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34. Gathering storm
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56
Lena WindsorThank you for reading!
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The Way You Taste 35. Crisis council
HOLDEN’S POINT OF VIEW Stepping into the Council Room, I can instantly feel the tension hanging heavy in the air. The room’s usually calm and orderly, soothing Father’s OCD. But today, it’s buzzing with uncertainty and worry. Beta Ricardo, Gamma Linda, Delta Andrew, and Elder Johnson sit around the massive wooden table, each with their tablets in hand and their heads leaned in, exchanging urgent whispers. Father is pacing near the fireplace, the flames flickering in his eyes. When Willow walks in behind me, surprise sweeps across the room. Eyebrows shoot up, and I can almost hear the wheels turning in everyone’s heads. "I see your mate is joining us," Father remarks, stopping in his tracks. His eyes move between Willow and me. There’s a faint smile on his lips, but I can sense the underlying scrutiny. He's weighing, assessing, observing how we handle the situation. Alice spins around, her eyes flashing with hurt and anger. “Everyone knew?” Her voice is barely a whisper, but it cut
The Way You Taste 36. On the brink of battle
HOLDEN’S POINT OF VIEW The second I'm out of the Council Room and in the Pack House bunker, fear and anxiety hit me head-on. There is no shame in admitting it, I’d be mad if I weren’t afraid in this situation. Ghost Pack is home to 1,533 werewolves, and this bunker is equipped to house 200 people, with enough food and water to keep them for an entire year. It’s the center of a spider web of underground tunnels leading to several other bunkers, which also have enough room, water, and food. All in all, we can keep our 1,533 pack members and an extra 200 safe and fed should we need to. The ghost of the Siege of Sandy Hills looms large over us, so we’ve prepared for it in the last 60 years. We’re ready to stand natural disasters, bombs, nuclear attacks, radiation, and biological weapons. Not that we ever thought anything other than rogue attacks and wars with other packs would ever happen, but hey, better safe than sorry. Right now, the atrium is alive with urgent activity. It’s like a
The Way You Taste 1. Fresh start
WILLOW’S POINT OF VIEW As I stand by the Ghost Pack territory border, I look back on everything that has led me to this decision. I take a deep breath in and let it out with a heavy sigh. My mother’s eyes are full of sympathy and understanding, but also longing. Longing for me when I’m not even gone yet. And maybe longing for this pack. The tears pooling in her eyes mirror mine. My father, on the other hand, looks stoic. I know he’s putting on a brave face, he would miss me almost as much as Mom would. Lachlan, my brother, couldn’t make it because he had to work. This was my last time driving my red Fiat 500 for the next three months, so my parents came separately in Dad’s car. Dad’s old bitterness doesn’t allow him to step foot into Ghost Pack territory. Of course, that made Mom stay behind too. “Be brave, hun,” Mom says, holding her sobs. “You can always call us.” “Don’t baby her, Nora. She should focus on her training. Don’t call us until after boot camp,” Dad says roughly
The Way You Taste 2. Man of science
HOLDEN’S POINT OF VIEW I can hear Nick skipping down the stairs and humming an upbeat song. If I didn’t know the guy as well as I do, I’d say he just got laid. “Morning, Alpha,” he says. “Beta” I reply. “Princess. Dragon. Satan” he nods at my siblings. Darcy, a.k.a. Satan, my youngest half-brother, blows raspberries at Nick, who mimics him. Soon, Sophie, my half-sister, and Dorian, my other half-brother, join them and they’re seasoning my breakfast with their collective spit. Great. Chef’s kiss. Which one of them is five, again? “Please eat, Nick. I’m in a hurry today. I have lab duty all day and I want to take a look at the barracks before I leave” I say. “Sure. Olivier is already there” my Beta replies. “Course he is” I chuckle. Olivier is one of my closest friends, and the only reason he isn’t a future ranked wolf is I ran out of ranks… In five years, when I become Alpha, Nick will be my Beta, Rhys will be my Gamma, and Sally will be my Delta. Olivier will be right
The Way You Taste 3. The Cadet Program
WILLOW’S POINT OF VIEW The Barracks are located not too far from the Pack House. They are four three-story high shipping container-style buildings, placed around an atrium. This atrium is what they call the Meeting Hall. A horde of young werewolves with smiley faces and bright eyes are in the Hall. I know there are 25 of us because that’s their yearly limit of incoming Cadets. I look around, taking in as many details as I can. There’s a small stage, and when four people walk into it, the Hall goes silent. I can feel their auras, and Jamie makes me bow my head. As a lone wolf living amongst humans, I haven’t had many chances of meeting ranked wolves, but right now, their four combined auras are overwhelming. I feel the urge to submit, to show that I am at their service. I feel the urge to obey and protect them. “They’re our leaders, chosen by the Goddess to guide us. It is our duty and pleasure to serve them,” Jamie says. I scoff. That feels like a bit of a stretch to me, but
The Way You Taste 4. What life will be like
WILLOW’S POINT OF VIEW “We are very happy to have you here,” Olivier steps forwards and says. “Ghost Pack is not at war, it hasn’t been at war or close to it for decades, but the Cadet Program is a most welcome spoil of war. It took Alpha Michael II a war to realize that his pack’s education and training were lacking, and now we honor him and all those who lost their lives in the Siege of Sandy Hills by ensuring their legacy endures.” “I like this guy,” Jamie purrs. “Our goal is not to train soldiers to win a war, our goal is to make every able-bodied pack member the living, breathing embodiment of what Ghost Pack stands for. We stand for education. We stand for strength. We stand for innovation. We stand for unity. We stand for equal rights. And we stand together.” “Heck, I’d vote for him,” someone next to me whispers, and I snort. A few heads turn our way, sporting scowls and frowns. “We believe each pack member should know the basics of defending themselves, but they shoul
The Way You Taste 5. The Fifth Cohort
WILLOW’S POINT OF VIEW CONTENT WARNING: TRANSPHOBIC AND ABLEIST LANGUAGE Sally leads us to a waiting room, and when my name is called out, I walk into Dr. Shaurya Patel’s office. I’m mesmerized by how dark her shiny eyes are – almost like a wolf’s. After taking my medical history and performing some routine exams, she looks up from her computer and beams at me. “You’re all set, deary,” she says. “Now, I will give you your first dose of MBS. As you’ve been informed in your preliminary interviews, you also have the option of taking birth control with it. Is that something you would like?” Heat creeps into my cheeks, and Dr. Patel seems to notice. “This is a judgment-free zone, Willow,” she says in a motherly tone, with a tight-lipped smile. “I don’t care what your sex life is like, I’m just offering the option of taking it along with your monthly MBS.” I am currently on the pill, but that’s not something I’ve ever been allowed to discuss openly. I never got to visit a doctor i
The Way You Taste 6. The big day
HOLDEN’S POINT OF VIEW All day long, Hendrix continues to get on my nerves. He’s mad we’re not taking the lead in the Cadet Program this year. He’s mad I’m “wasting my time” studying biochemistry instead of leading our people. He’s mad I’m not Alpha yet. He’s mad I’m not mated yet. He’s mad I’m not there welcoming the Cadets on their arrival. He’s mad I’m thinking in a human way. He’s mad I’m thinking too loudly. He might as well be mad I’m breathing. In previous years, while I was in college, I was able to take a more prominent role in the Program. Hendrix was very happy with that. Both of us are really passionate about improving the quality of life in Ghost Pack, and the Cadet Program is one way to do that. But, as a grad student, I’ll be less involved in the next few years. Within our territory, unbeknownst to most humans, we have a thriving town. We host a couple family-run markets, restaurants showcasing the cultural diversity in our pack, a small movie theater, apparel sto
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The Way You Taste 36. On the brink of battle
HOLDEN’S POINT OF VIEW The second I'm out of the Council Room and in the Pack House bunker, fear and anxiety hit me head-on. There is no shame in admitting it, I’d be mad if I weren’t afraid in this situation. Ghost Pack is home to 1,533 werewolves, and this bunker is equipped to house 200 people, with enough food and water to keep them for an entire year. It’s the center of a spider web of underground tunnels leading to several other bunkers, which also have enough room, water, and food. All in all, we can keep our 1,533 pack members and an extra 200 safe and fed should we need to. The ghost of the Siege of Sandy Hills looms large over us, so we’ve prepared for it in the last 60 years. We’re ready to stand natural disasters, bombs, nuclear attacks, radiation, and biological weapons. Not that we ever thought anything other than rogue attacks and wars with other packs would ever happen, but hey, better safe than sorry. Right now, the atrium is alive with urgent activity. It’s like a
The Way You Taste 35. Crisis council
HOLDEN’S POINT OF VIEW Stepping into the Council Room, I can instantly feel the tension hanging heavy in the air. The room’s usually calm and orderly, soothing Father’s OCD. But today, it’s buzzing with uncertainty and worry. Beta Ricardo, Gamma Linda, Delta Andrew, and Elder Johnson sit around the massive wooden table, each with their tablets in hand and their heads leaned in, exchanging urgent whispers. Father is pacing near the fireplace, the flames flickering in his eyes. When Willow walks in behind me, surprise sweeps across the room. Eyebrows shoot up, and I can almost hear the wheels turning in everyone’s heads. "I see your mate is joining us," Father remarks, stopping in his tracks. His eyes move between Willow and me. There’s a faint smile on his lips, but I can sense the underlying scrutiny. He's weighing, assessing, observing how we handle the situation. Alice spins around, her eyes flashing with hurt and anger. “Everyone knew?” Her voice is barely a whisper, but it cut
The Way You Taste 34. Gathering storm
WILLOW’S POINT OF VIEW The stables hum with the usual noise and chatter, as hay and horses give off their familiar scents – scents I’ve come to love. Today, I’m on brushing duty. There’s something oddly soothing about the brush moving rhythmically against a horse’s coat, seeing how shiny it gets, it’s like a living masterpiece of muscle and power. Harper is still a bitch, but I’ve noticed some subtle changes. Our recent cohort training sections have been pushing us together. The exercises require us to rely on each other for defense and attack, to protect, and to be vulnerable. And then there’s the strategy sessions, where we sit together, maps and plans spread out in front of us. Our voices overlapping and our ideas clashing and merging… We’re learning to value each other’s perspectives, to listen and compromise, to create plans that use both our collective and individual strengths. Somewhere along the line, the shaky foundation of trust was built, and it’s kinda awesome. The pas
The Way You Taste 33. Shadows of legacy
WILLOW’S POINT OF VIEW I stand in formation with my fellow Cadets in the meeting hall, eyes glued on the stage. There are unfamiliar faces among the ranked wolves, but I don’t make any effort to guess who they are. All I can see is Holden. We were told he wasn’t going to be involved in training this year because of his studies. Yet, here he is, on stage, his eyes scanning the crowd, embodying the strength and poise of a future Alpha. He steps forward, clearing his throat. “Welcome, everyone,” he says, his voice clear and steady. “Today, we take the next step in your training. You know about the attack on the Shell and the threat it could mean for our pack. So, we’re going to up our game. I’ve reached out to our allies and asked them to help us. Today, we have the honor of being joined by very special guests. Gathering Storm Pack has sent us an elite squad of 15 warriors to share their wisdom, with their captain, Seth. And Silver Hill Pack has sent Finn, their Gamma, and their futur
The Way You Taste 32. Testing love
WILLOW’S POINT OF VIEW My heart thuds loudly in my chest as I enter the lab, eager to spend time with my mate, to get closer to him. The first thing to hit me is the sterility of it all. How it’s cold, white, clean, clinical. So different from the warmth and intimacy Holden and I shared just last night. But it’s not the lab itself that hits me like a gut punch, that makes my legs freeze and my blood boil. No, it’s the tall, lean form of a blonde man in a white lab coat. Dr. Tremblay, it has to be. Holden’s boss and research advisor. It seems like we’re back to Science Holden today. Not only does he want to keep his distance from me, but he also wants to put a barrier between us. He’s doing exactly what he said he wouldn’t. Yesterday was only a dream, and now I’m back to the sad reality. I feel betrayed. “Willow,” Holden is at my side in an instant, his words rushing out of him with a hint of nervousness. “Look, I should’ve given you a heads up, but Dr. Tremblay is here to help
The Way You Taste 31. Forging strategies
HOLDEN’S POINT OF VIEW The air in the Council Room is humming with tension, each face portraying a mix of worry and determination. It’s like stepping into a hive of focused bees, everyone buzzing with energy and eager to do their job. Father stands at the head of the table, and I take my seat next to him, drawing from his calm energy to steady my own buzzing nerves. “Thank you all for being here,” Father begins, his voice a pillar of strength, “our efforts over the past few days have been monumental. But we’re still far from solving this crisis. We need to brainstorm and piece together every bit of information we have. Holden, would you begin?” Taking a deep breath, I stand up. Hendrix nudges me gently with resolve. “The other Temple Packs haven’t seen any similar incidents,” I say, infusing my voice with as much determination as I can. The Temple packs, of course, are the ones informally referred to as the “Temple Dynasty”: Ghost Pack, Gathering Storm Pack, Shallow Creek Pack, an
The Way You Taste 30. Crossroads
HOLDEN’S POINT OF VIEW “HOLDENNNN!” Father’s voice invades my head, piercing the bubble of post-sex bliss I was in. Shit. “My office, now,” he says in a homicidal tone. Realization washes over me, and a pit forms in my stomach, like a black hole consuming all the thrill I was reveling in just seconds ago. What in the heat of the moment felt so natural, so right, now mixes with the sharp pang of embarrassment and shame. I curse my recklessness, my impulsivity. As I enter Father’s office, I’m greeted by the wall lined with portraits of previous Alphas and their Lunas, going all the way back to the 1800s. Their silent eyes judge me, like they’re Harry Potter portraits about to chew me off. Under their stares, I feel vulnerable, exposed. It’s suffocating. Right now, I feel like I’m four inches tall. Father looks beyond pissed. Before I can find the right words to explain myself, he speaks. “Holden,” his voice is laced with a mix of disappointment and anger, “having sex in public
The Way You Taste 29. The morning after
WILLOW’S POINT OF VIEW I wake up to a sweet ache in my body, reminding me of how hard my mate fucked me last night, marking every part of me as his. Well, except for ACTUALLY marking me. But I’m more convinced than ever that we’re on the right path to fully becoming mates, to fully accepting our bond—step by uncertain step. Last night, everything changed. I could see it in the way Holden acted throughout our date, I could hear it in his words as he opened up to me about things I’m not sure he had even admitted to himself, and I could feel it in the way we fucked passionately. “It was a wild ride, huh?” Jamie nudges me cheekily. “Oh, I hope I get to ride that cock soon…” I muse. As I go through my morning routine, I look back on everything that happened with a smile on my lips. Every gesture, every kiss, is an echo of our deepened connection. Yet, amidst all the warm fuzzy feelings, a shadow of doubt creeps in. I have to hold on to the belief that things changed so much that not
The Way You Taste 28. Leap of faith
HOLDEN’S POINT OF VIEW We then reach a park, and my feet don’t need a guide to take me towards an ancient tree that stands out from the rest. It calls to me. The Eternal Tree. It's huge, with branches stretching out like wise old arms, and its leaves are perpetually green. As we approach it, a warm, calming energy envelopes us, and I take a glance at Willow. She looks so… Peaceful. “Do you feel that?” she asks, her voice soft, almost reverent. “It’s like… Like the tree is alive. More than just a plant. It’s… sentient.” “It’s a portal, Willow,” I smile. “A crossing between worlds. It leads to the fae realm.” I turn my eyes to my mate, taking in her true self. She’s like an open book, with welcoming arms. She’s never been anything but honest and open with me, inviting me in, no pretenses, just pure, inviting honesty. The need to share, to unload, takes over me and, for once, I just give in. “You know,” I start, the words tumbling out in a rush. “All my life, I’ve tried to under
