Chapter 78Facing Odette in the training ring I smile as she lunges for me, aiming to punch me in my right side. I easily dodge her, using her momentum and pushing her lightly by placing my hand in the center of her back. She fall onto the ground behind me, her body hitting the training ring floor with a loud thud.Odette growls in frustration as she turns to lay on her back. It has been three days since I was told I could train again but no one would spare with me out of fear of pissing off Quincy and Rune. In the end, Odette became my training partner with the intent of becoming stronger because she wanted to be promoted from an Omega to a Warrior since she is now mated to Caspian. At first I was hesitant, not wanting to hurt the she-wolf who essentially became my sister in law. But Caspien begged me stating that I was the only wolf they could trust in bringing out Odette’s strength.“Come on Odette. Just one blow is all you need to land.” I call out, lazily stretching as the she-wo
Staring 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 away without
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
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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