Liam

Rogue activity has significantly decreased, but it is still there. It’s not fooling any of us. I have Sean and all the warriors on even higher alert; I have sent Jacob to the Inn to help with that area as well.

I wait in my office for Damien to join me before Langston and his mate arrive. Langston is coming to discuss the current issues we are facing with these rogues, and we intend to fill him on the impending vampire problem. Emma insisted on seeing Azalea and the kids even though Langston felt more comfortable with her safe inside their packhouse. Azalea was excited to see Emma, of course. I think Azalea admires her as a Luna far more than my mother.

Damien strolled into my office, not bothering to knock. I roll my eyes at him as he flops down on the couch. The dark circles under his eyes told me he is sleeping just about as much as I am. Between running the pack, keeping up with the evolving rogue/vampire situation, and chasing our families around, we are both stretched a little thin. Lily is helping to pick up slack with Azalea while Lacey is assisting Felix with the kids. It’s been a joint effort, but we are all starting to feel the stress.

“Do we have anything else on the identity of my sister’s murderer?” Damien asked, running his hands over his tired face.

“Nothing actionable,” I told him. “Abraham said that the culprit would have to be pretty old to be able to influence the guards the way he did. Being that he made himself invisible without being invisible, the intent was clear from the start.”

Damien’s face was stony, not happy with the lack of progress. He has finally accepted his sister’s death, but he probably will not stop until he finds her actual murderer. He sighed. “When will Langston arrive?”

I checked the clock on my desk, “Probably within the next hour. I think we should brief him soon about the war. We need him on our side so we can start gathering allies. He may be old for an Alpha, but he carries a lot of respect in this region.”

Damien nodded. “It will also help him understand some of what has been happening. Will Azalea tell Emma?”

“No, she will let Langston do that,” I said. Damien nodded before letting his head drop back onto the back of the couch as his eyes closed.

I felt a flare of irritation through my mate bond. “Azalea, baby, what is wrong?”

“Nothing. I am fine!” she responded immediately. I can’t help but check on her constantly.

“No, you’re not….”

“I can take care of it myself!”

“Little Luna, I will come help you. Wait, aren’t you with Lily?”

“Yes. But I do not need any help, Alpha,” her emphasis on the last word. I sighed.

“Lily, why is my mate angry?” I gave in.

“Her sandal fell off her foot, and she can’t reach down far enough to get it back on….” Lily responded.NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

“Can you help her?”

“No offense, but your mate is scarier than you, and I already had to shoo Declan out of here.” Damien snickered from the couch. He must know what is going on. I huffed as I stood up.

“Bull-headed woman,” I grumbled as I left my office. Declan was standing outside her door.

“Your mate is quite riled up today,” he said as I approached.

“Yea, I know,” I told him. “I got her, Declan. Thank you. Emma and Langston will be here any time. Felix and Lily will be with her while Langston, Damien, and I talk. I appreciate you.”

He nodded. “Good luck,” he said as he left. I opened the door to the comical sight of Azalea’s ordinarily pale face red in as she strained to reach past her belly and down to her feet while she sat on the couch. Lily sat at the desk with a mild expression on her face.

“I said I am fine!” Azalea snapped.

“I’m going to check if they have arrived yet,” Lily said, standing. She patted me on the shoulder as she left.

I walked over to the couch slowly and knelt in front of her. I grabbed her ankle in my hand while I adjusted the strappy sandal back onto her foot. She pouted at me and sat back. Without a word, I sat on the couch next to her when she was all fixed up.

Azalea crossed her arms, her cheeks still pink. “I missed you,” I said, smiling at her. I draped my arm over her shoulder, tucking her into my side.

“You saw me like 2 hours ago,” she huffed.

“Your shoe is fixed, and everything is alright. Stop being grumpy,” I chided her.

“Whatever,” she said.

“Little Luna, what is really the matter?” I asked her.

She let out a long breath. “Leo came up and asked if Felix could take the training wheels off his bike. Junior is out there right now teaching him how to ride a bike like a big boy, and I couldn’t even go down and be with them!” I could hear the slight tremble in her voice. She wasn’t whining; she was just disappointed.

I wrapped my other arm around her. “I’m sorry, baby. I can link Felix and have him ask the boys to wait.” She shook her head. “Is there anything I can do?” I asked her, a little sad myself that I was missing that.

“Just hold me,” she said as her arm wrapped around my abdomen.

Lacey

“Don’t get me wrong; I understand she is uncomfortable and stressed. It just seems like she is being a tad dramatic,” I said to Lily. She had just come down from Azalea’s office, where Alpha had to come to calm her down. I was getting a snack ready for the kids while she was munching herself.

“That’s a bit mean,” Lily said with a frown. “Having a pup and everything isn’t exactly normal for her.”

“But this is her third,” I said, reasoning with Lily. Luna’s attitude had been getting worse and worse. She was constantly in a state of irritation, and everyone knew it was taking a toll on Alpha while he was trying to figure out how to stop a war with vampires before it begins.

“Didn’t Felix explain Lea’s situation?” Lily asked.

“Yea, I guess. He said she is a different type of wolf with a special ability. She can heal people, right? It just uses a lot of her energy,” I answered.

“Well, yea, that is mostly right, but Azalea is far from even a typical White Moon wolf. She doesn’t have a wolf at all,” Lily said.

“How? She isn’t human?” I asked. Lily sighed.

“I guess I can give you the cliff notes as your mate left some things out. Azalea’s parents were involved in a plot to overthrow Liam’s father when she was very young. They were both killed. She was raised in the packhouse by Liam’s parents, but she was more or less a maid from a very young age. They all seemed to have moved past it now, but they never treated her well. The way she explained it is that she wasn’t physically strong enough for her wolf to fully manifest. She has better senses than a human, and she can feel her bond with Liam, but otherwise, she is basically human. Their relationship didn’t start out too great either,” she paused for a moment, an irritated tick in her jaw. “They have worked through a lot of hurtles, really. Azalea has been targeted a lot, and Liam has always had to take extra care in her protection which is why she has Felix. Well, the thing Liam can’t really protect her from is her own body being weak. Werewolf pregnancies are much faster because we heal and regenerate differently than humans. Azalea’s body has a hard time accommodating her wolf pups. From a young age, she has had to take care of herself. She is a hard worker and is much better at taking care of others than being taken care of. Right now, she isn’t even allowed to walk up and down the stairs. She can’t chase her kids around or take her daughter school clothes shopping. She isn’t even able to use her gift because it risks her and the baby too much. She loves Liam and wants to have another pup with him, but she is slowly being stripped of her independence and the things she feels make her useful when she already feels weak around everyone. She puts up a great front, but some of us know better.”

I didn’t know what to say. There were a few key details that Felix left out when he told me about Azalea and why he was her dedicated bodyguard. “Oh,” I whispered, feeling guilty. I liked Azalea when we met; she seemed self-assured and confident. As her pregnancy progressed, her attitude has changed, and it seemed a little dramatic. Lily’s insight changed my mind, though; now I just felt sympathy for her.

“Yea. She is tough as nails but also incredibly self-conscious. Even though she should be the most resentful woman to exist, she can’t hold resentment towards anyone,” Lily said softly.

“I had no idea. I just assumed she was stressed with Luna work and what she does for the Inn. I never imagined any of that,” I admitted.

“Honestly, if I were to try and tell you Lea’s story, I would need a whole book,” Lily said.

Azalea

I calmed down in Liam’s arms, my frustration and despair ebbing away. On the one hand, I want this pup out of me so I can do as I please again, but on the other hand, I know I need to keep it growing inside of me for as long as possible.

Liam kissed the top of my head but didn’t say anything. How he navigates my craziness while also leading our pack, I will never know. Sometimes, I don’t think I deserve such a good mate.

Too soon, Liam whispers, “Langston and Emma will be here in a moment.”

I nod my head, starting to sit up. Liam smoothed my hair away from my face before kissing me gently. “Feel any better?” he asked.

“Yea,” I said. “Thanks.” Liam just smiled before standing up and helping me to my feet. Suddenly, I really didn’t want to be away from my mate. “Liam?”

“Yes, baby?” he answered.

“Can we tell Langston and Emma together?” He gave me a discerning look.

“Alright,” he said cautiously. “Any reason why?”

“I think this might be a better conversation as a group,” I reasoned.

“Okay,” he agreed. “Then I guess let’s get you settled in my office. It will be easier to accommodate everyone in there.” He moved to pick me up.

“Wait!” I stopped him. “Can I please walk? My legs are so stiff. It’s just down the hall.”

He pursed his lips but nodded. He wrapped his arm around my waist for good measure but didn’t protest as we left my office and headed to his. When we got to his office, he grabbed one of the chairs near his desk and dragged it around next to his, only to push me down into his more comfortable chair. I shook my head at him but didn’t fight. A few minutes later, Damien came in carrying a few more chairs. Liam must have linked him. They set the chairs up around the desk so Langston, Emma, Damien, and Lily could sit with us around the desk.

“Lily is bringing them up now,” Damien said as they finished. Liam nodded and came back over to sit with me. Only a couple of minutes later, Lily was strolling into the office with Emma on her arm. Liam and I stood to greet them.

“Oh, Azalea, you are absolutely glowing!” Emma cooed as she laid eyes on me. I gave her a warm smile.

“More like growing,” I joked. She laughed as well.

“You are one beautiful mama,” she said. “Where are those other ones. I bet Missy is just so big and so close to mating age too. Is she excited?”

“We aren’t sure, actually,” I said. “She is keeping it pretty quiet, but we have some guesses.”

Emma raised her eyebrows. “Oh, is she feeling the beginnings of a bond? Powerful wolves are said to feel their bond before they come of age.”

“We suspect but won’t comment. We are just happy that she is happy right now,” I told her.

“Well, we come bearing good news,” Langston said.

“And sadly, we do not have very good news,” Liam said.

“We should sit,” said Lily.

As we all sat, Liam dived right in, gripping my hand comfortingly. “Langston, what do you know about vampires?”