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
Chapter 25Bursting into Asteria’s house, the heavy door hitting against the wall, I march towards the direction where her scent is the strongest and spy her about to serve breakfast to the pups. They all stare at me in shock as I glare at her in anger. Footsteps thundering behind me tells me Quincy has finally caught up after I commanded him to sit still for five minutes knowing that I would need a head start with my body still not at one-hundred percent from the ordeal I went through.“We need to talk.” I do my best to stay calm in front of the pups so as not to scare them. Asteria sighs as Gale gives her a reassuring smile, telling his Mate to go outside with me. She smiles to her pups, promising that she will be right back before walking towards me. I turn on my heels, retreating outside and glaring at Quincy who silently watches me. I know he means well, but he tried to stop me from storming down here claiming I needed to rest. Screw resting. Pine Moon turned their back on us, ho
Chapter 26Watching Chase take his anger out on the punching bag, I sigh and wonder if the teen will be able to handle this up coming year. His birthday was yesterday and we celebrated it as a family in the backyard of Asteria and Gale’s house. Quincy and Quest had been invited at Chase’s insistence as well as Odette and Ash.“So what pissed you off today?” I asked as Chase takes a break. His chest heaves as he catches his breath, sweat dripping down his face.“Grey took my phone without asking then kicked me when I tried to get it back. Mom stepped in but she told me to find you and come workout in your basement.” He answers, catching the water bottle I throw his way.“Good call. I am guessing you were ready to throttle your brother?”“Yeah. I hate how angry I got. It felt like some monster was taking over.” Chase sighs out, guilt written all over his face.“Technically is a monster.” Standing from the bench I perch on, I walk towards Chase and ruffle his hair. I then explain that ou
Chapter 27A knock on my bedroom door alerts me that someone is here and I smile. It’s either Caspian or Jett coming to report to me.“You in here Rune?” Jett calls out as my door opens before promptly being shut once more.“By the window. Keep the lights off so that we don’t attract attention.” I answer over my shoulder before returning my attention back to the window. I listen as Jett shuffles around my room and let out a laugh as he curses when he stubs his toe on something – most likely my bed. Then he is beside me, his hand reaching out to push the curtain out of the way as we watch the Eastern border.“How many are leaving today?” I ask, feeling some of the weight of responsibility falling of my shoulders. Today is the first day of our plan being enacted after three weeks of waiting and biding our time. Those that are too scared to stay here in Pine Moon will be leaving and meeting with the Crescent Phoenix warriors. Three days after Jett reached out for help, the Alpha returned
Chapter 28“Beta Brynlee!” Turning at the sound of someone calling my name I spy A she-wolf named Jennifer waving to me as she corrals two pups towards me. It has been two weeks since the first batch of Pine Moon wolves joined our pack and Jennifer was one of them. She came to our pack as an Omega, same as her mate, but after a few days of training it became clear she was fit to become a warrior.“Morning Jen. Hi Izzy and Michael.” I bend down and ruffle Michael’s hair, the seven year old swatting my hand away before he and his twin sister run over to join the other pups in today’s training session.“You know, It’s good to finally call you that. Call you Beta I mean.” Jennifer musses as she watches her pups run around with the others in this class.“It feels nice being called it.” I smile back, giving my friend a hug. Jennifer had been the first to step off the charter bus we bought to bring the Pine Moon wolves here to Crescent Phoenix. I remember how frail and afraid she looked with
Walking through the first floor of the dungeon brought back unwelcomed memories. Memories that made me want to become a stronger she-wolf, a stronger Beta. I am glad that unlike those cells Rune, Caspian, and I were held in as pups, going through the life of prisoners just for the greed of a pack of Rogues, these cells were kept clean thanks to Quincy. I am glad that my Pack agrees that no matter who it is, everyone deserves a clean-living space even if that person is a prisoner. Now, staring at the man cuffed to the interrogation chair, I feel my anger and hatred replace the discomfort I feel. This wolf came to us as a Rogue from the Council. Came to our Pack pretending to be excited to join and then turned out to be a spy for Valor, giving that vial man information of Goddess knows what about Crescent Phoenix. Who knows, they could be on their way here, ready to take us out in our sleep without notice.[So why do you need the ice?] I link Gale, getting a deep chuckle from him, the
Watching Brynlee walk into the stone cottage that houses the dungeon entrance, I feel myself grow anxious. Only a handful of people know about her pregnancy and the thought of Devlyn finding out while interrogating him brings a sour taste to my mouth. If we aren’t careful, Devlyn might be able to hand this information on to Valor and place my Mate and unborn pup in even more danger than we are already in.[Ashton, Jett.] I call out through our mind link, feeling it buzz slightly in annoyance.[Let me guess, Devlyn did something stupid?] Jett asks right away. I sigh, turning to face the two men who lean against Brynlee’s truck watching on from a distance.[Yep. Uncle Gale wants you to grab a few buckets of ice and join us for the interrogation. You can use Brynlee’s truck.] I answer back, feeling Ashton’s confusion through the mind link.[Who is Devlyn?] He asks. This time Jett sighs, confirming that he and Ashton will be back with ice before telling Ashton that he will explain everyth
Something feels off. Like the calm before a storm. It is because of this feeling that I find myself unable to focus while staring blankly at my computer screen wondering just what the hell is happening in my Pack to make me feel so uneasy right now.Rune had been stopped by Gale this morning while the alluring scent of apple strudels took all of my attention. I could tell the two were having a serious conversation and before I could walk over and join them, Rune took off. Worried, I had dropped my apple strudel onto a plate and left it on an empty table before rushing towards the Pack House exit when Gale stopped me.“Rune has something he needs to do.” Gale had said just as I managed to catch sight of Rune shifting into his wolf mid-step and racing off towards the border. Gale kept me from following after him, telling me that as his Beta, Rune had a duty to perform for him and that I needed to go perform mine as Asteria’s Beta. He was adamant that I stayed in the Pack House.Reluctan
Slinking through the underbrush of the forest, I try my best to stay hidden in the shadows. I need to leave Crescent Phoenix before it's too late and get as far away from any Packs associated with Crescent Phoenix, Pine Moon and Blood Claws. A twig snaps somewhere behind me and I freeze, trying my best to calm my rapidly beating heart while I focus on sensing the person that has been watching me. When I sense nothing, I breathe a sigh of relief and bolt to the right hopefully growing closer to the edge of Crescent Phoenix’s territory.Sometime last night I felt a pair of eyes watching my every movement. It was during dinner at the Pack House, Carolyn and I had just reported in what role we would like in Crescent Phoenix to Luan Gale and were plating up some dinner when I felt the prickling sensation of being watched washed over me. For a moment I thought it was paranoia from dealing with Valor up until that last phone call, but then that gaze followed me throughout dinner and all the
Watching Brynlee flitter about the cottage getting ready for the day, I sip my coffee by the dining table and try not to smile to brightly. Last night Brynlee spent time teaching me about the basics of living alone starting with laundry. I thought the process of cleaning and folding clothes was a difficult task but found it surprisingly easy the moment Brynlee showed me how to turn the machines on and how to disperse the laundry detergent into the washing machine. The hard part was learning how to fold my clothes. Brynlee had warned me that my laundry was my responsibility. That we may be working on our relationship but she was not my caretaker. She said that I would need to learn these skills before our pup came and that once our pup came, she would not be raising the pup alone like how Valor left my mother to raise me alone. That part stung but she is right. If I am to be a good Mate and father, then I will help her with the chores and take on an active role in raising our pup. I w
Sitting in my living room, my leg bouncing due to being nervous, I sip on the camomile tea while I wait for Rune to return. After he agreed to move in with me for the time being while we deal with Devlyn, Rune drove me home in my truck before taking it to the dorms so that he could pack his things and bring them here. That was about an hour ago and in that time I prepared one of the two remaining bedrooms for him to take. He may be my Mate, but I am not comfortable sharing a room with him yet.The door to the cottage opens and I turn in time to find Rune walking in with a duffle bag slung over his shoulder and a single box that he carries in his arms.“Is that all you have?” I asked, shocked by the small amount of items that Rune brought.“No, I have two more bags to grab from the truck. I wasn’t able to bring much when I left Pine Moon but this box is filled with stuff I gained while being part of Crescent Pheonix.” He admits with a sheepish smile. My heart aches as I think back to h
A feeling of unease settles over me as I watch out the window of my office. Rune had sent me a link an hour ago warning me that there is something wrong with a Rogue that the Council sent over and to be weary of those wolves for now. When I asked him who to look out for, he told me he will explain later and gave me no further details than that. I can’t help but worry that Tanya sent a spy. I wouldn’t put it past the conniving bitch to pull something like this, especially if it meant learning where Rune and I are and killing the two of us without a trace of who the culprit is. Hell, I could even see her demanding her father to send a spy here instead and make a fanfare of my death. A death that would cause a war painting me a martyr.“Brynlee?” Jumping as a hand lands on my shoulder, I turn and without thinking I throw a punch towards the person who has just grabbed me when the scent of mint and vanilla wraps around me. My punch is caught in a gentle hold and I find myself relaxing whe
“That fucking bastard!” I snarl out, throwing my phone against the wall. Anger fills me as I think about how Devlyn, a trusted Warrior, betrayed me because the blood pact that I forced upon him was fulfilled. That snake used this opportunity to escape Pine Moon right from under my nose and I gave him the fucking opportunity to be able to do so.“Darling?” The door to my office opens and Tanya comes rushing inside, her concern for me clear for all to see. Her appearance settles me slightly as I look at the slight bump growing on her stomach and I know that I cannot let my rage take over and accidentally hurt her and the heir growing in her womb in the process. As angry as I am with that snake Devlyn, I cannot take my anger out on my pregnant-soon-to-be-mate.“I heard you snarling, are you okay?” She asks, coming to my side and pressing her hand to my cheek. I reach out, wrapping an arm around her waist, and pull Tanya towards me. I take a deep breath, breathing in Tanya’s scent, and fo
Watching as Gale, Jett, and Rune leave the guest house, I wonder just how in the world did I get lucky enough to find all of the people Alpha Valor is hunting for in one Pack. As far as we knew, Rune and Brynlee had been spotted leaving Onix Moon, now named Shadow Rose, after Alpha Viren was killed by the now Alpha Titus. From there, our men informed us that Brynlee and Rune took refuge in Crescent Phoenix as it is closest Pack to Shadow Rose.Imagine my shock when I climbed off the bus to find Asteria, Gale, Jett, Brynlee, Rune, and Caspian standing in the crowd of wolves as they welcomed the Rogues sent by the Council and the Crescent Phoenix Council Representative Alastor and his men to the Pack while we were shown to the guest house to get settled in by a few Warriors and Omegas. It wasn’t till the welcome dinner that I was told that Asteria is the mysterious Alpha Rose and her Beta – Beta Lilac – is Brynlee herself. It seems that there is more to why these two ladies kept their i