Ceanna hadn’t always felt like an outsider in her adoptive family. She was grateful for their love and care, and she knew she was different from them, but they had made her feel welcome, despite the obvious. She was a little taller than the average teenage girl, but luckily the men in her family were giants, too. It made her feel like that was a superficial thing they had in common when everything else was far from similar. Ceanna’s golden-brown skin and ethnicity were the first obvious deviations from Daley genetics. She had curly hair and almost yellow eyes, while they had straight black hair and normal colored eyes. Their bloodline was rich with love and academic achievement, hers was… The turmoil she felt whenever she thought of her heritage made her sigh out loud and turn away from the mirror. She wanted to believe what Queen Hamadi had said at school the other day, but she did feel alone, especially when comparing herself to the other kids at Alcombey High. Ceanna was as differe
Cold weather had always made Keion a little testy. With nothing but admiration and love, he envied his parents, who were cuddling together in front of the fire at home. First, he wished he were them because they had the fire going and had no intentions of moving. Second, he wished he were them because they had each other to hold on to. He was no longer a pup who could just jump into the blankets with them and snuggle up with his parents. He knew that it would probably annoy the Alpha more than a little if he tried that now. Being a prince probably wouldn't save him from his father's bite, so he had long since learned to let the royal couple have their alone time. Keion didn’t have a mate so he would just have to dress appropriately for this weather while in human form. So there he was, standing outside Nancy Morton's house, waiting for someone to answer the door and let him in, while the cold winter air swirled around his head. He was warm-blooded like the rest of them, but
Keion got into his car and drove the distance home on his own. Playing a recording of his father’s last council address, he reviewed his day and his overall feeling about the party he’d just attended. It had been fun and perhaps kissing that many girls in one night had been a foolish thing to do but he was pretty sure he hadn’t sent any mixed signals or done anything that his dad would disapprove of. He often heard his father say he was still a boy and he was allowed to be a normal kid every now and then. Nancy had apologized for her actions because she’d never expected that he would then be forced to kiss everyone who had been upstairs. Keion had forgiven her and made it clear that he had no intention of holding it against her. “It was all in good fun,” he assured her as she was walking him to the front door. Looking up and down the nearly empty road, he spotted the security detail. One of them nodded in greeting and he returned the gesture.
No sooner had the thought crossed Keion’s mind to speak to his father than his dad knocked on his door and walked in wearing sweat pants and house slippers.“Dad,” he sighed, falling back against his pillows with relief.“Good morning, son.”I heard you calling me. Is everything okay?“Good morning, Dad.”I had the weirdest dream. My heart’s going crazy.Setting his large frame on the bed next to his son, Msia Hamadi put his hand on the boy’s chest. What he had sensed from his own room came into high definition clarity as he connected with his child and the wolf that had seemed near giddy a few seconds ago.No wonder his child was confused. Msia’s wolf responded to the near panic and assured the younger wolf, sharing his peace. Feeling Keion’s heartbeat slow, he looked into his handsome son’s face.“Did you sleep well?” he aske
“It’s unusual for an Alpha to travel without his pack, or at least a small detail,” muttered the old man. “Shh,” his wife whispered, glancing at their guest, “if he’s an alpha, you know he can hear you speaking about him.” The old man grunted and turned back to the fire. “If he could hear what really matters, where was he when they stole our son from his bed as he slept? Will he bring back our Samuel?” The woman’s wolf hung her head, and tears filled her eyes. “Will you constantly remind me of my pain?” “Is the pain yours alone, woman?” he responded, his voice thick with emotion. Before she could respond, the lone wolf they had welcomed into their small home bounded up the steps gracefully. “Mother, Father, is there anything you need me to do, this evening?” “You’re a guest in our home, you really shouldn’t have to do anything,” the woman said kindly. Grinning, the young man with the light brown eyes leaned against the door jam
“Did you sell your son to dangerous men for power?” Reyan demanded. Walter stood up angrily, “How can you accuse me of such a thing? We love our boy!” The use of present tense wasn’t lost on Reyan, but he needed to make sure. Staring right back at the alpha of a tiny pack he said clearly, “Before they snatched him Samuel recognized someone in the group of people who orchestrated his kidnapping.” That stunned him. Falling back in his chair, Walter’s hand blindly groped for Barbra’s. His wife clung on for dear life. “I felt his hope shatter into pieces as someone he knew appeared but didn’t save him.” His voice sounded strangled to his own ears as the emotion of the little boys washed over him again. “Who?” Walter whispered. Walter's demand had compelled Reyan to reveal who he was and how quickly the tone of the conversation had changed from there. Everyone knew of Nyanga and the capture of the Queen who had been reigning
While everyone was seated, Reyan announced he wanted to tag along with Kano as he travelled the world. Walter looked at him sharply, but this time it was Barbra who spoke tactfully. “I thought you were going to stay with us a few more days before you moved on.” “I can always come back, dear mother.” Pause. “I want to learn as much as I can about the ways of the world before I am stuck in leadership.” The chair creaked under Kano’s weight as he laughed and leaned back, a toothpick clamped lightly between straight white teeth. “Aren’t you just raring to go...” Reyan grinned, too. “You could mentor me, aKaitano. What do you say?” “Do you know Europe is cold, young man? It’s not like the sunny plains of Africa.” Leaning in eagerly, “I have heard, but I would love to go see it for myself. I can pay for my own way–or work, whatever suits you best.” There was a long pause as Kano stared at Reyan, almost as if testing the sinc
“I’m fine Mrs. Cosby, I just want to get some air. I’m also assuming you might have some important things to discuss with aKaitano, so I’ll go sit by the fire.” “Alright, dear. We won’t be long,” the older woman, smiled at him. Once outside, Reyan shook his head. “What is it with these older women?” he muttered, heading to the fire pit where they had all conversed before the meal. He sat down calmly and waited. The moment they said his name, he became privy to their entire conversation. Kano mentioned him first. “Reyan is a fast learner. His age and his rank could be of great use to us.” “Is he a safe asset? Where are his parents?” his brother asked him. “Dead. He was roaming the rural areas of northern Zambia, clearly looking for purpose and excitement. He has no one.” “Can he be trusted?” “That’s why I brought him here tonight.” Pause. “A decision needs to be made. Do we train him or trade him?”