Walking into the living room, Erin was shocked to see that I was already awake and going at it. “Layla? Is everything okay? Did you sleep at all?” she asked, and with a wave, I brushed it off, calling her attention elsewhere. “None of that matters. I think I've come up with a plan to help us solve this problem. Come, take a seat,” I urged, tapping at the seat beside me. Curious, she took a seat and raised a brow at me in concern. “Hey, this is pretty early. You can take a quick nap and I'll just-”“No, this is urgent. We have to talk about this now.” With a sigh, she nodded, and I filled her in on the details of the plans I had made in the frenzy of the night, letting her know that I would be sending she and Remy to the packs whose help we needed. “In a few days, they can find their way here after gathering the people they select to make the journey. You can come right back. It's perfect, if you ask me. What do you think? Are you okay with that?”She nodded, and I sighed in relief
In a few hours, the worst of the cleaning was over. The pack members had taken to wearing nylon bags on their hands so they could go over to the sites and pick up all of the ok clothing that could no longer be worn, and on the other end, a makeshift shower had been created, away from other water sources, so they could have their baths. The pack house was already clean from top to bottom, but I went around to all of the rooms and made sure that they were all clean, packing away all of the valuables into one of the other cabins belonging to the pack. Satisfied, I had instructed the move of the sick people to begin, going into the kitchen to check in the broth that was being prepared for the sick. The sight of carrots and floating bits of meat was enough to warm me up, and I thought about what it would do for the rest. “Well done guys!” I called, smiling at them.In return, I got a host of smiles, which satisfied me. “Thank you,” they chorused, beginning to dish the food into bowls. B
By that evening, multiple bodies of different animals had been brought around from all sides of the pack, and I had marvelled at the number of animal bodies that had been found. They had even gone further and traced all the water sources in the area asides from our own to a singular source, and now the plan was to go ahead to treat it the next day. Lunch and dinner hand gone over well, and although it was probably blind hope from my ends, it looked to to me like everyone who had been ill looked a little better. I had gone around finally to visit Eric, Kimora, Margot, and Lee. The latter had still not opened up his eyes, but the rest had peeled their eyes open and had been told about what it was like to find out that my parents were rogues and I had a family that came from a pack of warriors. They could barely speak, except for Margot who had said, “cool.” which had been a sign to me that I had been forgiven. At the end of the day, I climbed up to Brad's room, unafraid of cross con
Three days into our new routine, dawn brought us the return of Erin and Remy, the joy on their features was a stark contrast to the mood in the pack, but with them they brought good news that lit up my eyes.“Erin, Remy! Oh, thank the gods that you are home and safe. I was so worried about you, I kept saying prayers to the moon goddess to keep you safe.” “Hey Layla,” Remy giggled, “thank you. We were definitely safe, and I'm sure it was your prayers that kept us going. We came with help. Alpha Dan and a few others insisted on coming to help, once we let them know who we were.”With that, the throng of people behind them stepped away, and I saw the face of Alpha Dan, and a few other Alphas the outcasts had an ally ship with. Fat tears rolled down my cheeks with gratitude, and I looked between them and Remy, arms flailing. “I can't even begin to thank you enough. I can try, but my words will fail me. Thank you so much, oh gods, I'm going to start crying,” I wept, putting a hand to my
In agreement, Brad turned to face me, nodding in agreement. His skin was still a lot paler than it had been before, but color had started to return to his cheeks, rounding him out a little bit. I helped him back to the bed and sat down beside him, chastising him for getting out of bed. “I'm trying, okay? It's just hard for me, ai hate being bedridden and not being able to help when the oacknso obviously needs me." Pulling him into me, I gave him a tight hug, understanding where he was coming from. Although he was weak, he returned my hug with the same intensity, placing his chin on top of my head."You'll be back to your usual self in no time," I assured him, tilti g my head and placing a soft kiss on his cheek. "But for now, I need to fill you in on everything that's happened."Stepping back from him, I began to catch him up to speed on the events of the past few hours, from the arrival of Alpha Dan and some other allies, along with the progress being made in restoring the pack. “
The next morning, I got to work alongside the members of Alpha Dan's pack, and I noticed a dissonance between them and my pack members. Gone was the openness that my pack members had displayed when they had first arrived, in its place was a hostility they did not bother to hide. Calling Seth over, I asked him what the entire skirmish was about. “Seth, I see that you do not get along the best with the allies. Is there a problem? Everyone in the pack seems to be following your lead, more or less, and I don't want any fights to break out.” Seth, usually a man of few words, opened his mouth and shut it, like a fish, seemingly deciding on what to say to me. Finally, he came to a conclusion, and met me in the eyes, the blinding blue of his keeping my focused on what he had to say. “Alpha Layla, they are bad vibes. There's something about all of them that just isn't right, and while they works, they sing songs of plundering and destruction, and we don't like that in our pack. I'm sorry.
A week had passed, and the construction project was well underway. According to the reports I had gotten from Seth, in less than a week we should be all set. The tension that had once simmered between the two packs had eased, thanks to Alpha Dan's willingness to address the issue with the plundering songs his men had sung. My pack members and his had gradually found common ground, working together with the aim of getting the job done as fast as possible.I had stayed by Brad every day, watching him regain his strength bit by bit. He was back on his feet, and though he still had some recovery ahead, the improvement in his health wasn't too hard to see. All around the pack too, everywhere, the sick began to get better, and many of them were convalescing well, volunteering to help out at the construction sites. The new harmony was so beautiful that I found myself stepping away to watch it all unfurl without me. Unknown to me, beneath the surface of this newfound harmony, a sinister pl
The construction project had been quite a huge task, and now, after weeks of hard work from members of both of the packs, the buildings that would serve as shelter for the displaced outcasts were finally complete. The sense of accomplishment hung in the air like sweet nectar, mingling with the anticipation of the unveiling of the homes. Alpha Dan's pack was due to leave the next day, and the bittersweet reality of their departure loomed over us. The bond that had formed during our time together was undeniable, and saying goodbye wouldn't be easy.Asides from the drama that seemed to surround our union, it had been nice to live in a shared space with our old neighbors again, and it felt good to have them around. It was a shame that they would have to leave very soon.Seated around a large bonfire, the crackling flames casting dancing shadows, we shared happy stories and laughter. It was a moment of joy; most of the people who had been sick were now all better, and some of them ran ar
P.S: Dear readers, we've come a long way. Please don't forget to leave your comment in the comments section and your vote counts as well. See you in my next book' Winks'. Love Ya. Last Chapter. ***** The crisp autumn air rustled the leaves overhead as I stood with Brad by the edge of the clearing, my hand instinctively cradling the small swell of my belly. The pack had settled into a comfortable routine after the wedding, our days filled with moments of joy, laughter, and the expectation of new beginnings. Feeling the gentle kicks from our unborn child, I marveled at the miracle of life growing within me. Brad's hand rested on my stomach, his eyes filled with awe and love as he felt our baby move. The bond we shared seemed to have even deepened by the knowledge that soon, we would be welcoming a new member into our pack, and it would be a baby: a symbol of our love and the unity of our community. As I stood there, lost in the wonder of impending motherhood, Wally and Margot appro
P.s: Dear readers, we're coming to the end of this book. Please try to leave a review in the comments section. I really appreciate all your efforts thanks. ***** The sun set on the victorious battlefield, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink. Amidst the jubilant pack members and the warriors from the Black Creek pack, Brad and I found a moment of quiet to discuss our future. Erin had joined the celebrations, her eyes reflecting the relief of a battle won and the joy of newfound family bonds. We walked together along the edge of the clearing, the sounds of laughter and celebration fading behind us. Brad looked at me, his eyes filled with a mix of love and determination. "Layla," he said, his voice soft yet steady, "we've been through so much together. I can't imagine my life without you. I want to spend the rest of my days by your side, facing whatever challenges come our way, just like we did today." I smiled, my heart swelling with affection for the man beside me. "Brad,
Amidst the chaos of battle, Erin stood her ground, her eyes locked onto Rame with a mixture of anger and disgust. Brad and I, observing Erin's fierce resolve, exchanged a quick, worried glance. We knew Erin's history with Rame, how he had manipulated her in the past. We couldn't let her face him alone, but we also understood the need for Erin to confront her father. A lot of the battle had been for the pack, but a lot of it had been for Erin's sake too."Brad," I said, my voice low but urgent, "we can't just leave her alone with him. She needs our help, our support. We can't risk her getting manipulated again."I nodded, my eyes never leaving Erin. "I know, Brad. But we can't just rush in without a plan. We need to be strategic about this. If we charge in recklessly, we might inadvertently make things worse for her. We have to trust Erin, trust that she's strong enough to handle him."Brad clenched his fists, frustration evident in his eyes. "I trust Erin, but I don't trust him. He's
The air in the pack meeting hall buzzed with excitement as I stood at the front, my eyes scanning the faces of the pack members. The news of the imminent threat from Rame had spread like wildfire, and now, the entire pack was gathered to discuss our plans for the upcoming battle. Among the crowd, there was a palpable sense of fear, mixed with a touch of anxiety. The arrival of reinforcements from the Black Creek pack was eagerly awaited, not just by my pack members, but by me too. I would never admit it to anyone else, but I was terrified of what was going on. As the pack settled, Brad stood by my side, his presence a source of strength. In the last few days, I had found that I needed it a lot more, because the horror of lur wntkre situationnovertook me at the most random times. I couldn't afford for that to happen right now. Right now, I needed to convey a sense of calm and confidence to inspire our pack members. I took a deep breath, my voice projecting across the room."Thank you
The journey back to our pack was a quiet one. Brad and I walked side by side, lost in our thoughts. The encounter with Rame had shaken us to our cores. As we trudged through the dense forest, I couldn't help but glance at Brad, trying to decipher the storm of emotions that must be raging within him. Finally, unable to contain my curiosity, I broke the silence."Brad, how are you feeling?" I asked, my voice gentle. "Seeing Rame, the one who took your father away from you... it must have been incredibly difficult. I know you never speak about your father. In fact, no one in the pack does. They all act like he is some taboo topic, and hearing Rame just-”He sighed, his shoulders tense. "It's... complicated, Layla," he replied, his voice heavy with the weight of his emotions. "I never thought I'd see him again after that night. I had buried the memories deep inside, trying to move on. But now, facing him, it's like reopening an old wound. Anger, sadness, confusion... it's all mixed up ins
"You can call me someone who's not afraid of delusional villains," I retorted, my voice firm, refusing to back down in the face of Rame's anger. "Your reign of darkness ends here, Rame. We won't let you destroy our pack."Rame's eyes blazed with fury, his lips curling into a snarl. "You think your bravado will save you? I've faced stronger opponents than you, and they all fell before my power. There are many things that I can do that your small brains cannot even begin to fathom. Do you really feed into the belief that your confidence will help you?"I exchanged a shared glance with Brad, our shared annoyance fueling our speech. "Rame, your power may be formidable, but it's nothing compared to the strength of all the love that there is in this pack. Erin may be an exception, but in this pack, we protect our own," Brad said, his voice steady. "Our pack stands together, and that makes us stronger than you can ever comprehend. Get it through your little head that you are not getting your
"Layla," Brad's voice trembled with emotion as he continued, his eyes fixed on mine, "Rame was once one of the most respected wizards in our pack. His fall from grace was a tragedy that was caused by his own ambition. He was a friend to my father, a mentor even. But power corrupted him, turned him into a monster."I took a hold of Brad's hand, offering him silent support as he gathered the strength to continue. "Rame's desire for power took over him," he said, his jaw set in determination. "He killed my father, believing it would grant him the Alpha position. But our pack members, out of loyalty, stood against him. We banished him, hoping he'd never return."A chilling laughter echoed through the ruins, and Rame emerged from the shadows, his eyes glowing with malevolence. "Oh, what a touching tale," he sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. "But you see, I've embraced the darkness. I've become more powerful than you can imagine. Your loyalty and love won't save you this time."I ti
The pack house welcomed us with its bright colors, and I felt a warmth inside that I hadn't felt before. Brad and I settled into our favorite spot in the living room, a comfortable couch where we often discussed pack matters and important decisions, long before he had lost his memory. In the distance, the fire in the fireplace burning bright. Seated close to each other, we held on to each other for long minutes at end, looking at each other like it was the first time we had seen each other in a long time. We were locked in lazy conversation and trying to figure out who could have done this in the first place, and we had tried out many different names, but one kept on coming back, over and over:Erin"I know she has a crush on me," Brad said, his brow furrowed in contemplation. "But could it be possible that her feelings took a dark turn? Maybe she couldn't handle the fact that I didn't reciprocate her feelings. Though, that would have been very counterintuitive."I nodded, understandi
The memory came rushing back to me, vivid and clear, as though it had happened just yesterday. I closed my eyes, allowing the past to wash over me, taking me back to that fateful day in the heart of the forest.Many years ago, when I was still young and finding my way as a leader, I used to roam the woods surrounding our pack territory with the forest, with its ancient trees and whispered secrets, was a place where I found solace, and the place where I enjoyed training the most. On that particular day, the sun had gone down early.I was lost in thought, my mind occupied with the responsibilities of being an Alpha. As I walked, I heard laughter, the innocent, carefree sound of a. Hold coughing. Intrigued, I followed the sound until I stumbled upon a clearing. There, surrounded by wildflowers and bathed in moonlight, were three children.The eldest, a boy with tousled brown hair and curious eyes, looked to be around ten years old. He had an air of confidence about him, his posture sugg