Toughen Up

Denise sat at the trunk of a tree near Stewart’s pack house. A straw was pressed between her lips as she sluggishly sipped from a bottle of orange juice. After much intentional delay on Denise’s part, it was now almost time to head out. Alpha Stewart had offered to take her there himself, but she refused. For their safety, it was best none of them followed her. Though, she did accept the offer of him lending her one of his cars.

Swallowing the last bit of her juice, Denise reclined against the tree. Her fingers took the small pendant hanging from the necklace around her neck and fiddled with it as she stared blankly up at the sky. She still hadn’t concluded whether what she was doing was right, but that only made her wonder what her mother (Carla) would’ve done.

Even before Carla became Luna, she was well respected among Wyatt’s pack for her quick decision making and negotiating skills. In a moment like this, she would've never faltered. And had she been alive, things wouldn’t have