Chapter 7 – WeakI opened my eyes, I was alone, on the floor right where he left me. The clothes I had left hidden in the bush when I shifted were sitting on a chair in front of the fireplace. I really wanted to shower, to wash away his scent from my body, but I didn’t dare use his shower. I needed to get out of here.I put my clothes on as fast as I could and left the cabin before Ranger came back. The cabin was by the lake on pack property and it was going to be about three miles back to the pack house. I started walking back along the path.Alone with my thoughts, I wondered why the Moon Goddess cursed me. A mate is supposed to be the other half of your soul, made just for you, to love and protect you. Mine had just used me and threw me away, like I was garbage. Like I was nothing.I heard Lia let out a low painful howl in my head. I could feel her pain. It wasn’t her fault, it was all my fault, I was weak. She’s probably going to leave me too. Everyone leaves me. Even my own mate
Chapter 8 – Blankets & TowelsMax picked me up from the mud puddle and started running to the clinic. He mind linked Dr. Baker so she could meet us there. Dr. Baker was waiting at the door and directed Max to take me to room three. No one was at the clinic this early so she worked alone to treat me.“Is there anything I can do to help?” Max asked Dr. Baker.“I need to get her out of these clothes, please grab an arm full of heated blankets from the warmer by the nurse’s station.”I was stripped naked and under a sheet when Max came back with the blankets. They piled the blankets over me, and I stopped shivering after an hour. My wolf healing started to kick in and Dr. Baker brought me some hot chicken broth to sip.Max came into the room holding some clothes. “I thought you could use some dry clothes when you’re released, so I went to your room and picked some up.” He removed the blankets from me and replaced them with new blankets from the warmer. Then, he pulled up a chair and sat b
Chapter 9 – FlamesI spent the rest of the afternoon and evening down in the laundry room washing, drying, folding and Ironing clothes for everyone who lived in the pack house. The storm continued to pour down, which means that most of the pack members were home all-day eating. There would be no scraps or leftovers for me today. They were having roasted chicken, potatoes and vegetables for dinner tonight, it smelled mouthwatering.I heard the basement door open and close, perhaps I was wrong? Maybe Ursa put some food in my dog bowl by the stairs after all. She never gave me food on a plate or silverware, she just dumped whatever scraps I was lucky enough to get into a dog bowl by the stairs.I looked towards the stairs and saw Ranger walking to the Laundry room in my direction. The closer he got the stronger his scent got. He’s holding a duffle bag in his hand and I assume he’s got laundry for me.“You can leave the laundry on the ground Alpha, I’ll get it.” I called out and turned my
Chapter 10 – JealousIt’s been over a week since the night of the power outage, I haven’t seen Ranger around much. He’s been busy meeting with other Alpha’s about the recent rogue problems. Several packs have had similar attacks and it seems as though the attacks are all related. Unfortunately, since Max is the Beta, he’s been pretty busy with Ranger too, but he still finds the time to leave me food.This morning he left me a zip lock bag against the window that had two hard boiled eggs, four slices of bacon and a banana.“Mmmmmmm bacon, I love bacon.” Lia said practically drooling.I opened the bag and wolfed down the bacon. It was delicious. I cracked one of the hard boiled eggs, took a bite of it, and instantly felt nauseous. I spit out the egg in my mouth and couldn’t even swallow it. Normally I loved eggs, but yesterday Ursa dumped some scrambled eggs and leftover French toast in my dog bowl, after I ate it, I threw up. I assumed it was probably the scrambled eggs that didn’t agr
Chapter 11 – PupMy head felt heavy and I groaned as I attempted to open my eyes. “Lucy, Lucy, can you hear me?” I heard A familiar voice call.My eyes fluttered open and Max’s worried face swam before me. “Mm- Max?”“Easy Lucy.” He helped me sit up. I was back in the laundry room, laying in my bed. The last thing I could remember was crashing into the coffee table. But, how did I get down here?Max continued to look me over, “Lucy, what happened?”I took a deep breath and recalled everything that happened earlier. “Ranger mind linked me after the meeting to come to his office, he was very angry about Alpha Jordan and lunch. He lost control, hit me and threw me into the coffee table.”“He rejected you, selected another Luna and is jealous when someone else looks at you.” Max said shaking his head.“How did I get back down here?”“I don’t know ... Ranger must have carried you back. I came to bring you dinner, but you’ve been out for hours.”“Mate just dumped us here, that jerk!” Lia hu
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,