The week surprisingly went by without much incident. Samantha did as she was instructed and never interacted with me. Even though I did catch her attempting to flirt with Edmond.

Perhaps it was because we were mated, but I wasn't even mad about it. It was more amusing than anything. Poor Edmond though. He looked so uncomfortable and confused.

Diana never left me. She stayed through all of the training and throughout the evening. She had such a sad, sorrowful aura about her. I couldn't figure out why. I wanted to ask, but how do you ask someone who's supposed to be dead what's wrong with them?

Everyone must have noticed that the week was quiet. We sat at dinner done night not really talking. Most people just ate or pushed their food around while glancing around nervously. There was no reason for us to be nervous.

I sipped at the beef stew, watching Edmond, Ashley, and Alastair. None of them even looked up from their supper.

I knew it was too quiet.

The doors to the massive cafeteria where the warriors all ate together blew open and a ragged, blood-covered man stumbled in.

"Pr-prince Edmond?" he called out.

Edmond stood up so quickly his chair fell backward, landing with a loud thud behind him.

"Y-your mother. She's...she's...." He couldn't finish his sentence before he started crying.

"My mother? She what? What's wrong with my mother?" he yelled, running to the man.

"There was an attack, your majesty. The castle was swarmed. Your father fought them valiantly, but your mother was injured."

He sighed heavily before stumbling back. "But she's alive?"

"Yes, majesty. She is alive but badly injured."

"Where is she?"

"They retreated to the tunnels."

"The tunnels? What tunnels?'

"In the ancient part of the castle, there were tunnels built in case a quick escape was needed."

"Where do they lead?" Edmond questioned.

"Here," Andrew said, standing up. "Follow me."

We followed him to a shed behind the stables. It was unassuming and I thought it was just for tools or something.

He opened the door and pulled a shelf that was on hinges away from the wall revealing a hidden door. He pulled a key ring from his belt and stuck an old bronze skeleton key into the keyhole.

The ancient lock screeched as he unlocked the door. We entered the musty, dusty old tunnel and started walking along the passage.

After an hour of walking, we ran into the group of survivors. King Orsand had Queen Amelia in his arms. Her breathing was shallow and staggered. The shirt she wore was soaked in blood and a tear in the fabric on her stomach revealed a deep wound.

"Queen Amelia!" I cried.

"Mother?"

"She's fine. She's just passed out."

"Alpha!" Phil moved forward, no longer in his butler suit.

"Phil?" I asked.

"Philip, what happened?"

"Sir, we were ambushed. We had our guard up but there were just too many of them. I attempted to fight off as many as I could. I believe I managed to kill at least ten of them before we had to flee."

"What happened to the queen?"

"She was hurt. One of those things had a weapon."

"A weapon? They've never used weapons before," I said. "Are they evolving?"

"That's awful quick to evolve, isn't it?" Alastair asked.

"Normally, yes. But we don't know what these things are."

"Is the end of the tunnel sealed?" Andrew asked.

Phil looked behind him and then back at Andrew.

"Philip, are the tunnels sealed?"

"I, uh, might not have hit the switch."

We all stared down the darkened tunnel as loud screams came from the black anysss.

"Shit."

"Yes, shit is an accurate term. We need to get out of the tunnel now. Hurry!" Andrew turned and ran toward the Blackpaw Howler entrance.

"Dad, are you okay?" Edmond asked.

"Yeah. Just a bit tired."

"Let me." Alastair stepped forward and held his hands out for the queen. "You've carried her a great length. I can carry her the rest of the way."

King Orsand looked at his queen sadly before handing her over to the Beta. "Thank you."

Alastair nodded as the rest of the group ran along the passage, led by just a torch and Andrew. The screams seemed to grow closer no matter how fast we ran.

Perhaps it was my imagination, but I thought I felt breath on my neck.

That's not possible. They're not here yet.

We reached the door before we were overtaken by the creatures and managed to escape. Edmond slammed the door shut and Andrew quickly locked it.

"That won't hold them," Ashley said.

"Not for long, but hopefully long enough for us to get our warriors in place to battle."

"I will fight alongside you. It has been a while since I've battled."

"Dad, no."

"Yes, Edmond."

"Majesty, I agree with the Prince. If anything were to happen to you, the kingdom would fall. Plus the queen needs you."

King Orsand looked at Andrew, then at the rest of us.

"What kind of king doesn't go to battle?"

"A king who has a son that is going to battle," Edmond said, grasping his father's shoulder. "Please, stay with mom."

"I can't stand by."

"You're not. You're keeping the queen safe," I said.

King Orsand pursed his lips and paced around a bit. The screeches of the creatures grew louder and louder before they were right on the other side of the door.

"How fast are those things?"

"They're here," Ashley said, tears welling in her eyes.

"There is no time to argue anymore. Dad, go with mom to protect her. We will fight those things down here. It's time this ends. Now."

"Okay. Okay. I will go with Amelia, Edmond, be careful. Ellie, stay safe. I love you both."

Orsand turned and followed Alastair and Angela to the house at the end of the street.

Is my mom and dad okay? Is it just Winter Lake under attack?

"Retrieve your weapons!" Andrew shouted to the warriors who had emerged from the cafeteria. "Battle is upon us!"

Edmond and I ran to where the weapons were kept to retrieve the Sword of Apollo and the Bow of Artemis.

He found the sword, but my bow was missing.

"Fucking Samantha," I screamed. "Where is my bow!"

She smirked as she ran past me. "Oh well."

I could feel heat as Diana's soft golden glow turned red.

Uh oh.

I watched as she reached out her hands and sent a blast of light toward Samantha.

What the hell is that?

As the light hit her in the back Samantha flew forward. Unharmed for the most part, but she dropped the bow and lay motionless for a moment.

"What happened?" Edmond asked.

"She took the bow of Artemis. And then tripped."

"Uh huh."

I picked up the bow and stepped over Samantha as she groaned on the ground. "No time to sleep, Samantha."

We rushed to the shed and waited. Waiting for the creatures to breech the door and for the battle to finally commence.