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The Mountain prt 1

I stroll down the stairs of the main sweeping staircase after I am done eating with Sierra, feeling heavy with everything we talked about. It’s almost noon, and the house is eerily quiet, but outside noises of the busy village are filtering through the now open windows on the light breeze. It’s still raining, but it has the promise of a brighter day again, and the schoolhouse is getting its first proper use today, now it’s almost complete. No more children in the great hall from now on, and I squint that way as male wolves begin streaming out of the double doors at the far end of the hall as I step the last tread.

It’s where Colton has convened the sentinels from patrol, his best packs, and they have been discussing everything to do with maintaining our peaceful and safe existence. Supply runs, financials, as we still have to bear the weight of our pack, even with severance from the main Santo millions. Luckily, Colton had his own inheritance and trust fund that Juan couldn’t touch, and with some of our adopted packs from the mountain, they also brought in funds to help keep us afloat for a very long time. We have investments and shares in the human world, and we seem to be ticking over nicely, despite the loss of Colton’s rightful wealth. Wolves don’t need the things humans do to survive, but it’s easier to feed and clothe a pack than to hunt, forage, and live like wild animals.

I yawn and stretch out as I pass the flood of departing Lycans, receiving the lowered nods and mumbles of ‘Luna’ in passing. Showing their respect, I smile and wait until the passage is clear enough for me to proceed. I will eventually get used to this change in how I’m treated, but it still sits funny in my stomach. I’m getting better at taking hold of my role and accepting it now, but I will always be that unworthy girl with her doubts circling in my stomach forever. The awkwardness at the respect shown my way is still strange.

I push into the now partially empty great hall, with its multitudes of military straight seats, facing the front podium where our sub pack lounges around in various positions. On chairs, on the floor, Colton is sitting on the edge of the platform with his legs hanging free, looking like a teen boy hanging out at lunch break in high school. They’re huddled close enough that I can tell they’re summarizing their meeting and discussing something further. I wander closer and pick up on their lowered tones easily.

“We limit supply runs to daylight hours, mid-day, only. We must be more alert than before as we don’t know what they are capable of.” Colton carries on, glancing my way with a quick smile to acknowledge me, and it’s clear they are talking about the presence of the witch or witches in the woods.

“Does daylight help?” I ask with a smile as I hop up next to him on the ledge, and he instinctively slides his arm around my shoulders and kisses me on the temple.

“No, but it means they aren’t any straying vamps, and we might hold our own against witches with a little more effect.” He smiles, and shoulder nudges me with his cheeky gorgeous smile, and I wrinkle my nose back at him. Always melting at his briefest expressions, I sigh at how lovestruck I still am for this boy.

“Good morning, Hermana.” Meadow cuts in, pulling my attention to the only other wolf in the pack I love spending all my time equally with. Her usual title of sister warms my heart, as does her loving smile, and I beam her way with my obvious affection for her.

“Good morning. So, what was so important that you had to kidnap my breakfast partner from me this fine day?” I lean into Colton’s neck, nuzzling snugly under his chin as I watch the uneasy shift in my pack. The instant change in tension and atmosphere as Cesar and Jesus glance at Colton with a subtle flicker of apprehension. My stomach plummets, my chest tightens, and my suspicion is instantly piqued.

What is it? I link Colton immediately, feeling his rise in stress levels and knowing this is something I NEED to be told. He hesitates slightly. That raise in his heartbeat has me wide-eyed, and I sit stiffly to eyeball him from my lower position.

“We had new incoming before dawn. Runaways from the mountain. We put them in the guest wing in a room for now, but they brought some news about how things are over there, and we don’t quite know what to believe.” Colton stares over my head at Meadow, and I catch the communication glance. Something neither wants to say out loud, but they are both so obvious it’s painful.

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