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
Chapter 30Running through the forest in wolf form, I catch the scent of a deer and pause. The Warriors have had a hard time finding game meat lately and the Omegas in charge of cooking for the pack have had to spend more money in town on meat. I decide to put off returning to the pack house for Tanya’s welcome back party to focus on hunting and bringing in this deer.My mind wanders to the reason why Warriors are having a hard time hunting. It is because the wolves that usually hunt are now gone or planning to leave soon. The second batch of wolves who left for Crescent Phoenix should be arriving there soon either late tonight or early tomorrow morning. Caspian promised that he would let me know when Beta Lilac has received them safely so I am not too worried about them being harmed. Heck, the first batch arrived safely two weeks ago and some even emailed me to thank me for helping them leave Pine Moon.I smirk inwardly thinking about them as I pad through the forest floor careful n
Chapter 31[We still can’t find your father or Tanya.] Caspian links me as I finish dressing. I groan, wondering what the fuck my father is doing. He is the one always sprouting off about making Tanya happy. That I shouldn’t be late for a function when it involves her. Yet here he is missing in action and no one knows where he went.[I will check his office.] I state, exiting my room and making my way down to the second floor. I turn in the direction where my father’s office is situated when someone steps in front of me. I growl, ready for a fight until I notice it is Jett. His eyes look everywhere but at me as he blocks my path and the unease I felt moments early grows.“Jett, I am looking for my father. Move.” I state, trying to get past my father’s Beta.“I already searched down here Rune. Lets just head to the party.” He finally looks into my eye but just for a brief moment before he looks away. I see panic within them and something inside me urges me to continue towards my father
Chapter 32Watching Rune being dragged from the office, I turn to look down at Tanya. She is shaking, tears in her eyes as she slowly dresses. My heart aches for her, for the woman I have fallen for.“He won’t marry me.” She states with a whimper, shivering not from cold, but from fear.“He will. There is a contract and he can’t back out.” I reassure her, tucking my finger under her chin and forcing her to look at me.“Why can’t you marry me Valor. My father will understand.” Tanya begs, stepping closer to me. Her pouty lips are formed into a frown and I find myself unable to stop from lowering mine down to hers and claiming that mouth in a kiss. She moans as my tongue shoves inside, tangling with hers. Pulling away, Tanya’s eyes are filled with lust and I feel myself slowly growing hard. I want to lock the office door and bend her over once more. To hear her scream and moan my name and beg me to fuck her harder.“The pack has already prepared the wedding for you and Rune. If we chang
Chapter 33Staring at the plan for tomorrow afternoon when the new Alpha of Onix Moon arrives, I silently cheer when my cell phone rings and throw the file onto my desk before answering the call. Only a select few were given my number and I have a feeling the call might be Caspian.“Brynlee here.” I answer, catching the sounds of a group of people running in the background.“Brynlee, it’s Jett, Caspian gave me your number.” Recognizing Beta Jett’s voice, I sit up as something inside me nags that this situation is serious. Jett only talked to Asteria while Caspian talked with me during our plans to save those running from Valor’s clutches.“What happened?” I asked, getting up from my office chair and leaving my office.“Something bad. I couldn’t reach Asteria, can you get her on the call.” He replies back, his voice filled with fear and rage. Making my way down the hall. I knock on the door and a moment later Asteria answers for me to come in.“Jett is on the phone.” I state, turning o
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