Prologue
Carter looks up from his book and glances over at his wife Gwen sleeping. The cover is wrapped around her tightly against the midnight chill and her chest rises and falls gently. Her long, brown hair the colour of dark oak is fanned around her head with the moonlight from the window making her exposed skin on her shoulder shimmer.
The night is clear and the moon is full on Yellowstone. Its July but the nights are still cold. He could have the window open and not feel a single chill but Gwen is a little more delicate.
They made their home high on Yellowstone National Park because she loves to be close to nature and it doesn't get much closer than the wilds of the enormous volcano. Moose and Wolves often wander onto their ranch to drink from the lake that stretches to the east of their home. The trees are big and strong and the chatter of birds surrounds them all day. The climate is challenging, especially in the winter but the ranch was built to survive the weather. With their friends and family living on the ranch as well there's plenty of protection.
Looking outside Carter can see a few of his family prowling in the moonlight. They have become more protective since Gwen found out she's pregnant and keep watch day and night. It was two weeks ago that he heard his babies heart beat for the first time- she was about 10 weeks pregnant. That was the proudest moment of his life.
Listening closely to his wife he can hear it still, beating steadily from inside her not yet swollen tummy. Lying next to her on the bed he rests his hand on her abdomen. Closing his eyes, he lets the sound surround him. Filling his heart and warming him completely.
If he fully extends his senses he can hear a heartbeat from miles away but none are more important than his wife and unborn child. They are the core of everything he holds most dear.
A howl rips through the night pulling Carter away from his perfect world and back to harsh reality. He gets off the bed and goes to window. Opening it he extends his senses and finally pin points the source. Izzy one of the scouts is running through the forest frantically back to the ranch. She's 2 miles away and would reach the house in just over a minute.
Gwen stirs from the bed and looks up at Carter with heavy eyelids. “What's going on?”
Still staring out the window he sighs. “I don't know, but something has Izzy freaked.” closing the window he leans over Gwen and kisses her tenderly on the lips. “I'm gonna go find out.”
He walks briskly downstairs trying not to run so as not to worry Gwen. Only one thing could strike such fear into Izzy who is usually so brave, but he could not bring himself to even think it. Not yet.
Taking a deep breath to calm his pounding heart he opens the front door to see the pack already on high alert. They turn to him in unison. Their expressions grave and apprehensive.
Izzy comes crashing through the gate in wolf form and shifts as soon as she reaches the bottom of the porch steps. Her eyes are wild with panic as she looks up at Carter. “Vampires! Hades has found us!”
Carters happiness shatters around him when the force of impeding danger is confirmed. He struggles to control his natural instincts to transform, hunt down the threat and destroy it. Knowing that would lead to his death and his families. No, he had to focus. Vampires were nearly impossible to kill but not forhis pack. Hades was arrogant, he would think they would be easy prey against his might. He would be proved wrong.
Breathing deep he tries to take control of the situation. He looks around at his pack seeing their scared faces but also their determination.
“Izzy.” His voice is nearly shaking. “How many and how far?”
“20 and they're coming from the south west. They will be here in 10-15 minutes.” Izzy's voice is surprisingly strong despite the fact her face is ashen and her eyes wild.
Carter nods and looks around at his pack. They numbered 14 but they are all good fighters and powerful. If they managed to break Hades's ranks and get a few quick kills they would stand a good chance at winning. Although at what cost to his family?
Seth, one of the oldest of the pack and Carter's Beta puts his hand on his shoulder and looks him in the eyes with an unbreakable stare.
“Those bastards won’t get near her Carter. We can take 'em.”
“I know.” Carter pats his best friends shoulder then steps forward to address the pack. “Izzy take the scouts and protect the perimeter. If you find any of them separated from the coven kill them. Pick them off one by one. That should even the odds.”
Izzy gives a quick nod in acknowledgement then begins organising her team.
“The rest of us will break in half. I'll take half one mile south west and we will hit them with everything we have. Seth will keep the other half at the house and take out any that get through.”
Carter turned to Seth and saw Gwen walking out the house behind him. She'd got dressed in jeans and a jumper with a black leather jacket over the top with black boots. Her gaze wasfixed on her husband as she strode over to him. Fear rose up within Carter. Fear for his wife, his unborn child.
“Gwen what are you doing?! You've got to stay inside!” He takes her hands in his and brings them to his lips.
She shakes her head and drops her hands to her sides. She looks calm as she faces the forest and closes her eyes but the shake in her hands betray her facade. “I'm more useful out here. My powers can protect us just as much as you can.”
“If Hades sees you!...”
“He already knows where we are.”
“He doesn't know where you are.” Carter spins her round to face him. “If he gets through, you being out here is going to make it easy for him.”
Gwen places her hands either side of his face. “He won't get through. The forest won’t let him. Besides I've got you and the pack.” She smiles but it doesn't calm him. “I can help so I will.”
