"Trevor, you'll need to swing by the pack house in a day or two. We need to hash out the new treaty," I said, locking eyes with him for a moment before we parted ways. From where I lay sprawled in the backseat of the car, the energy of the day felt like a heavy blanket, both comforting and smothering. Luke took the wheel, his eyes focused on the road ahead, but I knew he carried the weight of more than just driving. Lexi leaned over the center console, her fingers finding mine in the back. The warmth of my touch was enough to send her into an almost immediate slumber. Luke reached over and began to twirl strands of her black hair around his finger, a soft look in his eyes that he rarely revealed. "She was strong today, you know," I remarked, squeezing Lexi's hand lightly as I said it. "Yeah, I noticed that, too," Luke chuckled, but it was an auto-response. I could tell his mind was elsewhere. It was a mask I'd seen him wear too many times before. "Thanks for doing all this for me
The knowledge hit me like a ton of bricks. Sixteen? Sixteen! I couldn't wrap my head around the sheer idiocy of it. My thoughts on my brother's actions were a swirling vortex of disbelief and disappointment, painting a bleak picture of the path he was carving out. I was hoping there was more to the story than what I knew at the moment. Many Alphas claim their young mates, yes, but they have the decency to wait to seal the bond until their Luna is of an appropriate age. Kyla was far too young for any of this. I hoped my brother was decent enough to realize this because otherwise, we would have a few more...conversations...after he signed the new treaty. Switching gears, we started discussing the specifics of the treaty. Clay leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest as he casually said, "I'm thinking of extending the treaty to 20 years."I erupted in laughter. "Twenty years? Trevor would rather surrender his left nut than agree to that.""Well," Clay shrugged, "Considering the
I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, my makeup brush poised in the air as my eyes caught the glimmer of my Luna mark. Nestled on my neck, the crescent moon was perfectly healed now, its curves as elegant as fine calligraphy. Staring at it, a sense of purpose washed over me, anchoring me to the present moment. I resumed applying my eyeliner, my thoughts drifting to the horrifying stories Luke and his brother endured. Those dark memories cast a shadow that eerily mirrored my own past after my father died. The weight of those years felt isolating, but the difference was, Luke and his brother had each other. I never had a sibling to lean on.Exiting the bathroom, the sight that met me in the bedroom startled me. Luke stood there, leaning into the open safe. "Luke, what exactly are you up to?" My tone hinted at suspicion and concern, the words laced with an urgent need for clarity.Like a deer frozen in headlights, he looked caught, stuttering before finally speaking. "Lexi, Trevor's
The front door closed behind us, sealing off the outside world and its never-ending complications. Lexi's eyes met mine, and I could see a twinkle in them that wasn't there before."Kyla's not what she appears to be. She's no wallflower, Clay. She's got this quiet strength," Lexi said, her voice tinged with awe.Before I could respond, Luke sprawled onto the couch with an exaggerated sigh, a sense of relief radiating from him. Clearly, making it through the meeting without punching Trevor had lifted his spirits. He looked up at Lexi and smirked. "So, are you aiming for the title of First Luna or Second Luna?"I chuckled and jumped in before Lexi could reply. "Well, 'Second Luna' over here just announced our complex relationship dynamic to the whole werewolf community. Trevor's about as tight-lipped as a sieve."Lexi burst into laughter, her whole face lighting up. "Oh, really now?"Without missing a beat, I scooped her up effortlessly and slung her over my shoulder, feeling her laught
The sheets beneath us felt like an oasis, and for a brief moment, time seemed to pause, allowing us to bask in the haze that enveloped us. Our limbs were interlaced in a tangled mess. Just as I was drifting off, a noise pierced through the fog. It was the unmistakable sound of footsteps echoing from below. The Omegas were back, their duties calling them to set our household in order.I leaped up urgently, crossing the room in a single stride to slam the door shut and turn the lock. The audible 'click' felt like a barrier between us and the world beyond, sealing this intimate space for a bit longer.Clay chuckled as I sank back onto the bed. "I hope you've got reserves, man," he said with a smile. "We've got training in an hour, and my shifting abilities are still off the table for another day or two. So we are 'humaning' it."I let out an exaggerated groan, burying my face in the crook of Lexi's neck, inhaling the intoxicating scent that was uniquely her. She laughed, a sound that so
Perched atop the platform, Clay and I were engrossed in my paper—or at least, we tried to be. The subject matter, "Werewolf Portrayal in Popular Media," should have been engaging for both of us, given our unique perspective on the topic. But the reality on the ground below—the lean, influential figure of Luke commanding his pack—kept stealing my focus."So, 'Werewolf Portrayal in Popular Media,' huh?" Clay broke into a playful grin, making air quotes with his fingers. "Let me guess, Twitlight didn't get it quite right?"I chuckled. "You have no idea. But hey, at least we don't sparkle in the sun, right?"Clay laughed, his eyes sparkling in a far more magical way than any fictional story. Our playful banter paused as we watched Luke call a break in the training. He sauntered over to a water cooler, gulped down half a bottle in one go, and then let the remaining water cascade over his head."He's distracted," I observed.Clay caught my gaze, his eyes growing serious. "Yeah, I'm sure he
I lied.There, I admitted it. At least to myself. I told Luke and Lexi I was just taking the treaty to the council, that was true, but my mind was gnawing on another agenda. Professor Gray at the university might have some insights into the whirlpool of emotions and unprecedented connections enveloping me, Lexi, and Luke. I needed clarity, and I hoped Gray could provide some.Handing over the treaty to the council was straightforward, almost disappointingly so. I was in and out in less than a minute. The ease of it tempted me. A small voice in the back of my mind whispered that I could just drive back home, immerse myself in whatever Luke and Lexi were wrapped up in. Their emotional proximity pulsed through me, like the low hum of a sweet melody. But I sighed, steering my car toward the university.When I arrived, I slipped quietly into Professor Gray's lecture hall. I didn't want to disturb him, just listen and eventually ask him the questions that were burning a hole in my psyche.
I padded through the forest, the soil yielding softly under my paws, with Lexi perched on my back. I moved deliberately, avoiding jarring her with abrupt turns or unnecessary leaps. My thoughts kept circling back to our intimate moments together, memories replaying in vivid detail. It was beautiful, electrifying, yet a knot of concern tightened in my gut.Had I been too carried away? Clay had warned me to take things slowly, but with Lexi so close in the heat of the moment, I lost all sense of caution. My instincts had seized control, drowning out reason or the protective urge I usually felt toward her.I felt a gentle tug on my ear and then a playful nip. I let out a faux whimper, playful yet clear with confusion."What was that for?" I thought, my eyes meeting hers."To get you to stop worrying about whatever's eating at you," she whispered, as if reading more of my thoughts than I allowed her to.We arrived at the river, and she slid off my back, her touch lingering momentarily a