Previously, on Love bite.

I already know I won't be getting any sleep tonight.

If Ace does make a move to try and kill Luka now, when he's at his most vulnerable, I'll be waiting.

I'll do everything in my power to keep my mate safe, and that's one promise I'll keep till the day I die. 

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Now Sophie's P.O.V

I watch outside our window as the sky slowly changes from a pitch black to a dull blue with shades of baby pink, I love watching the sunrise, even though I don't get to do it much anymore. If I didn't know any better, I would think this was just an ordinary break of dawn, but I do know better, Ace's warning is still as clear as day in my mind.

I look towards Luka, at least he still gets to sleep for a moment or two. Unlike me, Luka slept deeply all throughout the night, but he would stir every once in a while. At one point in the early morning, Luka was stirring so bad, that I actually had to wrap an arm around him to calm him, and that's how I stayed the rest of the morning.

Unwrapping my arm, I sit up and blink my eyes, after I rub the sleepiness from them, I get on the link with Chris.

"Any sign of Ruby Stone?"

There's a slight pause, I hold my breath.

"No, nothing yet, Sophie, but they'll be here soon, I can feel it."

I let that breath out.

"Alright, keep me posted and let me know if anything changes."

"Of course Alpha." I cut the link.

Suddenly a chill runs down my spine, and I get the feeling that I can't let Luka sleep for another moment. Slowly, I walk over to his side and shake him gently.

"Luka, Luka," I call out to him in a soft voice.

He doesn't wake, and for a moment, I think that he's so deeply into sleep that he can't be woken. He might be the boy that fell asleep and never wakes up, then Luka's eyes softly flutter open, like a pair of butterfly wings taking flight for the first time.

"Sophie," he says, his voice weighed down with sleep, but in my mind, I'm the one who feels sleepy.

Strange. I could feel the emotions I was feeling right up before Luka opened his eyes, I now feel tired, but I myself don't feel tired. For a moment, I try to wrap my head around what might be going on, and that's when it hits me. The mark.

Luka smiles at me and I can feel the warmth of that smile from his thoughts as it heats up my insides and warms my heart.

"Good morning," he says, then he pauses, and his eyes go wide.

I smile, letting him feel all the love I have for him in my thoughts. After a moment it sinks in for Luka what I already knew, we can feel each other's emotions.

"Sophie, I can feel your emotions, can you feel mine?" he then asks.

"Yes Luka, I can, and I know you're feeling sleepy, but you have to get up, today's the day we settle things once and for all."

Luka throws the covers off him swiftly and stands up, my eyes immediately falling on his newly marked shoulder. With his shirt off, I can see the outlined pattern as it goes along the surface of his skin. Instantly, I want to cry. It's the same pattern that Luka gave to me apart from the colors being reversed.

I smile at him. "What?"

"It looks just like mine," I reply, gently tracing over the design with my finger.

Inside his mind, I can feel Luka purring, feeling the sparks shoot across his body from the contact.

After a few more seconds of this we have to stop. "I'm going to take a shower before we head out," he says, pulling me in for a kiss.

I'm about to reject, but as the words are about to leave my mouth, I change my mind.

"I'll be heading downstairs, if you need me, you know where to find me," I tell him as he walks over to the bathroom.

After I watch Luka close the door behind him, I too start to make my way out, it's then that a slight shiver runs down my spine.

There's a reason I decided to change my mind about Luka having a shower before the battle. Just before I was about to refuse, I felt the reason Luka wanted to take the shower. It wasn't because he's feeling dirty or stinky. No, that's not it at all, it's because he's scared that this is his last one, and that was something I couldn't deny him.

***

Walking into the kitchen, my eyes suddenly ketch on the calendar hanging on the wall. I walk over closer, today's date jumping out at me. March, 29th, is what it reads. I don't know why but seeing the date rings a small bell in my mind, and makes my heart feel heavy.

I wonder what today is. I ponder for a moment, then I shake my head. I don't have time, maybe after the battle, I can figure this out.

I snap out of my thoughts at the smell of someone cooking, I turn to find Shelby at the stove.

After a moment or two, she looks up from whatever she's cooking to me. Shelby then takes a whiff in my direction, she then arches one of her eyebrows towards me.

She must be smelling the slight scent change. When two mates mark each other, the partners scent will rub off on to the other, though the two scents are not mixed yet, that will happen after the third and final part of the mating process, the actual mating itself.

Shelby then smiles from ear to ear at me, she then comes out from in front of the stove. "What have you and Luka been up too Sophie?"

I smile at her. "I think you already know by the fact that I'm wearing some of Luka's permanent cologne."

Shelby closes the distance between us, wrapping me in a hug. "Congratulations, it's about time."

"Thank you very much," I say, pulling slightly away from her.

"How? I mean when did it happen?"

"After I went upstairs to check up on Luka last night," I reply. I leave out the part where Luka admitted he was scared, and everything said before the marking.

"Umm, Sophie," Shelby says, sounding a bit hesitant. "Would you mind showing me how it felt when Luka marked you?"

This takes me aback. Now my turn to be hesitant. "I don't know Shelby. It's not that I don't trust you, I do it's just those emotions are, they're kind of private you know."

Shelby hangs her head slightly. "I understand, she then says, her voice sounding somber.

At the sound of her voice, my heart aches. Should I really let her in on emotions that run that deep? And even if I do, will she inform the pack about what I felt on that night? What if Ace finds out and holds it against me today? I shake my head. No, no, she wouldn't do that. She said it herself on the night she showed me her secret, she loves this pack too much to pull something like that. This is Shelby we're talking about, she's kept secrets for me, I've kept secrets for her, She's my best friend, I can trust her.

I let out a sigh. "Connect your mind link to mine."

She does what I say, within a second I feel her link connect with mine.

My eyes change from green to yellow, I then breathe deeply, allowing the emotions to flow over the link. I only show her a glimpse, and even though it was not much, it was more than enough for Shelby. I don't actually know what I showed her, I just let her feel the first emotions to come over the connection. After only a moment, my eyes return to normal. Shelby looks at me, her own eyes gleaming.

"That was amazing," she says.

"I know, at least that's how I remember it," I tell her.

In a space of about a second, Shelby's gleaming eyes go into shadow and her mood saddens. I try to figure out what's wrong. Did I say something I shouldn't have? And then just by looking at her, I get it. Like Luka with the shower, there's a reason Shelby wanted to know what it felt like on that night. She wanted to know what it felt like, just in case she doesn't get to experience it for herself.

I want to tell her that it'll be okay and she'll find her mate someday, like I did on the bank of the Northern Shore, but I decide to change the subject instead.

"Did Cody get Heather into the bunker okay?" I ask, turning to look over my shoulder back towards the staircase.

"Yeah, he got her in a few moments after you went back inside last night." she replies. "He's down there sleeping with her now."

I then turn back. "What about Keith?"

"Same thing goes, they're both down there, sleeping with their mates." "Must be nice having someone to love you that much."

"You'll find that special someone someday soon, Shelby, I just know you will," I say, the two of us finally breaking apart.

Just then I hear the sound of someone making their way down the stairs, I turn, just in time to watch Luka coming down the last step. I beckon for him to come over, and my heart leaps from the sight of him coming towards me. I hold him close and take in his new Oder, the smell of fresh honey, and now fresh vanilla enters my nose.

Is that what I smell like?

"Yes it is my love," he replies.

Oh right, the whole marked thing's still going to take some getting use to.

Shelby stands in front of us. "You two are a beautiful pair of mates if I do say so myself."

Shelby then slips back behind the stove, allowing Luka and I to sneak one last kiss before we have to round everyone up. One thought going through my mind as I feel his lips softly press against mine

I just hope this isn't our last one.

***

As I and the rest of the pack stand in battle formation at the Meeting Valley, the air feels still, as if Mother Nature itself is holding her breath.

Through the pack mind link, Luka and I can sense that Cody's feeling uneasy, we look over to find him looking up at the sky for whatever the reason.

"Cody, what's troubling you?" I ask, Luka just stares.

Cody then looks towards us. "It's going to rain," he replies simply

Oh great, that should make this battle even more fun, I think to myself sarcastically, looking down for a moment at what remains of the winter snow at my feet.

Suddenly, Chris connects the link. "Sophie, Quinn and I have eyes on the entire Ruby Stone pack, they're coming," he says urgently.

"Alright. Chris, you and Quinn start to make your way towards the Valley," I instruct.

"Yes Ma'am," he says. I disconnect the link.

In a matter of a few moments, Chris joins me at my side.

I then look over towards my Grandfather, he's looking towards the other side of the Valley, waiting for the fight to start. I can't think about what's going on with him now, Luka will be upset, and that's the last thing he needs to think about at a time like this.

So instead of thinking about it, I give him a pained smile, seeing me, he gives me a soft smile in return.

Seemingly from out of nowhere, we hear the growls and the snapping of wolf jaws, like thunder roaring over the landscape as the Ruby Stone pack draws closer.

I start to feel anxiety from the thought of what's about to happen. This is not the time, this is not the time, I tell myself. The last thing I want to happen is for my pack to sense that I'm nervous, I don't want them to worry.

I look to them for help. "Guys, tell me something, anything to relax my nerves," I instruct.

Surprisingly, its little Maloney who replies, her small white wolf just a few heads away from mine.

"I forgot to tell you last night at the meeting Sophie, I've talked to Suzie q, and she's going to train me to become a healer."

My nerves relax, but just slightly. "Why did you decide to pursue this?" I ask. I want to make sure that she's doing it for the right reasons.

"I've decided to follow in my Alpha's footsteps," she tells me. "I want to be able to help my family and pack if something bad does happen, I want to be able to help people like my Alpha and Luna before me."

My heart aches slightly when she mentions my mother.

"They would both be honored if you did," I tell her.

All at once, someone else speaks up. "I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for all I've put this pack through," It's Luka. "And if anyone dies today, it'll all be because of me."

All the pack retorts to reassure him. "No, it wouldn't be your fault, future Alpha. Each of us are willing to all fight to our last breaths to keep both our Alpha's safe, and that's a promise," they all say. "We've done it for you once, we'll do it for you again."

Luka then looks over towards me. "Sophie," he says. I turn to face him. "I love you, and I hope that you make it out of this" he says sweetly.

Hearing the Ruby Stone pack just a few moments away, I speak. "And I wish the same to you Luka," it's then that I think of something else to say. "Also, this is probably my last battle as Alpha, I would really like for us to live through this so that we can tell this war story to our pups someday."

Luka and the others all chuckle inside for a moment, I turn back and face the tree line on the other side, that's when it happens,

As a rain filled cloud rolls in, casting a shadow over the Valley, I spot the first Ruby Stone wolf heading towards us.

The first wolf to come through is large and black, Ace's wolf of course. The rest of his front line come into view right behind him, like a title wave as it crashes to the shore.

I take a moment to look Ace's wolf over, as soon as my eyes land on him, I regret it.

Worse, he looks a million times worse than the last time I saw him, which was on the night that Elliot brought Alex home.

Ace now looks more like a walking corpse, then a live wolf. His wolf is dirty, skinny, and his brown eyes appear almost black. He also looks tired, like it's been days or weeks since he's had any good sleep.

There's no hope for him now, the Alpha I once knew is gone.

When the entire pack comes into view, it's twice as big as ours and four times as strong, and that's just with it being all wolves.

In an attempt to try to stop this bloodbath before it gets started, Chris is the first one to speak. "Ace, you're on our turf, go back," he growls, pulling his lips back over his canines.

"Who are you to talk, Chris, you traitor," Ace retorts back snarling. "You betrayed my pack and joined them."

"I had no choice, Ace," Chris then retorts back to him. "I wasn't just going to sit outside the torture house and listen to the cries of tortured children as their flash is burned off their bodies. I wanted to do the right thing, for my family, and for Luka."

My mates ears flatten slightly.

"Chris, to keep this short, I will go back home, once I have the girl I came here for," Ace then says. "Speaking of that."

Ace's eyes then start to scan the pack, but just before they can find Luka, they land on Colt and Misty.

"Listen, Colt, Misty. It might be too late for Chris and his family, but it's not too late for you two. I'm willing to give you a second chance if you come back over to my side," he then tells them.

In response Colt pulls his lips back. "Never, I can never follow an Alpha that feels like he can just hurt his pack members whenever he feels like it, let alone my mate."

Ace's eyes then go back and land on Luka. "I see the Omega runt has grown somewhat," he taunts.

At the word Omega, Luka's ears perk back up. "I'm an Alpha actually, Ace, we're equals."

"You'll never be an Alpha as far as I'm concerned," Ace spats.

Hearing his comment makes me want to growl, but I keep my cool, for my pack's sake, and for Luka's.

Ace then eyes me, his eyes slightly softening. "Sophie, I'll give you one more chance. I'll call off the fight and we can avoid this bloodshed, if you reject that omega, and join me at my side as my new Luna."

I just simply shake my head. "That's never going to happen, Ace. Look into my eyes."

He does what I ask. My eyes turn from green to yellow as I start to replay the memories of Luka's marking from the night before, taking my time with each one. Like always, once I've showed him all that was needed my eyes turn back to normal.

"You know it to be true, you felt the connection break yourself last night," I tell him.

Ace's ear twitches and he snarls slightly.

It might be pointless to try, but I figure that someone has to attempt to tell Ace what's really going on, and since I'm the only one that can get across to him at this point, that means I'll be the one to carry out this task. It's worth a shot.

"Listen, Ace, this isn't you. You're sick, you have mate madness," I try to tell him.

Instead of listening, Ace pulls his lips back over his dagger like teeth. "Madness. I'll tell you what madness is, Sophie. Picking an Omega instead of an Alpha, that's what I call madness," he tells me, fur bristling, as he readies his pack for battle.

I let out a snarl, Luka and Keith do the same, sending Ace one simple message.

We're ready.

In a flash, the Valley comes alive with the sounds of ferocious growls and blood thirsty snapping jaws, as Ace and his pack come rushing towards us, their paws rapidly thudding against the ground.

Within a second of Ace making his first move, we make our advance, running flat out to meet in the middle of the Valley in a bloodbath just as the rain starts coming down.

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Whahoo, guys, I did it, I finally finished these next ten chapters of Love Bite. First things first, the cliffhangers are back. I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself. Secondly, I just want to thank everyone that stayed patient with me for so long, I know it wasn't easy for you guys. Trust me guys, it wasn't easy for me to write these chapters ether. I had to deal with a few pretty bad cases of writer's block, then getting sick, then outlining, then the actual writing itself, but like I always do, I got through it, for you guys.      

Did you like these ten chapters? 

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