The next morning after breakfast Tristan, Kami and I gathered out front to see Cedric and Mat off on their trip back to Dark Forest.
“You two be safe, and hurry home.” I hugged Cedric and then Mat, squeezing him tighter and hugging him longer than was really necessary, but this would be the first time I would be away from him for any kind of extended period in almost ten years.
Mat untangled himself from my arms and kissed my forehead, “It’s just a few days Aly, we’ll be back before you even really know we’re gone.”
“I know. It will just be weird not having you around, even just for a few days. Hopefully the preparations for having Lucian here will keep me distracted and time will fly.” I felt Tristan take my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
“You’re tough, it’ll
By the time we had gathered everything on one table and scoured the other sections for anything we might have missed I was dead on my feet and my stomach was growling. We hadn’t even stopped for lunch. I was a touch wobbly on my feet at this point. “Alyce dear, are you ok? You look awfully pale.” Ivy frowned, concern plain on her face and in her voice, which drew Tristan’s attention to me. His brows furrowed and he was at my side in an instant, tucking me into his side for support. “My love? What’s wrong?” He questioned softly. “I’m fine you two. I just need to get some food. We haven’t stopped all day. I should also check in with Mattie. They should be getting pretty close to Dark Forest by now.” “We can stop here for now. We can start going through all this tomorro
All of us were about done eating, and I was already feeling a lot better. “Do you want more love?” Tristan asked, motioning to my nearly empty plate. “No, I’m fine, thank you.” I pushed my plate back a bit and leaned into Tristan, snuggling into his side a bit. He, Kami and Brandon were discussing new ideas for training sessions and while normally I would be inserting myself into the conversation, I left them to it this time. I closed my eyes and focused on reaching out to Mattie. It was not nearly as focus intensive as I had expected it to be given the distance between us, *Mattie, how are you two? Almost there?* *Aly! Yes, we’re about 2 hours from the pack border and we’re doing just fine.* *Good. I miss you tons! I’m having to find ways to distract myself while yo
I have recently spliced many of my chapters into much shorter ones at the repeated requests of my editor. I understand that this is going to leave those of you that have been unlocking chapters and keeping up to date with the book potentially paying for the same content twice. Chapter 61 is the beginning of the previously unreleased content. I have already addressed this potential issue with my editor, so please reach out to GoodNovel for reimbursement if this is applicable to you. I do so appreciate all the support from my readers. Please leave me comments, suggestions, corrections that need to be addressed that may have been missed in all my editing. I love hearing from you guys! Thanks again! A_Campbell <3
“Alright, new topic.” I suggested, hiding my grin at my pack’s reaction, in Alyce’s hair. “We need to relocate Faith and Jake to their permanent room on the 3rd floor. I would suggest putting them into their own home in the village, but I don’t suspect that it would be their preference at this time.” Alyce chuckled, “You’re likely right on that one. Ironically, I’d bet Jake would be the one to protest. Faith is like a mother to me, but Jake is definitely the more protective of the two.” “I believe it. It’s always the quiet ones you have to watch out for.” Kami snickered. “We also need to prepare Mat and Cedric’s permanent room on the 5th floor.” I shifted Alyce in my lap a bit so that I could lean back against the wall and stretch my legs out. “You and I can tackle M
The next morning I awoke, laying on Tristan’s chest, his arms around me like he was some kind of restraint I might try and escape without. I blinked a few times, trying to get the sleep out of my eyes and get them to focus.Gingerly I shifted, trying not to wake Tristan just yet. I wasn’t sure what time he came to bed, so I figured I would let him sleep a little longer. His arms loosened their grip just enough that I was able to slide down his body and slip out of his grip. I had just made it to the edge of the bed, thinking myself successful in not waking him, when his arms encompassed my waist, pulling me back to him.“Where do you think you’re going, Half-Pint?” His voice was still gruff with sleep.“I was trying not to wake you yet, I was just going to use the bathroom and che
Once again I found myself in town, albeit for slightly different shopping reasons. Which I found made it less awful. If only by a minute amount. Tristan had set aside a private home near the pack house for Jake and Faith, so we were going to furnish that but leave the decor to Faith, and present it to them when Mat and Cedric got back. Excitement was an understatement for what I was feeling about the opportunity to pay them back for everything they had done for me over the years, even if it was just providing them with a move-in ready home. “We should start with the big stuff I think. It will be easier to pack the smaller stuff in around it. So we need household furniture for Jake and Faith and more, basic necessity furniture for Cedric and Mat.” I glanced up from my lists as Tristan pulled the truck into the parking lot of a small strip mall, which housed the only furniture store in the plaza. Options wo
It was easy enough to find a large oak ‘L’ shaped desk in a light ash stain for the guys’ room. It even had a built-in, two drawer filing cabinet. A couple of smaller ones made of walnut in the same natural color were selected for Jake and Faith’s home. These were all added to the device in the salesman’s hand.Moving onto living room furniture we selected a microfiber couch, loveseat and recliner set in a forest green color for Jake and Faith, as well as a dark brown coffee table made of maple. Then we selected a nice oak dining room table that would seat four to eight people depending on the number of leaves used.For Mat and Cedric we found a breakfast nook style table and chairs that would comfortably fit the two of them for those days they wanted to have a quieter meal alone.A cou
The group entered the burger joint, stepping to the side as we all looked over the menu. It took us a few minutes for everyone to decide what they wanted. When we had decided we approached the counter. One by one we gave our orders, I made sure to go last, handing the man at the register my debit card once everything was put in and confirmed. Tristan waited while I completed the transactions. The others had gone and secured a couple of large tables in the back so that we could spread out a bit and have room for the copious amount of food we had just purchased. With my card and my receipt in hand I turned with Tristan and we headed to join the others at the table, “I didn’t realize how hungry I was until we got in here and I smelled the food.” I chuckled a bit as I sat down. “I know that feeling.” Kami grinned.
It seemed like time flew by in the coming days. Ivy and I had spent much of it in the Luna’s Library, scouring records and documents for any bit of information we could find. That was a task in and of itself and produced little concrete information.We had found a few mentions of confirmed traits and skills in the previous Crimson Wolves as well as mentions of potential Fae traits as well. We used the information we found and the bits and pieces that Ivy recalled from her time spent with my mother and the Fae that would come into the region to create a list of potential skills I, and even possibly Rian, could end up with.I explained to Ivy about the change in my eyes the previous week and we had tried to keep a vigilant eye out for information on that particular oddity, but no luck. We sat down at one of the tables where we had been taking notes and organizing them.“So we have a decent list after our days of hard work.” Ivy smiled at me as I rested my chin in my hand, worn out from
It was roughly half an hour before I had the burritos all made up, including some for the boys when they returned, keeping them warmed in the oven, not that we would necessarily tell them right away. It was another half an hour before we heard the boys coming down the hall, “Rian! Walking feet please!” Tristan scolded him in a manner that was firm, but gentle as it carried down the hall. “Sowwy Daddy.” Rian called back. He sounded closer and I assumed he had run ahead of the others in his excitement. I heard the door knob wiggle and Kami got up to unlock it and let Rian in. She reached out and scooped him up, shutting and locking the door again just as Brandon got to it, essentially slamming it in his face. “Oh come on girls! Let us in!” Mat sniffed the air. “I smell breakfast… Aly! Did you make what I think you made!?” he hollered at the door. Kami and I were giggling on the other side of it. She carried Rian to the table and set him up with his own smaller burrito, “There’s a
It was a good 30 minutes before Brandon and Kami made it to the dining hall. Both of them were soaking wet. He had actually dumped her in the lake! And joined her for that matter. Whether or not it was voluntary on his part or she drug him in with her was yet to be known. My eyes widened as the two of them came walking in the back doors of the dining hall. Tristan’s brows furrowed at my expression. Mat and Cedric were sitting across from us and thus could not see Brandon and Kami walk in, both looking perplexed at me and Tristan as well. It was only a moment or two before whispers and some scattered snickering filled the hall at the sight of the soaking wet pair. “He actually did it…” I pointed towards the two, drawing the boys’ attention to them. Mat and Cedric turned, not even trying to hide their amusement at the sight. Kami was trying to maintain a scowl as Brandon was laughing and teasing her. Cedric got up and headed out of the dining room, towards the downstairs shower room.
“Good morning, Alyce darling.” Faith hugged me tightly.Jake wrapped me into a hug and lifted me off my feet, causing me to squeal in surprise and laugh. He set me back on my feet, kissing the top of my head. “You look like you’re adjusting well.”“I am, thank you.” I smiled up at him and he mirrored it, “How are you two enjoying your new space? Is everything working out ok?” I really wanted them to feel comfortable in their new home and pack.“It’s wonderful Alyce, really. Stop fretting.” Faith smiled reassuringly.“Good. Be sure to let me know if you need anything. Promise me. You two have taken care of me for years. Now I get to take care of you, even if only in some small way by comparison.”“Nonsense. You’re the daughter we always wanted. We’re family.” Jake’s tone implied that was the end of that. I just smiled.Tristan pulled me into his side and kissed my temple. “And I couldn’t be more grateful for the wonderful family you have.”“We have.” Faith corrected him. This just made
~Alyce/Faelyn~ The alarm went off at 5am, stirring me into a semi-conscious state and eliciting a groan of protest from me. I was currently laying on Tristan’s chest, his arms wrapped around me like he was afraid I might escape in the night. His fingers were playing up and down my spine, his eyes still closed as I snuck a peek up at him from beneath my lashes. “Good morning, gorgeous.” He murmured softly, still not bothering to open his eyes or make a move to get out of bed. “How did you know I’m actually awake? I could have just been shifting in my sleep?” I slid up his body enough that I could press my lips against his softly. “Good morning.” “I could feel your eyes on me. I can always feel your eyes on me when you’re looking at me.” A coy smile formed on his lips as he opened his eyes to look at me. “Not my fault I can’t keep my eyes off you.” I laughed and rolled off his chest, sitting on the bed next to him. I knew without looking that his smile had grown wider at my laugh. S
~Alyce/Faelyn~ Kami and I had checked the rec room, to find it pretty well deserted. No sign of the boys. So we passed through and continued on our way to the dining room, Rian between us, holding both our hands. We would occasionally swing him up off his feet as we walked, eliciting a giggle from him. We paused in the doorway to the dining room, both of us looking around, expecting to see the boys. There was no sign of them. There also seemed to be less people than normal in the room. “Odd, they’re not here either… So where are they?” Kami asked. “And everyone else for that matter.” I scooped Rian up into my arms and crossed the hall with Kami. “Also a good question.” One of the older kitchen staff caught my eye as we walked through and motioned to the doors to the back lawn with an amused grin on his face. I smiled at him and gave a nod in thanks. We headed to the doors, slipping out them to find a small crowd of pack members watching Tristan, Cedric and Mat dog pile on Brando
I pulled her into my arms and wrapped them around her tightly, holding her close. She instantly buried her face against my neck, inhaling my scent. After a few moments her aura receded and she lifted her head, looking up at me. Her eyes had changed, well one had anyway, her left one was now a translucent red instead of her usual translucent pale green. I didn’t try to hide the shock on my face. “What is it? What’s wrong?” She looked at me, searching my face for the answer. “Your eyes Aly… They’re different…” “What do you mean they’re different?” She glanced over at the others as if looking for confirmation. “Holy shit Aly, one is red!” Mat jumped off the couch, walking over to inspect her eyes. “What?” She jumped out of my arms and ran to the bathroom to look at them in the mirror. “How?” *Aramyth, do you know anything about this?* She did notice the mind link did not cause her eyes to haze over at all though and she could track both the internal and external going ons. That wou
Mat, Cedric and I were waiting on the front steps as Alyce and the group pulled up to the pack house. We had gathered a handful of Omegas to help with the unloading as well. I could see Will driving, and once he had come to stop, our group descended down the stairs to meet them. “Daddy!” I could hear Rian’s excited proclamation as I opened the rear door. I chuckled a little and couldn’t help but draw in a breath as I was also greeted with Alyce’s radiant smile as well. “Hello my loves. Did you two have fun?” I helped Alyce out of the truck before reaching in to undo Rian’s buckles and help him out as well. “Yeah! I got two selfs!” Rian took my hand pulling me towards the back of the truck where everything was. “It wasn’t the worst shopping trip I’ve ever had to endure.” Alyce giggled at Rian’s actions as she spoke. “Whoa Rian. Slow down.” I scooped him up into my arms, laughing a bit myself. “I know you’re excited, and I am super excited to see what you picked out, but let’s get
~Tristan~ We listened to the ring on the other end of the line. Titus, Brandon and I collectively held our breath as we waited. I had put the call on speaker phone after instructing both of them to be quiet and merely listen. A gruff voice picked up on the third ring, “Silver Moon, Alpha Lucian speaking. State your business.” I’m not sure what I was expecting, but that wasn’t it. I quickly recovered from my momentary lapse of speech, “Good evening Alpha Lucian. This is Alpha Tristan of Moonlight Pack.” “I see. What can I do for you, Alpha Tristan?” Lucien was cold and sounded as though he was irritated by the phone call. “I have a pack member who is looking to find a chosen mate. His fated mate passed away many years ago. He is originally from Silver Moon and was hoping to perhaps visit his home pack and start his search there. I would, of course, never expect you to invite a virtual stranger, original pack member or not, into your lands without meeting them first. So I was calli