Chapter 12 – DisrespectThe pack was gathering this evening for a meeting. The Alpha had some important updates and announcements, so everyone was required to be there. The sun was setting, and I made my way outside. The stage was setup and most people were already gathered around. I stood quietly in the back of the crowd, wishing I didn’t have to be here.I looked over to the other side of the field and saw all the young pups running around playing. My hand involuntarily went to my still flat stomach and I wondered if my pup would look like Ranger or more like me. There was a young pup jumping around, he was about four years old, with jet black hair like Ranger’s. I found myself smiling. It’s been three days since I found out I was pregnant, and I already loved my baby.“Testing, Testing.” Ranger’s voice pulled me out of my daydream. He was standing on the stage and his eyes scanned over the crowd.“Good evening Dark Moon Pack.”“Good evening Alpha.” The crowd called back.Ranger wen
Chapter 13 – PicnicIt’s been nearly a week and my wounds have finally healed. I’ve spent most of my time in the basement trying to stay away from Ranger and Miranda. Lia has been itching to go for a run and today is the perfect day.Ranger has been away for a few days in the city managing the family’s software and security company. Last night, I felt the cheating pains through the mate bond and knew that Ranger was sleeping with someone else in the city while Miranda was still here. Miranda, who is completely oblivious to his cheating, was happily shopping with her minions today. Ursa, was out running errands and I was going to enjoy a little freedom today. Max is going to meet me beyond the tree line to go for a run so that we can avoid the patrols.“Coast is clear Lucy.” Max mind linked me. I went up the basement stairs and slipped out the kitchen back door.I walked into the woods and heard a rustling sound coming from behind a bush. A large dark brown wolf stepped out and I knew
Chapter 14 – BurnThe pack house has been absolute madness with only a week left until the mating ceremony. I was cleaning guest rooms today and preparing them for guests who will be occupying them later this week. The room I was currently cleaning was the same room Alpha Knox had given me after my father’s death, when I came to live at the pack house. It serves as one of a dozen guest rooms now, while I sleep on a dog bed in the laundry room.With a towel in one hand and glass cleaner in another, I wiped down the mirror in the bathroom. Then I moved to the closet door that also had a full- length body mirror on it. I cleaned the mirror and stopped to look at my own reflection.I was wearing black stretch pants and a loose fitted brown sweater that complemented the amber colors in my eyes. I stared a moment later at my breasts which looked fuller and my hips that had slightly widened. I turned sideways and lifted my sweater up. A small bump was starting to show on my one month belly,
Chapter 15 – The HoleTwo days to go, but who’s counting! I can almost taste freedom from here. Or maybe it was an omelet I could almost taste. Ursa was on her cellphone talking to the florist and cooking herself a late breakfast. I glanced over at the omelet and it was filled with ham, sausage and vegetables. Just the way she used to make them for my father.I was on dish duty again, washing the breakfast dishes. Ursa had been so busy preparing for the ceremony that she had not given me a scrap of food the last four days. If it hadn’t been for Max, the pup and I would both be starving.Ursa turned around to get a plate for her omelet and ended her phone call. “Awe, is the little mutt hungry?” She taunted me. Just two more days, I reminded myself. Two more days and I was done with her and her cruel behavior. I looked over at the flames on the stove and in an instant her omelet was on fire. Thick smoke billowed up in the kitchen. Bon Appétit, I thought to myself as people raced around
Chapter 16 – BrokenCRACK! I let out a scream and tried to shield myself from the whip. I was panting hard and looked around for Ranger, but all I could see was darkness. There was nothing. No Ranger. No whip.I heard the sound of the CRACK again and realized it was only thunder. I was still in the hole. The earth around me was cold and moist from the heavy rains. I was beyond hunger pains and dehydration. I had lost a lot of blood and felt so weak.“Please Moon Goddess, bring me home.” I prayed as I shivered from the cold. “End my suffering.” Everyone I loved was gone, I had nothing, and I didn’t belong here.“I’m here Lucy.” I heard Lia’s broken voice.“Lia? Where have you been? I thought you left me?” I cried, relieved I wasn’t alone.“I sent all my energy to our pup, trying to protect it. I’m sorry Lucy, I let you down.” She whimpered with grief.“Lia, it’s not your fault. It’s his. He never deserved us or the pup.”“I’m too weak to heal you, I think we’re dying.” Her voice was la
Chapter 17 – Run“WHYTHEHELLWASN’TINOTIFIEDIMMEDIATELYWHEN SHE WOKE UP?” I heard Ranger roar outside my door.“Sir, she just woke up twenty minutes ago.” Delta Cole said. He was on guard duty outside my door and had switched places with Max. I had been awake last night, but Cole looked into the room this morning and caught me with my eyes open.Dr. Baker was in the room examining me when Ranger swung the door open. His hands were clinched in fists and his piercing blue eyes trained on me. In a flash he was standing next to my bed. Feeling the tension in the room, Dr. Baker, excused herself. “I’ll be outside if you need me.”Ranger stood silent for a moment looking me over before he spoke. “Why didn’t you tell me about the pup? My pup?”A lump formed in my throat thinking about my baby. “You rejected me because I was weak. I wasn’t going to let you reject our pup too.”“You couldn’t have hidden it much longer. You were planning on running away with my pup, weren’t you?”Hell yes
Chapter 18 – CaughtThe wind had a chill that promised flurries of snow this evening. Lia was in control and running through the dense mountain woods heading north. She only stopped twice for water.There’s no way Ranger’s trackers could find us now; Lia was so fast compared to other wolves. Her super speed made the scenery blur by fast. The further north we went, the colder it got. A few more hours of running and the sun was setting.“We should find a place to sleep for the night.” I told Lia.“I can keep running Lucy, I’m picking up a faint smell of rogues and want to make sure we’re safe.”I didn’t think there would be many rogues this far north because winter is coming. The snow tends to move rogues further south, towards warmer weather and more resources. We continued to run for a few more hours and the snow flurries started to come down. Lia had thick fur to keep us warm, but I could feel her getting tired after running all day and we both needed sleep.We stopped at the opening
Chapter 19 – Mate AgainI opened my eyes and saw a dark blue bed canopy with gold trim overhead. I was in a huge bed under warm blankets that had amazingly fluffy pillows. The ceilings were high with beautiful inlays, the windows were grandiose, and the furniture looked fit for a castle. Where the hell are we? I thought as I sat up in the bed and scanned the impressive room I was in.The big wooden door creaked open and a she wolf poked her head in. Her jet black hair was in a cute pixie cut and her blue eyes sparkled. She smiled and stepped into the room completely. She may have been a little bigger in size than me and a few inches taller, but she had a powerful aura.“Ah, Lucy you’re awake.”How did she know my name? She looked a little familiar, but I couldn’t place her. She stood silent for a moment with her eyes glazed over mind linking someone. A moment later her focus retuned back to me.“Your shoulder had to be reset, but Dr. Ross said you should be healed in a few days.”“Why