STANLEY POV
"She has brown hair as of right now," Dan says, and Lauren squeals which makes me smile.
"When will we get to meet her," Finley asks, and the others second his question.
"Well, she was a tad bit early, so they are watching her. They don't know she is a shifter, and their worry isn't needed, so who knows. Samantha's incision has confused everyone...its already basically healed. The nurses have all started to gossip. I think Dr. Hurst will have to discharge us sooner rather than later to keep suspicions down," Dan says, and I growl.
Great. That's all we need is nosy humans.
"I will alert the council. They might send "her" out," I say, and Lauren glances at me curiously for a second before looking back at the phone.
"Don't say it like that. You make it sound like the mother Luna is evil," Boyd says, and Dan chuckles.
"I think it freaks my twin out that there is a shifter with the ability to alter memories," Dan says explaining how I feel in his basic terms.
"I think it's weird that in every generation, there is a wolf shifter born with such a deep connection to our creator. I mean, none of the other species have anything close to that. It makes me wonder. I can't help it if I hate unanswered questions," I grumble not liking the topic change.
Lauren giggles at me and my stomach does it's normal flip flop when I hear her laugh. Focus Stanley, she isn't yours to drool over.
"Well, call the council. Make them aware. I also need them to investigate a few things for Samantha. Apparently, the reason for her distress last night was due to some things that happened in the past. Now hold onto your seats for this...Kyle Layne had a twin sister," Dan says, and we growl in disbelief.
"That's impossible," I snap as the brothers next to me share a look, and Dan sighs tiredly.
"Not according to Hazel Layne's diaries. Samantha was reading them last night. Apparently, in 1973, Hazel gave birth to a set of twins. A boy named Kyle and a girl named Grace. Graham and his sick-ass father took the daughter away from Hazel the day she was born. Hazel had been fighting against their ways, and to keep her in line, the two of them took the baby. Graham also killed a shifter named Nevaeh in front of Hazel. Samantha didn't take the information too well, as we all saw. She wants to know what happened to Grace, and I guess, where Nevaeh came from," he explains, and we all glance at one another.
My eyebrows crease in frustration at the unexpected news. I hate surprises. Especially ones that involve the Layne's. Their tarnish on the land that is now ours is going to give us problems for years to come.
"I believe it. I remember our grandfather telling us about the Old Luna one time. He said she once disappeared for a whole year. When they saw her again, she wasn't the same. She looked sickly, but she had a healthy pup with her. The entire pack assumed her body had had a hard time carrying such a strong bloodline. The main assholes that my grandfather hated started to say she was too weak to be mated to a Layne. By that point, I had started to hate everything about the Laynes, and I had just shrugged it off. I didn't care about the Alpha couple's past. I felt like the Luna could do more to help us instead of just watching how we were being treated...I just wanted them dead. That was about seven years before you guys came down...and about three years before Graham executed our grandfather for treason," Mike says making my anger bubble up even more and Dan growls over the phone.
"Well, it seems like the story is true then. Graham locked his mate up because she back-talked him. When she had their pups, they took one to force her into compliance with their rules. I guess when she had proven herself, they let her back out again. I pray they didn't kill the poor thing...It explains why Luna Hazel was so docile about what her mate was doing. She already had one child stripped away from her," Dan snarls, and the wheels start turning in my head.
We have to investigate this. I would like to gather information myself, but the council likes to gather evidence in their own way when alerted to crimes. Handing over our evidence won't be easy, but it will be worth the invasion of privacy if Luna gets answers. Family is as important as righting the wrongs of Graham Layne.
"I will need some more specific dates, but I should be able to find something. I will also alert the council. They might ask for Hazel's diaries as evidence. So maybe give Sam a heads up if she wants to read more. I'm guessing she got so mad last night she didn't finish reading them," I explain after my brain stops debating, and I hear Dan sigh again.
"I will let her know. Thanks, Stan. I will call again when we are discharged. Get the move finished," he says, and the line goes dead.
"That man was vile. I am so glad he is gone. I would hate to deliver my pup under his rule," Lauren practically whimpers, and David wraps his arm around his mate in a comforting way that makes my heart physically hurt.
"I hope the son of a bitch is rolling around in his grave because his half-breed granddaughter is our new Luna," Finley growls, and my eyebrow raises due to the hatred in my brother's voice.
"I bet he is," Boyd laughs out in agreement, and Mike nods while grinning.
"We should get a move on. We have orders," I say as I avoid looking at the Swift mates cuddling.
I pull out my phone and step away from everyone. I need to call the council quickly. If the nurses report Sam's healing abilities to anyone and we didn't properly alert them, punishment will be placed on our pack.
As the line begins to ring, I take a deep breath. Lauren's presence is making it harder for me to function and I hate it. I hate feeling guilty and dirty for lusting after a female who is mated, but I can't stop. David is bound to notice soon if he hasn't all ready, and I hate that I might be ruining my relationship with him.
"You've reached Council Edmund's office; please leave a message."
"This is Stanley Gray of the southern Gray Pack. We have a possible secret leak at a hospital. Our Luna required a C-section to save her cub, and her healing is beginning to cause concern. I expect to hear from you soon. Thank you."
I end the call and exhale. Making important phone calls or researching information for the pack is easy. Facing my pack members while I secretly pine away for Lauren...Excruciatingly hard. All I want to do is hide in my room. But I know that would be too much suspicion. Angelica is coming home soon, and it should be all hands on deck to prepare for her arrival. I just need to suck it up and move on...
"We have been through this; my mate wants to finish reading the diaries before she turns them over. They are the only thing she has that links her to her family. If you would just go over the information, we have gathered for you. You might be able to find something without having to have the diaries," Dan growls, and I pinch the skin between my eyebrows. "Alpha Gray, we have searched everywhere. We have no other way of looking for your mate's lost relative. At this time, we are concluding this investigation. You are welcome to continue your search on your own, but we have done what we can," the assistant says, and Dan snarls. I react quickly before he can bring hell down on us and snatch the phone as he says, "Listen here." "Thank you for your help. We understand. We will continue the search on our own," I say calmly as my twin stares at me angrily. I hang up, and he bares his teeth at me before dropping into my chair. "Dan, I get that you are stressed and missing you
Adrenaline pumps through my system as I race back downstairs. Dan is losing his mind and I don't blame him. If it were my mate and child out there..."Lauren"...My heart stutters in my chest for a second as a wave of pain collides with it. Lauren means everything to me and if I lost her I would become a shell. But nothing is going to happen to Samantha and her daughter. They will be fine. Our pack will remain whole. I will not lose my brother and our pack will not lose it's luna. We have come to far for that to happen. "Dan! I called all the hotels in a twenty-mile radius...Guess who checked into a hotel a town over yesterday," I says, as I jog into the room to see his eyes completely bloodshot, but dry. He spins around and our eyes lock as he looks at me desperately. "Who," he shouts, and my chest puffs with the knowledge that I found her. I can fix this and save the day. I can bring my pack the information it so desperately needs. I am useful here. I'm not just the patheti
STANLEY POV Sam's heart thumps slowly as the blood continues to ooze out of her wound. Something is definitely wrong. Hurst has been working on her for longer than needed for a simple bullet extraction. The sweat on his brow also points to an issue. My eyes flick to Dan again and the worry on his face makes my heart pinch. I've never seen him look so desperate. If we lose her now the pack is doomed. Dan won't be able to lead and the weight of the pack will fall solely on my shoulders...Not something I want. I prefer my place in town. I prefer having my name known for my victories in the courtroom, but I will step up if needed. The Alpha bloodline that runs through our bodies is strong. Even Finley, who is the youngest, would suffice if I should falter. Watching the lose of Sam destroy Daniel would be soul shattering for all of us. Maybe if Samantha does succumb Angelica will be enough to keep him going. Hurst sighs again and we all freeze. My eyes snap to his face and my hear
STANLEY POV The yells and growls coming from Dan's room reach my ears, and I growl lowly as I stand. Sam's angry voice rings out, catching me by surprise, and relief quickly flows through me at the sound of my Luna's voice. Finally! Dan wasn't going to last much longer without her waking up. The beast within me teeters between relieved and protective as we begin to listen in on her harsh words. "Stop speaking in half-truths," Sam growls, and I hear Benji's mate, Mariah, reply lowly. I growl again as my inner suspicions are confirmed. I tense my muscles and wait. I don't want to barge in on the situation since Angelica is in the room, but I need to be ready. She might have arrived in our time of need, but something about her has always struck me as uneasy. Her demeanor is too wild for civilized living. She is almost emotionless at times and seems unfazed by uncomfortable situations. But it's her quick reflexes and movements that make me edgy. As I listen, it becomes
Dan, Samantha, and Boyd left to join the search in Florida for Margaret Polk, and the rest of the pack has been stuck tiptoeing around Mariah and Lauren. We have all taken turns hiding out in our rooms, but being together is a must while the pack's leaders are gone. Our instincts demand it. We need the closeness to reassure our inner animals. I have used my alone time to research the bears who hired Mariah, but like my fellow pack members, my animal is demanding closeness with its pack. I haven't been able to hide away as much as I normally do, which has been rough on both my heart and my senses. Being around a heavily pregnant Lauren and a devoted David has been brutal. The females have tried to avoid each other, but each time they have been in the same room has been terrible. Tonight's dinner is especially tense. But we have to get through it. Mariah keeps leaning in a little closer towards Lauren, and Lauren hasn't looked away from Mariah once. Her angelic face is twisted int
I can do this. I can meet her son. I can hold him and show him, love. It isn't his fault I love his mother when she isn't even mine. "Stanley, can you believe it? I am a mom," Lauren says excitedly as I come through the door to her room. Hurst's clinic is small, but the walls are built to give shifters privacy. But I still need to mindful. David will be back soon and seeing them all together as a happy family will be too painful.I offer her the kindest smile I can muster, and she smiles right back. "I sure can. You will be an amazing mother," I reply as I come to the side of her bed. I look down at the tiny male in her arms, and my heart squeezes in my chest for what seems like the millionth time. He is a perfect blend of David and Lauren. His scrunched face and mixed smell is a symbol of their union and bond. He is also a symbol of what I will never have. "Stan? You okay," Lauren whispers, and my eyes snap to hers. Worry clouds the depths of her beautiful brow
"That's nice. Is Andrew comfortable with that," I ask as I follow behind my twin with my hands tucked in my pockets. "Yeah. He commented on how much he would miss all of us, and Boyd offered to go over," he answers while looking at me for a second. I'm glad the human has accepted all of us. Sam needs him in her life. I was surprised though when Dan called to say Mr. polk would be coming back with them to buy a place in town, but it seems to be working out. I nod uncomfortably before taking a deep breath and running my hand through my hair. I need to discuss more important matters than the friendly human though. "That's good. I am happy he seems to have accepted us. I umm...I know you just got home, but there are some things we need to go over now that you are back. For one, we need to talk about the bears. I don't like that they are hiring assassins to eliminate our Luna. We need to talk to them. I mean, Samantha hasn't done anything wrong," I say, and Dan halts abruptly.
STANLEY POV "Are we sure this won't turn into an ambush," Dan asks as he looks around at the log cabins built close together. The entire drive he has been this way. But I get it. His mate has been kidnapped, shot, and now she has an assassin after her. "I have spoken on the phone with Mrs. Orson several times. She has agreed to hear us out. We are meeting in the community public building. They hold discussions there and vote on community matters. It should be safe," I reply as I open the driver's side door. They follow my example and exit the car cautiously. Samantha and Dan share a look over the roof before he gives me a nod. I return the gesture, and we head for the larger building situated in the center. As my talks with Kendall Orson have progressed, the anger has lessened, and understanding has been evident in her voice, but an in-person meeting will prove whether or not the bad blood has indeed been washed away. Daniel knocks on the solid wood door twice before step
TABITHA POV I take a few more deep breaths before leaning forward to apply my mascara. I have been feeling anxious since Hurst did the ultrasound to measure our baby. He said everything looked good and sealed the gender in a small envelope before passing it to Stanley. Waiting three days to know what was written on that tiny piece of paper has been torturous. I finish my makeup and head out of the bathroom to find Stanley wearing a shirt that has one side pink and the other one blue. I instantly smile and cross my arms. Compared to my simple white dress he looks extremely colorful. "You look adorable," I say with a grin, and he does a twirl with his arms held out wide. "I am so excited to know," Stan says and I nod while biting my lip so I don't laugh. He sees the humor on my face though and walks towards me smirking. "Am I amusing you, Tabitha," he asks while pulling me to him and I can't help but giggle a little. "A little," I admit and he kisses my lips. "G
MIKE POV "I don't regret having sex with you. This has been the best day of my life! I messed it up by taking it too far. I can't even properly explain what I did wrong," I say and her tear-streaked face looks puzzled for a brief second. I know she is thinking back to what happened and what she felt when I marked her. I can't believe I lost control of myself. I took away her choice, plus I hurt her. I vowed to never do either of those things and I failed her. Suddenly Carmen begins to laugh while tears continue to cascade from her eyes. I instantly get even more worried. I can't believe I have broken her this completely. "You chose me as your life partner. You marked me," she says happily after a few tense moments and I stare at her utterly bewildered. She wipes her face completely disregarding her makeup. She ends up looking like she has bruised eyes, but I don't care. "Yes. I... Aren't you upset," I ask cautiously and she shakes her head? "Of course not. T
CARMEN POV rated R The grip Mike's hands have on my hips feels so good. It's like he is anchoring me to the floor because he knows I might float away. I am so blown away by the fact Mike hasn't been with anyone. It makes me feel less anxious about what we are about to share. Mike's hands leave my hips and slide up my stomach to my breasts. When his hand squeezes my B-cup breasts my loins begin to blaze with desire.I moan into his mouth when he squeezes my breast a second time and he takes that as a sign because, in the next second, he scoops me up. He walks to his bed and lays me down so gently my heart melts. I keep my eyes on him as he steps back from me and I giggle when I see him removing his clothes as if he is in a race. But my giggle doesn't last for long as his thick muscular body comes into view. I know my mouth is hanging open as I look him over but I don't care. He is practically scrumptious. His creamy skin is flawless and the V-line above his impressive package i
MIKE POV pg13 Another loud thud rips through the air from the tack room and Boyd growls under his breath. "I fucking hate him. He is throwing a fit and making the horses skittish," Boyd grumbles extremely low and I nod before leaning my fork against the wall and removing my gloves. I nod toward the stall door and Boyd copies me by taking off his gloves."Now," he asks and I nod. I am tired of the tension this wolf brings to the pack. We are slowly letting our raised fur go down and this guy is ruining our progress. He hates ranch life, but we didn't ask for the council to send him. We step out of the stall and spot a broken shovel in the middle of the walkway. "Killian," I snap, and the asshole comes stomping out of the tackle room. "What," he barks back and Boyd steps to my side. He runs his eyes over our united front for a second before losing the tension in his shoulders."What the hell are you doing," I ask looking toward the broken equipment and back to him. He
CARMEN POV "You look so mature now," Tabitha whispers as Sam continues to line my lips with a steady hand. They haven't let me peek in the mirror at their work yet but the way Sam keeps pausing to stare at me has me guessing I look good. When they pulled me into Sam's bathroom I didn't really know what the plan was, but they got to work like they rehearsed this plan daily.Tabitha grabbed manicure items and got to work on my fingernails. Sam began exfoliating my face. Mariah was put in charge of my hair and I have been pleasantly surprised at how gentle her hands can be. Forty-five minutes later and my hands look elegant, my face has makeup on it, and Mariah has started to put the hot tools away. "You are going to knock his socks off, Carmen," Sam says with a mischievous smirk that makes me feel a little shy. "Your hair is so thick! I am jealous," Mariah says from behind me and I giggle a little. "Don't be jealous of me. I am a broken, weak human girl. You three are gorge
RATED R TABITHA POV "There you are," Stan says as he opens our bathroom door to find me washing my face. I give him a smile and try to hide my pity for his new state. My poor mate can't find me by smell any longer and that hurts. He has to strain his weak ears or spot me with dull eyes to know where I am. While I can still pinpoint him by sniffing the air. I know if I were unable to smell his alluring scent I would be devastated. "Sorry, I figured you knew," I reply and he brushes it off with a wave of his hand while continuing toward me. "As long as I found you I don't care," he whispers before pulling me toward him by my hips. I smile and drape my arms around his neck. "Oh really," I whisper back playfully, and he smirks before kissing my jaw. "Yes really," he mumbles before continuing down my neck. My lady regions flare to life as his tongue and warm breath dance along my flesh. Every night, since he gave me the okay has been like this for us. Constant touching and sex t
CARMEN POV I gasp as Mike's hot breath fans my neck and his hands grab my waist from behind. Tingles erupt in places I thought were dead and he chuckles before pecking my cheek. "Morning, cutie," he says cheerfully and I manage to swallow down the extra saliva in my mouth so I can answer him. "Morning," I reply and he shoots me a wink before taking his coat off. The slightly warmer weather has been keeping Mike in his long sleeve shirts rather than his coat and my feminine needs have definitely noticed how tight the fabric wraps around his biceps. As Mike walks away from the coat rack to begin shoveling out the stalls my eyes zero in on his thick thighs and cute butt. My heart rate increases and my ears begin to get hot. How can that man be into me? He belongs in calendars hanging able high school girls' beds. "Better wipe that drool from your chin," Finley whispers as he walks past me, and I jump before doing just that. My face burns scarlet red and I disappear
STANLEY POV I breathe deeply so the faint scent of roses can waft up my new human nose and I smile. Her warm body feels so good pressed into my cold one. I missed her and I know she missed me. I wish I could still hear our pup inside her, but I will take what I can get. I kiss the top of her head and she shifts a little in her sleep. It feels strange to be so calm, but I have nothing to stress about now. I only want to think about my mate and our family. I am done worrying and working in town. Every minute of the rest of my life will be spent on this land with my mate. I don't want to waste a moment on anything that isn't truly important ever again. And the only important things are my loved ones. I smile again as I give Tabitha a weak squeeze. Before the Mother Luna left she made a promise to our pack. A promise of protection from any more outside forces. She said the shifter world owes us a great debt due to how many threats we have eliminated, starting with Graham Layne.
As the pack sat and waited anxiously for The Luna to arrive, Daniel and Forest continued to act strange. They seemed to be as excited as children the night before Christmas. Tabitha and Sam weren't at all pleased with their behavior. The pack was still in mourning and would be for a while, but they seemed overjoyed to have a visitor dropping in during this difficult time. Mike and Carmen didn't seem to mind the lighter mood. It seems they were experiencing their first few moments as a couple since Mike had yet to release Carmen's hand. Carmen didn't mind the contact with the muscular cowboy. In fact, she was loving it. Darcy and Killian didn't sit on the couches with the pack which really rubbed Finley the wrong way. His eyebrows were pulled down over his warm chocolate eyes making them look dark and gloomy. His hands were curled into tight fists and his clenched jaw was making the young shifter look more severe. After an hour of uncomfortable silence and scattered conver