Godric POVWe reassembled and began making our way to the next destination as if nothing had happened. But in this car, time had stopped. I could feel the surge of emotions coming from Zaya. She sat close to me, but her arms were wrapped tightly around her body as she continued to look out the window.“Are you okay?” I asked her.I could feel her vulnerability and anger. The mate bond was tearing at my heart.“Talk to me Zaya.”She shook her head as the tears filled the corner of her eyes. “I shouldn’t be mad or sad. I could only imagine how the rogue pack felt about when they….when he….I know they hate me.”“They don’t hate you. They hate us.”She turned to me just as a tear tumbled down her cheek. “They hate me. He didn’t call you names. He didn’t speak your name as if it tasted bitter on his tongue. Not like when he said my name.”She faced the window again.I had no words for her so I wrapped my arm around her back and drew her closer to me. She was exposed in ways she hadn’t b
Zaya POV“I won't go!!!” I shouted as I packed my bags. It was six in the morning and we were supposed to be in the car within twenty minutes ago.I was stalling, trying to get my point across.“We don’t need to visit the Black Woods pack.” “Yes, we do, Zaya.”“No…we don’t!” My voice was raised and I had no doubt we were waking the neighbors with our disagreement.He sighed loudly. “We cannot skip the Black Woods. Especially for the reason of simply not liking them.” He retorted.“Simple?” I questioned and then whisper shouted. “You think my reason is simple? He made my friend a rogue for being a victim. For defending herself.”He sighed again as if I was frustrating him. “I never said your reason was simple. It's no reason to cancel a visit.”“It is in my eyes.” I said while slowing my packing. In a more quieted voice, I said, “That man hurt our Audrey. What makes you think she wants to go back.”I was sure if she didn’t know now, she was going to know as soon as we hit the road.“I
Welcome To The Pack "You are going to love this place Zaya." My mother said as we entered the lands of Blood Moon pack. My father remained quiet as she tried to convince me this was the right move. "So, you keep saying. I still don’t understand why we had to move so far away from the only home I ever knew and my friends." I was still angry with my parents. We lived on the outskirts of a human town for as long as I have been alive. Ever since I heard we were moving, I thought about running away. I only had one month left in school and would turn 18 soon after that. In most cultures, I was practically grown. But every time I tried to leave, I felt compelled to stay. My father’s parents were exiled from his pack when he was only a boy for healing a slave. Both were great healers. My mother’s parents were rogue. Soon after my parents mated, my father's parents passed away. Only then was my family invited back into our pack. The Blu
The Festival When we left the house and entered the field, my worries of offending Godric soon left me. I had never been around so many wolves before. Their scents hit me all at once. There were little wolves and big wolves. Many were surrounding three large bonfires. I stopped in the middle and began taking it all in. Godric leaned down so I could hear him clearly. "Have you never been to Remembrance Day?" I shook my head no, "I haven’t but I heard a lot about it." He started pointing towards the bonfires. "You pick a bonfire, sit, and listen to the elders tell stories. That’s Past. That one over there is Present. And finally, the one with the larger number of seats is Future." My eyes lit up when he mentioned the future. "So, you heard of the prophecies? Why don’t you head over there? I must check in with the alpha before I can sit and enjoy. I will find you later." I watched as Godric made his way across the
The Beginning I was awakened by a small knock at my door. My eyes peeled open, and the sun was shining brightly through the window. I turned over trying to avoid the bright light. I heard the knocks again and finally rolled out of bed. When I opened the door, a tall girl was standing before me. "Hi, I’m Hailey. You must be Zara?" "Zaya. My name is Zaya." I said wiping the sleep out of my eyes. "Sorry. I thought I heard someone say it was Zara. My apologies. The Luna sent me to tell you breakfast is served in thirty minutes." "Thanks, but I’m not hungry." She gave me a crazy look. "Someone also said you were human raised. Never been in a pack. But I didn’t believe it until now. It’s custom that we all eat together in the main dining hall every morning at 8 am. That’s in 29 minutes." "Oh, sorry. I did not know. I’ll be there." I closed the door as she walked away without a word. I went to the restr
Alone in the Pack My mother reached for my hands to calm me. "Honey, remember what your father said about behaving." But it was too late. The anger in my eyes was already showing. I snatched my hands from hers and stood above both of my parents. “You are leaving, and you weren’t going to say anything.” My father didn’t look at me. Instead, he looked to Alpha Ken. “Alpha, I am so sorry. Forgive her. Please continue.” When he didn’t acknowledge me, I hit the table shaking the plates and cups around me. That finally got his attention. My father looked at me and spoke. “Zaya, please calm down.” I was hurt by him. And now everyone in the room was staring at me. I stormed out of the dining hall. Leaving everyone behind. Before I exited the dining hall, I heard the Alp
Dinner with The Alpha Alpha Ken was standing in my doorway. His head almost reached the top of the door frame. "Is it ok if I come in Zaya?" "It's your house." I sat up on the bed and he took a seat on my couch. "We missed you at breakfast Zaya." "I wasn’t hungry." "I understand you may not be feeling well, but we have rules here and it's important to abide by them." When I didn't respond he continued talking. "Listen, it may not seem to be that big of a deal but when we come together for breakfast in the morning, it's more than just a rule. It's our way of showing up for each other. It's our way of communicating and showing everyone that no matter what happens, we are still here. I can't imagine what is like to just be thrown in this life but I promise you will learn to love it." I was shocked. I thought Alpha’s were supposed to be hard asses. Rude and unkind to show strength. But Alpha Ken was kind. "O
A Morning Run The next morning I was awakened by my phone ringing. I reached around the nightstand until I found it. "Hello," I said with a raspy voice. "Zaya? Are you okay? I called you all day yesterday." I could sense the irritation in his voice. "Luke, I’m sorry. I wasn’t feeling well. I literally slept all day. What time is it?" I asked seeing the dark sky through my window. "It’s almost 5:30 in the morning. I was getting ready for school. Did I wake you?" "Yes, you did. But it is ok I was about to get up anyway. I figured I might run before the day starts. I saw a path that leads into the forest." "I’m glad there is a place for you to run. I know how important that is to you. But I’m more excited to hear your voice. How are you?" I blushed at his words. "I miss you too Luke. And I’m fine." "I wish I had more time to talk but I’m going to be late for practice. I just wanted to get yo
Zaya POV“I won't go!!!” I shouted as I packed my bags. It was six in the morning and we were supposed to be in the car within twenty minutes ago.I was stalling, trying to get my point across.“We don’t need to visit the Black Woods pack.” “Yes, we do, Zaya.”“No…we don’t!” My voice was raised and I had no doubt we were waking the neighbors with our disagreement.He sighed loudly. “We cannot skip the Black Woods. Especially for the reason of simply not liking them.” He retorted.“Simple?” I questioned and then whisper shouted. “You think my reason is simple? He made my friend a rogue for being a victim. For defending herself.”He sighed again as if I was frustrating him. “I never said your reason was simple. It's no reason to cancel a visit.”“It is in my eyes.” I said while slowing my packing. In a more quieted voice, I said, “That man hurt our Audrey. What makes you think she wants to go back.”I was sure if she didn’t know now, she was going to know as soon as we hit the road.“I
Godric POVWe reassembled and began making our way to the next destination as if nothing had happened. But in this car, time had stopped. I could feel the surge of emotions coming from Zaya. She sat close to me, but her arms were wrapped tightly around her body as she continued to look out the window.“Are you okay?” I asked her.I could feel her vulnerability and anger. The mate bond was tearing at my heart.“Talk to me Zaya.”She shook her head as the tears filled the corner of her eyes. “I shouldn’t be mad or sad. I could only imagine how the rogue pack felt about when they….when he….I know they hate me.”“They don’t hate you. They hate us.”She turned to me just as a tear tumbled down her cheek. “They hate me. He didn’t call you names. He didn’t speak your name as if it tasted bitter on his tongue. Not like when he said my name.”She faced the window again.I had no words for her so I wrapped my arm around her back and drew her closer to me. She was exposed in ways she hadn’t b
Godric POVMy brother mind linked me to stay inside our vehicle. He was taking charge and keeping to the protocol we had gone over multiple times. I didn’t mind. There were only ten wolves I could see, and they seemed to be in a weakened state.I lowered my window to hear the conversation between him and their supposed leader. The one who stood closer to Alex. The one who crossed his arms to seem at ease as the others stood rigid.“State your business!” Alex shouted from a distance. One of his main rules was for everyone to stay at least twenty feet from any rogue we would come in contact with.Their leader huffed. “This is a public road. You state your business here.” He retorted.The male was a scrawny guy who stood with so much confidence. The others around him laughed as if he had told the joke of the year. But I didn’t see anything funny. All I could see were ten wolves looking to die.Sensing trouble in the air, I placed my hand on the handle of the door to exit the car. Then a
POV ZayaVisiting so many packs in such a short time had my mind overflowing. It was stuffed with the knowledge of the different cultures. And the many faces that came with that knowledge clouded my memories.I met five Alpha’s and four Luna’s. Alpha Christian was unmated, which is why he greeted us alone. I asked why he never took a chosen mate and he said he didn’t believe in anything the Moon Goddess did not gift him. I wasn’t sure how he remained Alpha without a Luna by his side.Many wolves believed that an Alpha needed a mate for the pack to survive. Strength through Unity is what they often require of an Alpha. Knowing that had me looking at Godric and wondering what would have happened if he had never come to get me. If he had never fought to be with me.Would I have heard of him taking a chosen mate? Maybe a political match? Maybe even making Sophia his Luna despite her attitude. She loved him and would have done anything to be his Luna. Not to mention her strength that was a
POV ZayaThe Tour to visit every pack under Godric’s reign began a few weeks after my third trimester. Evidence of my rounding belly was now noticeable beneath my clothing.We packed up a few SUVs and headed out first thing after breakfast. I would miss all of the smiling faces that lined up along the main roads leading to our borders to bid us farewell.Alex and Audrey traveled in the SUV behind us. The other vehicles carried nothing but guards and a few Elders. It was strange traveling like the president. Safely pawned from one set of guards to the next every few hours.When I saw the soldiers loaded into their respective cars, I kept wondering how all this would look to a human. Ten cars full of fighters traveling through major cities across North America. And then I realized, it wouldn’t look like anything at all.We drove around all the major metropolitan areas on the map to get to our first stop. I guess Alex wasn’t going to risk us drawing too much attention.On the way, we sto
Godric POVZaya was worried. And she had every right to be. If Mia’s attitude was any indication, Mason had a pack of wolves that hated the current Luna Queen.Who knows what will happen once the rogues find out that she is living happily and carrying the future King?“You know she could be carrying a girl.” Alex teased.“I know.”“I’m just saying, you keep referencing the baby as the future King. Like you are trying to will it so. That’s no how genetics works, brother.”“No, but I could hope.”He chuckled missing the dread behind my words. It’s not that I hoped the baby was a boy, it’s that I hoped he would actually be the next Alpha King. I hoped Zaya wouldn’t have to endure the pain that will follow we cannot make him so.“I think we should double the security team traveling with us. Just to be safe.”“You really are paranode.”“I’m Beta. I’m supposed to think of the things you do not.”I couldn’t argue with him there. It was what he trained for. To think of all the things that I n
Zaya POVAs soon as Godric entered our room, I started questioning him. My nerves had been bad since the moment he left the pack lands to meet with Mason and Mia.This would be his first time seeing Mason since the death of Evander and I was worried the meeting wouldn’t go well.What of it was a trap? What if they retaliated?Audrey kept me company the entire time, but still I remained anxious.“How was it?” I asked as soon as the bedroom door closed.He smiled slightly while approaching me. The smell of him quickly calmed my soul. He leaned down to kiss my cheek before answering.“It was okay.”“Just okay? What did you guys talk about? Were they hostile? Are there any signs of vengeance?I could tell from the look in his eyes, something happened.“Yes, it was okay. We talked about his new recruits. And the only thing hostile was Mia’s attitude.”I smirked. “Ah, yes. The infamous Mia.”I mentioned Mia while I was telling him about my life as the tribute. I told him that out of all the
Godric POVTensions ran high as the Elders debated Mason’s intentions. They held a meeting less than an hour after our return.Elder Grey yelled across the room. “We cannot assume they will start another war!”Elder Elias responded, “We cannot assume they will do nothing to avenge Evander.”One by one, they all started to shout over each other.“We’re talking about rogues here. They aren’t trained enough to lead a large-scale attack.”“You don’t need training to shift or carry a weapon.” Another said.Others agreed with him.“And you don’t need a sign from the Moon Goddess to know Alpha Mason is planning something.”Alex’s ears perked up at that comment.Elder John spoke up, “How are you going to defend the pack and we have yet to find out how Evander crossed our borders unprotected.”More whispers and more voices echoed in the room.The Elders were angry and impatient, but so was I. This unruly conduct wasn’t helping matters. Remembering my fathers words to keep the Elders in order,
POV Godric1 Month LaterIt took too long to get a response from Mason. He accepted the letters from the messengers that I sent to his territory, though he wouldn’t let them go past the border.I don’t blame him for being cautious, but I don’t appreciate my people not being able to gather any details.And I also don’t appreciate Mason’s lack of response. The first two letters, my people returned empty handed.The third letter, my people returned with a promise that he would call soon to talk.The elders were getting antsy and so was I. I expected a phone call within the week, but nothing.Then I realized, he was definitely stalling. He didn’t have a number to call. Every time we met with Evander, it was face to face. And agreeing to meet for the truce was done by letter.So I sent one last letter requesting him to meet on neutral ground today.We had much to discuss. The recent foot traffic from rogues was growing by the week and none of the surrounding Alpha’s were happy.Though none