If someone tells you that there's a light when you die, they're lying. After you take your last breath, everything goes silent as you transition into the spirit realm. Then, everything can be heard again.

You can hear the cries from the ones you love or the laughs from your killer. The person would be totally oblivious to the fact that they are a spirit until they try to sit up and look behind them.

The spirit would notice that their body was still laying in the same exact position they were, except you could see your body now.

Nicolette didn't have to wait to realize she was dead. She felt herself leaving as she sat up and moved away from her body. Malcom coddled her head and slammed his fist into the wall after Seth shook his head.

The room was charred from the blast and Denali's body was nowhere to be seen. The blast should've disintegrated Nicolette's body, but it was still there. Her body was covered in scars. As a werewolf, she should've healed with no blemishes, but the constant torture made it hard to heal her body.

If Nicolette actually died, technically she should be with her parents. When she died momentarily, she saw them so why wasn't she there now?

"Nicolette, you can't leave now," Malcom sobbed. "This pack needs a queen and you—you are the perfect queen."

"Nicolette," Nicolette heard someone say. She turned around to see who called her and saw her father. Tears ran down her face as she stared at him. Nicolette didn't want to believe she was dead even though she knew it. "Your mother helped you choose last time, now it's my turn."

"Damn it," Lucas yelled. He threw his hand into the wall and Seth ran his hand over his face. "If we were prepared we could've protected her."

There was a gloom over the room as they all stared at Nicolette's body. Nicolette stared at her limp body. It was the sacrifice made so that the pack could be free. If she didn't kill herself in the process, the royal pack could have been taken over by Denali.

The amount of control that she would have over all of the werewolves would be catastrophic. The power Nicolette holds exceeds any magical being in the world. She is the power of the three main beings and now she is dead. Her power was the middle of all three factions. Now, there would be no stability to even them out.

Vampires, witches, and werewolves have been seeking Nicolette's power for years. Malcom never looked because he was shielded from any knowledge about the tribrid, Denali made sure of it. Instead, Denali started the search on her own. When she met Zaine, her mission to find the Tribrid was put aside to start a family with Zaine.

When Denali looked into the future for Amelia, she accidentally stumbled upon the tribrid, her child. Everyone assumed that the tribrid had been alive for centuries, but she hadn't been born yet. In an old legend, it is said that there would be a war over the great tribrid. The vampires, witches, and werewolves would fight to make them royalty.

Denali's plan was to capture Nicolette before anyone could find her and steal her power. With Nicolette's power, she could take over all the factions and rule all of them. Henry was sent to collect her 500 years ago, but came back empty handed.

The search for Nicolette never stopped though. Denali tried to use magic to find her, but every time she seemed close to finding her, she disappeared

"Nicolette, you can make a choice. The amount of power that has been returned to you can be used to bring you back, or you could be at peace," Derek told Nicolette. If Nicolette chose peace, she would leave this pack and her duty to Malcom. There is a chance that he could be given a second chance mate, but the trauma of watching his first mate die may affect his wolf. Nicolette was glad she closed the link so that Malcom wouldn't feel the pain.

If Nicolette stayed, she could have a fresh start with Malcom. That means that Nicolette would have to reveal to all of the werewolves that she id a tribrid. as queen, not only the pack, but the entirety of the wolves would have to know. It would place a large target on her pack. The vampire king would immediately go after her and try to make her vampire queen. The witches would try and make her the queen too.

"Will you and mom be okay?" Nicolette asked Derek. She didn't dare make eye contact with him, so she continued to stare at her body. Wolves stormed into the basement and saw Malcom, Lucas, and Seth mourning their dead Luna.

Doctor Lauren pushed through the warriors and wolves and bent down beside Nicolette. "You were the one that put her through that torture when she first arrived?" Lucas let out a growl towards her for disrespecting the king. Malcom lifted his hand toward Lucas and nodded.

"I'll explain the situation later, but is there a chance she could survive?" Malcom asked Doctor Lauren. Lauren put a hand over her body and nodded.

"There is a lot of magical activity going on still. It could be what sent her body into hibernation. Get her back to the hospital and we'll do our best to save her," Doctor Lauren said.

"Can we bring her to the house, I don't want her to be in the pack hospital," Malcom asked. Doctor Lauren nodded and he picked her body up and pushed through the audience.

Everyone began to talk and Lucas's eyes flashed golden the went back to normal. "Everyone go back to the pack house. There is still danger that threatens the pack."

"Nicolette, whatever you chose, you will still end back up with us. If you want to go start a family and rule as queen, then go. Your mother and I are fine and we will be waiting for you when it is your time," Derek said. Nicolette finally looked at her father and nodded .

"I love you, dad," Nicolette cried. Derek smiled at his daughter and marveled at the women she had become. He knew that she had a life ahead of her and it could be forever until they meet again, but he was proud of her.

"Nicolette, you are the light that brightens everyone's day. Become the leader that you were meant to be. i'm so proud of you and I love you too," Derek said. He wrapped his arms around Nicolette and they shared one final hug.

———

Nicolette opened her eyes and saw the ceiling of her room. She lifted her arm and wiggled her fingers. The presence of her wolf and demon was there, they were currently resting. Nicolette said a simple spell and the curtains to her room flung open. She was back.

A sharp pain coursed through Nicolette's body as she tried to sit up. Her body was still recovering due to the extent of damage she suffered. She looked around and saw no sign of Malcom.

"It's been days and she still hasn't woken up," Nicolette heard his voice in the hallway. She heard porcelain crack on the floor and assumed that Malcom had thrown it. "You said she would wake up."

"I said that she may wake up. I never guaranteed that she would," Doctor Lauren said as calmly as possible. Nicolette could tell that she was trying not to lose it at Malcom. She probably had this conversation with him a million times.

Nicolette fought through the pain and pushed herself out of bed. There were bruises up and down her legs and down her arms. There was a slight twinge of pain with every small step she took, but she fought it.

When Nicolette reached the door, she took at deep breath before turning the handle. She opened the door and saw more people than she thought. Lucas stood with his arms crossed and Seth stood with Mia. The walls had claw marks through them and there were broken vases everywhere.

Everyone stared at Nicolette and Malcom turned around and his posture immediately softened at the sight of her. She began to take another step but her legs buckled and she fell to the ground. Malcom quickly rushed to her side and caught her before she fell.

"Everyone leave," Malcom commanded. Lucas opened his mouth to protest, but Seth punched him before he could say anything. Nicolette smiled and lifted her hand to Malcom's face.

It was obvious to Nicolette that Malcom had been beating himself up after they had brought her to his house. It looked like he had not slept at all and was severely malnourished. Nicolette leaned against a wall and Malcom bent down next to her. A tear rolled down his cheek and Nicolette wiped it away.

"I couldn't protect you," Malcom whispered. Nicolette smiled and laid her forehead onto Malcom's shoulder. Malcom wrapped his arm around her head and held her.

"You're lucky I'm stronger than you," Nicolette laughed. Malcom let out breath, to overwhelmed to think anything of it. "I-I'm sorry about your mom."

"Don't worry about her, if you didn't kill her, she would be spending life in the dungeons," Malcom said. Nicolette nodded and leaned back away from Malcom.

Nicolette wanted to stay in that position forever and not move at all.

"I love you Malcom, but it would be dangerous if I were to be queen," Nicolette said. "I'm dangerous and I cant risk hurting you pack."

"Our pack. Our pack Nicolette. You sacrificed yourself to protect our pack. You did it without giving it a second thought. You are the perfect leader and I want you by my side. No matter what problems arise, we'll get through them together. I love you, Nicolette and I'm sorry that you had to go through that. You deserve a better mate, but we can get through this together no matter what."

The End...or that is what it would be only if their happily ever after ended that way, but the problems never stop, do they?

———