I blink.“Wait, you two know each other?”The way Lucas is glaring at the Night Stalkers’s Alpha and from the way that Damon is smiling, it’s pretty apparent that they have some history between them.“His panther tribe had an alliance with my old pack,” Lucas growls. “What the hell are you doing here, you damn cat?!”“I’m the Alpha,” Damon is clearly enjoying himself. “So, wait,” I look between the two. “You two are not friends?”“The best.”“Absolutely not!”Damon grins in at lazy way of his, "Oh come on. Don't tell me you're still holding a grudge?”“You -”“Okay,” I step in between them. “Lucas, they helped us out. Their pack was attacked as well.”“What?” Lucas frowns, looking at Damon. “When?”“A few months ago,” The panther Alpha replies, his smile having faded. “We relocated here because our location had been compromised.”“How is that possible?” Lucas scowls. “Your pack’s defence system was -““Nothing is truly impenetrable,” Damon says,
Lucas turns stiff, “What?”Damon doesn’t meet his eyes, “My mother’s entire family was executed, including her. Her great grandfather had been planted into the pack. And whatever family he formed, his ‘mission' was passed down to their children. My mother tried teaching me the same values but I resisted. I wouldn't have believed that she had anything to do with the attack on our tribe but I saw her with one of the attackers.”I close my eyes.Sending his own mother to her execution, despite her crimes, must have been the most difficult decision he could've made.“She told me everything,” Damon continues. “In the hopes that I would share her and perhaps, join her. But I was the Alpha. My job was to protect my people. And I could tell that she didn't truly care for the loss of life. She didn't give a damn about the children we lost, the families that were destroyed. She truly believed in her mission. Fortunately, she gave up everybody's names and I had to execute my entire ma
Kayla is asleep when the sun rises and we start out on our way back, accompanied by five of Damon’s people.Lucas carries her on his back as we run back.Damon clearly felt guilt towards the child for not ensuring the safety of her family because he insisted on having his pack healer take a look at her. Bathed, her injuries tended to, and dressed in clean clothes, her stomach full, Kayla is fast asleep on Lucas’s back.She hasn’t spoken much and I can understand that her trauma and exhaustion must be overwhelming now that she feels moderately safe.‘What are we going to tell the pack?’For a moment, there is no response from Lucas’s end and then, ‘For now, let’s keep quiet. She doesn’t smell human. But she’s not of us either. But the Order wants her for some reason so we keep her safe. Let’s keep this on a need to know basis only.’That makes sense. I see expecting trouble on our way but we manage to reach our territory safely after two days of constant running.
“She was part of a human family,” I say, quietly. “Are you sure you’re -““I know what I can sense. She feel like the forest. No,” Aliya hesitates. “She feels like raw earth. Her aura, this energy surrounding her, it’s like the purity of nature itself.”I exchange a look with Lucas.“Her scent isn’t human but what does this mean? What is she then?”Aliya shakes her head, “I don't know. I've never come across anybody like her. But I will say one thing.”She meet my gaze, “She is the girl I saw. You said you found her four days ago? Just three days ago, I spilled my blood again to see if there was any change in the vision that I saw of the future. I couldn’t see anything.”“What does that mean?” I ask.“It means the future is uncertain. You have changed something by finding this child and bringing her here. But what that means for everyone, I don't know.”Her voice is grim, “Whatever you decide next is going to impact what happens to us. But this child is the key
The adults scoop up the children, rushing inside and and Lucas grabs Kayla, along with three other wolf pups, tossing them inside the den before going back out to grab more. The injured woman and her child get closer to us and I see the injuries on her wrists almost as if she was chained by them.“Help me,” She begs, her eyes tearful and panicked. “Please! Don’t let them take me back!”I duck almost automatically when I see something move in my peripheral vision. An arrow embeds itself in the ground just where I had been standing. “Sarah!” Lucas roars, running towards me.I grab the woman and gesture at Lucas, “Get inside!”But Lucas never really listens to me. He reaches us and grabs the child from the woman’s arms, pulling us with him into the den. The door closes behind us and I shout, “Everyone inside your quarters All soldiers guard all entry and exit points! Where is Jared? Hank, keep an eye on her!”Everybody begins moving almost instantly at my or
“Lucas,” I stare at him, confused. “What’re you doing?”He looks a little uneasy, lowering his voice. “She's got a child with her. She's not in good shape. Let her wash up and get some rest. We'll be able to get clearer answers from her afterwards.”“We don’t even know who she is!” I hiss at him. “I'm not going to put the entire back in jeopardy just because I feel sorry for somebody.”I can feel Lucas’s anger as he stares at me, “How dangerous can she possibly be? We’ll keep an eye on her if you’re so paranoid. But you can't just throw her and her son out there when these people are clearly looking for her!”“Lucas,” I feel astounded at his behaviour and he snaps.“I never said a word when you took in Kayla.”I narrow my eyes, “This isn’t tit for tat. This is about putting the entire pack at risk.”However, he looks stubborn, his words meant only for my ears, “You're about to be a mother. Show some compassion. Are you really going to throw a helpless mother and ch
I go still at her words, “What do you mean by that?”“I could sense it,” She taps her chest. “He felt different.”I don’t know what different means to her but it is true that he hadn’t been acting like himself. Despite what Aliya said about her, Kayla has not revealed anything about what she could be. But since she seems to be a little forthcoming right now, I ask, “Are you settling in okay?” She nods.The little wolf puppy wriggles out of her hold and she releases it.“Kayla, if I ask you a few questions, can you answer them for me?”Kayla looks hesitant, “I know you want to ask about my family.”“Can you tell me what happened? Why were you living in the woods?” She curls into herself, her arms wrapped around her knees, “I ran away. That bad man was hurting Rain and I ran away. She told me to run.”Rain must have been her sister, I think to myself. I put my arm around her shoulders, “It's a good thing you ran away. Your sister wanted to protect you.”
“Sarah!”His voice is tight and I barely have time to react before he grins me by my upper arms, pulling me up to my toes.His words are a desperate growl, “Stop it! Stop blocking me!”I stare up at his face and something inside me trembles. His pain does nothing to soothe my own internal rejection or the harsh slap of humiliation that he dealt me just hours ago.We’ve never crossed swords like this when he’s left me with a wound I don’t know how to treat. “Let go of me, Lucas,” I mutter, struggling to get out of his hold.However, his grip on me just tightens, his voice hoarse, “Put down your barriers then! Please, Sarah!”He never pleads and his words pierce me, making something in my chest twist almost painfully so.But lowering my shields, the very idea of allowing him access to my feelings and emotions makes me feel extremely vulnerable. “Lucas -““I’m sorry,” He lowers his head, resting his forehead against mine, his voice rough. “I don't know what
SarahThe days that follow are sad ones. We all have to come together as a pack to work through the loss of so many loved ones. “I really thought we were finding peace,” Dustin says, as we gather together three days later. “I hoped it would stay.”“We’ll find that now,” I tell him. “There are always going to be times of peace and times of conflict. I’ve learned we have to accept that as a way of life. That’s the downside of being in a wolf pack.“But the good days outnumber the bad. And we’re strong, we’re fierce. We’ll get through this and defeat any enemies that might come up next. We just have to trust in each other and have faith in the pack.”The words resonate with me as I say them. Despite all the hardships, I’m more devoted to this pack than I ever have been. I’ve learned to accept the ups and downs which are easier to manage now that things between Lucas and I don’t feel quite as fragile.“That’s why you’re a great leader,” Dustin says. “You inspire us all to do just
LucasAs I watch my baby in Sarah’s arms, I’m happier than I ever thought I’d be. A son and a daughter. It feels like now our family is complete. Though I’m open to more children in the future. Right now, I’m just content.Sarah and I tend to be rough sleepers though. So, as Sarah dozes off, I take Evelyn from her arms and place her in the bassinet. Then, I join Sarah on the bed.“She’s beautiful,” I say, cuddling my sleepy mate. “You’re beautiful. I’m so grateful to you for bringing our children into our life like you have. “I know it’s never easy. I won’t even pretend to understand what you go through. But you give up so much for our family. I appreciate that more than I can express.”“And I appreciate you,” she says. “You’re a wonderful father and a fantastic husband. I’m so glad to share all of this with you. I’m so grateful to be building a family with you.”I kiss her and the warmth of having my true mate in my life envelopes me. It just feels so natural and right when y
Sarah“That is an incredible offer,” I say, my eyes staring right into Azar’s. “You’ve promised so much, and I know we’d both prosper within a formed alliance. However, we can’t promise our daughter’s hand in marriage.”My words prompt a hearty response. Some are mere whispers while others are outright defiant. Many can’t believe that we would turn away from this. But we have to do what’s right for our daughter.“Now, I’m not shutting down the idea of a future marriage completely,” I clarify. “Maybe our daughter will end up with your son. Maybe they will be mates.“But we’ll have to wait and see once she’s old enough to decide. Since we’ll be allies regardless, they’ll know each other. They can spend time together.“If our daughter decides that your son is her mate and they both love each other, then they can get married. We’re going to leave that up to her though. We don’t want to make such a big decision for her before she can even consent to it.”Azar’s demeanor falls. It re
LucasSarah looks at me with an expectant look on her face, and I’m just not sure what I should say. The kiss still bothers me. It hurts me. As her mate, I have reason to be upset.The guilt still haunts me though. It reminds me of how I hurt her. It whispers that I deserve this. I know that I deserve this.“It’s nothing,” I insist.“Lucas, please open up to me,” she says. She takes my hand in hers and looks at me with those eyes I never can resist. “I saw you and Azar last night,” I confess. “I saw the kiss.”Sarah looks at me with shock and guilt written upon her face. I hate that. It’s proof that what I saw was true. They did kiss. She betrayed me.“I know I betrayed you horribly,” I continue. “So, I understand that I deserve that. But it still hurts, Sarah. “I thought we had moved past all of that. I thought we were solid. I thought we weren’t ever going to let anyone get between us again. But I guess I was wrong.”Jealous tears through me as the kiss replays in my min
LucasI’m surprised then when I wake, Sarah isn’t beside me. I panic. After everything that’s happened, I simply can’t help it. There are too many ways things can go wrong.I need her near me. I need to always know that she’s okay.After a deep breath, I realize that something feels wrong. Something seems off. I walk to Fergus’ room and see him sleeping peacefully. I tuck the baby monitor in my pocket and step outside. I won’t go far, I can’t go far without Fergus, so hopefully she’s close by.It doesn’t seem like she is at first. I look all around our home and don’t see her. Then, I go towards the back yard and I stop.Sarah is there, but the tree line, but she’s not alone. He’s with her. The anger from earlier boils within me again.I know I shouldn’t be jealous, especially not after what I did to Sarah. I have no right to worry about that after all I put her through. And nothing truly awful has happened between them. I don’t have a solid reason to be upset.Besides, I tru
Lucas“You don’t have to give an answer right now,” he rushes in to say. “I’m not expecting you to be sure of anything right now. It’s just something to think about.”I’m so taken off guard by this that I don’t know a single word to say in response. I have tried to push aside my fears that he wants to seduce Sarah and getting to know them all a little better has helped me to do so.My daughter though… I never thought he’d be after my daughter. Arranged marriage? “That’s a big topic,” Sarah says slowly. “We’d definitely need time to think about it further. We’d have to talk through this amongst ourselves.”“Of course,” Azar replies with a pleasant smile. “I’m not trying to force your hand or anything. Take as much time as you need. It is a big decision but I think it’s the right one.”We don’t stay out much longer than that. We circle back to the gathering for a little while. But everyone is tired, so we all head back home soon after.It’s only once we’re back home that every
SarahI take a moment to give Lucas a hug and another kiss before we step into the area where the feast is being hosted. I can sense that he’s still a little insecure about things, but he had no reason to worry. I’m going to be true to him always.I’ll admit though, I am intrigued by this new pack. I wonder about the kinds of magic they can do. I’m curious about all they have to offer.As we walk towards their Alpha, the pack starts to congregate together, which is a little strange. Before this, they were mingling with everyone else. There seems to be a shift though as we approach them.“We’re so grateful you’ve accepted us,” Azar says, flashing that friendly smile. Is there anything flirtatious about it? I don’t really think so.“To show our gratitude, we would like to show you something,” he continues. “A little show before dinner.”I hesitate. What if this is something malicious? I don’t know anything about this pack. Is it a trap?They’re already here though. They could tr
LucasAfter everything else that’s happened, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about this new pack joining us. It’s not like it’s uncommon for packs to approach each other, especially if they think a mutually beneficial alliance can be formed.The fact that packs are now approaching us like this shows our growth. I’m proud of Sarah for bringing this pack to greatness like this. I’m happy to welcome newcomers in.It’s just that there’s been a lot going on lately. And it still seems like a risk to allow anyone new to come into this peaceful place we created.Then, I realize that I’m sounding a bit like how Liza sounded when we brought Brandon in. It gives me more empathy towards her but also makes me realize that maybe I’m being a bit paranoid.It will be good to have another alliance. This could ultimately be beneficial to us. So, I help answer questions as the pack follows us. I remain as engaging as possible as I get to know them.“You’ve truly created something impres
SarahChills run down my spine as I listen to this prophecy about our daughter. I always knew our children would be great. But I never expected something like this.Could it be true?I assume it is considering the way this prophecy has been delivered. What does it mean though? How do we deal with something like this?Before we can ask any questions, the bubble floats off into the sky which grows lighter again. The lights turn back on. The candles are re-lit.Lucas and I look to each other as everyone looks to us for answers. Yet I’m stumped. Usually I know what to say, but not this time.“I have no idea where that came from,” I admit. I’ve found that when it comes to being Alpha, the best way to approach these sorts of things is from a place of honesty. “However, I can say that I feel blessed.“It’s clear our daughter will be special. I don’t know exactly what that means yet, but we will take care of her to the best of our ability. We’ll cherish her just as we do Fergus. We’ll