Before I could even begin to protest, Ceridwen had launched herself - myself - at the first of them, sharp teeth clamping around his throat and tearing free, before turning to the others, who were somehow already on the ground. A huge black Lycan stood over one, and a dark brown one over the other, both of them staring at me with shining golden eyes. The black one shifted back to his human form, a naked and furious looking Saxon, and immediately stepped closer to me. I backed away, and he stopped, sighing as he picked up the man's dropped phone, and crushed it in his fist. Haden was beside me a moment later, speaking soothing words, but they barely managed to scratch the surface of the shock I currently felt. Ceridwen shifted back, and I seemed to regain control of my - our? - body in the process, though that only meant that I fell to my knees, sickened by the whole situation. "I.. I didn't mean to.." I stammered breathlessly, "My wolf.. she.." words failed me, and I shook my head,
We arrived back at the pack house a short while later, and unlike last time, Haden didn't stop at the front, but drove around and into a rear garage himself. "Most have no idea you left, and we'd like to keep it that way," Saxon said quietly, as they ushered me up a set of stairs that was much smaller than the ones I was familiar with. I nodded silently, walking with them to their floor, with Haden behind me, and Saxon in front. They led me straight to Saxon's suite, where he dropped my bag by the wardrobe, as Haden closed and locked the door behind us. I tensed, immediately feeling a little trapped, and excused myself to the bathroom, taking a long moment to compose myself before I stepped out again, to face them. Saxon immediately stepped closer, cupping my face with his hands as he looked down at me with an intense look in his eyes. After a moment, he suddenly picked me up, carrying me over to the bed, where he sat and lifted me onto his lap, wrapping a hand in my hair and pushi
When I awoke the following morning, it was to the sight of Haden lying beside me, his eyes studying my face with a look of concern. As he saw me open my own, he reached up to cup my face, stroking my cheek with his thumb as he placed a soft kiss on my forehead. "Morning sweetheart," he said softly, and I gave him a small smile, covering his hand with my own, before sitting up and looking around the room. "Saxon left early, to meet with the Elders," he said, with a touch of apprehension in his voice, that made me turn back to him with widened eyes. "The Elders?" I repeated, suddenly feeling that same apprehension, "He's not going to tell them?!" I asked, getting up from the bed and beginning to feel panicked. He stood up behind me, and wrapped his arms tightly around me, "Calm," he said softly, in that so soothing voice, and my heart began pounding a little less. He nuzzled his face into the curve of my neck, breathing me in deeply before he spoke again. "We can trust the Elders," h
I hovered in the doorway, looking between the three of them uncertainly, and Susanna turned towards me, looking me over and raising an eyebrow. "And we have a third?" she said, seeming somewhat surprised as she turned back to Saxon, "How exactly does that add up?" Saxon sighed heavily, motioning for me to join them and waiting until I sat down between him and Haden, before answering his mother. "She's mine too," he said, taking my hand in his and pulling it into his lap. "Ours," he added with a glance at Haden, who took my other hand, doing the same, as he looked up at Susanna and nodded. Her eyebrow climbed higher, her level of surprise showing more expression than I'd ever seen on her usually cool, stoic face. "Both of yours?" she asked sceptically, seeming unsure what she thought of it just yet, and they both nodded. "So, your concerns about our bloodline.." Saxon began, but Susanna held up a hand, and he stopped, staring at her silently while she looked deep in thought. "She's
Breakfast was an odd mix of both pleasant and awkward, with both of them seeming happy to have me back, but wary of touching any sort of sensitive subject. By the end, I placed my fork down, and sighed deeply. "We can't avoid talking about it forever," I said quietly, breaking a long moment of silence, "We might as well get it over with." They exchanged a surprised, but relieved looking glance, before Haden reached over to take my hand, as he spoke. "We just need to know you're not going to run again, if things get hard," he said gently, and I nodded, feeling Saxon's eyes on me. He was hurt, I could tell, and I couldn't blame him. "I.. can't promise that," I said after a long moment, wincing inwardly at their hurt and frustrated expressions. "If it comes down to.. well, the worst.. I'll do whatever it takes, to protect you, and to protect myself," I explained quickly, and Haden sighed deeply but nodded. He opened his mouth to speak, but Saxon shook his head, his expression looking
Cyrus's words immediately caused a pit of nervousness to begin forming inside me, but I nodded hesitantly, giving him a polite smile. Haden squeezed my hand gently, no doubt sensing my tension, and moved his hand to my back, caressing it slowly as he tried to calm me. Cyrus gestured to an old, ornate looking table, ringed by matching chairs, and the three of us sat, silently, waiting as he joined us, looking thoughtful. "I'm aware that you seek our support, in welcoming a Royal into our pack," he began after a long moment, seeming to choose his words with care. "As our Luna, no less," he added, his slightly disapproving tone only adding to my nerves, "but.. there are other things of importance that need to be addressed, that you may not yet be aware of."Saxon and Haden exchanged a worried looking glance, seeming caught off guard by his comments. "What exactly am I not aware of?" Saxon asked, "And why was I not informed, if it is of such importance?" His tone clearly conveyed his ir
Haden gave a short nod, taking my hand and leading me towards the stairs, though his eyes followed Saxon and Byron as they walked away. He looked worried. "You're expecting trouble from them?" I asked quietly, "After everything with Abigail?" Haden nodded solemnly, confirming it. "Yeah," he said, keeping his voice equally low, "And after what we've just learned, we need to be even more on our guard. If Cyrus' sources are right.." He trailed off, his mood suddenly seeming dark, though I couldn't blame him. Even I couldn't have guessed how far outside Lycan laws Yannick would tread, just to get what he wanted. What was it that he had wanted though, I had to wonder. What did Nightfall have that was so enticing? I had no answers, especially given that I'd only heard their name spoken a few times, and little more than that. "Are Nightfall large enough to be a threat to you?" I asked, and Haden sighed heavily, nodding. "They're large enough," he said quietly, "And formidable fighters. E
Saxon watched them all leave, his expression looking dark troubled. "Letting that pack in was almost certainly the worst decision I've ever made," he muttered darkly, as he sighed, turning towards his rooms. I couldn't help but feel a little hurt by his comment, knowing if he hadn't, I'd never have met him and Haden. Haden, perceptive as ever, gave me a gentle squeeze before grinning up at Saxon. "I don't know.." he teased playfully, making Saxon raise an eyebrow, "It came with at least one pretty great perk," he continued, his humour finally breaking through Saxon's serious expression. Saxon smiled, nodding as he turned to face me, lifting a hand to touch my cheek with enough tenderness to make me blush. "You're right," he said softly, as his eyes met my own, "That's something I wouldn't change for the world." I tried to look away, feeling the heat building in my cheeks, and elsewhere, too, but he tangled a hand in the back of my hair, tilting my face up towards his. His own lowe