If the end of the world was near
Where would you choose to be?
If there was five more minutes of air
Would you panic and hide?
Or run for your life?
Or stand here and spend it with me?

Jaxon pulled me behind him and he snarled at them. Focused on their every move.
The three of them bared their teeth at us, their backs bent and fur spiking up like cats.

Jaxon snarled at them and that one single snarl was enough for the middle one to attack. But before the brown wolf could even land on us, Jaxon pushed him off against the two other wolves with no effort. The three of them pushed out of the cabin with a whine.
He turned around to me and said with eyes drowned in fear "Run!" Before he could even pull me, I asked "What's going on?" But the three wolves were back.

Bones cracked and Jaxon was in his wolf in seconds. His back bent as his tail curled around my calf. Standing in a defensive pose to fight them from getting to me. He didn't give them the chance to even attack us. He attacked, pushing all of them out of the cabin again and I ran behind him. And as I did, I looked at the chaos. Wolves running at each other. Fighting bloody. The pack was here too. Some in wolf form and some in human. The warriors fighting the rogues.

This was war. Dean had brought the war.

Jaxon was the only black wolf amidst the browns, grays, whites, and some even mixed with different color patches.

Warriors helped Jaxon keep the wolves away from the cabin and one was about to come running at me, Jaxon had grabbed it by his teeth in its mane and pulling him away from my sight, throwing him at the warriors as they ripped the wolf in two without even thinking. This was horror to watch. I watched Jaxon rip the head of the wolf from its body just with his teeth.

This was warrior training. This is what they trained to be. This is what Jaxon was trained to be. Killing machines, all of them.

Jaxon came running to me and by the way he laid his front paw on the grass, I knew he wanted me to get back on. Without even arguing about it, I ran towards him, and as I tried to get on him, a wolf grabbed me by the hem of my sweater between its teeth and pulled me flat on the ground. I screamed but Jaxon was on him in seconds, pushing him away from me with a roar of anger and throwing it to his warriors again to kill. He mind linked "Are you alright?" I nod and get back up with shaky knees. Taking a step towards him, my legs almost gave out in fear but he catches me with his head bowed down. His front paw went behind my back to me keep me in place while I balanced myself with his neck as my support. Getting low on his front paws again, I climbed on his back as he mind linked with a growl "Hold on tight. I'm gonna run fast." I laid my front on his back, grabbing the fur on his neck between my fists.

He ran like the wind. Things passed us in a blur. The trees, the warriors and the wolves. Thankful, the screams were suppressed by his running but thinking about it made me nauseous. I pressed my mouth hard against his soft velvet fur. He minds link "Baby, you okay?" I reply in the link "I'm fine." But he could see it all through it.
He was running towards the manor. Dodging every wolf that came in his way and running faster than the wolves that chased us. I could tell that some of them were his people trying to knock down the wolves and some of them were rogue. You could see it by their fur. Rogues had matted fur, they smelled too like rotten eggs. While the packs were soft and velvet.
He asked again "Are you okay?" But I ignored trying to keep the contents in my stomach from coming out on his fur. I almost cried in the mind link "Please stop." And instantly he came to halt. It took my eyes seconds to adjust to the pause, it took seconds to adjust my focus on the chaotic world around me. I got off of him, falling on my knees and crawling to the bush nearest to us. Throwing up everything. I felt my hair being gently pulled back from the right side of the face as he rubs my back with his snout. Comforting me again. He says "I'll be right back." And then roars, fighting to whatever rogue that was coming at me.

Why were they coming at me?

Seconds later, he came back and he again rubbed his snout in my back. I spit out and then lean back exhausted suddenly. Feeling lightheaded. I was sitting against him and he nudged my jaw with his snout again, "We need to go. Just a little more. Please. They're coming after you. Come on." Wiping my mouth with the back of my sleeve, I climb on him again. The same way with my front pressed against him. My face in his fur and eyes closed.
He ran again.

As we reached the manor, I saw how the warriors were pushing the women inside with children too. But I hated the fact that teenagers were fighting. Barely sixteen and yet, they were pushing their mothers or sisters inside the manor with snarls on their lips. While they cried because they might not see them again.
Jaxon ran through the door and up to four flights of stairs to his room. This was the only level of the house that was quiet and peaceful. Like there wasn't a war outside at all. Like there weren't lifeless bodies at all. Some rogues and some warriors.

I wanted to go to the window to see if I can look at them, but he grabs my face and says "Caroline, look at me." I do and I saw him sweaty, muddy, and blood dried on the side of his lips. I didn't know if it was his or the rogues. My eyes went down to his stomach and there was a claw mark right there, halfway healing. I whimper "You got hurt?" But he lifts my face to see him "I'm okay. I'm fine. Are you okay?" I burst into a cry "This is all my fault."

"No! No, you did nothing wrong."

"Sixteen-year-old children are fighting outside because it's my fault. Dean is my fault and my burden. Not yours or the packs. Innocent lives are being taken because of me. Because I opened my mouth."

He grabs my jaw and pulls my head up. His eyes were red with anger "This is not your fault. It was never your fault. You are not to be blamed when a psycho wolf is after you. You understand?" I stay quiet but he waited to expect an answer "Isn't it?"

"Don't you dare say that again."

His hand on my jaw slides to my cheek and I lean my face into his warm palm "Stay here. Do not come out of this room until either Will or I come and get you, okay?" He presses his lips against mine and I cry, wrapping my arms around his waist, pulling him closer to myself. What if this is the last time we kiss? Or see his beautiful face? He pulls back and says "I love you, Caroline. You are my goddess given solace." I cry "And you're my freedom." I regretted everything I said to him in the cabin. Every fucking thing.
I begged, my hands framing his face "Please don't go." He smiles but it doesn't reach his beautiful eyes "I have to help them. Or at least try." I understood it all but I was selfish that I begged again with my head against his chest, uttering the sentences nonstop "Please don't go. Please don't go. Please don't go. Please don't leave me." He says gently "I will be back." I pull away and look up at him "Swear on me that you will be back to me. Alive." The way he looked at me, I knew he wouldn't make that promise. Not when he wasn't sure of himself. I say again "Promise me that you will be back alive, Jaxon. Promise me so that you know I'm waiting for you. I'm begging you." But he doesn't say another word at all. I cry and fell on my knees, wrapping my arms around his thigh like he won't go at all. But he just kneels in front of me and slams his lips on mine again. I could feel his tears between our kisses as he sniffs and then pulls back "I won't make a promise that I can't keep, Caroline. But I can say is that I love you and that I will always be yours." He kissed my forehead "I need to go and help them. Stay here."

He turned into his wolf, nudging my cheek one last time with his snout, and ran out. Leaving me alone on the floor, crying for him.

X

Minutes later, the door opens. I look up, hoping that it would be Jaxon but it's Clara. She kneels in front of me and wraps her arms around me, pulling my head on her chest and letting me cry "There, there, child. I know it hurts. But your wolf is strong. After all, he is the Alpha." I look up at her and I didn't need to use my words. She knew what went through my mind and what horrible thoughts they were. And what things did I regret and fear. She knew it all.

She said "Baby, he will try to come back to you no matter what because all he has is you in his mind. Your smiles and your laughs are all that he thinks about. I've seen them all. I've heard them all. I have even seen the trust you gave him and he holds it close to his heart, respects it to the point that man will die rather than break it. Have faith in him. He will be back." She puts her hand pressed against my stomach "He will come for him too." I furrow my brows "What?" She looks down and I follow her gaze towards my stomach as she says "I could feel it from across the river. That's why I came here as soon as possible. Two days- you have been pregnant for two days."

I cry again at the thought that what if Jaxon doesn't come back and doesn't know about his pup in my womb. I cry "Why now, Clara? No, no, no. I don't wanna be pregnant. I don't wanna be pregnant when there is a war outside. Not when the father of this baby is out saving lives instead of his own." She didn't say anything. Just stared at me in sympathy and then pulled me against her chest, letting me cry.

X

After what felt like hours but I'm sure it was hardly minutes, Clara said "Why don't we go down and sit with other women? They want comforting like you, baby." I nod my head understanding her.

We made our way to the main floor and all the women of the pack were together. Crying, holding on to their children for fear of life. I spot Patty in the middle with her pup in her arms as she helped distribute water bottles to everyone.
Her head whips to me and she lets out a cry, running to me and I take her in my arms. She breaks down. Hard. With the pup still in her hand. Clara takes the baby away and I hold her against me. She cries "Will is out there. He's fighting, Caroline. Jaxon too. I'm so scared." I nod, framing her face and wiping her tears away with my thumb "I know. They're strong men. Do you know that? They can take care of themselves and I'm sure that Will would want you to take care of yourself and his child. Imagine the proudness on his face when he sees you helping these women." She smiles through her tears and sniffs "You're right. I can help them. I should help them." She looks at Clara as she sways left and her with the pup in her arms. Caden was smiling at her like she was the most beautiful moon and I loved it so much. My hands pressed up against my stomach because I would want Clara and Patty in my life if-when this pup is born. I would want Patty to be the godmother and I would want Clara to be the grandmother. I really would.

PLAY THE SONG

We made our way to the giant crates of cold water, snacks for the pregnant wolves, and blankets if they need any.
I helped distribute the stuff even though some ignored to take them from my hands and some smiled at me. I kept looking at the time like hours went by but it was hardly ten minutes. I couldn't hear anything because the manor was wolf-proof. We were cut off from the outside world.
I sat on the cold floor and took off my sweater because it was getting hot. Thankfully I had a sleeveless shirt under it. I wiped the sweat off my neck with the sweater and just waited.
I hated the fact that these children did not know what was going on and some who were old enough to know, I know they would be scarred for life, like Jaxon and Will.

I sigh and just wait, praying to Jaxon's Moon Goddess that everyone was okay.

I felt my hand being grabbed by tiny ones and as I look up I see a barely two-year-old girl in a pink dress and pigtails. Sucking on her pacifier as she holds my finger with her tiny ones. She looks up at me with these blue eyes and I smile at her, earning a smile back. Looking past her, I see her mother. She looked like she was at the end of her pregnancy, her back against the wall as she sweats and looked at her daughter with a smile. She said, "You're the prophecy human." I nod with a smile back. Her daughter crawls on me and sits in my lap, laying her head against my stomach. The mother smiles "Congratulations."

"You can sense it?"

"I can't. My daughter can. She has the rare gift of knowing about unborn life. She can feel their warmth and can even hear their heartbeats."

I took in a deep breath at this information and looked down to my lap. To this child with an amazing gift who has had her ear glued to my stomach. I kissed her head and the woman said again "I just want you to know that we don't hate you." I snort but all the other women close to me started nodding their heads "We don't hate you. We're afraid. Stupidly afraid."

"Of a human like me?"

"Of a prophecy girl. You're supposed to be the destruction of patriarchy in a pack of Royals. Not every pack keeps their women for breeding. Some train them as warriors and some let them fight in wars like this. We're the only ones that are following the same rules for the last two-hundred years." She smiled "I liked the idea of women fighting side by side with their mates but these men don't. They hate it. They think it's a disgrace for a woman to lift a gun or a sword rather than a wooden spoon or a baby bottle." She looks at me again "You're strong. You know, Luna?" I smile "I'm not a Luna."

"You remind me a lot of the Luna Queen." She wiped away her sweat on her forehead "She was a warrior, you know? She came from the Shadow Pack. The Alphas daughter. They called her the Bullet Queen. When she mated to our Alpha King, he made her throw her guns away and her father-in-law forbid her to train. Her father tried to fight for her rights but when you're in another pack after being mated, you follow their rules and forget the old ones. But she was strong. She helped in ways no other Luna would or could. When the war broke- when the Alpha Prince was only eighteen, Luna Queen was the one to order him to save the women and children. I was one of the girls the Alpha Prince saved and put in this manor. A lot of us are." A lot of the women nodded their heads and my heart swelled at my wolf. He helped all these women. Helped her.
I looked down to be a girl in my arms and I almost cried. If Jaxon hadn't saved them, she wouldn't be here.

I never knew how strong was Lucy and I desperately wished I could meet her when she was healthy.

Patty put her hand on my shoulder and smiled at me "No matter what happens, Caroline, you will always be my Luna Queen." I smiled at her but some voices agreed with her. Even Clara with Caden in her arms. Patty wrapped her arms around me and as she did, the manor door flew open, and in came a wolf with glowing blue eyes and dark brown fur. I knew that wolf so well.

Greg.

The women screamed, pushing themselves against each other as he snarled at them. His fur puffing. Clara hid Caden from his view and Patty held me back against her body.
I don't think anybody knew about Greg because they were too busy fighting outside. He turned into his human form and stood from the ground. Back straight with a smile on his face. Body muddy and naked.
He said "Boo." And the women get even closer to each higher which earned them a disgusting cackle from him. He spots me in the crowd and I could swear I heard his chest purr "Caroline Quinn."

"What do you want?"

"To kill every woman in this manor. Eat all these children raw with salt." He growled at the children with his teeth extracting and they almost screamed. I said "Stop it!" as the girl in my arm hide in my chest and cried too. He chuckled and said "It would be fun to kill you all but I'll make you a deal. Give me the human and I'll leave you all alone in this stupid manor. I promise to not eat your delicious children either." Patty growled at him and he snapped "Don't you dare growl at me, woman! Pathetic bitch." Instantly Patty turned into her gray wolf and ran at him.

I've never seen her in her wolf form but she was beautiful. Her eyes glowed like sky blue and her fur was shiny gray.

I yelled, "Patty don't!" But she was there. She was there and she attacked him. She didn't give him a chance to turn into a wolf when she clawed across his face and stomach. Biting his leg, earning a scream from him. He fell on his back and she took his toe in her mouth, yanking it and tearing it apart, throwing it at our feet. She was angry. She jumped on him and pinned his arms to the side with her paws and he cried in pain.
She was taking my revenge. When he tried to attack me on Mating Season. She snapped at his face and claw his eyeball, throwing that at our feet too, and then she rips his arm apart. Throwing all the body parts she'd rip, she threw them at us. Telling everyone that this man was beneath us women.

She moved away as he laid there in pain without an eye, an arm, and a toe. Crying out in pain.
Patty turned into her human form, naked because her clothes were torn apart as she spat at him and said against her breath "Male pride." She turned around to look at us and said innocently "He threatened the children." Like what she did was no big deal. She wiped the blood from her mouth and spat again on the floor. An old woman asked, "How did you learn that?" Patty smiled "My mate. He thinks women should know how to fight. He taught me everything in these past six months." She looked at me with another smile "Jaxon helped too. He taught me how to rip out an arm." I smiled with a hand on my mouth. Fucking proud of her. Jealous of the day when Caden will know what her mother did. And then it made me think of my own.
My pup will only grow up to know that his human mother was a coward. And that the war outside was all her fault. That his father died because of her. My face was being held by Clara and she said with anger "Don't you dare fucking think that!"

She looked around at the women and said "Why are y'all so afraid? Afraid of dying? Dying with fear is a disgrace. Dying a warrior is peaceful sleep for eternity. Lucinda was my friend and she has that peaceful sleep because of what she did for the women in this pack. Your Alpha Prince saved you all because he knew y'all were worth saving. Is that how we repay him, your future Alpha King. Is that how you repay your Luna Queen?" Her little speech woke something inside all these women and Patty smiled "Turn in your wolves and bite till you rip things apart from their body. Your wolves are stronger than you. We're predators, hunting and fighting is something that comes to us naturally. Surviving too. It's time to change the future." A fire burned in Clara's palm- actual fire "It's been years since I've used my powers to my full potential than making sleep potions and selling them too. I'd like to get some action."

All the women turned into their wolves. They were gorgeous than men. They were shinier, and their body had these strong shapes. Muscle paws and claws are larger than men. Tails silkier and shorter. Eyes like-colored gems under sunlight. Some purple, some green, silver, gold, amber, and blue. Patty smiled at me "You ready for a ride on Crescent?" I nod my head with a smile.

X

We ran out the manor like an army of strong women. The children were left with the women who were pregnant or were scared to go. They were protecting them. I was on Crescent's back as she ran like the wind. Faster than Tanner. Stronger too.

When the warriors of the pack saw us, they growl but they were too busy fighting that they could not even stop us. Rogues came in our way but women behind us tore them apart. Anger makes you stronger. Especially angry women.

I patted Patty's head and said "To Will or Jaxon." She growled in agreement and ran, dodging anyone that came at us. Any rogue or warrior that tried to stop us.
I looked back at Clara as she rode on another female wolf, using her firepower and lighting to keep them away from us and much as she could. A smile on her face that she enjoyed every moment of this. Every single moment of fighting.

Fuck, this felt awesome. Fuck, I felt powerful. For the first time in my life, I did.

Crescent stopped and I got off. This is where the main fight was. This is where they all were. With her eyes glazed, I knew she was instructing the other wolves about how to fight or what to do. I knew she was telling them to find their mates and fight beside them.

We went apart to their ways and we three were remaining. Crescent, Clara, and I. A snarl behind us but before the wolf could make his way to us or before Crescent could attack him, Clara struck his heart with her white lightning and he was dead on the ground in seconds. I let out a low whistle and Clara said "Baby, I know." She had read my mind at how amazing she was. I looked at Crescent and said "Find Will. Go!" She snarls and runs away from us.
Clara held my hand and said, "You stick with me." I shake my head "I need to find Jaxon."

"We can find him together, Caroline."

I nod and we make our way towards the heart of the forest. Clara struck whatever rogue came in our way. And I had this purple shield around me of protection I think. Courtesy of the witch grandmother beside me. She chuckled "Oh, I will spoil your boy. He's gonna have the best damn grandmother in the world. The only one who will let him get drunk when he turns sixteen. Or let him snuck booze in parties." I snort "If you take responsibility for his drunk ass then you got yourself a deal." She smiles and we push our way through the crowd of the wolves.

She looks at me and she's about to say something, she's attacked by a gray wolf with golden eyes.

Fuck!

The shield from around me was gone as Clara laid on the floor unconscious. I gulped and I could not say anything as the wolf turned into a human. Into Dean. He smiled and grabbed me. Throwing me over his shoulders and running away, away from the crowd and away from the war. I wanted to scream but I couldn't. My voice was paralyzed.

Once we were in the darker and quieter part of the forest, that's when he dropped me on the floor and kneeled in front of me. Pushing my hair strand behind my ears, he says "I've missed you, rabbit. I told you I'll come for you. You're mine now. I didn't believe a word when he said he let me have you but I took the chance for you." My gaze shot at him as I asked "Who? Who told you that you could have me?" His smile turned wider "The Alpha King. He told me I could have you if I can start this war. Who do you think brought me back? Who do you think told me you were here when I lost track of you in maple town?" I shook my head, not believing a word he said.

Then he confessed as he dipped his face and smelled my neck "I've known where you have been for the past ten years, Caroline." My chest tightens and aches in pain but I didn't move because I was scared that he could kill me if I did "I've been tracking you since you left maple town ten years ago. I've known where you were every single day because I had my eyes on you. In California, in New York, in maple town. Every day for ten years, I've had my eyes on you."

"Why didn't you attack me then?"

"Because your fear is what turns me on. It's what gets me to finish. The scent of your fear is my addiction. It has been my addiction since the day I took you for the first time." He kissed my cheek and I whimper in fear "The first time I made love to you."
I grit my teeth "You raped me, Dean." He shakes his head "I never raped you. You enjoyed every moment. Your body reacted to my touch." I look away from him and he puts his hand on my thigh, sliding up to between my legs "Your body still reacts to me, Caroline." I felt disgusted and angry that I slapped his hand away and in return, I earned a slap across my face. A slap that stung like a bitch. I touch my cheek and looked at my hand. Blood coming out of it. Looking back at his hand, I saw his claws with blood on them.

He stood up and towered over me. Grabbing me by my neck and pining me harshly against the tree. His hands tightening around my neck and he sniffed "Oh the fear. It's alluring." He smiled "You know the Alpha King promised me two things after this war. You and the half of his land for my pack and me as their Alpha. You will be my Luna, my love." I spat at his face and he looked taken back but wiped it away from his cheek as I said "I don't know why the Alpha King would even help a fucking rogue like you."
He stepped back "Because of the prophecy." I furrowed my brows at him and he chuckled "Your mate is stupid and well as all the other wolves around you. They don't know the fucking prophecy properly."

He recited the words:

"And there will come the son of an Alpha king,
who would rebel against his pack to submit to a broken human being.

The Alpha Prince, who would kill anything and anyone that comes in his way.
Even his father, there will be a price to pay."

"It was never the she-wolf who killed the human and the guy. It was his father. He killed the human and his son because he was embarrassed. He killed them both and buried their bodies instead of burning them. Instead of giving them a proper funeral. They were buried like rogues. But the fucking Moon Goddess wasn't having it. She came to earth to banish the father in the pit of fire and took the souls of the mates with her towards heaven. Reuniting them and then revealed the prophecy." He gestured to everything around us "This is all for you. All the dead bodies of my rogues and warriors of Jaxon- this is all for you. Because you are the stupid prophecy. But don't worry. The pack will survive. Jaxon will mate Amara as she wished when they both came to me after you left Jaxon for six months. Both of them wanted you gone and Jaxon unharmed while I wanted you and a pack to myself. Easy."

I said "You'll never have me, Dean. I'll kill myself before you could even touch me." He chuckles "That is adorable." Before he could close in, he was pried away from by two wolves. One gray with blue eyes and the other one dark brown with green eyes. Mates- Patty and Will. They snarled at him as he turned into his wolf and Will nudged his head to the side. I smiled at them and said, "Thank you." Running away as fast as I could. I need to find Jaxon before he finds out from some else.

It was always a father against his son. Always.

I found Clara fighting and she holds me "I sent Patty and Will as soon I could to find you." I nodded my head in thanks "Where's Jaxon? I need to tell him something." She points towards the deeper part of the forest and throws the purple shield around me again as we run towards him.

I asked Clara "How do you break a prophecy?" She answered "Sacrifice."

I spot a black wolf in the middle of thousands. Fighting with ease. Killing everyone that came in his way. I screamed "JAXON!" His head whipped to me but he kept fighting the rogues.

Four wolves came in front of us. But as Clara took care of one, the other two attack her, causing her to lose her hold on the shield again. The one in front of me was drooling from his mouth and I screamed again "JAXON!" In seconds, the wolf was thrown away from me and Tanner stood in front of me, defensive pose. Ready to attack anyone that came my way. Two wolves tried but Tanner was done with them in a heartbeat. He turned into his human form and held my face with his eyes red "What the fuck are you doing here?!" I said shaking "Your father is behind all of this. This war. He caused it." His brows furrowed and before a wolf from behind him could attack, he pushed it away against the tree. I heard the bone cracked and the wolf died on the spot.

He said, "My father is many things but he will never put his pack in danger." I shake my head "Not when his pride is on the line. Not when the embarrassment of a human and his only son being mates is on the line. The prophecy isn't about a human, it's about a father and a son. A King and a Prince." I put my hands against his chest "He's the one to break us up. He's the one that called Amara and Dean. These rogues work for Dean. Dean and Greg work for Kane."
His voice broke "Tell me you're lying, Caroline." But I knew he could hear my heartbeat as I said "I'm not! It's all true. An Alpha Prince will fall in love with a broken human being and his wolf will submit to her. But there will be a fight between a son and a father. A king and a prince. A fight till death. And many innocents will pay the price because of that." He looked around to the pack members who were fighting to protect us and taking their last breath.

I held his face and made him look at me "There's a way to end this prophecy. To break it."

"What is it?"

"Rejection. The Alpha Prince never rejected his human. You could. You have the time before history repeats itself. When there will be no bond between us, the prophecy will be broken and no innocent blood will be shed."

He cried "I won't reject you. I love you so much. There has to be another way." Tears started falling down my cheek and I say "There's another way." He nodded his head eagerly to listen to me but I couldn't help but cry. He held my face and said, "What is it?"

"You have to sacrifice me. There will be a bond but no human mate alive." I pulled his head down and connected my brows against his "You have to sacrifice us." He looked taken back "Us?" I nod and whisper "Me and your pup." I take his hand and put it against my stomach. He closes his eyes and gasps "I can hear him. I can hear his heart forming inside you." I bit my lip so I don't break down but the sadness in his face turned into rage as he said "I will not fucking sacrifice you and my child."

"There's no other choice!"

He backs away "Yes, there is! Kill the man who tried to steal everything from me. From us and who tried to steal the mother away from my unborn child."

He turned into his wolf and ran away. Leaving me alone.

No! I couldn't let this happen.

I spot Claude fighting naked in his human form and I run to him. I say "I need to get to the Alpha King." He snaps the neck of the wolf in his arm and lets the body go. I say "I got no time to explain. We need to get there before Jaxon does. Please!"

He turned into his wolf form and he was the same as Will. The only difference was patches of white in his fur because of his age. His eyes glowed green and he bent down on the ground, letting me climb on him, and then ran. Ran towards the mountains where he knew the Alpha King was.

X

JAXON POV

I followed the scent of a traitor in this pack that claims to be our Alpha King.

I ran up the hill and saw him standing there.
My father and his wolf.
He stood there tall like his shitty pride.

I spoke to him through the mind link. "YOU!"

"Are you okay, Jaxon?"

"Cut the bullshit!"

"Mind your tone. You're talking to your Alpha!"

His chest growled but I didn't give a fuck. I said"You're not my Alpha! I know that those people down there, those rogues are your people. They're here because of you."
That fucker didn't even deny it one bit. He said, "I'm doing it all for you."

"Me?! Killing the innocent is not for me. It's for yourself! Your safety! Your position! It's for your fucking selfish reason!"

He growled at me again. I knew I was getting his wolf ready to attack me "Because of you, innocents are dying... my mother died." He roared "She was my mate!"

"Who you couldn't love unconditionally!"

"Watch your tongue, boy!"

"You want the prophecy? You got it!"

I jumped on him but he was fast to push me to the other side. He stood on me with his paws on my chest and said "I did it for you! Because that human wasn't gonna let you be the king that you were meant to be!" I rolled us over and stood on him and said "I never wanted to be king. I never wanted to be in this pack!"
He tried to bite my neck but I didn't give him a chance and he said: "You were supposed to be the King after me!" He pushed me to the ground but before he could attack me again, I was back on my paws.

We circled each other and he said"Don't challenge me, Jaxon. You know what would happen if you do!"

I heard my mate shout from a distance "Stop!"
But I didn't listen.
I challenged him by roaring and attacking him first.
He clawed across my face and I clawed across his.
I grabbed his neck by my teeth and threw him away but he got back up. I clawed him again and he ducked to bite my stomach but I moved away quickly.

I clawed his paw and he fell on the floor. He bit my leg and I fell too, growling in pain.
He was stronger than me but I wasn't going back down without a good fight.

I was in killing mode.
I didn't stop clawing at him.

His blood drew out from his body, making his silver fur thick and drenched with his blood. All red.
The fur that I used to adore when I was a pup.

I never stopped clawing or bitting. Never gave him the chance to attack me back. He fell weakly on the floor. But before I could finish him off forever, Caroline ran in front of him, stopping me.

I growled at her but she stood still and strong and said "ENOUGH! You don't want to prove him right by killing him. Before a traitor, he's still your father." I growled at her in anger but she snapped at me "Don't you dare. Don't you dare give in to the prophecy. Think of your pup."
And that was enough to get my anger to subside. I looked past her and he was unconscious.
I turned human and she moved away from his wolf.

I shouted"Change! Fucking change!"

Slowly, he changed into his human form and I said "I won't let the prophecy come true. The son never killed his father. The prince never killed the king. But the prince will let the king rot in a silver cell for his whole life!"

I mind-linked the warriors and they came up running a heartbeat later. There were six of them.
I said, "Pick up the traitor and throw him in the cell."
They obeyed and picked up the bloody unconscious man.

Caroline looked at me and wrapped her arms around my waist. I kissed her forehead and looked at how the warriors took away their former king. She put her head on my jaw and whispered with a cry "We won. Jaxon, we won." I looked to Claude in his wolf as he bowed his head and that's when I knew I had become the King.

X

CAROLINE POV

We won but we lost too.

People had lost their lives to protect this pack. They died protecting us and for that, we will forever be grateful.

It had been twelve hours since the war ended. People were busy taking care of their loved ones in the hospital and some were mourning the death of our heroes.
And some were burning the dead, giving them a proper werewolf funeral.

I saw children running and crying in someone else's laps because they were turned into orphans in just twelve hours.

I looked down to the little girl in my arms who just lost her father, her mother. The very same girl who knew I was pregnant with a pup. I found her crying in the manor against her mother. The nurses were able to save the child in her belly and the boy was healthy and breathing. He was in Will's arm who was bloody and tired, sitting right beside me with a healing Patty beside him and Caden in her arms, unharmed.
They told me minutes ago that they tore Dean apart and I couldn't help but smile.

I found her pacifier on the floor and I washed it, putting it back in her mouth so she could suck on it. I kissed her and the baby in Will's arms cried loud. Patty smiled "Give him to me." He took Caden and gave the boy in her arms and she fed him. And then look at me with a smile. They were the children of the strongest woman in the pack. The woman who I found her name was Beatrice. And the girl in my arms was Carly. That's what it said on her pacifier.

She stayed against my chest, looking at everyone around her. The destruction this fucking prophecy caused. Will asked, "Now what?" He kissed his son on the forehead and I said without thinking twice "They're mine. Both of them are mine." Patty's eyes widen as she asked "Caroline, you don't need to feel bad. There are facilities in this pack that help children like them." I shook my head "I don't give a fuck. Carly and... Luca are mine now." I named him.

Will looked at Patty and I knew that stare was a silent command to her to be silent. I looked at the girl in my arms. My daughter Carly. I don't care if Jaxon accepts them or not. I will and I have.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and as I looked up, I saw Claude. He had bruises all over his face and his eyes looked tired "It's time, Caroline." I nod and say "Will you take care of my daughter? Please?" He looked taken back at first but took her from my arms and smiled at her. Claude is not like Kane. He's better and I think he's a better father than anyone.

Names were being written on the piece of paper and soon all those names will be carved in marble and be put up like walls all over the territory. Men and women. Side by side. Because from today this pack does not believe in patriarchy anymore. No more. Enough is enough.

Everyone was in the auditorium. Silent, crying, mourning.

I looked around for Jaxon and saw him helping the pack. I smiled at this man and walked to him. I said, "Jax, it's time." He looked at me and his face was all bruised from the fight. I held onto his arm and we walked to the stage. I asked, "You okay?" He smiled and lied through his teeth" I'm fine."
He went up the stage but I stayed down.

As soon as he walked up those three steps, he caught everyone's attention.
He said"We have lost some people today. Heroes that gave up their lives to protect us. Protect their family, their pack and for them, I will forever be grateful. And they all deserve to be noticed by everyone." He sighed and continued"Also you all know what Kane did. He embarrasses me to even call him my father. But don't worry, we're not rogues yet. We still have hope. Claude,"
As soon as Jaxon called his name, he looked up from the girl. Jaxon said, "Come here." He walked up the stage "You should've always been the King. But that title was taken away from you by my father. And today, I'd like you to have that title back, please. Our people need a king. An Alpha like you"

Kane's old crown was bought up to the stage. Jaxon took the crown and tried to put it on Claude's head but he stopped him and said "I can't wear this. This crown should only be worn by someone more worthy than I could ever be... you, my king."
Jaxon looked at him with furrowed brows and said"I can't, Claude. It belongs to you." Claude just shook his head "ALL HAIL JAXON MOON, THE ALPHA KING!"
The crowd roared with cheer and cries for Jaxon.
Claude looked at me from the stage and said again"ALL HAIL CAROLINE, OUR LUNA QUEEN!"
My mouth was left open. The crowd cheered for me too. Which was unexpected, honestly, because it was the loudest. The women were the ones who cheered the most.
Jaxon walked down with a smile and whispered in my ear "Get ready to wear the crown, my Luna." I reasoned "I can't, Jax. I don't deserve this."

"You deserve it more than anyone. You deserve this more than I do."

He held my hand and we walked up the stairs. The crowd I saw sad a couple of minutes ago, was alive. Alive with new hope, new life.
Jaxon put his mother's old crown on my head again and there was this power inside of me. Like I could feel everyone. I could listen to every thought. Everyone's voice running inside my head.
Claude put the crown on Jaxon's head and the whole crowd kneeled on the floor in silence. Paying their respects to their new king.
They said in unison"LONG LIVE THE ALPHA KING." which caused a shiver to run down my body.

I looked at Jaxon as he stood there with a crown on his head. My chest filled with pride for him.
In the end, he never let the prophecy come true.

This is what a King should be. This is what Jaxon was born to be. That crown fit him like it was a part of him. It was his from the start. It was him from the start.

X

After hours and hours of consoling people, we finally made our way to the cabin.
Carly was in Jaxon's arms and Luca was in mine.

He was the first one to walk inside and I was right behind him. He laid Carly down in the guest bedroom and I laid Luca right beside her but with a pillow between them and we almost made our way out.

Jaxon hadn't given me an answer if he was ready to accept them as his. But I didn't force him to give me any.

Carly stirred in her sleep and I was beside her in no time, lightly patting her back so she would go back to sleep. Goddess knows that she needed it badly. Jaxon sighed "I'm getting myself a glass of water, okay?" I nod and he walks out.

Minutes later, I make my way out and smile at him "I thought you were getting water." He smiled as he kept the glass of whiskey down on the kitchen island and gulped the sip and said "I was but the water seemed boring at this moment." I stride towards him and he instantly wraps his arms around my waist and I take a step, standing between his legs. His forehead is against my chest and I stroke his back. He smelled like blood and sweat and coconut.

He sighed "I'm so fucking tired, Caroline. I feel there's this heavy weight on my shoulders... of the crown. I can't take this. I can't be the king." He looks up at me "I don't wanna be a king. I wanna be your mate. I don't want you to be the Luna because I am not ready to share you with the pack. You're only mine and I feel like they're just trying to snatch you from me." I brushed my thumb across his brow, wiping the dried blood gently "You're my mate first and then you're the Alpha King."

"I don't want to be."

"Jaxon, I saw you with that crown on your head. This is your destiny. This is who you were born to be. And I think this is what your mother dreamed of too. She wanted the pack to have a true Alpha King. Not a traitor like your father or anyone else before him. You, Jaxon Moon, are the future of this pack. My future. Carly and Luca's future." I put a hand against my stomach "This baby's future." I smile "As they are yours." I curl a finger under his chin and lift his head "Chin up, Jaxon Moon, or the crown slips." He smiles "You're mine and they are mine first. And then I'm the Alpha King." I smile wider because he had accepted those two beautiful children in the room "Marry me, Dr. Quinn. Marry this wolf." I chuckle "I do." And pulled his face into a hard kiss. Kissing him with my love, loyalty, happiness, and freedom.

He is mine and I am his. The children are ours. This is my family. They are my freedom.

•••• THE END ••••