She gripped my hand tightly. “Pleasure to meet you, Luna Shade. I apologize for my mate’s absence. He was called away early this morning,” she explained. “I, however, couldn’t miss the opportunity to celebrate your union.”
“We appreciate your presence, Luna. And please send Ranvir our apologies that we missed him last night,” Caelan said with a slight bow. “We will be certain to arrange a visit soon.”
She nodded, gazing at something beyond me for a second before she finally released my hand.
“You’re going to give birth to very powerful pups one day,” she announced, her voice seeming to echo. “They will need your expertise to guide them. You must hone your skills and fully understand your ability for their sake. They are depending on you.”
She shook her head almost as if she were coming back to herself. “I see great things for the two of you,” she declared, her eyes dancing toward Caelan for a moment before returning to mine. “I sense you and I are going to be great friends, and I can’t wait to meet the twins.”
She walked away with a wide smile as I stared after her in utter shock.Pups? Did she say pups, as in more than one?!“Twins?” I whispered to Caelan. “What is she talking about?”
“Looks like you and I are going to have our hands full,” Caelan remarked with a chuckle. “Luna Arien is a witch. She has visions.”
“A witch?!” I exclaimed much louder than I’d intended. “Like a real witch?”
“Yes, a real witch. You couldn’t smell it?”
I shrugged. “I could feel that she was different, but I couldn’t figure out how.”
“Her mate, Alpha Ranvir, is mostly wolf but has a bit of witch in his blood as well. His grandmother or something. Anyway, their pack, the Summer Crescent Pack, is small but powerful because they have a few hybrids. I’m actually surprised they were here. They don’t usually socialize much.”
“She came to speak with me,” I stated with certainty. I didn’t know how I knew, but I did. She came specifically to meet me and share her vision.
“I have a feeling you’re right,” Caelan agreed, wrapping his arms around me. “Maybe we should slip away again and get started on those pups,” he whispered into my ear as he planted a kiss on my neck.
My hands pressed against my stomach.She said twins! That means two pups at once! Goddess, I hope we have some time before that happens.
Repercussions
CAELAN
A FEW DAYS LATER
I led a contingency of warriors from ten separate packs, including my own, as we crossed the border into Dark Moon’s territory.
It hadn’t been hard to get the other packs to agree to disbanding what was left of Huxley’s legacy. Stealing a future luna had been the final straw.
We walked straight into the center of town without seeing a single wolf. But they were there. We could smell them.
“Are they seriously not going to come out?”Oliver questioned through the mind-link.
“I guess not,”I replied.“I’ll go ahead and deliver the decree anyway. This should be a good enough spot. It’s fairly central.”
He nodded his big shaggy head as I shifted and retrieved some clothing from a bag strapped to one of the warriors. I dressed and took a few steps forward.
“Wolves of Dark Moon!” I bellowed, my voice booming through the air. “I am Alpha Caelan Kendrick of Harvest Moon. By order of the coalition of alphas, the Dark Moon Pack is hereby disbanded. Alpha Huxley is dead and Beta Hadwin has been deemed unfit to lead. Those of you who wish to surrender peacefully, please do so now!”
The sound of doors being cautiously opened could be heard echoing all around us, and we stood poised for any and all possibilities.
“What will happen to us if we surrender?” called a male wolf as he stepped out from beside one of the buildings.
He was slightly older with dark hair, watching us with suspicious eyes as he stood with his arms outstretched to protect his mate and several pups who huddled behind him.
I held my hands out to show I meant no harm. “Those who cooperate will be given a chance to join one of the nine packs who have agreed to take in refugees, or you’re welcome to petition another pack of your choosing for membership.”
“You won’t banish us and make us rogues?” a she-wolf called, her voice coming from somewhere in the slowly gathering crowd.
“We are offering this one chance to receive our help in integrating into a new pack,” I answered. “You can make a better life for yourselves. But trust me, there will be no second chances. Those who don’t take this offer now will be deemed a rogue.”
