COMPLETE! After losing her family in a rogue attack, Raina is left to put her life back together. Finding a new pack with her wolf, Lela, she is hoping to finally settle down and find her mate. Raina did not understand the significance of her red wolf, Lela, until she discovers just how significant a red wolf is to the entire werewolf community. Faced with new abilities as a red wolf, Raina must navigate how to manage her abilities while also facing ongoing threats of rogues who are trying to kidnap her. When Raina finds her mate, will she be able to finally escape the rogue threat and gain control of her abilities? This is Book One of the Red Wolf's Guardian Series.
Lihat lebih banyakI sat on my bed, sighing. Looking at the piles of homework on my desk, I knew that I had to get up and get moving. Yet, I just couldn’t get myself motivated. As I closed in on my finals within the next week for my senior year, I was determined to finish up strong. So cliché, I know, but after what this last year had thrown at me, I felt like I had to show myself that I could do it.
I threw my long, thick, red hair into a low messy bun and pushed myself off the bed, determined to start at least one of my final projects. I pulled down the shirt that had ridden up as I laid in bed. I was tall for a girl – nearly 5’11, so many shirts rode up on me. I have been told that I am beautiful by more guys than I could count, but that meant nothing to me. Although I had casually dated, I was waiting for my mate. But the current situation was doing nothing to help with that. I sat down at the desk and a picture of my family caught my eye. Every time I sat at this desk and tried to work, that picture always stopped me. I don’t know why I hadn’t moved it to someplace else, but I kept it right on the desk, hoping that it would motivate me to get some of my work done. But it never seemed to help. It just filled me with painful memories from the last year.
I tried to think back to the positive memories that were happening when that picture was taken. My mom, brother, and I were standing outside the pack house. It was a beautiful spring day, similar to today. My mom, Molly, looked stunning in the picture, as she always did. I got my red hair and bright green eyes from her. My brother, Brett, stood next to her. He looked just like our dad - tall, dark hair that was short on the sides and always seemed to be tousled on top. His eyes were a deep blue that made all the girls swoon. My dad, Doug, the Beta for the Spring Valley Pack, took our picture. He had wanted to commemorate my brother’s 18th birthday. I remember the sense of peace and happiness I felt on that day as I looked at the picture. The next day would be the worst day of my life.
I tried not to dwell on the events of the last year, but the picture always reminded me of what happened the next day. I tried to block out the memories, but bits tended to come flying back and smack me square in the chest. I could still hear my mother’s screams as the rogues attacked. There was no warning before the attack. So many lives were lost that day. Alpha Thomas saved my life that day, but so many others died, including my mom and dad. I started to cry as I remembered running to my mom as she lay on the ground. I held her hand as she took her last breath. My wolf, Lela, cried with me that night. I heard her humming in my head now, something that she started doing after my parents died.
I wiped away a tear and looked at my homework. I dove in to the one my last projects. I promised myself I would finish high school no matter what. My mom and dad would be so proud that I was finishing up school and I was determined to get all of this work done. I worked for what feels like hours and eventually fell asleep at the desk.
I am awoken by my “cousin’s” voice calling to me.
“Raina, are you coming down for dinner?” Lizzie’s voice was calling me from the bottom of the stairs. I had always considered Lizzie and her mom, Anne, family. Anne was my mom’s best friend. Even after my mom and Anne found their mates, they still stayed in contact. After my mom and dad passed, Anne invited me to come stay with her. I initially declined, trying to stay with my pack to rebuild, but too much was lost that day, and I moved in with Lizzie, Anne, and Francis two months ago.
“I’ll be right down!” I yelled back. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until I opened the door to go downstairs, and the smell of roasted chicken, potatoes, and roasted vegetables hit my nose.
I bounded down the stairs, nearly tripping at the speed that I took to the kitchen. Anne’s cooking was always amazing.
“How are your projects going?” Anne asked with a concerned look on her face. She was stunning – long blonde hair and gorgeous blue eyes, but her caring heart made her even more beautiful.
“Good, just so much to do. Having to get caught up from first semester and trying to keep up with this semester’s work is brutal, but I will get through it. I pulled my hair back and accept the plate that Lizzie was handing me. The plate was overflowing but I ate it easily. Werewolves have a much bigger appetite than humans, something I always must remember when I am out with others – my human friends. I had gotten more than one strange look with the amount of food that I consumed.
“Do you want to go to the bonfire tonight? It might be a good chance to meet some more of the pack” Lizzie asked as she smiled at me.
I sighed. Admittedly, I had been avoiding this. I knew that I needed to join a new pack. I had no desire of being a “rogue” especially after what happened with my family. I had met a few others from the pack at school, but since it was a human school, I had been able to pretty much avoid too many other pack members. Alpha Callan had been gracious when I came to live with Lizzie and her family, giving me space to get comfortable and try to finish school. Alpha Callan and the River Moon Pack had a reputation for being a strong, forceful pack. They were fiercely protective of their land and their wolves. Alpha Callan was known to kill those who tried to mess with his pack, but Lizzie told me that he was also very compassionate and fought for and with the pack. Alpha Callan took over when his father passed unexpected during a rogue attack when Alpha Callan was only 17. With his mother’s guidance, Alpha Callan had ensured that the pack flourished in the five years since he had taken over. He expected obedience and respect and got both from those in the pack. Lizzie swooned every time she spoke about Alpha Callan. Although I had yet to meet him, Lizzie’s description of him was enough to make a grown man blush.
“Sure, we can go” I said reluctantly.
‘Better to get this over with sooner rather than later,’ Lela said to me. ‘You know I miss running. We haven’t been out on a run in so long. If we meet others, they will know who you are and won’t question why a red wolf was running through the forest’.
‘I know. Your right,’ I said to Lela. Lela’s color was stunning, a much deeper color red than my own hair. Red wolves were quite uncommon. Although the color of the wolf was often close to their own hair color, most werewolves with red hair in human form end up as a shade of brown in wolf form. The uniqueness of my wolf had led to some problems in my previous pack. The Alpha of my previous pack wouldn’t allow me to shift unless I was isolated. I also had some issues with pack members. Some of the male wolves seemed to be overly interested in me, which made me uncomfortable. It also contributed to my rebellious side, as I always felt like I was fighting for myself.
“EEEK! I am so happy you will go! Let’s go find something to wear!” Lizzie grabbed my arm and pulled my back upstairs.
I stumbled behind her, trying not to fall. “Not so fast!” I yelled up to her. She didn’t listen and kept pulling me up the stairs.
“Why are you so excited?” She let go of my arm and I fell into her room.
“You never know who you will meet at these things. I met my boyfriend at one last year. We need to get you dressed!” She started going through her closet, pulling out different items and throwing them on her bed.
“Why would I need to meet anyone? I am perfectly content alone.” I sat on her bed in a huff and crossed my arms across my chest.
“Raina, we are wolves. You know we have the desire to be with others. Having a boyfriend is natural. I am not saying you have to do anything with him, because I know you said you want to wait. Just having someone who cares for you can help you so much. I am worried about you. You have been so isolated since you came here,” She looked at me with much caring in her eyes. I knew she wanted the best for me and for me to be happy. She had honestly been a great support for me since moving in with the family. Lizzie and I had been friends for years because our families visited each other often.
“I know, and I appreciate how much you care. It has been really hard moving on since my parents died. I don’t even know where my brother is. After the attack, he was gone. I don’t know if he was killed, captured, or just ran away. I think about them every day.” I fought back tears as I spoke to her.
She pushed a few loose strands of hair to the side of my face and wiped away the lone tear that had escaped my eye. I had cried so much that I didn’t want to cry again.
‘Lizzie is right you know. We need to at least get out and try to meet others – friends I mean.’ Lela said gently as she hummed in my head. If it hadn’t been for Lela, I would have lost the battle with sadness months ago.
‘I know. I know.’ I agreed with Lela. Having a wolf in your head definitely had benefits, especially when it was someone as supportive as Lela.
“So, what have you picked out for me?” I smiled up at Lizzie. She jumped over to the clothes on the bed and started to show me what she picked out.
I was taller than Lizzie, so the first dress that she picked out I vetoed pretty quickly. That dress was short on Lizzie. I was not sure it would even cover all of my butt. I was not looking for that type of attention.
I looked over at a flannel dress she had picked out. It was emerald green in color with navy accents. Although it was more of a fall type dress, I loved the color and knew it would accentuate my green eyes and red hair.
“I want to wear this one!” I told her. I had a cute pair of boots that would go perfect with the dress.
Lizzie looked at my messy bun and shook her head. “Anything we can do with your hair? You always pull it back but it is gorgeous!” She reached behind my head and pulled out my bun. My hair fell down around my shoulders, reaching mid-back. The bun had given my hair a bit of a soft wave to it.
“Girl, you do not need to do anything with your hair! It is gorgeous! Let’s just do a little lip gloss and mascara. That is all you need!” Lizzie handed me her make up bag and I start rummaging through it, finding what I needed.
“There is no reason to not go and look. Maybe a boyfriend isn’t such a bad idea.” I said as I handed Lizzie back her make up bag.
“You know it, girl. Have some fun. Enjoy yourself. No reason to not get out and see what is out there. You know guys do it all the time. You can do it, too.” Lizzie spoke as she was moving around the room, grabbing her brush and pulling up her hair.
I threw on the dress and grabbed my shoes. I must admit, Lizzie does have some cute clothes. This dress was amazing. “What do you think?”
“Amazing!” Lizzie yelled. She is always so loud and fully of energy.
Lela grumbled a bit in my head. ‘I want to wait for mate.’ Lela breaks in.
‘I know, Lela. I am waiting for our mate. But that doesn’t mean I can’t have a boyfriend in the meantime. Besides, you know I can’t find our mate until I turn 18, and that is a few weeks away. I can at least make some friends and maybe find someone who is cute enough to make out with in the meantime’. Lela huffed at my comment. I knew she didn’t like it, but Lizzie was right. A bit of companionship would be nice.
10 years later“Anders! Get back in here! Your mom told you dinner was almost ready five minutes ago!” Callan yelled out the back door, before giving up and going out to the backyard. I laughed as Callan fought to round up our son. From what Catherine told me, Anders was just like Callan was when he was young; stubborn, strong, and, at times, apparently hard of hearing. I had called him in several times alerting him of dinner, but he continued to run around the field behind the packhouse. At nearly ten years old, Anders was already showing his power and strength. He took after Callan in both behavior and looks, although he had my green eyes. Callan was often proud of his behavior while I was stuck running around trying to wrangle him in. His sister, Romy, was the opposite. At age 7, she was calm and controlled. She was empathic and caring. I didn’t expect her to be a red wolf and I doubted that she would be. At this point, there were six red wo
Two weeks laterLela was antsy. She wouldn’t stop pacing. I thought at first that it was related to the two weeks of recovery for Callan finally being up. But even after he woke up this morning and joined me in the shower, making sure that I knew that he was more than recovered, she still would not settle down. I know that my sexual frustration went away and down the drain twice this morning, but Lela still had this weird nervous energy about her. It was very uncharacteristic.‘Lela, what the heck is going on?’ I reached out to her, hoping that we could figure all this out. Her anxiety was rubbing off on me and I did not like the way it felt. I suddenly regretted all the times my emotions were overwhelming and bled in to how Lela was feeling. And that happened A LOT.‘I honestly don’t know what it is. I feel like I am waiting for something to happen, and I don’t know what it is.’‘Let’s just try to tak
Eight days. It has been eight days and there has been no change. I went home once a day to change and shower. Otherwise, I did not leave Callan’s room. Different pack members would come to visit, bringing me food and to keep me company. It had become almost routine at this point. Beta Jack and Marta would come first thing in the morning, bringing me breakfast. Beta Jack would stay and keep me company, updating me on anything relevant to pack business. Nathan and Jennifer would come at lunch time. Catherine would come with another pack member who had made me dinner. Justin would typically stop by after dinner and would stay with Callan while I went to shower and change. And the day would begin again.At the end of day eight, exhaustion was starting to set in. I was not sleeping well and worried filled me all day. I had just returned from showering and changing, thanking Justin for staying with Callan, when Dr. Powell walked in.“Hi Dr. Powell. What is
RAINA’s POVLela made it back to the pack in less than a minute. I did not even know that we could run that quickly, but fear can make you run quickly. While fear often drives you away from things, this fear drove me to Callan. Fear and anger. Callan was hurt and I was not going to just stand by and do nothing.Another pang of pain ran through me, but I refused to stop, despite how searing the pain was.‘Do you know where he is?’ I asked Lela as we approached the edge of pack territory.‘By our clearing.’ She responded. There was a certain irony in Callan being in the clearing that I had found so much comfort in. The amount of pain that I was in told me that Callan was severely injured. We would not stop until we were upon him. Brett and Emma were right behind me, keeping pace with Lela for the sprint to Callan.As soon as I hit the edge of the clearing, I saw Callan on the ground, and I immediately shifted back. One o
ALPHA CALLAN’S POVThe sound of breaking glass awakened me. My head was pounding, but when I looked at the car around me, my first thought was Raina. I could barely see the other side of the car, but I could tell that she was not there.“Alpha Callan? Are you alright?” A voice spoke from outside of my window. The breaking of glass was Beta Jack and Brett, who were attempting to pull me out of the car.“Where is Raina?” I asked as I pulled myself out of the car. Although pieces of glass were in my hands and legs, I did not care. I did not care that my head hurt and that it was bleeding. All that I cared about was Raina.Brett shifted and then spoke. “We have a faint scent of her. Right after the crash, my scouts observed two vampires in the area. We believe that they took her. My scouts have spotted the car and are following it.”Rollo roared forward. “We must get her!” I growled out, ready to sh
I awoke in the back of a car. My head was pounding. For a moment, I thought that I might have been knocked unconscious in the car crash and I was in the back of the car on the way home. But none of the smells in the car were familiar, and I knew that was too much to hope for. The pain in my head made it hard to open my eyes, but I forced them open. I was quite dark outside now. I tried to focus on the clock in the car, and, although it was blurry, I could just make out that it was 9:15 PM. “Looks like someone is awake.” A voice said from the front seat of the car. My head was throbbing, but I was awake and looking around, trying to get some understanding of where I was. However, there were just trees everywhere, so I really couldn’t pick up on anything. I looked up at the man in the front passenger seat. He looked young, but I knew that he was a vampire. I would guess that he is probably much older than I thought, although he looked like he is in
As the meeting wrapped up, the councilmen asked that each pack approach Callan to discuss planning, including when the warrior would be coming to our pack and how we would accommodate them. A few of the smaller packs were not able to send a warrior due to safety concerns, which made sense. Callan tensed a little bit when the first Alpha mentioned it, but I quickly put my hand on Callan’s arm to calm him down. One pack was a quarter of the size of our pack ad had lost several warriors in a recent rogue attack. It would be more dangerous for them to send a warrior for their pack. Not only would I have the guardian warriors protecting me, but I also have my own pack. It was important that we considered the other packs in the discussion, especially since I truly did have so much protection.“Luna Raina, Alpha Callan, I am so glad that you are so understanding. This last year has been very hard for my pack. During the last rogue attack, I lost my brother and a son. My
RAINA’S POVThe meeting room was stuffy and crowded. I could see at least 15 different packs represented at the meeting, if not more. Callan had filled me in on some basics about the different Alphas, including Alpha Brock and Alpha Scott, whom I had just met. Alpha Scott seemed nice but Alpha Brock was a prick. I could tell from the brief interaction I had with him. Callan also told me that there were 20 different packs spread across the U.S., although there were currently only 19 since no one had taken over for Alpha Thomas. Much to my surprise, there were apparently some pack members who had stayed behind.The Council sat along a long table at the front of the room on a raised area. Ten men sat along the table. As Callan walked us to our seats, I looked at each of them. While I wasn’t specifically trying to read the emotions of any of them, I was struck by the different emotions that some of them seemed to be experiencing. Most just seemed interested, ey
ALPHA CALLAN POVI was surprised when I slept until 5. I had really expected sleep to elude me with the meeting with the Council today. In anticipation of things such as this, Rollo typically was up early, as he was on high alert. ‘Decided to let me sleep?’ I joked to Rollo.‘I needed the sleep. I am still exhausted from the other day.’ Rollo stirred and stretched.I could only laugh, as I, too, was still feeling a bit of the exhaustion from the other day. But we needed our energy for today. It was clear that this was going to be a long day. I hadn’t meant to upset Raina yesterday, but I did have a feeling that the Council or someone at the meeting might ask for her to “prove” that she was a red wolf. It was ridiculous and I agreed with Raina about her concerns. If she didn’t want to shift or show them anything, then I would 100% support that. Quite frankly, it was ridiculous that they would even ask,
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