~Wren~ “Leo!” I yell out with a big grin on my face. The little boy turns his head to see me and stands, hobbling his little legs toward me with a glorious smile on his face. I jog over to meet him halfway. Poor kid just had the run of his life a couple of hours ago. I try to hide my laugh when I see the chocolate smeared all around his thin lips, giving him the cutest food mustache. “Wren,” He breathes as he slams into my legs, “I see you are eating something sweet?” “How did you know?” His eyes go wide as he looks up at me, his arms still firmly around my thighs, not wanting to let me go. “Hmm, maybe it’s a Luna trick?” I didn’t think his eyes could grow wider than they were, but they do, and I can’t control my laughter anymore. “I’m joking, Leo” His face twists in confusion. “So you aren’t really a luna?” “That part wasn’t a joke. I am the Luna of this pack now.” I move to squat down in front of him and he releases my legs. My hand and arm rest on either side of his wa

~Sebastian~I stand from my desk, checking the clock and groaning when I realize it's two in the morning. It’s been a week since Nickolai left and today is Wren’s fathers memorial. She has done a great job of avoiding the thought by occupying her time with planning and Leo. Today could go one of many ways and I’m going to need as much sleep as I can muster if I have to hold her while she cries. It’s my least favorite feeling in the world, knowing I can’t do anything to ease her pain. But at least this is a pain I can try to comfort. The very thought of her curling into my body as I settle in the bed spurs me to move faster as I hustle out of my office. I make my way up the stairs leading to our room and push the door open, Inhaling deeply. I used to foolishly think the best smell in the world was Wren’s. Now I know it’s our combined scent. The perfect balance of the two of us that is both calming and inviting. I close the door gently behind me, grimacing as the door latches. I move

“Things have been tense for the past few weeks. Your lives have been turned upside down, you have a new Alpha and Luna and we are in a war to defend what we know is right. But today isn’t about any of that. Today, we are all the same. We are a pack mourning our losses and the people we loved.” He looks down at me and I know he wants me to take over. “For as long as I can remember, life in this pack was full of tension and fear. It always felt like we were living half a life. The men and women on this memorial fought and died for what they believed in. They fought for their loved ones and for you and me. I’m not sure how many of you remember my dad, who he was, and what happened to him after they took my mother from his side, from me.” My eyes look over at my mother, who is watching me closely. “He died saving me,” I say, taking a deep breath. “Like so many others, he was sick most of my life. Constantly trying to be the only parent and provider while being denied the ability to work

The musty, cool air of the dungeons clings to me as we come up to the prisoners we captured weeks ago. Half the men are anxiously waiting at the bars while the rest lean on the walls or stare out the bar window. Most of the men are on the younger side, a few even looking closer to Nickolai’s young age of eighteen. When they notice me coming in with Tank, they all straighten up and glance at each other nervously. These ten men are not the only prisoners we collected that night. In fact, they are only a small portion of the number of warriors we were able to round up. I don’t think killing the others would be wise, but letting them go is not an option, so instead, we house them here providing the essentials to survive without having an entertaining life. “Alpha,” they greet me in unison, as though they have been rehearsing for days. I shoot a look at Tank, who is trying not to laugh. “I hear you all wished to speak with me. Spit it out so I can move along to other important matters.”

“Leo,” I breathe. “Where are–”“Addy and Grandma are safe. I can’t leave you, I’m sorry. Don’t be mad, but I can’t let anyone hurt you, Mom.” I’m sobbing as I want to reach out and try to grab and shelter my poor sweet boy who has grown into such a sweet little man. At freshly twelve he has been training for the past two years so he can be strong enough to protect himself. We should have known he was doing it to protect us. One day, he will make the best alpha of this pack.A lanky man steps into the doorway and Leo shifts his weight to his back foot, preparing for battle. My heart is in my throat as I watch the man lunge with a growl toward my son. I fell off the bed, trying to protect him. Leo is so graceful in his movements as he glides out of the way and drags a dagger along the man’s back. As long as the man doesn’t shift into a wolf, Leo might be able to hold his own. His cut isn’t deep, but it’s a strike that makes the man bleed. He growls in annoyance and then chuckles as he