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Chapter 67
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2024-10-29 19:42:56
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A Time for Strength Chapter 68
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
A Time for Strength Chapter 69
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,
A Time for Strength Chapter 70
“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
A Time for Strength Chapter 71
“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
A Time for Strength Chapter 72
Mike Mason’s POV— Flashback —“Look, Bronx, this is your baby sister, Lenora.” I stroke his dark hair out of his eyes and sit next to Sandy. “What do you think?”I observe him to see what his reaction is to our precious new pup. Bronx does what he always does. He takes his time to assess the situation, then looks at his mother for reassurance. They have the same green eyes, Sandy and Bronx. He always has something deeper in them, like his mind is always churning. He just turned four, but his eyes are so serious. Smiling doesn’t seem to come naturally to him. It took a while for us to get used to it.“Baby?” Bronx looks into the blanket and frowns. “How?”“How?” Sandy chuckles and leans back on the pillows. “The Moon Goddess sent her to us so we could be her Mommy and Daddy and so tou could be her big brother. Remember we told you she was in my belly? That’s why it was so big. The doctor helped me get her out when there was no more room in there for her.”“Baby eat my sammich?”“No,
A Time for Strength Chapter 73
Lenora’s POVHana points to a light growing brighter in the distance. It must be Sin’s portal. The smell of ozone is heavy in the air. We just need confirmation it was him and not another creature.“Luna, Sin is inside pack territory. He can’t portal out.” Dad’s voice fills my mind. “Be on the lookout. We’re going to press forward. If we don’t cross paths, we’ll meet you at the packhouse.”“Thanks, Dad. We see the light from his exit point. Be safe.”“You too, sweetie.” He quickly cuts the link.Hana motions to Scorch so he will move toward the portal, then drops out of the tree. I watch while she does a quick sweep. She silently signals me it’s safe, giving me the permission to drop as well. Justice stays close to the front of my mind, but remains silent.It’s dark in the cover of the trees, but it doesn’t matter. Justice’s wolf senses are all heightened. We stalk forward following Scorch’s scent deep into the woods, ducking under branches instead of touching them, and trying to step
A Time for Strength Chapter 74
“Surrender?” His posture relaxes. “Why on Gaia’s green Earth would I do that? Silly child. Between this conquest and the army I’ve already amassed, no one will stop me. The Council has no war to fight after tonight.”“You won’t take Blood River.” I snarl, feeling the hairs on my arms stand on end.“Who’s going to stop me? You?” He holds his hands out to the side and shrugs. “I’ve already taken out your brother and your parents are about to die along with their little band of hopeful hearts. And you’re next.”“Do you understand how many of our kind have died because of your insane cause?” I plant my feet into the ground ready to swing at him. I imagine Bronx’s voice barking in my head to have patience. Reaper should be here any moment. “Exposing ourselves to humans? That would cause mass extinctions.”“The Council is wrong. They’ve brainwashed you, Lenora. We can live in the sunlight. Shifters can dominate over humans.” There’s a dangerous glint in his eye. “We are apex predators. We c
A Time for Strength Chapter 75
I grip my fingers into Reaper’s fur with one hand and pull myself onto his back. Pain sears through my shoulder, making me groan. He whimpers at the sound, worried about his Luna, then lets out three quick howls to let others know where we are.“I’ll be okay, Reaper.” I grimace. “Justice will have it healed by the time we get to the packhouse.”The sound of paws surrounds us as guards and warriors find our location. Mace steps forward and nuzzles my cheek while Mom shifts back to human form. His silent whine is a foreign sound. Mace doesn’t whine about anything.“Leni!” Mom runs over and places her hands on me gingerly. “Look at me, Honey.”When I look at her, I see double. Behind her, other guards and warriors have shifted into human form. They are standing over Sin’s body, confused about his appearance.“It was all a glamor.” I feel my words slur. “Just a fucking disguise.”“Luna Lenora killed Sin!” Someone cheers. “We’ve won!” “We need to get you back to the packhouse for medical
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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
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“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
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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
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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
