***Matthew's POV***
Carl and I spent the afternoon together after picking him up from the packhouse Daycare, which isn't too far from the mansion. Just a 20 minutes walk down the road, five by car. I decide to take him out into the children's park. I watch him as he plays with the other kids. Boy, he had so much energy. He sure resembles Susie. They share the same blond hair and emerald green eyes.
I watch as he leads his group of friends and makes sure everyone is included. He treats girls with extra care and makes sure they are safe. I can already tell, by the way, he plays with the other children. He will be a good alpha. Charlotte had done a great job of educating him while I was absent.
-"Daddy, wanna come to play with us?" He shouts across the playgro
***Morgan's POV ***-"Morgan?"Alpha Matthew's mind links as we approach my motel room. I had forgotten to fill him in on the details. I guess I wasn't used to having him back yet.-"She said yes. We are gathering some basic stuff. After that, I plan on taking her to our closest ally, Grayfang Pack. Susie used to take me through these woods. I remember seeing a cabin not too far out from where we are. We will take shelter there for the night and leave towards Barkmer Forest at the first light. We should reach Grayfang's territory by mid-morning." I squinted and brought my palm to my forehead in a facepalm motion. I mentioned Susie's name, and I shouldn't have.-"I will be going to Grayfang's territory tomorrow anyways. So I will meet
*** Naomi's POV ***I slowly opened my eyes to face myself in an unfamiliar place. The room has an old musty, earthy smell to it. The floor under me is wet and cold. I feel like my body has been hit by a truck, and my headache is on the brink of making my head split open. I lift my right hand towards my head only to realize I can't because I am chained. My wrist burns where the shackles touch my skin. I palpate the ground, mapping the floor underneath me. My fingers brush against the chain links, and once again, my skin sizzles at the point of contact. The chains are made of silver.I lean closer to the wall, and bring my knees close to my chest and wait for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. The wolfbane injection given to me earlier by the strange woman had taken away my werewolf abilities.
*** Naomi's POV***I ran as fast as I could, dodging from trees to fallen branches to roots sticking off the ground. The sun is setting down slightly to my left, indicating I am on the right path.The rogues are still following us. From the sound of their paws on the muddy floor, I estimate them to be more or less ten wolves, but I am not stopping to count.Exiting the tree line onto a clearing, I spot a big house on the horizon up ahead. As I go further into the clearing, I notice the rogues didn't follow us. Morgan's body rests on my back while she uses her right arm to grip tight to my fur, preventing her from falling off. I was still running when, out of nowhere, Grayfang warriors surrounded us. Let me add that they did not look happy or friendly.
*A couple of hours before the reunion**** Matthew's POV ***I arrived at the wedding reception a little earlier and waited for Morgan to contact me.It was a formal event, so I wore a button-down white shirt, with the sleeves rolled back to my elbows, skinny gray blue-toned trousers, dark brown leather belt, and matching shoes. To finish my look, I accessorized with an oxford wristwatch and a pair of black aviator sunglasses.Mid-morning came and gone, and we were halfway through the festivity. Both grooms wore matching navy blue suits with a small white peace lily above their hearts. I was happy Rob had found a fantastic mate. Their happiness was contagious, and the entire pack see
*** Matthew's POV *** Gabe and I are standing next to Naomi's bed. He had just finished telling me her name when a guard interrupted us. -"Alpha Gabriel, a council witch wants to see you." -"Not now, Romeo. I have more important things at hand, as you can see." Gabe gestured to the unconscious Naomi. "Tell the witch she has to wait." -"But sir, the witch says she is here for your sister." The guard insisted. -"What?" Gabe and I exchange worried looks. What could the council possibly want with Naomi? No matter how small the issue might be. If they are involved, it can't be good. Gabriel didn't even have a chanc
Gabriel gave me a pair of light gray sweat pants and a white v-neck t-shirt. After getting dressed, I made my way to Rob's office with him. As we entered, I could see Rob's glass desk to the left of the room. His chair was a creamy white, which contrasted pretty well with the dark blue-gray color of the built-in and the dark wood floors. To the right was a sitting area where six mid-century natural leather color armchairs formed a square around the geometric glass coffee table. At the end of the lounge area, a small serving cart was used as a minibar.I take the center seat with Lee Benson to my left and Gabe to my right. Rob sat on his husband's chair armrest while wrapping an arm around Gabriel's, a glass of scotch on his other hand. We all had the same outfits. I guess a quick host tip for me to take in. Have ready-to-go outfits for my guests, noted.
*** Naomi's POV*** The surface underneath me feels like soft clouds. With my eyes still closed, I inhale the faint aroma of cinnamon coffee that has me snuggling my face in the fabric, enjoying the contentmentfeeling it provides me. The memory of being in captivity and chased by rogues jolts me awake. Sitting up, I scan my surroundings—toned-down blues and greens give it a relaxing vibe, while creamy neutrals like white and beige add a subtle contrast with the dark furniture finishes. Definitely not how a dungeon looks like. The nearby window allows me to see that it's dark outside, but other than that, I still have no notion of what time it is or how long I have been unconscious. Peeking under the covers, I confirm that I am still naked. The nightstand lamp provides enough light for me to spot a pair o
***Naomi's POV*** After seeing Morgan safe and sound, Matt guided me to Rob's office. Being a true gentleman, he had offered me his hand to hold, but I refused it. It took every cell of my whole being not to, but it was for the best. I can't possibly even think of being with him as he's married. We walked in silence, me following him at an arms-length down a staircase till we came to a stop in front of white double doors. This time Matthew didn't offer his hand. He took mine, not giving me room to refuse. I tried to remove it, but that made him tighten his grip. We walked in, hand in hand. Gabriel and his mate were on the office desk to the left, looking at a map spread across it. Lee sat on the sof
***Naomi's POV***Life has a weird way of placing you where you need to be, precisely at the right moment. Some call it fate, others destiny. They say you can't run away from it, you must walk the path written in the stars, but if I'm honest, anyone can write their own story. The people you choose to walk alongside and their unique traits make it possible. Good things happen to those who are honest and kind, even if the rough thorny patches make you think otherwise.The path I walk hasn't always been easy, but now I am happy, at ease. The question is, how long before another storm hits my tiny island of happiness. In everything, there must be balance. The bigger the light, the bigger the shadow. Till then, I can only do one thing, enjoy every moment like it was my last.
***Naomi's POV***I thought you wouldn't feel or remember a thing when facing death's gates, but I was wrong. I feel it all too well --Pain. Not physical pain, but rather emotional. I lost the one whose mistakes and imperfections I learned to love.It's dark, cold, and lonely in here. Is this the afterlife? A soft and warm hand caught the stray tear I could no longer hold back. My blinking eyes adjust themself to the bright light. The fuzzy picture is slowly coming to focus. The familiar white sheer fabrics are dancing to the seagulls' melody in the arms of the wind.-"The one time you should have walked through the door, you didn't." The Moon Goddess giggles, amused at my apparent and unintended defiance.
***Matthew's POV***-"Daddy, wake up. Please, Daddy, Mommy needs help." Carl rocks me awake.My head is pounding as if I had an awful hangover, and my ears have this persistent deafening ring. The last thing I remember was my injury and Naomi trying to heal me. I feel my chest, looking for the wound Daniel impaled me with, but I am fully recovered.-"Mommy needs help!" Carl shakes me again as I sit up.The smell of burnt flesh makes my nose sting, and instinctively, I cover it with my hand. The lightning flashes bring brightness to the stormy dark battlefield. Scanning the area, I do a mental battle map. Everyone seemed to have stopped fighting the rogues, and they desperately fought this gi
***Naomi's POV***Matt fights a group of rogues in his large wolf form, and the sight of him takes the edge of my anxiety. Somehow, it doesn't matter if this battlefield is from my father's vision because Matt is here. With him by my side, I feel I can take on the whole world. My shaky tired legs push me to walk towards him. Freedom and safety are within reach, just a few more steps.Morris grips my arm, spinning me around.-"Did you think it would be this easy? That we would just let you go? You are so naive, Naomi. My brother always spoke highly of his Luna, yet look at you? They take away your wolf, and you become a defenseless human."His grip tightens, and his lips curl into a mischievous evil smile.
Sitting abruptly, I take long breathes, trying to fight back nausea my spinning head is making me feel. It's as if I rode the merry-go-round on a high-velocity cycle with my eyes closed and then attempted to walk a straight line. Instinctively, I try to cover my mouth and stop myself from pouring lunch out, only to face my constrictive reality and searing pain to my wrist. I have no notion of time or place, but my sixth sense tells me this is far from home.The rhythmic machine whooshes along with the rancid smell emphasize the eeriness of the darkness surrounding me. The silver and the wolfsbane block Artemis' powers, but I still have Blizzard's energy flowing within. It's in my best interest to stay put and try to understand where exactly I am and who took me before doing anything drastic or attempting to escape. Fighting a werewolf in this condition would put me at a significant disad
***Naomi's POV***Along with the other ally Alphas, Matt and I raided Woodlands pack territory before the first sunlight rays had the chance to peek from behind the mountains, but we found absolutely nothing. And the same empty sight repeated itself the following weeks. We would gather information about Leo and his pack's whereabouts, but they were always empty the moment we hit the compounds. It was as if they knew our every step, our every move, and vanished just before we got a chance to confront them.-"Argggh!" I grunt in frustration as I let my body slump on the black settee in Matt's office, papers scattering everywhere.Matt suspects, well, more like he is certain, we have a mole among us. Only he and I share this knowledge, though. It's a ris
***Nina White's POV***One of the disadvantages of having a human body is stress. While a werewolf can shift and run it off, humans often need to involve themselves in certain unhealthy habits. I take the last puff of my cigarette before putting it out on the ashtray sitting on the modern contemporary black nightstand. The she-wolf I have chosen for my evening carnal desires stirs but remains asleep as I get off the bed.Grabbing my whisky glass, I sip on it before admiring the naked beauty before me. Although I do not possess a wolf spirit anymore, I still wonder what it would have felt like to make love and wake up beside my mate. But I can't fill that void left in me when he stole her from me.My hand swirls the orange liquid inside the crystal glass as my
***Mathew's POV*** We bicker among ourselves about what to do next. Daniel had, yet again, escaped along with his beta-rat I caught lurking in the pack's library. He stole a book from the secret room and had vanished within the woods. With no scent to track him down, we lost him completely. Especially after the sharp pain that came through Naomi and I's bond, it had me on my knees in seconds. My eyes met Arlene's, and her expression told me, somehow, she felt Naomi's distress too. She and Maximus were with me when Morris reported the strange person scaring people in the library and followed pronto, ready to support if the threat proved to be dangerous. So when she saw me bent over in pain as I held my neck, she didn't waste time. Her hands moved through the air to create a purple light whirlpool, vanishing through it with Maximus in tow. Not
***Naomi's POV***As per Morris's request and in Charlotte's honor, we will be holding a masquerade ball this evening in the Alpha's Mansion. Charlotte loved to dress up, and masquerade balls were her favorite. We also prepare fireworks, another favorite of hers, for the guests to enjoy.Holding this event so soon might be risky, maybe even unwise, but the guilt of Charlotte's death has been constricting my heart. The constant dreams about her are wearing me down with the sleepless nights. I needed to say goodbye, and this Gala will help me do just that.What people don't know is that the gathering will cover up a secret meeting with the strongest packs—Crescent Moon, Grayfang, Windriders, Kyaten, Faisant, and Silverfalls. Matt moved my old pack from the bottom of the stronges