I watch through Matthan’s eyes as he stares down the small woman before him. His hackles are raised as his blonde paws claw into the grass beneath them. He crouches slightly, baring his teeth as a growl rumbles deep from his belly, yet our opponent remains unfazed. Mathan’s trying to act tough, but it’s mostly bravado. I feel his nerves and I’m just as nervous as he is. I have far more faith in Matthan’s skills than my own, but that’s during fighting with other wolves. We’ve never taken on an irshiust before. Yildiz of the Delegation stands before us, her long black hair tied up on top of her head in a bun, her otherworldly floral scent wafting on the breeze as the gold glitter embedded in her mocha skin glints and twinkles under the morning sun. Her bright golden eyes stare at us as though she sees our moves before we make them. She’s 5’5”, which only makes her slightly taller than Matthan’s 4’9” stature. He’s average size among other wolves but gigantic compared to normal wolves. O

I clutch my stomach tightly as tears pool in my eyes and a snort erupts unabashed from my mouth. This only makes me laugh harder, and now I can hear Landry in the kitchen laughing too. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you laugh this hard,” he chuckles while stirring some batter in a mixing bowl. “I don’t know why that line makes me laugh so hard,” I squeak between fits of laughter. We’re watching Robin Hood: Men In Tights while Landry whips us up some yummy food in the kitchen. This is one of my all-time favourite movies because it always makes me laugh. Technically it’s a really sad scene. Robin has just come home to find his entire family and pets are dead, but it’s the way Blinkin’ tells him all this that makes it so hilarious. However, it’s when Blinkin’ perks up at the end and cheers, ‘Oh, it’s good to be ‘ome, ain’t it Master Robin?!’ that absolutely breaks me. He’s just devastated the poor man and now he’s cheering as if this was the best news to come home to. This movie is hys

So, believe it or not, I actually enjoy patrols. Training, no. Patrols, yes. Training means working on strengths and skills I don’t really have; I’d even go as far as calling myself a pacifist. I just don’t like violence and prefer to avoid it at all costs, even if it’s to defend myself. Defending Jennifer on the other hand is a different matter, and now that she’s carrying our pup, I do want to be able to protect them from anything. Patrols are different though. Everyone eighteen and over is required to do patrol shifts. This is so everyone contributes to protecting the pack. It’s not a hard job. You just spend a few hours in a designated section of the pack border trotting up and down in wolf form – unless you’re an Omega – keeping your nose and ears out for suspicious sounds, and scents and keeping an eye out for intruders or hikers. When humans get too close to the pack – usually hikers enjoying the terrain – an alert goes out to the pack to inform everyone to avoid shifting or an

Overwhelming nerves continue to soak through my bond with Landry, while the sound of his racing heart fills our small cottage. I look over at him with compassion as I take his hand in mine and squeeze it tightly. “You’re not breathing,” I say with concern. He lets out a deep breath and at my words resumes breathing. “I’m sorry, I’m just nervous.” 'Well, duh,' remarks Beatrix. 'Hush. That’s not helping,' I chastise her. I give Landry a reassuring smile and rub his hand between mine, allowing the electricity of our bond to soothe him while I project all the calm I can. “I understand you’re nervous, but my parents have really been coming around to you lately. It’ll be fine,” I say calmly. “Yeah, to us being marked and living together, but to me getting their teenage daughter pregnant? Your dad will probably bury me in the woods,” he squeaks anxiously. I sigh, “They would never do anything that would hurt me so much, and my parents aren’t like that. They might have reservations beca

Jennifer lets out a loud gasp beside me as I stumble back, shaking my head in confusion. My mum was an Omega? How could I have not known that? 'Matthan, did you know my mother was an Omega?' He shakes his head, 'It was so long ago, and we were both so young. I could speak with her wolf, but it never even occurred to me that she couldn’t shift, especially since she passed before we could.' I lean against the wall of the cottage, trying to process this information. My mum was an Omega, and my dad thinks that her Omega status is what killed her. That doesn’t even make any sense. I can feel the soothing touch of Jennifer stroking my hair comfortingly, but I can’t find the words to speak. “Mr Green, you have my deepest condolences for the loss of your animai, I can’t even begin to comprehend that level of pain, and the fact you’re still alive is rare, but as the father of an Omega, I have to ask, why do you believe your animai being an Omega led to her death?” Jennifer’s dad asks calml