Mark's view:

The moon in the night sky is the only light provided in this forest. Darkness surrounds the northeast of the forest, each tree howling, providing wind and creating a chilly atmosphere. I pace back and forth, a twig snapping under my foot as I step on it. I stand in my spot, waiting for my fellow werewolves and vampires to arrive. I look down at my watch and sigh. It's been five minutes. What is taking them so long?

My gaze finds a large log between two trees, so I make my way over and sit on it. Looking around, I tap my index finger on my knee. I didn't have to wait any longer until Vamp arrives with a few hundred vampires and werewolves following close behind.  

I stand up and smile. "Hello everyone. I'm glad you could make it. We have important matters to discuss." 

"Get on with it," Vamp says, his arms crossed.

"Well, Victoria is coming. A war will begin on the 14th. I need you all to be prepared. Practice if you need to. Healers, you are the most important, so I want you guys to either be in hiding or behind everyone else. Defenders, I want you in front of the line, you will reflect all attacks sent to us. Archers and attackers, you all will be behind defenders and will come out and attack once necessary." I look around at everyone and they just nod in agreement. "Any questions?"

Silence. The sound of crickets chip in the background.

"You all know your strengths and weaknesses. Use them to your advantage!" I smile and look around.

"Why is that bitch finally deciding to show her face again?" one of the young men yells out. "Doesn't she know we will kick her ass again?"

"Well, she thinks she can beat us. She is recruiting more pups. I called this meeting so you all can be prepared. I do not want to go down." I look around once more.

Everyone cheers in unison. A flock of crows fly away.

"What do our chances look like?" one of the red werewolves asks once everyone is silent. He steps forward and stares at me, his gaze boring into me.

"If I had to guess we have a seventy-five percent winning rate." I force a smile.

I wish I knew the exact answer. I wish I could be confident that we will win. 

There was a very long silence. I search my brain for anything more to say but come up empty.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Mark and his good mob preparing for my war. How sweet," a familiar voice says behind me.

I smile and turn around to face the woman in black. "Welcome Victoria. What brings you here?"

A smile plays on her lips, her eyes dancing to the beat of imaginary music. "Just a little taste of what's to come." 

"What do you-" 

In the blink of an eye, she disappears. I look left. No one. I look right. No one. 

Damn it!

I turn back around and face everyone. "Do what you do best. You remember our formations last time. Defense at the front and around with the attackers behind. Healers, be on alert!"

Everyone cheered in unison once more. 

"Let's go before the sun rises!" I yell out, pumping my fist in the air.

~~~~~~

As I walked to my room, I see Ethan standing there, his wings almost damaging my ceiling.

"How did you get here?" I ask, leaning on the doorframe as I fold my arms.

"Don't ask stupid questions that you know the answer to. Something is different about Isabella," he states bluntly, his eyes boring into me. 

"Everyone's been warning me about this hybrid but I am not sure if I even believe it." I pace around the room, dodging his wings.

"Look. I'm not sure what you know about this hybrid, the Vaewolf but what you must know is the first full moon before their eighteenth birthday they transform. They may or may not remember what happened throughout." He avoids eye contact with me and stares at the floor instead.

"Very comforting. I don't think Isabella is one though." I cross my eyes and make my way over to my coffin.

"If she heals quickly then the likelihood of her being one is raised a whole lot higher." He continues to stare at the floor, swaying back and forth.

"Are they really stronger than vampires?" I eye him and sit cross-legged inside the coffin.

"Unfortunately, yes." He looks towards me then finds sudden interest in the wall in front of him.

"Ethan. Are... Are there any Vaewolves alive? If Isabella is one and we find proof of that we will need their experience." I look at him, the place where my heart used to be feeling empty.

"There is one. I'm not sure where he is but when the time comes we can ask the council." He nodded, his eyes widening.

This kid looks like he is about to pass out.

"How's your mum doing?" I ask, getting up from my coffin and place both hands on his shoulders.

"Still in surgery. So far everything seems to be going to plan." He forced a smile, the tears in his eyes welling up.

Fuck. Why must I keep this secret from him? He is going to hurt so much when his mother dies. 

"Everything will be okay," I lie, forcing a smile of my own.

"Are you going to see Isabella?" he asks, averting his gaze to the floor.

"Yep. Of course."

~~~~

Ethan and I speak for a few hours, dark clouds fill the air as I park my car at the hospital car park. Once I start to make my way over to the entrance, it starts to rain on me, water dampening my clothes so I decide to run to the shelter. 

After I get the room number from the receptionist, I make my way to the room where Isabella is. My hand wrapped around the cold knob as I turn it and swing the door open. I stand there for a few seconds then walk inside. I see Isabella standing with her back turned to me and packing things in her backpack, her parents standing opposite her. 

How the hell is she okay? What happened to her injuries?

"Hello, Mr. And Mrs. Rose. Hello Isabella," I greet with a smile. 

"The man of the hour," Mrs. Rose says, an equal smile on her lips as she looks at me. "Thank you for helping my daughter."

I nod. "So, uh, is Isabella okay? Like... You know?" I stare at the ground and rock back and forth, my mind a jumbled mess. 

"Well, of course, I'm okay. Why else would I be discharged?" Isabella turns around and smiles. "Thank you, Mark, for everything."

There is no way she could have healed this quickly. 

I walk up to her and hold her hands. "Isabella, don't thank me. We would do anything to help you, well almost anything."

"How did you know?" She looks up at me, her blue eyes shine like diamonds. 

"Know what?" I lean against the wall and cross my arms. 

"That I was escaping and catch me at the alleyway." She tilts her head to the side and smiles.

"I didn't. I was going for a walk and then you ran into me." I smile and lift my hoodie over my head. 

"Let me guess, you couldn't sleep?" She shoved another shirt into her backpack.

I shrug and pace back and forth. "Exactly."

My mind goes back to what everyone has told me in the past.

'Vaewolves are dangerous' 

'They heal quickly.'

"Anything you need me to do?" I ask, eyeing her as she closes her backpack.

"Nope, thank you. The doctor should be here any minute now to discharge me." She smiles and sits on the bed. 

I nod and take a deep breath in. My mind shifts to wondering what it would be like to kiss her but I shake it off. "I should go. Call me when you get home so I know you are safe, Isabella." 

"Mark." Her voice trails off as I walk out of the room in long strides. 

I can't do this.

A hand grabs my shoulder and I turn around, seeing Isabella. 

"Are you okay?" she asks, looking up at me with her puppy stare.

"I'm fine," I lie. "I just remembered my mother asked me to do a few things." I smile and hold her hands. "Go take care of yourself. I will see you later."

If later means tomorrow at her surprise birthday party then yes. 

I turn around and start to walk away.