The next few weeks the two of them tried to establish some kind of schedule. She had school and training, they would have dinner unless he was on patrol. She would spend time with Jael and Nix a couple times a week, much to Jael's annoyance. She had dinner with James every weekend, as well as spending time with Saige and her dads. She tried to still find time for her brother when she could. He would sometimes join her and James for dinner. But it was becoming difficult to juggle everyone's expectations. It only got worse when the invitation to Tyler's birthday got there. George was not happy about it. "YOU SERIOUSLY EXPECT ME TO BE OKAY WITH YOU GOING TO THAT ALPHA'S BIRTHDAY?! ABSOLUTELY NOT!" Lia winces as George shouts at her. "He's a friend, and I promised him I'd go before he left," she tries to keep her cool. She refuses to match his temper. One of them has to be the level-headed one. "Before we were even mates." "NOT
James throws open the door to Oliver's office with too much force, and it slams against the wall. "How dare you-" Oliver growls, but the delta slams his fist on the desk, causing the entire thing to rattle. James does not care what he has to say. "I told you last time that if your son laid a hand on my Dahlia again I would not be so kind as to restrain my wolf." James glares at the beta over the desk. Oliver seems to rise to the challenge. "At this moment, she is at Hank Lane's house crying with bruises on her arm. From. George." The delta seethes. His wolf scratched at the surface. "The only reason I am standing here right now instead of hunting George down and making him pay for what he has done is because you and I have been friends for years. But I am losing my patience with that boy of yours, my friend. And I am giving you one last chance, Oliver. Deal with your son before I do! I am going to the Lane house now. I expect George to have learned his lesson by the time
James is surprised to find Luna Mira already there comforting Dahlia. Word must have traveled fast while he was in Oliver's office. "Luna Mira," he greets. "James," she nods. "I was just telling your little Petal that she has every right to be upset. She has every right to cry." The Luna tone is filled with sadness. "But she is so strong and brave." Mira smiles at Lia. "Do not ever let anyone, man or wolf, even your mate, ever take that from you. The goddess, Selene, has not forsaken you, for you are still a child of my pack. One that has made us all so very proud." The Luna takes James' hand and puts Lia's in it. "Some families are what we make of them. The ones we choose to love. The goddess gives these bonds as much as she does the bond of a mate. And this is a bond given by Daphne and Linus. They trusted our delta to protect it. And looking at you n
Dahlia wakes up to shouting. It immediately has her on edge.“That’s Nash,” she says out loud to the quiet room. “James is still here,” Nova mentally adds.“Is that-” Lia starts but stops talking recognizes the other voices. She realizes what is happening. She jumps out of bed and rushes toward the sounds of her brother shouting. “Over my dead body!” Nash shouts as she nears the living room, her pace slowing so she can listen.“Now that a bit much,” Beta Oliver says. “Don’t you think?”“Considering the circumstances, you both are lucky you made it through the door with just him shouting,” James says. “This is his house, and he is protecting his sister.”“She’s my mate,” George growl.“Could have fooled me,” Nash snaps. “I’d be well within my right to snap your neck for what you did!”“I’d like to see you try,” George laughs. “You might be warrior, but I’m a beta.”“Enough! Both of you,” James commands, he glances deeper into the house. Gunnar could hear Lia moving around. The others
George is waiting for her when she gets out of school. "You shouldn't be here," Jael glares at him."I came to apologize," George says. His hands are up to show he means no harm."Doesn't matter. You should-""It's fine, Jael," Lia says, much to her friend's dismay. George doesn't start talking right away. He looks at Jael."Oh, if you think I'm leaving after what you did last time, you can forget it because-""Fine, stay, see if I care," George grunts. He turns to Lia."I'm sorry," George says. "I was angry, and I overreacted. I know you and that alpha were close. And he had feelings for you. If you go there and he decides to do something. Well, he's an alpha. He's stronger and has the backing of his pack. And I wouldn't be there to protect you. To make sure they don't trick you or something.""You think they would risk the peace between both our packs over me?""Yes," he says without hesitation. "You're smart and pretty. Men have done worse for less." "So it's my safety you are w
Tyler hugs Lia and Jael when he sees them."Welcome to the Valor Moon Pack," he grins.They both tell him happy birthday. George clears his throat. "George," Tyler greets, enthusiasm is gone. Lia glares at her mate. "Happy Birthday, Alpha Tyler," George forces a tight-lipped smile. "Thank you," Tyler says. It's a performative formality. Something he was increasingly familiar with as his time as a pack-leading alpha nears. "Come on," the young alpha smiles at his friends. Let me show you around. After a quick tour, Tyler was called away to talk to some of the other guests at his party. George unceremoniously dropped down at the assigned seat at an overly fancy table. Lia rolled her eyes and sat down on her seat beside him. She was Jael had easily made friends with some of Tyler's childhood friends. She got along well with Tyler's future beta, Sam."Could you at least pretend to not be miserable?" she glares at him. "I'm just trying to keep Axel from turning this into a blood-," Ge
"So what is our reward?" George says as they walk towards the Haven River packhouse. She takes his hand and leads him toward the forest. It had become their routine, but Lia had finally agreed to let Nova have her mate any way she wished, short of marking, which was still off the table. she trusted Nova, but she still goes to the farther part of Nova's mind as she shifts. She didn't really want to think about it. She just wanted to close off and zone out. And she does.George is quick to shift. Nova leads Axel playfully deeper into the woods. Nova nuzzles him repeatedly before Axel seems to get the idea. He howls in excitement, and a playful chase begins. Nova eventually lets him catch her. And Axel gets what he has wanted since he first caught their scent. He gets to mate with his goddess-given mate. The wolf was over the moon. As the sun begins to set, they return to their things, dress, and he wal
Lia drops down on Jael's bed."Rise and shine birthday girl," she says. "Your dad says it's time to get up, or you'll be late for school.""Snooze," Jael grumbles, hitting Lia with a pillow.Lia laughs. "Very childish for your 18th birthday. Come on. I have a surprise for you."Lia gets up and hides something behind her back."Fine, I'll get up." She eyes her best friend. "What do you have?"Lia holds a sleek leather jacket that Jael had been eyeing at the store."Shut up!""Never," Lia grins."But this cost like way too much!" Jael stood
Luna Colette watched with pride as not only was her son being declared Alpha of the Valom Moon Pack, but the love of his life was by his side and being declared the pack Luna. They had been married in a small ceremony made up of members of Valor Moon and Haven River packs. Dahlia had been a beautiful bride who had happily given her hand to Tyler but sworn herself to the Valor Moon Pack in the process. Colette had never seen her son exude so much love and happiness. But today was a close second. She watches as the new Alpha swears his officers. Nix was being sworn in as his delta. Sam and Wendall had already sworn their oath of fealty and taken their place beside the new Alpha and Luna as Beta and Gamma. The new Gamma’s father had been one of Maxwell's most trusted advisors in the pack. Wendall had been chosen when Nash had turned down the role. The new Luna’s brother had wanted to stay to take Lia's spot alongside James as pack liason. The ceremony was officially wrapping up. "Did we
Dahlia runs and hugs Tyler as soon as she sees him. The young Alpha catches her easily and hugs her tight. Inhaling her scent and smiling. Valens howls in his mind at having Nova so close."I missed you," she says. And she means it. Once she decided what future she wanted. What her heart wanted. She had wanted to just run to him, again."Missed you too," he smiles. "And not that I'm complaining, but what are you doing here?" He sets her back on her feet as he asks. He hadn't expected her to visit so soon. They both had to finish school and she'd already missed days."I've been thinking about it and…I pick you."Tyler had not expected anything like that. He studies her face for any hint of doubt. "Really? You'll give up everything you worked for in your pack, to be
Lia knocks on the open office door, and James grins as she walks in.“How’d your first day back go, Petal?” James says as he gets up from his desk. She gives him a hug.“I have a lot of homework, but Roger said I could skip training tomorrow to work on it,” she tells him.“That’s nice of him,” James says as she takes her usual seat. James leans against his desk. “Not that I’m complaining, but what’s up? I’m assuming you’re here for more than just procrastinating on said homework? Though, for the record, you are always welcome here or pretty much anywhere I am.”“Has Nash talked to you about the whole gamma thing?”
"You're home!" Saige runs over and hugs Lia as soon as Cam sets her down inside her and Nash's home."I am. Hi Cam." Lia laughs, scooping her up and setting her against her hip. "Nash is too.""Nashy!" Saige shouts, basically into Lia's ear, when she sees him. Lia flinches. Nova, despite the volume, chuckles. The pup was so happy it was contagious."Hey Kid," Nash grins, he ruffles the 4-year-old's hair as he goes past her into the living room. Saige giggles. "Cam." Nash nods a greeting."Glad to see you both back on one piece," Cam says."Got iffy there for a bit," Nash admits. "George wouldn't have if Soren had his way.""Nash…" Lia shakes her head as Na
Jael squeals and nearly tackles Lia as she walks through the doors of their school."I thought you weren't going to be here until lunch?" Jael smiles. She had missed her best friend."I've already missed too many classes. I don't want to fall behind," Lia tells her. "And I missed you guys.""Good, because everyone missed you too." The bell rang and they had to hurry off to class.Roger grins as Jael and Lia walk onto the training grounds. "How are you feeling, Lia?""Much better," she smiles and hugs him."How's the family?""Saige has perfected her pout after how many times she was told you still were visitin
As that is happening, the Alpha of the Valor Moon Pack approaches the remaining members of the Haven Moon Pack, Alpha Lars, Beta Oliver who is holding his son, his daughter is with Gamma Beckett, and a few Warriors."I am so sorry for what has happened," Alpha Lars tells him. "We never expected things to get this out of hand. We were hoping to handle this internally, but we are grateful for your assistance. I hope this will not damage future relations between our packs and the alliance."Maxwell nods. "Alpha Lars, we appreciate your haste and handling of this particular situation," Alpha Maxwell starts, sending an unamused look at the beta and his son. "I know this cannot have been an easy situation to handle considering it involved the families of both your Beta and Delta." He looks back towards his packhouse where his family is now safe inside. "I don't
Lia thanks him and moves closer, but not too close to where Beta Oliver stands with his cuffed children."I'm sorry, Dahlia. I should have seen you were struggling when you were in my home," Oliver says. "I hope someday you can forgive that failing on my part." She gives a tight-lipped nod and he accepts that as a positive step forward. She turns to face George."Don't do this," George says. "You belong to me.""She belongs to no one," Tyler says. "She is her own person. A real mate would respect that.""I am her mate!" George shouts.James goes to interject for everyone's safety but Lia stops him."Not anymore," she states. "I, Dahlia Stuart of the Haven River Pack, reject
"Petal," James says. "Come with me for a minute.""Okay," she says. She looks at Tyler. He just nods and mouths for her to go on.James leads her to a bench not far from the entryway stairs. "What's going to happen now? Katie said the arrangements are already made."James nods. "They are. No more time is to be wasted. George is being sent back home.""Nova said they'd sweep it under the rug," Lia says."Oh no, he is going to face justice for what he has done to you, both Lunas insist. You heard Alpha Maxwell back there. The only reason he isn't being dealt with here is Oliver has agreed his children have gone too far and risked the safety of both packs this time. And he will abide by any decision the alphas decide. Oliv
Jael and Briar rush to her when they reach the pack house. "Let me see you, are you okay?" Briar frantically looks her over. Doing the same with Nash when she is satisfied Lia is okay. Nash tries to wave her off but Briar isn't having it and with a sigh he lets her check. He missed his sister and if this made her feel better. He'd do it."I believe these are yours." Lia looks over to see Beckett holding out her locker and bracelet. Lia gasps."You found them?""Of course, James' wolf would have tracked your scent through the wood if Jael hadn't stopped him. Found them very quickly. Quite paternal that wolf.""That's Gunnar for you." She smiles, but it falls as he carefully hands her the broken remains of her jewelry.