Lacey looked over the warriors, both young and experienced, and it felt good to be back."Scarlett, Lacey's back so she will take over the training of the young warriors," Julien said. "Thank goodness," Scar said under her breath. Lacey's head snapped up, taking in her young warriors, and they were hanging their heads. Rage instantly filled her. The young warriors had become like her own children, of sorts, and she wasn't about to have someone make her warriors feel inferior just because they were young and inexperienced. Julien narrowed his eyes at Scar in warning. "Since Lacey still needs to take it easy, Raye, I'd like for you to help her with the young warriors today," Julien replied. "Scarlett, you'll take a group to work with." Julien paced with his arms behind his back. "Each time the Wildclaws attack, it's been over the wall. That said, Scar, you and Brock will train the warriors how to defend the wall." Julien rattled off some names and each nodded. "The rest of you will t
Throughout the evening, the whole pack looked for Rex and any evidence of the other Wildclaws, but found nothing.Julien and Lacey were talking about precautions to protect the pack when Scar walked up from the forest, wearing a hoodie, a T-shirt, and jeans, her eyes wide as if nothing were amiss. "What's going on?""Rex was here talking to someone," Lacey answered. But Scar ignored her, only talking to Julien. "Who saw it?""She did." Julien nodded toward Lacey, folding his arms across his chest. "Where have you been?"Scar smirked. "Well, after practice, I headed into the forest to hunt." Then she looked over at Lacey and scoffed, a self-satisfied look coloring her face. "I was in the woods hunting just now and wearing a hoodie. Are you sure it wasn't me you saw?"Lacey's heart stopped. "No one said anything about Rex wearing a hoodie."Julien let his arms fall slowly to his sides. "Scar, where have you been?"Scar's eyes opened wide, looking nervously between them. "What are you sa
Lacey sent word out to the other packs right away, just like Julien had asked. But instead of just sending word to the Shadow Pack and Silver Pack, she decided to visit both herself."I promise, I won't be gone long," Lacey said to Julien the night before she left. Lacey hated to leave him, but she wanted to make the plea to her birthfather, Arkin, in person. Julien looked into her eyes, his hands on her shoulders. "I wish I were going with you. But I'm sending Brogan with you. He will protect you and keep you safe." Lacey wrapped her arms around his neck, knowing this would be the last time she would see him for a few days. "I can keep myself safe." Then she kissed the tip of his nose. But his eyes were serious, pained even, as he laced his fingers through the side of her hair, holding her head still to look deeply into her eyes. "I know you can, but take Brogan. If you want more warriors to go with you, I'll give the order."She smiled as she looked up at him. "No. Brogan will be
Lacey looked out the window and at the fading leaves falling from the trees, she knew that winter would be here soon. Lacey just hoped, when all was said and done and every warrior accounted for, that they would have the numbers to defeat Rex and the rogue Wildclaws... once and for all.After her family's behavior when they came for her wedding, Lacey wasn't looking forward to this visit, but she owed it to tell them face to face. Then again, they may have changed. She planned to give them the benefit of the doubt, as well as another chance.When the limousine pulled to a stop in front of the compound, No one was there to greet them.Brogan slid out of the limo, and then offered her his hand, helping her out. "Are you sure they were expecting you?" Misty asked, looking at the closed door of the compound. Lacey nodded in disbelief. "Yes. And they are my family." When she walked toward the front of the compound, one of the maids was standing at the door. Vivian bowed slightly, giving
"Are you well, Alpha Queen?" Brogan asked as Misty glanced at her in the rearview mirror from the front passenger seat as Victor drove them through the fates, leaving the Shadow Pack.After the frosty welcome she had received with the Silver Pack, the family she had grown up with, she had no idea what awaited them when they arrived at her stepfather's pack. Julien had called ahead and spoke to Arkin, letting him know that she was on her way.Lacey nodded. "Yes, thank you." Then she stared out the window, watching the bare trees, now ready for their winter slumber.Soon, the limo pulled to a stop in front of a mansion, one of the biggest that Lacey had ever seen. She couldn't help but think that it would have been amazing to grow up at this compound. But then memories of the way she had been treated at her parent's mansion came flooding back. If that was the way family treated her, then she wanted no part of it. When she and Julien had a family of their own, she wanted things to be diff
Lacey woke early the next day, ready to have breakfast with Arkin and then go home, but Arkin stopped her, meeting her when she came downstairs for breakfast."Good morning!" Arkin greeted her with a friendly smile, heading her off before she could go into the main dining hall with the other shifters."Good morning." Lacey couldn't believe the difference in how Arkin and his pack were treating her in comparison to the Silver Pack, the family she had grown up with, had treated her. After this visit, she hated to leave, but she was eager to see Julien. And with the impending attack from the Wildclaws, she knew he needed her.Arkin took both of her hands and looked into her eyes. "Would you like to meet your brothers before you leave? I've arranged a private family brunch for you to get to know one another, if that's all right."A broad smile spread across Lacey's lips, touched by the sentiment. "How thoughtful!" she said, nodding. "I'd love to."Arkin offered her his arm and she took it,
"Thank you so much for having me," Lacey said to Arkin, standing by the limo with Brogan and the other shifters from her pack. She hadn't seen her warriors since she had been there, but they seemed to have had a good time. A few members of the Shadow Pack had even come to say goodbye, and Brogan, Misty, and Victor were all smiling, which was a good sign. Misty and Victor got into the car, but Brogan waited for Lacey, holding the door open for her.Arkin placed his hands on her upper arms, and then gave her a kiss on both cheeks. "It was a pleasure to see you again. Please. Promise me that you'll come back again soon."Lacey nodded, smiling. "Only if you promise to come to the Harvest Moon Pack to visit us, too.""That, little sister, may be an offer we can't refuse," Seth said, smiling from ear to ear. "Good. I'm counting on it." Then Arkin pulled her close and whispered in her ear, "And don't worry about the alliance between our packs. It's very strong. When you need us, let us know
Later that night, there was a knock on their door. "Room service," someone said through the door.Julien gave her one last kiss in their bed, smiling against her lips. "I thought we'd have dinner in tonight."Lacey giggled. "You think of everything, don't you?"He shrugged. "I try." Then he got out of bed and slipped into a robe. "Stay here. I don't want anyone to see what's mine."Lacey lay on the bed naked, stretching out, glad to be home and in her own bed with Julien again. Then she stood and slipped into a cream-colored silk robe and walked out after the waiters left. A cart covered with a white tablecloth set in the middle of the room. "Wow! You didn't have to do this!"Julien smirked, taking a cloche-covered platter to the table. "This was supposed to be a surprise. I thought that we might like dining in tonight, since it's your first night back."Lacey took the plates and silverware from the cart and began setting it up. "Good thinking."Then Julien set two long-stemmed glasses