NORA POVFourteen suns have come and gone, and along with it, my birthday. Only a small cupcake to celebrate the occasion. Cain’s actions becoming more confusing by the day. If he really wanted me as his Luna, wouldn’t he have tried to mark me by now?The longer he waits, the less I trust him, but I still haven’t taken the injections in my shoe. Following through with Theo’s strict instructions. No need to provoke him sooner than necessary. The shoes stay on my feet, always. Viola has been taciturn lately, pacing and constantly sleeping. Barely mumbling a word, but always aware.I still haven’t been able to leave this room. Books, movies, food, and anything else I request are brought to me, but asking to leave the room results in the guards shutting the door immediately. With the lock sliding firmly in place with an angry glare.The days becoming so similar they’re blurring together in a monotonous daze. My morning begins at 6am am when an Omega brings in my breakfast, her eyes always
KAILAH POVTHE MORNING MARCUS DIESMy feet aimlessly carry me through the aisle of the baby store, eyes scanning over the cute little clothes. My fingers putting the bright pink tutu between my hands, the rough fabric gliding along my fingertips.Marcus and I decided not to know the sex, but every time we shop, my body wanders to the little girl section. The pink and the frills calling to me, begging me to take a gander. Unable to resist the ‘oooh’ and ‘awww’ as I look at the adorable clothes and accessories.Glancing at my wrist, I check the time, eager for my mate to walk through the door. We only have a few more things to buy before the nursery is finally complete. Hakeem, Derek, and Marcus had painted the nursery a few weeks ago, and I have been slowly filling it with all the things our precious babe needs.Growing bored, I find myself in a lane filled with life size scrabble letters. Filtering through, I pull out the letters needed for both of the names we have chosen. Octavius fo
KAILAH POVBlinking rapidly, my chest and stomach clench in terrible discomfort. Whimpers filling my ears and head. “Marcus,” I call out into the fuzzy room.Foot steps heard racing towards the room, as two blurry figures step into view. “Ma’am,” a rich female voice says aloud. Her figure and the room, focusing until I can make out the features of his face.A middle-aged woman, in her mid forties, with salt and pepper hair and warm brown eyes. “Marcus. I want Marcus!” I wail as more searing pain rips through my abdomen. The muscles tightening, the pressure unbearable, as my back arches off the bed.“Haley,” Another female voice says from the bottom of the bed. The concern in her aura, washing over me. “Her water broke.”“Shit,” Haley replies, “before bending down in front of me. “Can you tell me your name, ma’am?”“Serenity,” I mumble, using the fake name Marcus made me say aloud until I was blue in the face. “Serenity Turner.”“Serenity, my name is Haley,” she attempts to rub my back,
FLETCHER POVThe last week and a half has been hell, stuck in a constant stalemate with Cain’s men. Xander and Andrew are on the verge of losing their shit. I swear the pair are two fucking seconds from burning the entire world to the ground.I love Xander like a brother, but goddess, I want to punch him right now. Walking between the tents of our men and women, a blonde pony tail I’d recognize in the pits of hell ducks past. Without thinking, Mars, my wolf, leads me to her.Checking to see if Matt is inside, a sigh of relief escaping me when I don’t find his brooding figure within. He has barely left her side since we’ve stepped in onto the field.‘Would you rather her be alone?’ Mars growls, reminding me that Matt isn’t as important.‘Yeah,’ I return, ‘but does he always have to be up her ass?’ I question, salty that I haven’t been able to steal a moment of her time.Ducking inside, I hear her sigh. “Matt, you promised to give me ten minutes.” Her shoulders tense, and I know what has
THEO POVThe days have ticked by in agonizingly slow minuscules. Food and water only when further starvation would cause death. Fucking Zachary…why the hell is the fucker is alive is beyond me…The Beta heir from Tiberius’ reign of Silver Run.Eli should have killed him weeks ago and been done with it. Instead, he kept him around like a rat in a cage, able to escape with the help of unknown allies. What was Alpha Eli thinking? He wasn’t. That's the fucking problem.Ironic that I am the one now trapped in the cage like a rat…but I am the one who usurped the bastard’s position…in my defense, it is my birthright. My DNA contains the genes from decades’ worth of Silver Run Beta’s.The rattle of a baton being dragged against the bars makes me involuntarily flinch. Coming to associate the sound with pain. Damn bastards. The only thing I can rely on is my hearing. My eyes are so swollen, and my sense of smell completely dashed.Cerberus staying at the back of my mind, trying to protect himsel
NORA POVMy feet have burned holes in the carpet with constant pacing. ‘Viola!’ I call into my darkness of my mind, trying to wake her. ‘Viola, I swear to the Goddess, answer me!’'Yes, Nora?’ She asks, sounding sleepy and exhausted, nausea bubbling in my gut once more.‘Are we expecting a pup?’ I ask. I already know the answer, but I am desperate to be proven wrong.‘Yes,’ she answers, shattering my world slightly. Of all the times to be pregnant, now is the worst time of all. ‘I’ve been protecting the pup. I don’t trust that, Cain.’‘Me either,’ I shudder, thinking of his nice treatment lately, knowing it’s all a ploy to make me complacent. To make me feel safe, but truthfully, the nicer he is, the less safe I feel. It’s like the beautiful weather before a hurricane. Peaceful, but short-lived.‘Should we use the injections?’ I question, as I look out the window into the forest behind the house.‘For now, Cain cannot scent the pup….Taking the injections…’ Viola trails off in her expl
NORA POVMy stomach is sitting in my throat, the pressure from the anxiety making it harder to inhale. To find breath, to find calm. For the first time in the weeks I feel the fear bearing down on me, like a gunman does on its victim.Viola sleeping, resting, and reserving the strength in case we need it for the pup. Neither of us trusting Cain’s reaction when he finds out, and he will figure it out. There is no way to hide a pup, maybe for a few more weeks, but with the way I am vomiting, it’s not likely.Not to mention the way my body is already changing. I caught myself in the mirror after my shower this morning and lord have mercy. My boobs already filling out. Werewolf pregnancies move along faster than humans. In about six months, we will have a little Alpha running around.Instinctively, my hand rubs along my skin, a heartwarming feeling knowing I have Xander’s pup in my stomach. ‘Don’t worry, baby.’ I say silently, not risking the warriors outside my door hearing the comments.
NORA POVTaking the cup from my hand, Bethany places it on the table. Using a gloved hand, she uncaps the vial, dropping a pregnancy test inside. Once the strip is soaked, she recaps the test and places it on the metal medical tray. Replacing the cap to the urine container, she throws the waste in the hazardous bin.“Luna,” Bethany says, her eyes scanning my body, while her nose raises in the air, sniffing wildly. “What did you do?”“What I must,” I respond, raising my chin in defiance. She isn’t the only one who has a family to protect. Horror and awe sit on the woman’s face as she studies me. “I don’t trust Cain’s reaction when he finds out.”Nodding with understanding, she says nothing, joining me on the exam table. Grasping my hand in hers, she gives a gentle squeeze in solidarity. “I'll do what I can to help protect the little heir.” She says with conviction. Stirring pride in my chest, at the love Xander’s people have for him, after years of being away.“Bethany,” I say, glancing
Hey Rebels, Thank you so much for sticking it out through Nora's story, and do not worry this is not the last we see of her. To all those who have taken the time to read, comment, review, and donate gems I cannot than you enough for your devotion! Your support means everything to me, and I cannot wait to keep sharing my stories with you all. I would like to thank a couple amazing friends, and support systems! Seriously, without these amazing author friends Nora's book might never gotten finished, let alone started. These woman were so amazing and supportive. They read the five million edits it took to get this story started without complaint. They let me vent when I needed to vent, and gave tough love when I needed it too. If you're looking for new books/authors to read while waiting for Charity's book to drop in August of 2023 I highly recommend these women who have come to mean so much to me. Miri Googag, has "The Alpha's Guardian series," and 8 other completed book on GoodNovel
THEOFOUR AND A HALF YEARS LATER - LATE JANUARYAndrew and I are hunched over the desk in our joint office, pouring over the floor plans for the expansion. Our community home, Windsor House, has grown since moving its location to “the hub,” the neutral center between the packs, and rogue collective. The location is ideal for young wolves kicked from their homes, but don’t want to become pack members in Silver Run or New Moon to benefit.“We’re definitely going to need a larger kitchen,” Andrew murmurs, sparks erupting as his shoulder brushes against mine. Even after all these years, my body reacts to him the same as the first day we met.“With the way these animals eat? Definitely.” His laugh fills the room, and it’s like music to my ears.“Betas,” Seven, Trent’s mate, and the manager of our home, says through the intercom. “Mr. and Mrs. Gonzalez are here to talk to you.” Andrew and I glance at one another, sadness radiating through our bones. Mr. and Mrs. Gonzalez are the parents of
NORA POV ’He is quite the sexy beast, isn’t he?’ I respond, giggling, enjoying the seamless banter between us already. Sensing the shift in my aura, Ares lurches forward, Xanders irises bleeding into black. His tone was primal and so incredibly arousing. “Mate?” Before I can prepare, my new wolf is taking over, a name falling out of my mouth that makes him smile tenderly. “Alicia” tumbling out into the air like an animalistic grumble. The ache beginning in my limbs, and if it’s anything like my shift with Viola, it’s going to be a long, agonizing night. “Absolutely beautiful,” Ares whispers, his touch on my face soothing for a second before she tries to push forward, so eager to meet him. “Alicia, Goddess of Wildflowers.” His term of endearment is all it takes to send her into overdrive. Her desires clamp down on me, making mine irrelevant, the strength of her much stronger than I or Viola. My back bending backward. Her impatience has her forcing the shift before the moon hits its
NORA POV FIVE MONTHS LATER- A MONTH AFTER OCTAVIUS’ BIRTH “Xander, stop!” I look upward at the right moment, praying to the Goddesses I did, when I see where he is holding the scissors, ready to cut out a chunk of my hair. I could have had paid a professional to come remove my braids, or gone to a salon, but the whole idea of leaving my den or having a stranger inside makes me anxious. “What? What am I doing wrong?” He pauses, looking absolutely disheveled. Octavius proudly strapped to his chest. The man wears him everywhere and hates parting with him. “Look at my hair. Can you see where the feed in starts?” I take the strand from his hands, showing him the difference. “See, this part is where my real hair is, and this lower part is where the fake hair is braided in.” His brows furrow, and his mouth tightens in concentration, sweat forming on his forehead. “Ummm… I am sorry, I just know how much you love your hair and I’d never forgive myself….I want to help you, and I don’t…” He
CHARITY POV Paramore blares through the speakers of my stereo, my head resting against my favorite fuzzy pillow. I try to stop my thoughts from wandering to where they shouldn’t. To who they shouldn’t. A growl of frustration leaving my lips as Summer, my meddlesome wolf, pushes their faces into my mind. She feels no shame about wanting Matt and Fletcher equally. The idea puritanically sinful and thrilling. Wrong. Wrong. So very wrong. People don’t have two mates, and people shouldn’t want more than one. Maybe I am defective? What’s wrong that I cannot pick one and accept my choices? But the thought of not having the other makes me sick. My heart physically aches when I try to imagine the possibility. How selfish am I? They’re both waiting around for me to decide. To choose between them, how the hell am I supposed to do that? ‘We don’t,’ Summer drones on for the millionth time. ‘Making them share me isn’t fair, Summer!’ The argument flowing like a memorized script. ‘They need to fo
XANDER POV“And we have to have this talk here? Now?” I cringe, looking around the room, filled with people who shouldn’t be a part of this conversation. Damon, Elle, Theo, and Andrew sitting along one side, while Camilla and two others sit in another.“Yes,” she coughs, shuffling nervously, “it has to do with them, too.”“How?” I roar. The fury burst forth like a cannon, spewing her with vitriol. “How does you leaving me behind as a boy have anything to do with them?”“Xander, please,” Camilla sighs, looking around the room. “This goes beyond the both of us. Please sit.”“No, I don’t have or want to listen to your lies and excuses,” I scoff, “or did you not notice we did not invite you to our ceremony?”“You told me she couldn’t come,” an accusatory voice comes from beside me, and my anger is suddenly drowning in ice water. “Xander…”Meeting the narrowed pupils of my mate, I gulp, knowing I have just landed myself in a pile of shit. “I lied, and I am sorry, but she didn’t deserve to
XANDER POV “Well, don’t you look like a Dapper Dan,” a teasing voice comes from behind, and for the first time in days I relax. Turning, I grin at my Beta, happy to have him home. “I thought you would not make it back in time.” I walk up, hugging him in his lavender suit. My own a paler, dusty purple. Charity picked the color specifically because it matches Nora’s dress. The young Gamma has been running around like a chicken with her head cut off over the last few days. The five foot five general running the rest of us into the ground, except for my beautiful Wildflower. Elle and Charity taking as much off her plate as they can so they can rest with the pregnancy. “Sorry, I couldn’t make it back for Theo and Andrew’s ceremony,” he sighs, his body tensing, telling me the detour errand I sent him on proved fruitless. The Beta’s ceremony was a day and a half ago, and Fletcher was the only one in our close circle not present. “But heaven and hell would not stop me from being here for
THEO POV Cerberus gushes as I smooth out the jacket of the dark blue suit I have chosen for Andrew and I’s ceremony. Looking myself over in the mirror, I adjust the emerald green tie and the flower in my pocket. “Your mother would be proud of the man you’ve grown to be.” I meet my father’s gaze, surprised by his sudden appearance. Rolling next to me, he holds a box in his hands, tears and sniffles escaping as he looks me over. “I miss her,” I sigh, wishing she was here to enjoy this moment. “I do too,” he smiles faintly, recalling a memory. “Every damn day.” “Dad,” I say, not sure how to broach the subject, but I think it’s time we talk about the elephant in the room. “I don’t think mom would have wanted you to stay single forever…” My mind flashes to Camilla, the middle-aged brunette who seemed to know my dad better than she let on. “She was my mate, son,” his words lashing out like a silver laced whip. “And you want me to just forget her like she never existed?” He scoffs, pain
NORA POV “Holy shit, they’re glowing,” Andrew says, breaking the silence of the room. “Thanks, Captain Obvious,” Xander growls, not in the mood for the nonsense. “What does it mean?” “That I cannot answer,” Elle breaks into the conversation, stepping forward to look me over with her mismatched eyes. “But I think our marks are a clue.” She pulls back her collar, revealing a triple moon with two paws sitting in the full moon, and three stars sitting in the far right corner. “Theirs too,” she points to Andrew and Theo, but her focus doesn’t move from me, her stare fixed. Avoiding the questions, I am sure she has. I wander to Theo, who beams with pride as he reveals the tattoo like mark on his collarbone. “It’s beautiful.” I remark, looking between the pair, but don’t comment on how it’s not the typical mark meant for a Beta. “That’s not the mark a pack Beta gets, ” Xander says, peering down from behind my back. “Thanks, Captain Obvious,” Andrew returns, making Damon snort in amusem