14 - RykerEdward’s celebration ceremony at dawn was heartfelt and moving. He really loved his pack and put his whole heart into its survival. His Beta introduced me as their new Alpha so there was a face to go with the name and the voice.I met as many people as I could and offered any who wanted to join me the option to run the pack border putting one final scent trail to secure the border before I returned home and as a final goodbye to Edward.Almost the whole pack joined. A few stayed back to watch the pups too young to shift, but it was powerful. A true statement of how tight this pack is. I shifted into my jet black wolf which is twice the size of their Beta and I know my wolf’s red eyes are terrifying. Many kept their distance, but didn’t turn tail and run. I’m not sure if that was out of loyalty to the pack or fear though. Once we were done everyone dispersed to their various parts of the pack and I headed to Edwards office with his Beta, Gamma and Delta.I sit behind the
15 - RykerI get up and run the pack border again, alone this time and I move slowly, making sure my scent permeates the area fully. This part can be monotonous and boring, but I want this tiny pack to be safe at all times. I then hit the training grounds where only twenty were in attendance, but that is about what I suspected with a pack of this size and part of the reason Edward sought me out in the first place.We begin working. My Beta, Gamma and Delta worked with Edward’s yesterday to put training plans into place. With Edward’s passing we had to make some quick changes to our plans and I am needed here, but I wanted my guys at home for my sister’s arrival with her mate since I couldn’t be there to greet them.I go through a series of tests that we do with all of our warriors. It is to truly assess what they are capable of. Samuel, Drake, and Jacob are paying close attention and taking notes on how I assess warriors in my pack so they can duplicate the process when I’m not
16 - RykerI have lunch provided by Jean at the kitchen island. It’s just her and I. No one else appears to live in the packhouse full time. I was able to talk with her while she cleaned and I discovered she is the exact person to be friends with. She seems to be able to cook anything I could ever want, she’s not afraid to give me a little sass, but is never disrespectful and she knows everything about everyone.“So are you looking for your mate here Alpha? Rumors are already flying around about the handsome, young, mateless alpha we now have.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me.“My wolf is always on the lookout for our mate, but I will find her when I am ready, not before, the Moon Goddess won’t allow it.”“So, you’ll be entertaining then, while you wait?” She gives me a disapproving look my own mother would be proud of.“Well, I have to keep the urges at bay somehow.” I shrug and don’t know why I am so defensive or even having this conversation. I can stare down other Alphas backed
17 - KennedyGreta has me learn with her and then pairs me with other female warriors so I can learn to adapt to each person's movement and tells.“Damn, girl, you are good. You’re fast without the added speed a wolf gives, you have clearly put the time in. This is going to be fun. Are you going to join us in the morning?” Greta asks as I dodge another swipe from her arms. I don’t think she’s really trying her hardest, but I am getting a workout so I won’t complain. I would like to see her spar with one of the guys though and just let loose.“What’s in the morning?” I pant, she’s not letting me distract her at all.“The Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and a select team of warriors train together. We work the closest with the Alpha and are usually his detail when he travels. It also gives him a chance to train without prying eyes and drooling females.” She rolls her eyes. “I mean, I see the appeal. He's an alpha and he’s hot, but I don’t understand the girls who would gladly give u
18 - Kennedy“What’s happening tonight? Gamma Bennet said ‘dinner party’ but what does that mean exactly? I get the feeling there is so much more going on.” I ask as she starts to dry, tease and comb my hair. I have no idea what she is doing and I don’t really care. This is her party, so I will do whatever she wants. She clearly loves having a girl to play dress up with too, which makes me smile because I don’t hate having it done. She made quick work of a simple hair style. She moves on to my make-up next. It’s light without a ton of layers or heavy colors. She explains tonight’s purpose as she finishes up.“Well my brother, as I’m sure you have heard, tends to take on packs who are smaller or weaker.”“Yeah, something like that.” I give her a wry smile. Everyone has heard of the Dark Moon alpha and his aggressive takeovers. I have also heard he doesn’t speak, he just maims and he’s scary as sh*t. We haven’t seen him at all today, but he’s supposed to be here at some point
19 - RykerWe are more than halfway into our trip and I get a mindlink from Danny.“Alpha, you are not going to believe who just graced our pack with her presence.”“I hate guessing games Danny. What’s going on?” I rub my temples. The paperwork from Linda for the most part seems on the up and up, but there are a few numbers that don’t make sense on the first glance.“Your new brother-in-law’s lead warrior is a female.”“So what, we have a ton of very talented female warriors. I’m pretty sure Greta beat your ass with one hand tied behind her back last week.” I laugh at him the same way I did last week when it happened.Greta is a force and one of my closest friends outside of my Beta, Gamma and Delta. It’s hard for us to have real friends and I basically close myself off to everyone but them and my sister. Greta worked her way into my good graces when we took her pack from an Alpha that was literally abusing his pack members. His Beta was no better, but he had killed his Gamma
20 - Ryker“Yeah, boss. They’re still here.” Josh is always ‘on.’“You coming down to check out the fresh meat?” Danny laughs.“Danny, don’t be a d*ck, they actually aren’t bad. They’ve all kept up with us.” Bennet, always looking for the positive.“Even the human is decent, boss. She’s actually training with Greta…and keeping up. I was worried about her getting hurt until she threw Tanya about ten minutes ago.” Josh is less easily impressed.“You should come take a look. Like I said, she’s hot and if she’s single I call dibs over all you f*ckers.”“I still think you’re trying too hard. Did you really have to stop them and shift when they got here? Don’t think Josh and I missed that little d*ck swinging stunt.” Bennet laughs through the link.Man, I have missed these guys. They keep me sane and somewhat normal. I am nothing special to them when we are hanging out like this. Even if it’s just over the mindlink.“It is my job as the head warrior to check out all incoming visito
21 - Kennedy “Damn, girl! No one stands a chance. You look gorgeous! Now for the finishing touch.” She hands me these black crystal chandelier earrings. I step back to take in the whole look and she isn’t wrong. She did a great job. My blonde hair is in a high ponytail with a soft beach wave to it and a black crystal hair piece. My eye make-up is smokey and sexy, but soft, making my blue eyes pop. A shimmer blush highlighting my cheeks and a deep red lip that pops with all the black. I look like me, just enhanced. Then I turn around and see I am not the only one who is glammed up. Rayna has on a deep forest green velvet dress that looks soft and luscious. The long sleeves accentuate her long arms and the boat neck makes her swan-like neck look regal and shows off her neck where her mark will go. Her slightly flared skirt hits her thigh like mine. When she turns around the whole back is open, showing off her beautiful soft skin. She left her hair down, but styled over one shoulder to
41 - FinnI’m trying to figure out why both the Luna and Alpha are being so cryptic about this. I mean, at least Kennedy told me she wants to give us a house, which is insane, but still something to work with. If I wasn’t being weighed down I would be tossing and turning trying to figure out what they are up to. But as it is, I am warm and comfortable and for the first time in a long time, I feel like I am right where I am meant to be.I doze listening to the soft snores of both girls in my arms.“FIIIIINNNNN!!!!” I launch off the couch and over the back ready for a fight after Trinity’s yell. Eyes wide scanning for what made her call for me like that only to be met with laughter. “It worked, Bennet!” She squeals happily.“Someone is wound awfully tight after sleeping so long.” I continue to scan, ignoring him, blinking to get the dryness out of my eyes, asshole.I see Bennet and Trinity sitting at the island next to Gabriel and Peyton. “Where’s Landon? And what were you screaming
40 - FinnSeveral happy hours later we head back into check on the kids and attempt to find a place to sleep. Unfortunately for Bennet, the couch in the living room is it. He can’t be mad at us though, this packhouse was not designed like Ryker’s in Dark Moon, a mansion that holds a hundred people. I actually really enjoy it here. Every space is used, nothing wasted or unnecessary. I fall asleep with Greta tucked in between me and the back of the couch thinking about all of her concerns with the kids. Hell, they’re my concerns too. The bonds we have with all the kids, but Trinity specifically, are unlike anything I have experienced before. Even as a pup when Nan took me in, I never felt the pull to her like I feel to that little girl. I drift off thinking about what I want next in this life, now that I have finally achieved the only thing I ever wanted…a home.My dreams are lucid. Greta and I walking hand in hand, Trinity running around our legs in a field. They are both laughing and
39 - FinnToo excited to do anything else Greta and I cuddle on the couch talking into the early hours of the morning. Ryker said he has ideas of how to make this happen quickly for us, but he needed to catch some zzz’s before Rosie wakes up from her latest nap. He’s doing his best to support his mate through these early days, which I commend and envy him a little.Greta sighs deeply, but doesn’t say anything. I feel a wash of sadness come over her through the bond, but she is curled up against my side with her head tucked under my chin so I can’t see her expression.“Hey,” I whisper, squeezing her hip gently, “Talk to me.”Another sigh and then a sniffle and I can’t take the suspense anymore. I pull her up into my lap so she’s forced to look at me even though she keeps her eyes closed like it’s going to stop me from seeing how red they are.“Greta, babe, you have to talk to me.” I plead. “What’s going on in that stubborn head?”She’s trying to calm her breathing, but it's ragged and
Hi all. I apologize for being absent the last week. I was a much needed break from all things electronic and somewhat out of my control. I am back, diving into the conclusion to The Warrior's mate and concepts for new stories to follow once I am done here.I appreciate all of the readers who have been following me since the beginning and any new readers just joining in.
38 - FinnThe living room is good and full of people when we finally make it inside. I am not a fan of crowds, but there is so much excitement around the birth of Kennedy and Ryker’s baby, I can’t help but smile along with everyone else. Trinity wiggles out of my arms, but grabs my hand in her tiny little fingers. She is clearly in charge here.I look over my shoulder at Greta, but all I get is a smile and a shoulder shrug as she walks off towards the kitchen and I am dragged closer to the crowded couch where I can see the top of Kennedy’s head through the mass of wellwishers surrounding her.“Come on Finn, look at, look at!” Trinity moves like our bodies are the same size and I can wade through the legs of adults like she does. “Come on Finn!” She says, annoyed at the slow pace. A few people move at her fireceness, smiling at the demands of a determined child.When I finally get through, the sight stops me in my tracks. Kennedy is glowing holding a tiny pink blanket. All I can make
37 - FinnGreta takes me by Ryker’s packhouse to shower and change. The perks of having clothes and supplies at my fingertips still surprises me sometimes. Cindy, this tiny little kitchen omega, packs us meals to go and we start our drive.“Uh…so how is this going to work?” I ask tentatively. We obviously have the physical part of being mated under control. Greta has even let me hold her hand most of the drive.“What do you mean?” She asks, but it’s not convincing. I know she’s been thinkin logistics too.“Well we are mated now and there is no way I’m going to sleep separate from you, but my apartment won’t fit you, me and up to four kids. Will your place fit all of us, or do we need to talk to Ryker about something else?” Her eyes go wide. Maybe she wasn’t thinking about the same logistics I was.“What makes you think that we are going to have up to four kids with us?” Her husky voice squeaks and it’s adorable. I can’t help but smile at how nervous she is. Kids were never on her
36 - GretaI am so full of mixed emotions. On the one hand I want to beat Janelle’s ass. I never really liked her anyway. Her and Amy were always too good to do any actual work or put effort into anything but chasing the leadership. Now I know why, but it doesn’t make them any less irritating. She will suffer for all of their crimes even if she isn’t the brains behind this operation. Everyone in this pack will put the most responsibility on her. It’s one hundred percent personal.I’m pulled out of my thoughts by a kiss to the neck. I suck in a breath at the sensation. “They have this handled. Grant said to get out of here before he throws up.” Finn whispers against the shell of my ear causing a wave of goosebumps to trail over my whole body. I just now notice we aren’t alone with Janelle and her other teammates. Finn really is distracting, I’m going to have to watch out for that.Finn lifts me by my thighs and I naturally wrap them around his waist when he starts walking. It seems s
35 - FinnI can’t even begin to describe how good Greta feels in my arms. But I can’t think about that right now, we have a fight to finish. So I thread my fingers through her hair and kiss her gently one more time before pushing her off my lap and standing. She takes the hint and then takes my hand and we both run into the forest or we can still hear growls and snapping of wolves fighting.“They knew we were coming.“ Greta says, a little bit more worry than I’m used to in her voice. “I know, I think your Warriors got played.“ I say exsasperated. Ryker’s team is so good though, I don’t know how it is possible. “Could they be using any of your old hideouts or old methods to get into the pack?” She asks. “I don’t think so, because Amy‘s dad was very secretive about how we moved from place to place. There was a lot of magic involved, so I don’t think anyone actually knew how and where we were traveling until we finally got to where he wanted us to stop.“ “He really pushed for the magi
34 - FinnWe are a tangle of fur and fangs. The stench of this rogue is enough to make me want to gag, but I continue to bite at him. He’s fast but sloppy. His claws don’t hit their mark because he’s fighting angry, not controlled. His wolf rears back and mine lunges to the side and whips around to grab his flank. He rips at the muscle and we are rewarded with a howl as he hits the ground and tries to limp away. There’s no way my wolf is standing for that. He jumps on his back and bites at his throat again and again, until he finally collapses.When my wolf feels the pulse in his neck completely stop he drops him to the ground and we go in search of our mate. I hear the sounds of fighting all around me. This group wasn’t dumb, but I’m not sure what their plan is. They haven’t gotten past our defenses to get further into Dark Moon. I haven’t heard of any demands of threats or what they want. I keep following the sounds and my pull to Greta. Another two grey wolves dodge out towards m