Penelope I walk to the kitchen by myself and I'm consumed by my thoughts. It's like my body is moving on autopilot as I make Donovan’s coffee. All I can focus on is the girls. Xavier has provided everything for them since they don’t have the time to do a real job. What are they going to do? Have they even been trained on anything? I don't know how different our experiences were at the Academy. I don't know what they had been taught and if they have basic knowledge or if all they know is how to seduce a man. Once the coffee is ready, I pour a cup for myself as I think about what I can do to help the women. I walk back to Donovan's office and set the mug down in front of him and then go to my normal spot and sit. As I drink my coffee, I think and think and honestly, my head hurts from all the thinking I’ve done. I don’t even know the girls well! There are four girls: Aubrey, Katy, Luisa, and Deja, and the only one I know anything about is Aubrey. I can feel Donovan’s eyes on me and
Violet I'm so glad that Xavier Black is no longer the Moon Stone Pack's Gamma. He used to be worthy, but ever since Shannon died he became a shell of the man he used to be. It's a relief knowing that he doesn't hold as much power anymore. He got a couple of good hits on me during our fight. Although everything was already healing by the end of it, Donovan insisted I get checked out by the pack doctor. Jack wanted to come with me, but he had a training to teach, and I insisted that he went to it. I’m a werewolf. Wolves heal fast and by the time I get to the pack doctor, I’m sure he’ll tell me that everything is okay. We have two doctors on staff. One is a man, Doctor Pearson, who primarily deals with major injuries and the other is a woman, Doctor Hudson, who primarily deals with pregnancies and children. I was surprised to see Doctor Hudson walk through the door. She smiles up at me and says, “Hey there, Violet. We heard you got into a bit of a tussle earlier. But because you’re ov
PenelopeJack and Violet haven't left their room. We have no idea what's going on and I'm getting really worried about Violet. Donovan is too, he's had a nervous energy ever since getting back home.It's been hours, it's dinner time now and as we go to the dining room, it's impossible to not notice the people missing from the table. I breathe out as I wonder, what could’ve caused her to have that kind of breakdown?She is one of the strongest people I know. Something horrible must’ve happened.As much as both Donovan and I wanted to go be with them or skip the dinner and just be together, we had plans tonight. So, here we are sitting at the table along with Simon, Aubrey, Katy, Luisa, and Deja.Katy looks nervous, Luisa is jittery, and Deja looks like she would rather be any place other than here. But Aubrey is excited. I can’t wait to see how the other girls react when Donovan announces their freedom.I notice that Donovan and Simon’s eyes glaze over and I look at Donovan skeptically,
PenelopeTwo months later.It took a lot of planning and discussion, but the girls and I decided to open a bakery and a floral shop that will be next to one another. Both businesses should do well since it's not exclusive to the pack grounds and is out among the humans as well.We aren't overwhelmed by having two businesses because the rest of the women that Xavier has purchased over the years have joined us, so each business has at least 10 women working.The businesses are doing great and it is great seeing all the women happy and fulfilled. In fact, it makes me feel fulfilled as well. I'm excited about the next auction so we can rescue more girls. Donovan told me the next auction will be the first one that he has visited in over 5 years and that he's excited knowing that we will be giving everyone we purchase their freedom.Donovan and I are getting into a good flow of things. I’m happy with him. I never would’ve imagined that things would be as good as they are. He’s still stressed
PenelopeThe car ride to the pharmacy is uncomfortable. I know I shouldn't feel weird with Violet, but I do. Especially with this topic! She's still so fragile... how will she react if I am pregnant?Once we pull up to the store, I say, “I’ll go in and get a test since you insist. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”“You don’t want me to come with you?” She asks and I shake my head no, “I’m fine, Vi. It’s just peeing on a stick, plus I know that I’m not pregnant.”She rolls her eyes at me, not believing a single word I say, and responds, “We’ll see about that.”I breathe out as I get out of the car. Honestly, I’m scared she’s right.Donovan and I haven’t been very careful when we’ve been intimate. We haven’t really talked about kids. I don’t know when he wants them or even if he wants them. The unknown makes this whole thing terrifying.On top of that, with everything Violet is going through and the threat of a battle hanging over our heads… I can’t be pregnant. It just… it’s not the right
DonovanToday seemed like a normal day. Nothing new has gone on and we're organizing some stuff about the businesses we have in town. Then Violet rushes into my office. I look up at her, startled by her barging in because it is so unlike her. Jack sets down the file he was working on and walks to her sensing her distress as he asks, “Hey, are you okay?”She nods, “I’m fine.” She looks over at me and says, “Penelope is sick. I just thought you’d want to know.”Penelope? Sick? Werewolves don't get sick.My eyebrows furrow and I ask, “What do you mean?”Violet says, “She’s been throwing up all morning. I had to force her to come here instead of staying at the bakery. Speaking of which, I need to let Aubrey know that she needs to wrap up payroll, since Penelope is unavailable.”I look at Jack and before I even speak he says, “Go, I can handle any calls we get.”I nod my head and rush out of the room. It’s rare for werewolves to be sick. We have a good immune system, so knowing that Penelop
PenelopeOne thing I admire about Donovan is that he is great at soothing my worries. But… still, I don’t know if I’m cut out for this whole ‘parenting’ thing.Donovan holds my hand and leads me to the bed. We lie down and get comfortable in one another’s arms. He tells me, “I understand your concerns, Pen. I don’t know how things were for you at the academy, but it doesn’t matter. You’ve got me on your side and we have so many friends and can always hire help if we need it.”I nod my head, “Yeah, that’s true, I guess.”He rubs his hand up and down my arm and asks, “How was life at the academy? You never really talk about it.”I breathe out as I think back on everything. I say, “I think I had a different experience than most people do. I was very guarded. I was only allowed to be around the people who were teaching me something. Occasionally, they would allow me to be around people my age. Honestly, I think that’s just because they didn’t want me to be socially awkward. Everything I di
VioletI sit on the couch in the living room with a glass of wine. Jack comes and sits beside me and smiles lazily at me. He clinks his glass against mine and says, “To you, my love.”My eyebrows knit together as I ask, “What are you going on about?”He chuckles deeply, and the sound makes goosebumps appear on my skin. After two years together, I’m still just as smitten with him as I was the first day we found each other. Jack shrugs his shoulders and says, “I know how hard things have been for you lately. For both of us, actually… I just want to take this moment to appreciate one another.”I grin as I clink my glass against his and we both take a sip of our drinks. Of course, the moment is short though. It’s hard to ever have a second to yourself in the pack house.Penelope and Donovan come down the stairs and Penelope walks straight over to me and says, “I need to talk to you, Vi.”I raise an eyebrow as I ask, “What’s going on?”Tears well up in her eyes and she says, “I’m so sorry,