Everything was dark. I couldn't see or hear anything. The only sensation I had was fire running through my veins. It was like I was burning up.

Slowly sensation started to come back, first with the pain. My entire body was exhausted, but the pain edged ahead. I could feel people poking and prodding. A sense of tugging.

"The stitches are done."

They were the first words I was able to hear.

My eyes snapped open.

I heard a sharp inhale nearby and looked to see Rafe. His eyes were wide as he stared back at me.

"Katarina." It was only a whisper. A sigh of relief? But what was that look?

Fear?

"What's wrong?" I could barely talk, but with my words I heard the other people stop in their tracks

"Katarina, your eyes." His breath was shaky.

I looked over to the mirror across the room. And there they were staring right back at me. They were my wolf eyes, but instead of the typical amber, they were a blood red.

My heart pounded hard in my chest and I closed my eyes tight. This had to be part of whatever dream I was having before. It couldn't be real, just like nothing I saw before was real.

I took deep breaths to calm my nerves. With each breath, the fire in my veins began to subside. Once my heart was back to a normal pace and I didn't feel like I was melting from the inside out I opened my eyes again.

The red was gone. It was just me.

Mrs. Greene bustled around taking vitals and doing any test under the moon she could think of. She mumbled to herself as she ran around the small space.

"Everything looks fine. Her pulse is strong. She shows no indication of the trauma she underwent, and the healing has already begun."

Rafe came closer, grabbing my hand and squeezing tight. It was there. As soon as his hand grasped mine, that intense tingle worked its way through my fingers and up my arm. That connection we shared, that bond.

The bundle of blankets cried in Rafe's arm.

"My baby?" I slowly sat up, wincing in pain.

Rafe leaned down, transferring the baby into my arms. He definitely had his fathers features. The nose, the chin, everything. He was going to be Rafe's little mini me.

I remembered the child I saw in that dream. The one that grew into a strong, wise man.

"Emeric." I looked up at Rafe. "Emeric Granger."

"Emeric it is." He leaned down and kissed me, sparks igniting. "I'm so happy you're okay. I thought we lost you there for a minute."

"Did you really think I was going to be that easy to get rid of?" I smiled and he returned it.

Blood Luna

My smile fell. "We need to talk about things, Rafe."

"What is it?" His brows pulled together.

I looked to the ladies still in the room.

"Yes, right. We have things to do. We'll be on our way. Call if you need anything." Mrs. Green ushered the other two out. I could tell she didn't want to leave, not when she had no idea if everything was truly okay with me and the baby.

Now that we were alone, I had no idea where to begin. Everything was just a jumble in my head. "Rafe, there are some things you need to know about me." The words were hard to find.

"Katarina, I know you."

"No," I cut him off. "You don't. Ever since I was a child, there was this darkness inside of me. Beyond anything my pack had ever seen. At least within its territory. My parents tried to get me to hide it, to keep it locked up inside so I wouldn't cause any trouble. But it was just so hard. It's like trying to keep your wolf locked up, to keep it inside and never let it out.

"This thing just wanted my attention. It wanted it's chance to break free. And when it finally did, it cost me my life in the pack. I was lucky it didn't cost me my life. Our family was close to the Alpha so he let me slip out late at night, but he made me promise never to set foot on their land again." My voice trailed off.

"What was it?" Rafe was held captive in the story. It was a piece of me he never knew. He was finally getting the last piece to my puzzle.

"It was the same thing that buried my hand into the chest of that rogue, ripping her heart out. That part of me, it loves the violence. It craves violence. It was the only thing that kept me alive out there. I can't just be the Luna that sits inside, the one that takes care of the children while the man rules the pack and protects everyone. I was made for the hunt just like you were.

"Rafe, I think we were made to be mates because we are one in the same. We will do anything that it takes to ensure those we love and swore to protect are safe. A Luna is meant to bring balance to herself, her mate, and her pack. You don't have to do it alone. We can do it together. I want to do it together."

"Katarina," he whispered.

"You saw it Rafe. You saw it in those red eyes when I woke up. That's not normal. I'm not normal. There is more to us than what is 'supposed to be'. We are equals, and we deserve to be treated as such by each other and by the pack. I want to lead searches, and be on security detail. I need this."

I looked down at little Emeric. His eyes closed, his breathing steady as he slept in my arms. I wanted to make sure that he didn't just learn how to be a great leader. I wanted to make sure he knew how to be a co-leader. To accept help and to split duties. I wanted him to know it was okay to let his other half take the reins when he found her some day.

"Okay."

I looked up. I could see the uncertainty in his eyes. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. Luna's were silent leaders of the pack. They were there to keep their mate in check, to make sure he didn't lose control, and to serve as a strong pillar for the community. That wasn't who I was meant to be though. I was meant to challenge the status quo. I was meant to truly stand next to my mate, to do everything he could do. I was meant to be the protector just as much as he was.

I looked down at the little bundle in my arms.

There was no way I would ever be chased down again like I had been that night I stumbled near the pack line. I would never again be beaten by anyone. Not another pack, not my own, and not a rogue. I was a threat to be reckoned. And both Rafe and I would teach Emeric just what it meant to be a protector, to be an Alpha, to be a father, and to be a husband. I was going to make sure he had the best role models he could possibly have. There was no way I was going to let him or any child of ours grow up thinking that they had to hide a part of who they were. They were going to learn to embrace themselves fully, and not to waste their time with those who looked down on them.

Speaking of those who looked down...

"I have a bitch to deal with," I said, looking back to Rafe.