* * * Max’s POV * * *I hadn’t expected the words that came out of David’s mouth. Eve’s mother is alive? I can’t help but wonder how and what physical and mental state she will be in. What has Alpha Charles done to her, these past 10 years?My shock is short-lived as Eve gasps and then falls to the side, her body limp and falling from her chair. Instinct has me jumping from my chair, breaking her fall and taking her limp and tiny frame in my arms. Once I have Eve safely in my arms, cradled against my chest, I’m able to process what he has said, “What do you mean her mother isn’t dead? And what do you mean her fate is worse than that?” I ask him, wondering if we can save her mother. Can I give my mate her mother back? A mother’s love can heal even the deepest of wounds. I should know, I’ve longed for it since I was eight years old, nothing has soothed my pain, like a hug from my mother had. “He knew of her gift, he ... ahhh... took her. He has his own private ... no ... prison within
* * * Eve’s POV * * *I can’t believe it; I had seen what I thought was the emaciated and dead body of my mother laid on the cot within the cell. And then, she’s not dead. I stand immobile, completely shocked, staring at the scene before me. I’m certain that my mouth is gaping open, my jaw dropped and staring like a deer in the headlights. Before me, Alpha Reece has my mama in his arms, rocking her, stroking her hair, and thanking the Moon Goddess for blessing him. What has seriously just happened? Alpha Reece is my mama’s second chance mate, and she is his fated mate. The shock of hearing her quiet whisper of “My mate”.Then seeing Alpha Reece run into the room, responding with his own, “My mate. The Moon Goddess blesses me, I can’t believe I’ve found my mate. Thank you, mighty Selene, I will cherish her and care for her as she deserves,” he speaks gently and the way he moves her hair from her face so tenderly. I haven’t had time to process it. Never mind my shock at finding out tha
* * * Eve’s POV * * *I’m still in shock that Max has put the fate of his pack in my hands. But it doesn’t sit right for me. After living in the Mountain View pack and seeing how Charles had run the pack, I don’t believe in a dictatorship. Not for something like this, this will affect so many people’s lives. I tell him that it should be the New Moon pack that should decide and that we should have a pack meeting and put it to a vote. And now here we are, awaiting his pack to arrive. There will be the remaining 38 members arriving within the next two hours. What impresses me is the fact that he doesn’t order them to come. He and Damian simply put out a group message informing them that a lot has happened, and they need an urgent pack meeting, here at the Mountain View pack. All his pack had responded that they will drop what they are doing, some will be here within the hour. Others within two hours. His pack respects him, and I’m fascinated that he’s never had to use an Alpha command,
* * * Max's POV * * *If I’m honest with myself, I’m a little scared. My nerves are totally shot. I know that we’d planned for eventually running a large pack, but that was 10 - 15 years away. Not right now and to have it thrust upon us in this way. What if I fail my current pack members? What if I fail the new pack members? What if I turn out like my father? Walking to the meeting room with Damian leading the way and holding Eve’s hand, I can’t stop thinking about her poor mother. Ten years in the dark, alone, grieving for her mate and not knowing if her daughter is alive. Ten years without shifting, her skin must be crawling, I know if I don’t let Nate shift for even a week, my skin itches as though he’s trying to burst free. She spent ten years locked away without any support to work through her grief. I’m about to enter our borrowed meeting room. It’s actually Charles’s private dining hall. But it’s perfect for the meeting, with my pack being so small. I feel Eve pull back as I’
* * * Eve’s POV * * *“I Evelyn Rose Jones, denounce the Mountain View pack as my pack and pledge my allegiance to the New Moon pack. I promise to serve my Alpha and pack to the best of my abilities, putting the needs of the pack above my own,” I promise as I Natalie my palm and take my pledge. Of course nothing happens when I denounce the Mountain View pack, because I was never pledged here. However, as I finish my vows, I feel a band loosening around my mind as the awareness of the New Moon pack members enters my mind.‘Thank you, my mate’. A voice speaks to me.‘Max?’‘Of course. You did amazingly well. Thank you for being first’, he says. ‘Not a problem,’ I reply as I take a seat and prepare to patiently wait for them to pledge the Mountain View pack into the New MoonPack. I don’t know what I had been expecting, but after observing the first fifty members pledging, it’s become rather tedious and boring. I feel bad for Max, Damian, and Jasper. Having to continuously repeat thems
* * * Max’s POV * * *‘Alpha, we have visitors,’ a voice calls in my head. Can I seriously not get a break? Can’t I just live in peace with my mate? Even for a little while. ‘Everyone, we have unexpected visitors. Warriors, please adopt your usual positions for now. Jasper, Damian, Jessica, Jason, and John come with me to the gate. Everyone else, please make your way home and stay inside.’ I instruct my pack. And lead the way to the pack entrance gate. I can’t help but repeat Darius’s words in my mind, to watch my back and my borders. But I can’t help but feel that the visitors mean no harm. Why else would they approach the main gate without causing alarm? It feels good pushing Nate and feeling his muscles flex and stretch as they work. We train often and practice various scenarios, but nothing can beat first-hand experience. Often, I train with Jasper. I’d like to be able to say I beat him often, but more often than not, by the time I hear him coming, I’m on my arse. He pushes us
* * * Eve’s POV * * *This is the first time in so many years that I’ve gone to bed with hope in my heart. My world has changed dramatically in such a short space of time and now we are blessed to be able to change the world of those here in the new New Moon pack. Here, with my mate, I will begin the Moon Goddess’s work. First, I must heal, train to become strong, rebuild this pack and make allies. I fall asleep quickly. A deep and dreamless sleep, probably due to a combination of the last couple of days' events, lack of sleep and the extremely soft and comfy mattress I’m laid on. I’m startled awake by the sound of tormented screams. I race from my bed to find the sound coming from Max’s room. I open the door to find he’s thrashing in bed, eyes closed and screaming. I try to rush forwards to soothe him, but Cora stops my movement. ‘Stop, you can’t startle him awake, he could lash out’. She tells me. While Cora is speaking to me, the sound of the front door being kicked down reaches
* * * Max’s POV * * *Seeing the pups' faces the morning after we had spent the night putting together play equipment had made the sleepless night worth it. The pure joy on their faces when their parents had brought them to the packhouse, and they saw that their usual playing green contained everything they had asked for. That’s what being an Alpha is all about. The last couple of days have been boring and uneventful. Much of my time has been spent inspecting every house and the land, while Damian has looked at the finances and businesses of the pack. There’s a lot of work that needs doing and now I find myself having to retype the to-do list in order of priority. I hope the pack understand that I’m not placing one family above another, and it’s purely based on living standards. The boundary walls and security are the top priority. I can’t take Darius’s final words lightly. We’ve created a 24-hour patrol schedule, with increased bodies. And work on the walls has already begun. We’re