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40 - RykerI grab her arm as she moves away from us. “What are you talking about? What’s wrong with her?” What other weakness could she possibly have? Naturally, when I need answers, my sister ignores me, so the rest of Jeremiah’s team leaves me guessing too. They clearly care more about her feelings than my anger.“You maybe should have talked to her before claiming and embarrassing her in front of her friends and family like an alpha-hole.” Rayna pulls her arm from my grasp and I just stare at her as she goes.What the hell just happened? Josh pats me on the shoulder as Jeremiah reaches out and shakes my hand.“It’ll be okay, just give Rayna a bit to calm Ken down. I guess congrats are in order, and maybe good luck.” He winces. “My mom is going to lose her mind when she finds out.” He chuckles under his breath then follows my sister in the house.“We’ll show you where you and your guys are staying.” Ben walks up to us with the delta, I think his name is Tommy. Ben is smart enough
41 - KennedyI know I’m being a brat, but I want nothing to do with the Dark Moon guys and I will avoid having to face them for as long as possible. Rayna explained the situation to Aunt Beth earlier this morning and she decided that we could eat and get ready in my room. My aunt spun it to sound like it would be a better surprise for the guys if they didn’t see us at all before the ceremony. I did not miss that I was included in the reveal plans. She is clearly Team Ryker on this. I will be fighting eye rolls all day.She gives me a crushing hug. “I told you that you were special, sweet girl. I can’t wait for your ceremony, I bet it will be so grand.” The woman is in La La Land and so far gone that she isn’t listening to reason.He doesn’t want me or any Luna if the rumors from his pack are true. Rayna won’t confirm or deny any of the reports I have asked about, which makes me angry, but I also don’t want to push. It’s not fair for me to put her in the middle of this situation.
42 - KennedyMy stance by Aunt Beth and Uncle James was already going to be a hot topic amongst the pack members who don’t like me, we had actually discussed, at length, whether I should stand up front with them or be given a seat. My vote was to sit, this day wasn’t about me. But Aunt Beth shot that down. I am Jeremiah’s sister for all intents and purposes and as a part of the family I will stand up by him while we welcome our future Luna into the pack. But, now that I have a bodyguard from Dark Moon also following me around, the whispers aren’t exactly whispers and Uncle James had to audibly growl to silence them as we made our way to the platform in front of the gathered crowd. Clearly people from the party last night have been running their mouths.We each met Jeremiah and gave him a hug. He held onto me for a second longer. “I love you Ken. We’ll figure this out.” He whispers in my ear.“Love you to Jer.” I give him one last squeeze and move to stand by my aunt and uncle, Be
43 - KennedyThere is an apartment above my mom’s studio. I have been having it renovated over the last couple years. Even Aunt Beth doesn’t know that. She’s been trying to find reasons for me not to leave the pack for school since I got here. She thinks I don’t know about her plans, but her fear of me leaving has become a bit over the top as we all come into adulthood. I know it’s the first place Jer will look, but I’m hoping his loyalty to me is strong enough to keep everyone away for a little while. The studio is thriving and I have been working with Mark for years learning the business and helping it grow. He’s another one to worry about since he’s one of Jer’s pack warriors, but I’m putting a lot of faith in the fact that he understands as much as Jer why I need this. But if an Alpha or Luna command is put on him, he won’t be able to go against it like Jer.I pack a couple days worth of clothes, my laptop and a few other small essentials and move toward my door listening. I
44- RykerThis whole day has been a roller coaster of emotions. Add to that not sleeping and my wolf worrying about whatever made Kennedy so afraid that she screamed herself and half the packhouse awake last night.I can only pace my room so long hoping to hear any of their conversations. Clearly, this is all normal and everyone just goes about their business like nothing happened.I hear Rayna and Kennedy getting ready in her room when I go down to meet with Alpha James and Luna Beth this morning. It lessened some of the tension in my chest to hear them laughing together. At least she likes my sister.“Maybe that will soften her up for us.” My wolf sounds lovesick and wistful.“We can only hope.” I roll my eyes, because I have a feeling Kennedy has fairly strong, expressive emotions and she probably would not put ‘soft’ and I in the same sentence.There isn’t much for us to do since Beth won’t let Jeremiah near the girls, which apparently extends to all the guys except Jason and Be
45- Ryker“Hey, man. I’m sorry. This mate thing has me f*cked in the head. Is she okay?”He shrugs. “I just hope I’m not this stupid about my mate when she finally shows up. I do not have time for the bullsh*t you and your wolf are up to. Especially right now, since I am on twenty four seven Luna duty for the foreseeable future since she thinks you are an asshole.”“She said that?”“Not in words, but I figure it’s a common thought amongst us and she’s pretty smart so she's probably on board with the idea based on the way you keep treating her.”“Again, f*ck you. I never wanted a mate. You know this. I have too many enemies that will try to use her against me. After everything my parents went through, I thought everyone understood. I thought maybe the Goddess agreed with me, but no. She made me wait until after my sister found hers and then just for fun decided to give me a weak ass human. She can’t shift or protect herself. What the hell am I supposed to do with that?”“Start
46 - RykerI finally catch sight of her running like her life depends on it, meaning she heard the growl too and gave up on her stealth in order to run the path to safety. At least she doesn’t have a complete death wish, she just rides the line of danger at all times.“Bennet, I see her. Do you have the wolf?”“Yeah, just a rogue out for a run. He caught sight of her and thought he would have an easy meal. But, he didn’t fight me when I corrected his misinformation. What do you want me to do?”“Take him to Jeremiah. He should know there is a rogue camping this close to his territory. He can decide. I’m going to go collect Kennedy.”“See you back at the packhouse.”“Josh, we are on the outskirts of the forest bordering the neighboring city about five miles out. Kennedy is scared and has been running for a while. She was chased by a rogue. Bennet is handling him, but I don’t think she could or should walk back to the packhouse. Come meet us.”“Did the rogue take her?” Danny
47 - Kennedy“Are you f*cking kidding me? Ryker, put me down! Now!” It is not lost on me that I am looking down at the most perfect ass I have ever seen in my whole life and pounding my fists against muscles so ripped, he probably doesn’t feel it. I am trying not to think of the front half of this massive man. Specifically the appendage that keeps slapping the side of my ankle.“Not a chance little lamb, you’re skittish. I wouldn’t want you to run off again and get lost. Lots of big bad wolves out there ready to gobble you up.” Now he thinks he’s a comedian.I know it’s not going to do me any good and will probably leave bruises on me tomorrow, but I keep flailing around just to be difficult and make him as irritated as I am right now. It’s the principle of reminding him that he doesn’t have complete control over me. As long as I move enough to force him to keep adjusting his grip I am satisfied. And the pain reminds me to be mad at him and not enjoy the feel of his skin under my
31 - GretaWalking down the hall, I hear Landon and Ryker. “Yeah, we don’t know what happened exactly. The fire was just too big and everyone was running around. Peyton and I were at training and someone came in and yelled ‘FIRE’ then all the kids went crazy. Peyton and I ran together, cause we’re neighbors but the wind was too bad and there were sparks everywhere. I got burned on the arm and she told me we can’t search anymore. We told you how we found Gabriel and Trinity. Do you think that our parents are still alive?” I finally hear a whisper of the little boy he is in the question.“I hope so buddy. But you are here now and you can stay as long as you want to. In the morning I’ll have my guys start looking into your pack’s situation, now that we have an idea of what happened. You have done a great job protecting your pack. Your parents and your alpha will be so proud.”“Speaking of the littles,” I step into Bennet’s room where they are sitting on the bed. They both look over a
30 - GretaThis little doll of a girl is wrapped in Finn’s arms like a koala. She tucks her face back under Finn’s chin so she can look at me while maintaining full contact with him. Her posture is shy, but the look in her eye is most definitely not. It is almost territorial. My wolf grumbles in my head before I remind her that this baby has been through a lot and isn’t a threat. But she knows my name. That is interesting.“Oh! I am so excited to see you all!” Kennedy gushes unable to help herself. “Are you hungry? Samuel said you hunted before you left your camp. Or are you tired? We’re going to set you up here with us tonight.”“I’m hungry!” The youngest boy says and we all laugh.“Gabriel, you’re always hungry.” The oldest girl laughs at him.“Well Gabriel, you are in luck, I just had the fridge stocked. I’m always hungry too.” Kennedy giggles, patting her stomach. “Let’s get a snack and then you can all get cleaned up and in bed. Sound good?” She reaches her hand out to him. H
29 - FinnI give her fingers a squeeze and shift to follow Landon and Gabriel to get water. I lose count of how many trips we make, but Landon is smart and kept them close to a stream so it wasn’t terrible. Seth and Sameul talk the kids through what they do to process the deer and how we use everything. Nothing goes to waste. We eat and use the deer skin to hold what we don’t consume. Trinity doesn’t leave my side and only breaks contact to eat. Her cute little hand is wrapped around my pinky finger and her warm body is pressed up into my side.All the kids are fascinated with the whole food prep process, asking question after question to Seth as he cooks and hands off finished pieces of meat. After, we all wash off in the stream and head back to sit around the fire, talking comfortably. “You know you remind me of a friend of mine.” I tell Trinity.“I do? Who?” She has gotten more confident around us, but her voice is still strong, but shy.“Her name is Greta and your hair is almos
28 - FinnHe pads over to the opening and crawls in. I can hear muffled talking, but I don’t try to listen in. If she’s younger than Gabriel, she’s just a baby and I have no idea where her mind might be at. Other than my friends we never came across too many pups in our journey and I always thought that was because situations like Sammmy’s and mine were a fluke. But after seeing these kids, I wonder if it’s because they didn’t survive long enough to get help.I hear a little squeak behind me as Gabriel sits next to me. When I turn he shrugs his shoulders. I guess that means I’m up. I chance a slight look and my breath catches. This tiny little thing is huddled in a ball next to the opening, staring right back at me. Her body language says she’s afraid, but her eyes tell me a different story. She has piercing green eyes that are hard and fierce. Her look is almost a dare to go over there and see what she’ll do to me.I keep my ass on the ground and lift my hand in a wave. “Hi.” I say
27 - FinnI hear a grumbled ‘jackass’ from one of them. I try to fight a smile, kind of. “The Luna said you need help, what can I do? The Alpha is already planning how to remove my head from my body for leaving my partner alone to defend the Luna…”“WHAT!?! Why in the hell would you leave her?” The bulkier of the two warriors steps towards me.I throw my hands up. “Because SHE had a pregnant tantrum about rescuing these kids! I chose to piss off the lesser of the two evils! Have either of you dealt with a pregnant she wolf?” Both males stop in their tracks and share a look before laughing. “Wait. What’d I miss?”“I take it you don’t have kids?” Lean man asks.“No?” “The Luna is intense on her own, the hormones are making it tenfold. The name’s Samuel.” The larger built warrior says extending his hand to me. I shake it, a little confused. “Finn, nice to meet you I guess.” That’s it? All I had to do was tell them their Luna scared the crap out of me and they decide I’m not a threat?
26 - FinnWe can’t catch a break. Every time I get Greta to talk to me about this whole mate thing, something interrupts. Neither of us is stupid enough to go against our very pregnant luna though.“What’s up Boss lady?” Greta puffs out. Even she isn’t immune to these f*cking stairs.“Samuel and Seth found some abandoned pups on the border.” She screeches.“I don’t understand.” I step forward, but stay behind Greta’s shoulder. I haven’t been around many pregnant she-wolves, but I have heard they can go from sweet to violent in a blink and Kennedy is still getting used to the heightened emotions of her wolf. She’s less likely to hurt Greta in this situation.“They need your help! What’s not to understand?!” She’s frantically running her fingers through her hair, pacing and I am at a loss. I look sideways at my mate. Greta’s glassy eyed, meaning she’s hopefully getting some insight from the alpha.“Luna…LUNA!” She finally looks at me. “Can you give me more details? Are they being c
25 - FinnDeal. That’s all we were told, to deal. I am now stuck here, for who knows how long with her. I can’t deal witht this right now, I have to get out of here.“I’m going to go look around.” I drop my bag and scurry to the door.“Finn, wait..”I don’t hear anything else she says as I spring like a coward down the hall, down the stairs, past a confused Kennedy and out to the massive patio. I’m panting, my lungs won’t take in air. I can’t do this. I can’t be around her. Her scent in the car was difficult enough to deal with. I am the most relaxed and at the same time the most tense than I have been in weeks.“You need to calm down. This is a good thing.”“How can it be a good thing?! I was just getting used to not being around her.”“You get another shot, that’s why it’s a good thing!”“I don’t want it. She doesn’t want me. I am a rogue with nothing. Just let me reject her and we can move on. The rest of our group is settled and Ryker is going to make them all pack soon.”“NO!
24 - FinnI slide out of the SUV looking around. This feels like a trap, and yet none of the usual alarms are going off in my head. My wolf and I have established a decent radar for bad situations. Avoiding them is our top priority. I’m not sure what it is about Kennedy and Ryker, but I have not had one single instance of distrust with either of them the entire time we have been in the Dark Moon pack.“Greta! Finn!” I whip around to see Kennedy at the top of a ridiculously tall staircase. “Well, don’t just stand there, come on!” She waves us up excitedly.It’s almost strange to have someone excited to see me. Nan was it, as far as I can remember, other than the pups at Dark Moon. But, they are excited to see most people, so they don’t really count. I always have Sammy and some of the other guys. We fight side by side and hope each one makes it out alive. We have had to leave guys behind and move forward, move on to the next location. I couldn’t tell you where we laid those people to
23 - GretaI sit and stare at the door for a long while. There’s no sound on the other side. He’s not showering or anything, just waiting for me to leave. I should feel relieved. He told me to go and I wish I could make my body do just that, but I’m locked here in place, my wolf is willing him to come out. His wolf is blocking her and I can feel her heartbreak. Something’s changed and she’s hurting. Add it to the list of things for me to feel guilty about.I stand, frustrated, and take a deep breath of his lingering scent, then get an idea. I run my hands on the pillows and blankets. Anything soft in this room I touch. At the very least, maybe he will sleep okay tonight. I need to talk to Kennedy, this is something I don’t know how to navigate. I still don’t want a mate. It’s not fair to Finn that I am broken and can’t be fixed. I don’t like the idea of him hurting over it either._It has been weeks and FInn is nowhere in sight. I can feel him when he’s near, but he is avoiding m