Ch. 121..130

0121

“We first want to thank Alpha King Reginald and Luna Queen Anne and their son Prince Alexander for joining us this week for Elite Warrior trials. It truly is an honor to be a host pack and I know all of our young trainees have had an amazing time with your warriors. I know they are all excited to put their new knowledge to use. It was also nice to have some friendly neighboring pack training, everyone involved learned a great deal and I wish you all luck in your placements with the Elite Warriors.” A polite amount of clapping follows.

Alpha Reggie follows up with congratulations to all who participated in the trials, stating his trainers have been left with some tough decisions to make. "

We are also excited to see the young leaders at the training grounds here in a few weeks. Now that I have seen how much they have grown and what they are capable of here on their home turf, I can’t wait to see them challenged again this summer. I may have to rethink some of our strategies seeing your young warriors train.” He chuckles and everyone else follows suit before Alpha Lucas finishes.

“We are here to not only celebrate the end of the trials and their success, we are celebrating the end of the year, with many of our graduating pack members moving onto great and successful careers and our own future leaders heading into the next phase of their training. With their departure following the mating ball next weekend we want to wish them well and good luck on their journey this summer. And from the sounds of it, they will need all the luck they can get.” More laughter follows. “Please eat and enjoy yourselves, our pack has much to be thankful for."

With that, both Alphas sit down and look, relieved maybe, that the formalities are all over. I look around at the crowd milling about. This is what I imagine parties for the guys to be like, people

crawling everywhere, standing room only and a constant humm of conversation. The buzz is almost palpable.

It’s a weird sensation and I find myself smiling again for no reason other than I’m included this time.

“Sky, come sit with us.” Luna Ava calls me over. “We are all dying to hear about the trials. I was so excited to see your wolf out, she is so beautiful and she has definitely gotten stronger since the last time I saw her."

I moved into the chair she offered me and just smiled at the compliment. I didn’t know what else to say.

My wolf is just purring in my head at being called beautiful and strong. “She has grown since I’ve gotten her. I wasn’t sure if that was normal, or if she still needs to grow since I got her so early. I have meant to ask Doc T in anatomy or maybe Mr. Lyons in history what they think."

“T don’t know if I have ever heard of a wolf growing after they show up, but maybe you’re right, you got her very young. You are going to be a force when you are fully trained, based on what I have seen over the last two days.” Alpha Reggie says.

I just smile again. I don’t really know what to do with all of these compliments. Before I have to really come up with anything though, a plate is placed in front of me and Kota kisses the side of my head before sitting down next to me. Another plate is placed next to that and Cam kisses the other side of my head then moves to sit across from me. I I look to my left. “Dakota, what is all of this?” I figure I would make a point of naming them while they are on this social experiment thing.

“We didn’t think you would ever get a chance to eat, so we brought a little of all of your favorites.” Then he looks at his brother. “She’s still the only one.”

Cam says across from me.

“Only one, what?” Luna Ava asks with an eyebrow raised.

‘‘She’s the only person who can tell us apart, when we look exactly the same, don’t speak and give no hints."

Kota Says.

‘‘She’s the first person to call us by name since we came downstairs dressed the same. It’s actually kind of funny.” Cam adds.

“You can tell them apart like this?” Luna Ava looks impressed, gesturing to the twins. “Even I have trouble sometimes. Especially when they are purposely trying to be difficult."

“Yes. I can’t believe you two are still on this topic, but to be fair there are a bunch of things that set them apart, if people pay attention. I keep telling them that. And thank you for the food, I am starving.” I say, becoming a little annoyed that they don’t believe me.

Chapter 0122

“You seem to be the only person aware of those differences though. For example, mom, what color are our eyes?” Kota looks pointedly at Luna Ava.

“You both have that beautiful teal color, why?"

“Sky, tell her what you see.” He looks at me.

Now I’m nervous about being put on the spot. I take my time swallowing the large mouthful of food I just shoved, unladylike, in my face. “To me Cam’s eyes are emerald green and Kota’s are ocean blue. They aren’t the same shade, but I can see how blended they would be a teal color."

‘Now, mom, what is our scent?” Cam asks, in full investigation mode now. It makes us both smile.

She gives me a wink and I know that she is just placating them. “You both smell like the holidays, like citrus and spice. It is actually one of my favorite smells.” She giggles a little and I think they both blush. Interesting.

“Skylar?” He doesn’t even finish the question.

“Cameron is the one who smells like citrus and Dakota smells like cinnamon.” I roll my eyes as I smile at them, using their full names, like they are using mine. “Just to finish my observations, so I can eat, Cam is slightly taller while Dakota is set wider in the shoulders. Their hair is different, even now when they have tried to comb it the same, Dakota’s has more waves and Cam’s is a shade darker. There are a few more subtle differences but you get the idea, they find novelty in the fact that I can tell them apart."

I look away from the twins at the Alphas and Lunas who all look surprised. “Now I’m curious if you could tell them apart in a black and white photo. We’ll have to test that sometime.” Alpha Lucas

says. “But, right now, leave the poor girl alone and let her eat. She took out like 20 wolves today.” He winks at me and I give him an appreciative smile.

‘Speaking of kicking ass and taking names, I’ve got my eye on you little one. You gave some of my best personal warriors a run for their money and even put Xander in his place."

“WHAT! He never said he went up against me!” I look around for Xander, but he’s nowhere to be found. "

Did you guys know?” I look at the twins, who at least look sheepish. “Seriously?! Why didn’t you guys say anything? Which one was he?”

“That, we are not telling you, TIny. If he feels like telling you which royally beaten wolf was his, he can do that. If I was him, I would take that info to the grave.” Cam laughs and so does everyone else.

We all break into smaller conversations and I just enjoy listening and watching all that is happening around me while I gladly eat all of the food that Cam and Kota brought me. I was having such a good time, I didn’t even notice that the sun had set and the patio lights were on and the soft music was slowly turning to more upbeat dance music.

All of a sudden my chair spins around and I am being dragged to my feet. “Come on Little Bit, this is my jam.” Sam pulls me onto the glass cover over the pool that has been made into a makeshift dance floor to an old hip hop song where the only required dance move is jumping around. I couldn’t help but laugh and join in, this I could do, normal dancing was not my thing.

Every song after that was probably from the late 90’s or early 2000’s intermixed with every possible song that could tempt the girls present to act like strippers thrown in. I tried to leave the floor everytime one of those songs came on, but there was always one of the guys to hold me there and

keep me from looking like a total fool. When ‘Don’t Cha’ came on Sierra came running up to me and I finally just let go and we sang it together giving the guys a show and laughing hysterically.

I think every girl ever knows this song, and eventually all the guys left the dance floor to the ladies, making a huge circle to watch our antics. It’s the most fun I have ever had with this many people, ever.

I was pretty impressed with Sierra's knowledge of all the rap parts too.

Chapter 0123

I finally had to step away to get some water and take a break. I was standing at the island in the kitchen, chugging a bottle of water and heard voices from the back hallway that leads to the garage.

“I just don’t know why she wants to keep it a secret.

If I was her, I would tell everyone."

“I know, right? There must be something else going on. We'll have to pay really close attention."

Definitely Marnie and Jeanie. I hear footsteps coming towards me, so 1 scramble back towards the fridge and act like I’m getting something out. They don't even notice me and just keep walking and talking.

‘‘She’s probably lying, everyone knows they want their mate. I have heard that all the rumors about them sleeping around are bullsh*t too. That they are actually waiting to give up their V card to their goddess given mate. Which is totally romantic! Who knows. They wouldn’t all of a sudden decide to hook up with her randomly at a party with the Alpha King here either. No one is dumb enough to believe that"

Marnie says.

“I don’t know. She likes to exaggerate, but would she lie about mates? She's been talking about them being her mates for years.” Jeanie asks.

“She can’t even tell who her mate is for three more years, there’s no way.” Marnie scoffs. “But I’m not going to stop her from laying claim to them, let her live her fantasy for as long as she can. Cause there is no way she’s going to be Luna, she wouldn’t be able to handle the job. The Moon Goddess wouldn’t make us all suffer like that, she’s awful now, can you imagine if she had any real

authority?” She giggles and Jeanie joins in. “We just need to stay on her good side for a few more years, then the truth will come out. She’s probably actually mated to some worthless Omega who's abusive. That would be karma, wouldn’t it?"

That left me feeling, I’m not sure actually. I can’t believe the people closest to her would talk about her like that, but at the same time, Kaley is a horrible person and clearly still trying to lay claim to the Luna title. I walk outside back to my friends, but I’m not really in the party mood anymore. Every time I hear her mention being with the twins or being Luna, I get an uneasy sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I go to find the guys to tell them that I am going up to bed, but Sam has other ideas as Just the Way You Are comes on. He grabs Sierra and I and starts serenading the two of us, and all I can do is laugh with her. The rest of the guys join in our little group and start singing, terribly, to both of us and taking turns to dance with us, very closely and slowly. No one breaks into our little circle, it’s sweet and for the first time it leaves me feeling comfortable and safe doing normal teenage things, even in this crowd."

Once the song is over, I break away from Kota and hug each of them, “TI need to sleep, I will see you guys in the morning.” I hug Sierra a little longer than the rest of them. “Have fun.” I wink at her. “If you need to stay tonight you can come cuddle with me."

“Wait. Does that invitation extend to all of us?” Sam asks. I just roll my eyes.

“Hey, wait up, I’ll walk you up."

“I battled with about a hundred different people in the last two days, I think I can walk up to my room alone, but thank you Oliver."

“I’m aware of your capabilities, Bite Size, but my wolf is running circles in my head and giving mea headache at the fact that you are going somewhere without one of us. Especially after the thing with

Micah. Can I please just walk with you to shut him up?” He almost begs.

“Sure, I guess. Does that happen a lot, your wolf being territorial like that?” We start our way to the Staircase leading to the second floor.

“Only with you Bite Size, only with you. And it’s crazy, because I feel like Mateo, like I need to protect you, like my wolf’s whole mission is to keep you safe.

We haven’t even been this protective over a girl we want to hook up with, no offense.” He adds quickly at the end, eyes wide looking terrified that he offended me.

“None taken, and to be honest, I feel the same. You seem to make me calm and centered, like my best friend or my other half, but not in a mate way. Is that weird?” I look up at him and he is smiling, like actually smiling. It is blinding, and jaw dropping. “Oh man! Your mate is in trouble!” I giggle at him.

Chapter 0124

“What, why?” His smile falls and he almost looks like Sam pouting.

“That smile is going to knock her on her ass. I take that back, you are going to be in trouble when you find your mate. She is going to lock you up after you throw that smile her way. I thought you were good looking before, but that smile is a whole other level.

She's screwed.” I laugh again as his grin lights up his whole moody face and he tries to fight it.

I take a look around to make sure no one, mainly Kaley, is looking when I go to punch in the code on the third floor door. Once Oliver makes sure it is secured behind us we head up.

“Knock it off, Bite Size, or my ego won’t fit through the door.” He shoves me in the shoulder with his elbow.

“I'm serious though. I mean you’re hot just as your broody silent self, but that smile could probably get you anything you wanted. You should try it on Luna Ava and see what happens.” I laugh out loud this time as we make it to my door. “Thank you for seeing me safely to my door Oliver, you have done a fabulous job of watching out for me, I hope your wolf calms a bit."

I leaned in to give him a tight hug around the waist. "

You are a great friend and big brother.” I rest my cheek on his chest.

He squeezed me back, ‘Thanks Sky, that means a lot.

Night.” He let me go and stepped back waiting for me to close the door I guess.

“Night.” I close my door and barely get changed and fall into my bed before I am fast asleep.

I woke up to the bright sun streaming through my window and sweating my ass off. What is going on? I try to roll over but there is a weight behind me. I shift forward and that is definitely not a pillow in front of me. I crack my eyes open more to adjust to the light and take a deep breath. Citrus and Cinnamon overwhelm my senses. I move to sit up, I really need to go to the bathroom and my legs are completely entwined, I wiggle alittle more. I “Tiny, I thought we talked about this, you do not want to move like that in the morning. Go back to sleep, you have earned a sleep in day.” Cam mumbles in front of me.

“I need to pee and you both make that really hard.” I laugh at him.

“I'll show you something hard.” Kota says low and gravelly into my hair.

“Stop, crazy. Let me up, please.” I whine at him. “I promise I will come back and sleep in, just let me pee."

‘Fine, you have three minutes before one of us comes in to get you.” I laugh and quickly get up. I’m not dumb enough to test whether or not he would really come and get me off the toilet.

As I climb over Cam’s gigantic body and move to the floor, I step on something that is definitely not hardwood. I jump, stumble, fall forward and come face to face with Oliver as I belly flop onto his chest. "

What the hell?!” He coughs out as he stops me from scrambling around on him. “What happened? Are you okay Sky?” He’s on full alert, eyes wide open and body tense as he grabs me by my upper arms, but doesn’t move any more than that.

“What are you doing on my floor?"

“Couldn't sleep. I just kept getting a weird vibe. This is the only place that made it go away.” He closes his eyes and lays his head back down, but not releasing me.

“Huh?!”

He ignores me, “Is there something you needed? Or did you decide you are done snuggling the twins and are ready to share the love?” He wraps his arms around me and starts to turn on his side.

“Oh no, I have to pee. Let me up before you are the reason I have an accident.” I scramble away from him and almost trip on my brother's feet at the foot of my bed.

“What is going on? What happened last night that made you guys think you all needed to be in here?” I whisper yell at them. Which of course gets no reply.

They are all happily snoring, with no care in the world. I go to the bathroom and on my way back I notice a pile of blankets next to the fireplace. "

There’s no way.” I whisper to myself. I tiptoed over and noticed sandy blonde waves and brown straight locks all messed together and coming out of the top of the blanket burrito Sam and Sierra were In.

Chapter 0125

What in the hell is going on? Why are all my friends in my room? This cannot be comfortable and I don’t smell alcohol on them, so! don’t think it is a drunken thing, but who knows. I’m too wide awake now to try and wiggle my way between the twins, so I grab Cam's sweatshirt from the floor and head down to see what’s for breakfast.

As I head out I notice the doors to all the rooms on our floor are closed, even the media room. Weird.

The guys never close them unless they are in there. I head down to the second floor and all the guest rooms are closed as well, but I figure there are probably still visiting warriors here. I keep heading down towards the first floor intent on hitting the kitchen and checking in with Luna Ava about the sleeping arrangements. I didn’t eat as much as I should have yesterday after the trials. I was too busy talking to everyone.

As soon as I hit the landing, I’m stopped by a warrior.

“We are still on lockdown, you need to return to your room.” I recognize this guy as one of the warriors from the final phase of trials. He’s a big guy, bigger than the Alpha King, my neck hurts from having to look up at him, and I am three steps above him.

“I don’t understand, I just came down for breakfast, what happened?” I don’t move from my spot, my curiosity getting the better of me.

“We are still on lockdown, you need to return to your room.” He repeats.

“Can you tell me when we went on lockdown? I went to bed early last night. The party was still going on when I went up to my room."

“You live here? You’re not a guest we detained?” He looks at me with his eyebrow raised.

‘Yes, I live on the third floor.” He wants to give me vague answers, I will do the same. I cross my arms, not really to be intimidating, but more standing my ground. I wasn’t going to be intimidated. “Is anyone else awake? Can I talk to Luna Ava or Alpha Lucas? I don't want to mindlink them if they are sleeping"

“The Alpha King has ordered everyone to stay in their rooms or in their homes for the time being. Please go back to your room."

“Can I at least get some food? You guys did a number on me at trials yesterday and I am starving.”

“I will see what I can do, please go upstairs.” He growls low and squints his eyes at me like he is trying to remember which wolf I was. Which makes sense considering my size, I don’t look like someone who should have been in the trials at all, and I don’t remember him at the celebration last night.

“Thank you Warrior...” I let the question hang, raising my eyebrows, hoping to get a tidbit of information out of him.

“Osiston. Go upstairs little one, it’s not safe right now.” Again, low and growly, like he doesn’t want to be heard.

‘Why is she walking around and the rest of us are locked in rooms all over the house.?” My favorite screeching sound comes from above me on the stairs.

I’m still looking at Osiston and we both take a visible calming breath. He has clearly been dealing with her already this morning. Considering how early it probably is, he has been dealing with her all night. I can’t help but smile at him as he rolls his eyes almost imperceptibly.

“You have already been told, child, the Alpha King’s orders are to remain where you have been placed. We hope to have everyone on their way shortly. The Alpha King, Alpha Lucas, Luna Queen Anne and Luna Ava will let you know when you can move freely again."

“Well, if she’s here, then I can be too.” She whines like a four year old and begins her stomp down the stairs.

“Nope! I just had a question, warrior to warrior, about the trials yesterday and since I can’t mindlink my buddy Osiston here, I came down to ask. Now I’m headed back up to wake the guys up. They were all dead to the world when I left them. The party must have gotten wild after I left.” I wink at the Warrior who looks a little dumbstruck at my lie, but goes with it.

“Skylar, come find me before we leave, I would love to finish our conversation.” His cheek twitches like he wanted to smile, but the act was foreign to him.

And how did he know my name? He wasn't a part of the wolves who checked us in and none of the rest of the trainers used our names during the trials.

Chapter 0126

I nod and turn to walk back up the stairs. “You were put up with Cameron and Dakota?” She takes a deep deliberate inhale. Obviously catching the scent off the sweatshirt to answer her own question. “How did you manage that? I was told no one but warriors were being added to that floor, even when all of the beds had been given out. I know, I was the last to be assigned a spot, and some moron tried to put me on the floor in the formal living room. I had to explain who I was and then move a lesser pack member myself.” She sounds almost shocked, not like her usual high pitched voice. For sure still that entitled elitist attitude though.

‘Seeing as Skylar is both a warrior and lives in the Packhouse, I see no reason for her to explain the arrangements she has with your Alpha and Luna."

Osiston answered before I could. I took another couple of slow steps up the stairs trying to make some distance between her and I before she decided to use her claws against me. But her attention was no longer on me.

Kaley turns to face him fully, throwing a hand on her hip. “And how do you know her name so well, when you Call the rest of us child or children? I am going to be the next Luna, you would do well to learn my name warrior.” There’s the condescending tone I know.

Osiston stands to his full height, his chest looks even wider like this. “Let’s be clear, Luna or not I would still outrank you, so knowing your name is of no priority to me until such time as the Moon Goddess herself decides you are worthy of being a Luna. And even then you would do well to speak with respect.

Next, everyone of significance knows Skylar’s name because of her efforts in the trials. She has made a name amongst the King’s warriors and guards because of her fighting skills, which are unmatched by anyone else in this pack and her respectful nature towards everyone in her pack and

visiting packs. You, child, must earn the right to have your name known and more importantly remembered.” He stares at Kaley for a moment before his eyes glaze over briefly.

“Skylar, your Luna would like to see you in her room, it will be faster for you to take the elevator from this floor. Nickolas is waiting for you.” He moves to step more in front of Kaley to give me space to pass. Once I have rounded the banister and started walking toward the back of the staircase I hear him finish, “You, child, will be put into the cells if you cannot follow an instruction as simple as ‘stay in your room until you are called.’ This is your last warning. Move.” He didn’t yell the last word, but the growl that accompanied it sent a shiver down my spine, there was no denying the menace and power that was rolling off of him.

I got to the elevator and smiled at Nickolas. “Are you going to give me answers, or are you going to be vague like Warrior Osiston? I went to bed early last night, what’s going on? I woke up with five boys and my best friend in my room."

“I can’t say much, not here anyway. There was a threat and we went on lockdown. Anyone that lives inside a mile of the packhouse was escorted home, which was most of the pack members that were still here last night. The rest of the warriors who were still here were divided up into the guest rooms and, as you saw, throughout the packhouse. The guys volunteered to stay in your room and give up their space to the elite warriors taking shifts to run extra patrols."

“Okay. Well that is at least more than I got from Warrior Osiston.” I shrugged my shoulders and let it go. I figured we were playing it safe for security. I’ll get my answers, whatever the Alpha thinks is necessary, in time.

“Someday you're going to have to tell me how you got him to soften up to you so quickly."

“Huhu"

“Warrior Brogan. He doesn’t usually give his name so quickly, let alone his first name.” That was all, no other explanation.

Chapter 0127

We stand in silence as the elevator rides up to the fourth floor. It’s tense, but not uncomfortable. Even my wolf knows something important is going on and is taking in every detail she can. I try to steady my breathing, just like waiting for an opponent to strike in a fight.

Finally, the elevator reaches the top floor and it opens slowly. I feel like time is messing with me, with how long it is taking just to get to the Luna and Alpha. All of asudden I am engulfed in a hug and blinded by the softest sweater ever. If I could breathe, I would let the Luna keep me wrapped up like this for longer, but I have to tap her shoulder to let her know I need her to loosen her grip on my neck.

“My sweet girl, you're alright!” She whispers out.

“Why wouldn't I be alright? What’s going on?”

“The threat we came across last night was not specific, but it was implied that a powerful female was the target. That could be a few different people, the Luna Queen and myself included, but there have been several high ranking females here over the last few days with the trials and several in the trials. The

Alpha King’s guards are running patrols to try and find the trail of the messenger, but we haven’t heard a thing.” She hugs me again.

“I still don’t understand what that has to do with me.”

“Honey, the threat came right after the warrior trials, and you were the top female. The rest of the ranking females left shortly after the trials were finished yesterday, most can’t spend too much time

away from their packs. So if the threat wasn’t against the Luna queen or myself, we have to assume you would be the next target.”

“Is that why Oliver said he got a weird feeling last night? He was on my floor sleeping, said being close was the only thing that made his wolf settle down. She pulled back from our hug and looked at me, a question in her eyes, that she didn’t voice out loud. "

The rest of the guys were sleeping when I left to come down, I didn’t get to talk to them.” I look around the room taking in the amount of people here. “Where is the Luna Queen? Shouldn’t she be up here guarded too?”

‘King Reggie felt better keeping her close, his wolf almost took over yesterday after the threat. If Lucas wasn’t leading the patrol trying to track the

messenger, I would probably be by his side too. He

hasn’t gone out of mindlink range though.” She smiles at the thought. “He’s been checking in every 30 minutes or so.”

“What was the threat?” I’m super curious about what has these guys running around in the middle of the night like crazy people.

She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, like she’s deciding how much information to give me.I can see how tense her body is and it’s making my wolf and! a little anxious.

“You don’t have to say if it bothers you to talk about.”’ I spit out quickly, I don’t want to upset her anymore than she already is.

“No, sweet girl, it’s not that it will upset me, I think it will upset you.”

“Huh?! What could have been said in a threat to you or the Luna Queen that would affect me?”

She takes one more deep breath and grabs my hand. I can’t tell if she is supporting herself or me with the gesture. “Someone broke through the western

border. It's not a far distance over the water to the mainland, but our patrols should have heard a boat coming. The messenger slipped in undetected about 5 miles, left us a package that was clearly supposed to

be found quickly and disappeared, with no scent or any of the usual signs a tracker would notice left behind. There seems to be no trace of the person or people who left it.” She pauses again. She’s stalling, but I don’t know why and it’s making me sick to my stomach. “There was a full search of our territory and while the border patrols are going over every possibility of entry we are also doing a full investigation on everyone who is here to verify their location at the time of the threat. That is what is taking so long and why everyone is still on lockdown.”

“Luna, you are really freaking me out now. I went to bed early, Oliver walked me to my room, but | left early. Am I asuspect? Cause you know I would never do anything to you or Luna Anne...” She grips my hand tighter.

“Shh. Sweet girl.” She lifts a hand to cup my face. "

It’s nothing like that. We know where you were, you are not in trouble, but I do think you might be in danger.”

My eyebrows shoot up and the tears pooling behind my eyes slip down my cheeks. “What?!”

Another inhale and then a squeeze of my hand and a soft rub of my cheek with her thumb. “Sweet girl, our warriors found two fingers in a box. They had been frozen and there doesn’t seem to be any blood left to use for identification, but we have everyone who could possibly give us answers working on that.”

Chapter 0128

“I still don’t understand what this has to do with me.” As gruesome as it would be to get cut off fingers delivered, it doesn’t sound like something that should have the whole pack in an uproar.

“Both fingers have the mark of a Luna, the one she receives when she accepts her title during the Luna ceremony.

Which leads our doctors to believe two Lunas were harmed or killed. The flesh of the fingers appears to have been severed from the body with silver powder. It was burned down to the bone, where there are saw marks. The damage to the skin is the exact same as on your back.”

I drop her hand as both of mine fly to my mouth.

Someone, maybe two people were tortured to the point of having fingers removed, slowly, by the burning of silver powder. How long would something like that even take? Hours or days? What would make someone want to hurt another person like that? And why was it brought here? Does someone know about what Kaley has done to me? Is it some kind of sick joke from her? At the thought of her, my mind takes me back to that day and the smell of burning flesh fills my nostrils, the searing pain hits my back like

the silver was just applied. My whole body remembers those moments, and everything hurts. I can’t move, I’m locked in that memory and can’t escape. I glance around and can vaguely see the Luna’s mouth moving, but I can’t hear a thing she is saying from the blood pounding in my ears.

My whole body feels cold and limp, but I am frozen to my spot. I do register a loud noise and then warm hands wrapping around me and tucking my face into a large chest.

The warmth surrounds me and feels good, but I can’t move, the pain won’t leave. My body won’t respond to any command I try to give it, I’m a prisoner.

“Bite Size, I need you to breathe for me, please breathe Bitty. I will punch you if I have too. You are scaring the sh*t out of us, Skylar. SKY! BREATHE!”

Two hands grab my face and cradle it firmly, but gentle at the same time. Dark chocolate brown eyes look into mine and the absolute panic there is what catches my attention. Why is he panicked? What did I do to put that look on his face? Oh, Goddess! I put that look on his face! I am the cause of this feeling, this hopelessness and deep bone numbing sorrow. I can’t even blink or look away, I’m just lost in the deep warm brown sadness of his eyes.

“Dammit, Bitty!” He shouts and I'm confused why he’s angry now, but I don’t get the chance to think about it before he smashes his lips to mine.

It’s like someone turned on all of my senses at once sending an electric shock to jumpstart my lungs. I push back and take a deep, gasping breath in. I look around the room, still confused, but I can actually focus on the things around me the more air I take in.

There is a low rumbling growl coming from somewhere near me, and I fee! hot all over, like I have been working outside in the middle of a summer day.

I remember talking to Luna Ava, then time sort of stopped. I keep turning my head to try and focus on who is in the room with me, then the smell of honey hits my nose and I turn to face the boy in front of me, still holding my face between his hands, eyes wide and cheeks tear streaked. I let go of his wrists and wiped the tears away.

As I do his hands fall and I notice I am sitting across his lap, his hands are by his sides not touching me at all anymore. When I look back up he is still staring at me and all I can do is wrap my arms around his shoulders and bury my face in his neck. The growling around me gets louder, but I just

ignore it. Oliver saved me from myself, he got to me first and I can feel the panic still resonating in him, but I don’t think it's worry for me anymore. He’s worried about my reaction to what he had to do to snap me out of my shock, about the reaction from the others.

Wait, how do I know what he is feeling?

I don’t have time for my squirrel thoughts right now.

Oliver is still sitting here like a statue, I can feel the rapid pace of his heart and the tense set of his muscles everywhere I have contact with him.

Chapter 0129

“It’s okay, I’m okay, we're okay.”’ I just keep whispering the mantra into his neck until he finally wraps his arms around my waist and hugs me back. I have no idea how long we sat like that. Both of us just let the last couple of minutes set in and process.

“That was so f*cking scary, Bitty. I have never felt anything like that before.” He’s talking into my hair and it’s so low, it’s less than a whisper, but the silence of the room lets me know others are listening in. His arms tighten around me.

‘How did you get to me so fast? How did you find me? I haven’t even been up here that long.” I ask, not moving my face from his neck.

‘We were actually looking for you, when you never came back from the bathroom and I got this sharp pain in my chest. It hurt so much I almost collapsed.

Then my wolf shouted your name and basically took over my body and brought me up here. Your lips were blue when I got to you, I panicked and didn't know what else to do. I’m sorry.”

He took another deep breath, his nose buried in my hair. His body is calming down, but his mind and his emotions are still holding tension I don’t understand. He felt my pain.

How could he feel my pain? It was the pain of a memory, nothing real. And how did his wolf know where to find me? Too many questions for my brain right now.

“That was scary for more than just the two of you.” I notice a voice very close to my back. “What happened?” Cam's deep voice rumbles as he wraps an arm around my waist and tries to pull me into his lap, Oliver loosens his grip, but doesn’t let me go right away, a small whimper escaping his lips.

“I squeezed his hand. “I’m okay, not going far.” I slide back into Cam’s lap, but keep my legs across Oliver's and he instinctively wraps his hand around my ankle, like it will keep me from disappearing. The rumbling in Cam’s chest calms down a little as I get closer to him. That’s where the growling sound has been coming from. But, why? Why would he be mad at Oliver for saving me? It's a question for another time. So many questions for later.

“Mom, what happened?” Kota asks as calmly as he possibly can. I can feel the fear radiating off of him too. He comes to sit in front of Cam on the floor. I reach out to play with his hair, knowing he needs contact just like Oliver and Cam.

She relayed what she was telling me, this obviously wasn't new news to any of the guys and Sierra. They had all been up when everything started to go crazy.

She looked in my direction every few seconds like she was waiting for another episode. When she got to the part about the silver, which was news to the guys, I scrambled back into Oliver’s lap, like he was the only one who could battle that demon with me. My arms locked around him and my face buried in his neck again, his scent seems to be the only thing that is helping me battle the torment of what happened to another wolf and the fact that it might have something to do with me. He just gently rubs my back, not saying anything, conveying everything in his light touches.

“What’s the plan, mom? You and Luna Anne can’t just stay holed up forever. And it doesn’t seem like we’ve made much progress with finding the asshole who did this.” Kota asks, I don’t look up from Oliver’s shoulder, I’m really tired all of a sudden.

“I think Lucas and Reggie have what they need for now. Patrols will be increased and a higher security protocol will be in place. Now, please remember, none of the details I have given you have been told to pack members. We have more questions than

answers and don’t want to incite panic. If you have thoughts about the situation or want to discuss it further, this is the only safe space in the packhouse.”

“But, not even our...” Kota starts.

‘No, not even your floor can be considered safe yet, and based on Oliver’s instincts last night and today the target of the threat is still unclear, and we have to assume all ranked members and future leaders are in danger. Trust his Gamma instincts, they are designed to keep the Luna safe. Just as the Beta’s instincts are to keep the Alpha Safe. Brett was a little crazy last night too, he didn’t leave my side until I came up here with a full guard. Stick together and none of you are to go anywhere alone. Not even the bathroom at school. Now we are stuck here until Lucas and Reggie return, which will be later this evening. I’m going to bring Xander up and we can all get something to eat, then I imagine all of you could use a nap.”

 

Chapter 0130

Some of the Omegas bring up food and everything is thoroughly checked before anyone is allowed to eat. I have wanted to be a warrior for as long as I can remember, but this Is the first time it has really hit me what that would look like.

Fighting is one thing, it’s actually the easy part, but the unknown threats, the things that can mess with your mind if you think about them too long. That is something I didn’t consider.

This invisible threat, no one knows who’s the villain, and there is always a villain. Some are just more extreme than others, but you have to watch out for them all, especially when you are responsible for the protection of some of the most important people in your pack.

We all sit on or around the Luna’s bed and watch TV, or at least pretend to. She is constantly up walking around checking in with pack members and giving directions from her own little prison. The warriors watching us are walking around the suite, constantly checking the windows and doors. They are trying to be discreet, but it is really just making me antsy. I

don’t know how many times I changed positions, but I felt the need to be close to each of my friends. I had

to have physical contact with them all, but I can't do that with all of them at the same time. So I let my instincts drive me and shifted towards the person I was being drawn to. The intuition was kind of weird and exhausting. Eventually, I got tired enough and crawled in between Kota and Cam first, in our usual sandwich position, and I fell asleep immediately.

Their cocoon of warmth and safety allowed the last of my anxiety from the Luna’s story to fade and I was able to rest properly. I’m not sure how long I was there, but all of asudden my body heat kicked

in and I had to move before I sweat to death. It was like someone kicked on a space heater in my chest and I was suffocating.

I carefully crawled out from their limbs, each wrapped around me like octopus tentacles, and slid to the floor at the end of the bed with Sierra and Sam who were in the middle of some action movie.

The sky was growing darker outside, but it couldn’t be more than late afternoon. She was sitting in between his legs, so I just laid on my side using their right thighs as a pillow. Sam casually draped his arm on my side and Sierra started playing with my hair, lulling me back to sleep.

Like before, my body heat raged waking me up from a deep dreamless sleep, but as I tried to move, I realized my body was being trapped by something. Trying not

to panic, with everything else going on, I look around and notice I have turned into Sierra with my face buried in her hip. I can still smell Sam, but there is something else, vanilla and spices.

Mateo. His strong arm is wrapped around me and has my back pulled tight to his chest. He's using Sierra’s leg as a pillow as well. I take another deep breath of their combined scents and feel calmness wash over me, but the heat is going to kill me. I have to move.

I dislodge his heavy arm from around me and look around to find Oliver's legs sticking out from the side of the Luna’s bed.

I crawl over in the darkness, the sliver of moonlight the only thing allowing me to make out their shapes in the still room, to see him lying on his back with his left arm draped over his eyes. This must be his go-to spot for sleeping. I move to his right side, with my head propped on the edge of his pillow, face pressed into his bicep as I wrap both arms around his massive arm, like a child hugging their favorite toy. And again, I drift off.

“Not until she does.” The gruff mumble from Oliver alerts me to people talking around me. I pam groggy and keep my eyes closed as I try to figure out what I'm hearing as the last dreggs of sleep lift away from me.

“Well, then wake her up, I’m not leaving without her, and by now she’s probably starving.” Cam’s whisper is stern and matter of fact, but at the mention of eating my stomach makes itself known with a loud garbled prowl. ‘See, starving.”