33 - KennedyBeta Josh gives a tight little half smile, mischief dancing in his eyes. “Let’s go then.” He crouches down and I match him, letting my anger at their silent conversation fuel me. They were probably discussing how weak I am and if the Alpha can hold back enough to not hurt me. This is just a game to them and I don’t like being the butt of their stupid ass jokes.Then a growl vibrates the group, Alpha Ryker grunts ‘fine!’ as someone else calls ‘GO!’I have a split second to react. Josh jumps back and Ryler comes at me from behind. I duck to avoid his outstretched arms and get a hit to his upper thigh, that probably felt more like a bee sting than a blow to his gigantic muscle. I am not going to think about those absolutely defined muscles. The hit does change his momentum enough for me to spin out of his way, mostly. He grabs my left arm and I am flipped and land on my back before I can even blink once. The wind is knocked out of me, but not nearly as bad as it shou
34 - KennedyI have to be cool though. I cannot act like the freakish girls that I have seen around Jeremiah, or even Amy last night. These alphas have girls throw themselves at them all the time. Girls that only want a piece of the ‘alpha,’ not the guy who happens to have the title of alpha. He also doesn’t seem super happy about having to deal with the presence of a human. Although, I thought last night might have at least made him more open to me.We had a moment last night and then again on the training grounds. I know he could feel it too, see it in his eyes, even if he won’t admit it, but this little flirtation will end when I go back with Jeremiah, Rayna and the guys in a few days. I may never see him again after this. I just need to relax, he’s just a guy like all the other guys I hang out with daily. Just treat him like one of the guys. A really big, really hot, alpha male kind of guy. Just one of the guys. Just one of the guys. That’s the mantra I have in my head as he
35 - Ryker“Why don’t you just go and talk to her?” My wolf’s question has been the same everyday. Today we are watching Kennedy, Rayna and some of the guys play with the pups. It’s fascinating. It didn’t take much to convince him to stop on our border run.“I can’t trust you to behave yourself, that’s why.”“So you’re just going to hide like a p*ssy and then follow her around like a stalker instead. That makes so much more sense.”“I am not stalking her. I’m trying to understand her. Besides, she hasn’t made any effort to come to me either.”“That’s what you’re going with? Leaving your balcony door open hoping to hear her moaning your name is not an invitation to come talk to you. She’s also human and doesn’t have the same senses that we do. You’re going to have to be in the same room as her for her to talk to you, dumbass.”“I swear to the Goddess if Danny hugs her one more time, I am going to rip his arms off.” They know I am here and he’s doing it to get a reaction. It’s wor
36 - KennedyAs much as I want it, nothing else happens between Alpha Ryker and I again. In fact, I only caught glimpses of him coming and going from the pack house during the week and I didn't see him at all the last two days we had before heading back to Silver Crescent. I know he’s busy running a combined set of packs with probably thousands of pack members, but his room is right next door to mine and I can smell his cologne in the hallway and even on the balcony, so I know he’s still here. He’s just out of reach.Realistically we should have come across each other at least once or twice, but I feel like he’s avoiding me. And then I want to smack myself, because why should I even care? I have never wanted a second round with any of the guys I have been with. I even kept Ben at a distance, even though I’ve been with him a few times. I don’t know why this is different, but it is. As much as he riles me up, something about him settles me, although I’ll never admit that out loud.
37- KennedyAunt Beth had the Luna Ceremony planned in under a month. This woman does not waste time, she wants her son and his Luna settled and ready to bring in the next generation of the pack. AKA she wants grandbabies. I just have to laugh at her while she buzzes around the kitchen while I am doing my homework, or trying really hard to get it done. I could honestly do it in my room, but where would the fun in that be? The nice thing is, I worked really hard so I could start a few college courses during my senior year. So this semester is light with only a half class load, which has come in handy since apparently Jer finding his mate completely upends everyone’s world around here. Jeremiah never returned to school. He has been working full time with Uncle James, while Rayna has been with Aunt Beth planning the Luna Ceremony and getting to know the pack and what her duties are. I know that Aunt Beth volunteers a lot with the pack hospital and the school, but there is so much
38 - RykerAt this point I’m really thinking about taking everyone’s advice and just ripping Claude’s head off. We never caught him on our last visit. Somehow he managed to find out we were coming for him, meaning he has someone in my pack feeding him information. So we had to play it off like we were visiting to reprimand him for his lack of leadership ability and start our investigation over. This time inside our home pack. We were at least able to take care of the pack members that he had been neglecting. Josh and I found a few trusted members who seem to be handling things better than Claude or the people he put into place. At least I can bestow delta class ranks to those who deserve it. They now have authority to help and protect on my behalf and have a direct link to Danny and the rest of my team if needed. I told them to reach out directly to Robin for anything else they needed that Claude wasn’t providing. I’m done trying to be politically correct. I’m going to ice him
39 - RykerI have my fists balled to my sides and I can’t look away, but I am mentally willing him to release her. She just needs to know and understand that she can’t be that close to him, or any guy that looks at her like that, then my wolf will settle and we can go talk to them like a normal person.The exact opposite happens though. Something amusing is said and they all laugh. Ben grips her waist tighter and rubs circles on her hip bone with his thumb… and she leans into him. Oh f*ck no!“Easy, Alpha. Take a breath before you go over and rip his arms off. They don’t know because you are a dumbass and let your mate go.” Danny warns me. He knows me too well for my liking, but it’s for my own good.“F*ck off. You know how I feel about mates.” I growl, but take a deep breath anyway.“And yet, you are about to forcefully claim her in front of all her friends and family. You and your wolf need to figure this out. He doesn’t seem to share your thoughts on mates now that you have f
40 - RykerI grab her arm as she moves away from us. “What are you talking about? What’s wrong with her?” What other weakness could she possibly have? Naturally, when I need answers, my sister ignores me, so the rest of Jeremiah’s team leaves me guessing too. They clearly care more about her feelings than my anger.“You maybe should have talked to her before claiming and embarrassing her in front of her friends and family like an alpha-hole.” Rayna pulls her arm from my grasp and I just stare at her as she goes.What the hell just happened? Josh pats me on the shoulder as Jeremiah reaches out and shakes my hand.“It’ll be okay, just give Rayna a bit to calm Ken down. I guess congrats are in order, and maybe good luck.” He winces. “My mom is going to lose her mind when she finds out.” He chuckles under his breath then follows my sister in the house.“We’ll show you where you and your guys are staying.” Ben walks up to us with the delta, I think his name is Tommy. Ben is smart enough
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, pinning my
5 - Ben“Well, as you know, Mother, I was busy preparing for our guests since I was given so much notice about my involvement with the project.” Oh good, she’s feisty. Just what I need. “Well, now, let’s have dinner and then we can discuss our situation.” Alpha David coughs his laughter. Perfect, he indulges her attitude.The dinner they offered smelled delicious and I wish I could remember what I ate. But Elara had me so distracted, I’m not even sure if I put food in my mouth. Before I know it, our plates are being cleared and the small talk is over.“Well, gentlemen and ladies, let’s retire to my sitting room, and we can discuss why everyone is here.” He stands, and the rest of us follow suit. We walk through yet another set of doors down a long hallway decorated with ornate pillars and very old paintings, like something out of a medieval castle. Once the doors are closed, I can see Alpha David visibly relax. “I’m sorry for all the pomp and circumstance, but I believe we have a tr
4 - BenI’m not exactly sure why it takes weeks to plan a trip to a pack that is right around an hour away. There are so many formalities, my head is spinning. We had to negotiate protection, how we enter the pack, the times we could enter. Then there were the things none of us thought about. Alpha James and my dad had us scouring maps for places that rogues could potentially use to ambush us on our way and where all of the attacks have been reported. I now know almost as much about Black Claw’s borders as our own.The more they explain, the more it makes sense, but it doesn’t make it any less daunting. We are supposed to take all information given to us with a grain of salt. Believe it when we see it, but don’t ignore it either. There haven’t been any new attacks since they found a young warrior displayed at their far west border, but Alpha David is convinced the issue lies with his daughter’s transition to take over the pack, and that this is far from over. He said he would explain
3 - Elara“It’s been weeks since we have had any issues. Why are they coming now?” I growl at my dad, who gives me that look like I am dangerously close to crossing a line. I don’t really care though. I’m three years from my full transition, and my instincts don’t want me to take a backseat to pack endeavors. Having some foreign newbie Alpha coming in like a white knight to save me is the opposite of what I need right now.“He is coming as a part of his training as well as yours, Elara. You need to learn to work with neighboring alphas. And, just because we haven’t had any more issues directly doesn’t mean the fighting has stopped. You know that as well as I do. I believe Austin was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but until we get to the bottom of the fighting, we cannot rest. You know this. Don’t be difficult, my little warrior.” He pats my shoulder patronizingly with a wink. He knows I hate that sh*t.“Ugh. Fine. You’re right, I know you’re right.” I rub my forehead. He’s never
2-BenIt’s been months since we have heard from Kennedy. She’s only called a handful of times since she’s been gone, but it’s been too long. I can feel something is wrong. The gaping hole in my chest has felt heavy for weeks now, but with the winter weather settling in, the feeling is becoming suffocating. Something is so off that I can feel it viscerally.WHAM!“F*ck, man! Are you good?” I hear Jason’s question tinted with amusement. “You do know you’re supposed to defend yourself, right?”“F*ck off.” I jump to my feet and reset, ready to beat his ass this time.“Let. Her. Go!” He grunts, accenting each word with a strike I have to dodge. “You can’t have her. She isn’t yours anymore.” That had me seeing red. I felt the surge of hatred and adrenaline mix in my veins and I go on the offensive. Punch after punch. Kick after kick, sending out all the feelings of dread at Kennedy’s loss. “That’a boy! There’s our Beta. I knew you were still in there somewhere.” I know what he’s saying is t
1 - BenShe’s gone. Just like that Kennedy was snatched up by some Alpha assh*le who doesn’t even care about her. He admitted to not wanting a mate and I know Kennedy wanted out of the pack. She wanted to leave and live her own life, coming back only when she chose it, not before. We all expected her to come back, that was the plan. But I had to watch her get into someone else’s SUV and drive away.I can feel Jeremiah’s stare on the side of my face, but I can’t deal with him right now. I don’t want anyone to try and console me. I know she isn’t my mate, but that didn’t stop me from hoping she could be one day. She’s the only girl in our pack that has ever interested me. We never dated because of Jer’s hands off rule. Of course, Tommy, Jason and I side-stepped the rule a bit. If Jer has any idea, he’s never said a thing.I didn’t notice I walked away until I came to the doors of the gym. We all spent a ton of time here together. Especially after she was taken. The four of us when crazy
I am jumping back into Silver Crescent Pack to explore what is happening in Ben's world after Kennedy leaves with Ryker. This story will be more drawn out as I work through this and two other works. You can expect updates on the weekends. If I can throw in a bonus chapter in the middle of the week, you know I will!Here's their synopsis:Ben thought he’d already lost his chance. Watching Kennedy walk away—into another pack, into another male’s arms, by force—nearly broke him. She didn’t choose him. She chose freedom. And though it gutted him to admit it, Ben knew why. She never wanted to be tied down. Not to him. Not to anyone. She was hurt that everyone she trusted let her go. No one tried to stop Ryker from taking her. She was his mate, his property to take. Ben's heart was torn between a woman he had loved from a distance for as long as he could remember, and his responsibility to his Alpha and his pack.So, he buried the ache under duty.Now, as Beta of the Silver Cresceant Pack,
41 - FinnI’m trying to figure out why both the Luna and Alpha are being so cryptic about this. I mean, at least Kennedy told me she wants to give us a house, which is insane, but still something to work with. If I wasn’t being weighed down I would be tossing and turning trying to figure out what they are up to. But as it is, I am warm and comfortable and for the first time in a long time, I feel like I am right where I am meant to be.I doze listening to the soft snores of both girls in my arms.“FIIIIINNNNN!!!!” I launch off the couch and over the back ready for a fight after Trinity’s yell. Eyes wide scanning for what made her call for me like that only to be met with laughter. “It worked, Bennet!” She squeals happily.“Someone is wound awfully tight after sleeping so long.” I continue to scan, ignoring him, blinking to get the dryness out of my eyes, asshole.I see Bennet and Trinity sitting at the island next to Gabriel and Peyton. “Where’s Landon? And what were you screaming
40 - FinnSeveral happy hours later we head back into check on the kids and attempt to find a place to sleep. Unfortunately for Bennet, the couch in the living room is it. He can’t be mad at us though, this packhouse was not designed like Ryker’s in Dark Moon, a mansion that holds a hundred people. I actually really enjoy it here. Every space is used, nothing wasted or unnecessary. I fall asleep with Greta tucked in between me and the back of the couch thinking about all of her concerns with the kids. Hell, they’re my concerns too. The bonds we have with all the kids, but Trinity specifically, are unlike anything I have experienced before. Even as a pup when Nan took me in, I never felt the pull to her like I feel to that little girl. I drift off thinking about what I want next in this life, now that I have finally achieved the only thing I ever wanted…a home.My dreams are lucid. Greta and I walking hand in hand, Trinity running around our legs in a field. They are both laughing and