“Ok, looks like we’ve got a lot to do in a little bit of time,” Hakeem says, projecting our tasks up on the screen for all to see. “First off, let’s take a vote. Do we all agree on moving to the Meteoric Rise Pack territory?” Hands are raised around the table, the vote completely unanimous. “Good.” Hakeem starts typing. “So we need to split the packs into six different locations and we’ve got to figure out how to get there.” Keegan speaks up. “Personally, I think that we need to have a trio at each location. With your augmented powers, you guys are our best bet for protection.” Murmurs of agreement are heard around the table, so we start splitting up the packs. The main packhouse is outside of Abilene. Obviously, Naomi and Slade, along with the rest of the Meteoric Rise Pack will be stationed there. But we also decide that Devin and Arya will go there. As the demi-gods of our group, it seemed like the best idea to put them in the center of the territory where they had ne

We finish a good two-thirds of the cake and half of the pretzels before I roll over on the blanket with a groan. “Shit! We shouldn’t have eaten that! I’m so freaking full.” “But it was so good!” Brandon grunts out next to me, holding his stomach. “I thought we were supposed to make good decisions as adults. We run a pack, have won a war, and have two pups. Why are we still doing stupid shit like this?” Zak whines. I chuckle and then hold my stomach. “Don’t make me laugh! That hurts.” We settle next to each other, my head cradled on Zak’s chest and Brandon’s head laying on my thigh. One of my hands is stroking Brandon’s hair, the other clasped in one of Zak’s hands. “Can you believe all the stuff that’s happened in a year? I mean at this time last year, we were all at the packhouse, celebrating the new year and my birthday with our folks. I was all worried about finding my mate in the morning and becoming Delta of the pack. And now, I’m Luna with two mates, twin pups, a

Brandon ushers me to head towards the playroom, so I lead our little trio that way. Once in the room, I turn on the light and see my present in the middle of the room, a big red bow on top of it. Just the sight of me makes me wetter, though I’m not exactly sure what it is. Folding my bottom lip between my teeth, my eyes remain focused on the black bench and circle it. It almost looks like a spanking bench with the long padded bench for my torso to lay on and the padded knee rests. But the knee rests are spread further apart than the typical spanking bench, wide enough for someone else to stand between. There is also a headrest, almost like one you would see at a massage parlor or a chiropractor, and armrests. Buckles line all the pads at where the arms, body, and knees go. The biggest difference between this bench and a spanking bench is the height. Though spanking benches can be any height, they are typically at a level for the submissive to kneel, lifting their ass in the a

The next morning, I’m checked by the doctors and released from the hospital. Marcus tries to insist that I go home with him, as does Arthur, but I need time to myself. I need to process everything that’s been going on. Grieve. Commune with Hecate. Worry. And just let myself miss my friend. I do allow Marcus and Arthur to drive me back to my house in one of the coven’s golf carts. They insisted that I relax and I was too consumed with my own emotions to really protest. The ride through the covendom is heartbreaking. Scorched earth. Rubble from fallen walls. Craters in the ground. Fallen trees. Our beautiful home destroyed. But my people are out. They are clearing roads and sidewalks so that we could accommodate Liv’s entire coven for the night before we move to the Meteoric Rise territory. They are passing out food to the workers and loading luggage into trucks and trailers. They are caring for each other in the wake of destruction. And it’s amazing. My people call o

I push away from Hecate, anger covering my features. “What do you mean that you told him? He killed himself because of something you told him?” “No, he didn’t. He sacrificed himself to make sure that you and the entire coven were safe,” Hecate says, her voice firm but caring. “He sacrificed himself because he loved you and he wanted you to live out your fate.” “And what is this fate that’s so important that my best friend died to save me?” I nearly scream in the face of my goddess. Hecate stares at me, silent for a moment in the face of my rage. “Do you really want to know?” There is a gravity in her voice, a meaning that I should pay attention to. But I don’t, too consumed by my grief, pain, and anger. “Yes!” I insist. The astral plane changes around us, the stars extinguishing, taking all the light with them. In the blackness, I feel the bed beneath me drop away and I am left on what feels like a cold, hard stone floor. From the darkness, I hear the sound of three wom