Alissa took a breath outside his door. She was sure… almost certain he was still asleep. She peeked around Luca's door, the morning sun streamed into the room. The mattress was empty and she could hear the shower. Alissa closed the door and listened until she heard movement. Would he want her to leave him alone? Probably but she hadn’t quite managed to master leaving Luca alone. She knocked on the door, “Who is it?” “Alissa,” she responded in a quiet voice, there was a pause.“You can come in,” every syllable was enunciated. Alissa took a deep breath, he still didn't sound right, but she went in. It was probably a bad idea, but he’d said come in!Luca was leant against the window sill, shirtless with just a pair of jeans hugging his hips. He was looking at the destruction. “What did I do?” he muttered, a shame in his tone that made her uncomfortable. Alissa furrowed her brow, “You don't remember?” She tried to keep the tone of disbelief out of her voice she really did try to hide it
Luca took another shuddering breath, “My dad called me back to the pack to become Alpha, I never wanted it, my dad was a cruel Alpha, and I just knew I couldn't rule as he wanted. I'm twenty-five, too young to run a pack and I was enjoying travelling around. Learning more about our kind, our history. I was learning so much and quite frankly, I loved the lack of responsibility. I trained when and how I wanted, I slept whenever and with whoever. There was never anyone breathing down my neck or expecting anything of me. No-one asking my opinion or my advice, I was just a visiting wolf. “Dad demanded I came back, I managed to push him back for three years, the council even got involved at one point, but he persuaded them he needed to take his place in the council and that it was time for me to come home. I hated him for it and debated just… well… not coming.” Luca paused almost waiting for Alissa to interrupt, she dutifully stayed quiet. “But, I decided to come. Thinking I could encourag
A few days passed and another training session was in store for Alissa, Jack and Michael. They had decided to attempt a two on one spar. Jack stated he felt it was his weakest scenario which Alissa wasn’t sure about but they all accepted the scenario. Alissa and Michael stood shoulder to shoulder waiting for Jack to indicate he was ready. “Gonna take him down, Lis,” Michael muttered. “Hell yeah, one hundred percent.”“Take his legs out,” Michael advised, “Use his height against him and your height to your advantage.”Jack put his feet shoulder width apart, bent his knees before gesturing for them to come at him. Alissa and Michael cried their attempt at a war cry before sprinting towards their brother. Alissa managed to strike his side while he was distracted by blocking Michael's punch. She dodged under Jack's arm and brought her knee to his stomach, which he blocked, almost setting Alissa off balance. She righted herself and tried to topple Jack, but she appeared to get the wrong
The trio were still sitting around Alissa’s room, pondering what they had just found out. Michael sat quietly, he appeared to be thinking hard, “Michael do you know anything?” Jack prompted. “No,” he said abruptly and started chewing his lip. Jack and Alissa looked at each other“You know something,” Alissa said suspiciously. Michael avoided her gaze, he pretended to be interested in the list that was still lying on the bed. “What is it Michael?” Jack stood and moved to be in front of Michael. “Nothing,” he shifted uncomfortably.“Spit it out!” Jack gave him a push to the shoulder. “It's not like there's anyone available here, and humans are drawn to us,” he muttered under his breath. “Michael!” Jack and Alissa exclaimed together. “Who?” Alissa cried.“How?” Jack panicked.“When?” The questions came to Michael thick and fast. “OK, enough.” He held his hands up. “There's no-one in particular I just… when I'm on missions I kinda… go to what they call nightclubs and, the ladies l
After Michael left, she quickly tidied her room of the books and papers before heading downstairs. Alissa found Luca in the sitting room reading, she sat down silently pulling her feet onto the sofa. “What you reading?” Luca jumped, pulling his book from his face, “Alissa, you scared me” he breathed.“Sorry.” She smiled innocently, she watched as he relaxed back into the sofa, he placed his book down and smoothed a stray hair back into place. Alissa was glad he seemed more back to normal. His hair perfectly styled, his clothes clean and wrinkle free. “How you doing?” Alissa shifted on the sofa waiting for a response. “I feel well, Alissa, thank you,” his voice back to it's measured, well spoken tone. “You don't have to talk like that in front of me, I accept you for you.” Alissa leant slightly forward. She wanted the real Luca, she realised now that his thoughtful and measured voice was all for show. He smiled and dropped his shoulders a little, “I need to keep a bit of this pers
Alissa’s nose was firmly in a book after going to see Richard, it had been a wasted journey. He didn’t beat about the bush, he said no. Even when she told him she’d found out about the human mothers. She sighed but then a noise made Alissa look up from her book, the front door had quietly opened and closed, like someone did not want to be heard. Alissa laid her book on the sofa and went to the door. Luca was carrying a bag and rolls of something white under his arm.“Where have you been?” Alissa asked, Luca jumped and tried to hide what was in his arms. He swiftly put the bag and what had been under his arm behind his back. “Oh, Alissa… Hello, I've just been to town, wanted to get out of the house.” He edged towards the stairs as he spoke.“What did you pick up?” Alissa approached him, he looked nervous and she was curious to see what he was hiding.“Not much, just-” he paused and looked around, “Something to cheer me up.” He looked embarrassed to admit. Alissa took another step clos
Luca sat in the driver's seat as he concentrated on the road ahead. They had been driving for well over an hour. “You haven't told me where we're going.” Alissa shifted uncomfortably, readjusting the seat belt. “I know,” he said smugly, a small knowing look crossed his face. Alissa huffed in frustration, she was excited as a town zipped past them. She could smell the scene of the hundreds of people waft through the car vents.“Do humans ever shower?” Alissa asked as she wrinkled her nose. Luca let out a bark of laughter, “Unfortunately we can smell them, they don't have that sense of smell. You are used to wolf stink if you spent time with humans you'd soon get used to it,” he replied.“Are you used to it?” Alissa turned to look at him.“Pretty much, some of the packs I visited lived in much closer proximity to humans.”“Isn't that dangerous? Don't the humans wonder why wolves are roaming all the time?” Alissa asked.“Aren't you full of questions today?” Luca chuckled. “Some other p
Luca took a sip and let out a pleasant sigh, “Did you speak to Richard?” he asked.“Yes, he seemed unsure about teaching me, but he said if I prove myself he will,” she responded. “I don't really know how to prove myself apart from memorising all the information I can on the packs,” she said this more to herself than to Luca. “I'll speak to him. I've been so busy I should have spoken to him first before I sent you,” he said apologetically. Alissa shook her head, “Don't worry about it. It's just what Richard's like. He wants someone that will do it properly,” Alissa reasoned. Luca pursed his lips for a moment before his eyes softened. “You've changed,” he said gently. Alissa looked up at him, worry twisted her stomach. “Oh, it's not a bad thing,” he added quickly, “I like it.” He turned in his chair, his knees knocked into hers. “I worried what happened to you would make you timid, scared of everything.” Luca enclosed her hand into his and pulled her closer to him. “But you're the o
Alissa nursed her baby, she cooed down to him, his perfect tiny fingers gripped at her finger while he suckled. “Aunty, where's daddy?” Peta entered the room and sat at Alissa's feet.“He's keeping you safe little one, he loves you so much, come here.” She shifted her baby so Peta could climb on her lap.He peered up to her questioning, “I want daddy.” Tears welled in his emerald eyes.Alissa curled his chin length hair around her fingers. “I know, darling, he has to do his job though, but he has to keep us safe doesn't he? Or he wouldn't be a good wolf.” A large tear fell from Peta's eye. The little one had been very clingy recently.Maybe it was the birth of her and Luca’s little bundle of jo
Alissa couldn’t help flicking her glance to Luca every now and then, it may have been a few days but she still felt he was going to disappear within a moments notice. He caught her eye and opened his arms, dragging her into his body as soon as she was in arms reach. “It’s all going to be alright,” he whispered.She sunk into him, everything felt so right, his arms, his heat, the pressure of him against her body. It was what she needed.“Be better when we’re back home too,” he reassured.Alissa nodded against him, nuzzling slightly. “I miss home,” she whispered.He rocked her gently, squeezing her against him. “Me too, I wish the investigation hadn’t taken so long but at least it’s a
Luca grasped Alissa’s hand tightly as Rufus lead them through the council building to the sitting room beside the meeting room where the Alphas were filing into. “I’ll be right with you,” Rufus directed to the Alphas before following Luca and Alissa in.“Do you have any idea what’s going on?” Luca asked.“I don’t, in truth. I wish to listen to them all regarding their concerns but… please, tell me what happened. I’ve heard Alissa’s perspective, I need yours.”Luca nodded, sitting the the cream sofa, tugging Alissa with him, not wanting to let her go. “From the beginning?” he asked to clarify.Rufus nodded, “Please.”
“I second that query, High Council.”Alissa frowned. A voice she knew so well permeating into her mind. She knew she was hearing wrong, knew that voice wasn’t real. It couldn’t be real… but it sounded so real.Gasps erupted around them, from everyone, not just the council. A ripple of surprise spread from everyone.Michael grabbed her hand and she almost had the confidence to look up but didn’t. She couldn’t look, she didn’t want to confirm or deny it was his voice. She didn’t want to know.“My land is not up for discussion, let alone on a day like this. But it is my land, High Council.”“Alpha Wuffaman,” High Council Vilkaman bre
The sun was warmer than it had been for months, the beginnings of spring poking through barren trees, dandelions budding within the dewy, luscious grass that looked inviting despite what the day was. Alphas, families, betas, and probably some others were sat, some on chairs, some on the grass, some had rolled up sleeping bags beneath them. It looked like any congregation when their packs came together but this felt very different. It felt wrong. It felt unjust.Alissa stood beside Michael on a slightly raised stage to the side, the white council house to their backs, the sun almost blinding them as it rose high above the trees. The council was assembled… All six of them were assembled (including Raoul much to her displeasure) at the front of the congregation. A congregation to mourn for her mate. Her pack, her nephew, her brother, her friends.
After getting changed, Alissa popped the wet, stained shirt on the arm of the sofa, unsure where to put it before sitting nervously. Her mind wasn’t really working properly, that was what it felt like. She felt she’d been given more information than she could process and arrange in her tired, dishevelled mind.There was a knock on the door and she was up off the sofa, taking long strides towards the door, “Yes, come in,” she called before she got to the door, wanting the door open.Michael stepped in, his hair as disheveled as his clothes. There were rings under his eyes and he looked just as bad as before he’d gone away… maybe worse. Alissa didn’t even give him time to look before she lunged at him, wrapping herself around him, clinging to his neck.&ldqu
Luca was vibrating, desperate to not let his anger out but he was finding it hard. Not knowing… Not having a clue what was going on. Angry Malachi had downed him, and he had no idea why.Alissa. Where was Alissa?“I’m going into the pack. I’m not sitting here like some prisoner,” Luca stated, a tiny rumbling growl through his words.“The pack member, Steve told us to stay here for safety,” Henry announced calmy.“He didn’t tell me.” Luca stood, he wasn’t some pup to be told to stay put. Fuck that.“I’ll be back soon,” he told the room, heading for the door.&ldq
He watched a car move away, just knowing Alissa was within. A feeling a safety moved over him… at least knowing Alissa was safe. He wasn’t safe though. A wolf body slammed him, sprawling him to the floor but he didn’t reach the floor, he kept falling… and falling.He was running through the woods, Aunty Dotty clinging to his arm as he kept moving, he was getting her to safety… he just knew that.Aunty Dotty slipped from his arm… she was safe with humans, a human ally, his vision shifted and changed, a new landscape before him, scents flooded his nose, he needed to keep going, keep moving. There was a scent he had to find. He panted, pushing himself to follow the scent. He hadn’t stopped, hadn’t slept. It was a vagrant’s scent he was hunting… although whether it wa
His hand fastened tighter over her mouth, preventing any breath to escape. She wriggled and struggled in his hold only for a panic to blind her as his other hand came up, his fingers pinching her nose.He was going to smother her.She stamped her feet down, struggled and fought with all her strength. She shook her head, desperate to get his hand dislodged enough for her to suck in a breath.She would not die today.Black crept into the edges of her vision so she struggled harder only for her head to spin from exertion with no oxygen. She stamped her foot down, landing squarely on his but it didn’t release his hold. He was infallible, regardless what she did nothing was working. She was running out of time. In a last ditch attempt, she threw her bo