Josh POV
The wind and rain had calmed a little, but the downpour was just enough to keep the access paths flooded.
Samson was still acting like he wasnโt happy we were there, but in truth, I think he was grateful for the company. Allie bugged him with a million questions about elves and the forest and the other fae, but despite his grumbling, I could tell he enjoyed answering her.
Sheโd surprised me when she said she wanted to train. I guess our conversation the other day had set some thoughts in motion. She was already awake and had eaten breakfast with Samson before I rolled out of bed.
The sheets didnโt smell like her, so she must have spent another night on the bench seat near the window.
Samson was kind
Josh POV โItโs a good thing that you and Josh found each other,โ said Samson, stroking his white beard. โYou have a friend now. Two, actually, if youโd like to include me. And between him and I, you now know about werewolf and fae politics, and youโve learnt to fight. When you get home, my dear, you will not be the same person you were when you left. I think itโs time you made your own choices.โ I nodded my head in full agreement with Samson. She needed to take her life back and start actually living it. Allieโs eyes looked glassy and she swallowed audibly. I held out my hand and gave hers a squeeze as she tried to control her emotions. โThank you,โ she whispered, glancing at Samson and then me. โIโm happy to count you both as friends.โ โYou have Olive too,โ I added,
Allie POV The walls of the hut shook as I slammed the door, and all I could hope for was that Josh wouldnโt follow. I needed space. My hands were trembling, but I wasnโt sure if it was because of the anger at being used as a toy, the embarrassment of him knowing what my body was doing, or the shock that Iโd actually enjoyed his touch. He knew exactly what he was doing when he touched me, and he still did it anyway. I didnโt know why I had even thought for a second that he cared about me. He was just my guard, and he was only here because he felt obligated. He probably figured he may as well have some fun seeing as he was stuck with me. Was he even saving himself for his mate, or was that just another card to play so he didnโt sound like such a jerk? Iโd felt him pressed up against me, he was just as turned on as
Allie POV The ground was soggy and a little slippery in places, but going down was a whole lot easier than going up had been. My body felt different. My training with Josh had me feeling fitter and stronger, and even though I still had a long way to go before I was at a level I should be, I marvelled at how noticeable the difference already was. I felt lighter on my feet, and I wasnโt tiring as quickly. It surprised me to find that I was actually enjoying the hike and getting to move my body so freely. Things remained quiet with Josh. He tried several times to initiate conversation and apologise, but I shut him down each time. I didn't want to hear it. I just wanted to walk and enjoy the scenery, and hope that we made it back before nightfall.
Allie POV The sound of birds chirping at an obnoxiously loud level woke me from one of the deepest sleeps Iโd had since entering the forest. My bladder was screaming at me and I realised there was a heavy weight across my abdomen. By the looks of it, I must have cried myself to sleep in Joshโs arms. Just add it to the tally of my embarrassment. He had rolled onto his stomach and was facing the opposite way, but one arm still draped across me, holding me tightly against his side. I didnโt want to move him, but peeing my pants while lying next to him would propel me from embarrassed to utterly mortified. I lifted his arm and wriggled out, then let out a groan when I remembered we were up in Aspenโs tree. I was going to have to call out to Aspen and wake Josh up anyway.
Allie POV We walked with a renewed spring in our step and optimism shining, but after several hours, the usual Josh and Allie arguments surfaced again. โBut we can follow this path and see where it goes. We donโt need to leave and enter the thick woods if we donโt have to,โ argued Josh. โThe path veers west. How long do you want to follow it? We could get lost even more. No, we take the most direct route south to the border, even if it means going over rougher terrain.โ โAllie, the Ivory Court said theyโd spotted the Obsidian King heading south. I know that was over a week ago, but I think we should stop and reassess this plan a bit more. Youโre always accusing me of jumping into things. I thought your plan was good to begin with, but now Iโve thought about it more,
Allie POV Up ahead was a ring of large stones in a tiny clearing. I walked over and took a seat on one of the lower rocks while I caught my breath. Moss covered most of the stones, and a gap in the tree canopy overhead cast rays of green sunlight into the centre of the circle. It was stunning, but I made sure to avoid touching the standing stones. The entire scene looked like something from a movie; knowing my luck, Iโd end up time travelling or something if I dared touch them. My lungs were on fire, my left arm throbbed, my right shoulder was even more painful, my head was pounding, and my heart justโฆ ached. Josh. Annoying, impulsive, chaotic, wonderful Josh. Iโd never thought he would deliberately hur
Josh POV I walked back from the bushes and saw Allieโs satchel lying on the ground where weโd been sitting, but she was nowhere to be seen. It was unlike her to leave her bag unattended, even if she was just going to pee. After what happened with her shoes, we were both conscious of leaving our things out in the open, especially when she was the one with the compass in her bag. I lay down next to her bag, staring up at the green sky and clouds. Their swirling, spiral pattern was mesmerising. It was easy to lose track of time just watching their patterns. I pulled out a handful of nuts and ate while I daydreamed. โSomethingโs not right,โ said Aster. โWhat do you mean?โ
Allie POV My feet ached, my legs ached, everything ached. After being on the move all day with Josh, Iโd now been walking through the night without rest, too. I wasnโt tied or chained, but there was also no room for escape. The trolls had encircled me as we walked, and they looked like giant walking boulders. I was in a walking prison. The only distraction I had from the pain my body was in was my thoughts. And they were just as painful, if not more. The trolls spoke their own language, and it was unlike anything Iโd heard before. Their voices were deep and gravelly. They chatted among themselves and pretended not to understand me when I spoke, but I knew very well that they could. The smallest one was on my
Allie POV Six years laterโฆ The jade green clouds were high in the sky and the sun shone brightly in Oliveโs glade, as my family rained utter chaos on the poor unsuspecting forest. Really. Just pure chaos. But in the most lovely of ways. These picnics started off with just the Tanners, but had eventually expanded to include all four of the Alpha families from the packs bordering the forest, plus our fae friends. Bringing us all together as friends and allies. They quickly escalated into events of epic proportions as each of our young families expanded rapidly. Leo sat with Zac and Zoeโs youngest son in his arms. He was the newest grandchild, and number fifteen in total for the Tanners. Julie held a wriggling blonde toddler who was screaming for snacks. Josh and I named her Bree; he calls her Breezy, but really Stormy would be a more accurate nickname. What could I say? She was a girl who knew what she wanted. Queen Neva and King Roman sat alongside them with their new little pr
Allie POV One month laterโฆ My favourite moment had fast become Oliviaโs late night feed. Sitting in the rocking chair in the nursery with just a dim lamp on in the dead of night, the packhouse completely silent, just me and her. She would look up at me with her big blue eyes, her perfect little hand curled around my finger. And her smell, oh man, her smell. We were all addicted to her. She had everyone captivated. Her dad especially. She couldnโt so much as whimper before he was picking her up, fussing over her. Iโd found myself blubbering an extraordinary amount of times in these past few weeks, just from pure happiness, in total bliss, and drunk on love. โHey, I didnโt hear you get up,โ whispered Josh from the doorway. โDo you need anything? Snacks? Water?โ He really was the best. โYes to both, please.โ He returned five minutes later and sat next to me, feeding me and holding the water for me, while I fed our daughter. โCan you believe we actually made her?โ he asked, soun
Josh POV Several months laterโฆ โHave you seen Mum?โ asked Allie, standing in the office doorway frowning. โSheโs gone with Samson to visit Queen Neva.โ โAgain?โ she snapped. Uh oh. I hopped out of my chair and put my arms around her. โWhat did you need her for? Is it anything I can help with?โ โNo, itโs ok. She was going to help me organise all the babyโs clothes.โ I swept her feet up, picking her up bridal style. โLetโs go then.โ โJosh, you donโt have to.โ โI want to. You and Maggie have done almost everything else, I can help with this. Letโs go get snacks first.โ That made her smile. She kissed me and snuggled her head into my neck. Her belly was now huge, and she was often tired, grumpy, and completely over being pregnant, but sheโd never looked more beautiful. Watching our pup roll and kick around in there was the highlight of every day. I sat her down in the rocking chair, handed her the slice of banana bread we picked up in the kitchen, and she put me to work. I stac
Allie POV Iโd spent all day with Mulberry and Spidey helping in the village gardens, and my eardrums still felt like they were bleeding after the moment Iโd told her I was pregnant. Her squeal almost rivalled the ones Mum and Julie made when we told them. Aunty Mulberry was just as ridiculously excited as our family were. This baby was definitely one lucky and loved pup. On the way home, I stopped at Oliveโs glade. The new saplings were thriving thanks to the extra care of the elves tending to them, and a little magic. It would take some time, but eventually these trees would be full grown, and the cocoons of the new dryad spirits would form. I couldnโt wait to meet them. I filled the watering can up at the lake and watered the saplings and pulled a few weeds. Sitting down, I looked up at the light green clouds and gave my tiny little baby bump a rub. My whole life had changed so quickly. I was still trying to adjust to having a life outside of the packhouse walls, yet here I was
Josh POVโAlpha?โ I glanced up from the computer to find the head housekeeper standing in the doorway. โIโm sorry to interrupt, but do you have a moment?โโCome in, Laura,โ I replied, gesturing to the seat across from me. โWhat can I help with?โโI donโt want to bother you or Alpha Allie, but the kitchen staff reported that trays of croissants had been made overnight and were left cooling on the benches this morning. Croissants that none of them prepared or baked. And the wait staff said all the forks in the main dining room have gone missing.โโWas the kitchen locked overnight?โโYes, Alpha.โI let out a breath and ran a hand through my hair. These little incidents had started happening across the pack the moment Allie became Alpha, but they were now increasing in frequency, and a lot of pack members were now on edge. It wasnโt normal for the fae to be on our territory.Most instances were harmless. Some were good deeds, like the croissants, or doing housework tasks, and some were pl
Allie POV โBaby, sit still,โ laughed Josh as I bounced up and down in the passenger seat of the car. โI canโt help it. Drive faster,โ I whined. His wide smile told me he was equally excited as I was, he was just doing a better job of holding it in. It was the first time weโd ventured this far into the Jade Willow Forest since balance had been restored, and it was a completely different experience travelling by car. Most of the old highways and dirt paths had grown over after years of abandonment, the forest swallowing them whole, so it had taken some work from each of the four bordering packs to get them cleaned up and usable again. For now, it was just the main roads open, but over time, the rest would be unearthed again. The news from the fae closest to the Viridian Creek border, was that the fae were just as excited to have visitors again as the packs were to visit. Trades of supplies and products were already underway, and for the most part, the Obsidian Court was keeping
Josh POV The cold and damp conditions of the underground cells mingled with a fetid stench in the air that had my gut churning. This place was miserable, and pretty much summed up what Iโd expect from Maurice Everett. I wasnโt unhappy with the fact he was now locked up in this hell heโd created. I squeezed Allieโs hand as we approached his cell and the guards nodded and moved to give us privacy. I pulled over two chairs and we sat, staring at Maurice, who was perched on the end of his bed. โHave you come to gloat?โ he asked with a slight scoff. โIโve come to find out what I need to know about the pack,โ replied Allie firmly. โNo one can recall seeing Beta Kyan in the last few days, and heโs missing from the pack mind-link, so Iโm assuming heโs gone rogueโโ โHe is dead. He started sticking his nose in where it wasnโt necessary and made Ellis question some of my methods, so I got rid of him.โ This guy was unhinged. A complete mastermind who managed to get away with his corrupt mo
Allie POVAs the life faded from Ellisโ eyes, I felt a surge of power run through Stella, right before the howls rang out from all around the pack, recognising the death of their Alpha.Stella raised her head to the sky and let out an almighty howl in response, answering their call and staking her claim as their new Alpha.Slowly, more and more wolves appeared on the packhouse lawn surrounding us. Those in wolf form continued to howl their loyalty to their new Alpha, and those in human form took a knee before Stella. A maid ran out of the packhouse with a dress for me to slip on as I shifted back.I felt his eyes on me before I spotted him pushing his way through the crowd and raced towards him, throwing myself into his outstretched and still bloodied arms. He burrowed his face into my neck as I clung to him tightly, kissing the side of his head.โYou fucking did it, baby.โ His voice was hoarse and littered with raw emotion. I needed to address the pack that had assembled, but I didnโ
Allie POVEllis and my father were similar people. They liked control, and they liked to hold all the knowledge and power. For that reason, I knew Ellis was not happy at being blindsided by the fact that not only did I have a wolf, I was the Jade Wolfโฆ and I was challenging him. I was certain it would be affecting every part of his being.He lunged at me, starting the battle, but I easily dodged. Nate said my best strategy would be to let him lead, watch his moves carefully, and try to spot any weaknesses that I could take advantage of later. Stella was light on her feet, so it was a simple task.Ellisโ overconfidence began to show. His wolf growled and snarled as it snapped its jaws at me, and his moves became sloppy as he interpreted my hesitation for fear rather than observation. He lunged again for my flank and Stella finally made her move, dodging left, then pouncing on his exposed neck. He evaded the hit to the neck, but couldnโt move quick enough to avoid Stellaโs teeth as the