Thank you so much for reading. All constructive comments and gems are appreciated. I cannot interact here. If you would like to join in the conversation you can find me on the socials. Miss. L. Writes. It has come to my attention that my and other author’s works are being stolen/plagiarized on many other reading sites. Sometimes blatant copies of our original work. Sometimes they have gone to the trouble of changing some character names, but using the original story. If you see anything, GoodNovel has a team dedicated to handling the legal side of things. Please email a screenshot and a link (if you have it) to contact@goodnovel.com Authors deserve credit for their original work. I appreciate all of you so much for reading and following me on my author journey!
70 - KennedyIt’s official. I’m in the twilight zone. Yesterday I was hiding out in the packhouse avoiding everyone because I wasn’t sure who was allowed to talk to me and who would be punished if I even looked in their direction and bored out of my mind to wanting to get a portable electric fence to set a perimeter around myself for personal space.Danny and Bennet are so far up my ass, I’m sure we will fuse as one soon. I have only gone from the library to the bathroom. We have even had lunch here. Bennet was nice enough to start a small fire in the fireplace for me. I’m not freezing, but the little bit of warmths is comforting and the sound is a great background noise for us.I look over my shoulder to the black leather couch in the library. “Don’t you have an actual job to do?” I ask Danny who is flipping through a magazine, humming through his nose. He sounds like a kazoo. “I figured as the ‘lead warrior’ you should be leading something.”“Not when I need to get to know my Luna
71 - RykerI meet up with Josh who comes up from the South side of the reported attack. Danny took the East flank and I should see him soon across from me. We have corralled the five rogues who attacked a group of our teens running practice patrols. There is another layer of wolves waiting in the tree line behind us. I want at least one to question, but I won’t be sorry if they all die here right now.The fact that they got close enough to hit that line has my wolf and I raging. Our patrols are flawless and layered in a way that shouldn’t be predictable unless you know how we organize them. It wouldn’t be the first time a wolf from an acquired pack tries to bring us down from the inside, but now that an innocent pup has been injured, badly, these motherf*ckers are going down painfully.I haven’t seen the pup yet, but from what I heard he’s in bad shape. At least three of them were attacking him when his friends stepped in and called us. If the surrounding snow is anything to go by
72 - RykerWe move straight to my room, there is no question of her being alone now, or ever really. Not after last night and waking up with her this morning. We can’t be apart from her. My wolf is whimpering at her fragile state and I struggle to ignore him. I have to help her and he is powerless to do anything.“Remove her clothes Alpha.” Our lead healer calls out as she walks into the room. “You need to get her warm. Under the covers, now.”I don’t even hesitate. Bennet moves to help but my wolf lets out a snarl. He’s still convinced there is something romantic going on between them. He looks hurt, but I can’t focus on that right now.“Greta, help please.” She jumps in without a word. All of our focus has to be on keeping her alive right now. “What else can I do?” I look at the healer.“It would be helpful and makes things go faster if she was marked.”“NO! We still don’t know if it will hurt her. I don’t want to make things worse.” I slide into my bed, while the healer an
73 - KennedyMy head is pounding. Did I drink last night? No, I don’t think I’ve had anything since I moved. My eyes are so heavy, I want to open them, but they are glued shut. I am so comfortable though, I may not move for a little while longer. The darkness is calling my name. Just a few more minutes. I take a deep breath and sink into the soft blanket wrapped around me.The next time I’m conscious I feel tingles everywhere. “Hey, little lamb. Can you hear me?”“Mmhmm?” I know that low rumbling voice, and shouldn’t like it as much as I do. But, I don’t remember why I think that. I take another deep breath. His rosemary and mint scent surrounds me. He shouldn’t be here with me. Another breath. Maybe I’m still dreaming. He wants someone like Amy, not me. Breathe in, breathe out. It’s so nice.“Kennedy?”“What?” I whisper out. My voice sounds like gravel.He chuckles low, so close to my ear I get goosebumps as a shiver wracks my body. “Open those eyes for me, beautiful.”I whine.
74 - KennedyI don’t really understand the change, but I’m also not going to complain. Ever since they found me in the forest almost frozen to death, Ryker and Bennet have come to some kind of understanding. I’m still not alone…ever. That would be too much to ask. But I have started training with Greta again. It’s too f*cking cold outside for my thin skin, but I do get to go to the gym at the training center. I hadn’t realized I had lost so much weight and muscle until she kicked my ass and then made fun of me for it. I can feel myself getting stronger everyday though and that is helping with my mood.I have also gotten completely caught up with classes and I’m ready to start a light load of business courses so I can follow in my parent’s and Aunt Beth’s footsteps. Being so far away from my mom’s studio, and being in the center of the largest wolf pack I know of, I won’t be training any humans any time soon. But, I know that The main source of income is construction and buildin
75 - KennedyThey are all just staring at me and this is what I hate the most. The pity in their eyes. There is nothing any of us could have done differently. That much I have come to accept. The situation is what it is. The only part I seem to struggle with is the memory of sitting there, trapped, with my parents' lifeless bodies.I take a deep breath and Ryker pulls me even closer. I just noticed that he is holding me, in public, and I don’t feel uncomfortable at all.“It was more than three years ago. I’m not saying it doesn’t hurt sometimes, but I can’t play the victim forever. The nightmares have gotten better, which makes things easier for me.” I look up at Ryker as the revelation hits me. My nightmares got better when I moved here. Even at my lowest with him, they didn’t return. I wonder if he noticed the change too?“What?” He pulls back to look me full in the face.“I’m not sure.” He looks confused and I can’t blame him, but I can’t explain it either.We finish eatin
76 - RykerI have never cared before now. I shouldn’t care. But I keep my insecurities at the way she asked the question to myself. I have a bad habit of misunderstanding her intentions. I haven’t learned to read her emotions the way Bennet, and now Danny, do. I just watch her looking at me, in wonder I think. Or maybe it’s confusion, disbelief. I’m not sure. One thing I know is, I can’t stop touching her. Running my fingers through her hair, caressing her cheek, her arms, the inch of bare skin at her waist where her shirt rode up.I saved myself for my mate. It is probably the one thing that my wolf and I agreed on. We saved everything binding for our mate. I don’t regret it, can’t regret it. It was the most incredible experience for me. And it was only a kiss. Far more thrilling than my first shift or even my first kill in a fight. This woman in my arms has brought me to life. I had no idea I could feel…like this. My heart is still racing and the electricity is still flow
77 - KennedyIt took a full ten minutes to get Ryker to come outside and get in the car with me. He has my hand in a death grip, but I can’t bring myself to make him adjust it. I understand his fear a little, it’s similar to mine. My track record for road trips isn’t great and I have my own anxieties about traveling, but they are nothing to what he is going through. He is so nervous I can taste it in the air around us. I have to break it though or I might suffocate.“Tell me about Rory. You don’t talk about him like an alpha you took control over.” I lean into Ryker’s shoulder. He’s sitting stiff as a board. I don’t know how he’s going to make it the two hour drive.“Rory is a good kid. He’s your age actually.” Ryker looks at me and then coughs nervously. He must have caught my look at him comparing me to Rory while referring to him as a ‘kid.’ “Umm…He’s different, I guess. His whole situation is different. I am just an interim alpha for them.”“What do you mean? How does so
14- GretaI have never seen anyone look at me the way Finn was. It’s like he was hungry and he wanted me for his last meal.“Well, he’s a guy, a very, very hot guy and you are a woman.”“Shut up.” I scold my wolf. “I wonder if he was telling the truth about not having women catch his eye for a long time.”“Maybe he’s bi! I’ve always wanted to try a three way!”“You are ridiculous!” I laugh at my wolf. “Besides, maybe him and Amy had a different kind of mate bond. She was able to sleep with anyone. The bond didn’t seem to affect her. Maybe he was the same. He could be lying just to get a piece while he’s out here on this mission.” The thought makes me feel sh*tty.“Nah, he was definitely looking at you like a snack.”“Greta!” Finn’s voice stops our debate. I look and he’s standing about twenty yards back. He shifts fast. “You want to take a look at this or just run laps?” He whispers, raising an eyebrow.My wolf rolls her eyes and he laughs at us, but we trot back over then shift
13- FinnI switched out with Greta about two hours ago. It’s the middle of the night and she let me rest for a long time. It hit me too late, it’s because she’s a control freak. This girl cannot be more wound up. I am going to have to talk with Danny about ways to medicate her uptight ass. This is not the hard part. These rogues either aren’t who we are looking for and our information is bad, or they are onto the fact that Rory is looking into them and they are playing nice for now. I don’t know why she thinks we need a bulletpointed plan of every move we make before doing anything. She’s the definition of analysis paralysis. I don’t care how hot she is, she’s crazy and I have had enough of that to last me a lifetime.If it was just me, I would have done a sweep around the perimeter already to get a better idea of numbers. I know how to hide my scent and I’m not officially in a pack so even if they came across my scent they probably wouldn’t think anything of it. But, I can’t mid
12 - GretaDamn, this guy is annoying. We have been walking for about forty-five minutes and he hasn’t said a thing to me. He was supposed to be explaining the terrain to me, not taking a leisurely stroll.“Finn!” I whisper yell. “What are you doing? We need a plan and to scout properly. Talk to me. What are we doing?” I take a quiet jog to catch up to him.“I am taking you to the part of the stream we used to collect water. I didn’t think you needed a play by play. There hasn’t been anyone traveling through here. I can smell that much. You can smell that much. We don’t need to discuss it.” He shrugs his shoulders and continues walking. “As a trained warrior, I assume you can make basic observations on your own.”I hold back a growl. “How many people were housed in the area you cleared? Did you have any specific paths you followed? How long were you here? We need to plan what we will do if we get separated or if we end up in a fight.”“That is probably something you should hav
Sorry for the absence. My whole house got sick, but my son just couldn't kick the usual flu/cold/slime that flows through the public school system this time of year. After 2 weeks of tests and negative results for basically everything, but still spiking high fevers every couple of days we finally figured out he had pneumonia. It has been a wild couple of weeks, but I think we are back on track. This is the first time in two weeks I have touched my laptop. I'm going to take my free time the next couple days to get caught up with Finn and Greta's story. I have missed them.
11 - Greta“Sleeping arrangements don’t matter right now, Rookie. We have to get to work. I have a rough idea of where the attacking rogues are hiding out. Rory’s guys haven’t chased them too far past their borders out of fear of it being a trap. They aren’t equipped to handle an ambush right now.” I drop my bag by the tiny table in the kitchen area. As much as I will fight him on it, Finn was not too far off suggesting the cabin might have the toilet and the bed in the same space. It is tiny in here. I’m sure this cabin is built for one guy to stay overnight.I start digging for the map Gunner gave me. When I find it I dump my bag on the floor and spread the map out on the table. “You gonna join me or what?” I look over my shoulder and Finn is just watching. What he’s looking at is anyone’s guess, but he doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to help either. With all his talk about wanting to prove himself, he seems to not care now that he found a bed. Whatever.I look at the map G
10 - Finn“We made a path to get to the Dark Moon pack, Alpha Rory.” “Wait! You were a part of the group that attacked Ryker and Kennedy?!” The entire room erupts in low growls. I stand my ground. My only reaction is the tension in my muscles, ready for someone to attack. I try to keep my face calm, not uncaring or arrogant, just not hostile. This is why I have no idea why I am here. I am only ever going to be known as the leader of the pack that tried, and failed, to attack Ryker’s pack. I expect to be interrogated and not trusted.“Hey! Gunner. Kade. Knock it off. Ryker vetted him and he has been working with us for six months. It’s why he is here. That and he clearly got past all of you without being noticed.” She places herself between the beta, delta and me. I can’t help the shock I feel. Did Greta just defend me? “That’s where we should start then.” She looks at Rory, like nothing hostile was about to go down. He nods. “Is there any other info we need to get started?”
9 - Greta“What did he mean ‘it sounds like,’ Josh?” I look over at the Beta, knowing full well he gives Ryker a play by play of anything going on in the pack and he’s too damn observant for his own good.“Exactly what he said, Greta” He clips my name sarcastically. “You two need to get over whatever this,” He waves between Finn and I, “is, and learn how to work together. You both are very talented. Stop fighting each other and focus those efforts on something more productive. Now go pack up. You have a two hour drive to check in with Rory and then another hour out to the cabin. Grant has your SUV out front.”He turns and walks away after that, no other words. Just Finn and I here alone. “This should be fun.” Finn steps past me towards the car. “You wanna drive, control freak?” He smiles over his shoulder.Oh yeah, super fun. I jog around to the driver’s side. At least Finn has caught onto one thing. I am in charge of this mission. We hit my place first. “Just wait here. It wi
8 - GretaI don’t know what it is about this guy, but he bugs the sh*t out of me. I watch him fight day after day, because he doesn’t seem to have anything else to add to the pack. He shows up late, doesn’t follow the rules or any of the protocols I set. Yet he continues to win in his fights against some of the best warriors I have trained, so I can’t really discipline him.“Do it again.” I call out, trying to sound bored. I am really interested to see if I can break him today. “Try to work the moves correctly this time, Rookie.”“If I am winning, does the perfect execution really matter, ma’am?” He taunts not taking his eyes off of Bobby, his current opponent.“Only if you are too big of a p*ssy to execute it correctly. I just assume you are compensating for a lack in other skills.” That gets his attention. I nod to Bobby who lunges at Finn’s unprotected side.They both roll, but his reaction skills are unmatched. The problem is his fighting technique is crude at best, but their
7-FinnSix months. It has been six months since the fight and Claude and Amy were killed in action along with many of their followers. We have been allowed to stay, even me, which seems insane.We helped rebuild the area we set on fire and in return, we have been given housing in the apartments that went up above the shops. We have not gone without a meal and everyone is settling into new jobs and finding their place in the pack. Everyone except me.I have started training with the warriors, but the strict schedule and rules and protocols all rub me the wrong way. I have been doing this on my own since I was six. I get up when I want, train when and the way I want, and eat when I can find enough food for everyone. This ‘be here on time sh*t’ is getting old and it’s stifling.“Thanks for joining us, Rookie.” Greta calls over to me. I ignore her jibe and walk to the back of the group.I have kept as much distance as I can from the hot warrior, but I won’t be able to do that forever