***Jackson's POV***

I stood in Alpha Darius office awaiting his return. He had been gone for far too many human hours. My tension was building like the steam from a pressure pot. I paced the floor and wrung my hands. Sweat was beading my forehead.

Finally, Alpha stood before me.

His face was distorted and set to a sickly shade of pale. His hair was drenched in sweat and looked as if he had been tugging at it incessantly. His breathing was shallow as his chest rose only to fall with a clatter.

"Alpha? What's WRONG?" I worriedly seethed.

"Gather Gamma Ethan and Delta Bryan please" he slowly breathed out.

I ran to Ethan's room and burst thru the door without bothering to knock.

"Gamma, get up" I ordered as I shook his sleeping form.

"What's wrong Beta?" He howled.

"Alpha needs us!" I rushed out. "We need Bryan."

The two of us ran to Bryan's room, barreling thru his door.

Delta Bryan jumped from his sleepy haze.

"Beta? Gamma? What is it?" Bryan demanded.

"It's Alpha!" Ethan and I announced.

The three of us hurried down the hall to Alpha's office. We didn't bother knocking as we entered.

"Alpha" Ethan and Bryan greeted him with a bow of their heads.

"It's Aubrey" Darius sadly spewed.

"What happened?" Ethan croaked.

"Is she okay?" Bryan questioned.

"What is it?" I growled.

Darius held his head in his hands as he sat at on the black leather couch, bouncing his knees up and down.

His head hung low as he delivered the news.

"Her baby didn't make it." He cried in tears of agony.

"Shit!" Ethan howled.

"God damn it" Bryan concurred.

"What the actual fuck?" I roared.

"The cord entangled during delivery and she strangled on it." Darius confirmed.

One by one we fell to our knees, wrapping our arms around our leader. Holding him, while each of us cried our disbelief.

How could fate continue to seek ways to torment Aubrey? How is this the hand she was dealt? Why can't she be happy?

The questions infiltrated our minds as we suffered for our beautiful angel.

Over the years we each grew attached to Aubrey. She was one of a kind. Her perseverance has outshone the most stubborn of fools.

Her kindness radiated out of her spirit like a sphere of facets, illuminating the midnight sky. Her forgiveness for her offenders stole the breath of each of us on too many occasions to record. Aubrey was an angel, if ever one walked in human form.

"How's Aubrey taking it?" I asked, scared to have the truth revealed.

"We're not sure. She's sleeping thanks to the drugs that were administered." Darius replied.

"What can we do?" Ethan begged.

"We have all been summoned to the Heavens at morning to meet with the Deities." Darius proclaimed.

"All of us?" Bryan questioned in astonishment.

"Serriphina - Goddess of Vampires, says it's time." He whispered.

Time froze. Silence weaved an intricate pattern of suffocation in the air.

"Let's run." Darius demanded.

We slowly walked to the training fields. Sorrow weighed our steps. No one spoke as we lowered ourselves before the moon.

Our wolves took form and we bolted from the grounds. We followed our Leader's quickening pace.

No word's were formed as we flew thru the forest towards our destination.

As we reached the waterfall we climbed the precipice to the cliff  where we both grieved and rejoiced at life's turns.

Darius' wolf Ultor laid at the edge with his head hung, tears glistening in his iridescent eyes.

My wolf, Viribus, flanked Ultor's right.

Ethan's wolf, Robora, flanked Ultor's left.

And, Bryan's wolf, Custos, took Ultor's back.

We hung our head's in silent prayer that the Moon Goddess would hear our cries.

Ultor stood up slowly to his full, intimidating height, and lifted his head to the moon.

Viribus, lifted my heavy limbs and pulled my head towards the Heavens.

Robora stood in his triumphant glory as he raised his head in high salute.

Custos, raised his head regally as he followed suit.

Ultor opened his mouth as a deafening growl vibrated thru the cliff, shaking the rock we stood upon.

Vibirus roared his disdain to the sky.

Robora howled in sympathy to echo our pain.

Custos sent the forest trees trembling as sorrow resounded thru his growl.

In unison we grieved for our fallen angel, for the breath she could not take.

As if the sky was weeping for us, the clouds moved slowly and poured cold tears upon on our fur. The winds howled their mercy blowing thru the trees. Lightning shattered around us without making landfall. And thunder echoed our cries.

But, above the clatter of nature's grief, four wolves  billowed their battle cry against the hands of fate.

***Alejandro's POV***

The Heavens shook in magnificent tremors as water kissed the marble floors from the trembling Great Fountain.

The roof on the Chamber of Judgement peeled back to tuck away beneath the seams.

Persephone lifted her hands to the moon.

Serriphina lifted her face to the blanket of dimly lit darkness.

Mekhal pointed his wand at the star freckled sky.

I lifted my lips to the sea of emptiness that rose above the Chambers.

In unison, Persephone crackled lightning from her finger tips as her body shined in glory, Serriphina growled thunder with a treacherous roar. Mekhal brought rain from the clouds with the wand extended in his hand and I blew winds across lands.

Nature mourned the loss of innocence. Viciously, punishing fate for it's reign.

The howls of our Chosen Angels echoed thru the realm.

As the howls died down each deity seeped to their knees in reverence of the wolves. Our spirits dampened by their pain.

***Jackson's POV***

We slowly walked our pilgrimage back to the pack house, shifting once in view. Without speaking, each of us dragged our feet towards our rooms.

I laid in my bed and pondered away at what tomorrow would bring.

My heart continued in its heavy state as tears broke the surface.

Never had I imagined that a human would bring wolves to their knees.

Yet, gladly I would bow before the Angel to take away her grief.

My mind slowly replayed the years where we watched as Aubrey grew. Every path she followed seemed too much for one soul to bare.

I sent a prayer to the Moon Goddess begging for mercy upon our dear Aubrey. Pleading that tomorrow could finally bring her peace.

Softly my eyes closed on their own accord as sleep made its way to my grieving spirit.

***Bryan's POV***

I curled into my blankets with the weight of tomorrow pressing against my chest.

Tears stung my eyes as I mourned for Aubrey's loss.

I remembered each day we spent silently watching her journey.

Fate was an insufferable entity that had no regard.

Aubrey suffered more in 22 years than one could imagine. Yet, she continued to thrive.

Every blow Fate took upon itself to deliver seemed to only fuel her fire.

Aubrey was an angel. Her beauty cast shadows upon the sun.

I prayed to the Moon Goddess that life would turn for our golden haired angel, as tomorrow staked it's claim.

Sleep came in waves, crashing it's soothing waters against the bitter stinging edges of my shattered heart.

***Ethan's POV***

Anger boiled within my veins as Fate had proven so unkind.

I thrashed in my blankets as tears ripped from my eyes.

Aubrey's life had been a series of violent events. This trumped them all.

Every heartbreak, bruise and assault paled in comparison to knowing she mourned her silent angel.

Why was her life so cruel? Why did fate choose to be a thief to her innocence? What vulturous entity decided she could bare the weight of the hand she was dealt?

Questions raked thru my subconscious as my heart tore to shreds.

I prayed to the Moon Goddess bartering with everything I had. I begged for her intervention upon Aubrey's life.

Maybe tomorrow could be better.

I closed my eyes and succumbed to sleep as prayers drifted from my lips.

***Darius POV***

I bowed upon my knees as I cradled my head in my hands. The energy to climb into my massive bed had been drained from my limbs.

I cried cold tears of anguish into my dark wooden flooring. Puddles gathering at my feet.

Ultor heaved whimpers into his fur lined paws as he laid in the back of my head. His tremors ricocheting into my bones.

I was broken.

Ultor was angry. He demanded justice for our green eyed angel.

His demands were violent and futile. For no punishment could be dealt to Fate itself.

My mind conjured the memories from the decades we spent in the shadows of Aubrey's life.

Her laughter rang like bells from the few times it blessed our ears.

Her smile shined brightly in my memories lighting a path until darkness continuously sunk its teeth into her life.

Her tear filled prayers echoed time and again in my spirit as I countered them with prayers of my own.

Her beauty surrounded me in comfort as I remembered her martyrdom.

Aubrey Winters had successfully and unknowingly imprinted her stamp on the flesh of each of our very souls.

Ultor sent waves of emotion soothingly into my heart. He revered Aubrey with the grace of an army of angels. His images of the sweet angel brought peace as he remembered every gorgeous smile, sweet laugh and each time her courage outshone her fear.

Ultor stared thru the memories as if Aubrey was the greatest gift he ever received.

I watched in awe as he worshipped our precious angel. I wrapped my arms around my chest as he grew with pride over his delicate chosen one.

My mind became a happy place as I promised tomorrow would turn the hands of Fate into a soft caress of love. Love for Aubrey. Blessings for Aubrey. A new life for Aubrey.

With a prayer to the Moon Goddess escaping my lips, I drifted into a heavy slumber. Pondering what the gorgeous sun would conjure come morning.