Cole’s POV His beta’s voice rang in his mind, “Restless Moon Pack, we are on high alert. I need all available nurses, doctors, and medics to the hospital or to the SouthWest border. Warriors to your stations for Code Red. Everyone else is to stay in their homes with doors barred until further notice.” “Stay here,” Cole ordered Sam harshly, his jaw clicking as he ran out of the room, shedding his clothes on the way. Why the fuck was Luka the one who gave those orders. His mind worked quickly. He’d feel it if Garrett was dead, so that couldn’t be it. “Luka what the fuck is going on,” he mindlinked whilst leaving the building, immediately shifting into his golden wolf. He didn’t wait for an answer as he raced into the trees, and he growled as Luka didn’t respond immediately. Finally, “we were ambushed, Cole. On our way back. They got Garrett with some damn wolfsbane in a needle before we even knew they were there. We have a prisoner, and the rest we killed, but we’ve got wounded.”
Cassia’s POV Cassia sat on the bed with Cynthia’s arms wrapped tightly around her. Why had everyone reacted like they did? Why did Cole leave like that? Was something wrong with Garrett? Had she gotten him killed? She was too scared to ask, and Sam and Cynthia had only said there was an emergency but that everything would be just fine. She wondered if they didn’t trust her or if they were trying to protect her. After all of her outbursts since she’d come to them and the way she’d come to them, either reason would make sense. Surely if either of the twins were in danger, something would betray it… even if she couldn’t feel it. But the only sign that anything was wrong was the way Cynthia held her just a little too tightly, and Sam pacing back and forth in front of them, occasionally jerking his head to look at them or at the door. “Samuel,” Cynthia snapped. “Stop pacing. You’re making us all more nervous.” Sam stopped, his back rigid, facing the door. “Luna-vetus
Cole’s POV Several long hours later, Cole trudged his way into Cassia’s room. He’d fought the urge to run to her sooner, but his mother had informed him she was sleeping, so he’d taken his time showering. When he reached the room, he knocked lightly on the door, whispering “it’s Cole,” before quietly entering. Sam and Samuel both stood, tense, as he entered, and immediately relaxed as the dim light from the floor lamp by the door illuminated his haggard face. Cynthia stood and rushed to him, flinging her arms around him. He embraced her eagerly, and for a moment, he felt like a child again, even though he was now so much larger than her. He felt her tears hit his skin and held her tighter. She’d probably put on a brave face until then. “Shh,” he murmured, stroking her hair. “Garrett?” “He’s fine, Momma. Dad’s just come off a watch shift. Go to bed, and you can see Garrett in the morning. He has a nasty cut on his neck, and he needs to sleep off the wolfsbane concoction, but
Cassia’s POVCassia woke slowly, feeling far too comfortable to open her eyes. She could feel the early morning sun on her skin, and she sighed snuggling into the soft bed. A smile touched her lips as she felt Cole’s body around her. She wasn’t sure where her fear had gone, but she thought it had something to do with how worried she had been and how sick she felt whilst he was gone. She wriggled luxuriously, enjoying the feel of the pillow under her head and the soft fabrics against her skin - and the warm body behind her. “I think I could get used to this,” she thought. She froze as she felt Cole nuzzle his face into her neck and plant a delicate kiss just above her bandages. “Morning, beautiful,” he growled, his voice thick with sleep, sending a pleasant tingle down her spine. “Careful with all that wriggling. You’ll make it hard not to kiss you.” Cassia fought with herself for a moment, her fear surfacing just slightly. When Albius and his men had kissed her, it had been rou
Cole’s POVCassia may have been steadier on her feet, but Cole made sure she was holding onto him at least, as they made their way down to the pack house kitchen. Sam sat at the kitchen table, smirking into his coffee mug and shooting knowing glances at the pair. “Knock it off,” Cole mindlinked him. Sam had snuck out of the room when he heard the two whispering, and Cole was fairly certain Cassia had missed it. “Did you have a pleasant morning?” Sam mindlinked back, his lips twitching. Cole growled. “Oh don’t worry, I wouldn’t embarrass her. You, on the other hand…” Cole ignored him and helped Cassia into a seat at the table before checking in with the kitchen staff on what she was allowed to have for breakfast. Forty-five minutes later, the three of them piled into Cole’s jeep and made their way to the pack hospital, Cole buckling Cassia into the passenger seat, and Sam ignoring his seatbelt and firmly planting himself in the back middle, leaning his elbows on the console and
Cassia’s POV Cassia had never been a person to cry very often - not that she’d ever really had need to. But she still couldn’t get a handle on how it felt to cry so very often, even if, perhaps, it made sense that she would. Did everyone do this? Or was it just her? How could she tell if she was handling this well or being too emotional without her mother there to tell her? She sniffed harshly, biting her lip. If she went down that path, she’d be sobbing all over again, and she was very, very sick of tears this morning. The hospital was busy, crawling with doctors and nurses and pack members. Many people turned as the three of them walked down the hall, to stare and nod their heads with little murmurs of “Luna, Alpha.” She expected to see some hostility; after all, she was why so many were wounded, why Ethan was dead - and yet, she saw none. Some awe, some fear, even, but mostly reverence at her presence… as though, as Annette had said, they had, indeed, all been waiting for h
Cassia’s POV As they walked into the long room where all the women were being looked after, Cassia’s breath hitched in her throat, and she reached back and grabbed Cole’s hand. She felt Garrett lean close on her other side, his breath tickling her ear. “Don’t worry, love. They’re going to be very happy to see you.” The room was long, with several beds on three sides, thin curtains hung around them to create a small amount of privacy when needed. Several couches and plush chairs stood out oddly in the center of the room, having been brought in to make the women feel more at home. Dr. Blake had told them that they’d been put in here together because they felt safer, even though there were plenty of private rooms available. This room was only used in times of war, as an overflow. Only the woman who was in critical condition was kept separate. Their group only stood at the door for a moment before one of the women looked over at them, fear in her eyes turning quite suddenly int
Hey Readers! If you’ve made it this far, first off, thank you!! Secondly, I wanted to let you know that going forward, I will be switching to first person present tense narration, something I’ve been wishing I’d done since the beginning for a few chapters now. Eventually, I will update the first 28 chapters to all be first person as well (except for the prologue/first chapter), but for now, I’m just flipping part way through. Hopefully it won’t be off putting but will make reading far more enjoyable. I’m loving discovering and telling this story so far and hope you enjoy it, too! May the Moon shine brightly upon you! Anna Marie
Cole’s POV With Cassia and Garrett tucked into bed, I try to pick up anything Dad couldn’t. Around midnight, I’m sighing into the reports from the architect and the construction crews, paying attention to notations from my father about additional help being sent from the King, and debating leaving the rest for tomorrow. Apparently, the King is sending people to all border packs to begin construction on border walls - something we all probably should have made a priority years ago. We’ve known a war was inevitable - why had we waited? I growl when a guard nudges me mentally. “Alpha?” “What is it, Stone?” “Sir, there’s a woman here. With a teenager? She says she’s the Luna’s Oracle?” It takes me a moment to remember our Oracle’s words. The past week - no, even less than that really, has felt more like months. So much has happened. “Alpha?” Stone hesitates at my silence. “Sorry, yes, Stone. Bring them to my office, please, and then have someone prepare a suite in our wing for t
Apologies for the long absence. Between being sick, a sister’s wedding, a hurricane, and severe writer’s block, I just haven’t been able to figure out what comes next for our heroine and her pack. But I’m getting back in writing mode today, so you should have several chapters before the week closes out. I hope you’re all well! And let’s dive back in!
Garrett’s POV Dinner was uneventful, but truly pleasant after all that has happened. With Belinda’s encouraging, Cassia seemed to bloom with confidence, easily engaging not only my parents but with the other ranked families as well. My wolf nearly preened with pride, and I don’t think I’ve ever smiled quite so much or so easily. But now, walking with her and Cole in the brisk dusk, I can’t help feeling uneasy. I know the McKinneys don’t blame Cassia - but her willingness to blame herself concerns me. Looking down at her face, I can see it’s tight with anguish, her little lips set in a firm line, her eyes bright with tears I’m certain will pour down any moment. I untangle our fingers to wrap my arm around her and pull her close to my chest. “Remember, darling - let the blame lie with the rogues. It isn’t yours to carry.” She nods - just barely enough for me to see, but I know she hasn’t taken my words to heart. I look over at Cole who just shakes his head, frowning. We walk i
Cassia’s POV From the look on Cole’s face, I can tell they’re teasing me about something, but I have no idea what. Even Garrett’s lips are starting to twitch. “Who’s Belli?” “Oh get ready, Cassia,” Cole grins wickedly. “She’s an absolute menace.” I blink at him, but he gives me nothing so I turn back to Garrett who is grinning now. “She’s been begging to meet you since the nano-second we brought you to the hospital. But we’ve fended her off.” “I’m honestly a little surprised she hasn’t snuck in here herself, the nightmare,” Cole comments, turning back to his food. I shove him slightly, feeding off of their amusement now. “Who? Who is she?” “Nope,” Cole replies, keeping his eyes on his plate. “I think we’ll let you wait and see when you meet her. Eat your food, little mate.” “Yes… that IS what two ogres would do, isn’t it, Brother,” Garret smirks before turning back to his own food. My mouth drops, and I squeak indignantly, pushing at both their massive shoulders. They are en
Cassia’s POV Garrett chuckles, grabbing my chin and moving it so that I’m looking at him. He kisses my forehead, my nose, then my lips - but only for the briefest moment, and then I feel Cole pull away as he looks me in the eyes. “Why’d you stop?” He smirks down at me. “I told you. If you want us to keep going, I want you to say it.” “I - I don’t want you to stop.” My heart flutters… uncertain now that he’s asking. I want their lips back on me, I want them touching me… but… Garrett just nods. “Sex isn’t on the table today, love. Don’t worry about that. Do you want us to keep kissing you?” I nod slowly. Garrett just raises his eyebrow. “Y-yes.” And with that his lips are on mine, and Cole’s pulling my shirt down slightly so he can kiss my shoulder. The two of them together make it hard to focus on any one thing, but it feels so, so good. Cole’s tongue tracing lazy circles over my collarbone, his beard tickling my skin; Garrett gently biting my lip, his hand trailing up my st
Cassia’s POV I shiver and try to roll over, but find myself very, very trapped. “You toss and turn too much, gorgeous,” a sleepy voice murmurs in my ear. I can’t help the grin that springs on my face. “Well if you two ogres didn’t insist on being so close, it wouldn’t bother you half as much,” I purr, snuggling back against him. Yesterday is a blur. My body was so heavy and everything was far too much, but today… I feel almost like I did before this nightmare began. Maybe better. “Wolf?” I call out internally, for once expecting an answer. Instead, I feel both of my mates move, and I huff indignantly. “I wasn’t serious!” Opening my eyes, I see them both gaping down at me, and I can’t help but giggle. “Are you - are you feeling alright… Cassia?” Garrett murmurs, his voice cracking slightly. I notice his bandage is gone, a pink, puckered, shiny scar still lingering on his throat. I find myself wishing the rogue who did it was still alive so I could get my hands on him. “Better
Cassia’s POV Everything hurts, and my body doesn’t seem to want to stop shaking. I reach out wildly around me, attempting to grab Cole or Garrett and drag them closer, my eyelids fluttering just slightly. “You’re okay, Cassia,” a feminine voice croons above my head. “I know it’s painful, but you’re alright.” As my eyes open more widely, the room is far, far too bright, and I slam them closed with a yelp. I hear low growls on either side of me and can’t help but smile in my relief. They’re here. They didn’t leave me. I try to open my eyes again, hissing as the harsh light hits them. “Wh - why is it so bright?” I stammer out, the words somewhere between a slur and a stutter as my teeth chatter. “Why is it - s-so cold?” “We had to bring your fever down, Cassia,” a man says somewhere to my left. I try to look at him, but it’s far too bright, and his face is blurry. I close my eyes again, groaning. A hand reaches out and gently strokes my forehead. I lean into the touch, noticing
3rd PersonThe room is utterly silent save for the ragged breaths of a wild looking man. Blood drips from his mouth and claws as he stalks back toward his throne, throwing himself heavily on the seat.Several servants shrink as best they can into the shadowy depths of the throne room, but there is no hiding from Devlin Anwir. “Clean up this mess before I give you all the same treatment!” Everyone moves to fulfill his orders except for one man who moves closer to him, eyes concealing any emotion. “We’ll have to create more, Your Majesty. Shall I send for… recruits?” Devlin’s golden eyes don’t move from the servants carting off the remains of his rogue platoon. In many ways he looks more wolf than man - his canines permanently lowered, his claws permanently extended - and his black hair more mane than anything else. “Yes, Gifek.” He inhales, seeming to steady himself. “Although it will take some time to train them. Albius and his men were our best - although clearly too stupid to c
Cassia’s POVI slept even deeper and better than I have since I arrived at this pack, and as I wake, I know immediately why. I’m incredibly hot and sweating, tucked tightly between two mammoth men who are convinced I’m their mate. I’m surprised that I’m not panicking. It feels good - their bodies, tight around me. But the covers and the contact have me boiling. “Uhm -” I hesitate to wake them, but I truly can’t stand the heat another moment. “Guys?” I start wriggling, trying to untuck myself from their massive forms. Cole growls, dragging me into him. “Too early, Cass. Go back to sleep.” “But Cole, I’m burning up!” I squeak. Garrett chuckles in front of me, his eyes still shut as he reaches a finger to my forehead. Suddenly, his eyes spring open. “Shit. Cole, she means it. The poor thing is sweating.” In seconds, they’re both on opposite sides of the bed, and the covers are flung away from all three of us. Both of them stare at me wide-eyed, as I chuckle at them. “I’m fine