"Good, good, I thought you wouldn't make it," Amelia Grace said as soon as the door was closed and locked. She smiled and patted Cooper's and I's cheek. "You two have no idea how happy I am that you two are finally together."

"I am glad that you are happy," I replied, sarcastically as I went into the living room. I relaxed when I saw Elder Jeff sitting there with a scowl on his face. "Good, you are awake. I thought I knocked you out til next week."

Elder Jeff looked at me and scowled. "I am glad that my safety is your concern, Rylan."

I shrugged my shoulder and looked him up and down, making sure that his wounds were healing. "You know that it is," I replied.

"He asked about how you got the gun."

"What'd you say?"

"I was debating whether or not if I should shoot you in the foot, and you wrestled it out of my hands."

I shrugged and sat down on the couch. "Fair enough." I looked at Amelia Grace. "Now why is it that you had rung?" I asked, leaning against my mate when he sat down next to me.

Amelia Grace sat down beside Elder Jeff while Vulcan stood behind me. She glanced at my Protector before looking back at me. "Cooper is your opposite in more ways than one," she said. She held her hand, stopping me from commenting. "What can you control?"

I thought of a small flame and watched as it danced on my hand before diminishing it. "Fire," I replied. "What does that have to do with Cooper?"

"He can control water," Amelia Grace said, causing my mate to stiffen. She looked at him and smirked. "And, I am guessing that someone did not tell their mate."

I turned to look at him and raised an eyebrow.

"I found out about it when you got "captured" again," he said, shifting in his seat. He looked down, and I could tell that he thought that I would get mad at him for not telling me. "I've been trying not to get angry but.."

"It happens," I replied, nodding my head. "I'll help train you." I turned to Amelia Grace. "Has this ever happened before?" I asked.

She shook her head no. "Not that I know of, and I know a lot."

I pursed my lips but nodded my head. I was curious as to what this meant with both Cooper and I having powers, but I feared that I wouldn't have time to train him to control his powers before the big fight. "How long do we have till the fight?"

Amelia Grace smiled, sadly. "Not long," she said. "Andrew and Skylar will try to raise him on the day of the red moon."

Cooper and I glanced at each other, frowning. Fear filled his eyes, and I knew that he was afraid that I would get hurt or worse.

I gave him a hesitant smile as I tried to calm him down. I took his hand in mine and squeezed it. "When is the red moon supposed to be here?"

"Soon," Amelia Grace replied. She moved a hand through her hair and sighed. "I don't know if you will make this out alive, Rylan," she added. "I can see many ways that things can go wrong. The odds are not stacked in your favor."

I pursed my lips and shrugged. "I guess that I have to beat the odds then," I replied. "I mean. I don't want to die, but if it is for the safety of others, then I will."

"And that is what I am afraid of," Cooper said. He squeezed my hand, and I could see the pain in his eyes. "If you die..." He shook his head and grimaced, taking a deep breath. "I don't know if I can survive like my mother did."

"You have to," I said. I glanced at Elder Jeff before looking at Vulcan. "All of you. I do not know what Andrew and the others will do if I die. Hopefully, you all can hold them off until the next red wolf is born and completed his or her training."

"But the world will be different then. It will not be the same, and everyone that is or had claimed to be on your side will be killed off," Elder Jeff replied. "What are we supposed to do? Hide?"

I nodded. "Hide for as long as you can. Change your identity and your mannerism. Go against my name and lay in wait. When the new red wolf comes, hide them and train them early on. Make sure that they are ready. And never give up. Because, if you give up then you are good as dead. Deal?"

There was silence amongst the three people in the room. They didn't know what to do, and I could tell that they didn't want to say it, Cooper especially.

Cooper sighed and moved a hand through my hair, turning my face so that I would look at him. "Promise me one thing," he said. He licked his lips and cleared his throat. "You keep fighting. No matter what comes your way, you keep fighting until the end."

I smjled and pecked his lips. "Promise," I whispered before pecking them again. "I promise a million times."

My heart broke, because I had no idea if I would be able to keep that promise or not. Only time will tell.

***

"I am glad that I was able to make sure you know what I am all about, Alpha Barker," I said, loading the last bag into the truck. "And thank you for letting us help those that had been locked up." I glanced at Delilah to see her scowling at TJ.

"You seem to be a good asset to keep my son and pack in line, Alpha," Alpha Barker saud. "And, you have earned my respect." He cleared his throat, and I could see the pain in his eyes because he knew that his daughter would be leaving with Thaddie and I. "Take good care of her, will you? That Thaddeus seems to have his head in many different places."

"She will be safe," I shrugged. "Or as safe as I can manage with a psychotic male trying to capture me and do his evil bidding."

"Tell me, what will happen if you die, and Garth is raised from the ground."

"I would pray go the Moon Goddess that Garth will not be raised and that the next Red Wolf will be able to lock him up for good. It is hard to kill a God, but there may be a way to actually kill him."

Alpha Barker nodded. He watched as the people that came with me started to load up the last car. "They care about you. How will they be willing to kill you?"

"They made a promise," I replied. "They know that I care about others more than I care about myself. It is that reason that they will do the unthinkable."

"And if they don't?"

"Then life will be lost as we know it. I do not know what powers the next red wolf will hold, but I do know that they might not be able to keep Garth doormat until they are of age."

"And what about you? Will they be able to change your mind like you changed Aednant's?"

I glanced at Aednant to see that she was looking at me with a thoughtful yet grief stricken look. We both knew that if Garth rose then there would be little chance for me to be swayed back to the side of the good. I sighed and shook my head. "I do not think so, and I do not want to find out," I said.

Alpha Barker nodded his head. "If you need us, we will come." He bowed his head in respect. "It was a pleasure, Red Wolf."

I nodded. "Pleasure was all mine, Alpha Barker." I looked at the members of my pack and smiled. "It's time to go home," I called, causing everyone to look at me. "Let's move out."

My heart broke because I knew that maybe, just maybe, whatever was happening was going to happen when I get home. And that meant that I wouldn't be able to eat anything that my aunt cooked.

What a shame...  

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A/N: Yaaaaaaa'llllll who will read a story of Ry if she does die? Any takers?