AMELIA’S P.O.V

I recognized Blake instantly and swallowed.


“You don’t have to do this,” I began slowly and he snorted.

“Don’t I? Amelia, you don’t know how much trouble you’re in.”

He grabbed my arm harshly and turned me to face him, the sharp edge of his knife now digging into my stomach. Fear gripped me but I forced it down into the pits of my stomach. I wasn’t sure if he knew about the baby yet, and I wasn’t going to give him one more edge over me.


I took him in. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days. His eyes were red rimmed, there were massive bags under them, and he looked unhinged. His hands were stained with blood, and my wolf screamed at me to get away from him.

“You played me like a fiddle,” he spat in my face. “You used my feelings for you against me.”


“You took me from my mate, Blake. What did you expect? I didn’t want it to get to this. It doesn’t have to be this way. You can go back, I’ll blame it all on Aiden, I swear. Can’t we just live.”

He pressed the knife harder into my skin, tearing through my shirt. “No can do, sweetheart. You see, I know exactly what you are. Your father was more than willing to give you up when I held a knife to his throat. I thought Vibrius wolves were a myth.”

I swallowed deeply. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You will soon,” he leaned closer. “We are going to have so much fun together.”

I slammed my head into his nose hard, relishing in the sound of his nose breaking. He let out a loud groan and I pushed him off, running out the front door and towards the trees at the back. I knew I couldn’t outrun him on the open road, but perhaps I could in my own backyard. I knew it better than him.

“Amelia, you bitch!” he snarled, rushing out after me. “I’m going to fucking kill you.”

I kept running, trying to mind link Kaden as I did. I needed him now, but I couldn’t reach him, so I pushed myself further.

“Please,” I whispered to my wolf. “Try to reach someone.”

“Something is blocking my powers.”

“I don’t care! Just try or we are going to die!”

I shut her out after that and pushed harder. My lungs burned and my limbs cramped but I kept moving. I heard Blake’s heavy footsteps behind me.

I was so focused on getting away that I didn’t notice the fallen branch in front of me. I tripped over it and went tumbling down. Everything hurt, and by the time I hit my back against the base of a tree, I couldn’t get up.

I heard Blake’s footsteps slow as he came to stand in front of me. “Such a valiant effort. You’re coming with me.”

“Over my dead body.”

I kicked him- or tried to, at least- but he was faster. He grabbed my leg and shoved me back.

“We would have made a powerful couple. It is a shame that you want to do this the hard way.”

“I thought you were good, I thought you were better than this, but you’re just a power hungry bastard.”

“I will derive the utmost pleasure in breaking you.”

He reached out for me but a noise to the right caught both our attention. I saw a flash of hair and tried to scream out a warning but it was too late. Blake was already turning, dagger in hand as he shoved it straight through Aaron’s chest.

“NO!” I screamed. “Aaron.”

“It’s okay, Amelia,” he gave me a small smile, and then I saw it, his own weapon. He shoved it straight into Blake’s neck and they both went crumpling to the ground.

I tried to rise, but my legs buckled and my stomach cramped.

Everything ached.

I dragged myself over to Aaron, ignoring the blood pooling around Blake. He was dead, but Aaron was still breathing.

“Amelia-”

“Don’t speak,” I cut him off, pressing my hands around the knife, hoping to keep pressure on the wound. “Why did you do that?”

“My wolf told me you were in danger. I had to come.”

Tears gathered at the back of my eyes. “Thank you. You saved me.”

“I couldn’t save your mother.”

“She would be so proud of you,” I sniffled. “Now, I need you to stay alive, please. Help is on the way. Kaden would have noticed that something is wrong.”

His hand wrapped around mine. “I killed him, right?”

I nodded. “You did.”

“You have to admit, it’s a good way to go.”

“Kaden will be here,” I repeated, but the more I said it, the less I believed it. “Just stay with me, please.”

I wasn’t sure how long we stayed there, it felt like hours and with each passing second, I grew weaker.

Aaron’s breathing was labored and at some point, I had to pull the knife out. It was silver and leaving it in was only doing more harm than good. He held my hand the entire time, assuring me that I was doing the right thing and I tore Blake’s shirt off him and used it to apply pressure.

Each second that Kaden wasn’t here felt like an hour. Aaron was dying.

By the time I heard voices, I nearly sobbed.

“Amelia!” I heard someone scream and I instantly recognized the voice- Caleb.

“We’re here!” I screamed back. “I need help, please.” I heard running as Caleb made his way over to me. “Help him, please.”

He glanced at Aaron who was now deathly pale.

“Amelia-”

“Help him!”

“Amelia, he’s gone.”

“Baby!” I saw Kaden rush over. He was covered in blood and cuts. “Fuck, baby, I’m so sorry I wasn’t here. I should- You’re bleeding.”

It took me a second to realize what he was talking about. I glanced down at my thighs, seeing the blood stains between them. I couldn’t tell how long I’d been bleeding or when it started.

I opened my mouth to speak but everything went black.