“Yes, sir.” Without protest or questions about why I’m scrutinizing her work, she turns and leaves. She just might prove useful after all.
This particular group had come to the conclusion that since Alpha Edward had personally brought me into the fold before his passing, I was worth their time and attention. They were willing to listen and at least get to know me, which was a refreshing change compared to the last few packs I had encountered. Those experiences had been far less welcoming.
Admittedly, this phase could sometimes drag and feel tedious. But they understood the nature of this transition**it wasn’t a hostile takeover by some ruthless tyrant. Instead, it was the fulfillment of a shared goal set by a former Alpha who left no legacy behind: to do right by his pack. They treated me as if I were Edward’s own son stepping into his shoes after his death. There was no backlash or suspicion, just a steady process of adjusting to a new leader with fresh ideas and perspectives on managing the pack. Honestly, these past few days had been surprisingly pleasant.
Most of these men were around my father’s age, and only one among them had a child old enough to begin training for leadership. I advised him to start bringing his daughter to every training session he attended. She was fourteen now, but it was the perfect time to start learning the ropes so that by sixteen she could shoulder some responsibilities, and at eighteen, the transition to leadership would begin in earnest.
In an ideal world, this is how every leader would be groomed**ample time to make mistakes, to understand the role deeply, to identify what needed fixing and what was already running smoothly. Having a steady stream of warriors in different stages of training was crucial. It ensured there was no vulnerable gap for enemies to exploit.
As we ran, we reviewed the plan for my departure and the training protocols I wanted implemented before I returned next month. Everyone was on board, even offering suggestions on how to send warriors to my training facility to build the strength needed for any future attacks. We were still monitoring rumors trickling in from neighboring territories. This felt like the calm before an inevitable storm.
Since the packhouse here was only large enough to accommodate the Alpha and his immediate family, Jean had stepped in to help arrange housing for my warriors nearby. They were going to be here for quite some time, and I wanted them to feel grounded, to belong, not just be passing through. Jean was ready to mother them just as she had cared for me over the past few days. I knew the warriors appreciated that kind of nurturing**it was a comfort reminiscent of how my own mother, the acting Luna, cared for us.
Once everyone was settled, I prepared for my journey back. Jean packed a cooler brimming with food, and a second one filled with water and other drinks for the road. Though it was just me and a single warrior making the two-hour drive, the amount of provisions looked like we were setting off with a dozen people for a full day.
Sliding into the passenger seat, I opened the portfolio of files Linda had delivered to my office the night before. There was a substantial amount of paperwork inside. Either she was truly as competent as everyone claimed, or she was excellent at appearing so. I needed to review the documents thoroughly, but I also wanted my project manager to examine them. It was important to understand who these people associated with and what those connections implied. Did they have reputations I could build on, or ones I would have to overcome?
Before we got too close to our destination, I sent a quick text to my sister, informing her of our expected arrival time and reminding her about the dinner party I had planned to introduce her and her mate to the pack. When I said “I” had planned it, I really meant Robin, my house manager, who had taken over the arrangements as soon as I mentioned it. Robin was the best house manager we had ever had** and we’d had quite a few. She approached her job with dedication but without any ego.
Robin seemed to instinctively understand what I needed and always carried out her tasks with a warm smile. I treated her with the respect she earned every single day. Not everyone grasped that concept. I also texted Robin to inform her of our arrival time and to outline what needed to be done before my sister’s party that evening. It was my way of keeping a running list of requests, just in case I hadn’t been clear. Robin never had a problem with that, but I liked to be meticulous.
Kennedy
Greta insisted I train alongside her, then paired me up with several other female warriors, each with their own unique fighting style. She wanted me to learn how to adjust quickly to different movements and tactics. The training room was filled with the sounds of grunts and the thud of bodies meeting, but I was focused, determined to absorb as much as I could.
“Damn, girl, you’re good,” Greta said with a grin as I narrowly dodged another swipe from her. “You’re fast, even without the extra speed a wolf gives you. You’ve clearly put in the hours. This is going to be a blast. You coming to train with us in the morning?” Her eyes sparkled with mischief.
I wiped sweat from my brow, catching my breath. “What’s happening in the morning?” I asked, curious but wary of letting her distract me.
She rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed with my question. “The Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and a select group of warriors train together. We work closest with the Alpha and usually serve as his detail when he travels. It’s a chance for him to train away from prying eyes**and all those drooling females.” She sneered slightly. “I mean, I get it. He’s an alpha, and yeah, he’s hot. But I don’t understand the girls who’d willingly give up their mate for a ranked member, even if it’s not their Goddess-given mate.”
I nodded thoughtfully. “I’ve wondered the same thing. I’ve seen so many girls going after Jeremiah, even trying to get in my way, thinking I was blocking their chances.” I shrugged, shaking out my arm after a tough hold. “Can we do one more round? I’m finally starting to get the hang of this arm release.”
Greta laughed, shaking her head. “Do you ever stop?” She got into position, eyes gleaming with challenge. “Danny, come check this out.” She called over her shoulder, but I didn’t turn around. I wasn’t about to let my guard down just because she beckoned.
She lunged at me like before, relentless. Time seemed to blur when I trained**minutes stretched and contracted, my focus narrowing to the rhythm of our movements. I countered her attack, spinning to evade, but she anticipated my move perfectly, grabbing my arm. I twisted and ducked, spinning beneath my own arm to lock hers behind her back, then shoved her forward. She spun quickly, coming at me again with a swinging arm that caught me in the shoulder. I absorbed the hit, using the momentum to deliver a backhand punch to her face, followed by an uppercut to her ribs. I heard a sharp “oof” escape her lips.
We moved fluidly, exchanging blows, each landing hits and taking them with equal skill and determination.
“Time!” someone shouted, breaking the intense rhythm of our sparring. Greta and I turned to see Gamma Bennet approaching.
“I know you two love showing off, but if we don’t leave now, Rayna’s going to have a fit,” he said with a smirk. “She doesn’t want any more visible marks on Kennedy before the inner party.” His tone was teasing, and he fluttered his hand toward the sparring area in an exaggerated, high-pitched voice that seemed to mock Rayna.
Greta burst out laughing. “You’re an idiot.”
“Hey, don’t blame me. I’m just following orders. Besides, I’m on Hot Human detail.” He gave a confident grin.
My eyebrows shot up, jaw dropping slightly. “What did you say?” I looked between him and Greta, who was still laughing. If she found it funny, it couldn’t be all bad, but I still felt a bit insulted.
Gamma chuckled. “You’re already the talk of the trainees, Miss Human Girl. It’s hard to keep up with Greta here, and you were on fire today. I think the trainees spent as much time watching your skills as they did checking out your ass.”
I raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Aren’t you bold? Do you always talk to your guests like that? To their faces?”
He winked. “Only when they’re warriors and can handle it.” I laughed, feeling a spark of amusement. He was going to be fun**a good option if I didn’t find the owner of that intoxicating scent from our floor.
“You really held your own out there today,” Danny said with a grin as he casually strolled up beside me, slipping effortlessly between Gamma Bennet and myself. I couldn’t help but chuckle at his confident swagger. The playful teasing and flirtatious energy always made me feel included, like I wasn’t just some outsider because I’m human.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.