As soon as we were out on the streets Mathew shifted and I climbed up on his back. It was very convenient to be able to give directions silently in my head to him and we moved quickly, hidden from sight in the shadows forming from the rising sun.

But there was a problem ahead. Where should we go? Faria was too far, Mathew would never make it. The second option was the lodge, but I wasn't sure it was safe.

"Make up your mind, little one."

"Little?!"

"You're a human, you are all small."

"But I'm your favorite. Right?"

"Of course."

I combed my fingers through his mane and let his thick fur warm my skin. "There is a hunterslodge to the north. Hidden in the forest. That's where Angela took me last time we fled."

As expected we were the first to arrive. Alpha had forced me to hide in the bushes while he checked the perimeter for guards or soldiers. I acted grumpy when he came back for me. Like a child I reminded him that he did in fact leave me, even though he'd promised not to. The wolf did not appreciate my mood and snorted loudly before he informed me that it was Mathew's promise, not his. That made me realize how completely different their personalities were and even though they both claimed that Alpha was the one who'd chosen me first I got the feeling that wolves' emotions were quite different from humans.

Mathew took my hand as we entered the house. We decided not to light any candles or make a fire, but I instantly went over to the cabinets in search of something to feed my husband.

"I have some biscuits in my bag if you want."

While I was busy in the kitchen he had pulled off his dirty clothes and thrown himself on the bed. "What I want is a bath, but since I can't have that I will settle with you."

I stopped and turned, making sure he could see me rolling my eyes. "How romantic..."

"I can be romantic," he snickered, "but I'm too tired to move, you'll have to come to me."

"Then you should sleep," I told him as I moved towards him. "We can be romantic tomorrow, " I said as I layed down beside him. "And after that bath."

He pulled me close and as soon as I laid my head to rest on his shoulder he was fast asleep. Exhausted and finally able to relax. He was out of his prison.

While he slept I kept watch. We were still close to the castle and I was worried for my friends and the pack. It was almost midday when I heard the footsteps and hushed whispers outside and I instantly sat up straight and placed a warning hand on my husband's shoulder. But he didn't react to my touch. Not even when I shook him. I started to panic. How the fuck could I protect him without a single weapon against Rolands soldiers?

"Alpah! You need to wake up!"

No answer.

"ALPHA!"

The steps closed in, I could hear them moving around the cabin, following the trail from Alphas paws. I got up on my feet and rushed to pull a thick blanket over Mathews sleeping body, hiding him from plain sight. We had locked the door when we arrived, but it wouldn't take long for them to break it.

That's when I smelled it. Smoke. They were going to burn us alive!

"His body is not responding, Little one, he won't wake up."

"Then shift!"

"I can't."

I fell down on my knees. This couldn't be happening! Did I save him only to be burnt alive?! "I don't know what to do!"

"Listen to me. As Alpha I can reach out to every wolf in my pack and speak to them telepathically. You have proven that you can do that over long distances. Call for them. If they hear you, they will come!"

It sounded too good to be true, but I was desperate and with no other choice I tried to calm myself and expand my mind to find any wolf that might be close to us and I cried out for help. Over and over again. I stopped when I noticed the black smoke surrounding me. Coughing I crawled over to Mathew and used all my strength to pull him down on the floor with me where the smoke wasn't as thick.

I drifted in and out of consciousness, but somewhere in the distance I could hear the sounds of a fight. I heard windows break, paws that landed on wooden floors. I felt arms grabbing me and pulling me up... and then... fresh air.

"Alpha!"

"Adrian!"

"They're alive!"

I smiled to myself. I recognised those voices. Water was held to my lips and I drank it all.

And when I opened my eyes I noticed it was Eric who was helping me. "How did you do that?"

"Do what?" I coughed.

Eric helped me up to see all the wolves gathered around us. There must have been over a hundred. "You called on us. We all heard you."

"I-I don't know." Everyone's eyes were on me. I saw curiosity in them, but also reverence. "Where's Mathew?"

"Sam's looking after him, but we need to get out of here. Will you let me carry you, Lord Alpha?"

I gave Eric a smile and a nod. He instantly shifted and I climbed up on his back and from there I could see the stretcher they had built and the two wolves who were pulling my husband behind them.

"Have you seen my friends?"

"I have." Eric's wolf answered. "Frej took them to safety. They should be home by now."

"Good," I whispered as I lay down on his back to rest my head on his thick neck. My head was hurting and my lungs were soar. But at least I was alive. We all were.

How I managed to sleep on a running wolf's back without falling off was beyond my comprehension. But when I woke up I was lying in bed, in my home next to my husband.

It all felt surreal. Like a dream.

"Good morning."

I peered up at Lynn and smiled. "How is he?"

"Weak. But he'll survive."

I let out a relieved sigh and sat up to accept the bowl of vegetable soup that she offered me. "And the others?"

"Sam will inform you when you are feeling better. I told him you needed to rest. They expect you to call for a meeting when you do."

"But were there any humans? Three girls to be more specific."

A gentle hand found mine and she patted it comfortingly. "They saved a lot more than three. We had to set up tents for them outside the village for now."

I was eager to get out of bed and greet them all, but Lynn gave me a firm order to stay where I was. I needed my rest, she said, and Mathew needed me close to him. It was that last sentence that made me listen and give up.

When we were left alone I reached for the washcloth and the bowl of hot water and continued Lynn's work of cleaning his body. He was covered in bandages and herbmixtures. Beside the bed stood bowls and vials of liquids and remedies and I wondered if it was Lynn who was the healer in this village.

"She is."

"You're awake!"

The wolf chuckled. "I was never asleep. He is unconscious, not me."

"Will he be alright? Will you?"

"Of course we will." With that said his body shifted and soon a great light brown wolf laid beside me in the bed. "He will heal faster like this."

"So now you can shift?"

"Lynn's medicines helped."

Without a thought I cuddled up next to him, burrowed my face in his thick fur and my fingers found the soft spot behind his ear. "I should go out and greet them," I said out loud.

"You should, but not yet. As soon as you go out there you will return to your responsibilities. You've earned some peace."

I smiled and hugged him tighter. "If you don't mind me asking, do you have a name?"

The wolf lifted his head and his blue eyes stared into mine, "Of course I do, but it would be too difficult for you to pronounce."

"So what should I call you?"

"Whatever you feel called to."

My hands kept moving through his fur, my mind drifted in and out of sleep and we stayed like that for hours until the sun finally set. I noticed that Lynn came and checked on us now and then. Alpha would obey her and drink whatever she offered him, but most of the time she would just leave us be. Until it was time for me to eat my dinner.

We had both left the bed, I was seated by the fire in the main room and the wolf laid on the furs, gnawing on a piece of meat beside me.

"Can you tell me what happened that morning?"

The wolf peered at me, but seemed reluctant to answer. "Mathew would want to do that."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. It is his story to tell. Not mine."

As expected my lady friends had gotten tired of waiting for me, and as we ate we heard a knock on the front door. "Adrian love, are you two decent?"

"We are."

Gabrielle entered first, then Penelope and lastly Mathilda. Angela was nowhere to be seen. They all smiled happily at me but seemed reluctant to approach us. I chuckled and glanced at the big wolf.

"Alpha, these are my friends."

"T-that's Mathew?"

I shook my head and stood on my feet to hug Mathilda. "No, that's his wolf. Mat is still unconscious."

I was ripped from the girl's embrace and pulled into Gabrielle's arms. "How does that even work?" she chuckled nervously and held me tight. "I'm glad you're alive though. All... three? of you."

"I'm not sure," I told them honestly as I managed to tangle myself out of her hug and grabbed Penelope's hand after a quick kiss on her cheek, and led her towards Alpha's curious eyes.

"They may stay, but not for long. You still need rest."

I gave him a quick nod and I sat down close enough to use his body as a backrest.

"Now, what's up with Angie? She's acting weird."

I reached for my hot tea. "Weird, as is contemplating her actions? Because she should!"

"What happened Sweetie?"

I glanced at Mathilda and sighed, "She killed Anna."

"Honey." Gabby sighed. "Anna was afraid of the lycans. As soon as she heard you feld she pledged her allegiance to Roland."

"NO, you're wrong!"

Mathilda leaned forward and placed a small hand on my thigh. "I'm sorry Adrian, but Gabby is telling the truth. Anna was scared and she did what she had to do to survive. You can't blame her for that."

"And you can't blame Angie for trusting her instinct." Gabby added. "She'd do anything to protect you."

"You're all wrong." To my right I noticed Penelope slowly reaching out her hand to touch the bridge of Alphas nose. "She did it for Adrian. To collect information, to get close to Roland and help in whatever way she could."

"How do you know?"

"Because we used to talk a lot. She was deeply in love with you when you were younger Adrian, and she never stopped loving you." Her delicate fingers slowly moved up the head of the wolf and I was amazed how calm she was. And also that he let her. "She used to bring us extra food when we were locked up and give me information."

"What information?"

Mathews' voice surprised us all. Suddenly I was pulled into my husband's lap and Penelope hurried to remove her hand from his thigh. He wore pants and bandages still. Another thing I did not understand.

"Mathew!" I instantly turned to place my hands on his cheeks, "you're awake!"

He chuckled and pulled me close. "I am, and I feel much better." Then he turned to take Penelope's hand, "now, please tell us the information Anna gathered for us."

The shy girl's cheeks flushed bright red, but she didn't falter and began her story. "It was all a lie. Rolands interest in Adrian. Eli and Barclay were on his side from the start. They've spread hateful things about you to the cityfolk. Telling them that you are going to let the lycans take over our land if you win."

"The commoners won't believe them. They love Adrian," Gabby hisseed.

I sighed. "But the city is empty. Where did they go?"

"I don't know," Penelope continued, "but Roland's wife arrived and apparently they are planning to take over the entire continent together."

Mathew's chest vibrated as he growled, "what do we know about his wife?"

"From what Anna told me she wields magic."

We took a moment to take it all in. The fire was almost out when Mathilda stood up to get some more firewood from one of the baskets by the door. "There's something else you need to know."

"I'm not sure this is the time Tilda, they need their rest," Gabby argued.

"He needs to know!"

"Know what?" Mathew demanded, knowing full well they wouldn't dare to say no to him.

"We heard the guards talking," Penelope continued, "one of them confessed he killed Joseph."

"Roland had ordered the soldier to kill him and lie to you about it, making it look like a disappearance or a kidnapping. But I'm sure Roland knew he would see through him eventually and decided to remove him."

Suddenly everything felt overwhelming. Mathew noticed and he gently asked the girls to leave and promised them we would hold a meeting in the morning. He carried me to the bed and held me close. "Mourn them, cry and scream out your pain," he cooed. "Tomorrow I will deal with Angela for you."

"And then what?" I sobbed.

"I'm going to kill Roland. Slowly and painfully."