Alissa awoke to the sound of howling, howls of impending attack. Her blood ran so cold it turned to ice. She just knew they were attacking. She didn’t know how. Or why. But immediately she just knew. Panic flooded her, coating her skin in a chill she hadn’t felt for a long time. She heaved herself from bed, her swollen belly slowing her movements. Luca came to her side, his deep caramel hair messy from bed, eyes stern yet wild, a clear plan swirling in his mind. He gently helped her to her feet, her extra weight bearing no difficulty for him. “You need to get the boy, and go.” His hand fisted her t-shirt at her hip, his eyes running over her as if it were for the last time. There was something inside her knowing this was the last time. This was it. This was an end yet she had no idea of the beginning.
She shook her head instinctively, “No! I'm not leav
Michael shouldered his bag, moving silently through the pack house. “Leaving already?” Jack’s voice came from behind him.Michael froze for a second. “Yeah. Need to get back,” he mumbled, somewhat embarrassed but also… he didn’t need to be here.“We miss you.”“Luca not let you out the pack land or something?” Michael accused bitterly.“No. What the hell? You know he doesn’t do that. Jeez, Michael, you could live here and travel to her every day. Luca would never stop you.”“He tried.”“No he didn’t. He just stopped you going vagrant.”
Alissa and Luca strolled into the wood arm in arm. The wood caught between summer and autumn, the leaves slowly turning to orange, yellow and brown, although it would still take a month for Autumn to be in full swing. Luca lifted her over a protruding root making her giggle, “How does it feel to be officially an Alpha Female?” he asked setting her back down on the floor.“No different really, I love you the same today as yesterday.” She shrugged making him chuckle.“Did you feel different after your Alpha ceremony?” She turned her head to him, he had forgotten to shave so his stubble was evident. She didn't mind though, she liked when he grew out his stubble.Luca pondered her question looking up to the soon to be naked branches, “Well, yeah. I went from
They walked hand in hand avoiding roots, leaves crunching under their boots, their breaths circling in front of them in clouds. A stuffed wolf brought the pair to a stop. Again Alissa looked up to Luca, “Go on,” he encouraged, giving a her a gentle shove. Alissa picked up the wolf, there wasn't a note attached. She turned back to Luca who had lent himself against a nearby tree. A small smile lighting up his eyes.She gave him a questioning look “Press the paw,” he directed, she did feeling a hard button in one of the paws. Suddenly Luca's voice came out of the stuffed wolf “Look to the moon, like it, I will always be here.” Tears filled Alissa's eyes“I thought when the time comes… we can give it to our cub.” Luca moved from the tree and Alissa jumped into his arms, the tears flowi
He had spies everywhere.He knew what was going on.The ceremony sickened him. Stupid half breed thinking he’s untouchable.Descending the stairs he entered the darkest, dingiest part of the mansion. He rarely came down here. He never needed to.He needed to take his anger out on someone though. Anyone. But they only had one prisoner currently. It wasn’t often the council held prisoners.But they had one right now.Picking up a whip he made his way down the small corridor before coming to a door with a small barred window set within. He could make out the prisoner sitting in the darkest corner where the single electric lamp’s light d
Her shoulders flexed the harder she pushed her wolf, her fur rippling with every movement. She’d neglected her wolf recently. Even with the training Luca insisted on, she felt she hadn’t run for ages. It felt good to pick up to full speed, trees whipping past her as she weaved in and out as fast as her four legs could carry her. She bounded over logs and through bushes with more ease than she ever had before. She felt majestic, powerful, invincible.She missed her friend. Kristen had been spending longer and longer away from packland now, going with Tom to offer advice and diplomacy to other packs. Show the Wuffaman’s were around and always willing to help.The role suited her friend but it didn’t mean she didn’t miss her every time she wasn’t around.At least her brot
Her feet slapped against deep grey stone she vaguely recognised. Intricate stonework was all around her. She’d been here before. The sound of a door opening had her moving to the bannister. She looked over to see three men entering through the door holding a limp body wrapped in a bloody sheet. She just knew who it was. She had no idea how.She also knew what was going on.War.She was at Malachi’s. Her pack had been attacked.It was like a memory of something that had never happened. Yet she knew exactly what had happened before this moment.She ran down the stone steps, before anyone could stop her she uncovered the body's face. “Jack!” His
Michael sank heavily into the sofa beside Kimberly. “Good day?” she asked quietly.He frowned, watching her closely. “Are you OK?” He scanned her face, her body, looking for what was wrong.“Yeah…” She shifted, a wince flashing over her face.His exhaustion disappeared in an instant to be replaced with worry. “What’s wrong?” Alarm flittered through his chest.“I think the baby is just laying funny. I’m fine.” She offered a pinched smile.“I can ring the midwife,” he offered immediately.She glared at him and wrapped her hand around his wrist stopping
Alissa huffed to herself as she pondered what to take, what to move, what to leave. Ugh it was a nightmare. She looked around her room wondering why they were even moving. Her room was fine. It was perfect! She liked it, there was no reason to move.“Are you stressing?” Luca asked, walking into the room with a box he’d brought from the attic.She shook her head, “No,” she fibbed.“Uh huh. Sure.” He approached and offered a hug, she immediately basked in his warmth and comfort. She let out a sigh, relaxing against him. “We’re taking the bed. Quite frankly… we can switch everything. I don’t like the master suite’s furniture.”“‘Cause it’s your dad’s,&rdq
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