Connor POV - Without any form of cover, the Grey Stone territory was difficult to move secretly within. Wolves had fantastic senses, so it wouldn’t take much for the border patrol to spot an intruder on their lands. With the flat, open plains before him, Connor kept that in mind as he moved forward under the blanket of night. He remained vigilant, watching for Grey Stone warriors on the horizon but their patrols were few and far between. They didn’t seem to be concerned about attacks from other packs, or rogues, considering how easy a wolf could move on and off the territory without being seen. Connor used that same disregard, for their defences, to make his way across the Grey Stone border. As if it held like an invisible wall, he felt the moment he stepped foot off the territory. It washed over him in a wave of relief, easing the tension in his body. He had only been in the pack for three days, but he had already gotten used to the constant strain of being on enemy land. He only
Inga POV - It was hard to maintain her grin as Inga opened the door to Connor and a Grey Stone warrior. It wasn’t one of hers, so she didn’t care to know his name. She beckoned Connor inside, trying to hide the rolling waves that were churning her stomach, and reassured the warrior that everything was okay. It only took one smile to comfort him, and he was soon backing away, looking like he had been threatened. Not that Inga cared. She just shut the door and prepared herself for the talk ahead. The moment she had spotted Nala hanging around her home, Inga had known it was time. A part of her was relieved to finally share the truth, but another part of her twisted away from it, trying to stay hidden for fear of being seen. However, she was no coward. She’d face the consequences head on, no matter who turned their back on her for it. The moment she had invited Nala inside, Lewis had come down from his room, tension gripping both wolves. Now, the pair were waiting in the living ro
Inga POV - There was a lot of fidgeting around her as Autumn brought in five mugs of steaming tea, three of which got immediately disregarded. Inga accepted hers gratefully and took a long slurp from its edge, enjoying stretching out each second as the eyes on her narrowed. She sighed as the liquid warmed her insides then went for a second sip. “Oh, for fucks sake.” Nala grumbled. Inga met her eyes over the rim and offered her a wink before handing her mug to Connor. “Could you hold this for me, Mr Dark Night? It’s difficult with my hands tied.” When he didn’t take it immediately, she shrugged. “I’ll start after its finished then.” Before the mug reached her lips a third time, he took it from her, his expression tight as she thanked him. Tension flickered in his jaw, and she found herself remembering the small smiles she had seen on his lips and wishing them to come back. She doubted she’d see them anytime soon, but the longer she dragged out the truth, the more his scowl wou
Connor POV - The night air chilled against his skin, the open territory doing nothing to shield against the light breeze rolling over the land. It was late, or early, Connor wasn’t sure, but he could feel the hour weighing on him as much as the information Inga had shared. His head ached from the whiplash of their changing situation. His mind was trying to break apart everything he thought he knew and piece it back together again with the new truth. It felt like he had been flung back to the start again, with the last few days being a complete waste of time and new challenges set before him. Those challenges were the true reason him and Nala were at Grey Stone. Their chance to win the Luna Games, and gain an alliance, a lie that had been orchestrated by Inga to reel them in. He should be angry, he knew he should, but the feeling never came. Maybe it had been her honesty, the desperation in her voice when she asked for help, or the imploring gleam in her eyes, but he couldn’t
Connor POV - Connor’s stomach dropped, twisting in the face of her loss. An apology burned on his tongue, trying to figure out how to say such words without caring about the wolves that endangered his home when, suddenly, her hard look cracked, a giggle bubbling past her lips. “Your face.” She snorted. “So, they’re not dead?” He grumbled. “Oh no, they are.” She shrugged and waved off the issue “Don’t worry about it, though, they haven’t spoken to me for years. To them, me and my parents were tools to be used to keep their alliance to Red Dawn strong. Even now, after Red Dawn left them in the attack, they’ll still be their lap dogs, making whatever sacrifice they need.” She sneered. “They weren't real family. I don’t associate with spineless wolves.” Simple words helped to piece together more of the puzzle that was Inga. Grey Stone’s situation was much like Wild Shore’s, with their upper ranks making decisions that sacrificed their wolves to maintain a strong alliance. It
Connor POV - As promised, the meeting with the wolves, who supported Inga's revolution, and wanted change in the pack, was held the next day. It took more preparation from the Beta than Connor realised it would, but all he had to do was turn up at the right time and place. She had organised a distraction, security and got the word around about the spontaneous event. A small part of him felt guilty for making Inga rush to organise it. It was only a small part though; their timeline was shrinking by the second and they needed a plan. As he headed over to the designated meeting area, on the western side of the pack, Connor was intercepted by the security. Warriors had been placed at intervals, preventing any wolf from approaching without being seen. It was like their own personal border patrol protecting the meeting. Once he confirmed he was Inga’s friend, and they checked it with the Beta, he was allowed to pass by, but it was another quarter of a mile before he saw the convened gro
Connor POV-Inga concluded the meeting whilst a fiery determination was humming in every wolf’s veins. As one, the revolution dispersed, in small groups and in different directions, with the instructions to be careful and keep spreading the word. All in all, it had been good, and Connor had been glad to see Inga in her element. She had almost become a different wolf before him, far more comfortable than he had seen her before and dare he say.... Nurturing. Her concern hadn’t been power or pushing her ideas, but keeping the wolves calm and informed. She was a natural leader who had found her wolves to lead. Well, until Alex came along.
With nowhere else to be, and their time frame for action ever shrinking, Connor and Inga used their stroll to discuss their next steps. Given their fake history, no one would question them if they were seen, and they’d have plenty of time to change their conversation if anyone tried to approach. For once, the territory was working in his favour, and Connor allowed himself to relax. It wasn’t often he could switch off his alert system while on enemy territory, but with Inga at his side, both their eyes on their surroundings, he felt as safe as he could be. With the unhurried pace that matched the slow drift of the afternoon sun, the pair wandered the open plains of Grey Stone. It was even more remarkably flat than Connor had first thought. Apart from a fe
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