เข้าสู่ระบบHere you go, lovelies. Happy 4th of July for those celebrating it.
DANE.(10 years following Epilogue 1)I had never imagined being blessed with the life that I had been given.Sixteen years ago, I thought I understood strength. I thought it existed in command, firm choices and quick instincts, in being the Alpha who never yielded. I was wrong about that. It turned out that strength was the sound of laughter and the feeling of little arms wrapped around me.Shadow Vale was silent at dawn. It was a safe silence, though, not a fearful one. The pack was thriving, stable and certain, its borders secure, its spirit tougher. My back leaned against the railing as I sipped my coffee. Looking into the trees, I felt something I had once denied.Contentment.Aria was making breakfast like she did every morning. She was my Luna, my equal, the woman who steadied and challenged me. She remained unaffected by time. If anything, it deepened who she was with grace and strength that was purely Aria.And then there were our children.Colt was fourteen. All long limbs a
ARIA. (5 Years Later)Five years could fly by at the speed of light or could crawl, depending on how I looked at it. It was all about perception.I stood on the balcony overlooking Shadow Vale. The pack was coming alive in the early morning light even before the sun finished rising.Home.The word alone sent a wave of peace through me.I put my hands on the cool railing, focusing on that as memories resurfaced.The past five years weren’t all smooth sailing. Impossible choices and perseverance shaped them. We’d experienced our share of loss. Victory had carried a cost that was earned the hard way. We fought for our future.Becoming Luna of this pack meant everything to me. I wasn’t just a placeholder or a pretty face. I didn’t simply stand beside Dane for ceremonies. It taught me how to lead when I was afraid. How to speak when I wasn’t certain of the words. And how to find strength in my fellow pack members.To be the Luna of this pack was a blessing I took to heart. Not for the tit
DANE.Unsurprisingly, I found my mate in the library, which was like her second home. Warmth wrapped around me the moment that I walked inside of the room. Learning came naturally to her. She was an avid learner. It was fascinating to watch her damn near recall it on command, especially when people thought she was full of shit. Nah. My mate was a brilliant woman.Aria was burrowed in her favorite chair. The oversized brown leather one where she likes to cuddle up with a good book. The sight made my heart race.The sight of Aria in her favorite oversized chair had me smiling like a fool. She was so engrossed in her book, her brow furrowed in concentration, that she didn’t even notice me at first.I couldn’t help smiling as I watched her for a moment. The way the soft light filtered through the tall windows, illuminating her features, made her look ethereal.“Hey, there you are,” I said, my voice low and warm as I approached.Her body jolted in surprise, a slow smirk tipping my lips upw
ARIA. Never had I envisioned this project turning out so good when I handed the conceptual plans to Dane after I won that first reward. Goddess, it seemed like forever ago that it happened. So much has happened since then.I stood just inside the doorway. The fresh coat of paint scent was subtle. This place managed to smooth over some of the grief inside of me that hadn’t quite managed to scar over just yet. This place wasn’t just a building. It was hope. A new beginning for all the orphans in this pack. Those who had been in the old orphanage as well as newly orphaned pups.Today was the final walkthrough.I was incredibly proud to see it come to life, so I wanted to see every little detail. The front opened into a bright common room where there was sunlight pouring in through tall windows. The woods outside of the windows was such a great view. Soft rugs were scattered around in different shapes that were playful, comforting.Against the far wall,
DANE. The memorial was one of the hardest days of my life as Alpha. No amount of training or lessons would’ve prepared me for it. I’ve lost people before, lost pack members. But this one hit even closer to home.On the pyre were twenty-one bodies. Nineteen warriors who laid down their lives for us and two mates who hadn’t survived their deaths.That was yesterday.The weight hadn’t left me. It was still just as heavy as it was when I stood in front of my pack, reading off the names of the fallen. My warriors. Men and women who fought for this pack. I’d known each of them by name. Their faces would never be forgotten and flashed through my mind any time that I closed my eyes.Five had been in critical condition, but we’d been able to save them. They were currently recovering. It was something that I was thankful for because I wasn’t certain how much more loss this pack could take.When we went back to the enemy’s camp to finish what was left, we found forty pups huddling together. Fort
ARIA.Broken bodies and smoke covered the ground. The scent of blood filled the air and coated the ground as well. It wasn’t silent, but even the hushed noise sounded like thunder. Whimpers and cries could be heard from both sides.The thing that hit me hardest, though, was the pain rushing down our bond. It wasn’t just physical. It was the kind that dug into your soul and hollowed a part of it out. Thea and I could feel their grief. The kind that was made of sheer agony and remained with you with, or without, your permission.Dane was the only thing keeping me from falling onto my knees without how weak they felt right now. I nuzzled my face against his chest as I attempted to keep the tears at bay. My own chest ached as if it’d been clawed open because I could feel the pain that they were going through. I’d never experienced sorrow like this before. Our hearts were breaking for our mates.They never wanted this. I knew that. Thea knew it too.Our mates were natural-born protectors. T







