Chapter 1Waking up sore and disoriented, I look around the familiar room and smile. Last night I had turned eighteen. I had been welcomed by the pack as a grown adult and told my Beta training will begin soon. Taking a deep breath I breathe in Rune’ scent and grab the pillow he slept on. Rune. My friend. My play mate growing up. And now my Mate. We always tussled with each other during training with each one of us holding our own against the other. I know him. Know that even though he is dating Tanya, he will do what is right by me and tell the pack we are Mates. He already promised me as much last night as we fell asleep in each other’s arms.My smile turns into a wide grin. Last year I became an orphan when my parents saved Alpha Valor and Rune from a pack of Rogues that snuck into Pine Moon during the early morning. Now I will be the future Luna of the pack, gaining a bigger family in the process with Alpha Valor as my father in law and Gale and Miss Asteria as my Uncle and Aunt.
Chapter 2“Brynlee Eclipse, you stand accused of attack my future daughter in law Tanya Cross. For that, you will be demoted to an Omega.” Alpha Valor calls out. My eyes widen and body flinches as I feel my title being ripped from me, my status as a Beta she-wolf being thrown to the wolves as I feel the new title of Omega settle onto me. He literally walked in to me fighting off Scarlet and Ashley, so how could he do this to me.“Do you have anything to say for yourself?” He continues, his grey eyes stone cold. This was not the Alpha I grew up respecting. Not the man my parents died protecting last year. Many in the crowd watch on with anger, either directed at me or towards the Alpha. It is clear by the way the three she-wolves look versus my dishevelled and wounded state that the Alpha is spouting lies.“If I tell you the truth, will you even believe me?” I ask sceptically. I try to reach out to Rune, to ask for his support but my mind link to the pack is still blocked and it is cl
Chapter 3A dull humming of pain wakes me from the darkness, the scent of my home being the first thing I notice as soon as I come to my senses.“Good, you’re awake Brynlee.” Turning to the sound of the voice, I see Miss Asteria standing before me as she removes pictures from frames and carefully sets them into a box. She is meticulous in her packing, making sure not to bend the only images I have of me and my parents.“I don’t want to hear you protest. Gale and I already renounced our status as members of Pine Moon and packed away our house.” She cuts me off as I open my mouth, her hazel eyes staring into mine. I want to say something, to make her change her mind, but Miss Asteria is an Alpha blooded wolf. Once she makes up her mind there is no turning back.“Valor and Rune went too far and you deserve better. I will not stay here while they destroy the pack my ancestors built.” Miss Asteria states as I slowly push myself into a sitting position on my couch. Looking around the room I
Chapter 4“Brynlee, I am vacuum sealing all the bedding.” Miss Asteria calls out, her head popping in the door way. A look of shock fills her eye as she takes in my now empty room before it morphs to one of sympathy. She understands what I am going through as she is also leaving being her ancestral home.“My bedding is on the bed. I wasn’t sure how to pack it.” My voice sounds emotionless and hollow and surprises even me. The calm that washed over me earlier seems to be working. I am holding myself together pushing all the pain and agony from being rejected and banish into a dam inside my mind. Time will tell when the dam will break and all the pain and hurt comes crashing down on me but for now I can manage each task one at a time.“I can pack it up for you while you decide what to do with your parents’ room. I left it for you to pack up.” She pads into the room to where I stand, wrapping her arms around me and pulling my body in for a hug.“Thank you.” I find myself wrapping my arms
Chapter 5“You did the right thing Son.” My father, Alpha Valor, claps me on the shoulder as I watch my Uncle Gale carry Brynlee – my Brynlee – away. My face burns from her claw marks, the pain reminding me that I hurt her all because I was forced to. Judging from how the blood continues to drip down my face, I know these marks will leave a scar. A scar that will match the pain in my heart forever.The pack begins to disperse now that the show is over, some whispering about how the pack will change when my Aunt and Uncle leave. Aunt Asteria was furious when she learned what we had just done to Brynlee before denouncing her role in the pack and breaking all ties with us. She told me I will regret loosing Brynlee and will realize that mindlessly listening to my father will lead me to a life of misery. I asked her if Brynlee had a Mate Beater’s mark like me, but she told me that Brynlee attacked me after I rejected her and there for will not bear the make before she left chasing after Un
Chapter 6Glaring at Rune’s retreating figure, I stand from the floor now that I can breathe again. To think he would find his mate in that slut Brynlee and left me at the party alone to spend the night in her arms. I was furious to learn that she spent the night in his bed, even more furious when I slammed the door open to see her wearing his clothes and covered in his scent. Rune is my play toy and no one can have him but me.“Tanya, why were you on the floor?” Valor walks into the pack house, his own mood soured from the trial outside. It seems getting rid of that slut caused problems with the pack. Many of the pathetic Omegas and lesser Warriors already voiced their opinion on the matter, stating they would rather have Brynlee as their Luna over me. I have a plan to deal with these wolves later as long as Valor keeps Rune in check.“Your son thought to teach me a lesson of respect.” I growl out in frustration, allowing the man before me to see the bruises left on my neck. Valor st
Chapter 7Slinking towards the motel, I shake my fur out as the light misting of rain makes me wet. I am happy that Miss Asteria and Gale chose a motel so close to a forest so that we can stretch our wolf form as it gave me a chance to run free and hunt down a rabbit that I happily gnawed on while mulling over my thoughts. It’s been seven days since we left Pine Moon. Three days that I haven’t been able to shift till this morning. Keeping the dam of pain and emotions at bay in my mind has gotten easier the further we are from Pine Moon and I find myself enjoying the long drives from motel to motel.Shifting to my human form, I find my clothes in the hollow tree I left them in and change, rushing to our room on the first floor and entering it just in time to see Gale and Miss Asteria getting ready to leave.“Did you have a good run?” Gale asks, giving me a hug.“I did. It was needed.” I admit with a small smile.“Well, you have rabbit blood in your hair. I am guessing you went on a qui
Chapter 8.1Glaring at the computer screen in front of me, I read the report sent by the Private Investigator I hired to find Brynlee. Its been a week since she was expelled from Pine Moon and I have slowly come to realize how much I regret what I did. I should have never slapped her, never rejected Brynlee – my Goddess given Mate.The last seven days have been hell for me. Tanya has ramped up her abuse on the Omegas, ordering them around like slaves to prepare for our wedding day in a few months time. Every day, I get reports of her attacking she-wolves that mention my Brynlee and how she would have made a better Luna. It has caused me to placate my pack mates and put Tanya in her place. But when ever I do that, my father indulges Tanya stating that those she-wolves shouldn’t have mentioned Brynlee in Tanya’s presence.It has become a nightmare for me. Always having to perform my duties as heir to reassure pack mates that I am handling Tanya, to dealing with my father yelling at me f
Rushing towards the boardroom while frantically clipping my hair into a bun, I dodge an Omega with their arms full of clean linen. A week has passed since Shadow Rose came to train with Crescent Phoenix and in that week Quincy has caused a fight and now lay in the infirmary after his punishment, being chained with silver cuffs for three days while staying in the dungeons. Ashton hasn’t left Devlyn’s side as the latter has yet to wake from a coma, and Quest has told Asteria that he and Ashton have talked to me and wish to leave the Pack when Rune and I take over Crescent Phoenix. Add on Rune finding out he can see visions of the future and that this power might be inherited by our pups in the future and I have no idea how I am still standing after the week I have had.Not only that, but today I had a weekly checkup with Jasmin to see how my pregnancy is progressing which made me late to our war strategy meeting now that the two Packs are slowly working as a team. After our foraging ses
Standing on Quincy’s front porch, I hesitate before knocking on the door. Caspian had told me before leaving the truck that Jett is staying here with his niece for now as Milan is shaken up by her Mate’s actions from today. I can’t blame him for wanting to be there for Milan, the only family he has left. I would be furious in Jett’s shoes and I would have marched down to where Quincy is being kept and throttled some sense into him by now whether Aunt Asteria liked it or not.The door opens and Jett appears looking weary and pissed. His mouth opens – most likely to yell at whoever is at the door – only for his angry appearance to morph into surprise.“Rune. Caspian.” He calls out with a sigh, looking at each of us in turn.“What brings you two here?”“I came to see how Milan is doing. Rune came to talk to you.” Caspian answers with a small smile. Jett hesitates, his eyes glazing over and we wait for a few minutes to pass figuring her was linking his niece to see if she wanted any visit
Helping Brynlee pack the mesh bags into a wagon Greg – one of our Omegas – brought to help us bring our foraged plants to the Pack House, I smile as I hear many of the Crescent Phoenix wolves chatter with the Shadow Rose wolves. It sounds like everyone had fun learning about foraging today, some even became excited when they found a poisonous plant that we could use in the upcoming battle. Caspian was the one to pick these plants with careful and precise movements since Brynlee was pregnant and unable to touch them while Brynlee explained the use of this poison as it has a similar characteristic to wolfsbane, The only difference is that this poison, a plant with red veins and black-tipped leaves called wolfsblood, will cause the person’s blood to curdle in their system in high enough doses leaving the victim to die a quick and painful death.“Ready to head home?” Brynlee asks as I place the last bag into the wagon.“Actually, I was going to find Jett and talk to him about this mornin
Standing in front of the tree line with Warriors and Hunters from Crescent Phoenix mingling with Tristan’s men, I watch as the tense atmosphere from this morning that Quincy caused slowly disappears. Training had been canceled so that Asteria could deal with Quincy and rip him a new one and Quest was still with Ashton, keeping an eye on our friend and unable to help with training. He had linked me twenty minutes ago to inform me that Jasmine had broken the news to Ashton that Devlyn possibly might be in a coma but Ashton’s presence will help him come out of it faster as the Mate Bond will help heal Devlyn.I had given Quest permission to take three days off to help Ashton as well as have him report back to me if Ashton tries to leave Devlyn’s side to try and find Quincy to pay him back for what Quincy did to Devlyn. After Quest confirmed he would keep an eye on Ashton, I went out in search of Tristan to make good on my promise of teaching his wolves to forage in the forest as well as
Standing to my feet, the chair I sat on falling backward, I rush to the front door calling out to Rune but I am too late. He is already racing towards the Pack House while Caspian stands at the door. Anger radiates off my friend and for a moment I wonder what he said to cause Rune to rush off like that.“We need to get to the Pack House.” He states, turning to look in the direction Rune left.“Quincy beat Devlyn up pretty badly and Quest is keeping Ashton at bay. He wants to destroy Quincy for harming his Mate.” Caspian explains. I nod, grabbing my truck keys from the hook and rushing to my truck. I forgo the seat belt and drive off as soon as Caspian climbs into the vehicle before he can even close the door.The tires kick up gravel from my driveway in their wake while Caspian holds on for dear life, his eyes wide as I drive through the forest faster than usually allowed. Rune has shifted into his wolf form by now, his body just ahead of the truck as I catch up.Deciding to have Casp
Moving around the kitchen, a smile on my face, I watch the bedroom door to see when Brynlee will wake. Last night had been a blast seeing Tristan and Michael again but I had been worried when Brynlee had gone off with Ashton and Quest alone. I waited patiently beside my god-brother while counting down the minutes until Brynlee would return to my side.When she did come back out, she had a worried air about her but brushed it off when I asked. Of course, Quest stood beside her, his eyes scanning the crowd like a watchdog. I knew these two bonded as friends and felt happy to know he was keeping my Mate safe when I was not around, but the way he refused to budge and talk with other wolves worried me even more.“Rune, is that pancakes I smell?” Brynlee calls out as she exits the bedroom rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand. She looks so tired yet adorable and I can’t help but move to her side and pull my Mate in for a hug.“Yes. I just finished making apple cinnamon pancakes.” I an
The door to my bedroom is slammed shut and a small snarl escapes my lips. I know it is a warning by the Warrior who led me here after leaving Valor’s office but I can’t help but think that I am nothing more than a prisoner as I know said Warrior is standing outside, guarding my door so that I don’t leave without my Mate knowing. Everyone knows that Valor is not taking any chances when it comes to the unborn pup inside me. I know that he plans to get me pregnant as soon as I can after giving birth to this pup and the thought revolts me but not as much as the plan he has to keep me on my back in bed pleasuring him to his heart’s content instead of allowing me to perform the duties of a Luna.I regret mating that misogynistic prick. Regret making a pass at him after turning nineteen in hopes of gaining some form of power inside this Goddess forsaken Pack. I knew back then Rune didn’t want me. Didn’t want to marry me. He is right that everything that has happened is my fault.I got my mot
Watching the messages fly in as I converse with the other Alphas around me, I grin and lean back in my chair. Devlyn may have been a cowardly traitor for leaving as soon as he completed the blood pacts but his information has come in handy at least.I had worried about my sister coming back to claim Pine Moon as her Pack when she left. Worried about the truth behind mine and Clairice’s mating coming to light when Jett abandoned Pine Moon the moment that bastard Rune did. Now, I no longer care as the threat they pose will soon be gone within seven weeks. Add on that the doctor confirmed last night that Tanya is indeed having a boy has made the relief I feel immeasurable. My bloodline is secured, and my descendants will continue to rule over Pine Moon for years to come.As soon as Tanya has this pup I will make sure to put another one in her womb. She will only know the bedroom and the birthing room. She will raise our pups while I take care of the Pack during the day and she will satis
Watching Rune chat happily with Tristan and Gale while Delilah reclines by the bonfire with Asteria, Odette, and Avery, I take a deep breath and sip on the apple juice in my hands. It is the calm before the storm that war brings. A peace that I wish would last and could bring my pup into.Dinner had been a fun fan fair, the Omegas that volunteered to be on duty were quick to keep the buffet filled while Crescent Phoenix wolves came and went to mingle with the Shadow Rose wolves. I spent that time getting to know Avery and Delilah, finding myself laughing so hard that I couldn’t even drink my apple juice without nearly spitting it onto the table. It was during this laughing fit that Avery introduced me to her Mate, Jamal, a Beta wolf who was kicked from his Pack in Jamaica for not wanting to give up his right as Beta to his pack for his Alpha’s brother-in-law.He thought that coming to Canada would bring better luck for him as his cousin Delilah was here. He thought coming to see his c