A few minutes after midnight, Chloe accepted that she couldn't sleep. She was too nervous, and strategies and fight techniques swarmed in her mind. Tyler was sleeping peacefully next to her, smiling in his sleep.

"At least, one of us will rest," she said to her wolf and carefully got out of the bed.

She put her silky, light pink night robe on top of her matching pajamas and walked out of the room.

A dim light appeared through the cracks of the door that led to James's office.

"We aren't the only one who can't sleep," her wolf noticed.

Walking down the stairs, the monotonous whistle of a kettle indicated that at least another person was awake.

What a strange night! They knew they had to rest, and yet, their worry and strange dreams wouldn't let their mind take a break.

"I'm making hot chocolate," Laurel informed her, without having to turn around to see her. "Unfortunately, someone forgot to buy milk, so we'll have to accept water. Do you want some?"

"I could never say 'no', even to this version of hot chocolate."

A few minutes later, they were sitting in the living room, staring at the forest. It hadn't stopped snowing, and the trees were covered in white layers. Even in the middle of the night, their eyesight allowed them to distinguish the colors and appreciate the beauty in front of them.

"Do you think it will cause trouble?" Chloe broke the silence and pointed to the snow.

"If it keeps going, fighting will be more difficult because we won't know where to walk safely. However, it will also be difficult for the enemy. We have fought under multiple weather conditions. Do you remember our trip to Arizona?"

"How could I forget? We were fighting some vampires, and all of a sudden three dust tornados appeared. As if one wasn't enough!"

"I still remember the vampires' faces when I used my powers to keep the tornados away."

"That is something I would like to see!" a male voice said, impressed.

"Where were you?"

Asher had come inside the house, dressed in training gear.

"Thomas is training with one of the Alpha's, and I didn't want to waste the opportunity to train with them." He sat opposite them in one of the armchairs.

"I have a feeling that only Tyler, Alex, and Liz are sleeping tonight," Chloe observed.

"Well. . . Liz was feeling unwell, so they went for a walk."

"Perfect! Everyone is awake except for my mundane mate," she mocked, but her eyes said otherwise.

"I'd call him lucky." Asher laughed. Chloe was a fun person to be around. "Okay, girls." He got up with a swift move. "It was nice talking to you, but this body needs to eat. I'll take my blood and go to my room. See you in a few hours."

The two girls waved goodbye and sipped the last of the hot chocolate.

"It's crazy how fast life changes. It feels like yesterday when a few strangers came and asked questions about an ancient power and reviving a dead girl. And now look at us!"

"Life is moving forward, and so should we. People die, and others are born. It's the circle of life."

"I can't wait for Liz to give birth. We are going to be aunts, Laurel! Isn't that exciting?" Chloe pulled her palms together, and her smile lit up her entire face.

"Yes, it is. It would be nice to have a child running around. Maybe, it would be even nicer to have more than one."

Chloe's excited smile turned into a confused one. She dropped her hands on her knees and stared speechlessly.

"Wait. Are you. . .?" She didn't dare to say the word but waited for Laurel's affirmation.

She shrugged. "I don't know. I didn't have time to visit the doctor. I have nausea and a strange feeling that can't stop, but it could be anything. Gosh." She exhaled and lowered her head. "I don't know. It's too soon. I didn't have enough time with James, and now that?"

"You have an entire life to be with him. Aw, Laurel, that's amazing!" She hugged her tightly, and they let their hug say what their minds were screaming.

Liz buried her hands in the pockets of her cagoule, while Alex tightened his grip on her arm and brought her closer to him.

The light of the ablaze moon reflected on the fresh, alabaster snow whose perfect appearance was destroyed by the steps of the couple.

"Are you feeling better?"

She nodded and smiled reassuringly.

"Do you think we are going to be good parents?"

He didn't answer immediately. Alex knew why his mate was asking that particular question. It wasn't the lack of faith in them, but her fear of raising their child as her parents had done.

Looking at her rosy cheeks and pewter gray eyes, he saw the woman he loved and adored. They always had a special connection, and when he turned eighteen, he realized that the bond they shared wasn't haphazard. Liz was his best friend, his companion in fights, his lover, and his soulmate. He caressed her cheek, and she leaned on his touch.

Those eyes were full of love and determination, fury, and power, but above all, they were the eyes of the rarest woman of the world.

"We are going to raise a tiny human. I don't think it will be easy, but we can do it. I want you to remember that you aren't alone. I got the lucky part, and I won't have any symptoms for the next few months, but that doesn't mean that I won't spend every single minute taking care of you."

The leaves on the trees moved synchronically to the movement of the air. A pair of red foxes, running through the forest, stopped moving, watched the couple, and assessed the level of danger.

"Alex," she whispered, "tomorrow I want you to do your best. Fight for our baby and come back to us. Promise me." She put her hands on the sides of his head, as a small tear escaped from her eye.

Somewhere far away, an owl hooted. One of the foxes started running, and then the other one followed.

"I promise that I'll come back. We will raise this child together."

She brought her face closer and crashed her lips on his. He put his hand around her waist and tried to hold her as close as possible. Not a single particle could fit between their bodies. Their kiss lasted an eternity, and when they stopped, nothing in the world mattered. Nature had fallen silent, afraid of what the future might bring.

He felt a light, familiar touch on his arm and opened his eyes. With his head laying on the desk, he had fallen asleep. A small tingle traversed his left arm, making him regret falling asleep in that uncomfortable position.

"We must be ready in an hour."

He raised his head and gently brushed her wrist.

"Everything ends today. Tomorrow we will be free."

"Not completely. We must get rid of the bond."

"We will. One step at a time. Since when are you the impatient one?" He chuckled.

She leaned closer and kissed him fondly. "Since I met you."

He stood up, took her hand, and kissed it.

"I don't want to spend this hour in here. Our bed is more comfortable," he said and led her out of the office.

They laid hugged, her head resting on his chest, while he fondled her body. Their hearts were beating synchronically like a lullaby.

"Don't be scared," he whispered as he felt the slight tremble of her body.

She raised her head and looked at him. "I know that I'm supposed to feel nothing after everything she's done, but I can't. I killed her once, and it was terrible. No matter what, I can still see the woman that sang me to sleep and taught me how to be brave."

"That woman is gone. She has changed. Her choices turned her into a monster, not the actions of others. We decide how to act, and for that, we pay the consequences. If it weren't you, someone else would have to end her. But for better or worse, I believe that it was always meant for you to kill her."

She closed her eyes and let the warmth of his body and his unique scent calm her down.

For years, the whole world counted on her: The Huntress. The great creature that was born to bring justice. Many times she wondered whether she was doing the right thing. She came very close to lose herself completely, but her friends were there to support her.

For the past two months, she had stopped hunting and focused on her mother and Charles. Was she born because she had to kill them? Were they the great evil that roamed on earth and only a hunter could stop? Probably she would never get answers to those questions.

"Then, what?" she asked Lyra. "How will I be certain that her reign of fear and death has ended?"

Her mother wanted to leave forever. She sought for eternity. A great witch like her would be able to escape from hell or find enough supporters to bring her back.

"Maybe we should give her what she asked. Our version, of course," Lyra suggested.

Laurel stopped the conversation and sat up abruptly on the bed.

"What happened? We have ten more minutes."

"I have to do something. I'll meet you downstairs."

She got up, wore her hair in a tight ponytail, wore her fighting gear, and bolted out of the room. Her weapons were already in the car, ready to be used, and the potions she had made were distributed to the warriors the previous day.

With a determined look and an evil grin, she left the packhouse and headed to the woods. She needed to be alone to speak to a very special person. Someone who would help with the final part of the ultimate plan.

It was a sleepless night. She saw werewolves from different packs, talking, training, and joking. Ada was there too. After Laurel left to find Zach, she approached James and told him that she wanted to help. Some of her witches would go to the battle with them, providing them with an extra pair of hands, increasing the abilities of their army.

Lost in her thoughts, Laurel didn't see the female figure that ran toward the house. Dressed in a tracksuit and with disheveled hair, Lena was running as the last ounce of hope was leaving her body.

Thomas was walking with some warriors toward the cars when he saw her.

"Where is Zach?" he asked, his eyes frozen, a pulsing vein in his neck.

"He isn't here, is he?" She wrapped her arms around her as a broken sigh escaped her lips.

Thomas shook his head. They had no time for further questions. The answer was obvious.

"No. He's the werewolf they are going to sacrifice."