Chapter 34Looking out my window, I watch for any signs of Warriors guarding the pack house that might hinder my plans for escape. My bags are already packed with the essentials except for the documents in my safe. I will have to leave those behind if I am forced to climb out the window. For the last few hours I have tried to link Jett or Caspian but my father has kept me blocked. I feel helpless and realize this is how Brynlee must have felt all those weeks ago.Looking at my alarm clock on my night stand I frown when reading the time. It is currently two in the morning and the party should be over now. Valor must have made some excuse as to why I was not there and the pack would have accepted it without any hesitation. That’s fine though, I don’t need to be part of a pack the is complacent with how these two tyrants leading Pine Moon into the ground.My door opens and I whirl around, ready to fight whoever comes through when I notice Caspian standing there, a grin on his face and so
Chapter 35Standing in the foyer of the pack house sipping on a hot cup of coffee, I keep an eye out of the vehicles that belong to the Alpha of Onix Moon. Last night I barely slept with the news of Rune being on house arrest. I was right to assume there was another reason as to why he rejected me, but to learn this reason I would have to meet him face to face.“Do you need a refill, Beta Brynlee?” Turning to see an Omega named Greg coming my way, I smile and hold out my nearly empty mug. He pours freshly brewed coffee into it and I thank him before taking a sip of the straight black coffee.“You seem on edge.” Greg notes and I sigh, turning to look outside the open doors.“I am.” I admit, watching pups run outside chasing a ball.“Between the Onix Moon Alpha and a situation we were made aware of, Crescent Phoenix will be busy for the next few weeks.” Greg hums as he stands beside me, his calming presence lowering my anxiety.“Well, what ever it is that is bothering you, we have your
Chapter 36I let out a sigh of relief as our Warriors lead Alpha Viren and his wolve to the guest house just down the hill behind the pack house. I have a feeling I will be staying here for the next five days and already miss my bed.“How was it?” Quest asks as he hands me a cup of coffee. I groan and lean back on the door frame while Quincy and him look on in amusement.“Small talk and political bullshit. Tomorrow Holton, Asteria and I will be discussing the contracts and land ownership of what they are giving us.” I answer, taking a sip of the caffeinated hot drink.“I don’t like either of them to be honest.” I admit, pushing away from the door and walking inside. Asteria told us to meet her in her office once the Onix Moon wolves were away from the pack house. With the first meeting of Onix Moon done, now it is time to focus on the situation with Jett and the Pine Moon wolves.“It’s us.” I state, opening Asteria’s office door and stepping inside. Asteria is standing by the window,
Chapter 37“Beta Brynlee.” Turning at the sound of my name, I notice Beta Tristan walking towards me with a smile on his face. I nod in response, waiting for the visiting wolf to grow closer before I say anything. He has freshened up since the last time I saw him and his Alpha at lunch, his blonde hair slicked back with hair gel and his clothes fresh.“How did you find the guest house?” I ask, trying to create small talk once Beta Tristan has stopped just in front of me.“It is nice and clean. Alpha Asteria did an amazing job providing accommodations.” I laugh, turning see Gale speaking with a few Omegas as they prepare the field we stood on to become a community garden.“Asteria had nothing to do with it. Gale is our Luan – male Luna.” I begin, clarifying what a Luan is when I notice Beta Tristan looking at me in confusion.“And he takes care of the duties a Luna usually does. He relishes in the home making role and it just suits Gale.” Beta Tristan nods, looking towards the directio
Chapter 38Staring out the window to my motel room, I watch my pack mates swim in the pool happily. It’s been a few hours since we arrived here. Jett was the one to greet Caspian and I when we climbed off the bus and lead us to the motel just twenty minutes from the bus station. He had used my card to rent out the motel for four days depending on how long it took the Crescent Phoenix wolves to get here and promised the staff that even if we leave early, there will still be a large tip.I did not correct him even though it is my money he is spending because Jett did the right thing. The motel only had twenty-five rooms which meant some of my wolves shared a room. Luckily for me, our group consisted of a few pairs of Mates so that issue was resolved easily. After gaining the keycard to my room, I instantly closed the door and fell asleep, the exhaustion from the last few months after rejecting Brynlee combined with my mad dash of escape finally getting to me. It wasn’t until I woke up a
Chapter 39A loud roar sounds from Valor’s office and I shudder. It is the same type of roar Valor let out when he learned Rune was gone. Around eight in the morning we discovered the Warriors that Guarded Rune’s room unconscious and the tell tale sent of wolfsbane emanating from a wound in their neck. It became a man hunt to find him and that was when we realized many of Pine Moon wolves have disappeared, including Beta Jett and that waste of space Caspian.For twelve hours, Valor’s wolves searched high and low in Pine Moon territory before expanding their search to the towns and city near by. We located Caspian’s car with ease at a used car shop where the owner – a weak human – explained the boys sold the car before leaving. From there, we lost their scent as the smell of motor oil and gasoline was too strong. Some of our wolves reached out through the pack link but was met with a strong force. It seems Rune was hell bent on protecting these wolves and yet they were only a small amo
Chapter 40Helping Odette bring the last of the salads out to the table, I turn back and smile as I watch the Pine Moon wolves that will be initiated into the back next week mingle with the Crescent Phoenix wolves. They look like a pack already, the two groups happily chatting about training with some wanting to join the patrol shift tomorrow to get a feel of the territory. Unfortunately the cheery atmosphere ends there as many of the Crescent Phoenix wolves that used to be Golden Fang stare at the few Onix Moon wolves with distain and hatred as our guests stick to themselves. I knew tonight would pose a challenge as there was no arrange seating at our bonfires, but to see so much hostility really worries me.“Brynlee!” Turning to the left, I see Quest, Quincy and surprisingly Tristan walking towards me, the three looking thick as thieves as they each hold a glass of moon shine in their hands.“Enjoying yourselves?” I laugh out, watching Tristan take a swig of the alcoholic drink.“Ve
Chapter 41Sitting at the meeting table in front of Asteria and Gale, I watch their face as their expressions morph from shock, to curiosity, to disgust, to shock again. I can tell that they were in the dark just as much as I was with all this new information, including the abuse Rune faced in Valor’s hands and pity fills me for my ex. With two hours before the meeting between Alpha Viren and us to discus about the attack his father performed on Golden Fang and the reparations owed to us, I decided to link the two to meet me in the sound proof room and brought my laptop.“Who else knows about this?” Gale finally asks, breaking the long silence. Removing the mug of coffee from my lips, I look at the Alpha couple and notice a heaviness in their eyes. This information is a lot to take in, even for me. But if this is all true, then that means Rune did what he did to protect Pine Moon.“Quest but if you look at the C.C list that was sent to this fake email, you can see that Rune sent it to
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