After having my arm strangled by the blood pressure machine, my belly messured and basted in cold, slimy gel before seeing how much pressure I can take without wetting myself and my pulse taken, Lucy assures us that everything is perfect."I'd say you are nearly thirteen weeks along now." I smile and nod in her direction as I get up off the table and rebutton up my dungarees. "Thank you Lucy," Elias simply smiles as she nods meekly with a blushing school girl grin as she response,"Your welcome Alpha." I have to fight to not roll my eyes at her, I'm standing right here, kindly not flirt with my mate in front of me, or at all, come to think about it. Suddenly Elias hooks his arm around my waist and is escorting me out of the room rather quickly."What was that about?" I ask him once we are out and heading away down the corridor,"I was going to ask you the same question," "Hu?" I look at him confused, "what was what about what?" "The growling?"
"Alpha, Luna," a strong woman's voice sounds from close by, followed by a weaker one echoing her words, as they bow their heads slightly, I have insisted to her and her mate so many times to call us by our first names but no matter how many times I tell her, she sticks to the formal titles."Chant," Elias says as we lower ours back in return, "everything alright?" He asks with a worried look at the man with his arm over her shoulder and balancing on one awkward foot. "Sorry to interrupt, but we are just heading to the med bay," she explains as she supports the mans weight."Oh no, Reece, what happened?" I ask, visually examining the swollen knee and ankle he is holding it up off the ground."I'm not completely sure Luna, we were training, sparring and well, something popped, then cracked and then yeah," he says looking down at it, "but it isn't healing," the poor boy explains with raw pain sapping at every word.Before I can, Elias steps forward and lifts t
"I better get back to the training room," Chant says excusing herself, "Okay, but Chant before you go, your doing a great job, really," Elias reassures her."Thank you," she says with a meek smile before heading back down the corridor, clearly eager to get back. As I watch her go, I think back to when Chant and Jay joined us two months ago after we took back the pack. Maxwell released them from his pack and service, knowing they wanted to stay here with us. I was so happy when I saw them walking back into the hall with gingerly smiles as they aproached us. They had not been gone long, I remember standing in the hall with Elias by my side as the whole of the winter pack was still standing in the great hall, with all their eyes on us. I remember thinking they were looking at us as if waiting for something, but what I did not know. Then my heart swelled at Chant and Jay's return as they walked right up to us through the crowd and destruction to bend down on one knee
After another long, long day, we finally retire back to our apartment from before, it was heart breaking when we first stepped through it's doors two months ago. It had been trashed. Chilli broke down in tears understandably, I felt like crying too, it's our home, our first home together, but for Chilli it was also her childhood home and where she has so many beautiful memories with her mother. As I stepped carefully and picked through the rubble that once was our lives, in the bedroom everything was overturned and or broken. As I gently lifted Chilli's pushed over dressing table, I found her jewellery box, handed down to her from our grandmother, also overturned with the lid ajar and one of the hinges broken. With a heavy heart, I sighed as I picked up the box, trying to close the lid as I did, so nothing more falls out, somewhat unsuccessfully as when I opened the lid, something very significant was missing. With another sigh, I placed the box on the only flat, level surface
The welcoming only happens when a pack has a change of leadership weather it's by a challenging, retirement or the previous alpha is stepping down, either way, technically Bea and Logan should have held one, but their disregard for tradition means they thankfully didn't. Anyway, the new leader or leaders are the ones to host all the local, allying packs, inviting the other alpha's, Luna's etc for the great event. Normally within a few weeks of the change, but seeing as there was a hell of a lot of damage and work to be done, we informed the respected leaders of the delay. Now, after two months of working around the clock to get everything ready and back to how it should be, we are ready to play hosts once again, to an event that has not been held at the winter pack since my father became alpha at the age of twenty-five nearly thirty years ago. This event also gives the new Alpha and Luna, if he is lucky enough to have a mate, a time to formally announce any other changes in the
Chilli POV Flint was waiting for us at the entrance to the cells with another two gaurds, "Thank you," I nod to all of them before adding, "Flint how is Sophie?" He looks surprised by the question and the fact I remember his mates name, also that fact that I care enough to ask after her."Sophie is doing much better thank you Luna," he smiles awkwardly as he glances down at the ground,"Please let us know if there is anything you or her need, okay?" I assure him by placing my hand on his upper arm supportively, to which he nods at me, seemingly unable to utter a word in response, so I just smile. My heart goes out to those two, Bea really did a number on them two, poor Sophie was in a right state like a lot of our people being forcibly kept apart from their mates and inflicted to torture when ever she saw fit, causing their mate to feel powerless as pain flooded their bond. When gaurds were being appointed to stand watch by Logan's cell, Flint volunteered
Elias POV As I wait for Chilli at the top of the stairs, I hear her last words to logan which shock and surprise me as I'm filled with a sence of pride. As she joins me up and out in the corridor I see and feel her relief and the weightlessness of her mind. Her eyes shine with glistening tears as I pull her into my chest, hugging her tightly, Chilli wraps her arms around me and sighs sofltly. I breathe in her scent as I kiss the top of her head, holding her close to me savoring the moment and not caring the gaurds are only a matter of feet away from us. "Awe, cute, quick, Where's a camera." Chilli and my bodies part to see my mother and father watching us just past the guards who look like they are standing on ceremony, with their back so straight."You know you have a camera on your mobile phone right?" I jest back at my father's words,"Damn!" He laughs, clapping a hand to his forhead, "that would have made a great photo." "Maybe next time Sam," my
Chilli POV "So, how's the painting going?" "Nearly done, I think," I say as I dance my fingertips on the surface of the cool water and giggle a little at the thought of last night and Elias turning the light off."What's funny?" Kay smiles watching the ripples in the water as I explain, "Oh, last night I got a bit carried away and Elias switched off the light to get me to stop and come eat dinner." "What a meany," she chuckles as the men disappear from view and it seems Kay was waiting for this as she then suddenly asks, "is everything okay?" "Yes," I smile widely at her as I rest a hand on my bump and lean back with the other."Are you sure?" To which I nod as she says cautiously, "did you see Logan this morning?" I nod again, "was it bad?" She asks."No," I say as she looks at me with surprise, "it was ... liberating.""Liberating? Really?" "Yeah, I know, not how I thought I'd feel after either," I chuckle slightly, "I feel l
Elias POV I look up and watch as Chilli steps out from the en suite, wraped in just a towel, making her way towards her dressing table as I lay on our bed where I was just aimlessly flicking through my phone. Taking a seat and opening its draw, she removes a single, plastic pot housing her facial cream and unscrews its lid. It's nothing fancy, not expensive, its just a simple, none branded, vitamin E night cream.I continue to ovserve as she dips two fingers into the pale lotion and looks into the mirror, to then slowly drag said fingers down her face, starting at her forhead, gliding smoothly along her nose and then finishing with a dab on her chin. She then wipes a bit of the remainder on each cheek before replacing the lid and putting it back in its draw. My eyes are fixed to her as she slowly but firmly works the cream into her skin, taking extra care near and around her eyes. Her finger tips caress over her own face and down her neck, over my mark on her neck
Chilli POV Perching under a tree with Chant as we take a break from sparring whislts our mates for some reason decide to chop some fire wood. I find it amusing and humble how as the alpha he likes and enjoys chopping fire wood for the pack house, no job is to small for our mighty leader.Chant's seductive eyes never leave her mate as he swings the axe up into the air, where it seems to pause for the briefest of seconds before falling down onto a chunk of wood, spilting it into two. The whole movement and process is magical, so smooth and artistic like poetry. I had watched my own mate for a time, admiring his tensing biceps with every swing, the beauty of his movements and strength of the action, but now I'm just leaning back against the tree's trunk with my eyes shut, listening to the beautiful rhythmic sound of the wood splitting, of metal against nature, somehow for some reason I find it peaceful as I smirk at the thought of Chant lustfully gazing at Jay, it al
Elias POV That was brutal, oh my goddess do I hurt, I haven't hurt this much from training since, shit, I don't know when. Sure, I was mad and needed to work it off, but fuck me, Chilli was livid, she was masking it well, I mean, wow. My ass hurts. I had to use all my strength to stay on my feet, especially after I hit the ground hard the first few times of her kicking and taking me down. Once she swept my legs out from underneath me, my wolf instincts took over just so I could stay on my feet. I think I pulled something that time, thank the goddess for wolf healing, cos my left ass cheek and leg are killing me. With Chant now paired with Chilli and Erin and Leroy working together, that leaves me with Jay, who is as good as his mate, oh dear. I sigh inwardly as we step away from the others to train, I can spar and keep up with anyone, I'm alpha afterall, but after the beating I've just endured, I'd prefer a nice easy spar, but hay ho, lets do this. Thankfully, Jay see
Chilli POV Finally everyone is out on the field, we can get started. I am needing to hit something. Elias insist on sparring with me first and to Erin's relief but Chant's dismay, I agree. Which just leaves the others to pair up, one of them did suggest mate paring but the guys seems a little bit wary so it's girls vs girls and guys vs guys. For now anyway. After a fairly rough spar with Elias, I finally start to calm down and release my rage, which I guess was his plan, so I don't feel gilty later now if I cause anyone else major harm. Clearly sensing this, Elias allows us to switch partners and Chant and I go straight to each other, to which the rest of the group chuckle at our predictableness. Chant and I exchange a sinister grin as the others repair up, Elais with Jay and Erin with Leroy. I mirror Chant as she raises her arms up into a defensive stance, declaring she is ready, a smile growing on her face. As we stare down on each other I am reminded of our rematch
"You know there was no way he would accept and train with us," Leroy says once we are alone and with just our own pack members, "I know, but it was fun and satisfying to embarrass him like that, the look on his face at the mere thought of it was golden. To watch him squirm." I can't help but let out an enormous laugh, to which Chilli shoots me evil eyes for finding any of this so amusing. "What?" I chuckle at her before pulling myself together because if looks could kill. I had to laugh, if I didn't I think I would have lost it, plus it felt so good, too good to put Jordan down a bit like that in such a slight way in front of the others. However, by Chilli's facial expression, she does not agree, goddess, did I want to kill him, thankfully in a way he did say no, or we would have had a dead alpha on our hands and territory. "Come on, your telling me you didn't want a chance at hitting him?" I ask her in a teasing way, she looks at me whislt crossing her arms across he
"I hear some incorrect information has reached the ears of my children," "Oh, and what's that got to do with us? Idle gossip is not what these meetings are for." "No, not normally, but," she pauses for the briefest of moments to adjust her tone and the ferocity of her words, "but when it comes to petty, stupid, horrible lies about my family, my children, then you and I have a problem! A big problem!" He nearly chuckles in her face as he asks half heartedly,"Pray tell what are these so called insults?""A spare heir, a baby," she lists off the tamer ones first, working up to the biggest and worst one, before she stops again as I feel a heat burning off of her directed straight at Jorden, "and an inbreed!" The room falls silent after everyone gasps and shoot death stares at the alpha. A low growl escapes from mine, Erin and Leroy throats, our protectiveness taking over. Jordan looks like he doesn't know weather to laugh or bite back."Jordan!" One of the ot
Jordan holds his hands up in defence as I take a few deep breaths to calm myself before turning to the rest of the room to acknowledge our other guests. "Alpha Jonathan, Luna Suzie, beta Willow, sorry for my tardiness, how is Maxwell?" I ask taking my seat next to Elias, pushing my anger down for now, eyeing up Jordan in the cornor of my eye, I'm not done with you yet, I think to myself."No problem Luna Winters, father is doing well and thoroughly enjoying his retirement," he smiles with a nod of his head, which we return, "thank you for asking." Jonathan took over as alpha of the west pack two years ago with his mate Suzie and appointed Willow Steal as the first female beta of the west pack. She is a strong minded woman with a powerful right hook."Alpha Alex, Luna Ela and beta Karl, welcome and thank you for coming today," Elias smiles to the leaders of the Spring rise pack from the south, who joined our alliance about four years ago.With the greetings done and out of the way, we
The drive to school is a pretty normal one, we talk, sing and laugh all the way there, forgetting about any and all problems the day may have already brought. Once there and out of the car, we all walk hand in hand with Marcus in the middle, through the blue painted gates."Luna," the teacher on the gate addresses me with a nod of the head, as does any other adult that comes into eye contact with me. I smile back and return their nods.Like always, even though we come to Lily's class room first, we walk Marcus around to his first at her insistence, she says its part of her job to look out for him to make sure herself she sees him to his door. It warms my heart the care and love they have for each other. As I kiss my son goodbye and he hugs his sister, I take note of the other high ranking children from other packs, sitting at their tables ready for the lessons to begin. Future alpha's, beta's and Luna's all learning together including Tammy and Willow, Erin and Leroy's twins who are a
Chilli POVEleven years later"Lilith Kay Rosalee Winters! Get your furry tail out here now! Don't make me call you again!" I call out by the front door as I wait for my ten year old to take her to school. "Mummy, is Li-li in tuble?""She will be if she doesn't hurry up sweetpea,""Oh,""Lily!" I shout again,"I'm coming, I'm coming," my oldest calls back at me, jeez, ten going on fifteen, she's acting like a teenager, where does the time go? It feels like only yesterday that she fitted in my arms as I rocked her, singing her back to sleep.Take me home tonight, I'd do anything with you, buy a bottle of whiskey, we'll get matching tattoos, tell me that you love me, let me drive your car, we can sit 'til morning light, just countin' every star, 'cause if there's a hell, I'll meet you there, and if there's a heaven, they're serving beer, and if you're an angel, then I must be high, if there's a church, It's rock 'n roll, if there's