He came into the room with a stride that made my stomach churn. I had had enough of the violence and yelling for a day. "Please Theo..." but his lips silenced me with a passionate kiss that made my heart melt. "I just want to forget for the night." He said pulling me impossibly closer.

** ** ** ** **

When I woke, I felt the bed dip as my body slid across the mattress. "Theo?" I asked lowly, my voice a bit husky from my sleep. I looked at the clock; eleven-forty-five. "Nala, baby go back to sleep." He said clearly, as if he had been awake for quiet sometime. "How long have you been up?" I asked groggily. "Nala, sleep please, I will be back at dawn." He said kissing my temple.

Suddenly I felt wide awake. "Dawn!? What are you doing for the next seven hours?" I asked, almost crystal clear. I could see his silhouette as he shook his head. "Nala, its alpha duties. I don't want you caught up in the middle of this." He whispered and his voice broke at the end of the sentence.

'He's crying. For me?' I thought and I could feel Nina smile. 'He loves us, Nala.' She linked back and I could feel tears well in my eyes as I made my way to his side to cradle his face. "Theo, I'm more caught up in this than anyone else. Take me with you, then you won't be worrying about me and I won't be worrying about you. The best thing that we can do is fight this battle together. Not alone. We have each other for a reason; to help each other get through the thick and the thin." I whispered.

It didn't take long before we came to an agreement. After he had dressed me in a long beautiful white dress we made our way down the stairs and out into the woods. The dark had always scared me. It made me think of the unknown and I never did know what was lurking in the shadows.

Theo opened the door of an old crumbling cottage that looked like it was only standing because vines had thickened around the building, almost holding it up. Inside, was huge and beautiful. When I said huge I didn't mean like a nice place, I meant it was a mansion. And by the stairs on the left, there was more than one story.

"It's the witches' cottage." Theo explained when my eyes widened. I nodded in response. It was making a bit more sense now. All of the warriors were crowded around a large table. There were over three hundred warriors here. All hustling with their own thoughts and ideas. Theo led me to the end of the long table, sat me in the chair and stood beside me. He smiled at me before ordering peace in the place; "Quiet!" he ordered.

Without any further ado, everyone began the silence.

"As you know, someone is attacking. What you do not know is that they are attacking in hopes to get your Luna Nala." He said. A few mouths dropped and some fists clenched. "For this reason we are doubling patrols, a curfew and more boundaries." He said loudly. There were a few groans but Theo growled loudly. "Yes I know patrols are heavy already but we will rotate more often. Two hours each. Eighty warriors per patrol. This you will survive I'm sure." He said smiling.

'Nala can we tell them about the baby?' Theo linked to me. I smiled and gave a single nod. "Now let us talk about the curfew. I, as you all know, have no children. I may need your opinion for the time of the curfew." He said, eyeing the fathers in the room. I frowned to myself. Why did he ask about the baby if he wasn't going to say anything? I sighed and let my mind concentrate on the meeting in front of me.

"My respect Alpha and future Luna, I think the curfew should only be for children and patrol should be tripled after sundown." A man yelled from the back. I looked at Theo to see his reaction and he was smiling. "Of course Radolf. I would not limit adults to a bedtime and the patrol idea is perfect." Theo said giving a small smile.

I was pleasantly surprised with his response but did have an idea of my own. "Good evening pack warriors and with no disrespect to you Radolf but I would appreciate my own twist on your theory. If adults do not have a curfew, I would appreciate a group rule after a certain time." I said. It took me by surprise that my nerves didn't waver my voice and break it.

"A 'group rule' Luna?" The man asked with displayed interest. I nodded, relieved that he didn't take offence to the proposition. "Yes, after the curfew time, all adults must travel in a group of at least five or six." I said glancing around the table. A growl erupted from the opposite end of the table and I looked up to see a large man bang a clenched fist onto the table.

"Are you defying us our independence? Are you belittling us and thinking that we cannot look after ourselves? You aren't even our Luna yet and you think you can give us orders!" The man said in an outrage. Theo let out an audible snarl but I held up my hand to silence him and stood. "With all due respect sir, but it was a suggestion not an order." I said keeping my shoulders back and my chin high. I would not look weak in front of my future pack.

"Well your royal highness, with all due respect, I think you should keep your suggestions to yourself. I am an independent man with a family. I will not be subjected to a pathetic group rule." He said staring me down. I could feel Theo tensing beside me and I placed my hand on his. "Well sir, I all I wish to do is look out for the safety of my future pack." I said not looking away from him. "The key word; future pack. It won't be yours until your ceremony. Unless something stops you from having a ceremony." He said glaring at me with such distaste it horrified me.

"GET OUT ETHELWULF NOW!" Theo roared. "YOU WILL NOT ADDRESS YOUR LUNA IN SUCH A MANNER!" I stared at him. I was completely dumbfounded. I had never heard Theo speak like that before. I ran my hand along his arm and squeezed his shoulder. "Theo..." I whispered hoping my voice would help. He addressed the man once more. "You have been dismissed tonight Ethelwulf. Leave." He said, still glaring at the angered man.

As soon as Ethelwulf left the table, Theo continued with an angered manner.