Boreal Warden Novels & Stories

Cold air pours in, carrying pine resin and gun oil and, underneath, something warmer that might be bread from a kitchen somewhere behind the stone walls. "State your business." The guard's voice comes out bored, rehearsed, the tone of a man who's said the same four words a thousand times to a thousand strangers. "Warden's staff. I'm expected." Wren extends her identification papers through the gap, keeping her fingers steady by sheer force of will alone. "Property management contract, filed with the pack council eleven days ago, signed off by two council seats." The guard takes the papers and doesn't look at them. His eyes go past her, into the back seat, and stop.

Rising at least twenty stories into the air, it resembled a tree house that had been shaped and formed from the branches and trunks of the trees that populated the forest. As we walked to the front doors - solid wood doors that were so intricately carved they caught my breath - they opened. A small cadre of Wardens exited the home. Dressed in blue and white tunics over what looked like leather pants, they were a formidable bunch. Unlike the fake Wardens who had invaded our rooftop with their nonsense, these Wardens all had normal human shades of hair. The main difference I could readily spot between our two races: ears. Theirs were pointed at the tips. Other than that, I would have been hard

Getting ready for patrol I took my small backpack and threw in an energy drink and some snacks. It really is boring on the South side or the forest. We are well hidden from humans here; our pack is out of the way with only a small human village a little south and miles of forest surrounding us on all other sides. We don’t get many humans in the forest because of the bears and, well, us wolves, so the patrols are mostly just to protect against other packs or rogues trying to get onto the territory. I turned down towards the office corridors to see my brother. I was letting him know of my position change.

the she-wolf barks, her raspy voice echoing over the gravel. I step forward, closing the distance slowly. I let my massive size do the intimidating, keeping my hands entirely open and resting at my sides. "I am," I state, my deep voice rumbling through the cold air. "I am Warden Torin of Shadow Ridge. This is Warden Mara. Put the machete down. You are trespassing on Blood Moon-protected territory." The she-wolf’s eyes dart to the massive, newly constructed residential wing, the idling construction equipment, and then back to my face. She doesn't lower the blade.

Sable looks at me. I look at Brennan. "Thank you," I say. "The northern territories have twenty-three Warden cities," he says. "And I have been managing them as administrative problems for four decades." He looks at the notation. "That deserves more than an information-sharing arrangement." Sable opens the notation volume. She opens to the northern territory section — the section she began the day the formal challenge arrived, before she knew what Brennan was going to do when he came to Caldenveil. She had already built it.

“You’ve heard of them.” “Yes,” I said quietly. “But only fragments.” “That was intentional,” he replied. “Their existence was erased from most records.” Winter crossed his arms. “You elves erase a lot of inconvenient truths.” Thalanor didn’t deny it. “The Wardens were not weapons,” he continued. “They were anchors. Living bindings designed to contain convergence points—places where catastrophic forces pressed against our world.” My breath hitched. “Like the seals.” “Yes. But stronger. More… personal.”

“She gave me quite a show in the forest. How’d you get a witch for a daughter? I’d say you were lying, but she is your spitting image.” “Just lucky, I guess.” Dad winked at me. “Em, Bommer is here to see Doc’s video feed. Another round of serum will be administered today at Supermax. The bear shifters have had some tangles with hunters in the Pocono Mountains.” “Are there shifters for every animal?” Dad and Boomer looked at one another and chuckled. “No, darlin’. Only top predators.” Boomer laughed. “Diesel started breakfast. You have time for a shower before it’s ready, “ Dad said. My eyes met Ghost’s, which had already started to darken.

114 The next morning, Dark Mountain looked more like it was preparing for a diplomatic summit than a family visit. Decker wasn't surprised. Neither was Jared. The General stood in the courtyard before sunrise organizing warrior assignments while patrol leaders moved around him. Additional guards. Additional perimeter coverage. Additional eyes on the surrounding forest. Not because they expected trouble. Because Adam was coming. And Adam prepared for everything. Jared finished assigning a group of warriors to the packhouse security rotation and walked over to where Decker stood overlooking the main gate. "He'll bring more wolves than he needs."

Aidinth laughed, “You know her very well, Luna Abby.” Everyone laughed and I replied, “I’m very passionate about this cause. I want it to work out for you guys. I can’t stand the thought of you losing more werebears, but I love polar bears, and I don’t want them killed off either. Aren’t they endangered?” Denali replied, “Yes. We can’t hunt them or the Blue Bears.” I shook my head, “Wait. What? Blue Bears?” Denali chuckled, “Blue Bears are Glacial Bears. They’re beautiful and they are extremely rare. They’re our white wolves.” I chuckled, “I get it. I had just never heard of them. Why don’t we set a time for the next meeting, and I will include Koda on it?” Gideon smiled, “Koda Orson? Big bl

Warden. The impact shook the cavern. I moved. I couldn’t fight like them without worrying about Aria’s bond pulling me apart. So I put myself between Elias and the skeletons, white wolf vs. undead army. Teeth, claws, blood. The skeletons didn’t feel pain, but they broke. They shattered under my jaws, under Darius’s claws, under Elias’s sword when he shifted back to use it. Kade was holding the Warden’s attention, tearing at its fused limbs, but the thing was adapting. Every time he ripped something off, red light pulled it back, reformed it stronger.