VALENTINAPACK OF LORE"Where are you going?" Lucean demanded an answer when he saw me step outside of my bedroom door, fully dressed for training. I'd awoken him from his sleep early this morning as a result of my relentless shifting in the bed.Memories of my horrible experiences against Rykers sentries had tainted my mind, and although Lucean’s nearness as I laid beside him did calm me somewhat, I was still so plagued with many emotions.And because of those high-strung emotions, Lucean had successfully identified my reasons for being unable to sleep beside him, but I'd said little when he pressed for questions and had left his room to instead pace my own until I saw the sun begin to rise."Training." I gestured to my clothes, and began to walk down the hallway, but Lucean’s heavy footsteps made me know he was following."It's five in the morning. I was told by T'mara that she'd informed you that training would start at nine." Lucean said, his voice raising. My lips pressed tightly
VALENTINAPACK OF LOREI sat on my bed.A plate of baked macaroni pie was placed in front of me, and my already budding smile widened as I watched my mother place a fork beside it."Thank you." My eyes watered as I restrained my tears of glee, and my stomach clenched in hunger. I could feel my mouth salivating the longer I stared at my first meal in two days, but concern for my mother halted me from eating."What about you?" I asked my mother, fingers hovering over the metal fork as I stared expectantly up at her. "Where is your food?"My mother's eyes lowered to my plate briefly, and when she smiled, the tightness on the corners of her lips made my happiness damper and concern increase. "Don't worry about me. I’ll eat with your father." She held out a hand, palm facing my way when I began to protest, began to say that she could share the food with me.Her smile softened into one which was much more genuine, and she leaned down to press a chaste kiss on my temple. "Eat your food befor
VALENTINAPACK OF LOREI only saw Lucean briefly throughout the rest of the day, as he was swamped with work and only left his office that afternoon to assist me to carry in the groceries, exchange a few words and return back upstairs.Teira and Jayme kept me company until the late evening, and left soon after then. The cook called me for dinner, and I was surprised as he showed me what he called 'meatloaf.' It was, not to my surprise, delicious, along with the mashed potatoes he'd made and I expressed my gratitude when he returned to the dining room."This is for you." The round man held out a small brown paper bag to me and then placed it onto the table and gave a small smile down at me. "Some cake."I returned a smile and lifted the bag to look inside of it, spotting the large slice of colorful, rainbow colored cake."Thank you. I'll have it for dessert." I told him. He nodded and left to go to his home, whilst I stared down at my empty dinner plate, shivering at the cold that drif
VALENTINAPACK OF LOREMy mind was calm.Wind chimes hung by the window and I listened distractedly to the soft ringing from them each time wind drifted through. I frowned deeply as I identified Lucean’s bloodlust. His eyes were not looking towards me, but I knew that they were more than likely dark, as they usually would be whenever he was infuriated.The weight of his hand lifted from my head, and I was silent as he sat further up on the bed, until his back pressed against the black headboard. His body was rigid as he watched me settle further under the sheets of the bed, and his hand returned once again to rest against my hair, almost in an unconscious manner. My eyes closed shut.The chimings abruptly stopped, and my eyes flew open at the sound of fast, hurried footsteps coming our way. Lucean straightened further, waiting, and a bemused look crossed his face when he saw who opened it,"I forgot my purse."Evelyn walked across the bedroom, eyes skirting around her and a hand drift
ALPHA LUCEANPACK OF LOREMy wrath was rapidly growing with each reluctant step that was taken by Honour. More than once he paused, hesitance crossing his features, but he'd then carry on walking eventually, the staff he held assisting him with his pace."What a surprise." Honour’s voice was cold, and he sounded almost irritated as he finally stopped before myself, and I had yet to look away from the man who I’d once considered a dear friend.The sentries by my side circled both the I and the councilman when given the silent command to do so and Honours eyes followed their quick actions. Fear flashed in his eyes, and when he looked once more at me, the displeasure that had captured his expression slithered away, and became one of carefully controlled neutrality. He sighed, and his eyes skipped upwards, towards the morning sky when I spoke,"Evelyn told me what you asked of her."My fingers tightened in the first I made with Honour’s lack of reaction at my words. He'd more than likely
VALENTINAPACK OF LORE"Who pulled me out of the lake?" I asked T'mara, breaking her out of her own thoughts. She blinked several times and studied me as I attempted to sit up on the bed after moving the sheets aside."Sara." She responded, and then frowned in thought. "Well, Sara and several other sentries. They'd seen you from afar and said they'd almost immediately known something was wrong."I remembered the flash of dark eyes and the almost painful feeling of arms hauling me out of the lake. I rubbed a hand against my stomach, where I'd been gripped. Gratitude for what Sara and the sentries had done filled me, and I wondered aloud how I could find them to thank them."Perhaps after some rest you could worry about that." T'mara said, her lips lifting in a soft smile, which widened when she saw my disgruntled expression. "Some pack nurses may need to visit you later today as well."My eyebrows furrowed. "Did the pack nurses you speak of visit whilst I was unconscious?""Arie and Ev
VALENTINAPACK OF LORE“First of all, we have to make some changes on the things that you do Val…”“What you mean?” I asked, enjoying the energy that building within us both from being this close with each other."You being more observant is a must." Lucean's fingers continued to drift across my waist, and he paused from doing so only to lift them to touch my lips momentarily when I'd begun to frown in concentration as I listened to him.From the angle in which I sat, I knew it might have been difficult for him to see me properly, but he somehow knew that I had been frowning nonetheless. My head continued to rest against his chest, and his voice was a deep rumble as he continued speaking, "And you should choose who to trust carefully."I straightened when he shifted, and watched as he silently contemplated whilst searching my face. It then appeared as if he was waiting for me to speak, but I had little to say. I did not disagree with his words and I gestured with an exaggerated wave o
VALENTINAPACK OF LOREI was pushing around a piece of what Lucean called 'french toast' on a plate, half-listening to the sounds of Lucean lifting and resting down a glass of water every now and then as he drank from it. My stomach was full of the hearty breakfast he'd made us, and just as I'd almost finished it, my mind had begun to drift to what I had read in the newspaper.Suddenly, the noises from Lucean's movements stopped, and when I dragged my gaze from my plate, I saw that he had settled down his glass, and was watching me and appearing to be...waiting. I straightened in the chair, body shuddering when the back of my shoulders grazed the cold furniture."More northern packs suffer attacks." I told my mate, wiping my hands against a napkin, and then scrunching it up as Lucean nodded."I heard, the occupants having fleeing and choosing to move into the hidden Revolt Pack, yes?""They were forced to. They had no choice," I corrected quickly, and then questioned. "I always wonder
ALPHA VALENTINAPACK OF LORE[SIX MONTHS LATER]Loud music boomed from the pack mansion. A celebratory occasion for the joining of all lands from the north to the central.Following the end of the war and with Jafarr’s help once he had awoken from his coma, I had regained control over my pack as its rightful heir. All the packs from the north to the central, where Lucean’s pack is situated had formed into a single alliance, each keeping their respective leaders but all functioning under one United Pack Nation.Lucean’s arms wrapped around my stomach, and I nestled my head on his chest.“Never knew you liked staring out the balcony, alone, at the twenty second hour…”“You’re kidding me right… I was on the roof the first time we met!”And he laughed so loud, but only carefully caressing my budged belly.“You really going to keep me guessing?” Lucean asked and I felt his lips on my neck.I smiled warmly. “Evelyn told me it’s a boy and a girl. We are having twins baby.”He was silent for
ALPHA LUCEANMERCURY MOON PACKI only forced myself to all my fours again when my spine had popped back into place.The ferocious growls from my mates wolf stunned and surprised me as her smaller form ravenously attacked my brothers silver wolf.I marveled at her beauty, Valentina had morphed into a grey wolf with white paws and a white tail, having grey along her back with sheening grey eyes. I only lunged forward when Ryker had her on her back, his maw going down upon her and that’s when we collided.‘GO VALENTINA!’ I linked to her as I tumbled over my brothers mass.We were Both back to our feet in no time. Rykers silver gleam raged.‘Brother…’ I linked to him.‘Luci…’ He linked back.‘I know how you feel, I know you feel betrayed—’‘Felt! I felt betrayed! Now I all I feel is rage.’‘We can still put this all behind us! Please Ryker, we are family!’‘Family died when I was abandoned to the hands of a mad man, not even a single act of avengement.’‘Ryker… we don’t have to do this…’
VALENTINAMERCURY MOON PACKI had drifted in and out of consciousness. My eyes blinking open before I would pass out again.I heard footsteps fade in and out from outside the cellar doors but in the confused state of mind that I was in it was hard did me to tell in what I was hearing was even real.When the door cracked open again someone slipped in. They stood just far enough so I couldn’t make our their face. The person drew closer and I flinched when I felt their hand hold my face.“So it is you…” The person said, betraying a hint of doubt.I knew this voice, and not from the cherry times before Ryker killed my parents or from the merry times I’d spent in the pack of Lore. But from another time, a time where I had been in this game scenario; chained to the ceiling by the wrists.“Jhamal?”x x x x xWhen my hands were snapped free I fell to my knees, pain aching through all my muscles.“Where— How— why—”“I fled after your mate had rescued your back then, stayed low with a pack of s
VALENTINAPACK OF LOREI trailed my fingers up and down the hilt of the dagger T'mara had given me earlier today. For the fourth time, I admired it, especially the sharpness of the blade. I had already accidentally pierced the skin of my fingertip after Teira had handed it over, and could see a small cut on my forefinger when I glanced at it.I carefully lifted the dagger up from where it'd been resting on the desk, bringing it close to the fireplace as I continued to look it over; It was beautiful.The red color that decorated the black hilt shone bright under the glow of the flames from the fireplace and I could see that T'mara had put much effort into making it. I felt comforted with it in my hands, and knew it could serve well in protecting me.Walking across the room, I decided to place it carefully into an empty drawer for the time being. Oddly enough, I felt almost vulnerable with it not on my being, and my fingers itched to take it up once more.Evening came fast and the sound
VALENTINAPACK OF LOREThe atmosphere in the woods became almost ominous the further we walked. The voices of the sentries dropped significantly, and a quick look around showed that they were all staring ahead, not particularly at anything, with intense expressions of concentration, which only grew when we came to a halt.The stock-still bodies of the sentries didn't sway in the strength of the wind like mine almost did, and I could see some of the sentries fingers twitching, as if resisting an urge.By then, unease had unfurled in my chest. I glanced at T'mara, and immediately she placed a finger against her lips, the color of her eyes which usually mirrored her son's glazed over, an almost wet look in them. Alarmed, I looked at Lucean, however, he was the picture of calmness.His arms were folded across his wide chest, warm eyes almost languidly looking around us before settling on me. Immediately, he straightened from where he'd been propped against the tree, becoming concerned at
VALENTINAPACK OF LOREMy hand immediately lowered to the pistol in the depth of my coat's large pocket, and I backed towards the car as the sentries moved to stand before Sara and myself, bodies tense and eyes wide with alertness.I could see Arie leaning against the railing of markets wall, arms lifting to fold across her chest as she watched the advancement of the sentries."I recognize you." A male sentry pointed a finger at Henri as he spoke, a sly smile lifting his lips and eyes glittering dangerously. The male was Jayme's height, which was very tall, and his body was lean and well muscled. His blond hair was slicked back and seemed to gleam under the afternoon sun."You're from that Lorean pack," The blond-haired sentry paused a few feet away from the sentries, and he rested a hand against his hip, cocked his head. "You were in a meeting with an Alpha, Lucean I believe, a year ago."Henri said nothing, and tension cracked in the air. My lower back grazed the boot of the vehicle
VALENTINAPACK OF LOREMy eyes fleetingly followed the movement of the door as it opened, and I smiled brightly up at the man who stood behind it; Jack. His expression was grim as he looked upon me, Teira and then Jayme.Jack sighed heavily before stepping aside, gesturing with his head that we enter his home.Immediately I took notice of the strong scent of soup, and my eyes landed on several steaming bowls on a kitchen table, which Sara stood beside."Good day," She called to me, lifting a small spoon and dipping it into one of the bowls. My gaze went to Jack who stood stiffly and almost awkwardly in his living room, his eyes darting between Teira and Jayme, who stood close by me."Good day to you too," I greeted Sara, walking to her and peering down at the bowls. Brown liquid filled them to the brim and I saw several small potatoes and sliced carrots resting in it. Sara immediately dropped her spoon and pushed one of the bowls towards me."Jack made soup for everyone. Would you lik
VALENTINAPACK OF LORE"Is that a pistol?" Sara asked, widening eyes lowering to the weapon in my hand after I stepped outside with her. Her arms were wrapped around her stomach, almost as if she was comforting herself as she continued to stare at the gun.Her face, which had looked distressed even before we had stepped outside, grew even more bleak at the sight of the dark pistol in my right hand."Yes. It is," I licked my lips after the cold weather made them dry and glanced behind Sara to see Jayme walking by. His head lowered in a nod as he caught me watching and I returned it before he walked out of sight, sentries trailing after him.Throughout the week that had passed after I'd had dinner at Clover's home, Jayme and I had begun talking amicably for long periods of time. There was no tension between us, and I at times either found myself being amused by him or impressed by his work-ethic.I looked at Sara. "What did you want to speak to me about?" I asked, knowing that the secon
VALENTINAPACK OF LORE"Are you certain that you don't want this?" I offered Teira a bowl of stew for the second time. She curled her upper lip and eyed the bowl I held up towards her.Teira's arms were folded behind her back, and she stood near the walls of the home, with Henri now by her side.Jayme was casually walking around the room with FredNeok trailing along behind him, and Elle was sitting stiffly in a rocking chair, back straight and eyes piercing as she looked over each individual seated for what seemed like the seventh time since she arrived at the home, which had been ten minutes ago."No thank you. I generally tend to prefer my food being a bit more...raw." Teira flashed a strained smile as she said this, showing her fangs."You ate T'maras’ casserole, though." I pointed out."I wouldn't want to hurt her feelings by refusing.""Do you not care about hurting my feelings when you refuse the generous bowl of stew I took out for you?"Teira's eyes narrowed whilst I smiled in