The shrill ringing of a phone bought me out of deep slumber and I jolted awake, unable to move with Kade’s thick arms wrapped around me. I elbowed him in the side as a light snore escaped him. His eyes opened and he groaned, rolling over and taking me with him. The phone continued ringing and I stretched my arms up, my fingers brushing the black device.

I grabbed it and slid my finger across the screen, tucking my hair behind my ear as I answered. “Eve Holt.”

“Eve you’re leave time is up in two days and you’re required to return for mental and physical revaluations-”

The rest of what the sergeant said was drowned out as I looked down at Kade. I ran a finger over his cheek as his eyes fluttered open and he stared at me.

I had to go back; I had to leave Kade and my family again, this time though, I didn’t want to go.

“Eve? Eve are you there?”

“Yeah.”

“Good we expect you at the latest by 0900 Sunday; say your goodbyes and pack your bags because afterwards you could be immediately put back into active duty. See you then.” My heart felt heavy as I hung up the phone and I couldn’t look Kade in the eye.

“I-I’m going to go get breakfast.” Without looking back I ran out as fast as I could, searching for Griff, Gunner and Jack. I found them in the dining room; plates piled high with food, shovelling it into their mouths like it was their last meal.

I went up to them and bent down. “I just got a call from command.”

Jack exploded into a fit of coughing and reached for a glass of water. After a few sips he turned and looked at me. “Command called you? What did they want?”

I looked up at the few people that were giving us curious looks and I patted his shoulder. “Meet me at the lake in ten; make sure that you are not followed.” I didn’t want anyone catching wind that command had called until I was ready; I would be disappointing many people by leaving.

I picked a large piece of bacon off Jack’s plate before walking away.

-

“Why did command call?” Griffin wasted no time in grilling me for answers when the three boys found me at the lake.

I turned with a solemn expression. “I am to be revaluated and sent back into active duty.”

They stared at me confused. “For some reason you don’t seem very happy about this; I thought you loved the military? You fought tooth and nail when the wanted to give you an honourable discharge and convinced them to give you another chance; what’s changed?” Gunner asked, taking a seat.

“I changed.” I looked out over the lake, to the mountains and forests behind it. “\I’m not sure if I want to go back anymore.”

“Then don’t; you don’t have to do anything that you don’t want to do. If you’re happy here then stay; simple as.” Jack chimed in.

“No, don’t you see? It’s not that simple! I worked my ass off when I joined and went through hell to get into the SAS; I was the first woman to join for god’s sake! I have sacrificed my life in the service of the people that can’t protect themselves; been tortured, shot and beaten. I am a soldier, I will always be a soldier and I am so damn proud of what I’ve accomplished. I will not just leave because I feel like I’d miss a few people; I’m immortal, I’ll see them again someday.”

There was silence as we were all caught in our own thoughts. Somehow, despite all my talk, I still didn’t feel like I really wanted to return; but I would, I had to.

“It sounds like you’re still trying to convince yourself, but you know we’d follow you to the ends of the Earth; we’re sticking with you till the end, through thick and thin.” Jackson said, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. “You’re a phenomenal soldier, amazing captain and the best friend I could ask for.”

I nodded and took a deep breath, slowly moving away from his embrace. I turned back towards where the top of the pack house towered over the trees in the distance. “It’s time to face reality; it’s time to pack up and go back.” My time here was over and now I had to face reality, face the death, violence, blood and pain of war.

Numbly I walked back to the pack house, ignoring anyone that tried to talk to me and began packing my duffel. There wasn’t really that much to pack; just the clothes I arrived with and my weapons.

I left my room as it had been for all the years I’d been gone, softly closing the door behind me with a quiet thud. I swung my duffel over my shoulder and headed for Jenna’s office with a heavy heart. Behind the door I could hear laughter and I knocked, waiting this time. The door was opened by Klaus who smiled and stepped aside, wordlessly gesturing for me to enter.

As I walked in, I spotted Jenna standing with both my parents over the two cribs pushed against the wall behind her desk. I cleared my throat and they turned around, all smiling at me. “Eve, what can I do you for?” Jenna asked.

My eyes briefly landed on the children before I looked past her, out the window; I couldn’t look her in the eyes. “I want to hand the pack over to you… and I’m leaving.”

She sucked in a sharp breath and Ace bristled in irritation. “You’re leaving?”

I looked down at the floor as I nodded, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. “Ah yeah, I’ve been called back.”

“Back to the war?”

I nodded and risked a glance up at their faces. Each looked devastated but none held any malice or disappointment like I’d expected. “Jackson, Gunner and Griffin are also coming with me; their time is almost up as well.”

“At least this time we get to say goodbye.” Ace sighed, stepping forward and wrapping me in his arms. My bag fell to the ground with a thump as I pulled him to me. I felt guilt curl in my stomach as I was reminded of how I’d left all those years ago. “Don’t leave it so long to visit next time.” He murmured in my ear, hugging me tighter.

He pulled away and I was tackled by Hansel. “I love you so much Eve, please be careful.”

I nodded and I pulled back, turning to face Jenna, my mum. She wrapped her arms around me, crushing me to her chest. Jenna was only an inch taller than me but I felt something wet drip onto my shoulder. When I pulled away there was a tear leaking down her cheek. “You’ll be fine, I know you will; I just don’t want you to go, I don’t want you to get hurt.”

Tears prickled behind my eyes and I shook my head, squeezing my eyes to try to stop the tears. I could try to convince myself all I wanted but I was lying; I didn’t want to go back. I had loved the military and worked hard to rise in the ranks but I felt like that part of my life was over, it was time to move on. But I couldn’t; I had a duty to my men, the soldiers that were waiting for me to return. “I’ll come back.” I didn’t know when; it could be weeks, months, maybe years, but I would return. “Let’s just skip the fight; I hereby give you the Nahkohe Tribe to lead them as alpha.” I really didn’t give a monkey’s ass about being an alpha or fighting with Jenna.

I went to turn but she gripped my arm. When I looked at her face she seemed grim. “Be careful Eve; there’s a war brewing between us and the humans. The remaining hunters are vengeful and want everyone dead; they’ll spread the word about us and soon every nation will revolt, it’ll be carnage and you’ll be forced to choose a side.”

With a nod I picked up my duffel, turned and began walking towards the door when someone stopped me. I looked up at Klaus and was surprised when he wrapped me up in a hug. “Stay safe Eve.” I’d never been particularly close with Klaus but throughout my life he’d always been in the background. He was Ace’s best friend and Jenna’s mate, father of her children. I guess in a way he was a lot like Kade; quiet, kept to himself and strong, tough, resilient.

“I will.” He stepped back and I turned to look at the people I called my family; the ones who’d taken me in, fed me, clothed me, loved me. They were all fighting tears as I left once again.

I gave them a small smile and a nod before I closed the door. I didn’t feel like it was enough though. Although Jenna hadn’t accepted me into the pack, I had a link with her and my fathers; they’d turned me so maybe that was why? It didn’t matter though. ‘I love you.’

I didn’t wait to hear their responses, I knew that they loved me; they’d proven it time and time again as I grew up. I had few regrets in life but leaving without a word was one of them; I’d hurt them badly.

As I walked out the front door, Jack, Gunner and Griff were already waiting in the car. As I loaded my duffel in the boot of the car, I felt the presence of someone behind me as the hairs on the back of my neck rose. Slowly I turned, craning my head back to meet Kade’s gaze.

I could see the confusion, sadness and anger in his eyes as they darted to my bag and then my friends. “Where are you going?”

I looked down at the ground, unable to look him in the eye. “You already know the answer to that question.”

“I want to hear it from you.” He growled, pushing me against the car, trapping me with his body.

“I’ve been called back to active duty; my leave’s expired and my time here is over. I’m sorry.” I risked a glance up at him and felt my chest begin to ache; his face was completely blank, but his eyes were angered and mournful, disappointed and confused.

He nodded once before pulling away. One step… two… three... “Wait!” I said panicked. Over the past six months with him I’d fallen, even if he didn’t speak much, and seeing him walk away was almost too much to bear. Slowly he turned around to stare at me and I felt my mouth dry up. What do I say to the man I was leaving? The one person created just for me? Who stood by me even when it wasn’t fair to him? I took a step towards him and did the only thing I could think of. I stood on my tiptoes, wrapped my arms around his neck, pulled his face down to mine and kissed him.

His reaction was almost immediate as his lips moved against mine and he scooped me up. I wrapped my legs around his waist, fingers running through the hair on the nape of his neck. “I love you.” I murmured as I pulled away, more to myself than him.

My eyes widened when I felt him stiffen. Oh god! Without a word I scrambled from his arms and took a few steps back, staring at his face, trying to find any kind of emotion. I didn’t. I felt a tear drip down my cheek as I looked at him one last time before opening the car door and getting in.

“Are you o-“

“No, just drive.” I snapped, putting on my seat belt as the car lurched forward. I risked on last glance backwards as we left and all I saw was a seven foot wall of muscle, my mate, standing outside the giant house I grew up in, watching me leave.

And I felt my heart break a little more every mile we covered until I closed my eyes and fell asleep, a tear sliding down my face.