{ Remi }Her eyes were glazed over still as she answered me and I knew that wherever she had gone in her mind she was still half there. I watched as she turned to follow her dad out the door, slowly releasing my hand and it fell to my side. I looked down to the tote and promised myself this wouldn’t be the last time I saw it as I slid it back into the closet and followed her out. I paused as they went down the stairs, breathing deep and pulling the scent of my home into my lungs, allowing the memories to bridge with the emotions. My fate was sealed and as I stood there looking over just this one floor in this one house on this pack land I felt a connection unlike anything I’d ever experience in Fire River form between myself and the land. If there was one thing I knew, it was that Alpha’s are connected to their land, not just there people. I’d seen it with Armi, he could feel our pack lands in a way no one else could. The smallest part of
“But-” Mina mutters out as she stares at me, unable to finish her sentence.“I do apologize for all the confusion, it wasn’t my intention to cause any disruption in your training. I did however want to meet you, and I would like a word with you and your mate if that’s ok.” I tell Ben and he nods immediately.“Of course, we can talk more over here,” Ben says as he leads us back towards benches along the outside of the training grounds. Leo turns and shouts orders at the rest of the warriors. I hesitate, wanting to go back and explain to all of them more. Talk to them more. Knowing I left them with more questions than answers. But Joe pushes me toward Joe.“They can wait, believe me. Establishing with Ben and Mina will pave the way to establishing with the rest.”I nod and follow the group to the benches, sitting next to Nov across from Ben and Mina, Joe and Leo and Dean on the longest bench.“Did you say this is your little girl?” Leo asks Joe and he nods proudly.“This is Novaleigh, m
The beginning of the talking I was quiet. I read everything and heard each word but I kept my mouth closed as I internalized it all. I had the most catching up to do but paperwork was something I could make sense of so I read every line in every folder. I kept my senses open as my eyes flashed to Andy and Cody whenever they weren’t speaking, their eyes speaking volumes more than their mouths.At the start I wouldn’t have trusted them as far as I could throw them. They were cynical, testy and argued nearly every point my mate brought forward. But he was patient, clearly expecting this. He reworded anything unclear and asked each of them clarifying questions whenever they raised a concern or argument. By the time we passed that first hour my suspicion had been replaced with hope.“You made the most decisions?” Remi directs at Andy and Cody. We had learned that during the time that everyone escaped from Fire River and came back, they had been the ones to return first. They helped everyon
I leaned in and pressed a slow kiss to his lips. He responded immediately, our wolves rearing their heads and pushing forward. Due to the emotions today, I hadn’t allowed other feelings to surface. Like the unbearable desire to be with my mate that was flooding each part of me.I closed the small gap between us and his hands roamed my sides down to my ass and back up onto my hips again as a groan leaves his throat. I reach down to run my hands over his chest and to the hem of his shirt to pull it off him. He picks me up and turns us in one motion, setting me atop the conference table and sliding some of the folders to the other end. His mouth leaves mine and he is peppering kisses on my neck as I pull his shirt up.The door opens without a knock or a warning. In the doorway is Ben wearing a look of confusion that quickly turns to shock as he curses under his breath and closes the door just as fast.“I probably should have locked that.” Remi muses as he gives me a kiss and pulls away f
I crack my neck while his voice continues to echo throughout this giant room. Not sure if I’m overwhelmed by irritation out of the sheer amount of irrelevance for me being here or by the anxiety I haven’t been able to curb since last night, but either way I feel like my skin is on fire and I know what that means is coming soon. I tune in long enough to deduce that we are not anywhere near done yet so I begin to figure my way out of here undetected. Step one: sit in the back. And that one is always a given for me.I glance around discretely and focus in on Armi’s face for a few moments. His eyes never meet mine, so I know I’m in the clear. Next I find my parents. They are second row, deeply involved despite it being irrelevant to them as well. I don’t even bother to hold back my smirk as the plan to leave unfolds cleanly.My chair in the dining hall is against the back wall, but the best part about it is that it&
“I need to leave. Next week. For a little while.”“To look for her?”Damn, he really was on the button today.“Yeah.”“So it’s about her. Not anything else?”“No Armi, and that’s the truth. It’s all about her. Everyday is a fucking struggle and I made Delta a promise that if we hadn’t found her by this full moon we would spend a little while looking. Even if she isn’t close by, at least if I look he might get off my back.”“I get that. Ozzy is fucking obnoxious as well. I’ve been thinking about doing something like that as well. An informal visit to the surrounding packs to revisit any contracts and such but also see if my mate’s there.”“It’s exhausting isn’t it?”For a moment, I a
I stared for a beat too long, I knew it but I couldn’t help it. Neither of us moved, seemingly frozen there in our trance.“I’m sorry,” she said shaking her head a bit and blushing. “I didn’t mean to stare. Or to startle you, I didn’t realize you would be..”“Sleeping under the receptionist desk? Isn’t that usually where you find the Doctor?”She smiled again and this time it was genuine and it was followed by a perfect melody as her laughter filled the room.“Yes, yes of course. That’s why I checked here first, obvious spot.”I rolled out from under the desk and stood up, dusting off my shirt as I turned to face my mate, my heart beating out of my chest at the reality she was here.“I’m Novaleigh,” she extends her hand out to me and I immediately take it, happiness overfl
“Yes?”“Are you at the clinic?”“Yes I am, what’s up?”“I just came by your place and you weren’t there. I was out for my morning run and got worried you ditched out again for another weekend of searching. Couldn’t sleep?” I wanted to tell him the truth but couldn’t in present company so I just kept it vague.“Nah, you either?”“Nope. Oh well, more time to work I guess.”“Yeah, but that isn’t always a bad thing.” her scent is getting stronger the longer we stand here and I can’t help but be torn about whether this was a bad thing or not.“Definitely not. I kinda need it actually, a lot going on with all the negotiations for new contracts business and truce wise that are up for review this year. Hey stop by later if
I leaned in and pressed a slow kiss to his lips. He responded immediately, our wolves rearing their heads and pushing forward. Due to the emotions today, I hadn’t allowed other feelings to surface. Like the unbearable desire to be with my mate that was flooding each part of me.I closed the small gap between us and his hands roamed my sides down to my ass and back up onto my hips again as a groan leaves his throat. I reach down to run my hands over his chest and to the hem of his shirt to pull it off him. He picks me up and turns us in one motion, setting me atop the conference table and sliding some of the folders to the other end. His mouth leaves mine and he is peppering kisses on my neck as I pull his shirt up.The door opens without a knock or a warning. In the doorway is Ben wearing a look of confusion that quickly turns to shock as he curses under his breath and closes the door just as fast.“I probably should have locked that.” Remi muses as he gives me a kiss and pulls away f
The beginning of the talking I was quiet. I read everything and heard each word but I kept my mouth closed as I internalized it all. I had the most catching up to do but paperwork was something I could make sense of so I read every line in every folder. I kept my senses open as my eyes flashed to Andy and Cody whenever they weren’t speaking, their eyes speaking volumes more than their mouths.At the start I wouldn’t have trusted them as far as I could throw them. They were cynical, testy and argued nearly every point my mate brought forward. But he was patient, clearly expecting this. He reworded anything unclear and asked each of them clarifying questions whenever they raised a concern or argument. By the time we passed that first hour my suspicion had been replaced with hope.“You made the most decisions?” Remi directs at Andy and Cody. We had learned that during the time that everyone escaped from Fire River and came back, they had been the ones to return first. They helped everyon
“But-” Mina mutters out as she stares at me, unable to finish her sentence.“I do apologize for all the confusion, it wasn’t my intention to cause any disruption in your training. I did however want to meet you, and I would like a word with you and your mate if that’s ok.” I tell Ben and he nods immediately.“Of course, we can talk more over here,” Ben says as he leads us back towards benches along the outside of the training grounds. Leo turns and shouts orders at the rest of the warriors. I hesitate, wanting to go back and explain to all of them more. Talk to them more. Knowing I left them with more questions than answers. But Joe pushes me toward Joe.“They can wait, believe me. Establishing with Ben and Mina will pave the way to establishing with the rest.”I nod and follow the group to the benches, sitting next to Nov across from Ben and Mina, Joe and Leo and Dean on the longest bench.“Did you say this is your little girl?” Leo asks Joe and he nods proudly.“This is Novaleigh, m
{ Remi }Her eyes were glazed over still as she answered me and I knew that wherever she had gone in her mind she was still half there. I watched as she turned to follow her dad out the door, slowly releasing my hand and it fell to my side. I looked down to the tote and promised myself this wouldn’t be the last time I saw it as I slid it back into the closet and followed her out. I paused as they went down the stairs, breathing deep and pulling the scent of my home into my lungs, allowing the memories to bridge with the emotions. My fate was sealed and as I stood there looking over just this one floor in this one house on this pack land I felt a connection unlike anything I’d ever experience in Fire River form between myself and the land. If there was one thing I knew, it was that Alpha’s are connected to their land, not just there people. I’d seen it with Armi, he could feel our pack lands in a way no one else could. The smallest part of
I glanced up and took Nov’s hand as I started up the steps first. Nov was just as distracted as I Was since we got here. She was younger when we left but I could tell she was being triggered by memories the same way I was every time we rounded a corner.“The banister changed,” she breathed out almost too quiet to hear.I looked at it closer as her hand wrapped around it.“It used to be squared,” I smile as I remember the old stair case. The wood had changed, the banister, it must have had to be rebuilt after whatever fire caused the damage underneath.We got to the second floor and I saw there were 6 doors total. Three to the left and three to the right. Dean started talking, I heard the word Beta and Gamma understanding that half of this floor was the Beta family and half was the Gamma family.“Are they empty right now then?” Nov asked and Dean responded with yes. “The entire packhouse had been empty for awhile. They cleaned, maintained, but there wasn’t a way to put anyone else insi
“What uh, what do you mean Joal?” Joe asked hesitantly.Joal’s eyes didn’t leave me. I was standing a few steps back from Nov and her father, my hands in my pockets as I let them engage. I wasn’t sure what to say necessarily, but I knew that this would be one of those moments that defined a lot of what was to come. I felt a need to tell them my name, to show who I was. My wolf wanted to claim it, take it back and this entire pack with it the longer we stood in these walls. I wasn’t as far down the rabbit hole as he was, but I did know I was on the right trail.“Remington Calloway, nice to meet you,” I told him as I stepped forward and extended my hand to Joal. He didn’t hesitate to take it and shake it firmly. I saw a sort of questioning in his eyes, a test. Something I was sure I would face a lot here with the ones who knew my father and would wonder who I was compared to him. The other three elders sucked in breaths as I said my full name but I didn’t take my eyes off Joal.“He foun
{ Remi }I step into the living room and while my jitters are calmed thanks to Nov, my brain is still misfiring. I'm sworn into the Fire Rock pack, I've been apart of that pack over 20 years. So why is my mark on my skin, from Silver Rock? This had to be a sign, I mean obviously it was a sign. But did it only mean we belonged there, or did it mean even more?I pull out my phone and dial Armi's name without stopping to rethink it anymore."Hey, what's up?" He sounds winded and I Realize he was running."I just wanted to let you know I'd be out of touch for a few days.""Oh?""Yeah, my mate shifted last night and uh, well I'm gonna be a little preoccupied. I already called the clinic, everyone is aware I'll be gone and it's in good hands but I wanted you to know why I'd be out of touch and off the pack lands."He chuckles loudly when I tell him I'll be preoccupied and I can picture his stupid smirk on his face."Yeah I appreciate the heads up and I definitely understand. Wouldn't want a
As he pulled away I could see how drained Joe looked from the toll the past day took on him. I could only assume how hard the weeks leading up to it had been as well as he navigated how to tell them and how they would take it. Anna wouldn't shift until she turned 25 or until she met her mate Joe had told me before, even if she wasn't turning 25 Nov would have still started breaking her suppression since she met me. Anna also wouldn't be going anywhere anymore though, she needed to stay here especially while we sort out the Silver Rock issue. All these thoughts were swirling in my mind as I watched the three of them talk. As much as I had to sort out my life, I felt responsible for Nov and Anna's now as well. What I chose would effect each of them."Well, I think Anna and I should go. You go be with your mate, I'm sure Nessa would appreciate to meet Remi's wolf. We can talk tomorrow." He looked at Nov until the last sentence when his eyes shifted to meet mine."There is a lot to talk a
"Hey Anna," I tentatively called out as I crossed into the room. Her eyes darted to me and then back to Remi who was now in conversation with my father and then back to me as she mouthed 'who is this?' I walked until I Was next to Remi and slipped my hand into his. This drew his attention to me mid sentence and I nudged my head to my sister. "Anna, this is Remington. Remi, this is my little sister Anna." Gentleman he is Remi nodded to her and then reached out to shake her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you Anna, I've heard great things about you from Nov but I'm also a personal fan of your art. It's absolutely incredible." "Oh, well thank you." Anna said, clearly taken aback. "That's every kind of you to say, it means a lot." He nodded and then dad gestured to the living room so we all followed suit, sitting down. Dad and Anna took the chairs and unsurprisingly my mate pulled me down on the couch beside him, his arm around my shoulders and my sister's mouth hanging open. "I have