{ 3 days before the battle }

The sky was darker than usual as if nature knew what was going to happen and was just as worried as them. John day by day grew even more preoccupied at the thought that if something would take a bad direction he would lose the love of his life and also their baby. It was easier years ago when he had nothing to lose, he still remembered how people looked at him and wondered how was he able to be so uncaring unscared, and detached, the answer was easy. He had nothing to lose, when you can nothing to lose it's easier to live a life without preoccupation.

Now he had much to lose and the price to pay was expensive, he had been practically no stop for the entire week, barely finding the time to eat. Roselyn was slightly preoccupied about his health and his obsession to practice and get stronger yet somehow she understood him as she was feeling so scared to lose him.

Her belly was even more visible and Roselyn had to wear some larger dresses to let the small bump go unnoticed.

When Roselyn went to the kitchen to have breakfast John wasn't there, he was practicing outside, running from side to side to get faster and scratching the tree's bark to sharpen his claws.

She gazed at him through the windows and took a deep breath, "for how long had he been training?" Roselyn asked a maid.

"I guess three hours." the maid answered darting her gaze toward John as well and sighing.

"He should rest. Training that much will only affect his health." Roselyn shook her head, she stood up and walked closer to the window.

"We both know when he put something in his mind he is unstoppable. We just have to hope he will slow down and eat more." Another maid observed.

Roselyn rested her hand over the window's glass as she stared at his husband with her eyebrows curved down, "I wish I could help. I wish I would be more helpful." Her voice was brittle, seeing John overworking so much and being unable not only to help him but also to side with him during the fight was killing herself deep down. If something happened to him she would feel guilty for not having taken place to battle.

One maid walked closer to John and caressed the back of her shoulder, she smiled to her supportively, "you are already helping him by staying home and not giving him furthermore reasons to be concerned. You've also helped him to find his truest self, I had never seen him happier before, your love seems to make him become the best version of himself."

Roselyn turned around to smile at the woman genuinely, "thank you for your nice words." Roselyn whispered, the maid took her hand and covered it with her own hands.

"Trust me, you already did enough for him. And we are here to protect him during the battle and afterward." the maid continued in the same honest tone of voice.

John walked back inside in few minutes, when he saw Roselyn and few maids in front of the window he frowned his forehead, "spying on me?" he asked amused as he raised his eyebrow.

The maid who talked to Roselyn earlier faked a giggle as she walked back to the kitchen to place food on the table.

"You've been training a lot recently," Roselyn said folding her arms and looking at John, her voice rang slightly irritated which when John noticed he chuckled. "I am, I want to be the stronger version I can be, only three days left and we got no time to waste."

He poured some animals blood mixed with wine in his glass and drunk it all up in few sips.

"I see, but you have to understand training too much can also be too risky. Maybe you should rest in the afternoon and train again this evening." Roselyn said, her statement rather than a suggestion sounded more like a request. She knew her efforts would be in vain with someone as stubborn as John but she tried anyway.

Indeed, as she expected, he shook his head no. "I will practice when I will finish breakfast. Ethan will arrive in about 20 minutes to train with me."

Roselyn scoffed as she rolled her eyes. A maid from the opposite side of the table blushed as soon as John nominated Ethan. John laughed, as he traveled his gaze toward the maid. "He told me he also practiced with you."

The maid's face blushed even more, it was of the same red of the tomato Roselyn was cutting. She bowed her head down in a useless effort to hide her embarrassment. "Yes." She whispered, her voice shyer than the usual and Roselyn widened her eyes, how didn't she notice that girl was fancying Ethan?

"Alright then after you practice with Ethan you can take the rest of the day off." John insisted, saving the maid from more embarrassment as John darted her gaze back to Roselyn, he smiled sweetly.

"Rose, I used to train a lot during all my life. I am a creature of the night, that's what I am supposed to do, moreover, I am doing it also for you and the baby. I want to get stronger also to protect you from potential threats in the future."

Roselyn smiled, "I appreciate it," she whispered as she walked closer to him and caressed his cheek, "but I don't want to see your training too hard. You're already so powerful, please let's spend those few days together." Roselyn said, her eyes pleading him to consent to her request.

"Please," she insisted. John sighed, he couldn't say no to her big brown eyes that were begging him, so he nodded, "alright, my love. I will train less, whatever you ask to make you feel better. I am sorry for having worried you.." He kissed Roselyn's forehead sweetly and then he embraced her.