Isabella P.O.V. “Where is the council located, Eli?” I ask in the car. We’ve been driving for an hour or so, and we are nowhere near a city at this point. “They are located on the other side of the country normally, but they always travel to their different offices whenever work calls for it.” I nod. “Dale called them the day Janelle stabbed you with the poison, and my father must have called them again and told them Ferguson and Janelle escaped. I wonder if he told them who freed them.” “Would he tell on his own mate?” I have to ask, the question is burning in me. I get that the woman hates me, but how can she hate me this much? She doesn’t know me, yet she has decided I am not good enough. It hurts, I must admit, but I have been through worse in my younger days. “What is your mother’s name, by the way.” Dale and Eli laugh. “I forgot she hasn’t even introduced that to you, huh. Her name is Talia Jackson. And yes, she has always been a bit of an odd character.” “Eli! Don’t say th
Elijah P.O.V. We've been waiting out here for almost an hour. Honestly, how long can it take for some old men to assemble? I thought they were supposed to be ready when their visitors arrived?! Maybe it isn’t so, but it should be! They were the ones who summoned me. Then again, maybe they are taking their sweet time because I broke the unwritten code and brought my Luna? If that is the case, then they are not only old and stubborn, but also really petty. Both Alex and Dale are getting nervous on our behalf, and I can feel how Dale is guarding my temper. He knows it can be bad when I lose my head, and he also knows I am about to punch someone. Isabella has been the picture of innocent patients, while my expression has been getting angrier and angrier by the minute. How dare they keep me waiting?! “Eli, are you okay? Your emotions are all over the place. Breathe, darling.” She takes my hand with a worried expression. “I don’t like to be kept waiting, which the council knows well. I
Isabella P.O.V. “So you are telling us Janelle Ferguson poisoned your mate with wolfkiller, and she is sitting here with us today? That is not possible, it has a death rate of 98%.” Ainar sneers, looking at his fellow Councilmen. There’s nod and confirmed murmur throughout the room. I can feel Elijah having a hard time accepting this form of behavior, but I am so used to the hostile situation on my old pack, nothing this man can say will bring me down or hurt me. I fold my hands in my lap, waiting with learned patience to let the murmur settle again. ‘Elijah, you need to calm down, my love. They are trying you, baiting you to lose your temper. Remember! You are better, Elijah. You are more.” He takes a deep breath behind me. I look back at Dale, nodding to him to bring forth the papers I insisted we took with us. It’s the medical papers from our doctor, and they cannot be questioned. He walks to me, ignoring the new round of murmurs from the Councilmen. Ellesar looks like someone wh
Isabella P.O.V. Back at the pack, Jenna meets us at the front door, her eyes wide and when she sees Alex she asks a million questions at the same time. I laugh, kissing Elijah’s cheek and grabbing Jenna’s arm. “How about we Lunas talk, one on one, and let the guys do whatever they do when we are not there to keep them in line.” I wink at my glaring mate and brother, draggin the stunned she-wolf upstairs to my room. I offer her something to drink, before guiding her to the couch. “Okay, questions - shoot.” I say, turning to face her. Jenna shakes her head, her mind seemingly far away. “I don’t know where to start, Luna.” I hold up a hand. “Firstly, we are equals now Jenna, so it’s just Isabella. I would like for us to be friends, as you are my twin’s mate and I really like you.” She smiles. “I would like that as well. It would be nice to have a friend who knows what I’m going through here.” I laugh. “But how did I become Luna? One minute I was speaking to the kitchen staff about
Isabella P.O.V. “Are you ready to go down there, Luna?” Jenna asks, a small smile playing on her lips and her eyes alight with happiness. I nod, looking myself over in the mirror one last time. Alice, Joyce and Mandy have done wonders with us, and I feel more confident going down in front of the entire pack. They have not done a heavy makeup look, but just enough to give a girl confidence, but still looking like myself. I don’t usually wear makeup, but on special occasions I guess it’s okay - especially if I can have someone pro doing it for me. I chuckle to myself. How things have changed already. From being the outcast of the pack, to be the Luna of the strongest in the country. I sigh. I know Ferguson and Janelle are still out there somewhere, possibly plotting my demise, and Jeff will join them in the demise department when he hears I was the one to ultimately address his situation to the elders and get Alex instated as Alpha instead. “Isabella, are you okay?” Jenna asks in conc
Alex P.O.V. I couldn’t be more proud of my sister. She has been through literally hell for so many years, and she has never once spooped to the level of her tormentors. She has forgiven me, even though I, through a misguided way, tried to protect her, pushed her away. I am forever grateful for her, and I can see how much her mate loves and adores her! She is amazing, and with Elijah by her side, they will be a force to be reckoned with. I listen with rapt attention when she is crowned Luna of the pack, and chuckle to myself. She was definitely not prepared for this, and she will bring down the wrath of Isabella later tonight. The glint in her eyes are equally proud and murderous. Elijah has no idea what is coming later. Then Elijah gets to the next part, and I clap while the pack cheers when he announces the Beta and Gamma have found their mates as well and accepted them. He calls them forward, officially making them ranked members, even though they have not been marked and one has
Isabella P.O.V. Last night was so much fun, after we dealt with Elijah’s crazy mother and the power hungry Captain Ford. Alex mind-linked me how the former Captain had looked at Jenna, and I decided to be there when Elijah would appoint a new Captain later today. I wanted to get a feel of him or her before they got their promotion, and Elijah agreed with me when I relayed what Alex had said, as we got ready for bed. I had not found it necessary to inform him before and ruin the night.We had enjoyed ourselves immensely, and the pack had been so sweet and welcoming to me and the others. Dale and Ashton had been one big smile from the start to finish, and I hoped they had utilized their night time with the girls and made them theirs completely. They both deserve happiness. “Baby, are you ready to go down for breakfast? We need to get down there before Alex and Jenna leave.” Elijah calls from the bedroom. “Yes, give me two more minutes.” I call back, and I hear him chuckle in response
Elijah P.O.V. Dale keeps looking at Ashlee as if she will disappear if he doesn't keep an eye on her, and I must admit I know the feeling. I squeeze Isabella closer to me, taking in her scent and calming myself. I can’t believe the extent of my mother’s betrayal. I would have accepted it if she had kept it to the Caroline situation, as me and Isabella managed to solve it, but to change her fixation to Dale and Ashton, who is not even her own child, and take both their mates away out of pure spite. I’ll have to do something. I have to act and ensure the safety of my pack members! We are going to be a different pack with me as Alpha and my beautiful mate as Luna. She doesn’t care about species! Her concern is with the individual, and I have to agree. This purist bullshit has to stop at one point. I don’t know why we have beef with the local coven, but I actually have an idea, and I do not like it one bit. In my heart I ha
Isaiah P.O..V 18 years later “Happy birthday to yooooou!” I smile at the people gathered around the table. They are my people. My family and friends. But also only that. I have not yet met my mate, and this being my 22nd birthday, it’s feeling like it’ll never happen. Mom and dad have been very supportive of me, and they always tell me they will accept whatever decision I make regarding the mate situation. “Make a wish, Isaiah.” Mom urges, and I close my eyes and wish with all my heart I’ll meet my mate soon. I do not care who she is, what she is or where she is from, I just want to find her and love her. I know I sound soft and whatnot, but I so desperately want what my parents, aunts and uncles and most cousins and siblings have. True love to share my world with. But she is making me wait, and I know in my heart she’ll be worth the wait. “What did you wish for, brother?” Elise asks, her eyes twinkling in mischief. She asks every year in the hopes I’ll show and tell, but I will n
Isabella P.O.V. Four years later Sitting in my office, I can’t help but reminisce over the last four years. So much has happened even though there has been peace. We have lived in harmony with other species for just as long, and our bond with each other has grown stronger. Isaiah is now four, and a whirlwind of energy. He is a big brother to Gabriel and Elise. They are three and one. I told Elijah I don’t want any more children, to which he replied I had to tell the Moon Goddess. If she decides to bless us a fourth time, I will be going to her world and smack her! Grandmother or not, I don’t want any more children, and so far she has listened. It also helps that we are using protection.We have been rallying the packs to meet annually, as to prevent the events of Conan from happening once again. It has been successful enough, but we still have yet to get the border packs - those who have lands leading up to dragon territory, fae territory and demon territory, to come as well. The l
Elijah P.O.V. Two months later “ELIJAH!” I rush into the hospital room where Isa is still admitted. The doctors were not comfortable with sending her home, as she kept getting contractions whenever she over exerted herself, and she did that a lot. Even laying in the hospital bed. But here they, and I, could tell her to relax and not stress the body so much. Not that she listened very well.“Baby, what is it?” She’s out of bed, and her leggings are drenched. “My water just broke. I think.” She answers, her eyes wide and scared. We are almost to term, but not quite there yet either. Doctors said he would be early because of the trauma, but this early? This feels too early. “Don’t just stand there. Get a doctor or nurse or something!” She demands, while waddling to the toilet. Her voice and movement snaps me back to reality. “Where the fuck are you going?” I ask, quickly grabbing her arm and helping her to her destination. “My pants are soaked, and I have to pee really bad.” She an
Isabella P.O.V. “Why do you always end up in the hospital, Isa?” Lauren asks, as she bends down and gives me a hug. I stick my tongue out at her, and gesture for Elijah to help me sit up. He gives me a look, but I just plead with my own eyes. He sighs and stands. I love how he can resist me, even when I did something he did not at all approve of. I love this man to death! “Why are you always so snarky?” I ask back, as she chuckles, and sits down. Her mate stands behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. Elijah growls at the contact, and I swat him across the chest as he is helping me sit up. He just raised an eyebrow. “Shut up, and help me dammit.” I whine, and he shakes his head in exasperation. “What do you think I am doing, woman?” He asks back, and I just purse my lips in a ‘do you really want me to answer that?’ sort of way. He sighs. “Don’t answer that.” He caves and I smile. When I’m in a much better talking position, I turn my head to the couple on my left. They hav
Isabella P.O.V.We wait for another minute before Conan walks into the middle of the ground. I think he wanted Kimmie and her disturbed friends to examine nothing was amiss, but they wouldn’t know. We used magic long forgotten, on the request of Ashlee to her mother. She wanted this particular surprise to be something they never saw coming. We know Elijah and Fenris will beat Conan and his wolf in a fair one-on-one fight, but we also know he would never go into such a fight without a backup - hence Kimmie and her bag of twisted tricks. The grounds light up in a golden color when both wolves are in the middle facing each other. Kimmie screeches, holding her hands over her eyes. Her friends do the same, hissing and cursing. “What the fuck was that?” She screams, her eyes clouding over for a split second and the clearing because she can’t get ahold of Conan. Her eyes search for the golden color, seeing it goes around the whole perimeter of the ground where Conan’s wolf and Fenris are
Elijah P.O.V.I try and try again to tell Isabella to get her and the baby to safety, but she is adamant to come with me, and honestly? I cannot blame her with everything that happened the last time we were attacked. I still wonder how this can happen with the magical barrier Ashlee and Milan set up, but then I remember we talked about this the last time, and Ashlee said the enemy’s own magic user could take it down if they are strong enough, or have strength in numbers. I guess that is what happened here. We’ll have to take a look after, and see where we can do better defense wise. Isabella is riding on Fenris’s back, using her powers and her connection with the pack lands to take down enemy wolves everywhere. If I thought she was scary before, it is nothing compared to now. After she has been bound to the pack and land through marriage with me and the Luna position through my mother, she has a way better understanding of the layout and where to strike. She keeps communicating with
Isabella P.O.V. I can’t believe Thalia would show up, but on the other hand I also understand why she is here. She wants to see her son get married, but I have this weird feeling about her intentions. I wonder if she is really reformed or if she is playing the act really well. I guess we’ll see later. There is nothing I can or will do now, but I know everyone is on edge and keeping an eye out for her. I also am aware Elijah expects Conan to attack up before the day is over. This gathering of all his enemies in one place would be too much for him to not do anything. But I am just wondering if he really thinks it would be smart to attack today? Maybe he’ll wait until the morning after? I mind-link Caspar and Nestor about my thoughts, and they promise me they have everything under control. They have thought every scenario through. “Darling, are you ready?” Dad asks me, and I turn around to see something shine in his eyes. I smile. “Are you crying?” I ask back without answering his qu
Elijah P.O.V. The day has gone by in a blur of events. The most scary one by far being Isabella and the others being followed by Conan’s cronies. Luckily they all arrived safely on the pack lands, but I upped the security around the border, just in case. Around 5.30pm the guests are starting to arrive, and I make sure to be the polite host who greets them outside the packhouse, and Omegas show them to the backyard. All of the packs, Covens and vampire families we contacted said yes to come, and I couldn’t be more proud of the work we have put in to mend the bonds between our species. We might be different, but we are also very alike. Everyone wants to celebrate true love. I made sure to implore them all to ensure their families safety while they are gone, as we all agree this event will be too much of a temptation for Conan to not attack us. We are actually expecting him to. I have not discussed this with Isabella. I do not want to worry her, but I have this feeling we’re going to
Elijah P.O.V. I’m in my office with all the guys. They are not happy I asked their mates to accompany Isabella to town today. Especially when I told them to have some mate time with the girls, but when I tell them the reason they all agree this is important. They ask what they can do, and I delegate the tasks between them. Dale is in charge of getting food together - shopping, preparing and making. He is actually a genius in the kitchen, so I am confident he can get everyone to work together and make this happen. We talked about a small ceremony, but what Isabella doesn’t know is that I am planning to include all the pack, and guests from outside. We know Conan will attack soon, and what better way to gather our allies than to invite them to our wedding tonight. I just hope they can make it. I ask Cedric to be the happy messenger of invitations. He is still well respected and an Alpha. They will listen to him. I will call the Covens and vampire families myself. “Elijah, do you mi