“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
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
Lenora’s POVI hold my hand up so the nurse doesn’t follow me into the office. “I’ll be just a few minutes. I promise. This is a private matter.”“Yes, Luna.” She looks concerned as I close the door on her face.“Oh, Goddess, I’m fucking exhausted.” I hobble my way to the desk and fall into the chair. “Justice, where were you? Why couldn’t I see you or feel you?”“I don’t know.” She thinks back. “I remember going into the apartment to find our mate, then everything was dark, then we woke up in Bronx’s arms.”“I don’t think it was a possession like Doctor Nolan said. Yee Naaldlooshii took me somewhere. I think he separated our spirits. I don’t know how he did it, but he took me to a place between dimensions.” I pull the dagger on my thigh out of its sheath. “And he gave me something.”“Gave you something? Why in Zeus’s name would a skin walker give you anything?”“As a fucked up thank you.” I take a deep breath and hold the tip of the dagger to my palm. “Brace yourself.”“Whoa, wait! W
“Elder Randall, I apologize for deviating from our scheduled meetings, but we received a tip from a credible source last night. We’re going to need to take action immediately. I’ve come up with a plan and want to get you up to speed.” I wait for him to sit across from me at my desk. “Unfortunately, because of the urgency of the circumstances, we can’t let you go home. The safest place for you is here at Blood River.”“A tip? Urgency?” He looks at me suspiciously. “Lenora, you’re being cryptic. You know that irks me. Why wouldn’t I be able to go home? What are you talking about?”“Well, I won’t expose my informant, but as I said, they are a credible source. They advised that Sin’s army of rogues and dark creatures is prime to attack within the next forty-eight hours. That was last night, so now we’re down to… mmm… about thirty-six hours. I can’t guarantee we even have that long.” I look at my watch. “It’s not safe for shifters in alliance with the Council to travel right now. I’ve alre
The cool morning grass under Justice’s paws is refreshing. Her long strides and the fresh air filling her lungs remind me of the freedom she craves, especially when I’m busy with business and pack matters. She and Ghost romp and play, nipping at each other between guard stations and look out teams. Pack members bow to them and happily accept her yips and tail wags. I can feel their moods lighten when she stamps her paws and bows to them in return, grateful for their loyalty and dedication. She sits back and lets Ghost accept ear scratches from his friends in human form before they make their way back down the mountain.“Tomorrow, we will prove ourselves, child.” Justice stands guard while Ghost shifts back to human form.“You’re not nervous?” “Of course I am.” Her tone is more soothing than usual. “This is war. We either live, or we die. I don’t know about you, but I’m not ready to die. I love you and I’m not ready for our paths to deviate from each other yet.”“I-I love you too, Jus
I stand on the front steps of the packhouse and look out at my pack. Everyone is staring back at me. The energy in the air is palpable. I take a deep breath in. Everyone’s scents combined creates a sweet, mellow taste on my tongue that I’ve never noticed before.“Justice, what do I say?” I swallow back the panic building in my chest.“Inspire them.” Her confidence flows through me. “Give them courage.”“Alright, everyone. Remember the basics. Shifters who share a body with an animal spirit have reflexes that make them faster. Werewolves, werebears, weretigers. Don’t forget werefoxes. They may look like children, but they are most definitely NOT little kids. They are twice as fast and just as vicious as any other shifter. Witches, vampires, and dragons are morphers; they only have one consciousness. There may be a first wave of vampires at nightfall. Don’t look them in the eyes. Don’t give witches time to finish a spell. And dragons can breathe fire even if they are in human form. Oh,
“Maris, Tyree, where is Elder Randall? Our unit needs to get in position.”Maris comes through the mindlink. “He will be down in a moment, Luna. He asked me to take him to the hospital wing first so he can make sure the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma are not interfering with pack operations.”“Oh, for fuck's sake.” I drop my arms to my sides. “Alright. We’re going to go. James will hang back and escort him when you get him downstairs. Tyree, you’re standing guard at his suite?”“Yes, Luna.” He says. “I’m going to help Maris clean his quarters as soon as she comes back. From what I can see, he trashed the room.”“Trashed it?” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “You’re joking?”“I wish I was. I assume there’s something he wants to hide, but can’t. He doesn’t have time to get rid of… whatever it is, so he created a diversion.”“Got it.” I purse my lips in frustration. “Well, I know we’ve got the right people on the job.”I cut the mindlink and curse under my breath. It is becoming more and more diff
“Lenora, pull it in!” Justice demands. “You cannot let the death of one Omega be your undoing. Harness your emotions right now!”I’m short of breath even though I’m sitting still. Justice is pulling on my spirit, trying to pull me back. I look around at the people tending to me. Their wolves have taken control. Low growls of anger rumble the truck. I close my eyes and focus before they all lose control and their wolves go feral. As my anger gets swallowed down, the growls around me fade. When I look at everyone again, their human spirits are in control, but they look like they’re ready to fight an army of rogues. “That, Justice.” My eyes dart from James to Hana. “How do I harness that? How do I keep them angry, but in control at the same time?”Justice bristles. “Having control of others is dangerous, Lenora. It’s intoxicating and addicting. Let them choose, child. Let your actions make their loyalty to you their choice.”I don’t understand her lecture, but it doesn’t matter. Reaper