My father skidded to a halt at the edge of a small clearing with a stump in the center. I slid off Loki’s back and he trotted off to shift. He walked back to me and gestured to the center. “Go sit.” I nodded and walked into the clearing. The tree’s shadows were still deep, as the sun has just breached the tree tops. I shivered, not from the cooler temperature since wolves burn hot, but from the feeling of woods. It felt like something was here. Something was waiting for this moment. I turned to face my dad, and he was still at the edge of the clearing. “Why are you still back there?”“This isn’t for me, it’s for you. I have already done my time in this place.”“Your time? What are you talking about?”“This is a sacred place. The clearing here holds our family’s power, and it’s warded against it.”“Against it? Dad, what are you talking about?”“Just listen. Sit down on the stump.” I sank to the top of the stump and then looked back to my father. “Take your shoes and socks off, then p
“Let’s go! Faster! Your wolves, not humans, you can do better than this!” I screamed out again and again, standing next to the Beta and Gamma females. Tina and Lynn watched the females struggle to run around the inside track. I turned to face them with wide eyes. “What is going on?”Tina shook her head and watched the struggling women. “The females here only train if they want to. Your father doesn’t force us to train.”“I told him it was a mistake.” Lynn the Gamma looked at the girls with a curled lip. “Look at them. It’s only been two laps, and they are already winded.” The muscled woman shook her head and tossed her arms. “I don’t understand this laziness. What happens if we get attacked?”“Well, I’m here for two months, and in the future, you two will continue this after I leave.” The two women cut their eyes to me and I nod. “I talked to my father, and he caved when I went over the last pack that kept this outdated opinion for the females in the pack.”“What pack?” Tina furrowed
I waited for the reality of what I said to sink in. “What? You said it yourself. I can’t command you to hurt yourself. Fine, let’s go with something else. What if I commanded you to give me all of your money?” I stared down at the girl and she looked away. “Something you’ve done I see.” I snarled. My eyes flashed. “What’s your name?” “Stephanie.” I slammed my aura out, and Nix took control as I raged. “Do jumping jacks until I tell you to stop.” Stephanie’s eyes widened, but I turned away to reel in my wolf. She started bouncing up and down, and some girls chuckled and I snarled. “You think this is funny? Do you want to join Stephanie? Being made to do something and not being able to stop yourself is a horrible feeling.” I whipped back to the girls, and Nix snarled again. My power struck out again, dropping everyone to their knees. “Everyone here will do jumping jacks until I say stop.” Everyone started, even Tina and Lynn, but I commanded them to stop. “What are you planning?” Ly
“How did it go today?” My father nudged me to a seat across from him and waved to an omega. She brought in the plates. “Thank you Manda.” “Thank you Manda.” I smiled up at the girl, and she ducked her head, then left. I turned back to my father. “It went as well as expected.”“Which wasn’t good at all.” I pointed to him and nodded. “Exactly.”“What happened?” He dug into his food, and I told him about the day.“We started with running, and even those that had already shifted were…”“Weak?” my dad threw out while waving his knife around.“Pathetic.” I countered. I cut into my steak and nearly moaned with the first mouthful. “They barely made it two laps before they were huffing. Then I called them over, and we started to talk about what was going on.”“And…”“And then some girls were giving us push back about commanding other wolves. So I made a point.”“What was the point?” My father focused fully on me and I grimaced. He might not agree with my decision. “They wanted to hide behin
“I look exactly like her…”“Well, you have your mother’s nose.” My dad laughed. “I didn’t want to scare you.” He peered at the picture, then at me. “This is where we come from, Amy.” He tapped the photo. “Our power stems from her. We have her to thank for everything we can do to protect our pack.” “You use your power to protect your pack?” I met his eyes.“Of course. We do what we have to do.” My father sat back down and wiped his face. “Anyway. Let’s forget about that for now. What are your plans for the girls?”“I commanded anyone that was using their power to demand things from weaker wolves to never command again.” I cut my eyes away from his face. I knew this would not sit well with him. “Amy!”“I know, I know. It’s against the law, but there is something going on with them. One girl was going to say something, but then one of the others commanded her to shut up. So I made sure she couldn’t command anyone else.”“But you can’t fight against wrong doing by following suit.”“Comm
The next morning was much of the same. I awoke to my father’s knock, and we made our way to the clearing. He nudged me into the clearing and I walked to the stump and sat down. By the time I looked back up, he was already gone. “I don’t know what the fuck is going on, or what I am supposed to do here.” I shook my head and took off my shoes. I planted my feet and took a cleansing breath. Then I closed my eyes and focused, like my father explained. The air was a soft, gentle breeze. I felt it dance across my skin. It played with my hair, tangling my curls as it blew through the clearing. The early morning sun crested the tree tops. I could feel the warming light hit my skin. I wiggled my toes in the grass, and it tickled my the bottom of my feet. I opened my hands, palm up on my knees, and settled deeper on to the stump. “This is stupid.” I opened my eyes and looked around, but I was talking to myself. “Is it?” I whirled around to see my father’s grandmother walking towards me. “H
A glowing green orb that shined like the sun. I walked closer to it and I could see the orb was pulsing. With every step closer, I could feel my pounding heartbeat, and my heart was in time with the orb. “What are you?”Nix and Megan walked out and sat beside me. “This is your power. This is the center of your soul. Your power that runs through your body comes from this orb. Your entire being is in sync with this piece of you.” Megan nudged against my hand.“Megan and I are a part of you, but separate. We are our own souls that share your body and mind. But this part of you would still be here if we weren’t. It is woven into your very soul. Your human soul. This is your grans legacy for you, the very power that ran in her veins, your father’s veins and now yours. It will pass to you pups and beyond.” Nix leaned forward.“If werewolves were to even die off, your line would continue to hold power.” Megan followed suit and leaned toward the orb. Ribbons of power floated out and stroked
“Let’s go.” I yelled behind me, frustrated with the progress these last few weeks have given to these ladies. “Hussle.” I ran with them, leading them while Lynn and Tina running at the very back. I would have lapped them three times if I ran my regular pace. Which is ridiculous. I don’t have access to my wolves yet. Soon Amy. Soon. Nix’s voice came to me as I panted around the track. I finished the laps and walked over to the water cooler and grabbed a bottle of water, waiting for everyone else to finish. I stretched out my arms and then dropped to the ground to lean over my legs to stretch them. “Amy, you are killing us.” Cass dropped next to me and I looked up, surprised.“You finished first.”“No, you did.” Cass pushed me and laughed, but I shook my head slowly.“No, Cass. You were behind me. Which is fantastic. You don’t have a weak wolf.” I smiled over at her and Nix chuffed in my head. Of course, she doesn’t have a weak wolf. Lily just doesn’t see the point in putting her str
Ronnie’s face was still a mask of confusion. “So wait. You are saying your mother agreed to marry Morgan just to raise Shannon? But then when did he renegotiate and why?”I rolled my eyes. “After a few years, he grew to enjoy my mother’s company. He fell in love with her. His mate was actually gone and his bond had faded. But my mother’s mate was still very much alive.”“Her bond never faded…” Lynn’s voice was soft, as if realizing what that meant.I just nodded. “My mother never let go of her mate. She never grew feelings for Morgan and was very content with their friendship. But then when he brought up becoming a couple in reality, my mom shot it down. But-”“He used the threat of divorce to coerce her into it.” I leaned over the seat and met her eyes, then nodded.“Exactly.”“That’s why your dad never felt the betrayal pain for yea
I stared up at Lynn and once the realization sunk in; I broke out into a smile. “You beautiful woman.” I jumped up and grabbed her arms. “You’re right.”She nodded and smiled. “You can dish out every bruise and cut lip your mother suffered through and give it back tenfold. And the Alpha won’t be able to step in because of his own rules. Otherwise you can call the king.”I turned to Ronnie, and he nodded. “I would call the King ahead of time and give him a warning.” He winked. “Just be proactive.”I nodded and settled back into my seat. “Brandon has been making my mother’s life a little difficult. He has been doing his best to weasel his way into my space as well, but my mother has barred him from the room.”Ronnie chuckled. “She could always get her way with alphas.”I cut my eyes to him and I could see bitterness there. “Do you know why my mother marr
I stomped up after him and got to my seat. “What is so funny?”Ronnie laughed harder. “You learned so much this summer pup, but there is one thing you still need to work on.” I tilted my head and he leaned over the aisle and flicked my nose. “Work on your poker face.” His chuckle broke up at his words. “Your face was priceless. Pure disgust as you texted him.”“Well…come on.” I shot him a side look, and he bent over his knees, laughing harder.“I know, but in all seriousness. He is an alpha. And most have egos bigger than a house. If you have that look on your face when he is trying to hit on you, or even talk to you. He will make your life a living hell in that pack.” Ronnie’s face fell serious. “You don’t want to offend him if you can help it.”I nodded. “You’re right.” I wiped my face and settled into my seat. “But that is
The drive to the airport was silent. I took the time to gather my feelings about going back and what had just happened. Ronnie and Lynn gave me the space I needed, which I was thankful for. My phone started buzzing non-stop as message after message came in. Confused, I opened my phone to watch the messages roll in from my mother. Finally, they stopped at the last one.Mom- Amy, for the love of the goddess, will you answer me?I messaged back.Amy- Mom? What’s going on? Why are you messaging me a million messages all at once?Mom- Amy? Finally! I’m so happy I finally got a hold of you.Amy- What’s going on? You ignored my calls and messages all summer and now you’re texting me a novel…Mom- I didn’t. Or I didn’t mean to. I thought the same thing, that you were ignoring me the entire summer, but I realized today that you were blocked. I resent
I stood at the door for a few seconds, debating between leaving him or going back in to plead to stay a little longer. But I knew once he decided he would stick to it. And right this second, his mind was made up because something was going on back home.I dropped my hand and turned away, feeling like garbage, but giving him the space he needed. He hated when I left back to the mom’s, so did I. I huffed out a breath and headed down the stairs.The pack house was eerily silent. I was so used to hearing someone run through the rooms, or the omega’s cleaning, that the silence was deafening. But I shook it off. I was being dramatic. I just didn’t want to leave. I reached the bottom floor, and I saw the two families I saved were waiting by the door with Ronnie. “What are you guys doing here?”The four little kids ran over to me and all hugged me. “We don’t want you to leave.” Ry’s voice broke out above the re
My father and Ronnie were waiting for me as I dropped in to the chair. “You okay pup?” My dad asked as my back hit the chair and I hissed again.“Yeah. Just keep forgetting it’s there.” I laughed it off, but my dad shook his head.“I meant, are you okay after saying goodbye to Cass?” I swallowed and then nodded. He watched my face closely and sighed. “Here.” He slid the book over to me, and I grabbed it and tucked it into my backpack.“It’s a good thing I don’t have to go through the airport with this. I would be called crazy for hauling a stone around with my electronics.” I shook my head as Ronnie laughed.“True. It is weird to see.” Ronnie settled back and then he and my dad shared a look.“So, are you going to show us?” My dad leaned back and quirked his head. I smiled and stood. Pulling my top over my back, but covering my front,
Five hours later, we were walking out with giant grins. “Thank you for coming in so early for us.” I kissed MJ and Neil as we left. “It was our pleasure.” MJ called out as he shut the door, and locked it behind us. “They aren’t staying open?” Cass looked back to the dark door. “Nah. They are usually closed today. They just came in for us.” I hooked my arm in hers and we walked into the bustling mall. “Where to now?” I looked down. “I wanted to get some new clothes. Now I want to get some even more. I need to show this off.” She stared down at her right arm. It was covered in a black and white version of the moon goddess with a full moon behind her, and wolves hidden in the forest around her wrist. It was gorgeous and Neil did an amazing job drawing it up on the spot. I nodded, and she stared down at the fresh ink. “How does it feel?” “It stings.” She shook her arm and then smiled. “I didn’t realize what went into doing tattoos on wolves.”&nb
“Let’s go eat.” I pulled her from my room and raced down the stairs.“Where are we going?”“I’m not telling you.” I looked back at her and grinned. “It’s a surprise, but you will love it. I promise.” I pulled her into the dining hall and we grabbed biog plates of food. I went and sat next to my exhausted father. “You okay?”“Yeah baby girl. I’m just tired. But I got it done.” He took a sip of his coffee and looked over at me. “You look excited. What’s up?”“Cass woke me up at the butt crack of dawn to get some quality time in.”“But she hijacked my plans and now I have now idea what we are doing.” Cass pointed out and I laughed.“You made the mistake of waking me up.” I leaned into the warmth of my father. “We are going to see MJ and Neil.” My dad looked over at Cass and laugh
I woke with a start, jolted up from my bed, and clutched my heaving chest. What the heck was that? I searched my room, sure that I would find the black wolf with bright blue eyes there, but I was alone.“What was that?” I dropped back to my bed and huffed out a laugh. Just remembering his voice had my skin breaking out in goosebumps. I closed my eyes and his eyes flashed in my mind. “Who are you?”There was a knock at the door and I sat up again, pushing the mysterious wolf out of my brain. I got up and looked down at my ruined sheets. “The blood.” Ugh. I shuffled to the door, wiping my eyes. I cracked it open and Cass pushed in. “Wake up.”“Cass?” I wiped my face as I turned to face the irrate Cass sitting at the end of my tossed and ruined bed. “What are you doing here?” I looked at the clock on the bed-side table. “It’s six in the morning.”“Exactly.” Sh