Oliver's P.O.V. It took a while for Kaylee to get the pack house squared away. While she was getting our visitors set up in rooms, I was watching Lana move around the kitchen like a pro, trying to make food for everyone. Several kids had exclaimed how hungry they were, and Lana wanted to help. Knowing the war was so close, I think she wanted to stay busy. If helping with the kids was where she felt comfortable, I fully supported her. They were without their parents and needed someone loving and kind. Maddie sat on the bar stool next to me at the kitchen island. She seemed wary of the little boy who insisted he had to sit on the other chair to her left, but she let him. I didn't like it. I wanted her to have friends, but something about the way this kid looked at her with wonder made me uneasy. He was so curious about her, fascinated almost. The sound of footsteps heading down the stairs made me turn, but the smell of our Alpha and Olivia reached me before they came around the corn
Lana's P.O.V. I was still uncomfortable around Luna Olivia, not because of how intimidatingly beautiful she was, but by her position. Kaylee was a Luna as well, my Luna. But she was also family. I didn't feel as worried about offending her. Olivia, I didn't know. I knew next to nothing about her or how she reacted to things. "I heard about you," She said as she stood, grabbing the dirty dishes near her. The pile in my arms was at capacity, but I froze as I looked up at her. "That sounded odd. I just meant that I know some of your story. Kaylee told me that you guys came here to get away from the rogues and ended up trapped here by them anyway. I'm sorry you had to deal with that." She had a natural wideness to her eyes. They were large and innocent, but it was clear in the way she carried herself that she had seen darkness in her life. It was something I recognized as I had been there myself. "It sounds like we are both in that situation. You came here for safety as well. Have the
Lana's P.O.V.Fucking Nyla.I was so sick of that psychotic, literal bitch!It wasn't even just her as a person that drove me insane. It was the way she got in between me and Oliver. Once again, she was a point of contention in my relationship.There had to be a reason why he didn't tell me about her. Clearly, her being missing was a big enough concern that someone had contacted him about it. Either they were warning him that her deranged ass was on her way, or they thought that he might already know where she is. The second option was very concerning to me as I had no idea whether or not he knew her whereabouts.I wanted to say no. Why would he keep tabs on her after everything she put us through? I also had no reason to believe that he would be in contact with her. If he was, he wouldn't have given me his phone to call my parents and then walked away. He would have hovered over me to make sure I wasn't snooping...unless he didn't
Oliver's P.O.V. My head pulsed as I felt someone pushing against the wall I had put up. But the silence on the other end of the call I was on had all of my attention. I sat on the end of the unused bed eagerly while I waited for a response. If it was the Alpha, I would have still heard him, so whoever it was could talk to me later. This was more important. This was potentially life-saving. They let out a long sigh as they considered my words. The strong female voice on the other end came through the speaker clearly, and I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. "We've been hearing some stories about what's going on over there, but I can't just decide to send my people across the country. I can talk to Miles about it, but I can't guarantee anything. This is really not our fight." My jaw tensed as I leaned back with my head tilted up to the ceiling in frustration. "But it will be, Scarlett! I appreciate you talking to your mate about it, but please know that they are clearing
Lana's P.O.V. Aspen grunted as she hit the ground again. My anger was driving my movements as I pushed myself harder than ever before in my training. I had come a long way, and the insecurities fueling my fire were helping tremendously. "I'm not sure if I should be worried that you are mad at me, or proud of you," Aspen grumbled as she pulled herself to her feet. "Again." I braced myself as she moved in front of me and shook her arms out, loosening herself up for her next attack on me. Only, I hadn't been letting her get that far. I was watching her muscles closely as she prepared herself, and as soon as she moved, I countered her attack and took her to the ground as quickly as possible. The smell of Oliver wafted toward us on the breeze, and I looked over just in time to see my mate moving between the houses with Parker, Adeline, Kaylee, and several other warriors. "I know you're frustrated, Parker, but at least he lasted longer than the others. We got everything we could from hi
Oliver's P.O.V Lana was on cloud nine for the rest of the day until we went to sleep. Once the lights went out, the cold reality that we had only one full day left before the rogues would attack sobered her up quickly. We ended up laying under the blankets, wrapped in each other arms in silence as we pondered what the future held for us. Whether we had help or not, they were still going to kill some of our people, and they still wanted my head. I was waiting on a few other packs to reach back out to me, but this late in the game, I wasn't sure that they would make it on time if they did decide to join the fight. Having one pack confirming they were on their way was a very useful bargaining chip when I spoke with the others. It may have been peer pressure, but it was making them reconsider. First thing in the morning, after eating breakfast with Lana and Maddie, I asked Parker if we could meet. He needed to know that we would not be alone, but I also wanted to make sure that he kne
Lana's P.O.V. Aspen tensed as I wrapped my arms around her, trying not to be emotional as I held her tightly. I hadn't known her for long, but she was one of my only true friends here, and she was about to go to the front line. "Don't make this a thing. You're being weird." She muttered, but I smiled when she returned the gesture with a loose wrap of her arms around me. When I pulled away, I discretely wiped the tear from my cheek before looking back up at her. I wasn't ready for them to leave. As soon as they did, the war would start, and I didn't know when or if I would see them again. "I expect you to kick some ass," Aspen said sternly as she stared at me. "I worked hard to train you. Don't make me look bad." I choked out a laugh as I nodded. The look in her eye told me that that was her way of saying goodbye as well, and I accepted it with a smile. "You got it. I'll make you proud." The goal was not to let the rogu
Oliver's P.O.V. I waited until I heard the collection of locks slide into place before I forced my eyes away from the barrier between me and my family. The trees and houses around me were mostly abandoned, leaving only the assigned guards around the outside of the pack house and the handful of guards inside the house with the children as the last line of defense. The rest of the pack were either in the forest waiting at our second and third line or were already in battle at the border. I could hear yips and yowls of pain even though they were around two miles away. The sound of my brothers and sisters being injured made my hackles rise as soon as I transformed into my fur. The dirt shifted slightly under each paw as I walked further from the house. It took everything in me not to turn back and look for Lana in the windows. I could feel her eyes on my back as I took my place and held my stance, waiting for someone to be fast enough to make it past our other wolves, but stupid enough