Melody didn’t want to upset everyone or be rude after everything that happened today. So she waited for Jordan to take Ellie to their place and then she went into the bathroom and quietly read the report.It was as bad as she feared. Under the lose of the last elders, the Den collapsed. The adult pups of the elders abandoned their parents out of grief and frustration when they would allow no one to seek help.Before they left the Den, the kits were nursed back to health by the two girls. Those kits survived because they had developed an immunity. Sadly, though, the rest of the adults were a hodgepodge of results. Those that survived were under medical care and the authorities were looking for new dens to take them once they no longer needed medical care.Several kits were now orphans as well. She and Ellie would never see their childhood home again. That came with mixed feelings for Melody, and she couldn’t understand why she felt so emotional about it. Margret had always bee
Melody was taken aback by Malcolm’s admission. After everything he’d said and done over the short time, they’d be back together. She still didn’t know how to respond to him or how to approach him. She’d never expected him to see her problems. Did the pack have room for the orphaned kits? What about shifters and other supernatural beings within the Foster system? It didn’t take long for Melody to lose interest in attempting to relax in the bathtub. She couldn’t there were too many things coming to the forefront. She needed to write things down and talk to Malcolm about them. They needed to address them with other groups. When she got out of the bathroom, Melody found Malcolm starting David’s bedtime routine without being asked to. That was a pleasant surprise until he had to pass it off to her and take a call from another alpha. She readily took David from him and finished up with him. Once David was in bed, she found Malcolm in the sunroom
Jordan took Ellie home and settled her in bed. She’d dragged her feet most of the day. This was her first pregnancy, and it appeared to be taking a lot out of her initially. He’d been concerned, but the healer said she was fine. That this happened early in many pregnancies, but that it should pass at some point. Jordan couldn’t sleep, so he stayed up scrolling through the various worldwide news outlets for anything that pertained to the nightmare unfolding everywhere in the world. It was hard enough to watch a lot of the reputable networks, but the more questionable they got, the crazier the things they reported. It was a struggle for Jordan to not respond to some of the crazier things being said. Other things were alarming to read and listen to. Stealing women and eating them was mild compared to some of the other things floating about on the internet. The craziest thing he saw was the belief that they had just landed on the planet and tha
Malcolm finally got away from the meeting. It hadn’t been that long, but it covered a lot. Cal, the alpha of the Crimson Nights, found out information about his little cheating wolf. Malcolm wasn’t familiar with the alpha’s of all the lone packs. These alphas were struggling with little to no territory, often they only had a handful of pack members usually. They were the wolves that lived paycheck to paycheck and Malcolm believed that the system failed these people. They lost their dreams in that struggle to survive. Which is how he hoped this recent development could help change things. They would have to have checks and balances for the services, though. What Cal had said about this Alpha Elmwood and what Alpha Norman had confirmed, Malcolm didn’t believe the man deserved to have a pack. Add in the fact that Cal sounded different when he spoke about this female who tried to cheat the house. Malcolm thought it was his just deserts for all the times
“I can’t believe this. You’re saying the Ruling Council’s Enforcer teams have left the city. Why? They’re supposed to be searching for the Fae hiding in and around the city.” The Toronto Council of Alphas convened that following afternoon and the Ruling Council’s contact stood before them, explaining the Ruling Council’s position for them. “Information has come to the NARC Council that the Fae have moved on from the city in search of wild magic. The council has a plan in action that will pull these creatures toward a location within an isolated area of Northern British Columbia.” The representative was a mage from the office of the mage ambassador, Stephan Fine. He was just a talking mouthpiece, and everyone knew this. That knowledge made this meeting rather strained. “How certain are we that all the Fae have left the city and surround region?” Alpha Wolversen asked for further clarification on these sudden changes. “Between a combination of scrying
Sure enough, the few Fae attacks within the area ended and weeks when by. Malcolm felt a little disappointed because he wouldn’t be able to fight against the Fae. But the Ruling Council enforcers were correct, and the attacks kept cropping up farther away from during the coming weeks. Sadly, as the weeks became months, the sabotage and attacks on shifter interests didn’t stop. They slowed, but they didn’t stop. However, the events became more focused on regions where shifters were known to be building a foothold, as the press called it. The press wasn’t all against the new supernatural population. After all, the Vampire faction actually held stakes, ironically, in many of the media outlets along with the mage faction. How else were they able to control the dissemination of details about the existence of the supernatural community’s existence worldwide? Now they used that influence to provide the world with the facts about various people’s lives
Melody felt a sense of déjà vu as she entered the Muskoka Cottage again. This was Ellie’s first time here, and she’d been teasing Melody all the way up there. Ellie was now a few weeks away from giving birth. Here within the pack’s territory she could be close to everything she’d need when the time comes. Her pregnancy was too far along for her to shift safely, and with the question of safety in the city, Malcolm and Jordan believed this was the safest place for both women. They were remodelling the Penthouse Floor right now, changing the rooms and making the entire floor one large home. This was so that they could have the best care for the pups as they grew and the maximum safety as well. They turned an outbuilding into a studio for Ellie and Melody’s live streams and work. The men would use it to communicate with the pack back in the city and travel into the city once or twice a week. They’d been told they’d have more responsibilities wi
It took several days of filming to record their stories in a way that Edith believed would be effective. Aireka assured Ellie and Melody several times that Edith may be far too blunt and honest for her own good, but she had a brilliant mind that could see and plan amazing things. Allan, her mate and Alpha Gregory’s father, were with the other men in Gregory’s study, working on several things of their own. The redevelopment project had become several projects with multiple stages crossing multiple cities and countries. They needed to expand and keep a finger on the pulse of all the places and different stages. Design training for a staff Malcolm hadn’t planned for. But with the help from NARC and the Black River Pack, they would have enough people to work through the serious growing pains. It wasn’t just manpower, resources, transportation, and security were all needed. Gregory had a connection with the Bear Shifter Faction in the area. Thes
The investigation took weeks, and by then they’d moved into the packhouse. Life slowly got back to normal. The pack warmed up to Melody and Ellie. When they realized they were the minds behind their products. The she-wolves embraced them readily. Malcolm and Jordan split their time between the city and the Muskoka territory. Even the various construction projects were progressing well, with no more interference. The Fae were nowhere to be seen. But there were new rogues in the shadows of the neutral zones, and they weren’t living there quietly. The council of alphas were making plans to deal with them along with an ever pending war between the Toronto packs, the Scarborough Grove, and the Don Valley. It was something that cropped up again and again. They had history and family conflict. No one could blame them for the father they had. Now there’s a girl driving a wedge between them again, with her mere existence. Ellie was concerned about Jordan. He’d have to come to terms wi
“When I stepped into leadership of this pack, I made it clear we wouldn’t hold on to old prejudices. This might not be a message that got to some of the most recent pack members. This is a historic time and events have been fast and furious. So, I will state this again without naming names or telling tales out of school, as the humans say.” He paused and looked about. Several uneasy people were now relaxed. “That’s not to say those people will avoid the appropriate punishments later. Now, we are a wolf pack who recognizes fate can grant us mates who aren’t wolves. We don’t punish a person for their species, race, lack of magic, or anything like that. If you have a problem with another, you seek to resolve it without harming each other. Yes, I know for some that is a tough thing to do. But we do that within this pack. I have heard that someone has used their station and position of responsibility to force their political beliefs onto the pack as a whole. The reports I rece
“Now you’re sure we have everything. I’d hate to get there and find out we’re missing something.” Melody was checking her bags again. Malcolm could see her anxiety in her actions. Normally, she would never reveal it. Now he figured it was her motherly instincts kicking in to protect and care for her pups. “Melody, there will be other families there. I’m sure if you’ve forgotten something, someone will have it.” If looks could kill, Malcolm would need a healer, at least if not an undertaker, as the humans would say. Melody didn’t appreciate his assurances. As Jordan passed him with another car seat. They had to install three of them and that was the last. Jordan made eye contact with Malcolm, and they exchanged a sense of commiseration. Malcolm figured it was because Jordan just escaped a similar situation upstairs. “Ellie, let me get the base in the car and then I’ll come get the pups for you. I don’t want you to carry two of those heavy car seats. Just
Malcolm didn’t stay long after that at the meeting. The elders clearly had a lot to chew on and get straight. He’d gone on to remind them their job wasn’t to run the pack or tell people what and how to do things. They weren’t to threaten the pack members if they said or did anything. Their job was to advise and give council. Use their experience and list, assist in finding answers. Guide the next generation. Someone had lost their way and Malcolm would keep an eye on them. So this wouldn’t happen again. They were getting ready to settle down for the rest of the evening when the elders appeared at their door. This time they requested if we could introduce them to the new pack members. A far cry from the morning. Malcolm noticed the speaker wasn’t there, but Cathleen was. “I’m sorry about all of this, Alpha. I truly didn’t believe it. Gisselle was sent by the others. However, I spoke with her about how unreasonable the horrible words were. She agreed with me. I just ask that you
Malcolm was unhappy when he entered the elder’s meeting room to hear this information. What were they thinking, pulling this? Running on rumours and speculation. That wasn’t how he or how he expected his pack to run. Malcolm waiting rather impatiently for a response that didn’t appear to come fast enough for his liking. “Tight lipped, are we? Anyone else like to step up to the speaker’s spot and inform me of exactly what my mate, they accused your Luna of what and by whom?” “I can’t tell you who reported this to us, but I would love to fill you in on this. It’s rather disgraceful, over-the-top, and factually unbelievable.” Cathleen stood up from her seat, a look of sour disapproval on her face. “To make matters worse, they kept me out of the loop on the births that happened at the cottage. This, I gather, was to ensure that I didn’t spill the beans about what they were doing.” “Madam, if you’d please state the accusations that they forced m
Gisselle found herself basically being escorted to the elders. She was sure they weren’t pleased with her right now after the subtle stance she took. Now she’s having to tell them their information about the Luna was full of misleading or outright false information. That wouldn’t go down well either. She entered the building that the elders used for their private meeting. Cathleen was there this time. She’d been missing when the elders stopped in to see the Luna and recognize the pups. “I hear they left me out of the loop in being told the pup was born early this morning.” Cathleen cornered Gisselle about this as soon as she got there. “For that, I’m sorry. I left a message with someone, and they were supposed to contact everyone. Whatever happened, it wasn’t on my part, I had my hands full at the time.” “Tell me you found these fools were acting out of ignorance and that none of this is true.” “Truthfully, none of it was true. Not
When Malcolm woke up, his phone was inundated with messages, wanting to know about everything. From where was he, to be everyone alright, even a few inquiries about complaints from a couple of elders about him throwing tradition to the wind? Business seemed to be well contained, with only a few reassurances that he takes his time, and it would be managed for him. That meant he would need to deal with several things here at home, make several decisions, and find his footing in this new dynamic. If someone told him he’d be mated and a father of two right now, three years ago, he’d have laughed at them and asked them what they were smoking. Now he had one almost running. They needed to get some safety items set up in the cottage. Malcolm was there to catch David this time before he fell down the stairs. No one told him pups moved that fast. Now there were four! He thought he’d let Melody look after this. But with the mess in how people were communicati
Malcolm was more than annoyed with the elders. This was his family and his pack. That meant his word was law and what they did was overstep their place. He didn’t have to listen to their advice, and that’s all their words should be. A voice of experience or a different perspective. They shouldn’t be demanding anything. “What is going on out there?” “Insensitive, self-important ninnies every one of them. The elders were downstairs. They expected you to give birth and then get up and walk down to them so we can present the boys to them officially.” “Is that what it was?” Melody sighed and kissed David’s head as he cuddled. He was still trying to wake up after being woken up several times during the night. “I would have thought you’d want to get it over with.” “We don’t have a name for this little one. I’m not leaving anything to chance. They make me worry that if we don’t have a name, then they’ll select one themselves to expedite things. Are they still giving yo
Three hours after returning to the cottage, Malcolm saw his pup come into the world. It wasn’t at all what he’d expected and if they had any more, he’d gladly wait elsewhere. Gisselle believed the little male would be another pup. So, Malcolm finally made a list of the information he needed to add to the pack’s registry. He couldn’t believe that he’d not added Melody or David to the registry. They’d added Ellie along with the twins. He hoped that’s why no one was respecting them before this. Once things quieted down, it was late enough in the morning for the elders to make their appearance and demands clear. They wanted to be introduced to both pups and do it all official. Malcolm was more than annoyed by this. They expected to be catered to without thought to Melody’s health or anyone else. Why did it even have to be today at all? “Alpha, could you let me handle this as the Luna’s healer? It’s my duty to ensure she recovers. I know you haven’t said anyth