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Chapter 15
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2024-10-29 19:42:56
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A Time for Strength Chapter 16
We stand on the steps to the packhouse waiting for the SUVs. Mom fidgets where she stands. “Mom, don’t worry, they’ll be here in a minute.” I squeeze her hand. “Just remember, the doctor said he is on a lot of drugs. He might not be himself.” “I know, I just can’t wait to give him a hug.” Mom says, looking down the driveway. A guard’s howl in the distance alerts us to the approaching vehicles. Guards and warriors stand at attention as the SUV pulls up. Dad gets out first then turns to help Bronx. People clap and wolves stamp their paws on the pavement to welcome them. Veterans salute them silently. Bronx is deathly pale. A heavy bandage covers his left eye, and he limps when he walks. He lets Dad put an arm around his waist while he gets his footing on the snowy ground. Bronx winces in pain as he tries to stand up straight. The applause of the crowd dies down when he holds his hand in the air to get their attention. “Thank you for the warm welcome home.” His voice strains. “I’
A Time for Strength Chapter 17
The ballroom is beautifully decorated with swaths of blue, white, and silver decorations. The snow gently falling outside adds the perfect touch to the ambiance. Families are already there with younger children. They are having a mini dance party before the kitchen staff takes them for an activities night in the conference room. In a couple of hours, we will bring them back so Mom and Dad can pass out Solstice gifts to them. “Lenora!” Ashley rushes up to me with her jaw dropped. “You look amazing!” “Thanks. Mom picked out my outfit.” I motion at her dress. “And that little number? You should wear royal blue more often!” “Come on, let’s dance with the pups.” She gives me an exaggerated smile. “Gamma Carol said it helps them learn to trust us if we spend time with them. They need to be accustomed to our scents.” “A-alright?” I look at Mom who raises her eyebrows. “The DJ has a remix of Wiggly Worms that slaps.” She chuckles. Ashley and I look at each other and burst out laughin
A Time for Strength Chapter 18
I sit on the floor of my empty bedroom and look around with a deep ragged sigh, listening to the bustle of the rest of the apartment being emptied. I hug myself, still able to feel all of Mom’s strength and love through the embrace she gave me before she got into the SUV. I think about Dad’s last words to me. “I know you're going to do great. Just because your mother and I won’t be here doesn’t mean you’re in this alone. Lean on the pack. Use the resources at your disposal to your advantage. If you have to outsource, don’t forget to go through MasonCo and get a purchase order.” I shake my head with a chuckle. He always has the pack on his mind, even in retirement. Thinking about Bronx picking Mom up into one of his crushing hugs and hearing her laugh at him makes me choke back tears. His last few words to Dad. “I hear it’s summer in Australia and there’s plenty of room for Mace and Dahlia to run in the outback.” Watching the SUVs make their way down the snowy drive. The pack me
A Time for Strength Chapter 19
“Mr. Rollins, these are all four keys to the Alpha residence.” I pull the other three out of my pocket and drop the small pile into his hand. Randall catches up and looks over my shoulder. “Perfect, and I have the master here in the safe. Housekeeping gave me their copies this morning.” He looks at the serial codes on each key and marks them off on a sheet. “We will leave the lock as is during renovation. Only the site super and project manager will have keys. When Alpha Bronx moves in, we will retool the locks and destroy these keys. Your parents’ belongings are going to the warehouse until the cottage down the street is available in the spring. We will move things around then.” “Good. How about the Beta and Gamma apartments?” “Got all their keys this morning. Locks are the same for now. When you and the Gammas are ready to renovate, belongings will go into temporary storage and you’ll be moved to guest suites.” He hands me my new key. “When the Beta and Gamma get home, we will h
A Time for Strength Chapter 20
—Flashback— “Bronx, there’s a monster in my closet. Maybe it’s a witch.” I peek into his room. He’s reading a book. I bet it doesn’t have pictures. He says books with pictures are little kid books. I like books with pictures though. Maybe when I’m ten like him, I won’t like picture books anymore? That sounds boring. I’ll like picture books forever. “There’s no monster or witch in your closet.” He keeps reading. “It’s your imagination.” “No, there is! I swear!” My lip is shaky. I don’t want him to think I’m a crybaby, though. “I saw its eyes.” “So growl at it. If it’s hiding in your closet, it’s scared to come out.” He rolls his eyes. “Your wolf face will scare it away.” “Can you help me… please? Your wolf face is more scarier.” I don’t think he heard me. He still keeps reading. “Bronx, I really sawed it. It has glowy purple eyes!” Bronx slams his book closed. “Come on. I’ll show you.” He grabs my hand. When we get to my closet door, he stops. “How could you see glowing eyes if
A Time for Strength Chapter 21
“Luna, we’re waiting on those purchase orders to order food for the pantry for the next month.” “We need an inspection of the armory after we stopped three rogues from getting in there last week.” “We have to review training plans for the next quarter. Since the Council announced we need to send six more warriors, we have to look at pack members qualified to serve in the next wave of the draft.” “We’ve had a heavier snowfall than usual this winter. We need to send a team to reinforce the banks of Blood River so it can sustain the extra spring thaw. Also, fencing on the southern border needs to be replaced.” “The elementary school would like to know if you can attend their Saint Valentine’s day party.” “Sin’s rogues have been spotted closer to the territory than last month. We need a better plan of action to stop them from attacking.” “Put pins in all of that.” I point around the room at all the department heads. “Yes, Luna.” They reply in unison. “Doctor Nolan, how’s the Alph
A Time for Strength Chapter 22
“Luna, Lieutenant Fortier is on the line for you.” Carly’s voice comes through the intercom, startling me from reviewing budget requests. Alright fine. You caught me. I wasn’t working on reviewing budget requests like I’m supposed to. I’ve been staring out the window at an early spring snow shower. It’s beautiful. I almost never have time to myself anymore. Justice wants to go out and romp in the winter wonderland with her mate. Our warriors only have two weeks left before they come home. Will they have time to let their wolves out for a snowy run? It takes a second for my mind to process what she just said. When it does, my heart stops. I look at the calendar on the wall. It’s only Tuesday. Henri always calls on Thursday nights. He has been calling once a week to give me as much of an update as he can about the war so I can share with pack leaders. He’s not allowed to say anything about our individual warriors for security reasons. Most of the time, his updates aren’t much, but I’l
A Time for Strength Chapter 23
***Trigger Warning - This chapter begins depictions of wartime Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This theme is depicted in multiple chapters throughout the rest of the book. Since the triggers for this subject are different for everyone, this will be the only warning related to it.*** “Lenora, what do you want your birthday celebration to look like?” Ashley and Carly sit across from me with huge grins on their faces. “We need to begin planning now, but you don’t have to do anything. Just show up for the party. We’ll take care of all the details and planning.” “My birthday isn’t for three months and I don’t want a celebration.” I stuff the last of my sandwich in my mouth. “Honestly, I almost forgot about it.” “Come on, nerd. It’s your eighteenth birthday and you’re Luna now.” Ashley tilts her head. “People want a reason to celebrate.” “We’ll have our annual pack celebration on the summer solstice. That’s good enough. Everyone loves it. No one will know the wiser.” I wave my ha
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A Time for Strength Chapter 151
“Good Morning, Beta.” Sondi Eklund pokes her head into my office. “Would you be able to review these retirement package updates I’m proposing to the Alpha?”I look up from my spreadsheet and try to smile at her. “Of course, Sondi. Please come in.”“I already highlighted the sections in question.” Sondi comes in with her staccato, bird-like movements. “Oh, Beta Lenora, are you ill? Forgive me if I’m overstepping, but you look exhausted.”“I’m alright, Sondi. Being a new mom is exhausting.” I’m careful not to go into too much detail. Sondi and Scott still haven’t found their daughter. I don’t want to be insensitive. I quickly change the subject. “That and I feel like I’m running in circles trying to decipher some of the information on this spreadsheet. They’re supposed to be client names, but I can’t figure out how they’re coded.”“Would you like a fresh set of eyes?” She looks eternally hopeful. “I’m happy to help.”“Um, sure.” I turn the laptop to her. “I’ll look at these updates whil
A Time for Strength Chapter 150
“Kaaas?! Are you sure you and Codi will be okay?” I yell into the living room. “I can call the daycare and see if they have someone who can come up.”“No, we’re fine.” Kas’s voice sounds strangled.Milo peeks his head into the living room and pulls back quickly. He doubles over in a silent laugh, pointing to the living room. I look out to see Codi had a handful of Kas’s hair in a death grip. Kas’s mouth is open in a restrained cry of pain, trying to untangle the chubby fingers from her sparkly locks of hair. I nudge Milo who’s on the floor in tears with his hand over his mouth. “Knock it off, Milo. She’s trying her best.” I pull him off the floor. “Kas, give her the rattle that’s on the coffee table. The one that looks like a tiger's face. She’ll let go in a heartbeat.”After a pause, Kas calls back. “Oh my Goddess, it worked! Thank you!”“Okay. We won’t be gone long. Mindlink if you need ANYTHING.” I walk to the living room and kiss Codi on her chubby cheek, then kiss Kas on her for
A Time for Strength Chapter 149
“And this is the Alpha’s private archival library.” I hold up a slip of paper for Musu to read. “Memorize this number. It’s your personal access code and don’t share it. Understand?”“Yes, Beta.” She stares at the paper. “I got it.”“Good.” I punch in my code and let the door slide open. I step inside, motioning for Musu to follow. She steps in and looks around in awe.“The Goddess has truly blessed our Alpha.” She takes a few more steps trying to take in the library's beauty. “I’ve never seen a private collection this large.”“Well, he’s been collecting them since he was a child, and it has proved useful.” I clasp my hands behind my back and look around, then point to a book on a pedestal covered with a glass case. The page is open to the painting of The Moon Goddess with the Menae. “This is how we found out Kas is a goddess.”Musu looks down on the image and chuckles. “Is it inappropriate to say The Moon Goddess and Endymion were more like rabbits than wolves?”Justice lets out a wh
A Time for Strength Chapter 148
Lenora’s POV“Delilah, if anyone asks, your family is from France. You went to culinary school there. That’s how you met James. Bronx gifted Kas private lessons. James was a security guard for Kas while she attended the school. You’re twenty-three-”“But, no, Carly Ann Miller, I am one hundred and-”“You. Are. Twenty-THREE. Delilah.” Ashley interrupts. “No arguing.”“You expect me to just LIE?!” Delilah holds her hands to her chest and looks mortified at the thought.“Yes.” Ashley, Carly, and I all say in unison.Delilah falls back in her seat, distraught.“It’s not that we want you to be dishonest, Delilah.” Ashley softens her tone. “It’s a matter of self preservation. For all of us. You included. Whatever technique you’ve used in the past to deflect attention won’t cut it anymore. You and Kas are going to be approached by paparazzi all the time now. They need to believe you’re human. We’ve given both of you believable, respectable human profiles. The fewer people trying to dig into
A Time for Strength Chapter 147
“Alright, Big Guy.” I toss the plastic gun on the arcade game. “You win. I’ll never beat you at Duck Hunt. I’m out of cash to feed the machine anyway.”“I mean, you tried. I’ll give you some props, man.” Marco blows into the barrel of the plastic gun and looks at his watch. “It’s been two hours. That’s gotta be a good sign. Right? Musu woulda called me if Lenora chased her out.”“Yeah.” I pout my lip. “No mindlinks either. Down your beer. Let’s check on them.”Marco raises his pint glass and chugs the remaining beer. “Rita! Thanks, darlin’!” I hold up more than enough cash for our tab and toss it on the table. She gives me a thumbs up from across the restaurant. “Don’t be strangers!”“Ah man, that fresh air.” Marco takes a deep breath when we step outside. “Nothing beats summer in Montana except maybe spring in the Coven’s realm.”“Did you hear that?” Ghost gasps, suddenly at attention.“Huh? Hear what?” I shorten my stride and look around.“A warbler.”“Okay… and?”“They leave afte
A Time for Strength Chapter 146
There’s a quiet knock on my office door. Instinctively, I look down at Codi. She’s still fast asleep. I set down the report explaining there were absolutely zero useful bits of information on Randall’s tape recorder other than rambling about a trip to Portland to see a warehouse or something.We still haven’t been able to determine the identities of the girls in the photos other than Evie. There was no rhyme or reason to the codes associated with each one. The unusual names don’t exist anywhere either. The team is still looking into it, but I’m not very hopeful. Randall sneaks under the radar on everything.“Come in.” I say in a hoarse whisper.Milo peeks his head in with a huge smile on his face. I put a finger to my lips and point to the travel bassinet next to my desk. He tiptoes in and silently closes the door behind him.“Hey Sugar.” Milo whispers. “Is this a bad time? Are you busy?”“I always have a minute for you, Milo.” I blush when he hands me a bouquet of wildflowers. “They’
A Time for Strength Chapter 145
“Tyree, have you finished the sweep of Randall’s suite?” Milo paces behind his desk.“Just about Beta.” Tyree’s voice comes through the speakerphone. “He took most of his stuff, but there were a few things left on the kitchenette counter. A folder with some paperwork, an envelope, like one of those ones you mail photos in. Ya know? Feels like there’s something inside. And a voice recorder.”“A voice recorder?” Milo asks, confused.“Yeah. I don’t want to open anything or push play in case it’s booby trapped.” Tyree replies. “Fool me once.”“Good call. Bring everything to my office.” Milo pushes his finger into the desk. “I’ll get a forensics team to take it off our hands.”“Yes, Beta.”“Don’t let anyone in that room until they get a deeper sweep.”“Yes, Beta. Marco will stand guard. I’ll be up in ten minutes.” Tyree confirms and hangs up.“Milo, what do you think he was up to?” I bounce Codi gently in my arms. It’s not because she needs it. I have too much nervous energy to hold still.
A Time for Strength Chapter 144
“An apartment in Paris? Who would have ever pegged your brother as a hopeless romantic?” Mom swipes through images of the apartment Bronx bought for Kas as a wedding present. “It’s absolutely gorgeous!”“Yep. She needs to sign some paperwork, but I don’t think she understands enough about real est-” I bite my lip and point at Dad who’s making wolf faces at Codi on the other end of the sofa. Mace tests out a growl to see if it will startle her. She makes a sound that could be a growl back at him.“So sweet.” Mom places a hand on her heart. “Meeting codi is all he’s talked about since we got the news that you were pregnant. So what's next? Have you thought about a little brother for Codi, maybe?”My heart squeezes. “Justice, what do I say?”“As much of the truth as you can.” She sounds unsettled. “We don’t really know anymore. Do we?”“You know how hard it was for me to get pregnant, Mom. Let alone survive Codi’s pregnancy. We haven’t really talked about having more yet. If the Goddess
A Time for Strength Chapter 143
It’s been two days. Kas has isolated herself in her apartment, still convinced that she needs to hide herself away. I brought Codi up so she could snuggle with her niece in hopes it would lift her spirits. I let her take Codi to the bedroom while I go talk to Marco.“Hey, Beta. Everything okay?” He salutes me.“She’s not handling it well. Maybe I should invite her to go to the meadow?”“I wasn’t talkin’ about the Luna.” He lowers his chin. “You been avoiding me?”I immediately feel my face flush. “Wh-what? I-”“Sorry. I didn’t mean to sound like that. I know you’re busy with your pup.” His tone softens. “I need to stay in my lane.”“I mean, I-I guess I kinda thought, um, your mate wouldn’t want me talking to you.” I confess. “So… yeah. I guess I have been avoiding you?”“Ah, Leni, come on. I’m fuckin with you… kinda.” He looks sheepish. “Me and Musu was talking about our ranked members. I didn’t tell her about US, but I told her you and me grew up together and that we still close frie
