The first and only name on my docket is Michael. The reserved, always kind ex-alpha of the fallen Morning Star pack, Maddox’s dad. I have stopped by to see him occasionally, leaving him some cookies or a cake I stole from the kitchen. I want to make him something fresh, something homemade, but with Priscilla on my ass about becoming a proper Luna time seems scarce.It’s for this reason that instead of going to my warrior training, I am covered in fucking flour and eggs at five in the morning trying to understand what a ‘scant’ of something is. And why does a recipe even call for it? I read and reread the damn thing three times before Innes. The head cook chuckles and walks over. “Lana, I can do this for you.” I pout at her and sigh heavily. “I wanted to do this on my own.”She smiles, her soft wrinkles reminding me she has much more experience than I do with anything in this kitchen. She has been here for forty years cooking every single day for the whole of the pack house. I wouldn
*Maddox POV* I jolt upright, my hand on my chest as it heaves up and down violently, trying to find air. Sweat dots my brow and I swipe at it, moving off the hard bed and swinging my legs to the cold ground. It startles me, but I welcome the reminder of being in the present, not lost in my head like I seem to be every night since my exile. I stare down at my leg that still sports a wicked pink scar where the rogues tore into my leg. Nearly three full days of sleep and healing to get my muscles back. More to get to this point. I have regained full mobility thanks to my healing abilities, but the skin repair has been a little lackluster. Lexi has joked that it makes me look tough. Which is hilarious, considering my face does that all on its own. It pissed her off when I told her I didn’t want the herbs for my face. The damage was already done. I can feel the places where the nerves have already died from the wolfsbane and silver they used to ensure I would remain scarred. Why waste th
The closer we get to the border of Lexi’s home pack the more nervous I feel. I can’t help but remind myself repeatedly that this is my only hope. That walking in here, showing myself to Julian and his father as the man bearing the scars for killing their Alpha heir won’t get me killed. All my faith has to be placed in Lexi. And as much as I want to trust her, trust seems in short supply in my life these days.I look over at her and watch as she takes a deep breath and rubs her hands on her jeans. She glances at me, giving me an anxious smile. “We are here.” She says, trying to look like she is excited to be back, but it’s obvious she is less than thrilled.I’d say she is on the verge of turning around and running away. My gut says I should comfort her, tell her I am nervous too and that it will all work out. For her at least, they are family and they love her. Her odds are much better than mine. “Good,” I mutter.She gives me a curious glance, trying to gauge my reaction to being so
*Lana POV*Matthias’ fist catches me in the side as I growl in frustration, trying to swivel from his onslaught of fists. I catch the smirk on his cocky lips and I lunge for him, grabbing hold of his still outstretched arm. I yank him close. Then pull his shoulder to mine, popping my hip out slightly as I bend over at my waist and yank as hard as possible, launching his body over mine. He lands roughly on the dirt ground before rolling out and giving me a huge grin. “Someone is pulling out all the stops today,” He chuckles. “You punched me,” I scowl, and he gives me a fake pout.“Oh, I’m sorry. Did you want me to treat you like a princess? I heard you were training like a good little girl. Didn’t realize you were expecting special treatment here as well.”“Fucker,” I mutter as I circle around him, trying to keep my angry wolf at bay.She is feisty as shit lately, with nothing and no one to calm her. And I am being punished, or so it feels like. I’m not allowed to spare with her for
I stare at Kohen who stands in front of me with his signature charming smile on his lips, holding out a picnic basket. I look at the large woven device that is holding my breakfast captive as my stomach rumbles and then I look back at Kohen, who takes a step around me. He holds it out like it is a carrot and I am the rabbit chasing it. The aromas from within aren’t nearly as intoxicating as the scent of butter rolls and bacon coming from the plates around me but, I have to assume what’s being served in here is also being served in the basket. “A picnic…” I state and he nods, holding the basket up as he continues to walk. I groan in frustration but follow along soon enough. At least no one will witness me eating like a big other than Kohen. I am healing, which means I need more food. Kind of. Okay, I’m just a hungry girl. “But it’s breakfast time,” I protest, finally catching up to him. Kohen sends me a stunning smile and I can’t help but return it. “A picnic isn’t strictly a lu
“Trauma fucks people up, Lana. Don’t try to reason with why he did it or—” “There has to be a mistake Maddox would never…” “I was the one that found the evidence.” He says, standing tall. “Me. I turned him in for it because I couldn’t stomach the thought of him being near you after learning he raped a girl. Took what he wanted with no regard for the consequences. No wonder he was so quiet all the time. If he had opened his mouth more, maybe we would have picked up on his lies.” None of it makes sense. Maddox raped someone? He killed Jaron… but how could that be possible? The night Jaron supposedly died, Maddox was with me looking at constellations in the sky. We fell asleep on my balcony watching the sunrise. “Maddox was with me the night Jaron died” I try to reason and Kohen laughs dryly. “Who says he didn’t do it before? Or when you fell asleep, and he snuck away?” He shakes his leg from my hold, my hands still outstretched as I try to muddle through the memories Maddox could
*Maddox POV*My fur rises on my back as I growl at the rogues before me. Julian is to my right, his father to my left as they filter in. Where they have the luxury of speaking through their mink link to each other, I am left to my own devices. I watch as three large wolves saunter to the front of the group and shift into their human form, standing stark naked in the waning sunlight. Alpha Felipe is the first to shift, Julian following suit. I stay in wolf form until Julian gives me a look. As I shift, someone brings us shorts and we pull them on, watching the rogues who have just arrived with wary eyes.“You do not belong on our lands,” Alpha Felipe says, his voice low and menacing. “And the exile does?” The leader asks, tilting his head.“He has his reasons to be here, reasons that are well within our rights to allow him on our land.” Julian says, stepping up to my side.“So he is here to challenge the new alpha too, then?” He asks. Julian freezes, but keeps his eyes focused on the
I fake a struggle to get him off, allowing him to think he has me. When he loosens his grip, I reach up and grab his jaw with my opposite hand and squeeze until his jaw bones groan and creak, his teeth puncturing my fingers as I glare into his wolf’s eyes. He whimpers, releasing my flesh, but I cling to him, jolting forward as he tries to yank free from my grip. Wolf form is always excellent for fighting, but it’s tiring, exhausting really if you aren’t careful. And just like I had expected, Jariah came in and bite off more than he could chew. Literally. I finally toss him to the side, his wolf stumbling to gain footing before leaping on his hind legs and springing toward me again.I step to the side at the last minute, reaching out and gripping onto the back of his neck as I lift him up with a groan of effort and place my other hand on his fur clad throat. I raise him as high as I can before barreling him back down to the ground, head and back first, the rest of his limp body tumbl