Luca grasped Alissa’s hand tightly as Rufus lead them through the council building to the sitting room beside the meeting room where the Alphas were filing into. “I’ll be right with you,” Rufus directed to the Alphas before following Luca and Alissa in.
“Do you have any idea what’s going on?” Luca asked.
“I don’t, in truth. I wish to listen to them all regarding their concerns but… please, tell me what happened. I’ve heard Alissa’s perspective, I need yours.”
Luca nodded, sitting the the cream sofa, tugging Alissa with him, not wanting to let her go. “From the beginning?” he asked to clarify.
Rufus nodded, “Please.”
Alissa couldn’t help flicking her glance to Luca every now and then, it may have been a few days but she still felt he was going to disappear within a moments notice. He caught her eye and opened his arms, dragging her into his body as soon as she was in arms reach. “It’s all going to be alright,” he whispered.She sunk into him, everything felt so right, his arms, his heat, the pressure of him against her body. It was what she needed.“Be better when we’re back home too,” he reassured.Alissa nodded against him, nuzzling slightly. “I miss home,” she whispered.He rocked her gently, squeezing her against him. “Me too, I wish the investigation hadn’t taken so long but at least it’s a
Alissa nursed her baby, she cooed down to him, his perfect tiny fingers gripped at her finger while he suckled. “Aunty, where's daddy?” Peta entered the room and sat at Alissa's feet.“He's keeping you safe little one, he loves you so much, come here.” She shifted her baby so Peta could climb on her lap.He peered up to her questioning, “I want daddy.” Tears welled in his emerald eyes.Alissa curled his chin length hair around her fingers. “I know, darling, he has to do his job though, but he has to keep us safe doesn't he? Or he wouldn't be a good wolf.” A large tear fell from Peta's eye. The little one had been very clingy recently.Maybe it was the birth of her and Luca’s little bundle of jo
Alissa stretched out her toes, feeling the soft grass under her feet, she sighed; content. She wondered if the day was going to be the day. Her brothers had told her to expect burning first. She knew it would hurt, your first time always hurts. Alissa should have been studying about the wolf council but her mum had given her the afternoon off to enjoy the sunshine; her parents were enjoying themselves too. The sun always brought out a different side of them, they were play fighting in the kitchen; giggling like pups. She drowned out their voices focusing on the trees and the birds, the world at peace.The hairs on the back of her neck prickled. She opened her eyes scanning the tree line, she couldn't hear anything, but something didn't feel right. She scanned harder; nothing. Her mind had to be playing tricks on her. She relaxed her shoulders, feeling the sun on her face. She thought of the pack, she looked forward to joining them. Being the youngest, she would be the last of the fami
Three Years Later The mattress groaned under her as she stretched, she didn’t need the alarm; the discomfort roused her from her dreams. Well, they were nightmares, they were always nightmares. Unfortunately for Alissa, when her eyes were open, the nightmare continued. She checked the face of the alarm clock and groaned again. Why did the spring in the mattress poke her in the back at five am? She turned over, maybe an hour extra sleep would help her back and her mood. Her fathers’ voice drove through her mind ‘We must be strong, my Inlustris, our strength comes from our pack never forget that, dear one.’ Tears pricked at her eyes, it was the words he always left with before going for his duties or leaving their packland. He was loyal, the epitome of strength in Alissa’s eyes. He was protective, the care he held within his emerald eyes was felt by everyone he knew. If Alissa had inherited any of it she’d never know, her loyalty lay with no one, she had little energy to care for tho
He yanked her through a door into his office, the wooden cladded walls held a single painting of woodland over the fireplace. Wolf heads guarded the door facing the large oak desk which lay central. Alpha Cain let go of her, leaving her standing behind the chairs used to hold audiences. Alissa had never sat in the chairs even as a pup she’d never needed to see Alpha Cain in a formal sense. She remained stock still as he sat behind the lavish desk. He swept his mocha hair streaked with grey from his face before stating, “My son is arriving during full moon. You will ensure the house is pristine for the ceremony and him, other packs will be arriving throughout the day. As my last day of Alpha, it would be unfortunate for you to embarrass me.” Alissa’s eyes drew upwards from the floor. He was leaving? Hope warmed her, if only a little. “I have told my son all about you, don’t get any ideas. He has agreed your status will remain. A parent murderer; a beta murderer has no claim to the Wuf
Alissa stepped barefoot onto the soft luscious grass, she had a few chores outside which she was a little glad for, it wasn’t often she was allowed out of the pack house. So when she was, she relished in the feel of the cool sun on her face as the case was that day. She strode further from the place she had had to live since the day that changed her life forever. Her eyes cast over the ivy growing over the grey stone that extended up, ending in the moss covered roof. She peered up to the two towers that flanked either side of the impressively sized structure. She squinted at the towers, she could never remember which was her haven away from the others. The sound of metal on stone brought her back to the present. Curious, she followed the noise to Dotty's cottage - which happened to be her destination anyway. Following the wooden panelling around her small home to her vegetable garden. Alissa could see Dotty hunched over her cabbages, digging. She heard the trowel hit another stone –
Luca's bedroom stood opposite the bannister. Alissa gulped as she turned the brass doorknob, the feeling she was breaking rules twisted her insides. A thick layer of dust encased the room, no-one had entered this room in close to a decade. She opened the windows and took the dusty sheets from the mahogany furniture. She dusted the two paintings, one of a river and the other a woodland. She wondered about the man Luca was, she was ten when he had left. She barely remembered him. Alissa looked at the gleaming walnut floor of the entrance hall leading into the sitting room, she sat on the floor exhausted. She had managed to get the mansion spotless and it wasn't even dinner time yet, she wiped her forehead. Footsteps echoed on the stairs behind her. She stood up quickly trying to grab at the cleaning supplies but a hand caught her wrist, “Think we've finished have we?” Michael's low voice came from behind her. “Michael, please,” she whimpered, “I've been working all day and need to sta
All day, wolves Alissa had never met arrived within the packhouse to congratulate Alpha Cain for raising his son to take over so soon. She was by far not included in this, she was getting ready in her room far from the jubilations. As far as she was aware Luca was yet to arrive gauging from the conversation Natalie and Kristen were having below. Alissa sat on the rough bare wooden floorboards, the girly giggles rising from Natalie’s room. Alissa often felt lonely, it had become something she almost didn’t mind, however listening to someone who used to be her friend, giggling like they used to but with another sent a pang of jealousy rumbling through her. “Is he hot?” Natalie’s slightly whiny voice irritated Alissa further, of course a new male was going to be on the scene so that would be the first thing out of Natalie’s mouth. “Ew, Nat he’s my brother. Besides I’ve not seen him since forever.” “What kind of future alpha never visits his home pack?” “My brother!”“He didn’t visit o