Jason didn’t sleep that night.
He stood alone in the strategy room at dawn, watching the holographic map of the pack lands light up with red and green nodes. Patrol routes. Guard stations. Critical areas.
He traced his finger along the southern tree line where the patrol had overheard the conversation just days before. That small act of treason of conspiracy still burned in his mind. And worse, the name Vincent echoed louder than any threat from outside the borders ever had.
The knock at the door was light. “Come in,” Jason said.
Nathan entered with two steaming mugs of coffee and a tired look on his face. “I did what you asked. We’ve doubled up the night patrols, placed watchers near the Pack Hall, and shifted all council meetings into guarded spaces.”
Jason accepted the mug with a nod. “Any more movement?”
“Not yet,” Nathan said. “But I’ve got Jax and Lena watching Vin
The dawn broke misty and pale, sunlight slanting through the ancient forests that surrounded the Midnight Pack’s lands. The air smelled of damp earth and pine, and a hush seemed to cling to the trees as Jason and Aurora stepped out onto the guesthouse porch, Malcolm bundled against the morning chill.Jason breathed deeply, his senses stretched thin. Even with the quiet beauty of this place, his instincts remained on edge. The shadow he’d glimpsed at the forest’s edge the night before still haunted him.“Did you sleep?” Aurora asked, her voice gentle.“Not much,” Jason admitted. “Something feels... off.”Aurora glanced down at their son, who slept peacefully, unaware of the storm brewing beyond his parents’ gaze. “I feel it too,” she confessed. “Like we’re being watched.”The day passed in a blur of reunions and formalities. The Midnight Pack elde
The tang of salt and sea air wrapped around them as the ferry pulled into port, carrying Jason, Aurora, and their son Malcolm across the final stretch of water to New Zealand. The land of Aurora’s birth rose ahead, green hills soft against the sky, dotted with dark, tangled forests. It felt at once familiar and foreign, as if Aurora had been away for centuries rather than just a year.She clutched Malcolm closer, breathing in the baby's sweet scent of his hair, while Jason stood beside her, one protective arm wrapped around her shoulders. His Arctic blue eyes scanned the docks, catching every subtle movement, the warrior in him never fully resting.“Home,” Aurora whispered, half to herself, half to her son.Jason looked down at her with a quiet smile. “You ready?”She nodded, though a ripple of nerves twisted in her stomach. “I think so.”They disembarked to the calls of seagulls and the rhyth
The sun rose on a day that would be remembered for generations.Bright banners fluttered in the warm breeze, and the scent of wildflowers and fresh bread wafted through the town square. The entire pack had gathered to witness not just the naming ceremonies of the Alpha and Beta’s new pups, but the moment when the future of the Moon Swept Pack would be publicly reaffirmed and secretly reclaimed from the shadow of treachery.The stage had been set. Elders gathered in ceremonial robes. Children sat cross-legged at the front of the crowd, their eyes wide with curiosity. Warriors lined the perimeters, seemingly casual, but strategically placed. Jason and Nathan had left nothing to chance.The two proud couples stepped up onto the raised platform, each with their newborn pup cradled gently in their arms.Jason held his son, wrapped in a soft grey blanket embroidered with moon phases. Aurora stood beside him, beaming despite her exhaustion. T
The morning sun rose gently over the Moon Swept Pack lands, casting long golden beams across the rooftops and warming the dew-kissed grass. A hush of anticipation hung in the air, and yet within the heart of the pack, joy was already blooming.Inside the birthing wing of the newly expanded hospital, soft cries echoed gently through the halls, not of pain or fear, but of brand-new life.Jason stood frozen for a heartbeat, eyes wide and chest heaving as he watched the healer gently swaddle the wriggling, red-faced bundle in soft white cloth. His hand trembled as he reached out, brushing his son’s tiny, perfect fingers.Aurora, pale but glowing with sweat and pride, looked up from the bed with tired eyes and a soft smile. “He’s got your eyes,” she whispered.Jason blinked against the sting of tears and leaned in, pressing a kiss to her temple. “And your spirit. I can already feel it.”As the healer placed the child
The pack lands were awash with a new kind of energy.Spring’s warmth filled the air, the scent of wildflowers and fresh grass drifting over the town. It should have been a time of pure celebration of life, renewal, and anticipation. The Luna and Mia were nearing the end of their pregnancies, bellies full with promise, and their glow matched the season.Naming ceremonies were just around the corner.Aurora, ever the planner, had begun organizing gifts, traditional Luna blessings, and special garments sewn by the town’s seamstresses. Mia had turned nesting into an art form, fussing over nursery arrangements and triple-checking the meal plans for the postpartum care center.Even Jason found himself smiling more, though his smile never quite reached his eyes.Because the shadows were still there.Jason, Nathan, and a few trusted warriors met nightly now in a private wing of the Pack Hall. Patrols had doubled, but the threat still lin
The Pack Hall was quiet, too quiet for Nathan’s liking.He stood once again in the small interrogation room, arms crossed, gaze steady on the subdued young wolf tied to the chair. His earlier defiance had crumbled, replaced by exhaustion and shame. The room smelled of sweat and fear, but Nathan didn’t flinch. He’d been trained to spot the break in a man, and this one had cracked wide open.“You’re going to give me names,” Nathan said, voice low but firm. “Everyone who’s been in meetings with Vincent. Everyone who was approached. Everyone who said yes.”The young male licked his dry lips. “There’s… there’s more than a few. Some were told they’d get a rank. Land. Others were promised mates, status like it was the old days again.”Nathan’s jaw tightened. “Names.”He rattled them off. A dozen. Some Nathan recognized from border patrol. A few fro