“What do you mean it wasn’t a spur of the moment thing?” I demand, feeling fear creep in. I find myself clinging closer to Rune and thankfully, he doesn’t push me away. Instead, he pulls me closer, his hand leaving my hair and rubbing my back in soothing circles.
“What Asteria means is that her and Tristan found emails between Valor and Viren.” Gale answers, giving me a sad smile. It takes a moment for his words to register but when they do, I realize that Valor planed a scheme against me once again.
“Valor knew that Viren was looking for a Luna, be that his Goddess given Mate or someone he chose. He used this as an advantage and told Viren about you. How he had Rune reject you and that you needed a Mate.” Asteria takes over explaining, her eyes growing hard as hatred seeps from her.
“He already knew about you before coming to Crescent Phoenix. He was just shocked that you were the Beta of the pack as he thought he would have to find you.” She continues, growling at the end. Gale comforts her, reminding her that I am home safe now
“When Viren realized I was here, he set a plan in motion to kidnap me when he left for his own pack.” I mutter quietly, connecting the pieces together.
“Why did Valor goad him into doing this?” I demand, feeling Rune stiffen before he lets out another sigh.
“He did it so that I would have no way of being with you.” His voice is filled with guilt and anger, his body shaking beneath my hands.
“He knew I was wavering with the betrothal, knew I was just one push away from leaving to find you. So he made a plan that would get rid of you one way or another.” He continues, our gaze meeting as his words fill the room.
“You are my weakness Brynlee, and to Valor that makes the pack weak. He would do anything to get rid of you if it meant I would married Tanya in the end. That was before I caught the two in his office. Now I have a feeling he will do anything to kill us both and get rid of us for good.” His eye light with anger and for a moment, the mending bond flickers brighter than ever. I can feel his love and possessiveness towards me. Feel his fear of losing me to someone else. But most importantly, I can feel the resolve to protect me before the light flickers. It seems that the bond has mended itself once more, getting closer to forming a completed bond and it worries me. I am not sure I am ready to take Rune back.
“What will we do if he learns Asteria and I run Crescent Phoenix?” I ask, my worry for the mate bond continuously mending turning into worry for my pack. We have been slowly growing stronger since taking over. Slowly creating stronger bonds with the wolves that were once known as Golden Fang and building the bond between them and the ones that came from Pine Moon.
“We will have to prepare for war. Valor won’t stop at nothing if it means those that threaten his pursuit of power are still alive.” Jett answers instead, a sad look in his eyes.
“Me and Clairice should have ran when we had the chance but she was devoted to Harvest Willow. She would never let anything hurt our pack.” I can sense the regret and sadness in Jett that I feel from Rune. Luna Clairice was his Goddess given Mate and she was put in a similar situation as Rune was. All because Valor wanted power.
“Were there any survivors from Harvest Willow?” I ask, getting a small smile from Jett.
“Last I checked, there are fifteen survivors. As soon as I heard what Valor did, I had your parents watch Rune while I rushed to the pack. It was destroyed, houses burnt down, bodies everywhere. But I found a few hiding in one of our bunkers. Mostly pups with a few of the weaker Warriors protecting them.” Asteria looks at me with understanding. She stands from her seat and joins Jett, placing a hand on his shoulder as her blood hums. Its effect is soothing, calming Jett, Rune and I down.
“Are they part of a pack?” She asks, Jett shaking his head no.
“After what Valor did, they were terrified to join a pack. Besides, no one would go against Valor and accept them even if they tried to join a new one.” His answer makes Rune and I growl, surprising the others in the room.
“They are all cowards then. Allowing Valor and Jonnah to run amuck and not get the Council involved.” I practically yell.
“I agree Brynlee.” Asteria answers, her back straightening as she looks at Jett.
“Tomorrow, you and Gale will leave to collect those fifteen survivors. Tell them that Crescent Phoenix is not afraid of Pine Moon and that we welcome all in need of a second chance here.” Hope flashes in Jett’s eyes as he nods, explaining he can call them tonight and explain the situation first. Asteria agrees before she looks to Rune and I, the two of us still clinging to one another.
“You two will need to start training. It’s only a matter of time before news spread that Rune is here and that me and Brynlee are Alpha and Beta.” She states her blood boiling as the threat of a war begins to loom over us.
“It is only a matter of time before Valor and Tanya launch an attack on us because of this fact alone and it wont end in a truth. Either we die at Valor’ hands, or we kill Valor and Tanya, and Rune becomes Alpha of Pine Moon.” Gale chimes in, his tone heavy as he stares at us.
“How long do you think we have until that happens?” Rune asks, pulling me tighter against him. Asteria looks at me, worry and resolve in her gaze and for a moment it makes me wonder why she hasn’t answered. Then it clicks. Due to Crescent Phoenix needing to reorganize and structure, we will be missing out on the Annual Assembly of Alphas this year.
“One year.” I answer, turning to look at Rune.
“We have one year to prepare for war with Pine Moon.” He stares at me for a moment before a look of understanding passes.
“You wont be attending the Annual Assembly of Alphas due to forming a new pack.” He states. Asteria and I nod. We have a year to grow stronger, to keep our identities a secret before the meeting. Unfortunately for us, with the amount of wolves that left Pine Moon as news spreading that we offer second chances, our Identities will be revealed sooner or later. When that time comes, I just hope that we are prepared for a war when one inevitably arrives at our doorsteps.