CJAfter Harrison and I stepped out of the dining room, we had a meeting with the pack's financial team. They laid out a series of documents arranged to showcase the pack's financial health, including the income statement that showed how much the pack earned and spent.I yawned, feeling overwhelmed as they forwarded the balance sheet. Accounting has never been my strong suit. I was more concerned about defeating Giovanni. The bastard had taken a portion of our land and financial investments. If we didn't do anything about it, we would go into debt."We need to go to war," I said with a soft, warning tone. Harrison scratched the back of his head to hide his confusion, looking unconvinced."Isn't there another way we can get rid of him? Like sending secret assassins?" he suggested."I'll never do that," I snapped, my tone chilly. "I'm no coward. I must make him pay for his wrongs by rising and taking what rightfully belongs to me in the presence of the whole world."Blood rushed into
LenoraI stood out of sight, overhearing CJ cautioning Mariselle about accepting me. His tone had become chilly and my mind fluttered away in anxiety.My emotions hung in the balance, and as much as I was happy that CJ was putting his daughter in her place, I didn't want them fighting because of me. That was going to complicate the already difficult situation we were in. "Mariselle, you have to accept her, whether you like it or not," CJ insisted, wagging a finger at her. "There are so many people in our world that would never accept her because she's human. Don't forget that werewolf society can be unforgiving. Don't you fear for her safety? India said she would make a very terrible Luna.""To hell with India and her stupid analogy. Does she think she's that good?" CJ snapped, making Mariselle's eyes widen."Dad, she's downstairs and can hear you.""Read my lips," CJ stated firmly. "I don't care. With or without your consent, I'm going to be with Lenora for the rest of my life. And
Lenora I stood at the edge of the clearing, feeling left out and a pang of loneliness. I was the odd one out and a huge part of my brain registered that things weren't going to change anytime soon. Despite how I pretended that this wasn't affecting me, I felt hollow inside. I missed home and my dad, but I couldn't go back without CJ. My selfish side wished he'd stayed in Eldridge. I wanted that part of our lives where all that mattered was giving and receiving love. This place was complicating things and making my energy level dangerously low. Watching them, I admired their communal synergy. The young ones were playing with sand, and girls my age were throwing subtle winks at the men to get their attention.I craned my neck, scanning the clearing in search of CJ. I spotted him walking past with his usual confident swagger. Our eyes met, and a warm smile spread across his face, instantly turning me into a mess.He stopped in his tracks and blew me a kiss, causing me to flush. I fe
LenoraThank you so much, Magda. My heart is full," I spoke with eagerness to the healer hours later. We had such a great time today and spent the whole time talking like we had known each other forever. The woman was old and lonely, needing someone to listen to her. I wasn't a nosey person but from the snippets I gathered, her husband died a long time ago, leaving her with a daughter who had died ten years ago. Her grandkids didn't belong to CJ's pack, so they stayed with their dad. The gold in her eyes flickered with excitement. "You're welcome, dear. I'm glad you enjoyed our time together. Remember, you don't have to be a stranger. If you have any issues or need someone to talk to, you know where to find me.""Of course I do, but it's getting late. I should head back home now so CJ doesn't worry too much about me." She smiled with a beautiful candor. Despite her age, she looked good. It made me wonder how beautiful she must have been in her yesteryears. "Of course. Let me walk
CJ⚠️Warning! This scene contains graphic details and violence. I felt nothing but unexplainable joy in the gnashing of teeth and tearing of flesh. Roaring with primal fury, a mad giggle escaped my lips as I watched life drain through one of Giovannie's most powerful warriors who lay on the floor with reeking guts. The idiot was strong and tall – almost as tall as me, but he never knew tonight would be his last. My heart pounded with delight at my victory. I would have been lying if I said that I had not enjoyed killing these men.The war grew intense as bloodied warriors fought for each other’s lives. The air was heavy with the scent of sweat, blood, and silver bullets; and my nostrils got clogged with the smoke of burning torches. It felt so good to be in a battle. This was my home. This was where I belonged, where I needed to be, unlike the lecture hall in Eldridge. Only this world mattered. I was in my human form, but most of my men were fighting in their wolf form. Their cl
Lenora Many hours had passed, yet there was no sign of CJ and his men. Worry seeped into my veins like a fog. Although I knew CJ was strong and would defeat Giovanni and his men, I couldn't stop pacing back and forth in the bedroom or sitting still. I had no idea of how werewolves fought their wars, but from the flashbacks I had of CJ and Kilian's fight, they fought dirty, so brutal that the image haunted me whenever I remembered, leaving behind a horrible taste in my mouth and heart. I became antsy, afraid that something bad had happened to CJ. Mariselle leaned against the door frame, her facial expression also mirroring mine."Any updates?" She shook her head, sipping a cup of hot cocoa and staring at the wall behind me. "He'll be fine," I said, trying to ease some of my anxiousness and convince myself as much as Mariselle. "They are six hours late, and we're not allowed to leave the damn house. The war between our pack and Killian's is far from over because his dad is a blood
Lenora While I waited for CJ, the pack house buzzed with activity and kitchen operations. India organized the maids and worked relentlessly. The aroma of frying meat wafted through the air and the sound of knives chopping vegetables. I had to admit that despite India's disapproval of me, I enjoyed her cooking. She was a culinary wizard. I could feel the pack house’s energy growing around me. Several leaders and the council gathered in the hall downstairs, waiting for CJ. In my mind’s eye, I imagined him walking in while I threw my arms around him and kissed him until I couldn't breatheWeary of waiting, I fiddled around with my cell phone and occasionally looked up from it and scanned the gate in search of CJ. Then I headed upstairs and sat on an armchair overlooking the veranda to wait for him. The soft breeze rustled my hair making me shiver a little, and brought back memories of me, my dad, and his chimp, buddy. I'd sit at the front porch behind my dad, braiding his long hair a
CJ"What am I going to do, Harrison?" I asked my brother for the umpteenth time, anxiously fidgeting with my hand.My heart refused to work for a minute after Kia appeared in front of me, and my thoughts scampered vaguely around. I was puzzled, and a shiver of panic swept through me just thinking of the consequences of this. It shattered me.Harrison placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, and the only sounds from my study were the hum of the air conditioner."You are torn, and I know that this is an incredibly difficult situation. But there's no easy way out, and you have to consider the bigger picture here. Kia is your legitimate wife, your first mate, and the mother of your child. She is Luna. Lenora, on the other hand, is more or less a stranger.""You're not helping matters, Harrison," I snapped. "Lenora isn't a stranger to me. I am in love with her. I wasn't expecting Kia to come back. She's been gone for ten fucking years.""She has a history with you, and that counts for some