Chapter32
Phoebe had more than enough clout to inspire and encourage her new
pack. Wherever she led, they would follow. Jason’s devotion ensured
theirs. It would only grow stronger now that she was marked.
Norah had wanted Jason to wait until the Luna Ceremony because it
would cement her bond with the pack. The effect would be even more
dramatic under the full moon. But she understood his aversion to
displaying such intimate actions in public.
What was done was done. Phoebe’s bond with the pack was firmly in
place and her influence would grow. It would be gradual like a wave
rolling into the shore as opposed to a tidal wave. In the long run,
perhaps this was for the best. She was the Luna they needed.
“I know you don’t like public spectacles,” Norah finally said. “But you
know this pack has been suffering for a long time. Your father and I…we
never connected. Part of the blame can certainly be laid at her father’s
feet, but it can also be laid at mine.”
Jason growled. As far as he was concerned, the fault lay with his father.
He didn’t see any reason for her to take any of the responsibility.
“If not for me, the pack would have welcomed Phoebe with open arms
the moment she arrived.”
“Mom.”
“Phoebe is the Luna this pack has been desperate for. She’ll heal the bonds of this pack…and she’ll heal you too.”
“Mom, I don’t need healing.”
“Yes. Yes you do.” Norah stared at him knowingly, “I still have your
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father’s letter. It’s on my desk waiting for you.”
“There is nothing he could say that I want to hear.”
Norah sighed. Jason refused to see his father right up to the end. Not even Lucille’s begging and pleading stirred him. Jackson had been too weak to hold a pen, so he dictated his final words to Norah for her to give to Jason. Yet, he had never asked to see it and even threatened to burn it if she ever dared give it to him.
“I called you because I felt something odd in the pack’s bond, but since you and Phoebe marked each other…the explanation is obvious.”
Jason nodded. Once marked, Phoebe’s rank in the pack was cemented.
Her influence within would be more pronounced and the pack would lean on her for comfort. He only hoped it wouldn’t be overwhelming.
Generally, Lunas possessed a particular mental fortitude that allowed
them to endure the pressure of the pack’s needs. For a wolf from lower
ranks, it could all be overwhelming to be inundated with the pack’s most
intimate needs.
“I hope this won’t keep her in bed all day. We planned to make brownies
with the pups,”
“Brownies?”
“Yes. Phoebe’s been spending most of her time in the daycare. I think
she’s familiar with all the pups and their families now and she’s
completely reorganized it from a glorified babysitting facility to a full–blown preschool.”
Jason smiled. Ben had given him reports and handed him Phoebe’s
special requests. He approved them all, letting her work with an
unlimited budget to put her new syllabus in place. Nothing was too
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much. Suddenly, he frowned.
“What is it?” Norah asked.
“Phoebe’s waksked.
up.”
“You better go to her. She might be disorientated at first.”
+25 Points
Grimacing, Jason nodded and retreated to his room without delay. It
would be several days for both of them to adjust to the new bond.
There he found Phoebe still in bed. She contentedly sighed with her nose pressed into his pillow. Chuckling, he slipped back into bed and
pulled her into his embrace. She snuggled into him with a smile.
“I take it you are feeling good this morning?” he asked.
“Mhmm,” she sniffed. “You smell a little like sage now.”
“Of course I do. And you smell like dogwood.”
“I like it.”
“Me too, angel.”
Lobo lazily stirred, growling approval before dozing off again.
“What time is it?”
“Quarter after six.”
“Oh!” Phoebe stiffened, jerking awake. “I promised the pups we’d make
brownies.”
“So I heard. We can steal a few more minutes though.”
“Hmm. A few more minutes with you usually becomes an hour.”
Jason laughed, “Can you blame me? When I have the world’s most
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gorgeous she–wolf as my mate?”
Phoebe blushed, “I’m not…”
He silenced her with a kiss and whispered, “Yes, angel, you are.”
▼+25 Points
“You wanted to see me, Alpha?”
“Come in, Garrison,” Jason nodded as the warrior hesitantly entered.
Garrison was young, several years younger than Jason, so they had minimal contact during school and training. He was certainly not lacking
in physique nor looks, with sandy colored hair and hazel eyes. In fact,
Jason would have been jealous considering his own brown hair and
eyes were rather ordinary.
Looks, then, was not the reason Katrina rejected her mate and her
preoccupation with rank didn’t explain it either. After all, Katrina was the
daughter of an alpha and Thomas’s only heir. He would have accepted any mate of hers as his successor. She would still have been Luna to
one of the most powerful packs in the world. Which meant her true
obsession was not rank, but Jason himself. The thought made him
uncomfortable.
“Alpha?” Garrison approached the desk with a note of anxiousness
tempered by confusion and curiosity, pulling Jason from his wandering
thoughts.
“Have a seat,” Jason leaned back in his chair. “It has come to my
attention…that you were Katrina’s fated mate.”
Garrison paused midway through the motion of sitting. He glanced
nervously at Luke and Ben, both comfortably seated on the couch before
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plopping into the chair and answered, “Yes Alpha.”
+25 Points
There was no need to ask how Jason found out. It was no secret Alpha Thomas and Katrina had unexpectedly visited and left just as suddenly. Jason waited a day to consider what he should do with his recently gained knowledge.
“I won’t ask you about the rejection, Jason said. “If you wanted to tell us about that you would have by now. What I do want to ask…did your rejection have anything to do with the dangerous assignments you
volunteered for?”
Garrison hesitated. Jason wasn’t using his alpha tone, so answering was wholly voluntary, but he knew better than to lie. With a sigh, he said, “I guess I figured if my mate didn’t want me there wasn’t any reason for
me to stay around.”
“And now?”
“The Goddess granted me a second chance,” Garrison said. “Amber
means everything to me, her and our pup.”
Jason’s mouth twitched with a smile. If not for the fact Phoebe was in
his life, he would have been jealous. Finally, he said, “I wish you would
have spoken up sooner. We could have helped, supported you. Rejection
is no simple thing for a wolf to recover from.”
Garrison nodded. He had been too embarrassed. Besides, Katrina made
it no secret she wanted Jason for her mate. Thankfully, Jason hadn’t been interested, but it still hurt to compare himself to his own Alpha and find himself lacking.
“What exactly would you have done if I had taken Katrina for my mate?”
5/18
buapter)
Luke snorted a laugh. Ben sputtered out his drink, exclaiming, “You got to warn someone when you’re going to make a joke like that!”
“Ignore them,” Jason shook his head as Garrison gave him a curious look. “Well?”
“I, sort of, assumed I wouldn’t be around by then.”
Jason sighed. He guessed he wasn’t surprised by that answer, but he
hated to think he could have lost one of his pack members like that. After a moment, Jason said, “There is one more thing I need to discuss with you.”
“Alpha?”
“I want to make a special protection detail for Phoebe. Members of it will be exempt from regular patrol work, but their training load will be doubled. Their sole concern will be Phoebe’s security, both here on pack grounds and when she travels: shopping trips, excursions into the woods, pack meetings, everything.”
Garrison’s interest piqued as soon as Jason mentioned his Luna. He didn’t mind patrols, but ensuring the Luna’s safety was a major concern. Blue Moon was one of the oldest packs and therefore had a long list of enemies and rivals. As a warrior, Garrison didn’t know much about the political landscape of the wolf packs, but he knew enough to stay out of
- it.
“Considering your achievements as well as your training, you would make a good choice for the lead position of this detail…”
“Yes, Alpha!” Garrison said. His eagerness made Jason raise a brow at his sudden fervor. “I mean, I would gladly accept such an honor.”
Chapter32
30425 Points > “…I was going to say you are a good choice for squad leader provided your mental state is stable. I don’t want a loose cannon with a death wish guarding my Luna.”
“Of course, Alpha. I promise I would never do anything to endanger Luna’s life. I will protect her with mine.”
“Even if Katrina is the one threatening it?”
Garrison’s expression became stiff and pensive, “I will snap her neck in
a second if she threatens our Luna.”
Jason nodded, sensing the warrior’s seriousness.
“Would I…could I select my own team?” Garrison finally asked.
Jason considered the request. Originally, he planned to choose the warriors himself, but it occurred to him Garrison may have better insight. It was the nature of warriors to form bonds of camaraderie with each
other and share information with each other that never reached their
commanders‘ ears. As such, Garrison would have a good idea who in
the ranks had the most dedication to their Luna as well as who would work best together.
“Yes,” Jason said after a moment. “The detail will consist of six to start.
They will also be expected to ensure the safety of our pups…both
adopted and…conceived.”
Garrison nodded. He met Blake and Emma when he dropped his own
pup at the pack daycare. Despite being orphaned at such a young age, both seemed well–adjusted and happy, no doubt due to Luna’s care and
attention. Like everyone else, Garrison hadn’t expected Jason to go as
far as to officially adopt the orphans, but it was nice to see a gentler
side to their Alpha.
IN
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“Alpha,” Garrison hesitated, knowing it was dangerous to question his
alpha, “our Luna…you, you won’t reject her, right?”
“What!” Jason snapped. His eyes swirled amber as Lobo pressed
forward.
“I don’t mean…it’s just…” Garrison stuttered under the weight of Jason’s
aura, baring his neck in submission. “I’ve survived a rejection myself, so I know…I know what it’s like to have half your soul ripped out from you. No wolf could survive it twice and Luna has already experienced it once
Jason struggled to reign in his wolf and forced a breath to calm himself.
After a moment, he said, “I will never allow Phoebe to feel an ounce of
hurt again. Besides, it’s already too late for that.”
Garrison raised a brow. Though Lobo bulked at showing his neck to any wolf, Jason pulled back the collar of his shirt to reveal the still fresh
mark where his neck and shoulder met. The redness was beginning to
fade though it still remained tender to the touch.
“I belong to her now,” Jason said, with no trace of irony in his voice.
Tony in
Garrison briefly met his gaze before bowing. It was the answer he hoped
for. After meeting his Luna and speaking with her, he recognized a
fellow wolf in suffering. He was immediately taken by her
gentle soul and could not understand how she was abari
rejection in the first place,
and
to survive a
“I want the names of your choices by the end of the week,” Jason said.
of the we
“Yes sir,” Garrison stood and gave a stiff bow before departing.
After the door closed, Luke said, “That took balls to question you.”
- Lapter 3,2
425 Paints
“It did,” Jason smirked. “His desire to protect his Luna was greater than
his fear of me. He just may be the perfect choice.”
Luke and Ben nodded. It seemed a bit much to assign Phoebe her own
guard detail, but they understood why Jason was so insistent. He wasn’t
worried about threats from inside the pack. It was external threats that
worried him. With their marks still fresh, his over–protectiveness was in
high–drive. No one would begrudge him this much.
Luke and Ben had been surprised to see the mark on his neck and
insisted on another celebration. Now that Jason had settled on Phoebe’s
security, he felt more inclined to join them.
*
“Here we are,” Phoebe said as she carefully removed the trays from the
oven.
She set them on hot pads on the counter so the pups could see the
results of their hard work. Many still had a dusting of sugar and flour in
their hair despite cleaning up their faces while the brownies baked. They
excitedly clapped.
“Now, while it cools, we’ll make the frosting,” Phoebe announced.
Immediately, they gathered around, helping to measure the sugar, milk
and butter. She heated the mix and had the pups take turns stirring while
it heated to a boil. Taking it off the heat, she added the chocolate chips,
stirring them until they melted. Once it was mixed, they placed it in the
fridge to cool before they started the next batch. They needed a pot for
each tray of brownies they had made. While the frosting set, they
he fro
cleaned up.
By the time the brownies cooled, so had the frosting. With Norah on
hand, they split the pups into smaller groups and armed them with
spatulas to smooth the frosting over the trays. The pups giggled, licking
their hands and spatulas, eager to taste the fruits for their labor.
The cooks chuckled, happy to
deemed a mundane task. Phoebe had started her lesson by introducing
the pups to the kitchen staff. Some were surprised their Luna
remembered their names, but knowing the members of her pack had
always come easy to her. Then she showed the pups the items they’d be
using and the ingredients to make chocolate syrup brownies from
scratch as well as the chocolate chip frosting.
ee the pups so excited about what many
It would be impossible for the pups to make enough brownies for the
entire pack, so the cooks were already increasing the recipe and
multiplying the batches. The trays Phoebe, Norah and the pups made
were reserved for their families. It was almost lunch so they cut the
brownies and divided them up accordingly, giving each pup one for
themselves as well as a small bag for them to take home to treat their parents. The extras Phoebe presented to the cooks in gratitude for their
use of the kitchen.
