Three.

Eloise was on her feet in a nanosecond, her shift taking over as she erupted into her wolf form, instinct taking over her completely. Henry suddenly shrunk back at his mate's display of aggression, raising his hands in an attempt to placate the growling female as she snapped her jaws viciously in his direction.

Char was too busy laughing to be of any help to anyone.

"Eloise, you need to calm down," Henry spoke in a firm and calm voice.

But, his in control and steady voice only worked to enrage her more. Eloise was pissed on multiple levels, and Henry had remembered too late that she-wolves aware of their pregnancies become uncontrollably territorial. More so even than alphas, because they have a den to ready and prepare for their young. It's instinctual, and not something they can control, and its something Henry just majorly messed up on and both he and Char knew it. Usually mates were the only ones who could calm a female in this position, but Henry and Eloise were not on good terms, and he knew it would not be that simple.

"Maybe try showing her your belly," Char suggested through mouthfuls of laughter, deliberately being as unhelpful as possible.

As soon as Henry scowled at him though, Eloise's snarl pulled his focus back to the offensive wolf in front of him. Negativity in any way from him, was only going to exacerbate this situation further. Yet, controlling his superiority complex was never one of Henry's strengths, it was why even now, Bast still did the new applications to join their pack interviews.

"Shit, Eloise I'm sorry, I shouldn't have barged in like that. I was worried, this place reeks of death, and then he called you his, and I'm sorry my jealousy got the better of me." Henry began, hoping to placate her with his apology.

But it wasn't enough. Eloise could sense his insincerity, and she was still slowly stalking closer towards him, teeth bared and looking for somewhere to sink them into him.

"Seriously, I'd try getting smaller, you look all threatening and, My Girl, has never backed away from a larger opponent." Char added, deliberately baiting Henry further.

Henry only just managed to swallow his growl at the last moment, a pained looking his face as he did so, making Char smirk at the Alpha'seasilyexploited weakness.

"Or you could just leave," Char added for good measure.

"I can't leave, she is my mate." Henry spat, "I need her."

Eloise faltered at the genuineness in his words, but only for a moment before she was snapping her teeth at him again.

"Really? Because all you are doing is upsetting her. Look for yourself, she is pregnant with your child, wears your mark, yet doesn't accept you in her home." Char pointed out the obvious, "Now *Alpha,*" he said with disdain, "Get out. Or I will remove you myself and trust me, that will leave a mark."

Henry looked at Eloise, there was so much hatred in her eyes as she stared him down. It pained him to see it, he wanted nothing more than to reach out and hold her. He could use his Alpha Aura to make her submit, but he genuinely didn't want to. Not after all he had learned since his father's demise. Instead, he took a breath and reached out his hand, her name a breath on his lips. But, before he could call to her, he was hit by a wave of darkness, engulfed by an encapsulating blackness, as he found it hard to breathe.

"I warned you, Wolf." Came the hollow voice in his head. "I am the son of Night, I am the son of the primordial darkness. You will not disobey me!"

Henry struggled for breath, as he reached out into nothingness. He was alone, the cold seeping into his bones and filling him with dread as he choked on an overwhelming sense of loss in the darkness around him. Here there was nothing, here he was nothing.

When he came to he was alone, and not in a place he recognised. There were stars twinkling above his head, and he was lying on a coarse sandy beach. He could smell the salt water as it caressed the land not to far from where he lay, and groggily with a strange pounding in his head, he forced himself up onto his knees before he emptied what was left in his stomach beside himself.

"Well, I hope I don't have to clean that up when your gone," Came a woman's soft voice. "Never had someone vomit here before."

Henry coughed out, before squinting all around.

But, there was no one to see. Though he was sure he could feel her presence, even if it felt like she were everywhere.

"Where, how?" He struggled to say, feeling as though every attempt had him close to swallowing his tongue.

"Oh, right." Came the voice before a dark mist gathered in one spot before him, forming into the jet black body of a woman. Her hair flowed about her, and she was almost featureless, like a painted mannequin. Except she appeared both solid and infinite at the same time. Like she was there, but wasn't.

Understanding it was impossible, but still Henry tried to focus on her somehow. "Do not force it, there is enough rivalry between the old and the new without Mene accusing me of crippling one of her fur babies just because he needs a visual focal point."

"What?" Henry asked, utterly lost before he started to rub his uncomfortable eyes.

"Oh for the love of creation, I am Nyx, goddess of the night. I took you at the request of my daughters before Charon killed you." She responded.

"Charon?" Henry asked, trying desperately to rember what had happened.

"Yes, he is my son. Though I do not quite approve of his choices; he has left the underworld, no longer fufilling his role. But, his life is his own choice, something all parents must come to grips with, that will include you one day it seems. My daughter's however, said it was not your time, that you are needed still, and thus, here we are."

"Daughters?" Henry asked, struggling to keep up.

"My dear, you really ought to keep up with your religious studies as pertains to your own histories. There are more gods and goddesses who affect you than the moon." Nyx stated rolling her eyes. "Some of us even out rank the others, and save your life, and you cannot even tell who my daughters are!" Nyx scoffed.

"I'm sorry. I'm so confused." Henry stated, falling back on the ground in an attempt to gain some needed clarity.

An attempt that was not successful.

Nyx sighed. "My daughters are the Fates, Henry Gray. I am also the mother of the furies, before you get any ideas about pissing me off any further." She added as a playful warning.

"Where am I?" He asked.

Nyx smiled, at least Henry thought she did, it was hard to tell.

"You are in my realm of course. It is day time now on earth, I cannot return you till nightfall, it is not my time." She laughed, "So, we shall have to keep each other company. Though, I must add your pack will be panicked upon your return, it will feel as though you have died to them."

"What?" Henry asked, bolting back upright.

"I do not like repeating myself Henry. You heard me fine enough. But, you will have to make a choice as to where I take you. Portland, to Eloise before she leaves, or to your pack, before Sebastian is initiated as the new alpha.