A Time for Strength

“Mi galleta [My cookie], I should get you home.” His deep voice is soft and smooth in my ear. It makes me smile every time. “If I’m gonna die, it’s gonna be on the frontline, not the front door to the packhouse.”

There goes my smile.

“Not funny, Marco. You’re not allowed to die on the frontline. None of you are. And I won’t let my dad kill you. You’ll have to find another stupid way to die.” I sigh, looking up at the stars from the bed of the truck.

The flecks of light dance and sparkle defiantly in the sky, with no cares in the world. Don’t they know there’s a war going on? Little bastards. Maybe I could convince a couple of them to trade places with me and my boyfriend. Could they at least make room for us in the dark spaces between them?

There’s a cool breeze tonight even though it’s June. I’m glad he had an extra blanket in the truck to wrap around us. I lean my back heavier against his chest and try to take a deep breath, but it comes out ragged.

The hard lump in my throat tries to make its way to my eyes. I swallow it back. I refuse to cry. Not in front of my boyfriend. Not in front of anyone, really.

We’ve been dating for two perfect years, but we might have to cut it off soon. Both of our families come from packs with ancient bloodlines of werewolves. That means our wolves wake up when we turn seventeen instead of eighteen like packs with younger bloodlines. After tomorrow, by werewolf law, we’re both going to be adults.

My wolf will wake up tomorrow night at midnight, just in time for our pack’s annual Mating Gathering. Marco turned seventeen four months ago, so he’s already met his wolf.

I’ve never seen a more handsome dark brown wolf than Clash. His light brown eyes look like drops of caramel against his dark fur. He’s fast, too. He loves when I climb on his back so he can zip through the forest of our pack territory.

I can’t wait to meet my wolf. My best friend, Ashley English, bought me a picture frame to put my wolf’s official first photograph in. The pack photographer takes photos of all the new wolves once we shift. After that, we’re allowed to let them run around pack territory. The photo is for pack records, but most of us use them like humans do with their senior school pictures. 

Speaking of the Mating Gathering, a lot of us will find our fated mates tomorrow night. A fated mate is the werewolf the Moon Goddess has chosen for you to spend the rest of your life with. When your wolf wakes up, they help you find your mate. They call it the mate pull or the mate bond. I mean, you can find your fated mate at any time, but there are a concentrated number of single wolves at the Mating Gathering. So, chances are always higher that you’ll meet them there.

Hopefully, Marco will be my fated mate. If we aren’t and we don’t find our fated mates, we agreed to keep seeing each other. We already decided that if we’re mated to other people, we’ll break things off and respect the Moon Goddess’s decision. It doesn’t matter though, because he’s still leaving. Basically, I’m going to be heartbroken either way.

Marco is going to be a warrior in the Shifter War. He and Clash completed warrior training, and it’s time for them to go serve in the werewolf military.

Their training was to be a sharpshooter, but they can also quick shift. Dad says it’s a rare skill and makes them a valuable asset to their platoon. Marco says he’s looking forward to it. Can you believe that shit? Who looks forward to going to war? Actually, I can think of a couple of our pack members…

I overheard Mom telling our female Beta Abdicate, Becca Stone, that dark witches have gotten involved. Thirty warriors from our pack alone have died this month. I haven’t told Marco. He’s going regardless. Being morbid won’t help make him stay.

I’m not allowed to be in the military, even though I completed all the junior warrior training. I’m eligible for adult warrior training and I’m going to complete it, but it doesn’t matter.

My dad is our pack’s Alpha Abdicate. Unfortunately, he can’t retire yet. My older brother, Bronx, is our Alpha Scion, but he’s serving in the war. He won’t take over his official duties until he is home for good. He left for his six-month tour a few days after his ascension ceremony. They performed the ceremony in the winter instead of June to ensure Blood River has ranked successors.

His stubborn ass couldn’t just sit behind a desk and give orders. Noooo, he demanded to be part of the infantry. Bronx liked combat so much that he decided he wants to go back. He’s a little twisted in the head that way.

Bronx is home for a few weeks before his second tour of duty. This time he’ll be gone for nine months. He leaves the day after tomorrow, on my birthday. Marco is leaving with him.

Marco jostles me a little in his arms, bringing me back to reality. “You ready?”

“Ten more minutes, Marco. What if tonight is the last time we get to look at the sky together?”

“There you go, bein’ dramatic and shit, Leni. If we ain’t mates, and neither of us finds a mate tomorrow, we got plenty more nights like this… as long as your pops don’t kill me first.”

I roll my eyes and chuckle, but my lip is trembling. Shit. I don’t want Marco to see me getting emotional like that. Like Mom always says, ‘We’re at war. There’s no time for tears.’

He wraps his arms tighter around me from behind, letting his hands run up and down my waist and kisses my shoulder. Warrior training has made his hands rough, but I don’t care. I still like the way they feel on my bare skin. His lips are soft and I want to savor the feeling. I lean into his touch and hum contentedly. I wish I could lie here with him forever.

“If neither of us finds our mates tomorrow night, you’re still leaving and I’m stuck here. I’m shit out of luck either way.” I reach my arms over my head and run my fingers through his fresh buzz cut. “What if I never see you again?”

“It’s only nine months, Leni.” He nuzzles against my ear and whispers as he reaches higher and fondles my breasts. “You know I gotta go. It’s my duty. And I promised your dad. Besides, I need to help Milo and Reggie keep your brother outta trouble.”

I blink back tears and turn in his arms to look at him. He really is the most handsome werewolf ever. “Yeah. Another thing that’s not so funny, Marco.”

I climb up and straddle his lap with a pout while he adjusts the blanket so I’m still covered. His light brown eyes sparkle in the moonlight like the stars. I’m going to miss those eyes. He runs his fingers through my hair and grins contentedly at me. How can he be so relaxed?

“Those eyes, Leni. I won’t never forget ‘em.” He murmurs and shakes his head. “Triste, pero hermosa [Sad, but beautiful].”

“Promise me you’ll be careful, Marco. Don’t do any stupid shit that will get you killed.”

I press my hands against his chest and lean forward, trying to sound lighthearted, but fail miserably. My voice breaks, making me look away from him.

I squeeze my lips together tightly, but that stupid lump is in my throat now and it’s done being patient. Marco tries to kiss the tears away, but the sweet gesture just fuels them on.

“Ahh, Galleta, don’t cry. You can’t get ridda me that easy.” He pulls me closer and peppers kisses along my jawline. “I’ll be home before you know it.”

“It’s bullshit that I can’t go too, Marco. I went through the same training as everyone else.”

“Leni, you know you have to stay in case Bronx-”

“Don’t say it.” I bury my head in his shoulder.

Bronx hasn’t found his mate yet. Goddess forbid, but if he doesn’t make it back alive, it means I become the Luna Regent of Blood River. That’s why I can’t go fight with everyone else. Because Blood River needs a contingency plan. Dad says it’s business, not personal. Knowing that I’m the contingency plan seems kind of personal to me.

If I become Luna and find my mate before our Beta Scion comes home from serving in the war, my mate would become Alpha, even if he doesn’t have Alpha blood. All the more reason I want to be fated to Marco. I know I’m a little biased, but I think he would make a great Alpha.

It’s… a lot. Call me selfish, but all of it makes me want more time to be a kid.

I can’t take it anymore. I bite my lip, but a sob escapes anyway.

“Come here, Leni.” He soothes me and pulls me closer. “Now’s a time for strength, not tears. Keep your spirits up.”

He rocks me in his arms and whispers soothing words, letting me have my emotional moment. I can’t focus on what he’s telling me past the grim thoughts running rampant in my mind. Regardless of what he is saying, the tone of his voice soothes me.

As the tears fade, I compose myself. “I’m sorry. You’re right. Now’s a time for strength.”

“Uh, so, I’m pretty sure we decided every time you gotta apologize, you owe me a kiss.” He can’t hide the mischief in his voice.

I snort at his smirk and tilted head. I’m all too familiar with that look. “I’m pretty sure YOU’RE the only one who decided that.”

I lean forward and kiss him, anyway. His hands reach down to my ass and pull me closer until I’m pressed against his body. I giggle against his mouth because I can feel him getting hard again. I reach down between us to grab his-

A twig breaks to the left of the truck, making our eyes spring open wide. Before I can sniff the air, Marco’s eyes turn black and Clash comes forward.

I don’t even have time to blink. He flips us over so I’m on my back. He’s hovering over me, caging me below him. I hold my breath to stay quiet while Clash keeps Marco’s body crouched low, ready to pounce, but making sure I’m sheltered. His deep, protective growl makes me pull my arms and legs in and cover my mouth.

Fear settles into my chest, making my heart constrict. Could rogues have gotten onto pack territory? Dark witches? Werebears? Where are the pack guards?

I move my hand away from my nose and try to breathe the scent of the intruder. Rusty iron and mud assaults my senses. What the Hell? No one smells like that.

Marco looks up and lets out a snarl that rumbles the truck. It’s cut short as a giant clawed hand grabs him by the back of the neck and yanks him out of the bed of the truck into the night.