Michael POV - It was strange how stepping foot back onto Silver Moon territory gave him a strange calm, as if Michael was arriving home. Each time he had done so before, he had been wracked with anxiety, seeing every foreign warrior he came across as a threat and always looking for the best way to enact his plan and survive. Michael supposed it was different now. Not only had Silver Moon accepted his and his pack’s history, and had renewed the alliance between them, but they were now his wolves too. Unless Madeline decided to reject him, he was to take over as Alpha of the pack. With the way she gripped his hand tight in hers, he knew she would never reject him, like he wouldn’t her. Michael breathed in the cold sea air and sighed. It was a weighted sound, full of the trials he had faced in the past week and the fears of the ones to come. Madeline looked up at him, eyes round and full of worry. With just one glance, he couldn’t help but feel his confidence to face each one head o
Maddie POV - With one day to prepare, and her pack on the brink of war, Maddie wasn’t expecting much for her mating and ascension ceremony. However, as she stood in the Alpha’s office, overlooking the crowd forming at its base, a flutter of wonder echoed deep in her chest. While her and Jess had been getting ready, the pack had been busy. A wondrous trail of food was being carried into the packhouse, each family preparing something to share at the after party, while flowers had been traced around the door frame of every building Maddie could see. They were the wildflowers that grew all over the territory, simple but lovely. Smiling faces, laughter and music swelled from beneath her as her wolves made their way to the cliffs behind the packhouse, where she’d soon be presented to them all. It was a far cry from the heavy weight that had been spread over the pack like a heavy blanket for the past few days. Ever since the Dark Night invasion, the Silver Moon wolves had been on edge,
Maddie POV - A sea of congratulations swarmed around Maddie as Michael swept her into the grand hall. Wolves filled the large room and spilled out into the ground floor of the packhouse and outside. Every Silver Night wolf was there to celebrate their union and the combining of two great packs. She even saw some of the previous Dark Night wolves interacting with some of the previous Silver Moon wolves. It made her giddy to see and she marked the moment as the first of many connections to come. With the music, the dancing, the alcohol, the food, the party was in full swing, cutting through any remaining tension and filling her with an ease that pulled an immovable grin across her lips. She talked, she laughed, she danced. Maddie hadn’t felt that relaxed in ages. They had only made it twice around the hall, when Michael suddenly yanked her out the door. He threaded through the crowd, pulling her along and hooked them both around the nearest quiet corner. He caught her giggle on hi
Maddie POV - Her mate, her Alpha, conceding to her demand, curled a molten desire inside her belly that beckoned her lips to his once more. Maddie’s restraints slipped free now that they were on the top floor of the packhouse, their floor of their packhouse, and she let her urges take over. Her thighs tightened around Michael’s waist as she twisted her fingers into his dark locks, tilting his head to the perfect angle. She teased her tongue along the seam of his lips, humming her satisfaction as they parted for her, letting her taste him. His hands dropped to her ass, groping and keeping her firm against him, but he only managed to make it a couple of steps from the wall before he stumbled to a stop. 'Which door? ' Maddie giggled and nipped at his bottom lip. “After all those lessons, you can’t track me, oh great warrior?” Michael nipped her right back, then salved his tongue over the sweet sting. “I can’t when your pheromones are flaring.” He dipped his nose to her neck
Nala POV - Nala prided herself on her ability to stay calm in stressful situations. At Mountain Forest, the women who tried to join the warriors were often tested in stupid ways to see if they could keep their emotions in check. Those who screamed or cried during these ‘tests' were called out and deemed unfit by their comrades. Though they couldn’t have their warrior titles removed, the women often left that career due to the bullying the ensued. The senior warriors saw the treatment and turned a blind eye. They wanted it to happen. In their minds, it culled the unfit who never should've been allowed to join in the first place. It was a cruel and unnecessary tactic for the arseholes to get a feeling of superiority. As if having their weakness flop between their legs gave them some sense of entitlement to treat those without like shit. Nala had her own way of dealing with it. She’d beat the shit out of anyone who dared to try and test her, and turned their own judgement on them whe
Nala POV - Maddie ran forward, at Michael’s side as soon as he was back on his feet again, while Jess moved to stand by Erik. All eyes were on Nala, wary and alert, but it was the sheen of pity in them that pissed her off. Her fists clenched tight at her side, one aching, the other jealous and itching for its own time to shine. No one spoke a word, the silence thick in the air as if a mountain fog had descended and swept them up in its blanket. Then, Connor entered the office with an ice pack in hand, clearing the tension with the click of the door. The Dark Night Beta looked around the room, his attention lingering on Erik, then his brother, then, finally, settling on Nala. Just like his brother, he immediately strode toward her, except he made it to her side without feeling the force of her fury. “I saw your face downstairs, figured this might help.” He handed her the ice pack and made her smile for the first time in at least a week. “Why doesn’t he get punched too?” Micha
Connor POV - Even leaving Silver Night at first light, it took Connor and Nala all day to get to the Grey Stone pack. Neither of them had been there before, but both had been to Red Dawn. As Inga had told them during their negotiations, their territories were close, less than a twenty-minute drive between them. It was odd for packs to be that close, and it made sense for them to be allies; both could come to the other’s aid in a heartbeat. However, it would also be a good base to launch an attack on Red Dawn if the alliance between Silver Night and Grey Stone could be secured. Nala sat very still in the passenger seat. At first glance, there wasn't a single trace of nerves around her, but Connor could see the whitening grip of her knuckle as her hands clenched together in her lap. Her gaze was fixed out of the window, but her stare was far from vacant. It was critical, searching, gathering information. They were the eyes of a warrior headed into enemy territory and that’s exactl
Nala POV - “Just go in there and wait until someone comes.” Inga pointed at the navy rusty door embedded into the side of the packhouse wall. Nala had to wonder if the Beta knew what she was pointing at, considering her attention was fixed to the path they had just tottered down to reach this entrance. Frustration lined the woman's brow, getting more impatient with each second Nala hesitated to follow the order, like she had somewhere better to be. The Mountain Forest wolf eyed the door. It was hardly the grand entrance she expected to meet the heir. In fact, it looked more like the entrance to the basement or a dungeon. With the Beta’s uninterested pushing to get her through the door, her intentions felt far from threatening, so Nala shrugged and tottered the last steps to the door. Even with the daggers being taken, she was a formidable fighter without them and would be a challenge to any wolf that attempted to hurt her. Semi-abusive training and years of war would do that to a
Inga POV - There had been few moments in Inga’s life when she had stopped to simply observe the world around her. There had always been something she needed to do, every single action having a purpose towards her goal to liberate Grey Stone of their leadership and break free from Red Dawn. Each step forward she had carried that responsibility, that burden, but it was finally gone. Eleanor was dead, Autumn was the Grey Stone Alpha, and she was no longer a Beta. Well, she was in name, but she was free of the role’s duties during her and Connor’s break. The moment she had recovered from the war, Silver Night had been their first stop to confirm their decision with Alpha Michael, and then they were off. Connor didn’t waste any time taking her away from everything, carving out a small piece of the kingdom just for them. He took her to the one place he knew better than anywhere, a place where they could be alone. Dark Night was beautiful in a tragic way. The years of battle had scarred t
Nala POV - “Do you give up?” Nala growled in Autumn’s ear, nipping the soft flesh beneath it. Her mate squealed and wiggled beneath her. Nala smiled as she managed to squirm her legs free and wrapped them around her waist, giving her the purchase to roll them over. She could’ve stopped it, but why would she when it gave her such a great view. Autumn sat astride her waist, pinning her arms to her side with her thighs, a victorious grin on her perfect mouth. Her chest heaved with each pant, and she watched a bead of sweat fall from her chin and slide into her cleavage. Nala's tongue flicked across her lips, a pang of heat swelling in her core. “Ha!” The Alpha shouted, letting her head fall back, her red hair falling around her in wave after wave of beautiful curls. Nala’s fingers twitched at the memory of their softness. “I did it. I finally pinned you.” She laughed, the sound spreading across the empty training field. Nala took the opportunity to look over her mate’s form, gr
Michael POV - “That could’ve been us.” Nala snorted, elbowing him in the gut with a force that almost winded him. It was almost horrifying to picture being mated to his friend. He thought as much as he rubbed his side, already feeling a bruise forming, but didn't get a chance to respond as she turned back to Alpha Autumn. The Grey Stone wolf leaned in to hear Nala's whispers and immediately bloomed a stark red. She fumbled for something to say and ended up thrusting their pup into the warrior's arms instead. Nala lifted the pup to her shoulders, letting him wave widely at the couple on the stage, though it didn't stop her from leaving a hand on Autumn's thigh.Michael chuckled. It was a good thing she had vehemently denied becoming his mate to broker a stronger alliance between their packs. He shuddered to consider it now, but it was easier to laugh about it when they both sat beside their mates, watching the rightful leaders of the pack take their positions.“Mountain Forest, I giv
Inga POV - When one closes their eyes for what they think will be the last time, it’s odd when they open them again. Though everything was blurry and bright, Inga was sure it wasn’t a dream or her imagination playing tricks on her. The pain lancing through her skull could attest for that. Sound came first. The rustling of material beside her, followed by a few sharp shouts that were blaringly loud, as if right beside her ear, but far too muffled for any word to be clear. Her frustration bubbled like hot water beneath her skin, her drive to understand what was going on far greater than her submission to the pain or fatigue trying to pull her back into slumber. She blinked open her eyelids, wincing through the blur of colours that moulded into oddly shaped blobs. One particular blob leaned in close, too close, and her body reacted on its own. Her arm jerked up; her fist semi clenched as her muscles ignored her instincts. She punched the blob, or more like tapped it with her fis
Inga POV - It may have only been two stories, but after the day she had had, the week, hitting the ground felt like hitting a wall that punched the words of giving up to her tongue. Inga swallowed them, her mouth dry, clawing to hold onto her surrender. Every inch of her ached. The impact jarred through her body, making her head ring and her vision dizzy. At least she had managed to push Luna Eleanor off her while they fell. Inga didn’t want to think about the additional pain she’d be in if that bitch had landed on her. If luck was with her, hopefully the Luna had fallen on her face or, better yet, a knife. The night sky was a blanket of black spread out above her, dotted with stars, like glitter threaded into a plush blanket. She was so tired that the paved road at her back felt comfier than her bed back at Grey Stone. Just thinking of that bed made her remember her last night in it, cuddled at Connor’s side, in disbelief and awe that he was there. He made her feel safe, he made h
Inga POV - Inga didn’t so much as flinch when the door cracked hard enough against the wall that it dented the plaster. She didn’t blink when six wolves barrelled inside. She didn’t hesitate as one of the warriors felt gutsy and charged her before the others. She didn’t give him the chance to attack. He had asked for her attention; he had unknowingly drawn the short straw. She lunged. Her body protested as she forced it to shift, but it obeyed. The glare she pinned to the wolf as she moved towards him, made him freeze with the instinct of prey already caught by the predator. It was his lack of discipline to refine his reflexes that was his downfall. The warrior didn’t so much as jerk as her jaws latched onto his arm, her canines digging deep into his flesh. The familiar warm, metallic, taste of blood pooled on her tongue, a wave of feral victory washing through her. With no time to bask in its glow, she twisted her head until she heard the bone snap, before letting the wolf go and re
Inga POV - “Okay. Just stand back, there’s wounded in here.” Lewis raised his voice through the door, then waited, listening for the slow shuffle of feet. Inga listened too, trying to catch any small whispers of deceit among the crowd of Red Dawn warriors waiting for them. “We’re coming out.” The trio shared one final nod, before the Beta twisted the handle and the door swung open. Her stomach was in knots looking out at the wolves watching them, waiting, their eyes predatory. There were at least six; enough to block the corridor that stretched directly from the door towards the stairs, but Inga was certain there were others. She spotted the Red Dawn Alpha and Daniel standing behind their warriors, the leadership safe except for Luna Eleanor. She had the balls to stand at the front. Inga didn’t have to fake the way her face paled as she locked gazes with the Luna. The gleam in her eyes was malicious, her lips lifting as she took in Inga’s hunched form, leaning so far onto Jami
Inga POV - Clawing at Lewis’ arms did nothing. The man was pure muscle and resilience, ignoring her cries for Connor, ignoring her curses, ignoring her pleas for him to stop. Against the Red Dawn warriors, she doubted she’d be much good anyway. Her body felt heavy, like her veins were filled with lead, every muscle protesting her orders. She couldn’t even lift the arm where Luna Eleanor had stabbed her. Even wiggling her fingers sent shooting pains all through her body. Inga had been stabbed before, most warriors had, but it felt different. Her energy, her strength, was sapped. It was like the blade was draining her. However, none of that mattered. Connor was her mate; she couldn’t leave him behind to face all those warriors alone. She had to try and help him. Again, Inga pounded on Lewis’ chest, each impact jarring her, but none of them made the Silver Night warrior even flinch. It was like she was a fly bumping against a window, the force hurting her and not even smearing his s
Connor POV - He was sure his heart stopped, freezing time for the span of a breath, as Inga tipped on the stairs. Her body shifted backward, falling with only the hard stairs to catch her. The silver blade in her shoulder caught the light as she became airborne. Its flash shot through Connor’s mind, jerking him back to his body, forcing a fresh dose of adrenaline through his system. He charged forward, reaching with desperate hands to catch her, to soften her fall, to protect her. He wasn’t sure if it was a miracle, or a divine gift from the Moon Goddess, but the moment he felt her back push against his fingertips, the panic eased, relief chased it away. He was allowed a breath, but the brief moment of calm was crushed as Inga crashed into him. Connor was off balance. His only goal had been to soften her fall, but he didn’t have time to catch her. Her weight pushed him back, forcing him to join her fall, but he wrapped his arms tight around her, curling into her, protecting he