“So!” Blu had said hours before, and in a voice louder than she probably needed to speak, “when are we to expect the soft patter of little pups, Luna Gwen?”That question had my face burning for what seemed like forever, but finally, I had settled down enough to get over the horror of her asking such a thing in front of half the pack. I tried to not let it bother me, but I couldn’t help but flee in embarrassment after everyone stared at me expectantly.I sat in the bedroom, face planted firmly in my hands while trying to hide how awkward I now felt. I didn’t plan on fleeing the scene, but I just couldn’t handle the expectations of being a mother so soon. There was no way on Earth that I was ready for that! I had only just now accepted Jay as my mate and husband, and the feelings for him were growing still.

The cool water against my skin was soothing beyond belief. I could see small fish swimming away from the shallows as I stepped in and sat down. Darnell went to scout the nearby area, allowing me and Jay to have time alone, but keeping close by so that he could make sure we remained alone and didn’t need to be prepared for a sneak attack. With this assurance, we could relax while not near the rest of the pack. Jay and I made use of the cool water’s edge.“This feels so good,” I mumble to myself, allowing myself to slip deeper into the cool waters. Jay slipped in beside me, murmuring his agreement. I glanced at him. His toned body glistened from the sun as the rays hit the water drops. I could feel my face growing warm, but I didn’t shy away from my husband this time.Leaning in with that stupid smirk on his face, Jay whispered, &ldq

A long staring match was fought between me and the Beta in front of me. He hadn’t answered my questions, but he hadn’t attacked yet either. I couldn’t figure out why. I supposed my command had no sway over him as we were from different packs, but there was no reason he would need to wait before striking at his enemy.“Well, if all you’re doing is trespassing, I’m calling my mate,” I hissed at the man, then opened the mindlink to Jay. Lumi was cowering in my mind, but I had to hold it together. Perhaps if I distracted him long enough, the rest of the pack would get here before he tried anything.“Patrick,” the man finally offered me a name. I could only assume it was his. He lowered his head, at first in a way that almost seemed respectful. Then I heard the low growl of his voice. “I heard word that a h

Suddenly finding the silence in my head deafening, I tried reaching out to Jay once more. However, like Lumi, there was no response. The silver cut me off from everything that made me a werewolf. Looking frantically towards Jay’s lands, I hoped, prayed, to whatever listened that he would come and save me.There was no salvation for my predicament. Patrick, now once more human, heaved me up over his shoulder. He muttered something under his breath before carrying me further into enemy territory. Some of the pack remained. I could only assume they were to act as a deterrent to Jay and anyone else that came to save me.Even without Lumi, I refused to give up. I hit Patrick’s back with my fists, in the vain hope, it would actually do anything to stop him. “Let me go!” I demanded, but he ignored my efforts. “I said let me go, you big je

It must have been a good hour or two before there was any sign of Alpha Shaun. Luna Vanessa stayed with me during the wait, monitoring me and entertaining me with stories of her children’s wild adventures. I had been right about there being a river nearby, as she commented on how the boys in her family had all gone down the cliff and further upstream, where the current wasn’t as strong. There they would spend all day playing and fishing in the waters until it was time to come home. Each time more filthy than the last.I was glad of the distraction. The marks on my ankles from where the silver had touched the skin was bothering me. Now that I was no longer numb, I could once more feel the tingling sensation. I kept that to myself, as the marks would take time to heal. Ben had kept Lumi’s presence quiet as he had said he would, and I had no intention of letting this pack know either.