The faint aroma of smoke that mixed with the comforting scent of pine and damp earth grounded me in the moment. Little Cece and her father were having a picnic and somehow here I was sitting a tablecloth in the middle of the forest battling soldier ants. I still don’t know how I got talked into this.
An owl called in the distant and it echoed through the forest, duly reminding that the world beyond the fire was still wild and untamed. The evening had settled into a quiet calm, the warmth of the fire crackled softly as the night deepened. The stars scattered in little shining dots overhead, bright and clear against the pink sky, creating a serene atmosphere.
I sat beside Alpha Elijah and Cece, who nestled herself comfortably in my lap, her small hand clutching the wooden wolf toy she never seemed to let go of.
Alpha Elijah stirred the fire with a long stick, his jaw set in that firm, commanding way I was used to. The air of authority around him made it clear he was the Alpha. But tonight, the usual sharpness in his eye softened. He still sat tall and unyielding, his shoulders broad, but there was an odd quietness in him tonight that made me feel like I was seeing the man behind the title.
“Daddy, can you tell us a story?”
“Yes, my love. Which one do you want?”
“The one about the feathers please”
“You ever heard the legend of the silver feather, Aegis?” Alpha Elijah asked, his voice low and rumbling.
I looked up from the fire, my brow furrowed. “No, I haven’t.”
“It’s an old tale, passed down in our family,” Alpha Elijah continued, glancing briefly at Cece before focusing back on the flames. “They say when a great man from this pack dies, a silver feather Is let down from the sky. It’s supposed to be a symbol, one that marks their life as worthy, that they’ve left something meaningful behind.”
I tilted my head, intrigued by the tone in Alpha Elijah’s voice—low, almost resigned. There was an undercurrent there that i couldn’t quite place. The shadow in his expression spoke of a man who carried more than most realized.
Cece’s eyes sparkled in the firelight, wide and curious as they moved between her father and the sky above, like she actually believed a silver feather might float down at any moment.
She had been quiet the entire time, looked up at her father with wide, curious eyes, signing with her small hands, “Will you get a feather, Daddy?”.
A soft smile tugged at Alpha Elijah’s lips. He reached out and gently ruffled Emma’s hair, shaking his head slightly. His hand, large and calloused, moved with surprising tenderness.
“I don’t think so, little one,” he said softly. His voice heavier than the lightness of his words. “I’m not exactly the kind of man legends are made of.”
I felt my heart give an unexpected tug at his admission, though i remained silent, watching as he returned his gaze to the fire with a clouded expression. This wasn’t the first time i had seen a glimpse of the burden he carried as Alpha. He was always so composed, so focused on the pack, on duty, on being the leader everyone expected him to be. But in moments like these, I saw something else. I see a man who questioned if he was ever enough. A man who had lost his mate and was trying not to lose himself too. A man broken just as much as I was.
Cece frowned, her tiny brow furrowing, before she wriggled her way out of my lap and walked over to her father. She signed again, in determination this time, “But you’re great, daddy .”
Alpha Elijah’s breath hitched, and for a moment, his expression cracked. His large hand, capable of commanding entire armies, cupped his daughter’s cheek with the gentleness of a man terrified of breaking something fragile. The tension in his face eased, and he smiled softly.
I watched this exchange quietly, my heart doing a strange dance in my chest. There was something about Alpha Elijah in this moment that made my pulse quicken—not with fear, but with something else. Something unfamiliar.
Alpha Elijah’s gaze lifted to meet mine, and for a second, I felt the intensity of his eyes. Those bluish Grey eyes that were normally hard, like tempered steel—were softer tonight. There was a depth in them i hadn’t noticed before, like a stormy sea calming after a long battle. His usual stoic mask was slipping, and I could see the man underneath, struggling against the weight of his role. It was like looking through a crack in a stone wall, a glimpse of vulnerability hidden beneath layers of strength.
I quickly looked away, my heart banging uncomfortably in my chest.
“I used to believe in the silver feather,” Alpha Elijah admitted quietly, breaking the silence. He leaned back slightly, the muscles in his arms flexing as he stretched, and positioned a drowsy Cece on his lap. “When I was younger, I thought it was something I wanted. To live a life worthy enough for a feather to fall when I was gone. But...”
“But?” I questioned gently, even though i wasn’t sure why i cared .
Alpha Elijah’s lips curved up into a half-smile, though there was no joy in it. “But the older you get, the more you realize... life isn’t about feathers. It’s about doing what you can, with the time you have. That’s all.”
I bit down hard on my lip, feeling the weight of his words. I understood him too well, how life, and expectations, could grind you down until you were left with nothing but survival. I had lived it, after all. And even though I was not ready to open up my own scars, doesn’t mean I couldn’t see the ones he bore. Even if he hid them well.
For a moment, the crackling of the fire was the only sound between them, the air thickened with unspoken thoughts. I didn’t know what to say.
As if sensing my inner turmoil, Alpha Elijah shifted slightly, his presence as commanding as ever. His gaze lingered a while on me before he spoke again, this time his voice calm and steady. “You’re very good with Cece,” he said, his tone making it clear this wasn’t just a casual observation. “She’s opened up to you in ways she hasn’t with anyone else.”
My heart skipped a beat. I wasn’t used to receiving compliments, especially not from someone like Alpha Elijah. I wanted to brush it off like it was nothing, but the sincerity in his voice made me pause.
“She’s easy to care for,” I said, keeping her voice light. “She doesn’t ask for much.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Alpha Elijah countered, his tone deepening, as if he were giving an order. “She asks for everything, just not with words. And you’ve given her something I couldn’t.”
My breath caught in my throat.I wasn’t expecting that, nor the tone, firm, commanding, but with a softness that almost made her heart ache.
“I have an offer or you. I need someone to be with her. Someone she trusts,” Alpha Elijah continued, his gaze never leaving mine. “Would you consider being her nanny?”
I blinked, stunned. Me? A nanny for the Alpha’s daughter? The request was so sudden, so out of place, but the look on Alpha Elijah’s face told me this wasn’t a decision made lightly. He was serious. Dead serious.
“You don’t have to give an answer now,” he added, his voice soft as he watched my reaction. “Please Aegis.I’ve seen the way she is with you. And I don’t trust anyone else with her.”
Tears stung at the back of my eyes but I swallowed them down. It was strange to hear such words from someone like Alpha Elijah. His strong, Alpha demeanor was still there, but tonight, he there were cracks in his armor. And for some reason, those cracks made him seem more real.
“I’ll think about it,” I whispered quietly . I knew icouldn’t commit to anything,not with my emotions still tangled up, and scars still fresh. But the fact that he had asked me, trusted me, meant something to me.
It meant a lot.
The Alpha nodded in relief. “That’s enough for me.”
He towered me as he stood, his commanding presence back in full force. But as he bent to scoop Cece up into his arms, his movements were gentle and careful. His strength tempered by his love for his daughter.
“Ill get her to bed. It's well past her bedtime ,” he said, his voice gruff, like he had said too much.
I nodded, the weight of the evening settling over me. I shifted cautiously in my seat, watching as Alpha Elijah cradled his daughter in his arms. Our fingers brushed for the briefest moment and I felt a spark shoot through me, leaving my heart racing.
He stopped midway and glanced at me, just briefly, as if searching my face for something. For what, i wasn’t sure. “You look gorgeous when you smile.”
He looked at me one last time before turning to head back toward the pack house, his figure creating an eerie shadow against the firelight. As he disappeared into the night, I found herself staring after him, my mind a swirl of emotions.
I barely got any sleep that night.
Aegis's Point Of ViewThe heat of the fire barely got to me, as I stood crossing my hand across my chest. I shook my head at a pesky mosquito intent of singing to me as I looked over the entire thing from my chosen corner.Soft humming of voices and the occasional sound of happy laughter filled the air as the evening blue and yellow flamed fire burned steadily at the center of the clearing The Pack Bonfire was here again. They were having so much fun together and it made me feel a bit jealous but had always been more comfortable on the outskirts, observing them rather than participating.The only difference tonight was that my mind felt more clouded than usual. With thoughts of Alpha Elijah. That man was confusing me. From the way he looked at me to the lingering touches he left on my skin, to the way he was able to make my heart jump when I least expected it. I knew couldn’t let anything happen between us. He was an Alpha- a goodlooking one but one regardless and I was simple old me.
Wiping the soap suds o my hand against a kitchen towel furiously, I turned to the handsome devil in front of me. “I can’t be what you want me to be Alpha Elijah.” It’s being a whole month of Alpha Elijah ruthlessly chasing after me in frenzied acts of romance and seduction and I was about tired of it all. Take for example today. I was in the kitchen washing dishes and he decides he wants to do all of his Alpha duties here today . He had created a workplace made of a kitchen table ridiculously close to the sink. Why yo might ask- He wanted to be closer to me. The man was trying to drive me nuts.He looked up and pulled his brows together in amused confusion, “Whatever do you mean?”.Seeing the pointed look in my eyes, he sighed and stood up fro his makeshift desk. “Aegis,I’m not asking you to be anything but yourself. I’m not asking you to change…….”“Just stop already!” i snapped. “ You can’t fix me okay. I’m broken. Damaged. And yet here you are, acting like you can just love me en
Aegis's Point Of View.“Gee-gee” The little girl squealed happily as she raced past me. My heart softened as the sight of the joy on the little Cece's face as she chased after the other pups with a wide smile on her face. The Pack kindergarten space was a large grassy area that smelt like Pine, thatch and wet earth with little brown thatch huts around it in a circular fence. The sun had dipped low behind the hills, painting the horizon in shades of purple and gold as the last rays filtered through the thick forest surrounding the kindergarten. It was a very nice touch, I’ll admit. This pack clearly loved their children because I had ever seen anything like this before. But then again they didn’t have parents like mine.Children raced all around, some playing pretend houses in the huts, some painting weird looking childish paintings, some drawing and pushing their friends on swings more than heavy for their little bodies.There was one thing constant here- Laughter and joy. This place
I could almost see his head rolling across the giant conference table. A head rolling across the entire room before being turned to its inevitable form_dust. Elijah was about to kill Elias. Okay maybe I’m being dramatic but Elijah was mad mad. I now understood why Elijah was so particular about me being here. His constant almost wary insistence that I babysit Cece in the conference room today totally made sense now. She calmed him down enough that he wasn’t responsible for murder today, his words not mine. I finally got sworn in as an official member of the pack. Yayy I know. Elijah had been rather smug about it, scratch that he loved it.A small smile crept on his face at my line of thought. Oh did I forget to tell you. Being connected to the entire pack meant they had 24/7 access to your thoughts and feelings at every moment, well until you block them out that is. And lord knows I wanted to block out a certain big headed handsome Alpha out tonight but I have a feeling he would compl
(Aegis's Point Of View).Never ever let your outgoing sister plan you a birthday party because chances were You would be alone. She would be nowhere to be found.You would be alone.There was nothing wrong with the party except for one giant fact-- it was a PARTY. The black speakers in the corner blasted a pop song I had never heard before leaving in it wake a reverberating thud. The stench of alcohol and musty scent horny teenagers was thickened the air . A tall lanky boy stood on a table , shirtless and attempting to do a remake of magic mike except this version by himself. It was horrible but his audience of drunk teenage fan girls didn’t seem to mind, their delightful shrieks going on and beyond to give me an headache. And Vela was still nowhere to be found.And here I was, the birthday girl, standing right in the middle of the chaos in my obviously borrowed pink dress, sporting a cup of chocolate and a tense smile. My mother stood across the hall beside the scattered food platte
(Aegis's Point Of View).One good thing came out from this night. Okay that was a lie, this night was a disaster. i had an headache and it was killing me.But it did get me out of the birthday dinner early so It is a good thing. I came to a giant revelation today. Vela had a very annoying voice.I knew her vice was uncomfortable to the ears but hearing her yap on and on with her french manicured hand holding my mate; I barely made it through the party without my wolf shifting and killing her. She just kept yapping on on about everything.. Changing my dress into a sweatpants and matching crop_top, I sighed in satisfaction. My phone pinged repeatedly but right now I could care less. It was probably some of my followers on Tiktok wishing me a happy birthday. I downed a couple of painkillers and padded to the bathroom in my yellow and black Winnie the pooh slippers to wash my face. No point taking a shower, I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.Angel ran across the room c
(Aegis's Point Of View).Three hours into dinner and I was already planning murder. I was planning the murder of my dearly beloved sister. But that was besides the point.He was ignoring me. After last night I assumed that we would be closer. If I didn’t know better I would have thought all that happened last night just a dream.The pain and roughness between my legs that accompanied every step I took as I walked assured me otherwise.We were having dinner with the Alpha's family.The unusual absence of the Alpha and Luna made the already horrible day take an even depressing turn.We’d been attending this dinner since we were children.The dinner was a customary tradition between the Alphas family and their Betas. As little children, whenever the dinner began to lose our interest we would always sneak outside to play. We were a formidable force, all three of us, Elias the prankster, I the tomboy and Vela the princess and baby of the group. We were a close knit group forced together by
Tears built in my eyes and I took a shaky breath in. This can't be true. It couldn't be. They were just friends. Sure Shelia had a crush on him but he didn't return her feelings . He couldn't. He was my mate. He was mine and I was his. Why would they go through with knowing they had not yet met their mated. Why would Elias agree to this?I lifted my gaze from the box and to Shelia's expectant smile. I trailed my gaze from her face to Elias's ,he avoided looking back to me. His jaw clenched so tight, he could have cracked his teeth as he looked to the side. Why?He couldn't really be going through with this. He couldn't be doing this to me. My wolf howled painfully within me showing her rage and heartache at the way things were unfolding.My parents oblivious to what was going on, got up from their seats to look at what my sister had gifted me. Once they saw the words inscribed on the envelope, they smiled at each other and joyfully hugged my sister. They bombarded her with words I co
I could almost see his head rolling across the giant conference table. A head rolling across the entire room before being turned to its inevitable form_dust. Elijah was about to kill Elias. Okay maybe I’m being dramatic but Elijah was mad mad. I now understood why Elijah was so particular about me being here. His constant almost wary insistence that I babysit Cece in the conference room today totally made sense now. She calmed him down enough that he wasn’t responsible for murder today, his words not mine. I finally got sworn in as an official member of the pack. Yayy I know. Elijah had been rather smug about it, scratch that he loved it.A small smile crept on his face at my line of thought. Oh did I forget to tell you. Being connected to the entire pack meant they had 24/7 access to your thoughts and feelings at every moment, well until you block them out that is. And lord knows I wanted to block out a certain big headed handsome Alpha out tonight but I have a feeling he would compl
Aegis's Point Of View.“Gee-gee” The little girl squealed happily as she raced past me. My heart softened as the sight of the joy on the little Cece's face as she chased after the other pups with a wide smile on her face. The Pack kindergarten space was a large grassy area that smelt like Pine, thatch and wet earth with little brown thatch huts around it in a circular fence. The sun had dipped low behind the hills, painting the horizon in shades of purple and gold as the last rays filtered through the thick forest surrounding the kindergarten. It was a very nice touch, I’ll admit. This pack clearly loved their children because I had ever seen anything like this before. But then again they didn’t have parents like mine.Children raced all around, some playing pretend houses in the huts, some painting weird looking childish paintings, some drawing and pushing their friends on swings more than heavy for their little bodies.There was one thing constant here- Laughter and joy. This place
Wiping the soap suds o my hand against a kitchen towel furiously, I turned to the handsome devil in front of me. “I can’t be what you want me to be Alpha Elijah.” It’s being a whole month of Alpha Elijah ruthlessly chasing after me in frenzied acts of romance and seduction and I was about tired of it all. Take for example today. I was in the kitchen washing dishes and he decides he wants to do all of his Alpha duties here today . He had created a workplace made of a kitchen table ridiculously close to the sink. Why yo might ask- He wanted to be closer to me. The man was trying to drive me nuts.He looked up and pulled his brows together in amused confusion, “Whatever do you mean?”.Seeing the pointed look in my eyes, he sighed and stood up fro his makeshift desk. “Aegis,I’m not asking you to be anything but yourself. I’m not asking you to change…….”“Just stop already!” i snapped. “ You can’t fix me okay. I’m broken. Damaged. And yet here you are, acting like you can just love me en
Aegis's Point Of ViewThe heat of the fire barely got to me, as I stood crossing my hand across my chest. I shook my head at a pesky mosquito intent of singing to me as I looked over the entire thing from my chosen corner.Soft humming of voices and the occasional sound of happy laughter filled the air as the evening blue and yellow flamed fire burned steadily at the center of the clearing The Pack Bonfire was here again. They were having so much fun together and it made me feel a bit jealous but had always been more comfortable on the outskirts, observing them rather than participating.The only difference tonight was that my mind felt more clouded than usual. With thoughts of Alpha Elijah. That man was confusing me. From the way he looked at me to the lingering touches he left on my skin, to the way he was able to make my heart jump when I least expected it. I knew couldn’t let anything happen between us. He was an Alpha- a goodlooking one but one regardless and I was simple old me.
The faint aroma of smoke that mixed with the comforting scent of pine and damp earth grounded me in the moment. Little Cece and her father were having a picnic and somehow here I was sitting a tablecloth in the middle of the forest battling soldier ants. I still don’t know how I got talked into this.An owl called in the distant and it echoed through the forest, duly reminding that the world beyond the fire was still wild and untamed. The evening had settled into a quiet calm, the warmth of the fire crackled softly as the night deepened. The stars scattered in little shining dots overhead, bright and clear against the pink sky, creating a serene atmosphere. I sat beside Alpha Elijah and Cece, who nestled herself comfortably in my lap, her small hand clutching the wooden wolf toy she never seemed to let go of.Alpha Elijah stirred the fire with a long stick, his jaw set in that firm, commanding way I was used to. The air of authority around him made it clear he was the Alpha. But toni
The sun sank in casting a warm golden glow on the forest clearing. Men and women stood around in groups chatting and gossiping. I stood to the far left under a tree i found earlier silently observing the pack members as they mingled and laughed with each other. The voices of children racing and playing with themselves carried on the breeze. The flickering of yellow and blue flames cast oddly shaped dancing shadows on the ground.The annual bonfire was here."Gee-gee!" A small, familiar voice broke through the noise.I looked around or the voice and a smile spread out on my face,my heart warming as i saw Little Cece run toward me. Her head of black unruly curls bouncing up and down, her bright eyes wide with excitement.Bending down I opened my arms, and Cece ran into them in a hug. “Hi, Cece,” i said softly, brushing a strand of hair away from the her face. “What’s wrong?”She pulled back and pointed toward the gathering with a small frown. “Too loud,” she murmured, barely audible goin
Aegis's Point Of View.It happened again.This was the tenth time this month that I passed out from pain and wake up with welts and sores on my body. And we’re still on the fifth day of the month. It’s becoming ridiculous how much they did it. At first it was only a couple times a month but now they were going at it like rabbits.Miss Evangeline explained that the consequences was this severe because my mate was one in high power. The only way to make them stop was to complete the rejection and that wasn’t happening anytime soon.She was very sympathetic of my situation. With sorrowful wise eyes she lamented on how selfish my mate was to not have waited for his mate and how much he was going to regret not waiting for his mate.If only she knew.For now, I needed to get out of here. I can't risk the pack finding out.Trying not to irritate the welts on my back, I tried to stand up gently. I mistakenly rested on one of the sores on my lower waist. The sores rubbed against the black line
Aegis's P.o.vSix months later I was watering flowers.Sighing heavily, I took the green watering can by the handle and walked back to the shed. The heat of the afternoon sun burned hotly against my skin. The sweet smell of fresh roses and the unmistakable smell of the damp earth filled my nostrils at every breath I breathed in. Calmness enveloped me at the sight in front of me. Flourishing red and white roses peeking out masses of greenery blankets stretched out for miles. Goddess, it was beautiful.I ignored the sluggish sound of the soil beneath my oversized boot cladded feet and stopped in front of the little wooden hut I had frequented so much in the past month.Brandi Winston,a kind old man that allowed me to work for him in his fields, came out from the hut and flashed me a warm smile. Dressed in dark blue overalls folded at the sleeve, with a blue undershirt and brown boots, he was a sight to see. There were smudges of oil all over his arms, face and wrinkly chin. He must h
Aegis's Point Of View.The gloomy atmosphere of the hospital had become comforting. Elias mated Velma two month ago and I was paying for it. In blood. Miss Evangeline disagrees, she calls it the evidence of something greater. Something else I was slowly losing. My life.“She’s lost too much blood Miss Evangeline. If she continues like this, she’ll be dead by the next full moon” A nurse said.I’ve never seen this one around. Or maybe I have- my brain was beginning to lose its resillience.I felt another wave of blood coming through. It should be painful but I can’t feel anything. I’ve grown numb, unresponsive. I was finally broken.“ No, don’t say that. She’ll make it, I know she will”.Evangeline responded optimistic as always. No, she won’t. Look at her”.I chuckled in my mind at that. I was surely a sight to see. I was rushed back to the hospital a day after I got to the pack. That day was the first time he mated her. The matebond was taking the effect out on me because the rejectio