With our plan in motion, my pack members, led by Brad and I, split into two groups. The primary mission of the first half was to evacuate the members of Alpha Dan's pack from the burning grounds and guide them to safety. It was a chaotic move to make, since I had a vendetta against their pack leaders, but it was a necessary endeavor to ensure no one got hurt in the spreading fire. Meanwhile, I, along with Wally and Brad, ventured into the depths of the dungeon to free the prisoners who had been locked away for far too long. There was no doubt in my mind that most of them had even been locked up unjustly, and they would be left alone to burn in the heat of the dungeon, unaware of what was going on. It was a task that was especially important to me, having lived in the darkness of the dungeon for so long, and I was determined to right the wrongs that had been committed by Alpha Dan's pack against the people who lived in the orisons. The dungeon was a grim and oppressive place, with c
A murmur ran across the cave and I looked across at all the pack guards that I had trained. It might be temporary, but I had earned their respect during training, and their loyalties lay with me. Along with my pack members, who had met Alpha Dan and had a vague idea how he and Alpha Leon looked like, we separated the people of the pack until we had two distinct groups - one for those willing to cooperate and assist in the search for Alpha Dan and Alpha Leon, and the other for those who remained loyal to their leaders, even in the absence of the pack that they belonged to.They had unconsciously separated themselves into two groups, each one wary of the other side. The co-operative group were people I remembered from our days as the outcasts, people who had helped us build willingly and would stand on the side of the truth, and the other were people I recognized with sniggers as we had attended campfires with their pack, along with some of the men that had come with Alpha Dan to help
The night in the cave passed with tension still hanging in the air between both packs. Our failed attempt to locate Alpha Dan and Alpha Leon had left us with a sense of frustration and unease, and an unspoken disdain now lay over the entire pack, most especially the members who had ratted out Alphas Dan and Leon. Despite the cooperation of some former members of their pack, the two Alphas had slipped through our grasp once again, and it left me infuriated. The night before, when we were having dinner, the members who had remained loyal to Alpha Dan had only pushed their food around, only taking in scraps of food and chewing slowly, as though they expected poison. As morning light filtered into the cave, we were greeted by the sight of our new, mixed group. It was funny to me how just the day before, I had been sure of the pack members that I had, and now all of a sudden I had more than I knew what to do with. Some of the ones who had remained loyal to Alpha Dan before had now made
Chapter Ninety-Nine As the sun dipped that evening, casting long shadows across the cave entrance, we continued to discuss the logistics of moving our now expanded group back to the Safe Water pack. It was no small feat, considering the varied ages and physiques of the people we had now welcomed into our fold.There were people who were so old they had a hard time standing, and even more that were so young that they couldn't understand what exactly was going on. Seth, one of our skilled pack members who had grown up with an unfettered sense of direction in the wilderness, volunteered to lead the group during the first leg of our journey. He was well-versed in navigating the terrain of the woods, and his sharp instincts had often served Brad well during previous expeditions. “Are you sure he can handle being at the helm of the expedition? Because it might drain him pretty fast, and I need to be sure that he knows the way. ” “He knows it better than anyone else. Well, except you," h
We continued that way for over a week, the journey taking its toll on everyone. People were cranky, and sleep had become a foreign thing for my elders and I, but I was proud that we were almost home. What was left of the journey back to the Safe Water pack was less than an hour long–I recognized the body of water I saw by tye magical plant I saw. It was still early days, yet while everyone else slept or tried to, I would stay away, daydreaming of what my home would look like now. Brad would have been forced to move into the pack house in my absence, and I wondered if he had even bothered to decorate the room and make it into something beautiful for my arrival. I was going to leave all of them there and get a headstart to the pack the next morning, then I remembered how understaffed the pack was, and how much of a struggle it was to find pack members who were healthy, knew they way, or weren't ill in any capacity when they were on their way here. She sat down with her feet folded b
The next morning, excitement woke everyone up before we actually had to leave, and we set on the road before dawn's forgiving light filtered through. We were less than an hour away from the pack that I called home, and everyone was merry, singing songs and chants of joy. As we approached the familiar territory of the Safe Water pack, my heart quickened with a mix of excitement and fear. I hadn't known what to expect as I returned, but now that I was back, I realized that a lot–so much–had changed. The landscape seemed to have morphed in my absence. The once-charred remains of the pack house that had held our sick had now been replaced by vibrant greenery and thriving farms. It was as if nature itself had conspired to erase the scars left by the fire on the land. It was beautiful, and I smiled when I realized that the flowers that grew were red roses, in Isabella's honor. The other buildings all around us stood tall and proud, freshly repaired and adorned with colorful banners. Pe
The next day had settled into warm tones, and the sun was casting a gentle glow over the ever-busy Safe Water pack. As I stood in the verandah of our new home, I could feel the energy of the pack wrap around me like a comforting blanket, and it felt like I was being hugged.Brad came to join me soon after, and got lost in his thoughts, so I said nothing, settling into the moment with him. I glanced at Brad, my brown eyes filled with adoration, and I felt a sudden, suffocating sense of gratitude for the life we were building together. If things had not happened the way they did, we would never have gotten together, or perhaps we would have failed. “I love you, ” Brad muttered, walking over to pull me into a hug. “I love you too, and I'm so glad to be back.” Just then, I heard a peal of laughter from a little kid down the path, and I smiled, feeling the joy from yhat kittle spujd givwbny heart a squeeze. But amidst the joy, a pang of guilt gripped me. I hadn't had a chance to prope
On my way to her, I met so many packs members, and I spent my time saying hi and surveying them to see if I would come across Kimora on the way there, instead of ending up in her cabin. There was no sign of her out there, and all the people I asked mentioned that they had not seen her since she went into her cabin to make dinner, so I continued on my way to her.As expected, I found Kimora in her cabin, the inviting aroma of spices and herbs filling the air. One thing about Kimora was that she always cooked a meal. On good occasions and bad ones, Kimora was constantly whipping up something in the kitchen.I knocked firmly at her door twice, and the door came open, Kimora's confused face looking out. Her eyes brightened when she saw that it was me, and she waved me over. "Layla, come in! I'm just preparing dinner. It's a pot roast–are you hungry?"I smiled, grateful for the warm reception "I am, actually. Thank you for inviting me in, Kimora."“Nonsense!” she waved away, “if I didn't
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