Training day was here. I didn't know how the pack was going to take getting orders from another Alpha and their trainers but hopefully Zach and his father have made it clear they asked for this.
I went through my morning routine and settled Prince and Oliver down with the babysitter. I got dressed in a pair of running leggings and a sports bra and made me way out to the training field. Here we go.A few minutes go by as everyone gathered on the field in front of us. "Can I get your attention" Mia says trying to get everyone's attention."You can get my attention any day babe" some clown said from the back of the crowd."And you can get my fist in your throat" Ethan growls back, oh yeah did I mention my bestie was his mate now? It turns out that Ethan was rejected by his mate before I knew him and Mia felt her mate die a year ago. They dated a bit and now are fully mated! Anyway, that shuts the idiot up but makes some of the others snicker.The next day:-Dylan and I stood in front of the trainees, the others all spread out ready to receive their groups. "Right everyone settle down. We know your strengths and weaknesses so we decided to put you into groups where you can get as much support as you need to improve the skills you need help developing." Dylan states."That's correct, you should all know who your trainer is as we sent uniforms to each of you last night. Please get into your groups and stand by your instructors, they will be wearing the same colours as your uniform if you can't remember our names." I announced while stepping away from Dylan so our groups would have space to join us."As I introduced myself yesterday my name is Luna Rayne and I will be your trainer. You are in my group because you need support with your hand to hand combat. I will help you build your confidence along with your precision and speed in human form." I heard a scoff.Anger radiated throu
Training went smoothly after that day, a few weeks later and we were packing up ready to return home. We had adopted Oliver officially and I honestly couldn't be happier! Dylan loved the idea of having another little spirit running around our family home and playing with Prince.Walking out of the door i called out to Dylan letting him know I was going for a run before having to be cooped up in the car for hours. After stripping and shifting I was off... I decided to follow a path I used to take when I was younger, it led to the most beautiful waterfall and I wanted to see it before I left all over again. It was exactly as I remembered it as I launched myself into the water, shifting to swim around under the warm, steadily pounding water. I was so entranced I didn't notice Zach. He cleared his throat and I jumped letting a squeal leave my mouth."Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you Rayne." He was obviously holding back a laugh as I scowled at him."W
"I'm not called Rayne.""What? Why would you use a different name?" He didn't seem mad, just confused."My real name is Raven." I all but whisper, but I knew he heard me."Raven? Are you playing some kind of cruel joke on me?" He roared. "That's not funny at all!” He growled out while trying to read my face. “Unless... did you hide your name so I wouldn't be upset that you shared her name?" His voice calmed down a bit when he realised by my posture that I was distressed and not pranking him."No, look Zach, you're going to have a lot of questions and I will try to answer them all but just know that I'm sorry. I have moved on and a lot has changed with me. I know you don't recognise me but I am Raven.” I took a deep breath, I had to get this out now, it was like I had opened a jack-in-the-box and there was no holding it back. “I'm the one who you bullied at school, the one you cheated on with Cassidy, the one whose s
"Uhhhhhhh", I rolled onto my side as I started to wake up. Why the hell did my neck hurt so bad? I blinked the sleep out of my eyes as I realised that I was laying on a cold concrete floor. What the fuck? Then I remembered the waterfall... Zach.... then blackness.My goddess, where was I?I groaned out in pain as I tried to sit up without the nausea taking over from my dizzy head."Oh Raven thank goddess you're awake, I was worried you wouldn't wake up for a minute there!" I know that voice, at least I think I do. I tried to turn around slowly but my head hurt to bad and my legs wouldn't obey my mind.That's when I noticed the silver chains pinning my feet to the floor stopping me from turning... unless I wanted to burn my skin that is. I put my head in my hands and sighed. "Raven, please, just say something?" I did know that voice.... it was..."Zach?""Oh thank you
We were fully packed up now and we were just waiting for Raven to get back from her run. Our two little boys were watching tv with Mia because I knew she probably wanted to say goodbye to the pack lands again before we leave. I didn’t want to put them in the car until I knew she was ready, I had tried to mind link with her to say we were ready but she had shut me out, I knew she would need her own time so I won’t rush her.We spent the next couple of hours watching the tv. I couldn’t help my eyes automatically checking out the windows, to see if my mate was walking back yet, every few minutes.Because I was desperate to see her and get going the time seemed to drag by, I swear it felt like an entire day had passed when it reached three hours.“Dylan?”“Yes Mia?” I sighed, I just wanted to get home.“I think she’s lost track of time do you mind if I go to her? She’s stil
And with that the door opened.Standing there was a beast of a man, I feel like I know him but I can't find an idea of where from with my groggy brain. "Hello little Luna." Funny, not the voice from the speaker.I look back up to the camera, "come on hunny, don't think I'd think that was you did you?" The beast walked over to me and took the chains off my feet and pulled me up. Zach growled and struggled but there wasn't anything he could do. The beast walked me down a corridor, well, more like dragged me. He threw me into a room and closed the door behind him. Great. Me and my big mouth just had to go and get myself secluded, at least I had company in Zach.I was disturbed from my thoughts when the door opened and in came... "JACE?!?!""Hello Raven. Long time no see." He chuckled but it was nothing like the laugh I was used too after these years, it was dark, unkind, evil."What are you doing here? What are you doing? What's going on with the pack
I knew what was going to happen, even if she was clueless. I had to live through it once, it made me stronger. I looked at the Adam to find that he was already looking at me. I smirked at him and he rose an eyebrow. Well, two could play at this game. I thought. "Oh Adam, what a shame I used to call you brother, even after all the beatings. Now you're working with hunters? I'm so disappointed to say you have the same blood as me, you're a disgrace to our kind. A week little puppy dog playing pretend wolf." That eared me a whack across the cheek from beastie again. "Oh come on, big guys like you really should pack a harder punch beastie." "Let's just get this over with, she won't be so smug soon." Adam turned to a table and picked up something silver again, this time I could see it was a silver branding iron. "Look away Mia." I stated flatly. "What? No, what's going on Raven?!" She squealed looking at what Adam was holding over a flame. "Mia, as
I did not want this… but I had to sacrifice my sister to these animals, or it was my neck on the line. Goddess she must hate me so much, I am her older brother, I should have protected her. But like it always has been, it was me above her. I am a coward. A pathetic excuse for a wolf, I knew this and yet here I was, going through with this anyway.You see, I did not even start this. Zach had. He had a deal with a group of wolf hunters, that’s the reason he could not mate with my sister. The deal was signed to keep the hunters off our land. They had grown in numbers and were a threat to us all, including the pups. So, Zach did what he saw fit and promised in return not to mate or they would wipe our pack out. I understood why he did it, nobody in the pack knew of this looming threat except me and him. Of course, he knew at the time that my sister was his mate, he had too much pride to admit she was and so he started to bully her openly and allow others to as well.
Then, just when it felt like we couldn't go on any longer, we heard the distant sound of howling. Hope surged within us as we recognized the familiar cadence of our pack's howls. They were close.Zach and I exchanged a glance, a mixture of exhaustion and anticipation in our eyes. With a newfound burst of energy, we pushed forward, following the sound of the howls through the dense forest.And then, they emerged from the shadows, a formidable force of werewolves led by Dylan himself. Relief flooded through me as I saw familiar faces among them, friends and allies who had come to our aid.Dylan's eyes met mine, a silent understanding passing between us. Without a word, he stepped forward, his presence commanding respect and authority. Planting a firm kiss on my lips, "Are you both alright?" he asked, his voice filled with concern."We're okay," Zach replied, his voice hoarse from the earlier fight. "Thanks to you and the pack."Dylan nodded, his gaze sweeping over us, he growled as he s
When I awoke, the cave was still cloaked in darkness, but Zach was already awake, keeping watch."Ready?" he asked softly.I nodded, feeling a bit more rested. "Ready."Zach handed me some shorts and a shirt to put on, “I found what I’m guessing was a hiding spot for some rogues back along the way we came from. Can’t go to humans naked.” In all honesty I had forgotten we were naked and didn’t notice he suddenly wore clothes, my exhaustion really was messing with my senses. We slipped out of the cave once I pulled on the clothes, the forest greeting us with its early morning sounds. We moved quickly and quietly, every sense heightened as we made our way towards the town. The journey was arduous, but the hope of reaching safety kept us moving.As the sun began to rise, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink, we heard the distant sound of voices. Zach and I exchanged a glance, and we moved off the path, crouching behind a fallen log."They’re closer than I thought," Zach muttered
The forest embraced us with its shadows and secrets, the canopy above blotting out the moonlight, making our path treacherous but concealing. Each step forward was a small victory, a step closer to home. The urgency to reunite with my boys and Dylan burned within me, driving my exhausted body to keep moving.We traveled in silence, communicating with glances and gestures. Zach took the lead, his keen senses alert for any sign of danger. I followed closely, my heart pounding not just from exertion but from the fear of being caught. Our escape had been daring, but the threat of pursuit loomed over us like a dark cloud. My mothers plan may have worked. We may be mated, but she hired hunters and rogues to help , she lied about the reasons she needed is alive. They would want us dead for her betrayal and us escaping their grasp and showing them to be fools.After an hour of relentless pace, Zach signaled for us to stop. We crouched behind a dense thicket to shift back, the sounds of the fo
Zach's grip tightened around the rogue’s lifeless body before he let it slump to the floor. His eyes met mine, filled with a blend of determination and sorrow. This was it—our only chance to escape."Stay close," Zach whispered, his voice low and urgent. "We move quickly and quietly. We don't know how many more there are."I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest. The memory of the searing pain from the mark still lingered, but the rush of adrenaline now coursing through my veins was stronger. I wasn’t going to let anything stop me from getting back to my boys and Dylan.We crept through the dimly lit corridor, every step calculated to avoid making any noise. The building was eerily silent, the only sound the distant hum of machinery and the occasional drip of water from leaky pipes. It felt like we were in a maze, each turn leading us deeper into the unknown.Zach paused at a corner, peering around it before motioning for me to follow. I couldn’t help but marvel at his transformation.
"Are you ok?" Zach's voice was filled with worry and i couldn't imagine what i'd just put him through. You mark someone and she just collapses, talk about a panic."Yes i'm, i'm ok... my mum was right." Stupidity seemed to plague my mind as i tried to process what happened."She was right? How do you know?""I felt it, and i saw it... the memories of all the past healers filled my head when we marked each other, i couldn't get away from it, it just happened." I still felt completely shocked by everything i was shown. "She was telling the truth, i would have died if we hadn't done this. And as the memories showed it would have been well before my time and just an awful way to die.""Well as much as i wished this wouldn't be the way or the reason we marked each other i am glad you'll be ok." His voice was so sad, the bond wanted me to take the pain away, tell him we could work and move on together but my love for Dylan stayed present and i knew i couldn't promise that."I'm sorry we had
"It's been three hours!" I roared, impatience knawing at every cell of my being. I wanted answers, i wanted to know what was going on with my little Oliver. He passed out on the drive and as i pulled up he started convulsing. What the hell could be wrong? He was regularly checked up at the hospital, we even checked his blood for any markers for illness's that could run in his birth family and nothing jumped out.Surely it can't just be a coincidence that he starts having dreams to do with a gift we didn't know he had and then this happens to him? Mybe he's stuck in one of those dreams? This thought setting my mind alight i rushed through the waiting doors to inform the doctor of my suspicions. "Sir, you can't..." i didn't let the nurse finish as i pushed him out of my way. I'm an alpha, nobody will tell me to stay away from my son when i think i may know whats wrong.Maybe this was a mistake, seeing the doctor and a nurse rush around Oliver who is hooked up to a million machines beepi
It was at the moment his adoptive mother marked her fated that little Oliver passed out in the passenger seat of his adoptive dads truck as their convoy made their way to the Red Wood pack he originally came from, the same as his mother."Oliver!" Dylan was panicked but couldn't stop the car, he knew he had to get to the other pack as soon as he could.Back with Raven and Zach, he paced the room, a passed out mate on the bed. As soon as she was marked she fell to the floor with eyes wide open and glowing silver. He had placed her on the bed to ensure she wasn't hurt but all he could feel through the bond was an all consuming peace so he knew subconsciously that she was ok but looking at her in this way still worried him.Deep in the depths of her mind Raven was at peace and yet couldn't bring herself back to the present. She was enveloped in a buzzing sense of self, she realised her mother wasn't lying. As soon as she was marked by her fated mate she was engulfed by memories of her anc
I woke up groggy, I lifted my hand to my face and realised it was wet. Peeling my heavy eyelids open i looked down and realised i was in a cold bath. How had i gotten here? then the pain hit, the unbareable heat washing over me in waves and i found myself wishing the bath was colder or filled with ice. "ZACH!" I called out hoping he could fill in my blank mind and help me with the pain. I looked around and realised the door was closed with the key on the floor. How odd, had i locked myself in here? why? "Raven, its ok. But i can't come in, you're in heat." Zach's mufled voice broke through the pain. "How did this happen? Why am i in here?" My fuzzy brain couldn't put anything together through the pain. Nothing made sense to me at the moment."I had to cool you down and lock my wolf away from you. You were brought back to the room passed out and in heat. I think they were hoping i'd be unable to resist and mark you. But i couldn't do that to you so i had to serperate us and i knew i
All that effort for nothing, no sign of my sweet Raven. The boys missed her, even though Oliver didn’t have her in his life for long I could see he missed her dearly. She was his saving grace, Price was just a pup but Oliver was more aware of what was happening. Here I am, sat with the young wolf listening to another dream he’s had about his mummy, my Raven. “And before it went dark, mummy was put in a freezing cold bath but was still so hot it burnt me to touch her. Daddy? Daddy are you listening to me?”“It’s ok Oliver, don’t worry about these things you dream ok? I’m sure nothing like that is going on, you’re just missing mummy that’s all.”“But daddy it felt so real, she was there, right there with me!!” “Oliver, dreams always seem real. That’s what makes them so exciting when you have a good one and so worrying when you have a bad one. I promise you it’s just a bad dream, ok? Now let’s go have some breakfast and get little Prince up.” He’d been having these dreams since Raven f