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Chapter 57
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2024-10-29 19:42:56
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A Time for Strength Chapter 58
“Elder Randall, Luna, a treat for you.” An Omega comes into the room weighed down with another platter of snacks and flights of amber colored liquor. “We just received a delivery and wanted Elder Randall to get to try some rare bourbons before we offer them to the rest of the Council. Mrs. Miller put the brand and year for each one on the tray.”She sets the platter and long flight tray on the coffee table between Randall and me. She gives me a wink when she turns toward me to refill my wineglass. Then excuses herself from the room.“Wow, what a treat!” I feign surprise. “Elder Randall, you’re the bourbon aficionado between us. Why don’t you take the lead?”Randall’s eyes swim for a moment. He wipes his nose with his sleeve, then he picks up a glass. “Of course, Lenora. We’ll start with this one.”“He really is a vile creature, isn’t he?” Justice scoffs.“If there is a word worse than vile, he’s that word.” “A Stymphalist wandought.” She says, sounding disgusted.“Mmm, yeah… don’t ho
A Time for Strength Chapter 59
I’m so stupid. Why did I have to know? Why did it matter so badly? It didn’t. I’m being jealous for no reason. It makes no sense for me to be insecure.I rub my fingers over the engagement ring on my hand. Milo has been nothing but loving since he came home. Hell. Even before then. I think about the letters locked in my desk drawer.“Hey Leni?” Bronx comes through a mindlink.“Now’s not really a good time, Bronx.” I sit on the counter and slump my shoulders.Today has been a roller coaster. I know I should have gone to the hospital wing to see him, but dealing with Randall took longer than I thought. Just another excuse. I need to suck it up and stop being selfish.“Mmm yeah. Milo was just here… umm… maybe you should go talk to him?”“Go talk to him?” I didn’t even hear him leave. “Where did he go?”I look at the clock. It’s ten-thirty at night. Milo left? The pressure of panic builds in my chest. I need him. He can’t just… go.“He said he fucked up and needed to go for a run.” Even B
A Time for Strength Chapter 60
Outside the netting, I hear movements. I grip Milo a little tighter, praying he’ll wake up. Instead, he sighs contentedly and kisses my forehead. For the first time, I damn the medications that help him sleep through the night. “Justice? Can you tell what’s happening?” I try to hold still. “Can you feel it?” She whispers in my mind. “Mavri magea.” “What the Hell is mavri magea, Justice?” Every part of me wants to rip the netting off, but I stay in place like Hana warned. “Dark Magic.” She sounds like she’s in awe. “Lenora, don’t move. We're in danger.” She doesn’t come forward or help me heighten my senses. Is she enchanted? That would mean I am too, but I feel fine. “Dark magic?” I hone my focus to see if I can feel any magical effects. I can hear guard wolves in the distance growling at something and changing formation. I don’t smell any rogues. The air feels heavy and empty the way it did when the portal opened for Sin. Milo whines silently in his sleep and stretches his bod
A Time for Strength Chapter 61
“Milo, it took two weeks to get this info?” I drop my forehead into my hands and look at the sheets of paper. “So you’re saying Paars and Minnie are what? Aliases?” “Hard to say.” Milo looks over my shoulder with his hands on the arms of my chair. “There’s no record of a Paars de Wees in Council archives for over a hundred fifty years. Before that, records are shoddy. There is a Wilhemina Visser, but she was born in the Netherlands over a hundred years ago in a pack called Vrede Berg. It doesn’t exist anymore. Merged with a larger pack eighty years ago. There is a record of her having a daughter, but I couldn’t find a name.” “Why would there be no registered names?” I sit back in my seat and brush my fingers on the underside of his chin, making him smile. Things have been different for us since the night in the meadow. Justice says it’s because I’ve stopped hiding and opened myself up to Milo. I mean, I’ve definitely been open to new things with him. Most of them require my legs to
A Time for Strength Chapter 62
“Alright Luna, you have two calls this morning. One with a vendor for a new cafeteria food service and one with an existing client who would like to add additional services, but first there is an in person meeting with a potential client… a guy named Yee Walker. We have him in the small conference room on the third floor.” Carly hands me pages of information. “I blocked this afternoon out for uninterrupted work time.” “Uninterrupted work time?” I furrow my brow. “You’re falling behind on getting paperwork signed, but I’ll help you get organized. The digital signature system works well for pack business, so we are working with IT to integrate it for MasonCo.” “Um, shit. Okay.” I frown and look up at her. “Sorry.” “We can do a little more to help with administrative work, Luna.” Hana smiles at me sympathetically. “Thanks, Hana.” I tuck the papers into my folder. “I’m going to drop my stuff off in my office then go to the conference room.” “I’ll escort you.” James volunteers as we
A Time for Strength Chapter 63
“Yeah. That’s the skin walker from the underground fight.” Reggie looks at the photos from the security video. “The audio in the file is corrupt.” James growls. “I guess if this guy is that powerful, we’re lucky to have video evidence.” “He said his name is Yee Naaldlooshii.” I pace behind the guys as the screen goes fuzzy. It clears up and Sin appears from behind the creature. “That’s not really a name. It’s the Navajo word for skin walker.” Bronx folds his arms over himself. “I guess if he’s old enough, he may not remember what his name was when he was human.” “Well, I don’t know if he’s still on Sin’s side after I called him out, but let’s assume he is.” I swallow hard. “And if that’s the case, we need to assume he is acting as Sin’s personal guard.” “If he is, then no one should try to attack Sin alone.” Hana speaks up. “A skin walker can curse the entire pack with a spell on one pack member.” “Sin told you he ain’t waiting to attack us?” Marco says, also watching the screen
A Time for Strength Chapter 64
“Elder Randall! I'm so glad to see you!” I greet him with a warm handshake. “Fully recovered, I take it?”“Indeed, Luna Lenora.” He gives me a curt smile. “I apologize for any inconvenience it may have caused you.”“Well, the good news is, Elder Oscar and I had a conference call. Based on the reports I’ve been sending, the Council says this will be your last required visit.” I lead him to the conference room. “After that, you’ll only need to come if the Council has business with Blood River.”“Good news for both of us.” He muses. “I noticed more uniformed guard activity outside pack territory on my way here.”“Ah, yes. There’s been an uptick in rogue activity. There’s also been a rumor of a skin walker. We’re taking a proactive approach to guarding our pack members and war munitions.” I hold my hands at the small of my aching back. “We can’t be too careful, right?”“Glad to know you’re doing your best to protect the Council’s inventory.” Randall looks fidgety at the news. “Are you alri
A Time for Strength Chapter 65
Milo’s POV“Milo?” Bronx says in a mindlink. “I have Reggie and a guard with me. Where you at?”“Living room. Ghost did a quick sweep, but have them check again.” I reply, looking at the coffee table. “You should see this shit, bro.”“It smells like an animal died in- what the fuck?” Bronx looks at the table. “What is that?”“That’s where the incense smell is coming from. I think it’s trying to mask the dead animal scent. I thought it was a rogue, but even rogues don’t smell this bad.” I don’t look away from the small pile of fragrant dried flowers and leaves smoldering on top of a pile of mud on my coffee table. Bronx kneels down to inspect it closer. “These flowers don’t look like the ones in the meadow. Do you recognize them?”I lean forward with my hands on my knees. “Uhh… desert willow and those are New Mexico Locust flowers. Those little piney things look like juniper. That bit there looks like pieces of cactus.”“None of that is native to Montana, right?”“No, it doesn’t get w
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“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
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“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
