I smiled down at the sight of my mate sleeping peacefully in my arms. Her platinum hair was wildly strewn over my chest, and her naked body was covered by a fur pelt as we snuggled on the ground. The pack could feel that the bond had been consummated, and they knew to stay away from the Pack House for the time being.

Now that we mated, I could feel the bond pulling me harder than ever towards the feisty woman that lay in my arms sleeping. Our hearts beat as one, and our minds were more connected than ever. I could feel her emotions so intensely, and I knew that if she dropped the mental block she put up, I would be able to read her thoughts clearly. Despite desperately wanting to know what was going on in her mind, I respected her desire to keep her thoughts private.

I hadn't lied when I told her that consummating the bond would make me able to take on the weight of her pain. As soon as she fell asleep last night, I took on the full force of the pain she felt from Carter's death.

I nearly passed out from the raw suffering I felt as I took her pain. It was so intense, I had almost forgotten how painful it was at first for me when I became Alpha and a pack member died. My poor little mate. Her agony was mine to bear, and I was thankful that it was me who had the privilege to relieve her of it.

She had suffered so much throughout her life, by no fault of her own. Even though I knew she wanted no sympathy or pity, I couldn't help but feel sorry for the brutalities she had experienced, even some at my hands.

Guilt clenched at my chest as I recalled the night I almost killed her from whipping her. Despite her not holding it against me and understanding that the feral nature of my wolf drove my actions, I was reminded of my crime against her anytime I looked at her marred back.

I knew that Carter's death had hit her harder than anything else. I wondered if she had ever cared about someone's death before now. Her agony was so raw, it felt like it was novel to her.

I swore to myself that for as long as I should live, I would make sure that no harm would come to her. Despite my initial reservations about her ferocity, I was thankful that the Moon Goddess had made my mate so capable of protecting herself. I couldn't continue to live if anything happened to her.

Jax and I tirelessly worked to find out who had poisoned her and sent the rogues that attacked her and Carter, and we had even come close to breaking the case a few times, but all leads fizzled out. Jax was also deeply affected by the loss of Carter, since Jax was the Beta and Carter was the Delta, they often worked together, and their mates were both extremely close.

I was so proud of my Ares for the way she took care of Rose and Lily after Carter's death. However much she may fight her natural instincts, how she dealt with them was clearly her Luna inclinations.

I had been pushing all of the grief I felt about Carter's death to the side, until I took on Ares' pain. Wolves die. That's just a sad truth to pack life, and as the Alpha, I can't let my grief overtake me the way others can. The pack members depend on me to be strong and unwavering, so I can't show how much the pup's death hurt me.

Consumed in my own thoughts, I stroked Ares' hair and occasionally her partial ear (one of my favorite of her flaws, if you could even call them that). I loved her disfigured body parts from scars. They made her look impossibly fierce and deadly. She was a true Blood Luna.

Ares' visage was tranquil for once, and dare I say, almost even happy? Her eyes were closed, not squinted in pain, and her lips almost curled up into a hardly noticeable smile. Her breathes were deep and I could hear air slightly whistling out of her nose. This moment was perfect, and all I could have ever asked for.

She truly looked like an angel.

Suddenly, her breaths were shallow and she opened her eyes, blinking a few times. She smiled at me slightly, and her grey eyes held happiness in them. Almost immediately, she narrowed her eyes at me and her smile turned into a scowl.

What the hell are you looking at? She snarkily asked me via mindlink, making me roll my eyes.

I wrapped my arms tighter around her before she tried scrambling away. I didn't want this to end. I felt like this was the first time I had ever seen her vulnerable.

"Is it a crime for a man to look at the beautiful mate the Moon Goddess so generously provided for him?" I asked, and kissed her forehead, making sparks fly at the contact.

Ares scowled, but blushed slightly nonetheless. As hardcore as she loved to portray herself, her cheeks tinting red would always give her away.

"Are you hungry, pup? I gave the cook the day off, but I can make something for you," I offered, stroking her hair still. She slightly leaned into my touch. Her fingers traced gently over my chest, and I wondered if she even realized she was doing it.

It's gone, she suddenly said.

I raised my eyebrows. "Although last nights activities weren't too PG, I wouldn't say that I stole your innocence-"

She scowled again and hit my chest, none too gently. My strong little spitfire. Not that, you barbarian. The pain. From Carter.

I searched her eyes. "I told you that I could bear the weight of it on my own after mating, pup."

She shrugged. I thought it might have been a trick for you to get into my pants.

I rolled my eyes again. "You think so lowly of me, little mate. Interestingly enough, you still chose to go through with it, even though it might not work. I'm starting to think you don't hate me as much as you pretend to."

Chill out, Casanova. It's just sex, Her tone was flippant, but I could feel her heartbeat quicken as she said the last word.

"You smell of desire," I murmured into her ear, making her squirm in my arms. The scent got stronger.

I placed soft kisses against her cheek, and trailed them down her neck. She gasped when I reached the mark, making me smirk.

"What a compromising position you're in, little pup," I mumbled against her neck, my canines gently scraping her skin.

Suddenly, she broke from my grasp and pinned me, straddling me, her legs straddling my waist. What a compromising position you're in, Alpha, she mockingly threw my words back at me.

"If you want to play, pup, then we'll play." My eyes flashed wickedly.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

After a few more rounds of sex, Cain finally untangled himself from me and went to go make food. I went upstairs to shower and get dressed, wincing from the slight pain in between my legs.

After my shower, I threw on navy blue leggings, a white sports bra, and white running shoes. Perhaps I would go down to the training center. The memory of Carter flashed in my mind, but it wasn't accompanied by the striking pain that usually came with thoughts of him, only vague sadness. I had a feeling Cain was to thank for that. I wondered if my pain hurt him as much as it hurt me, even though I doubted it. He was a strong Alpha, that was undeniable.

I looked in the mirror as I threw my hair up into a ponytail. I had new bite marks all over my body, curtesy of Cain. We had been none too gentle with each other last night. His body would also no doubt have been ridden with bite marks, scars, and scratches if it weren't for his Alpha healing abilities. As much as I may not like Cain, he was a great fuck, I'll give him that.

Suddenly, I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me. I realized that it wasn't my own, but rather, it came from the bond. Cain.

I rushed downstairs to see Cain on the phone, his face cloaked in a mask of intense seriousness.

"I'll be over in a few hours. That will give us enough time to mobilize," I heard him lowly speak into the phone, wait for a response, and then hung up.

What's going on? I asked, not liking the look on his face.

"Wilson declared war on Blue Moon. I'm going over there with most of our warriors to back Thane up," He answered, and began going upstairs to get ready.

What do you mean you're going over there? I asked him, narrowing my eyes and following him upstairs.

"You're not coming, Ares." He spoke calmly, daring me to defy him.

Why the fuck not? I'm stronger than all of your warriors, and probably his too. I snarled at him. I wanted a piece of the action. It was unfair that he gets to go kill people and I have to stay here and play homemaker.

We got to the bedroom, and Cain sighed as he led me to the bed, sitting me down and grabbing both sides of my face, forcing me to look at him. "I know you're strong, Ares. Unnaturally so. That's why I need you here to help protect the pack just in case if any rogues decide to start some trouble because they know I'm gone." His eyes and tone were honest.

"I am entrusting the safety of the Blood Moon women and pups with you, mate. It's not a punishment. It's because I know that you can protect them better than anyone," Cain pleaded, begging me not to fight him on this.

I nodded slowly. And if rogues come, I can kill them?

Cain laughed, his dark eyes twinkling. "You are one violent little thing, you know that? Yes, mate, kill whoever, whatever gets rid of that pesky bloodlust of yours. I already mindlinked the warriors letting them know that we will be leaving immediately. Jax will be staying as well to help protect the women and pups. Make no mistake though, he is still beneath you and follows your orders. You're in charge, Ares."

I grinned evilly. I love power.

Cain rolled his eyes. "That smile scares me, little mate, but I'm going to ignore it for the sake of my own sanity." He kissed my forehead and went to the bathroom to shower quickly. He returned, only wearing a towel that was loosely wrapped around his hips. His long, curly dark hair was damp around his shoulders as he walked into the closet. I suddenly had the urge to mate with him again.

"Not the time, pup," Cain growled at me dangerously from the closet, and I was glad he couldn't see my face.

He returned from the closet in his standard jeans and no shirt or shoes. As always, he looked far more wild and dangerous that way.

Cain suddenly pulled me into his arms, making me yelp in surprise. He sniffed my hair as he carried me downstairs. Weirdo.

He set me down as we reached the front door. "The pack warriors are outside waiting for me. Jax should be by any minute now to talk with you about possible strategies and potential hazards. Hopefully I'll be back within a day or two, assuming we effectively eliminate the threat."

I winced at his words. He meant kill a crap ton of Red Crescent members until Wilson submitted or was killed himself. Even though I felt no particular loyalty to Red Crescent, it did make me slightly sad that people I knew for years would be slaughtered. Holy shit, since when did I become such a pussy?

He bent down to kiss me goodbye, which I responded to intensely. I wasn't sure if it was me or the mate bond, but I would sort of miss him while he was gone.

"Goodbye, mate. Stay out of trouble, okay?" He chuckled slightly, even though I knew he was probably genuinely worried about the shenanigans I could get into.

I rolled my eyes. No promises.

He placed a final kiss on my forehead, and looked at me longingly. "Ares, look, I-I-" He began, and I quickly interrupted.

You should go. They're waiting, I basically pushed him out the door, where the pack warriors were waiting for him.

Take care of yourself, mate. Cain mindlinked me as he joined the pack warriors and started barking orders at them.

You too, I responded as I took a seat on the couch. I wasn't too concerned about his wellbeing. I was confident in his abilities to destroy anyone who crossed his path. He was much like me in that sense.

I flicked through TV channels as I waited for Jax to show up so we could go over strategies. He should have been here by now, it had been hours since Cain had left.

Just as I was about to get up to go find him, I felt a sharp pain across the back of my head, and felt my skull crack.

Everything went dark.