*ADRIENNE'S P.O.V*
I WAS WELCOMED into the packhouse with a sweet aroma coming from the kitchen. I followed it, Luna Amelia and another short stubby woman stood at the cooker.
"Oh, Adrienne," Luna Amelia said, smiling warmly. Her eyes immediately widened. "What happened to you?"
I looked at myself consciously. I looked like I had just survived a train wreck. Thorns and leaves hung around my hair, my dress was torn and I had scratched lining my arms and knees. My face was also bruised from the hit by one of the men. But I shrugged and said, "I got lost. Alpha Ezra found me and brought me back."
"Oh, sweet child, we should have told you about how dangerous our borders are. The borderlands are inhabited by very dangerous wolves. " Luna Amelia said.
"Alpha Ezra has tried to induct them to be with us," The other woman said, "We will welcome them warmly. But they did not agree and preferred to remain rogues. I don't know how they enjoy being so fer
*KINCAID P.O.V*"WHAT WAS THAT all about?" Liam asked coming to sit beside Kincaid. His head was still processing what his father had just said."Come, I need to dress up, " Kincaid said, walking out of the bar. "Hey, Jeff, the bar is yours again." He chuckled at the barmaster who was standing outside patiently. Jeff laughed, "Stop by anytime, Caid."Kincaid snorted. Liam jogged behind him. "Are you going to tell me what your father said?" Liam asked as he caught up.Kincaid shrugged. "Maybe. I need to get dressed first." The ends of the bathrobe flapped against his knees as he walked. He pushed the front door of the pack house and walked in."Caid, is that you?" Luna Amelia called."You know it's me," Kincaid muttered under his breath. "It's us, Luna," Liam replied."Oh, Liam dear," Luna Amelia said. "Do come to the kitchen for a minute, will you?""Why did you respond?" Kincaid grumbl
*ADRIENNE'S P.O.V*WHAT WAS THAT all about? I asked my wolf who simply sighed and purred in my head. Why did you relax to his touch? You would be giving him the wrong impression, I snarled as I packed my plates and stood up.He would be thinking that we wanted him, I put my plate in the dishwasher.We do want him, Thea purred in my head.What?! I gripped the dishwasher."Oh don't worry about that, darling," a woman said from behind me. "I will take care of that." She gestured at the dishwasher with my plates.I nodded at her gratefully and walked out, I needed to have a very long conversation with my wolf.What do you mean by "we want him"? I snarled. I do not want that egotistical, hard-headed but sinfully handsome future Alpha, I scoffed. His audacity to come from nowhere and start questioning my eating habits like it was a crime not to be a glutton like he was.The hot aftern
*KINCAID'S P.O.V* HE COULD FEEL Caer swell with pride as Adrienne pledged herself to him. This was the first time they were inducting someone into the pack like this, using a blood pact and in a closed environment. The bond forming was so strong that as soon as Adrienne spoke the words, she swayed on her feet and slumped. Kincaid immediately caught her and held her close.Some years ago, Alpha Ezra had opened his borders to surrounding rogues that wanted to join in and many wolves from the borderlands had trooped in. Kincaid had watched from behind his room window, wondering why his father would do such a foolhardy thing like that. Rogues were rogues for a reason. They had committed some kind of heinous crimes that had caused their banishment from their packs. He had watched as they had all pledged themselves to the High Moon pack. It was also a solemn event, but not one as ceremonious as this.His father pulled Kincaid's hand away from Adrienne's lips, he stopped himself from growli
*ADRIENNE'S P.O.V*THE PAST TWO weeks have been hectic. I had not known the effort and amount of emotions that flowed in the mind link. There was always someone who did not shut it from his end and was saying or thinking something that would be broadcast to the whole pack. Just yesterday, while I was sifting the herbs in the pantry, a voice had swam through my mind, "I could really kill for some salted butter right now," "I would really kill you if you don't shut your mind link, Clyde," I heard another growl flit through my head. That was a norm in the pack, but I was still not used to it. My training in the Delta Warriors was going well too, Lucy had learned to stay out of my way in the training, and Commander Alan did not pair us together. The training was hard and stressful, but I am strong and tough, but I was scared. Very soon, I will rise up to the rank where training with my wolf was necessary. I still did not know how this pack would accept a red wolf. On the days I was of
*KINCAID'S P.O.V*LATER THE EVENING...The sound of plates clinking against the spoons could be heard as they had dinner. They used the smaller more private dining room.Alpha Ezra sat at the head of the table, Luna Amelia sat to his left, and Kincaid sat to the right. Liam sat beside Kincaid. Adrienne sat beside Luna Amelia and her brother, Finn, sat at the other end of the table.They ate in silence for a while. Kincaid kept throwing glances at Finn. Even though he was Adrienne's brother, he was still from the North London pack. He is even their beta, so Kincaid still harbored some animosity towards him."So, tell me. Finn " Alpha Ezra said, breaking the ice. "How is beta life treating you?"Finn shrugged. "I'm still new at it, but my alpha isn't making it any easier for me." He replied. "My father was a beta, and he was damn good at it, so I'm very sure I'll do well too.""Hmm," Ezra said. "Your alpha... Jermaine, is it
*ADRIENNE'S P.O.V*IT FELT WEIRD seeing my brother first thing in the morning. It took me back to the early days when I was a kid, and Mum and Dad were still alive. Every day before Dad went to start his daily duties with the alpha, he always made out some tie for me and Finn. I sighed as I tugged on my cargo pants and tied up my shoelace. I had warrior training this morning. "Morning, sis," He said as soon as I came out the door. "How long have you been waiting there?" I asked, pushing my hair back and snapping on a headband. He took a double look at me. "Are you going for a run?" He asked. "Since when do you go on morning runs?"I chuckled. "How well do you know me, Finn?" I walked into the kitchen. "Good morning, Luna Amelia," I greeted. Does this woman ever sleep? I wondered. She was always the first to get up every day. "Morning, sweetheart," she flashed me a sweet smile. "Some protein shakes?" She asked, shaking a closed can vigorously and then handing it to me. I returned
*KINCAID'S P.O.V*THE MEETING WAS a few days away, and I would be lying if I said I was not nervous. I was a total train wreck. The new gi- Adrienne has been acting shady since her brother left a few days ago. It is like she knows something she's not saying. In as much as Caer is enamored by her wolf, I was still wary of the human. There was something weird about her. Something special, Caer purred in my head. "Shut up," I snapped at him. Was it even possible for a wolf to fall in love with another wolf when they were not mates? I wondered. Maybe that is where the "second chance mates" term comes in. "Where are you?" I heard Liam mind link me. "Upstairs. My room," I replied. He was going with me to Belfast. He was trying to put up a brave front about it, but I knew that inside, he was as nervous as I was. A few seconds later, he came into my room and looked around. "You haven't even packed yet," He said, almost hopping from foot to foot.Packing was far from my mind. My thoughts
*KINCAID'S P.O.V*"BELFAST..." LIAM SAID as soon as they got out of the limo. Kincaid stepped out and snorted. "The air stinks," he muttered. "Don't let any of the natives hear you," Liam cautioned and sniffed. "But you are right. The air has a smell to it," They had taken a straight flight from the private airstrip to Belfast and had landed in 50 minutes. There was a limousine waiting for them which had taken them from the airport to the hotel La Connoisseur, where the meeting would be held and most of the alphas would be lodged. "Why would there be a French hotel in Ireland?" Kincaid asked as a bellboy loaded their luggage on a trolley and pushed it in. Liam shrugged. "Why not?" They both walked into the reception lobby. The lobby had 7 different receptionists checking in alphas from all over the world. The hotel was locked down for anyone else. Kincaid and Liam headed for the one closest to them. The receptionist flashed them a bright smile, "Good day, sirs," She said. "What p
*KINCAID'S P.O.V*HE COULD FEEL himself. Which was a very weird sensation because he was fluid, like water. He was without form or physical body. He was without a body.It was like he was floating in a dark abyss. He saw a tiny speck of light in the far distance, but the more he tried to go towards the light, the more he drifted away no matter how hard he tried to swim towards the light.Finally, exhausted, he closed his eyes which didn't exist, and allowed the darkness to envelop him.Time did not exist in this realmAm I dead? He wondered."Come..." "Come..." He heard with his nonexistent ears. It was like a soft voice came from everywhere and he felt small but strong hands pull him forward. He opened his nonexistent eyes and saw that he was closer to the speck of light. It bobbed larger and larger as he went through it.He felt a sharp burning sensation coming from his left ribs. Wait, He felt something on his ribs?Concentrating hard, he found the muscle connected to his arms an
*ADRIENNE'S P.O.V* I WOKE UP to peering eyes. They were not the child witch Morraine's, or Cedric's - who still stood a few feet away. I doubt if he had gotten any sleep, he stayed up, watching me and the girl as we slept. The stares that woke me up were those of the Beta and Gamma.Finn's eyes were wide as he peered in. I stood up and shook my fur. Morraine whimpered and muttered something in her sleep, but she did not wake up.I stepped away from her and walked out, they parted ways to let me through. "Liam, take her up to my old room in the pack house," I mindlinked. "Set a warm bath for her and some clothes, and have breakfast sent to her."He looked dumbfounded, but he nodded and said, "Yes Luna." He entered the cell and gently picked up the girl.The morning sun was starting to rise over the pack. For some reason, there was a lighter mood over it. I saw some children chasing a butterfly. I saw Thorr basking in the morning sun with his mate. They both bowed to me.I entered thro
*ADRIENNE'S P.O.V*3 DAYS passed in a blur. Kincaid was not getting any better, but our alignment was improving. We had received more visitors from alphas that were previously against us. They were still a bit wary about me because of the vision that Arlana had told them, but many of them warmed up after a while. We got alphas from some major packs of the world. They all came after hearing what had happened to Kincaid. Liam and Finn helped assist me in being a hospitable alpha in place of Kincaid.I sat beside Kincaid's bed. A dark stubble had started growing on his chin, giving his lower face a darker shade. I grasped his hand, allowing Thea a little comfort by physically touching him. She had been agitated since all these started.I could feel his wolf too very faintly. The area around his wound was turning flaky now like the skin was going to peel off any moment.Remembering the cause for all these, I stood up angrily from my chair. I got down on all fours and slowly shifted. In t
*ADRIENNE'S P.O.V*I OPENED THE door and walked in. I saw the faces of the men turn and look at me. I saw their eyes widen in surprise at what I was doing here.It was Evian who opened his mouth and spoke first, "Luna, you shouldn't be here."I cocked my head. "Oh, I shouldn't?"He shuffled. "No, Luna. This is a meeting for the leaders...""Well, isn't someone missing?" I questioned, gesturing towards the empty chairs at the head of the room."Yes," Evian said, "But that is the alpha's seat."I smiled wryly and walked up to the seat. I maintained eye contact with each of the men as I sat on it. "I am the alpha now until my mate is well"The room was too stunned to move or speak anything for almost a minute. I swiveled slowly, the gentle creak of the seat brought them back. Finn cleared his throat and said, "Now we have the alpha in our midst " he winked at me.Liam nodded. "We can continue."I crossed my hands on the table and listened to them as they laid out the problems. Kincaid's
*ADRIENNE'S P.O.V*TWO DAYS LATER..."You had better wake up, Kincaid Stuart," I whispered. I could not keep on holding the tears in me, and I felt them drip down my face. "You have a child waiting for you. What will I tell him when he asks for his father?" I laid my head on his chest. "How will I tell him that his father died a few months before it was born?" I cried, his heart beat very slowly and faintly.It has been two days since the stab wound, and to his credit, Kincaid has stayed alive longer than his father who only lasted for a couple of hours. Kincaid's longevity gave the pack some new glimmer of hope. I looked up when I heard the sound of someone coming in. It was Arlana. She had really been helpful in tending to Kincaid over the past few days.She wiped her hand on her expensive-looking suit pants. She looked at me sadly and said, "Come, you shouldn't burden yourself with this sadness." She dragged me up with my arm."Are you any closer to finding how to reverse the curs
*ADRIENNE'S P.O.V*THE CROWD OF healers parted way as I approached. They stepped aside and gave me access to Kincaid. He was lying on the bed, his skin was deathly pale and there was a nasty purple wound on his side. The same place where I had that sharp pain a few hours ago."I'm so sorry, Adrienne," Bonnie whispered, clutching my hand. I turned to look at her, her eyes were red and tear-rimmed as were everyone's here. I could not afford to break down too, so I kept a strong face and nodded."He will heal, wouldn't he?" I asked, knowing the answer fully well. I had seen this wound before. Those months ago when I hid in the corridor and peeked through the doorhole at Alpha Ezra's final moments. His injury had been exactly like this. It was like deja vu. Like the moon goddess was playing us on repeat."He should already be healing," A younger girl cried as she carefully cleaned the wound. I looked around the room. Liam was stonefaced, I could not tell what was going on in his head. Hi
*ADRIENNE'S P.O.V*THE MEN HAS been gone for some hours now with some of the pack's warriors. I did not feel exposed one bit, I knew I was still surrounded by friends and people who would put themselves on the line for me but my mind was distracted.I paced the office tirelessly in a bid to distract my mind. Elsa and Bonnie came in to stay with me for a while, also trying to distract me as well as themselves, but it was not working. Eventually, they left me alone.I walked out of the office, Cedric was waiting for me outside. He was watching Trixie intently from across the room. He stood up as soon as I came out, I sighed at him and walked out of the pack house. I wanted to go to the healer's Grove where Bonnie normally spent her day. I had always been interested in learning about the herbs and how they were used, but I didn't want to see Amelia. I was sure she would immediately know about my condition. But I didn't want her to, not until I told Kincaid.So I stumped on what to do, or
*KINCAID'S P.O.V*THE ALPHA OF THE Brazen Moon pack, Marc, must have felt the change of energy and known that another alpha was close by.He stepped out of his packhouse, which was a low and long bungalow. Marc was a short and squat-looking man. He took one look at the incoming party of Kincaid and he shifted into his wolf immediately, knowing that there was no ground for talking.His Beta and scanty army followed suit and shifted too. They looked like a pathetic sight when compared to Kincaid.Alastair made a gesture with his head and his men leaped forward, spreading their flanks and going ahead. The few warrior wolves of the pack also joined in the attack. Leaving Kincaid and Alastair against the alpha and his Beta."As an honor," Alastair mindlinked. "The alpha is all yours." Kincaid grunted in approval. Alastair snarled and ran ahead, he collided heavily the the beta and they crashed out of sight. The alpha looked left and right, he was unprotected as all of his men were engage
*ADRIENNE'S P.O.V*"WHAT IS GOING on?" I asked, hurrying after Liam and my brother. They seemed too preoccupied to even hear me. "Finn?""We think the alpha has gone on what might be a suicide mission," Finn replied."You," Liam called, pointing to one of the warriors lounging underneath a tree. "Find out the last place Alpha Kincaid was last seen." The warrior nodded and hurried away. "You," he pointed at another young man "Go to the garage and check if some cars are missing. Report back to me, either through the mind link or in the alpha's office." The man went away to do Liam's bidding. "Cars?" I asked. "If he wanted to go anywhere, couldn't he just shift and run there?"Liam nodded. "Yes, he could. But not to where we suspect he might be headed.""Where is that?" I prodded as we walked into the packhouse and to Kincaid's office.Finn pointed at the map. "Newcastle.""Why?" I asked, looking at both of them. "What's in Newcastle?""It was just a theory," Finn said uneasily."Tell m