Chapter 17“What do you mean Golden Fang won’t let anyone near their borders!” My hand freezes in the air as I pause my intended knocking. I had gotten a report from the Council about Golden Fang rebuilding their pack and that they have chosen their new Alpha and Luna. Some of us speculate that this person is the Head Warrior Quincy Steele and that he has found his Mate, but I have met that wolf a few times at the Annual Assembly of Alphas that take place every August first. He seemed happier leading Warriors under the Beta than leading a full pack by himself – even if he does have a Luna to help.“It is what our men say, Alpha. They flown the plane as close as they could to the pack without being noticed, but when they tried to sneak onto the land, they were stopped and threatened that Golden Fang would kill them for trespassing.” I recognize the voice as Beta Jett – the man who replaced Brynlee’s dad last year. Shocked by the news that my father sent our men to spy on Golden Fang, I
Chapter 18Looking at myself in the vanity mirror, I make sure that no curl is out of place. It has officially been seven days since Golden Fang was attacked and today I will be initiated as their new Beta. I can feel my stomach flip flop with nerves as I wonder if I will do a good job without any Beta training. Miss Asteria, Albert and Marisol have stated that my instinct will guide me and that I have done well with the crash course of being a proper Beta that the three gave me the last few days. I just can’t help but think that I might be too young for this position.I still occupy my room in the pack house and have yet to move into my cottage, too busy the last seven days with Organising training schedules, patrol shifts and hunting parties with Quincy and Miss Asteria. Gale decided he would delve into his Luan role early and began planning where to place a new green house and large garden beds, deciding to leave the leading to us. He even took over leading the Omegas which left me
Chapter 19The full moon hangs high in the sky as Quincy and I exit the pack house. From the steps I can see Miss Asteria and Gale standing beside Alastor under the willow tree, the Council Representative having come down to watch over the ceremony and confirm that the pack indeed had chosen a new Alpha and Luna – Luan in our case. Quincy tells me that Alastor has already helped initiate Gale and Miss Asteria into the pack, hence why the atmosphere was left buzzing with power that radiate from the two. Before leaving the pack house I spied Chase, Henry and Lunette relaxing on the stairs. They will have to be initiated into the pack after me and I can’t wait to watch the three pups finally be given the courtesy they deserved as Alpha blooded wolves.The smile at me as I pass them, and I smile back. I can see the excitement in there faces and secretly pray to the Goddess that she will keep them safe tonight. They have been through so much between living in Pine Moon and leaving Pine Mo
Chapter 20The party for the pack’s initiation is in full swing now that the Ceremony has passed. Everyone in Golden – I mean Crescent Phoenix – are either chatting on one of the many picnic benches or dancing away the night on the dance floor with many enjoying the food the men cook on the grill or that roasted meat from the boar Quest killed a few days ago. I knew that damned pig would be on a fire spit before the end of the week, but it sure was a damned pain to prepare yesterday morning with the Omegas help.Speaking of the Omegas, many were happy to learn that other than preparing the food for tonight in the morning, they would be given the rest of the day off to relax and enjoy the celebration. I spy a few sprawled out by a bonfire roasting marshmallows with a few pups while Quincy and Quest danced with the rest, the little ones entertained by the two goofy warriors.“Brynlee, have I introduced you to the friend that asked Alpha Stanton to allow us to join this pack?” I jump whe
Chapter 21“Shit, shit, shit.” Quincy is beside me, scooping me into his arms as I silently scream into his shoulder, the pain so intense that no sound can form.“Brynlee, I know you can hear me so listen.” Quincy says sternly, his worry for me radiating off of him in waves.“I am going to link Asteria and tell her that your experiencing the pain of rejection finally.” He continues, holding me tighter. I try to say something, to stop him, but the feeling of flames lick at my heart causing me to be unable to breathe for a moment.“Fuck!” Quincy curses, carrying me past the other side of the willow tree. My finger clench at his shirt, the fabric tearing as my body jerks from an onslaught of pain. I can feel the broken bond fizzling. Feel it burning and screaming inside me. I held back the pain for far too long and am now facing the consequences.“Quincy!” As he is putting me in the passenger side of his jeep we hear Asteria call out to him. Quincy turns and lets out a sigh of relief.“I
Chapter 22I groan in frustration as I look at the reports in front of me. My father sent a request to the Council in purchasing land around Pine Moon. He wants to expand the pack even though we have yet to accept new members and It has caused a headache to form. Actually, my whole body feels like a sore ache, like I have just faced a battle recently. Without warning, I fold in on myself, pain so intense I feel like I have been stabbed with a bladed dipped in wolfsbane and force myself not to scream. Tears fall from my eyes like streams and I find myself unable to breath for a moment.“Hey Rune, I have the -” My door bursts open and Caspian walks in, his eyes meeting mine. I watch as panic sets in his eyes.“H-help.” I whimper out, unable to say anything else as pain courses through me. Caspian slams the door shut, making sure that no one saw before rushing to my side. He carefully helps me from my chair to lay on the floor and I curl in on myself, unable to handle the next bout of p
Chapter 23Two days have passed since Rune has been locked away in his room. Caspian has stayed by his side, the two of us claiming that Rune fell sick. Valor had bought the ruse after I stated someone snuck wolfsbane into Rune’s food as a joke and used a bit too much. The truth is, I had asked Caspian to have someone do it so that when Valor commanded that I tell him poisoned his son that I could be honest and say I did not know who. He was furious but instead of checking in on his son, the man told me to keep him updated.Luckily for me, Tanya chose that time to come ask Valor for help with planning the wedding now that Rune was unavailable and the two snuck off, leaving me time to place a few hidden cameras in Valor’s office. Rune is right, we need to learn what those two are doing, and cameras are the only way to catch them in the act.Now sitting in my office, I look at the new number on my phone. Rose, it was the code name she came up with years ago when I first came to Pine Moo
Chapter 24Curled in someone’s embrace, I open my eyes to find that Quincy is holding me. There are dark circles under his eyes and stubble the same shade of red as his hair on his jaw. True to his words, Quincy stayed with me and helped me through the pain. I lost conscious sometime after he told me he would kept me fed and hydrated and I am glad for that. I feel weak, sore and exhausted.The pain, it consumed me. Captured me. Burned and broke me.But I woke up today. I am alive and I survived.Quincy is fast asleep, his chest rising and falling as he holds me gently against him. His heart beat is comforting and I think back to the last time I spent the night in someone’s arms. I woke up alone. Woke up to the other side cold while I wondered where Rune had went. Then things became worse when I was attacked, rejected and banished because I was left alone.But Quincy never left me alone and I am so grateful for it.“Good morning.” Quincy mutters, his face moving to look down at me.“Mo
Glaring at the email before me, I suppress the growl threatening to spill. Our council representative has been hard at work investigating Valor, Tanya, and Jonnah to the point they have begun questioning the destruction of smaller Packs surrounding Blood Claws and Pine Moon. What is worse is that other than Willow Bark, no other survivors have been found from any of these smaller Packs that were destroyed. For all the Council knows, they have either become Rogues hiding deep in the forests in wolf territory or blending with Humans in the many cities.One thing is for sure, Jonnah and Valor have committed more crimes than we originally thought.Reading further along the email, my eyes widen and my hand instinctively reaches for my stomach. Judging by the images attached to the email and the medical report the Council’s spies were able to obtain, it seems that I am not the only one expecting a pup. Now the question is, whose is it?“Brynlee, are you in here?” The door to my office opens
Watching Brynlee drive away, I wait for her truck to disappear from my view before deciding to head to my dorm room for the night and get some much-needed rest. Today has been an eventful day that has left me reeling with exhaustion. I had just finished patrol when a sudden urge of danger coursed through me. At first, I thought the warning was because Rogues had crossed our borders into the pack territory, threatening the pack. When I realized it was an internal warning from the Mate Bond, my wolf instincts took over and I rushed directly towards the danger warning without thinking. All I could think of was protecting Brynlee.’I knew I was being irrational when I barged into the training facility without warning. I knew how much of a prick I was when I swept Brynlee into my arms and carried her away from everyone without her consent, but my body kept moving on its own. I felt like a man possessed but until I knew Brynlee was safe in her den – in her cottage – I couldn’t relax.As soon
Reading the list of thirty Rogues looking to join Cresent Phoenix, I focus on the skills each wolf has listed. Some wolves come with skills such as farming and manual labor. These are definitely Omegas that left their old Pack for one reason or another. The others are a mix of Hunters and Warriors that would be good to growing the Pack’s strength. Hell, some of our current Pack Mates might be able to find their Goddess given Mates if we accepted these wolves into Crescent Phoenix.Moving to look through the applications list, I note down that out of the thirty Rogues, ten came from two Packs that I remember dealing with when I was in Pine Moon – Flaming Canine and Snarling Spruce. These Packs are ruled similarly to Pine Moon with a patriarchal rule where she-wolves are aa lesser class, only meant to produce pups and take care of the elderly and males are meant to be obeyed without any questions or doubt.I have a feeling that these wolves left for their own personal growth and safety.
Watching Quincy leave the office, I walk around Asteria’s desk and take the seat he previously occupied. Asteria watches me as she does, her eyes filled with un-asked questions.“What did Rune do to you earlier?” She asks and I sigh. I am going to kick Quincy’s ass later.“I was training with Odette when the Mate Bond let out a danger warning to Rune. He came barging in and took me away to my cottage.” I answer, watching as Asteria’s eyes widen. She subtly looks down and I stiffen in my seat as her eyes land on my stomach. I keep my hands on the armrest of the chair, doing everything I can not to confirm her suspicion while Quest watches on in shock.“So that’s why everyone has been talking about Rune being a possessive ass hole.” He laughs out, making me roll my eyes.“He definitely is an asshole.” I agree with a grumble, crossing my arms over and letting out an annoyed sigh. Asteria looks away from me with a small smile on her lips as she turns her attention to Quest.“When it comes
Helping Milan pack up the remaining items in the kitchen, I catch site of a few pups helping to bring boxes and bags out to the charter bus where Ashton and Eddison are waiting to load the storage compartments.It has been six days since we arrived at the farmhouse and after realizing how much packing needs to be done, Gale and I had called Asteria asking if we could delay our return to the pack to sort through what Milan and the others will be bringing with us on our return trip home. Luckily, Asteria agreed that us staying would be beneficial to the Willow Bark wolves and just asked that we call her before we make the drive back home.“This should be the last of it.” Milan says as she stands, a smile on her face.“So we should be ready to move out soon?” I ask my niece. She looks around, taking her time to answer as her smile falls and a hint of melancholy washes over her. I know she is sad about leaving the farm, the only safe place she has known since Valor attacked Willow Bark.
Standing in front of Brynlee’s cottage, I knock on the door and wait for her to answer. After confronting Rune, I had planned to talk to her but duty called and I had to deal with wolves on our borders. It was spies of Pine Moon once again trying to sneak in and catch a glimpse of our Luna and Beta.News had spread that Crescent Phoenix had helped Onix Moon liberate themselves from the tyranny of Viren and people were becoming increasingly curious of our female leaders. It took longer than I had thought to deal with them, the enemy wolves fighting my men with everything they could. One managed to escape capture while the other two decided to take their own lives by slitting their throats before we could restrain them.“Quincy? What are you doing here?” Brynlee’s voice calls from behind me and I turn to see her coming up the path. The faint smell of rubbing alcohol comes off her and I frown. It seems she is just coming back from the Pack Infirmary.“I wanted to see how you are doing.
Curled up in bed, hand on my flat stomach, I wonder if I am truly pregnant. It could be one of Rune’s tricks with him trying to get back together with me, but my instinct tells me he wasn’t lying with how overprotective and possessive he became. The worst part is that the bond became whole once more when he announced I am with pup. I can feel it even now, humming with new vitality as if the rejection never happened.[Hey Brynlee, are you okay?] Caspian’s voice rings through my mind, taking me out of my thoughts.[I…I am dealing with something.] I answer hesitantly, getting a hum in response.[Does it have anything to do with how Rune behaved?] I sigh, turning to lie on my back and looking up at my ceiling.[Unfortunately, it does.] I then apologized to Caspian about how Rune behaved with his Mate, Odette, and explained that the bond threw out a danger warning that set Rune off. Caspian is silent for a moment before our link hums with understanding.[Something happened between the two o
Looking out the window of my room, the lights off and the area quiet, I wonder how Brynlee is doing. After announcing to her that she is pregnant, Brynlee kicked me out of her cottage saying she needed time and space to think about it. That was three hours ago. In these last three hours I have done nothing but sit in my room worrying about her.I know Brynlee wants to be a mother. Know that she wants a big family after living life as an only child, but I also know that she is terrified. I can feel her fear through the Mate Bond, feel her worrying over this news. I hate that I can’t be there to hold her and help her through it, but this is Brynlee’s decision. It is her body, her choice.If she decides that she isn’t ready to be a mother, then I can’t change her mind. As much as I want our pup, I can’t force her to stay pregnant just for my selfish needs. I had already been selfish once and rejected her for the safety of a pack that didn’t really care for me. I will not make that mistake
Chapter 79Staring at Brynlee held in a headlock, I stalk towards the training ring she is in. Caspian’s mate tentatively lets her go as the power and anger inside my blood courses out in waves. I watch as Brynlee stands, worry in her eyes as she places her hand on my shoulder.“Rune, we were just sparing.” She states, her scent wrapping around me. Something has changed about it. It has grown sweeter and warmer. The urge to protect her grows stronger and without thinking, I scoop her into my arms are walk out of the training facilities with everyone watching. I note the scrapes and bruises left on her as she silently lets me carry her, knowing they are from her sparing and will heal in no time but that doesn’t stop the feeling of wanting to turn back and thrash that she-wolf for giving them to her. The broken bond hums with satisfaction at my thoughts of wanting to take revenge for my Mate no matter how misguided they may be. But I can feel Brynlee growing angry at me for taking her a