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THE LAST ASCENT
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Reckoning of the purple moon INTO THE ABYSS
POV: Ivory WellsAs I bent behind the crumbling stone wall and peered out at the heavily guarded facility ahead of us, my heart hammered in my chest. This was the location where my daughter Darcy was being housed the result of years of suffering and unresolved issues.Beside me, Jeremy moved uneasily, his eyes darting from shadow to shadow, always alert for any indication of threat. "Ivory, are you quite certain about this? It reminds me of a fortification.I nodded, my jaw locked in a harsh line. " Jeremy, I'm sure. Every bit of the data suggests that Darcy is being kept here. And I'll be damned if I let anything stand in the way of getting her back."Jeremy's face grew stiffer, and he nodded resolutely. "then let's start this. You know, regardless of everything, I have your back."Looking at the young man next to me, I felt a flood of thankfulness. Jeremy had developed greatly, his unflinching loyalty and bravery a continual source of strength against the difficulties we had faced.
Reckoning of the purple moon THE CHOICE WITHIN THE FIRE
POV: Jeremy WilliamsAs I struck punches with the guards, the smoke burned my eyes. Though years of training had sharpened my reflexes, their fists flew at me in a frenzy. One by one, I wove and targeted precisely with counterattacks." Go! Get Darcy under cover from here! I yelled across her shoulder to Ivory. I had to purchase time to get away.I watched Ivory grabbing the tiny girl's hand and running for the exit through the cloud. A flood of relief came over me, rapidly extinguished by the hard truth of my circumstances. More guards arrived; their rifles drawn and fingers tightly on the triggers.Knowing I was outgunned and outmatched, I broke desperately for the exit, praying the smoke threw off their aim was off. Gunfights broke behind me as I dove through the gate, rolling to cover gasping for breath. Just minutes before, sporadic gunfire tore the area I had been in.I had somehow made it out alive. But what price would it be? And from here where did I go? My whole life, everyt
Reckoning of the purple moon TOUGH DECISION
POV: Jeremy WilliamsI came out of the blazing property and the smoke burned my eyes; my lungs yearned for fresh air. Coughing fiercely, I doubled over as the gunfight tore on behind me.That brief break let my mind turn into a whirlpool of ideas and feelings. One side was my father, Darrel, the man who reared, coached, and shaped me into the fighter I am now. Our relationship ran more strongly than blood. He was the Alpha, the relentless force that had ingrained in me the morals and rules I followed.But counter that was the fresh will for justice and truth Ivory had awakened in me. Her terrifying search to be reunited with her long-lost daughter Darcy had shown the nasty underbelly of the pack one which prized power and custom over morality.I had seen personally the filth Callum and his ilk could produce in their attempt to keep Darcy under control. I would always be scarred by the maimed hand of poor Roger, dead for our cause. The idea of a child being just a pawn in their horribl
Reckoning of the purple moon TRUTHS LAID BARE
POV: Ivory WellsWith the weight of long-buried secrets and lies descending on me from all sides, the musty air of the safe home seemed stifling. Emotions a whirl of wrath, grief, and frustration, I moved the little area like a trapped animal.Darrel drove everything from the middle. My old friend. Onetime Alpha, the guy I had trusted with my life, my love, my everything only to have unimaginable treachery destroy all.I had stayed away from really facing him about that terrible night for years. The evening when a basic misinterpretation turned into violence that sent our daughter to the winds and drove me from the pack. I felt it lancing across my soul, even now, a physical anguish.but no more. Now that Darcy had been recovered and pulled from the grasp of that monster Callum against all odds I would not allow half-truths and meaningless platitudes. Once and for once, I wanted to know exactly how Darrel helped to plan the events that destroyed our family.The others turned away as I
Reckoning of the purple moon THE HUNT BEGINS
POV: Callum WellsLike a thunderclap, the compound's enormous gates slamming closed reverberated through the hallways. Standing framed in the control room's entrance, I saw my lieutenants and techs frantically rush about trying to decipher our most recent intelligence.Grainy images from our spy drones poured through in quick bursts of pixels as a holographic display flickered and pulsed at the center of the poorly lighted chamber. My eyes closed as among the digital interference the figures of Darrel, that vile Ivory and my disloyal nephew Jeremy surfaced.So they had slunk out of whatever hole they were hiding in at last. Fantastic. This game of cat and mouse had bored me.I watched their little company sprinting into the wilderness, the brat Darcy almost stumbling over her own feet in their hurried escape. I grinned cruelly. Jeremy snatched her up without missing a stride, cradling her with a protective tenderness that made me sick. The smile soured."He's going to pay dearly for t
Reckoning of the purple moon THE HUNT BEGINS
POV: Darrell WilliamsBlinking the whirl of smoke and burnt flesh from my eyes, my senses assailed. The devastated valley seemed all around like the result of a firestorm: scorched ground covered by impact craters and deep furrows.I staggered to my feet, ribs screaming in protest from the hammering they had suffered during the final onslaught. My hand came away sticky and heated when I touched my hairline, but a quick check revealed the headcut was minor.A little sigh from my right helped me to refocus entirely. Whirling with my weapon poised, ready to unleash destruction on any threat, I discovered Ivory half buried under a mound of trash and wreckage.I just stared for a suspended moment, battling the instincts of conversation. One side of me realized pragmatically that I could not hope for survival without her still great talents. Supporting that was the indisputable reality that Darcy had irreversibly mixed our blood whatever difference had split our family asunder permanently h
Reckoning of the purple moon DARK SECRETS
POV: Ivory WellsThe dank air of the subterranean corridor brought metallic traces of blood and stale sweat. As we advanced, my muscles tightened and my senses alert in expectation of any ambush; I tried not to choke on the overpowering smells.Beside me, Darrel glided with the ease of a predator; his massive form seemed to consume the shadows and confusing dimness like fuel. Having him at my side once more after so many years of following different paths still seemed rather shocking. An undercurrent of anxiety coursed through my spine, always alert against something. Despite best efforts, I could not find the cause of that ongoing unease.Maybe it was only the residual wounds of our catastrophic falling out not completely healed. I looked sidelong at my erstwhile friend, absorbing the sharp lines of his chiseled face in the uneven play of our low light illuminating sticks. I could see the honorable but relentless Alpha burning behind his eyes even now.Still, did he view me as the re
Reckoning of the purple moon LINES DRAWN
POV: Darrell WilliamsLittle more than a dark, hollowed-out cave on the mountainside, the safe house lacked conveniences. All that mattered, though, was a safe refuge and a defensible place to gather following our horrific escape from Callum's ambush.Armaments wrapped across my barreled chest, I stood in the shadows just inside the threshold and peered critically at our ragtag company. Few stayed after that terrible involvement. Wounded, tired, spirits withering in the wake of the murder we had just barely avoided.Still, I could feel the small flames of will still flickering behind the surface of tiredness. excellent. That was the vital spark I would have to fan into an all-consuming fire of moral rage. Callum's savagery had driven us to the brink; it was past time for us to react in kind and finish this vendetta."Get them tended to and rested," I hissed to Hardin, my voice a subterranean rumble that broked no debate. He walked among the injured. But be careful about it. The hour c
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Reckoning of the purple moon UNITY DAWNS
POV: Ivory WellsI emerged from our cabin and felt the warmth of the morning sun on my face. That tragic day in the cave had been three months ago. Even though so much had changed, other things stayed reassuringly similar."Good morning, drowsy head," Mia greeted me as she jogged up. "Ready for the big day?" I smiled. "Ready as I'll ever be, I think. Who gave pack picnics the go-ahead?""Oh wise leader, that would be you," she jokingly said.We strolled to the central area, where pack members were busy getting everything ready for the festivals. Near the food tables, I saw Darrel chatting with Hardin and Marcus. "There you are," Darrel said, drawing me in. "We were just discussing the new patrol schedules."Marcus gave a nod and said, "Joint patrols are operating efficiently. Now my wolves feel comfortable here." "And the training program?" I inquired with Hardin.He grinned. "Better than anticipated. Kira has a talent for instructing the younger ones." "Dad! Mom! Take a look!" Jeremy
Reckoning of the purple moon PAINS AND SACRIFICE
POV: Darrell WilliamsWith the bright light gone, an unsettling silence followed. I attempted to clear the dots from my vision by blinking. When my vision returned, I saw Callum on the ground, lifeless, with Darcy and Jeremy kneeling next to him. "Callum?" Emotion-laden, Ivory's voice broke the stillness.Heart heavy, I took a step toward her. Callum had become the brother I'd always wished he could be in his last moments, something I never would have imagined myself feeling sorry for."Is he...?" I was unable to complete the question. With tears flowing down her cheeks, Ivory nodded. "He's gone." The children gazed up at us, shock and anguish filled in their huge eyes. Shouting, "We didn't mean to," Jeremy said. "We didn't know it would..."I gathered them both into a close embrace. "It's not your fault," I firmly stated. "Callum made his choice. He saved us all." I began to notice the world outside our small group as we grieved. Rovin's army was nowhere to be seen, and the cave entr
Reckoning of the purple moon THE PRICE OF REDEMPTION
POV: Callum WellsI heard the others converse, make plans, and feel hopeful. I felt ill from it. How were they so innocent? Calm amid the packs? Saving us all with the powers of the children? That story was a fable.But as the evening went on, I was plagued by a persistent discomfort in my stomach. What if they were correct? What if there was an alternate route? I shook my head, attempting to dispel any uncertainty. I'd gone too far to go back at this point.The cave became still as the morning drew near. Most had gone to sleep, worn out after the activities of the evening. But I was unable to sleep. As my thoughts raced, I relived each step that brought me to this point.Curled up beside Ivory and Darrel, I found myself staring at Jeremy and Darcy. They appeared so little and so innocent. Was I truly ready to give them up for power? "Can't sleep?"Ivory was observing me with cautious yet nonhostile eyes when I turned around."Just thinking," I said in a whisper. She inched forward, t
Reckoning of the purple moon WOLFS AT THE DOOR
POV: Darrell WilliamsChaos ensued inside the cave. In a flurry of fur and fangs, wolves snapped and hissed, crashing into each other's bodies. Amidst the chaos, I lost sight of Ivory and the children, and my heart raced with concern for their well-being."Ivory!" I yelled, my voice hard to make out over the commotion. Something heavy crashed into me from behind. I turned around and met Callum's twisted smile."Hello, my old friend," Callum said with a sly smile. "Miss me?" I didn't use words to squander time. We collided, stumbling in a mass of limbs across the cave floor. I caught a glimpse of Marcus fending off two of Rovin's goons."Darrel!" A voice spoke above the din: Ivory. "The kids!" I glanced up and saw her cornered with Darcy and Jeremy. With a look of hunger in his eyes, Rovin was charging towards them. My veins heated with rage. I hurled Callum off of me and lunged in the direction of my family.But before I could get to them, an unforeseen event occurred. With a surprisi
Reckoning of the purple moon DECEPTION AND LIES
POV: Ivory WellsI started to get shivers as the howling got closer. It felt quite exposed suddenly, this small clearing.With a tight voice, Darrel stated, "We have to move. Now." Marcus gave a nod. "It's not far to my den. There, we'll be secure."Unsure if we could trust him, I hesitated. But after seeing the exhausted looks on Darcy's and Jeremy's faces, I decided. We had to find shelter quickly. I kept having the impression that something was missing as we went through the woodland. Callum and Rovin had surrendered too quickly. What did we fail to notice?It turned out that Marcus' den was a cleverly concealed cave system. We assembled around a central fire pit once we were inside. With his eyes darting nervously to the cave entrance, Jeremy sat close by. I held his hand and whispered, "It's okay. We're safe here."He gave a nod, but it was clear he wasn't sold. Not one of us was. Marcus cleared his throat. "Now, I believe it's time for some answers."Darrel sat up straight. "You
Reckoning of the purple moon FLAMES OF DESTINY
POV: Ivory Wells“Jeremy!" I screamed as the fire surrounded my son. My heart halted, horror clutching me like a vise. Then, though, the flames disappeared as fast as they began. And something else lingered where Jeremy had stood.A wolf, but unlike any I had seen before. Its eyes shone like fire, and its fur shimmered with an ethereal brightness. Darrel muttered next to me, "Oh my god. Is that...?"Not sure what to say, I nodded. Our son had developed into something much beyond our wildest dreams. Marcus moved forward, amazement ablaze on his face. "The prophecy," he said quietly. "It's true."Jeremy's wolf turned its head and stared at every one of us individually. Its sight locked with mine, and I felt a flash of recognition. My small son was still in there."Jeremy?" I called gently. "Can you understand me?"The wolf nodded gradually. Darrel stepped forward, his hand out. "Son, can you shift back?" Though nothing changed, Jeremy's new shape shimmered. He whined, sounding frustrat
Reckoning of the purple moon THE WOLF WITHIN
POV: Jeremy WilliamsEven as Mom guided me out of the cave, my heart continued to beat. The sounds of war had diminished, but the echoes of horror still echoed within me."Are you okay, sweetie?" Mom's voice quivered with concern as she grasped my shoulders, searching my eyes. I nodded, unable to find the words to convey what I had just experienced. How could I explain the unfathomable, events that happened in that dark, scary cave?We stumbled into a little clearing, surrounded by the calm of the forest. Mom held me close, her hug was a barrier against the residual fear. "Now that you're safe," she muttered, her voice barely audible above the rustling leaves. "I won't let anyone hurt you."But I wasn't sure whether even she could protect me now. The meeting with Callum and the enigmatic Rovin had been traumatic enough, but what worried me most was the discovery about myself that surfaced in that unfathomable darkness."Mom," I began, my voice shaking, "something... something happened
Reckoning of the purple moon HIDDEN PARTNERSHIP
POV: Darrell WilliamsThe sound of Alpha Marcus approaching filled the cave. His presence commanded both respect and horror in equal measure, and his silver fur shimmered in the unsettling blue light.I looked at Ivory and noticed that her eyes reflected my same bewilderment. Why was the Silver Claw Alpha in this situation?Marcus scanned the cavern, taking in the tight exchange of words. "Well, isn't this cozy?" he grumbled.Anger twisted Rovin's face. "Marcus! You're ahead of schedule." My thoughts were racing. Too early? Were they collaborating? Marcus laughed, his laugh resonating against the walls of stone. "Plans change, my dear friend. I decided to speed things up."I moved forward, putting myself in the way of my group and this new foe. "What's going on here?" I demanded.Marcus looked up at me, a gleam in his eyes. "Ah, Darrel, the young one. There's a lot to learn about politics in packs." "This isn't politics," Ivory fumed. "You're holding our son hostage!"Whimpering, Jere
Reckoning of the purple moon THE SEARCH BEGINS
POV: HardinAs we gathered in the pack grounds, the tension in the night air crackled. Nervous talk was interrupted by Darrel's voice.He declared, "We're under attack. We're not running, though. We're retaliating."Ivory stepped forward, and I saw her eyes light up. "We must split up now. While some remain to protect, others will go in search of Jeremy."There were murmurs among the people. I saw glimpses of resolve, fear, and rage."Hardin," Darrel yelled out. "You will lead one search team. Kira, you take another. Ivory and I will take Callum at his word."I nodded, mentally arranging routes already. "What about Darcy?" I enquired. Everybody looked at the little girl. She was tall, with a soft glow all about her."I'm going with you, Dad," she declared strongly.Ivory began to object, but Darrel raised a hand. "She is correct. Her abilities might give us the advantage we need."The pack split apart, and I went up to Kira. "Pay attention to her," I muttered. Kira's gaze grew gentler
