Hey all!!
Sorry for the disjointed updates. As a teacher, we just wrapped our end of year, and the last month of school is insane.
As I jumped back into Ben and Elara's story, I realized some timeline crossover and some continuity errors on my part as far as all of the connected stories are concerned.
I have spent the last three days reviewing Ryker and Kennedy's story and timeline, as well as Finn and Greta's story and timeline, to make it all make sense. As I get into the heart of Ben and Elara's story and plan for the rest of our friends at Crescent Moon, Dark Moon, and Black Claw, I wanted to make sure all of the details line up.
I have never written a female Alpha before and Elara has been so much fun, but also challenging to develop. My worlds run on a specific hierarchy, but gender norms have always been blurred. Ideas of love and relationships and what each one looks like. I love the concept of a female ruling naturally, because it is her birthright, not something she has to do to save anyone. But what that looks like to 'traditionalists' and more forward thinkers and how it affects the roles and ranks that each character has, with the specific instincts that go with those roles and ranks has been a fun process.
Thank you so much for sticking around on this crazy journey with me. New chapters will be up soon!
Hey all!!Sorry for the disjointed updates. As a teacher, we just wrapped our end of year, and the last month of school is insane. As I jumped back into Ben and Elara's story, I realized some timeline crossover and some continuity errors on my part as far as all of the connected stories are concerned. I have spent the last three days reviewing Ryker and Kennedy's story and timeline, as well as Finn and Greta's story and timeline, to make it all make sense. As I get into the heart of Ben and Elara's story and plan for the rest of our friends at Crescent Moon, Dark Moon, and Black Claw, I wanted to make sure all of the details line up.I have never written a female Alpha before and Elara has been so much fun, but also challenging to develop. My worlds run on a specific hierarchy, but gender norms have always been blurred. Ideas of love and relationships and what each one looks like. I love the concept of a female ruling naturally, because it is her birthright, not something she has t
10 - BenI can’t get past the need to protect her. We’ve been here a day and my Beta instincts are in full force. My wolf and I know Jeremiah is safe. We know that Jason and Tommy will take care of him and Rayna if things go sideways. Based on the looks we got at the training grounds today and the display in her office, no one but her parents, Jax and Dev will help her here. They all have an agenda and it pisses me off.“Beta instincts my ass.”“Shut up. The only good I am to her right now is as a Beta. She doesn’t want a mate any more than I do. The Goddess got it wrong this time.”“Keep telling yourself that.”Jax and Dev lead the way down, yet another, long hallway. Elara doesn’t stop them as they enter the room at the end. I pause in the doorway, this is their space and I won’t invade it with my scent. It is very personalized, but not in a way I would expect from warriors. From my view it looks to be an apartment with a sitting and eating area, a hallway probably leading to a bedro
9 - ElaraHis wolf. I never even considered his wolf giving him a hard time. My wolf wants him too, but she isn’t fighting me on being in his presence at all times. She wants what I want, and that is to get through my transition to the Alpha position without putting my pack in danger. “Fine,” I grumble out, “My office isn’t cluttered like my father’s so there aren’t a ton of places to hide things.”He doesn’t smile, just nods and motions for me to lead the way. He still walks entirely too close to me, but saying anything means that he is affecting me and I won’t give him the satisfaction. My office is next to my father’s. I don’t think I will ever take over his space, even after I take over the pack. That will always be his space. Ben gets right to work and as promised, he says nothing to me. I start at my desk while he looks through the shelves. I use the distance to watch him. He is meticulous in his searching, opening every book, picking up every knick knack my mother thought I need
8 - ElaraThe look on Ben’s face says a thousand words. Most of them are curse words directed at my warrior, and frankly, in this moment, I agree. I don’t want a mate until after I have taken over as the Alpha of this pack. I won’t be pushed aside by some guy who thinks his dick makes him better than me. The way he followed me around today, like I couldn’t look after myself, has had my temper sitting at a low simmer. I also have many males in our pack to convince that I am capable of leading, even though I am a woman. With a mate at my side, that is going to be hard to prove. I don’t want to rise to Dev’s challenge, but at the same time, it might be beneficial to put this little Beta in his place while adding another notch to the ‘I’m made for this job’ tallies.“What do you say, Beta? Up for the challenge?” I smile at his deadpan look. He’s fun to tease, at least. I turn and walk to one of the sparring rings marked in the grass without looking to see if he’s following. He’ll follow;
7 - BenSomeone is going to die today. That mantra is on repeat in my head as I follow Elara and her team while my friends continue to chatter over the mindlink about her being my mate. My wolf has no issues staking his claim, and I know I will have some explaining to do when we get back, but I don’t care. I am focused and calm, being this close to her and with our body firmly planted between her and her warriors. I will deny it if anyone asks, though. I don’t want a mate, and she doesn’t like me.It takes about half an hour to get to the attack site. I can still smell the pungent aroma that rogues give off drifting in the air. Something about not being with a pack alters their personal scent to have an undertone of rot or decay. Wolves aren’t meant to live alone; they can go feral to the point that we can’t return to our human form after a while. I wonder if these are lone wolves passing by who need to be put out of their misery, or if it is a group traveling together.Elara, Jeremia
6 - Elara “I’m going to need you to clarify.” The smartass smirks at me. Chocolate brown eyes boring into mine. “I thought our intention was established before we got here.” He’s not fighting my hold, and I don’t understand. If I were threatened, I would have has his ass submitted before he could speak. “Did you really think you were just going to walk in and take over my pack?” I press harder on his windpipe. “Nope.” He coughs. “I came because my alpha required me to. He is here to help you figure out who is trying to attack you and why, that’s all. I’m a Beta, not an Alpha. I don’t want your job or your title. I’ve got my own, thanks. You wanna let me go now, or are we gonna fight and get this out of our system?” I really, really want to punch him in his perfect teeth, but I can’t bring myself to do it. “Just stay out of my way while I put these rogues in their place. I appreciate your Alpha’s help, but I’m not a charity case or a lesson to be learned.” He surges forward, pinni