There was NO shortening this one! I'm sorry!
*Lana’s POV* Matthias paces the length of the office room before spinning on his heels and pacing back. It’s of no use trying to calm him anymore than trying to calm myself. Everyone is on edge. The moment I crossed the pack line, the new Alpha title settled in fully. Everyone accepted me with ease, but I could sense the confusion, the sadness that lingered in the bond between an alpha and his pack. “He just… renounced his title?” Matthias asks, pausing again to look at me. “Yes. He renounced his title, said his goodbye, and left to get my dad.” I nod at him and he grunts. “I’m surprised you didn’t go with him or follow him.” He frowns, looking at me. I’m conflicted with my own feelings about how I handled things. How could I not be? I let the man I love run along to rescue my father for me. At first it felt like an act of cowardice, but when I remember the look in his eyes. The determination that ran so deep, I knew there was no way I could take this from him. Maddox has always
Glass shatters from the windows in the living room as bodies fly into my pack house. Matthias is at my back in a second, his body quaking in anger as he growls around at the men who circle around us.I take hold of Drew’s neck and toss him at one of the men who catches him. This had all been a part of Allen’s plan. How? I have no idea, but it is the only thing I can think of right now. How else would they know to come to my pack when they did? The only thing I take comfort in is that I surprised them by being here. They were expecting Maddox, which means I played right into Allen and Kohen’s hand by running off after my father. Shit. For an alpha, I sure as shit am missing a lot until it’s too late. “Where is your alpha?” one of the men ask stepping forward. I give Drew a look and he stutters as he speaks up.“S-s-she is the alpha.” He breathes and the man who asked eyes go wide. “That’s not possible.” He scoffs, and I square my shoulders.“Do I smell like I am lying?” I scoff. “Un
The three alphas kneel with their heads down, chains on the wrists and two of my warriors at their backs to ensure they don’t try any shit. Not that they would get very far if they did. My guys did a number on them before I got there. I am finding I am hard pressed to feel bad for their treatment after everything. The room smells like blood and herbs as I sit and watch each of them carefully. One thing I learned from Maddox is the power of silence. Where he uses it to speak, I hope to use it as a form of torture. I sit in my chair, facing them as my leg slowly heals, blood tickling the back of my thigh as it dribbles down onto the fresh cream colored carpet. I’m not sure why my father ever thought cream would be a suitable color for anywhere in a house of wolves, but I have a tingle of guilt being the one to ruin it.Jariah reclines in the love seat, Matthias sitting off to my right, a healer working on him, per my alpha’s request. I can feel his annoyed glare as I focus on the alpha
*Maddox POV* I stumble along through the woods, Julian and the rest of the sage moon warriors at my side. There is no sign of my dad or Landon anywhere and we lost Jessica in the fray of the fight. The last thing I remember before letting my wolf take control was the thrill of killing Kohen. A better man may have felt w twinge of guilt at killing someone they had known and held dear for so long. I will never claim to be a better man, just one who tries, and for my confused moral compass, for now, that’s enough. “I’ve never seen you shift and remain awake before,” Julian says, as we try to creep through the woods. Heading back is our only option with all of our injuries and the need to find my dad. But Julian is right. Instead of exhausting me like usual, my wolf released me as soon as the fighting was done. He doesn’t do that which has me on edge, like he senses something I can’t. “I don’t like it.” I mutter, and Julian tilts his head in a c
The healer inspects my side, a frown on her lips as she mutters things to herself before finally standing and sighing heavily. “You should heal faster now that you are closer to Alpha Lana.” she hesitates for a moment before handing me a metal container. “If you actually use this, it will help.” “He will use it,” Lana says, walking into the room with a stern look on her face. “He doesn’t have a choice.” “Yes, alpha.” The healer says, giving her a small smile before turning and leaving us alone in our room. Lana moves over to me and plops down on the bed, exhaustion written all over her face. “How is Landon?” I ask, and she drags a hand over her face. “Alive, which should make me happier than I feel.” she admits. Her emotions tickle in my mind and I know exactly what she means by her words. “He will heal, Lana.” I assure her, and she nods her head solemnly. “His finger was detached for too long for him to ever have it put back. And he has silver poisoning.” “What is their fam
*Lana POV*It feels like my mind is moving about a million miles a minute. With Maddox here, and dad home safe, it’s time to focus on the things that need fixing. The problem is the list seems to be never ending. With three alphas in my dungeon, Jariah and his strange situation with his sister, and then there is the committee and Allen.Holy shit, it’s like being buried alive. Maybe it’s all a strange initiation from fate. Or maybe it’s just life and what it means to be an alpha. If that’s the case, it’s much more frustrating than I ever thought it would be. As Maddox and I descend the stairs with me to the dungeon, I steal a look at him. He looks better than he was, not at all rested, but better than he looked covered in blood. More importantly, he seems in good spirits, relaxed. I have so much to fill him in on, but after hearing about the alphas in the dungeon, that is where he wanted to start.We stop in front of the cell, all three men sitting in various positions looking tired
The entire car ride here was nearly suffocating with tension and silence. The only person who spoke at all was Julian, who I need to remember to thank Maddox for asking me to bring. That man can handle any tense situation with a smile and a joke. Without him, I may have strangled Leo or Jariah. With Dad refusing to speak a damn word other than to say “All in due time,” I was prepared to walk the rest of the way here.The committee house is grand. And that is putting it extremely mild. This place is a damn castle with perfectly trimmed hedges, glorious floral arrangements in pots everywhere, and guards in matching green attire placed every fifteen feet. The white bricks on the outside must be washed regularly as they are striking against the rising sun.Julian whistles low, his eyes scanning around Chris on my other side, also gawking. The others remain in the car while I wait for someone, anyone, to come out and welcome us. The guards seem to ignore us as if we didn’t just drive onto
“We aren’t here to discuss Allen’s crimes,” Harold says with a frown and my father sighs heavily.“That you do not see how his crimes are related worries me, old friend.” My father says.“And me.” Lynne agrees, looking at her mate and the Committee Head. Harold frowns and pinches his nose before slowly nodding in understanding. “Let us deal with Maddox and the issues he brings before we move on to Allen and what to do with him.”I straighten up, and Lynne lifts her hands, pointing out several chairs for us to take a seat so we can start the official meeting. As we move to sit, Harold’s response to what I said about calling bangs around in my mind. How could they be expecting our arrival if Harold thinks I never called? I try to wrack my mind to grab the name of the man I was talking to when I demanded to speak with the council. If Harold isn’t lying to cover up his incompetence, then they have someone running around, causing trouble. Which makes my skin prickle with awareness. I loo
Thank you to my awesome loyal readers for sticking with me through yet another journey! If this is your first story of mine, then thank you for giving me a chance! I plan to have more stories to come in the future but as my due date for my fifth child is fast approaching everything is up in the air! I am writing a new story but will bot be posting anything until it is finished to ensure that if I go into labor early you arent left waiting for weeks for an update! If you would like to be updated on when I am back to writing and check out my other books you can follow me here on GoodNovel OR you can search me up through other means (I legally cant say where but the place were everyone communicates online these days.) Search Miri's Shifter Cafe for extra insight into characters, sneak peeks, and and new information pertaining to furture works and what is going on in the world of my characters! You all have been amazing on this journey with Maddox and Lana! I would be so honored if y
*Maddox POV**8 years after Lana’s Epilogue*Lana chases little Rosie through the daisy filled meadow, her two younger brothers fast on their heels, growling like the little monsters they are. After spending the day with all the children cooped up in the car, they need to let off a lot of steam. They screech and squeal, our four-year-old Mikail no doubt the loudest as his little cheeks flush pink with effort from running. Declan stops and wiggles his little body, his tongue hanging out as he blows raspberry sounds and then runs off away from his little brother once more. Lana swoops in and scoops Mikail up, propelling him after his bigger brother with a victorious smile on his face. After a little while, Rosie stumbles up to me, her eyes droopy and her hair wet with sweat. I can’t help but chuckle as she wipes her brow and her hair sticks straight up. “Phew. That is exhausting.” She sighs.“Oh, yeah?” I ask and she nods, stealing the bottle of water from my hand and taking a deep s
*Lana POV* *Two years later* The sun peeks out through the horizon, breaking into a new day. The day I get to tell Maddox the amazing news. I have wanted to tell him for more than a week, but he has been off visiting Julian’s pack, which he has officially handed over to the newly mated Lexi and Simeon. It wasn’t at all surprising when Julian called and relayed that he was passing the title off. Maddox and I both knew he never wanted it. I should have just gone with him, but I wanted him and Julian to have their own time. Their bond is deep, one of brothers and one so much more than I ever thought Maddox was capable of with his quiet nature, but Julian compliments him. Or rather annoys him into having a good time. Julian promised me that Maddox would not be allowed to sleep in and that he would make sure he trained daily. I trust he will wake him up early every day, but I do not, however, believe for a damn second he will actually hold Maddox to training. Not that I actually care a
The committee left yesterday, but not without expressing their great upset over not being able to take Allen back with them. Lana, however, stood her ground and insisted they had more than enough information to take to the Waning Moon committee and inform them they are under investigation.Especially since she gave our committee two extra days to gather information from Allen. Two days of him healing from his injuries so he could handle his punishment better, but we kept that bit of information to ourselves. Lynne and Harold made an interesting case for keeping Allen alive, but selfish as it may seem. I want him dead. And so does everyone in our pack. In the end, our pack’s punishment takes priority. Which I am damn thrilled about. It also helped our case that they still have Brian and the three other alphas who they can get information from before they are dulled out a harsh punishment.“Are you up for this?” Lana asks, trying to be a supportive mate, and I frown at her. She shrugs.
I hate it in here. The depressing smell of vibrant flowers wraps around me and the dim lighting that only makes his skin look more sallow. The man laying before me is longer recognizable as my father. His dark veins are the liquid silver now working their way through his sunken cheeks and pale complexion. There is no beating liquid silver when it hits your bloodstream, apparently. I have had silver poisoning, and it nearly killed me. It was a near miss for Matthias as well, who still is recovering. But liquid silver? This is new to us, at least the weaponized version if it. Of course it’s existed. We live in a world separate from humans but not completely removed. I can only imagine the horrors that Allen opened in his pack for the short time he was in charge. Though I doubt he was the first in their pack’s history to do said crimes. He was probably just the first to get caught.I close my eyes, allowing the mental barrier down. My emotions have been so pent up, like a damn nearing c
*Maddox POV* I enter the room with far more composure than I thought I could manage. My wolf stands with me, ready for the onslaught of whatever might come out of Allen’s mouth. I have the answers I wanted, the ones I can give my father to help him rest easy and let go. What I need is to watch Allen break the same way he wanted to break me. But there is a time and place. In front of the committee, before I have cleared my name seems like a bad time. So instead of spinning and facing Allen to relay the gory details of his son’s demise, I remain in check and glance at the faces of those who once again control my fate. “Maddox…” Lynne says in surprise, looking at me as I give her a nod. Allen immediately goes rigid, his eyes darting to the committee members, pleading. I can feel Lana coming in behind me and Matthias tries to hide a smirk. He either knows shit is about to go down or he is hoping it will. I suppose I’m not one for beating around the bush in important matters. “I wante
I have never been more grateful for Maddox to have his mental block up than I am right now. My eyes snap to Harold and Lynne and the remaining committee members, who look just as angry and surprised as I am. Lynne bolts up and storms out of the room, her eyes near red in fury as she passes by slamming the door behind her. I turn back to Allen, loosening my grip a little for him to breathe easier. “And your reason for infiltrating my pack?” I ask him, my chest heaving up and down as I try to remain in control of my temper while Matthias quakes in barely restrained hatred. “If you had permission to do all that, why would you need to enter my pack? Replace Matthias’ dad?” Allen glances at Matthias with a blank expression. “I wanted a pack.” He says, as if the answer were so obvious. I scoff and shove him into the wall. He grunts in pain and steadies himself with his hands. “Bull shit.” I grit out, stepping closer to him in an intimidating fashion. “I was an alpha. An alpha needs a
*Lana POV*The mood is somber as I walk alongside Maddox, his hand secured in mine and his eyes fixated on the ground ahead of us. I know silence is his safe place, but I can tell he is drowning in it right now. But there is no way for me to help him right now. He has shut off the mental link, and I understand why. He needs to wrap his head around this all. When we arrived only an hour ago, Matthias was frantic. He had Allen locked up and guarded. Not that the asshole could make it very far with a gnawed off right foot and mangled left leg. But he couldn’t find Maddox, and he was worried. Matthias doesn’t worry, not like that. Not for people like Maddox, people that rarely need to be worried about. I slide a glance up at him, his jaw clenched and his muscles taut with stress. His cheeks are a bloody mess of deep grooves and blisters and his eyes are red and puffy. He looks fucking terrible, and I have no idea what caused such an injury. All I know is asking will get me nowhere when
I sprint through the woods, my eyes sliding back once to look at my father before I focus my mind solely on Allen. The fucker who can’t seem to play fair. No matter the situation, he always has something up his sleeve. He has never been a fighter, always forgoing training and giving Kohen different dirty techniques to use to win. Dirt in the eyes, silver spiked gloves or a dagger. How the hell did they come up with these disgusting ideas?Using weapons of such magnitude has always been banned. Of course, trying to survive, all bets are off the table, but even just having a silver weapon fashioned is against our rules, our moral code. We are animals, yes, but we already have wolves. Why would we need other weapons?I come up on Matthias who looks over at me, surprise written on his face. I can sense his inner turmoil. Does he help the Mad Alpha or does he try to find Allen before me so he can get his own revenge? What he doesn’t pick up is that I am still here, for the first time in wh