Eventually I felt the exhaustion start to wrap it’s fingers around me and my eyelids started to feel heavy,

“Sleep Anna we will watch over you,” Cea told me as she handed me a blanket.

“Rest, Luna,” Elizabeth agreed with her.

It didn’t take long for me to sleep, I was drained and my b*dy was going off instincts putting me to sleepwhile it could before it had to do the major task of pushing another human out. I listened to it and driftedoff.

I saw Enzo surrounded dozens of dusty brown–furred wolves around him he crushed their limbs in hisjaws and clawed deep into their bodies. A blonde wolf came over to help him Jasper, Jamie’s wolf. Hedefended Enzo with a ferocity only Jamie could hold.

Once all the wolves were dispatched Enzo looked at Jasper and growled softly IAsper took off runningletting out a long howl and Enzo followed him.

I blinked awake as I breathed a deep breath and looked around me. I was still in the bunker.

“Luna,” Elizabeth dabbed my forehead with a wet cloth. “You’re burning up,” She felt my head.

“Did you have a wolf dream?” Cea looked at me.

Jamie knows I’m in labor Enzo told Jasper,” I explained to my sister–in–law.

“He’ll be on his way then,” Cea quirked an eyebrow.

“I think my husband is keeping him in the battle,” I told her.

“It is truly incredible how close to the goddess you are Luna,” Elizabeth looked at me.

“My mother has to the wo–lf dreams too,” My voice faltered as another contraction came on me.

After hours a huge thud came at the wall. My heart fl*pped in my chest, the door hadn’t budged an inchbut someone was trying to get in. They began tapping the wall, they were trying to replace where the doorwas.

“It should hold,” I told them.

“Is it James?” Cea asked me.

“Grayson would be with him it’s not a friend,” Elizabeth got in front of me and Cea then started packingthings up.

“Get the Luna out of here,” Matt ordered the girls.

“What no you’re coming with,” I shook my head if he stayed he was as good as dead.

“No, I’m not I need to keep you safe and you need to get out of here. They’re here for you we all knowthat, and as the one who is marked to protect you I am doing my job,” He told me as he loaded up agun.

You take her you go into the forest and you get her out of her,” He looked at Elizebeth who beganpulling me onto my feet. “I will not die today,” He promised me.

Matt had been so kind to me and Grayson had already lost Aarron he shouldn’t have to lose someonehe could actually trust. I didn’t want to lose anyone else.

“Come on Anna, Cea grabbed me and started taking me away as they started to try and break the doordown

Elizabeth found the second thumbprint and placed my thumb on it. “For your son Luna,” She looked atme. “We need to go,”

I nodded and we went through the door and closed it behind us, leaving behind Matt. They hurried medown the tunnel as best they could and I breathed through my very consistent contractions they weregetting longer and closer

together.

Come on Anna you can do this,” Cea helped me move forward. A soft rumble in the distance and faintgunfire echoed.

We hurried forward and kept moving the tunnel was long as it stretched far ahead out beyond the wallsand into the

forest.

I wanted to stop I wanted to lay down with the pain I was in but I kept going as I pictured the little toes,the tiny fingers, and that head of inky hair.

“Good job Luna, Elizabeth told me.

Eventually, we got to the end of the tunnel and they helped me up the ladder as best they could. Wegot out and into

the blinding sunlight.

Somehow it was morning. I looked back and saw the smoke rising into the air from behind our wallsfour large trails of

smoke rising into the sky.

I choked back a sob as they grabbed me by the hands again and started taking me through the snowand into the forest

to safety.

I didn’t stop the tears as we kept walking further and further, my b*dy and mind in anguish as I had tokeep going and moving farther away from my husband and family.

“That’s it keep going.” They told me

“You’re doing great come on,”

“Keep breathing.”

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Bont

09:2

We couldn’t cover the tracks in the snow and they couldn’t leave me, they knew I was going to have mybaby soon we just had to hope we had enough time.

We saw a cave and they agreed Elizebeth took the axe off of her back and Cea took the backpack off.They sat me down

and Cra checked me.

“It won’t be long Anna you’re almost completely dilated,” She told me.

We moved as far back in the cave as we could and I did everything I could to keep myself quiet. If Iscreamed I could alert whoever was behind us to where we were. I didn’t stop crying all throughout asthey got a blanket and towels ready Elizebeth set up the suture kit and Cea held my hand.

“You will see your son soon Anna,” She reminded me. “Your son will be here soon,”

I couldn’t hol

but fear for him for my baby. He was now in danger all because of me, because of his lineage. He wasgoing to be hunted too, he needed to be safe. I had to keep him safe.

*He was going to sell you after our babe was born

“They’re here for you we all know that

*Do not bend to them Annette

“It’s time,” Cea told me.

I bore down and started pushing Elizebeth holding my hands as I pushed I wanted to yell to let it outbut I didn’t I grunted and I pushed.

“Okay break,” Cea told me and I breathed out pulling myself together. “Again,”

For at least an hour I pushed and eventually he came out.

He cried and I grabbed him quickly softly covering his mouth. “Shhhh, Shhh, shh,” I wept crying soheavily as I memorized his features my son my baby boy. All my dreams were in my arms.

“Shhhh baby it’s okay I know I’m scared too but you are going to be so strong do not cry,” I told him andmiraculously he calmed down looking at me with those big eyes and I sobbed for him. “Shhh. I loveyou. I love you,” I told him as I heaved in and out great horrible bawls.

“His name is Christian James Addams,” I told them. A held him tightly to my chest and they gave me ablanket to bundle him up in. “I love you, I love you, I love you,”

We had a couple of precious moments together before we heard the echos of soldiers looking for us. Istood up and I handed my son to Elizabeth.

“Take him,” I told her.

“No,” She looked up at me in horror and realization.

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Bont

09:2

“They’re here for me, not my son you take him, take him and go please,” I begged her.

“No, no way, no,” Cea shook her head.

“You take my son and you GO!” I ordered Elizabeth. “He is the heir to the pack your duty is to protecthim now, take him to the Frozen Moon pack in Alaska, their Alpha Peter he’s Grayson’s cousin and afriend. Take him there don’t stop do not go anywhere else do you understand,”

“Annette…” Elizabeth looked at me with a sadness I didn’t think she’d ever show. “Yes, Luna,” She toldme and turned.

to Cea. “Pack this up we will need it,”

“No Anna please, Cea asked me.

“Go,” I started hobbling out of the cave I turned back and they were already running in the oppositedirection.

“He’s safe. I love you.

I ran as best as I could for just giving birth and I knew the trail of blood was behind me. I wept as I rantaking them in an opposite direction of my baby. They were going to replace me that much I knew the onlything in my favor was that I wasn’t pregnant any more.

The first one caught up to me and attempted to shoot me. I grabbed her gun and took claws into hereyes and then ripped her shoulder out of it’s socket before dragging my clws down her arm.

The next one winged my arm and I charged him kneeing him between the legs before punching him inthe nose then taking the knife he had strapped to his thigh and stabbing him in the n*eck.

A sharp pain entered my back and I began ot feel woozy.

“You are as magnificent as I thought you’d be,” A voice called behind me. I turned and saw a figure ofsome strange. man but recognized the scent, that wolf all those months ago.

“Don’t worry Annette I’ll take care of you,”

And that’s the last thing I remembered a deep darkness calling me into it but I went peacefully, my sonwas safe.

I am so so greatful to everyone who has enjoyed this book I know you all probably hate me right nowleaving you with

clifhanger sorry but this was always the ending for book number one. I started writing Stronger becuaseI had a little idea and thought who knows, but I was so blown away by the response this got thank youfor hanging on through my incosistnent updating and being so kind as to keep coming back for everychapter I will not leave you hanging for book number 2 Im going to write far ahead on the next bookand with that being said.

Standing comes out November 1st 2023

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Chapter Comments

Kayla Marqué

thank you so much! I love your writing please stick with it no matter what!

Monika Puchniak

love this book!!! cant wait for the next!

VIEW ALL &

Bonu

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