We had a report that Leon was assembling his troops in the forbidden part of the forest. My whole body was starting to ache from walking in the hideous cold, but I kept going, I kept pushing myself to go forward even though Henry kept insisting that we should stop for a while and had carried me on his back but I found not moving and not being able to get my blood pumping was making me even more freezing. The atmosphere in the forbidden forest was dense and it was becoming harder to breathe in the air. I found myself taking quick breaths which sounded really loud. I knew the caves were not far from here and I had to make it if I was going to survive.

"Ebony, you look tired. We can stop for a while and rest." Henry said beside me.

"I'm fine, Henry, let's just get there," I put on a fake smile and kept walking. To be perfectly honest, I was scared if I stopped walking, I wouldn't be able to keep going.

"It's not much further," he said, taking my hand and squeezing it tightly. "Just through this clearing and over that hill."

"Great, another hill," I said under my breath.

"I know it's a long way, and you have declined my offer to carry you again more times than I can count now. I don't like seeing you like this, Ebony."

"Like what? Weak, a human? Apparently, I'm no good to anyone when I'm human." I snapped at him abruptly. He turned away from me and shook his head. "I'm so sorry, Henry, I didn't mean that. I'm just tired. Sorry."

"Do you wish to be something other than human?" Henry said calmly, still not looking at me.

"Right now? Yeah, this kind of sucks. Before I was bashing heads and taking names, and now I'm just walking and feel like death. Besides, I'm sure you would rather be doing something else than babysitting me."

He stopped suddenly and looked deeply into my eyes, his hair falling onto his face. "Never ever doubt my loyalty to you, Ebony. That day I found you wandering in the forest by yourself changed my life in so many different ways, and I'm sure it will again in the future. I think you are the most beautiful, funny, amazing, caring, and loyal soul I have ever had the pleasure of meeting in my very long existence. I would do anything for you, and if that means that I must walk with you very slowly over miles of dark forest, then so be it. I am more than happy to be here with you," he smiled sweetly. "It is an honor to be at your side."

"You really mean that, don't you?"

"Of course, I would never lie to you," he looked shocked at my question.

"You are the sweetest thing. You really are one in a billion, aren't you?" I smiled, touching his cheek as the wind blew around us.

"Sweet, I have never been called that before," he almost whispered as he closed his eyes and let me rub my thumb against his cheek.

"Well, you are," I said, suddenly hugging him tightly. His body froze at my touch, but eventually, I felt his arms around me.

Ebony,"

"Yes?"

He fell silent for a minute as I kept hugging him. "I like hugs," he almost groaned on my shoulder.

I chuckled, "I know. Vampires don't hug enough I feel. When I get home I'm going to insist that vampires hug more." He held me closer as the cold wind nearly blew us over. "Who knew a simple body contact could make you feel so many different things."

"Hey, get your hands off her," I heard a familiar voice yell from behind me. "If I don't get to touch her fun bits, then nobody does," Jake yelled as he suddenly appeared next to us with a scowl on his face. "No fun, no bits, your highness."

Henry pulled away from me slightly looking very confused at an angry Jake. "Fun bits? I do not understand? You have fun bits, Ebony?" Henry seemed so innocent standing there looking over my body.

"You bet my sweet ass she does, and if she won't let me touch them, there is no way in hell you are going to touch them. So back it up, lover boy, and let me have some hugs," Jake pushed in front of a completely lost-looking Henry and swung his arms around me tightly. "Hey fun stuff," he said, patting my butt and smiling.

"I think we may have become too close with each other," I said, muffled against his broad chest.

"I don't think we are close enough," he grinned, looking at me proudly. "You remember that time when I stayed in your room, and you ..."

"We agreed that was an accident, and once again, sorry for the intrusion."

"Oh, there was no intrusion, just rock-hard anticipation." I blushed at his words. He always knew exactly what to say to make me laugh.

"Again, it was an accident," I pushed him away slightly.

"Again, no accident and no intrusion," Jake winked, rubbing his chin and smiling.

"We will have to disagree on that one then," I crossed my arms over my chest and poked my tongue out at him.

"See, now that is definitely an invitation to touch fun stuff," he said, trying to grab my tongue as I laughed and tried to push him away.

"If you two have had enough of this 'Will they or won't they' bullshit, I found some of Leon's men just over that hill," Callan said, standing next to us as he rolled his eyes.

"Don't get pouty with me just because that horny wolf girl totally wanted me and not you," Jake said, pushing Callan in the chest.

"She so did not want you, you fucken broke her neck," Callan pushed right back.

"Right before I snapped her neck, she was totally into me, and you know it," Jake made a face a Callan.

"I think your mistaking fear for lust again," Callan laughed.

"I think you're a little jealous about it," Jake crossed his arms over his chest. "She chose me to kill her, and you can't handle it."

"I think your full of yourself, and when this is over, we will see who gets the most tail, literally"

"Fine,"

"Fine," they both stared at each other while I tried not to laugh.

"Are you sure you don't want to touch Callan's fun stuff?" I laughed, breaking the silence.

"He doesn't have ANY fun stuff. Just angry, sad, and floppy stuff," Jake kept a straight face as he kept staring at Callan. "None of it would be fun."

"I don't understand again," Henry said, scratching his head. "Where is the fun?"

Jake pulled Henry close to him and whispered in his ear. I watched Henry's face turn to one of shock as Jake pointed at me.

"Oh, I get it," Henry nodded. "Fun stuff."

"Good boy," Jake patted Henry on the head like a dog. "Now go and find out what is happening on that hill and whether we should risk the attack."

"Fine," Henry grumbled. "Ebony, I will be back shortly. Don't move," he smiled and suddenly vanished as he ran to the hills.

"I forgot how fast you guys actually move," I stared after Henry trying to see if I could see any sign of him in the distance.

"We can't risk taking her there. There are too many of them. It is not worth the risk to Ebony," Callan said.

"Then I will take her back and wait with her," Jake said without hesitation or argument.

"You know my father will need you out there. I will look after her," Callan said, taking my hand.

"Let go of her. She goes nowhere without me. No offence, dude, but you are the one who got us all in this predicament in the first place and to be honest, I still don't trust you enough to take her," Jake took a step forward. "She is my responsibility, and I will take her."

"You are being ridiculous. You know my father has ordered you to be at his side, I would never hurt Ebony."

"And I never thought I would kill a horny wolf girl before satisfying her, but here we are," Jake took my hand in his. "She stays with me."

They both glared at each other once again in silence as if they were having a telepathic conversation.

"There must be at least one hundred of them up there. They don't seem to have picked up on her scent yet, but if we got any closer...Wait, did I miss something?" Henry took a step toward me as the tension around Jake and Callan grew.

"We are in disagreement as to who is to stay with Ebony," Jake said through gritted teeth. "You need to gather your army and Callan here needs to pick a side,"

"Fuck you," Callan yelled. "I'm just following my orders."

"Well, these are your new orders. The girl stays with me," I had never heard Jake so serious and forceful before. He was actually pretty scary right now. "Tell boss man we have turned to plan B, and Ebony will be safe."

"Fine good luck, Ebony. I hope I see you again when all of this is over. Stay safe." Callan touched my shoulder and put on a smile. "Look after yourself."

"I will, be careful out there, Callan. Promise me."

"Always," he smiled. "I will fix this," with that Callan ran off into the forest.

"Henry, order your troops to surround the hills. I will get Ebony to safety and find you all when I know she will be okay."

"At once, my good man," Henry shook Jake's hand and turned to me. "It is an honor to fight for you. I will see you again," Henry picked up my hand and kissed it softly. "Stay safe. The world needs your sunshine."

"Please, be careful out there. I need you," I said, pulling him in for a hug.

"I will always protect you," Henry whispered in my ear as he pulled away and took off into the shadows.

"He so wants you," Jake said, rolling his eyes.

"Stop it," I hit his chest. "Thank you for staying with me, again."

Jake shrugged. "It's what I do."

"What do we do now?"

"The first thing we do is get you to safety. There is a witch's coven near here; they have offered to take you in. They are good people and will keep you safe. You must promise me though that you will not try to find us. It will only lead your to death. You cannot be out here by yourself under any circumstances. You need to promise me, Ebony," Jake spoke with such fear in his voice.

"I'm scared Jake," A single tear fell down my cheek.

"I know, and I'm sorry," he hugged me tightly. "We have to go."

I said nothing and nodded my head.

"Wait... did you hear that?" Jake suddenly stopped and looked around. "Something is here."

"What? I don't hear anything," My heart pounded in my chest.

"Something is watching us," he scanned the darkness around us. "It's not human, and it's not a vampire."

"What does that mean?" I was almost frozen in fear.

"You just need to hang on to me," Jake said, suddenly scooping me up in his arms and taking off like a rocket towards the clearing in the forest. "Don't let go," Jake said in my ear as I wrapped myself around him tightly.

I looked over Jake's shoulder and saw two yellow eyes glaring at me as they got closer to us. The mass of darkness surrounding the eyes was enormous and it was getting bigger. I watched in horror as the darkness pushed over fully grown trees in its way like they were made of cotton Candy. The earth began to shake below us and Jake had to be careful where he stepped tree stumps were being thrown at us with a powerful force.

"Jake!" I yelled as a huge boulder was thrown in front of him making him skid to a stop.

"We might be in trouble here, Eb," Jake said nervously looking behind him. "Fuck! Hold on tight, we are getting out of here now!"

"Look out!" I screamed as Jake took off once again narrowly missing a tree landing in front of us.

I dug my nails into his skin and closed my eyes tightly as a loud howl filled the air around us.

"That's not good," Jake said under his breath. "Here we go again.'