Shelby's POV

I was trying my best to keep my plan from everyone, I knew that they would disapprove but I also knew that it was the only way to do what needed to be done. I was ensuring that everyone would be fine after the battle, I had a suspicion that Amanda was attempting to piece my plan together. I knew that what I was doing, I knew what would happen, I consulted the stars for guidance. So, I got to work setting everything in place, with any luck no one would get hurt in the crossfire. I took a deep breath and entered the board room where James, Joey, Amanda, and Thomas sat with my mother. "Let's get started," I said drawing everyone's attention to me.

"What is the plan?" Thomas asked.

I made eye contact with my mother; she knew the real plan. I could see it in her eyes, she was proud of me. "He is going to becoming the day after the full moon, which gives us less than a week to prepare. I suggest daily training and spending as much time with your loved ones as possible, we don't know how much longer we have together," I said looking around the room making eye contact with all of them. Joey and Amanda were holding hands, Thomas was looking toward the jail where his mate sat, James and my mother were looking at me.

Thomas was the first to get up, "well let's not waste any time," He walked out the door. Amanda and Joey followed, leaving James, my mother, and me in the room.

"I know that you are both scared, we have all heard the prophecy and know that this only ends one of two ways. I need you both to promise me that if this goes south you will both be ok," I said.

"Don't talk like that, it won't go south. I know that you can beat him, I mean you beat me most times when we spar," James said coming to my side. I could feel it when he touched my hand, the mate bond was fading. I knew that it was, I smiled up at him and looked over to my mother.

"If you don't mind me stealing her, I would like to make up for lost time with my daughter," she made eye contact with James, and he nodded. I watched him leave with a peaceful sorrow. "Shelby?" My mother called my attention to her after James was out of earshot.
"Yea?" I turned to her.

"Are you planning on surviving this? You just lied to everyone," She narrowed her eyes at me.

"How did you know?"

"You are not the only one who talks to my sister,"

"I am not sure how this will go; I will give it my all. I am not naive enough to think that I will win for certain, but I am going to give it my all,"

"You do not have to do this alone,"

"I am not alone; everyone here has given me strength in their own way. By believing in me and supporting me unconditionally," I admitted. "Amanda helps me to remember to be nice and kind to all I meet, James and Thomas challenge me to work harder and faster than anyone else. And you, help me to not only meet expectations but exceed them. All of you make me a better person with more love in my heart than I will know what to do within a lifetime," I was taken back when she hugged me. I could feel her pride in the form of teardrops on my shoulder.

"What are you going to do if you win? I know about your deal with my sister," my mom asked referring to the breaking of my mate bond.

"You and I both know that there is only a small chance that I will make it out of this alive. If I do I will travel the world, see everything that I have always wanted to, go to college and make something of myself that I want. Live my life the way I want to, not the one designed by fate,"

"You were destined for so much more than this life will give you," she said letting me go. "I will help you but make sure that you leave something for them," her advice confused me, but I knew I would figure it out eventually. I nodded and we went our separate ways, I took a walk around the pack grounds. This had been my home for my whole life, I watched the children play in the park and the old couples taking a stroll in the sun. I could not help but feel a little sorrow knowing that I would never have these things. The little joys in life could be gone for me in a couple of days, I shook my head trying to clear the negativity from my head. There was only one place to go when I was feeling like this.

I hit the bag with every ounce of strength that I had, pushing myself harder and further than I ever had before. The only full that I needed was the negative thoughts that kept going around in circles in my head. Everything that my fake dad ever told me, I am not good enough, strong enough, fast enough, smart enough. I could feel my muscles beginning to give out, but I was not done yet. I needed to know that I would win, I had to win no matter what the cost was.

"You broke the bag," a voice called out breaking my concentration. I looked at the floor seeing the sand spilling out of the bag. "What were you thinking about?"

"Doubt," I replied.

"If you doubt yourself then you have already lost,"

"I know but think about what I am going up against,"
"Shelby, trust in yourself. I have seen the outcomes,"

"You could have prevented this,"
"I know," her voice filled with sorrow. "Something this important should not be put on one girl's shoulders. You are paying the price for your mother's mistakes, life has not been fair to you,"

"Everyone makes mistakes," I responded. "As long as people believe in me, I have all the strength that I need," I was challenging her.

"You are not being realistic," she huffed. "You will lose. It is just a matter of fact, no one can protect you from the inevitable,"

"No one knows that. Destiny is always changing based on what we choose,"

"You are a stubborn child," she walked away. I got to work cleaning up the punching bag and replacing it with a new one to continue my training. Going until I felt like I could not use my muscles anymore, I went back to Amanda's place assuming that my father would not want me home.

"Where have you been?" Amanda bombarded me with a hug the second I came into the door.

"Gym," I responded.

"You are going to overdo it," I could hear the concern in her voice.

"I just needed to blow off some steam, don't worry. Everything will be fine," I reassured her, walking away.

"You are linking your life to his, aren't you?" I stopped in my tracks; how did she know. "I know that the twins visited you in the hospital, why didn't you tell me?"

"It is just a backup plan. This way even if I fail, everyone else will be safe," I turned back toward her, my eyes fixated on the floor.

"You would have been a perfect Luna," she said causing my eyes to fly to her widen with surprise. "Your greatest gift to the world is your capability of love. You love with everything that you have, your whole heart goes into every person whom you love. This also is your biggest curse, you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders. You look out for everyone, but who is looking out for you?"

Her words brought me to tears, I had never seen what I was doing as trouble. It was just my fate, the life that I was born to do, I was filling my role in the world. "He is coming the day of the full moon. I will be meeting him on the south side of the border, do not tell anyone. I plan on going alone, but I need to know that you believe in me," I looked at her.

Her soft smile gave me all the answers that I needed. She pulled out a silver ring with a small ruby heart in the center, "Wear this, it gives you a little bit of our parent's powers. I know it won't do much, but it can release a hellfire when you need it," She gave it to me, and I slipped it on my middle finger confused by her wording.

"Thank you," I gave her a hug.

"Do not worry, I promise that I will deal with James if everything goes south. I already have my own plan in motion," I knew that she would be the perfect partner for this.

"I trust you," She knew that when I said those words that the meaning was greater than the three words that I just spoke.

After our talk we both made our way to our bedrooms, I needed all the rest I could get after all I only had a little bit of time left.