Chris stood on the wooded border of their territory and watched eyes gleam back at him from the bushes up over the head. Everyone currently stepped forward appeared in their wolf form. No humans with weapons, or in their battle form. Which was a form that crossed or blended between human and wolf.
That could change with a simple howl and others sitting further back inside their territory could move up and even the odds if needed.
Night fell quite some time ago, and they didn’t plan on doing any real stealth. This was an intimidation tactic only. If they picked up any information while they were at it, all the better.
Wolves padded slowly through the brush all around him
Chris sat with Brian and Helena after dinner. He’d been back for several hours now, and they’d gone over everything. With the little information, they’d gathered earlier today. The bigger picture came a little more into focus, though they were a long way away from having a crisp view of the big picture. “There’s no question he’s up to something. We need to know what his goals are.” Brian pondered this aloud while he caressed Helena’s arm as she leaned against him. “We all can see he’s not doing anything by the rules. In fact, he may break several, which means this region may end up being investigated. I’ll start poking about on our end and make sure he’s not left us with some nasty surprises. We can’t be too careful with the fact Nathan could have sa
Helena entered the study they now used as an office. There Jillian sat beside the largest man Helena ever encountered. Jillian looked like she could fit in his pocket comfortably, and she looked like she wanted to be there, too. His dark hair hung to his shoulders in what most women called beachy waves. Though Helena assumed he didn’t waste hours achieving this hair style. It covered most of his features in a closely cropped beard. His chest lay hidden under a bandage with hints of blood and a tank top. A leather jacket lay across a nearby chair. “Uh… What happened? Jillian, what’s going on? Is everything okay?” Jillian may have a love for them and leave them mentality, but she wasn’t an uncaring soul. In fact, she sa
Jillian led Davis from the room and Helena watch Wally step aside with Brian. They conferred with each other in hushed tones. Chris clearly listened, but he was watching her closely. Helena paced on the far side of the room. She didn’t feel like a leader, because she couldn’t see an acceptable way to get out of this. Every solution carried with it a lifetime of responsibility and regrets. “Well, anyone cares to fill me in on this grand plan? Chris?” Helena couldn’t believe she was asking this aloud. They must see her as the weakest Luna in history. Looking toward two men who weren’t her mate or alpha. Why didn’t they just take on the mantle of alpha and do what they will? It would solve this, wouldn’t it? &
Brian came to stand with Chris, and his face bore a hard look about it. Why did she feel like they had pulled her in front of her father for doing something wrong? While her body responded to the sensual airs about these two. Her eyes widened when one thing answered it all for her. She’s in heat and they truly were her mates. It was no longer a dream fancy of hers. This really happened right now. Mates, as in two. They’d forever outnumber her in this relationship. “This is ridiculous. All we must do is assume the mantle, and since she’s pack, we can enforce a mating. It wouldn’t be hard, and I would hate to start our life off on that note. But right now you’re in heat. I can smell it already.” Brian’s voice lowered into a sensual rumble. Clearly, her scent and his thoughts were a poten
Helena couldn’t think of what she’d do with both of them. They both had the Alpha trait of having their own independent mind and using it to get their way. How was she going to make sure they didn’t do something foolish? Her mother talked about failing to tame her father. Though she didn’t say it meanly or in anger. Helena wasn’t sure what her mother meant by that. When she’d asked, her mother responded with the words, “You’ll know when it’s your turn to tame a wolf.” These are the times she wished she understood what her mother meant or could ask her. “Now we need to do this mating ceremony quickly, without too much fuss.” Brian started off the conversation. 
Jillian settled Davis into a set of rooms in the packhouse. He grumped about her leaving his sight. She couldn’t believe this man. Wherever he came from, he clung to her like barnacle to the bottom of a ship. He was bossy and wanted thing done a specific way. Jillian was still pondering if she liked that when she’d finally made her escape from him. It wouldn’t be long since she’d promised to return with food for him. They’d shot the man several times and then forced to fend off several wolves trapped in human form. Yet here he was alive, but injured on the road to recovery. His sheer size must have given him some protection. By rights, he should have come out of it with a lot more injuries and a lot less blood. She had to admit the man was gorgeous and smoking hot.&
Brian watched his mate, no their future mate, struggle with the concept that they both wanted her permanently. They weren’t keeping her to keep the pack, but because they felt their possessive natures kick in at the thought that she wasn’t safe and protected. It pleased him and displeased him. She was so focused on the belief it wasn’t right for them to take the burden of the target Clarence pointed at the leadership of this pack. He was happy she thought to protect them, but it displeased him she felt the more acceptable thing was for her to be that target. He and Chris would never find that acceptable. They possessed the skills to take a creep like Clarence down. She didn’t, plain and simple in fact. After more persuading and some arguing, she relented. With her heat coming on like this, she’d be a ha
Jillian now understood. Davis wanted to know if there were any other males in her life. She nervously licked a crumb from her lip as she struggled to tell him she wasn’t looking for a mate and she’d play with whomever she wished. “Davis, correct me if I’m wrong. Is this your way of asking me if I’m involved with someone? The answer would be I choose who and when I’m involved with someone.” She fully intended to not say anything more, but her mouth sped on ahead of her brain. “However, currently I’m not involved with anyone. But that could change at a moment’s notice either way.” “Yes, it changed. So instead of sleeping in a cold, lonely bed, you’ll sleep here with me.” He didn’t ask or insist she do it. No, he stated it as a fact. Jillian&rsquo
Life settled down for them after that, and a routine formed. Their pack understood their unique relationship. It helped when Alfred could come up with some documentation he’d found while doing his own study on their unique bond. It and Bethany fascinated the man became a friend to Helena and Jillian. Nathan and Asia eventually settled on a date to be formally accepted by their pack and to acknowledge their mating. It was something their pack needed to. Life for them soon became full of creating and building. Several of the lone wolves filtered in and requested a place within Nathan’s pack. Davis helped greatly with that because he could identify these lone wolves and vet their stories. By winter, there were enough homes to keep the Blue Mountain Pack safe from the elements. Money appeared out of the rambling and incomplete financial status. Helena didn’t look too closely, but she suspected several packs contributed funds and investments so that they could start agai
Asia now understood how much she didn’t know about wolf shifters and their society. The mating ceremony wasn’t elaborate, but there were meanings behind everything. Luck and good fortune were part of the reason everything was being done. Prosperity and abundance. She was told so many stories and traditions that her head spun from all of them. It was so different from what she’d learned in her time underground with them. The other women were afraid to speak of these things while Clarence was alive. Afterward, there were other things to think about. Now they were looking forward to the Alpha Acceptance Ceremony and their Mating Recognition Ceremony. It was so busy that most nights everyone went to bed exhausted to start again the next day. They could get the new packhouse built and several outbuildings so that they could winter with a roof over all their heads. They planned a school for the new year for all the packs in the area to send their pups, too. So the
The pack came alive with the discovery of the celebration. These were things they lived for. Births, matings, and all the little cornerstones of member lives. They were a close knit family and community. This was something they could sink their proverbial teeth into. Presents weren’t necessary, but someone would always find something to bring.They planned a nighttime ceremony as tradition dictated and that gave most of the day to prepare the simple things for the ceremony.Dusk was falling and Helena cornered Jillian in her apartment to get ready. Davis took an hour and greeted those attending. Jillian fluttered about in a distracted and nervous state. Helena couldn’t figure out what would calm her down. But she started out with some logic.“First off. Here’s the dress. Let’s get you dressed. Honestly, you’d think Davis wasn’t yours already. At least, your instincts were smart enough to catch him. Everything is already recorded and technically, this is just to get your sister to leav
The work lunch was going well, but as the meeting came to an end, Chris noticed Jillian again adjusting the collar of her top. With a frown, he watched her for a little longer. “Is that a bite on your neck, Jillian?” Her response was to put her hand over the mark and blush. “It is! Well, I guess congratulations are in order for both of you. When are you planning to have your mating recognition ceremony?” “We’ll see. We’ve not set a date yet. There’s no hurry after all this stuff happening.” Jillian tried to take the pressure off of the subject, because she hoped they would drop it. “We’re going to have one as soon as it’s possible. No time to waste pretending things might change.” Davis interrupted Jillian’s uncomfortably nervous rambling to state the opposite of his mate’s words. “Davis! What are you talking about? We can’t do that. It’s too soon after all the deaths.” Jillian looked askance at Davis, unable to believe he’d said none of this to her
Nathan all but dragged himself back to the camp. He’d not fought all that much. It’d just been a long night. Too long if you asked him. But he represented the Blue Mountain Pack until the end. The witches would not all him to sit in and watch the trial. But he knew that witch and golem were now no longer a threat to the Blue Mountain. Now what would he do since the pack chose him to be their leader? Did he dare think of himself as the perfect candidate? He’d done a right fine job of being a roadblock to the current leadership there. Would he bring that blindness to this pack? Or could he be confident that he’d learned his lesson? If only he could see into the future and everything it held. Asia would see him as the stuff Alpha’s were made of. But he knew she’d read far too many romance novels involving werewolves, and they were far from correct in most things about wolf shifters. The camp was moving today, which meant he wouldn’t get much sleep, nor would the few peo
Jillian watched Davis make sure that her sister and mother, with her mother’s latest side piece, were settled in their cabin. Gods, the guy wasn’t much older than her sister. He’d be better suited to her sister. What did these men see in her mother? She had two adult daughters. She didn’t care if her mother found someone. Actually, Jillian would love her mother to find someone she had something in common with. This guy wouldn’t be able to keep up with her in a conversation and she wouldn’t be able to keep up with him in pretty much any physical activity. Jillian could see this becoming another crash and burn. She bet he’d not met his fated mate and when he did, he’d have a devil of a time removing her clinging mother from him. Or Jillian would have to deal with the high drama. At least, right now, Davis showed no interest in her sister’s advances. He’d spoken to her once already, and her sister acted like he must be mistaken. Now Jillian wasn’t sure if she m
“If we are going to return to some form of normal, we need to finish preparing the Alpha apartments for us. You know. Get all our ducks in a row.” Chris mentioned as they ate breakfast in their apartment. This was the first day of the rest of their lives together in his estimation, and he was becoming impatient at how must mess it left and the sheer number of strings that weren’t tied down. This wasn’t something he wanted to have happened again. “As long as those ducks don’t turn into raccoons or squirrels, I’ll be happy. I thought we setup for them to be renovated by now?” Helena pushed her plate away from her. How this would play out, she didn’t know, but she had to get it going or she’d get bogged down in her grief. “We did, but half of the work crew was called up to hunt. Which put the schedule back and I’ve not been given a revised schedule.” Brian added, and he clearly felt horrible about that. They didn’t need so many people to hunt down the golem or
Alfred walked from the room they used for their courts and formal audiences. It wasn’t used much these days, but it was never pleasant. The council agreed to punish Veronica with imprisonment and being stripped of her abilities. Not a simple thing to do. She’d never live a normal life if she finished her imprisonment. Veronica would have to stay hidden from the mortal world because of the knowledge she could spread. Basically, she’d just trade one prison for another and the identity she knew once would always be a faint memory. In the old day, they’d have just killed her, and Alfred believed that was a far more merciful thing to do. None of this gives her hope and then lets someone else deal with the fallout. Though he could wash his hands of her. She’d go with the elders of the council back to their homeland, which was secreted away. That’s where the sentence would occur. Their coven didn’t have the resources or place to keep her during her punishment. This was the end of th
Veronica didn’t know how long she’d been there. The light turned off and on several times. She could have been there for hours or days. She didn’t know. Finally, someone gave her food. Once she ate, it didn’t take long for a small group of people to come along and haul her out of the prison, she found herself in. She was prepared to celebrate her freedom until she found herself locked in a chair in another dark room. Veronica could hear the movement of people in robes on the edges of the large empty room. She wasn’t sure what to expect from these people. Veronica schooled herself not to give into the fear. She couldn’t quite achieve that, so she sat there attempting not to admit to anything incriminating or to give up on her very life. Finally, the lights came up enough within the room, that left little to the imagination of what they used this room for. It was a courtroom, and she was on trial. They dared to force their views and rules on her. That, alone burst her