Cyrus yelped as the arrow landed in his hind leg but he didn't stop his attack on Reynolds, his front claws managing to swipe over the practically white fur of his under belly. Reynolds quickly reacted as well spinning and grabbing the arrow in his mouth and dragging it across his side, blood spilling down his side, staining his light fur. I grimaced at the sight but still reached back to grab another arrow as Ryder speeds up again pulling me over to Cole battling both Theo and Charlie. Charlie was hanging back a bit waiting to help either Theo or Cyrus when they needed the help. It was always the three of them versus me, Reynolds and Cole. Ryder hadn't even slowed before I released another arrow, watching to see it land underneath Charlie's front left leg. He didn't yelp but he did fall falter slightly before he feel forward, his head snapping to me with a scowl. I don't even have time to laugh before I was shooting another arrow, allowing it to land right in front of Theo's back paw. It didn't hit him where I was aiming but he still jumped and Cole got the upper hand as he shoved his head into his side, the both of them tumbling to the ground. Ryder chuckled in a throaty laugh and the vibrations flowed through me as he completed the lap and came back around to watch again. I enjoyed training like this. Especially with Ryder. "Again?" I felt the smirk as his claws dug up more dirt. "Again," I repeated my hand already reaching back. *** "You're really good gor-Beautiful." He stuttered slightly, correcting himself before he said the word that I no longer wanted to hear. "Thank you," I whispered, giving him a warm smile. Ryder's tall body blocked most of the water from the shower head falling in my eyes, so I could easily watch as he slowly moved his hands over my body. His touch was soft as he rubbed the soap up my arms. His fingers slowly moved over the lasting cuts and scars, hoping that they would heal and disappear under his touch. A part of me wanted to push his hands away and loop my arms around his neck and let him do whatever he wanted to me. I knew if I did that my body would protest the movements and I'd feel worse later. How Ryder was holding himself back was oblivious to me. He was projecting his thoughts to me and I could see what he was imaging, the feelings radiated of him and I could physically see his mood through his downstairs member. Naughty boy. "What do I have to do at the funeral?" I say trying to distract him. If I let him keep going, I wouldn't care if I lost limb if I got to do what he was thinking. Ryder still seems lost on my injuries but his sexual thoughts dim when I bring up the death of some of his wolves. "You just need to be there and pay your respects. You'll sit at my side while the families give a eulogy, it will be their mates speaking, they look to you and feed from you to speak, and you need to be a strong. Then I'll say something, we'll mourn them with silence and then we have a party to celebrate all that they were." "That's really beautiful." Ryder scoffs lightly, his hands sliding from my arms down to my waist as he pulls me in tighter to him. "I just hope that it's the last. I don't like losing my wolves before it's their time." We stood under the warm water for a little while, my head pressed against Ryder's chest as I listened to his heartbeat and I allowed him to finish washing my sweat and dirt covered body. If it calmed him, it calmed me. A faint knock to the bedrooms door bought us out of our serenity. It was Ellie who had come to get me ready, I preferred the comfort and movement of jeans but I was quickly becoming accustomed to the flowy dresses. Ryder handed me my towel to dry off while he went and opened the door for Ellie to come in. I quickly slipped on my robe before Ellie entered the bathroom. She was already dressed in a cream coloured gown the crossed over her chest and knotted up behind her neck, her hair hanging in loose waves, thin braids holding strands back from her face. Her makeup was radiant, a natural glow to her cheeks. "What are you so happy about?" I ask her as she instantly gets started on drying my hair. She shakes her head, a goofy smile on her face. "I'll tell you in a minute. Ryder is still in the other room getting ready. Nervously I flicked my eyes up to her, waiting for the sound of Ryder rustling around in the bedroom to stop. It wasn't long before I heard the door close. I knew Ryder heard what we were talking about and that he was leaving so that we could talk. Ellie was pulling, my now dry hair up at the base of my neck leaving loose tendrils to frame my face. I watched her with my own small smile. "He's gone. Are you going to tell me?" She took a deep breath and met my eyes in the mirror. "I'm going to be a mum." Her voice shook with tears of happiness.