"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 The whole room stops and freezes at Erin's out burst at the Luna, the fear rippling through the room like rain falling on the surface of a pond. Chilli slowly puts the chair back down on the floor, turns and gracefully walks back over to a heavily breathing Erin, all eyes glued to her in anticipation of whats to follow. They stand face to face in silence for a moment until Chilli speaks,"I'm sorry," she says softly, taking the clipboard from her, everyone's faces are filled with surprise, except from Leroy's, myself and my parents. After another moment Erin sighs,"So am I." Chilli smiles sweetly as she pulls them both to the closest table that already has chairs where she seats her down, putting the board to one side."It's been a crazy few, well... months, years for all of us. Erin you don't need to worry so much about me you know, Elias does that enough as it is." "No I don't," I add under my breath and Chilli shoots me a look, clea
Chilli POV Once home and in our apartment my exhaustion seems to hit me hard and all I want is rest, maybe some food, but mainly rest, sleep. As I kick off my shoes, my eyes are drawn to the baby's room door and my mind wonders to the painting I still feel I have left to do, but even that, I feel to tired to do. "You still have plenty of time before you are due, so, can't it wait one night?" Elias asks, holding out his hand, I sigh as my eye lids feel so heavy as I let him lead me hand in hand to the couch, to sit down next to him before he pulls me in close, circling my body with his arms. I purr and lean into him, relishing in his warmth and masculine scent of pine and of the forest. I breathe in closing my eyes as my purring intensifies to which his chest I am resting on vibrates as he chuckles at me. Tomorrow is the welcoming and the thought of it is plaguing my mind, as if reading mind, or more likely feeling my emotions, Elias soft voice fills the spac