My story got advertised on the opening page of the app!!! :-o I can't believe it, that has never happened before, and I am so grateful now it has. I just want to thank everyone who has taken the time to read my work, commented, left likes or reviews. Your support has meant so much to me and has really helped my story to grow. <3 We're coming to the end of the book, the final fight against Red Dawn. I really hope I do it justice and you all love it. <3
Nala POV - After seeing Lewis’ so-called cell, aka Inga’s house, Nala couldn’t help but think she not only drew the short straw, but her straw was so short it was little more than dust. Inga had cared for his wounds, given him free reign of her home and treated him more like a guest than a prisoner. Her cell, on the other hand, was just that. Three cement walls and one of thick steel bars keeping her within. Despite it being beneath the packhouse, none of the warmth or inviting decor made it down to the basement. It was cold and damp and dark, its only homey amenities, a toilet and a bed. If she wasn’t in so much pain, she might’ve cared, but instead she sat on the bed trying to ignore the throbbing heat of her wrists. The initial agony, of the silver melting her flesh, had passed, but that same heat was burying deep into her flesh, making her bones ache. She could no longer feel the places the silver touched her skin, but she daren’t look at it again. The charred, bloody mess o
Connor POV-“Only two Little Moons are left! Both have spent the day trying to win our future Alpha’s heart and, finally, he will choose his mate. Who will be our next Luna?” Alpha Phelan called to the crowded hall, rallying the Grey Stone wolves.
Connor POV-Connor stood in the middle of the packhouse hall and listened to the unrest unfold, a smile on his face. There had been many who had doubted the truth the revolution had spread. It was to be expected. They were Grey stone wolves, loyal to their leaders, that didn't change with a few hasty words. However, with the proof the revolution had gathered, and Aaron's behaviour, the s
Nala POV - It was odd standing across from Inga, knowing she would win the fight, but a shiver of fear still traced her spine as the woman fixed her with a glare. It was all for show, but it felt real enough to get Nala’s heart pumping as they waited for the signal to start. It didn't matter that Inga was an ally, she was a scary woman. Her years of training sculpted her body into a weapon that was far more deadly than the Scian mhór blades in her hands. Her gaze was piercing, scrutinising each weakness and planning her attack. It almost made Nala miss her creepy smile. The crowd edged back as the two women faced each other. Once the challenges were announced, and Aaron could no longer find a way to back out, they had moved to open ground to carry out the fight. The flat plains worked to their advantage, giving plenty of space and no territory advantage to either wolf. Every Grey Stone wolf who had been present in the hall had joined them to watch, creating the fighting arena, sho
Nala POV - “You’re so going to lose the rematch.” Inga’s chuckle made her flinch, before the words truly registered in Nala’s mind. It was so at odds with the fear churning within her that her panic short-circuited for a moment, making her freeze. Her frenzied breath hitched, her brow furrowed, trying to comprehend the sudden change. Then the canines at her throat retracted, just enough to give her some breathing space, as the Beta dropped her voice to a whisper. “You need to go for the kill, Nala, or they could contest the win. Don’t worry. I can take it.” Inga met her gaze, her features softening, stripping away the harsh glares and terrifying grins she had played with throughout their match. She suddenly looked more like the ally they had been working with for the past few days, more like the friend she was beginning to trust. Nala realised the change was because the woman was hiding their shared words behind a sheet of hair. Her dipped head protected them from the view of th
Connor POV - It was hard to tear his eyes away from Inga but, with the situation still not secured, Connor still had a part to play to keep things from falling into chaos. He left the previous upper ranks under the Grey Stone warriors' care and sauntered over to join Michael. He rolled his eyes at the way his brother lorded over Aaron, pronouncing his title like he was royalty. He did like to do things with flare. “A bit over dramatic, brother.” He drawled. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Michael sniffed, though they both knew he was trying to scare the fallen Alpha and his pup into submission. It was one tactic working with Connor’s own, to back them into a corner. Brawn with brains, both working to conquer. “Brother?” Aaron hissed, looking between the pair. As did the other Grey Stone wolves who didn’t know his true identity, which was everyone besides Autumn and Inga. The latter of which was refusing to meet his gaze. He grumbled under his breath about infur
Connor POV - For the second time, Connor didn’t stop to knock as he reached Inga’s door and walked straight inside. However, unlike the night before, she wasn’t sitting in the kitchen dressing a wound. The Beta, or maybe she wasn’t the Beta anymore, was pacing in the front room, chewing her thumb nail to a nub. She didn’t look up when he entered, nor did she stop moving. He hadn’t seen her like that before. He could almost feel her agitation bothering the air around them, scratching at his skin, urging him to soothe her. Connor denied the instinct. Not only was he not trying to get himself killed by touching her, but he also wanted her to face this. She had kept their connection from him. He had flared his pheromones in her presence before, so she knew they were true mates, but she hadn’t told him. Connor felt that like a blow to the gut. After the night Inga had told them all about the revolution and her lies to get them to Grey Stone, he had hoped they’d be honest moving forwa
Connor POV - Words didn’t come to him straight away. No, Connor didn’t know about Alpha Jonathan’s past with the current Red Dawn Luna, but it was a puzzle piece that connected others and began to answer the original question of ‘why’. Just hearing that new part of the origins of their war cast his thoughts into a spiderweb of ideas and plans and conclusions he immediately wanted to air or take to his brother. In battle, all information would add to one’s power and he could see how the small nugget of truth could be of use. However, Connor stopped his swirling mind as abruptly as her words had kicked it off. It was more information Inga had kept from him, but he wasn’t bothered about that. He was bothered by why she was telling him now. “No.” He huffed. “Are you calling me a liar?” She growled. Her arm still stretched between them, her fingers splayed over his chest, curling to dig into his skin at the accusation. “Not at all. I believe you, but I don’t care. The war, our pac
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