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Chapter 74
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2024-10-29 19:42:56
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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
A Time for Strength Chapter 76
“We killed so many werewolves, Bronx.” I cry into his shirt. “It’s not supposed to be like this. You should never have to kill your own kind.”“Lenora,” he puts a finger under my chin and lifts my head, “nothing about war is easy, but it’s over now. You ended it. Sin’s creatures are scattering. Rats jumping ship. Most of them probably never wanted to be there in the first place.”“Do you think any of the witches that Mom and Dad’s unit killed were the one who attacked you?” I let him wipe away my tears.“No clue. That’s for me to worry about.” He clears his throat. “I’m sorry, but I need you to change the subject before Saint loses his shit. I understand why you can’t control your emotions right now, but he’s real mad that you’re this upset, and there’s no one here for him to take it out on.”“Um, okay. What do you want to talk about?” I wipe my tears and take a deep breath.“I have to wait for the Council’s nod before I can say I’m acting Alpha. Regardless, you’re still our Luna unti
A Time for Strength Chapter 77
Milo’s POV“Has anyone seen Lenora?” Luna Sandy comes into the room and drops a duffle bag. “Oh Bronx!” Bronx jumps up and picks her up into a crushing hug. My mom smiles and elbows me. “See. Even Bronx needs his mom sometimes.”I grin at her. “I’m so glad you guys came, Mom. Like, for real. We couldn’t have pulled this off without you.”“Well, we’re only here until the Council meeting is finished. Maybe they will let us stay longer, but it’s not likely.” She frowns and takes Dad’s hand. “Trust me, we would much rather stay.”“Luna Sandy, last I heard, Lenora took Rin and Elle to the lounge. I guess to talk to them.” I shrug. “That was like two hours ago. I figured she was checking on warriors getting medical treatment after that.”“Why don’t we find her?” Sandy picks up her bag. “We need you kids to give a talk to the pack. Knowing my daughter, she’s going to need a break from the spotlight after all this, Milo.”“Yes, Ma’am.” I bow to her. “If she said she was going to the lounge,
A Time for Strength Chapter 78
“Alpha, I have an update for you.” Tyree comes into Bronx’s suite.“Tyree, you don’t need to call me Alpha.” Bronx rolls his eye at him.“Have you met my Momma?” Tyree tilts his head, making Bronx pause.“Fair enough.” Bronx pouts his lip. “What’s up? We have to meet with the Council in half an hour.”“Yeah, exactly.” He pulls out his phone. “After… after what happened to Maris, Misty helped me in Elder Randall’s room.”“Great.” I hop up and look at the phone screen. “What did you find? The more evidence, the better.”“That’s just it. He threw his papers like he won the lottery. Annoying, but not a problem until every one we touched disintegrated.” Tyree drops his shoulders. “They were all enchanted or cursed or something. Misty picked up a few wearing cotton gloves. Same thing. They all evaporated. We tried using tongs. No dice. Same thing.”“Shit.” I look at the photos of piles of ash. “So there’s nothing.”“Well, we tried something else, and it kinda worked.” He smiles. “We took ph
A Time for Strength Chapter 79
Lenora’s POV“Oh, Lenora, it’s perfect!” Ashley squeals when I come out of the bedroom in the white lace romper. “I will do your makeup while the stylist does your hair.”It was Mom’s garden party dress until three hours ago. Everyone hated how it looked. The head seamstress, Wanda, agreed it didn’t suit me. She tried pinning it at several lengths, but it still didn’t look right. Mom growled when I asked if I could just wear shorts, but it gave Wanda an idea. Now it’s a strapless white lace romper with a green satin bow around the waist. It fits perfectly.“I can’t believe we’re getting married in BLOOMERS, child.” Justice sounds appalled at the thought of not wearing a dress. “Go find a dress!”“Justice, don’t be such a stick in the mud.” I look in the mirror. “Look how cute we look.”“This is what you wear under a dress. This isn’t what you should wear for a wedding.” She huffs and goes to the back of my mind to sulk.“Wanda, you’re a genius.” Mom gushes when she sees me. “And you’r
A Time for Strength Chapter 80
Milo’s POV“Oh, wow!” Leni’s eyes go big when she looks out onto the expansive crystal blue ocean. “First time at the beach, Sugar?” I chuckle and open the door to our private balcony.“I mean, at the lake, but I’ve only ever seen the ocean from an airplane before.” She sniffs the fresh salty ocean air. “Have you been here before?”“Not here specifically, but we would vacation at the beach every now and then growing up.” “We mostly went camping or tagged along on business trips with Dad.” Her eyes gleam in the afternoon sun. “Can we go swimming?”“Of course, Sugar. We have two weeks to relax and enjoy the sound of the waves and swim to our hearts' content. No pack business. There are only a few things Ashley planned out for us. A snorkeling tour and a food tour in town.” I wrap my arms around her from behind. “There’s plenty of room to let Justice and Ghost run about ten miles inland and the drinking age is eighteen, so we can hit up a few nightclubs. Whatever you want to do or not d
A Time for Strength Chapter 81
There are shadows in my dream. They make my heart race and all my senses heighten as they creep just out of view in the long grasses. They’re whispering about Leni, but I can’t hear what they’re saying. It doesn’t matter. Ghost bristles and backs away. He pulls on my consciousness and howls to wake me up, just like we practiced with Doctor Stanton.I blink my eyes open and take a sharp breath in. The moon is already up, shining into the bedroom. I reach out to pull my mate close. Her scent always helps me fall back asleep quickly, but she’s not in bed. I sit up and look around. The light in the bathroom is on. I hear her moving around in there, so I lay back on my side to wait for her. Oh yeah, I forgot to call Ashley. I take my phone off the nightstand and see two messages.Ashley: Tracked your phone. No need to call.Ashley: Have fun. NO NOISE COMPLAINTS! Milo: No promises.I add a devil emoji face just to mess with her and toss my phone down, chuckling to myself. As I settle bac
A Time for Strength Chapter 82
Bronx’s POV1 Year Later“Bronx Mason speaking.” I don’t recognize the phone number, but these days, I get so many fucking calls from private or restricted numbers that I have to answer everything. Carly tries to catch most of the calls, but I think she’s off today. She didn’t bring my coffee for me, so she must be off. I look at the clock. It’s seven in the morning. I think she doesn’t get to work until eight a.m. Maybe I could convince her to change her hours if I give her a raise? I’ll ask Ashley if I’m allowed to do that.“Alpha Bronx, hello. It’s Randall Smith. I hope this is a good time.” His voice still grates my ears after all these years.“Elder Randall.” I roll my eye and lean back in my chair. “To what do I owe the displeasure of this call?”“I want to make amends with Lenora, Bronx. I was hoping you could facilitate that.” He whines. “It aches my heart every day that the Blood River pack still considers me a traitor.”“Are you sure you aren’t just having a fucking heart a
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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
