AZALEA

I stood on shaky legs, Liam hovering with a concerned look. “I can stand,” I said in a dry voice.

“Little Luna, I am allowed to be worried. Just let me help you,” he requested. I rolled my eyes but nodded my head, obliging his request. He helped me slip out of the hospital gown and start pulling on some comfortable clothes. Missy brought by some things this morning when she dropped off Azly to us. Azly was currently sleeping soundly in a blanket cocoon on the bed while Liam helped me dress.

So far, everything was looking alright, so Doctor Ron said I could go home in just a bit. I was really excited to be going back to the packhouse, even if my boys were still not home. Liam had started filling me in about everything that had happened, but I knew there was still more.

Liam helped me finish pulling on the soft leggings and loose tank top Missy brought when Azeron joined us. He gave us a silent nod and stood by the door.

“Really?” I asked Liam.

“Yes, Little Luna. You will have someone with you at every minute of the day until Warwick is dead,” Liam said carefully. “He has been here in the clinic out of sight the entire time you were unconscious.”

“Liam!” I scolded.

“No, Azalea. This is not negotiable. I almost lost you,” Liam said. His expression was unrelenting. I crossed my arms over my chest, and he simply raised an eyebrow at me.

“Do you have a reason to believe Warwick will be strolling right back into our pack land to kidnap me again?” I argued.

“I don’t have a reason not to believe it,” he said pointedly. Liam made a point to cross his arms over his chest and stand to his full height. This was his Alpha stance; I took a deep breath, exhaling through my nose a bit aggressively.

“Fine,” I said, turning around. I started fussing over Azly, ignoring him.

“Azalea, don’t be like that,” he sighed.

“Liam, I am not glass. And you said yourself, Warwick may not even know I am alive. I’ve been conscious for a day, and I am already being babysat,” I argued.

Liam closed the distance between us, and his hands came to my arms. “I can’t be too careful with you or the kids now. Little Luna, Warwick almost took everything from me once, and I won’t let it happen again. You, Missy, Azly, the boys; I won’t let anyone hurt my family.”

My shoulders dropped. “Liam, Felix has been with me since almost the moment you brought me to the pack. And now Azeron. I know you want to keep me safe, but at some point, you have to accept that I will always be a target for you.”

He was quiet behind me. His hands remained on either side of me. I had always worried that some part of him would always feel responsible for how I turned out. Sometimes, the notion of having a babysitter all times of the day was frustrating as the Luna of the pack.

Liam was spared any further discussion when a nurse came into the room with a wheelchair. “Are you all set, Luna?” she asked nicely. I gave her a small smile and nodded. “Why don’t you sit here, and we can put Azly in your arms?”

I didn’t want to fight anymore with Liam or the medical staff, so I agreed.

“The car is waiting outside,” Azeron told Liam.

“Thank you,” he said. I was silently relieved as I avoided Liam’s eyes; I did not feel up to walking all the way back to the packhouse yet; I was already nervous about getting up the stairs.

I sat down in the chair, and the nurse immediately placed Azly in my waiting arms. I smiled at her angelic, sleeping face. No matter what happened, Warwick didn’t take this from Liam and me. Thank Goddess, our little girl survived.

I looked over at Damien, still unconscious as Liam wheeled me from the room. “Where is Lily?” I asked.

“Oh, Miss Lily is at the packhouse,” the nurse answered. She walked next to us, holding Azly’s small diaper bag while Azeron followed.

I knew I needed to get back to the packhouse and into the swing of things again so I could come back and check on Damien. I wanted to try my gift on him to see if I could help. Liam and I owed him at least that much.

Doctor Ron met us outside the clinic as I was being helped into the car. “Don’t forget to take it easy now, Luna,” he said calmly. “Your body still needs some time, so rest as much as possible. No heavy lifting.” He leaned in close and whispered, “And make sure that nephew of mine gets a few good meals and sleep as well. No one has been able to get through to him since we got back.”

I opened my arms and leaned in to hug Ron. “I will,” I told him. “Thank you for saving Azly and me.” He returned my hug with a warm smile.

Once I was loaded into the car, and Azly safely buckled into the back in Leo’s old baby carrier, Liam climbed in the front seat and Azeron in the back next to Azly. He gave me a tight smile and cautiously held out his hand. I grabbed it, hoping he knew that I loved him even if we didn’t see eye to eye all the time.

We slowly drove the short distance to the packhouse. When we turned into the driveway, there was a surprising sight waiting for us. Near half the pack was standing on the lawn on either side of the drive waiting for us.

“Looks like everyone is ready for their Luna to be home,” Liam said. My heart swelled in my chest with love for the people of our pack. My eyes misted as I tried to hold back tears.

Liam stopped the car and hopped out quickly. I waited for him to come around and open the door. As he helped me out of the vehicle, Azeron came around to get Azly. When our small group stepped towards the front step, cheering and howls erupted.

“I’m not the only one who needs their Luna, my love,” Liam whispered in my ear as we walked arm and arm to the packhouse. We stopped on the porch and turned to address everyone.

“Thank you all for welcoming your Luna home. Your love and care for my mate reaffirms my belief in our pack. As she is still in need of rest, I am going to take my mate to bed. We will stop the vampires and make sure they are no longer a threat to any of our race!” Liam yelled confidently over the crowd. His words ignited another round of cheers.

When we stepped inside the packhouse, I said, “You know I am not going to bed, right?”

Liam looked down at me, appalled. “Little Luna, you need rest. You and Azly can just relax and bond.”

“No, I need to go to my office. I have been asleep for two weeks on top of all the time I was held captive. I am sure there are plenty of things that require my attention,” I said as I continued slowly toward the steps. Liam didn’t leave my side, but I could tell he wasn’t happy. He looked back behind us at Azeron.

As we reached the bottom of the steps, we found Missy, Maddox, and Langston coming down them.

“Azalea,” Langston greeted happily. “I am so relieved to see you up and about. Missy was telling me that you woke up yesterday.”

“Yes,” I said. “I am up now and ready to get back to work.”

Langston laughed. “I am sure your mate is none too happy about that. Surely things are in good enough hands that you can rest a bit more,” he said.

“They are!” Missy said quickly. I gave her a quizzical look. “I have been handling everything since we got back. Austin and Maddox have been holding down things for Dad, too.”

I looked up at Liam. “You left running the pack to our daughter and her mate in addition to taking care of our daughter?” He gave me a sheepish look which I could only respond with a sigh. Langston interrupted our silent spat.

“Liam, I know Azalea has just come home, but it is essential that we discuss some things for just a moment. Maybe we can rendevous in your office while the girls go to Azalea’s with the baby?” Langston suggested.

“I would really prefer to take Azalea to our room,” Liam said.

“Missy, do we have a swing or bouncer anywhere for Azly?” I asked her.

“Yea,” she answered. “There is one in your office and in my room. I was working mostly from there while you were asleep.”

“Fantastic. Let’s go then,” I said. Langston had a smirk on his face while Liam just looked at me, lost. I raised my eyebrows at him. “My Alpha, it sounds like what Maddox and Langston need to talk to you about is very important, and I am sure there are things they need to fill you in on. So let’s get to it.”

Maddox gave Missy a nervous look as I started to ascend the stairs. Liam snapped to his senses within a few steps. “Fine!” he said quickly. “But at least let me carry you up. Your incision is not healed!” He scooped me up and started up the stairs with a frustrated look on his face. I leaned my head against his chest, patting it lightly with my hand.

“I love you, My Alpha,” I whispered.

–

After a fair amount of fussing and doddling, Missy was able to push Liam from the room, leaving us with Azly and being diligently watched by Azeron.

“Is he our new Felix then?” Missy asked me as she sat across the desk from me. She put the bouncer right next to my chair. Azly was sleeping soundly still, unbothered by the rest of us.

“Yes,” I said, looking at him sideways. “But I suspect much worse.” Azeron smirked but remained silent.

“Okay, before we get to everything pack-related, I would love to hear about Maddox some more,” I said. Missy blushed and squirmed in her seat a bit. She stayed quiet for a moment.

“Azeron, I know my mate has asked you to stay in here with me, but I would really like to have a private conversation with my daughter. I am sure you can understand how these things are for young, newly mated wolves. Would you mind just stepping outside the door? You can lock us in if it will make you feel better,” I asked in the nicest Luna voice I could muster.

Azeron hesitated for a moment, looking between me and the back of Missy’s head. Finally, he let out a heavy breath and nodded his head. He exited the office, shutting the door quietly behind him.

“You know if Dad finds him outside the room, he will lose it, right?” Missy said.

“I can handle that pigheaded Alpha. Now, what’s going on with Maddox?” I asked.

“So, you know how they give us all a class on mates in school?” Missy started.

“Yes,” I said, nodding.

“I might have skipped that day with Vlad….”

“Alright,” I said, wondering where this was going. I had decided to sleep through that particular class at the time, thinking I wouldn’t find a mate, and the time was better spent getting a little rest.

“I know what the mating and marking process is, obviously,” she said. “But, I don’t really know what the heat is….”

“Oh,” I gasped. “Oh, sweetheart. Are you going into heat?”

Missy shrugged. “Maybe? Maddox thinks so….”

“Can you tell me what happened?”

Missy explained about the previous night’s events. I listened carefully, giving her my full attention. “I am sorry, but I think you are going into heat, sweetheart.”

“So, what do I do?”

“Are you ready to mate with Maddox?” She shrugged again. “Well, if you aren’t sure, it is something I want you to think carefully about. I know you have accepted each other, but it is still a big step.” Missy nodded her head. I bit my l*p, thinking a moment about how to tell her everything.

“I am afraid that your timeline on this decision is running out. Your heat will continue for about a week unless you and Maddox mate. But it will get progressively worse. Some wolves are not able to resist a she-wolf in heat, whether it be their mate or not.”

“So are you saying…”

“Yes, you will attract other unmated wolves with your scent when your heat flares up. Their wolves will want to mate with you against their better nature. And with you residing in the packhouse….”

“There are plenty of unmated wolves around all the time,” she concluded.

I nodded my head. “If you aren’t ready to take this step, then I can help you through this. We can leave the packhouse and get away while this runs its course.”

“Will it happen again?” she asked. I nodded. “When?”

“Hard to say,” I told her.

“What should I do?” she asked me. She looked at me with the same earnest eyes she gave me when she was a kid, like my words were gospel.

I sighed. “Maybe you and Maddox should talk about it? This is a step for the both of you.”

Missy quietly looked down at her hands, chewing on her l*p. I could tell she was trying to think about everything. I let her have her moment, my eyes wandering to Azly, who was still sleeping soundly.

“Missy?” I interrupted her thoughts.

“Yea?”

“Can I ask you one thing?”

“Sure, anything,” she agreed.

“Don’t have pups right away. Finish high school, enjoy your mate. Find what you want to do when you leave your Dad and me. Just wait to have pups, okay?” I pleaded. I couldn’t help but be afraid for my daughter. Having pups was an adventure all its own, but we were in the middle of a war, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep her and Maddox out of it.

“Okay,” she said. She looked over the desk at Azly and smiled. “I love my sister, but I don’t think I am ready to be a mom yet.”

LIAM

I looked at the photos that sat on my desk. This was not what I wanted to deal with today. I ran my hands over my face.

“He is going to make a move sooner or later. He is taunting us, and we can’t wait around forever,” Langston said in a level voice.NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

“I know,” I said. I pushed the photos away. “Who saw this?”

“Austin, myself, and the patrol that found him. Austin asked them to keep quiet for now,” Maddox answered.

“My daughter didn’t see this?” I questioned further. Maddox shook his head.

“No, she didn’t see it, but I did tell her what the message included,” he said. I nodded.

“I don’t want you two mixed up in all this, but I’m starting to think I have no choice in the matter,” I said.

“I think young Maddox has been doing a great job alongside his mate in your stead,” Langston said.

I looked up at Langston with irritation. I tried to remind myself that he doesn’t have pups and may not understand that I want my children as far away from this as possible. “This is a clear message that needs a response,” I said, moving past the issue. “He attacked someone and dumped them at my border. He knows that Missy and Azalea were rescued. Have we confirmed who this is?”

“Austin was working on it today,” Maddox said. “He doesn’t think he was from our pack.”

“We need to figure out how we are going to find him and stop him,” Langston said.

“Yes, we do….” I agreed.