginning of our end Anastasia."