Chapter 67Little giggles bring me out of my sleep and I smile as I listen to Lunette and Henry giggle by the bedroom door. I can smell the scent of raspberry jam on toast and have a feeling the two pups brought me breakfast.“Be quiet you two. You’re going to wake her.” Chase chimes in quietly, most likely trying to get his siblings under control.“I am already awake.” I call out, shuffling in bed to sit up. Henry and Lunette look at me with slight pouts and I spread my arms open wide as I give them a smile. The two pups rushing to the bed, climbing in quickly to hug me with one on either side. Chase shakes his head, coming forward with the tray filled with breakfast. He seems calmer, like the power in his blood is considerably under control from the last time I saw him.“How did you sleep?” He asks, motioning for his siblings to give me some space as he sets the tray across my lap.“Better than I thought I would.” I admit, taking the mug of tea and sipping on the hot liquid. While I
Chapter 68The urge to kick down the door is strong as I had scented Brynlee just inside. I knew she was watching me talking to Chase. Knew she knew I was here to check on her, but she still allowed that little shit of a cousin I have to slam the door in my face. I know I deserve it, deserve the cold shoulder from Chase and his siblings, but it still stings when they are my only family here. Letting out a sigh, I rub my hand across my face while reluctantly leaving the porch.Quincy had sent me a text last night telling me to be at the pack house by ten in the morning to meet the Warrior I will be shadowing. I thought this would be a good opportunity to see Brynlee and ask how she is doing so I woke up earlier than I needed to and made my way down to my Aunt’s house. I was not prepared for my cousin to stop me as soon as I opened the front door. Never would have expected the fifteen-year-old to have so much power pre-shift. I could try to barge inside, demand to see Brynlee, but that
Chapter 69Watching the pack gather around the pack house, I can’t help but be impressed by how well the bonfire turned out. Gale and Jett had done a good job organizing it while Asteria was away at Onix Moon and I was indisposed. Since the small party started, I have been approached by many pack mates welcoming me back home, telling me to take it easy and just focus on healing. Thankfully, no one has asked what I have been through, deciding that it is a taboo subject. For that, I am grateful. I don’t think I can handle recounting my abduction and the final moment with Alpha Valor before I was rescued.“He keeps staring at you.” Quincy mutters under his breath as a she-wolf named Clair explains that they have started building our own decoy town just outside the pack borders. I turn to where the heated gaze I have felt for a while is and find Rune staring at me. I try to focus on Clair as she goes on and on about a fashion boutique she plans to open but have a hard time when his eyes f
Chapter 70Standing with Ricky and his friends at the bonfire close to the pack house, my eyes continue to scan the clearing while keeping an eye on Brynlee. So many times I have had to fight my instinct of marching up to her and holding her in my arms. The only thing stopping me was knowing that Brynlee needed her pack after what she went through. Right now, she is lounging by one of the four bonfires, a stick in hand as she roasts marshmallows.“Why don’t you go see her?” Ricky asks, playfully bumping my shoulder with his.“Because she needs space.” I answer. Then it happens. Brynlee turns towards me, her gaze meeting mine. She smiles at me, the same smile she used to give me that would always draw me in mysteriously when we pups.I can’t help but look away, feeling my face heat up as I try not to think of how that smile makes me want to capture my Mate and repeat the night of her eighteenth birthday – this time ending it with me marking her. The Mate Bond hums, reaching out to mend
Chapter 71“What do you mean it wasn’t a spur of the moment thing?” I demand, feeling fear creep in. I find myself clinging closer to Rune and thankfully, he doesn’t push me away. Instead, he pulls me closer, his hand leaving my hair and rubbing my back in soothing circles.“What Asteria means is that her and Tristan found emails between Valor and Viren.” Gale answers, giving me a sad smile. It takes a moment for his words to register but when they do, I realize that Valor planed a scheme against me once again.“Valor knew that Viren was looking for a Luna, be that his Goddess given Mate or someone he chose. He used this as an advantage and told Viren about you. How he had Rune reject you and that you needed a Mate.” Asteria takes over explaining, her eyes growing hard as hatred seeps from her.“He already knew about you before coming to Crescent Phoenix. He was just shocked that you were the Beta of the pack as he thought he would have to find you.” She continues, growling at the end
Chapter 72Sitting in my office, I go over the emails that I asked Asteria to forward to me. After the meeting learning about the real reason behind my parents’ deaths and how ruthless Valor is, I pulled away from Rune, needing some quiet time. The bonfire is still going strong, but I no longer feel like celebrating.It was just over a year ago now that I became an orphan. I thought my parents were doing their job protecting Valor and Rune – their Alpha and Alpha Heir. Now knowing that it was a scheme created by Valor to get me out of the way caused me to wonder just what else did I miss seeing growing up in Pine Moon.Luna Clairice was an amazing Luna, always striving for the good of the pack and I always wanted to be just like her. She was close to my mother and Asteria but never joined us for vacations. Now knowing that Valor kept her under lock and key makes me wonder if this was the fate Rune would have had if he hadn’t left.“Brynlee?” My office door opens and Quincy pokes his h
Chapter 73Making my way out of my room, I lock the door before picking up my duffle bag and heading down the hall towards the elevator. I think back to the conversation I had with my niece last night, a smile spreading across my face.Milan, the eldest of the remaining Harvest Willow wolves had thankfully picked up the phone when I called using Asteria’s office phone after the dial tone went on for what felt like an eternity. She was shocked to hear from me, news of Tanya and Valor reaching them already and worried that I had been killed by the tyrant and his whore. Her surprise turned into disbelief when I told her I am in Crescent Phoenix and that Asteria is the Alpha.She didn’t believe me at first as I tried convincing the twenty-six year old that Asteria no longer lived in Pine Moon and mentioned how she left due to Valor’s treatment of Brynlee. When that was mentioned, Milan finally relented and listened to me.When Asteria finally joined me in her office thirty minutes later,
Chapter 74“You sure you want to live on your own again?” Asteria asks as we stand in front of my cottage. It has been five days since the bonfire, six since my bedrest started, and I can tell that Asteria worries about me being on my own since my kidnapping occurred in front of this verry door.“I am sure. Tomorrow I hopefully get a clean bill of health from Jasmin and from there I can resume training with the others.” I answer, taking a deep breath. Asteria sighs but doesn’t argue back. For the last six days I have stayed in her house with her family, either using their home office for my own needs or watching movies with the three pups. As much as I loved them, I am beginning to miss having my own space.“I am not used to living with other people and all of my belongings are here.” I admit sheepishly, getting an understanding look from Asteria. Without further hesitation, I push the door to my cottage and step inside. It has been kept clean by Gale and Chase, the two coming to dust
Rushing towards the boardroom while frantically clipping my hair into a bun, I dodge an Omega with their arms full of clean linen. A week has passed since Shadow Rose came to train with Crescent Phoenix and in that week Quincy has caused a fight and now lay in the infirmary after his punishment, being chained with silver cuffs for three days while staying in the dungeons. Ashton hasn’t left Devlyn’s side as the latter has yet to wake from a coma, and Quest has told Asteria that he and Ashton have talked to me and wish to leave the Pack when Rune and I take over Crescent Phoenix. Add on Rune finding out he can see visions of the future and that this power might be inherited by our pups in the future and I have no idea how I am still standing after the week I have had.Not only that, but today I had a weekly checkup with Jasmin to see how my pregnancy is progressing which made me late to our war strategy meeting now that the two Packs are slowly working as a team. After our foraging ses
Standing on Quincy’s front porch, I hesitate before knocking on the door. Caspian had told me before leaving the truck that Jett is staying here with his niece for now as Milan is shaken up by her Mate’s actions from today. I can’t blame him for wanting to be there for Milan, the only family he has left. I would be furious in Jett’s shoes and I would have marched down to where Quincy is being kept and throttled some sense into him by now whether Aunt Asteria liked it or not.The door opens and Jett appears looking weary and pissed. His mouth opens – most likely to yell at whoever is at the door – only for his angry appearance to morph into surprise.“Rune. Caspian.” He calls out with a sigh, looking at each of us in turn.“What brings you two here?”“I came to see how Milan is doing. Rune came to talk to you.” Caspian answers with a small smile. Jett hesitates, his eyes glazing over and we wait for a few minutes to pass figuring her was linking his niece to see if she wanted any visit
Helping Brynlee pack the mesh bags into a wagon Greg – one of our Omegas – brought to help us bring our foraged plants to the Pack House, I smile as I hear many of the Crescent Phoenix wolves chatter with the Shadow Rose wolves. It sounds like everyone had fun learning about foraging today, some even became excited when they found a poisonous plant that we could use in the upcoming battle. Caspian was the one to pick these plants with careful and precise movements since Brynlee was pregnant and unable to touch them while Brynlee explained the use of this poison as it has a similar characteristic to wolfsbane, The only difference is that this poison, a plant with red veins and black-tipped leaves called wolfsblood, will cause the person’s blood to curdle in their system in high enough doses leaving the victim to die a quick and painful death.“Ready to head home?” Brynlee asks as I place the last bag into the wagon.“Actually, I was going to find Jett and talk to him about this mornin
Standing in front of the tree line with Warriors and Hunters from Crescent Phoenix mingling with Tristan’s men, I watch as the tense atmosphere from this morning that Quincy caused slowly disappears. Training had been canceled so that Asteria could deal with Quincy and rip him a new one and Quest was still with Ashton, keeping an eye on our friend and unable to help with training. He had linked me twenty minutes ago to inform me that Jasmine had broken the news to Ashton that Devlyn possibly might be in a coma but Ashton’s presence will help him come out of it faster as the Mate Bond will help heal Devlyn.I had given Quest permission to take three days off to help Ashton as well as have him report back to me if Ashton tries to leave Devlyn’s side to try and find Quincy to pay him back for what Quincy did to Devlyn. After Quest confirmed he would keep an eye on Ashton, I went out in search of Tristan to make good on my promise of teaching his wolves to forage in the forest as well as
Standing to my feet, the chair I sat on falling backward, I rush to the front door calling out to Rune but I am too late. He is already racing towards the Pack House while Caspian stands at the door. Anger radiates off my friend and for a moment I wonder what he said to cause Rune to rush off like that.“We need to get to the Pack House.” He states, turning to look in the direction Rune left.“Quincy beat Devlyn up pretty badly and Quest is keeping Ashton at bay. He wants to destroy Quincy for harming his Mate.” Caspian explains. I nod, grabbing my truck keys from the hook and rushing to my truck. I forgo the seat belt and drive off as soon as Caspian climbs into the vehicle before he can even close the door.The tires kick up gravel from my driveway in their wake while Caspian holds on for dear life, his eyes wide as I drive through the forest faster than usually allowed. Rune has shifted into his wolf form by now, his body just ahead of the truck as I catch up.Deciding to have Casp
Moving around the kitchen, a smile on my face, I watch the bedroom door to see when Brynlee will wake. Last night had been a blast seeing Tristan and Michael again but I had been worried when Brynlee had gone off with Ashton and Quest alone. I waited patiently beside my god-brother while counting down the minutes until Brynlee would return to my side.When she did come back out, she had a worried air about her but brushed it off when I asked. Of course, Quest stood beside her, his eyes scanning the crowd like a watchdog. I knew these two bonded as friends and felt happy to know he was keeping my Mate safe when I was not around, but the way he refused to budge and talk with other wolves worried me even more.“Rune, is that pancakes I smell?” Brynlee calls out as she exits the bedroom rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand. She looks so tired yet adorable and I can’t help but move to her side and pull my Mate in for a hug.“Yes. I just finished making apple cinnamon pancakes.” I an
The door to my bedroom is slammed shut and a small snarl escapes my lips. I know it is a warning by the Warrior who led me here after leaving Valor’s office but I can’t help but think that I am nothing more than a prisoner as I know said Warrior is standing outside, guarding my door so that I don’t leave without my Mate knowing. Everyone knows that Valor is not taking any chances when it comes to the unborn pup inside me. I know that he plans to get me pregnant as soon as I can after giving birth to this pup and the thought revolts me but not as much as the plan he has to keep me on my back in bed pleasuring him to his heart’s content instead of allowing me to perform the duties of a Luna.I regret mating that misogynistic prick. Regret making a pass at him after turning nineteen in hopes of gaining some form of power inside this Goddess forsaken Pack. I knew back then Rune didn’t want me. Didn’t want to marry me. He is right that everything that has happened is my fault.I got my mot
Watching the messages fly in as I converse with the other Alphas around me, I grin and lean back in my chair. Devlyn may have been a cowardly traitor for leaving as soon as he completed the blood pacts but his information has come in handy at least.I had worried about my sister coming back to claim Pine Moon as her Pack when she left. Worried about the truth behind mine and Clairice’s mating coming to light when Jett abandoned Pine Moon the moment that bastard Rune did. Now, I no longer care as the threat they pose will soon be gone within seven weeks. Add on that the doctor confirmed last night that Tanya is indeed having a boy has made the relief I feel immeasurable. My bloodline is secured, and my descendants will continue to rule over Pine Moon for years to come.As soon as Tanya has this pup I will make sure to put another one in her womb. She will only know the bedroom and the birthing room. She will raise our pups while I take care of the Pack during the day and she will satis
Watching Rune chat happily with Tristan and Gale while Delilah reclines by the bonfire with Asteria, Odette, and Avery, I take a deep breath and sip on the apple juice in my hands. It is the calm before the storm that war brings. A peace that I wish would last and could bring my pup into.Dinner had been a fun fan fair, the Omegas that volunteered to be on duty were quick to keep the buffet filled while Crescent Phoenix wolves came and went to mingle with the Shadow Rose wolves. I spent that time getting to know Avery and Delilah, finding myself laughing so hard that I couldn’t even drink my apple juice without nearly spitting it onto the table. It was during this laughing fit that Avery introduced me to her Mate, Jamal, a Beta wolf who was kicked from his Pack in Jamaica for not wanting to give up his right as Beta to his pack for his Alpha’s brother-in-law.He thought that coming to Canada would bring better luck for him as his cousin Delilah was here. He thought coming to see his c