Prologue: Cohen

This novella is the 9^th book in the Guardian series, the 5^th in the Guardian Next Generation series. While it can be read as a stand-alone book, references will be made to other events and people without full description of those events here. It is recommended that you read the other books in this series before this one.

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 “I need your help, Emlyn,” I say as I pace back and forth in my office. I need to figure out how to get my mate here before the war and I need to figure out how to tell Emlyn that I want my mate as acting Luna, even though I just got Emlyn to agree and move here to do it.

“I thought that was kind of what I was doing here, Cohen,” she says. I go to run my hands through my long hair, but I forgot I put it up in a man-bun. I desperately need a haircut.

“I had planned to complete the Luna ceremony this week to make you an official pack member. But now, after hearing about the concerns for a pending war…” I stop, looking at her, hoping she’ll understand.

“I know who my mate is Emlyn. I’ve known for months. But she’s underage. At first, there was too much going on for me to say anything, but now with a war coming, I want her here with me. I need to know she’s safe and I can’t do that if she’s not here where I can keep an eye on her. Add to that all the mess that happened between you and Rich, and I want to make sure that there is no question in her mind that I’m her mate. I know I have a few more months but…”

“Wait….you’re not talking about my sister are you?” she asks.

“What? No. Not Riley,” I say, stressing her sister’s name and giving her a look. A smile begins to spread across her face.

“You’re mated to one of Richie’s sisters? Which one?”

“Malin.”  Not only is Emlyn Rich’s mate and therefore knows his sisters, but she’s also a Guardian. All of us have grown up together, the children of the Guardians, so we know each other very well. We’re like family. Our mothers even call each other their Guardian sisters.

She throws her head back and laughs out loud.

“It’s not funny, Emlyn. You have to help me. You know Rich is going to kill me when he finds out.”

“Oh Cohen, Richie is the least of your worries. If I were you, I’d be worried about Uncle Liam.”

I feel my stomach drop. Of all the Alphas in the previous generation, Alpha Liam is the most protective of his daughters. Maybe it's because he has so many, or maybe it’s because they are younger than the others in our generation, but Alpha Liam is not an Alpha I want to tangle with.

 I drop into my chair, putting my head in his hands. “What do I do? I need her here. And…” I look up at her. This is the moment of truth.

“You want to make her your acting Luna,” she guesses.

“Yes. Are you angry?”

“Honestly, no. Things with Richie and I are changing for the better. I know that being away from me and Leander is hard for him. And it’s harder for me now too. So maybe I can help get Malin settled and then I can move back to Shadow Falls,” she says.

Relief floods through me. Rich is a lucky man to have a mate and Luna who is so understanding. I adore Emlyn. We’re close in age and have always been very close friends. But she is not my mate, and I need Malin here with me.

“You’re the best, Emlyn!”

She smiles and stands, heading for the door.

“If you want Malin here, I suggest you go around Uncle Liam,” she says, turning back to me.

 “What do you mean?” I ask, confused.

“Go straight to Aunt Angel,” she says, smiling before walking out.

Of course!

“Thanks Em,” I call out.

I grab the phone and dial the number for Aunt Angel, hoping that it’s her that answers and not Uncle Liam.