Prologue

He watched from behind the trees as she said goodbye to his family, as his family laughed and cried with her, he watched as his family told her to come back. She was the enemy!! They shouldn’t be wasting their tears on her! She’d helped the hunters kill thousands of them, and here they were being all mushy. He ground his teeth together, struggling to maintain his wolf. It shouldn’t be like this! He never had trouble containing his wolf before, but then that… thing came into the picture and made everything so fucking complicated. He watched as she looked around, for him, and smile slightly when she saw him. He barely resisted baring his fangs at her.
She felt the connection, he knew she did, and she had yet to come to him about it. Good thing she didn’t, too, because he would’ve hated to have to actually reject her in front of everyone. He had never actually seen a rejecting, but he knew how Molly felt after Tom rejected her. He didn’t want his mate to go through that much pain… but he sure as hell wanted his enemy to feel that much pain. Sarah motioned him over with her head, seeing as her hands were filled with the little baby boy she decided to call Ander. If you asked him, that was betrayal. They agreed, when they wee ten, that there first bon child would be named after each other. Brandon had no clue where the hell Ander came from. He walked over sullenly, keeping his eyes on his friend and her body.
The elders had said that there had been cases where female Alpha’s didn’t know they were pregnant. Something about the duty of being Alpha overriding the feeling of being pregnant. Retarded but, hey, what are you supposed to do? He stood by Sarah and looked down at the baby boy. His skin was the color of light caramel and he had a small smattering of brown hair with strings of orange. He was going to look strange when he grew up.
“Don’t you want to say goodbye to your mate?” She asked under her breath so Valerie wouldn’t hear.
“I’d rather gouge my eyeballs out, no thanks.” He grumbled and yelped in pain when Sarah dug her heel into his instep.
“Fine, I’ll say bye.” He grumbled and walked to Valerie. The pack spread apart like the Red Sea for him, leading him straight to Valerie. Her duffel bag of clothing she brought slung over her shoulder and her arms were crossed.
“Well, well. If it isn’t Miss Priss. Come to see me off, have you?” She asked in a haughty voice with a sly smile. God her lips look delicious

 

, his wolf commented. Brandon shook his head slightly and looked her in the eyes. Now or never

, he told himself.
“Actually no, I came to formally tell you… I, Brandon Mitchell, reject you, Valerie Simmons, as my mate.” His heart seemed to explode in his chest be he didn’t allow any emotion to show.

Her poor little heart seemed to break into thousands of microscopic pieces, then combust in flame, then be crushed by a cement block. All the emotions that ran through he body she didn’t let show. The only thing she allowed herself to show was emptiness. She’d fooled herself when she thought that when the war ended so would his hatred towards her. It didn’t If anything it only intensified. It didn’t help that he was angry because he had to stay and protect the children and the pregnant people, and that he growled at her whenever she tried to ask for anything. She should’ve dropped his ass again, right there and right then, but he had a duty and she didn’t want to take that from him. So she held her piece. The only thing stopping her from slapping the ever loving shit out of him was the fact that her heart was breaking.
“Ok, you’ve made your decision. I won’t try to change your mind. Now, if you’ll excuse me I’m going to go say bye to the babies.” She said, keeping her voice strong and steady. She knew she had all the eyes of the pack, she just didn’t care. Sarah watched her with teary eyes as she neared. She didn’t want them to cry for her, but she couldn’t stomach to stay there any longer.
“Bye little Ander, bye little Anna. It was nice that I got to see a werewolf legend.” She said, her eyes landing on Drew. You would think he wouldn’t look all that scary with a pink receiving blanket on his shoulder and a little girl in his arms… you’d be wrong.
“Very glad I could meet your acquaintance. I would hug you, but seeing as my mate here is a trained killer and very territorial I don’t think I should. That and I’m pretty sure she just puked on my shirt.” Sarah rolled her eyes but didn’t say anything to prove him wrong. Sammy stood there, rocking a little baby boy in her arms. Mark stood next to her, his amber eyes watching her.
“I mean her no harm.” Valerie told the boy and slowly his eyes dimmed down to their regular black.
“It was really nice to meet you Valerie.” Sammy said with a 1000- watt smile.
“It was nice to meet you too. He is really cute, he’s gonna break hearts when he gets older.” The smile dimmed a little and sorrow filled her eyes.
“Let’s hope not, right?” She asked, her voice wavering. Valerie bit her lip and thanked God that the cab driver honked.
“That’s me.” There was a chorus of ‘Bye Valerie’s’ from the whole lot of them, except for Brandon. She closed the door and looked out the window and into his eyes. Later, she thought to herself, you’ll see me later.

Chapter 1

8 YEARS LATER

He ducked as another thing was thrown past his head.
“I said pass it, not launch it Luna!!!” Alissa Screamed as she caught it easily.
“You still caught it, did you not?!” Luna Rosa screamed back.
“My God! You’re both in the same damn room, there is no need to scream!!” Brandon boomed, the vein in his neck hinting at his anger.
“What is he talking about?” Alissa screamed to Luna as he twin , Jesse, strolled in.
“Would you guys leave the poor man alone?” He screamed to the girls. Then, as a family, they laughed.
“I swear to all that is Holy Brandon, if you make my children yell one more time I will stab you in the eye with a fucking spoon!!” Molly yelled from upstairs.
“How come it’s always me that gets in trouble when it is obviously their fault!?” He yelled at her.
“Brandon, when are you going to learn? Nothing is ever our fault. We are the ‘perfect, perfect creations’, we could never do anything wrong.” Cara said as she strolled past her siblings to the fridge. She took out an apple, only to have it taken by a blur. She huffed and took out another apple, only to have it taken, again, by a different blur.
“The next person that does it will die by my hands today.” She growled and reached for another apple. Nothing happened. She took one bite and a blur sped past her, but not before she jumped on it. They both fell down to reveal the culprit.
“Ok, Ok. I’m sorry, it was just so tempting.” Jesse yelled out, not sounding one but contrite, as he laughed.
“So tempting my Great Aunt Fannie!” Cara yelled and tugged on his hair. Their father stopped at the threshold of the kitchen and looked at his children.
“Where are the youngest?” He asked, not caring that two of his kids were in a brawl. Luna looked up at her father and with all honesty answered.
“On the roof.”


Molly paced in front of all of them, including Brandon, in the living room. All of her children sat there in front of her. The youngest were sitting on the floor to her right, all the eldest were sitting in front of her. Thomas hung in back of her, to help her regain her temper if it were to get the best of her.
“Anyone care to explain why the youngest were on the roof playing with play-doh?” She asked calmly and Cara raised her hand. Molly saw all the eldest purse their lips to keep from laughing, to be honest she struggled to hold in laughter herself. But she had to be their mom, and as their mom she had to ask.
“Yes, Cara?”
“Well, they said they wanted to go outside and play explorer. So, we, being the brilliant elder siblings, decided to help them out. They could’ve gotten lost in the forest, and their sense of smell isn’t all that great. So we put them on the roof so they could be mountain climbers. They brought the play-doh for food, because when you go on a mountain expedition, you can’t not have food.” She said, her voice shaking with trying to hold in her laughter.
“Mhm, so-“ Jesse raised his hand and Molly raised a brow.
“Yes, Jesse?”
“I know you’re going to ask ‘why weren’t they wearing anything but diapers?’ that was just in case they had to use the bathroom. We didn’t want them to get in trouble because they went tinkle or poo-poo on their selves.” By then end of it all Molly fell to the ground laughing. Brandon chuckled and shook his head, Thomas tried to remain stoic. He really did, but when Libby, his youngest, spoke up he couldn’t hold it in.
“I accidentwy made da doody, me sowwy.”


“Family!!! I’m here!!!” Sammy yelled out as the door slammed behind her.
“Jake.” She chastised softly.
“What, the wind pulled the door.” He grumbled, shaking his hair out of your face.
“You do realize they’re going to bother you about your hair?” She told him, ruffling it up.
“Mom.” He whined and pushed her hand away softly.
“I’m just trying-“
“JAKE!! MY BROTHER FROM MY SISTER!!!” Jesse yelled and jumped from the second floor banister.
“He’s your cousin stupid.” Cara said, sliding down the railing of the stairs.
“JAKE!! MY COUSIN FROM MY SISTER!!!” Jesse yelled, throwing s pointed look to his younger sister as she stepped next to him. A light tinkling hit her ears and Sammy looked up to find LunaRosa swinging on the glass chandelier.
“You guys are both wrong. He’s our nephew.” She grumbled, flipping off and landing on Jake’s back. He rolled his eyes as he caught her easily and she gave him a noogie.
“You know what, both you guys can go suck a duck.” Jesse grumbled as his twin sidled up next to him.
“’Sup JJ.” She said, giving him a nod.
“Thank you, for using my whole name.” JJ said, letting go of his aunt and smiling at his family.
“No prob bob!” Alissa yelled, making everyone chortle.
“Jake is here!” Aubrey yelled from upstairs, making everyone run down. Sammy sucked in a rush of air as Lina, her five year old baby sister, jumped from the banister, onto Jesse’s back, and then tackle her son.
“JAKE!!! WE MISSED YOU!!” She shrieked, making Sammy’s ears damn near explode.
“I missed him more than you!” Aubrey yelled, trying to pull Lina off of Jake.
“Nuh uh, I missed him mo dan both you.” Libby cried out, trying to tug Jake to her.
“A little help here mom.” Jake rasped out and Sammy looked at her brothers and sisters.
“Where’s mom?”
“In the kitchen with dad.” Alissa said then looked to Jake.
“You’re not going to help him are you?” She looked down as her son quickly became crushed under a mountain of Greene’s.
“Nah, he wanted to come.”

Chapter 2

Sammy made her way through the large house that was large enough to house at least 3 packs. When Luna had turned five and her parents, by adoption, realized that their family was quickly growing they realized they couldn't stay with the Houston pack anymore. So, saying their final goodbye's, they hightailed it out of there and moved to the neighboring state. All of the pack bad followed,though, because Thomas hadn't wanted to neglect his Alpha duty.
"Is that my favorite daughter I hear?" Molly, her adopted mother yelled from some room down the hall.
"No, this isn't Luna. But this is your first daughter to give you grandkids." Sammy said half heartedly. Everyone knew that LunaRosa was Molly's favorite child, Sammy would try her best to hide how much that knowledge ached her heart, but a wolf could only do so much.
"Oh my dear sweet lord!!! Samantha!! It's been ages!!" Her mother yelled coming from the room all the way at the end of the long hall.
"Mom, I was here last month." Sammy said jokingly, making her mother roll her eyes and suck Sammy into a vaccum tight hug.
"Is my grandson here? Or are you trying to hide him from us... Again." Sammy had tried to protect her son from the craziness of the Greenes, not hide him from them true. Sometimes he did the hiding all on his own, refusing to come to what many people in this town referred to as the 'looneybin'.
"He's downstairs getting mauled by your children." She said with a slight wave of her hand, shrugging a shoulder.
"And... You're letting.this happen?" Molly asked, her brow crinkling in confusion.
"He wanted to come."
"He.. wanted to... Come?" Molly repeated slowly, her arms slinking jack to her sides.
"He's worried about me." Sammy said, wringing her hands.
"Why would he have reason to worry? Sam, why are you skirting around this? What's going on? Do I need to get your father?"
"He's already here, now what's this I hear about my grandson being worried?" Thomas asked, coming from the same room. Sammy knew it was going to have to come out.
"I've been feeling him. Dreaming about him and that day. Apparently I scream for Jake to come back. Jj's wolf tells him that I need him. He's losing sleep because of whatever the hell is happening to me. I was hoping you guys could help or keep him here for a couple of days so he can get some sort of rest."
"We can't help but we can keep him here for a few days.". Thomas said as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"W-why can't we help her?!" Molly damn near screeched, her eyes churning with determination.
"Because she's suffering from withdrawals. We can't help with that." Thomas said warily, suddenly feeling all of the feelings he had felt during his withdrawals. Nausea, insomnia, agitated, hot tempered and most of all tired.
"Well who can?" His mate asked, her voice laced with determination and anger at her pups pain.
"Jake. Only Jake can help her with that."


Brandon grunted as he held the two sisters apart. They didn’t make it easy for him either, kicking and pulling and scratching. He didn’t know how the fight started, he just knew it was going down. One minute Lina and Aubrey were calm, and on other sides of the living room, and then bam! They were at each others throats, scratching and growling. JJ sat back on the couch with the oldest, watching the two youngest fight over absolutely nothing.
“How long do you think they’ll last?” Jesses, asked, his emerald eyes watching the movements of the two pups in front of them.
“Last time it lasted until dad came down and broke it up. But dad is upstairs talking with the eldest and mom. He won’t come down for a simple fight.” Cara said, then looked at her siblings with big green eyes that flashed to amber for a second, revealing her mischievous thoughts.
“I say we give him something to come down for.” She looked to Rosa who wore a similar look to hers. The oldest stood up as a unit and snuck to the kitchen. They weren’t really ‘allowed’, per se, into the kitchen without adult supervision. A little incident last Halloween. It wasn’t their fault that they had added way too much baking soda. The printer had smudged the writing. They thought it said two cups, when really it said two teaspoons. And, again, it wasn’t their fault that the food coloring was too strong and stained the youngest’s face. What were they doing near the pot, why were they eating things that tasted solely like baking soda?! Before they could even make it to the threshold of the kitchen a blur tackled them down and they groaned automatically knowing who it was.
“JJ dude, you know I love you right? But the more you use your speed, the more I’m starting to hate you. You don’t wanna be on my list, bro, you do not want to be on my list.” Jesse said, making them all roll their eyes.
“You guys have to stay in the living room. You’re not allowed in the kitchen with out grandma or grandpa or Brandon.” JJ said, not letting the lot of them up.
“You guys to have to stay in the living room. You’re not allowed in the kitchen without grandma or grandpa or Brandon.” Cara said in a whiney voice, making them snicker.
“Are you gonna let us up?” Alissa asked, being on the bottom she was kind of uncomfortable.
“No, because you guys are either gonna run into the kitchen, or you’re going to try to fight me, or both. I’m not stupid.” JJ said, putting all his weight on them. They groaned and tried to escape, but he merely pushed down more.
“Fine! We’ll sit back on the couch like good little wolves!” Cara growled, not liking being under pressure one bit.
“I don’t believe that at all, I think that you’re going to-“
“JJ, we’re leaving!” Sammy growled, storming down the stairs and straight to the door. JJ shot up, his wolf sensing something wrong with their mother.
“Sammy! You can’t just run every time he’s mentioned!” Molly said, running down after her, with her mate in tow.
“Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do! I’m 19 mom, I can make my own damn decisions. I decide to leave before I punch something. I also decide I don’t need him for anything. I’ve been fine on my own for the past 8 years! Why is this happening now?!” Sammy turned and yelled at her parents.
“Because, this is the time a normal wolf finds their mate. You’ve already met yours, your wolf is feeling lonely. That’s what’s causing it. You’re wolf is dreaming about him and it causes her pain, the closest wolf next to you, because your mate and your father are Alpha’s, will come to see what’s wrong. JJ just happens to be the closest wolf next to you and your pup, he will console you. He will lose sleep and his wolf will become vile and ill tempered. We understand if you leave… I understand if you leave, but you can’t take him with you right now. Not if you want him to be happy.” Everyone stilled at the last sentence and tears pricked Samantha’s eyes.
“You want me to give him to you? You want me to give my son to you!? All that I have!?” She shrieked, her heart breaking at the news. JJ shook his head and started to walk toward his mom. A small hand stopped him from going, he looked down to see Cara with a frown on he face shaking her head softly. Another hand fell on his other shoulder that belonged to Jesse.
“It’s for the best that he stays with us. Don’t you want him to be happy? Don’t you want his wolf to grow normally, and not through having to care for you?”
“Don’t! Don’t play that game with me! It’s for the best that he stays with his mom!”
“Is it for the best to see his mom in pain, constantly, all day every day?” Sammy quieted as tears fell down her cheeks.
“He’s all that I have dad.” She whispered, afraid that more yelling would break her already fragile heart.
“I know, love, but he has to stay with us.” She nodded in defeat and walked to her son. He looked so much like the mate who had walked out on her eight years ago, sometimes it pained her. His black hair, that he had made go over his eyes, was naturally spikey. How he managed to comb it down and not have it sticking out marveled her. His blue eyes watched her with wary eyes as she grew closer. His wolf didn’t like the fact that their mother was crying, didn’t like that their mother was in pain.
“I have to go, Ok baby? You’re gonna be alright here. Your grandmother and grandfather will take of you, so will your uncles and aunts. Someday-“
“No! You can’t leave me! I won’ let you!” He shrieked, a tear flying from hi eye.
“Baby, this has to be done. This is for you-“
“Don’t lie to me. This is for you, because you’re just like him. Things are getting rough and people are telling you things, so you leave! I won’t let you, though! Because you love me and you don’t want to leave me!” He yelled to her breaking her heart even more. She got to her knees in front of him and kissed his forehead.
“Baby-“
“Don’t baby me!”
“This is for you!!” She boomed, silencing him. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
“This is for you.” She said again softly.
“You know I’m not one to break promises. I don’t wanna hurt you but I need to breath. At the end of it all you’re still my best friend, but there’s something inside that I need to release. Which way is right, which way is wrong, how do I say that I need to move on. You know we headed separate ways.” She sang to him softly, she heard the soft gasp come from her mother, but she focused on her words. She focused on calming him and telling him that she need to go.
“You’ve given me more than I can return, but there’s oh so much that you deserve. There’s nothing to say, nothing to do. I’ve nothing to give, I must leave without you. You know we headed separate ways. I have to go, baby, I can’t stay. This is for you. If you got hurt, I couldn’t live with myself. I’m sorry. I’m just… so sorry.” She said to him softly, wrapping him in a hug. She wouldn’t see him anytime soon, she couldn’t until she got her shit together. She got up and looked to her siblings. They gave her a slight nod and she gave one back. She looked to her father who looked to her with pity.
“Take care of my pup, Alpha, or I will come after you. Mate or no. If any harm comes to him, emotionally or other wise, you will die by my hands.” She growled to him, ignoring her mother’s warning growl. Then, with a second look to her son, she left the ‘looneybin’.

Chapter 3

Brandon let go of little Aubrey and Lina and walked to Molly and Brandon.
“She’s not staying in the pack is she?” He asked and Molly shook her head.
“Get someone to go to their apartment and gather his clothes.” Thomas said, walking to the young boy who had just lost his mother. Brandon looked to Molly, who hadn’t taken her eyes off the door, and sighed.
“You gonna be Ok?” He asked her softly and she looked to him.
“My daughter just left in a flurry of tears and threats. Do you think I’m Ok?” She asked him sarcastically and he rolled his eyes.
“Flurry of tears and threats? Really?”
“What? I thought it was cool. She left Brandon, she left hurt and that’s my fault. I let my daughter down.” Molly looked down and rubbed her upper arm.
“She wasn’t really your daughter. If you think about it.” Brandon said, trying to make things lighter.
“Yes. She. Was.” Molly said through clenched teeth, her eyes snapping to amber, enunciating every word.
“No she wasn’t. You didn’t give birth to her, you didn’t nurse her. The only thing you did was feed her, give her a shelter, and clothe her.”
“Mother Moon didn’t give birth to you, she didn’t nurse you. The only thing she gave you was your life.” Molly said, crossing her arms and pursing he lips.
“You didn’t give her life.”
“I gave her a new one. A chance to start over and she thrived in it.” Brandon said nothing to that because he had nothing to say. She was right, but he wouldn’t say it. Not ever.
“That’s what I thought. I’m not cooking tonight, because I’m so emotional. Call the pizza place and get 10 meat lovers pizza, in case the pack comes over for another game night.” That would be the fifth game night this week. As he went to bade his Alpha’s wishes a thought zoomed to the front of his mind. Why aren’t I withdrawing?

Brandon watched as the Greene family ate in shock and silence. Cara hadn’t left JJ’s side since his mother left, and Molly hadn’t said anything at all.
“Lina, how’s the school play coming along?” Thomas asked, desperately trying to spark some life into his family.
“It’s pretty good. Most of the kids are really improving in their singing.” Lina said, picking at her pizza.
“By ‘improving on their singing’ she means she’s going to be the only one actually singing in that play. All the other kids are going to be lip synching their hearts out.” Jesse grumbled, making a laugh go around the room.
“I’m sure those children can sing beautifully.” Molly said, waving off Jesse’s comment.
“Yeah, if you call this singing.” Luna said, picking up her knife and scratching it on the plate. They all reached up an covered their ears. She smiled and nodded once, putting down her fork.
“That’s what I do too!” She exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air in exasperation.
“Everyone has their own way of singing. Some do it real low, some do it real high. That’s just how the world works nowadays.” Molly explained, taking a bite out of her chicken wing.
“Rudolph da red nose reindeer. Had a really shiny nose. And if you ever saw him, you would even say it gwows. All of da reindeer used to laugh and cawed him names, dey never wet poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games. Den one stormy Christmas eve, Santa came to say ‘Rudolph wif your nose so bright, won’t you guide my sway tonight’. Den how de reindeers wuved him, as dey shouted out wif glee. Rudolph da red nose reindeer. You’ll go down in histowy!” Libby sang, standing on top of her cheer. For a little girl her voice sure was big.
“That was beautiful Libby, thank you.” Brandon said, making the little girls green eyes shoot to his.
“I was just trwying to show mommy how it was supposed to sound when you sing. Not wike da plates.” She said, blushing bashfully.
“You’ve got to remember Libby, most little three year olds don’t sound like that.” Alissa said softly, not trying to appear too harsh.
“Yeah. You only sound that way because you’re a Greene. Might have something to do with the wolf genes, but it’s most likely the Greene part.” Jesse added, making the table laugh. All, but one.
“You guys are so self centered. You don’t care about anybody but yourself. Even when it’s not about you, you have to weasel your way into it. You people make me sick.” JJ said, a look of pure disgust on his face.
“It was only a joke. Something used to make other’s laugh. If you got your head out of your butt, maybe you would know one when you heard one.” Jesse said, biting into his pizza seemingly without a care. But Brandon knew other wise. He saw how Jesse’s jaw tightened, and his eyes flashed amber quickly.
“I know a joke when I hear one. But I also know the difference between a jokester and a conceited person. You are the latter.”
“Who do you think you are?” Jesse asked, standing up and glaring down at his nephew. Alissa stood too, putting her hand on her twin’s shoulder.
“Jess, stop-“ Alissa tried to say, but was cut off when JJ stood up and glared at him.
“I think I’m the only one that actually makes sense out of the whole lot of you!” He growled, making Jesse snarl. It was one thing to insult a wolf, but insult his pack and he’s coming after you.
“You think you make sense!? Do you really think that!? Why don’t I inform you how much sense you actually make!” Jesse growled out to him, his fists forming hard balls by his side.
“Jesse, enough.” Cara said, standing up and throwing a pointed look at her brother. The only one of the eldest who hadn’t stood yet was Rosa, and she didn’t plan to. At least not yet.
“No, no. He thinks he makes sense. He doesn’t. You are the product of an accident, humans call it rape I believe. The only person who wanted to keep you was your mother, and that was because she wanted a kid and your dad didn’t. As soon as he found out, though, he left. You are the prime reason why your father isn’t around! It’s your fault that he left her! Your fault that she practically starved herself after he left! And your fault that she cries herself to sleep! Every night! Hoping and praying that your mistake, your ‘sense’ as you like to call it, would wear off and he would come back to her!” Jesse yelled, making everything still and time stop. Luna looked between the two then at Brandon. She shrugged and took a bite of pizza. Strange little girl, thought Brandon.
“Jesse.” Alissa growled, making everyone look to her. It was rare that Alissa lost her temper, and when it did that meant she was seriously ticked off.
“No. He makes sense out of the whole lot of us! He’s the screw up of all of us. Plain and simple. Our parents are still together, our parents still love each other. Can he say that about his? Wouldn’t that be the sensible thing to say.” Jesse defended, never taking his eyes off of his cousin.
“Jesse Greene. That is enough, you’ve gone too far this time. Too flipping far, he’s been hurt enough today!” Alissa yelled, finally getting her twin’s eyes to look at her.
“He insulted-“
“It doesn’t matter what he did, that doesn’t give you the right to hurt him like that. You’ve gone too far and you know you have!” She growled to him, punching him in the arm, hard.
“You went too far Jess.” Rosa said, done eating her pizza, while she got up and put her plate in the sink.
“Yes he insulted us, but that was too far. I wouldn’t even go that far Jess.” She told him, looking her brother in the eye. He clenched his jaw and shook his head.
“No, I’m right on this one. Every fight we’ve had, I’m the wrong one. All the time and I’m sick of it!! I’m sick of being the black sheep of this family just because I like to do certain things.”
“Black sheep is a little bit much Jesse.” Lina said, her lisp more prominent.
“Thank you Lina. Not black sheep, something a little less dramatic, but with the same effect. You’re not going to make me feel bad about sticking up for you guys!” Before he cold even get ‘guys’ out Alissa had punched him in the face, making him fall into his chair with his hand on his jaw.
“You went too far!!” She yelled at him, getting in his face so he could see the amber pits of her eyes. Brandon made eye contact with Thomas to see he was thinking the same thing as they both looked to Molly.
“SHUT UP, SIT DOWN, AND LISTEN UP!!” She growled out, making them all instantly follow her order.
“Emotions are running a bit high right now. I want everyone to go up to your rooms, take a shower and go to bed. In the morning we’ll see how everyone’s feeling then. Alright?” She wasn’t asking them, she was telling them exactly what she expected. If those expectations weren’t met then… Brandon shivered, not wanting to remember what happened last time.

Chapter 4

By the time morning had arrived most of the children seemed to have forgotten about the night before. Not all of them did though. Jesse and Alissa sat on opposite sides of the room, both with equal faces of anger on. JJ sat in the living room, watching cartoons with the youngest. Well, he wasn’t exactly watching them, he was more staring intently at the television with blank eyes. Molly was in the kitchen making breakfast for all of them, so that left watching the children to Thomas and Brandon. Their eyes flicked from child to child, watching for any change in appearance or intent. It was a hard job. All of the Greene children were wild and unpredictable, thus the name ‘looneybin’ given to the house.
“Who wants pancakes!” Molly yelled, just as the door banged open.
“I’m back!!” She yelled, Molly dropped the plate f pancakes, and if it hadn’t been for Jesse’s speed they wouldn’t have had any food.
“Oh my god!!! I’ve missed you so much!!” Molly yelled as she hugged her friend.
“I’ve missed the whole bunch of you! Where is Brandon, Carol?” She asked as she stepped further into the living room. Her eyes landed on Brandon and she smiled her famous smile. She leapt over the couch, not hitting the youngest in the head with her feet, and ran to him damn near knocking him down with the intensity.
“My god!! You’ve gotten bigger, and not in the good way.” She said, patting his belly, making them both laugh. He had missed her, hadn’t seen her since they moved to Colorado eight years ago.
“You’re looking a bit out of shape yourself, what happened to your arms, where’s the muscle?” He asked her, enjoying it as she play slapped his stomach.
“Have you forgotten about somebody?” An accented voice asked and he looked up to find her mate.
“Drew! How’s life been treating you?” Thomas asked, standing up now that another Alpha was in the room.
“Not bad. Stand down Alpha. I haven’t come to challenge you for the position, my mate wanted to visit. That’s all.” He told him, holding his hands out in surrender.
“Where are the kids?” Sarah asked in a panicky tone. He looked to her, his eyes wide with what looked like fear.
“They said they were gonna go in with you.”
“They told me they were gonna wait back with you.” She said already walking towards him..
“I’m sure there just-“ Molly started to say, but then there was a thumping sound above their head.
“On the roof.” Drew finished, closing his eyes and sighing.
“Why are they on the roof?” Thomas asked, looking to make sure all of his children were here.
“I don’t know. I may be their mother, but that’s as far as it goes for a relationship.” Sarah said looking at all the children, then to Molly, then to her hair as she raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, the hair. The mark on my belly makes their hair red. I didn’t cheat on Tom with some gorgeous red head European named Fabio.” At Thomas’s growl she shrugged and looked at him.
“What!? I said I didn’t!” She said exasperatedly, making Sarah chuckle.
“Are you not gonna get them?” Brandon asked her, his brow crinkling.
“They’ll be down now.” Sarah said, and as soon as the words were out, two blurs zoomed into the house, shut the door and stood by their mother.
“Did you have fun?” She asked them and their blue eyes looked up at her. They nodded, smiled, then looked at the rest of the kids. The boy didn’t look weird at all, he looked normal with his brown curly hair that had strings of red through it. The girl couldn’t look more different even if she tried. Her skin was white, almost pale, and her hair was as fiery as her mothers. None of the Greene children moved, except for Luna. She walked past her mother and father to the twins.
“I’m LunaRosa Greene, eldest of the eldest, Red Luna. Nice to meet you.” She said kindly, sticking her hand out to the girl.
“Anna Mascot, youngest of the twins, daughter of the Alpha. Pleased to meet you as well.” The girl said, her accent making her sound primp and proper, as she shook Rosa’s hand. Rosa smiled and handed her hand to the boy, who looked at it then her.
“Ander Mascot, eldest of the twins, next in line for the Alpha position. Good to see you.” He said, taking her hand and shaking it. For the first time in his life he saw Luna still and all emotion fly from her face. She snatched her hand away from his and cradled it with the other. Jesse was immediately on guard, having seen the whole thing, and looked close to killing Ander.
“Why are you here?” She asked rudely, her green eyes narrowing.
“Luna.” Molly chastised as Ander cocked his head and smirked.
“I’m here because I can be here, what are you going to do about it? Luna.” He said, teasing her, not knowing the bear he poked. She moved to punch him in the face but he grabbed her fist in mid air, making the children gasp, and squeezed it making her whimper.
“Not gonna work, luv, I don’t take well to being hit. For future reference.” He said as he let go of her hand. Rosa stepped back with her mouth open in shock and anger. Her eyes seemed to glow green, but she closed them and took a deep breath.
“I’m going to the park.” She announced to no one in particular and left, slamming the door after her.
“I think that went great, anybody else agree.” Sarah said as she grabbed her little boy and clutched him to her.

Chapter 5

After Jesse and Cara were sent to retrieve their older sister the grown ups went to the sitting room to talk. The talking was going pleasantly, until a certain someone popped up.
“Have you guys heard from Valerie?” asked Thomas as he rubbed Molly’s shoulder. The Mascot’s shifted in their seat and looked a little guilty.
“You’ve heard from her?” Molly asked, moving forward in her seat, away from Thomas’ touch. He didn’t like that and gave her a warning growl that she ignored.
“Interesting story, actually-“ Drew started, chuckling nervously and shifting beside his mate who rolled her eyes.
“A couple years ago, while the kids were still pups, she ventured into England. Came to us saying she couldn’t seem to fit in with the humans. I knew how she felt, seeing as we, as pups, could never fit in with human children. I told her she could stay, as long as she helped out around the pack. She agreed.” Brandon had a feeling there was more so he moved forward in his seat.
“What else happened?” He asked, barely holding control of his wolf.
“Well she came here with us, of course. I believe she’s with the children right now.” Drew said, looking extremely uncomfortable as he sought out his mate’s touch.
“I don’t see her, or sense her for that matter.” Brandon growled, not liking it one bit the game the couple seemed to be playing.
“She made herself appear to be imaginative, a simple friend for them to play with.” Drew answered, again.
“An imaginary friend? She’s killed your kind and you-“
“She never bloody killed any of our kind! She helped them, all of them, escape.!” Anna Mascot said from the threshold leading into the family room.
“Anna, baby, go back upstairs and play with the others-“ Sarah started to say, only to be cut off by her daughter.
“No mum, he’s insulting her right in front of you! Your friend! You listen to his lies and say absolutely nothing!” Anna yelled to her mother. Sarah’s eyes narrowed dangerously as she stood slowly, ignoring her mate’s tugs for her to sit back down.
“Listen, girl, go back upstairs and play. Be a normal pup, for once in your life, and listen to your mother.” Sarah said, decisively slow and clear. He could see the child try to deny her mother’s order, and when she couldn’t false tears fell down her cheek.
“I’m going to tell Ander, and he’ll tell daddy and daddy will scold you for being so mean to me!” She wailed, her pale face turning bright red.
“Your father would do no such thing, and you know this. Go. Upstairs. And. Play.” Sarah growled out, making the fake tears stop and the child’s fists clench.
“I don’t have to-“
“ANNA MARIE MASCOT! LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER AND GO UPSTAIRS, OR SO HELP ME MOTHER MOON YOU WILL BE SORRY!!” Drew boomed, making even Thomas flinch. The girls face paled, if possible, even more as she scuttled to go back upstairs. Sarah sat down with a stony face, her gaze landing on Brandon’s.
“Where were we, oh yeah. You were telling us how your mate killed many us and how we should’ve shunned her instead of helping her out, like she did us eight years ago. Have anything else to add to that? No? Well, I’m going to go see if there’s an ice cream place around here. Tell Ander if he wants any to come down now.” She said, her voice thick with emotion, as she got up and stormed out of the sitting room and out the door. Seconds later they heard the door open and close again, then the starting of a car.
“This is turning out to be a great visit.” Thomas mumbled awkwardly as the silence in the room drowned them.


Sarah didn’t come back until hours later, she looked more calm, with an ice cream cone in hand. She walked to her mate, briskly kissed his lips and gave him the cone.
“Just like you asked, triple chocolate fudge ice cream.” She said happily, then licked it and smiled widely as he growled at her.
“If you’re gonna do that why not just do it when you’re not around me?” He sighed, still licking the ice cream anyway.
“Because then you wouldn’t know I did it, and if you didn’t know then there would be no point.” She shrugged, helping Ander take off his coat.
“You’re openly admitting to bothering me just for the hell of it?” Drew asked incredulously, but Brandon didn’t miss the undercurrent of love and adoration.
“Well… yeah.” She said, making him chuckle. Thomas And Molly had gone upstairs to play with the kids who were there. Rosa hadn’t come back yet.
“Molly! Do you want me to order pizza!?” Sarah yelled up the stairs.
“No! The kids had pizza yesterday, let’s do Chinese tonight!” Molly yelled back down, getting a chorus of applause from the children.
“Ok, where’s the me-“ She was shut off when the front door opened and slammed close. Luna, Jesse, and Cara stood there, each with faces that could make even the strongest man flinch if faced with them.
“What’s the boy still doing here?” LunaRosa said rudely, scrunching her face up in disgust as she took off her coat and hung it up.
“Luna.” Brandon warned softly, making her look at him, her green eyes flashed.
“I don’t like him, I don’t want him here and I don’t have to be nice to him. As far as me and my wolf are concerned he’s nothing but a stupid, ugly rogue.” Luna spat making Ander’s blue eyes shine as he growled at her.
“Watch your tongue, LunaRosa Greene, it can often write a check that your pretty little ass can’t handle.” Ander growled, taking a defending step forward. Brandon sighed and geared himself to be in the middle of an Alpha fight. Fun.
“Ander.” Sarah chided softly, he knew she knew that she had no control over this. They were gonna duke it out and the adults could do nothing about it.
“Trust me, jackass, nothing about me is little. Now why don’t you be a good little doggy and go upstairs to play with your little brat you call a sister.” Luna replied, not long after that she was punched into the door; it creaked under her weight and she growled.
“Oh that’s it, it’s fucking on.” She snarled as she sped to him. After that the only thing Brandon, Sarah, and Drew could see were two blurs punching, kicking, and clawing at each other. He heard a soft musical sigh, one he wasn’t used to and looked around. Suddenly the two children were held apart by what seemed to be a wall. They stopped, both of them breathing hard, their clothes showed the signs they were in a fight. Brandon had a bloody nose, it was probably broken, and Luna had a split lip.
“Really, children, you have to learn to get along.” He heard a voice say, a voice that made him completely aware of her presence. She slowly came to his vision, her hands were braced apart and she smiled lovingly down at the kids. She was floating… in the middle of the room… right near the chandelier.
“Let the wall down, fey.” Rosa growled, her green eyes flickering to amber, showing just how close she was to going wolf.
“Do no such thing, Valerie. LunaRosa Greene, if you don’t come up here this instant I swear to Mother Moon I will-“
“I’m coming mother.” Luna said sadly, then looked to Ander one last time.
“This isn’t over, don’t think that just because your little friend helped you out that I’m not going to attack you again. Because I will, when you least fucking expect it, I’m going to jump on your ass and make you wish you were never fucking born.” She spat at him, ignoring her fathers growl each time she cursed.
“You’ll grow tired by then, you’ll have to get used to me.” Ander said snidely, knowing it was true.
“Like all hell I do-“
“Hush, pup.” Valerie said then flicked her wrist at Luna; her mouth shut closed and she looked to the fey with narrowed eyes.
“Listen to your mother’s orders, go upstairs and straight to bed.” Valerie said calmly, never raising her voice or looking thrown off. Luna growled but complied and did as she was told. Molly watched as her daughter passed by her with an angry scowl on her face. She looked at Valerie, then down the hall to where her daughter was quickly retreating then back to Valerie.
“That is some Nanny McPhee stuff right there.” She said, then looked to her other two children who stood there, growling and wordlessly snarling at the fey.
“Jesse, Cara. It’s time for you to go to bed too.” They would listen to her, the only one that didn’t was Rosa. They, grudgingly, walked up the stairs stopping to hug their parents. Thomas put his hand on his son’s shoulder to stop and leaned down so they were eye to eye.
“I know that they’re against you right now, but you did good. Us Greene’s have a way with our mouth. It tends to get us into a whole bunch of shit, but we also stick by what we say. If what you said is what you actually think then no one can hold that against you.” He told him, Jesse’s eyes watered and he hugged his father tightly. Jesse wasn’t afraid to show emotion around his parents, they would never hurt him. Thomas hugged his only son tightly to him, knowing that if he didn’t the child wouldn’t think he was loved. Thomas ruffled his messy red hair and kissed his forehead.
“Go on to bed, we’ll be by to say goodnight later.” He told Jesse, who merely nodded and did as he was told. He looked up to see Molly eyeing him with shining eyes.
“What Alpha mom?” He asked softly, moving closer to her and wrapping her in his arms.
“You did great Alpha dad.” She said softly, wiggling her bottom against him. He immediately stirred to life, his wolf coming to the surface.
“Well, pet, I do that sometimes.” He growled in her ear, enjoying the way she stiffened at the nickname.
“C’mon, babydoll, we’ve got something else we need to do.” She said huskily, letting her wolf come out as she walked away from him. And, just like that, the chase was on.

Chapter 6

Valerie floated down, her hands twinkling as the spell diminished from her body. She resisted looking at her mate and focused on the parents of the kids she was babysitting.
“I take it they’re ready to go home.” She asked, wiping the spell off her hand by clapping them together. She threw a pointed look to Ander and shook her head. The boy was so much like his father it was hilarious.
“I thought we spoke about the temper.” She chided softly, smirking as he rolled his eyes.
“You talked, I mostly just nodded occasionally. Just like dad taught me to.” Drew made an urgent noise and she looked up to see him making a line motion across his throat. It was too late though, his mate had heard.
“Just like dad taught, hmm?” Sarah asked, raising a brow to her mate. Valerie had grown to love Sarah. She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind or tell somebody off. She had ben trying, though, and that had to count for something.
“Well, when he says dad he really means some boy he met in school. Isn’t that right son?” Drew said nervously, Valerie could see the faint blush on his caramel cheeks.
“No dad, I remember you saying loud and clear ‘Just nod and smile, son, I do it with your mum all the time-“ Drew made a stressed sound and Valerie walked to the boy. She put her hand over his mouth and smiled slightly at Sarah.
“He’s had too much excitement. Isn’t that right Ander?” She asked him, making the boys head go up and down. She felt something sticky and looked down.
“Oh, shoot. I’ll fix that right up for you Ok?” She told him, and quickly snapped his nose back in place, but sucked in his pain for her own. She’d grown very good at doing that. She’d been doing for eight years and she’d keep on doing it. He smiled his Ander smile up at her and thanked her.
“Would you like me to call you a cab to the house, or do you guys have it?” She asked, looking back up at the couple, only to find they weren’t there. They were holding Brandon down in the black couch.
“Calm down, man.” Drew growled out, struggling to keep his wolf at bay.
“I-I can’t. H-he sense her n-now. He w-wants to m-mate her, to make h-her his o-own.” Brandon growled out his voice fluctuating in anger.
“Valerie, babe, your gonna have to help us out here.” Sarah growled out, trying to keep her friend from jumping up. Summoning on her power she thrust her hands forward, letting the magick flow from her hands and into his body. He stopped fighting for the shortest time and shook his head, his eyes glowing bright amber. He sneezed then looked up to her with dazed eyes, maddened eyes.
“Doesn’t work like that doll, your spells have no pull on me.” He growled, then fought again, this time harder and more feral. A flustered look appeared on Valerie’s face as she geared more magick up. She pulled from the tips of her toes, all the way to the ends of her hair and threw it at him like a cannonball. The force made him stop and close his eyes, a pained expression passing on his face. His eyes snapped open again and he roared, his eyes burning into his soul. He thrust his arms out, making Sarah and Drew fly across the floor. Ander growled and went to his mother, making sure she was fine. Brandon didn’t care, though, he was on a straight bee line towards her and nothing could stop him. Or so she though. A blur flew from the downstairs and landed in front of Valerie. Luna stood there, her hands fisted at her sides and a furious scowl on her face.
“Stand. Down!” She growled lowly, making each word a furious sentence, as she stomped on the ground. A wave seemed to flow under the floorboard of the house that flew him back into the couch; making it fly back.
“My family is up there sleeping, dickweed, so calm your wolf down and shut the hell up!!” She growled out, her red curly hair flying back a little as loose magick wound around her body. She turned to look at Valerie.
“I don’t have a use for it, want it?” She asked, offering Valerie her palm. Valerie took it eagerly, knowing it would help her keep the pain at bay better.
“I expect you’ll be taking the brat and her ass home with their parents?” She asked, raising a brow. Valerie gave a quick nod and smile.
“Thanks for that.”
“No problem, just don’t let me save you too much, might have to kill you myself after a while.” Rosa joked dryly then walked back up the stairs. Anna flew eagerly down the stairs, bumping into Luan’s shoulder and ignoring the warning growl she gave off.
“We’re leaving, aren’t we?” She asked, her blue eyes holding hope and excitement. Valerie, again, nodded and made circular motions with her hands. The Mascot’s slowly vanished with golden sparkles. She’d sent them to the house that they’d bought, just past Thomas’ land. She looked to her mate, who still seemed to be in shock from Luna’s attack. She walked to him and felt her body come to life from his nearness. He looked up at her drowsily. He wouldn’t remember most of this night, probably. She sat on her haunches next to him.
“Why couldn’t you just accept me as I am, you big dummy. Look what you’ve done to yourself.” She allowed herself a small taste as she put her hand on his cheek. He whimpered at the feel of her skin on his and tears pricked her eyes.
“I miss you, I’ve missed you every night for eight years. Because this is your choice, and your choice only, I will continue to miss you. Sooner or later, though, I’m going to grow tired of missing you, and I am going to move on,” he growled weakly at that and she smiled weakly “I’m telling you this so that you know. Either your choice changes, or who my heart belongs to does.” With that she kissed his forehead, letting one tear fall, and disappeared.

Chapter 7

He woke up with one hell of a hangover. Which was strange, he couldn’t remember drinking anything. He sat up and looked around to see he was on the couch, which was on the floor. What the fuck happened last night, he grumbled in his brain. Little flashes of images flicked through his brain. Luna, Ander, Drew, Valerie. His wolf stiffened at the memory of their mate. She was floating in the air, right above him. She looked down at him with big brown eyes, her small pink lips bowing up into a small smile. God, what she could do with those lips… He needed to get laid. If our mate was here, his wolf started, we wouldn’t have to get laid. Tired of having the same conversation Brandon rolled to his side and got up, then lifted the couch. His head throbbed and he groaned deeply, wobbling to the kitchen. Not only did he need to get laid, he also needed some Excedrin.

“One hell of a night you’ve had.” Thomas said, walking in with no shirt on and pajama pants on. They were a little gift from Molly last Christmas, the words bad dog were written in red over a black dog house. A gift that a wife gives to a husband.
“What the hell happened?” Brandon asked, running the water and putting his mouth under it guzzling down the cold water.
“Why don’t you tell me how much you remember and we’ll work from there.” Thomas said putting on coffee. Brandon went on to tell him the little bits and pieces he remembered, which wasn’t much, occasionally gulping from the faucet. Thomas sighed and rubbed his forehead.
“Ah jeez. I can’t protect you from the wrath of the females, but I can give you one tip.” Said his Alpha exasperatedly.
“And what would that tip be?” Brandon asked, shutting the water off to hear the tip clearly.
“Running only pisses them off, they don’t like working when they’re kicking your ass.”


Valerie groaned as she sat up from her bed, her head throbbing in pain. She grabbed her head with both hands and squeezed her eyes closed tightly. She was losing a grip on the amount of pain he was feeling. She couldn’t let that happen. With a small yelp of pain she pulled all the pain in, gathering all of her strength. She kept pulling until she couldn’t feel any more pain from him, until she’d put all the pain onto herself. That’s what she’d been doing for the past eight years. Sucking in all of his pain so he wouldn’t feel it.
“Why do you keep doing it if it hurts you so much?” Ander asked, having heard her sound of pain. His big blue eyes watched her with sadness and curiosity with, barely there, hatred.
“Because that’s what good mates do. They protect each other, they shield each other from harm. If it means I have to get hurt to protect him, then so be it. I love him, it doesn’t matter that he doesn’t love me back. The only thing that matters is that I love him.” She told the small boy, he griped the doorknob as his eyes flashed to amber.
“He doesn’t deserve you.” He growls, even with her lacking hearing abilities she could hear the metal bend under his grasp.
“It doesn’t matter what he does or doesn’t deserve. He has me, I’m not going away that easy.”


Brandon came up with some mindless excuse and managed to escape the house. The wind whipped around his short blond hair, making it slap across his forehead. He felt better than he had when he had woken up, more free. However that happened. Now that his need for Excedrin had been handled he could focus more on his more… dire needs. His wolf pined for her, begged for him to go to her to sate their needs. Brandon wouldn’t allowed himself to be swayed. She was evil! She’d killed his kind without a second thought, he wouldn’t bring himself to be with her. He wasn’t that selfish. Whipping out his cell phone he dialed the only person he knew that could and would help him with is problem. If he paid for it.


She had been making the twins breakfast when she felt it, the churning in her stomach and the pain in her heart. He was doing it again. At first it made her sad, the thought that he slept with someone else while the mate bond between them was still there. But, by now, it only pissed her off. Here she was, a perfectly capable female, not cheating on him while he was off gallivanting with whatever whore he could put his little hands on. She’d been offered countless times in England, and each time she declined. She knew if she were to walk out the door and go to any bar she would get invitations to a bed. That didn’t mean she would take it! Sighing she blocked him out and smashed the peanut butter and jelly sandwich together.
“He’s made you angry again, hasn’t he?” Anna asked somberly as she picked her and her brothers plate up from the counter.
“He’s done it again! Doesn’t he think before he acts?” Ander growls, his fists knotting up by his sides
“Ander, Anna. What happens in her life is none of your business. Shouldn’t you guys be doing something productive of your time. Like, I dunno, drawing or watching television or something?” Drew said from the threshold of the kitchen.
“But dad, he’s hurting her!” Anna whined, her small lip quivering automatically making Valerie want to hold her. Anna was an Omega, a very dangerous one at that. An Omega was a wolf that had all the attributes of being an Alpha. Which automatically put any Alpha anywhere on Earth on a standstill. In their mind they should be one and only. Conceited, cocky and possessive. That’s what an Alpha was. That was not what an Omega was. An Omega was, in essence, everything and Alpha was. They were fiercely protective, loyal and loving. They would rather slay themselves than have a person hurt. The difference between Alpha and Omega was that they didn’t feel the need to fight, nor did they have the tendency to let their egos get in the way.
“What did I say about using your powers against your father, Anna?” Sarah asked, walking in wearing nothing but a light camisole and pajama shorts.
“I’m not using my power against anyone, mother, I’m merely stating evidence.” Anna spat back, anger clearly in her eyes. It was no secret that mother and daughter did not get along. Whatever chance they could they would glare at each other and butt heads. No one could deny the love there, though, you’d have to be an idiot to miss it. Sarah opened her mouth to reply but was cut off when there was a knock at the door. Drew and Sarah stood in defense, ready to attack whoever was at the door. Valerie sighed and shook her head, muttering under her breath.
“silly paranoid wolves.” She opened the door and was surprised to see LunaRosa there with all of the Greene children.
“We want to invite the whelps to play football with us.” Luna said then growled slightly when Alissa elbowed her in her side.
“Fine, we would like to invite the Mascot children to a very fair, very clean game of football. If their parents and their fey- ouch! Fine! And you- would allow it?” Rosa said, rubbing her ribcage. A sound of panic flew from Anna’s mouth, at the same time Sarah and Drew smiled maliciously at each other.

“It would make us absolutely delighted if y’all played a nice game of football.”

Chapter 8

Brandon’s stomach knotted in twists as he realized he would be seeing Valerie, for real this time. He would be able to see her pale blue eyes, smell the scent of her in his nose, feel the curves of her- wait, no. He wouldn’t touch her, couldn’t. He wouldn’t allow himself to be sucked into the mating frenzy.
“I’m still pretty pissed at you, ya know? But since you’re my friend I will refrain from kicking your ass. But, if you pull another stunt like this… Let’s just say you’re little pal there will have a nice funeral.” Molly said as she packed some Capris Sun into a diaper bag.
“Thank you?” Brandon said, unsure as he ran his hands through his hair. Molly looked at him over the kitchen island and sighed.
“Brandon, why’d you deny her? Everything would be so much easier if you just-“
“Because she hurt us, she hurt us without a single fucking care.” Brandon hissed, slamming his palms down on the island counter, sick and tired of the same conversation.
“No, she didn’t. She helped thousands of us go free, she fixed all of our family and saw that we made it back-“ Molly said, moving to the island and leaning forward ever so slightly.
“No she fucking didn’t!!” Brandon roared, his eyes swirling amber. Molly felt Thomas move closer to the kitchen.
‘No, I got this.’ She told him through the pack connection and felt his wolf grumble.

“Then how did Thomas come back, huh? How did he come back to me?” Molly challenged.
“Mother Moon-“
“Well! I’m glad I decided to drop by, seems like someone has been giving Mother Moon a little too much praise.” Said The Black Luna as she casually strolled in with a man hot on her heels. Thomas then, as casually as he could, stepped into the kitchen and walked to where Molly stood. He put a hand on her wrist and squeezed lightly, a sign of dominance and possession.
“Why not just write your name in sharpie on my forehead and pee on me?” She snapped and snatched her wrist from his grasp. She walked to Marissa and hugged her lightly then looked to the man. And what a man did her eyes see. His olive skin portrayed his ethnicity and his white t-shirt portrayed that he had muscles. A lot of muscles. But, sadly, that just didn’t do it for her anymore. She preferred long black hair, a sculpted nose, and meaty thighs. Mm, how she loved meaty thighs. She could smell her arousal and snapped out of her daydream. She blushed deeply and crossed her eyes at the upcoming drama that was sure to surface.
“Molly.” Thomas growled and she cleared her throat.
“I’m Molly Greene, Luna of the Tiburon pack. Nice to meet you…” She trailed off and inclined her head.
“Marco Suave.” He answered, his Spanish accent making the words come out smoothly. Molly raised a brow and smirked.
“Suave? Really? You’re not pulling my tail here, your last name is actually Suave?” She asked, humor lacing her tone.
“Molly can I talk to you for a minute?” Thomas said, anger drowning his tone.
“Me first.” Marissa said as she grabbed Molly’s hand and stormed into the hallway.
“Ok, one, you are the most badass person I know. Save Luna and Sarah of course. Two, I’m gonna teach you how to control your emotions better because Thomas is damn near ready to throw you over his knee and give you a right and proper spanking. I don’t know how you guys roll or anything…” She made a rolling motion that made Molly chortle.
“And three, please just stay away from Marco.” She said, her voice serious now. Molly crinkled her brow and frown, she’d never heard Marissa sound this serious.
“Why? Is he dangerous, can he hurt the kids?”
“It’s not that. More like he’s my mate and my wolf wants to chop your head off right now.”


Valerie got out of the car slowly and rubbed her temples. Staying in a car with damn near the whole Greene family was mind testing. They had driven the kids to a park with a field that was almost empty. There were a couple of families scattered here and there but they had enough space for a game of football. The eldest kids were giddy to tackle and hurt each, whereas the youngest were just happy to see their parents. They ran to their mother and father and hugged them, stating how much they missed them. Molly and Thomas merely smiled and kissed their children’s head. Sarah and Drew stretched and puffed out their cheeks, looked to each and smiled. They were almost too identical now. Ander and Anna got out of the car and looked to their parents.
“Daddy you can’t possibly be thinking of actually making me go.” Anna whined and Ander rolled his eyes then loped to where the eldest stood.
“Anna go play.” Sarah said, her smile sliding off her face. Anna threw a look at her mother and rolled her eyes.
“Daddy, please. I don’t want to play.” Anna said, making a habit of ignoring her mother. Sarah narrowed her eyes and took a step toward the girl.
“Do not think that because your father is Alpha and I’m not that I’m below him and you, because I can assure you I’m not. You will listen to me, because I am your mother. You will listen to me, because I rank higher than you. Every. Single. Time. Got it, Omega?” Sarah growled, her eyes flashing to amber. Anna opened her mouth in shock and tears watered her eyes. Real ones. Sarah’s eyes faded back to black as she saw the tears and she put a hand over her mouth.
“Baby, I’m-“ Anna ran away, her red hair flying as she ran to her twin, wrapping her arms around him. Ander immediately held her, putting his chin on her head the eldest looked on with worried faces but otherwise said nothing. Sarah looked mortified as her hand shook over her mouth. Valerie looked down and turned to walk towards the kids, only to be stopped by a blunt force and tingles. Brandon. She looked up at him and the spit went dry in her mouth.
“What happened to Anna?” His voice was gruff as his eyes portrayed how close he was to shifting.
“Sarah’s mouth got ahead of her.” Valerie said lightly and shrugged. His eyes melted to black as he chuckled, she smiled and looked down.
“It does that sometimes. I remember one time she was in high school she somehow managed to talk herself into a whole year of detention.” He said and laughed at the joyous memory. She laughed with him and their eyes locked. Their faces slowly melted as the strand of vision between them got stronger.
“I’m glad you guys are finally getting smart, but I need Valerie. My mate is having an emotional break down right now and unless you guys want me to go wolf right now, I suggest she help us.” Drew said as he clutched his sobbing mate in his arms. Valerie looked to her mate, whose face had returned to that of a statue, and sighed softly. One can only hope. 

Brandon watched as his mate- no, Valerie- put a helpful hand on Sarah’s shoulder. His friends face cleared up and she sniffled one last time.
“I’ve ruined the fragile relationship that I had between Anna and I. She’s really going to hate me now.” Sarah whined and her face crumpled up as more tears threatened her eyes.
“You haven’t ruined the relationship between you and your daughter. She’s just a little emotional right now.” A male voice said, one that he was familiar with but still didn’t like. He shot his eyes toward Marco and he struggled to gold in his growl. He walked the distance between him and Valerie and stood next to her, close enough that their arms touched. She was too short to reach his shoulders. He heard the small intake of breath she took, he had to struggle to keep the smirk off of his face. He was enjoying her presence too much.
“I basically said she was useless to me though, you can’t mend that huge blow to the face.” Sarah said, somewhat taken by his looks. Brandon rolled his eyes, he wasn’t even that hot.
“Omega’s can be a little bit too much sometimes and for that I apologize.” Marco said in a Spanish drawl, Brandon narrowed his eyes at Sarah’s giggle as she shook her head. The fuck?
“You don’t have to apologize, it isn’t your fault.” Her voice had gone high and sugary, making Brandon’s eyebrows raise. He looked down to Valerie only to see she had a goofy smile on her face that didn’t look believable at all.
“I feel as if I do.” Marco knew what he was doing, Brandon could see the small smile on the man’s rough face.
“You don’t, believe me you’ve got nothing to apologize for anything.” Valerie said in a dreamy voice that Brandon crossed his eyes at.
“Are you guys coming or not!!!???” Thomas yelled at the people by the car.
“I’m getting there.” He heard Valerie mumble and he choked out a laugh and a growl. She snapped out of her stupor and looked at him with a raised brow. He understood with it said, didn’t’ mean he had to address it. He put a stern face on and ignored it. She choked out a humorless laugh and shook her head.
“Each and every time. I’m going over there, I think the kids are ready to start.” She grumbled and turned to walk over there. Brandon stopped her though, he didn’t know why but he did. He put his hand on the soft part of her wrist and squeezed, feeling the tingles shoot up his arm.
“I’m sorry, really.” He said softly, his voice bordering on a whisper. Her eyes flashed in pain as his words dug in and she snatched her wrist from him.
“I don’t need your stupid apology.” She growled and stormed away from him, he knew she was angry at him but he honestly could care less. Not when her ass moved like that.

Chapter 9

The adults winded up having to play, being that the youngest couldn’t. So as they lined up on each side, the mates opposite each other, something seemed to fuel the game. Molly and Thomas used the lust that always seemed to be in between them, Sarah and Drew used their strong love that would never die, and Marissa and Marco used their differences. Brandon and Valerie seemed too be the only screw up of the whole equation. They glared at each other over the tiny space that separated each other, both trying to ignore the mating tingles that swamped their bodies.
“Blue, 22. Blue, 22. Hike!” Luna yelled as she hiked the ball to Jesse. Instantly the adults swarmed, trying to block the children from moving and trying to stop Jesse from throwing the ball. Brandon saw the opening Alissa had, knew Jesse was going to throw it to her, but couldn’t do anything about it. His mate had barreled him to the ground and pinned him there. Each wrist was held down by a hand and she smiled down at him.
“Got you.” She said breathlessly then got up, he blinked in surprise. How had she done that? He’d been in tune with his surroundings, she shouldn’t have been able to do that. She held her hand out to him and he pushed it away, desperately trying to pull his cold façade back on. She crinkled her brow but said nothing and focused on the game. Alissa had made a touchdown and the kids on his side threw him dirty looks. He merely shrugged and lined back up.
“Blue, 53. Blue, 53. Hike!!” Luna yelled and hiked the ball to Jesse again, this time Brandon focused and ran to tackle Cara, knowing he was going to throw it there. His upper body fell down to the ground as heavy force wrapped around him. He fell on his stomach and grazed his chin on the cold dirt. He heard a soft giggle in his ear and felt the pressure alleviate as Valerie sat up. She ran a hand through her blonde curls and sighed, but made no move to get completely off of him.
“That’s twice I’ve gotten you Brandon, baby. I thought you were supposed to be fast.” She goaded, her voice soft and sweeter than sugar. She got up from him but he was stuck to the ground, hearing his voice on her tongue made all of his defenses go slack.
“C’mon Brandon! You’re slacking-“ Lina yelled, only to be cut off by a little girl.
“Oh heck to the no! I know you guys did not start without me! Heaven help you if you did! What happened to the friends for life thing? You guys are some flat leaving- hey, who’s this dude? You finally replace me Luna? Who’s the chick? Who are these new people!? And another thing-“
“Sweet Jesus Izzy just shut your trap for a minute!” LunaRosa yelled, clutching her head. Isabel Mcreery giggled and shook her head, her braided pigtails moving with the movement.
“Seriously, though, who’re the new people?” She asked, putting her hands on her overall clad hips. Isabel was the only human friend the Greene’s had, and the only reason that happened was because Izzy wasn’t afraid to speak her mind and didn’t care if things had to get physical in order for her point to get across.
“Well, this is Ander and Anna. They’re from England.” Cara said, pointing to the twins as she named them.
“Ander? What kind of name is Ander?” Izzy asked, sneering his name and curling her lip as if it left a bad taste in her mouth.

“Who are you child?” Sarah asked, moving to her children and putting a hand on each shoulder. Anna discreetly moved away and Sarah couldn’t mask the look of hurt that quickly splayed there.
“On a more important note, who are you? I’ve never seen you around here, and I know about everyone in the state.” Izzy retorted, raising a brown brow.
“She’s from England too, she’s Ander and Anna’s mom.” Cara explained, humor lacing her voice. Izzy pouted and crossed her arms.
“She doesn’t sound like she came from England.”
“Boy, you sure do ask a lot of questions.” Drew said, sidling up next to Sarah. Izzy’s eyes widened as her mouth opened.
“Dude, you’re huge.” She whispered in awe, Drew smiled slightly and leaned on his knees.
“Nope, you’re just abnormally tiny.” That made Izzy snap out of her stupor and scrunch up her nose.
“Nuh uh, you’re just really tall. And stinky. And stupid.” Sarah tinkled out a small little laugh and shook her head.
“You, child, I’m gonna like.”


Cara, Brandon, Molly, Marissa, and Sarah lost the game. It was mostly Brandon’s fault and the let him know that.
“Do you not know what the meaning of tackle is, or were you just trying to sabotage the game?” Cara said exasperatedly as she bit into her pizza.
“Yes, because I love losing things.” Brandon said dryly, rolling his eyes’ in good humor as everyone else laughed. His mate was the only one he focused on though, her laugh was the only one he heard.
“I don’t mean to offend you, Brandon, but you do suck. You suck more than my mom’s vacuum cleaner.” Izzy said, then giggled as the Greene’s and the Mascot’s laughed.
“Your mom doesn’t even have a vacuum cleaner, Izzy, you guys have no carpet to vacuum.” Alissa said, wiping the corners of her mouth with a napkin.
“She could have a vacuum cleaner.” Isabel mumbled and ate the crust of her pizza, she was the only one in her ever growing family that did that. She couldn’t stand being like everyone else, so she did anything she could to be different.
“Speaking of your mom, aren’t you supposed to be heading home now Izzy?” Molly asked, getting up to get another piece of pizza. This would be her fifth.
“I told my dad I would be here, it’s all cool.” Izzy said nonchalantly, taking a sip of her soda.
“Izzy, I don’t want you to get in trouble for be-“ Molly said, starting to put down her pizza only to have to stop because Izzy had stood up.
“I said it was cool for me to be here, my dad said it was Ok so it’s fine!” She exclaimed her small face red and angry. Molly bit down on her lower lip and put her head down, she was submitting to a little girl. Jesse stood up and sighed.
“Wanna come outside and talk with me for a while?” He asked Izzy and the little girls eyes watered up as she nodded. Brandon looked down at his plate and played with his last little piece of pizza.
“What was that about?” Valerie asked, her voice sounding generally confused. Damn her for caring so much about everyone!

He thought to himself as he set his jaw.
“Izzy has a twin, Bella, most of the time Bella gets everything she wants and gets away with just about everything she does. Izzy doesn’t like it when she gets questioned, or gets in trouble for things that Bella wouldn’t have. That was my fault and I forgot.” Molly explained as she rubbed her forehead warily.
“She’ll be fine after she talks with Jesse, she normally is.” LunaRosa grumbled, picking at the sausage on her pizza. He saw Ander frown as he watched Luna from across the table and sighed mentally. Why couldn’t people just focus on their own things.
“Are you Ok?” Ander asked Luna, most people stiffened at the table and tried to play it off. There was just no way to play stress off, successfully.
“I’ll be fine when you and your brat go home.” She said conversationally, as if she said this every other day.
“Don’t talk about my sister like that.” He warned, his small hands gripping the table as if his life depended on it.
“What will you do about it if I don’t? Hit me? Can’t hit a girl, dude, it’s against the law.” Rosa taunted, smiling in victory when his eyes flashed to silver.
“In case you forget, luv, I don’t follow human rules. Neither do you. So I can punch you in the face right now, and nothing would happen to me. Because, like you said earlier, you’re a girl and girls can’t hit.” He taunted back and received a wordless snarl from the other end.
“Kids lets just calm-“ Valerie butted in, tying to be the voice of reason throughout the chaos.
“Really? ‘Cuz your broken nose last night says differently.” Rosa slashed at him, her hands shaking with barely there rage.
“That was just a lucky shot, I let you get it because I knew if I didn’t you’d run to your daddy crying about how mean I was to you.” Ander smirked, knowing he hit a nerve at her gasp. Magic tendrils swirled around Luna’s body as her nostril flared. He saw the move, was pretty sure everybody else saw the move, and reacted. In a blur he had moved Ander’s chair out of the way and took the blow for himself. And, boy, what a blow it was.


A screech was out of Valerie’s mouth before she could stop herself. She got up from her seat and flew to where her mate lay on his side, quivering in pain. She didn’t care that everyone around her tried to get her to calm down, didn’t care that Ander was trying to pull her off of him. The only thing she cared about was him, and the fact that his heart was beating way too fast.
“What the hell, LunaRosa!?” Molly screeched, walking to Brandon and kneeling down next to him. Her hand was about to touch hi but Valerie growled.
“Get the hell away from him, don’t touch him!” She yelled, bringing her mates body to her own. She cradled his head between her breasts and rocked him. She couldn’t stop his pain, not this time. This was meant to cause Ander pain, Ander. She probably could’ve fixed Ander, being that his body was small the spell would just paralyze his body. She could fix a paralyzed body, but she wasn’t this skilled. The spell churned in Brandon’s body, swirling and stabbing and burning. It was growing stronger, Valerie could feel it. The magic was starting to seep into his now pale skin. Thomas stepped to her, kneeling directly decide her but she ignored him. She just focused on rocking him back and forth, trying her best to soothe him. She didn’t even care that she was snotting herself.
“Valerie, you’ve got to-“
“Don’t tell me what I have to fucking do, Alpha, just leave me the hell alone.” Her voice wavered with emotion as the tears flowed down. She couldn’t stop them even if she wanted to.

“Valerie please-“ Brandon’s heart stuttered, and Thomas heard it. He looked to Valerie whose motions stilled and her face cleared.
“No, no, no Brandon. You stay with me, Ok? I just need you to stay with me. I didn’t hold in your pain for all these years, just for you to leave me. Just stay with me, Ok baby? And we can hug, and talk, and love each . Please just stay with me.”
“V-v-Valerie, I-I-I-“ Brandon stuttered out, trying to soothe his mates fast beating heart.
“No, hush. Just don’t talk. I love you, Ok? I always have. All the fights and the glares, it was all out of love.” She said and smiled, she was sweating with the amount of anger she had inside her that she was holding in.
“O-One k-k-kiss. J-j-just o-o-one.” He spit out and she nodded, her eyes watering as she put her lips on his. He kissed her back with the little bit of energy he had left, and she kissed him with as much fervor as she dared. After a while his lips stopped moving, his skin went cold, and the fight sagged away from his body.
“No.” She whispered, kissing his dead lips again wanting her presence to bring him back. It didn’t, nothing would ever bring him back. She slammed her lips on his again, and again, and again. He didn’t move, he didn’t speak, his heart didn’t beat. She knew then, as she looked at his pale handsome face, that Brandon Mitchell, her beautiful mate, was dead.

Chapter 10

Everyone stayed quiet, nobody moved a muscle as she wept for her mate. They all watched, in silent horror and grief, as Brandon’s inky eye color faded away to reveal beautiful hazel ones. She cried out, everything about him was perfect. She closed his beautiful, beautiful eyes and kissed each lid.
“I waited for you. I knew that sooner or later you’d have to change your mind about us. I would’ve waited for you until I was old and grey, just to hear to you say that you loved me. I’m gonna keep waiting, until my time is over. Then we can be together in Mates Paradise, where everything is exactly how we want it to be.” She whispered to him, aware that everyone watched her with teary eyes. She kissed his dead lips again and settled him onto the floor carefully. She picked up his hands and put them to her cheek, she sighed in soft contentment. She crossed his hands on his chest and closed her eyes. I need to leave, now. She stood and took a deep breath.

“I’m leaving, he was my only reason to be here. You probably won’t ever see me again, I only wish I could say that it would break my heart but I can’t. My heart is already broken beyond repair.” Her voice cracked and wavered with emotion as her lip quivered whenever she talked. She stopped and shook her head.
“Goodbye.” She said and transported herself… somewhere. She’d no idea where she was, only that it was cold. She didn’t mind, she couldn’t feel the cold. A strange heat seemed to wrap around her body as she walked to wherever. She appeared to be at a train station, a desolate one. She walked to where the tickets were sold and looked up at the board. So many places with so many strange names, but yet only one stuck out to her. Looking to the old greasy man with balding hair she summoned money in her hand and gave it to him.
“One way ticket to New York please.”


Jesse had sensed that there was a change in the house, which was why he had taken Isabel home. He hadn’t expected to come home to find their beta dead and his father furious.
“I take it you took Izzy home?” Molly asked, her breath low and filled with… something. He couldn’t put a finger on whether it was anger, sadness, or pure unbridled rage.
“Yeah, she’s safe at home. What happened?” Jesse whispered, moving closer, only to have to rear back at the scent of magic and death.
“Luna? What did you do?” Jesse asked softly, not raising his voice or putting any emotion in it.
“It was an accident, I didn’t mean for it to hit him.” She said in an almost pleading voice from the table, where she still sat with her head down.
“She meant for it to hit me, to kill me.” Ander spouted angrily, rage inhabiting every part of his body.
“It wouldn’t have killed you, you know I’m not capable of doing that. It would’ve paralyzed you for a day or so, Valerie could’ve fixed that.” She whined, scrunching her nose up.
“Wait a minute. You threw magic around?” He asked in a deathly low voice, looking her straight in the eye.
“Did you not hear Marissa the last time you tried to throw magic around?! You displace the order of the werewolf world and we lose! We cannot lose because of some stupid girls anger toward a boy!” Jesse roared, barely containing the beast within. LunaRosa closed her eyes and nodded.
“I’m sorry Jesse, I let my control slip for a moment, it won’t happen again.” She said soberly, looking down at the table and scratching her head. Marissa looked to him and nodded once, a thanks. He shrugged and looked to his parents.
“Want me to help put the youngest to sleep?” Their game had gone on for the majority of the day and he had no doubt that the youngest and the adults were probably tired as hell, that and the fact that a death had just happened. His parents wouldn’t be able to take all the questions that the little ones had, but he would be able to. Hopefully.
“Thank you Jesse.” Molly whispered, kneeling down next to her lifeless friend. JJ looked to him and dipped his head, the action threw Jesse off. He hadn’t expected his nephew to be nice to him after his harsh words. Lina, Libby, and Aubrey each made their way towards him, their eyes watery and their lips shaking. He had no doubt that they would cry as soon as they were in their room, he had to prepare himself. They, Libby and Lina took his hand and Aubrey took JJ’s. He looked to his cousin, then walked out of the eating room and up the stairs.


Molly kneeled there by her friend, the one that comforted her when she came into town. She brushed his sandy blond hair back and quivered her lip at the feeling of his cold skin. He was dead. She wished that his face would, once again, light up in that familiar smile of his, the one that spread so wide it crinkled his eyes, and tell her it was all a joke. She wished that he would hug her and tell her not to cry, and indulge her immature ideas of Thomas. But he wouldn’t, he could never do that again because of… her. Molly growled low in her throat and looked to her daughter.
“Molly, think it through.” Marissa said low in her throat and suddenly Molly didn’t feel so murderous. Omega.

“Don’t work your bullshit power on me, omega.” She snapped to Marissa's mate who only smiled at her in answer.
“I can assure you I have no idea what you’re talking about.” His accent only worked to aggravate her even more, then again for it to be demolished by his power.
“Omega.” Thomas growled in warning, only to have Marissa growl at him.
“Why don’t we all calm down. Emotions are high because of… this. We all just need to settle down and call the rest of the pack.” Sarah said soothingly, discreetly sidling in between Thomas and Marco.
“Don’t tell me how to run my pack. Emphasis on ‘my’.” Thomas snarled to her, only then to be snarled at by Drew.

“Settle down Tom, she’s right. We all need to calm down.” Drew said lowly, his eyes struggling to remain black. Molly took a look at her friend and pressed a fragile kiss to his cold forehead.
“I’m so sorry this happened to you Brandon, so sorry. May Mother Moon bless you and welcome you into her arms with an open heart.” With that, and one tear in her eye, she lifted her head and let out a soulful howl, welcoming the others that howled with her.


Jesse looked up at the sound of the knock on the door, he was currently in Aubrey’s room stroking her hair while she slept. Anna stood there her arms crossed and her hip cocked.
“I figured I could try and help you out.” She whispered as she walked deeper in to the room. She stood and watched him as he stroked his little sisters hair, smiling only a little.
“I have enough help, thanks.” Jesse said dismissively, but softly.
“I wasn’t talking about with the children. I’m sure your feelings must be bouncing off the walls. Wanna talk about it?” She replied kindly, sitting on the floor in front of him. his hand stilled for a brief second as he looked to herm but then he continued. Neither talked for a while, listening to the soft breathing of Aubrey and trying to block out the sounds of the adult’s mourning.
“I just- I don’t wanna end up like him. He was so strong that it blinded him, he didn’t see that he needed Valerie more than his next breath. I don’t want to be like that but I feel like if I’m not strong people will use that against me and make me weak, make O-“ He stopped an looked to her, his green eyes twinkling with a very strong emotion. Anna couldn’t pinpoint it.
“Make you Omega?” She asked softly and he nodded, going back to his stroking. She stood and closed the distance between them. She wrapped her arms around him and pushed the hurt that she felt into a soothing effect.
“Just because your Omega, doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human, and some humans aren’t weak. Just like your little friend Isabel.” She whispered into his ear and rubbed his back. He stilled, he wasn’t used to many people hugging him, save for his parents.
“It’s ok to hug me back ya know? I won’t suddenly think your some pansy little boy.” She joked and he huffed once and hugged her back. He was strong, stronger than he looked. He buried his face into her stomach and squeezed her tiny body into his. She felt wetness and realized he was crying, it stunned her but she said nothing. She only pushed more of her magick into him and rubbed his back. His shoulders shook with the intensity of his emotions and she closed her eyes. She was going to have to sing, she hated doing that. She sung a soft lullaby, sliding her hands over his messy red hair and let all of her power seep into him. Slowly his cries diminished, but she didn’t move until they were completely gone.

Chapter 11

JJ helped Lina and Libby into their bunk beds and comforted them as they cried, but not as much as he would like. He was still pretty raw from his mother’s departure, he doubted he could be much help to the little ones but he could try. As he rocked Libby back and forth and hummed low in his throat he could feel that he was being watched. He looked up to find his grandmother with a watery smile.
“Are they Ok?” She asked softly, stepping further into the room and looking at her sleeping children.
“As Ok as they can be.” He replied meekly and she nodded, she turned to walk away but he stopped her.
“Why did she name me after him? Why did she name me after the person that broke her heart and caused her so much pain?” He asked, his voice cracking under the weight of his emotion.
“You’ve got to understand, JJ, that she loved your father much. And you resemble him very much. I don’t think she named you after him, per se, more like her wolf did. After a wolf has been rejected, the person sort of turns inside out. It’s no longer man and wolf, it’s wolf and man. She wouldn’t eat, wouldn’t sleep, wouldn’t even look at anyone until he came back. He never did. She was in the deepest depression I’ve ever seen. Nobody could pinpoint exactly why your father left, for the first month of her pregnancy. When she kept growing and growing after that we knew. JJ your father is an Alpha, and your mom is an Omega. Alpha and Omega don’t mix together the right way. Think of- think of it as vinegar and baking soda. Alpha’s are the vinegar and Omega’s are the baking soda. Separate, they’re Ok, but together you’ve got a recipe for a volcano that’s waiting to erupt. That’s why he left, your mother didn’t understand at the time and she was still madly in love with him. Her wolf named you after him because you are the one thing that she loved more than him.” Molly explained, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“M-mom’s an Omega?” He asked the only question that his mind was able to wrap itself around.
“That’s why when she had the nightmares and felt distressed your wolf was ready and alert to help.”

Chapter 12

He fell asleep with her in his arms in his sisters bed he didn’t care what his father would say. He had a breakdown and he wouldn’t let it happen again. He just needed to have it this one time, just this once and everything would be ok. She had wrapped herself around his head, her light snoring in his ear woke him up. Aubrey had already left the room and they had taken up most the bed. Some big brother he was.
“Anna. Anna, get up.” He grumbled, patting her leg.
“I DON’T WANT TO SING MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB!” She creamed, sitting up looking ravaged. He widened his eyes and struggled to hold in his laughter. She huffed and straightened her bed frenzied hair.
“Shut up, what time is it?” She asked running a hand over her face and looking around. She looked to Jesse and frowned.
“We went to sleep in your sisters bed, didn’t we?” He nodded and she sighed.
“I hate being an Omega.” She grumbled as she stood, he reached out and grabbed her arm.
“Hey, don’t ever say that. Being an Omega is awesome, I wish I was one.” He said softly and she smiled a little, taking her arm from his grasp.
“Thanks, but your soft tone falls on deaf ears. I will forever and always hate what I am. No way you, A Greene child, is going to deter me from that.” She said coldly and turned on her hell, then flounced out of Aubrey’s room. He gaped after her and blinked once. That was pretty much all he did.


The funeral was to be the next day, all the pack dressed in black and attended. Tears were shared, as were the hugs and promises that everything would be fine. Everyone excepted what had happened, they figured if their Red Luna had done it, then surely Mother Moon had planned this out. It was supposed to be. No one knew how bad Luna felt. She didn’t see that coming, and she normally saw everything come. She knew what all the wolves would do before she would but, for some reason, she didn’t see him jumping in front of Ander. In fact, if she thought about it, she couldn’t see anything past her throwing the power at Ander. That meant…
“That bitch.” She cursed under her breath, a throat cleared behind her and she looked up to see Ander staring at her with his arms crossed.
“Why didn’t you control it?” He asked and she narrowed her eyes at him.
“I couldn’t. She wanted it to happen, I don’t know why. She made my control slip for the shortest amount o time, and I threw it.”
“Are you really going to lie to me? Are you actually going to sit there and try to blame Her for your problems?” The coldness in his voice made her mouth pop open, only to then be snapped shut.
“Screw you. I don’t have to justify myself to you.” She growled out and walked away from him. She heard him make a smart comment that she turned around to. She stormed to him, her black dress whipping around her shins and her converse squeaking under the amount of pressure she put on her feet.
“You listen here, I don’t like you. I don’t know how much more obvious you want me to be, but I loathe you. For some reason, though, She has decided to guard you from me. I can’t see anything regarding to you. That pisses me off beyond all measure, make no mistake. I don’t know what would happen if I tried to attack you, Brandon dying has showed me that She’s going to protect you, no matter what the cost. Please do not push me, because I swear to the human God’s I will find some way to make you hurt. It may not be now, or tomorrow. It may be months from now, years from now, and you will feel the most excruciating pain you’ve ever felt before. It will be me, and that is a promise. I never break my promises. Ever.” She whispered to him, feeling her eyes turn amber, then red. Revealing exactly how mad she was. He smirked as his eyes, too, bled to amber but then morphed into the darkest green she’d ever seen.
“Listen, luv, I don’t know why She’s decided to protect me. I don’t know why I’m different, but I just am. I’ve heard your promise, and now I’m making my own. If you dare try to hurt me, I can promise you, you will regret it. If you target my sister, or any other siblings my parents may have, I will attack you. You won’t see me coming, you won’t know I’m near. One minute I won’t be there, the next I will. I can promise you that I will use every weakness you have in your life against you. That is my promise. And I don’t break promises.” He leaned close to her, putting his mouth near her ear. She struggled not to shiver as he whispered “ever.” Into her ear. He leaned back, his eyes melting back to blue, and winked at her then went to find someone. She stood, shell shocked, staring after him.


Carol looked down at her friends body and rage surfed in her body. It wasn’t supposed to happen like this! They’d planned out their life, they were supposed to die together!! Not like this! She gripped the edge of his mahogany casket until the wood creaked under her fingers.
“Carol.” Kevin whispered in her ear, putting his hand over hers.
“It wasn’t supposed to happen like this. I promised him, his mother. I promised them I would watch over him, he wouldn’t get hurt.” Her eyes watered but no tears fell, no tears ever fell. There was something wrong with her dear ducts, she wasn’t capable of crying.
“Baby, you couldn’t control this.” He soothed her, rubbing her paling knuckles.
“Like hell I couldn’t. Where is that little bitch? That little bitch that decided she was gonna kill him?” She snarled and tore away from his casket, desperate to avenge her life long friend.
“Carol, it wasn’t her fault. You know it wasn’t.” Kevin said, wrapping his arms around her mid-section. Carols eyes and nose zeroed in on LunaRosa.
“You bitch.” She snarled, struggling to get to the child. Sarah ran in front of Carol and put her hands on each side of her face.
“Carol, please, not here. Not now. It wasn’t her fault, please stop this.” Her friends face was tear streaked, and her eyes were desperate. Carol stopped struggling and broke, her eyes tearing to the point of no return.
“I promised them Sar. I promised them he wouldn’t get hurt. It wasn’t supposed to happen like this.” She sobbed cursing her faulty tear ducts.
“Life doesn’t go the way we want it to, baby, trust me. Please stop.” Sarah whimpered. Carol nodded and slumped against her mate. Sarah moved her hands from her friends face and cried some more.
“If I die young, bury me in satin. Lay me down on a bed of roses, sink me in the river at dawn, send me away with the words of a love song. Oh, oh, oh, oh. Lord make me a rainbow I’ll shine down on my mother, she’ll know I’m safe with you when she stands under my covers. Life ain’t always what you think it oughta be. Ain’t even grey but she buries her baby. The sharp knife of a short life, well I’ve had just enough time. If I die young, bury me in satin, lay me down on a bed of roses. Sink me in the river at dawn, send me away with the words of a love song. The sharp knife of a short life, well I’ve had just enough time.” Carol sang softly, resting her arm on the arm wrapped around her midsection.
“And I’ll be wearing white, when I come into your kingdom. I’m as green as the ring on my little cold finer. I’ve never known the loving of a man, but it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand. There’s a boy here in town, says he’ll love me for forever. Who would’ve thought forever could be severed by a sharp knife of a short life. Well, I’ve had just enough time.” Sarah picked up the song. Everything went quit, all the people stood awkwardly in the backyard of the Greene house.
“So put on your best boys, and I’ll wear my pearls. What I never did is done. A penny for my thoughts, oh no, I sell ‘em for a dollar. They’re worth so much more when I’m a goner. And maybe then you’ll hear the words I’ve been singing. Funny when your dead, people start listening. If I die young, bury me in satin, lay me down on a bed of roses. Sink me in the river, at dawn, send me away with the words of a love song. Uh oh. The ballad of a dove, go with peace and love, gather up your tears, keep ‘em in your pocket, save ‘em for a time when you’re really gonna need ‘em. The sharp knife of a short life, well I’ve had just enough time. So put on your best boys, and I’ll wear my pearls.” Molly sang, closing her eyes and swaying softly to the music in everyone’s head. The song was old, really old, but it fit the situation. They couldn’t howl, not out loud anyway. They all sent their prayers to Mother Moon and prayed that they were heard.

Chapter 13

Valerie felt something… renewing in the air around her. All the heaviness that she’d felt in the past few days had lightened a little. A little. She played with the sleeve of the coffee cup, picking at it with her nail. It was raining in New York, and cold. She watched as the people walked past the small café, anxious to get to wherever they needed to get to. They didn’t know about the world around them, about the people, the species, that they coincided with. The lives they led were easy ones, the troubles they had were small ones. Nothing could compare to what she was going through. Nothing. So, it didn’t matter that there was a lightening in her heart. It didn’t matter that the grey skies seemed to lighten. Her heart would forever be heavy, dark and burdened with the pain of her loss.


The days and weeks that followed the funeral were somber ones. No one knew where Valerie was, she’d cut off all ties. Not even Drew could feel her through the pack links. Soon… it was as if Brandon wasn’t even dead. Slowly the children came back to themselves, and the children brought the adults out, but nobody could forget. Nobody could really forget. Luna just couldn’t seem to. It was her fault that he was dead, her fault that she couldn’t read his future lines. The future lines were, in a way, the book to a wolfs’ life. You could see everything in the past, present and future in the future lines. His book wasn’t there anymore, it had been pulled off the wrack of the library of life. It was her fault. So, one day, while she sulked in her room her mother turned on the tunes. They were songs that were created to be danced to, meant to make you want to move. They disgusted Rosa, he should be here to listen to them. Her mother was relentless, playing song after song, but never singing to them. It just sounded like her mother… sat there and listened to it. Luna gave in, standing up she closed her eyes and let the music drift her to a land where everything went her way. She wasn’t responsible for everything wrong in the werewolf world. And she twirled.
It wasn’t a professional move, not by any standards, but it made her feel younger and freer. She twirled and twirled and twirled. She didn’t stop until she felt dizzy and sick to her stomach. She didn’t stop until she was sure all the wetness had flew from her face and to any surface other than that. She wiped the remaining tears off her face and wiped her nose with the back of her hand, good hearing also meant good listening. She wasn’t doing this, she wasn’t going to cry. Wolves died every day, it was the circle of life.
“Oh so what a few tears came out, what’s the big whoop?” her mother asked softly from the door, leaning her hip on the threshold.
“I’m the-“
“If the words that are about to come out of your mouth are along the lines of ‘I’m Alpha, I show no emotion’ I will leap across this room and go Homer Simpson on you.” She growled teasingly and stepped toward her child. She put her soft motherly hands on each side of Luna’s cheeks and wiped away the small dashes of wet from her cheeks.
“It’s Ok to mourn him, ya know. He was a huge part of your life, he was a huge part of mine.”
“But dad-“
“Your father mourned, behind closed doors. Don’t ever let him fool you, your father has emotions. Underneath that whole ‘I am man, respect me’ mask, he has emotions.” Molly cut in softly, kissing her daughters forehead.
“No one is going to hold it against you if you show a little emotion. And if they do, let me know. I’ll kick their ass and make ‘em wish they were never even thought about.” She growled teasingly, making Luna scrunch up her face and laugh.
“Come on downstairs, I think Izzy is on her way here.” Molly said, holding onto her daughters hand as she walked out the room.
“Do I have a choice in the matter?” Rosa asked exasperatedly, smiling a little as her mother snorted and shook her head.


Thomas trudged down the steps, the sound of laughter bringing him out of his room. For weeks he had refused to see anyone, refused to talk to anyone besides his mate. He just couldn’t. His best friend, his beta, died. He had no idea how he would run the pack, he would have to choose another beta and beta’s didn’t just pop up. They had to be born with beta blood. Brandon didn’t have any kids, or a successor. So Thomas was pretty much screwed. He followed the sound of laughter and stopped at the threshold. His mate stood there, surrounded by all of the pack children, covered from head to toe in flour and sugar. The other children were covered too, just not as much. He leaned against the threshold and watched as they engaged on a full on war. Sarah sidled up next to him and smiled weakly.
“She’s done this everyday, the kids come to her and she manages to just… make them forget.” She said softly, crossing her arms.
“I don’t even think she’s had time to properly mourn, immediately after the burial she just jumped into making everyone else around her happy.” With that Sarah walked back to wherever she came from.
“Luna Molly you’re all messy.” A small girl said, scrunching up her nose cutely, her brown hair in two pigtails and flour smattering her face.
“You guys made me all messy, you put more flour on me than in the cookie batter!” Molly said laughing lightly and spraying flour on some more kids.
“You look like a messy troll, Luna Molly!” A small boy exclaimed, his voice almost as excited as his brown eyes. Molly turned her eyes to the boy and smiled widely.
“FEE FI FO FUM, I SMELL KIDDIES AND KIDDIES ARE YUMM!!!” She said in a deep voice, making the kids squeal and run from the kitchen, she laughed and ran after them. They ran past him but he shot his arm out to stop her, he looked in her eyes and smiled.
“Thanks Luna.” She smiled softly and cradled his cheek with a floured hand as her eyes softly leaked to amber.
“We’re here for you Alpha, always. Make no mistake, now go on upstairs and take a shower. I think our children would appreciate it if you spent time with them.” With that she kissed his lips briefly and walked past him, only to be stopped again. Before she could ask he pressed a sweet kiss to her lips and held her body close to his.
“Thank you.” He whispered on her lips, enjoying as she licked his bottom lip.
“Your welcome.” She whispered back and walked away, adding an extra sway to her hips.

Chapter 14

Sarah watched as her daughter walked around their backyard, not really doing anything. She sighed and contemplated on whether or not she should go out there. She knew what she said was wrong, knew that her daughter was hurt by it but she couldn’t apologize. Her daughter was a Mascot and, sadly, Mascot’s had a certain way of handling hurt emotions. Sarah knew if she were to go out there and apologize to her daughter, her daughter would accept it. Then her daughter would say she was fine when, in all actuality, she was still hurting and was secretly plotting ways to get back at her. It’s what all Mascot’s did, Sarah knew to accept it. Didn’t mean she had to like it.
“Just talk to her, love, I’m sure she’ll accept your apology.” Drew said, wrapping his arms around her midsection and pulling her close.
“Oh yeah? And how do you know this? Are you capable of seeing in to the future?” She teased, allowing herself to calm down from his presence.
“Yup, I see into the future.”
“Then what am I going to say next, huh?”
“That’s not what I was going to say.”
“That’s not- sneaky, sneaky.” She said giggling as he nibbled on her neck.
“Hey mom- ah! Can you guys please reserve this for the bedroom, or when me and my sister aren’t here?” Ander said, putting his hands over his eyes. She rolled her eyes and broke away from her mate.
“What do you need sweet face?” She asked her son, pinching his cute little cheeks. She didn’t want to sound conceited or anything but… damn could she make kids. Her children were so cute and were a perfect mixture of sweet and naughty.
“I wanted to know if we could play with the Greene’s?” He asked, his blue eyes twinkling with something she couldn’t quite place. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously and pursed her lips.
“I thought you hated the Greene’s?”
“That’s me mom, he can’t get enough of ‘em. Honestly, it’s a little bit sickening.” Her daughter said, coming in from the back door.
“Come off it, you just don’t like them because they don’t treat you like a little princess.” Ander sneered to her. She zoomed to him and scrunched up her nose.
“I am a princess and they should treat me like one.” She growled, narrowing the blue eyes that were so similar to his on him.
“No you’re not, you’re just a spoiled little brat.”
“Oi! Take that back you nose picker!” She yelled at him, pushing his shoulder. Sarah hung her head, she was hoping they could have a nice day.
“Sorry, brat, haven’t picked my nose since we were three!” He yelled, pushing her in the shoulder back. She gave an outraged gasp and moved to punch him in the face. Drew zoomed behind her and picked her up, holding her while she punched and scratched at the air to get at her brother.
“I got the last hit! Ha, ha!” He teased and she scrunched her face up. She lifted her leg and took off her sneaker then threw it at his face.
“Now I got the last hit!” She said victoriously as Drew walked out of the kitchen and, hopefully, up the stairs to take her to her room.
“She threw a shoe at me.” Ander said as he dabbed the fine line of blood coming from his nose.
“That she did.” Sarah nodded in agreement. He looked to his mother and smiled, his blood getting on to his teeth and making it look like she gave him far worse than just a bloodied nose.
“I love my sister.”


“But it was my turn to have it!”
“No it wasn’t, you liar!”
“Yes it was!”
“No it wasn’t!”
“Yes it was!”
“Nope!”
“Yup!”
“Nope!”
“Y-“
“Would you two shut the hell up!?! It’s mine now, happy?” Carol said, snatching the brightly colored ball from between Lina and Aubrey. They both looked at her then to each other, Carol didn’t like the way their eyes gleamed. That could only mean-
“Get her!” They yelled together and tackled her down to the ground. That was it, she wasn’t having kids.


Sarah leaned on the hood of her car and watched her kids walk into the Greene house, she did not envy Thomas and Molly for doing this. She just needed a small amount of time to herself, to figure out what was happening to her. She was hoping it wasn’t what she thought it was. He better fucking pray it wasn’t. Drew had went to go to work after he’d dragged his daughter off and pampered her until she felt like a little princess again. It still gave Sarah an ache to know that she could never do that for her child, that she could never make her precious little girl feel just that. Special.
It wasn’t like she hadn’t tried, because she had. She had sat down and talked with Anna, played with Anna, spent girl’ days with her. She’d done everything she could think of, yet their relationship still seemed strained and forced. She wasn’t cut out to be a mother… of girls. With Ander she had no problem, not fucking one. She loved her little boy and would protect and fight for him to the death, as she would Anna, there was just something more between her and Anna.
She opened the door to her little bug, she’d kept it in the states after Drew picked her up and traveled to England. She’d trusted Carol to take care of it, and that she did. She’d see all the things Montana had to offer, and then she’d handle her business. After that she’d have to be home by three so she’d have enough time to shower, cook, and rewind before Drew came home with the kids. She sighed and started the car.
“The average fucking house wife.” She mumbled happily and drove toward the city.


“What’re you cooking?” Asked one of them.
“Is it gonna be yummy?” Another one asked.
“I hope it’s gonna be yummy, I don’t like yucky things.” Soon all of them put in there three cents about what they thought of ‘yucky’ things. Molly groaned internally as she seasoned all ten pounds of chicken. She’d learned to block them out, but there’s only so much a person could handle when it came to the ramblings of eight little kids.
“Do you like pickles, Luna Molly?” One child asked. She crinkled her brow, how did the conversation come to pickles?
“Well, when I was pregnant with Rosa, I used to eat chocolate dipped pickles. All the time. They were so yummy. But ever since then I haven’t had one. I only eat them when I’m pregnant though.” They were quiet for a while, until one kid asked.
“Luna Molly, how do mommy’s get pregnant?” Molly’s hands quit their moving as she fought to find an answer. She continued to move them, hoping that she could try to feign like she didn’t hear the question. Pretty hard to do, seeing as she could hear everything that happened in the house.
“Luna Molly!! How do mommy’s get pregnant!!??” The child yelled and she blinked and looked down at the child.
“Well, um, mommy’s get pregnant when… Mother Moon tells them that they will become a mommy.” She sighed inwardly at the stupid answer and went back to seasoning the chicken.
“My mommy said that mommy’s get pregnant when a mommy and a daddy have s-“
“Whoa there buddy!!” Thomas yelled, swooping into the kitchen and holding out his hands.
“Alpha Thomas!!” The kids yelled in chorus and ran to him, wrapping their arms around whatever part of him they could find. Molly smiled and wiped her hands on sucking the seasoning off of her fingers. She wouldn’t get salmonella or any other disease like that. Her body was hardwired to eat raw food, so she could, in theory, eat one of the drumsticks right now and it wouldn’t affect her at all. Thomas managed to walk to her, even though the kids weighed him down, and sucked on one of her fingers.
“That’s gonna be good, you gonna fry it?”
“What kind of questions is that? Of course I’m gonna fry it!” She exclaimed, sucking on the finger he just sucked on. She saw his eyes flash to gold before residing on black as he grinned.
“Need any help with anything?” He asked ruffling the kids hair. She motioned to the table where about fifty potatoes resided.
“You can peel those and wash ‘em for me. The kids can start shucking corn. Then, if you want to be the best mate ever know, you can start calling those heathen kids down so they can help with the cornbread.” She said, all in one breath, as she got the flour from the pantry.
“That sounds like an awful lot of work.” She shot him a look with her brow raised.
“B-but I would do anything for you.” He stammered out, the kids laughed at him as Molly smiled.
“I know right.”


Jesse looked around him, all of his siblings had their own box of cornbread mix. Even Ander an Anna. He figured if he was gonna do it, he had to do it now. Picking up a spoonful of the gritty mix he splattered some on Lina, who was struggling to mix it all together in her bowl. She gasped and looked up, her red hair marred with the corn bread mix. Se picked up her own spoon and flicked at him, getting him right across the face. She smiled but made no sound, their siblings hadn’t caught on to what t hey were doing yet. They were too engrossed in their cornbread mix. He dipped his fingers in the mix and flicked whatever he had gathered at her. Her face was polka dotted with the corny mixture. She narrowed her eyes and put her whole hand in the mix, then threw a whole fistful of the mix on him. He opened his mouth in mock rage. He picked his bowl up from the counter and sprayed Alissa. She looked at him with one brow raised, he motioned his head to their little sister and she smiled. She picked up her bowl and dipped her hand in the bowl, then aimed to throw it at Lina… only to switch positions quickly and hit him square in the face. She giggled and that caught everyone’s attention. When they saw him with his messed up clothes and Lina with her messed up hair, they couldn’t contain themselves. They all laughed and Jesse licked his top lip, getting come of the cornbread mixture in his mouth. It did not taste appetizing at all.
“It’s on.” Then he grabbed his bowl and a free-for-all began.


“Anybody care to explain why you guys are covered from head to toe in cornbread mixture and flour?” Molly asked, pinching her nose bridge and closing her eyes. Her children stood before her messy and cakey. Jesse raised his hand, looking down and abashed. The kids immediately chortled, then held it in as Sarah threw them the glare that promised death.
“Yes Jesse?” Molly asked, putting her hands on her hips.
“Well, the cornbread fairy flew into the kitchen and asked ‘what do you think you’re doing with my family?’ her voice was really high and annoying, kinda like Cara’s,” he made his voice high and unattractive.
“Hey!”
“We told her what we were doing and she got this weird look on her face.” He looked around him and pointed to Libby whose face was scrunched up due to her about to sneeze.
“Kinda like that. And she started slapping us, back and forth and back and forth.” He shrugged as his story came to an end. Molly rubbed the bridge of her nose, struggling not to laugh at the cuteness of his story.
“And why, exactly, did you not call out if you were being slapped around?” She said, cocking her brow, knowing she’d finally caught him.
“She’d stuffed our mouths with the most delicious cornbread we’d ever tasted. I don’t mind getting slapped around if it means yummy cornbread. Even though I’ve never eaten it before.” Anna said, raising her hand and waving it. Everyone, including her brother, looked to her. She shrugged slightly and rolled her eyes.
“Well, that is what happened.” Jesse smiled and laughed quickly, then quieted down when Sarah glared at him.
“Fucking Greene’s, crazy as hell the whole bunch of ya.” She mumbled as she walked away and, being Greene’s, they couldn’t hold in their laughter any longer.

Chapter 15

Valerie sighed as she unlocked the door of her apartment, it’d been a rough day and she was absolutely out of it. She closed the door and hung her coat up on the coat hanger she’d summoned herself. She’d summoned everything she owned, except for the apartment building. That she had to pay for out of the money she’d, once again, summoned. She walked further an put her keys into the little dish that was on the table behind the couch. She flopped down and closed her eyes.

She’d worked herself to the bone at her job. Sure she didn’t have to do much, but with depression a little task was a huge journey. She opened her eyes and looked straight ahead of her, there was something in the house. Something that shouldn’t have been there. She stood and clenched her hands, feeling the wisps of magic curl around her knuckles. She walked to her room and opened the door, to find a small dark bundle curled up on her aqua colored comforter. She lifted her fists, ready to throw a punch of magic, when the bundle moved and amber colored eyes peeked at her. She gulped as the magic dissipated from her hands. The orbs looked at her for a moment longer then went back down as a soft whining emanated from the creature. Her brow furrowed as she took one cautious step into her room. The bundle huffed but didn’t move. She took a few more steps slowly and carefully until she stood by the foot of her bed. She cocked her head, the tail of her ponytail following her as she looked at the bundle. She fend a flicker of magic to her lamp and it came to life, showing a small pup. She narrowed her eyes and leaned closer, then sniffed.
“Yup, that’s blood. Why don’t you shift back and maybe I can try to mend your wounds.” The pups head popped up and round amber eyes looked at her with curiosity and she shrugged.
“Not my first time in the rodeo, now come on. I’m sure your mother and father are searching everywhere for you. I’d prefer you not to go with them smelling of blood and my sheets.” He whined and his nose sniffed the air, but he wouldn’t be able to tell what she was.
“I’m half fey, now stop stalling and change already.” He looked to his small fur covered body and back to her. She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.
“If I leave this room and you aren’t done by the time I’ve managed to make you a sandwich I’m coming in here and I’m doing it myself, got it?” She asked, keeping the hard ass edge she’d been having in. She left the room and closed her door then walked to the kitchen. She opened her fridge and sighed. Of course the little shit had already checked to see if there was food. He’d eaten everything except for the box of baking soda and a not too safe looking cucumber. She rolled her eyes and snapped her fingers, liking how her fridge automatically restocked itself. She pulled out the components to make a sandwich and heated up a pan. She cooked the sandwich as if it were a grilled cheese and took one of her mini Pepsi’s, that she enjoyed and loved dearly, to the back room. The boy had changed back and wrapped her comforter around himself. She could see the blood seeping through. She put the food on the night stand and went to the bathroom to get her healing kit. She walked back into her room and walked to kneel in front of the boy. His eyes were closed and he was shivering something fierce.
“Where are you hurt?” Her voice startled him and that worried her, he should’ve sensed her already. He opened the comforter to reveal a ninja star that had been lodged into his leg, and what looked to be the skimming of an arrow on his arm.
“Yikes, that looks painful.” She hissed through her teeth and dug through her bag. She didn’t do magic on people, not after the incident. So she took out a small little vile and a syringe.
“I’m gonna knock you out so I don’t hurt you when I pull out the-“
“I don’t want the medicine, I don’t like medicine.” He said under his breath, knowing she heard him.
“You’re gonna be in a world of pain if I don’t.” She said slowly, putting the medicine and syringe back in her bag.
“I don’t care, just no medicine.” His voice shook as he talked and more blood trickled from both wounds. She sighed and pulled on some gloves, careful not to make them snap.
“You’re not allergic to latex, are you?”
“The only thing I’m allergic to is silver, nothing more. Please, just take it out.” She nodded and grabbed the ninja star carefully.
“On the count of three.”
“One.” Her grip tightened slightly as she geared herself to pull.
“Two!” She yanked the ninja star out and grabbed gauze quickly, his face contorted with pain.
“Ah! Are you crazy! You said three!” She nodded as her hands moved quickly. She removed the gauze and got new pieces, this time soaking them with magic and putting them on his wound. His face cleared up and he let out a breath. She got a jumbo bandage and pressed it on there, then got another one and added it to the original. She took some wrapping tape and taped it on the wound and all around his leg, making sure it wouldn’t be able to move.
“You won’t be able to shift for a while, the magic I put on the gauze will clean, help with the pain, and keep your from doing that until it’s healed.” She looked to his arm and disinfected the area, seeing as this wasn’t that much of a dangerous wound she took her time. When she was finished she took off her gloves and picked up her mess. She took her medical bag and her mess with her into the bathroom to put everything away. She walked back into her room to find the boy eyeing the sandwich.
“Go ahead, eat up. I made it for you.” He looked to her with wide hazel eyes, making her heart do a quick flutter before calming down.
“I- thank you.” He smiled slightly, tightened the comforter around himself and walked to where the sandwich was. She sighed and spread out her hands, making them move upward. The comforter followed her hand movement and the boy stood there, shocked and nude.
“Hey!” She snapped her fingers and a bundle of clothes appeared in his hands, folded and neat.
“Wear those, take a shower though before you do.” He opened his mouth but she made a zipping motion over her lips.
“The bindings won’t loosen, no harm no foul. When you’re cleaned and you’ve eaten you can do whatever you want.” With that she walked away, careful not to show how shaky her hands were.


She groaned, trying her damnedest not to glare at her mother.
“But I don’t get why they have to eat here!” She whined, desperately trying not to yell or growl… or both.
“Because Sarah and Drew wanted a night to themselves, Luna.” Her mother chided softly, folding clothes and putting them in the pile of the child they belonged to.
“They haven’t been here that long to want a date night!”
“They’ve been here for two months!”
“I say they give it at least three months.” She said stubbornly, crossing her arms and lifting her chin. Her mother looked to her with a bemused face on.
“You say it like they aren’t mated, and haven’t had children yet.” She said slowly, raising a brow, asking for an answer in a motherly way.
“They’re just… still so young, ya know?” Rosa said, her cheeks flaming hot red with her lie.
“You’re calling me young, Luna? Thank you, now mind telling me what beef you have with the Mascot twins?” Her mother put down the shirt she was folding and put her hands in her lap, her black eyes eager and waiting for her to start. The future came to Luna in small snapshots, She’d tell her mom, her mom would freak, Ander and Anna would move back to England, they would lose.
“Damn, can’t do anything anymore.” She grumbled.
“What was that?”
“I said… nothing… anymore.” Luna grumbled, unfolding her arms and hunching her shoulders.
“Good, now… don’t you have something to do?”
“Uh, no.”
“Good, so come help me fold.” Her shoulders straightened and her eyes widened and she backed away.
“Ya know what, I just remembered I’ve got a thing to do… somewhere… else.” With that she skidded from her mother who sat there grinning.
“Works every time.”


She sighed and looked to her left, the boy stood there in the clothes she pulled up for him, his amber eyes wide and watching.
“Anything you wanted?” She asked, not trying to nod off. He blinked and shook his head.
“You gonna play the silent game again?” She asked, her foot tapping on her tiled floor. He just blinked slowly, she closed her eyes and put her head on her couch.
“Why haven’t you killed me yet?” His voice interrupted her thoughts and she opened her eyes.
“Why would I kill you?”
“Because you know what I am, and I know what you are.” Her brow furrowed, but she didn’t move her head.
“Who the hell told you we had to kill each other.”
“My mom, before she died.” He didn’t sound or look hurt by that, so she decided she wouldn’t sound or look like she cared.
“Hm, well. It doesn’t have to be like that. I’m friends with the Tiburon and Maroon pack.” He zoomed to where she sat, his hazel eyes wide with curiosity and awe.
“The packs that fought against the hunters? The one with the Red Luna?” She picked her head up and nodded slowly.
“Yep, that would be them. What do you know about the war?”
“What don’t I know about the war! I know that with the aide of the Luna’s the Tiburon and Maroon pack won victoriously. I know that they were trained by the daughter of Jack Montgomery. I know that they were aided by a mysterious fey who betrayed the… hunters.” He said the last part slowly, his big hazel eyes getting impossibly bigger.
“Holy cow! You’re the mysterious fey!” His tone held astonishment and excitement.
“That I am. How do you know so much about the war?” His face grew sullen as he looked down, his mopping of brown hair moving with him.
“My mom, she died because of it. They used her as a demonstration. Said as soon as they were done destroying another pack they would come to us, and kill all of us like how they killed her.” His voice was dark and worry laced through her.
“Hey, kid, I’m sorry for your loss.” She said softly, he looked up at her, amber peeking through his brown lashes.
“Everybody is always sorry for my loss, I’m tired of it.” She narrowed her eyes and let go of her tongue.
“I know how you feel, kid. When I left everyone was sorry for me, for once I wanted someone to be angry at me. To tell me to pull my head out of my ass, that shit happened. The best I could do was lift my chin up and take whatever life threw at me. I’m not gonna destroy ya, kid, just gonna tell ya what I wanted someone to tell me.” She peered deep into his eyes and raised a brow.
“Nobody gives a fuck what happened to you. The only person that cared was your dad and your mom, everyone else was glad it wasn’t them. Shit happens, we can’t do anything about that. Your Luna is a major bitch, pun intended, and she throws shit at you without even caring. If your mother doesn’t even care for you, nobody else will.” His eyes cleared up as she spoke and a major weight lifted off her shoulder.
“Your father will, I’m only telling you this because I care too. The war has long since been over, and it’s still hurting people. Innocent people. Innocents shouldn’t be hurt. Now go on to bed, in the morning I’ll take you back home.”


When she woke up she woke up to the smell of cinnamon and pork. She sniffed as she sat up on the couch and crinkled her brow. Surely, this was a dream. She stood and stretched, her joints and bones popping. She shuffled to the kitchen to find the boy standing there with a plate of French toast, hash browns, and bacon.
“Figured I’d make you breakfast for being so nice to me.” He said cheerfully, handing her the full plate. She took it warily and sniffed around the whole edge of the plate.
“You trying to kill me?” She asked, picking up a piece of bacon and putting it in her mouth slowly.
“Nah, just trying to get you energized and fed up, wouldn’t want my caretaker to get all hungry. Now would we?” He said, playfully growling and patting his tummy. What happened to the moody boy last night?
“I would hope not.” She grumbled and sat down in one of her kitchen chairs. He picked up a mug off the counter and put it beside her plate.
“Here ya go, a nice cup of Joe to keep you up.” She put her fork down with a loud clatter and sat back, a little smile on her face and her eyes narrowed slightly.
“What aren’t you telling me?” She asked, folding her arms over her chest. A little flash of fear came before his eyes before he smiled coolly.
“No clue what you’re talking about. Now eat up, don’t wanna look malnourished do you?”


She knew he would come to her first, she wouldn’t have to seek him out, and that was good. Because if she’d had she was sure she’d kill him.
“Hello, love, I’m-“
“Dead, you’re dead!” She growled, throwing the lamp she’d been holding for five minutes at his gigantic head. He caught it easily and set it down on the table by the door.
“What I have done this time?” He asked, exasperatedly, running his fingers through his hair. She stormed to him, her eyes turning amber and blue, not seeming to be able to decide what color to land on. She stuffed her wrist in his face and seethed.
“Smell this, tell me what’s wrong with it.” He tried to push her arm away, she only growled and shoved it to his nose. He rolled his eyes and took a sniff, then stiffened.
“No.”
“Yes, you son of a bitch! You can never do anything normally, can you?”
“Wait, how is it my fault?”
“You were supposed to use protection!”
“I did! The damn thing must’ve acted wonky and broken!”
“Maybe you’re just too damn aggressive for your own damn good!”
“You know good and god damn well you love it!!”
“Shut up! This is all your fault!”
“How the hell is it my fault!?”
“Because you can’t just knock me up! You really knock me up!”
“What the hell does that mean?!”’
“Triplets, fucking triplets! That’s what that means!”


She slammed her car door shut and leaned against it, looking at the modern pack house he’d given her direct to.
“Why, exactly, did I bring you here and not to your fathers’ house?”
“Uhm, my dad’s not exactly… that much of a welcoming person.” The boy said, scratching the back of his neck and walking next to her.
“So you bring me to your Alpha?”
“Well, technically, I’m bringing you to my Luna. My Alpha’s been acting like a douche lately. Luna Kenna is worse, but she can act like she cares. I’ve seen her do it more than once, around strangers though.”
“You have a bad Luna and your Alpha hasn’t mated with someone else?” His story sounded completely fictional.
“My Alpha… they said he had a mate, but ran away from her. Some say he killed his old mate so he scraped at the bottom of the barrel to find Luna Kenna.” She struggled to keep her chortle in, whoever said that was pretty damn funny.
“Huh, interesting.” She got up from the car, keeping her arm crossed, and walked to the pack house. She knocked briefly, wanting this to be over so she could go back to being depressed and tired. The door opened and a furious black haired beauty stood there, her ravens hair mixed up like it’s nest.
“What.” She snapped, the word a quick and furious snarl. Valerie automatically hated her, something just didn’t sit right.
“I believe I found your lost puppy.” She said, jerking her head back to where the boy stood awkwardly, not sure how to advance. Anger flashed in her black eyes, before they quickly watered and a relieved face appeared.
“Oh thank God, you found him!” She yelled out happily, though Valerie could clearly hear the undertone of sarcasm. She reached her hand out to the boy who quickly walked to his Luna. She took his hand in a not so gentle manner an hugged him to her, a little too aggressively if you asked Valerie. But nobody did so she kept shut. Until his Luna grabbed the scruff of his neck and shook a little less than friendly.
“We’ve been missing this little guy, just disappeared out of thin air.” Valerie narrowed her eyes and geared herself for a fight.
“Do you even know his name?”
“… Do you?” Valerie snatched the boy away from his ‘Luna’ and tucked him under her arm.
“I think I’ll wait for his Alpha or father to come.” His Luna geared herself to herself to yell but Valerie merely raised her hand.
“I’m not in the mood to get into a bitchfest with you. I just want to insure he’s safe. I’m sure you are perfectly capable of caring after him, this is just for me.” Kenna glared at her, but opened the door wider.
“You’re welcome to come in, but don’t ask for anything. I don’t know you, so I don’t have to be nice to you.”
“Yeah, somehow, I got that.”


The bitch was annoying, she stomped around her expensive looking house slamming everything she could. Valerie was sure if she could slam air, she would. When the door finally opened both Valerie and the boy were delighted.
“Baby, you’re home! Thank Goddess, I thought I’d die with her.” She snarled the last part, making sure that Valerie heard her in the other room.
“With who? Who has been bothering you this time?” The Alpha drawled, Valerie furrowed her brow and stood from the couch. The boy followed as she walked to meet the Alpha. When she saw him she stopped in her tracks and threw a groan upward.
“Can you not just give me a fucking break!?” She growled, then met the Alpha’s eyes.
“Valerie!?” The boy squeaked, taking a step back and widening his arms, as if that would protect him.
“Hey Jake.” She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. This is gonna be super fantastic, she though dryly.

Chapter 16

Sarah put her elbows on her knees and moved forward, peering into her kids’ eyes.

“It doesn’t mean anything, it’s just gonna be a little more hectic around here.”

“But why?! Why couldn’t you guys just put a lid on it?!” Anna wailed, frowning intensely.

“I’ll ask you that when you find your mate and you can’t help but to jump him every time he so much as looks at you, sound like a good idea?” Sarah growled at her daughter, her wolf stirring up.

“Calm, love.” Drew said putting his hand on her knee, calming her and her wolf down. He looked to his son and raised a brow.

“Any questions? Concerns?” He asked, searching his sons’ unreadable face.

“I’m not changing any diapers, or feeding it.”

“First of all, do not address your siblings as ‘it’. Second of all, they won’t need any of your assistance, They have their kick ass mother to help them. I don’t need your help, and I sure as hell won’t ask for it. God, I’m hungry!” She growled, stood up and stormed to the kitchen. Drew rolled his eyes and rubbed his temples.

“Is she gonna be like that the whole time. Bint like and stuff.” Anna asked, crinkling her nose in her mothers direction.

“No foul language, and yes. She is.”

“I heard that you little whelp.” They said together, the twins widened their eyes and gulped.

“This is gonna be fun, eh?” Their father said, then got up to retrieve his mate.

 

               

 

Luna crossed her arms and looked up at the pregnant moon, sighed and put her head on her knees that had been bent. She just couldn’t figure it out, couldn’t wrap her mind around it.

“You shouldn’t think so hard,” Ander said, sidling behind her “you might get worry lines right there.” He said pointing in between her eyebrows.

“Your mate might find it gross.” He said, sitting next to her, mocking her position. They looked at each other then she laughed and shook her head.

“Why are you, anyway?”

“Why am I what?”

“Worrying. I should say what about, that would be more correct.”

“You rant a lot, just saying.” She said, looking back up to the moon.

“It’s boring isn’t it?” She crinkled her brow and looked to him, her elbow touched his.

“What is?”

“Just looking at it, waiting and watching to see if it’ll do something. If it’ll show you, somehow, why.”

“Why, what?” He confused her, but in an absolutely breathtaking way.

“Just why. Why is everything the way it is for us, why does things have to be complicated for two people and perfectly normal for everyone else.” His eyes looked to hers and she frowned.

“I wonder that a lot.” His eyes searched for something in hers.

“Something’s bothering you.” It was a statement, not a question.

“It’s just… it just seems like, most days, she just created me just to get a kick out of something. Just to get a daily laugh. And I let her. I’m the strongest being she’s ever created, save Marissa. I’m the only one who can openly defy her and not care if she rains her wrath down on me. Why do I let her drive me nuts? Can you answer that for me, Ander, why do I let her do these things to me?” She looked to him, tears making her eyes burn. In a too quick movement he wrapped one arm around her and pulled her closer. She let the tears fall and sobbed into the crook of his arm. He looked up to the moon and let out a low howl to the moon, but it was still powerful. She couldn’t howl, she knew she couldn’t, so she let his howl soothe her.

“I’m sorry love, I honestly am.” He said, kissing her forehead as more tears fell down.

“I know you are. I can’t see anything past you, and I can’t see my own. I’m so sorry Ander, I don’t know how this is gonna end. I’m probably never gonna say this again, and tomorrow I’m gonna deny all of it. I love you Ander Mascot. With everything in me, I love you. But this can’t happen, because something huge is coming and she just loves fucking with me. I’m so sorry, I don’t want it to be like this. I wanted a normal life, with a normal mate, and a normal kid. But I’m probably not gonna get any of that, that means neither are you.” She sobbed, glaring at the swollen moon. He was quiet for a while, then he grabbed her chin and slammed his lips down on hers.  Neither of them knew how to kiss, they went purely on instinct, but it was enough.

“Then I say, if you’re going to deny it all, we live it up now.” She smiled, wiped her cheeks and stood.

“Race you to the creek near the boulder shaped like John Travolta’s head!” She yelled then morphed into her wolf, a deep red that reminded her of blood, and ran off. She wheezed in laughter after she heard him grumble.

“You know good and damn well I have no idea where that is.”

 

 

 

 

“What are you doing here Jake?” She asked rubbing her temples and closing her eyes.

“This was my fathers’ pack, when he died I-I had to come.” He said, taking a step and watching her extremely closely.

“I get that, Jake, I really do but why? Do you know what happened after that? Do you  understand the level of pain that was in that house after you left?” She didn’t use any words that seemed too female knowing Luna Crazy-She-Bitch would start yelling and Valerie wouldn’t be able to take it.

“I had to go.”

“Why didn’t you just… take her with you. She would’ve came easily, she would’ve understood.”

“She?” The Luna said, but was easily ignored.

“I didn’t want her sucked into the messed up stupid world that I was born in to. If I could somehow save her from all the bullshit that I’m surrounded by, I’ve done my job.”

“Bullshit?” The Luna squeaked, her hackles raising.

“That wasn’t the way to do it Jake. She’s been suffering for eight years, she gets so little relief from him.” His face cleared and he walked to her, grabbing her upper arm and leaning close.

“It was a him? I’ve a son?” There was joy in his eyes and his tone as he asked.

“Yes, his name is Jake Junior, he looks exactly like you…  here.” She put her hand on his cheek and pictured his son, then sent the picture to him. His eyes clouded over slightly as he looked at the photo.

“He’s… beautiful. Can you… can you show me her?” His voice cracked slightly but he didn’t seem to care. She pictured Sammy smiling, with her blue eyes alight and mischievous and sent it to him. He smiled as the picture went through his mind and let go of her arm. He stood then, wiping at a ghost tear on his face.

“How long are you staying?”

“Wait, what?! She’s staying? She can’t stay!”

“Down girl, I’m not. I just came to drop off your boy.” Valerie said, grabbing the boy from behind her and pushing him forward gently.

“Isaac? Where’d you find him?” Jake asked, taking the boys face in his hands and moving it.

“He broke into my apartment, planning to die in my bed. I came home and found him.” She said, crossing her arms loosely over her stomach.

“What do you mean planning to die?” Jake asked, his voice serious now as he sniffed the boy.

“There was an, uhm, ninja star in his leg and a gun skim on his arm. I tended them.”

“I should smell the blood though.”

“”Magic, the bandages are coated in magic, as we speak the silver is festering out and he is healing. But he feels none of it.”

“Thanks for that, again.” Isaac said, looking back at her with big hazel eyes/

“No problem Isaac. I should go now.” She said, smiling at the boy and walking towards the door. The Luna looked at her with the nastiest, meanest glare she could but Valerie couldn’t care. She wanted to go home and sleep. But something was still nagging at her.

“Where’s his father? Why hasn’t he been on the news, or put up fliers?”

“We’re wolves, Valerie, the minute we go to the news with this, or put up fliers, it’s their bounty hunters that come for us. I wasn’t going to risk his safety for his father’s wellbeing. Guess I wasn’t too good at it, huh?” Valerie said nothing, just looked to Isaac who seemed to be begging her something with those eyes that looked so much like her mates. She looked away and touched the door knob.

“Valerie,” his voice stopped her “if there’s anything you need, just let me know.” She turned around and looked into his black eyes.

“Brandons’ dead. He died about a month ago and, if I’m being honest, he disgusts me. They look nothing alike, they don’t have the same personality traits at all, but when I look at him the only thing I see is my dead mate. The only thing I need is for you to keep him away from me, and I’ll be fine.” Not once did she look at Isaac afraid of the pain that would erupt.

“But I haven’t done anything! If anything, I’ve been as nice and polite to you as I possibly could!” Isaac yelled, defending himself.

“It’s not about you doing something, per se, it’s just about you. I cannot be around you, it hurts too much. Right now… it’s just too much.” She turned and opened the door, then walked straight into a chest the size of a football field. She looked up and gulped.

“You’re the little fairy that found my pup, huh?”

Chapter 17

“Time for bed guys!!” and ly yelled getting up from the couch where her and her mate rested. Cara zoomed to her mother, her brow furrowed and her head cocked.

“What do you mean? We normally go to bed at ten, it’s only eight.” Molly bit her lip and looked at Thomas, scared of how her children would take the news.

“Tomorrow you guys are going to start your first day of school.” He said standing and walking to Molly, putting a gentle touch on her waist to soothe her. All of his kids came down then, circling them and putting in their two cents about how they felt.

“We’ve never gone to school before.”

“It doesn’t make sense to go now.”

“Why do we even have to go to school?”

“What did we do to deserve this?” He shot a brief to look to Molly who made a curt whistle, cutting off all of her kids.

“Me and Sarah talked it over and agreed that it would be best if you kids got a better education, better than the tutors can give you.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. You mean that cunt bitch is going to school with us?” Luna snarled, taking a step forward.

“Luna, language.” Her mother growled staring her daughter down. They went at it for a few minutes before Luna backed down, bowing her head and taking a step back.

“It’s an excellent school, it goes from pre-k to the 12th grade, they don’t even make schools like that anymore.”

“Whoa, hold the flipping phone.” Alissa said, readjusting Libby in her arms.

“She’s coming to school with us?” Molly licked her suddenly dry lips and nodded.

“No.”

“”Who’s gonna protect her?”

“That’s not gonna work mom.”

“We can’t take her, we won’t be able to protect her.” Her children went on and on, stating their concerns about it.

“That’s enough.” Thomas said, putting just enough Alpha in his voice to silence them.

“We know what’s best, there are gonna be other pack children in the pre-k class.”

“They won’t be able to protect themselves!”

“Damn it! You are going to school! End of the flipping story! Now go upstairs and get ready for bed, if you’re not in bed in thirty minutes you’re spending the next three weekends cleaning Ms. Hannigans house for the next five weekends!” The Greene children widened their eyes as their mother lost her cool.

“Mommy?” Libby squeaked, tears coming to her eyes.

“Yes, Libby.”

“I don’t wanna go to school.” Libby sobbed, putting her head in Alissa’s neck. Molly opened her mouth in horror and bit down on her lip.

“But this is a good thing, Libby.” She tried to get her daughter to stop crying, but if anything it got louder.  Thomas squeezed her hips softly then walked to get his daughter. Alissa gave her over easily and Libby melted in his arms.

“Daddy I don’t want to go, please don’t make me go!” She sobbed into her fathers chest.

“Go to bed, now.” He said to his kids, and they’d be dammed if they didn’t obey. He looked to his mate who looked as if she’d been hit by a truck. He shushed his daughter softly as he walked to Molly.

“You wanna go to your mommy?” He asked after she’d quieted down, she shook her head and nestled in closer to her father.

“You’re hurting your mommy Libby, she’s crying.” She stiffened slightly but still shook her head.

“Your making mommy cry, and if mommy cries, daddy cries. Do you want daddy to cry?” Libby looked up at her father and shook her head, her green eyes still watery.

“Well daddy is gonna cry, because mommy is still crying.” Thomas said, then put one hand over his eyes, then made sobbing sounds.

“Daddy! Daddy, don’t cry!” Libby squeaked, he peeked through one of his fingers at his daughter.

“Let mommy hold you, talk to mommy, and I won’t cry.” Libby nodded quickly and looked to her mommy, and grappled on to her. Libby wiped her mothers tears from her face.

“Don’t cry mommy, it’s alright. I’m not sad anymore.” Molly looked in her daughters eyes and kissed her forehead.

“I’m sorry I made you cry, Libby, but I want you to go to school.”

“But-“

“I want you to go too, Libby.” Her father said before she could refuse it. She looked to her father and a single tear fell before she nodded.

“If it makes you feel better, me and daddy will be able to come whenever you need us.” Molly supplied kissing her little girl all over her face. Libby giggled and tried to move from the kisses, only to have an attack from her father as well.

“Ok mommy, I wanna go to school now.”

“Thank God.” She said, smiling, as she carried her daughter upstairs.

 

“Alright, who in God’s blue blazes thought it would be funny to put these damn bows in my hair while I slept!?” Luna growled as she stormed downstairs, pointing to the green bows in her hair. Alissa pointed to Jesse, who pointed to Cara, who pointed to Lina, who pointed to their mother.

“Oh no, not cutting my head off for that one. Alissa did it.” Molly said as she packed her kids lunches.

“Mom!”

“Nuh uh, she is not a morning person. I don’t even know why you did that.” She said, busying her hands. Luna narrowed her eyes on her sister and went on a war path.

“We’ve got to get ready.” Jesse said, stopping her from punching her little sister in the face.

“You are so lucky.”

“Yeah, I know I am.” She said back happily as her sister turned around and went upstairs to get changed.

“You do know once I’m not around there will be a fight.”

“Yeah, I know. Might as well enjoy it now, though, right?”

 

                Luna waited, much to her annoyance, in the parking lot for the Mascot twins to come. She was outvoted when she suggested they go inside and try to find their classes. She crossed her arms and rolled her eyes as her siblings stood on their toes trying to find them.

“We all know when they’ll get here, we’ll smell them.”

“Luna!” Lina hissed, frowning at her bigger sister.

“Lina! It’s true. We can smell them from a mile away.”

“We’re supposed to act human, Luna.” Cara said softly, trying her best to sound disappointed.

“You guys stay here if you want to, I’m going inside. JJ, you coming?” He nodded and together they left. As Luna walked up the stairs to the massive school she crossed her arms and took a deep breath, she could feel her patience waning with each step. She wouldn’t last long in this place. She was bumped into and she looked up, biting down on her tongue.

“Oops, sorry didn’t see you there.” The girl said unkindly, scrunching up her ugly human nose. Luna narrowed her eyes and took  a step closer, violating the space that was the girls.

“Maybe you should keep your eyes peeled.” She said, then stepped around the girl.

“Excuse me?” The girl squeaked hurting Rosa’s ears. She turned on her heel and looked down at the girl, then shrugged.

“What? Got a problem with your ears too?” She asked rudely, letting the girl, clearly, know she didn’t want to be bothered.

“I don’t think you know who you’re talking to.” The girl said lethally, dropping her bookbag to the ground. Luna smirked and dropped her bag too.

“I think I know exactly who I’m talking to. So how about you take your bookbag, and walk to whoever it was you were walking too before my fists comes in close contact with your teeth. Got it?” Luna said as nicely as she could.

“Luna, maybe you shouldn’t-“ JJ tried to say, but was cut off when the girl held up a hand.

“I don’t think you get this, but-“ Luna grabbed the girls hand and pulled the pinky and thumb as far as they would go without snapping.

“Look, I don’t want any trouble. Quiet frankly I don’t want to be in this damn school. So, here’s what I’m gonna do. You stay away from me and my kind, and I won’t break these pretty little fingers of yours.”

“Luna-“

“Shut up, JJ. Got it?” She asked the girl who now held tears in her eyes. She nodded and Luna let go of her fingers, then smiled sweetly.

“Good, see ya around.” She said then picked up her bag and turned around, that’s when the bitch decided to throw a punch. Luna easily moved out of the way and sighed.

“You people are really slow aren’t you?” She asked right before she punched the bitch in her teeth.

Chapter 18

    Drew sighed as he walked to pull Luna off of the screaming and crying girl. JJ looked as if he was torn between helping or running. He wrapped his arms around her midsection and pulled her off, she was still kicking and scratching but this time it was air.

“Let me go, she tried to hit me.”

“Let it go, love, it’s over. You showed her, she’s not stupid enough to-“ The girl got up and wipe her tears, then lunged at LunaRosa, who was ready and waiting to attack. He heard Anna growl as she walked past him and gripped the girls hair.

“Pack it in!” She yelled, tugging and ripping the girls hair. The girl shrieked, to which Anna though a punch to the gut would shush. It did as she doubled over, moaning in pain. She let go and wiped her hands.

“See, that wasn’t so hard.” She said happily as the girl fell on the stairs and clutched her stomach, weeping in pain. Luna relaxed in his arms and huffed.

“Maybe you aren’t a little cunt bitch after all.” The principal chose that moment to step out and the minute she did, he knew that it would always be his, and Luna’s name that was shouted out of those dark red lips.

 

 

                Valerie was stuck in place, she couldn’t move. She didn’t dare even think about moving.

“You aren’t going to say anything? I think that’s a bit rude, don’t you Alpha?” The giant of a man said, smirking down at her.

“Dude… how tall are you?” She asked, her voice coming out way too airy for her.

“Six three.”

“S-six three? Who the hell bred you?” She asked, not hearing how offensive it was until it came out of her mouth. She slammed her hand over her mouth and widened her eyes.

“Holy shit, I’m sorry. That was highly inappropriate and-“

“Funny. Inappropriate and funny.” She did think it was funny, but she’d never admit that. They stared at each other for awhile before she blinked and broke the spell.

“I… uhm, I’m gonna go.”

“Yeah, you do that.”

“Make sure your pup doesn’t wander into my house again, I might not be so nice next time.”

“I’ll try to contain that as much as I can.” She smiled and walked around the statue.

“Any time you need help, you can just call.” Jake felt the need to remind.

“She already said she didn’t need help.” Kenna growled, Valerie rolled her eyes but kept walking.

“Valerie!” Isaac yelled and ran to her, she turned slightly and stopped.

“I’m sorry, that I give you so much discomfort, but don’t let that be the reason you don’t call.” She looked into his hazel eyes and smiled weakly.

“You’re a sweet kid, Isaac, you’re gonna make some wolf very happy.” She said, kissing his cheek, then getting in her car and driving off without another look to the pack.

 

“Can you explain how, not even ten minutes in to the official school day, your daughter managed to start a brawl?” Principal Son asked in that cold harsh voice of hers.

“One, I hardly think that counts as a brawl. Two, it’s a gift.” Luna said, shrugging before her mom could answer the question.

“You, young lady, are in a world of trouble.”

“Lady, you don’t know half of it.”

“Excuse me!?”

“What’s up with those words, that cunt bitch said that too. Do you guys not understand words? Do you speak another language?”

“Watch your tongue young lady.” Molly put her hand on her forehead and rubbed it, knowing this would not end well for one of them.

“I can’t, it’s in my mouth. Last I checked I can’t remove my eyeballs. I’m not that gifted.” The principal’s face reddened with anger as she stood.

“Principal Son, she has ADHD. And ADD. She’s got… a lot of problems.” The principal looked at her mother, then her flat lip twitched.

“Maybe she should be put in our special placement classes if that’s the case.”

“Oh hell no! I’m not a retard, I’m perfectly capable of listening and being quiet.” The principal and her mother raised a brow

“You don’t believe me? Watch, for the rest of the day I’ll be a good little…” she threw a look to her mother and sneered “girl.” Her mother smiled and pulled bows out of her bag. Luna’s eyes widened and she gulped.

 

                Ander watched in humor and fascination as a new girl stepped from the office. Her hair had bows in them, she had lip gloss on and, more importantly, she was wearing a skirt.

“What did they do to her?” Cara asked, then shivered and shook her head. He let his eyes trace the length of her and land on her eyes, he smirked to which she flipped him the bird.

“Luna, girl.” Molly said under her breath, he could’ve sworn he saw her eyes water.

“Go on off to class now, all of you. No more nonsense or tomfoolery, understand young lady?” The principal asked Luna and all of the children took a collective gasp.

“Yes, Principal Son.” She said through gritted teeth, adjusted her bag and walked off in some random direction.

“Are we all dead?” Anna asked, looking around at everyone else and herself.

“Because I believe this is hell, that is the only reason I can come up with for LunaRosa Greene to be wearing… girly clothing.”

 

                Valerie stood in her apartment and rubbed her eyes, she felt drained. She shouldn’t have done all that, she should’ve just fixed him up and let him find his own damn father. She’d put her body through too much, and now she was paying the price. She shivered as a sudden cold washed over her, that could only really mean one thing. Fey, an unwanted and powerful fey was here. She pulled out her prepaid cellphone, then took out the piece of paper that Isaac had given o her. She typed the number and pressed send.

“Remember that thing you said I had?” She asked when someone picked up. She licked her lips and turned o face the fey.

“I want it, find me and we’re even.” Wit that she pressed end and glared at her sister.

“Well, well. Looks like the little girl finally got a taste of the real world.”

“Vanessa, how did you find me?” She growled at her full fey sister, clenching her fists to contain her anger.

“Magick, remember?” Her sister said innocently, then sent a spray of green mist toward her. She squeezed her eyes closed and let out a squeak of pain as she fell to her knees.

“Come now, surely you’re stronger than this?” Her sister taunted, then punched Valerie in the face, sending her into the floor.

“Where’s that strength and spitfire from a few seconds ago? It couldn’t have left that fast, could it? Sister?” She snarled the word as Valerie was kicked in the stomach. No, she thought to herself calling on the anger and magic that she’d kept buried, you’re stronger than this.

“It’s still here, and you’re about to get a taste of it.” She growled as she put her magic into her hands and grabbed her sisters ankle. She screeched in pain as Valerie tugged, making her fall on her ass. Valerie straddled her sister then delivered blow after blow to the bitch who’d made it her mission in life to make Valerie’s life terrible.

“Now!!” Her sister wailed, her mouth full of blood making it difficult to speak. In no time Valerie’s arms were pulled back and she was lifted off of her sister.

“You’ve gotten stronger, you little bitch, a lot stronger. But you’re still below, you are still scum. And I will take utter delight in bringing you to mother so she can help me show you how true that is.” Vanessa spat in her sisters face then snapped her well manicured nails.

“Night, night little sister. When you wake, I’ll not hold back.”

 

                Jake hadn’t yet gotten over his euphoria over seeing Valerie, seeing his mate and child. Of course they weren’t really there, but just to see them there and smiling was good enough for him. When his phone rang and he got the message every thing froze.

“John, call the pack. We’re going on a hunt.”

“What, what happened?” Kenna asked, touching his arm. His wolf growled, his hackles raising, and Jake damn near ripped her head off. His wolf wanted his mates touch, his mates voice, near him.

“Valerie, someone took her.” He didn’t miss the sneer that Kenna threw when he said her name, but he said nothing. He bit his tongue, he’d been doing that a lot lately.

“We… don’t have the time, nor the money, to go on a hunt.” She said softly, trying to sound as if she were coddling instead of pissed off.

“I have the money and I have the time. People who are loyal to me, deserve my loyalty as well. Don’t ya think?” He said, snatching his arm away from her grip. John watched with wide eyes as the Alpha couple fought and cleared his throat.

“I’ll go assemble the pack.”

“You do that, John.” Kenna said, not taking her eyes off of her mate. John grabbed his son’s hand and walked out, making sure to carefully and quietly close the door.

“What the hell is wrong with you? Disrespecting me in front of the pack.”

“It’s my pack, I’ll do whatever the hell I please with it and in front of it.

“Our pack, don’t you ever forget that. This is our pack.”

“No. This is me and my mates pack, and you wanna know what I just fucking realized?” Jake growled, snatching the necklace he’d given to her, the one that his mother had given to him, off of her neck.

“You’re not her.”

Chapter 19

She was running, the soil felt amazing under her padded feet but she was tired. She was barely lasting off the few hours of sleep she’d managed to get without waking up yearning for.. him. Her wolf snorted as her pace slowed to a steady trot. She was getting closer, her wolf told her. To what, she didn’t know. Her wolf wouldn’t tell her that much, she just kept saying that they were close. Maybe if you just told me where we’re going, she’d supplied. To that her wolf simply snorted and shook her wolfy head. All you need to know is that we’re close, is what she’d say. She took the resting time to take in her surroundings, it was very scarcely wooded, there were trees but they weren’t plentiful. Not like back at home. Frowning internally she looked around and huffed. You little bitch! She yelled to her wolf, knowing her wolf didn’t care.

 

                Everything was cloudy and dull when the spell wore off. She was laying on something hard, cold and rough on her skin. She was still clothed, though, so that was a plus. She sent magic to her brain to clear her senses, and frowned when she felt the power of her magick. It had gone down… immensely. She sat up on her knees and groaned, her head still hurt like a bitch because her power wasn’t strong enough to wash away the pain. She squeezed her eyes closed, then open. Bars were everywhere, she was encircled in them. She’d only enough room to stretch out her legs and lay down, if that. She stood and put her hands on the bars, filled them with magick, then tugged. It shouldn’t have mattered if her power was dulled, the bars should’ve, at the very least, groaned. They remained stiff and unmoving.

“It wouldn’t have mattered if your power was at its maximum, which has gone up fairly high sister, the bars wouldn’t break or bend. They’ve been strengthened.” Vanessa said, coming down with her partner, who happened to be a dragon, from the floor above this one.

“Why are you doing this? I’ve done no crime to the hunters, or the human population.” Valerie’s voice was nothing short of a growl as she walked the length of the cage to face her sister.

“Don’t act like you’ve no idea what you did!” Vanessa spat at her, moving closer to the cage, making her blond locks flow in the air.

“What? What did I do?” Valerie asked, narrowing her eyes and wrapping her hands around the bars.

“You betrayed the hunters, you went to the wolves and told them everything!” Vanessa shrieked, her pale face reddening in fury.

“I did no such thing!”

“Oh yeah? Then how come they knew about the hydra’s? How come they knew where to attack?”

“They had dragons-“

“No! They had you! You were sworn to the hunters, you idiot, once a hunter always a hunter.” Valerie then saw the truth. It wasn’t her sister, her sister who had loved and took care of her when her mother was being especially hateful, who said those words. No, no. It was her mother.

“Is that what mother told you?” She asked softly, watching her sisters body soften momentarily then harden up again.

“You ran to the wolves, told them everything, and betrayed us. She raised you better than that! I raised you better than that!!” Vanessa said, moving closer to the cage.

“Yes, you did. You also raised me to do what was right. Vanessa, this isn’t right. Killing them isn’t the thing we should be doing. We should be helping them, if anything.”

“No, shut up.”

“They’re dying out there Vanessa. We were killing them, exterminating them from a world that wasn’t ours exterminate them from!”

“No! Shut up!” She shrieked, the dragon stepped forward and punched her hand which were on the bars.  She felt, and heard, the rattle of the cage and her fingers break. She clenched her teeth and cradled her injured fingers to her chest, but stayed away from the bars.

“You know this is wrong, you know it deep down in your heart, but your fear for her stops you from doing what’s right.”

“I’m not afraid of anyone, and I am doing what’s right.” Vanessa said, ice in her tone.

“You sound exactly like her. The only thing you care about is killing innocents.” Valerie said weakly, sniffling and looking down.

“Take that back.”

“You won’t even let them speak. You won’t give them a chance, before you slay any and everybody in your quest for power. Just like her.”

“Take it back right now Valerie.”

“They’re innocent, all of them, and you don’t even fucking care! Just like her! Just like that cold- hearted bitch you tried to keep me from becoming.” Valerie was being harsh, but sometimes that’s what the truth was. Everything was silent, the only thing that could be heard was Valerie’s sniffling and breathing.

“Mother’s requested to see you, she’s planning on beta testing something on you. I’m gonna watch it all, traitor, I’m gonna watch as you writhe in pain without being able to anything because you’re weak.” Vanessa said, her voice strong and mighty, daring anyone to not listen to it.

“It doesn’t change the fact that you’re doing the one thing you said you wouldn’t do. Doesn’t change the fact that, like her, you kill just to kill.” Valerie said, looking her sister in the eyes that looked so much like hers. They stared each other down for a few more seconds, then Vanessa tore off, going up the stairs and slamming what Valerie knew was an steel door that would lock itself within seconds.

“Just for a tip,” the dragon said, sitting in a chair by the threshold that led to the stairs “the bars are made out of steel, dragon bones, and full fey blood. The more you try to pull them, the stronger they’ll get, the more magic you use the weaker you get. Just thought I’d fill you in.” He was quiet after that, and so was she. Until she realized, she was Valerie- fucking- Simmons.

“So… what kind of Dragon are you?”

 

                Thomas was laughing with his kids in his car when his cell phone rang.

“Hello?” There was silence on the other end, too much silence for his liking. He held up a finger, silencing his children and put Alpha in his voice.

“Hello?”

“…Is this Thomas Greene?” A male voice asked, he didn’t sound too sure and that just made Tom anxious.

“Yes, this is him.”

“This is Jake, Valerie’s been taken.”

 

 

                Jake moved quickly, leaving his beta in charge and taking his third, John, with him. He took Kenna too, much to his annoyance, but he couldn’t leave his Luna defenseless, or with his pack. He wouldn’t want them to suffer. They took the first plane they could to Dakota, he wanted to find his friend as quickly as he could. They’d scoped out Valerie’s apartment, took pieces of her clothing and pictures of everything. He hoped that Thomas and his pack could help. Thomas and Molly were there when they landed and one look at them he could tell they were suffering. He looked to Molly whose eyes watered when she took him in.

“You’ve gotten so grown.” She said, wrapping her arms around his much older body and squeezing. Kenna cleared her throat but he couldn’t bring himself to care, Molly did though.

“Oh, who’s this? Mate to your third?” She asked, separating from him and holding out her hand.

“No, I’m his mate, the Luna.” Kenna said, wanting to throw the title out there, as she took hold of Molly’s hand.

“You’re his what now?” She asked leaning closer, hoping to have heard wrong.

“His mate, Luna of the New York pack.” Molly narrowed her eyes and took her hand back quickly but subtly.

“I’m sure you are.” She said politely then moved back in place next to Thomas.

“I’m Alpha of the Dakota pack, this is my mate.” He said, raising a brow and putting emphasis on mate and looking to Jake.

“I’m John, his third, and this is my son Isaac.” John said, patting his son’s head.

“John, Isaac? Very holy names, you got there.” John dipped his head at Molly’s statement and smiled good- naturedly.

“Let’s get to the house, shall we?”

 

“More kids?!? You brought more kids into the house?” Jesse asked, bulging his eyes out at Isaac who looked unsure.

“He’s teasing, right Jesse?” Alissa said, sidling up next to her brother and slapping him on the arm. Isaac looked to her and his eyes bulged even more. She cocked her head and took a step closer, then back.

“Strange.” She said, shrugged then walked to where the youngest sat, doodling.

“Kids, please make Isaac comfortable. If you need us… please don’t set the house on fire.” Molly said, then smiled at the youngest and led the way to the den.  Luna elbowed Cara then pointed to Kenna, who looked down her nose at every thing in the house.

“She doesn’t like kids.” Luna whispered, then her and Cara smiled and walked to stand in front of her together.

“Yes?” She asked after they stared at her for a while. Cara punched Luna, then Luna punched Cara until they were in an all out brawl. Kenna stood there, shocked and scared by what was happening.

“Hey! You two! Pack it in!” Anna yelled, jumping over the couch, to break them up, only to be sucked into the madness.

“What the hell is- My god! I can’t even leave you kids alone for five fucking seconds!” Molly growled, then snatched Cara from the fight, Thomas walked over and snatched Luna from the fight. Anna stood, her red hair in disarray, breathing intensely and looking up at them.

“It was her fault!” She said, pointing to Kenna, who widened her eyes.

“What? No.”

“Why are you starting fights amongst the children, Luna.” Molly sneered the title, looking highly angry at the girl.

“But I-“

“Kenna! Dammit, get your ass in here and stop causing problems.” Jake yelled, sounding really ticked off.

“But, but-“

“No damn buts! Get in here, now!” She huffed, threw an angry glare at the children and walked past the Alpha couple. Cara and Luna looked at Anna from their parents arms and smiled.

“You’re not a cunt bitch after all.” Luna said, smirking at the girl who shook her head went back over to where Jesse sat. Molly shook her head and put Cara down, then went to the den, Thomas soon following after her.

 

                Her mind was groggy when she awoke and she sucked her teeth and growled.

“”How many times are you people going to fucking drug me?” She hissed through her teeth, putting her hand on her head and standing on her unsure feet.

“Why do you say ‘you people’ as if you’re not one of us?” The dragon asked and, though Valerie couldn’t see him, he was smirking.

“I’m not, I wasn’t the one killing innocents and waging wars on whatever species I could… including yours.” She said, rubbing her temples. She felt the cage rattle, but she didn’t jump. She didn’t dare, that would show weakness and in here they ate weakness up and spit it out.

“They’ve never touched my kin, my kin has been loyal to the hunters for ages. Unlike you.” He spat and she looked at him.

“How long have you been here?”

“I was recruited last year.” He puffed up his chest with pride and Valerie snorted, then shook her head.

“Three years ago the hunters attacked the dragons that resided in Romania.”

“For what?”

“Nothing. There was no clause, whatsoever, they just attacked. When the Romanian dragons fought back the hunters then wrote in the records that they’d killed thousands of humans. They only killed three, and that was because those three pushed the boundaries and tried to steal members.”

“No, you’re lying.” He snarled, she rolled her eyes and focused on rubbing her aching temples.

“The Romanian dragons are the calmest of all the dragons, they’ve got their own land, their own time, they’ve got their own magick. They’ve never killed a human before, ever, so why would they suddenly star now? Doesn’t make sense, right? Your precious hunters killed them off, there are only three alive to my knowledge, and their all here.”

“No, their not! I’ve seen every fucking inch of this place!”

“Have you? Then you’ve seen level D, where they keep your kind under strict and torturous watch. I believe they keep them in cells just like this, if not stronger and smaller.”

“There’s no such thing as a level D.” She smirked and shook her head, approaching the gate and putting magic in the palm of her hand.

“Take this, go to the elevator and glide your hand over the surface without touching it, levels you’ve probably never even heard of will pop up. My magick isn’t strong enough to help you see them all, but this will help you see level D.” She held her hand out to him and he looked to her with big brown dragon eyes. He took it cautiously and she blinked,, then pulled her hand back in the cage.

“Good luck Dragon.”

 

                Jesse had turned on the Xbox and popped in Just Dance, and just like that the Greene’s were whole. Luna, Cara, Alissa and Jesse all had sensors on and they danced just like, if not better, than the people on the screen. After their one dance the youngest went and danced awkwardly but it was pretty to watch. Lina gave her sensor to Ander, Libby gave hers to Anna and Aubrey gave hers to Isaac. They latched it on and picked a song, a relatively easy one, then got ready. As the twins and Isaac moved in time with the dancers on the screen Luna sat up and gulped.

“Ho-ly shit.” Jesse frowned and looked at her, then back to the twins and Isaac.

“What?” She looked to him, then back to the screen, then back to him.

“Well… at least it isn’t only me who she hates in this family.” She said and sat back, crossing her legs and waiting for her turn. With an even deeper frown he looked to his twin who merely shrugged and paid attention to the dancers.

Chapter 20

“Who’d want to take her?” Molly asked, running her fingers through her hair and blowing air through her teeth.

“We don’t know, I don’t know. I’ve tried to look at it from every angle but I just don’t see it.” Jake said, rubbing his temples and squeezing his eyes closed.

“Name them.”                                                       

“Huh?”

“Name the angles you’ve looked at them from.” Thomas said, standing up and pacing. Molly frowned but said nothing.

“It can’t be dragons, she’s got nothing to do with them. Wolves would never touch her after the help, even rogues wouldn’t dare to. Fey don’t necessarily like halflings, but to go as far as kidnapping her? I don’t think so.”

“Hunters.” John said, his face clearing up for the slightest amount of time.

“Why would they want her?”

“She was on our team. That’s the only reason I can think of. They see her as a traitor because se fought with us and not against us.” John said, putting his elbows on his knees.

“But they threw her to us, hoping we’d kill her on sight.”

“Yeah, but you didn’t. Think about it, their plans didn’t go the right way. Instead of getting rid of a problem, they intensified it. This, them taking her, is their way of righting it.” John said, peering into Molly’s eyes.

“They don’t like to be wronged.” Thomas muttered from experience.

“But to-“

“Grandma, I’m hungry and I have to ask your permission to go to the kitchen.” JJ said, the door bursting open, with Cara on his back and her hands over his eyes.

“And would somebody please get this crazy female off of me!!” He said, growling and twisting and turning to try and get her off.

“A little help here would be nice.” Cara growled as she fought to stay on. Molly rushed to him, blocking Jake from seeing JJ and vice versa.

“Yes, baby, you can get anything you want from the kitchen.” She said, pulling Cara off of him and sending the girl on her way.

“Thanks Grandma-“

“What’d I say about that name JJ?” She asked, sitting on her haunches in front of the boy and fixing his messy black hair.

“You said not to call you Grandma because it makes you sound older than for-“

“Yeah, let’s not say how old I am. Ok?” She said jokingly poking him in the belly. He smiled then looked up, then his face cleared. Everything happened so fast she barely had time to catch her breath before the boy zoomed past her and towards his father, his claws out and his eyes feral and amber.

“Oldest!” She yelled, standing up, just as they came piling in, tearing the boy off of his father.

“Let me go!!” He growled as his body bucked to try and attack his father, who had his hands over his throat.

“Not until you calm the fuck down!” Cara growled, putting more pressure on his pressure point. He whined and whimpered, then growled and tried to lunge for his father again.

“Somebody get that boy out of here!” Kenna shrieked, running to her mate and checking his neck. Thomas sighed and grabbed the fighting boy by his shirt and lifted him up. He still fought, even though the shirt limited his attacks.

“Calm down.” He said slowly, putting Alpha I his voice. The boy stilled for a moment then snarled and fought even harder. He looked to his mate who walked over and pressed down on both his pressure points lightly. The boy stopped fighting and went lip in the shirt completely.

“Bad. Ass.” Cara whispered as her father put JJ in Jesse’s arms.

“Take him to his room, keep close watch on him.” HE told JJ then looked to Luna.

“Call Marissa and tell her to bring her Omega, lot of shit is gonna be going down and we need someone here to keep the peace.”

 

                She’d been taking a nap when her bars rattled, she sat up quickly, glad to be able to actually see this time, and looked to see who had disturbed her rest.

“What did you mean?” Vanessa asked, her back was on the bars, but Valerie could tell she was crying.

“About what?” She asked, bringing her knees to her chest and resting her chin on them.

“About the innocents. What did you mean?”

“My research began after we met Brandon-“

“He started all of this?”

“I knew that that pack couldn’t have done that. They couldn’t have killed anybody because he wouldn’t allow it. So I looked in the books and… there was nothing there. There was no reason that we had attacked their pack, no possible way to explain why anybody had to die. So I dug a little deeper, every attack, and raid, and war the hunters went to I stayed behind. I checked everything I could, then checked it twice because I couldn’t believe what I was reading.” She said, remembering her flabbergasted and outraged emotions she felt.

“I thought it couldn’t be true, the hunters couldn’t have done what the books said they had. I took a trip to Antarctica, where the last five survivors of the Orca attack resided. They told me what I had feared. Vanessa, the Orca’s protected the humans for as long as they’ve existed. They’ve done nothing but good for us, the hunters killed them all.”

“Because they’d killed hundreds of thousands of humans.”

“No, because they were killing off the hunters that were killing off the weres. They had a list that they showed me, it was like our record books. It had every human who had ever harmed weres, and listed their crime and how many they’d done it to. Her name was next, they said, she led the hunters into their land. She, single-handedly, killed fifty nine of them, then left the hunters to do the rest.” She saw her sister shake her head as her shoulders shook violently.

“Your name was on that list, Vanessa, it couldn’t be true. I swore up and down that it was a mistake, but it wasn’t. You’d killed innocents, hundreds of them, all because you let her influence you.”

“No, that couldn’t have… I only… no.” Her sister sobbed, putting her hands over her face.

“I knew that you wouldn’t be able to live with yourself, if you found out, so I made an unbreakable vow.”

“What? No, Valerie.” She sobbed, turning and putting her hands on the bars.

“I had to, Van, just to keep you safe I had to. I swore that as long as I lived I wouldn’t harm another were. I swore that I’d protect them as the Orca ancestors  did before me. Your name , vanished.” She whispered, keeping her eyes on her sister who broke down. She slumped on the bars and sobbed, cried for her sister and the hardship she had to face.

“You’re too good to be a traitor, too good to cause any harm to anyone.” She whispered after she’d calmed down some.

“I’m not too good for anything, but I’m not a traitor.”

“I know that now, and I’m sorry.”

“Me too.” They were silent. Valerie had closed her eyes and was well on her way to sleeping when Vanessa spoke again.

“Val?”

“Hmm?”

“We’re getting you out of here.”

Chapter 21

He looked on as pain sliced every limb and organ in his body. He didn’t want to see this, didn’t want to see her get tortured and brutalized. He couldn’t bring himself to look away, from here he could watch her all he wanted without any repercussion or reprimands from that damned moral of his. When his Mother had taken him in it was under the pretense that everything he’d ever thought would go away, him and his wolf were separate in this world. In this world he was human, in this world he was weak. In this world he could love Valerie they way he should’ve from the very beginning.

“Why are you doing this to her? She’s done nothing wrong to us.” He asked in his mind, no real words were spoken here. Only thoughts and emotions could speak for everyone.

“Doing what, my dear? She isn’t in my control, her own God looks over her.”

“But she’s my mate-“

“Was, my little pup. She was your mate.”

“It doesn’t matter!”

“I’m afraid it does. The minute you left your body her soul and yours disconnected. Once that happens her soul is in the hands of Morgan La Fey, their God, and Nimue, their deity. I cannot help her, even if I wanted to.” Brandon looked into his Mothers’ silver eyes and narrowed his own.

“You’re lying.”

“Me, what would I have to gain?”

“I don’t know but you can help her.”

“Sweetheart-“

“Don’t listen to her,” an oak twang voice said “the terms of endearment, the coddling, and all that other bullshit is just a ploy for you to listen to her.” He looked around until his eyes landed on a little girl with her arms crossed and her hip cocked.

“Luna?”

“Damn right. She’s not gonna do what you want, it really isn’t up to her.”

“But-“

“Lemme finish. It isn’t up to her, this is all on you Brandon.” Brandon furrowed his brow as Luna rolled her eyes and stepped forward.

“When you came here you and your wolf split apart, as is the protocol for all wolves who enter, there is another male down there. His mate died, recently, and his wolf couldn’t cope. His wolf died, but the human is still there.”

“That’s not possible.”

“Oh, a whole bunch of shit is possible now. This is where you come in, you’ve got to make the ultimate sacrifice. Wolves here get… recycled. In a couple years, if all goes smoothly, you and your wolf will be born again to a… longer lifespan. But, if you make this sacrifice, you’ll never get another life again.” Brandon looked in the child’s green eyes, then to his Mother’s silver ones.

“What’s the sacrifice?”

“You, if you so choose to, have the power to give your wolf to the male down there whose wolf died.”

“How will that help anything?”

“When the male’s wolf died, so did the human’s feelings for his mate. This male has taken a liking toward your previous mate because of the kindness of her heart, something you constantly overlooked.”

“Luna.” His mother chided softly.

“Fine. If we give the male your wolf, they will merge and search for their mate, they will be victorious.”

“You sound really sure about this.”

“I’m as sure as my next breath of air, but that means nothing. This is your choice, not mine. It’s not hers, it’s yours.” Luna stepped back and took a deep breath, her body vanishing like smoke.

“The longer you wait to make your decision, the longer she’ll be tormented. Eventually the hunters will get sick of her and kill her, no pressure though.” With that her whole body disappeared and everything was silent.

“I think she’s my favorite.”

 

 

“Wakey wakey, eggs and bakey.” A cold voice said, disturbing her slumber.

“Your cooking wasn’t that good, I’d rather suck on my big toe than eat anything you serve.” Valerie said, snuggling closer to the floor and keeping her eyes closed. If she feigned indifference maybe they’d leave her alone. Who was she kidding? They were hunters, they never left anybody alone.

“Such kind words daughter, really. I’m touched. Now up you go, time for testing.” She knew her cage door had opened and she sighed silently, she wasn’t ready for the pain that was going to follow, but she’d have to suck it up and take it. She stood slowly and faced her mother, crossing her arms and looking her mother straight in her cold pale blue eyes.

“What are you testing on me?” She asked, staring at the woman who’d made everything complicated for her, her entire life.

“We’re testing a new spear, it’s used for long distance hunting.” She said, then walked out the cage, waiting for her daughter to follow. Her mother, though fully human, had the confidence of Dragons’ and was conceited as hell. Something no human should have. Puffing her cheeks out she did as her mother expected and followed her to the fey testing rooms. She sat in the chair that was expected for her to sit in and let the hunters strap her to the chair. She didn’t look at all the technical bullshit that surrounded the room, she kept her eyes on her mothers face. Her mothers’ flat lip twitched as she pulled something out of her pocket, it shined in the light then grew as the light stayed on it. The blade was black, contrasting from its silver hilt, and curved, showing how dangerous it was.

“This is wonderful, wonderful blade is the Ucide, Romanian for kill. It slices through just about any material known to man kind. It’s made of everything it takes to kill all of our enemies.” Her mother sliced it through the air in an expert move, making a sharp crack.

“The curved structure of it is like that of a boomerang, you throw it,” her mother said, flicking it in her direction, she yelled out as it sliced into her abdomen “it comes right back to you.” She felt the slice deep to her core and sucked air in through her teeth.

“Smarts a bit, doesn’t it. Good. It’s made of cold metal, harming any fey it comes into contact with.”

“You’re a real bitch ya know that?” She bit out as she felt the blood seep out of her healing cut.

“Last I checked, I’m not a female version of that boy you betrayed us for.” Her mother spat out, throwing the blade again. Another slice, but this one to her face. Her cheek had almost split straight through to her inner mouth and she spat out the blood that had seeped through.

“I didn’t betray you, you crazy bat! You betrayed the code, god dammit!”

“I betrayed nothing! In Gods’ eyes, they are all evil!”

“How the fuck do you know that when you’re nothing but the Devil?” At that she flicked the blade again, this one slicing into leg.

“Barbara, maybe that’s enough-“ a male said, trying to stop the brutal torture but failing to.

“No, it’s not fucking enough! She’s a traitor!” Her mother shrieked, slicing and throwing every time the blade returned to her. Soon Valerie was nothing but a whimpering bloodied lump.

“Barbara! That’s enough! We’ve tested her and have gotten all the research we needed!” The male boomed, intercepting the blade before it could return to her hand. She swallowed, wiped her hands on her leather pants.

“Fine. Someone tend to her, then send her back to her cage. No food for tonight or the morning.” With that her mother stormed away, her graying blond hair whipping behind her.

 

                Luna walked in the school courtyard, it was raining. She loved the rain. Her galoshes made squishy noises that she laughed at, not caring if anybody heard her.

“You’re alone by yourself a lot, aren’t you?” a male voice said, making her look to her right.

“We should leave her alone if she’s always alone.” A female voice said from her left. They were twins, both with black hair and pale blue eyes with mischievous glints in them.

“We’ve got to befriend the loners Marcella.”

“I’m sure we do Mason, but you saw what she did to that Jessica girl.”

“Hello. I’m right here, I can hear everything you’re saying about me.” Marcella looked at Rosa, blinked then looked to her brother.

“Why is she addressing me?”

“Marcella.” Her brother chided softly, not really trying to stop anything.

“Can I not address you? Do you have a piece of paper stating that I shouldn’t address you?” Luna asked, stepping up to the girl and gripping her umbrella with a tremendous force.

“Yes, I do actually.” The girl said, pulling a piece of paper out of her black jeans and giving it to her. Luna looked to the folded piece of paper and smiled, a real smile, and took it.

“’You have been ordered, henceforth, to refrain from talking to Marcella Masters from here on out. If you refuse to follow as you have been mandated I, Marcella Masters, will not hesitate to kick your ass. Do not take my skinny frame for granted, I will punch your nose in your head so you can smell the stupidity that is your brain. Have a nice day!’” Luna looked to the girl who had crossed her arms and stared bravely into her eyes.

“I think I’m gonna like you Marcella.” Luna said not caring about some note. Marcella struck out, her hand a blur as it aimed for Luna’s face, but Luna easily caught and counter acted with a kick to the shin.

“Let’s not do this. You and I both know if we were to get into it, the fight would last forever.” Marcella looked to her brother who just smirked and looked at Luna. Marcella took her hand back and put them on her hips.

“I guess we’re gonna be friends now.” She said sourly, to which Luna just smiled and nodded.

“I guess we are.” She narrowed her eyes, rolled them and started to walk away.

“Now I’m gonna go home smelling like dog, I’ll have to wash my hands at least five times.” She mumbled, shaking her head as her galoshes squished the mud.

“I don’t think my parents will like it much when I go home smelling like death.” Marcella simply flipped her the bird and kept walking. Luna looked to Mason who still held that smirk, he raised his hands up in surrender and stepped back.

“No need to attack me, puppy, I’m just an innocent bystander.” Luna sized him up and aimed to punch him in the arm, he dodged the attack and countered it with a punch to the gut. Luna double over and held a thumb up.

“Good shot.” She creaked out, stood and rubbed her tummy.

“Thanks.” They both heard the bell ring and they both rolled their eyes.

“I hate this school.”

“I don’t even know why my parents wanted me to come here.” Mason grumbled as they both set out to walk to the school doors. She looked to him then to his clothes, everything he wore was black or grey. His plaid shirt was grey and black, the T-shirt he wore was black and his pants were black.

“Dude, why do you wear so much black?” Mason smirked, his fang popping out from under his mouth.

“Vampire, remember?” He said, leaving her standing there.

“That makes sense.”

Chapter 22

Her nails pierced the Earth as her world skidded to a stop. He moved! She snarled, stomping her paw on the ground. Good! We shouldn’t have been running towards him anyway! We should be with our pup! Sammy growled, feeling her control gain as she turned tail and ran back the way she came. You mean the whelp that separated us from our mate? Her wolf snarled low, making her stop in her tracks. He left because he couldn’t cope, not because of my son! Samantha growled in her mind, her hackles rising. She snapped out of it and ran, knowing that it would do her no good to argue with her wolf. The way she saw it JJ was the cause of all everything bad that had happened. No matter how long they argued her wolf would always see him as bad. No matter what.

 

                They searched for a week. Thomas put out as many wolves as he could, sent them to sniff around where he was taken, but they couldn’t seem to find her. Things were starting to darken around the house. The only thing that was lively were the children, and even that was starting to falter. JJ sat on the couch, his fist under his chin and his gaze somewhere else. Cara sighed and knelt in front of him.

“Please stop this.”

“Stop what?”

“This. I know for a fact this isn’t you. You don’t sit around doing nothing.” Cara said, motioning to his body.

“He kinda does.” Jesse commented from the other side of the couch.

“Shut up Jesse. Please snap out of this.” Cara said, keeping her tone light and her gaze on him. JJ looked to her then, his blue eyes searching hers. He leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands together in front of him.

“Why the fuck do you care?” He whispered, their noses a few inches apart. The door banged open then and his mother stood, panting and frenzied.

“Where the fuck is my pup?” She asked, her voice gravelly from it not being used in a while. He stood up, taking everything in about his naked, panting mother.

“Mom?” He whimpered, his voice cracking. Tears came to her eyes as she walked deeper into the house, hugging her pup close to her chest.

“It’s alright baby, everything is gonna be Ok. I’m not leaving you this time, not ever again.” She said as tears streaked down their cheeks.

“S-Samantha?” Her mother asked from the hallway opening. Sammy looked up to see her mother and father standing, watching.

“I came back… she tried to lead me to him, but something happened. He moved or something I don’t know… but I had to come back. I couldn’t leave my little pup here alone.” She sobbed, then got on her knees, framing her precious little boys face.

“Are you Ok? You’re not hurt or anything right?” Her eyes pleaded for him to say no, pleaded for him to be fine. He nodded as his face crumpled and he wrapped his arms around her and squeezed.

“Oh, it’s ok.” She cooed, running her fingers through his hair.

“Ok, I don’t mean to ruin the Lifetime Movie moment but I would appreciate it fi I don’t see my older sister naked.” Jesse said, rubbing his forehead as he closed the door. She wasn’t going to move, not after all this time.

“Oh, ah, Sammy you really should put some clothes on.” Molly said, wiping her cheeks and snapping out of her stupor.

“We’ve all seen each other naked.”

“What?!” Jesse squeaked, his face reddening completely.

“That may be so but-“ the door upstairs slammed shut and Thomas and Molly blanched.

“You’ve got someone living here?” Sammy asked, standing but not moving from her son.

“Well, it’s kind of complicated-“

“Who’s here dad?”

“Maybe you should put on some-“

“Mom, who is here?”

“Me.” A deep voice said, pulling her attention from her adoptive parents and to the one being that could undo her.

“J-Jake?” She squeaked, her heartbeat speeding up.

“Yeah, Jake.” His dark eyes would follow her any and everywhere she would go.

“What are… what are you doing here?” She asked, refusing to look at anything but his eyes.

“I, uhm… Valerie went missing and… I thought Molly and Tom could help.” He didn’t come for us, her wolf sulked.

“Jake baby, come back- oh… hello.” A female said, sauntering out in a shirt that smelled purely of him. Sam  blinked and forced herself to looked at his body, nothing but a pair of barely buttoned khakis.

“H-hi.” JJ stiffened in her arms and things went silent.

“What are we doing down here Jake?” The female asked, placing a claiming hand on his bicep.

“I’m sorry, but who the hell are you?” Sammy asked, moving her son aside and taking a step forward.

“Mom, don’t-“

“I’m Kenna… Martins. I’m his mate, who the hell are you?” Pain stabbed her heart and she growled deep in her throat, her claws coming out.

“Mom, she’s-“

“You’re his mate? She’s your mate? You left and scratched at the bottom of the fucking barrel for this bitch?!” She snarled at Jake as she moved across the room.

“What did you expect me to do?”

“Oh I don’t know? Be a fucking man and stay? Take care of your mother fucking responsibilities!?”

“I told you I didn’t fucking want that! I didn’t want to take this shit any further than it had been!” He growled as his mate stood directly in front of him, her amber eyes wild and wide.

“You are a swine, a disgusting pig!”

“At least I listen to people!” He yelled back, her eyes looked to his Luna and she snarled.

“You couldn’t do any better? I’d be fine if you’d at least gotten some super model, or at least a person who looks like she has a heart. But her? Really Jake?” Kenna growled and nudged Samantha’s shoulder, pushing her away from Jake. Rolling her eyes Sammy grabbed her wrist, twisted and threw the bitch down to the ground.

“Don’t fucking touch me, bimbo.” She said lightly then looked to her mate.

“She can’t even fight.” She whined, giving him her wrist. He took it and shrugged.

“I had little time to make a choice.”

“You could’ve stayed, we would’ve been happy together if you’d stayed.” Jake’s eyes flashed to where JJ stood.

“I couldn’t.” Their eyes locked and Sammy shook her head, then curled her lip.

“Stay away from my son dirtbag, and keep your little… Luna away from me.” She said as she turned and walked back to her son.

“Really? Still not gonna wear clothing?” Jesse said, covering his eyes again. She grabbed JJ’s hand and walked out the door, without one look back.

 

                She bit back her hiss as her mother threw another punch to her cheek. She would’ve been able to handle it if it had only been her mother’s fist. She was a weak woman, and only getting weaker with age, but she was in the hunter’s clutch. Nobody who was in the hunters clutch wasn’t tested on. Today they tested out their new mechanism. The Stone, as everyone around her called it, was a glove that one put on and would automatically have the power to suck out any and all magick inside of a being. It also deflected the magic into the punch and added pain to the assault. Salt on an open wound. To be sucked of your magic, all at once, was an extremely painful thing. But, to then have that magic directed at it you in a threatening manner. God forbid you were a powerful magi.

“Why’d you do it?” Her mother asked again, standing erect and cracking her neck.

“Why’d I do what?” To that she received a punch to the jaw and a deck to the gut.

“Why’d you do it?”

“You don’t want answers do you? The whole lot of you never want answers. You just want an excuse to beat up innocents.” The room went quiet. The beeping stopped, the shuffling of paper stopped. Everything.

“We don’t beat up innocents, we only capture the guilty to keep humans safe.” A female doctor said, pushing her glasses up on her nose.

“No, you take in innocents because you’ve no else to pray on. The rogues have stopped being vicious and violent, fey don’t cause you problems, dragons live in their own lives. What else is there for you guys? Nothing. So you make up shit, you take in people like me, who’ve done nothing the hell wrong, and you test and experiment and kill them. Innocents! The people you swore to protect!” She was punched in the mouth before she could say anything else, she swore she could feel her teeth loosen but that was impossible. Seeing as she was fey, didn’t matter if she was half or not, her bones were stronger than gold.

“Shut up your traitor!” Her mother hissed, her blue eyes giving away her insanity.

“You’re insane. All of you are fucking insane!!” She shrieked as she was punched in the eye, knowing good and damn well that it was swollen shut now.

 

                Alissa moved over, her hip bumping into Isaac, as she leaned over to see what he was doing.

“That’s a cool looking house.” She said lightly, working on her Lego sculpture. He looked to her, his brown hair flopping in his hazel eyes.

“It’s supposed to be a dog.” He said, biting back his smile, as he added more pieces.

“Oh… well. It’s just so good that I thought it was a house.”

“That made no sense.”

“Yeah, I know.” She said hunching her shoulders and pouting.

“You tried.” He mumbled, she furrowed her brow and looked to him, still pouting.

“My mom used to say that if you tried, that would be all that mattered if it didn’t go right.” He said hesitantly, not looking up from his ‘dog’. She smiled softly and crossed her legs Indian style, then tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.

“Your mom is very smart then.”

“My mom’s dead, because she tried.” He said sourly, looking at her again, his eyes angry and hard. Something a nine year olds eyes should never be.

“This might sound terrible but, isn’t that all that mattered? That she tried? I’m sure she died trying.” She said, looking dead on into his eyes.

“My dad’s wolf died when my mom died, he hasn’t been the same since. He cries, almost every night, and I swear I’ve heard him pray to the Human God more than once. What, exactly, was she trying to do? Oh wise one.” He spat at her. Her wolf pulled up and she bit back the snarl and growl she wanted to do, but instead she hardened her eyes and stood.

“Nice house.” She said, then walked away with her 3-D heart crumbling in her hands.

 

                She was pulling on a top when her bedroom door in her apartment banged open. Mark stood there, breathing fast with his eyes feral and wild. Her eyes watered and she strode to him, wrapping her arms around his muscular build, and let it out.

“Why Samantha? Why would you just leave like that?” He choked out, her Omega calming down his wolf.

“I-I didn’t do anything. It was all her, s-she just took over.” She sobbed, inhaling his scent and letting it soothe her as much as it could.

“It’s Ok, I’ve got you now. She can’t hurt you.”

“He is. He’s here, Mark. Why is here?” She cried, her body shaking viciously with them.

“Valerie’s been taken by the hunters. We suspect that her mother took her and they’re doing exactly what they did to Alpha Tom.”

“What’d they do to dad?” She asked, moving back and calming down her tears.

“Tested.” With that one word Samantha knew, she’d be working close with her ex-mate.

Chapter 23

Valerie sat with her scarred shoulders slumped in her cell. This was the night her and her sister would be free of their mothers’ cold hard grip, hopefully. She had absolute faith in her sister, knew that she was strong enough to handle her own against their mother. But she had faith in her mother more. She knew her mother had a viperous tongue and knew how to use it well. She knew her mother could sweet talk a boa constrictor into letting go of its prey. All of this she knew, she’d just have to sit and wait it out. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to dream, just to let everything go and be… free.

 

The breeze whipped her hair on her face, making her smile as her curls tickled her nose. Here she was safe, here she could live. She curled her toes into the luscious sand that, if she opened her eyes, shined like the back of a dull penny. She heard the waves that crashed into the shore, moving closer and closer to where she sat with her knees tucked under her chin. This was relaxing. The only thing that could perfect this dream world would be-

“Valerie! Open your eyes, we’ve got to talk!” Wait, that couldn’t be- but it was. He was here!? She opened her dream eyes and peered into his hazel eyes that smiled down at her.

“You. Oh, this is a wonderful dream.”

“Dream?”

“Sadly I’ll have to wake up soon. My sister plans to bust me out.” She sighed, standing in her dream world, her purely green halter dress flying in the oceanic breeze.

“You don’t think any of this is real do you?”

“How could it be? Brandon, you’re dead. I saw you die, I held your body in my arms. Unless I’ve finally gone round the bend and completely lost my wits.” Brandon looked at her, then wrapped his arms around her. She squeaked, not knowing how to react. She’d never felt his touch before, she couldn’t even imagine what it felt like. She couldn’t conjure up a memory that would help her feel this wonderful miracle, she could only stand there. Suddenly memories came flying at her. Him dead, him slowly losing all of his color. They ranged from truly heart breaking to heart aching.

“No, no, no. Shh, I know. Everything that happened, it was my fault. I’d given up when I shouldn’t have. I should’ve fought to be with you. My wolf wanted you with his next breath of air, but I always fought it. And for that, I’m sorry. But I’m gonna make this alright, in fact I’ve done something that will help you. It will help everybody. You’ll be safe, and happy.”

“Brandon, what are you talking about?” His dream apology fell on deaf ears, she didn’t care anymore. All she knew was that she loved him, she’d wait until the Gods’ decided her time was up before she’d ever consider not loving him.

“I gave him to someone else. I gave you a new beginning.”

“Brandon, I don’t understand.” He swiped his thumb on her bottom lip, sorrow filling those hazel pits that had brought her nightmares.

“I know you don’t. I just want you know, everything will get better.” 

 

Her eyes shot open as she sat up and gasped for air, something unreal had just happened to her. She looked around at the abandoned room that surrounded her cell and slumped her shoulders. This was real, the torture was real. That, she had no mistake of. There was no dreaming in or out of this world.

Chapter 24

“Now, I want you to be nice to Kenna while I talk to Jake.” She said to her son, stopping down and looking into blue eyes.

“Why do you feel like you have to talk to him. The guy’s a douche, he left you.”

“Hurt me, why don’t you. Look, JJ, this isn’t about me. This is about you.”

“I don’t want him, I’m perfectly fine with just you. I like the way it’s been. Just me and you, no one to hold us back.”

“JJ, you’ve got to give him time. He’s your-“

“He’s no father of mine. As far as me and my wolf are concerned he’s just some filthy, stinky, lying, leaving Alpha who hurt my mother.” She sighed and wrapped her arm around his shoulder, then walked to the Greene house. She knocked three times, letting whoever heard know she was friendly. Cara opened the door and looked up, smiled then looked to JJ and frowned slightly.

“Yeah?”

“Need to speak with Jake.” Sammy didn’t miss the way her little sisters’ lip curled slightly at his name before she stepped back.

“Come on in. Mom and Dad should be in the kitchen eating something. He’s either in the den or his room.” Cara said, crossing her arms while she walked to the couch to sit down and watch more TV.

“Who was it?” Her dad yelled as Sam closed the door and hung her jacket up.

“Eldest!”

“Sammy!” Her mom giggled coming out of the door that led to the kitchen and spreading her arms. Sam walked to her mom and hugged her tightly, inhaling the sweet honey and lavender scent her mother always had.

“What brings you by?” Her dad asked as he stole her from her mother and squeezed her in one of those mammoth hugs he used to give her when she was 13.

“I need to talk to him.” She said looking into her fathers eyes and pleading with him to understand.

“That’s not a good idea, sweet heart.”

“I’ve got too dad, for him I’ve got to try.” She pleaded, squeezing his forearm. He sighed and ruffled his black hair.

The things I do for the woman in this family.” He mumbled and held his hands up, he wasn’t going to stop her.

“He’s upstairs, I’ll call him-“

“No need, I got this.”

“Samantha you can’t-“ She didn’t listen to her mom as she ran up the stairs, her wolf eager to see him. The smell of sex and frustration were high around the threshold of his room and it almost sickened her to touch any part of it. For JJ. She took a deep breath then held it in. She opened the door so it hit the wall with a loud bang. He was on top of her, his eyes glowing amber as his wolf took out all of his frustrations on her willing body. His hair was wild and there was a light sheen of sweat forming on his skin that radiated in the afternoon light.

“Sammy?”

“I need to speak with you. After you’re… finished.” She closed the door and got out of there as fast as she could. She could barely hold her bile down long enough to make it to the camole, but somehow she did.

 

He didn’t like that his mother was feeling discomfort, he liked it even less because the way she felt was because of that stupid dick he had to call his father. His foot tapped as his wolf paced in his mind. He wanted to do something, wanting to make something hurt. That did nothing but disgust JJ, he hated violence. He knew that the world would be a better, brighter, happier place if everyone just calmed the fuck down with the violence. He could feel her eyes on him but it didn’t mean he had to recognize it. He watched some nameless television show as it flitted across the screen, he’d just have to make it in this house without punching someone. He could do that. Totally.

 

                Just as her stomach finished flipping around her body his door opened. The female left first, her eyes amber and mocking as she winked to Samantha, wearing her mates shirt. The wolf in her growled, while the human in her just wanted to punch the cunt bitch in the face. Whoa, too much time with Luna. Her mate was next walking out with a sickened expression on as his eyes automatically locked on hers. He walked to the bathroom and stood in front of her.

“I wasn’t-“

“Save it, no explanations. She’s your mate, I was stupid to barge in like that.” He looked as if he wanted to say more, but he just shut up and nodded once. That hurt.

“We have to talk about JJ.”

“The kid?”

“Yes, the kid. Our-“ He put a hand over her mouth and backed her into the bathroom, then closed the door.

“What are you, crazy!?” HE whisper yelled to her, taking his hand off of her mouth.

“Why am I crazy?”

“You cannot just say things like that in the open!”

“And why can’t… Ohh. Oh this is rich. She doesn’t know he’s your son?” She asked, humor and anger lifting her lip.

“No, and I’d prefer not to deal with that headache just yet.”

“How can she not-“

“She’s slow.”

“Slow?”

“I’m highly positive she’s got a mental disorder, but the pack doctor said no.” She looked at him and laughed. She missed this, missed him. At that moment she’d realized, she was going to have him again. Whether Kenna the Luna wanted her to have him or not.

Chapter 25

Brandon watched in confusion as they sliced some whip onto his mates’ skin.

“I thought you said when I gave my wolf this would all end!?” He boomed, gesturing to the horror film he was watching.

“I had assumed your feelings for the girl died as well.” His mother shrugged, oblivious to the torture of a being.

“That’s a piss poor excuse!”

“Language. And it’s the only one I have.” His mother said, sighing greatly as if explaining herself caused her a great deal of time.

“I gave my wolf!”

“I know what you did dear, I was the one who had him delivered. He has been, safely.”  Brandon waited but she said nothing else.

“And?!?”

“And what, my heart?”

“Cut it with the fucking lovey dovey words! Why isn’t she getting saved.”

“Language. She isn’t getting saved because it’s not the time for that.”

“It’s not time for that? One of your children is being tortured daily and it’s not fucking time for that?!” He snarled at her, feeling angrier at his mother than he had ever felt in his life.

“Language.” She chided softly, exhaling a soft musical sigh. He felt it the, his wolf had bonded with the male in the human realm.

“Now, it’s time.” She smiled softly, as the glass globe clouded over.

Chapter 26

John stiffened as he stood straight, the ice cream cone in his hand was forgotten. Instead he could smell the bits of strawberry, tasted the cold cream on his tongue and could feel as the ice cream slid down the inside of the cone. Isaac came to a stop beside him, still licking his ice cream as he looked up at his father. We’ve got work human, a rough country voice said in his mind, no more lollygagging for you. John gasped and dropped his ice cream cone on the sidewalk.

“Dad? Dad, what’s wrong?”

“We’ve got to get to the pack house, now.” John said, grabbing his sons’ arm and rushing him to the truck that was loaned to him.

 

                She barely held in her cry of pain as the electric whip grabbed hold of her torso and shocked every last bit of strength she fooled herself into having. The ends of her hair were spiked and the roots were frizzed and, she was pretty sure, were they to stop this she would still twitch from the ferocious aftershocks of the dangerous whip. The whip was turned off and she trembled, from what she didn’t know. She kept her eyes closed and tried her damndest to keep her heart from exploding in her chest.

“You’re tough.” Her mother said coldly, snatching the electric wire from around her mid-waist.

“I had you for a mother. It was either be tough, or be replaced by a full fey. I wouldn’t dare let someone suffer through you like I did.” Her voice cracked at every point, she hadn’t talked much. The only sounds she made were sounds of agony or sounds of frustration.

“Vanessa seemed to like my mothering.” Her mother spat out turning the whip back on. Valerie shivered as the air thickened between her and the metal device she loathed.

“Vanessa protected me, she took everything you dished and gave it to me in the form of respect and kindness.” She saw her mothers hand tighten on the hilt of the contraption but no blow was made.

“And what did I dish? Besides the love and discipline it takes to raise two girls by yourself.” Valerie snorted at that and rolled her eyes.

“You can’t still call yourself single after you killed our father. As to the love and discipline… well, you got the discipline part right.” Whoa, where was this coming from? How was this happening? Her mothers hand tightened to the point where the knuckles were turning white.

“I didn’t kill your-“

“I saw you. With my own eyes. I watched as you, the loving nurturing mother of two, killed said daughter of twos’ father right between the eyes.” Valerie shrugged her scarred and tired shoulders. Her mother lashed out then, but Valerie saw it, anticipated it and dodged out of the way.

“No.” Valerie said, feeling like herself again. Her mother lashed out once more, adding a slight grunt to it. It was aimed to slash and wrap around her waist, immobilizing her. Valerie merely ducked and rolled, unplugging the plugs that were attached to her skin by suction cups.

“How is she doing that?” She heard one of the scientists whisper in astonishment right before the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She closed her eyes and leaped, kicking the two hunters in the back as they dove for her when she came back down. Her mother lashed out again, Valerie had no intention of moving. She reached out and wrapped her hand around the tip of the wire, continuously chanting the protection spell over and over in her mind. She wrapped more and more around, pulling and twisting as she went. Her mother kept tugging and adding to the voltage but Valerie showed nothing. To her it was nothing but a slight buzzing on her arm. She walked the rest of the distance, keeping the whip in her hand, between her mother until she stood front and center.

“I believe this,” She said as she punched her mother in the gut with the hand that was draped in electrical wiring “belongs to you.” She growled out grinding in her fist into her mothers stomach until she could no longer felt her heartbeat. Her mother dropped to the ground, her black shirt had been burned through along with some of her flesh but her face remained unmarred. She closed her eyes, sent her prayers to her Gods then turned to the rest of the hunters. She rolled her neck, feeling the strength and magic fill into her muscles and giving her energy.

“So… who’s next?”

 

                The pack looked at him, all eyes wide and filled with wonder.

“How’d he get it back?” Was whispered throughout the crowd, he could hear it with the hearing that had been blessed upon him.

“She’s out there, I can feel her. She’s close.” He said, battling off the urge to shift for as long as possible, he could feel his canines lengthening and shortening at a quick rate. You’re taking too long human, his new wolf growled, precious time is being wasted while you sit here and dilly dally. He just wouldn’t respond to that.

“John, are you sure?” Molly asked, taking a step forward and crossing her arms over her stomach. He looked at her, his eyes amber and wild, as he nodded solemnly. She sighed softly as she looked to her pack.

“Go get her boys, bring our lost fairy back home.”

 

                She stood panting in the lab, they were all dead. She didn’t care, they deserved to die, but she felt a little bad about killing her mother. Just a little. Nobody had come because she’d managed to kill everyone before they could alert anyone. She cracked her neck and walked out of the lab, making sure to shut the metal door and lock it. She’d stolen some clothes off some doctor in the lab that wore the same size as her. She hated leather, loathed it with an overwhelming passion, but she had to get out of here. She walked down the long white hallways to the elevator and quickly stepped in when it opened. She summoned up a small amount of magick and wiped her hand over the buttons. The floor she was looking for slowly came into view with a bold ‘W’. She pushed the button and stepped back, folding her arms in front of her black leather crop top. At least the girl was fashionable. She stepped out of the elevator and worked hard not to scrunch her nose. The stench was overwhelmingly disgusting. It smelled of fur, blood and death. She had to school her expression before someone saw her. She walked as if she had purpose to the nearest cage. The child inside looked up at her, her blue eyes wild and scared. She’d learned not to scurry to the side of the cage, unlike hers the wolves’ cages were electrocuted. The slightest touch would send you into a coma like state in which anything could happen to you. She kneeled on her haunches and looked into the girls sky blue pools.

“I’m here to help, not hurt.” She whispered, knowing the girl would hear her.  The girl licked her lips and started to shiver. She though it was a test.

“No, it’s not a test. You can smell the truth can’t you?” She said, summoning magick and surrounding it around her cage and the surrounding cages. She nodded, her eyes lighting with hope. Valerie guessed it had been a while. She stood and looked at the small square of cages hat was huddled together. She knew if she’d kept walking there would be thousands of these cages.

“I’m letting you guys out, I’m a friendly fey. I can promise you, you’re all getting out today. I need you guys to help me though. My sense aren’t as strong or advanced as yours, you’ve got to warn me when you smell one of them. Ok?” They all nodded quickly and she let her magick spread. The cages were all disabled, the wolves opened them and stood. Different age groups were there, the oldest one had to be at least forty. She rushed them down the hallway, making sure to remain quiet. When she reached the end she summoned up a small amount of magick and tghrew it at the wall. A portal opened and she faced the wolves.

“This will lead you to a forest in Pennsylvania. When you get there run, wherever you can to hoever you can. No hunters are posted there, you’re free. Go, now.” She said, ushereing them into the pale portal. A man stopped, placing his hand on her arm.

“Why, why are you doing this?” He asked, tears filling his black eyes.

“Because it’s what’s right.” A voice said that wasn’t hers. She looked to her right to see Vanessa standing there with her hands on her hips. The man snatched his hand off of her and ran to the portal, picking up children as he went.

“I guess I shouldn’t have done that.” She said sheepishly, rubbing the back of her neck.

“It’s Ok Van, I could use a little help.”

“Will do.” Tigether they ran to the cages and used their power to disable the cages.  The wolves ran out by the dozens, making sure to keep their footfalls light. The sirens started to wail and the sister s looked to each other. Together they summoned as much magic as they could and spread it out along the floor. All the cages were disabled and the wolves moved as much as they could. Valerie looked to the elevator that made a sound with each floor.

“Van!” She yelled, pushing her sister into the crowd of ever moving  wolves.

“No, no! Val!” Her sister shrieked, trying to push her way back. Her blonde hair moved and swayed frantically as she fought the tide.

“Go Vanessa! I’ll see you out there!” She yelled, trusting the wolves to carry her sister out there. A life for a life. Her sister was weak, she’d used up too much of her magic. She wouldn’t be able to fight the horde without it. Three more dings until the hunters arrived,

“Promise me!” Vanessa cried as she let herself be carried out by one of the men.

“Promise what?”

“Promise me, I’ll see you out there!” She cried, tears streaming down her face. A tear pricked her eye and she smiled. Two more dings.

“I promise that you’ll see me, one day!” She said softly as she nodded, putting two fingers to her mouth and kissing them. Her sister nodded once, kissed her fingers and closed her eyes. One more ding. The last of the wolves ran through the portal and quickly shut it. Ding. 

Chapter 27

John growled at the hunter as it tried to keep him from his mate, he bit down on the hunters arm, then tugged. He didn’t care for the rest of the hunter, he merely jumped on him then ran to where her scent was heaviest. An elevator opened, bringing more hunters into the narrow hallway.

“There, she’s there!” He howled then stormed to the elevator, dodging and ducking the arrows and bullets as they shot towards her.

“Get her, bring her back to the pack.”  Jake said, effortlessly as he ripped the head off of a female that got a little too close to a pack member. As if I needed reassurance from him, his new wolf snarled, kicking their hind legs harder and faster. He skidded to a stop in the elevator as it closed , he huffed and looked at the buttons. They all head letters, no numbers at all. He closed his eyes and took a deep sniff. He could smell her, he had no clue where, but she was here. Our mate is kind and caring, she’d stop at nothing to make sure our kin were safe, even to her last breath. John looked at the buttons and sat up, pressing the ‘W’ button. The elevator moved but John paid no mind, he just stayed focused. When the elevator stopped moving and the doors opened he saw his mate. She was wearing leather, looking like a full hunter, with her hands wide and open. Her eyes widened as her mouth fell open. She fell to her knees and put a hand over her mouth, shaking and trembling.

“I-it’s you… you’re actually h-here.” He took a claiming step forwar, dipping his head. Her blue eyes scanned his wolf body, stopping on his amber eyes.

“You’re not even going to give me a hug? Not even one of those wolfy kisses that I absolutely loathe?” She said, finally breaking down as tears fell from her eyes as she spread her arms wide open. His tongue lolled out as he loped to her, acting like nothing better than a love-sick puppy as he barreled into her.

“My God, I’ve missed you so much. You have no idea. Wait… what’re you doing here? Shouldn’t you be, ya know, up there?” She said, ruffling up the scruff of his neck. He yipped and licked her cheek. She giggle and looked into his eyes.

“This is what he meant, isn’t it? Him making a sacrifice? Me being happy?” Without John’s consent his wolf nodded, sticking his tonue back in his mouth.

“Who? Whose body did you take?” She asked softly, rubbing his fur in slow circles softly. His eyes turned black for a moment then back to amber.

“That’s a real clue you got there, thanks so much.” She giggled, fisting his fur in her hand and smiling a watery smile. The wolf nodded his head to the elevator, and she followed the look. She shook her head.

“No, we’ve got to go this way. I’ve got about two hundred wolves and fey sister I’ve got to get to.” She said standing, and flicking a small piece of magic at the wall. It turned a shimmery grey, rippling as if the wind was running along it’s surface.

“You coming?” She asked, right before she leapt into the wall, leaving him with no other choice than but to follow.

 

                The clearing was fll of wolves, they were all helping and aiding each other. They did it quietly though, she saw, trying not to be too loud. Arms wrapped around her body and squeezed her close.

“Don’t ever do that to me again, you got that Valerie Simmons!” Vanessa yelled, kissing her sister all of her face and constricting her.

“Yeah, I got that. Mind letting go?” Vanessa chuckled and stepped back and put her hands on her, now, jean clad hips.

“Really? You put on someone’s clothing?”

“What? I had to play the part.” She grumbled, willing her clothing to change. She felt something brush against her leg and looked down, she smiled as her mate bristled at her sister.

“Who’s he?” She asked, looking down and frowning. Valerie bit her lip and shrugged.

“I know he’s my mate. That’s as much as I’m getting from him. Not much of a talker.” She said, rubbing her mates scruff.

“Well let’s fix this, I don’t appreciate the way he’s looking at me.” Van said, snapping her fingers and sending magic from her finger tips to coat her mate.  It coated his black fur until the only thing that could be seen was a purple mist. Slowly the mist moved and shaped until the mist dissipitated. She looked to the sky and groaned.

“Great, you give me the Jolly Green Giant instead of the Ice Prince? Thanks so much.” She said light heartedly, looking up at the man who towered over her.

“She gave me Tinker Bell, don’t see me complaining.” He grumbled, struggling to cover up his items. She rolled her eyes and willed clothes to form. A grey cotton shirt slid over his muscles and dark fitted jeans covered his muscular legs.

“Better?”

“Better.” He said, smiling and peering into her blue eyes.

“I’m sorry, for your loss. And I’m sorry I wasn’t able to find you sooner and rip apart those who dared touch you.” She smirked as his hand brushed her cheek softly.

“Ya know, I think I could get used to this.”

 

                He looked down at his mate, his gift from Mother Moon as she smirked up at him. A throat cleared and he looked to the older taller version of his mate, this version came up to his shoulder.

“Not trying to wreck the moment, but it seems my sister has acted in the spur of the moment. How are we supposed to transport these wolves, safely, to different locations?”  His mate sighed and looked at the sky.

“You always think I’m slow, Van. I’v planned this for awhile now. Why’d you think I sent them here and not directly into someone’s basement?” She said as the sky above them turned grey as the surrounding clouds swirled together creating a dark mass. People fell from the clouds, landing gently and walking to where him and his mate stood. Good lord, he thought as his hackles raised, they’re all naked.

“Hezekiah, Jakob. I’m glad you heard my distress call.” She said, moving to stand in front of the males.

“Holy Gaia, there must be at least a hundred wolves here Hezekiah.” Pone male said, his eyes brows shooting up to his buzz cut as he took in the big numbers. The male named Hezekiah looked to his mate with respect in his eyes.

“I take it you had to kill for this?” He asked, he felt his mate tense up and in return he did the same.

“Stay calm, wolf, we mean her no harm. He’s just asking a simple question.” Jakob said, without looking at him. A ferocious snarl was on the way out of his lips when a tiny hand wrapped around his forearm. He looked down to see his mate shaking her head at him. She looked back to Hezekiah and nodded once.

“You can wipe off 30 names on that list. Not sure which one is which, but I do know I killed 30.” She says softly, it broke him knowing it hurt her to do what needed to be done.

“Enough about what happened. Do you have placement for them?” She said, trying hard to keep her voice from cracking.

“We should. You’ve done nothing wrong here Valerie, you’ve saved all of these people from death and torture.” Jakob said, looking his mate in the eyes. She nodded and her shoulders slumped, Hezekiah cocked his head as if listening to something then his face lightened.

“You killed your mother, that’s what has you in a funk?” He asked, her shoulders shook as she sobbed. He went to her immediately wrapping his arms around her completely, enjoying how she wrapped her arms around him and stuffed her face into his chest.

“She needed to be killed, surely you know that?” Jakob asked, taking a step forward. He looked to Van and nodded to his mate, she gave a quick nod and took her sister. He looked to the Orca’s his eyes turning amber quickly.

“Look, I get what you’re doing for the were society, but you’re pushing it.  She’s hurting right now, I don’t need you adding more hurt to it.” He growled, struggling to keep his outside demeanor as unthreatening as possible.

“She’s been in this a lot longer than you think, wolf, she should learn by now that being too close is only going to hurt her.” Jakob responded stiffly, as if explaining pained him in some way. His body shook with the force it took to keep him from decking the guy… just once.

“Jakob-“

“No, Hezekiah. This happens all the time! She kills them by the tens, or the twenties, then she’s in an emotional turmoil. We don’t have time for her to be blubbering about when the list is still there!”

“You think I like killing them? The people that have raised me since birth!?” She shrieked, coming from behind him and standing into Jakob’s turquoise eyes.

“Nobody told you to put your name with ours! We’re into this shit, you could’ve chosen not to be!”

“Jakob, watch your mouth!” Hezekiah chastised, watching the two of them fight.

“You know good and damn well, had I not put my name on with yours these wolves would still be there!” He had nothing to say to that, so she backed off.

“I’m still with you guys, I made an oath. Let me deal with my grief my way, please.” She asked, holding her hands out in front of her. Hezekiah looked to Jakob who looked at his feet.

“Very well.”

Chapter 28

She helped the Orca leaders as they sent wolves to safety houses, places all around the globe where were’s were welcome. One stopped, a mother who held her son, who couldn’t have been more tha five, in her arms.

“Thank you, for your kindness and your sincerity to us. Our days were numbered in there.” Her voice wavered as tears watered her eyes. The little boy looked up at her, his big brown eyes not quite understanding the danger he was in. She put her finger behind his ear and pulled her hand back slowly, revealing a giant lollipop.

“Take your time eating that, wouldn’t want cavities, right?” He giggled and took the lollipop. He wrapped his arms around her waist, squeezing tight and damn near breaking her in half.

“Thank you!” He said excitedly, then turned to his mom to show her his prize. She smiled, sniffled and picked up her son. Together they walked into the shimmering portal, the boy waving frantically at her to the last second.

“You’re good with kids.” John said, sidling next to her and crossing his arms. She looked up at him briefly then walked to help the next group of people.

“I’ve wanted kids ever since I was eight. That was around the time my dad died, right before my mom went completely batshit. She was raising us on her own, and she was doing such a good job. We were dancing ever since we could walk, she still took us to the lessons. I knew that when I grew up I was gonna be just like her. I was gonna have two little girls who loved to dance and play around and I was gonna raise them.” She looked to him then, her eyes growing sad.

“Then I met Brandon, and I could see my life playing out before me. I’d have three adorable children, twins if I was lucky, and he’d love me for ever and eternity.” She had a certain amount of despair in her voice that he just couldn’t bare to hear.

“What happened?” She took her time answering that doozy,  she helped the little girl into the portal then helped the boy. She gave the man and woman who would now act as their parents a nod before they stepped in.

“We were on a mission, to destroy the Tiburon pack. My mother said that they were taking girls off the street and raping them, then selling them. I wanted to kill them all. I used my fey powers to disguise the hunters as they snuck onto the territory and killed them. Brandon saw me, a girl walking in the forest waving her arms around is kind of hard not to see. He got this look on his face, as if he’d had a long day and he’d jus settled down in a tub. I knew then he was my mate, but I’d messed up. I was so happy to have found a mate, something even full-breeds don’t do that often, that I let the spell go. He saw the army behind me and… hate lanced through his eyes, he burned me with them. A look of pure disgust passed over his face and he backed away from me. A look and a step was all it took to destroy me.” She said, looking down at her entwined fingers.

‘I can’t believe this!’ He’d yelled, he’d been so angry at her ‘I’ve got a fucking hunter as a mate! Can’t fuck up worse than having a fucking hunter as a mate!!’ He’d used so many expletives as he looked at her, anger and hatred coating each of them in thick wool.

“He ran, went to the pack told them what happened. I didn’t want to do anything, I had crumpled on the floor and I could nothing more than just sit there and wonder why. Why couldn’t Morgan La Fey just give me one little reprieve. Why couldn’t Nimue just grant me one stupid wish. I was so angry that I coated the pack, it was my mom’s fault for this. If she hadn’t brought me there my heart wouldn’t have been cracked.” She looked up at him and sniffled, he wiped the tear that had fell.

“I’m sorry. This Brandon guy sounds like a jerkwad.” She laughed and wiped away a tear that fell.

“He was, a major stinky jerkwad. But I loved him, and now she’s given me you.” She said smiling lightly. He smiled and took his hand away from her cheek, he grabbed her small hand and squeezed once.

“Lets go send some wolves home.” He said gently, nodding his head in the direction where other portals waited.

“Gladly.”

 

                Luna huffed as she worked on her math homework. She hated school, hated everything about it. Mostly she hated the homework. It wasn’t enough for them to torture them for eight hours, they had to give them torture to take home with them.

“If Sally is eight inches taller than Johnny, and Tim is five inches smaller than Johnny. How tall is Johnny?” She asked aloud in her room, she blinked twice then sighed. She growled and threw the stupid textbook into the wall, not caring if she dented it. The door opened and Alissa stood there with a plate of brownies.

“I asked mom if she could help me make some, figured you’d need them.” She said softly as she walked in and put on the nightstand by her bed.

“I know what you want Alissa,  I‘m not gonna tell you.” She grumbled as she got up from her bed and walked to her textbook.

“Oh c’mon! Please! I’ll clean your room for a whole month!!”

“You clean my room anyway.” Luna said, walking to the desk she placed in front of the window that looked onto the backyard.

“Shoot, I was hoping you wouldn’t pick up on that. Please, just tell me!?” She begged, clasping her hands together in front of her chest.

“No, you’ll know when the time comes.” Luna said, crossing her arms over her chest and sticking her chin up. Her sister stomped her foot and clenched her fist.

“You’re not being fair!”

“I am being fair, you’re gonna have to wait and see like everyone else Alissa.” The two stared at each other for a long time before Alissa growled and stormed out, slamming the door behind her. Rosa puffed out a breath of air and relaxed her arms.

“You give me seer powers, but not powers to solve an elementary problem? Some help you are.” She sighed, grabbing a brownie and flopping on her bed.

 

                It was after midnight by the time they finished transporting the wolves and she was drained. She hadn’t yet grieved fully for the lives that were lost, she hadn’t gotten anything to eat and she was bone tired. The air shifted and she knew the Orca’s were getting ready to depart.

“Hezekiah!” She yelled, then ran to where he stood, ready to leave. He turned back, a brow lifted.

“Yes, young fey?”

“I was wondering… will your Gaia be good to my mom?”” She knew the answer, she just needed to hear it.

“Your mother has inflicted harm, pain, and death to her children. If she does, I would be shocked.” She bit her lip and nodded, then stepped back.

“You’ve done good, fey.” He said in a soothing tone, right before he ascended into the sky. The air stilled, the only thing that was left was her sister, her mate and the moon.

“What do we do now?” Her sister asked, making her turn to look at them. She looked her mate in the eyes and smiled a beaming smile.

“Now, we go home.” She said softly, walking to her future.

Chapter 29

She didn’t even have to knock, the door opened the minute she stepped on the lawn. Sarah stood there beaming and exited, she ran to Valerie squeezing her and lifting her off the ground.

“Oh my Goodness!! You’re alive!” Sarah squeaked excitedly squeezing harder and harder.

“Losing…  oxygen… blacking… out.”  She choked out, grateful for her mat coming and plucking her out of the She-wolves arms.

“Hey now, she’s fragile.” John said, putting his mate down beside him. She shook her body as if she were wet and nodded her thanks.

“Drew, Ander, Anna, Molly, Thomas, and everybody else! She’s back!!!” Sarah yelled, cupping her hands around her mouth.  The kids came from the back, running as fast as they would let themselves around humans. They rushed to her and wrapped their tiny arms around her waist.

“What is up with you guys and the squeezing?” She asked as she patted their heads in turn.

“Mommy and daddy missed you so much Valerie!” Aubrey yelled excitedly, her little green eyes searching Valerie’s face.

“I’m sure they did, sweetheart.” She said, patting the child’s head. She heard squealing and looked up to see Libby in her father’s arms, laughing as he tickled her. Molly beamed for the door way and smiled, then pointed to her and said something to her daughter. The child looked to her and smiled a big smile with only three teeth in her mouth.

“Valerie!!!” She yelled, squirming out of her father’s grasp. She ran for her, tripping every now and then but on a straight war path. She leaped and jumped onto Valerie, sending her back a few steps.

“Hey there sweetness. I take it you’ve missed me?”

“I sure did, I missed the toys and the games we played.” The little girl said, making wild movements with her hands. Valerie laughed and poked the girl in her belly.

“Now that I’m back we can play all those games, with all those toys. Ok?” Libby laughed and squeezed her arms around Valerie.

“Really, women, you can’t not need saving for more than five seconds.” Her mate sighed, gently pulling the child off of her and setting her down on the ground, then plucking her from the midst of children.

“I’m just helpless like that.”

 

                The pack came over and there was a mini party, careful to keep the volume down.  They were aware and tried to be mindful of the fact that the humans went to sleep early, that and they had their own jobs to get to. Nothing sucked worse than having a headache before having to report early for work the next morning. There was no alcohol, simply fruit punch and soda. Valerie smiled as she talked with members of the pack, holding a cup of fruit punch in her hand. She was tired, to the bone, but she’d put on the show. They’d missed her, and she them, she owed this to them.

“If you girls excuse me, it’s time for my mate to have her rest.” John said, placing a possessive arm around her waist. The girls smiled, nodded then walked away giggling.

“What are you doing?”

“What you obviously are failing to do, getting your little ass in bed.” He said, lifting her up bridal style. A few threw looks at her but they said nothing, they understood. She tried to fight it but couldn’t when her body relaxed around him and her eyes slowly closed.

“Put me… down. Douche… douchebag.” She mumbled, nestling closer to his chest. He chuckled and started walking to the stairs.

 

                Molly couldn’t help as her eyes followed John up the stairs, when her mate sidled behind her and placed two hands on her hips, nestling her bottom against his hardness, she didn’t respond how she’d normally respond.

“Are you really that nosy?” He chuckled, kissing the base of her neck.

“I don’t prefer it nosy, just… curious.” She said, stretching her body to watch as he went further up the stairs.

“Well stop being curious, your mate has needs.” He mumbled into her ear, sucking the lobe into his mouth.

“The children are here.” She sang softly, rubbing her bottom gently against him.

“Kill me, why don’t you.” She smirked and knew that her statement would cool down his fire quickly. She walked away from him, knowing it would kill him to watch her do so,  and to Sarah who chatted excitedly with her friends.

“Did you see it?” She asked, gesturing to the staircase in the hallway.

“Did I see it, could I take my eyes off of it you mean?!” They both giggled and walked to the snacks table.

“What do you think it means?” Molly asked, knowing the answer, just wanting her suspicions confirmed.

“You know what it means.”

“So? Maybe I just wanna hear someone who isn’t me, although I’m awesome, give their opinion.”

“It means,” Carol said, literally sliding next to them and lightly tapping Molly’s hip “that our Mother Moon has decided to give the little tinker fairy a second chance.” She picked up one of the carrots, dipped it in dressing and bit into it.

“This is gross! What kind of dip is that?” She moaned, getting a napkin and spitting out the carrot.

“Eh, mayonnaise and sour cream and onion.” Carol’s eyes bugged out of her brain and she growled.

“You evil bitch!”

“That’s my name, don’t wear it out.” She sang, snagged a few chips and walked away as the two laughed.

“I had the cookie first!”

“No you didn’t!”

“Yes I did!” Aubrey and Lina growled at each other, tugging a crumbling cookie. She snuck behind Lina and picked her up, making the cookie fall out of Lina’s grasp and into Aubrey’s.

“Mommy!”

“Mom!? Why’d you do that for, it was mine!” Lina whined, looking at the plate of empty cookies.

“She’s a baby, let her have it.” She said, then took the cookie from Aubrey and ate it all in one bite. At Aubrey’s little gasp she put the child down, knowing she could get dangerous fast. She handed her five year old the chips she snagged and gave the six year old a kiss on her forehead. She walked into the kitchen then wanted to turn back around immediately. The anger that hung in the air was almost tangible, it made her eyes itch.

“Whoa, could you guys pipe down on the hatred fest for just one day?” She asked as she went to the fridge and pulled out a snicker bar. The eldest said nothing, the only sound that was made was Cara piking on the edge of her cup.

“Oh sweet lord. That’s it! A mom’s gotta do what a mom’s gotta do.” She growled then pinched the ears of her two daughters and pulled them along. They shrieked and tried to pull but she only squeezed harder. They stopped moving and complied, their backs hunched over to keep from adding friction to their reddening ears.

“Stay.” She said sternly, pointing a finger to them and turning back around. The boys came out of the kitchen with their hands held up, not wanting the same pain. Anna walked out, her arms crossed, and stepped next to the girls.

“Jasmine, cut the music.” She didn’t have to raise her voice, she knew she was heard. The kids stood in the middle of the living room, still not saying anything. She crossed her arms and pushed them together. Luna sent a scathing glare to Ander and pursed her lips, but was smart enough to say nothing. Cara tried to avoid looking at JJ, she failed a few times but she always shot her gaze away before anyone noticed. Anna rolled her eyes then met Jesse’s gaze straight on, showing no fear whatsoever. Alissa fidgeted slightly when her mother placed Isaac in front of her.

“Since you guys, obviously, do not want to speak with each other in the verbal sense you’re going to do it through your bodies.” Molly said, walking to Jasmine and whispering something. Pop music played, but it was slow, not too fast. When she saw they didn’t move she growled and walked to her mate. She tugged on his hand until they were next to Luna.

“What are you doing?” He asked, looking into her eyes, she winked and smirked.

“Follow my lead, baby.” She said, then slowly stepped into the waltz. She did the basic steps and then stopped next to her daughter.

“Your turn.” Her daughter looked to her mother then to Ander, her lip curled.

“I’m not dancing with him.” She said dismissively, looking elsewhere as if that would divert her mother’s attention. It did the polar opposite, she pushed her daughter and Ander together, wrapped their arms around one another and held them together even though they fought against it.

“Now, for the remainder of the celebration, you’ll be holding each other. I see you for one flipping minute without each other I swear to you I will go apocalyptic on your little asses. Got it?” She growled low, her eyes swirling to amber. Her daughter set her jaw and nodded, knowing not to mess with her. She stood up and saw that the other children had quickly assumed the position they saw her in.

“Good, now we’re getting somewhere.”

 

                 Luna grit her teeth as she moved with the annoying boy she was pushed up against.

“Look, I hate it as much as you do but don’t mess up your teeth over me. Honestly, sweetheart, save your mouth for a later time.” He watched as the fist reared back and punched him square in the jaw.

“Watch your fuckin’ mouth.” She growled, the air around her crackling with power.

“Or you’ll what, buttercup? Dress me in one of your Barbie doll dresses?” He mocked, fixing himself and preparing his body for the pain. She did not leave him hanging there, she ran and punched him the gut, kneeing him in the nose as he bent in pain the kicked him in the shin repeatedly when he wouldn’t fall over. No one could pull her off of him, and when they tried her claws would extend and grip into his skin, making him cry out.

“Luna, let him go!!!” His mother yelled, letting go of her daughters midsection and putting her clenched fists on her hips.

“No, the twat wants to say something, he can say something to my face.” She said, slowing down the punches to match with every other word. He heard a swift intake of breath before his wolf calmed down.

“There’s somebody I’m longing to see. I hope that he, turns out to be someone who’ll watch over me. I’m a little pup that’s lost in the wood, I know I could always be good. To one who’ll watch over me. Although I may not be the girl some boys think of as pretty, but to his heart, I’ll carry the key. Won’t you tell him please, to put on some speed, follow my lead. Oh, how I need, someone to watch over me.” Sammy sung gently, bending the words to Frank Sinatra’s Someone to Watch Over Me. Luna melted, her eyes rolling to the back of her head as she collapsed on top of him. Wide-eyed he looked to the eldest sibling who merely shrugged off all the attention.

“I put a little more power into her ears.” She said dismissively, popping a piece of popcorn in her mouth. When Luna snored slightly and snuggled into his belly his eyes bugged out of his brain.

“Alright. I put a lot more power into hers. We’re done here, right? This scene is a little sickening for me.” She said, nodding her head to here Jake and Kenna stood close together, her hand on his chest possessively.

“Sorry, omega, if it’s so disturbing to you why don’t you do something about it?” Kenna said nastily, smiling coldly and separating from Jake.

“Kenna, don’t-“ Jake said, reaching for her elbow but she shook him off.

“No, no. I’m curious to see with the little omega is gonna do to me.” He sighed and stepped back, throwing a look to Molly. She lifted her daughter off of Ander and helped him up, purposely avoiding his gaze.

“She wants to see what I can do, Jake, why stop her?” Sammy said meeting the Luna head on.

“Alright, bitch-“ She didn’t even get the words out before a punch was slammed onto her jaw. She feel onto the floor, cupping her reddened jaw.

“You bitch!” She shrieked and that gut her a kick in the side.

“Shut up. My sister is sleeping.” She growled, clenched her fist and stepped back.

“Get your mate, Jake, or my wolf will go ape shit on her.” She said softly, looking at him now, her eyes flicking from black to amber. HE nodded and lifted his whimpering mate, shaking his head as he carried her to and up the stairs.

“C’mon JJ, you’ve got school tomorrow.” She said, walking and plucking her son from Cara who merely stepped back and looked to her feet.

“School, fuck. Forget about that. Party’s over everyone! And if anyone dare to leave my house like this in the morning there will be all hell to pay.” Molly said, gathering up her heard of children and guiding them to the staircase.

Chapter 30

Luna groaned as she sat up putting a hand on her stomach and her head.

“What the hell?” She only responded this way when she ate too much… or she was bewitched.  She knew for a fact it wasn’t the first one, so that only left one question. Her red hair fell over her face as she snarled and looked around her room.

“Who the fuck bewitched me?” The door opened and Alissa strolled in, a bright pink shirt on and dark jeans, with her mouth open only to close quickly then smile in confusion.

“Oh, you’re up. Well you’ve got to go downstairs, mom made breakfast and we’ve got to be outta here in thirty minutes.” She was going to leave but her sisters snarl stopped her.

“Who bewitched me?” She growled, standing up and narrowing her eyes. Alissa put her hands in her pockets, a slight smirk on her face, and shrugged.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Rosa.” She said, knowing good and damn well exactly what she was talking about.

“Alissa, let me advise you, I see how this ends and it’s not well.” Her sisters’ smile grows wider as she shrugs and backs away from the threshold.

“If I were you I’d hop in the shower, you smell an awful lot like him.” Luna’s claws came out and just as she was about to  lunge for her sisters’ pretty little face her mother stopped her.

“If anyone of you comes down here with a single scratch I will, personally, give you the sex talk with mommy and daddy dolls!” Luna gulped and relaxed.

“See ya later sis.” Alissa said, flouncing from the threshold with her red ponytail swishing back and forth.

“I’m glad I didn’t tell you who he was!”

“I’m glad you almost kissed Ander!” To that she damn near fainted, but trusted herself to not do something so stupid.

 

                She stretched, yawning, as she turned over in her bed. A hard body pressed into her and gripped her closer, squeezing a gigantic hand over her hip. She opened her eyes quickly and looked up to see a rugged face peering down into hers. He was beautiful when he slept, she could see the laugh lines around his mouth, the crinkling around his eyes made her smile. She’d torment him later about that, but for now she’d admire the new mate she’d been given. His black hair was unbelievably curly and, if she could recall from waking up once during the night and her hand residing there, unnaturally soft. He sighed deeply in his sleep and nestled her closer against his body, making her aware of his little friend that poked into her belly. Her body responded immediately, creating a pool of wetness between the junction of her thighs. She looked down between them and cursed mentally, looking up at the sound of his deep inhale. His eyes popped open, immediately amber, and looked into her wide blue ones.

“How long have you been up?” He asked, his voice rumbly with sleep and lust.

“For about five minutes, not long.” She said blushing a virgins’ blush and looking at his chest. Was his chest bare when I was ogling him? she asked herself, gulping down spit that had gathered in her mouth.

“I went to sleep without a shirt on, so I believe it was.” She looked into his eyes and rolled her own.

“And who said you could sleep in my bed? With or without a shirt on?” She asked, loving how the side of his mouth kicked up The hand that wasn’t on her hip raised up and touched the back of her neck, trailing a whimper soft trail down to the middle of her back.

“This does.” He whispered, his face suddenly being closer to hers. Her lips parted a little and he took that as a sign to move in. His lips claimed hers slowly, moving over hers in the way of a passionate lover. She moaned and responded instantly, bringing her hands up to rest on his chest and kissing him back slowly, tasting everything. He was so sweet, like the cotton candy she used to eat with her father, or the sweet tea her Aunt Gretchen used to make every time her and Van would come over. Slowly the kiss grew more passionate, more intense, and more love-filled. She got up on her knees, keeping her lips on his and slid one hand through his amazingly soft hair. He whimpered as his fingers twitched on her hip.

“Valerie, we’ve got to stop.” He moaned against her lips as she straddled his belly, pressing her hot core against his abdomen muscles.

“Yeah, later.” She responded, rubbing his arms and his hair as her hips moved against their will on top of him. Although she was covered in pajama shorts and a thin t-shirt it suddenly felt bare.

“Valerie, please stop.” He whimpered against her mouth, gripping her hips hard and rocking his hardness against her bottom.

“Mhm.” She sighed, rubbing faster and moaning wildly. The friction was to much, too large for her. It didn’t help that he kept squeezing her hip in time with the rubbing. She threw her head back and groaned loudly as her juices came out of her slowly, he grunted and squeezed her hips still rubbing his hardness against her bottom. She whimpered, as his rubbing made her rub against him too.

“Oh John.” She sighed softly, unraveling him and making his body tense up. She could feel his hot seed through his flannel pants. Their eyes collided, amber against blue, as they both panted and their bodies still shook with the power of their releases. She opened her mouth to speak but the door opened and Isaac stood there, opening his mouth to say something.

“Oh my God… I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-“

“We weren’t-“ They both said at the same time. She slid off of his father and stood with her arms braced.

“We weren’t doing anything, I promise.” She said, stepping away from the bed to prove her point. John growled and grabbed her wrist, then pulled her down on the bed, wrapping his arms around her.

“This is my new mate, Valerie.” He said to his son simply, black overriding amber to look at his son. Isaac’s hazel gaze landed on hers and he smiled gently.

“I won’t call you mom.”

“If you did, I’d probably pimp slap the shit out of you.” He laughed and shook his head, then closed the door. John looked down at her and smirked.

“You’d slap the shit out of a puppy?”

“That puppy has taken a ninja star to the leg… I’m pretty sure he’d be able to handle a pimp slap.”

“Especially if it came from a tinker fairy.” He snorted, then regretted it as she slapped his arm and stood up, walking to the door.

“I was kidding.” He said, chuckling and holding out his hand to her, she didn’t even look back but she did add sway into her hips as she walked the rest of the way to the door.

“Val-“

“I’m gonna go take a shower.” She said, throwing a coy look over her shoulder, he raised a brow and she raised one back. She shrugged, and moved to walk out the door.

“Guess I’ll be cold and all alone, I wonder if I’d be able to warm myself up-“ The sentence wasn’t even finished before he was out of the bed and she was running, half squealing and half laughing, to the guest bathroom.

 

                She was sitting there, minding her own business, eating cereal with her little sister. She knew that the minute landed one foot on the school perimeter he would seek her out and torment her about whatever happened last night. She was positive she didn’t do anything stupid like kiss him, or profess her undying love to him in front of everybody. So what else could there be? This was exactly why she hated being the Red Luna, she couldn’t see her own fate lines, so anything majorly important that happened to her in the past she would forget as if it were a dream. She knew someone bewitched her, and that was about as far as her knowledge went.

“Look Luna, I made a pretty butterfly!” Libby yelled, her mouth full of cheerios and bananas. She looked at the picture and smiled, there were a few circles that extended from a stick.

“That is a really pretty butterfly, Libby, we’ve got to eat faster though.”

“That would be highly appreciated.” Her father said walking in with his constructor pants and a tank top, he kissed his daughters heads in turn and swooped up a spoonful of Libby’s cheerios.

“Daddy!”

“What I’m hungry!?”

“Thomas! Leave them alone!! They’re getting ready to leave!!” Molly screamed from upstairs making him eat another spoonful of cereal, only from Luna. He looked up only to choke on the spoonful to find his mate standing there with her arms crossed and a hip cocked.

“Oh, hey.” His voice wavered as he swallowed the cereal. She pursed her lips and raised a brow, he sighed and stepped back from the daughters who were smiling into their cereal.

“OK, girls, come on. We’re gonna be late.” Molly said, rubbing their hair as they stood and put their bowls in the sink.

“EVERYONE INTO THE CAR THE CRAZY TRAIN IS ON THE ROAD!!!” She yelled, kissing her mate on the lips quickly and walking into the living room.

“TWO DIFFERENT MODES OF TRANSPORTATION MOM!!” Jesse yelled as footsteps sounded on the stairs.

“I’M GONNA PUNCH YOU IN THE HEAD JESSE!!” She growled, smiling and kissing her son on the forehead as he passed. She walked outside and watched as the rest of the kids piled out.

“Child check!” Each child yelled their name and she nodded.

“Let’s roll.”

 

                Ander watched as Rosa walked, her green eyes scathing as they landed upon him. She was on a straight war path and his jaw ached in memory of what had happened the night before. If this was going to work he had to be on her good side. Probably wouldn’t work, but he had to try.

“Luna, you look… your hair… hi Luna.” He said, stuttering on words that would aid him.

“What do you want, runt?” He locked his jaw for a few seconds, fighting against saying something that would end with them landing in Principal Son’s office.

“I was hoping to talk about last night.” Fear shone in her eyes quickly before relief flashed, then anger again.

“What’s there to talk about?” She snapped, crossing her arms and pursing her lips.

“Since it seems we can’t be around each other for more than five minutes-“

“It’s been more than five minutes.”

“I propose we muster a truce-“

“It’s a stupid proposition, if you think about it.”

“In order to keep the peace-“

“There will never be any peace between us.”

“Why do you keep interrupting me!?” He growled, she shrugged, humor lighting her big green eyes.

“Quite frankly it entertains me, and  you’re accent makes you sound comical. Now if you’re done wasting my time, I’ve got class to get to.” She said rearranging her tote bag bookbag and moving to walk around him, he reached around and grabbed her arm, sighing as he pulled her back around.

“We need to form a truce.”

“Ok, first of all, WE don’t do anything together. Second of all, were we TO do anything it definitely would not be a truce.”

“And why not? Why can’t we combine the energy that it takes for just to fight each other and use it to create peace?”

“Because we can’t do that, that is not within our chemical make-up as Alpha’s to just create peace. That is the power of the Omega.”

“We need to create a truce, without an Omega.” She sighed then held out her hand, looking him directly in his eyes.

“Wait, we’re actually doing this?” She scoffed and grabbed his hand, she squeezed lightly when she felt the current flow through her hand.

“From this day forward I vow to never hurt you physically or mentally.” She waited and looked him in the eye, not backing down or giving up her dominance.

“I vow to never hurt you physically or mentally, from this day forward.” She rolled her eyes and held in her breath as the pack magick began to link their hands together.

“By the power of the Great Luna, so it has been said so it shall be done.” They said together, making sure to keep their voices low. A silver link encircled both their hands, binding them together in a bind that only they could see.

“What are you guys- oh God, what’d you do? What vow did you make?” Anna whined, putting a hand on her forehead.

“Not a vow-“

“A truce.” Luna said, hen snatched her hand away from his then sighing deeply.

“I wonder what the seventh graders are doing.” With that she walked away, hoping to find some source of entertainment.

Chapter 31

She sat on the couch, her legs crossed loosely at the ankles and watched Isaac as he played a video game. It was quite entertaining. At certain, random, points in time he’d growl or snarl at the screen. Once he punched the floor, then resumed playing as if nothing happened.

“You hungry?” She asked, the screen hazed red around the side momentarily and he growled low in his throat at her. She sucked on her bottom lip to keep from laughing and stood up, careful not to make a sound. She then, very carefully and very slowly, walked to stand in front of the screen. Multiple shots rang out from the TV and his eyes bulged out of his head as he scrambled to get a view of the television. She stood though, not letting him gain any view point. When the shots fired his face fell and he looked up to her with hazel eyes.

“This is a one kill game-“

“I just wanted to know if you were hungry.” Valerie shrugged, cutting him and not giving a damn if his feelings were hurt about it.

“Dad! Your new mate is crazy!!” He yelled, standing and walking to the kitchen, mumbling something about demented females. She rolled her eyes and padded after him, flyaway hairs sticking out from her messy, makeshift bun atop her head.

“John and Jake! What do you guys want to eat?!” She yelled out, purposely leaving out the girls’ name. She opened the refrigerator door and bent over slightly, she heard Isaac sit down and open something but she was too immersed in what she was gonna make.

“Ah babe, you don’t have to- why is he eating frosting from the container?” She heard John asked, she crinkled her brow and mouthed the words then turned to find the spoon that was probably covered with chocolate frosting in between the lips of a smirking Isaac.

“I didn’t know he was eating it, I was looking for something to cook for you guys.” She said, crossing her arms and cocking her hip.

“You really don’t need to- aww shit, you gave him chocolate?” Jake said, his face grimacing as he took in the container and the spoon that was still in the boys mouth.

“Yeah I gave him chocolate, no big deal.” Valerie shrugged one shoulder and walked to take the container away. He managed to pop another full spoonful of chocolate that his father gasped at before it was fully taken away from her.

“No big deal?” John asked, his voice had grown darker and she was slightly worried that he might do something stupid. Like yell at her.

“Valerie, I have a very strict rule about sugar. I’d rather him not eat the frosting directly from the container.” He said in the calmest voice he could. She pouted and put the closed container on the table, then supported herself on it.

“You can’t block out sugars from his diet, he could grow to be seriously malnourished.” She said, leveling with him as she looked him directly in the eye.

“I don’t block sugars from his diet, I keep a close watch on him and his and sugar intake.”

“You do know, he is a child right?”

“I understand that, but-“

“Once again, he is a child. Children eat sugar.” She said slowly, her brow crinkling even more as the conversation went on.

“Valerie, maybe you should-“ Jake said, trying to divert her attention, but she held up her hand, quieting him, then put the hand on her hip.

“He is my child. My child will not become flabby or heavy.”

“Oh, dude.” Jake groaned as Valerie’s brow cocked. She walked to him, spreading her arms wide, and grinding her teeth.

“Does the fact that my arms jiggle when I clap bother you? Does it bother you that when I go to down the stairs my thighs jiggle and rub against each other?” She asked, flicking the fat on her arm and leg. He blanched and shook his head fervently. She scoffed, took Isaacs hand wand walked around his father.

“Whoa, whoa. Where are we going?”

“Yeah, where are you going?”

“I’m taking my son to Cold Stone, fucking, Creamery and you’re not gonna do one fucking thing about it.” She said, storming past Jake and to the door.

“Do you know how much sugar that place contains in-“

“Yeah, I know!” She said, grabbing the keys to the rental car John had and, with her grip still firm on Isaac’s hand, walked out the door with the full intent on loading up on so much sugar her heart didn’t ache so much.

 

                He looked up to his new mother, regret and guilt lacing his heart making him not want to indulge in the rocky road ice cream cone in his hand. She ate her cookie dough ice cream with the small little pink spoon and looked out the window, almost completely ignoring him.

“Valerie-“ He groaned putting the flat surface of the cone on the table.

“Isaac, eat your ice cream cone.” Her voice shook slightly before her face crumpled and the tears fell.

“Oh crap, look Valerie I’m so sorry. I was angry that you interrupted my game. I knew dad would flip out about the frosting, but I still did it.” The tears didn’t stop, they amplified until she was sobbing and her shoulders shook.

“Valerie! I’m sorry!” He whisper yelled, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and trying to silence her. If only for a little. Yeah… that didn’t work. She nudged him off of her and picked up her ice cream, then ate as tears still flew down.

“Goddess, Valerie. People are staring.” His eyes shot around as his cheeks heated up with embarrassment.

“Then let them stare.” A new voice said, a voice that washed away all guilt and embarrassment and replaced it with one emotion. Fear.

“Oh, hey dad. How long have you been standing there?” He asked, turning around to face his amber eyed father, his voice trembling.

“Enough to know that the minute we land in New York, your ass is mine.” Yeah, he expected that.

 

                She looked behind Isaac to see her mate standing there with his eyes blazing amber and his fists clenched, Jake stood behind him looking around to see if anyone was watching.

“Mate,” his voice softened as he took a step forward and held out his hand “I’m sorry, please don’t cry any longer.” She sniffled and looked down at her ice cream cone bowl.

“Would you please talk to me, mate? There really isn’t any reason for you to be mad at me.” He was right, if she thought it through she really had no ammo against him. Didn’t mean she had to stop being mad at him. She ‘humphed’ and continued to eat her ice cream, sniffling she looked out the window. She heard him sigh and felt him move closer to her.

“Mate, I know you know I’ve done nothing wrong. I know you feel the after-pain from the fight. Why do you still wish to harm yourself?” She looked up to him then, running her tongue along her teeth to make sure there was no chocolate or cookie dough on her teeth.

“If I have to go through this pain just to get you to stop being such a hard ass, I will. Now leave me and your son alone so we can enjoy our ice cream.” His mouth quirked up and she stabbed at her ice cream, then shoved it into her mouth.

“Did you just call me a hard ass?” He asked and she pushed her incisors into her tongue to stop her from saying anything.

“Because from this morning you should know, mate, my ass is anything but hard.” She blushed fiercely and looked up at him then. She stood grabbed Isaac’s hand and, once again, walked away from her mate.

 

                Luna barely held in her growl when she saw the little kids bother her sister. She was tempted to go over there and punch the shit out of all their little faces but she’d get in trouble for that. One thing she was not trying to do was get in trouble for the same thing twice in a row, wouldn’t look on her part.

“I could punch them, if you’d like.” Mason snarled, keeping his cool blue eyes on her little sister. She looked at him and started to smile, only to have it falter as his words registered.

“Nah, I couldn’t let you punch those little pissy snot pots in the face.”

“You do realize your sister is one of those little pissy snot pots, right?” She sighed and walked away, still facing him, then winked.

“I win battles, not wars Mason. Battles.”

Chapter 32

John sighed as he followed and Jake groaned and rubbed his hands over his face.

“You just have to take it all as a joke can’t you? You couldn’t just let her have the feeling she was winning?” Jake sighed, running his fingers through his hair.

“What’s the satisfaction in that?” He asked his Alpha with the smirk. He groaned and rolled his eyes, but stayed quiet and followed behind him as they followed behind Valerie and Isaac. Suddenly she stopped and looked back at them.

“What are you doing?” She asked, putting the hand that wasn’t holding a blushing Isaac’s on her hip.

“Ensuring that my wife and son are safe, of course.” He raised a brow as a human family passed, watching the scene with amusement and curiosity.

“I don’t need my safety ensured. Stop following me.” She said stiffly and turned around, stopping when she heard and felt him move closer.

“I’m serious John, stop it. Let me let my anger out and, when I’m ready, I’ll come back to the house.” She growled, squeezing Isaac’s hand. John opened his mouth but Jake slapped him upside the head and Isaac’s eyes widened in protest.

“Dad, I promise. If she’s not back before the sun goes down I’ll bring her to the house myself.” He said, his eyes begging for his father to just leave it alone. He looked in his sons’ eyes and sighed, he took a step back and she nodded once before turning and walking down the block and around the corner.

“You better hope to Goddess Molly or Sarah doesn’t hear about that. After the war, they had nothing but respect for that fairy. They find out you made her cry.” He made a cutting motion along his neck, then smirked.

“C’mon, I’ve got to get home. Your Luna will have my hide if I’m gone any longer.” He was going to say a wise remark but thought better of it. There ya go, his wolf growled in mock appraisal, you’re getting there.

 

 

                Brandon watched down, his head cocked to the side as confusion and amusement ricocheted through his body. He had no idea that his mate was such a little spitfire. He also had no clue to what she’d been through. She’d fought, just as much as he had, to keep everybody safe. Too bad it took him dying to see that.

“You were a stubborn wolf, never truly wanted to lay down when told.” His Mother said, striding next to him and peering down into the globe. A dark mist settled over and nearly blocked his view as his mate shuffled down the streets with Isaac in her arms.

“Uh oh.”

“Uh oh? Uh oh is never good.” His Mother didn’t respond to him, nearly turned her head to the side, as if listening to what the globe had to say, and closed her eyes. Suddenly her eyes opened and fury had taken over her obsidian pools. He watched as, slowly, the silver world around them darkened and wolves howled somewhere in the background. Scary movie much? She took a deep calming and breath and her body slowly melted.

“Looks like you get to see our dear friend Luna again.” His Mother mumbled, gliding away with graceful speed to the grey woods of the silver world.

“Oh shit.” He peered into the globe that now seemed to be lightening to a less dull shade of grey. His mate had managed to snag her and Isaac a piece of pizza and sat in the pizzeria munching on her pizza and sniffling.

“Something’s going to happen, please be prepared my love.” He stroked the globe, not caring about the mist that sucked gently at his finger tips as  he made contact with the hard glass underneath it.

 

                She shivered as she munched on her pizza, feeling a cold but invited touch on her. She shook her head and bit off another piece. Isaac sighed and put his pizza down.

“Can we please go home now?”

“Why? Don’t you like pizza?”

“Yeah, but this is Dakota pizza, I want New York pizza. That and each minute wasted here is another one that my dad’s gonna count off my hind.”

“He hits you?” She felt her temper flare even more and he rolled his eyes.

“No he doesn’t hit me. Only crazy, or old wolves do that.” She cocked her head and put her slice down.

“What do you mean?”

“It’s hardwired in a wolf to protect. No matter what position you’re in. Submissive, dominant you name it. Sometimes, though, the wolf is a little unstable. He’s more rabidly possessive, than overly protective. There’s a difference between the two. He slowly drives the human part insane, for older wolves it’s easier to hide because he or she would have years of experience behind hiding pain or discomfort. There’s always something that triggers it, flame to gas or a spark and lighter fluid. A catalyst. Something happens. The wolf, and the human, snap. But they snap slowly. First they use verbal taunts, trying to jester pack mates or people into fights. Their wolf is craving bloodshed and it drives the human mad that he can’t do what he wants to do. When that doesn’t work they go to physical. They get paranoid, think that everyone and everything is out to get them. In order to protect what’s theirs they lay hands on them.” Isaac said, shrugging and picking up his slice and biting in to it. She furrowed her brow and he sighed in frustration.

“When Gaia split herself into multiple pieces, creating the animalia Gods, she didn’t anticipate those gods having feelings. Belbus, the hyena God, was volatile and cruel. Everything is a joke to a hyena, which is why they laugh all the time. He made the mistake of going after Felis, the Goddess of the cats. Back then the cats and the wolves had a treaty. None of either species would attack each other or they’d face the wrath of one of the Goddesses. Mother Moon saw the attack as an attack against her own and retaliated as such. Belbus was a stupid God, he thought he’d be able to take on our Mother and merely laughed in her face. She tried and tried again but he still attacked the cats. Felis thought that Mother Moon wasn’t trying hard enough and called off the treaty, which is why there is such animosity between the species. Mother Moon grew mad in rage, declared war against the hyenas, but still Belbus laughed. She roared in rage, a loud keening cry that her wolves heard. They heard and they mocked her cry, they howled with their mother as they tore their laughing enemies down.” He took a sip of his cola, leaving her in a state of suspense.

“Belbus still laughed on, this one a mad laughter. He charged toward her, his hackles raised and foam running from his mouth. He was feral, rabidly possessed with the idea of hurting our Mother. She stood there, panting, waiting for the blow that he would no doubt deliver. He opened his jaws wide, ready to snatch her throat and yank her back and forth. Just as his foul mouth was inches away from her she let out her roar, lyrical and beautiful and loud. Her children flocked around her, being brought by her wonderful song. Her moon song. Belbus, knowing he was seconds away from death stopped laughing, for the shortest amount of time, and punched her, right in the gut, silencing the beautiful song. Every male there leapt, ready to tear Belbus limb from limb to protect their blessed Goddess.” He stopped then, cupping his hands together and blinking sweetly.

“So? What happened?” He smirked and laughed a little. The little snot was enjoying her anticipation, she was enjoying it as well.

“Gaia came. Told Mother Moon to call off her children and she did, but the madness had seeped off of Belbus and in to the males. If they didn’t avenge their Mother, show Belbus that no one was to touch what was theirs, their lives would not be complete. So they attacked anyway, against their Goddess and Gaia’s wishes. So Gaia cursed them. If any male would dare to lay a hand on their mate a mark would be shone. It would be in the shape of a hyenas eye. A big circle of black and blue with a small circle of unmarred skin in the middle. The same goes for their children.” He said, shrugging and finishing off his pizza. She watched him for a while and smiled brilliantly.

“Let’s get you back home.”

 

                Molly sighed and mashed the ground beef trying to ignore the ramblings of John, hoping and praying to any and all gods she knew to shut him up. He rambled on, but what was even worse was he seemed to think she was listening and she cared! She just had too much heart to tell him she didn’t.

“Molly?”

“Oh yeah, how dare she.” She mumbled, focusing on the mushy meat. She had eight loaves of meatloaf to make, she didn’t have time to care about him not wanting to give his kid candy. Speaking of kids… where was hers?

“Molly??!! You zoned out again didn’t you??”

“What, huh, no.” She said uninterested as she continued to mush up her meat loaf.

“Then what did I just say?” He asked walking to her side and leaning his hip on the side.

“You said, and I’m quoting this one, ‘Molly??!! You zoned out again didn’t you??’. There, see. I’m totally listening.”

Chapter 33

She didn’t even have to knock, the door was snatched open before she got a chance to wrap her hand around the knob.

“Please talk to your mate… please. If you don’t… I’m sure he will not last another minute in this house.” Molly groaned, taking her hand and dragging her into the house. Isaac merely sighed and walked in after them, closing the door and walking to the couch. Alissa sat there, her tongue poking between her lips as she furiously tapped buttons on his controller.

“What are you doing? Give that to me! You’re gonna mess up my stats!!” He snarled, grabbing his remote and pausing the game before she did any more damage to his game. She scoffed and stood up, placing her fist on her hip.

“As if, those stats were screwed up way before I touched that remote.” Well… he wasn’t very skilled at the game but… that was mean.

“It doesn’t give you the right to lay one of your grubby little paws on my remote!”

“Grubby! If anyone here has grubby paws it’s you, Mister-I-Bite-My-Nails-For-Sport!!”

“Biting nails isn’t a sport dummy!!”

“Don’t talk about yourself like that!” They shut up then, glaring at each other until someone walked in.

“Mom is gonna have to hire me with the amount of calming down I’m doing around here.”

“Work your magick on me I will dye your hair purple again, and this time I won’t take it out no matter how much you whine to mom.” She said viciously, snarling at her sister without looking away from the boy in front of her. Her sister watched and walked away slowly, not wanting to get in the middle of whatever strange power struggle was going on.

 

 

He tapped his foot as he watched her enter the threshold, her hair up in a messy bun and the stubbornness making her jaw clench.

“What do you have any right to be mad about? If anything I should be the furious one-“

“Lemme stop you right there buddy. The minute you decided to disrespect me in front of your son is the minute I became angry. The exact second you decided that you didn’t want a chubby son when I’ve got jiggly parts too is the second I got pissed. But the exact millisecond you decided to follow me to that ice cream shop is the exact millisecond I became furious. A furious fey is not something anybody wants. So if the next words that come out of your mouth to me aren’t along the lines of an apology the only thing I’ve got to say to you is… go fuck yourself.” With that and one last glare she turned on her heal, past Molly who was peeking in from the living room, and up the stairs to the room she now shared.

                Molly whistled and walked in, her hands in her pockets.

“Wow, I’ve put a lot of people in their place before but she… she takes the cake.” Yeah, his wolf thought sullenly, yeah she does.

 

                As Jake stood over his suitcase and mulled over how the hell he did it the first time he heard someone lean against his threshold. He turned quickly to see his mate standing there, her arms crossed and her hip cocked against the threshold.

“Oh hey M- Sammy.” He said, stopping himself from making the same mistake he made eight years ago. If only that worked for everything.

“Sup Jake, your packing to head back?” She asked, sounding generally interested. He nodded and sighed turning back to his suitcase.

“I can’t seem to remember how the hell I did it last time.” He said, rubbing his chin in though. He needed a shave.

“Two heads are often better than one.” She said from beside him, he practically jumped out of his skin and she laughed. His wolf preened at the sound, he missed it.

“I missed that.” He said softly, peering into her black eyes, then forcing himself to look back at the suitcase with clothes strewn out of it.

“Well, let’s try this…” She trailed off as she took the clothes out, folded them and placed them in piles all around the small suitcase.

“It’ll probably all fit now.” She said, sounding in deep though as she nibbled on her bottom lip, something done only when she was in deep thought.

“You don’t think I tried that? Still doesn’t fit.” He said, sighing deeply again.

“Hmm.” She picked up his shirt, unfolded it and held it close to her body.

“Maybe you should just leave some of your clothes here.” She whispered, closing her eyes briefly and he knew what she was doing.

“Sam-“

“No, just… no. Let me have this one little second, and then you can leave for another eight years… just let me have this.” She choked out, still keeping her eyes closed. He moved closer without his body’s permission and he put his hand at the base of her neck, enjoying how her heartbeat raced up. Her eyes popped open and amber peeked up at him through those damn lashes.

“Then I need a fair trade.” He whispered, moving his face closer to hers. Their lips briefly touched before he heard a snarl rip through the air and he was pushed away.

“Keep your hands off my mother.” His son growled at him, his fangs dropped and his eyes still baby blue from him being so young.

“JJ-“ Sam tried to say but he snarled, cutting her off and backing in to her.

“Mine, he hurt what’s mine… he’s not gonna do it again.” JJ snarled, keeping his eyes on his father.

“Look, pup-“

“No, how ‘bout you look. She’s not your little play thing, you can’t just stroll in here and play with her emotions. She’s a living person, she deserves someone stable , someone who actually gives a shit and won’t leave her as soon as she goes to sleep or turns her back. Someone who isn’t you.” He said lethally, and Jake felt the venom in those words down to the core.

“JJ! That is your father-“

“He’s no father of mine if he can’t even take care of his own mate!” He boomed, spittle flying out of his mouth.

“He’s right, I don’t deserve you. I never did. It was cruel for me to come here, cruel for me to openly display Kenna like that. I was putting salt in an open wound and I’m so sorry.” He set out to leave but near the threshold but before he left a dainty hand wrapped around his wrist.

“If you’re leaving for real this time… could you do me a favor?” Oh Goddess, what is she gonna say?

“Like what?”

“Could you mark her, please? Because I feel it every time you have sex, and every time you’re angry at her. In order for either of us to move on, you’ve gotta do it. So could you please, and I’m asking as the mother of your child, mark her already. Because… I can’t…. I just can’t.” Tears watered her eyes as she looked up at him. He couldn’t say words, didn’t trust himself to say anything. The power of the Omega was strong and he was afraid he’d say something stupid like ‘I love you’ or ‘ Please come to New York with me’. So he nodded, and she let go. She gave him back his shirt, careful not to touch his fingers and moved back, keeping her head bowed and her face curtained.

 

                She sighed as she ran her hands through her wet hair. All the adults were going out to celebrate her coming back and the leaving of Jake and Kenna. She stood in front of the condensation filled mirror, peering into her blue eyes and sighing deeply. He hadn’t apologized yet, even though he’d had tons of freaking opportunities to! It hurt to argue with him, it was a slight twisting in her heart and it seemed the longer she stayed away from him the sharper the pain became. She scrunched up her lips and ran her hands through her hair again. All of the males were waiting on the males and she very well could’ve simply magically put on her clothing… but she was feeling spiteful today. She opened the door and slowly walked to the bed, not caring that his eyes followed every where she went. She put on her underwear, she’d decided to wear a nice black thong, then put on her jeans after. She dropped the towel and put on her bra, slowly and deliberately only showing him her back. By the time she’d put on her sweetheart neckline t-shirt she could hear how hard he was breathing.

“Ready to go?” She asked, leaving her hair wet and snapping her fingers so her feet were sheathed in a pair of wedges.

“Among other things.” He mumbled as he walked past her.

 

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! You’re leaving us alone with Mrs. Tingle?!” Jesse exclaimed, his eyes bugging out at his parents as his siblings ran around behind him.

“She’s the only one who would willingly come over. I honestly don’t know why you kids don’t like her.” Their mom said, putting make up in her bag.

“Shall we count down the ways?” Jesse said, crossing his arms and looking up.

“She used to be in the army, she smells like moth balls, and she tries to feed us boiled chicken!”

“With the skin still on it… it’s gross.” Alissa whines, sticking out her tongue.

“She can’t be that bad.” Isaac says, walking past them and into the kitchen.

“Oh, so the newbie is allowed in the kitchen but kids who have been here since birth aren’t?” Cara says, crossing her arms and sticking her nose up in the air.

“The newbie didn’t try to burn the house down.” Thomas says, walking into the living room and picking up Libby who automatically sought his attention.

“One time, one time thing. And that was an accident.”

“It only takes one time to burn down a house.”

“Well…” Cara said, scrunching up her lips.

“Never mind her, can’t we have someone younger and more pretty smelling?” Jesse asked, pouting slightly and elbowing his twin to do the same. It would’ve worked if Aubrey hadn’t attacked Lina again. After that the bell rang and their parents high-tailed it out of there.

 

                They all laughed as they got out of the car, recalling how fast Molly and Thomas had rushed to the car after Mrs. Tingle had rung the door.

“You try having seven demon spawn that always seem to have energy. I’d like to see you all walk out of that house slowly.” Molly grumbled as she fixed her dress. Carol snorted and shook her head, glad that her and Kevin would never dream of having little demon spawn. Sammy looked up to the neon sign that hung just above their heads and groaned.

“Really guys, a karaoke bar? You know good and gosh darn well I can’t sing at a karaoke bar.” She humphed, putting her hands on her hips.

“Don’t worry sweet thang, I got you covered.” Mark said, swatting her bottom with his hand. She’d grown accustomed to the action so she did nothing but cross her arms and roll her eyes.

“Did you just call me sweet thang?” She asked mocking a lethal tone. Jake walked by her with a smirk directed at him.

“She doesn’t really like nick names. Called her Daisy once, ‘cause she was walking so slow going to school, she damn near gouged my eyes out!” He said, smirking a confident smirk that showed off his dimple but also revealed the gnarly scar that was on his cheek.

“Not really a compliment, Sir Ding Dong, it was an insult. I don’t take kindly to insults, but I’ll gladly take a nick name any day.” She said, making sure to throw a sugary sweet smile at the ‘Luna’ Kenna as she passed by the couple.

“She just froze you out dude.” Mark said with she knew was his killer smile as he rushed up to her.

“You’re doing good Sammy pop.”

“God I hope so.”

Chapter 34

He kept a hand on the small of her back, to let her know even though they were fighting she was still his. She rolled her eyes and followed the group as they went to the counter, they seemed to have visited this place before, seeing as the guy behind the counter and them had camaraderie. She crossed her arms and shivered slightly, she hadn’t really been around other people since she’d been busted out from the hunters grip, it was strange to see so many people coming to the bar.

“Val? Valerie? You there? I was askin’ if any of you wanted drinks?” Molly asked, worry creasing her brow and the mom stepped out of the shadows.

“Oh, uhm… I’ll take a screwdriver, sorry. Zonked out for a minute there.” She said apologetically and shrugged shyly. Molly didn’t seem convinced but smiled anyway, wanting to appease her friend. She turned and placed the order then together they walked to find seats among the other patrons. There weren’t a lot of seats so some couples had to ‘sacrifice’ their laps. Thomas tugged Molly down onto his lap, when there was an open space right next to him. She rolled her eyes but still got comfortable and settled back against his chest. Drew sat down and looked up at his mate who held a bottle of water in her hand and a dubious look on her face.

“I’ve gained a couple of pounds.” She said softly, although all the wolves could hear. He raised a brow and tugged her down onto his lap gently, she sat gingerly and kept her legs squeezed close, keeping denim against denim.

“Would you lighten up? I carried you up four flights of stairs when you were three months, I think I can handle you sitting onto my lap at a couple of weeks.” He grumbled, spreading her legs open slightly with his hand. She sighed and slumped back against him, nestling on her side into his chest.

“I’m sorry.” Valerie averted her eyes before things got all mushy. Her eyes caught on Sammy and Mark, their friendship lighting up the dark ambiance of the place as they joked around and laughed. Mark sat and Sammy sat on his lap sideways, showing the world or anyone who would happen to look upon them that the relationship they shared was strictly friendly. Her eyes darted to Jake who didn’t seem to see that. He stood under one of the dull lights set about randomly on the ceilings of the bar and he looked feral under it. She was sure if he wasn’t afraid of hurting innocent people he would shift right then. But he didn’t, he merely slammed himself down into the chair, grabbed his ‘mate’ and shoved her on his lap. Kenna humphed and crossed her leg seductively, throwing Sammy a victorious look then pouting when she realized Sammy wasn’t even look-

“Do you always just watch people like that?” John asked leaning down to whisper to her. She shivered and groaned. She moved away from him and st on the only table left with two chairs.

“Oh no, no sweet pea. Not happening.” He said, grabbing her around her waist and pulling her against his body. She thought about shrieking, or yelling, or stabbing him in his fucking eye… but she didn’t want that kind of attention… or mess.

 

                He inhaled the smell of her hair, that wonderful mix of cherry blossom and lavender. It made his wolf howl loudly in his brain and make him want to throw her over the table and fuck her until they both couldn’t stand… but he’d have to wait until she quit being mad at him. Whenever the hell that was. The place they were in was nice, it had the feel of a club but with the look of a karaoke bar. He took a sip from his drink and let the sting calm his wolf down. His mate was talking to Molly animatedly, gesturing with her hands. He didn’t mind, it made her body jiggle, and that jiggle was directed to exactly where his frustrations were. She knew what she was doing, knew that she was making him harder than stone. The question became… did she care? The way she gyrated her hips,  then laughed with Molly and the other girls proved she didn’t. A person went up to the stage, a guy probably in his twenties, laughing and blushing up a storm.

“Hi, I’m Tanner and this is to my super pissed off girl friend who won’t talk to me until I sing…” he pulled unraveled a piece of paper that had been folded up in his hand then chuckled “she’s not gonna talk to me until I sing ‘Like a Virgin’.” His cheeks blazed as everyone laughed. The spotlight dimmed and he chuckled. His mates back suddenly went straight and he sat up immediately, careful to wrap his arm around her so she didn’t fall.

“What’s the matter?” HE whispered in her ear, she turned to him with a smile on her beautiful pink lips. For some reason that smile didn’t sit right with him.

“You, my wonderful splendid mate, are gonna sing me a song.” He smiled a feral smile at her and shrugged one shoulder.

“You act as if I can’t sing. All wolves can.” She nodded, that smile growing brighter with every second.

“Yeah, I know.” She said softly then pressed her lips to his, slowly she moved hers against him letting him taste her and feel every contour of her mouth.

“But you’re gonna sing with the other guys, ok?” She had broken off her lips from his and he blindly nodded just wanting her back where he was. She obliged and let her hands roam his chest while she kissed him, rotating her hips slowly. He whimpered and brought her closer to him.

“You’re gonna sing ‘I kissed a girl’, ok?” He nodded, not caring about the words that came from her mouth, as long as it was on his he was fine. She kissed him again but quickly, then stood up.

“Ok, c’mon girls, let’s go see if they have it.” She said really chipper and then, with the accompanying of Molly and Sarah, skipped off.

“What the fuck just happened?” He asked, looking to Tom and Drew who both wore looks of bewilderment.

“This is exactly why I told you mom and Sarah cannot be together in the same environment for too long.” Sammy mumbled, fixing her ponytail. He looked to see Mark and Jake hadn’t gone up.

“Why aren’t you two up there?”

“Because we aren’t stupid enough to piss off Molly and Sarah, and then expect for there not to be any consequences.” Mark said simply, then shrugged as he looked to John.

“Your fey is just pissed at you… you were just a casualty.” He said with a smirk and a shrug, then looked to Sammy as she stood.

“I’m gonna get a drink, want one?” She asked as she pinned her hair up, revealing her shoulder.

“Or I could just come with you.” He shrugged, grabbed her hand and then walked to the bar with her laughing behind him. His hearing heard a grinding and he looked to the sound. Jakes eyes was glowing as he watched Mark and Sammy walk with each other.

“Eyes might see.” He said to Thomas, who looked to where Jake sat then quickly stood and walked to him.

“How ‘bout you calm down a little bit?” Kenna looked back then smirked up at Thomas.

“He doesn’t have to do anything he doesn’t want to.” She said acidly, that stupid little smirk widening as the scent of Thomas’ anger flared through the place. Molly stormed past him and to where Thomas stood, she pushed him out of the way and bent down to level with Kenna.

“I don’t like you. I want you to know this. I don’t like you and, honestly can’t wait until you’re out of my territory. Counting down the hours. I’ve been tolerating you, but I won’t tolerate you angering my mate or your… mate, causing a scene we don’t need right now. So it’s either he calms the fuck down and stands up like a man, or this gets ugly really quickly.” Molly said nicely, keeping a light smile on her face. Fear sparked in Kenna and everyone smelled it, including Molly and her smile grew.

“So we understand each other? Good, now keep your little mouth closed and we can all have a fun night.” She stood, threw one look to Jake whose eyes had returned to their regular black, then walked away.

“Thank god Sarah didn’t notice… things would’ve gotten ugly.” Drew said, relieving tension. Thomas looked at Jake who looked up at him reluctantly. They shared a minute of staring at each other before he sat down stiffly.

“So far this night has been fun.” He mumbled and scratched the back of his head as Sammy and Mark came back laughing and cracking jokes with their drinks in hand. Jake didn’t even look in that direction.

 

                His wolf had brought him here, he didn’t know why and just wanted to go back to bed. He looked around and sniffed. Something smelled… off here. He stood to his full height, stretching a little, and sniffed again. The smell was a mixture of sadness, fear, and despair. But it shouldn’t be here. His ears picked up on a sound and he looked up. Luna’s room. He climbed the tree closest to her window and leaped from the tree to the window. He landed softly and looked around, the smell was strongest here. A whimpering sound brought his eyes to her bed. Her hair was sticking to her forehead, due to the sweat. Her eyes were squeezed together and her fists were balled under her chin. His brow furrowed and he stepped closer, his hand raised. She sat up breathing heavy, her eyes glowing amber. She looked around, her eyes landed on him and she licked her lips and swallowed.

“What are you doing here?” Her voice was low and hoarse, scared.

“My wolf brought me… are you okay Luna?” He took another step forward, another two he would bump into her bed.

“I’m fine. That… doesn’t happen normally.” Her voice was shaky, he didn’t need his nose to tell him it was a lie. He nodded slowly and backed away.

“Well, I’ll just-“

“No, wait.” The pleading in her voice stopped him, he turned to look back at her masking the confusion.

“Could you… could you just stay, for a minute?” She asked, her voice wavering as her lip quivered.

“Luna, are you sure you’re-“

She sobbed, putting her head in hands. Her body shook with the ferocity of them and his heart broke. He sped to her bed and sat next to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. She turned into him and cried into his shoulder.

“The dreams… they just keep coming!!” Her sob was muffled but he still heard it. He rubbed her arm and kissed her dampened hair.

“It’s okay, it’s all gonna be fine. I’m here now, nothing can hurt you.” He whispered softly in her hair. Slowly the sobs quieted and her body relaxed, she was asleep. He laid her down, not counting on her gripping his shirt and her green eyes popping open.

“What are you doing?” She whimpered softly, her eyes filling with tears.

“Well, you were asleep and I was gonna head back home.” He said, trying to take her fists off.

“No, p-please don’t leave me.” She whispered, curling against his body and leaving him with no choice but to lay down beside her.

Chapter 35

She sat in her chair, her legs crossed and laughter rolling out of her belly in thick waves. She and the girls couldn’t quit laughing. She didn’t know what Thomas or Drew did to deserve the public torment, but she’d say that John deserved it. He winked as he sung his part, and gyrated his hips. He did any and all things sexual, as did the other guys, while they sang. The whole karaoke place was in a laughing fit but the guys could care less. They performed for their mate in the hopes that later on their mates would perform for them. When the song was over she stood and waited for her mate to come. He jogged to her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

“Am I forgiven now?” He asked sweetly, blinking those big black eyes.

“So forgiven I can’t even remember why I was mad at you.” She said lowly, pressing her lips to his and putting her hands on his shoulders.

“Good.” He said against her lips, pulling her up so the kiss wasn’t so awkward.

“Later, wolf, for now we have fun.”

“I was having fun, fairy.” HE grumbled as he sat down, pulling her down to sit on him again. She shook her head, picked up her drink and began to let the night lift her away.

 

                Alright, so she’d had a few drinks. Just a few. She’d needed them to keep her tongue in her mouth about seeing that bimbo with Jake. Mark had tried to keep her limit to five, but she quickly brought him up to ten. She could drink however much she wanted, she was of legal age… at least that’s what her ID said. She was a mother of a rowdy eight year old boy, the mate of a cold-hearted douchebag, and foster parents to the horniest couple known to wolf-kind. If she wanted a drink or two, she’d have a drink or two… or ten.

“Don’t you think you should slow down?” He whispered in her ear and she shook her head stubbornly, tasting the alcohol from her last sip.

“Just because you’re the DD doesn’t mean I’ve got to refrain myself as well.”

“Ya know, at any given time I could show the bartender your real ID and have him cut you off completely, probably even thrown out.”

“Ya know, at any given time, I could chop your dick off and feed it to the fishes.” Her speaking was slurred, but if she could understand most of it so could everyone else. He chuckled and held up his hands in surrender, leaving her to drink her fruity drink again. She sighed and looked to where Jake and Kenna were making out, again. Seriously, she thought while downing the rest of her drink, how much saliva can one wolf have? Mark sighed and tapped her leg.

“Go sing, that’s the only reason this night is gonna end peacefully.” He said, then picked her up, she hiccupped and started to shake her hand. Then she felt it. He was getting aroused and it hurt like hell, like all hell.

“Sing?” She asked Mark, furrowing her brow and setting down her glass. He nodded sadly and shrugged.

“That’s the only way I could think of to stop this from getting too out of hand.” Out of hand, huh? She smirked as she felt another tug on her heart.

“I know the exact song to sing.”

 

 

                She’d been talking to John under her breath, sipping on her martini and laughing lowly when Sammy went up. Her brow furrowed and her curiosity peaked when her eyes kept fleeting to Jake whose eyes were now on his mate.

“Hi guys. My name is Samantha but everyone calls me Sammy.” She said into the microphone, gaining the attention of the crowd.

“So there’s this guy and I don’t think he notices me.” She made a face and adjusted the microphone stand. She pulled her hair out of her ponytail and ruffled the blond locks. The crowd whooped and she smiled shyly into the crowd.

“These lights are killing me, can you guys turn it down just a bit.” The lights dimmed slightly and she smiled her bright smile.

“Thanks, now back to this guy. I’m not gonna lie to you nice people, he’s a dick. He, honestly, doesn’t deserve all the attention I’m giving him and how hard I’m fighting for him-“

“So why are you still doing it!?” A lady asked throughout the crowd. Sammy smiled softly and sighed, then her eyes shot to Jake’s and they stuck there.

“Simple. I’m desperately, hopelessly, and irrevocably in love with him. But, he’s deflected all my advances-“

“I wouldn’t!!” Some guy hollered, making the club laugh and whoop. Valerie heard the growl go through Jake’s chest. Sammy chuckled and shook her head.

“I want this guy to know this, though. I love him and I always will, but this is the last time I will advance him. This is the last time I’m gonna fight before I give up. So quite frankly he needs to get his head out of his ass, because it’s not a hat. So without further ado. The song!” The club cheered and Valerie clapped, looking to Molly and Sarah who shrugged but clapped as well. The music started and Valerie’s eyes bugged out of her head and Mark groaned next to them.

“Hey, boy you never had much game, thought I needed to upgrade. So I went and walked away way, way. Uh now, I see you've been hanging out with that other girl in town. Looking like a pair of clowns ,clowns, clowns.” She sang, taking the microphone from the stand and moving on the stage. The crowd clapped and whistled for her, making her smile grow wider.

“Remember all the things that you and I did first, and now you’re doing them with her. Remember all the things that you and I did first, you got me got me like this. And now you’re taking her to every restaurant and every where we went, come on! Now you’re taking her to every restaurant, you got me got me like this. Boy you can say anything you wanna, I don’t give a shh no one else can have you. I want you back, I want you back. Wa-wa want you, want you back. Uh, I broke it off thinking you’d be crying, now I feel like shh looking at you flying. I want you back, want you back. Wa-wa want you back.” She slowly made her way to their group of tables, keeping her eyes on Jake while dancing and smiling.

“Please, this ain’t even jealousy. She ain’t got a thing on me, trying to rock them ugly jeans, jeans, jeans. Uh you, clearly didn’t think this through. If what I’ve been told is true, you’ll be crawling back like boo-hoo-hoo.” She went and sat on Marks lap, making funny faces and smiling the whole time. To the bar it looked innocent, she randomly picked him. But the wolves felt the tension in the air.

“Remember all the things that you and I did first, and now you’re doing them with her. Remember all the things that you and I did first, you got me got me like this. And now you’re taking her to every restaurant and every where we went, come on! Now you’re taking her to every restaurant, you got me got me like this. Boy you can say anything you wanna, I don’t give a shh no one else can have you. I want you back, I want you back. Wa-wa want you, want you back. Uh, I broke it off thinking you’d be crying, now I feel like shh looking at you flying. I want you back, want you back. Wa-wa want you, want you back.”

“Oooh, I thought you’d still be mine when I kissed you goodbye. Oooh, and you might be with her, but I still had you first. Oh, oh, oh, oh. Yo remember all the things that you and I did first, and now your doing them with her? Remember all the things that you and I did first. You got me, got me like this! Ohhh!” The machine sung the rest for her as she occasionally put in her voice. When the song ended, the singers voice spoke while Sammy gathered her voice and the crowd roared in applause. She walked back to the stage and was helped up by a guy who wore the biggest smile ever.

“Thank you so much!” She said, slightly out of breath then waved goodbye as she put the microphone back on the stand.

“Oh lord. The shit is gonna hit the fan the minute we get home.” Molly said as she downed her drink and looked to Thomas.

“Here, I’ll get another two.” He said, lifting her and walking to the bar.

"Make that four!" John yelled, needing to get good and drunk if he were to have any fun tonight.

Chapter 36

She’d had enough drinks to get a small elephant drunk and Mark had finally taken her wallet from her. She pouted, but then more music came on and she lost herself in that. She was on her way to the bathroom when a hand grabbed the crook of her arm, electrifying her and pulling her around to face a handsome face.

“What the hell was that Mary!?” Jake seethed, his eyes sparkling from amber to black.

“One it’s Samantha. Two, that was me challenging your bitch Luna mate to fight. She wants to take you she can take you from my cold dead hands.” She hiccupped and slurred her words, her black eyes were disoriented, but she meant every last one of them. That was all, she felt, that mattered.

“You can’t just-“

“I can’t just what? I can’t just want my mate?” That shut him up pretty quickly and she peered into his black eyes.

“I’m giving you the choice now. It’s either you stay with us, me and JJ, or you go with her.” He took a breath and she held up her hand, stopping his speech.

“If, or when, you go with her this means you’re promising to me that you will mate her within the week. This also means that when you go, you’re staying gone.” She was sober now, he had the ability to do that to her.  They stared at each other and he seemed to settle on something, dread settled in her gut as he nodded curtly and let her go.

“If that’s how you feel about it, I can’t stop you.” He said as he backed away. Her bladder complained and she hurried to the bathroom blocking the tears from her vision and hurrying to use the bathroom.

 

                John watched as Jake marched furiously to the song stand, the person who was singing stopped and furrowed her brow at him. He leaned closer and whispered something, they were too far back to hear what he was saying but the girl smiled and handed him the microphone. The music dimmed down and Jake looked to the crowd.

“This song goes to all the guys who just can’t seem to get it right, but want so bad to.” Samantha came rushing out from the bathrooms, wiping her hands on a piece of paper towel. The music started and he heard her startled gasp as she moved forward slightly.

“I know your insides are feeling so hollow, and it’s a hard pill for you to swallow, yeah. But if I fall for you, I’ll never recover. If I fall for you, I’ll never be the same.” He looked to Sam as he sung, his emotions hanging in his voice and his eyes. He heard her gasp again as she put her hand to her mouth.

“I really want to love somebody. I really want to dance the night away, I know we’re only halfway there but you take me all the way. You take me all the way. I really want to touch somebody, I think about you every single day. I know we’re only half way there but you take me all the way. You take me all the way.” He palmed his chest and took the microphone off the stand and moved closer to the  edge of the stage.

“You’re such a hard act for me to follow, love me today don’t leave me tomorrow, yeah. But if I fall for you, I’ll never recover, if I fall for you, I’ll never be the same.  I really want to love somebody. I really want to dance the night away, I know we’re only halfway there but you take me all the way. You take me all the way. I really want to touch somebody, I think about you every single day. I know we’re only half way there but you take me all the way. You take me all the way.” He moved closer as he sang the chorus of ‘oh’s’ he got off the stage and moved to where Sammy stood and wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. She looked in his eyes, not caring if the light was blinding her.

“I don’t know where to start, I’m just a little lost. I wanna feel like we’re never gonna ever stop. I don’t know what to do; I’m right in front of you asking you to stay. You should stay, stay with me tonight, yeah. I really want to love somebody. I really want to dance the night away, I know we’re only halfway there but you take me all the way. You take me all the way. I really want to touch somebody, I think about you every single day. I know we’re only half way there but you take me all the way. You take me all the way.” He let the machine sing the rest as he dropped the microphone and cupped the back of her neck, placing a kiss on her lips and sending the room into turmoil.

“Oh Christ, let the drama begin.” His mate said, wiggling around his lap and stirring his hardness.

“I don’t know why you’re worried about it, you and I are going to the room as soon as we get to Molly and Thomas’ house.” He whispered in her ear right before nipping her earlobe. She moaned softly in ecstasy and leaned back against him, letting him wrap his arm around her mid-section.

“Promise?”

“Pinky promise.”

 

 

                Molly unlocked the door quickly, hearing the commotion and stopped with her hand over her mouth when she walked inside.

“Oh look, mom is home!” Jesse yelled, making the siblings stop throwing marshmallows at each other and look to their mother.

“Mommy!!!” Aubrey yelled her eyes wide and sugar crazed as she ran to her mother and wrapped her arms around her waist.

“What the hell happened? Where is the babysitter?!” John asked scanning the mob of kids for his son.

“Don’t worry, I didn’t eat any.” His voice said from behind them, closing the door behind Jake, Kenna and Sammy. None of them had spoken the whole ride there and for that John was thankful. His mate elbowed him lightly and raised her brow.

You could’ve had some if you wanted-“

“Yadda, yadda, yadda. Why the hell are you all throwing marshmallows around my living room?” Molly snapped looking to the eldest who happened to be Jesse.

“Where’s Luna and the babysitter?” Jesses crossed his arms and scrunched up his lips.

“Well… Luna went to bed early, she took Libby with her. So really it was only just me with some of the youngest so I convinced the babysitter she could just go home.”

“And she listened to you?!” Molly screeched, wanting to throttle her son’s little neck.

“Molly-“ Tom tried to interrupt, rising his hand only to shut up as she cut her glare to him.

“I can be quite persuasive when I want to be.” He said with a happy nod, making a tic go off under Molly’s left eye. Jesse’s eyes widened as Molly’s eyes turned a feral amber.

“Mom, maybe you should just-“

“Quiet! Everyone is just going to be quiet for a little while.” She boomed, putting her hands on her temples and rubbing them. John took his mates hand and backed to where his son stood, protecting them from what would no doubt be an eruption of the highest standard.

“This is the fifth time you’ve done something completely outrageous  in a short time span. So you, Cara, Alissa and Luna are grounded until I tell you, you aren’t.”

“What?”

“Mom, that’s not fair!” Molly snarled shutting them up.

“You have disrespected me and your father and disobeyed our rules too many times.  You will not get away with it. Go upstairs and head to bed, take the youngest.” She growled, pushing Aubrey closer softly. The eldest did so, hanging their heads in shame as they went upstairs.

“Now that the miscreants are gone. Mind explaining to me what the hell that was at the karaoke bar, Jacob?!” Kenna screeched, poking Jake in his bicep. Sam crossed her arms and stood in between Kenna and Jake facing down the she-wolf with a steady gaze.

“That was him, taking what’s his.”

“What? What the fuck is she talking about, Jacob?”

“It’s Jake, you idiot! And she is my mate, she is the only one that I want.” Kenna gasped and looked to Samantha who raised a blond brow.

“But… I-I’m your mate.” She stuttered, taking a step back. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck raise as the power of the Omega was summoned, he saw as Sammy’s eyes hardened.

“No you aren’t. I’m his mate, and its wrong the way it panned out but… it’s the truth.” Kenna looked from Jake to Samantha, then to him.

“The kid… the kid is his?” Her voice trembled with something and his wolf growled low in his mind.

“Yeah. JJ, Jake Junior, is his son.” Samantha said softly, her will faltering under her need to protect others.

“Alright… so how is this gonna work? Do you want, like, visitation rights or something?” John’s brow crinkled and he felt his mate tense up beside him.

“Kenna, you do know that Jake and Samantha are going to be  together? And that when they get back to New York, your place in the pack will be submissive, right?” Kenna blinked and looked to Valerie then smirked her evil little smirk.

“No. Kenna doesn’t do submissive.”

“You were doing submissive when we were in high school, you were doing submissive before Jake came.” John growled, curling his hand into a fist.

“No sweetheart, I never did submissive. I did Alpha Preston. Why do you think all those other lay-down bitches never fucked with me when Jake came? I already had him in the palm of my hand before he even came.” Jake growled and in the next instant instead of it just being Kenna, there was Jake and Kenna. He grabbed her by her neck and lifted her, leaving her kicking and gagging.

“Jake!” Samantha and Molly gasped as John sprang into action. He zoomed to where Jake stood and put his hand on his Alpha’s arm, tensing his body as he was punched to the other side of the room.

“Dad!”

“John!” Valerie and Isaac yelled together as she ran to him, helping him sit up.

“Ugh, I’m fine.” He said as he shook his head, he heard humming and looked up to see Samantha with her hand on Jake’s arm. She had closed her eyes and she was swaying slightly. Slowly he put Kenna down but his hand didn’t come off her neck.

“Don’t you ever… ever, say his name again. Don’t ever compare us together. I was never in your fucking hand, you were just there. The pack needed a Luna and you had acted like one so I picked you, but the attraction never went deeper than that. The minute we land in New York we will announce to the pack that you are no longer Luna. You get that?” She nodded jerkily, stirring tears from her eyes. He let go of her neck and backed up. Valerie helped him to stand, then with a chaste kiss to his lips walked to Kenna, she jerked her head to the sliding door that led to the backyard.  She looked to Molly who nodded and walked past tom, brushing her hand softly against his and leaving with Kenna and Valerie. When he looked to Sammy she shrugged and moved closer to Jake whose gaze had went to the floor.

“I think it’s best I stay here.” She said meekly, her eyes shifting from her father to him to Jake.

Chapter 37

Valerie sat on one of the many chairs in the backyard, showing Kenna she meant no harm. Molly grudgingly did the same looking between Valerie and Kenna, waiting for something to happen. The wind blew, blowing Kenna’s black hair across her face.

“Ya know-“

“Don’t. I don’t want your pity, I don’t want you to look at me and think I’m weak and I need to be coddled.” Kenna said, interrupting  Valerie before she could say anything.

“We don’t. We don’t think you’re weak or that you need to be coddled.” Molly said blinking patiently.

“Good, because I’m not and I don’t. I’ve survived this long without it, I can keep on doing it.” Her voice sounded detached and empty.

“Kenna, what happened to you?” Valerie asked, scooting forward on the chair. Her black eyes filled with sorrow and tears.

“Alpha Prescott was a savior. My parents had died, left me with my elderly uncle. He wasn’t stable, his mate had died and he thought Mother Moon had sent him a new one. A tinier, prettier, shiny new mate. The other kids, they bullied me because I was so scrawny. Never your John, your John never looked at me the wrong way. Alpha Prescott, he was crazy too, but he was the good kind. He killed my uncle, gave us both relief from the madness and took me in. everything that happened after was because I thought it was right. I knew that Alpha Prescott had lost his mate, and since I was so good at playing that part I thought it would help. The kids they grew up, they threw dirty looks at me but who was going to mess with the Alpha female?” She turned her back to them and fell to her knees, lifting her face to the waning moon.

“I grew to be cold, they all wanted to be near me now that I was somebody. Now that my hips flared out, now that I had a chest. Now that I finally belonged with them, they wanted to be around me. I had to be cold to protect myself. When he died I was happy for the second time in my life. The man I loved, he could be with the one he loved. Then Jake came and he was so young and new. He was my tinier, prettier, shiny new mate. I was still Alpha female so he took his place next to me and things sort of fell into place.” She sniffled and wiped her face then shook her head.

“He had the same look Prescott had, that haunting look. I knew he’d lost someone, I could replace her. I’d done it time and time before. It wouldn’t be hard, right? I couldn’t… I wasn’t right for him. I knew his mate would fight for him, he deserves to be fought for. This just isn’t my fight.” She looked down at the dirt then and gripped the grass in her hands.

“How old are you?” Molly asked softly, trying not to raise her voice too loud in fear of breaking something.

“24.”

“You were 16 when Jake came?” She nodded her head and Valerie put a hand over her mouth.

“The things I’ve been through… the things I’ve seen. They’re things that no little girl should go through or experience. Alpha Prescott made it all just a little better. Made it all just a little brighter.” She looked up again and sighed deeply.

“I’m not going back to New York. I can’t be with all the judging eyes, can’t see them together twenty four seven and not ache for Prescott. You’ll tell him, right? Tell him that I’m sorry I couldn’t fulfill his void, tell him I’m glad he found his mate. Some of us go a lifetime without seeing them, some go two.” She stood then, something about her stance made her look lighter. She turned back around and smiled softly at the two women.

“I’ve lived two lifetimes. One a horrid one and another beautiful. I don’t have anything else for me here, I’m sorry I was so cold to you Valerie you didn’t deserve any of it. Molly, I apologize for being disrespectful on your territory.” She bowed her head slightly and looked to the sky. Her body morphed into the wolf, her bones stretched and her skin grew thicker and hairier. Her grey wolf stood proud and strong. She took one step forward and bowed her head.

“You’re welcome.” A wolfy grin flashed on her face as both Molly and Valerie said it at the same time. She nodded once and loped off into the woods, her tail high and happy. This would be the last time they would ever see the girl who had lived two lifetimes.

 

                John watched as Samantha held Jake in her arms, not seeming to be able to let go of him for more than a millisecond. It didn’t seem like Jake minded at all, but then again no one could gage any emotion from the face he wore. Valerie came in and went straight to him, wrapping her arms around his midsection and  sticking herself to him. She placed her head on his chest nuzzled her cheek against his shirt.

“Hey, what happened?” He looked around to see Molly tugging a concerned looking Tom upstairs and Jake picking Samantha up bridal style and walking after them. He’d sent Isaac upstairs so he could get some sleep so it was only the two of them.

“I’m just glad I have you.” She whispered and he felt wetness seep through his shirt.

“Hey now. No tears, tell me what happened.” He said softly, lifting her chin and wiping her face free of the tears. Her blue eyes drowned in sadness and he fell to his knees in front of her.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s just… she was put through a lot. And it’s like… she’s given up having anything like we have. But she’s been through so much that she deserves it.” She sobbed, the tears falling down her red cheeks. He wiped the snot from her lip and the tears from her eyes.

“Kenna?” She nodded as more tears fell and she whipped her face with her wrist.

“She’s had a hard life, but there’s no reason for you to get yourself upset over it.”

“But- but-“ he put a finger over her lips and shook his head.

“It’s over, you can’t fix it. Nobody could, she caved in on herself. That’s when Alpha Prescott took her under his wing. I didn’t know she was having sex with him, I just thought he had a reverse Stockholm syndrome kind of thing  going on.” He assured her, pulling her body to his and nestling his head in her stomach to calm her down. She put her hands on his head and rubbed softly, all the while sniffling.

“Baby, please? Stop crying.” He begged, looking up at her. She  smiled sadly and nodded, then wiped her cheeks.

“I can’t believe you wiped my snot for me.” She said, making her cheeks rosier than they were before.

“I’m your mate, that’s what I’m made for.” He said as he stood up, kissing her forehead and making her giggle while she took his hand.

“Mate 2.0, fully equipped with boogar picking and snot wiping ability!” She said cheerily and he laughed at her change in emotion.

“Ready for sleep?” He asked as they walked to and up the stairs.

“Among other things.” She said with a wink, laughing when his eyes turned amber and he pinched her butt with his free hand.

Chapter 38

 He looked up at the moon, his hands bared on the pane of the open window, feeling a strange sense of need. He was needed for something he just couldn’t tell what.

“She’s really beautiful when she’s asleep, isn’t she?” A male voice said from behind him, making him spin around quickly. What he saw stunned him to no end. Before him stood was a glowing iridescent man who stood over his sleeping mate, slowly stroking her face and making her murmur in her sleep softly.

“Who are you?” He didn’t feel the need to attack, didn’t feel the need to snatch off the man’s arm. What the man was doing was normal, at least it felt that way.

“I’m Brandon, the jerkwad who hurt her.”The man said with a sad smirk, as he stuffed his hands into his jeans. He flicked his hazel gaze to John and nodded towards him.

“Thank you, for showing her what real mate is.” He said, putting his gaze back to Valerie who had turned around and now faced the window.

“Why are you here? Your time has long since been up.” John asked, crossing his arms over his bare torso.

“I’m here to thank you, and to tell you that hard times are coming. Please protect her with all your might, Mother… she doesn’t know who will get hurt and who won’t. I’m not asking you to do this for yourself, I’m asking you to do it for her and for me. I don’t want to see her up there until she’s lived her full life, until she’s experienced everything life has to offer.” The last part had the hints of a threat as the hazel eyes met black ones.

“Protect her, got it.” John said, nodding once and relaxing ever so slightly. Brandon sat on his haunches near the head of the bed and closed his eyes.

“Keep safe, my sweet little cloud. Float high and don’t you dare come down until you’ve reached the highest mountain, until you’ve floated to Pluto. Keep strong, no one can hurt you unless you let them. I believe in you, I love you.” With that Brandon stood up and faded away softly until he was no more.

 

                She sat up, her breathing fast and erratic. Sweat clung to her skin as she looked around, sure she’d heard something that called for her. John stood there, looking to the empty space next to the bed with confusion and awe.

“John?” Her voice was raspy with sleep and fear, fear that she’d missed something life altering.

“Oh, hey you’re up.” He said softly, walking back to the bed with slow calculating steps. She furrowed her brow and sat up on her knees watching his facial expressions.

“What happened? Why’d you wake up?” She asked as the concern for her mate leaked through her voice and she scooted closer to the edge of the bed. He sat down with his back to her and stayed that way, still and straight. She crawled to him and put her forehead on his back, taking a deep breath she put a hand on his hip and sighed.

“Please talk to me. Why did you wake up?” She said softly, squeezing his hip once. She didn’t like how shut off he suddenly was, he’d made love to her then put a wall between them. He said nothing, just continued to be still and breath… just breath. She wrapped her arms around her midsection and pulled herself closer to him, pressing against his back and resting her cheek against his shoulder.

“It’s not gonna work if you don’t talk.” She whispered, linking her fingers together so he wouldn’t be able to get away.

“Brandon was here, he touched you...” She stilled and kept quiet, she hadn’t known that he would be able to do that.

“He whispered to you, said he loved you and all the while you just stayed asleep. He told me to take care of you because hard times are coming.” Oh crap, she thought but remained silent.

“I can’t help but think that he would be a better choice for you than me, that anybody out there would be better for you than I could ever dream to be.”

“Don’t. Don’t think that, I need you more than I needed him.” He chuckled darkly and shook his head, making Valerie swing her legs over the edge of the bed and stand in front of him.

“So, what? You think I don’t want you?” She snapped putting her hands on her hips and glaring down at her stupid mate.

“No. I know that I don’t deserve you, I know that you deserve someone better than me, that can give you more than I could give you.” She narrowed her eyes and gripped his chin, forcing him to look up at her.

“Listen to me right now John Perry. I love you with my entire heart, soul, and spirit. It’s up to you to accept or decline my love, just know that you have it and always will have it.” His black eyes watered with tears and she kissed his lips gently.

“I know I can’t replace her, and I don’t want to. She should be fresh in your mind, just as Brandon is in mine. But let me be me, and you be you and we can be together. It will be just Valerie and John, no one else."

Chapter 39

He looked into her blue eyes and felt his heart leave his chest, it was hers now. He belonged to her, regardless of the [past, the present, or the future. He grabbed  the back of her neck and brought her lips down to his, kissing her slowly and softly while leaning back. She sighed and complied, crawling on top of his body while keeping her lips still on his.  His hands went to her underwear and fingered the cotton of her panties, he needed her. Now. She smiled and took her lips from his, parting their faces slightly and looking into his black pits.

“I want you to mark me.” She whispered, her blue eyes sincere and showing everything she felt. He smiled and brought her lips back down onto his, kissing her with more passion and fervor than he had before. His claws came out and he sliced her underwear off, nicking her slightly if her moan was any indication. He pulled her useless undergarments on the floor and rubbed up her back through her t-shirt, trying his best to reign in the animal. She sat up and took of her shirt, pressing her sex into his belly, with a smirk and a lick of her lips. He smirked and motioned her upward with a flick of his fingers. She smiled and did as he wanted, waddling closer to his face with her legs open. He could smell her arousal from here and it made his wolf rise to the surface. He picked her up and placed her glistening sex above his face and dug in. she gasped loudly and gripped the space right above his head. He was relentless with his tongue, flicking her clit quickly and mercilessly against her active nub. She moaned loudly and whimpered softly as he left her clit and went to lick her slit in slow tortuous motions.

                He gripped her thighs and squeezed as his tongue entered her, she mewled and grabbed his hair. He growled and used his nose to nuzzle her clit as he tongue fucked her slowly. Slowly she came undone in his hands and just as she was about to break he stopped, looking up at her with amber eyes. In a motion that was too fast for her brain to comprehend he had her pinned below him and was paused at her entrance. Her wrists were held down by his massive hands and her legs were wide open. She was ready and vulnerable for him. The cool air blew from the window, blowing cold air on her exposed pussy making her shiver with need. She looked in his eyes and arched her back… there were never any words between the two when this happened. He smirked and chuckled darkly, his canine was sharp, pointy, and shiny. Her sex twitched with excitement and need making her groans and move her hips. The amber darkened as he plunged into her hard, making her squeak and clamp her thighs around his waist.

 

 

                He hadn’t meant to do that. Later on he’d feel bad about it, but not when her walls squeezed around him like that. He shivered and squeezed her wrists once, then pulled all the way out only to slam back into her. Normally he wasn’t this rough, he would be calm and kind and caring and gentle. But this, this was a mating. That justified it all. Her little mewls of pain and pleasure rocketed throughout his body and bounced around his brain, making his judgment  clouded. Every thrust, more like pound, grew softer and slower as the time went on. Both their skin grew to be saturated with sweat as their bodies melded together, creating a hurricane of love and pure passion. She yelped as she came, her walls squeezing him and milking him with every thrust. He grunted as he slammed into her one last time, emptying his seed into her as his canines came out.

“I love you.” He whispered as he bit into her shoulder, marking and claiming her as his.

 

                She gasped as he bit into her shoulder, but it wasn’t from the pain. There was none, there was only immense pleasure. Tingling went up and down her arm and she gripped his shoulders, digging her nails into the soft flesh there until the pleasure/pain resided. He cooed to her, smoothing over her hair until the sounds that came from her mouth dulled. She blinked up at him, sniffling and smiling.

“Did I hurt you?” He asked softly, sounding terrified and sad. She laughed airily and kissed him with her salty tear lips.

“No! you did the complete opposite.” He smiled brightly, making him look younger and more beautiful, if that was possible.

“You wanna see it?” He asked softly and she nodded, he leaned off of her and slowly slid out of her. She smiled again and sat up, looking at her shoulder and squealing at what she saw. It looked as if she had gotten her whole arm tattooed starting from where he bit her. An intricate design spun itself down in complicated circles and spirals until it reached her wrist.

“This is… this beautiful.” She whispered, bringing her eyes up to him and seeing the exact same pattern on the opposite side. She gasped and traced the pattern with her finger, loving how even her fingers got confused as to the way the pattern was going.

“This is us. This is what we make, we make beauty.” She beamed and giggled, tackling him onto the bed and kissing him with all her heart.

 

                They had to wake up early, everyone. Molly and Thomas had to go see off Sammy and JJ, and they couldn’t leave their children in the house alone. Especially early in the morning. So everyone woke up before the sun even had a chance to stretch and took the New York pack to the airport. JJ and Cara remained silent with faces of anger on their faces. Samantha had finally separated herself from her mate to  spend time with her parents. She curled up on tom’s lap and laid her head on her mother’s shoulder.

“I’m gonna miss you guys.” She whispered as her mother rubbed her hair softly. Molly smiled a watery smile and kissed Sammy’s golden hair.

“It’ll be alright, my sweet little honey child.” Molly said, keeping her voice from wavering too much. Sam sniffled at her nick name and wiped the tear that had fell.

“Hey, don’t cry. There’s always face chat and the internet.” Thomas said, kissing his adoptive daughter’s hand as she laughed.

“It’s face time daddy, not face chat.” She giggled and tom smiled, knowing he could still make his little girl laugh.

“Now boarding flight NY981, now boarding flight NY981.” Sam sniffled and got off of her parents lap, taking their hands as they stood up together.

“That’s us.” She said softly and Thomas kissed her forehead while Molly hugged her.

“It’ll be Ok, you’ll have Jake and he’ll keep you safe.” Thomas said, directing a glare to Jake who stood with his duffel bag and ticket in hand. Sam laughed and stepped away from her parents. She walked to her mate, picked up her bag and nodded at her parents, who smiled in unison then nodded back.

 

                JJ stood with the sleepy children, anger and depression clear in his face. Why’d they have to leave? He liked it here, this was his home. It didn’t matter that his aunts and uncles pissed him off sometimes, and the humans here were growing more and more intolerable. It was his home and he didn’t want to leave it. He smelled her as she sidled next to him.

“We’re gonna miss you here, even though you’re broody as all hell.” She said, crossing her arms and looking at the television screen with him.

“I don’t think I’m broody, I’m just a little more realistic than everyone else around me.” She huffed in laughter and looked at him.

“That’s what all broody people think.”

“You think you’re such a smart ass, don’t you Cara?”

“Well… I’m not a donkey, so no.” She said with a smirk and he rolled his eyes.

“Seriously though, you were one of the only pups that understood us.”

“You’re family… I’ve no choice but to understand you.” He said with a smirk, looking back to the television screen.

“I’ll miss you more than them, though. Even though you were pretty rude to me.” She said and he looked back to her. Her green eyes showed the pain that was held there.

“Look, Cara-“

“You’ll do just fine.” Another voice said and he watched as a male stepped behind her and grabbed her curls. He put a hand over her mouth and a blade to her neck, silver if her whimper had anything to do with it.

“Now, let’s go find your mommy, shall we?”

Chapter 40

Molly stiffened as she sniffed the air, her child’s soon departure disappeared from her mind as the smell sunk in.

“Terrence.” She said softly and spun around. She couldn’t see him anywhere, his smell was everywhere though. That smell of axe and sweat was hard to confuse with any other person.

“Molly?” Thomas asked, smelling her fear and confusion.

“He’s here, he found me. He’s here but I can’t see him.” She mumbled walking around and hoping to get a better smell.

“Mom?” Cara said softly, she heard Tom’s growl and several gasps. She gulped and turned around to see what would be implanted in her brain forever. Her daughters hair was pulled back to the max, making her forehead red and glistening, and a knife was held to her throat. Although that was disturbing in its own, it’s not what scared her to the  max. It was the cold blue eyes that looked at her with accomplishment and barely restrained anger.

“Well, well bunny. Seems you’ve hopped far.” His voice was older, but still cold and hard.

“Terrence, w-what are you doing here?” Her voice cracked as she took a step closer, he took a step back and pulled on Cara’s hair again making her daughter whimper.

“Let go of my daughter!” Thomas boomed, gaining them more attention.

“Oh no, no, no. I think I’ll hold on to her a little bit more. She’s so soft, almost like bunny.” Terrence said, his eyes never straying from Molly’s. Molly took a deep breath and stilled.

“You brought the arms?” Molly said, sounding defeated and angry.

“I never go anywhere without them. Your whole family is surrounded. I’m sorry to tell you this, bunny, but most of them won’t survive.” Thomas growled and stepped closer, forcing Terrence to dig the blade deeper into Cara’s skin. She squealed and people gasped around them, Thomas stopped.

“If any of you get too close to me, she’s the first one to die. If I’m hit all of them die, you feel me, bunny?” A tear fell down her cheek as she nodded and backed up.

“I feel you.”

“Good! Now that, that mess is all cleaned up we can sit and have a nice long chat as to why you hopped away little bunny.” He said, sitting down and placing Cara on his lap.

“No!” She screeched and moved forward. Terrence gripped Cara’s head and snapped it back, putting the knife on the already burned piece of skin there. She screamed a little and Terrence looked to Molly and Thomas in challenge.

“Sit, or slit. Your choice really.” Thomas growled and fell to his knees, she could see that he was struggling with his wolf. She just needed to touch-

“Any touching of any kind, I’m blowing her fucking brains out bunny. Sit your furry little tail down right now.” Terrence said coldly, making her fall on her knees and slump her shoulders. She was absolutely hopeless.

 

                John snarled quietly and moved to shift. She heard the cock of a gun, then felt its cold barrel against her neck.

“Move and her pretty little spine will be shot out.” A female voice said, making Valerie stiffen. She closed her eyes and focused on her magick.

“Sorry, princess, we’ve got our own fey. Try again and I shoot the cute little boy over there.” She immediately stopped and shot a desperate look to john who looked torn.

“I’m sorry.” She mouthed, not knowing what else to do.

 

                He shot up, something felt wrong. He threw on a shirt and some jeans then walked into the hallway to where his sister’s room lay. She opened her door and walked out with a ponytail and all black clothing on.

“Something’s wrong.” She whispered and leaped off the second floor onto the first one lightly. He zoomed down the stairs and opened the door quietly, his sister walked out and he closed it just as quietly.

“They aren’t at the house.”

“Where are they, then?”

“The airport.” Her eyes widened and she jet off, her twin directly behind her.

 

                Luna sent off the distress signal and looked to Jesse who nodded.

“Sammy.”

“Yeah?”

“Omega, now.” Samantha nodded as she looked to her sister who had communicated to her through the pack links.

“I got ten fingers to the sky, my back to the wall my white flag high. Her lips just like a gun she’s got silver bullets on her tongue.” She sang softly and quietly, slowly soothing those around her. She looked around and held Jake’s hand, squeezing it softly.

“He’s deep under her spell, I’m screaming out but it just won’t help. I think I’m cursed him first.” With a grunt she pulled out a ninja star from her back pocket and sent it into the eye of the man who held his gun at the back of Alissa’s head. Luna used her magick and silenced him as he fell to the floor. Sam looked around to see if anyone had noticed, they hadn’t/ all their eyes were trained on the person in front of them.

“Ander and Anna will be here soon, take out as many as you can and I’ll help as much as I can. They’ve got their own fey, but he’s not so strong. He can’t sense what little bit I’m doing at a time.”

“Gotcha.”

“Adeline have mercy, you don’t wanna break my heart. Take what’s mine but don’t hurt me, take my money take my car. But don’t take my man, don’t take my man. I said don’t take my man, ‘cause you know you can. Put the gun down, ooh. Put the gun down, ooh.” She threw another one at the female whose gun was pointed at Lina. Again her scream was masked and her thud concealed.

“The humans, their gonna blow your cover.”Jake whispered, tensing ever so slightly.

“I’ve got it.” She whispered back, although she didn’t. things were gonna come crashing down soon.

“They’re here, just keep singing.” Luna said, her voice relieved. She looked around and saw two blurs, zooming in and stopping behind Luna.

 

“Why’d you leave bunny?”

“Why’d you chase me?” She growled, her anger at her hopelessness . Terence raised a brow and moved the knife slightly. More tears fell down Cara’s face as she bit her lip.

“You’re doing great baby, just hold on a little while longer.”

“Mommy, I’m scared.”

“I know you are, but everything is going to be fine.” She hoped.

“I’ll ask again. Why’d you leave?”

“You were hurting me, I couldn’t stay.”

“I never hurt you, I loved you bunny.” Thomas snarled in her head and she growled with him.

“No you didn’t baby, you were in love with the idea of having me.”

“Don’t tell me what I was!” He yelled, moving the knife in anger. Blood fell from the cut and Cara squeezed her eyes closed.

“Alright sweety. You loved me, I’m sorry.” She whimpered, wanting so bad to have her baby in her arms.

“But you left, you left me bunny.” He looked forlorn and depressed.

“I’m sorry baby. I was stupid and I thought if I left you would love me even more.” She lied, that was the only thing she could do at this point. It worked as the depression left.

“You only wanted more of my love?”

“Yes, baby. I wanted you to myself.”

“But why did you run to that dick and fuck him!? Why did you have all of his fucking kids!?”

“B-because you didn’t want kids, sweetheart, and I did.”

“I would’ve had them… for you I would’ve had them.”

“I didn’t know that baby, I’m sorry.” When would it end, she didn’t know but she wasn’t sure she would like it.

“You’re gonna be sorry. All of them, and you, are coming back to Chicago. I’ll have you, over and over again while he watches. You’re gonna have my kids, these kids are just a few loose ends that will be easily cut. We’re gonna start a new life. Just you and me, bunny, how does that sound?” Her ears picked up on a sound that he couldn’t hear with his human hearing. The soft thud of a falling body. Her eyes lifted slowly and she saw Ander and Anna as they slowly and quietly broke the arms. She smirked and felt her fist clench.

“That sounds wonderful baby! Except for one tiny little thing.” She said softly, happiness a lighting in her eyes. She had to play the part after.

“Your fucking life just ended, and there’s no restarting.” JJ snarled as he snapped the neck of Terrence Fawn. Tom exploded into his wolf as did John and Jake. Cara gripped onto JJ, sobbing in pain and relief.

“Y-you’re bleeding.” He whimpered as he stepped back. She let go and touched her neck, the cut wouldn’t heal. Silver wounds did that to you. The humans around them gasped and pictures were taken. The coming footsteps suddenly stopped as praises to God were sent. Thomas sniffed his mate, not caring that the werewolf secret was out. His mate had to be safe.

Chapter 41

Luna ran to her sister, taking her face gently in her hands and looking at the cut.

“Luna.” Cara’s strong voice wavered and Luna sniffled as she fell to her knees. She  looked around at all the humans who stood around them. Police officers, business men, and mothers alike stood there horrified at all the new information that they’d just seen.

“Don’t just stand there!! Help her!!” Her voice cracked as a tear fell from her eye. Mother Moon had failed to tell her that one of her own would’ve been hurt.

“Cara!!” Her mother screeched as Cara slumped off of Terrence and on to the seat next to her. Blood was in a steady downpour.

“Help her!!!” Her mother yelled, tears streaming down as she sat by her weakened child afraid to touch her. Valerie rushed to them, John on her heels as she made a care package appear in her hands. If possible more gasps and pictures were taken. Luna growled and stood up, then faced the humans while her sister was being tended.

“What is your problem!!!??? You stood by while my sister could’ve been killed, while my family could’ve been dragged away!! Then when one of us are injured, you don’t even try to help us!! You take your pictures and you watch, like filthy animals!!” All the humans looked somewhat guilty, but most flinched away from her. Their fear was palpable in the air.

“Luna, leave them be.” Molly whispered softly, while stroking Cara’s hair.

“I will not-“

“You will, you’ve said what you need to say. Sit down and be ready.” Her goddess said to her, making all her limbs go still until she did exactly what was asked of her.

 

                Valerie tended Cara quickly. She was bleeding way too fast for Valerie’s liking. When she was stitched up she wrapped a gauze soaked in magick around the girls neck, then wrapped it with a heavier cloth.

“You should be good, just don’t speak too much or you’ll rupture the stitches.” She willed the pack away then stood. All the humans I the airport seemed to have gathered there, as if being brought there by some higher being… fuck. She looked to Luna only to discover the girl was looking down at the floor with a frown.

“You all know. I’m assuming the pictures and vides you took are halfway across the world right now, floating in the clouds of cyberspace. There’s no denying what you’ve seen today, it’s all true. The answer to the question of the universe? I have it. No, you are not alone. There are more than werewolves on this earth. There are vampires, there are trolls, there are witches, and there are fey. You do what you wish with that information. But for today, in this brief little time span, this family is going home and relaxing.” 

Epilogue

     Valerie watched as the two cubs held each other on the couch, they hadn't seperated at all. The patch on Cara's neck restricted her from talking, but there was always the pack link. Valerie had no doubt that the werewolf nation, along with every other paranormal being out there, would be challenged. She just hoped that they would be able to survive it all. Isaac ran to her, putting his face in her stomach and sobbing, his father wasn't stable. He'd gone feral when they all returned back to the pack house and Jake immediately sent him to go for a run. No one could afford a feral wolf right now, nor did anybody have the mentality to take care of it. 

     She was all he had right now, so she shushed him and ran her fingers through his hair. She didn't know why he was crying, she just knew she had to be there for him. And be there for him she would. He squeezed his arms around her and she sighed softly, getting used to being squeezed every time she was around werewolf pups. She unlatched his arms from around her and got on one knee to look better at his face. she cocked her head and wiped the snot from his nose and cheek, it was probably on her shirt too but she didn't care.

"What's the matter, Isaac?" She asked softly, wiping his tears from the beautiful hazel eyes that seemed to be overflowing in tears.

"I-I-I... y-y-you..." Then he bawled in to tears again, making Valerie reach out and put his head in the crook of her neck.

"It's Ok, just calm down. Everything is gonna be Ok." She picked him up and walked downstairs, not wantintg to distract Cara and JJ. She went to her and Johns' room and closed the door softly. His father's scent should soothe him. She cradled him in her lap until he was done crying, softly wiping his tears and saying soothing words.

"Think you can tell me what's wrong now?" She asked softly with the slightest of smiles.

"I wasn't able to help you, or protecct you. That lady... she could've shot you and it would've been over!! You would've been just like my mom, dying to protect me!" He sobbed again and wrapped his arms around her neck. his hair tickled her nose but she didn't care. She hugged and squeezed him closer, rubbing his crown of hair until he calmed down.

"I'm not leaving. I don't plan to leave this world until I'm well and ready. Plus, I could never leave someone as adorable as you, now could I?" She asked softly, tapping his nose as he smiled sheepishly.

"There we go, now you should get some sleep." He slid off her lap and looked at her, his eyes filled with worry instead of tears.

"It's going to get worse, isn't it? They won't leave us alone, will they?" She smiled sadly and shook her head.

"Sorry honeybun, but no. Things won't get easier, but don't you focus on that. Just keep swimming." She said and placed a loud kiss on his forehead. He laughed and rubbed the kiss off, shaking his head and walking away.

"You're a nutcase, mom." She stilled slightly at the word, then beamed.

"I'm rubber and your glue, whatever you say bounces off of me and sticks onto you. Son." He laughed and left the room, smiling.

This could work. 

 

 

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Tag der Veröffentlichung: 26.10.2017

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