Novel-novel oleh Freya Bentley

Riley The morning air was calm as Fantine and I walked up the stone steps that led to the high ridge above the valley, and I kept my arm around her waist to help her balance while the wooden houses of our village sat quiet under the early sunlight below us. This was the exact spot where we had stood months ago when we were running from syndicate hitmen, but today there were no weapons in our hands and no guard patrols chasing us through the trees. "Are you feeling okay after that long climb up these stairs, Fantine, or do you want to sit down on this bench for a few minutes before we look at the north border view?" I asked, turning my head to check her face while my hand rested flat against the small curve of her belly. "I am feeling completely fine, Riley, and walking up these steps with you actually helps my legs feel less stiff after sitting inside the office all morning with the elders," she answered, giving my fingers a tight squeeze as we reached the top flat platform. "L

FantineThe sun was setting behind the western mountain peaks as Riley and I walked up the back stairs into our private quarters at the main pack house, and after closing the wooden door behind us, I unbuckled my dagger belt and set it flat on the long table near the window. The room was warm and quiet, with the soft sounds of the evening guard shift changing down in the courtyard floating through the open window frame, and I turned around to see Riley sitting down on the edge of the bed to pull off his thick leather boots."You look like you have been keeping a secret from me all afternoon, Fantine, because you were smiling to yourself the whole time we were checking the new fence line with Silas," Riley noted, setting his boots down on the floorboards before looking up into my eyes with a curious expression on his face."I was smiling because I had a private meeting with the pack midwife in her house right before lunch, Riley, while you and your father were down at the lower river b

RileyThe sun was high in the blue sky as Fantine and I walked along the wide dirt path near the riverbank, and three mountain warriors were carrying long wooden boards toward the framing of a new house while two valley guards helped them lift the heavy roof beams into place. Six weeks had passed since our coronation ceremony down in the village square, and seeing Silas's people rebuilding their homes side by side with our valley men made the long walk up the mountain trail worth every bit of effort."Look at how fast they got those four river houses framed up, Riley, and it was only last Tuesday when Silas cleared the fallen tree trunks off these lower building lots," Fantine said, stopping near the edge of the water to watch a young boy hand a box of iron nails to his father."Silas told me this morning that his carpenters want to finish five more family homes before the autumn rain starts coming down the valley, Fantine, so our logging crew brought up two extra wagon loads of pine

FantineThe morning sun shone bright over the valley clearing as Riley and I walked down the mountain trail to the main village square, where hundreds of pack members and mountain warriors were already standing together in a large circle around the wooden porch steps. I wore a simple white dress while Riley stood beside me in his dark jacket, and as we stepped up onto the top platform, Alpha Marcus and Alpha Silas were waiting for us near a small table where a shiny metal crown rested on a piece of soft cloth."Are you ready for this moment, Fantine, because every single person in this valley is waiting to see you take your place as Luna beside my son?" Alpha Marcus asked, reaching out to pat my shoulder while the crowd below us quieted down to listen."I am completely ready, Marcus, and I am honored to stand here in front of all these people as Riley's mate," I answered, looking out at the crowd where Victor, Hector, and the other city enforcers were standing side by side with Silas'

RileyThe loud music and shouting from the valley celebration downstairs were starting to quiet down as the night grew late, and I took Fantine's hand to guide her away from the long tables on the porch, leading her up the narrow dirt path that climbed toward the highest mountain ledge above our village. Silas and his mountain warriors were still down in the yard drinking with my father's elders, but up here on the high dirt trail, the night was completely quiet except for the sound of our boots stepping over small rocks on the path."Where are you taking me so late at night, Riley, when your father told us we need to get plenty of sleep before the coronation ceremony tomorrow morning?" Fantine asked, holding onto my arm as we walked around a large turn on the mountain side."I wanted to bring you up to this high ledge where we can see the entire valley and the mountain peaks at the same time, Fantine, because we haven't had five minutes alone together since we left the city estate,"

FantineThe morning sun was bright over the green trees as our truck line crossed the valley border, and I sat in the middle seat beside Riley while Silas and his mountain spearmen followed in three large transport vehicles right behind us on the dirt road. The sound of heavy vehicle tires echoed across the open fields, and as we pulled around the final bend toward the main village square, I could see hundreds of Hades pack members standing along the wooden fences and waving their hands in the air to celebrate our safe return from the city."Look at how many people came out to meet us at the village gate, Riley, and it looks like your father set up long tables all across the front lawn for a big welcoming feast," I said, leaning closer to the front windshield so I could see the crowd of women and children running alongside our truck door."My father promised he would gather the entire valley population the moment my uncle called from the city safehouse, Fantine, so every single person