Melody felt huge as a house, and it didn’t help her mood any with everyone commenting on it. Her kit was just a large boy. That was all. When the men of the den found out she was having a boy, several single men flocked to her side to pressure her into mating with them. Their sudden change of heart had nothing to do with science and everything to do with old folklore. If a female birthed a male, then she’d keep doing it. They currently outnumbered the men of the den three to one. They wanted control of the den again from the women. This made Melody and Ellie want to leave faster than ever before. There was no way she would stay. There was already talk of forced mating and the arguments were getting violent in some households. She was in the courtyard trying to get some air and to avoid Thomas Addlewood when she finally went into labour. It was all she could do to get inside before her water broke. Twenty minutes passed before she stumbled into the apartment she shared wi
Malcolm, weeks later, had his meetings, with everything in his life a mess. It wasn’t his fault this time, though. His client was having issues with a virus running rampant through their shops and facilities. It forced everyone to postpone several inspections and face-to-face meetings until the virus ran its course. He tried to go over his files and notes on the client he’d met today, but he was restless. Nothing would stick in his mind. This wasn’t him. Malcolm was distracted from everything. Jordan kept warning him he was acting like a shifter who’d lost his mate. Now he wondered if he was like this still. Did he risk losing a mate? Humans and other shifters sometimes could become mate. But he was an Alpha and a mate like that wasn’t acceptable. His mind kept drifting to tan curves and a string bikini. That purple dildo and the feel of her around him. Malcolm put his laptop down and looked at the heated state of his lap. Jordan, among others, star
Ellie was the first to admit she panicked and rushed from the post office. She’d finished sending the packages, but hadn’t checked the PO Box. When she got off the phone with Melody, her heart was pounding, and she was talking like a madwoman. She had an emergency, and she’d pick up her packages tomorrow or the next day. Ellie prayed the clerk understood what she said. It was so humiliating. It took Ellie a bit to find her way to the back parking lot of the building. The one-way streets were killer on your mileage and time-consuming. It’s supposed to lower the traffic on the streets. In a pig’s eye, it did. It just made things worse for everyone. She texted Mel that she was waiting, and the coast was clear. Ellie drove right by him to get there. But he’d not seen her or her car because he was too busy looking into shop windows for Mel. Ellie guessed he didn’t think they’d have a key to the building. A week and a half, that’s what time they had to wait for the apartm
Malcolm picked up his phone and answered the call. It was Eddie, the investigator. He wasn’t supposed to report yet. He had to have found something. “Alright, Malcolm, now listen to me. I may have found something. A charge on her credit card and an apartment building address for her. But they aren’t there yet. They move in a few days from now. The charge on her credit card maybe because it was stolen or something. It’s for a seedy motel. The charge is for the same number of days as there is between now and the move in date with one extra day.”Malcolm heard him. It seemed too easy. After all this time. Where had she been at that time? “Do we know if she’s a human or a shifter?” “That’s something I need to find out. I’ll stake out the motel. She doesn’t know me. I can get close and find out. But I suspect you should give her time to move into the apartment and settle before you contact her. That will ensure your pup is comfortable while you work this out.” Eddie was tryin
Melody and Ellie finally had everything in storage. It wasn’t much. Because they had orders to fill. They would pack them in the storage unit and then send them as needed. There wasn’t any furniture to speak of moving into here. That came here when Melody moved from her apartment. She’d been paying cash for this place, so no one knew she believed this would happen. That would have caused it to happen earlier than this. A few days in a motel was nothing. She just hoped they wouldn’t kick them out because of David crying or any scents they’d have to use if they needed to make something unexpectedly. Once they were settled into their room, and David was asleep for the night. Well, most of it. Melody had time for herself to think. So much happened in the last year and look at her now. Gods, she must have let someone down. She would wish that David didn’t live. He was too sweet and precious for that. No, she regretted not telling Ellie to stay, and she had told Malcolm the tr
Malcolm waited for Eddie’s call for almost a week. When his phone showed who was calling, Malcolm snatched it up off his desk. He held up a finger to tell Jordan to stop talking and put the call on speakerphone. “Eddie, what do you got?” “Some of the news you wanted me to get, but I’m not sure how you react to your answers.” Eddie started his conversation to always reflect how his clients responded to him calling. “Try me.” “I went a step further. Melody is not working for a rival company. She is living with Ellie. They are running a small internet business that makes soaps and perfumes, among other things. They are becoming quite popular if the internet hype is believable. Melody is mom to the pup, and it’s a male wolf with interesting potential for his markings when he shifts if he keeps that hair colouration.” “A fox shifter. You’re sure?” “Both of them. But the pup is a wolf.” Malcolm saw his surprise echoed on Jordan’
Melody juggled the car seat with a screaming infant as she directed the movers on where to put the boxes and furniture. Of course, with a budget friendly, she got what she paid for. They dumped things wherever they could. It was annoying, but at least by the end of the day everything they needed was there and they wouldn’t be paying for anymore storage. She had a plan for this. Tonight they set up the bathroom, beds, crib, and the basics of the kitchen. Ellie was shopping for their food right now. She’d been a life saver ever since Melody moved back to the den. There was no way she’d have been able to do all this by herself, let alone with David. Eight hours of moving and it was finally done. Everything was there, and she’d got the movers to set up the crib and the beds. With the bedding in the crib, she put David down finally in his crib for the first time. Hoping he’d sleep would be too much of a miracle. He’d been fussing the entire time. Melody figured t
Malcolm strolled the St. Lawrence Market. The place was worse than the floors of the stock exchange used to be. The noise was no better, either. Foxes were supposed to like quiet out of the way places. This was anything but that. People hawked their wares from tiny booths as shoppers squeezed past each other. The aisles were wide, but the sheer number of shoppers was mind-boggling. To think this was one of the first markets in the city. It’s been there before cars were invented and the sidewalks were wooden boardwalks over muddy dirt roads. Now it was surrounded by steel, glass, and concrete. Finally, he stood a distance from the booth he looked for. Even with the myriad of scents, Malcolm’s nose zeroed in on the one scent that told him he was in the correct place. Lavender and vanilla. They must sell it here. Perhaps they had samples? It would explain the strength of it. There she was. With his height, he could see over many of the human shoppers. Surprisingly, t
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