NOAH

We walk along the woods. All the men were restless. They were snarling and growling at what was ahead. I looked and I could see...rogues. They were marching towards us as we were to them. 

At this moment...anything could happen. But whatever is to happen...nothing can hut Mia. That is why I am here. I can't let anything hurt her ever again. 

Inside of myself, I was contemplating the life I will have if this war was over. The life that can only happen if the rogues are defeated. 

I want to grow old with Mia. I want to be sitting on the front porch and watch our grandchildren play in the garden she made. I want to create more memories with her. I want to feel her pregnant belly under my hand. But none of that can happen while these damn rogues are around. 

I felt a rage inside of me. I wanted these rogues to be destroyed. They have taken so much from me. Their actions that were done upon me have tormented my mind and soul for years. I've tried not to be angry...I've tried to move on. But at this moment...I am going to let the beast out. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I'm letting him take full control for once. I open my eyes and feel that they are glowing bright and electric as I walk. I could see that some of my warriors' eyes were widened with shock. Lycans are supposed to be extinct. But I'm not. I am here to fight and avenge my child. 

I could see some of the rogues saw my eyes and know exactly who I was. I recognized some of them. They were guards at Matheseus's headquarters. They helped him experiment on me as a boy. Helped him torture me...hold me down when they needed to. 

Pure rage was a divine feeling to have. I have never felt so much anger in my life. 

"Whatever happens...do not let them leave this forest. They will be trying to get to the pack and kill our females and our pups. We CANNOT let them happen. I am not accepting an 'I'll try' speech. You are going to not let this disease touch our pack. Do I make myself clear men!" Xander shouted. 

All the warriors stood straight and yelled out, "Yes Alpha!"

Xander looked at all of us and yelled out, "SHIFT!" Never in my life have I seen the men so happy to obey a command. They obeyed with pleasure. 

They all ripped out of their clothes as they shifted. I felt my own skin yearning to rip...my bones breaking and reforming into the vicious animal that I am. I am no wolf...I am a lycan...and I am here for the payment of the death of my pup and the wounds of my mate. I want justice. 

Xander's black wolf stepped out in front. He looked at all of us and then looked at the rogues. He raised his head and howled at the moon. He howled his cry of war. And then...we charged.

It has begun. 

MIA

I laid on the bed where Noah left me. Too weak to move. I looked up at the small hole in the roof. The clouds had parted away from the full moon...letting it shine. 

"Please be with them." I prayed. 

I wouldn't be able to live if Noah wasn't in my life. 

"Mia? Are you okay?" I smiled when I heard his voice. I looked at the end of the bed and saw Kieth. Worry was written all over his face. 

I reached my hand out to him, "Come here, Kieth." 

He took my hand and came to the side of the bed. I looked at him and said, "I am fine. I'm just weak. But I'll be good as new before you know it."

He nodded his head and looked down...becoming lost in thought. I cupped his cheek, "What're you thinking about little man?"

He sighed, I could see that he was blinking away tears. He raised his hand rubbed one of his eyes, and with a shaky voice he said, "I'm just scared that Papa is going to get hurt." Then he starts to softly cry. My heart hurt for him. 

"Come here, Kieth." He knelt down on his knees and moved his head closer to mine. "Your father is the strongest man I have ever known. He has been through countless wars...he has overcome so many challenges, do you know why?"

Kieth sniffed and said quietly, "Because he's brave?"

I nodded, "Because he is brave, he is strong and he loves you with all his heart Kieth.  He is fighting for you...fighting to keep you safe...because he loves you. Your Papa is going to be okay. He is going to come home to us and we will be together again, do you understand me?"

Kieth nodded his head quietly. I pulled him closer to give him a weak hug. And he returned the action. We just were still as mice in each other's arms...waiting for Noah to come back for us. 

NOAH

We have been fighting for a couple of hours now. They just never stop. They keep coming and coming. They act as if they were a virus. You can't get rid of them. 

As I was fighting...a familiar scent hit my nose. A scent that fed my rage. 

I turned around and I saw him fighting Eddie in their human form...their wolves might have been tired. That motherfucker. I see red as soon as I laid eyes on the bastard.

I shifted back into my human form.

"Eddie!" I shouted. Eddie turned to me quickly and I said, "He's mine!" Eddie nodded his head. I ran at the guy and tackled him to the ground. Because of my lycan strength he was winded. I looked at him and cringed at the sight. He was a gangly and skinny guy. But I couldn't mistake the evil in his eye for anything else. 

"You know who I am," I growled. He shook his head. "You shot my mate who was carrying my pup."

I could see the fear develop in his eyes when he realized who I was. 

"You're the beta...the lycan." He whispered shakily. 

"You almost took one of the most important people in my life...but you also did murder my pup."

Even though he looked fearful...he laughed crazily, "If that is the case Lycan...she probably deserved it. The dumb bitch of a female ran in the way of the arrow that was meant for you." He laughed and spat in my face. 

I roared in anger, "Know this...I am not going to kill you...I will make you suffer, the way you made my mate suffer you bloody motherfucker!" I raised my hand and with my claws, slashed his neck. Blood pours out. Shock and pain was evident on his face. The man tried to close with wound with his hand, but it was useless. He will bleed out and will have a slow and suffering death. 

I stood up and looked around. War was still raging. I was about to jump back into the fight when suddenly an explosion went off in the distance. What the bloody hell was that?

The fire got caught on the tree.

"NOAH!" Xander shouted. I turned to him. I could see the fear in his eyes, "They're burning down the forest! There are too many of them! We have to retreat and get the women and children out before the fire does!"

"Shit!" I yelled out. I thought of one thought only at that moment...Mia and Kieth. I turned and sprinted back to the bunker like I never ran before. I needed to get to them before it was too late. 

MIA

I held Kieth to me for about an hour and he fell asleep in my arms. All the women were quiet. They were either sleeping or didn't want to talk. No one did. They were all silent as they prayed that their dear mates would come back to them. 

It made me get a taste of what happened in the human war. Human against human. Women would wait for their husbands to come home. Some did...and some didn't. I pray that I wouldn't be the woman that waits for her husband who will never return. 

Suddenly the smell of smoke tickled my nose. I frowned and looked up. It's the morning. Have they been fighting for that long. But suddenly...through the hole, burning ashes were floating down. That's when I realised what was happening. My heart kicked against my chest. I grabbed Kieth and shook him awake, "Kieth wake up!" I screamed. He was instantly on alert. 

"What is it Mia?!" he exclaimed. 

I looked up and breathed heavily as I see fire creeping through the hole, "The forest is on fire." I whispered ot myself as if I couldn't believe it. 

I weakly sat myself up and screamed at the top of my lungs, "THE FOREST IS ON FIRE!"

The women were instantly on alert. Lizzy was breastfeeding her baby when she heard. She was in Luna mode. She covered herself up and put her baby in her little kangaroo pouch on her chest. "Everyone! We have to leave NOW!" Lizzy yelled. She put her arm around her baby and she turned to her son Xavier, "Son, you hold onto my shirt and you DO NOT let go. No matter what you stay by my side, do you understand me?" She growled. 

Xavier nodded his head. He held onto his mother's shirt, "Yes Mama, I understand."

All the women grabbed a hold of their children. Other's were helping wounded women. 
"Kieth get up!" I said to him. He did. I took a deep breath and with all my strength I lifted myself out of bed and unto my standing feet.  stumbled at first, but Kieth held onto one side of me, "Don't worry Mia...I will help you!"

The women and children were making their way out of the bunker. I looked up and saw that the roof was burning up...it would collapse soon. We had to hurry. I felt my wounds were festering and it was painful. Sharp pains were stabbing from down my back and into my leg. I groaned in pain. 

When the line was moving faster and we finally got out, we were met with a wave of heat and flame that was consuming the trees. 

"Alright, everyone! I see a clear path to the opening, but we HAVE to be quick! Women with pups go first then everyone else will follow! NOW GO!" Yelled Lizzy.

The women were running with their children...dodging falling pieces of branches and leaves, trying their best not to get burnt. 

The children were crying because they were scared. The mothers were comforting their children. Kieth and I tried our best to follow quickly.

I was getting weaker and weaker by the moment. My leg gave out and I fell. 

"No Mia! Come on! Get up let's go!" Kieth cried. I got myself back up, but I was leaning mostly on Kieth. I groaned in pain with each step. The women were going farther and farther away...I couldn't keep up. 

My leg gave out again and I fell. I shouted in pain as I hit the floor. It was no use. I can't let Kieth help me or else he will burn here too.

I coughed as the smoke got into my lungs. I took a hold of Kieth's shoulders and weased, "K-Kieth, I love you like you're my own son. You have to go with the others. You can't help me...you have to go!"

He cried and shook his head, "No mama! Please, Mama let me stay! Let me help you, Mama!" He grabbed a hold of my arm and tried to pull me. 

Tears run down my face, "No Kieth. You've been so brave." Branches of fire were falling all around us. We were running out of time. The fire was getting too much. "You have to go now, Kieth. Do you love me?"

He sobbed and nodded his head, "I love you, mama!"

I cried, "If you love me...then go. Please, Kieth...Please go for me...for mama."

Kieth was sobbing, but he slowly backed away. I nodded my head in encouragement. He didn't want to stop looking at my face. I cried my heart out and said, "GO KIETH!"

He turned and sprinted to the others. 

I fell back on my back and looked up at the trees. Flames were turning the brown bark into charcoal...the leaves into grey ashes, floating in the wind. Trees were falling all around me. Who knew it would end like this. 

I close my eyes. I was scared. I didn't want to die. "I don't want to die,"  I told myself, "I don't want to die...Please...I'm so afraid."

I don't want to die. Visions of my future played before my eyes. I saw a cottage. It was beautiful. I saw a garden and I was planting flowers and herbs. I saw myself straighten from the ground and I had a round belly. I was pregnant. Noah came and kissed me and laid his hand on my pregnant belly. The scene switched. I had a big family of my own. The years went by and I was old with Noah by my side as we watched out grandchildren play in the garden. 

I was then set back to reality. I couldn't die. I refuse to. I want that future to happen...and I am NOT going to give up on it. With all of my last strengths, I stand up on my feet. I stumble but I balance myself. I took a step forward and then another. My breath was very heavy and my heart beat felt like it was beating out of my chest. 

"One step...after another," I said breathlessly. A tree fell down beside me and fell. I yelped in pain. But like before. I stood back up. I need to get back to my boys. They are my boys now. I need to get to them. I need to take care of them. With that thought in my mind...I track the paths of the burning forest.

NOAH

I was sprinting as fast as I could. The fire was spreading fast. I was looking around frantically as all of the other mates were as well. Fear consumed me. I was afraid that I was going to lose my son and my wife on the same night. 

NOAH! Come to the field close to the lake! The women and children have escaped...they're okay. 

I sighed with relief. The weight in my chest instantly was enlightened. I turned and sprinted to the lake. 

As I came I saw the women embracing their mates. Their children hugging their parents. I looked around in search of Kieth. 

"PAPA!" I turned around and saw my son running towards me. I bent down on my knees and caught him as he jumped into my arms. "Oh my son! My boy! Thank goodness you're okay!" I was so relieved that my son was okay. I looked at him up and down, "You're not hurt?"

He shook his head. But I saw he wasn't looking at me in the eye, "what is it son? What's wrong?"

Then Kieth started to cry, "I'm sorry Papa...I tried to hard. I tried so hard to be brave like you. But she wouldn't let me help."

Dread settled in the pit of my stomach, "What do you mean Kieth? What happened? Where is Mia?"

Then without looking...my son raise his arm and pointed to the scorching forest that was in complete flame. I stood up. 

"NO!" I ran towards the forest, but Xander and Soul took a hold of me, "Let me go you bastards! She's still in there!" I roared. 

I saw Both Lizzy and Zapora raise their hands to their mouths as tears built in their eyes. 

https://youtu.be/tjTSCim6R_k

(A/N: Listen to this while you read the next part!)

I yelled and shouted for them to let me go. But it was no use. No one could survive in a fire like that. Tears streamed down my face...and I cried. I collapsed to my knees and I yelled. I shook as I sobbed. My son came to me and held me from behind as he cried into my shoulder. 

The pain of loss was so severe. This is worse than getting wounded in battle. Mia...My beautiful little Mia was gone.

"LOOK!" Someone yelled. 

I raised my head and stared at the burning forest when movement caught my eye. It looked like a small creature of some kind. Until it stood up on two legs and stumbled forward. and then I could see her. I stood up and was shocked to see. 

"MIA!" I shouted. I ran towards her as she was about to collapse out of the forest. I caught her. Se was wheezing. I looked at her with wide eyes. 

She raised her head to me slowly and weakly. With a wheezing breath, she said, "It looks like...I'm...the one that...came back to you."

I cried and released a small laugh as tears fell from my eyes. I was so happy. I fell to my knees and laid her on my lap. 

"Someone get her water!" I yelled. I looked back down at her and she was already staring at me, "Is Kieth okay?" She asked. 

"Yes...thanks to you." She released a breath of relief.

Mia's own tears ran down her dirty cheeks, leaving tracks of a clean path, "I thought I was gonna die...but then I saw us...and we were old...we lived such...a full...life. And I wanted that future so bad," Mia cried, "I want to...grow old with you...see our children...our children's children...I love you, Noah."

I kissed her forehead and leaned my own forehead to rest on hers, "And I love you, Mia Valentine. With all of my heart and of my Soul. When I thought you died...I wanted to die. I couldn't bear the thought. You are my heart, Mia. I was so cold and broken before. But you somehow have revived me. I was a dead man walking before I met you. You have made me whole Mia. I love you so much."

Mia cried and said, "I love you, Noah." I leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips. I made sure it was very gentle. I didn't want to overwhelme her. 

"Noah." I broke the kiss and looked up at Xander. He looked tired and angry, "The rogues...they're not done. They're all coming back...and they know where we are. This whole war was a trap for something bigger than all of this."