Aurora helped Eli with his dinner plate. Tonight, Melody and the kitchen prepared a stew along with homemade rolls. Eli had wanted a large bowl and separate plate for his rolls. Aurora chuckled as he walked to the table, but always kept an eye on his full bowl that looked as though the stew was going to slosh over the rim at moment. "Are you sure you are going to be able to eat all of it?" Aurora asked when they finally reached the table. Rich and Roger chuckled as well when they saw how much the boy had. Eli nodded his head enthusiastically as he pulled out his chair and sat down to his feast. "He is a growing boy. Of course he can finish it," Arden said as he walked up behind Aurora and kissed her on the cheek. He winked at Eli and sat down on the other side of the child. "Sir, there is someone at the front gate. He is claiming to be from the wolf council," Arden received the mind link from one of the warriors that was posted at the territory front gate. He stilled at the menti
Aurora stood frozen in the middle of the office. She did not want to move. She did not want the world to move. Being frozen meant that the worst was not to come. Eli gripped her hand. She blinked and looked down at her son. His eyes were round and innocently looking up at her. Aurora could feel the moisture gathering in the back of her eyes. She blinked quickly and looked up at Arden. She did not want her son to see her cry. She did not want him to worry. He was still too young to understand what it was that was in store for him. Aurora squared her shoulders and looked at Charles. "Eli will not have the same fate as the man who fathered him," with that Aurora walked out of the office with Eli still gripping her hand. Charles looked back at Arden. His shoulders physically slumped. It was not easy to tell a mother that her son would soon be overtaken by a blind rage when he received his wolf. Arden was quiet. He had watched his mate leave. She was angry. He could feel it through thei
Aurora knocked lightly on Arden's office door. She knew that he and Charles were still inside. Charles opened the door and let the Luna back in. As Charles closed the door, he addressed Aurora, "I am sorry if I upset you earlier," he said as the door clicked shut. "There is no need to apologize. I am sorry that I reacted as I did. This whole situation of finding out about Cameron and what he had passed onto Eli is upsetting," Aurora said. Charles nodded in understanding and gave Aurora a small smile. "Understandable, Luna," he said. Arden and Charles picked their conversation back up and filled Aurora in on the information that was given. "They are really that close?" she asked surprised. Charles nodded in confirmation. "Witches are usually not the most forth coming lot," Charles said. He only had a handful of run-ins with witches most of which were not on the pleasant side. "Well, we cannot just walk up to their territory I assume," Aurora said. She was quickly learning that in
Veronica looked down at her transportation circle in the center of her room. Since she had never been to the Whispering Shadows Coven, she needed a circle to help her. She felt as though she had used this too often as of late. Between the Northern Pack and now the coven, she was traveling into untraveled territory, and something was telling her that it was going to bite her back soon. Veronica took a breath and said her incantation under her breath. In the next instant she was teleported into the darkness of the night. Veronica looked up at the old stone mansion that sat in front of her. Each window held a single burning candle. "Who are you?" a young woman came near. She wore a long black cloak. Veronica could almost laugh at the theatric of it all. "My name is Veronica. I have an Alpha who is wanting to meet with your head witch," she said. She knew that being here uninvited was a risk and needed to get her purpose out quickly. "What is the Alpha's name?" the girl asked. "
Arden sat at the patio table outside of the back door from the kitchen. Aurora and Eli were playing in the yard. Eli had wanted to show them a new game that one of the children had shown him at school. Arden chuckled as he watched Eli spin Aurora around in five circles with a blindfold over her eyes. Charles had left the next morning. He said that he was going back to the council to see what other information he could dig up for them. Arden and Aurora had thanked him for what he had been able to share with them so far. It would still be a few years before the curse showed its true form. Not that Arden wanted to wait but it was helpful that they had some time to find answers. "Alpha, there is a witch in your office," Rich's mind link cut through his thoughts. Arden stood up from the metal chair in the next instant. Aurora and Eli were still playing outside. Arden decided to see this visitor before alerting Aurora. Arden walked to his office and pushed open the door. An older woma
Veronica woke up in a pool of her own sweat. The nightmares had started after her visit to the Whispering Shadows Coven. Veronica reached for the water in the glass that she had left on her dark wooden nightstand. The room was still pitch black from her blackout curtains and the fact that it was still nighttime outside of her window. "What the hell is going on?" Veronica whispered to herself after she had placed the glass back on the table. She drew her knees to her chest and sat against the pillows that pushed against the headboard. She stared at nothing in particular in the room. Her mind replayed the dream that had caused her sudden wakefulness. Veronica had been standing over a man. He had been naked and laid out across the bed. She stood over him, her own body naked as well. She held a burning candle in her hands and slowly tipped the burning candle's wax across the man's chest. At first Vernonica thought her consciousness was playing out a scene from a movie, however she was
"What are we to do with her?" one of the other women who had entered the room asked. They all watched Veronica as she exhausted herself in her anger. "I think it best that she is removed from the coven," the woman who had originally walked up the Veronica said. The others began to nod their heads. "She will come back for us. She is one of our more powerful witches," Someone else said. Lila could hear the fear in that one's voice. The older lady thought for a moment. "Then we strip her of her memory," some of the women looked over with their eyes wide. They have never stripped a witch of her memories before. It had never been needed in the past. As the idea sunk in, they nodded their heads once more. They could not see a way around it. The group began to gather around Veronica. They joined hands and began to chant together as one. Veronica stood in the center. She tried to go after one of the smaller women, but her actions were halted by an unseen force that protected those reciting
The older woman stood across from Lila and regarded her. She could not tell if the woman was a threat. Although one could never tell another's true intentions until it was too late. "There is something I cannot quite put my finger on. You are a witch are you not?" The older woman asked bluntly. "I am," Lila slowly nodded her head. "You are the only one here?" The older woman questioned again. Lila slowly nodded her head, but her eyes flew to her stomach without thinking first. "You are pregnant," she said without waiting for Lila to confirm. "Sensing the aura, it is something mythical. What is it?" The woman's gaze met Lila's once more. "Werewolf," Lila said quietly. It was better to come clean now than deal with any sort of torture that the woman might inflict on her to get her answers. "I am not threat to you. I just wish to live here peacefully and raise my child. The same as my parents," Lila said. She hoped that it sounded convincing enough. There was a moment of silenc
Eli's wolf, Hermes, ran through the forest at top speed. Eli had just received his wolf. The full moon sat high in the sky. Arden had asked if Eli wanted him to run with him, but Eli had kindly rejected the offer. Eli wanted to get to know his wolf on his own. He was currently sixteen years old and was doing well in school. Eli trained everyday with Arden in order to make sure that he was in the best shape before getting his wolf. Hermes’ voice had run through Eli's mind as soon as the clock had struck twelve. Aurora smiled as her son waved to his mother and father before running into the woods to shift for the first time. His father had been right. It hurt like a son of bitch, but it ended quickly, and Eli’s wolf stood tall and howled deeply. Alerting Arden that everything was alright. "Have a good run son," Arden mind linked with Eli. Eli laughed and let his wolf run free. As Hermes rounded the bend in the trees, he suddenly caught a scent. It was the tastiest scent ever. Almost
Charles Brown stood at the front door of the pack house once again. He knocked lightly and when the door opened her was met by Eli. A broad smile appeared on his face. "Charlie Brown!" he exclaimed as he hugged Charles around the waist. Charles had been surprised at the child's actions but patted his back none the less. "Hello, Elijah. It is nice to see you again. Where are your parents?" Charles asked the boy. Eli stepped back and pointed upstairs. Charles's brows knitted together as he walked through the foyer of the pack house. "Hello, Charles. I will see you to the Alpha office while we wait for the Alpha and Luna," Rich, Arden's Beta said as he extended his hand in the direction of the Alpha office. Charles nodded and followed the Beta. As soon as Charles sat down in the large chair on the other side of the desk, the door opened, and Arden and Aurora walked through the doorway. "Apologies for the delay, Charles," Arden said. He glanced back at Aurora quickly and then back at
Aurora walked back into the pack house. She never imagined that she would be able to have another child again after what Lila had done to her. Aurora walked through the pack house in a daze until she got to Eli's room where Arden and Eli were currently playing with Eli's action figures. Arden noticed Aurora's demeanor and stood up. "Are you alright?" Arden asked concerned. Aurora finally looked up at him. A smile spread across her face and tears began to cascade down her face. Arden was unsure how to proceed. Was she okay, was she in denial, what had happened out there with the witches? "Sweetheart, are you okay?" Arden asked again. "I am better than okay. I am wonderful. The witches, they helped us. They said that it was a show of good faith between their coven and our pack and to show how grateful they were for letting them into our territory and taking care of Veronica," Aurora said. "What was?" Arden asked. "They gave me back the ability to have children," Aurora said qui
Aurora woke the next morning. Eli was cuddled to her side. They had fallen asleep to the movie that Eli had put on after they had eaten their dinner. Aurora's hand fell behind her, but Arden was not in bed with them. He must have already woken for the day. Aurora assumed that he had several things to do after yesterday. Aurora's mind went to Lila once more. What a turn of events? Aurora looked down at Eli. His breathing was still even. She slowly and gently pulled her arm out from under his head. She quietly tiptoed towards the bathroom to do her morning rituals. When she opened the door to the bedroom was more, she smiled when she saw that Eli was still sound asleep. She grabbed her long robe and went to the door. She was sure that he would be up soon enough. She would let him stay home from school today, she would be lying if she said it was just so he could rest. She wanted him around as well. Aurora made her way down to the kitchen. It looked as though breakfast had just ended.
Lila woke to a lovely aroma coming from Mason's kitchen. She sat up and let the blanket fall to her waist. She remembered that Mason had offered to let her sleep on the couch. After teleporting so much her body was screaming for rest and Mason must have noticed. She sniffed the air again and followed the smell into the kitchen where she saw Mason standing at the stove cooking dinner. Mason had heard her moving around in the living room. He knew that she would not stay asleep much longer without eating. "Rested?" Mason asked without turning around to look at her. "Yes, thank you," Lila said. She felt unsure what to do with herself. Mason did not exactly make her feel welcomed, but he was not kicking her out either. "Dinner is almost ready if you would like to take a seat," Mason said as if reading her conflicted mind. Lila walked over to the small table and noticed that it as set. "Since when did you cook?" Lila asked Mason to make conversation. "There is actually quite a bit you
Lila had seen Arden take Aurora upstairs. She wasted no time teleporting back to Mason's cabin. She did not want to be around Rich and Roger more than was necessary. As Lila appeared in the center of the room, Mason had a question look on his face, but he also remembered his grandson sitting on the couch next to him. Mason refrained from asking. Lila bent down and looked at Eli. What she saw surprised her. His eyes shone brightly like a wolf. Lila looked up at Mason who did not seem to notice it. Lila looked back and just as clearly, she could see hiseyes, they were back to their usual color. Lila thought maybe she had imagined it. She thought about the curse that had been lifted from him with the death of Veronica. Perhaps that is what she had just witnessed. Suddenly a large man barged through the cabin door. Jack gave Mason an apologetic look, "Sorry but the Alpha would like me to get Eli home," he tried to explain. Mason shook his head and stood up from the couch. "Understoo
Lila teleported Arden and Aurora back to the pack house. She landed them in the center of the foyer. Rich and Roger both looked at each other when they saw the trio. It was time to move. Rich called out to the warriors that he knew he could trust. Seven men all walked forward and stood at attention. "I hope this is enough," Lila said under her breath. She looked out at the seven men including Arden, Rich and Roger. Lila looked at Aurora then. "Would it be safer if you stayed here as well?" Lila asked. Aurora was surprised that it was not dripping with mockery. Aurora noticed that Lila actually looked genuine in her question. "I only ask because it will cause Arden ti be distracted when dealing with the witch," Lila explained. Again, Aurora was shocked by her actions and how she was talking with Aurora. "I go where my mate goes," Aurora said. Lila did not argue with her but instead looked back at the group of men. "We are ready," Rich said to Arden. Arden nodded his head and turne
Lila was in the living room and standing at a pitcher of lemonade. She had asked the maid if she was able to leave the guest room that she was currently occupying. The maid had smiled and said of course. However, as they left the room, Lila noticed that the maid was never more than three steps behind her. Lila scoffed quietly to herself. Lila walked around the house until finally coming to the living room area. Veronica had already been away for a couple of hours. Lila wondered when she would return. Lila turned towards the maid. "I am sorry to ask but would it be too much trouble to get a pitcher of lemonade? Pregnancy cravings," Lila shrugged her shoulders in apology. The maid smiled and shook her head. "No trouble at all. I will see what the kitchen can come up with. Be right back," with that the maid took off down a hall. Lila sat down heavily on the couch and looked around the gothic room. It was dark with not a lot of sunlight coming through. Lila noticed the large firepla
Aurora was sitting on the back patio and looking up at the stars. She had just put Eli to bed but sleep was evading her. Especially after finding out the shadow was still visiting Eli during the night. It made it hard for her to sleep when all she wanted to do was sit outside of his door and wait for the thing to show up so she could take action. Arden and Rich had been in the office most of the evening. They were going over their plans to take out Veronica was they arrived at her home and any issues they might run into. Aurora had grown tired of listening and had made her way outside. From behind her the leaves of the trees moved. The noise caused Aurora to look over her shoulder. As she did so, a movement caught her eye. Auror stood up quickly. She thought she had seen a girl. Not just any girl, but the one who had given her the vile for Veronica. Aurora looked back at the pack house. She knew that she should call someone. Arden and Rich were busy, and Aurora did not know wher