A/N: OMG. I can not believe how long it has taken me to update. For all of my readers, my biggest apologies. All I can say is that things have been rather chaotic the last couple of months. It doesn't help any that my hard drive had been wiped and I lost everything that I had written. It wasn't easy to rewrite this chapter, so I hope that you enjoy this chapter. I will sincerely try to update more often. Again, thank you to all of those of you who read this.

Chapter 13

Rhyann and Wolf walked from the entrance to the cave network. The first thing she noticed was the improvement in her hearing. Rhyann could hear each individual leaf in the trees as a gentle breeze caressed the land. She could hear the scurrying of small creatures as they prepared for the night.

The next thing she noticed was the change in her vision. Even though it was dark and there was no visible moon, Rhyann could see everything and in great detail. Though it was night, the world was a bright place. The colors were vibrant, brilliantly breath-taking.

Rhyann laughed at the beauty around her. It was amazing that so many people couldn't see it. That they feared the night and many of the creatures that felt at home in the darkness.

True, there were things hiding in the darkness that should frighten anyone. But there were also things like that that felt at home in the light as well. Rhyann knew that better than most.

Wolf was a silent shadow in her mind. He smiled at the wonder Rhyann felt as they walked toward Mikhail's home. He too was able to look at the night with a new sense of wonder. But what shocked him the most was the sense of excitement he felt when he thought of all the things he had to teach Rhyann about their world. So many things that she'd thought impossible would now be open to her to experience. The thrill of flying as a bird, running as a wolf, all the things people only dream about.

Rhyann could sense the pride Wolf felt for her. She had simply accepted the changes made so suddenly and with out her consent in her life. She smiled up at him as he pulled her close. No matter what happened anywhere they went, Rhyann would always feel safe and at home in Wolf's arms.

They were like the bars of a cage she could never escape. Wolf's arms locked around Rhyann's smaller frame, halting her angry pacing.

Rhyann snarled. "I don't want to hear it, Wolf." She glared at the gathered warriors. "I am not some weak, frail woman that needs a man to protect me. I am a fighter. I have been my whole life. What happened doesn't change anything."

"You are wrong about that, Little Warrior." Gregori spoke up. "And you can stop growling at me." He gave her a look full of amusement. "What happened changed everything."

"No, it doesn't." Rhyann started.

"Let me explain something to you, Rhyann. As a people, we are dying. Our women and children are our greatest treasures, our hope for the future we are fighting for. We knew who our enemies were and how to fight them. We knew what types of things to expect from them. But an enemy that can strike completely unseen, unheard, and unsensed? How do we fight against that, let alone protect out families from it?"

Rhyann felt her heart sink. She knew Gregori was right. But there was something he had said that made her pause. Something that she had forgotten about, or at least pushed to the back of her mind. "That's not quite true. About the not being able to sense the one that attacked me." Rhyann whispered. Every Carpathian froze.

"What do you mean?" Mikhail asked.

Rhyann locked her eyes on a spot on the floor at her feet. "Just before, it was like the world was moving in slow motion. Everything but me and Vlad, anyways. I knew in that moment that the only thing that mattered was protecting Vlad. If I had to die to do it, than that was a sacrifice I was willing to make." She lifted her eyes to Mikhail's. "I knew before that moment. There was plenty of time for me to save myself. But if I had done so, Vlad would have lost his life." She looked at Jacques and then to Gregori, before looking briefly towards each of the gathered hunters. Her eyes changed slightly, along with her voice. "I made my choice. And Destiny has been set on a new path, one that will change everything you know. It is time for each individual involved in this war to make their choice."

Wolf let out the breath he had been holding. There was more to this slight woman in his arms, his lifemate, than anyone, including himself, knew about. Deep inside her small figure a warrior unlike any other waits for the moment when it can be released, permitted to fight for the future she was promised by one far greater than any mortal or immortal to ever walk this earth. Their world was changing, their very existence. New hope for the future was blooming, being accepted as more of the ancient hunters sent out by Mikhail's father returned to their homeland.

"Little one," Lucien Daratranzanoff, stepped forward. "If you would permit me, I would be honored if you would let me examine your memories of the time before you were attacked."

The idea of letting someone other than her lifemate into her mind was something that made Rhyann feel sick to her stomach. Literally. There were things in her past that she preferred not to share with others. Things that she had locked away so deep in her mind that it would most likely be physically painful for those memories to be released.

Wolf could sense the trepidation Rhyann felt at the prospect of having anyone else in her mind. But perhaps it could help Mikhail and Gregori figure out how to protect against the new threat to their people, and even figure out who or what was capable of such a thing.

"Love, I will be with you if you should chose to allow Lucien to access your memories." Wolf whispered in her mind.

Rhyann looked up at Wolf and smiled. She knew that he would never leave her to face this alone. As painful as it was going to be, Rhyann knew that whatever Lucien found could help their people survive. It was her duty to help protect new found family in anyways she was able.

"OK. But not here. Not with all these people watching." Rhyann said softly.

"Tomorrow is soon enough." Gregori stated. "For now, spend time with Wolf. Let him show you what awaits you now that you are Carpathian. The night is ours, as are the elements. Explore your new life."

Each of the Carpathians gathered left, their hearts slightly lighter then when they arrived. Hope for the future was renewed. They cast a smile and nod in Rhyann and Wolf's direction.

When everyone but Rhyann, Wolf, Mikhail, and Gregori had left, a sense of serenity had fallen on the group. "Thank you, Rhyann, for everything you have done, and everything you will do for our people." Mikhail said quietly. "You have no idea of the impact that your selflessness has had on everyone here."

Wolf wrapped his arms around Rhyann's waist. It astounded him how drastically his life had changed in such a short amount of time. He had returned home with every intention of ending his existence. Who would have thought that in the darkest moment of his life, God would place in his path the greatest thing anyone could ever hope for, his soulmate. He felt his throat tighten with emotion. He was so proud of Rhyann, her willingness to give everything of herself to a people she didn't know. Her willingness to sacrifice her very life for another make tears shimmer in his eyes. Gently, Wolf pressed a kiss to her head.

"Little love, there is something I would like to show you." Wolf's voice whispered in her mind. Rhyann smiled. She had been nervous, facing people she didn't know. But now, she didn't feel nervous, she felt light hearted, as if there was a new sense of hope growing from the hearts of the people here.

Together they walked out into the night.