Filed To Story: Secret with Betas Daughter: Skylar Story Series
“Not necessarily, but many of our Elders, think they have more control and say than even the Alpha and they have gotten bold recently, just making decisions and giving orders and unfortunately our pack members don’t know any different because they are trusted leaders. I know Xander is having a similar issue. There always is a power issue when the next Alpha is getting close to taking over, that’s when all the politics really start to kick in.”
She rolls her eyes. “It’s all about power and we don’t want to teach our pack members to not trust the leadership. They need to trust us, know that our decisions are for their benefit and the safety of the pack as a whole. But some people who have been in power too long forgot what it is like to earn their position. So to not cause an uproar we try to deal with these things quietly. Of course we have our resident drama queen at the heart of several issues right now.”
She runs her fingers through her hair, like she is composing herself.
“All guests need to stay on the second floor. That’s what we told her and her father has been looking for any reason to get her up here, even claiming they had family visiting from out of town who would need to be put up in the packhouse since their home isn’t finished yet. Kaley jumped on that train and tried to claim this room for herself when they brought their stuff over. We told them to make other arrangements for their guests at the local hotel, we even offered to pay for the inconvenience. But in the end ‘plans changed.”
She air quotes and rolled her eyes. “I don’t know how she keeps getting up here when we keep changing the entrance code to the door, but she does. The last time she tried, oh that was an argument fit for TV. It was one of the few times I have ever had to use my Luna aura on a pack member.”
“How long have they been here Luna?”
“Too long. Actually their house caught fire after a small attack about a month after you left. The amount of damage was not that severe, but whoever they hired to inspect it said it would be better to tear the whole thing down and start over, making improvements while they were at it. Everything has taken twice as long and been stalled out more times than I can count. They are stalling for time. The boys all turn 18 in the spring, Kevin wants Kaley near the twins to hopefully build a friendship good enough for them to consider her if they don’t find their mate or mates right away.”
“So he’s trying to wh*re her out in order to give her a better chance at being Luna.”
Lil surmises.
“It won’t happen, they want their mate or mates, but boys will be boys and they have acted like all teenage boys their age and slept around. What they realized too late is that some of these girls think that makes them the next Luna by default, which is ridiculous. None of the boys have really dated since you and Sierra left. They really have changed.”
She sighs and I can’t tell if it’s a good thing or a bad thing.
“Well, let’s go get these two rooms and then I can show them around a bit since Lil didn’t get to see much at trials and Jena has never been here.”
I look at Luna Ava seriously, I don’t want to feel anymore guilty about how the guys have behaved since I chose to stay away.
3-4
I shake myself from my thoughts. I have no control over how they act. I am not the cause for everything that they do. They have jobs to do and got serious about them is all. They are going to start the transition soon and they know they can’t mess around anymore.
“Will Jena and Lil be next to the Cunnignham’s room, or are they on the other side of the hall? I don’t know if I want anyone near them for an extended period of time.”
“They have three rooms at one end of the hall. I will put you girls at the other end, but I think that will work in our favor since you will be closer to the third floor staircase. Maybe it will derail Kaley’s actions. We should check in with Lucas too, just to see if he has had contact with Warrior Brogen about your prisoner. Anything from him on your current situation?”
“I haven’t heard from him. Either of you had orders?” I look at my friends, who both shake their heads. “Weird. I told him we would wait for orders, maybe he wants us to just stay put. Maybe they caught up with rogues too and are tied up at the moment. We’ll give it twenty four hours and then I will check in again.”
The three of us start to move towards my door when Luna Ava laughs. “Girls, you have been at this roughing it thing for too long. Stay here and shower, change, and for the love of my sanity please tell me if any of the blood you are covered in is yours. We can meet with Lucas when you’re done. Slow down, there is nothing rushing you right this moment. You could all actually rest. I think I heard you have been up for almost two days.”
We all look at each other. I know for me it’s the first real look I’ve given my friend’s since we met up with the rogues in the forest. We look like a hot mess warmed over. Even though we are all in our standard issue black uniform, it is apparent that we were tumbling around in the dirt. There are still leaves and twigs in both girl’s hair, so I can safely assume I have them in my hair too. The finishing touch is the streaks of blood we all have on our necks and hands. There is splatter across Lil’s face and Jena looks like she’s a vampire rather than a werewolf.
We all start laughing unreasonably hard. This should not be funny at all, but none of the guys said a thing to any of us about it. Although that may explain some of their reactions and the way they were talking to us.
“Sky, your clothes are still in the closet, but I dare say you have filled out in your time away. Look at these muscles.”
She smiles at me. “Let me see what I can dig up for you ladies.”
We each make quick work of showering the battle off of us. Luna Ava brought us all clothes in every shade except black. I just rolled my eyes and laughed at the options, then we all fought over the darkest colors. I ended up in navy blue leggings with a white t-shirt. Jena got the black leggings and a red t-shirt. Lillian got gray joggers and an orange t-shirt.
“It’s so weird to be wearing colors. I almost feel too bright.”
Lillian laughs
“I’m starving, let’s go see if we can grab some food before we head out.”
I lead the girls out the door. I half expected the guys to be waiting in the hallway like they used to, but no one was there. I am actually a little disappointed and then angry at myself for feeling that way. I left to follow my dreams, I can’t expect them to just sit around and wait for me. I mentally shake myself and head downstairs. We all slow down as we hear voices coming from the kitchen.
“Daddy, fix this! She can’t be here, she’s a nuisance and she will mess up everything like always.”
“I will do everything I can sweetheart, you know that, but we can’t just attack her. She’ll be gone soon enough with her warrior missions.”
“Why not? Everything was better when she left. The pack was getting back to what it should be. She was making people rebel against me and as Luna I can’t have disloyal people in my pack.”
“I know sweetheart, and when you are Luna you can put her on an assignment somewhere out of the way, but for now tread carefully. She’s a favorite, whether it was earned or not, it’s a fact.”
A groan like screech comes out of Kaley’s mouth and I decide I have heard enough.
The three of us walk in and I head straight for the pantry. “I hope Lenny left something good to eat!” I say to my friends pretending like the Cunninghams aren’t even in the room. “She always made the best snacks, but she had to hide them from the guys because they would eat them all in one sitting.”
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.