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
Chapter 29Walking into the pack house, I make a beeline for the dinning room when Quincy steps into the hall and blocks my path, a grim look on his face. I stop where I stand, the smell of food wafting from behind him tempting me to tell him that what ever it is, it can wait. I am hungry.“Asteria wants us upstairs in her office.” He states before I can walk around him on my quest for food. I groan and turn on my heels. If Asteria wants us in her office, then our Alpha has gained some bad news. News that requires her Beta and Head Warrior to handle. Making my way towards the staircase, I stop as pups come running inside with their parents, these ones coming from the ten to fifteen training group.“Slow down before you walk into Beta Brynlee!” Quest calls out, the lanky man running a hand through his hair in frustration as he leans against the open pack house doors.“Asteria linked me. Its bad, isn’t it?” The Head Hunter asks as he comes to Join Quincy and I. I shrug and motion for th
“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
The guest house Dining Hall fills within five minutes of announcing our arrival and I am happy the guest house has air conditioning or else the room would have become stuffy with thirty-three wolves inside. Carolyn had only gathered the Rogues the Council brought as the Willow Bark wolves already had accommodations ready and waiting for them for after their initiation which will be taking place soon and Jett will be joining the Crescent Pheonix with the Willow Bark wolves and becoming the Pack’s Theta, the Third in command who will be working under Uncle Gale and me.I take a deep breath, trying to see if the familiar scent that has been bothering me since stepping into the guest house and smirk. It seems this wolf really is part of the group scent by the Council as their scent is stronger here. I know that they are in the room with us now but I cannot find them with so many scents from the other wolves mixing together that their scent blends in. It seems this mysterious wolf’s locati
Following Jett and Uncle Gale outside the Pack House – albeit against my will – I try my best to hold back the excitement inside me. Brynlee had called me her Mate and this means she is starting to trust me more and more each day. That the pain of the rejection is slowly fading from her heart and that means I am slowly winning her love once again. Being trained as a Beta is just a bonus to me as being with Brynlee has been my goal since I decided to leave Pine Moon.“So what are we doing first?” I ask as Gale leads Jett and me away from the Pack House and down a familiar path.“We are going to check in with our soon-to-be Pack Mates. Some have found their Mates within the Crescent Phoenix and we would like to see if they would like to move in with one another while we also plan where to put some of the single wolves.” Gale answers, looking back at me over his shoulder. My footsteps falter for a moment and I nearly trip over my own feet. This is something a Luna would do while -- figu
Watching the Hummer with the Council Logo drive off, I let out a sigh of relief. The interviews with all of the wolves who had experienced Valor’s and Jonnah’s destructive behavior had gone well albeit a few breakdowns and tears that caused us to pause the interviews for everyone to take a few deep breaths and compose themselves. Many wolves originally from Pine Moon and Willow Bark stepped forward, giving Alastor new insight into what life was like in both Packs and how they were terrified to even breathe the wrong way because of Viren.I was surprised to see three of Crescent Phoenix wolves come forward near the end, these wolves explaining that they had met both Valor and Jonnah on separate occasions and told their own experiences. With all that was gathered over the last six days, it is guaranteed that Jonnah, Valor, and Tanya will be facing their upcoming execution as soon as possible.“When will we get the news that they are dead?” Quincy asks as he stands beside me, his anger a
Sitting in my office, I watch from the side as our Council Representative – Alastor Levines – speaks with Milan Berhardt. Quincy is there, holding her hand as he silently supports her while Milan tells her side of events when Valor attacked Willow Bark. Her voice cracks with emotions and she has to take a moment to compose herself as Alastor passes a box of tissues to the she-wolf. This has been a trend with many of the wolves sine the interviews started two days ago.Four days ago, Alastor came with a few other council members, the group bringing along thirty new wolves who would be joining Crescent Phoenix next week. As usual, we had welcomed everyone to the Pack with a bonfire, the Crescent Phoenix wolves excited to welcome in these new members as it means we are growing stronger. We partied the night away and showed the guests to their rooms, deciding to put the six Council Wolves in the Pack House and the soon-to-be new members in the guest house where Milan and Quincy could keep
Watching the wolves line up in front of the Council Headquarters, I try my best to plug my nose. Everyone here is a Rogue waiting to board and take a seat on the buses the Council provided for us. We will all be leaving to join either Shadow Rose or Crescent Phoenix within the hour and part of me is excited for this change.I had been turned Rogue involuntarily three weeks ago from Pine Moon. Alpha Valor had needed someone who could infiltrate Crescent Phoenix when news of his son being part of this pack reached him. At first, I had thought of refusing this job, but the prospect of leaving Pine Moon for a bit and possibly finding my Mate won and I agreed to become a spy for my Alpha.I was forced to make a blood pact as soon as I turned Rogue so that Alpha Valor could continue to control me while I went to infiltrate Crescent Phoenix and report to Alpha Valor who the Alpha and Beta are as well as confirm if his son Rune is there. Once I have done that, the blood pact would dissolve an
Watching Brynlee in the corner of the training room talking with Odette as the two she-wolves work out, I find myself smiling and thinking about how this is how life should be. I spent years under my father’s grasp scared for the destruction of my Pack if I went against his wishes and nearly lost the best damn thing ever placed into my life because of this.“Need a sparing partner?” Jumping, I whirl around intending to punch the person that snuck up on me only to stop my fist from colliding with Quincy’s nose. The Head Warrior smiles at me sheepishly, neither flinching nor retaliating from my sudden attack.“Sorry, Quincy. I didn’t hit you, did I?” I mutter out awkwardly, lowering my fist as Milan slinks around me, amusement in her eyes while she walks towards my Mate and her friend.“It’s fine man. Besides, I think I deserve the beating with how I have treated you these last few weeks.” Quincy replies, shrugging as he leans against the wall beside us. We stand there awkwardly for a m
Stretching out under the willow tree with the wind flowing through my fur, I enjoy watching my Pack Mates coming and going from the Pack House while I wait for Rune. My work had only taken me about an hour and a half to complete and I decided to wait outside for my Mate after having lunch.“I thought you would wait for me in your office.” Lifting my head off my paws, I look to find Rune coming under the willow tree, looking at me in amusement. My tail slumps slowly on the grassy ground and I let out a yawn.[I ended up being done early and decided to enjoy the nice weather in my fur form.] I answer through the link, getting an eye roll from Rune.“I see. Let me go shift and I will be right back.” He sighs out, running a hand through his black hair. I nod, resting my head on my paws and closing my eyes. I have been tired lately, the tiredness being a mix of running around preparing to welcome new wolves with Asteria as well as worrying about my pregnancy, and relaxing under the leaves