This chapter is dedicated to @BardofStories. Thank you for adding my book to your reading list!! It made me really happy.❤❤

-:Cecelia's PoV:-

I couldn't sleep. Despite being hugged and snuggled in Ashton's embrace, my brain wouldn't shut down. I counted sheep, cows, numbers. Everything. I concentrated on my breathing. I tried to scent Ashton. 

Nothing. 

Nada.

I was filled with trepidation. I just had a bad feeling, like we were missing something very obvious. A premonition. And I didn't like it.

Ashton woke up twice because of me. He was a heavy sleeper so that made me guilty. He had felt my anxiety. He'd tried to calm me down. I couldn't calm down and shut my brain so I'd just blocked my emotions and thoughts from him. I'd lied that I was okay. He gave me a 'yeah, right' look but didn't push me. He'd sweetly told me that everything would be okay, kissed my forehead, and tried to stay awake with me. He'd tried to put me to sleep but ended up going back to sleep himself.

At the crack of dawn, I shook him awake. I didn't sleep all night. I probably looked like a zombie. But he just wished me a good morning and told me I looked adorable.

I swear, that guy.

Sera wouldn't speak to me. She was acting weird. All she did was agree that something felt off and then block me out.

That made my dread grow exponentially.

We quickly freshened up and hurried to the War Council meeting. Julian and Ashton were all into the discussion and strategizing but I couldn't think straight. I was sleep-deprived and anxious. I made sure to block my emotions from Ashton so as not to distract him.

"So, it's decided. We will attack at two-thirty in the afternoon. We start moving at half-past twelve to reach there early and position ourselves. Any questions?" Alpha  Summers asked. I snapped out of my dreamland at that.

"Umm, I have one," I said tentatively.

"Go ahead," he nodded.

"How many warriors are staying back to protect the packs?" I asked. He blinked.

"About a total of fifty from both sides," he answered.

"Isn't that too . . . less?" I bit my lip, "I mean, all the children and most women from our packs will be practically defenseless that way."

"Ms. Rivers, are you suggesting that fifty warriors together are incapable of protecting the packs in our absence?"

"I didn't mean that," I protested. "It's just that . . . I don't know, we are going after the biggest threat. But there are so many others out there too. Are we sure we can hold up without both our Alphas, Betas, and Pack Warriors?"

He pursed his lips.

"Seventy," Dad said.

We turned to him.

"We can leave seventy behind to ease your malaise," he said. "They'll protect you just fine."

My mind went blank for a second.

"Excuse me?" I finally said.

"I said, w-"

"I heard what you said," I interrupted. "And that's what I have a problem with. I am not staying back. I'm going with you guys."

He looked at me like I'd lost my wits.

"You're obviously sleep deprived. You don't mean that," he said incredulously. I saw red.

"I am going," I grit out. "I can make my own decisions. And I do mean it."

"You are not walking right into the lion's den," he said firmly.

"I want to fight!" I insisted. "That fucking guy turned my life upside down in the worst way possible! I want revenge!"

"Language, Cecelia," he reprimanded sternly.

"I am going," I reiterated. Julian put a hand on my shoulder warningly.

"No," Dad narrowed his eyes at me. I stared right back. The tension in the room could be sliced with a knife. "I'm your Alpha," he said, his tone cautionary.

"You're also my father." I retorted. Ashton squeezed my hand, trying to calm me and make me stop. I has shut my mind to all external links so he was helpless every other way.

Dad's eyes flickered colors at my defiance. His wolf wanted to come out. The only thing holding him back from ripping my throat apart at the disrespect was probably the fact that I was his pup. Even his Alpha commands wouldn't work on me.

"You. Are. Staying." He thundered with finality and stormed out before I could reply. I huffed loudly in frustration. A collective sigh went around the room as the tension lessened and everyone broke into small discussions again.

I want to fight.

"What were you thinking?" Julian hissed at me as soon as dad went out.

"I want to go and fight, too. I am a trained warrior!"

"Lia, no."

"And why not, Julian?"

"You know he's after you, right?" Ashton said. "You will be walking right into his arms in case something goes wrong."

And that's exactly why I want to go. I have a feeling something is wrong.

"We have been planning for hours! We know everything we need to know about them. Our training has been vigorous these past few days. What else do you need?" I said instead.

"They have a witch with them!" Ashton exclaimed.

"You are not going," Julian said.

I scowled, realizing that none of them would let me go.

"I got that the first time," I snapped, swiveling my chair around and stomping out.

'I don't like this, Sera,' I said.

No reply. Not even a hum.

I paced around in my room. I was so anxious and full of dread. The uncertainty. I was legit panicking.

Before I knew it, I had missed breakfast and the party was ready to leave. Julian and David were in charge of our pack. Noel and Brianna for Silver Moon. And both the present Lunas and Gammas, of course.

Although there were over two hundred of us staying back, we had decided that we would camp near the stream to stay close to each other. Our packs were surprising me with their display of unity. Who would've thought they'd ever cooperate? I didn't.

So, with packed lunches and blankets, we all gathered at the stream. The sun shone brightly but it was bearable. The stream was beautiful, like always. It looked ethereal when sunlight reflected off its gentle flow. It looked like a holiday spot more than anything. People were so friendly. I think I even saw a Crescent Moon and a Silver Moon making out.

Damn. More mates. How many had been hiding their bond because of this stupid pack rivalry/enmity?

The Alphas supervised our shifting and made sure that everyone was calm, settled, and accounted for. They would be leaving soon. It was over twelve.

My stomach churned with uneasiness and my palms sweated like crazy. It was happening.

In my anxiety, I didn't notice when Ashton came around. He didn't say anything, he just hugged me. I jumped at first but then relaxed gradually.

"It'll be fine," he said into my hair. He was going with the party and I didn't want to stay mad for too long and not see him off in my fit.

"You don't know that," I mumbled.

"I do," he assured me confidently. "Our plan is well thought of. Our dads have been planning behind our back for weeks. We'll be fine."

"I feel like we're missing something big, Ash. This is too easy."

"What might it be?" He pulled back just enough to look at me.

"I don't know," I admitted. "But I can't shrug off the hollow feeling in my stomach. Something is wrong."

"You're probably just being paranoid," he smiled. "Its everything is okay, Ce. Try to relax."

"Don't you think I have?" I scowled.

He chuckled.

"I know you have. Don't worry. It will all be over-"

"The two of you mated?!" A pissed voice exclaimed. I didn't even have to guess the owner. I knew.

"Hey, Aar," I greeted. "How are you feeling about this whole war thing?"

"Cecelia Adele Rivers!" He hissed. I cringed. "Does dad know?"

"Why would he?" I asked casually.

"Cece!" He cried. "He'll be furious!"

"I know," I sighed. "But it's none of his business. Plus, what's done is done. You can't reverse it."

"But-"

"Aaron," I said dryly, keeping my favorite wolf in the world from going ballistic on my only brother, "Do me a favor and stop with this nonsense. I hate fighting with you, but if you keep on going like I committed a crime, I probably will. I'm an adult by werewolf standards. Deal with it."

He pursed his lips.

"Do you at least have a decent excuse?" He asked.

"Why the fuck would we want to pass off our mating with an excuse?!" Sera broke free of her binds, growling through me. 

Oh, so that's what it takes to wake up the bitch.

Good to know.

A long startled silence followed. Serafine was more dominant than I had realized.

"To him," Aaron finally sighed, "To me and to most of us, you're still the eleven-year-old Cecelia who left. I understand that you have grown up. That you're an adult. But Cece, we still see you as a kid. We didn't see you grow up. We didn't see you make mistakes. We didn't see you have your firsts as a teen. We missed it all. It's so easy to forget that you're seventeen. I feel like I don't know you anymore."

Sera retreated.

That bitch. She dug me a hole and pushed me straight into its center. Then disappeared.

"Umm, okay," I said awkwardly, fidgeting with my hands. For some reason, that made Aaron chuckle.

"Maybe I do know you after all," he mused. I smiled.

"I'm sorry," I said after a while. "I didn't realize that you felt this way."

"Me, too," he said. "We never told you. How would you know if we didn't? But, after all, this is over, can we spend more time together and bond again?"

"I'd love that," I grinned.

"Cool," he smiled back. "And Ashton? You better-"

"Not hurt her?" Ash finished, speaking from his previous experiences, I presumed. Aaron raised an eyebrow. I crossed my arms over my chest, watching them. They were entertaining.

"You'll let me finish," Aaron puffed his chest. I rolled my eyes. "You will be a good mate to her, or I'll bury you such that nobody will even find your body. Got it?"

"I'll do my best," Ash responded, wrapping his arm around my shoulder.

"Good boy," Aaron said and mussed Ashton's hair before walking away. I broke into fits of chuckles as I watched Ashton curse under his breath and scowl in the direction my brother disappeared.

"Was that really necessary?" He grumbled.

"I believe his reply would be 'yes'." I chortled, looking at him trying to pat his hair down.

"Don't," I caught his hand. He frowned. "It looks cuter that way."

"I don't want to look cute," his frown deepened. I snorted.

"Okay. It makes you look hotter. Better?" I asked, trying to control my laughter.

"Much," he approved, making me laugh again.

Alas, all good times come to an end. Ours did too. The Alphas summoned all the warriors. My stomach knotted itself and grew heavy again. Between my brother and mate, I'd momentarily forgotten about Vincent.

"I've got to go," Ash sighed. I nodded reluctantly. He bent down and kissed me, long and reassuring before he pulled away. "Everything will be okay."

I forced another nod and a smile.

"Take care," I waved at him. I wished he didn't have to go. I needed him near me. I didn't want him to leave. I was so scared and I couldn't even explain it. I just knew that something in me wanted to hold on to him and not let go. But I couldn't do that. I couldn't be so selfish. So with a heavy heart, I didn't stop him.

"You, too." He said and walked off to join the leaving group.

I sighed deeply and closed my eyes, resting against the bark of the tree I had set myself up against. As the Alphas would leave, the warriors that were staying back would surround the rest of us. The children were closest to the stream - the center of our camp. The most bodily abled near the perimeter. Kind of like a fort. Unfortunately, that meant that I had to camp a little away from my favorite spot. But it was the safest way, so I didn't protest.

Around me, a lot of them were playing cards, eating lunches, and laughing amongst themselves. It was like our mates hadn't just gone away for a small war. They were so confident that everything would be alright.

Why couldn't I be, then?

Why was I so scared?

I really hope I'm just being paranoid.

'Calm down, Cecelia,' Ash spoke through the link softly.

'I will. Eventually. Don't worry about me. You keep your link open and make sure to be extra cautious and-'

'I will,' he cut me off with a laugh.

'Okay,' I mumbled softly.

'It will all be okay, love.' 

'I hope.' I sighed, feeling his attention divert back to his surroundings.

Please, just come back to me.

************************

A/N:-

New chapter!! I hope you guys like it. 

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QOTD: Are you close to your parents? If yes, whom are you closer to?

That's all for today.

Until next time, all my love,
xoxo.