ã€ŠAlpha Maximusé”›æ­he last lycanã€‹


 Chapter 1

    Chapter 1

    Hope

    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.

    I wake up in the cold of winter, and my breath fogs up the attic window. I slowly sit up, trying not to

    disturb my wounds. I stand and stare at the broken mirror in front of me.

    My white dress, not so white anymore, is covered with grime, dust and dirt. The edges are tattered

    with the odd rip, and the material is thin in ces, and has over time, frayed.

    My eyes are an unusual bright silver and blue. My hair used to be white, almost tinum blonde,

    but it has been years since I have had the luxury of using soap in my hair, so now it looks ash blonde.

    Freezing, I grab the only other piece of clothing I have, and wear it over the top of my dress. It is a

    tatty old cardigan with no buttons, so I hold the front of it closed with my hands, which are shaking from

    the cold.

    The sound of birds outside my window captures my attention, and I turn my head to look out the

    window at the birds, hopping around in the fresh snow. It¡¯s beautiful and calming to watch but does not

    bring me any warmth.

    I am about to speak for the first time in years. I approach Alpha Tate and ask him for a nket, and

    some warmer clothes. The whole pack freeze in shock at my words as most have never heard me

    speak.

    ¡®Please. I might freeze to death one of these nights. Just one nket, or warmer clothes, is all I

    ask of you,¡¯ I beg.

    Alpha Tate is twenty-two, and mateless. He is handsome, with light brown hair, and brown eyes.

    He is masculine and six foot tall.

    He stands, stomps over to me, and holds me up with his hand, wrapped around my neck. He

    stares deeply into my bright silver and blue eyes. My hands are on his hand, trying to loosen his grip. I

    can''t breathe, as he yells in my face; his breath smells like cheese.

    ¡®You dare ask favours of me, Hope? After we already let you sleep in the attic, and eat our

    leftovers? You are the pack ve and nothing more, which means you get nothing more!¡¯ He yells, and

    throws me across the floor. I whimper in pain.

    ¡®I''m sorry. I won¡¯t ask again. Please forgive me,¡¯ I say, keeping my eyes on the floor. Alpha Tate

    scoffs, walks back to his te, lifts it up, and walks over to me.

    ¡®It seems Hope is hungry!¡¯ He says cruelly, and tips the remnants of his dinner over my head, and

    a warm liquid drips down my face. I look at the sauce dripping onto the floor in front of me. The room

    roars withughter, and I dare not move.

    ¡®I think she is still hungry,¡¯ he chuckles. ¡®Anyone else want to give her something to eat?¡¯ He asks,

    and the pack members throw scraps of food at me.

    A soft-boiled potato hits my head. I keep my eyes down on the ground, not wanting anyone to see

    the tears I¡¯m holding back.

    ¡®Get out of my sight!¡¯ Alpha Tate shouts, and I stand up and race out of the room and down the

    hallway.

    Instead of running back to my room, I run to the forest to my favourite spot. Although I¡¯m half

    frozen, I step into theke, and wash all the food and sauce from my hair and body. As soon as I¡¯m

    done, I run back to the pack housepletely drenched, and sneak back upstairs to the attic.

    I remove my wet cardigan and dress, squeeze the water out of them, and hang them over a

    broken chair to dry.

    I curl up naked on my old mattress in the corner of the room and fall asleep. Not long after, I¡¯m

    woken to the door being kicked open.

    Startled, I sit up and Beta Sam is ring at me. His expression quickly changes to a smirk as he

    stares at my naked body.

    I quickly cross my arms to cover my breasts, and curl my legs in closer to my body to hide mydy

    parts.

    Beta Sam quietly closes the door behind him and stares at me. He slowly steps towards me,

    where I¡¯m huddled in the corner, keeping my eyes on the floor. I shiver from the cold and from the fear

    of what is about to happen.

    ¡®Stand up, Hope,¡¯ he says, quietly.

    Standing, I cover my lower half with one hand, and my breasts with the other.

    ¡®Alpha Tate sent me here to make sure I punish you properly,¡¯ he says, forcefully moving my arms

    and holding them still, so he can have a good look at my naked flesh. There is instant desire in his eyes

    and he licks his lips.

    ¡®You¡¯re a ve, but your body is sexy,¡¯ he says, pulling me closer against him.

    He lowers his head, breathes in my scent, and forces me up against the wall. He touches my face

    and runs a finger down my lips, as his other hand tries to touch my core.

    I bite down on his finger as hard as I can, and don¡¯t let go. I taste his blood in my mouth; it drips

    down my chin.

    ¡®You fucking bitch! You fucking whore!¡¯ He screams, and then punches me in the stomach with his

    good hand.

    Falling to the floor, I hunch over, holding my stomach, and watch him tear a strip off his shirt, and

    wrap it around his finger to stop the bleeding. He res at me and kicks my legs and ribs, before

    storming off, yelling.

    ¡®You¡¯ll pay for that!¡¯ He snarls.

    Letting out a breath I¡¯m holding in, I copse onto my mattress, in shock at what just happened,

    and what I have just done.

    Alpha is going to be mad when he hears about this! My wolf, Storm, says.

    What was I supposed to do? I couldn''t let him touch me. Only our mate can. I say.

    You¡¯re right. We just have to hang in here for a few more days until we¡¯re eighteen and hopefully

    our mate will find us and take us away.

    What if my mate doesn''t like me? I ask Storm.

    Our mate will love us. You¡¯ll see! Storm says, excitedly.

    I rub my sore ribs and head downstairs to prepare breakfast for the pack. I put a pot of porridge on

    the stove.

    While the porridge boils, I set the table with bowls, spoons and cups, and give the porridge a stir. I

    collect the jug of juice from the fridge and fill all the cups on the table.

    Hearing the pack members talking, I quickly put porridge in all the bowls before dashing back

    upstairs before any of the pack members see me.

    If I¡¯m still down here while they eat, they be angry; especially Alpha Tate. They say my

    presence makes them sick and they can¡¯t eat with me around, because I¡¯m so repulsive.

    I worry about how Alpha Tate will punish me for biting his Beta''s finger. I want to stay out of

    everyone''s way today.

    Normally I¡¯d return to the kitchen an hour after serving breakfast to clean up, but I purposely wait

    an extra half an hour, so the coast is clear.

    The kitchen is cleaned quicker than usual. I¡¯m able to scrape a few spoonfuls of porridge for

    myself.

    After preparing lunch, I ce the tes of food on the table, and quickly run back to the attic, but I

    bang into someone on the way.

    ¡®I''m so sorry,¡¯ I whisper, looking at the ground.

    ¡®That''s what you said yesterday,¡¯ Alpha Tate says. He grabs my face with his hand, forcing me to

    look at him. He squints into my eyes, and res.

    ¡®Why did you bite Beta Sam''s finger?¡¯ He asks. My eyes start to well. I try to look away but he

    yanks my face back towards him.

    ¡®Answer me!¡¯ He growls.

    ¡®I¡ªhe, um, tried to touch me,¡¯ I whisper. Alpha Tate smiles and pushes me backwards.

    ¡®I don''t know why he¡¯d want to touch a ve. But if he wants to have his way with you, let him,¡¯ he

    says, and I burst into tears, and run past him, into the attic.

    Storm, what are we going to do if Beta Sames back up here?

    Maybe we should run away? Storm replies.

    We have nowhere to go and we would freeze to death, for sure, on our first night! I say.

    Tomorrow, we turn eighteen. Let''s get through tonight, in case we find our mate tomorrow. Storm

    says.

    Storm, I''m really nervous about tomorrow. I have a really bad feeling. I whisper.

 Chapter 2

    Chapter 2

    I wake to an intoxicating smell of sandalwood and cinnamon. I stand,b my hair with my fingers

    and straighten out my cardigan to feel a bit more presentable.

    It''s our mate! You must go to him now. Storm says, excitedly.

    I know. Let''s go. I say.

    Running downstairs and down the hallway, the scent gets stronger. It leads me to the bedrooms

    belonging to high-ranking pack members. I be nervous and less excited.

    We¡¯ve never been in this hallway before. I tell Storm.

    There! That room! He¡¯s in there! Storm says.

    Standing in front of arge brown wooden door, I¡¯m about to knock, lose my courage, and take a

    step back.

    He¡¯s in there. Knock! Storm yells.

    I can''t do it. I say.

    Turning to walk away, the door flings open, and I make instant eye contact with Alpha Tate.

    ¡®Mate!¡¯ I say, in a trance.

    I hear a chuckle a door down. Someone is there.

    ¡®You¡¯re kidding me? Hope is your mate, Alpha Tate?¡¯ Beta Sam asks.

    I shake my head and break the trance between us. He snarls and growls at Beta Sam. I step back,

    out of fear.

    ¡®This can''t be right,¡¯ I whisper.

    ¡®No, it''s not right. You¡¯re not fit to be Luna or my mate. I can''t ept this curse from the Moon

    Goddess,¡¯ he says, and I take a step back.

    ¡®I, Alpha Tate, of the ckwood pack, reject you, Hope, as my Mate and Luna!¡¯ He spits, and we

    fall to the ground in pain, and my eyes well up with tears that run down my face.

    Alpha Tate holds himself up against the wall, clutching his chest, enduring the pain. Everyone

    but pleased I¡¯ve been rejected.

    Everyone smirks andughs as I try to stand. I lean on the wall, and flee down the hallway, back to

    my attic.

    I burst into tears andy on my mattress.

    Our mate rejected us! Storm says, sadly.

    This is our fate now. We will never be anything more than a ve to this pack. We will never know

    what it¡¯s like to have a mate and be loved. I cry.

    A few months pass, and new members who have just joined our pack, torment and abuse me, as

    From N?velDrama.Org.

    much as the other pack members; especially Ava, who is sleeping with Alpha Tate. Every time they

    have sex, my chest and stomach hurt intensely. I haven''t spoken to anyone since the first time I felt it.

    Since being rejected, Storm has been quiet. I don''t me her. If I could hide away, I would too.

    Not being able to shift into my wolf form gives the pack another reason to beat me and bully me.

    They say I¡¯m a freak of nature because I can''t even shift.

    I¡¯ve just finished scrubbing the floors when Alpha Tate and Ava walk past, hand in hand. Ava kicks

    the bucket of dirty water over, and snickers. Alpha Tate res at me.

    ¡®How you ended up with this ve in our pack bewilders me,¡¯ Ava says.

    ¡®Well, you see, she was such a freak and an abomination that her own parents abandoned her as

    a baby in the woods to die. My father was Alpha at the time. A pack member found her and decided to

    keep her as a ve,¡¯ he exins, and Avaughs.

    ¡®Fancy being so hated your own parents don''t want you,¡¯ she says.

    I continue to mop up the water, and try my best to ignore their hurtful words. Tears flood my face

    as I sob.

    ¡®Oh, the little ve is crying!¡¯ Ava says, with a chuckle. Alpha Tateughs and then slips on the

    dirty water, andnds on his back. Alpha Tate screams out in agony after we all hear a loud snap.

    ¡®My back! My back! I think it''s broken! I can''t move!¡¯ He yells.

    ¡®Alpha!¡¯ Ava screams, getting down on her knees, and hovering over him, before looking in my

    direction. ¡®Don''t just stand there! Do something! This is your doing!¡¯ She yells.

    Dropping the mop, I run to Alpha Tate¡¯s side and gently slide my hand under his back to feel

    around. He flinches at the sparks from my touch, and yells out as I press a broken bone.

    ¡®It''s definitely broken. It will heal, but it''s a bad break. It will probably take a couple of days to heal,¡¯

    I whisper.

    ¡®I can''t stay like this for a couple of days!¡¯ Alpha Tate yells. I pull my hand away and he cries out in

    pain again.

    ¡®What did you do to him?¡¯ Ava snaps.

    ¡®I didn''t do anything,¡¯ I whisper, keeping my eyes down. Beta Sam pushes me out of the way, and I

    go flying into the wall from his force. Alpha Tate growls and we all pause in shock for a moment.

    The pack members slide Alpha onto a board and take him to his room. I mop up the rest of the

    water.

    I walk outside to tip the dirty water out, ande back in, but Beta Sam is there, blocking the

    doorway.

    ¡®Alpha Tate has requested your presence in his room,¡¯ he says. I drop the bucket in surprise, and

    take a step back.

    Beta Sam roughly grabs me by the arm and drags me inside down the hall. We enter Alpha Tate''s

    room and Ava res at me, and the pack doctor smiles.

    ¡®I will leave you to it,¡¯ the doctor says, leaving the room.

    Beta Sam pushes me towards the bed and down into a chair next to Alpha Tate.

    ¡®You can go now Sam. You too, Ava,¡¯ Alpha Tate says.

    ¡®I¡¯m not leaving you alone with her,¡¯ Ava says.

    ¡®Get out now,¡¯ he yells, in his Alpha tone. Sam and Ava leave the room and it¡¯s only him and I. I¡¯m

    shaking and have no idea why I¡¯m here.

    ¡®I suppose you want to know why you¡¯re here,¡¯ he says, and I nod.

    ¡®The doctor said I¡¯ll heal much quicker with my mate here,¡¯ he says, and there¡¯s an awkward

    silence between us.

    ¡®I don''t want you here and I know you don''t want to be here, but I need you to put your hand under

    my back again. Your touch lessens the pain,¡¯ he exins.

    Nodding, I stand, and slide my hand under his back. He flinches and his eyes briefly turn ck

    from the sparks between us. Rxed, he exhales. I feel him staring at me but I keep my eyes down.

    ¡®Look at me, Hope,¡¯ he says.

    I stiffen and he notices. I shake my head, declining. I haven''t stared into his eyes since I found out

    we were mates.

    ¡®I want to see your eyes,¡¯ he says. Why does he want to see my eyes? Why does he want to look

    at me at all? I slowly look up, and make eye contact.

    We stare into each other''s eyes for a moment silently, and something strange happens; a warm

    energy flows through my arms and I start to glow.

    ¡®Your eyes. Why are they glowing silver? Why are you glowing? What¡¯s happening?¡¯ He asks,

    shocked.

    I can''t stop what I¡¯m doing. I¡¯m not even sure what I¡¯m doing or what¡¯s happening. My hair flows

    upwards around me despite there being no wind in the room.

    My arms glow like I have a light inside of me. The warm energy flows through my body, out the

    palm of my hand, and into Alpha Tate''s back.

    There¡¯s a crunching sound, Alpha Tate cries out, my hair falls down, my eyes are silver and blue

    again, and the glow disappears. Alpha Tate is pale, and his mouth is slightly open in shock. He sits up

    in bed and looks at me.

    ¡®You healed me!¡¯ He says, in disbelief.

    Taking a few steps back, I look down at my trembling hands. How did I do that? Alpha Tate is

    instantly standing in front of me, and staring intently into my eyes.

    ¡®Mine!¡¯ He deres, pulling me into his arms against his chest. Beta Sam and Ava run into the

    room and see Alpha Tate miraculously standing.

    ¡®Alpha! How did you heal so quickly?¡¯ Beta Sam asks.

    ¡®What are you doing Alpha? Why are you holding her in your arms?¡¯ Ava asks.

    Completely oblivious to Sam and Ava yelling at him, Alpha Tate stares at me in awe. I squirm and

    wriggle free from his grasp and fall to the ground. He holds his hand out to help me up, and I stare up

    into his eyes, very confused. He rejected me. He hurt me. Why is he looking at me with desire in his

    eyes? Why is he helping me now?

    I run past Sam and Ava and hear Alpha Tate growl angrily as I flee the pack house to the small

    <pke where I can be alone.

 Chapter 3

    Chapter 3

    Alpha Tate rejected us. Hurt us! He must be ying with us! I don''t like Alpha Tate, or his wolf,

    Grey, who is always trying to argue with me. Storm says.

    I know. He can''t expect me to run into his arms after the way he has treated me all these years. He

    rejected me!

    It''s getting dark and cold out here. We should head back to the attic. I say.

    On my way to the house, pack members are scouring the area for me. They must be searching for

    us. Storm says.

    I sneak around to the back of the house and climb up thettice, onto the roof. I crawl low, so no

    one can see me.

    Above the dining room, I hear Alpha Tate through the open window below me, speaking to other

    people. I crawl closer to the edge of the roof to hear him clearly.

    ¡®I am telling you now, she isn''t an ordinary wolf. I saw it with my own eyes. She has the power to

    heal,¡¯ he yells.

    ¡®Even if she does have this ability, what are your intentions with her?¡¯ Sam asks.

    ¡®If she can heal, we can use her to take over other packs, and be the strongest, most-feared

    pack in history!¡¯ He says.

    ¡®How would she help us do that? She can''t heal them to death,¡¯ Ava says, sarcastically.

    ¡®We fight during battle, and she will heal us as we are wounded, so we have no chance of losing,¡¯

    Alpha Tate exins.

    ¡®What if she refuses to heal us?¡¯ Sam asks.

    ¡®She will heal us. She is my mate and I am going to mark and mate her, and make her the Luna so

    she is obligated to help the pack,¡¯ he exins.

    ¡®No!¡¯ Ava shouts. ¡®You promised you¡¯d mark me and make me Luna!¡¯ Ava snaps.

    ¡®You¡¯re nothing but a whore on the side,¡¯ he says, and she runs out of the room crying.

    I was excited about having a mate and being marked, but the thought of Alpha Tate marking me

    makes me shudder in repulsion.

    ¡®We have another problem. We have Alpha Maximusing to stay in a few weeks,¡¯ Alpha Tate

    says.

    ¡®Alpha Maximus, the Lycan Prince?¡¯ Sam asks, startled.

    ¡®Yes,¡¯ Alpha Tate answers. Everyone in the room gasps and chats among themselves.

    ¡®Silence!¡¯ Alpha Tate yells, mming his fist on the table.

    ¡®I¡¯m aware he is feared, but with Hope healing us, we can kill him, and then the Blood Moon pack

    will be ours! The other packs will never trouble us again!¡¯ Alpha Tate exins.

    ¡®What business does the lycan have here anyway?¡¯ Someone asks.

    ¡®He hasn''t found his mate yet. He is travelling through every pack, until he finds her. Rumour has it,

    it''s not just on a full moon that he loses all control over his lycan. His lycan has be more

    aggressive and stronger as he has gotten older and takes over any time,¡¯ Alpha Tate exins.

    ¡®You¡¯re risking the safety of this pack allowing him here,¡¯ Sam says.

    ¡®I know that. I declined him, but he won''t take no for an answer. He requested one of the cells in

    the dungeon to be made avable for him in case he is here during a full moon. His pack members will

    chain him up until the full moon passes. This will be the best time to kill him; while he is locked up

    behind bars. Everyone fears him. We would be heroes if we killed him,¡¯ Alpha Tate exins.

    Coward! I tell Storm.

    Just goes to show how weak Alpha Tate is, that he has to lock an alpha up before he

    attacks. Storm says.

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    He is an unworthy alpha. I say.

    Crawling along to the other side of the roof, I push the window on the attic but it doesn''t open. I

    scrape all the ice off around the edges, and the window opens, I climb in, and close it quietly behind

    me.

    I huddle up on my mattress in the corner, and blow into my sped hands to warm them up. I hear

    footstepsing upstairs. I rush over to the window, open it, and am halfway out when someone¡¯s arm

    wraps around my waist and pulls me back in. I squirm and try to wriggle free.

    ¡®You¡¯reing with me,¡¯ Alpha Tate says, carrying me downstairs. I try to break free of his hold. I

    don''t want him to mark or mate me.

    He takes me to the dining room, where everyone waits and watches in anticipation. He sits me on

    the chair next to him.

    ¡®Sam, your knife,¡¯ Alpha Tate says.

    Sam stands and pulls a small knife from his belt, and hands it to Alpha Tate, who takes the knife

    and cuts the palm of his hand.

    The she-wolves gasp, and he flings the bloody knife across the table and plonks his hand in front

    of me. The blood pools, and drips down his wrist, and inbetween his fingers. I look at him, confused.

    ¡®Heal me,¡¯ he says, and everyone leans in closer to watch. I sit there, remain silent, and don¡¯t

    move.

    ¡®Damn it, Hope! Heal me!¡¯ He snaps, making me jump.

    Shaking my head, he aggressively takes my hand and puts it on his hand, before grabbing my

    other hand, and putting it on my other hand.

    ¡®Now. Or you¡¯ll go a week without food,¡¯ he says. I look at my hands covered in his blood. I don''t

    know how to do it.

    I entwine my fingers in his, both of us flinching from the sparks between us.

    Our audience remains silent as I stare intently at our hands, and my hair begins to float, my skin

    glows, and my eyes be a bright silver.

    Hearing the excitement in everyone''s voice, the glow fades, my eyes turn normal again and my

    hair falls down.

    I stare at our hands, intertwined, covered in blood, for a moment, before I let go. Alpha Tate stands

    and wipes his bloody hand across his chest to show the wound is healed. Everyone stares in disbelief

    at his hand, then at me.

    ¡®See?¡¯ Alpha Tate says, smiling, before pushing over a full te of food towards me.

    ¡®Eat,¡¯ he says, smiling at me. Everyone begins eating, speaking about my ability, and about the

    lycan.

    Hesitant to eat, I eye the te of food, feeling nauseous after healing him. I run out of the room,

    and don''t go to the attic because I know he will find me there.

    I go into the library, and crawl into a low cupboard, and close the door behind me. It¡¯s much

    warmer than the attic.

    Storm, we need to leave. Tomorrow I¡¯ll sneak into one of the she-wolves¡¯ rooms for warmer

    clothes, and when everyone is asleep, we will run. I say.

    Where are we going to go? Storm asks.

    I don''t know. Just as long as we get as far away from here as possible. I say.

    Won''t Alpha Tatee after us? Storm asks.

    Most likely. But we have to at least try and get away from here. I spoke.

    Let''s get some sleep. Hopefully it¡¯s ourst night in this pack house. Storm says.

    What if he catches you? He might kill you for running away. Storm says.

    He won''t kill me if he wants to use me for my healing ability. I say.

    Making myself morefortable, I nestle my head on my arms, like a pillow, and drift off to sleep.

    A few hourster, I¡¯m woken by Alpha Tate tearing the ce apart, looking for me.

    ¡®I can smell your scent Hope!¡¯ He yells. ¡®Come out,e out, wherever you are,¡¯ he chants, like it¡¯s

    a game of hide and seek.

    Keeping still, I peek through a crack trying to see where he is, when suddenly his eyes are in my

    line of sight and are inches apart, with only the thin wooden cupboard door between us.

    ¡®Found you!¡¯ He says, with a smile.

 Chapter 4

    Chapter 4

    Alpha Maximus

    My Beta Alex and Gamma Nathan chain me up in the Dark Moon pack¡¯s dungeon, and inject

    wolfsbane into me to weaken my lycan, before he shifts. Every full moon I lose control over my lycan.

    Being chained up in the dungeon until morning is the only way to stop me from hurting or killing

    anyone.

    Lycans are extremely rare, and strong. One lycan can take on a few alphas at once. Most of the

    time I¡¯m strong enough to control Chaos, my lycan.

    I¡¯m greatly feared by all; even my own pack members. My Beta Alex closes and locks the iron-

    barred door.

    ¡®Okay, Alpha Maximus. We¡¯ll see you in the morning,¡¯ he says.

    ¡®Don''t break out this time. I''d rather not refurnish the pack house again,¡¯ Nathan smirks.

    ¡®Chaos has be more aggressive and stronger. He hasn¡¯t spoken to me in months,¡¯ I exin.

    ¡®Rx Alpha. We have more wolfsbane if we need it, and these chains are strong. You¡¯ll be fine,¡¯

    Nathan says, reassuringly. I nod and watch them leave. I¡¯m feeling a bit groggy from the wolfsbane. I sit

    staring at the cuffs around my wrists and ankles, and up at the moon hole, waiting for the full moon to

    phase.

    My bones start to break and fur spreads all over my body. I shift into Chaos and let out a ferocious

    roar that all of the Dark Moon pack will have heard.

    Chaos has full control now, and he fights against the chains in anger and agitation. Hours pass,

    and he is still trying to break free, showing no sign of slowing down.

    Chaos... I know you won''t talk to me, but I want you to know I¡¯m here. I feel your anger and

    frustration too. I say.

    He lets out another terrifying roar.

    We will find her, Chaos. I won''t give up looking for her. I say.

    Free me now, and I will find her myself! Chaos snaps.

    You know I can''t let you out of here until I have control again! I argue. Another ferocious roar

    echoes throughout the pack house.

    You¡¯re only pissing the pack off when you keep waking them up and scaring them. I exin.

    At the end of the moon phase, my bones mend themselves and I shift back into human form. I

    mind-link Alex to let him know he cane and unchain me.

    ¡®How was your night?¡¯ I ask Alex, and he scrunches up his face.

    ¡®Well, that depends. Do you want the truth or a lie?¡¯ He asks.

    ¡®Which one is the nicer answer?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®The lie,¡¯ he says, with a nervous chuckle.

    ¡®Okay, tell me, then,¡¯ I say, rolling my eyes.

    ¡®Be and I slept so well. We weren¡¯t woken numerous times by horrific howls,¡¯ he says,

    sarcastically, crossing his arms.

    ¡®I''m sorry I woke her and scared her,¡¯ I say, miserably.

    ¡®It''s fine, Alpha. You can''t help it,¡¯ Alex says, with a sigh.

    Alex unlocks the iron-barred door and removes the cuffs from my wrists and ankles.

    ¡®I want you and Nathan to bring me a map of every pack house we have been to,¡¯ I exin.

    ¡®Okay. What¡¯s your n?¡¯ Alex asks.

    ¡®I need to find my mate,¡¯ I say.

    ¡®Every unmated female from every pack was at your gathering herest month,¡¯ he reminds me.

    ¡®What are you implying?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®That your mate might not exist or has¡ª¡¯

    Chaos half-shifts, snarls, and takes a swipe at Alex with his ws.

    Alex quickly ms the iron door shut so I can''t attack him. After a few minutes, I¡¯m back in control.

    As soon as I catch my breath, I look up at Alex.

    ¡®You''re losing control of Chaos too often,¡¯ Alex growls.

    He unlocks the door and lets me out. I grab him by the neck and hold him against the wall.

    ¡®Don''t imply my mate doesn¡¯t exist or has died ever again! Otherwise, Chaos will be the least of

    your worries. It will be me you will have to fear!¡¯ I growl.

    I let Alex go, and he drops to the ground in fear, and walks away.

    ¡®Get me that map today!¡¯ I snap, angrily.

    Storming upstairs to my room, I remove my pants, and get into the shower. I lean my head against

    the wall and think about what Alex said.

    She must exist. One of the packs must not have sent all of their unmated females to the gathering.

    As expected, Chaos ignores me.

    Dressed in a white, long-sleeved shirt, ck suit pants, and ck shoes, I walk to the kitchen,

    leaving the top few buttons of my shirt undone.

    ¡®Good morning, Beth. Sorry if Chaos disrupted your night,¡¯ I apologise.

    ¡®Oh, of course not, Alpha Max!¡¯ She says, a bright smile across her face.

    ¡®You know you cane disrupt my night any time you want,¡¯ she says, smirking.

    ¡®If only the Moon Goddess blessed me with you as my mate,¡¯ I chuckle.

    Beth is my cook and a dear olddy who worked for my parents before they died and I became

    Alpha.

    She is always cheerful; not even a bad night''s sleep takes that away from her. She is probably the

    only one who isn''t overly-bothered by my lycan.

    ¡®Pancakes for breakfast?¡¯ She asks, with a big grin.

    ¡®Just a coffee this morning, Beth. I¡¯ve got a lot of work to do today,¡¯ I say.

    ¡®I''ll make you an extra big lunch then,¡¯ she says, and I roll my eyes.

    ¡®Yes, that will be fine,¡¯ I agree.

    Taking my coffee, I sit in myrge chair at my desk. Nathan knocks and enters.

    ¡®Morning, Alpha Max,¡¯ he says.

    ¡®Good morning, Nathan. Has Alex found the map yet?¡¯ I ask, sipping my coffee.

    ¡®Yes. He will be here shortly. Did something happen Alpha Max? He seemed a little on edge,¡¯

    Nathan asks.

    ¡®It''s fine. We were both out of line. It''s nothing he won''t get over,¡¯ I exin. Alex knocks on my

    door, and Nathan pulls up a chair for him, and we spend the day going over the map, making a list of all

    the packs I haven''t been to.

    ¡®Okay, now that we have this list, I''ll contact all the alphas of these packs and tell them we will be

    staying with them and meeting all of their unmated she-wolves,¡¯ I exin.

    ¡®There will be full moons when we visit. You¡¯ll have to make sure they can have you locked up and

    secure each full moon. Can we trust these alphas?¡¯ Nathan asks.

    ¡®That''s true. We don''t know a lot of these alphas. But you¡¯ll being with me Nathan, and twelve

    of my best pack warriors. Alex will stay and look after the pack while I¡¯m gone,¡¯ I exin.

    All the alphas are contacted, and none are too keen to have me. Some even refuse to have me at

    first; obviously petrified of having a lycan among them.

    Beth enters my office with a massive te of pancakes.

    ¡®Thanks Beth!¡¯ We all say, grabbing some pancakes.

    ¡®Plenty more where that came from, boys,¡¯ she says, winking and leaving the room.

    ¡®When are you leaving Alpha Max?¡¯ Alex asks, his mouth stuffed with pancakes.

    ¡®First thing tomorrow morning. I''d like to get some good travel in before the next full moon,¡¯ I

    exin.

    ¡®Okay. I¡¯ll tell the warriors to pack and be ready to leave by dawn,¡¯ Alex says.

    After the meeting I apologise to half the pack for scaring them the previous night, and they are a bit

    too happy when I tell them I might be gone for weeks or even months. I remind them they should

    consider themselves lucky they are in such a strong and powerful pack.

    Nathan informs me I need to be more approachable and yell less. Then the pack members might

    warm up to me.

    From N?velDrama.Org.

    When I see they¡¯re afraid of me or despise me, I struggle to stay calm. My lycan doesn''t care for

    any of them and offers to wipe them out many times.

    I tell Chaos if he stopped trying to take control of me, the pack members wouldn''t be so frightened

    all the time.

    All I want is mate! I want what is mine! To mark her, hold her, and mate her! Chaos snarls.

    And how do you think my mate¡¯s wolf is going to react with you snarling and speaking like that? I

    highly doubt she will warm up to you. And Nathan says I¡¯m the one who needs to be more

    approachable. I scoff.

    Chaos growls and snaps at me before blocking our conversation so I can''t talk to him. It¡¯s time for

    me to rest anyway before my journey tomorrow.

 Chapter 5

    Chapter 5

    The next morning, the sun rises, and I feel nervous and worried about leaving the pack for so long

    and about not finding her, and having to return without her. It would be bad for the pack and myself,

    because I am struggling to control Chaos as it is. I can''t imagine how much worse he will be if we don''t

    find her.

    I just need to put my faith in the Moon Goddess. Surely, she doesn''t want the lycans to die out?

    Doesn¡¯t she want me to be happy? And my mate to be happy? Maybe she has been looking for me and

    wants me. Or maybe she doesn''t want a mate. And that is why we can''t find her, because she doesn''t

    want to be found. Or maybe she wants a werewolf and not a lycan. What if she rejects us?

    Stressing, I pace back and forth, trying not to panic.

    ¡®Alpha, are you okay?¡¯ Nathan asks, and I look up and snarl.

    Shit! Chaos! Stop! I yell at him.

    I look at Nathan with my ck lycan eyes, and Nathan slowly backs away, pulling out a dose of

    wolfsbane in case I attack him.

    Forcing to be in control, I bang my back up against the wall, fighting Chaos back. I hunch over,

    catching my breath. Nathan sighs with relief, when I have control again.

    ¡®What was that all about?¡¯ Nathan asks.

    ¡®I was starting to freak out about finding our mate and being rejected because I¡¯m a lycan. And

    about her maybe not even wanting a mate. Chaos was listening and became angry at my thoughts,¡¯ I

    exin.

    Nathan ces his hand on my shoulder.

    ¡®Alpha, any she-wolf would be a fool to reject you. Underneath Chaos and yourck of... calm,

    there¡¯s a good man and a good werewolf,¡¯ he assures me.

    ¡®You don''t have to lie to me,¡¯ I say, and Nathan scoffs.

    ¡®I¡¯m trying to make you feel better,¡¯ he says with his hands in the air. We look at each other and

    On my way out, Beth hands me a basket of food for breakfast. I kiss her forehead and step

    outside, and get into the limo waiting for me. A few ck cars with some pack warriors follow behind.

    We drive half the day, and the men stop to relieve their dders and let their wolves out for a quick

    run.

    I lean against a tree wishing I could let my lycan out for a run, but I know he would just rip my men

    apart.

    I climb the nearest tree to look around the area. I sit and admire the view, until my men return,

    get back into their cars.

    Four hourster, we arrive at Moonfall pack. It¡¯s obvious from their very forced wee, they don''t

    want me here.

    After greeting Alpha Dan, I follow him inside his pack house. All eyes are on me. The men re

    and the she-wolves avoid me, obviously scared.

    Is my reputation really this bad? I link Nathan.

    Honest truth or can I lie again? He asks.

    Honest truth. I say.

    Yes, it''s bad. Really bad. He replies.

    Letting out a big sigh, I gently smile at a she-wolf I pass, her eyes go wide, she screams, and runs

    off.

    ¡®What happened? What did you do?¡¯ Alpha Dan asks sternly. I put my hands up in the air, in

    surrender.

    ¡®Nothing! I swear. I just smiled,¡¯ I exin.

    Alpha Dan reads me for a moment, then bursts outughing and pats me on the back.

    ¡®I''m sorry. Even your smile scares the she-wolves away. No offence. Everyone here is terrified

    because you can''t control your lycan,¡¯ he exins.

    ¡®I understand. Maybe, by the time I leave here, everyone might not think so badly of me,¡¯ I say,

    hopeful.

    ¡®We¡¯ll see. Let''s eat and rest. And in the morning, we will have all the unmated she-wolves ready

    for you to meet,¡¯ he says.

    Nodding, I sit at the table. Nathan sits next to me and we eat in silence. All of the kitchen staff

    creep around like they are walking on eggshells; it¡¯s very awkward. The pack members at the table

    keep their heads down. I break the silence.

    ¡®Moonfall is such a lovely ce, it''s very¡­ pleasant,¡¯ I say.

    ¡®I should add, this food is wonderful,¡¯ Nathan adds, trying to help.

    ¡®I look forward to giving you a proper tour tomorrow,¡¯ Alpha Dan says. ¡®Amy, show Alpha Max and

    Nathan to their rooms.¡¯ The girl stiffens, and nods.

    ¡®This way please,¡¯ she says, and we follow her upstairs and Nathan ims the first room, and I

    follow Amy to the next room.

    ¡®Here you are, Alpha Max,¡¯ she says, keeping her distance.

    ¡®Thank you, Amy,¡¯ I say, and she runs off.

    I don''t sleep well. I¡¯m looking forward to meeting the unmated she-wolves.

    As soon as it¡¯s morning, Nathan and I are up and ready for the day.

    We meet Alpha Dan for breakfast, and make our way outside, where he shows us around the

    vige.

    On the way back, we stop in the hall where the she-wolves are waiting. I walk inside and see eight

    different girls, petrified and shaking.

    ¡®Okay,dies. No need to be frightened. Alpha Max needs you to make eye contact with him, to

    see if any of you are his mate,¡¯ Alpha Dan says, reassuring the girls.

    Looking at each of them, I see nothing but fear and feel no connection. I look at Nathan and Alpha

    Dan, and shake my head.

    ¡®I wish you luck at the next pack,¡¯ Alpha Dan says, patting me on the back.

    We get into the limo, drive three hours to the next pack, and I meet five she-wolves who don''t want

    a bar of me. Their Alpha makes them co-operate. They¡¯re very bitchy and stuck up. I¡¯m d none of

    them are my mate; Chaos wouldn¡¯t be impressed with any of them either.

    We spend the next week visiting nine other packs. Some aren''t too bad, and are somewhat

    weing. Others can''t wait to be rid of me.

    There are a few instances where Chaos fully takes over after some negativements, and

    Nathan gives me a dose of wolfsbane. One girl tells me she feels sorry for the girl doomed to be my

    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.

    mate. Chaos, no doubt, would have ripped her head off. That pack alpha demands I leave his territory.

    Needing some air and some space, I rip off my shirt and run deep into the forest. When I¡¯m far

    away enough from everyone else, I let Chaos shift.

    Hurt, he roars and howls angrily and ws at the trees, shredding them. After an hour of having a

    meltdown and destroying some trees, Chaos lies on his back staring up at the moon. ¡®Mate,¡¯ he

    whispers.

    In human form, I walk back to the limo, and Nathan and my warriors are all standing there, worried

    and concerned.

    ¡®Are you okay? We could hear you, Chaos, for miles.¡¯ I¡¯m too depressed to talk. I get into the limo

    and sit with my head in my hands.

    ¡®The next pack is four hours away. We can sleep in the cars tonight,¡¯ Nathan says, and I nod, and

    close the car door.

    I wonder what she is like. Will she give me a chance? Or will she reject me? I wonder what her

    scent is like. If she has dark hair or light hair. Will the Moon Goddess bless me with a kind-hearted

    mate? Or an arrogant self-absorbed mate, like the she-wolf Chaos almost just killed?

 Chapter 6

    Chapter 6

    Hope

    Alpha Tate rips the cupboard door off and flings it across the room. He crouches down and stares

    at me.

    ¡®What are you doing in here?¡¯ He asks, pulling me out. I hit and whack him, and he frowns.

    ¡®Feisty, I see,¡¯ he says, and Ind on the floor.

    I stand, and try to run past him but he grabs me, and pulls me back.

    ¡®You¡¯re actually fun to y with. I have things I want to discuss with you,¡¯ he says, scooping me up.

    He carries me into his office, and kicks the door shut behind us. He sits in his chair, and holds me

    in hisp. He grabs my face, forcing me to stare at him. We remain silent and stare at each other.

    He leans into me, presses his nose into my neck, and inhales my scent. He puts his hand on my

    ¡®It''s okay. Just rx. This will only hurt a moment,¡¯ he whispers; his fangs protrude, as he is about

    to mark me. I punch and kick him and he lets out a vicious growl.

    ¡®Keep still,¡¯ he says.

    ¡®No!¡¯ I yell, removing myself from hisp, and falling on the floor.

    ¡®You¡¯re about to be Luna and my mate! Get back here, so we can do this!¡¯ He shouts.

    ¡®No!¡¯ I yell, standing up.

    ¡®No?¡¯ He asks, confused and angry.

    ¡®I don''t want to be your mate or your Luna!¡¯ I say, quietly.

    Alpha Tate frowns.

    ¡®Any woman would do anything to be in your shoes right now. To have me as their mate, and be

    the Luna of this pack!¡¯ He exins.

    ¡®You rejected me,¡¯ I exin.

    ¡®Yes, I did. But I¡¯m taking that back. You should be happy I¡¯m making this right,¡¯ he exins.

    ¡®This doesn''t feel right,¡¯ I exin.

    ¡®Let me mark you and I will make it feel right. I will mate you straight away, and you will feel better,¡¯

    he exins, smiling. I take a few steps back.

    ¡®No. I don''t want to be with you,¡¯ I retort. He stands and walks towards me, annoyed.

    ¡®I, Hope, reject you, Alpha Tate, of the ckwood pack as my mate.¡¯ He falls to the ground in

    agony, clutching at his chest.

    That''s strange. I¡¯m not feeling the pain. He crawls towards me.

    ¡®Get back here, Hope!¡¯ He yells.

    I run out of his office, down the hallway, and Sam and the others run towards me.

    ¡®Why is Alpha screaming?¡¯ Sam asks, angrily.

    Not wanting to stop, I run past them, and outside to theke, feeling liberated and shocked.

    I just rejected Alpha Tate! I actually did it. I didn''t know I had it in me. What¡¯s going to happen to

    me now? When he has recovered?

    The pack members yell out in the distance.

    ¡®Hope! Come back here now!¡¯ They yell.

    We have to leave tonight! Storm agrees.

    We sneak around the back, climb up thettice to the attic, go through the window, and tiptoe

    down the corridor to Ava¡¯s room. I take a coat and shoes, put them on and exit back through the attic

    window.

    Waiting until it¡¯s clear, I run through the trees.

    The pack members shift into their wolves and howl to let me know they¡¯re after me. I run for a

    while until I have to stop from exhaustion.

    Storm! You have to shift. I can''t outrun them.

    I can''t. I''m too scared toe out.

    If you don''t shift, we will be caught and taken back to Alpha Tate.

    I hear the pounding of paws against the grounding up behind me. Arge brown wolf lunges

    at me, and I fall backwards. It growls and drools all over me.

    Sam shifts into his human form, grabs me by my hair and drags me back to the house.

    Being dragged, I lose the shoes, while I try to free my hair from his hands. Inside the house, he

    throws me on the floor in front of Alpha Tate''s feet. Alpha Tate is furious and hits me across the face.

    ¡®If you ever try to escape again, I will kill you,¡¯ he yells.

    grabbing my arm, standing up and pulling me behind him as he walks back outside. I have no idea

    where he is taking me.

    We walk down the road to a small, grey, brick building. He unlocks the iron-barred door with a key

    and pushes the gate open to reveal a staircase that leads intoplete darkness.

    Sam approaches with a lit torch and walks downstairs, where it is wet and cold. I worry I¡¯ll be left

    down here alone.

    Sam opens one of the iron-barred doors and Alpha Tate throws me in, Ind on the ground, and sit

    up.

    ¡®I think a couple of days down here will do you some good!¡¯ He yells, walking away, leaving me in

    The next day Sam puts a te of stale bread on the cell floor for me to eat. It¡¯s starting to mould in

    ces. He doesn''t say anything and doesn''t look at me. After he has left, I grab the bread and take a

    bite.

    My eyes adjust to the darkness, and I break bits of bread up and throw them to the rats, and hope

    they don¡¯t bite me while I sleep. I pray to the Moon Goddess and ask her to save me. All I get is

    silence.

    The next day Sam lets me out of the cell and leads me inside the pack house. We go to Alphas

    Tate''s office where he is waiting for me. Sam pushes me into a chair and stands next to me, making

    sure I don''t run.

    Alpha Tate sits in his chair with his arms crossed.

    ¡®If you are declining my offer of being my mate, then you will remain a ve here,¡¯ he exins.

    ¡®You will also be put to use, and heal whoever I say, when asked. I will need your healing ability in a few

    weeks'' time,¡¯ he exins.

    ¡®What is happening in a few weeks?¡¯ I quietly ask.

    ¡®We have an unwanted guest, a lycan, who is a pest and a threat to the werewolfmunity. I n

    on killing him and you will heal me and any pack members.¡¯

    ¡®You mean Alpha Max?¡¯ I ask, and Alpha Tate res at me.

    ¡®How do you know his name?¡¯ He asks.

    ¡®I heard someone talk about him when I was cleaning,¡¯ I say.

    ¡®That makes sense,¡¯ he adds.

    R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    ¡®There is one problem though,¡¯ I say.

    ¡®What might that be?¡¯ He asks.

    ¡®I''m not going to help you kill another man,¡¯ I say.

    ¡®You won''t be killing him. You will be healing me or anyone else who needs healing,¡¯ he exins.

    ¡®Healing you is still killing him. I won''t do it,¡¯ I say, looking away, and Alpha Tate ms his fist on

    his desk.

    ¡®You will do as you¡¯re told!¡¯ He yells.

    ¡®No. I''m not going to let you use me like that!¡¯ I say.

    ¡®Sam, take Hope back to the cell, and rough her up a bit. I''m sure it will convince her to obey me,¡¯

    he yells.

    Sam grabs my arm, and yanks me from the chair, and leads me back to the cell where he beats

    me until I¡¯m unconscious.

    I lose track of how many days and nights I¡¯ve been kept down here. My guess is nine or ten. Alpha

    Tatees to see me a couple of times, but I refuse to help him.

    Storm has been quiet for days now. I have been given only a small bit of bread and half a cup of

    water every few days. My stomach grumbles with hunger, and my lips peel and ke from dehydration.

    I talk to the rats, and reassure them they will be okay and they will be free of this ce soon

    too.

 Chapter 7

    Chapter 7

    Alpha Maximus

    I have spent thest few weeks travelling through every pack house on the map. I let out a heavy

    sigh.

    ¡®What''s the name of the next pack?¡¯ I ask Nathan.

    ¡®ckwood. We will be there soon. Tomorrow night is a full moon though, so I suggest you stay the

    extra night there to keep Chaos contained,¡¯ Nathan exins.

    ¡®It''s the safest thing to do,¡¯ I agree.

    There is a dark and eerie feeling in the ckwood territory. There are a lot of dead trees and a

    storm is brewing.

    ¡®This ce looks terrible,¡¯ Nathan says.

    ¡®Yep. And we¡¯re here for two nights,¡¯ I remind him.

    We are approached and greeted by Alpha Tate, and strangely he seems very happy to have us

    there. He walks us through the pack house and into his office. A man walks in with a tray of sses

    and a bottle of whisky.

    ¡®This is my Beta, Sam,¡¯ Alpha Tate says, introducing us.

    We shake hands and I sit back down.

    ¡®Drink?¡¯ Sam asks, half filling the four sses, and passing us all a ss.

    ¡®We¡¯re thrilled to be hosting a lycan in our pack house,¡¯ Alpha Tate says.

    ¡®I''m pretty sure you declined to offer me the hospitality here, at first,¡¯ I say, and Alpha Tate

    chuckles.

    ¡®I''ll be honest. At first, I was a little concerned about the whole idea. You can''t me an alpha for

    wanting to keep his pack safe. What kind of alpha would that make me, if I refused to host one of the

    ¡®Yes, well, speaking of hospitality, tomorrow night is a full moon. I¡¯d appreciate the use of your

    dungeon for the night, so you won''t have to worry about the safety of your pack,¡¯ I exin.

    ¡®Of course, of course. We have plenty of cells to choose from. Make yourself at home while you¡¯re

    here, I insist,¡¯ he says, pouring himself another whisky.

    ¡®Thank you, Alpha Tate. I have to ask: do you have any unmated she-wolves?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®We have one unmated she-wolf. Ava. You¡¯ll meet her tomorrow,¡¯ he says.

    ¡®Your mate and Luna is not here?¡¯ I ask. Alpha Tate almost chokes on his whisky, and sits up

    straight.

    Alpha Tate and Sam give each other a strange look; mind-linking.

    ¡®My mate, believe it or not, only turned eighteen a month ago, so I only recently found her,¡¯ he

    exins.

    ¡®I¡¯d love to meet her¡¯ I say, watching Alpha Tate adjust his cor and tie, clearly ufortable.

    ¡®I''m sure you¡¯ll meet her at some point. She is currently indisposed¡¯. He exins, assuring himself

    more than me.

    We have another round of whisky, and Alpha Tate asks to hear about my journey. I give him only

    the basics: I can''t be bothered with the details.

    A pack memberes in and says dinner will be ready shortly, and we make our way downstairs.

    ¡®I think your cook has made something with apples for dessert,¡¯ I observe.

    ¡®What makes you say that?¡¯ Alpha Tate asks.

    ¡®Ever since I arrived, I''ve been able to smell warm apples and caramel. Whatever it is, I''m looking

    forward to it,¡¯ I say.

    Alpha Tate chuckles.

    ¡®Yes. I have some of the best cooks here,¡¯ he says, and Nathan sniffs the air.

    ¡®I can''t smell it,¡¯ he says, shrugging.

    It¡¯s quite the feast and the pack speak happily to me and ask questions. It¡¯s quite refreshing to feel

    included and not be in a room full of people who are terrified of me. We drink plenty of wine, and tell

    many dumb jokes and stories, and have plenty ofughs at the table.

    I¡¯m excited and distracted when dessert is brought out, but it isn''t the caramel apple or apple pie I

    thought it would be. It¡¯s banana fritters with cream.

    It¡¯s strange I¡¯m so disappointed about dessert. Normally, I wouldn''t care.

    My frustration and anger builds, so I quickly mind-link Nathan; Chaos might make an appearance.

    I excuse myself, needing the bathroom as the reason, but go outside and hop into the limo.

    I¡¯m fighting Chaos for control. Chaos! Stop trying to take over! You¡¯ll have all tomorrow night! I

    growl at him.

    Nathan opens the car door and hops in.

    ¡®Do you need some wolfsbane?¡¯ He asks.

    ¡®I think I''m okay. I got angry over dessert, of all things,¡¯ I chuckle, and Nathanughs.

    ¡®Well, it was overcooked and sloppy,¡¯ he says,ughing. Before going back into the house, I inhale

    the air.

    ¡®That smell of hot apples and caramel is so calming,¡¯ I say.

    ¡®The only thing I smell is the fart I just released,¡¯ Nathan says,ughing, and I shove him yfully.

    ¡®Gross, man. Right in front of me too!¡¯ I say.

    Alpha Tate insists we join him for drinks before we call it a night, and he takes us into a gaming

    room where we y poker and drink whisky.

    The next morning, I get myself dressed and bang on Nathan''s door.

    ¡®You ready?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®Just a little more sleep,¡¯ he says.

    I open the door and let myself in; he is still in bed.

    ¡®Come on. Get up. We¡¯re going to meet... what¡¯s her name? Ava? Ava.¡¯

    Nathan sits up holding his head. I fill his ss with water from a jug on his bedside table and hand

    it to him.

    ¡®Drink this, shithead,¡¯ I say,ughing.

    ¡®I''m not a shithead,¡¯ Nathan retorts.

    ¡®You were twice as drunk as mest night and were shitfaced, so, yeah,¡¯ I say, shrugging my

    shoulders. Nathan skulls the water.

    ¡®Go have a shower. I¡¯ll wait for you,¡¯ I say, walking over to a bookshelf and picking a book to read.

    Sitting on the couch, flicking through the pages, I throw the book aside. I get up and wander up the

    hall.

    The smell of cooked apples and warm caramel hits my nose again; the scent bing stronger

    as I head in this direction. I stop in front of an old staircase below an attic.

    Walking up the rotten and damp stairs, I turn the door handle and push the door open. The door

    creaks, and I step into the room. There¡¯s a really old thin mattress in the corner, a broken chair in the

    other corner and a full-length mirror missing half its ss.

    It¡¯s so cold up here, I exhale fog. Has someone been sleeping in here? I suddenly feel

    overwhelmed with sadness. The onlyfort is the sweet smell.

    ¡®Alpha Max,¡¯ Sam says, behind me.

    ¡®What are you doing up here?¡¯ He asks.

    ¡®Sorry, I got lost. I was heading to the dining room,¡¯ I exin, innocently.

    ¡®Yeah. It¡¯s a big ce. I got lost a few times when I first moved in,¡¯ he exins, leading me out of

    the attic.

    ¡®Can I ask you something?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®Sure,¡¯ he says.

    ¡®Does someone sleep in there?¡¯

    ¡®No. That would be barbaric and cruel. That room is used for storage,¡¯ he exins.

    Funny, since there¡¯s nothing stored in it. He has lied.

    R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Nathan is in the hallway, waiting for me.

    ¡®Alpha. You said you¡¯d wait for me,¡¯ he says.

    ¡®Yeah, sorry,¡¯ I say.

    ¡®Shall we head downstairs and meet Ava?¡¯ Sam asks. I nod and follow him.

    A woman with dark, brown, shoulder-length hair, and dark brown eyes, stands waiting in therge

    dining room.

    She isn''t too bad-looking but I don''t like her scent. She smiles and winks. I¡¯ve never had a woman

    wink at me before...

    ¡®You must be the famous Lycan Prince, Alpha Max,¡¯ she says, bowing her head. ¡®I''m Ava. Happy to

    help you in any way you need,¡¯ she says, seductively, and I give a nervousugh.

    ¡®Thank you, Ava.¡¯ I feel nothing for her. Nathan coughs.

    She isn''t my mate. I tell him.

    Well at least she hasn''t run off screaming. He replies.

    Jerk. I add.

    ¡®Alpha Tate won''t be having breakfast with us this morning. He has matters that need attending to,¡¯

    Sam exins, and we nod and sit down for breakfast.

 Chapter 8

    Chapter 8

    Hope

    Alpha Tate holds me against the wall.

    ¡®If you continue to refuse to help me, you¡¯ll be of no use to me or this pack and I will kill you myself,

    once I have killed that lycan! What have you decided? Heal the pack, or die with the lycan?¡¯ He asks,

    and I keep silent, looking down. ¡®Answer me!¡¯ He yells, grabbing my face.

    ¡®I''d rather die, than help a pathetic coward of an alpha like you,¡¯ I whisper. He strikes me across

    the face, splitting my lip, and throws me to the ground.

    ¡®If you want to die, fine!¡¯ He yells, mming the iron door shut. I cry, and some pack warriors enter

    the cell next to mine not long after. They pay no attention to me, shaking from the cold.

    They¡¯re holding big heavy chains. They¡¯re preparing for the lycan. There are plenty of other cells. I

    don''t like that they¡¯re putting the lycan in the cell right next to me.

    What if he reaches through the bars and kills me? I¡¯m very nervous. Will they give the lycan a

    quick death? Will I get a quick death? I wonder if he is as ferocious and wild as they say he is? I don¡¯t

    want to die. I don''t want to watch the lycan be killed. Too tired and weak to stand, I use the bars to sit

    myself up, rest my head on the bench, and drift off to sleep.

    Alpha Maximus

    Alpha Tate returns before lunch, and smells strongly of the dessert I¡¯m longing for.

    Prick. No wonder he didn''t have breakfast with us. He ate it all himself. I tell myself to get over it.

    It¡¯s just food and Beth can bake me a hundred apple pies as soon as I get home.

    When it¡¯s almost nightfall, it¡¯s time for me to go down to the cell for the night.

    ¡®Do you have the wolfsbane first? Then go to the cell?¡¯ Alpha Tate asks.

    He has spent all day asking me questions about the process we go through on a full moon. I get

    that he is curious and worried for his pack, but all his questions are just ridiculous and are pissing me

    off.

    ¡®Alpha Tate, Nathan and my pack have everything under control. If necessary, Nathan can give me

    an extra dose of wolfsbane. It¡¯s unlikely I¡¯ll need it though,¡¯ I exin.

    ¡®I see. Well, let us drink a ss of whisky before you go,¡¯ he offers, and Nathan and I nod, and we

    sit down to have a drink.

    We skull our drinks, and Nathan runs upstairs to get the wolfsbane. My head feels fuzzy after just

    one whisky. That''s strange. I try to ignore it, and look up at Nathan, who is swaying in front of me.

    ¡®Nathan. What¡¯s wrong?¡¯ I ask, and he copses on the floor. I jump up.

    ¡®Nathan!¡¯ I yell, and I¡¯m feeling fuzzier and the room is swaying.

    Alpha Tate stands with his arms crossed and a smug look on his face.

    ¡®You drugged our drinks,¡¯ I realise.

    I rip my shirt open, and shift into my lycan; fury overtaking me, before feeling a sharp sting in my

    arm, where Sam has injected wolfsbane. I let out a loud roar and fall into darkness.

    Hope

    Startled, I wake to the smell of cedarwood. It¡¯s the most amazing smell and it calms my nerves. A

    group of men argue outside. Alpha Tate, Sam and four other pack members struggle carrying someone

    towards the cell. I squint and my mouth drops open.

    The lycan! He is massive; at least seven foot tall, covered in shiny ck fur, broad-chested, and

    his muscles are huge.

    They drag him along, unconscious. They struggle getting him into the cell. The smell of cedarwood

    overwhelms me and I¡¯m hot and bothered.

    ¡®Do we kill him now while he is out?¡¯ Sam asks Alpha Tate.

    ¡®Where would the fun in that be? We will torture him a bit. Put the chains on him before he wakes,¡¯

    Alpha Tatemands.

    Unsure why, I¡¯m drawn to him. I have the urge to reach out and touch his fur. I crawl across the

    floor, and put my hand through the bars. Alpha Tate grabs my wrist and twists my arm.

    I cry out in pain, the lycan stirs, and makes gruff noises.

    ¡®What are you doing?¡¯ Alpha Tate asks.

    ¡®I don''t know,¡¯ I whisper. He flings my hand away, and I crawl to the other side of my cell and watch

    them chain his wrists and ankles.

    He stirs again; breathing deeply at first, before smelling something. Realising he is chained, he

    growls, and pulls on the chains, forcefully and aggressively. Weakly, he stands, swaying, looking

    around.

    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.

    They must have drugged him. He sniffs the air again and lets out another loud growl, making me

    flinch. He has seen me flinch, and Alpha Tate punches him in the stomach.

    The lycan lunges at Alpha Tate but can''t move far as the chains restrain him.

    Sam hands Alpha Tate a whip. I freeze when Alpha Tate whips him across his chest, and look

    away, covering my eyes. Tears flood my face. The whip cracks against his skin over and over. Blood

    oozes out of his chest.

    ¡®Stop! Please stop!¡¯ I yell, horrified. Alpha Tate pauses, and res at me. The lycan uses what

    strength he has to open his eyes and look at me.

    As soon as our eyes connect, my body is instantly drawn to him, like I¡¯m sucked into a vortex.

    Euphoria and lust wash over me. Hot sparks flow through my body and I start to glow. My hair flows up

    around me and my eyes turn silver. Everything disappears around us. Only the lycan and I exist.

    ¡®Mate!¡¯ We both say.

    My surroundings reappear, my glow fades, my hair falls and my eyes return to normal. Suddenly, I

    gasp for air like I¡¯ve been held under water and winded with force.

    The lycan has experienced the same thing, and is struggling to catch his breath. His eyes are on

    me, in disbelief at what just happened. He is yearning for me.

    He reaches out towards me, as far as the chain allows, and I crawl over to him and push my arm

    through the bars; our fingers eagerly needing eachother.

    ¡®Impossible!¡¯ Alpha Tate yells. ¡®She is my mate!¡¯ He yells.

    The lycan roars ferociously, and Alpha Tate jumps back in fright. The lycan struggles with the

    chains to no avail. Alpha Tateughs, unlocks my cell door, and pulls me up my hair. The lycan is

    concerned.

    ¡®Is this what you want, Alpha Max?¡¯ He asks, licking my neck.

    Shivering, repulsed, I try to free my hair from his hands, and the lycan bes more and more

    aggressive, trying to free himself. The lycan looks into my teary eyes, huffs heavily, before looking back

    at Alpha Tate.

    Sam punches the lycan over and over with two other pack members.

    ¡®No! Please! Stop hurting him!¡¯ I yell and plead.

    Alpha Tate forces me against the bars, and pulls the back of my dress up.

    ¡®Before you die, you¡¯re going to watch me mate and mark this ve,¡¯ Alpha Tate says, with a

    perverted chuckle.

    ¡®No!¡¯ I yell, trying to fight him off. He grabs my arms, spins me around, and ms me against the

    bars.

 Chapter 9

    Chapter 9

    Hope

    The lycan is berserk, snarling and growling, saliva flying out his mouth. Sam reaches for the knife

    in his belt.

    ¡®No!¡¯ I scream, while he thrusts the knife in and out of his stomach.

    ¡®Slow down! I want him to watch this before he dies,¡¯ Alpha Tate says, moving my hair from my

    neck, and nuzzling the spot where he will mark me. I¡¯m crying my eyes out. Leant against the bars,

    Sam grins while watching Alpha Tate, and the lycan bleed out.

    About to die any moment, the lycan¡¯s eyes roll back in his head. I spot a syringe in Sam''s belt.

    Without knowing what¡¯s in it, it¡¯s my only chance of helping the lycan. I squirm from Alpha Tate''s

    protruding teeth, grazing my neck. Just as I grab it, a few men I don''t recognise run downstairs.

    ¡®Shit!¡¯ Sam says, pouncing at them in his wolf form.

    Six different wolves from two different packs maul eachother. I hold the syringe firmly, and jab

    Alpha Tate''s leg, and he strikes me across the face, before swaying, and falling to the ground. He

    copses on top of me; he is so heavy I¡¯m struggling to breath.

    The wolves are still mauling eachother, except for two who have been ripped apart. There is blood

    and limbs everywhere. The lycan¡¯s breathing is worse now; his head slowly falls back and blood pools

    underneath him.

    I free myself from underneath Alpha Tate, who groans groggily. I stand, grab the keys, and run into

    the next cell,

    unlocking the chains on one of his wrists, and then the chains around his ankles.

    ¡®Mate,¡¯ he whispers, barely conscious. I take his free hand and ce it on my face. His thumb

    weakly pats my cheek. Sparks explode with our touch. I feel like I¡¯m about to explode into stardust. The

    feeling is something I¡¯ve never felt before. I¡¯m roughly pulled by back someone.

    ¡®Get away from him!¡¯ The man yells, and I cover my face with my arms, afraid he is going to hit me.

    The lycan growls at him.

    ¡®Mine!¡¯ He says, weakly, trying to reach for me.

    ¡®Alpha Max, is this your mate?¡¯ He asks, staring at me in shock for a moment. Sam¡¯s barely

    conscious, and the others are dead. Alpha Tate is still out, in the cell next to us. Nathan unlocks the cuff

    on the wrist that I couldn''t reach. The man helps Alpha Max gently stand, before cing his hands over

    some of the stab wounds.

    ¡®Shit. This is bad. Our warriors are dead. I don''t know if you¡¯ll heal quick enough. There are at least

    ten wounds,¡¯ he says.

    ¡®Mate,¡¯ Alpha Max whispers, and the man nods for me to go to him. I crawl over to Alpha Max and

    take his hand.

    ¡®I don''t think he is going to make it,¡¯ the man tells me. I can heal him. Reluctantly, I let go of his

    hand, even though he doesn''t want to let go. I ce my hands on his chest and silently concentrate.

    ¡®What are you doing?¡¯ The man asks, and I ignore him, trying to focus. My hair flows upward, and

    my skin glows and my eyes turn silver. His wounds start healing slowly, and the man gasps in shock

    and awe at the magic he is witnessing. Feeling dizzy, I know I can''t stop just yet if I want him to survive.

    I close my eyes and concentrate, trying to heal him quickly, until I exhale, and copse into darkness

    on his chest.

    Alpha Max/Chaos

    The pain has disappeared, the wounds are gone, and I look down in shock at my little, frail mate

    who has just saved my life. She is bruised and weakened with dehydration and hunger. She is out like

    a light. I wrap my furry arms around her and pull her into me tightly.

    ¡®Mine!¡¯ I growl as Chaos; Nathan stands and backs away.

    ¡®Okay, okay. I get it. She¡¯s yours,¡¯ he says, not wanting to piss me off.

    Nathan drags Sam into Alpha Tate¡¯s cell and locks the iron door so they can''t get out.

    ¡®I''ve never seen anything like that. She healed you with her bare hands. I don''t understand how,¡¯

    Nathan confesses, utterly confused.

    I can''t keep my eyes off her. The memory of her glowing is an image that will be imprinted in my

    mind forever. It was like staring at an angel who had fallen from the heavens. Nathan sits down.

    ¡®We can either stay here till morning so you can shift back, or we can get the hell out of here now.

    But I''m worried you¡¯ll kill the rest of the ckwood pack.¡¯

    Angry, I growl. I want to destroy the whole ckwood pack. I want them to pay dearly for this

    treachery, and for what they have done to my precious mate. Looking at the state of her, my anger

    builds, and she whimpers. I¡¯m unintentionally digging my ws into her skin.

    Quickly and gently, I release her, before my anger takes over, and she wakes and sits up, rubbing

    her eyes.

    She looks at me, confused, before cowering in fear as she realises I¡¯m trying to contain my anger.

    Nathan gently pushes her behind him, and backs away slowly.

    ¡®Chaos, it''s over. You need to calm down. You went through a lot, but you¡¯re okay. You have your

    mate now. I need you to stay here until you shift so no one else gets hurt!¡¯ Nathan exins.

    I try to fight Chaos for control but he has only one thing on his mind. Revenge for almost being

    killed, and the unknown horrors our mate has been through.

    He lets out a loud ferocious howl and runs out of the cell on a murderous rampage killing

    ckwood pack members. Our mate tries to follow me but Nathan holds her back. I¡¯m scared I¡¯ll hurt

    her in this form; Nathan is too.

    The moon wanes, and the sun starts to rise, and I shift back into my human form. At least a few

    dozen pack warriors are dead.

    Shit! Chaos! What have you done? I yell at him.

    Revenge. He responds.

    You should not have killed them! I yell.

    They hurt mate! They kill us! He yells. I let out a sigh, knowing what is done is done. The rest of

    the ckwood pack members are hiding in their house.

    The odd face sneaks a peek, probably to see if I¡¯m still on my killing spree. I run back to the cell to

    get Nathan and my mate.

    ¡®Nathan,¡¯ I shout, running down the steps. ¡®We need to go now!¡¯ I shout. My mate is hiding behind

    Nathan and clinging to the back of his shirt. Nathan takes her hand and they walk towards me, she

    gasps, and her cheeks flush red. She covers her eyes with her hands.

    I¡¯mpletely naked, but that usually doesn''t bother anyone in the werewolfmunity.

    It¡¯s kind of cute she is shy and startled by my nudity. Keeping eye contact, she looks up at me a

    little confused.

    ¡®It''s okay. I¡¯m your mate. I''m going to get you out of here,¡¯ I say, softly.

    She looks at Nathan who smiles, nods, and reassures her. I stretch my hand out for her to walk to

    me and take my hand.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.

 Chapter 10

    Chapter 10

    Hope

    Slowly, I step out from behind Nathan, still blushing after seeing his enormous member. I gently

    ce my hand in his. He rubs the back of my hand with his thumb, sending sparks between us. He

    smiles at me with his big blue eyes.

    ¡®Let''s go,¡¯ he says, I nod, and let him lead me out of the dungeon. It¡¯s so bright outside. I use my

    free hand to shield my eyes from the sun. Being in that dungeon for weeks, it had been a while since I

    had seen daylight.

    He opens the door of a long, ck car, I¡¯ve never seen before. He gestures for me to hop in but

    everything is ry, and my eyes are hurting too much.

    Noticing I¡¯m struggling to see; he puts his hands on my hips and guides me into the backseat.

    He gets dressed in ck pants and a white shirt, and sits down next to me. Nathan gets in the

    driver¡¯s seat.

    ¡®I''ll drive,¡¯ he says. Their driver is dead. Alpha Max puts his arm around me, pulling me into his

    chest.

    ¡®Do your eyes hurt, my love?¡¯ He asks, sending a hot shiver through my body. I nod.

    ¡®Close your eyes and rest your head on my chest. They will adjust soon,¡¯ he says, softly, stroking

    my hair.

    I doze off the moment my head rests on his chest.

    I sit up squinting, my eyes don''t hurt anymore and I can see properly. We aren''t in ckwood. I

    haven¡¯t left ckwood before, and everything is unfamiliar.

    ¡®Feeling better?¡¯ Alpha Max asks me, and I nod and smile which makes him smile.

    R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    ¡®You''ve been asleep half the day,¡¯ he says.

    ¡®Oh, sorry,¡¯ I reply. He grabs my hands and kisses them, making me blush.

    ¡®Don''t be sorry. You needed the sleep. You know we haven''t been properly introduced yet,¡¯ he

    says, smiling.

    ¡®I¡¯m Alpha Maximus of the Blood Moon pack. I¡¯ve been searching desperately for you. You don''t

    know how happy I am to have found you,¡¯ he says with a beaming smile.

    Smiling, I blush at his sweet words. I thought I would never hear anyone say such nice things to

    me.

    ¡®What might your name be?¡¯ He asks, and I smile up at him

    ¡®Hope,¡¯ I reply, sweetly.

    Alpha Max shifts into Chaos who lets out a snarl and Nathan panics.

    ¡®No Chaos! You are not going back there to kill the rest of them!¡¯ Nathan yells. I shuffle towards

    Nathan.

    ¡®Is Chaos going to hurt me?¡¯ I ask, unsure what¡¯s happening. Chaos'' face changes from angry to

    hurt when I ask that question. He whimpers and slowly brings his snout to my face. I think he wants me

    to pat him. I hesitantly stroke his face. I smile when hepletely rxes and purrs like a cat. I giggle

    and let him lick my face.

    ¡®Stop Chaos,¡¯ I giggle, yfully pushing his snout away. I look at Nathan who has the biggest grin

    on his face.

    ¡®You know, I have never, in twenty-three years knowing Alpha Max, seen this side of his lycan,¡¯ he

    says, in disbelief.

    ¡®Really? He is really cute and adorable,¡¯ I say, rubbing my nose against his wet snout, and Nathan

    ¡®I never thought I''d see the day someone would say that about Chaos,¡¯ he confesses. Chaos gives

    a quick snap and a growl at Nathan.

    ¡®Whoa boy! You know I''m just kidding,¡¯ Nathan says.

    ¡®I know you¡¯re being a very good boy, but I¡¯d like to talk to Alpha Max. Maybe I¡¯ll give you another

    cuddleter?¡¯ I sweetly tell him, smiling up at Alpha Max who looks like he has seen a ghost.

    ¡®Nathan, did she just control Chaos?¡¯ He asks, amazed.

    ¡®Yep. I''m struggling to believe it too.¡¯ He answers.

    ¡®Why did you shift when I said my name?¡¯ I ask Alpha Max. He raises a brow and looks at Nathan

    briefly.

    ¡®I don¡¯t know,¡¯ he says. ¡®I love your name¡­ Hope¡­ I know we could all use some in this world and

    you have brought hope to my life, now that I¡¯ve found you,¡¯ he says.

    Alpha Max, shocked that I¡¯ve wrapped my arms around him, puts his arms around me, and hugs

    me.

    ¡®It''s going to take a few weeks to arrive at Blood Moon pack. I''ll contact the packs along the way to

    have a room ready for overnight stays.¡¯

    We arrive at Silent Howl pack, where it¡¯s snowing and I¡¯m freezing. Alpha Max gives me one of his

    shirts to put over my ragged dress. It¡¯s in ck and looks like a dress, as it reaches my knees. My

    nerves grow; it¡¯s my first time at another pack house. I cling to the back of Alpha Max''s shirt and stay

    close to him while Nathan walks behind us. They know I¡¯m scared and nervous. Alpha Max holds my

    hand behind his back and we walk up the path to the pack house.

    People are standing around, staring at us, whispering and chattering, but none of them approach

    or greet us.

    A tall, masculine man with blonde hair walks towards us.

    Peeking from behind Alpha Max''s back, I make brief eye contact with the man. He is angry. I

    freeze and hide behind Alpha Max.

    ¡®Alpha Liam,¡¯ Alpha Max greets him, and he scoffs.

    ¡®I think you have a lot of exining to do, Alpha Max,¡¯ he says. His back stiffens.

    ¡®Is there a problem?¡¯ Max asks.

    ¡®We have just had word that you murdered and wiped out half the ckwood pack after you

    kidnapped Alpha Tate''s mate! Tell me it isn''t true,¡¯ he says.

    ¡®I think we should have this conversation inside,¡¯ Max suggests, as more and more pack members

    ¡®No. You will hand the girl over so she can be returned to Alpha Tate. And you will leave. You¡¯re

    banned from entering our territory again.¡¯ Max growls as his eyes shift into Chaos¡¯ ck eyes. Chaos

    presses me against his chest.

    ¡®Mine!¡¯ He snarls, making the pack take a step back.

    I look up into his ck eyes.

    ¡®Chaos. I won''t go with them. I''m going to stay here with you. But you need to let Max have control

    right now,¡¯ I whisper. His shoulders rx and his heartbeat slows down. I stay pressed against him to

    keep him calm.

    ¡®She is my mate and I¡¯d rather die than hand her back over to that bastard!¡¯ He yells at Alpha Liam.

    ¡®That can be arranged,¡¯ Alpha Liam says, nodding to his pack, and they charge towards us.

    I fall backwards as Max shifts into his lycan, his clothes ripping off him, before he lets out a

    warning growl at the pack, shifting into their wolves. They don''t back off or slow down. Nathan helps me

    up.

    ¡®Run. Run to the car, and lock the doors! There are too many wolves. I¡¯ll help Alpha Max,¡¯ he

    says.

 Chapter 11

    Chapter 11

    Running as fast as I can back to the car, shadows whip past me. I slip, fall, and roll a few metres.

    There are three wolves in front of me, who shift into their human forms and approach me.

    ¡®Come. We will safely return you to Alpha Tate,¡¯ one offers.

    ¡®No, I don''t want to go back there. I want to stay with Max,¡¯ I say, shaking my head.

    ¡®But Alpha Tate is your mate. Why would you want to stay with a lycan?¡¯ The man asks.

    ¡®They¡¯re both my mates. I rejected Alpha Tate,¡¯ I exin. The men look at each other in shock.

    ¡®You rejected Alpha Tate to be with that thing? That monster?¡¯ He asks.

    ¡®Yes, and I would reject Alpha Tate again if I could. Now let me pass,¡¯ I say.

    ¡®You must be crazy. I don''t think you¡¯re in the right frame of mind. Juste with us to the house

    and we will get the doctor to check you out. Maybe you hit your head or something. You''re not thinking

    clearly,¡¯ he gestures.

    ¡®No, I told you. I¡¯m staying with Max,¡¯ I say.

    ¡®This she-wolf has lost the plot boys. Let¡¯s take her to the pack house,¡¯ he yells.

    He grabs my arm and I p him across the face, which is a shock to me. The man rubs his cheek,

    and res at me.

    ¡®You¡¯re as feral as that damn lycan!¡¯ He says.

    He runs off towards the bloody battle of at least one hundred wolves. Knowing Nathan and Max

    can¡¯t protect me right now while they tear shreds off other wolves, I run to the trees and pray to the

    Moon Goddess I can get away from the men running after me.

    I can''t outrun them unless I shift, but Storm hasn''t been talking to me and I know she¡¯s too afraid to

    shift.

    The three men pounce on me, and hold me down. Two of them lock my arms in theirs and escort

    me back to the pack house.

    ¡®Please. Let me go. Let me go to Max. Please!¡¯ I beg, bursting into tears. Theypletely ignore

    me. We¡¯re near the house where Max and Nathan are still fending off the pack; but most of them are

    limping away, injured.

    Nathan isn''t looking too good; he is starting to sway.

    ¡®Max!¡¯ I scream, when I am captured, and Max growls ferociously at the men holding me. A wolf

    lunges at him from behind him, biting a chunk of flesh, and he grabs the wolf by the scruff of his neck

    and throws him down on the ground. After a loud crack and a yelp, the wolf lies lifeless.

    I bite down as hard as I can on the arm of the man holding me, tasting his blood. He yells and

    pushes me away. I get up and run to Max and Nathan, who is naked and badly injured. I try to

    concentrate on healing him.

    Max is still fighting off wolves, and the odd pack member unsessfully grabs my ankle or my

    arm.

    Alpha Liam removes his shirt, and is about to attack Max. With my hands on Nathans wounds, I

    inhale deeply, my hair rises, I begin to glow, and my eyes turn silver.

    Alpha Liam and his pack freeze. Max is breathing heavily, and steps away from them, closer to

    me.

    With his wounds almost healed, Nathan opens his eyes and the pack members watch. Nathan sits

    up, wraps his arms around me, and pulls me in for a hug.

    ¡®Thank you,¡¯ he whispers.

    ¡®Witch!¡¯ Alpha Liam yells, pointing at me. Chaos growls at him. I hide behind Chaos, and Nathan

    growls at Alpha Liam.

    ¡®You¡¯re both freaks! Get off my territory before I ask other packs to kill you!¡¯ He yells.

    Chaos scoops me up in his arms protectively, and roars. I wrap my arms around his neck and cry.

    Chaos backs away cautiously, making sure no one attacks as we leave. He shifts back into Max

    and puts me in the car, but I won''t let go of him, and just hold him tighter. He squeezes me tightly and

    nuzzles my neck tofort me. My body instantly explodes with sparks.

    ¡®It''s okay, Hope. We¡¯re safe now,¡¯ he says, stroking my back. He sits on the seat with me in hisp,

    and my arms around his neck, and I bury my face in his chest.

    ¡®Where do we go from here?¡¯ Nathan asks, and Max sighs.

    ¡®If Silent Howl reacted like that, we need to expect the other packs will too,¡¯ he says, and Nathan

    nods.

    ¡®We¡¯ll stay in hotels. If there aren¡¯t any, we can shift into our wolves and sleep outside,¡¯ he says.

    ¡®Hope, you didn''t shift when you ran away. You know those men would have caught you in wolf

    form, right?¡¯ He asks. I release my arms from around him, and stare into his eyes with sadness.

    ¡®What is it, Hope? Tell me,¡¯ he says, gently.

    ¡®I''ve never shifted before,¡¯ I exin. Nathan stops the car and turns around. Max wraps his arms

    around me to protect me.

    ¡®Never?¡¯ He asks, and I nod.

    R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    ¡®Nathan! Stop braking like that!¡¯ Max says.

    ¡®Why haven''t you shifted yet, Hope?¡¯ Max asks.

    ¡®Storm doesn''t speak to me very often. Sometimes I don''t hear from her for months. She¡¯s too

    scared toe out after the way I have been treated,¡¯ I exin. Nathan looks away, saddened.

    ¡®Let Storm know, when you hear from her next, that we love her very much, and we can¡¯t wait to

    meet her. Chaos will kill anyone who looks at her funny,¡¯ Max says, cupping my cheek. I smile at him.

    ¡®Thank you,¡¯ I say.

    ¡®Hope, I know you¡¯ve been through a lot, but there is still so much I don''t know. I have questions.

    Could you answer them for me?¡¯ He asks. ¡®Why did Alpha Tate and Alpha Liam say you¡¯re Alpha Tate¡¯s

    mate when you¡¯re mine?¡¯ He asks.

    ¡®When I turned eighteen, I could smell my mate. I followed the scent and it led me to Alpha Tate''s

    room. When we made eye contact, we both knew straight away we were mates. He was furious and

    rejected me. When he was badly injured, I healed him, and he wanted me back as his mate. But not

    because he loves me. Because he wanted to use my abilities. I rejected him and tried to escape, but

    failed. While killing you, he wanted me to heal him, and the others, until you were dead. I refused, so

    he kept me in the cell for weeks. Then you arrived,¡¯ I exin.

    ¡®So, I¡¯m your second-chance mate?¡¯ Max says.

    ¡®Or second mate in general,¡¯ Nathan adds.

    ¡®It''s very rare, but some people have two mates who must share you. Or, yes, a second-chance

    mate,¡¯ he says, shrugging his shoulders.

    ¡®You did the right thing rejecting him Hope. I¡¯m incapable of sharing you,¡¯ he says, nuzzling my

    neck. I giggle and blush.

    We arrive at a very fancy hotel. Everyone gawks at us. We¡¯re quite dirty and roughed up. Max

    carries me into the foyer bridal style, and we have the biggest grins on our faces.

    ¡®May I help you?¡¯ Thedy at the desk asks, staring us up and down.

    ¡®Your finest room, please! And a room for the man behind us, as well.¡¯ Thedy adjusts her

    sses, and tilts her head to look at Nathan, who steps forward and pays for the rooms.

    ¡®Here are your keys. Rooms eighty-three and eighty-four,¡¯ she says.

    We go upstairs to our room, where Max gently puts me down to unlock and open the door. Inside,

    there is a couch and a TV. I walk through to the next room that has arge bed with red coverings and

    a bedside table either side.

    There is an empty inbuilt cupboard, and a door that leads to the bathroom, with arge bathtub, a

    shower, and two basins.

    ¡®Will this be suitable for the night?¡¯ Max asks.

    ¡®It''s better than the cell and the attic,¡¯ I reply.

    ¡®Your room was that cold and dirty attic?¡¯ He asks, and I nod. He walks over and pulls me in close.

    ¡®I''m sorry for what they did to you,¡¯ he says, saddened.

    ¡®It''s fine. I''m here with you now,¡¯ I say, happily.

    ¡®You know, I¡¯m so lucky to have you as my mate. I never thought I''d ever have a woman so happy

    to be around me,¡¯ he whispers.

 Chapter 12

    Chapter 12

    Hope

    Max pulls me close, and we gaze into each other''s eyes with desire, our lips almost touching,

    before our lips smash together, and my fingers glide through his hair, and his hands are on my waist.

    It¡¯s the kind of moment fireworks go off in the background. I¡¯m floating on thin air, as sparks fly between

    us. We part, I blush, and look down. Max gently takes my chin and pecks me on the lips, again and

    again, yfully going down my neck, and making meugh. He lets me go.

    ¡®Come rx and watch TV. I''m going to have a shower. Then I¡¯ll go up the road and find some

    fresh clothes and anything else you need, and we can have some dinner. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re starving,¡¯ he

    says.

    I nod, and smile. Never having watched TV before Max has to show me how to use the remote,

    and goes to shower. There is a knock on the door. I open it to see Nathan standing there with a

    suitcase.

    ¡®I have Alpha Max''s suitcase. I¡¯ll bring it in for you,¡¯ he says, smiling. He puts the suitcase on the

    bed.

    ¡®If you need anything, I''m just one door away, okay?¡¯ He says, and I nod.

    ¡®Before I go, I just want to say, I''m really happy Alpha Max found you. He has also had a really

    hard life. The wolfmunity have never epted him. His pack are ufortable around him. But

    now you''re here, I hope when everyone sees you together, and how happy he is, they¡¯ll see he isn''t a

    monster. You have already made such a huge impact on Chaos. He has been longing for you. Things

    will only get better when he meets Storm,¡¯ he says, smiling.

    ¡®I''m d Max found me too. I''m d he has you as a friend,¡¯ I confess, smiling.

    Nathan leaves, I shut the door and walk over to the bed. I unzip the suitcase, refold his clothes,

    and put them neatly in the cupboard. At the bottom of the suitcase is a ck box with gold letters. I run

    my fingers over the letters.

    MAXIMUS.

    That must be his proper name. I like it. I¡¯m smiling. I store it on the shelf in the cupboard. I squeeze

    the suitcase into the bottom of the wardrobe and Maxes out soaking wet, with a towel wrapped

    around his waist. Frozen, I admire his pecs and muscles.

    ¡®Like what you see?¡¯ He asks.

    ¡®Sorry. I didn''t mean to stare,¡¯ I say, quickly turning to face the wall.

    He spins me around, against the wall, and smashes his lips against mine, passionately. I wrap my

    arms around him, pulling him closer to me. We part to catch our breath.

    ¡®You can stare at me all day long if you want to,¡¯ he says, flirtatiously. I blush again and stare into

    his sweet blue eyes.

    ¡®You¡¯re really cute and adorable when you blush,¡¯ he says, pecking me on the lips and getting

    dressed.

    ¡®Hop in the bath while you wait for me,¡¯ he winks. I smile and nod.

    ¡®Oh, and you didn''t have to do this,¡¯ he says, pointing to the neatly-folded clothing.

    ¡®It¡¯s okay. I wanted to,¡¯ I reassure him. He smiles and nods.

    I fill the tub with water, and squeeze the whole small sample of bubble bath in, watching the

    bubbles grow.

    After undressing, I slowly step in and sit down. I have never had a hot bath, or seen bubbles.

    With the face washer, I wash my face, neck and arms. I scoop the bubbles up and blow them into

    the air, watching them float around. Max taps on the bathroom door when I¡¯ve lost track of time.

    ¡®Is it okay if Ie in?¡¯ He asks.

    Bubbles cover my body so I don''t feel shy about him entering.

    ¡®You cane in,¡¯ I say, and hees in and smiles.

    ¡®You¡¯re more beautiful than I could have imagined, Hope,¡¯ he says, admiring my clean face.

    They don''t have shampoo and conditioner here, so I got you some. And I wasn''t sure what size

    you are so I had to guess. Thedy at the store was really nice. She helped me pick some items. I

    growl when he mentions a girl helped him. He tilts his head andughs.

    ¡®It''s okay. I only have eyes for you, trust me,¡¯ he says.

    My eyes light up and I smile.

    ¡®Here, let me wash your hair,¡¯ he says. He tips a cup of water down my hair, squeezes the

    shampoo onto my head, and massages it in thoroughly. His fingers massaging my scalp and hair feels

    so good, I almost purr.

    He rinses the shampoo out, applies the conditioner and washes it out.

    ¡®Lean forward,¡¯ he says, and I lean forward and he scrubs my back with soap and a sponge.

    ¡®Okay. I''ll leave the rest to you, and wait for you out here,¡¯ he says. I nod. I watch the water drain

    down the bath¡¯s plughole, while I dry myself; I don''t remember ever feeling this clean.

    I wrap my hair up in another towel, and leave the bathroom. Max is sitting on the bed with clothing

    ¡®I''m not sure what clothes you like, so you just choose,¡¯ he says.

    ¡®Okay,¡¯ I smile.

    There are jeans and a shirt, a short-sleeved, knee-length dress, a navy cardigan, and a fluffy

    jumper. In a bag there¡¯s a nighty, socks, and underwear. Max gives me some privacy and goes to

    watch TV.

    I put a matching set of ck undergarments on, and the jeans, shirt and the fluffy pink jumper on

    over the top. I fumble around for some socks; I¡¯ve never worn socks before. Struggling to get them on, I

    fall off the bed.

    ¡®Hope? Are you okay?¡¯ Max yells.

    ¡®Yes, I''m fine,¡¯ I yell back.

    From N?velDrama.Org.

    Inside a shoe box, is a pair of white Converse sneakers. I put them on and stand. Laughing, I

    wriggle my toes and spin around. I walk back into the bathroom to brush my hair, and when I see

    myself in the mirror, my jaw drops.

    With all the dirt and dry blood washed off, my face is unrecognisable. My hair is very white, my

    silver eyes sparkle;plementing my pure white hair. My hair is fluffy and straight, and falls past my

    shoulders.

    Skipping and humming out of the bathroom, I¡¯m excited to show Max how different I look. He is

    talking to Nathan.

    With a big smile on my face, I open the door and twirl around in front of them.

    ¡®What do you think?¡¯ I ask, excitedly.

    ¡®Where did Hope go? Because if that¡¯s Hope she is one hot babe!¡¯ Nathan says, and I blush and

    twirl around. Alpha Max stares at me, grabs me by the waist, lifts me up, and my legs naturally wrap

    around him.

    Against the wall, our lips smash together and his tongue enters my mouth; our tongues moving

    around with desire.

    His member presses against my stomach. He pulls his head back, gasping for breath.

    ¡®You look incredible, Hope. If Nathan wasn''t here, I¡¯d eat you up!¡¯ He says.

    ¡®I heard that,¡¯ Nathan says.

    ¡®Do you really think I look good?¡¯ I ask, shyly.

    ¡®If Alpha Tate saw you right now, he¡¯d be kicking himself for rejecting an utter beauty like you. He¡¯s

    a fool, I knew you were perfect the moment Iid eyes on you. You¡¯re mine. I will never let him have

    you,¡¯ he says, kissing me and putting me down.

    ¡®I think it''s time we eat,¡¯ he says, taking my hand.

 Chapter 13

    Chapter 13

    We waltz up the road and all the men¡¯s eyes are on me. Some of their girlfriends p them to stop

    them staring at me and pay attention to them. Max has his arm over my shoulder to show I¡¯m taken. It¡¯s

    really cute. We want to order food but I don''t want to sit inside the restaurant.

    ¡®Do you think we can eat our food over there?¡¯ I ask Max, pointing to a lush garden.

    ¡®Sure, if that''s what you want to do,¡¯ he says; I nod and smile.

    We eat from cute little rice boxes. Max tries to show me how to use chopsticks, but I¡¯m not very

    good at it, so he feeds me with the chopsticks.

    ¡®Oh, this is too cute, Alpha! Watching you feed our Luna,¡¯ Nathan says with a grin. Weugh and

    keep eating. When we are finished, Max lies on the grass, and I straddle him and cuddle him. Nathan

    wanders off to give us some alone time. Max puts his arms around my back and we stay like this for a

    while.

    He sits up and we kiss, unable to keep our hands off each other. Cars beep at us, and people

    whistle at us.

    Nathan returns.

    ¡®Come on lovebirds. We should get back to the hotel. It''s getting dark. And it wouldn''t surprise me

    if Alpha Liam has people keeping tabs on us,¡¯ he says.

    ¡®Why would they follow us?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®We will talk about it at the hotel,¡¯ Max says. Standing, I hold Max''s hand, and we walk back to the

    hotel, constantly staring and smiling at each other.

    In our hotel room, Max grabs me around the waist, sits on the couch, and pulls me onto hisp.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    ¡®I have some not so good news to tell you,¡¯ Nathan says, nervously.

    ¡®When I wandered off, I contacted Alpha Mark of Wolf Mire pack, the next pack we will go past.

    Alpha Tate has told all of the packs the same story he told Alpha Liam. Alpha Liam has told the other

    packs about our altercation with Silent Howl pack. All alphas, except for Alpha Dan, of Moon Fall pack,

    have agreed it¡¯s in their best interests to eradicate you.¡¯

    I look at Max in shock, my eyes well up, and he rubs my back.

    ¡®There''s more...¡¯ Nathan says.

    ¡®They im Hope is a witch and must also be eradicated.¡¯ I gasp and Max growls.

    ¡®They can hunt me down all they want. But if any harmes to Hope, I will kill every single one of

    them with my bare hands!¡¯ He growls.

    ¡®What are we going to do?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®We will focus on getting home safely. We will go around the territories to avoid the packs, and

    figure out what to do after that. Let¡¯s sleep and get out of here before sunrise.

    Nathan, contact Alex and update him on everything. Tell him to put extra warriors on guard

    throughout our territory,¡¯ he says. Nathan nods and goes to his room.

    ¡®Max,¡¯ I say, looking at him, saddened. ¡®I don''t want anything bad to happen to you. You were only

    protecting yourself when you saved me. Maybe I could talk to some of the alphas and exin the

    situation. If I tell them Alpha Tate rejected me and tried to kill you, perhaps they¡¯ll let us be,¡¯ I suggest,

    and Max cups my face.

    ¡®My sweet, kind, gentle Hope. I don''t think this is going to be something we can talk ourselves out

    of. I don''t trust any other alpha near you. I will figure something out. Let''s get some sleep,¡¯ he says. I

    put on my nighty and brush my hair. I put the brush down, and Max scoops me up in his arms and

    climbs into bed. I rest my head and hand on his chest, and fall asleep.

    In the morning, Max gently wakes me, caressing my cheek.

    ¡®Time to get up, sleepy head,¡¯ he says, smiling. I pull the nket up and snuggle into him as

    closely as I can.

    ¡®Just a bit longer.¡¯ I moan.

    ¡®We have to go, Hope,¡¯ he says, softly. I make puppy dog eyes at him.

    ¡®Just a few more minutes,¡¯ I say, and he grins.

    ¡®Okay, just a few more minutes.¡¯ I nuzzle my face into his neck, close my eyes and caress his

    stubbled face.

    A few minutester there¡¯s a knock on the door.

    ¡®Alpha, Luna. Are you ready to go?¡¯ Nathan asks. I moan, annoyed, and Maxughs.

    ¡®I know, babe. I wish I could stay in bed with you all day too,¡¯ he says, sitting up.

    We get dressed, I help Max pack his suitcase, and then we go downstairs, leaving the hotel.

    It¡¯s still dark outside, but the sun is about to rise. We spend most of the day driving. I look out the

    window at all the towns we pass, repeatedly noticing a white car with ck tinted windows throughout

    the day.

    I tap on Max''s shoulder, and then on the back window.

    ¡®I''ve seen that car for hours now,¡¯ I say.

    ¡®I noticed it, too,¡¯ Nathan says, looking through his rear-view mirror.

    ¡®We are being followed,¡¯ Max says and growls.

    ¡®I''ll try and lose them in the next town,¡¯ Nathan says.

    In Withermarsh, Nathan drives down random streets trying to lose them, before the white car

    appears again. The fuel lightes on, and beeps.

    ¡®We need petrol,¡¯ Nathan says, before pulling into the nearest petrol station.

    ¡®I''ll keep watch while you fill up,¡¯ Max tells Nathan. ¡®Hope, stay in the car,¡¯ he says.

    Nodding, Nathan fills the car while Max gets out and leans against the car with his arms crossed,

    looking out for the white car. Nathan goes inside to pay and the white car slowly approaches, a window

    winding down. Max squints.

    ¡®Shit,¡¯ he says, opening the limo door, grabbing my arm and running. ¡®Run!¡¯ He yells, pulling me

    along.

    Suddenly, we¡¯re flying through the air from some kind of force. There¡¯s a wave of heat behind me

    and we stumble and fall to the ground. My back and my legs are badly hurt. Max is saying something,

    but I can¡¯t hear him because my ears are ringing. I look at the petrol station, and scream and cry at the

    sight; the whole petrol station is up in mes; Nathan and some other customers were inside paying for

    their petrol.

    ¡®Nathan!¡¯ I scream, about to run to the building before Max wraps his arms around me and pulls

    me back.

    Another explosion goes off and we fall back again. Max uses his body to shield me. People are

    screaming and crying.

    ¡®Nathan!¡¯ I scream again. Max takes my hand and runs towards the field, away from the explosion.

    I still can''t hear what he is saying. Why is he running? Why isn''t he running back for Nathan?

    He stops briefly and points at the men from the white car armed with guns who are chasing us.

    Max shifts into his lycan, lifts me onto his back and starts running, at incredible speed, for at least

    two hours.

    Far from any civilisation, I can see only fields, mountains and trees. The ringing in my ears has

    settled and I can hear better.

    Chaos looks around, then helps me down from his back, before shifting into human from. Max falls

    to his knees and ms his fists into the ground.

    ¡®They killed him. They killed him. He was like a brother to me!¡¯ He cries, and I kneel in front of him,

    and let him cry into my chest. I caress his back, and cry with him for hours, until it¡¯s very dark.

    We hold each other''s hand tightly as we walk through the field, under the stars. We haven''t spoken

    since the explosion. It¡¯s really cold and Max is shirtless, since he shifted into Chaos earlier.

    ¡®We should find shelter for the night,¡¯ I whisper.

    Max nods. We find trees and Max collects several thick branches off the ground, to make us a little

    shelter, just big enough for us to crawl into.

    ¡®You go in first,¡¯ I say. He crawls inside, and I squeeze in beside him, and lie, tightly pressed

    against his chest.

    Looking into his sad eyes, I put my hand on his cheek, and he nuzzles his face into my hand; the

    contact soothes andforts him.

    ¡®I''m so sorry, my love,¡¯ I whisper.

    ¡®Me too,¡¯ he sadly whispers back.

 Chapter 14

    Chapter 14

    Alpha Maximus

    Struggling to sleep after losing my best friend, my sweet little Hope screams, dreaming of the

    explosion and Nathan dying. I wake her, and she bursts into tears.

    ¡®Nathan didn''t do anything wrong. He didn''t deserve to die,¡¯ she says.

    I wish I could have prevented her from seeing it, from being there; Nathan''s death, the explosion;

    all of it.

    My mind reys the moment the white car¡¯s window wound down, revealing a gun, pointed at the

    petrol tanker; knowing straight away, if a bullet hit the target, the whole ce would explode. I prayed

    to the Moon Goddess we would outrun the explosion in time.

    Wanting to forget it, I nuzzle my face into Hope''s neck, while my tears drip down her neck. I listen

    to her heartbeat as she sleeps.

    Waking up, Hope gently strokes my face on herp, while we stare into each other''s eyes; we

    have to keep moving.

    We crawl out of the makeshift shelter.

    ¡®Where are we?¡¯ She asks.

    ¡®I have no idea, but we have to keep moving,¡¯ I answer.

    Shifting into Chaos, I help Hope onto my back, and I run for hours. There¡¯s a city in the distance

    with lots of tall buildings. When we get closer, I shift back into human form; shirtless. I might attract

    unwanted attention.

    I watch Hope climb over a little picket fence and fall down, letting out a squeak. She gets up, dusts

    herself off and moves towards a clothesline.

    She isn''t very good at being quiet; she must trip on every stick and stone, and kick every item on

    the ground, making such a ruckus. She runs back into my arms waving a grey shirt at me.

    ¡®Here you are,¡¯ she says, catching her breath, and I have tough at her efforts.

    ¡®What?¡¯ She asks, and I smirk, and shake my head.

    ¡®Don''t worry,¡¯ I say, pulling the shirt over my head. It¡¯s very tight and Hope stifles augh.

    ¡®Well, it''s better than nothing,¡¯ I say, shrugging my shoulders.

    We walk down the road and pass a sign that says Wee to Blissville.

    Hope and I look at each other, with our brows raised.

    ¡®I''ve never heard of Blissville. Let¡¯s go suss it out. I''ll contact Beta Alex to organise transport for us.¡¯

    The traffic is built up, car horns beep and drivers yell. There are hundreds of tall buildings and

    thousands of shops. This is one big city. We walk through the busy streets until we feel safe enough to

    rx for a while. I take my phone out of my back pocket; the battery is low and I don''t have my wallet. I

    call Alex.

    ¡®Alpha!¡¯ He whispers. ¡®Is that really you?¡¯

    ¡®Of course, it''s me. Why are you whispering?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®Alpha... our pack house... we¡¯ve been overtaken by numerous packs who all attacked us at once.

    They told us to join their packs or die. Half the pack didn''t put up a fight; they joined them. The rest of

    us; we¡¯re all in hiding at the moment, until you return,¡¯ he exins.

    ¡®Fuck,¡¯ I say. Hope looks at me; worried.

    ¡®Alex, Hope and I are stranded in a town called Blissville. My phone will be t by the end of the

    day. I don''t have my wallet to get a hotel or anything.¡¯

    ¡®Can''t Nathan pay?¡¯ He asks and I go silent. ¡®Alpha? Are you still there?¡¯ Alex asks.

    ¡®Yes, I''m here. Alex... Nathan is dead. One of the other packs blew a petrol station up while we

    were there. Hope and I only just got out in time.¡¯ Alex starts crying.

    ¡®He can''t be dead! He can''t be!¡¯ Alex cries.

    ¡®I''m sorry. I know we were all like brothers. They want to kill Hope. I can''t let that happen.¡¯

    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.

    ¡®I have a friend in Blissville. Sally. She is human though so she doesn''t know about us. I¡¯ll text you

    her address, call her and let her know to expect you. As soon as I have Be safe, I¡¯ll transfer money to

    Sally''s ount for you.¡¯

    ¡®Can you and Be get here to Blissville?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®It would take us over a week to drive to Blissville. I don''t want to risk the baby being born on the

    way,¡¯ he says.

    ¡®The Moon Fall pack. Alpha Dan. I think we can trust him. Take Be and anyone else with you to

    his pack. You will be safe there. And Alex, don''t tell anyone where we are, okay?¡¯ I order.

    ¡®I won''t say anything, Alpha. I¡¯ll do what I can to get the rest of the pack safely to Alpha Dan,¡¯ he

    replies, and the call ends.

    ¡®What happened?¡¯ Hope asks, worried, her hand on my arm. My phone beeps; Alex has texted the

    address.

    ¡®We can''t go home. It has been overtaken. Pack members have either joined them or fled,¡¯ I

    exin.

    Hope gasps and her hand flies to her mouth.

    ¡®This is my fault! If we hadn''t met, Nathan would still be alive and you would still have your pack!¡¯

    She cries.

    ¡®Hope!¡¯ I say, sternly. ¡®Nathan''s death is not your fault. This is Alpha Tate''s doing! I would happily

    give up my alphahood if it means being with you,¡¯ I say.

    She looks up at me, wiping tears from her eyes. I pull her close to my chest.

    ¡®I''m sorry. You mean so much to me. I would die for you,¡¯ I say.

    ¡®I''m sorry,¡¯ she whispers, and I gently kiss her lips. The sparks flying through my body drive me

    crazy with lust and desire for her.

    ¡®We need to find this address,¡¯ I read her the text and she nods.

    ¡®Excuse me sir,¡¯ she says, sweetly, to a man walking past. ¡®Can you please tell me where I can find

    this address?¡¯ She asks, and he smiles.

    ¡®It''s about ten blocks that way,¡¯ he says, pointing to her right.

    ¡®Thank you, sir,¡¯ she replies.

    ¡®You¡¯re very wee, beautiful,¡¯ he says, winking.

    I growl, take her hand, and steer her away from the man flirting with her.

    ¡®You don''t have to growl,¡¯ she says.

    ¡®I will growl at anyone who flirts with you,¡¯ I say. Hope rolls her eyes, yfully. We are in a

    residential area with lots of houses.

    ¡®There!¡¯ Hope says, pointing to a street sign. We enter the street and find a cream-coloured house

    with a simple yard. We knock on the front door and a woman with short brown hair and pretty brown

    eyes answers the door. She is a little taller than me.

    ¡®You must be Hope and Max. Alex just told me your car was hijacked and they took your wallet,¡¯

    she says.

    ¡®That''s correct,¡¯ I say, looking at Hope.

    ¡®Please,e in,¡¯ she says, and we follow her into the house.

    ¡®We really appreciate you taking us in for the night,¡¯ I say, smiling.

    ¡®Anyone who is a friend of Alex, is a friend of mine,¡¯ she says, smiling in return. ¡®Are you hungry?¡¯

    ¡®Starving, actually,¡¯ Hope says.

    ¡®Please take a seat, I¡¯ll make you something to eat,¡¯ Sally says.

    I sit down expecting Hope to sit next to me, but she sits on myp, and I wrap my arms around her.

    ¡®So, how do you know Alex?¡¯ I ask. Sally immediately blushes.

    ¡®We were dating, quite a few years ago, before I moved to Blissville,¡¯ she says. ¡®I hear he has

    settled down, and has a baby on the way,¡¯ she says, smiling.

    ¡®Yes, Be. She is due very soon,¡¯ I answer.

    ¡®I''m very happy to hear he is doing well,¡¯ she says, putting two tes of spaghetti bolognaise in

    front of us.

    Hope sits next to me, and we scoff the spaghetti bolognaise down. Sally is little shocked by how

    fast we eat.

    ¡®You guys are hungry,¡¯ she says, and Hope nods.

    ¡®This is delicious!¡¯ Hope says.

    After dinner, Sally shows us to her spare room.

    ¡®You can sleep in here. The bathroom is just there if you need it,¡¯ she says.

    ¡®Thank you so much,¡¯ Hope says.

    ¡®No worries,¡¯ she replies, leaving us to rx.

 Chapter 15

    Chapter 15

    Alpha Maximus

    Shutting the door, we go into the bathroom, and I turn the shower on. I undress, and Hope is trying

    hard to avoid staring at my body.

    I go over to her, pull her shirt and jumper off over her head, and kiss her, while unhooking her bra.

    I fling them across the room, not caring where theynd, and find my way to her zip and undo her

    jeans. I pull them down her legs, and she kicks them off. I kiss her neck and make my way down to her

    breasts.

    ¡®Maximus,¡¯ she moans. Kissing her lower stomach; my fingerstch onto her ckce underwear

    and I pull them down. She is a goddess,pletely naked and exposed in front of me. I kiss her lips

    seductively and carry her into the shower with me.

    My fingers slowly explore her core, making her moan and arch her back, and she grabs onto my

    thick shaft with her hand and strokes my erection, and we moan and give into the pleasure that has

    built up inside us.

    I release onto her stomach. She looks more beautiful than ever with her flushed cheeks. I kiss her

    lips long and hard, until we have no choice but to stop for air.

    Turning the taps off, I wrap a towel around her, we dry off, and get into bed. She snuggles in

    beside me, running her fingers through my hair, and nuzzling her face sweetly into my neck.

    The next morning, in the kitchen, Sally waits by the toaster for her toast.

    ¡®I hope you both slept well,¡¯ she says.

    ¡®We did. Thank you,¡¯ I say, smiling.

    ¡®Alex texted me before. He said to tell you that they¡¯re at Dan''s and he has transferred cash into

    my ount for you. We can go to the bank after breakfast, if you like,¡¯ she offers.

    ¡®That would be great,¡¯ I say.

    At the bank, Sally pulls her phone out and logs into her bank app.

    ¡®I''ll just check how much he deposited so I know how much to withdraw,¡¯ she says, and her face

    pales.

    ¡®There is one million dors in my ount!¡¯ She gasps, looking up at Max.

    ¡®Is that all?¡¯ Max asks.

    ¡®Is that a serious question?¡¯ Sally asks.

    ¡®Withdraw as much of it as the bank will allow, and we can worry about the restter,¡¯ I tell her.

    ¡®Um, okay,¡¯ she says, before going into the bank, anding out an hourter with a bag folded

    up under her arm.

    ¡®There is one hundred thousand here. They said they will have the rest tomorrow. They need time

    to organise and count it,¡¯ she exins.

    ¡®Okay, thank you so much. Here, take this. It''s the least we can do for you helping us out,¡¯ I say,

    handing her roughly five-thousand dors in cash.

    ¡®Oh, no, I couldn''t,¡¯ she says.

    ¡®I insist,¡¯ I say. ¡®Could you rmend a hotel around here¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®There are a ton of short-term apartments in the city, and a couple of hotels up the road,¡¯ she says,

    pointing up the road.

    ¡®Okay. Thank you Sally. Let¡¯s meet back here tomorrow for the rest,¡¯ I say.

    ¡®Okay, no worries. If you need me, call me,¡¯ she says, smiling.

    We wave goodbye and walk twenty minutes up the road to a luxurious hotel four storeys high. A

    A man in a suit greets us and opens the door for us. In the foyer there is a strong fragrance in the

    air and we notice therge flower arrangements.

    The sitting area is very luxurious with red velvet chairs and mahogany furniture. We approach the

    front desk where an older gentleman serves us.

    Max pays for a room for a week. We take the key and go to the top floor. Our bathroom has a spa,

    and the bed has silk coverings, with rose petals and choctes.

    We have our own dining room with a nice view via arge window. The kitchen fridge is filled with

    bottles of wine, cheese and other nibbles.

    A menu with fancy-sounding food and a list of numbers to call if we need to order food sits next to

    the phone, or have other enquiries. After exploring the rooms, I call the man at the desk to organise a

    car into the city.

    ¡®Can''t we go tomorrow?¡¯ Hope asks.

    ¡®My phone is t babe. I need a charger, and we need fresh clothes. This shirt is too tight on me,¡¯ I

    exin.

    Hope nods, and we go downstairs and get into the car waiting for us.

    In the city, I buy Hope her own phone, and a charger for mine. We go into clothing stores and buy

    a few outfits each. Leaving one of the stores, I catch the scent of other wolves nearby. I pause, look

    around, and scan the other shoppers.

    ¡®What¡¯s wrong?¡¯ Hope asks, looking around.

    ¡®I smell wolves. Stay close,¡¯ I tell her.

    We walk towards the taxi rank, and the smell of a werewolf bes stronger. A man wearing

    tinted sunsses sitting on a bench seat with a newspaper, looks suspicious.

    I have the feeling he is watching us. We get into a taxi and as a precaution I ask the driver to drive

    around a few other blocks before heading back to the hotel, just in case. We are followed by a car.

    We go into our hotel room, I pull the blinds down, and peek through the window discreetly, to see if

    we¡¯ve been followed.

    When no one has arrived after ten minutes, I¡¯m confident we¡¯re okay. I keep the blinds down as a

    precaution.

    Hope turns on the lights, and I plug the charger into my phone and put my number into Hope''s

    phone.

    ¡®Let''s order some food,¡¯ I say, and she picks up the phone, not paying attention to what she orders.

    I pour us two sses of wine.

    Forty-five minutester, room service knocks on our door and pushes a trolley full of food into the

    room and sets all the tes of food out on the dining room table.

    ¡®Wow. You ordered a lot of food,¡¯ I say, with a chuckle.

    ¡®I''m hungry,¡¯ she pouts. We get through most of the food anyway. When my phone is charged, I call

    Alex straight away.

    ¡®How is Be? Is everything okay with Alpha Dan? Are the other packs still in our territory?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®One question at a time,¡¯ Alexughs. ¡®Be is fine, still pregnant. Alpha Dan was more than happy

    to take us in for as long as needed. His only concern is that the other packs aren''t happy about it;

    they¡¯re still in our territory. Alpha Dan tried to speak to Alpha Tate and Alpha Liam but it didn''t go down

    well. They refused to tell him anything. Only that they won''t stop until you and Hope are dead. What

    should we do Alpha?¡¯ He asks.

    ¡®I''m going toy low, here, for a couple of days, with Hope. I might have to negotiate a deal with

    them to keep the peace,¡¯ I exin.

    ¡®What kind of deal?¡¯ Alex asks.

    ¡®I¡¯ll give myself up if they agree to let Hope live and be Luna of our pack, so you can all go back

    home,¡¯ I suggest.

    ¡®Alpha! You can''t just let them kill you!¡¯ He yells.

    ¡®I can''t let them kill Hope or any of you, either!¡¯ I snap.

    ¡®There has to be another way,¡¯ Alex says.

    ¡®We could fight them, but we won''t be able to stand our ground if every single pack fight against

    us,¡¯ I exin.

    ¡®What if we didn''t fight them all at once?¡¯

    ¡®What do you mean?¡¯

    ¡®If they¡¯re not going to stop hunting you and Hope until you¡¯re dead, why don''t we surprise them,

    one pack at a time, and take over their packs?¡¯ Alex suggests. It¡¯s not a bad idea in theory; there is

    silence for a minute while we ponder it.

    ¡®Technically, we only need to kill the alphas. No one else needs to die,¡¯ Alex points out.

    ¡®Okay, I think I have a n. In a couple of days, we¡¯ll leave here. I¡¯ll enter all the packs on the way,

    and hunt down each alpha. If he is against me, I will kill him. His pack members automatically be

    mine. By the time I reach Alpha Dan, half the alphas will be dead. Hopefully, by then, the other alphas

    withdraw.¡¯

    ¡®What if they don''t back down?¡¯ Alex asks.

    ¡®We fight them till the death,¡¯ I reply.From N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 16

    Chapter 16

    Alpha Maximus

    I ry the conversation I had with Alex to Hope, exining our n.

    ¡®No! Max! What if something happens to you and you get hurt, or killed?¡¯ She argues.

    ¡®I''m a lycan, not a werewolf. I have the strength of three alphas put together. If I take them out, one

    by one, they can¡¯t kill me,¡¯ I exin.

    ¡®What if the pack members attack you?¡¯

    ¡®Hopefully they don¡¯t. If I¡¯m careful enough to not be seen I should be able to take the whole lot on,¡¯

    I exin.

    ¡®If it''s arge pack?¡¯

    ¡®It won''te to that.¡¯

    ¡®You don''t know that!¡¯ She says.

    ¡®Hope, whatever happens to me doesn''t matter. What matters is your survival and your safety,¡¯ I

    exin.

    Hope storms off into the bathroom and shuts the door behind her. I hear her crying and it breaks

    my heart. I tap on the door.

    ¡®I''m sorry I upset you,¡¯ I say, softly, through the door. She opens the door.

    ¡®Don''t you see? You want me to live, but how do I live without you? I love you Maximus. I choose

    the same fate as you. If you die, I die,¡¯ she says, wrapping her arms around my waist. I gently tilt her

    chin to look at me.

    ¡®You love me?¡¯ I ask, my heart racing one-hundred miles an hour.

    ¡®Yes, I love you, Maximus,¡¯ she says, softly, staring lovingly into my eyes. I caress her face with my

    hand, and bring her chin closer to me, and kiss her passionately.

    ¡®I love you, too,¡¯ I reply, and she smiles and her eyes glisten, before she flinches.

    ¡®What''s wrong?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®Storm thinks you¡¯re really sweet and she likes you,¡¯ she says, excitedly.

    ¡®Ask her if she¡¯d like to meet Chaos. He has been trying to talk to her but she hasn''t answered,¡¯ I

    exin.

    ¡®She says she is too scared of Chaos and doesn''t want toe out,¡¯ Hope says, sadly.

    ¡®Oh... okay. That''s a shame... maybe Storm would like to spend some time with me, then? I''m sure

    she¡¯s a fine-looking wolf,¡¯ I offer.

    ¡®She says she is really nervous and doesn''t want to get hurt. This is why she hasn¡¯t shifted.¡¯

    ¡®You''re my mate, Storm. I will protect you and keep you safe,¡¯ I say, softly, and Hope grins.

    ¡®She says if you stay with her, she will try and shift,¡¯ Hope exins, excited.

    ¡®Here? Or outside?¡¯ Hope asks.

    ¡®I think we should stay here. There are werewolves out hunting us. It''s safer. Also, humans can¡¯t

    see us in here,¡¯ I exin.

    ¡®Ok. What do I do now?¡¯ Hope asks.

    ¡®It''s much easier if you take all your clothes off first,¡¯ I say, with a cheeky grin. Hope giggles and

    blushes, and walks to me, undresses, and gives me a sexy wink. She is staring and smiling at me,

    naked.

    ¡®Damn, babe,¡¯ I say, with a frisky growl. I stand and sit in the middle of the bed and pat my knee for

    Hope toe to me.

    ¡®You will be in a bit of pain. Each time you shift it gets easier and quicker. Try not to fight it and you

    will shift quicker, okay?¡¯ I exin, and she nods.

    ¡®Let Storm know when you¡¯re ready.¡¯

    She and Storm have a chat. I don''t want her to feel rushed or scared, so I wait patiently until I hear

    the first crack, and Hope cries out.

    I pat her back to help soothe the pain, by spreading warm sparks through her.

    After about five minutes of shifting, a beautiful white wolf with silver feet and a silver streak on her

    forehead stands in front of me.

    ¡®Wow, Storm! You are the most beautiful, most majestic wolf I have ever seen!¡¯ I say, shocked and

    surprised.

    She licks my face and rubs herself against me; her tail wagging happily.

    ¡®I¡¯m one lucky lycan, Storm! You¡¯re going to be the envy of every she-wolf in existence,¡¯ I say, and

    she is even more excited.

    She is so cute and adorable the way she nips and yelps at me, trying to be tough and strong. She

    is so sweet and gentle.

    We roll around on the ground, y fighting, and I give her belly rubs. Her tongue sticks out,

    showing her canines, and how happy she is.

    We spend a few hours together and I love every minute of it.

    ¡®Storm,¡¯ I say, she gives me a cute little yap.

    ¡®It would mean so much to Chaos and I, if he could meet you. Even just for a few minutes,¡¯ I say.

    Storm whimpers, and hides her head under her paw.

    ¡®What if I shift on the other side of the room and stay there?¡¯ I offer, hoping Chaos behaves and

    stays put.

    Storm sits up, looks at the other side of the room, and thinks about it; her fluffy tail wags a little.

    ¡®Is that a yes?¡¯ I ask, and she does a sweet little woof. I¡¯m excited for Chaos; he has been longing

    for this moment.

    I strip off my clothes, stand near the wall on the other side of the room, and shift.

    Chaos'' tail wags excitedly, against the wall; his tongue is out, as he pants, overjoyed by his

    stunning wolf mate.

    He steps forward.

    No Chaos! You need to take it slow! Remember this is her first shift and she is terrified.

    Chaos looks at worried Storm and lowers himself onto the ground so he is less intimidating.

    ¡®Mine!¡¯ He deres.

    Yes, Chaos; she is yours. But focus on staying calm so you don''t scare her. I exin.

    Storm sniffs the air and moves closer to the end of the bed, watching Chaos. Her tail wags a little;

    she is happy.

    Chaos'' tongue lolls out even more, and his panting increases as Storm moves closer; he is

    drooling and slobbering all over himself.

    Gross Chaos! You''re sure going to win her over slobbering like that. I say, but hepletely

    ignores me.

    Storm jumps from the bed, gets a little closer to Chaos, sniffs again and looks him up and down.

    She is clearly enjoying him; her tongue lolls out and she slobbers everywhere. Chaos leans forward,

    and wraps his arms around her, pulling her into his chest. ¡®Mine!¡¯ He says, nuzzling his face all over

    her. Storm loves it, and she rubs her face all over him, nipping him yfully, and pulling at his ear,

    growling to y.

    From N?velDrama.Org.

    Chaos humours her and lets her win, over and over. He bes a little yful puppy, in her

    presence, instead of a murderous beast. They snuggle on the bed and fall asleep. Hope and I let them

    be.

    In the morning we shift back into human form, and Hope jumps up on me and wraps her legs

    around me, excitedly.

    ¡®I can''t believe I shifted! Wolf form feels amazing! And Storm warmed to Chaos straight away. Can

    you believe that?¡¯ She squeals.

    ¡®I''m proud of you. You did so well. Storm is incredibly beautiful, just like you,¡¯ I say, staring into her

    glistening silver and blue eyes.

    Naked, kissing, my excitement grows between my legs; she is irresistible.

    ¡®I want us to, you know, take this to the next level,¡¯ she whispers, desire in her eyes.

    ¡®I want to, as well. More than you know. But we must get dressed and go. Sally is meeting us

    today, remember?¡¯ I remind her, and she huffs.

    ¡®I feel your pain, babe, believe me, I do,¡¯ I say, chuckling. She yfully ps my chest and

    unwraps herself from around me. We shower, get dressed into fresh outfits and order a car to take us

    into the city to meet Sally.

 Chapter 17

    Chapter 17

    Alpha Maximus

    In the city I buy a backpack for Hope while we wait for Sally.

    ¡®Hey guys. Here you go,¡¯ she says, handing over the money, I put into the backpack.

    ¡®We¡¯re going to have breakfast. You should join us,¡¯ I say.

    ¡®Sure. There¡¯s a cafe around the corner that makes really good food.¡¯

    ¡®Lead the way,¡¯ I say, cheerfully.

    We order breakfast and pay for Sally, and get to know her better. Hope keeps staring out the

    window, watching something or someone. There is a man on his phone a few metres from the window,

    staring at us.

    A few men enter the cafe and sit at different tables. Hope and I look at each other. We can smell

    their scents. Sally notices we¡¯ve stopped listening to her and our bodynguage tells her we¡¯re clearly

    ufortable.

    ¡®Is something wrong?¡¯ She whispers.

    ¡®I''m sorry, but we need to leave. I don''t want you to be involved in this,¡¯ I say.

    With Hope''s hand in mine, we leave the cafe, and Sally follows us. We walk past the man still on

    the phone. Being in public in a city full of people, they won''t do anything just yet.

    I sling the backpack over my shoulder, relieving Hope of its weight. We speed-walk to a crossing

    with hundreds of people to try and lose our followers.

    We go around a few street corners, trying to lose them. Sally is still following us. We stop in an

    alley.

    ¡®Sally, you need to go home. You will put yourself in danger if you stay with us,¡¯ I exin.

    ¡®Why are you being followed? What do they want with you? Your car wasn¡¯t stolen, was it?¡¯ She

    asks, realising we¡¯re involved in something bad.

    ¡®I appreciate your concern, but you have to go now!¡¯ I snap. A sharp pain hits my arm.

    ¡®Shit!¡¯ I say, and my eyes roll back and I fall to the ground.

    ¡®Maximus!¡¯ Hope screams, after a van has stopped, and someone has tranquilised me. The men

    jump out of the van, grab Hope and Sally, and speed away.

    When Ie to, I have no idea how long I¡¯ve been out. A little groggy, I stand, and look around.

    ¡®Hope!¡¯ I yell.

    There¡¯s no sign of the van or Hope. I run around the block looking for them. I don''t know which

    pack has taken them, but I¡¯ll find out, and make them pay with their life!

    Hailing a taxi, I jump in.

    ¡®To Drycrest please, and hurry.¡¯ It¡¯s the closest werewolf territory to Blissville.

    An hourter we arrive in Drycrest.

    ¡®Here will be fine,¡¯ I say.

    I run to the field and shift when the taxi is out of sight.

    It has just gone dark. I creep through the pack vige unseen, seeing the pack house in the

    distance.

    Sneaking around to the back, I quietly enter through the back door, and hear chatter,

    conversations, and the smell of a roast. They¡¯re having dinner.

    I creep upstairs and look around until I find the alpha''s bedroom, before entering the walk-in

    wardrobe and shifting into human form.

    An hourter, the door opens and the overweight alpha and his Luna enter the room. Shit! I didn''t

    think about the Luna being here. The alpha sits on the bed, and the Luna closes the door and locks it

    behind them.

    Shees into the wardrobe and before she can scream, I put my hand over her mouth, pressing

    my chest into her back. I walk into the room, with her held tightly, so she can''t move.

    ¡®What is this? Let my Luna go!¡¯ Alpha Greg yells, dripping with sweat.

    ¡®Let go of my Luna first, and I¡¯ll give yours back!¡¯ I snap.

    ¡®Alpha Maximus?¡¯ He says.

    ¡®Yes. Where is she?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®I don''t have her,¡¯ he says.

    ¡®You¡¯re lying!¡¯ I say.

    ¡®No, I''m not lying. Look for her yourself! She isn''t here.¡¯ He exins.

    ¡®Then where is she?¡¯ I demand.

    ¡®She is probably being returned to her rightful mate, Alpha Tate!¡¯ He snaps. I shove his Luna

    towards the bed, and grab him by the throat.

    ¡®She is mine!¡¯ I snarl, partly Chaos.

    ¡®Are you going to murder me like you did all the other werewolves?¡¯ He snaps.

    ¡®Alpha Tate tried to kill me! He rejected his Luna! And hurt her! I did what was necessary to free

    Hope and I!¡¯ I snarl. We re into each other''s eyes until Alpha Greg realises I¡¯m telling the truth.

    ¡®I didn''t know that. Alpha Tate and Alpha Liam were very convincing, but I sensed something

    wasn''t right with Alpha Tate,¡¯ he exins. Releasing his throat, I step back.

    ¡®Alpha Tate is in Dawnbury. If Hope has been kidnapped, and hasn''t already been killed, that''s

    where she¡¯ll be,¡¯ Alpha Greg admits.

    ¡®Dawnbury is close to my territory,¡¯ I say.

    ¡®Yes. Four packs attacked yours.¡¯

    My loyal pack members are with Alpha Dan. I don¡¯t entrust Alpha Greg with this information just

    yet.

    ¡®I need your help getting Hope and my territory back,¡¯ I confess.

    ¡®How can we take out so many packs? It''s suicide!¡¯ He says.

    ¡®I have a n, but I need your word you wille to my aid when I need you to.¡¯

    Alpha Greg steps forward and shakes my hand in agreement.

    ¡®I want what is best for the wolfmunity. You can count on me,¡¯ he smiles.

    ¡®Good. You¡¯ll hear from me in a few days, so make sure you¡¯re ready to fight,¡¯ I order.

    ¡®Stay tonight in the guest room. Just make sure no one sees you. Sneak out in the morning. I''ll

    address the pack when it''s time,¡¯ he says. Nodding, I go to the guest room.

    Struggling to sleep, I spend half the night fighting Chaos who wants to hunt and kill Alpha Tate. I

    get up just before sunrise and shift, arriving at Farglen pack house a few hourster.

    Alpha Trent shoves one of his field workers over, knocking her basket of vegetables to the ground.

    ¡®Alpha Trent,¡¯ I say, and he turns around sharply, nervous to see me, without his warriors by his

    side; Chaos rips his head off. Farglen is now mine, and the field workers bow as a sign of respect.

    In Pinefort, Alpha Nate is pissed to see me and foolishly attacks me before I even offer to let him

    live. I kill him too.

    The alpha of the third pack, is also against me, and cowardly gets his pack to fight me, knowing he

    doesn''t stand a chance. I kill him, and sleep in his room, so I¡¯m well-rested, and ready to conquer more

    packs in the morning.

    After eating arge breakfast, I leave straight away. It takes me most of the day to reach the next

    two packs, where I kill the alphas, and let their Lunas stay on and rule on my behalf.

    R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    They¡¯re too scared to argue and ept my offer. I call Alpha Greg and tell him which territories are

    now mine and which alphas I have killed.

    He is angry and upset, but knows I didn''t have a choice, because they were all against me, and it

    was either fight or die. This all started because of Alpha Tate.

    He has prepped his men to fight for my territory and has already sent them to reim it.

    I call Alex and ask him and Alpha Dan to have the Drycrest pack help reim my territory, while I

    continue confronting and killing alphas, and finding Hope.

    I pray to the Moon Goddess Hope is okay and unharmed. The thought of Alpha Tate being near

    her awakens Chaos.

    Yearning for Hope, I just want her back safely, in my arms, to take her home, to rule my pack, by

    my side.

 Chapter 18

    Chapter 18

    Hope

    In the van they tie cable ties around our wrists behind our backs.

    ¡®Let us go!¡¯ Sally screams.

    ¡®What are we doing with the human?¡¯ One man asks.

    ¡®What are you talking about?¡¯ Sally asks.

    ¡®Alpha Maximus is going to kill you for this!¡¯ I growl. The menugh, and Sally gives me a confused

    look.

    ¡®Where are you taking us?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®The n was to kill you and Alpha Maximus, but Alpha Tate argued that since you are his

    property, he should choose what¡¯s to be of you,¡¯ the man exins.

    ¡®You''re taking me to Alpha Tate?¡¯ I ask, worried.

    ¡®Yes.¡¯

    ¡®No. Please. Let me go. I don''t want to go back to Alpha Tate. He will hurt me,¡¯ I beg.

    ¡®What Alpha Tate does with you is not our business!¡¯ He snaps.

    ¡®It''s a long drive to Dawnbury, so I suggest you sit tight and stop talking!¡¯ He snaps.

    ¡®Is that where Alpha Tate is?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®Yes.¡¯

    ¡®Who is Alpha Tate? Why would he hurt you?¡¯ Sally asks.

    ¡®He was my alpha and first mate. He kept me as a ve and rejected me,¡¯ I exin.

    ¡®You were kept as a ve!¡¯ Sally says in horror. I nod.

    ¡®What is an alpha? And when you say mate, do you mean like ex-boyfriend or something?¡¯ She

    asks.

    ¡®Will you shut up back there?¡¯ The driver demands.

    We fall quiet and fall asleep against each other.

    We are abruptly woken when the van door flies open.

    ¡®I''ve missed you,¡¯ Alpha Tate says.

    ¡®You look so different. So beautiful. You¡¯re scrubbed up nice and fancy,¡¯ he says, licking his lips.

    ¡®If you think aboutying a finger on her, I will cut your frigging balls off!¡¯ Sally yells.

    ¡®Well, well, well. I''ve always wanted a pet human,¡¯ Alpha Tate chuckles.

    ¡®Why does everyone keep referring to me as a human?¡¯ She asks, annoyed.

    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    ¡®Aren''t you in for a big surprise?¡¯ Alpha Tate says.

    He grabs my arm and drags me out of the van.

    ¡®Are you going to kill me?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®That depends on you, ve,¡¯ he says, stroking my face with his hand; I recoil in disgust.

    ¡®My name is Hope!¡¯ I snap.

    He is grinning, and dragging me to the pack house.

    Sally puts up a fight with the other guy; two more men have to help drag her inside, behind me. We

    are taken to a room, where Sally and I are thrown onto a lounge seat; our hands still bound behind our

    backs. The firece is lit, and it gives off a nice flickering glow in the room; I wee the warmth from

    the mes.

    The men leave, bar one, who stands outside the room.

    Alpha Tate sits in a chair facing us, puts his feet up on the coffee table, grabs an apple from a

    bowl, and starts slicing pieces of it with a knife. I cringe every time he puts a slice of apple in his mouth,

    while he silently watches us.

    After an hour of him staring at us in silence, he finally speaks.

    ¡®Why hasn''t he marked or mated you yet?¡¯ He asks. I blush.

    ¡®That''s none of your business,¡¯ I say.

    Alpha Tate walks over to me, and grabs my arm forcing me to stand.

    ¡®When did you get the courage to speak to me, your Alpha, like that?¡¯ He hisses.

    ¡®Since I realised what a jerk you are!¡¯ I snap. He drags me from the room and tells the man outside

    to keep an eye on Sally. He takes me into arge bedroom, pushes me onto the bed, and straddles

    me. He brushes my white hair from my face and neck.

    ¡®I should mark you right now!'' He says, frisky.

    ¡®You rejected me. Remember?¡¯ I say.

    ¡®I know, but I take it back,¡¯ he says.

    ¡®You can''t just take it back!¡¯ I say.

    ¡®Well, I''ve changed my mind,¡¯ he replies.

    ¡®I¡¯m Alpha Maximus'' mate, now!¡¯ I yell.

    ¡®Not if I mark you first!¡¯ He growls; I re at him.

    ¡®Don''t you dare!¡¯ I threaten.

    ¡®Lady luck is on your side Hope, because I don''t n on marking you tonight. I''ll wait for Alpha Max

    to find you. I¡¯ll do it in front of him like I nned on the night he was meant to die,¡¯ he smiles.

    ¡®Bastard,¡¯ I yell.

    ¡®I love it when you call me names,¡¯ he says, and I roll my eyes.

    ¡®Are you going to untie my wrists?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®I suppose I could untie you. It''s not like you¡¯re strong enough to do anything,¡¯ he says, chuckling.

    He stands, takes out his knife, and cuts the cable ties.

    Instantly shifting, I pounce on him, growling, snapping, and snarling.

    ¡®Holy shit! You can shift?¡¯ He yells, trying to push me off him.

    I bite his arm, and he cries out in pain, before shifting into his big grey wolf. We bite each other and

    snarl at each other. He mps down on my throat with his teeth, cutting off my oxygen. Struggling to

    free myself, he mps down even harder every time I move. I shift back into my human form against

    my will and ck out.

    Waking up, I¡¯m naked, in bed. The sun shines in through the window. I cked out the whole night.

    Jumping out of the bed, I run to the door, but it¡¯s locked. I quickly put on a dress I find on a chair,

    and run to the window. I¡¯m on the third floor.

    Opening the window, I climb out, and carefully crawl to the next window, to find Sally. I can''t see

    her in any of the rooms. I¡¯ll check the second floor.

    Sliding down a drainpipe, I grab a balcony rail on the second floor, climb over it, andnd on my

    back. I can''t see anyone in the room, but the window is open, so I climb inside.

    I poke my head through the door, and quietly creep a few metres down the hall to the next room,

    and open the door, where Sally is sleeping on the couch, with her hands bound. I wake her, and she

    looks behind me, rmed.

    I turn around sharply.

    ¡®Leaving already?¡¯ Alpha Tate asks, grinning, and standing, with his arms crossed, nked by three

    other men.

    ¡®Untie the human and bring her downstairs.¡¯

    ¡®My name is Sally! Not human!¡¯ She yells.

    Alpha Tate leads us to a sitting room and I freeze, entering.

    ¡®Why isn''t that witch dead?¡¯ Alpha Liam asks. Everyone stares at me. It can''t get any more

    awkward.

    Alpha Tate kisses my hand.

    ¡®This witch is my mate and Luna,¡¯ he says, smiling. It just got a lot more awkward.

    I try to pull my hand from Alpha Tate''s, but he grips it more tightly, and then sits down facing Alpha

    Liam, with me in hisp, and I can''t move. Alpha Liam res at me.

    ¡®So, if she is here, where¡¯s Alpha Max?¡¯ Alpha Liam asks.

    ¡®They were in Blissville. He¡¯lle for her. We will wait for him toe to us. Extra warriors are on

    patrol throughout the territory. We will know when he is here,¡¯ Alpha Tate exins.

    ¡®How are we going to kill him? I haven''t been able to contact any of the alphas who are helping us

    kill him,¡¯ Alpha Liam asks.

    ¡®I¡¯ll make him choose his life or Hope''s,¡¯ Alpha Tate exins.

    ¡®No!¡¯ I yell, trying to break free from his arms. ¡®I hate you!¡¯ I scream.

    ¡®Oh, don''t be like that, Hope,¡¯ Alpha Tate says, chuckling holding me tighter. I elbow him in the face

    and fall onto the floor. I run, grab Sally''s hand, and lead her out of the house.

    ¡®Get her!¡¯ Alpha Tate yells.

 Chapter 19

    Chapter 19

    Hope

    We run hand in hand outside, where five men are chasing us, in their wolf forms.

    ¡®No matter what you see, keep running, okay?¡¯ I say.

    ¡®Okay,¡¯ she says. ¡®They¡¯re after me. I''m going to run in a different direction, so you can get away,¡¯ I

    From N?velDrama.Org.

    exin.

    ¡®What about you? I don''t want them to get you.¡¯

    ¡®Don''t worry about me. Just keep running.¡¯

    Discarding my dress, I shift into Storm. Sally screams and runs even faster, through the field.

    The wolves chase me through the field away from Sally.

    I duck under branches and pounce over rocks until I collide with something hard. I whimper on

    impact, and see Alpha Tate, in hisrge, wolf form, snarling. He mps down on my throat again until I

    shift back into human form and ck out.

    Waking up in bed again, naked, Alpha Tate is sitting in the armchair, watching me. I quickly cover

    myself with the bedsheet and re at him. He rolls his eyes and throws a dress at me. I grab it and put

    it on. There¡¯s a knock on the door.

    ¡®What?¡¯ Alpha Tate says.

    ¡®It''s Alpha Liam. Something has happened. Come downstairs for an urgent meeting,¡¯ he says.

    Alpha Tate grabs my hand, and leads me into the hallway, and downstairs, into a room full of

    people who are worried, and chatting among themselves.

    We sit at the end of the table next to Alpha Liam.

    ¡®What is so urgent half the pack is here?¡¯ Alpha Tate asks.

    ¡®We were expecting other alphas to be here to fight Alpha Maximus, and they haven''t shown up.

    Most of them are dead.¡¯

    Everyone in the room stiffens and the worry intensifies.

    ¡®What do you mean most of them are dead? Who are the new alphas?¡¯ Alpha Tate asks.

    ¡®Alpha Maximus is their alpha. He has been killing them one by one. He¡¯ll be here tonight or

    tomorrow. We¡¯re on our own. It won''t be easy to kill him,¡¯ Alpha Liam exins.

    I¡¯m sitting here grinning. Maximus ising for me.

    ¡®As long as we have Hope, we have the upper hand,¡¯ Alpha Tate smiles, and I frown.

    ¡®Okay, everyone. Prepare yourselves in case he arrives tonight. Alpha Liam, organise some

    wolfsbane,¡¯ Alpha Tate demands.

    ¡®Yes, I''ll get onto it right away,¡¯ Alpha Liam says.

    Alpha Maximus

    In Dawnbury, Sally is running towards me in the distance.

    ¡®Sally! Sally!¡¯ I yell.

    ¡®Max!¡¯ She yells, and we meet halfway.

    ¡®Are you hurt? Where is Hope?¡¯ I ask.

    She is leaning, with her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.

    ¡®Hope... Hope... wolf... ran... you won''t believe¡­¡¯ she pants, and I can''t understand her.

    ¡®Sally! What happened?¡¯ I snap, getting Sally''s full attention. She stands up straight and stares at

    me.

    ¡®You won''t believe this! Hope and I were running, and she turned into a wolf!¡¯ Sally exims.

    ¡®Where is she?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®I don''t know. I think they caught her again. Aren''t you concerned? She¡¯s a wolf!¡¯ She says.

    I shift into Chaos, and she screams. I put my hand over her mouth to muffle her screaming, before

    shifting back into human form to exin it all.

    ¡®Sally, everyone you were just around are werewolves! Show me the way to the pack house!¡¯ I

    instruct.

    Sally is shaking as she points in the direction of the pack house. I grab her and lead her towards it.

    ¡®Get down! See there? Pack warriors are spread out over there. I¡¯ll take them on but I don''t want

    them to alert Alpha Tate, that I¡¯m here, yet,¡¯ I whisper.

    Sally nods nervously, crouches down behind me, and we creep around to the side of the pack

    house.

    Alpha Liam is out the front talking to some pack warriors and members, who are scanning the area

    for me.

    ¡®They know I¡¯m here,¡¯ I mumble.

    ¡®Hope must be inside,¡¯ Sally says.

    I shift into Chaos and let out a ferocious howl; Sally quivers behind me. I run straight at Alpha Liam

    preparing to strike, and he turns, grinning, his arms crossed, as his warriors shield him.

    My ws slit their throats killing them, and fifty more warriors run out either side of the pack house,

    and surround me. Half of them are wolves, lunging at me, and biting and swiping at me. Others in

    human form, shoot spears at me.

    It isn''t looking too good at all. Then I hear his voice as I fight.

    ¡®Oh. Look, Hope. Alpha Maximus hase to save you! Too bad he won''t survive,¡¯ Alpha Tate

    says, snarling.

    Hope is pressed against his chest, and a knife is held against her throat. I snarl and break a wolf¡¯s

    neck, and throw him into the row of spear-bearers. I sustain hundreds of bites, wounds, scratches and

    cuts and my pain increases.

    ¡®Maximus!¡¯ Hope screams. Her voice gives me an adrenaline rush.

    There are about thirty dead wolves lying around. I¡¯m getting closer to Alpha Liam.

    A spear flies through the air and I grab it in time before it pierces me, a centimetre from my right

    eye, and immediately throw it back, with full force, directly at Alpha Liam, before he processes the

    spear in his chest.

    Everyone freezes and stares at Alpha Liam, who is gasping for breath, before he falls to his knees,

    and holds the spear in his chest. Blood bubbles from his mouth as he registers what has just

    happened. He falls backwards and takes hisst breath; his men are now mine. I shift back into human

    form.

    ¡®As the Alpha of this pack, I order you to kill all members of the ckwood pack!¡¯ I yell.

    Alpha Tate growls, and pushes the knife deeper into Hope''s skin. We stare at each other while my

    pack members and his fight.

    I need to get to Alpha Tate without Hope getting hurt. Unexpectedly, Sally leaves the house holding

    a frying pan like a baseball bat, and creeps up behind Alpha Tate and swings it with all her strength

    across the back of Alpha Tate''s head.

    Alpha Tate yells out in pain, letting going of Hope briefly. Hope runs to me and leaps into my arms.

    Alpha Tate grabs Sally and thrusts the knife into her stomach.

    ¡®No!¡¯ I yell.

    Hope gasps, shocked. I shift back into Chaos and run towards Alpha Tate, and we roll onto the

    ground. He shifts into his wolf and we fight, ferociously, yelping, growling, and whimpering, at the

    injuries we inflict on each other.

    Beta Sam runs towards me. Hope is on her knees, healing Sally''s stab wound. She sees Sam

    running towards me, shifts into her wolf and bolts towards Sam.

    Going in for the kill, I mp down on Alpha Tate''s throat and rip it open. Sam injects wolfsbane into

    my shoulder.

    Storm jumps onto him, fatally biting his neck, ending his life. The surviving pack members are now

    all mine. I shift back into human form and my eyes go heavy. Everything sways. Hope runs towards

    me.

    ¡®Maximus!¡¯ She screams, and I sit up quickly from my dream-like state, with blurry eyesight,

    covered in sweat. I give myself a minute to adjust. My beautiful Goddess, my mate, is sitting in front of

    me staring into my eyes with the most beautiful smile.

 Chapter 20

    Chapter 20

    I¡¯m lying in a bed naked, with Hope straddling me and her arms wrapped around my neck.

    ¡®What happened? Where are we?¡¯ I ask, wondering if it has all been a dream.

    ¡®Alpha Tate and Alpha Liam are dead. I have told our new pack members to bury the dead,¡¯ she

    says, proudly.

    Smiling, I cup her face.

    ¡®I see you¡¯ve already adjusted to being Luna,¡¯ I say, and she smiles.

    ¡®Well, you were knocked out from the wolfsbane and everyone bowed to me and chanted Luna!

    So, I got them to carry you in here to rest, and they all stood around waiting for orders. I wanted to do

    the right thing by the dead, so they were all buried, except for Alpha Tate, Alpha Liam and Sam. I had

    them cremated,¡¯ she exins, smiling.

    ¡®You are a true Luna indeed!¡¯ I say, kissing her forehead. She blushes and smiles. Swinging my

    legs over the bed to stand, everything sways.

    ¡®Oh, no you don''t! You have a really bad fever. You need to stay and rest until you are better. I''m

    going to stay here, by your side, okay?¡¯ Hope says, lifting my feet back into the bed.

    She grabs a washcloth from the bedside table, in a bowl of water, and squeezes it, before wringing

    it out, and wiping the sweat off my forehead, trying to cool my body down. The coldness of the

    washcloth, and her other hand stroking my face, soothes me. She does this for hours, and then leaves

    the room, to bring me some food.

    She returns with a bowl of soup and bread on a tray. She props the pillows up behind me to help

    me sit up, to spoon feed me the soup.

    ¡®This reminds me of when I fed you with the chopsticks,¡¯ Iugh, and she giggles.

    ¡®I¡¯m d I can return the favour, and feed you,¡¯ she says, smirking. There¡¯s a knock on the door.

    ¡®Come in,¡¯ I yell, and Sally enters the room, smiling.

    ¡®How are you feeling Max? I mean, Alpha Maximus? Is that what I should call you?¡¯ She wonders.

    We startughing.

    ¡®You''re not my pack member, so you can just call me Max. I should be asking you how you are

    after Alpha Tate stabbed you,¡¯ I say.

    ¡®Hope was able to heal me. It didn''t even scar,¡¯ she says, proudly, smiling at Hope.

    ¡®So, you aren''t freaked out about the whole werewolf thing?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®At first, I was, but now I think it''s kind of cool. In fact, I think I might even be a little bit jealous that

    I''m not a wolf!¡¯ She answers,ughing, and we allugh.

    ¡®Sally, I want to thank you for saving Hope. If you hadn''t been brave and snuck up on Alpha Tate

    like that, I don''t know if we would have had the same oue. A frying pan. Of all things!¡¯ I say,

    ¡®I had to improvise. I wasn¡¯t able to shift into a wolf like everyone else!¡¯ Sheughs. ¡®You¡¯re very

    wee! I would dly hit anyone over the head with a frying pan, if it means rescuing Hope!¡¯ She

    grins, and weugh.

    Hope stares at me with a serious look on her face.

    ¡®So, what now?¡¯ She asks.

    ¡®I''m going to call Alex and let him know the good news. Alpha Greg and his pack should be arriving

    at Alpha Dan''s tomorrow. They¡¯ll wait for us, and we will fight for our home, and the Blood Moon pack

    will be reinstated,¡¯ I reply.

    ¡®Well, let''s get this fever gone. Hopefully you will be fine by the morning,¡¯ Hope mumbles, and Sally

    leaves the room while Hope runs a cool bath for me.

    She is tiny but still helps me stand, and hop into the bathtub, and she pulls her dress off over her

    head and gets in with me. With her back against my chest, my member is pressed hard against her

    back. I wrap my arms around her waist, and kiss her shoulder and neck, making her moan.

    She tilts her head back to look up at me. I lean down and rub the tip of my nose against hers, and

    peck her on the lips. She spins around and presses her breasts firmly against my chest, and nuzzles

    her face in my neck. Her teeth protrude and lightly graze my marking spot, teasing me.

    ¡®When did you be so naughty?¡¯ I ask her. She giggles and blushes.

    ¡®I can''t help but feel naughty when I¡¯m with you,¡¯ she says, wrapping her hand around my hard

    member making me moan.

    There¡¯s a knock on the door and we sigh. Hope reluctantly gets out of the bath, wraps a towel

    around herself, and leaves. Momentster, she returns, throwing a dress on.

    ¡®Sally said the new pack members are worried about what will be of them, and are

    ¡®How are you feeling?¡¯ She asks.

    ¡®I think we broke the fever. I¡¯m feeling much better,¡¯ I answer.

    ¡®Would you like to go back to bed and rest, or do you want toe downstairs and address our

    pack?¡¯ She asks.

    ¡®I¡¯lle downstairs with you. Give me a moment to dress,¡¯ I say, with a smile.

    We walk hand in hand downstairs, into a roomful of pack members, who bow their heads when we

    enter, and we take our seats.

    ¡®You are now all members of Blood Moon. Tomorrow your Luna and I will head to Ashwood where

    we will join Alpha Dan''s and Alpha Greg''s packs. Our intention is to fight them and reim my territory,

    and the packhouse. You can stay in the vige, you can stay here, or stay in any of my territories,¡¯ I

    exin. The room fills with chatter as everyone speaks among themselves.

    ¡®Some of us would like to stay here, but it''s quite old and run-down. It needs a lot of repairs. The

    soil here is perfect for growing food and farming. If we had the money, we would be able to growrger

    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.

    crops, and supply food to all the packhouses you own, all year round,¡¯ a man says.

    ¡®Yes, this ce is looking old, and thendscape is incredibly lush and thriving. Many of the pack

    houses I took over were poverty-stricken, yet the alphas wore the finest clothing and had the finest

    houses. The pack members had barely any food,¡¯ I exin.

    ¡®Is there any way you can make this ce and the other pack houses more liveable?¡¯ He asks.

    I walk off; every one goes silent, and looks at Hope.

    ¡®He will be back in a moment,¡¯ she says.

    Returning to the room, I throw a bag at the man, he catches it, and looks at me, confused.

    ¡®Open it,¡¯ I say, kindly.

    The man empties the bag over the table, and hundreds of bundles of money tumble out. Everyone

    gasps, in shock at all the money.

    ¡®I¡¯m going to leave you in charge as Treasurer. There is almost one million dors there for you.

    Allocate it to wherever it needs to be spent. When the money runs out, contact me, and I¡¯ll give you

    more. No werewolf will live in poverty, and you will have a proper food farm up and running,¡¯ I exin,

    and they all cheer and p. One by one, they thank me and Hope for our kindness and generosity.

    It¡¯s getting dark when the pack members invite us outside to join them around a bonfire, where we

    listen to their stories, and they y music, and dance around the fire.

    Hope and Sally join in, twirling around the fire. I don''t keep my eyes off Hope; it gives me great

    happiness seeing her free and happy.

    When the fire has gone out, Hope is asleep in myp. I carry her to bed, and snuggle her,

    wrapping my arms around her. I¡¯m d to have her safe in my arms again, but struggle to sleep

    knowing the war isn''t over yet.

    We still have to reim our home, and fight multiple packs at once. I pray to the Moon Goddess to

    keep Hope safe, and to help get our home back. Hope stirs, having a bad dream. She tosses and

    turns.

    ¡®Nathan!¡¯ She yells.

    Gently waking her, she quickly sits up, gasping for air.

    ¡®Are you okay? You were having a bad dream.¡¯

    She starts crying.

    ¡®I dreamt about the explosion, about Nathan,¡¯ she cries, wiping her tears. Wrapping my arms

    around her, I scoop her onto myp and caress her face tofort her.

    ¡®I wish he was still here,¡¯ she whispers.

    ¡®Me too,¡¯ I whisper.

 Chapter 21

    Chapter 21

    Hoping to arrive by nightfall in Ashwood, we decide to stop and stretch our legs, and let our wolf

    and lycan out for a run. Excitement builds, because it¡¯s Chaos¡¯ first time running with Storm. We strip

    our clothes, and shift, and chase each other, roll, nip and y.

    We shift back into our human forms, and naked, lie next to each other in a beautiful field. I roll onto

    my side and stare into Hope''s beautiful eyes. My fingers run down her stomach and down her arms.

    From N?velDrama.Org.

    Leaning down, I kiss her passionately. Grabbing her bum, I lift her onto myp; my erection pressed

    against her wet core.

    As we kiss, she bes more aroused and she grinds herself against my member. My hands

    make their way to her waist before cupping her breasts.

    Hope repositions herself, and I slide my member into her slowly. She moans in ecstasy as it

    enters.

    We thrust our hips in unison, and moan in pleasure; her eyes fixed on my neck. She can''t hold

    back any longer, and her teeth protrude.

    She is close to climaxing, my fangs protrude, and I mark her as she orgasms. She marks me as I

    release my seed into her. She lies on my chest, panting, and gazes into my eyes with love and desire.

    We share a fiery kiss. We stay in each other''s arms all night, not even making it Ashwood. We make

    love and let our wolves out to run and y several times.

    The following morning, we continue to Ashwood and enter the territory by midday. Alpha Greg and

    Alpha Dan greet us when we arrive. Alex runs out, almost knocking me over, and we hug and pat each

    other on the back.

    ¡®Alex, I want you to meet Hope, my mate and your Luna,¡¯ I say, smiling. Alex bows his head.

    ¡®I¡¯m thrilled to meet you. I must introduce you to Be, my mate,¡¯ he smiles.

    We follow them into the pack house, where all the Blood Moon pack members are gathered

    around, happy I¡¯m alive and well, and thrilled to see their new Luna by my side. Everyone is excited

    and tries to have a moment with Hope. I¡¯m happy to see them weing her with open arms.

    Be is sitting on the couch, and looks like she will burst any moment. I take Hope''s hand and walk

    over to Be.

    ¡®Be, this is our new Luna, Hope. Hope, this is Be, Alex''s mate,¡¯ I say. Hope sits down next to

    Be and they form a friendship right away. I approach Alpha Greg and Alpha Dan.

    ¡®Alpha Dan, I want to thank you for looking after the loyal members of my pack. I hope one day, I

    can return the favour. Alpha Greg, I''m d you chose to fight with me, instead of against me. I hope we

    will be great allies,¡¯ I smile. They nod, happy with my words.

    ¡®Tomorrow, we will fight and reim your territory. I suggest we all get some rest before the battle

    tomorrow,¡¯ Alpha Dan suggests. We nod in agreement. I walk over to Hope and take her hand.

    ¡®Come. We¡¯re exhausted, and we must rest, so we can reim our home tomorrow,¡¯ I say,

    fatigued.

    Hope smiles, stands, we go to our room, and strip off and shower together, before falling asleep.

    We sleep all night.

    We join the other alphas and Be and Alex for breakfast.

    ¡®We¡¯ll leave at noon, and we should arrive in Blood Moon territory by nightfall,¡¯ I say.

    ¡®I want toe as well,¡¯ Be says.

    ¡®You¡¯re overdue. You can''te home during a battle. You could be hurt or killed,¡¯ Alex says.

    ¡®I''m sorry, but I''m siding with Alex. You¡¯ll be in safe hands here. When it¡¯s safe to return home, we

    will arrange transport back home safely.¡¯ Be moans, annoyed. Hope gives her a sympathetic look.

    ¡®You will be back with Alex before you know it,¡¯ Hope says, giving her a reassuring smile.

    ¡®Thanks, Luna,¡¯ she replies, with a smile.

    We all shift, and run through the fields towards Blood Moon territory. It¡¯s dark when we arrive, and

    there are hundreds of pack warriors scattered everywhere.

    ¡®You fight your way through the warriors. I''m going to sneak around and find the alphas,¡¯ I say.

    Alpha Dan and Alpha Greg both run off, and shift into their wolves.

    The three packs collide with our opposition, and there are yelps and whimpers, as Hope and I

    sneak around through the long grass. A twig snaps behind us, and five wolves growl and snarl at us.

    We lunge at them, snapping, and biting until they¡¯re all dead.

    ¡®I can''t see any of the alphas. I don''t understand,¡¯ I say, confused.

    ¡®Should we check inside the pack house?¡¯ She asks.

    ¡®It¡¯s the only ce they could be. You would think they would be out here fighting, with their pack,¡¯ I

    point out.

    ¡®They might be cowards like Alpha Tate,¡¯ Hope says.

    ¡®True,¡¯ I agree.

    ¡®I can''t believe how beautiful Blood Moon is. You said we would live in a pack house. This is a

    medieval castle!¡¯ Hope yells.

    ¡®Pack house, medieval castle; same thing,¡¯ I say, shrugging my shoulders. Hope shakes her head,

    in disbelief.

    ¡®You are unbelievable, Maximus,¡¯ she says, smirking. I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her

    into me.

    ¡®And you, Hope, are unbelievably beautiful,¡¯ I reply, giving her a fiery kiss.

    ¡®Max!¡¯ She giggles, pushing me away. ¡®This isn''t the time or ce,¡¯ she says, blushing. I sigh.

    ¡®You¡¯re right. We must focus on finding the alphas. After I kill them, I¡¯ll focus on making you moan

    all night,¡¯ I say, giving her a wink and cheeky grin.

    She shoves me, and smiles, and we creep towards the blue stone wall surrounding the pack

    house. I lift her onto my shoulders and she climbs over. I shift, and join her on the other side. We drop

    quietly into the bushes and scan the area. There are some warriors patrolling the area, but not many.

    We sneak up on them, and quietly kill them, one by one.

    Looking into a few windows, there¡¯s no movement inside.

    Waving my hand, Hope follows. I know a way to get into the castle, that no one but Alex and

    Nathan know about.

    We crawl through the garden ande across a well. I move some branches aside to reveal a

    wooden door on the ground behind it in a corner.

    Opening the door, I climb down. Hope is about to jump down, and I raise my hands and catch her

    just in time.

    We¡¯re in an underground tunnel.

    ¡®This way takes us into the castle,¡¯ I whisper. Holding her nose, Hope quietly follows as we walk

    through the smelly tunnel. The odd rat runs past us, squeaking, along the dark tunnel. We stop at a

    I climb up, and push a stone tile aside. I hoist myself up, and reach for Hope''s hand, and pull her

    up, and into my chest. She looks around in awe and amazement.

    ¡®This bedroom is incredible,¡¯ she whispers. The walls and floor are stone, and there are red velvet

    curtains on the windows. There¡¯s arge four-poster, wooden bed with white drapes, and a golden,

    silky cover.

    Elegant tapestries, and a stunning banner of a wolf and a lycan decorate the walls.

    ¡®This is our room,¡¯ I say, chuffed with her reaction.

    ¡®No way! This was made for royalty,¡¯ she says.

    ¡®It was,¡¯ I exin, and she looks at me confused.

    ¡®I am a prince, but I prefer to be addressed by my alpha status,¡¯ I exin.

    ¡®That exins why this isn''t your typical pack house,¡¯ she says, amazed. Out the window, outside,

    all the packs in the distance are fighting.

    ¡®Let''s keep going,¡¯ I say.

    We open the bedroom door, discreetly sticking our heads out. No one is around and it¡¯s eerily

    quiet, walking down the hallway. We enter the great hall, where our footsteps echo.

    ¡®Looking for us?¡¯ A deep voice echoes.

    Hope and I are standing back-to-back, when three alphas and a group of warriors enter the hall

    from different ends.

 Chapter 22

    Chapter 22

    ¡®This is my home. I''ll give you one chance to leave, or I¡¯ll rip your heads off!¡¯ I yell, and the alphas

    ¡®You are surrounded, Alpha Maximus. I don''t think you¡¯re in any position to threaten us,¡¯ he snaps.

    I shift into my lycan, and Hope shifts into her wolf, and lets out a howl.

    ¡®Such a pretty little wolf,¡¯ the alpha says, smirking; admiring Storm¡¯s unique silver and white fur.

    ¡®She would be good for breeding pups with,¡¯ the other says. I snarl, and race towards the alpha.

    They and the warriors shift into their wolves.

    Snarling, I bite a leg, and fling the wolf with great force across the room, baring my fangs near

    someone¡¯s neck, for my next kill. Hope is fighting off the warriors who have her surrounded. She is

    putting up a good fight, but there are too many of them.

    One of the alphas hold her down, and she is forced to shift into her human form. She kicks him,

    while a warrior wraps his arms around her, from behind, pinning her arms to her chest. Ten warriors

    and two alphas are attacking me, but I run to Hope, to free her, before feeling a sting in my back. Not

    again! I fall into darkness.

    When I wake, I¡¯m in a cell in my own dungeon, with chains around my wrists and ankles. It¡¯s just

    like the night I met Hope. I howl loudly, and frustratedly, and hear the sound of footsteps and keys.

    ¡®Will you shut the fuck up?¡¯ An alpha yells.

    ¡®Where is Hope? What have you done to her?¡¯ I yell.

    ¡®No need to worry. We¡¯re taking very good care of her, if you know what I mean,¡¯ he smirks.

    ¡®If you touch her, I swear on the Moon Goddess, it will be thest thing you ever touch!¡¯ I yell. The

    alpha chuckles and walks away.

    ¡®Come back here, you coward!¡¯ I yell, only to hear it echo.

    ¡®Alpha... Alpha...¡¯ Someone is whispering, and I¡¯m looking around, but I can¡¯t see anyone.

    ¡®Up here!¡¯ They whisper, and I look up into the moon hole in the ceiling.

    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    ¡®Mother of the Moon Goddess! Is that really you, Nathan?¡¯ I ask, utterly shocked. Nathan pokes his

    head through the moon hole; it¡¯s too small for the rest of his body to fit through.

    ¡®I-we thought you were dead?¡¯ I stammer.

    ¡®As soon as I saw you grab Hope and run, I ran. I didn''t fully escape the explosion. My back and

    arms were burnt. But I outran it enough to survive,¡¯ he exins, and my eyes well up.

    ¡®You have no idea how happy I am you survived. I''m sorry I didn''te back for you. I wanted to.

    But I couldn''t,¡¯ I say, ashamed.

    ¡®It¡¯s fine, Alpha. The men followed you. You had to save our Luna. I came back here as soon as I

    recovered. I''m not sure who¡¯s winning. There are a lot of dead wolves in the field. I¡¯ll enter via the

    hidden entrance near the well. Sit tight, Alpha. I''ll unchain you and get you out of there!¡¯ Nathan says,

    and I nod. I wait an hour before he arrives.

    ¡®Come on Nathan! Where are you?¡¯ I wonder aloud.

    Nathan enters; keys dangling in his fingers.

    ¡®About time,¡¯ I say, and he rolls his eyes.

    ¡®Do you know how hard it was to get these, without being seen?¡¯ He says.

    ¡®Sorry. I''m just worried about Hope. You didn''t see her, did you?¡¯ I ask. Nathan shakes his head.

    Free from the chains, we make our way upstairs, searching for Hope. We kill any warrior wee

    across.

    The alphas are arguing about iming Hope, in a room nearby. Kicking the door in, I see Hope

    tied to a chair, wearing one of my shirts, that reaches her knees. One of the alphas stand.

    ¡®How did you get out?¡¯ He asks, angered.

    Nathan steps out from behind me, grinning.

    ¡®Nathan!¡¯ Hope screams, delighted; tears of joy fall down her cheeks.

    We shift and lunge at the alphas. I rip a chunk out of one of them, and he bleeds profusely from his

    ankle. I then fling his head backwards, breaking his neck, and let him fall to the ground.

    ¡®One down! Two to go!¡¯ I snarl. The alphas panic, knowing they¡¯re about to die. I lunge and rip into

    one of their necks, while Nathan rips into the other alpha''s chest, and when my alpha is dead, I join

    Nathan and finish the kill.

    Shifting back, I untie Hope, and she flings her arms around me, not caring about the blood all over

    me.

    ¡®Max!¡¯ She cries, into my chest. Holding her tight, I look her up and down.

    ¡®Are you hurt? Did they hurt you?¡¯ I ask, worried.

    ¡®No, I''m fine. I''m just d you¡¯re here,¡¯ she says, smiling up at me, before flinging herself into

    Nathan¡¯s arms. ¡®I thought you were dead! I saw the explosion!¡¯ She says, crying into his chest. He rubs

    her back tofort her.

    ¡®I only just made it out. I was burnt, though,¡¯ he says, letting her go and lifting his shirt. ¡®See?

    They¡¯ll probably leave some nasty scars,¡¯ he says, shrugging.

    ¡®No! Wait!¡¯ Hope says, before he pulls his shirt back down. She gently ces her hands on his

    back, her hair flows upward, her skin glows, and her eyes turn silver.

    A few momentster, she is back to normal and Nathan is scar-free.

    ¡®No way! You healed the whole lot! It feels so much better!¡¯ Nathan shouts, excitedly. He pulls

    Hope in for a hug.

    ¡®Thank you, again,¡¯ he says, smiling at her. Chaos briefly tries to take over.

    ¡®Mine!¡¯ He snarls, and Nathan lets go of Hope.

    ¡®Yes, Chaos. We know she is yours. I was just thanking her!¡¯ Nathan says, chuckling.

    In the fields out the front, there are dead and injured everywhere. As soon as the alphas are dead,

    the packs stop fighting.

    Hope goes around, healing the pack members with life-threatening injuries first. Everyone watches

    her, in awe, and with admiration. After healing a few dozen warriors, she is struggling to stay

    conscious. I run to her quickly.

    ¡®Hope!¡¯ I yell, kneeling next to her and pulling her into myp. ¡®Are you alright?¡¯ I ask, brushing her

    hair off her face.

    ¡®I''ll be fine. It¡¯s just, the more I heal, the less energy I have,¡¯ she exins.

    ¡®Hope you need to rest. I¡¯ll take you back inside,¡¯ I say.

    ¡®No! There are still so many badly injured. I need to heal them,¡¯ she pleads.

    ¡®Absolutely not! You¡¯re barely conscious yourself. I won''t allow you to weaken yourself any further!

    The rest can be seen by the doctor, and the trained she-wolves,¡¯ I say.

    I carry her into the castle, and by the time I get to our room, she is snoring. She is just too darn

    cute.

    Pulling the silk coverings over her, to keep her warm, I kiss her gently on her forehead and go back

    out to help the others.

    Alex and Nathan run across the field into each other''s arm, like they are mates.

    ¡®Alpha Maximus!¡¯ A familiar voice says, and I open my arms to hug my dear, elderly, chubby cook,

    and close family friend, Beth.

    ¡®Beth!¡¯ I yell, lifting her up. I give her a friendly, loving squeeze, and put her down.

    ¡®It was terrible being forced to cook for those snotty alphas and their packs! I''m so d you¡¯re

    back! Where is the Luna? I must meet her!¡¯ She says.

    ¡®Our Luna is resting in our room.¡¯ Beth runs back into the castle, all excited. I grab her arm gently.

    ¡®Beth. Don¡¯t wake her. She has been through a lot and needs rest,¡¯ I say.

    ¡®Oh, spoonfuls of sugar!¡¯ She says, stamping her foot.

    ¡®You¡¯ll meet herter. There is something you can do for me, if you like?¡¯ I smile, and she smiles.

    ¡®Anything for you, Alpha,¡¯ she says.

    ¡®I could really go for one of your apple pies right now,¡¯ I says with a grin.

    She smiles and runs into the castle kitchen to start baking. I help the rest of the injured into the

    castle.

    Returning to my room, to check on Hope, she is in a deep sleep, with a smile on her face. I take

    my clothes off, and snuggle up next her, just to be near her and hold her.

    Without opening her eyes, she snuggles in closer to me, nuzzles her face into my chest, and

    snores. I can''t help but chuckle at my perfect little mate.

 Chapter 23

    Chapter 23

    Alex runs into our room, frantic.

    ¡®Be! Be; she¡¯s inbour. She¡¯s on her way here with Sally and a few others,¡¯ Alex pants, and

    we sit up.

    ¡®Congrattions! You''re going to be a dad!¡¯ Hope yells, excited.

    ¡®How long until she gets here?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®A couple of hours. I''ll get the doctor ready,¡¯ Nathan says, leaving our room. Pulling Hope into my

    arms, I caress her face.

    ¡®Wee home, Luna,¡¯ I say, with a smile, and Hope smiles.

    ¡®I can''t believe I''m here with you. We can finally be together without being hunted,¡¯ she cries,

    happily.

    Spinning her around, I scoop her up, and my lips smash against hers in a fiery kiss.

    ¡®I love you, Hope,¡¯ I say, sincere. Hope kisses me back.

    ¡®I love you too, Maximus,¡¯ she says, sweetly.

    We get dressed, and there¡¯s a lot of excitement downstairs as everyone waits for Be and the

    new baby.

    The doctor is in the sitting room with everything he needs. Beth serves us all tea and apple pie

    while we sit around waiting.

    ¡®How exciting!¡¯ She deres. ¡®It will be so nice to have a little baby running around the house.

    Hopefully it isn¡¯t long before Alpha and Luna add one to the mix,¡¯ sheughs.

    Everyone smiles and looks at Hope, who is a little embarrassed. She sinks into her chair a little,

    and I chuckle.

    ¡®All in good time, Beth. We¡¯ll have babies when we¡¯re ready,¡¯ Iugh, giving Hope a reassuring

    smile. Alex paces the floor back and forth, fretting.

    ¡®She should be here by now,¡¯ he says, worried.

    ¡®I''m sure Be is fine,¡¯ I say, calmly reassuring him.

    Alex''s phone rings.

    ¡®What do you mean? No, don''t say that! I''ming to you now!¡¯ He says, ending the call. His

    R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    breathing bes heavy and he grips his hair in his hands.

    ¡®What''s wrong? What has happened?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®The baby hasn''te yet. She is bleeding badly,¡¯ he says, and I run to the doctor to tell him to

    follow us.

    ¡®Where are they?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®They¡¯re just outside our territory,¡¯ he says.

    ¡®I''ming with you,¡¯ Hope states, and I nod.

    We shift and follow Alex through the fields and the trees until we see a car parked on the side of

    the road.

    Be is screaming in the back, in pain. The doctor approaches the backseat where Sally is holding

    her hand, reassuring her.

    ¡®She needs to push. The baby needs toe out now,¡¯ the doctor says.

    We encourage Be to push and keep pushing. After her fourth push, the baby is delivered, and

    the doctor wraps the crying baby up, and hands it to Alex. Hope and I approach him.

    ¡®Congrattions, Alex,¡¯ we say. He is in awe of the sweet little bundle.

    ¡®Is it a boy or a girl?¡¯ Hope asks.

    ¡®I actually don''t know,¡¯ he says, opening the nket to check.

    ¡®It''s a boy! It''s a boy!¡¯ He shouts, happily.

    We¡¯re so happy for him; we¡¯re all cheering and smiling. The doctor walks over to us.

    ¡®I''m so sorry, Alex...¡¯ he whispers.

    ¡®What do you mean?¡¯ Alex says, confused.

    ¡®Be... Be is gone. I''m sorry. She didn''t survive the birth,¡¯ he says, saddened. We freeze and

    our faces pale.

    ¡®No! No!¡¯ He shouts, handing the baby to me and rushing to the car. Hope and Sally are crying.

    Alex leans into Be and cries into her chest. Hope approaches the car and her face changes from

    sadness to determination.

    She leans over Be, cing her hands over her stomach, and we all watch her hair flow upward,

    her skin glow, and her eyes turn silver.

    Minutes pass and nothing happens.

    ¡®Hope... Hope! She¡¯s gone,¡¯ I whisper, trying to pull her away.

    Tears stream down her face, as she tries to heal Be, before bursting into tears on the ground,

    after a few minutes of nothing.

    ¡®I''m so sorry,¡¯ she cries to him. I hand the baby to Sally and wrap Hope in my arms as she cries

    into my chest. Alex sits on the ground, crying into his hands.

    ¡®Why is everyone crying?¡¯ Be asks, a few minutester, and we all gasp, and run to her, and give

    her a big emotional hug each, and cry even harder.

    ¡®We thought you were dead¡¯, and ¡®Hope did it, she saved you!¡¯ We shout.

    ¡®Where¡¯s my baby?¡¯ Be asks, and Sally walks over and gently ces him in her arms.

    ¡®It''s a little boy,¡¯ Alex says.

    ¡®A little boy; he is so beautiful,¡¯ she gushes over him.

    ¡®Let''s get you all back to the house so you and the baby can rest,¡¯ I suggest.

    We get Be and the baby to the house safely.

    ¡®Wow! You live in a castle,¡¯ Sally says, amazed.

    ¡®Yes. This is the pack house,¡¯ I reply.

    ¡®Wow! So cool!¡¯ She says, and Nathan opens the door to let us in, and locks eyes with Sally.

    ¡®Mate!¡¯ He deres. We freeze and watch Nathan eyeing Sally.

    ¡®Umm... what?¡¯ She asks, and Nathan runs, lifts her up over his shoulder, and runs into the house.

    Sally is giggling her head off.

    ¡®Umm... Hello¡­ What''s going on? Who is this cute guy? Why is he running upstairs with me?¡¯ She

    yells, as we watch them both disappear upstairs.

    We all burst outughing, and Beth runs up to Be and the baby.

    ¡®Oh, he is gorgeous!¡¯ She says.

    ¡®Do you know what his name will be?¡¯ Hope asks.

    ¡®We¡¯re going to name him Billy, after Alex''s dad,¡¯ she answers, happily.

    ¡®How about you, Billy and Alex rest in your room for a while? I''m sure you need it, after what you

    just went through,¡¯ I suggest, and Alex nods and leads Be, and the baby upstairs.

    ¡®Want to let our wolves out for a run?¡¯ I ask Hope.

    ¡®Yes!¡¯ She says, running outside. I chase her through the fields. Storm and Chaos y fight; Storm

    keeps winning, because Chaos always gives in.

    We shift into our human selves and lie in the field of long grass; Hope straddles me, with a

    mischievous look on her face.

    Sitting up, I cover her body with sweet kisses, and she giggles, and cups my face in her hands.

    ¡®Maximus, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I never want to leave your side,¡¯

    she says.

    Her eyes well up and she bursts into tears. I pull her into my chest.

    ¡®Hope, I will never leave your side. You have captured my heart and tamed my lycan; something I

    never thought possible. I never want to go a day without you by my side either. To do so would be like a

    dagger to my heart,¡¯ I say, patting her back. She wipes her tears and looks into my eyes.

    ¡®I love you, Maximus,¡¯ she whispers.

    ¡®I love you, too,¡¯ I reply, leaning in to kiss her.

    ¡®Let¡¯s go home, have dinner and check on the pack,¡¯ I say.

    ¡®Last one home¡¯s a rotten egg!¡¯ Hope yells, as she shifts and runs.

    Smirking, I shift into my lycan. If she thinks she can outrun me she has another thinging! I

    chase her all the way home. She is about to beat me to the front door, but I leap with all my strength,

    and pounce on her, and we tumble inside, through the doorway, y fighting.

    Everyone gathers to see what themotion is, and find Storm holding me down, nipping, and

    snarling, like she has defeated me. I go along with it, and pretend she has overpowered me. Alex can''t

    contain himself, and bursts outughing. The rest of the householdughs too.

    It feels good to see my pack happy and rxed. I¡¯m so used to everyone walking on eggshells or

    being wary around me. I pray to the Moon Goddess it stays this way forever.

 Chapter 24

    Chapter 24

    Hope

    ¡®Hope, could you hold Billy for me?¡¯ Be asks.

    ¡®Of course!¡¯ I say, excited. He is such a sweet little baby.

    Sally and Nathan walk downstairs holding hands, and join us for breakfast. Sally''s cheeks are

    flushed and she is all giddy.

    ¡®Good morning,¡¯ I say, with a grin. She grins back.

    ¡®Good morning, Hope. I mean Luna,¡¯ she smiles. We both giggle.

    ¡®Did you sleep well?¡¯ I ask, trying not tough, and watch her bite her bottom lip, and look at

    Nathan next to her, giggling.

    ¡®Yes, I, um, slept very well,¡¯ she smirks, and Maximus chuckles.

    ¡®The whole house could hear how well you two slept,¡¯ he says, grinning at Nathan, who ps his

    arm.

    ¡®Maximus!¡¯ I scowl at him. Did you really have to say that?

    ¡®What?¡¯ He asks, chuckling.

    I try my best to change the subject so poor Sally can stop being embarrassed.

    ¡®What are our ns today?¡¯ I ask Maximus.

    ¡®I''ll be in meetings with the remaining wolf packs to organise peace treaties. I¡¯d like you to just

    settle in and find your way around the house. Seeing as it¡¯s a castle after all. Nathan can give you and

    Sally a tour,¡¯ he says.

    ¡®Really?¡¯ Sally asks.

    ¡®You¡¯re Nathan''s mate. We expect you to move in with us,¡¯ he offers.

    ¡®Oh, I couldn''t. I wouldn''t want to intrude,¡¯ she says.

    ¡®We insist, don''t we, Hope?¡¯ He says, looking at me. I smile and nod.

    ¡®Of course! It would mean a lot. Not only to Nathan, but to us, as well,¡¯ I say, smiling, rocking Billy

    in my arms. Sally squeals.

    ¡®I can''t believe I''m going to live in a castle!¡¯ She says, jumping up and down. Nathan kisses her

    hand.

    ¡®Shall we drive you home to pack your things today?¡¯ Nathan asks her.

    ¡®Yeah. We can head thereter today, and be back by the end of the week. I¡¯ll tie up loose ends at

    home before I leave there for good,¡¯ she smiles.

    Maximus kisses me sweetly on the lips before going to his office. Sally and I follow Nathan as he

    gives us the grand tour of the castle, thatsts for two hours.

    ¡®This ce doesn¡¯t end,¡¯ Iugh.

    ¡®It does eventually,¡¯ Nathan chuckles.

    ¡®Guys, I''m going to go to the kitchen for a drink of tea,¡¯ I say, feeling parched.

    ¡®Want me to show you the way back?¡¯ He asks.

    ¡®I''ll be fine,¡¯ I say, skipping and humming, and admiring the intricate paintings and antiques along

    the way. I swear the kitchen was down here. Maybe I took a wrong turn?

    ¡®I think I''m lost,¡¯ I say to myself. I slowly scan the corridors, trying to figure out which passage I

    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.

    should walk down, before noticing a ck hole in a wall. There are stone steps going down; it¡¯s too

    dark to see anything else.

    Poking my head in, curiosity gets the better of me, and I hold the wall so I can find my way down,

    in the dark.

    One slow step at a time, I get to the bottom and see a small light in the distance. I walk towards

    the light, with my hand on the wall. The light ising from the moon.

    The stone ceiling is missing a stone. I watch the moon in admiration for a moment before the wall

    creaks.

    I turn, and pressing my hands against the wall, it opens. I step into a room where a wall of shelves

    on my left is full of scrolls. There¡¯s a table against the wall in the middle, arge old book, an unlit

    candle, and matches. The wall on the right has a red velvet curtain in the centre, with bookshelves

    either side, holding different bottles of coloured liquids and jars of unknown substances.

    Striking a match, I light the candle, and turn around, taking everything in. I ce the candle down

    on the table and lightly run my fingers over the front cover of the book. ¡®History of Witches,¡¯ I read

    aloud.

    I peer down at a list of names, dates of births and towns of births. I scan through the pages. The

    I take a step back, shocked. Suddenly, a breeze flies through the red velvet curtain, and I step

    closer, and pull the curtain across. I¡¯m in awe at the portrait of a woman who has the same white hair,

    and same silver and blue eyes as me. Her arms are around the neck of a light grey wolf. I feel sense of

    familiarity; like I¡¯ve met them before. I study the picture closely; the way they¡¯re looking into each

    other''s eyes; in love. The grey-almost-silver wolf is veryrge and proud. You can feel the love and

    admiration in his eyes.

    ¡®She looks just like me,¡¯ I say, running my fingers lightly across her cheek.

    ¡®She couldn''t be my mother, could she? And he, my father?¡¯ I say, stepping back in shock.

    If Anna Glint is a witch from the Healers coven, and she is my mother, that would exin my

    healing ability. That would mean I¡¯m half witch and half wolf. I didn¡¯t know we could be mated to other

    species. If my mother¡¯s name is here, my father''s name might be here, as well. I unravel some of the

    scrolls hoping to find more information.

    Walking over to a bookshelf, I move some jars aside and scan the books, and something falls from

    one of the books. I look down at the small shiny object. It¡¯s a ne with a red, ruby, heart pendant.

    It¡¯s so beautiful; the more I stare at it, the more I yearn to wear it. I undo the sp on the end of the

    chain and fasten it behind my neck. The ruby heart sits, nestled, beautifully, on my chest. I hold it, close

    my eyes and feel content.

    A note on the ground has fallen out with the pendant.

    Anna, my love,

    They can try and keep us apart, but love will always conquer. You are my heart, and I gift it to you

    now and forever.

    Eternally yours,

    Alpha Levi of the Dark Moon Pack.

    This pendant symbolises his love for her. I hold it close to my heart and tears roll down my cheeks.

    What happened to them? Where are they? I hear my name faintly called out.

    ¡®Hope... Hope.¡¯ Maximus is looking for me; I¡¯ve been gone for hours.

    I fold the note, stuff it into my sleeve on my dress, blow out the candle, and pull the stone door

    shut behind me.

    Following the sound of Maximus'' calls, I hear the concern in his voice. I run towards his voice.

    ¡®Max! Maximus... I''m here,¡¯ I yell. I¡¯m in his arms a few momentster.

    ¡®Everyone has been looking for you. I was starting to think something happened to you,¡¯ he says,

    caressing my wet cheek.

    ¡®Have you been crying?¡¯ He asks.

    ¡®I was trying to find my way back to the kitchen when I got lost and¡ª¡¯

    ¡®Thank goodness you found her!¡¯ Alex yells, running up to us.

    ¡®She was lost,¡¯ Max says, turning to smile at me. He takes my hand and leads me into familiar

    areas, and into the kitchen.

    ¡®Beth, could you get Hope a drink, please? I''m sure she¡¯s thirsty¡¯ he says, kissing my forehead.

    Drinking the water, I turn to him.

    ¡®There''s something I want to talk to you about,¡¯ I say, nervously.

    ¡®Actually, there¡¯s something I need to talk to you about as well. Pack business. We can discuss it in

    my, our office,¡¯ he says.

    Following Maximus into the office, he sits in his chair, pulls me onto hisp, and nuzzles his face

    into my neck; making me giggle. I cup his face in my hands and kiss his lips.

    ¡®I thought we were going to discuss pack business?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®Well, we were¡¯ he says, frisky, sitting me on his desk.

    ¡®Max!¡¯ I giggle, blushing.

    We make love on his desk, and he sits me back on hisp, and I snuggle into his chest.

    ¡®What were you wanting to talk to me about?¡¯ He asks, stroking my arm with his fingers, softly.

    ¡®What do you know about the Dark Moon Pack?¡¯ I ask.

    He stiffens and his eyes darken.

    ¡®How did you know that was the pack problem I was going to talk to you about?¡¯ He asks, and I¡¯m

    confused.

    ¡®I didn''t know that was what you were going to speak to me about,¡¯ I reply. He is lost in thought and

    agitated.

    ¡®What''s wrong? What is it?¡¯ I ask, worried.

    ¡®The Dark Moon pack is just that...Dark. Their alpha is truly twisted and evil. He is the reason my

    parents were killed!¡¯ Max says, snarling.

 Chapter 25

    Chapter 25

    Hope

    My heart sinks with dread. My father is the reason his parents are dead.

    ¡®I''m so sorry,¡¯ I say, crying. He grabs my chin to force me to look at him.

    ¡®It''s not your fault. It''s not like you had anything to do with it,¡¯ he says, before kissing me on the

    lips.

    ¡®Hope? You¡¯re shaking,¡¯ he says, concerned. He rests his forehead on mine. ¡®You¡¯re burning up,¡¯

    he says, standing, lifting me up.

    He grabs his coat, covers me, and walks nude, upstairs to our room. I¡¯m trembling and shaking. He

    lies me on our bed and goes into the bathroom to fill the bath.

    He scoops me up, and lowers himself into the bath with me in his arms, so we are both in the

    water. My mind is racing one hundred miles an hour, before it fades into nothing.

    I wake up in bed, nestled into Max, who is snuggled into me, with his arm around me. Sitting up, I

    rub my forehead.

    ¡®How are you feeling?¡¯ He asks, sitting up.

    ¡®My head hurts. Otherwise, I¡¯m fine,¡¯ I answer.

    ¡®You passed out in the bath. I haven''t left your side since. You slept all through the night,¡¯ he says.

    ¡®Was I really out for that long?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®Yep,¡¯ he says, twirling my hair around his finger.

    ¡®Do you want to rest in bed today?¡¯ He asks.

    ¡®No. I''ll be fine. We have pack matters we need to address,¡¯ I say, and he nods and sighs.

    After dressing, and having breakfast, we go back into his office, where he puts some scrolls in

    front of me.

    ¡®With half the packs gone, and now ruled by us, I contacted the alphas of the remaining packs to

    let them know of our new territories. And to confirm I now have a mate and Luna. So far, most are

    willing to sign peace treaties. Except for the Dark Moon pack. We¡¯ve had bad blood between us for

    many years. The death of my parents, for instance,¡¯ he exins.

    ¡®What happened?¡¯ I ask; part of me not wanting to know what my birth pack did to his.

    ¡®I was really young. All I remember is that their friend, a witch, had broken aw, which resulted in

    a witch hunt for her. Even her own coven hunted her. My parents were killed for trying to protect her

    and going against thew,¡¯ he exins.

    ¡®Whatw did she break?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®She fell in love with a werewolf. The alpha of the Dark Moon pack,¡¯ he exins.

    ¡®I don''t understand. If they were in love, why shouldn''t they be together?¡¯ I ask. Max gives me a

    startled look.

    ¡®It''s forbidden for werewolves to mate or crossbreed with other species. It¡¯s an instant death

    sentence,¡¯ he exins.

    ¡®Why should anyone in love be punished? Why should it matter if you fall in love with a vampire, a

    wolf or a witch?¡¯ I ask, in defence.

    ¡®Are you hearing yourself? It''s forbidden because we don''t know what a hybrid is capable of. Or

    how dangerous they could be to other species. We are all equally bnced. If a creature is mixed race,

    we no longer have that bnce. A hybrid is a threat to all our species.¡¯ He says, wrapping his arms

    around me.

    ¡®Is that what you really think? That a hybrid is nothing but a creature and a threat?¡¯ I ask, struggling

    to hold my tears in. He lets out a heavy sigh.

    ¡®It doesn''t matter what I think. Because hybrids don''t exist,¡¯ he sighs, and I take a few steps back,

    looking him in the eye.

    ¡®You seem to have forgotten¡ª¡¯

    ¡®Forgotten what?¡¯ He asks.

    ¡®Alpha Liam. Remember what he called me? He called me a witch,¡¯ I remind him, and he is lost in

    thought before chuckles.

    ¡®Yeah, but we know you''re a werewolf, not a witch, so hisment doesn''t matter,¡¯ he replies.

    ¡®Then why do I have the ability to heal?¡¯ I ask. He thinks for a moment, before answering.

    ¡®I don''t know. Maybe the Moon Goddess blessed you with the ability?¡¯ He answers.

    ¡®If your parents tried to save and protect the witch mate of Dark Moon¡¯s Alpha, why are you

    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    enemies?¡¯ I ask, confused.

    ¡®Alpha Levi had just be Alpha. His father Cal found out about Alpha Levi¡¯s forbidden

    rtionship with the witch. As punishment, he reimed his alpha status and hunted his sons¡¯ mate,

    and killed her,¡¯ he exins.

    ¡®That''s terrible!¡¯ I say.

    ¡®That''s thew,¡¯ Max states. I scowl.

    ¡®What has gotten into you? Why are you angry all of a sudden?¡¯ He asks, and I ignore his question.

    ¡®What happened to them? Where are they now? The witch and alpha?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®Alpha Cal found the witch and she was killed. She was burned alive. Levi has been held prisoner

    in the dungeons ever since,¡¯ he answers.

    ¡®She is dead and he is alive?¡¯ I ask, and Max nods. I fall to my knees and burst into tears My

    mother is dead! Killed by my own grandfather. My father is still alive!

    ¡®Why are you crying? Why are you so upset about all of this?¡¯ He asks.

    What do I say? What do I tell him? Will he still love me if I tell him I¡¯m a hybrid? The result of

    forbidden love? That my grandfather killed his parents? After protecting my mother?

    ¡®I need some time to process all of this. To think this over. I need to go for a run,¡¯ I exin, walking

    away.

    ¡®I''lle with you,¡¯ he says, gently taking my wrist, concerned.

    ¡®No. I need to be alone for a while,¡¯ I say.

    ¡®I don''t understand. Why do you need to be alone? Why do you need to process this? It has

    nothing to do with you,¡¯ he says, confused.

    ¡®It has everything to do with me!¡¯ I snap, and he lets go of my wrist, shocked at my sudden

    outburst. I run out of the office and outside.

    Pulling off my dress, I tie it around my waist, shift into Storm, and race over the castle walls,

    through fields of grass and flowers. I run until I¡¯m exhausted, with our conversation ying over and

    over in my mind.

    Shifting back, I put my dress on, sit under arge tree, and cry for hours. I¡¯m happy I finally know

    who my parents are, but heartbroken by the way they were treated.

    My mother was killed for being in love, and my father has been in a dungeon for thest eighteen

    years! How am I alive? How was I not killed? I was found in a forest as a new born baby. Max said it

    took Alpha Cal months to find my mother. I need to know how it all transpired.

    The ruby heart glows, and I hold it in my hand. I¡¯m suddenly transported inside a vortex to a dark

    and foggy forest. The moon is full and glowing. Someone nearby is running. Running, I follow them,

    and freeze when I see my mother leaning against a tree. She is gasping for air, and catching her

    breath. She checks her surroundings for followers. Slowly, I walk up to her.

    ¡®Mum?¡¯ I whisper, but she can''t hear me; instead, she looks at the baby in her arms.

    ¡®It''s going to be okay, my darling. I¡¯ll make sure you live. You won''t be punished for the love your

    father and I have for each other. And the love we have for you,¡¯ she says, kissing a baby on its cheek.

    She runs off again, and I follow her to the forest, to theke, that I often went to, to get away from

    Alpha Tate.

    Voices yell in the distance.

    ¡®Me and your father love you so much baby girl. I have to leave you here and lead them away from

    you. If anyone knows we had you, they will kill you. This is the only way for you to live, my child,¡¯ she

    cries, giving me onest hug, before putting me on the ground.

    In tears, she backs away, before running back into the forest. I look down at the baby, and caress

    her cheek, but my hand is transparent and ethereal. My Mum screams, and I run to her. ¡®Mum!¡¯ I

    scream.

 Chapter 26

    Chapter 26

    Anna is surrounded by wolves, snapping and snarling at her. Thergest one shifts into his human

    form; his aura giving off immense power. He must be an alpha.

    ¡®Anna, you have broken thew, with my son, who is no longer Alpha,¡¯ he says. This must be my

    grandfather, Alpha Cal. Anna gasps.

    ¡®What have you done to him?¡¯ She asks, and Alpha Calughs.

    ¡®My impertinent son is locked up in his own dungeon indefinitely where he will be punished

    regrly.¡¯

    ¡®You''re a monster!¡¯ She yells.

    ¡®How do you plead, Anna Glint?¡¯ He asks.

    ¡®Being in love should is not a crime! You are defying the Moon Goddess, objecting to her choosing

    me as your sons'' mate!¡¯ She yells.

    ¡®The Moon Goddess would never curse the werewolves, with a witch as one of our mates. You

    obviously bewitched him!¡¯ He snarls.

    ¡®I love Levi! And he loves me! The Moon Goddess wants us to be together! I never bewitched him!¡¯

    She yells.

    ¡®You¡¯re sentenced to death for breaking thew and bewitching my son! Get her!¡¯ He yells, and the

    werewolves shift, and grab her arms, in a lock-hold, as tears roll down her cheek.

    I cry while they drag her for miles, before reaching hundreds of people waiting around a wooden

    post. They tie her to the wooden post, and Alpha Cal takes a wooden lit torch from a bystander, and

    stands in front of her.

    ¡®Anyst words witch?¡¯ He asks, and she res at him.

    ¡®I, Anna Glint, of the Healers coven, curse you, Alpha Cal. For my death shall be avenged by your

    own bloodline. The day you see my face again, is the day you will die!¡¯ She yells, before looking

    beyond his shoulder, directly into my eyes.

    ¡®Mum?¡¯ I tremble, but she smiles and nods. Alpha Cal turns to look to where I¡¯m standing.

    ¡®Who are you staring at?¡¯ He yells. My Mum is the only person who can see me; I¡¯m invisible to

    everyone else.

    ¡®Mum!¡¯ I scream, running towards her.

    Alpha Cal throws the torch at her feet, and mes spread across the hay and up the pole, and my

    mother screams in pain, as the fire engulfs her. The screams stop, and I fall to my knees, crying.

    Alpha Cal chuckles behind me. I stand up, wipe my tears away, and face my grandfather, who¡¯s

    ¡®I will avenge my mother, if it''s thest thing I do!¡¯ I yell, though I know he can''t hear me.

    Running towards theke, I cry; it¡¯s the only ce I¡¯ve ever felt safe. The baby is crying, and a few

    people are gathered around it.

    ¡®It''s been abandoned,¡¯ someone says.

    ¡®Well pick it up. Alpha will decide what to do with it,¡¯ the other says.

    Following them to their pack house, they approach Alpha Tate''s father. Alpha Tate is four or five

    years old. It¡¯s weird seeing him at this age.

    ¡®What is this?¡¯ He asks.

    ¡®We heard cries and found it in the forest.¡¯ The alpha grunts and sighs.

    ¡®I can smell it''s wolf, so it''s not a human, vampire, or a witch,¡¯ he states. An elderly woman is

    sweeping the floor nearby.

    ¡®Our current ve will drop dead in a few years. This baby will rece her,¡¯ he says, shrugging.

    ¡®Who is going to look after her in the meantime?¡¯ Someone asks.

    ¡®Give her to the ve. The baby can be her problem!¡¯ He snarls.

    The olddy takes the baby and leaves the room. I vaguely remember her. She died just before I

    was five; when I started doing all the chores, and the beatings began. I want to follow her but the vortex

    sucks me back to my world and time. Closing my eyes, I¡¯m dizzy. I¡¯m back under the tree and no longer

    transparent.

    I just witnessed my mother''s death! When I was found and became a ve! I lie down on the

    grass, and stare into the distance in shock; watching the sun set, and the moon appear.

    When the moon appears, and darkness consumes me, I reluctantly stand, and return to the castle

    in a zombie-like trance.

    After an hour, I still haven''t reached the castle in my human form. I plod along in a trance. I haven''t

    even noticed Maximus, and the others, in front of me, talking to me, and waving their hands in front of

    my face.

    I feel like an empty shell. It¡¯s not until Maximus cups my face in his hands and kisses my lips that

    I¡¯m smacked awake. He sends sparks through my body, and ignites my inner me and soul. He is

    horrified by the state I¡¯m in. The pack members stare at me, concerned.

    ¡®We¡¯ve been looking for you for hours. Did something happen? You were in a whole different world.

    You couldn''t see us or hear us,¡¯ he says.

    I know what I have to do.

    ¡®Maximus... I need you to take me to the Dark Moon pack,¡¯ I demand.

    ¡®What! Are you insane?¡¯ He asks.

    ¡®There¡¯s something I need to do,¡¯ I say, gently.

    ¡®What do you need to do that''s so important that I need to endanger your life by taking you there?¡¯

    He asks.

    I manage to speak one word before I ck out in his arms.

    ¡®Kill,¡¯ I whisper, and I slip into darkness.

    ¡®Damn it! She is burning up again!¡¯ Maximus yells, running with me in his arms. He doesn''t bother

    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    undressing either of us before getting straight into the shower, holding me, and drenching us.

    ¡®You have to let me in. You have to tell me what¡¯s going on,¡¯ he whispers, as I stir awake from the

    cool water.

    ¡®Do you love me?¡¯ I whisper.

    ¡®Of course, I love you! I would die for you! I would do anything for you,¡¯ he answers.

    ¡®Even if I''m not what you think I am?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®You¡¯re my mate and that¡¯s all that matters,¡¯ he whispers. I burst into tears, wrap my arms around

    him, nuzzle my face into his neck and cry for a long time.

    ¡®I love you too. No matter what,¡¯ I whisper.

    ¡®No matter what,¡¯ he whispers, and kisses my forehead and sweeps my hair from my face tenderly.

    He runs his fingers down my neck and chest; his eyes and fingers resting on the ruby heart.

    ¡®I''ve never seen this before.¡¯ He grips my hand over his, holding the heart.

    ¡®It belonged to my parents,¡¯ I say, with a sad smile.

    He looks at me, confused.

    ¡®I thought you didn''t know who your parents were? I thought you were found as a baby in the

    forest?¡¯ He says.

    ¡®I just found out who they are. It''s important you take me to the Dark Moon pack as soon as you

    can!¡¯ I say, with urgency.

    ¡®Who are your parents? What do the Dark Moon pack have to do with your parents?¡¯ He asks.

    ¡®There¡¯s something I need to show you,¡¯ I say, trying to crawl out of the shower.

    He wraps his arm around my waist, and pulls me back onto hisp.

    ¡®You¡¯re not well! Stay here till your fever breaks. I¡¯m putting you on bed rest. Once you¡¯re well

    enough, you can tell me everything. If we still need to see Alpha Cal about the treaty, we will go then,¡¯

    he says, his word final.

    I¡¯mughing in hysteria, my body is burning up, and I see shes of my mother being burnt at the

    stake. I feel her pain, her burns, and her heartbreak over never being in her mate''s arms again. My

    ¡®Alex, Be, Beth! Anyone!¡¯ Maximus shouts.

    ¡®It hurts! Please stop the fire, stop the fire! Don''t let him kill me!¡¯ I scream.

    ¡®I''m not going to let anything happen to you. Who do you think is going to kill you?¡¯ He asks.

    ¡®My grandfather... Alpha Cal¡­¡¯ I manage to say, before erupting into screams of pain again.

 Chapter 27

    Chapter 27

    Alpha Maximus

    Alex and Be sprint into our bathroom, hearing my screams and calls for help.

    ¡®Be! Get the doctor. Alex! Help me keep her in the water!¡¯ I yell. Hope is thrashing around, trying

    to free herself from my grip. She¡¯s hot to touch and the cold water isn''t helping at all.

    ¡®Stop the fire!¡¯ She screams. ¡®It burns!¡¯ She yells.

    ¡®What''s wrong with her Alpha?¡¯ Alex asks, concerned.

    ¡®I don''t know. I thought she had a fever, but the cold water isn''t doing anything! I don''t know what to

    do,¡¯ I panic.

    ¡®Kiss her!¡¯ Alex says.

    ¡®What?¡¯ I ask, tilting my head.

    ¡®When she was in her weird trance your kiss snapped her out of it,¡¯ he exins.

    I kiss her lips, and the moment I do, sparks fly through my body, and I know she feels them too.

    She stops thrashing around, and cups my face, not wanting us to part. Her tears drip onto my cheek. I

    hold her closer, andfort her as much as I can, and we part. I caress her face, and she lies,

    exhausted, in my arms.

    Alex turns the water off and brings some towels to cover her. He puts his hand on her forehead.

    ¡®She isn''t burning up anymore. The kiss worked,¡¯ he says.

    ¡®Now, we just have to figure out what¡¯s going on,¡¯ I say.

    ¡®Here, hold her while I dry and redress myself,¡¯ I say, handing Hope to Alex, drenched. Alex holds

    her in his arms and I go into my room.

    I remove my wet clothes and dry myself off, putting ck trousers, and a white, long-sleeved,

    cuffed shirt on. I call out for Alex to bring her into the room, lying dry towels on the bed.

    ¡®Lie her down here and see where that doctor is,¡¯ I order. Alex lies her on the bed and leaves the

    room. I remove her wet dress, dry her with the towels, then dress her in a fresh nighty. I put her in bed

    under the covers, sit by her side, and hold her hand, until the doctor arrives with Be and Alex.

    ¡®What took you so long?¡¯ I snap at the doctor.

    ¡®I''m so sorry, Alpha. I was caught up with other patients,¡¯ he replies.

    My fist ms into the bedside table as Chaos tries to take over.

    ¡®I don''t care if someone is dying, if I call you, you are toe immediately!¡¯ I growl. I¡¯m standing

    there facing them with ck eyes; Chaos is fighting me to kill the doctor.

    ¡®Chaos! That''s enough!¡¯ Alex growls. ¡®Let Alpha Max in or we won''t be able to help Hope,¡¯ he

    warns.

    After a moment of hesitation, Chaos retreats. My eyes return to their natural colour, and I exhale,

    relieved. I sit down on the bed.

    ¡®Doctor, please do your check up before Chaos tries to take over again,¡¯ I say. The doctor nods,

    approaches the bed, and checks all of Hope¡¯s vital signs.

    ¡®What''s wrong with her?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®That''s the thing, Alpha. I can''t find anything wrong. Everything seems to be fine,¡¯ he says,

    confused. I look at Alex and Be who shrug.

    ¡®Thank you, doctor.¡¯ I say, and he leaves. I look at Hope, and at her ruby heart she ims belongs

    to her parents.

    ¡®Be, stay here with her. I need to have an urgent meeting with Alex in my office,¡¯ I mumble,

    leaving the room. Be nods, and Alex follows me into the office, I take my seat and stare solemnly at

    the desk.

    ¡®Are you okay?¡¯ Alex asks.

    ¡®No, I''m not okay, while Hope is like this. She said some things, some strange things, and I¡¯m trying

    to figure it all out.¡¯

    ¡®What did she say?¡¯

    ¡®She thinks Alpha Cal is her grandfather,¡¯ I say, annoyed.

    ¡®Alpha Cal? As in Alpha Cal who killed your parents? The Alpha of the Dark Moon pack?¡¯ He asks,

    shocked. I nod.

    ¡®How? Why?¡¯ Alex says, scratching his head, confused.

    ¡®She is wearing a ne I¡¯ve never seen before. It''s a heart shaped ruby. She said it belonged to

    her parents,¡¯ I exin.

    ¡®After she went missing in the castle, she had all these questions about the Dark Moon pack. She

    became very defensive when I exined that a witch was condemned to death for being in love with

    the Alpha of the Dark Moon pack¡­ Shit¡ª" I say, suddenly realising.

    ¡®What is it?¡¯ Alex asks.

    ¡®It all makes sense now. If Alpha Cal is her grandfather, Alpha Levi is Hope¡¯s¡ª¡¯

    ¡®Father?¡¯ Alex answers.

    ¡®If Alpha Levi is her father, and he was in love and mated to the witch that my parents tried to

    protect, that means Hope is half¡ª¡¯ I gulp.

    ¡®Witch?¡¯ Alex says. We look at each other in shock, and my hands tremble.

    ¡®Alpha... this means Hope is the first of her kind. It exins her healing ability. Hybrids are¡­

    illegal. She will be killed if anyone finds out!¡¯ Alex whispers. ¡®Technically your rtionship with her, is

    against thew because she is part witch,¡¯ Alex points out. I punch a hole in the wall.

    ¡®Fuck!¡¯ I yell, throwing items around the room in anger.

    ¡®Fuck! This can''t be happening! I¡¯m mated to the granddaughter of my parent''s killer, a hybrid who

    shouldn''t exist!¡¯ I yell.

    ¡®What''s going to happen now?¡¯ Alex asks with dread.

    ¡®I love her, Alex. I love her with all my heart. If anything ever happened to her, I could never live

    with myself. I don''t care that she is a hybrid! She is my mate and I love her for her, and I ept her for

    her, just like she epted me; a lycan everyone else fears and shuns. She didn''t hesitate in loving me,

    when she saw my lycan. No matter what people think about her, I will protect her with my life! Hope is

    right. Why should someone be punished for loving someone else? It¡¯s irrelevant who they are,¡¯ I say,

    with my head in my hands.

    ¡®Alpha, Hope is our Luna and your mate. That¡¯s all that matters. This pack has fallen in love with

    Hope as our Luna. No one here will care if she is part witch; if anything it will just make us more

    protective of her,¡¯ Alex says, proudly. I smile knowing the pack think so highly of her, and how epting

    they are of her.

    ¡®She wants me to take her to the Dark Moon pack and now I know why. Her father is still alive. My

    guess is, she wants to fight for his freedom. Her grandfather killed my parents and her mother. I think

    it''s only fair we get her the justice she deserves for her mother''s death. Which will avenge my parents¡¯

    deaths as well.¡¯ Alex nods, in agreement.

    ¡®I¡¯ll get the pack warriors prepared for when Hope is well enough to pay her grandpa a visit,¡¯ Alex

    says, smirking.

    Peering down at the floor under my desk, I pick up a folded note and open it.

    Anna, my love,

    They can try and keep us apart, but love will always conquer. You are my heart and I gift it to you

    now and forever.

    Eternally yours,

    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.

    Alpha Levi of the Dark Moon Pack.

    After reading it aloud, I read it over and over in my mind.

    ¡®Is that a love letter between her parents?¡¯ Alex asks, and I nod.

    ¡®You are my heart, and I gift it to you now and forever,¡¯ I read, and pause in thought for a moment.

    ¡®Hope said the heart pendant was from her parents. Perhaps her father gifted it to her mother?¡¯ I

    conclude.

    ¡®That would make sense,¡¯ Alex replies. ¡®Tell the pack warriors to prepare to leave in the next couple

    of days,¡¯ I order.

    ¡®Yes, Alpha,¡¯ Alex replies, bowing, and leaving the office.

    Returning upstairs, I check on Hope, where Be is still sitting by her side, with Billy sleeping in her

    arms.

    ¡®You can go Be; I''ll take over from here,¡¯ I mumble, Be nods and leaves. Caressing Hope''s

    face, I kiss her cheek.

    ¡®I don''t know if you can hear me babe, but I love you. No matter what. I just want you to always

    remember that,¡¯ I whisper.

    ¡®No matter what,¡¯ she whispers back.

 Chapter 28

    Chapter 28

    Alpha Maximus

    Waking up the next morning, Hope is snuggled in my arms. I kiss her cute button nose and it stirs

    her awake.

    She sits up, swiftly remembering everything from the day before, and she touches her face, and

    looks around, in thought.

    ¡®You aren''t dreaming. If that''s what you''re wondering,¡¯ I say.

    ¡®There are things I need to tell you,¡¯ she says, softly.

    ¡®Hope, I already know,¡¯ I reply. She looks at me, confused.

    ¡®No, I don''t think you do,¡¯ she says, puzzled.

    ¡®I know your father is Alpha Levi and your mother is Anna Glint, the witch my parents hid and tried

    to save,¡¯ I state.

    ¡®How did you?¡¯ She asks, and I hand her the love note, and watch her hold the heart pendant in

    her other hand.

    ¡®Did your father gift that to your mother?¡¯ I ask. She nods.

    ¡®Yes, he did,¡¯ she smiles.

    ¡®I''m going to grant you a wish. We¡¯re going to visit your grandfather and we are going to try and

    free your father.¡¯ Hope¡¯s eyes well and she lunges at me, and wraps her arms around my neck.

    ¡®Thank you,¡¯ she whispers.

    ¡®Doing this puts you in great danger. So, we need to n this carefully. You could be sentenced to

    death just for existing,¡¯ I exin, truthfully. She nods.

    ¡®I know. But it''s not fair. Their crime was loving each other. I¡¯m the result of that love! I''m not sorry

    for being born! I¡¯m d I¡¯m here, because I have you, and you have me. No matter what,¡¯ she says,

    with the utmost love in her voice.

    We share a fiery kiss, Hope straddles me, and I push myself into her, and she grinds against me,

    and we both moan. My hands cup her bum, and move along with her hips. I p her sweet ass, making

    her gasp, and arch her back in pleasure.

    ¡®Maximus,¡¯ she moans, making my cock twitch inside of her, in pleasure.

    Hope smashes her mouth onto mine, and our tongues explore eachother, as we move even faster

    until we both cry out together in climax, filling her with my seed.

    I roll her onto her hands and knees, and push myself into her from behind; thrusting my cock in

    and out of her, and she clutches the sheets and cries out, as waves of pleasure ripple through our

    bodies, again releasing my seed, before she rolls onto her side, spent.

    I carry her into the bathroom and turn the shower on. I kiss her blushing cheeks and her sweet lips.

    After our shower, we go downstairs and have breakfast together.

    ¡®When will we be going to Dark Moon pack?¡¯ Hope asks.

    ¡®I¡¯m thinking we can go as soon as today,¡¯ I offer, and she nods and smiles. ¡®We can''t just turn up

    on his territory though. I¡¯ll tell him I¡¯ming to speak with him about the peace treaty in person. We

    know he wants me dead, so we will have to be aware of any traps; I¡¯ll bring all the warriors. We don''t

    know how he¡¯ll react when he meets you. I think it best not to introduce you to him straight away,¡¯ I

    suggest. Hope stands and takes my hand.

    ¡®Before we leave, I want to show you something,¡¯ she says, I nod, and follow her through the

    castle.

    ¡®I''m sure it¡¯s around here somewhere,¡¯ she says, confused.

    ¡®What are you looking for?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®The room where I found my mother''s belongings; where I found the note and the ne,¡¯ she

    exins.

    ¡®Uh huh!¡¯ Hope yells.

    ¡®What is it?¡¯ I ask.

    She tugs my arm and leads me to a ck hole in a wall with steps descending to a lower floor.

    I follow her down the stairs and she pushes on a wall, that reveals a room. I follow her in, where

    it¡¯s quite dark, and she lights a candle. I turn around, looking at all the things in the room, and go over

    to one of the bookshelves and pick up a jar.

    ¡®What is all this stuff?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®I think they¡¯re items my mother used for spells,¡¯ she says.

    ¡®I''m surprised you found this room. It''s so well hidden.¡¯

    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    ¡®I found it by ident when I was lost. This is what I wanted to show you,¡¯ she says, pulling across

    a red velvet curtain, hung between the shelves, on the wall, to reveal a painting. My jaw drops.

    ¡®Hope! That¡¯s you in the portrait! How? I don''t understand,¡¯ I ask, shocked.

    ¡®It''s not me silly. It''s my parents,¡¯ she says, beaming with a smile.

    ¡®You¡¯re identical to your mother. The same eyes, hair, nose!¡¯ I point out, and Hope is smiling.

    ¡®I was wondering, if, maybe, we could disy this in a better ce, where I can see it every day,¡¯

    she says.

    Without hesitating, I step closer, and carefully lift it from the wall. It¡¯s heavy and well painted; the

    detail is amazing. Hope blows out the candle and we leave the room.

    Already knowing the perfect spot to hang it, I enter therge dining room and position it on the

    wall, in the centre, where we and the pack can admire it every day.

    ¡®Thank you,¡¯ she says, standing by my side and looping her arm through mine. We stand there in

    silence for a few moments, taking in the image of her parents.

    ¡®Pack a bag. I¡¯ll get Alex to get the pack warriors ready,¡¯ I mumble, and before she can walk away, I

    quickly grab her wrist, spin her around into my chest, and kiss her lips, and twirl her back around and

    let her go.

    The pack warriors are ready to leave and Hopees back downstairs, as Nathan and Sally

    return. They have been informed where we are going and who we are visiting.

    ¡®You can''t seriously take Hope with you! If he or anyone outside this pack finds out she¡¯s half witch,

    she¡¯ll be hunted and killed!¡¯ Nathan says.

    ¡®Nathan, her father is still alive, and has been kept in a dungeon all these years. He probably

    doesn''t know his mate saved Hope! We need to free him. As for her grandfather, Hope has every right

    to justice, for her mother''s death. It will avenge my parents¡¯ deaths too!¡¯ I exin.

    ¡®I understand, but I''ming with you,¡¯ Nathan says, and I nod.

    ¡®That would be good. Sally should stay here with Be. It''s risky as it is,¡¯ I order. Sally opens her

    mouth to protest but Nathan shakes his head.

    ¡®Alpha is right. You need to stay here, and stay safe,¡¯ he says, agreeing with me. Sally sighs, and

    nods.

    ¡®Fine,¡¯ she says, crossing her arms in annoyance.

    Hope and Sally hug each other goodbye.

    ¡®We will be back before you know it,¡¯ Hope says, smiling at Sally.

    ¡®You¡¯ll bring Nathan back to me, safe and sound, won''t you?¡¯ Sally asks, her eyes welling up.

    ¡®Of course,¡¯ Hope replies, with a reassuring smile.

    Opening the car door, I help Hope in, sit next to her, and hold her hand, Nathan drives.

    ¡®Just don''t swerve like you did the other time,¡¯ I warn.

    ¡®Yes, Alpha,¡¯ Nathan salutes.

    ¡®Alpha Cal knows we¡¯ll be arriving sometime tonight. He said he won¡¯t be signing a peace treaty,

    no matter what I say to him. I told him I¡¯d at least like to speak with his son, Levi, briefly. At first, he said

    no. I told him I have a big surprise for them, that will change their lives forever. Curiosity got the better

    of him and he is allowing us passage into his territory. The look on his face when he sees you is going

    to be priceless,¡¯ I beam.

    ¡®Do you think my father will want to see me?¡¯ Hope asks, nervously.

    ¡®Of course, he will want to see you! You''re his daughter,¡¯ I say, and she nods.

    ¡®I hope so,¡¯ she says, wistfully. Hope sleeps with her head on my shoulder for the next few hours,

    before we arrive in Dark Moon territory. His pack warriors stand up ahead, on the border. Nathan winds

    the window down, speaks to a guard, and we are waved through.

    My pack warriors aren''t far behind. Knowing they aren¡¯t allowed in, they wait, on standby, in case

    things get ugly. And if they do, they know to fight their way in, and to us.

    We arrive at the veryrge pack house. I tell Hope to stay hidden behind Nathan. She¡¯ll know

    when to make herself known to her father and grandfather.

    Alex walks in beside me, while Nathan stays back with Hope. A couple of pack warriors get us to

    follow them into arge room where Alpha Cal sits in hisrge throne-like chair.

    ¡®Alpha Maximus,¡¯ he grimaces.

    ¡®Alpha Cal,¡¯ I smile, and look around the room.

    ¡®Where is your son?¡¯ I ask. Alpha Cal scoffs.

    ¡®I¡¯ll have him brought here when I¡¯m ready to have him here,¡¯ he says.

    ¡®Of course,¡¯ I say, smirking, and crossing my arms.

    ¡®Now, tell me why you are here, and why I shouldn''t kill you right now,¡¯ he says, angrily; my smirk

    bes a bigger smile.

    ¡®Well, I''m not here for the peace treaty if that¡¯s what you¡¯re thinking. I know full well there will never

    be peace between us,¡¯ I snap.

    ¡®Then why are you here? What is this so-called life changing surprise you speak of?¡¯ He asks.

    ¡®When your son is here, I¡¯ll show you,¡¯ I say, smiling.

    Alpha Cal yells for the pack warriors to bring Levi up. They drag him into the room with his wrists

    chained. He is underweight and haggard, and covered in dry and fresh blood. I can see the emptiness

    in his eyes, and in his soul; he is an empty shell. I give him a sympathetic look, and he slowly looks up,

    and makes eye contact with me. His eyes tell a sad story. He doesn''t want to live.

 Chapter 29

    Chapter 29

    Alpha Maximus

    ¡®This is the first time in over eighteen years Levi has been out of the dungeon, so this better be

    good, Alpha Maximus!¡¯ Alpha Cal snaps.

    Levi squints at me when Alpha Cal says my name, and studies me for a moment; looking me up

    and down.

    ¡®Your parents... they tried to save my beautiful mate, my love, she was my whole world,¡¯ he

    whispers. I nod.

    ¡®I''m sorry they couldn''t save her,¡¯ I whisper.

    ¡®I''m sorry my father killed your parents Alpha Maximus. I¡¯m truly sorry,¡¯ Levi says, sadly. I nod.

    ¡®Me too.¡¯

    ¡®This isn''t a family reunion! Hurry up with your business before I kill you!¡¯ Alpha Cal yells. He is old,

    probably in histe sixties, but still very strong and well-built.

    ¡®Actually, Alpha Cal, that is why I am here. This is a family reunion,¡¯ I say, smiling from ear to ear.

    ¡®What are you talking about?¡¯ He snaps, and Nathanes into the room.

    ¡®I have someone I¡¯d like you to meet,¡¯ I say, and Nathan stands aside, and Hope and I are face to

    face.

    ¡®Are you ready?¡¯ I ask her. She nods, and takes my hand.

    I gently pull her beside me, and Levi falls to his knees, and cries in disbelief; reaching out to touch

    her.

    ¡®Anna? How is this possible? I killed you. I burned you at the stake! This isn''t possible!¡¯ Alpha Cal

    yells, angrily.

    Hope moves closer to them. She is wearing a beautiful white dress with a wide, long-V-front. The

    dress is ankle-length, and has a slit up her left thigh. She looks like a Goddess who has fallen from the

    sky.

    ¡®My name isn''t Anna,¡¯ she says, firmly.

    Hope

    ¡®What kind of game are you ying? I killed you! How are you here?¡¯ Alpha Cal snaps. I turned to

    look down at my father who is on his knees, crying, and looking up at me.

    ¡®I can''t believe you¡¯re alive! My Anna,¡¯ he says, softly, holding his arms up for me to embrace him. I

    drop to my knees, wrap my arms around him and cry.

    ¡®I¡¯m not Anna. I¡¯m Hope. Your daughter, Papa,¡¯ I say, crying.

    ¡®What? Papa?¡¯ Alpha Cal yells. Levi cups Hope''s face.

    ¡®How is this possible? I knew your mother was pregnant but no one else knew. She escaped and

    Alpha Cal caught her and killed her. I thought she was still with child when she was killed,¡¯ he says.

    ¡®No Papa. Mum left me near a pack house in a forest so I could be found. I was a newborn. She

    must have not long given birth to me. She led Alpha Cal and his pack away from me before she was

    caught and killed,¡¯ she says, crying.

    ¡®Are you telling me you¡¯re my granddaughter? A half breed vermin?¡¯ Alpha Cal yells, and Hope

    stands and res at him.

    ¡®Well, hello to you too, grandpa!¡¯ She shouts angrily at him. Alpha Cal looks her up and down, and

    bursts intoughter. Composing himself, he straightens in his chair and clears his throat.

    ¡®You do knowing here is signing your own death warrant, my dear, sweet, granddaughter?¡¯ He

    says.

    Hopeughs, mocking him; it makes him a little on edge.

    ¡®I¡¯m here to sign your death warrant, grandpa,¡¯ she rifies. Alpha Cal smirks, and rubs his chin, in

    thought.

    ¡®We truly are rted; you remind me of myself,¡¯ he grins.

    ¡®I have something I¡¯d like to say to you. Something that is going to send chills down your spine;

    something you have heard before,¡¯ she says, faintly starting to glow. ¡®I, Hope Glint, of the Healers

    coven, curse you Alpha Cal. For the death of my mother shall be avenged by your own bloodline. The

    day you see my face again is the day you will die!¡¯ Hope deres, shifting into her wolf and lunging at

    him.

    He pales, shifts into his wolf, and starts to fight Hope off. Warriorse running in, and attack

    Nathan and Alex. Our wolves rip the warriors to shreds.

    Even though she is strong, when she struggles against Alpha Cal, and whimpers in pain, my

    attention is on her. I pounce on him, forcing him off her, he snarls, snaps, and rips a chunk of flesh out

    of my neck with his teeth. Blood gushes out and everything around me fades into darkness. Alpha Cal

    hovers over me snarling, about to kill me, before Hope lunges at him, ferociously biting into his neck

    with all her strength, almost ripping his head off.

    Shifting back into human form, I¡¯m slowly dying. Hope cries, puts pressure on my wound, and my

    eyes roll back.

    ¡®Max! Don''t you dare die on me! You need to stay with me!¡¯ She cries, glowing, with silver eyes and

    static hair.

    Therge wound on my neck slowly closes over. Hope''s hair falls, and her eyes return to normal.

    She wraps her arms around me, crying.

    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    ¡®Maximus!¡¯ She cries, helping me sit up. The warriors in the room are all dead; the remaining living

    bow to us as Hope and I are now their new Alpha and Luna.

    ¡®Unchain him!¡¯ Hope snaps, pointing at her father who is shocked and speechless, witnessing

    Hope heal me.

    ¡®You¡¯re a wolf and you can heal?¡¯ Levi stutters.

    ¡®Yes, Papa. I was blessed with yours and Mum¡¯s best traits,¡¯ she says, smiling. Levi wraps his arms

    around Hope and cries.

    ¡®My daughter, my beautiful, sweet daughter. You don''t know what it means, knowing you¡¯re alive!¡¯

    He cries, before copsing on the ground.

    ¡®Take him to the doctor. Feed him and nourish him. If anyone harms him, I¡¯ll rip your head off!¡¯

    Hope snaps at the warriors.

    She returns to me, and helps me stand. I¡¯m a bit woozy from the blood loss. Nathan and Alex sit

    me at a table where food is served to us.

    ¡®Eat. You need to regain your strength,¡¯ Hope orders, passing me a te of food. Hope is a true

    Luna; Immediately ordering the guards and warriors to dispose of the dead and to release any other

    prisoners. She instructs them to have rooms ready for us, and to remove all of Alpha Cal''s things, and

    burn them with his body.

    She goes down to the kitchen and tells the cooks to prepare a banquet to celebrate her father''s

    freedom.

    I¡¯m so proud of her and admire her greatly, watching her delegate. We are escorted to arge

    bedroom, where she helps me into bed.

    ¡®We did it. We killed him and freed my father!¡¯ She remarks, proudly, leaning down, and kissing me

    passionately, before running to the bathroom, mid-kiss.

    ¡®Are you okay?¡¯ I ask, sitting up. I hear her vomiting. I¡¯m about to get out of bed but she returns.

    ¡®I''m fine. I''m just exhausted and overwhelmed with everything that has happened. I¡¯ll lie down with

    you before we go to the banquet,¡¯ she says, looking a little drowsy.

    She climbs into the bed and snuggles into me. We have a short sleep before freshening up for the

    feast.

    ¡®You look stunning,¡¯ I tell her, twirling her around in her red, floor-length dress.

    ¡®You look quite edible yourself,¡¯ she purrs, running her fingers down my chest.

    Taking her hand, we walk downstairs to therge dining room where Nathan, Alex, Levi and

    unfamiliar pack members sit. They stand as we enter, and bow submissively. Levi steps away from the

    table and holds his arms to hug Hope. She runs into his arms and they weep.

    ¡®How are you feeling now, Papa? Have they been treating you well?¡¯ Hope asks.

    ¡®Like a king,¡¯ he says, smiling. ¡®All thanks to you and Alpha Maximus. I didn¡¯t think I''d ever leave

    that dungeon. I can''t believe how much you look just like your mother,¡¯ he says, cupping her face. Hope

    smiles at him, and turns to face everyone.

    ¡®Let¡¯s celebrate my father¡¯s release, and the changing ofws!¡¯ Hope yells. ¡®We own over half the

    wolf territories. We have the power to do as we please. No one will defy us - we can¡¯t be overpowered,¡¯

    she whispers, grinning from ear to ear. ¡®Now, make it known to the rest of the packs that no matter who

    the Moon Goddess blesses you with as your mate, it¡¯s final, and no longer a crime to be mated with

    another species,¡¯ Hope deres, proudly.

    Hope hands fifteen scrolls to fifteen warriors.

    ¡®Now, go! And if any of them deny our union, our leadership, and our ruling, they will be sentenced

    to death by yours truly!¡¯ She yells, finality in her tone, and the warriors nod and bow.

    ¡®Long live Queen Hope!¡¯ They say, before leaving. She smiles, turns to me and wraps her arms

    around my neck.

    ¡®No longer will anyone be punished for love. No longer will anyone try and destroy you. You are my

    love, my lycan, my king, my everything. I¡¯ll be damned if anyone tries to hurt you, or I, ever again!¡¯ She

    says, fiercely. She grabs my jaw, and kisses me wantingly, before resting her head on my chest.

    ¡®No matter what,¡¯ she whispers.

    ¡®No matter what,¡¯ I reply, kissing her forehead, tenderly.

 Chapter 30

    Chapter 30

    Hope

    I try my best to smile as we eat and celebrate, during the banquet, but it¡¯s too much for me. I

    stand, kiss my father on the cheek, and Maximus on the lips.

    ¡®Please excuse me while I freshen up,¡¯ I say, forcing a smile. I run quickly to the nearest bathroom.

    I¡¯m not feeling very well at all, but I don''t want anyone to think of me as weak, or unwell.

    Feeling better, I rejoin everyone at the table. I¡¯m so caught up in conversation with my father about

    my life, I don''t realise howte it bes.

    ¡®I think it''s time we finish up here and go to bed, before we travel home tomorrow,¡¯ Maximus says,

    smiling; I nod stand, and take his hand.

    ¡®Before I wish you a good night, I want to know what you want. Do you want to live with Alpha

    Maximus and I, or do you want to reim your position here, as Alpha?¡¯ I ask.

    My Dad is taken back by my question.

    ¡®What do you want me to do?¡¯ He asks.

    ¡®I want you to be happy,¡¯ I answer, and he pulls me into his chest and wraps his arms around me,

    lovingly.

    ¡®I¡¯m so proud of you. Your mother would be so proud of you as well,¡¯ he whispers. We cry in each

    other''s arms.

    ¡®You don''t have to decide right now. We¡¯re not leaving until tomorrow.¡¯ He nods, lets me go, and

    wipes away his tears. I take Maximus''s hand and follow him upstairs, to sleep.

    The next morning, we wake up in each other''s arms smiling.

    ¡®Let''s go have breakfast and see what your father has decided,¡¯ Maximus says, climbing out of

    bed.

    We¡¯re the only ones at breakfast, and Alex and Nathane down just as we are finished.

    ¡®Have you seen my father?¡¯ I ask them.

    ¡®He was wandering around outside earlier,¡¯ Nathan says.

    ¡®I''ll find him and talk to him,¡¯ I say, kissing Maximus¡¯ cheek.

    I wander out the front door and to the back garden.

    My Dad is sitting on the grass, looking at the sky, taking in his surroundings.

    ¡®It must have been awful spending eighteen years in a dungeon, never seeing the sky nor even a

    flower,¡¯ I say, approaching him, and sitting down beside him. We smile sympathetically.

    ¡®I thought I''d never see the sky again, or feel the warmth of the sun on my skin. I prayed to the

    Moon Goddess to let me die during the beatings, but now I know why she didn''t answer my prayers.

    She knew you were alive and wanted us to be reunited,¡¯ he says, smiling.

    ¡®Papa...¡¯ I say, sweetly cing my head on his shoulder. ¡®Have you decided what you want to do?¡¯ I

    ask.

    ¡®Someone needs to stay here and be in charge of the Dark Moon pack. I would love to be

    reinstated as Alpha, but I would also like to spend some time with you. Perhaps the Beta can run things

    here for a while, I can spend a few months with you, then return as Alpha,¡¯ he says, smiling.

    I wrap my arms around him.

    ¡®I like the idea,¡¯ I say, excitedly, kissing him on the cheek. ¡®You¡¯ll love it at Blood Moon. The pack

    house is a big old castle,¡¯ I exin.

    ¡®Your mother told me about it. She was best friends with Maximus'' mother. They go way back.

    When she found out Anna had been sentenced to death, they hid her in their castle. The castle staff

    didn''t even know Anna was hidden there, in a secret room. I had been demoted and put in the dungeon

    here; your mother only just escaped in time. We also had only just found out she was pregnant with

    you.

    She stayed at the castle for months, until news spread she was being hidden and protected there.

    My father paid them a surprise visit. They weren''t expecting him. He demanded they hand her over, but

    they denied her being there. His pack warriors tore the castle apart and they eventually found the room

    she was in. Anna must have known they were there, because she had fled the castle. She was due to

    give birth any moment. She made it as far as ck Wood territory, where my father caught her. You

    were probably a day old when you were found. My heart shattered and sank when my father told me he

    had caught her and burnt her at the stake. I knew that meant you died with her. Anna was the most

    selfless woman I ever met. She made sure you survived. I¡¯m forever grateful she saved you. I just wish

    she was here to see you, and see what a wonderful, loving Luna you are,¡¯ he says, wiping a tear away.

    ¡®I wish she was here, too,¡¯ I say, with a sad smile. A glow emits from my chest, and I pull the heart

    pendant out, and hold it in the palm of my hand, watching it glow brighter.

    ¡®Where did you find this?¡¯ My father asks, in disbelief.

    ¡®At the castle, with this,¡¯ I say, handing him the love note.

    ¡®I can''t believe you found this! I had this ne specially made for her. Part of my heart is in it.

    And part of her soul and essence,¡¯ he says, gleefully.

    ¡®How did you manage to do that?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®It was made during a secret love ritual, by witches who epted the love between us. Wey on

    a stone table where they chanted over us and coloured mist swirled in the air and formed the ruby

    heart. It was such a magical experience. Your mother and I knew the love we had for each other was

    pure and genuine. One of her witch friends suggested we perform the ritual, and put part of ourselves

    inside the heart. Your mother was all for it. I wanted to do it as a token of our love and what she means

    to me,¡¯ he exins.

    ¡®Oh Papa. You are quite the romantic, aren''t you?¡¯ I say, in admiration.

    ¡®When it came to your mother, I would have done anything for her,¡¯ he says, pondering something,

    while looking up at the sky, smiling.

    ¡®Here, this belongs to you,¡¯ I say, cing the heart and chain in his hand. He gives me a beaming

    smile, before kneeling behind me and fastening it around my neck.

    ¡®It belongs to you, Hope. So you will always have a part of your mother with you,¡¯ he smiles.

    ¡®Are you sure?¡¯ I ask, and he nods.

    ¡®Yes, but I''m keeping the note!¡¯ Heughs, pressing it against his heart, and we smile.

    ¡®Let''s go home,¡¯ I say, and he nods, stands, takes my hand, and helps me up. We approach the

    house where Maximus, Nathan and Alex are waiting near the cars.

    I run and jump into Max¡¯s arms, he spins me around in a circle, and we kiss.

    ¡®Dad wants his Beta to run the pack house here for a few months, so he can spend some time with

    us. Then he will return here as Alpha,¡¯ I exin. Maximus nods and smiles.

    ¡®I''ll speak with the Beta. Get yourselves ready to go home,¡¯ he smiles, before walking away.

    The drive home is quick because my father tells me stories about he and my mother. He asks

    about my childhood. I tell him about it reluctantly, and he is naturally quite upset. I reassure him that

    none of it was his or my mother''s fault, and that¡¯s all that matters now, because I¡¯m happy and safe and

    with Alpha Maximus.

    We arrive at the castle, where I give Dad a small tour, telling him I still didn''t know my way around

    ¡®We can continue the tour tomorrow. Find Alpha Maximus so he can show you to your room while I

    have a lie down,¡¯ I say.

    In the bathroom I¡¯m sick again. I jump into the shower then get into bed to rest. Maximuses in,

    worried.

    ¡®Are you ok? I¡¯ve called the doctor to check on you.¡¯

    ¡®I''m sure it¡¯s nothing. I''m just constantly tired, hungry and nauseous. It''s probably just a bug.¡¯ I say,

    seeing the doctor standing behind Maximus.

    Maximus leaves the room while the doctor takes blood samples and runs tests. The doctor lets him

    know when he cane back in.

    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    ¡®Is she going to be okay?¡¯ Maximus asks, beaming.

    ¡®She is going to be fine. She is going to be a mother. Congrattions Alpha. Hope is pregnant,¡¯ he

    smiles.

    Maximus'' face lights up with a beaming smile, matching the doctors.

    ¡®This is the best news ever,¡¯ he says, excitedly, cing my hand on my stomach

    ¡®Am I really carrying a baby inside me right now?¡¯ I ask, in shock, but happy.

    ¡®Yes, you sure are!¡¯ The doctor answers. ¡®I suggest as much bed rest as possible, and to start

    eating for two,¡¯ he says, winking, and I giggle.

    The doctor leaves, and Maximus climbs into bed, kisses my belly and rubs his hand over it.

    ¡®Even though I haven''t met you yet, I already love you. Your mother and I will give you the best life;

    filled with so much love, little one,¡¯ he whispers to my belly.

    Leaning down, I kiss his head, and he looks up at me.

    ¡®No matter what,¡¯ he whispers.

    ¡®No matter what,¡¯ I whisper, smiling.

 Chapter 31

    Chapter 31

    Hope

    My father returns as Alpha of the Dark Moon pack after staying with us a few months. All the

    peace treaties are signed by the remaining packs, and newws allow any species to mate.

    Dad returns just in time, when I¡¯m giving birth to my first child. Everyone is in the house, excited,

    waiting around for the doctor and Maximus to give them good news. I spend hours screaming, in

    Alpha and Prince of Blood Moon.

    Everyone cheers and roars, delighted by the news, and then goes quiet when I start screaming

    again, clearly needing to push out a second baby. Max runs back to me, worried, and shuts the door

    behind him.

    I continue to scream and push for a few more minutes, before the doctor catches our second baby

    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    boy. Max wipes his tears away with the back of his hand, and leaves me, to give everyone the good

    news again. I can hear everything through the door.

    ¡®There¡¯s another one. We have twins! A boy!¡¯ Max announces, overjoyed.

    ¡®Seriously? Twin boys? I have two grandsons!¡¯ Dad deres, delighted.

    ¡®Hope did so well. She is exhausted, but she will be fine,¡¯ Maximus says. Everyone celebrates the

    births of the twin alphas.

    Maximuses back to me, sits in the chair next to me, and epts the second baby boy the

    doctor hands to him to hold. I¡¯m holding our first son on my chest.

    We look at each other, smiling, in disbelief, at our perfect little twin boys.

    ¡®I never thought I''d have the chance to be a father. She-wolves didn''t want to go near me,¡¯

    Maximus confesses, and I scoff.

    ¡®I¡¯m d they didn''t, because you¡¯re mine and mine only!¡¯ I say, smirking. Maximus chuckles.

    ¡®So, what are we going to name our sons?¡¯ Maximus asks.

    ''Well, I¡¯m thinking we could name one after your father,¡¯ I say.

    ¡®Theo?¡¯ Maximus asks and I nod. ¡®And the other?¡¯ He asks.

    ¡®I¡¯m thinking Leo. It rhymes with Theo, and I like the sound of Leo the Lycan,¡¯ I say, chuckling, and

    Maximus smiles.

    ¡®I like it too. Theo and Leo, it is!¡¯ He says, proudly.

    The next day I¡¯m well enough to leave the room with the twins. Everyone loves their names,

    especially Dad.

    He is very protective of his grandsons, telling everyone to keep back. He hogs the babies. And if

    other pack members have held them for too long, he simply takes them back into his arms. It¡¯s sweet

    how protective he is of them.

    A few years pass, and I give birth to another baby. Little L. Theo and Leo look exactly like Max,

    but little L has my white hair and silver and blue eyes.

    When L is a few days old, we receive an unexpected visitor. Her name is Lea. She has travelled

    from the other side of the world to be with us. She is the witch who organised my parents¡¯ sacred love

    ritual.

    ¡®I need to speak with your father. It''s about the ritual. There¡¯s something he needs to know,¡¯ she

    says, guiltily.

    ¡®My father arrived herest week, so he could be here for the birth of his granddaughter,¡¯ I tell her.

    ¡®Pleasee in. I¡¯ll take you to him,¡¯ I smile.

    ¡®I can''t believe how much you look like your mother,¡¯ Lea says, looking me up and down.

    ¡®So I''m regrly told,¡¯ I smile.

    Lea follows me inside the castle and I take her to Dad, where they both smile and hug each other;

    happy to see each other.

    ¡®I didn¡¯t think I''d see you again Lea. It¡¯s so good to see you,¡¯ he says, embracing her.

    ¡®I''m here, because, I haven''t been able to sleep at night. For years, now. The guilt has been eating

    me up. And I was too afraid toe back, because I helped Anna escape. I thought I¡¯d be sentenced

    to death if I returned.

    Recently, I found out that Alpha Cal is dead, and that thews have changed. So, I¡¯vee back

    here straight away to make things right,¡¯ Lea exins.

    ¡®Everything is right, Lea. My daughter is happy, a mother of three and a Luna. What more could I

    ask for?¡¯ He asks.

    Lea looks into his eyes.

    ¡®Anna. Anna Glint,¡¯ she says, and Dad steps back from her.

    ¡®Lea, she is dead. Alpha Cal burned her twenty-one years ago,¡¯ he whispers, sadly.

    ¡®That''s why I¡¯m here, Alpha Levi. There is something I need to tell you. Anna has never fully been

    gone. She has always been here,¡¯ Lea says.

    ¡®What are you talking about?¡¯ Dad asks, bing frustrated.

    ¡®The heart ne; the one created in the ritual; do you still have it?¡¯ She asks. He turns, looks at

    me, and I pull it out of my dress

    ¡®This?¡¯ I ask.

    ¡®Yes! That''s it. Will you let me have it?¡¯ Lea asks.

    I take a step back, gripping the heart.

    ¡®No, you can''t just have it. It was my mother¡¯s!¡¯

    ¡®That''s what I''m trying to tell you! Your mother¡¯s soul; her essence is inside. With this pendant, I

    can bring her back to life in the flesh!¡¯ Lea exins.

    ¡®Are you saying you can bring Anna back from the dead?¡¯ Dad asks.

    ¡®When she was burned, she didn¡¯t die. The rest of her soul and essence is in this heart, to be

    whole again. I know the spell to set her free; to bring her back,¡¯ Lea states.

    I lift the chain over my head, and hand it to her.

    ¡®I want to see her. I want my mother back,¡¯ I cry, my eyes welling up. Lea nods.

    ¡®Come,¡¯ Lea says, leaving the room with Dad and I.

    ¡®It has to be done on a full moon. Tomorrow night,¡¯ Lea exins. I tell Maximus about Lea and the

    ne. He wants to be there with Dad and I when Mum is brought back to life.

    It¡¯s dark and the moon is full. Lea ces the ruby heart on the ground in a circle of rocks. She tells

    us all to stand in a circle and hold hands. She starts chanting and the heart sounds like breaking ss,

    before a stream of red mist billows into the sky. The mist dissipates to reveal a figure standing in the

    circle.

    ¡®Anna?¡¯ Dad yells, pulling her into his chest, crying.

    ¡®Levi, my love. Is it really you?¡¯ She asks, crying into his chest.

    ¡®Yes, yes, it''s me. I love you so much. I never stopped thinking about you,¡¯ he cries.

    ¡®I know. I have missed you so much too, Levi,¡¯ she says, cupping his face.

    ¡®There is someone I¡¯d like you to meet,¡¯ he tells Mum, slowly turning her around, facing her with the

    younger version of herself; just as beautiful. I fall to my knees on the ground crying, and look up.

    ¡®Mum?¡¯

    ¡®My daughter. My precious daughter!¡¯ Mum cries, kneeling and embracing me. Maximus, Dad and

    Lea are crying. Mum looks at Maximus and gives him a kind smile.

    ¡®Are you going to introduce me to this young handsome man?¡¯ She asks me, wiping her tears

    away.

    ¡®This is my mate, Alpha Maximus,¡¯ I say, trying to stop her tears.

    ¡®Not little Maximus? Not my best friend¡¯s little boy? Alpha Theo''s son?¡¯ She asks, amazed.

    Maximus smiles.

    ¡®Yes, the one,¡¯ he replies. Mum smiles and embraces him.

    ¡®I couldn''t ask for a better mate for my daughter,¡¯ she says.

    ¡®Mum. Come and meet your grandchildren,¡¯ I say, smiling.

    ¡®I''m a grandma?¡¯ She asks, her eyes welling with tears again.

    Dad picks Mum up and nuzzles into her neck. Maximus scoops me up, and I cup his face and kiss

    his lips, and we go into the house.

    The children are sleeping but Mum sees them anyway. We quietly cry and coo over their cuteness;

    looking forward to them meeting Mum properly soon.

    Mum and Dad return to the Dark Moon pack, a few monthster, as Alpha and Luna. It is agreed

    that after Mum and Dad pass away, Theo will be Alpha of Dark Moon pack and Leo will be Alpha of

    Blood Moon.

    Max and I sit on the grass watching baby L crawl around, and our sons y ball and fight over

    it.

    ¡®I¡¯m so lucky to have you. For the Moon Goddess blessing us with these perfect babies. I couldn¡¯t

    have asked for a more perfect mate,¡¯ I say, my love for him evident in my expression.

    ¡®And I¡¯m lucky to have you, my beautiful little hybrid wolf-witch. And my hybrid pups,¡¯ he says,

    cupping my face.

    ¡®I love you. No matter what,¡¯ I whisper.

    ¡®No matter what,¡¯ he whispers, pecking my nose.

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