Chapter 46

We hadn’t told the people yet. We had to do the trials for the pups first. It was supposed to be a time of celebration and we didn’t want to take anything away from them before we went to war.

Grayson had been so tense coming into bed every night like a brick wall slamming himself onto the mattress. I would trace my fingers along his skin as he laid his head on me until I felt his stress melt from him.

I know he felt responsible for this and I told him everyday he wasn’t. He defended his pack and these wolves were in the wrong going to war over a sigma.

Sigmas live outside of society. They don’t follow a lot of rules so when they die they aren’t typically mourned. Grayson had no clue that this sigma carried so much sway over his pack.

I braided part of my hair and put on the decorative chain like necklaces that draped down my chest. Nothing I did now was without an ocean of worries about the future I was facing.

The threat was clear they wanted to take away all that my mate held dear. I was a target, his mother was a target, anyone bearing the mark of the Northern Eclipse pack could die for just hailing from us.

The worst of it was the wait. We had no idea what they were planning and how they were going to attack.

Grayson had every warriors he could manage on the border the defenses we had no longer seemed enough he was talking every day with his boys to come up with another defense.

I would try and distract him or calm him down but we both knew what else was coming. Little toes and fingers that we had to keep safe. I wasn’t even pregnant yet but I had the surest feeling the pup would be here.

It was my job to keep them safe. Telling Grayson to slow down on the defenses was stupid. I would soothe him in our bed and talk to him to calm his mind when needed, but when he needed his fury and possessiveness I would not deter him.

Today was the last day before everyone knew we were going to war and I was planning on cherishing it.

I was wearing another navy blue dress that went to floor in a halter top that twisted and pleated over me. I wore the chains and cuffs of a Luna bound to her pack.

I fiddled with the necklaces I wore. Whenever we wore things that looked like silver it wasn’t. Silver could kill a wolf. Grayson had bought as much as he could get his hands on.

I walked down the stairs to my mate who waited patiently.

“You look stunning,” he wrapped his hands around my waist.

“Thank you,” I kissed him softly in return. The muscles in his arms loosen just at my slightest touch.

“Let’s enjoy today. We both know we don’t have an easy rod coming. I want to have fun while we can,” I look at him begging with my eyes for him to agree.

“You might be right,” he sighed a low breath. He was so weighted with all of our issues wanting to shield everyone.

“Come on,” I walked out the door holding his hand behind me.

We started with the youngest of the groups. They just had to sing a song and show us they know some history. They had already passed their exams for school.

There were banners of blue and gold and bronze hanging from the trees and wrapped around the pavilion beams. Lights and lanterns along side them.

The children had made noon drawings and had decorated a stage to perform for us on. I sat beside Grayson as the small ones walked out shuffling and pushing and whispering to themselves.

The swell of fear for my child came in me and I grabbed his hand out of instinct. I was never one who could hide their emotions easily so I faked a cough and composed myself so no one could see.

I should have known seeing those small faces would bring on the deep scare of my child being taken from me by these enemies who hide and goad us.

*No I want to be carefree for one more day. *

**Enjoy the moment Annette nothing will hurt you**

He rubbed his thumb over my knuckles and I nodded my head for them to start.

Their tiny high voices sang us a song of the pack. How we settled hear 300 years ago hunting the animals and building the keep as a place of refuge for those in the winter who got lost.

It was a pretty song and it warmed my heart. Their nervous faces and soft smiles keeping me sane.

When they finished I clapped and laughed giving them their rewards of candy and cookies. They had passed their trial.

“Good job young pups!” Grayson called to them and they all bowed their heads to him.

“Thank you, alpha,” they all repeated jumbled together.

The next group al labor their bows. The little boy I had helped, Mark, was in this group and I may have clapped a little louder when he hit the bullseye. His jump and cheers were infectious and the crowd chuckled.

Group after group displayed their newfound skills and techniques. Each passed with flying colors and each group came to me to earn their rewards. Trinkets, toys, candies. The young wolves got more impressive gifts of swords or bows, things they were interested in.

Finally we made it to the last group of those who were graduating. They were to fight if they wanted to be warriors or heal if they wanted to be healers. Show us their crafts if they wanted to be makers.

One girl presented a beautiful tapestry she’d woven over the year that looked as though it had taken a lifetime.

A boy displayed the food he had grown larger than any other kid. Another boy showed off the sword he’d smithed as it gleamed in the sunlight. Grayson seemed truly impressed by him.

When the warriors came it was not matter of if they won Grayson and I were to judge how well we thought they’d fought.

One of the boys was a larger boy and he used his brute force to knock out his opponent but I think he needed more finesse. As long as he trained on it I knew he’d be a fine warrior.

A girl who was tall and lean snuck through her like air, dodging and weaving as water does. She was impressive especially when she landed one strong blow and knocked the boy she was facing out.

One boy lagged behind and was pinned by his brother of all people. He was frustrated when we told him to try again after some more training. Still he seemed to have a strong spirit.

A younger and small boy blew me away with his proficiency with a bow splitting an arrow in two. Then hitting every bullseye he came to. Grayson awarded him with strong handshake and a position on the walls the next day the smile he gave was radiant.

Once all the trails had ended music was played and drinks were poured. Pigs and sheep roasted on the fire with potatoes and fresh bread cooking. Ale and wine in everyone’s hands.

The children raced around and played as the young wolves showed off their awards and positions of honor.

“This is the kind of day we’d been missing,” an elegant voice sounded beside me. Lillianna sat down in the chair next to me.

“It is so refreshing,” I nodded, basking in the warmth of their ignorance.

“You’re warrior Brian he was a good man to have on that mission,” she commented.

“I am glad he protected you the way he did. I do not think I would have forgiven him if you got hurt,” I smiled back.

“Oh such a sweet talker I might blush,” she covered one of her cheeks and took another sip of wine.

“Steven and I will be leaving in the morning. He wants to let our people know as soon as possible that war may be coming our way,” She whispered to me.

“I do think I’ll miss you. I don’t think a simple thank you is enough for the warning you gave us. Your tracking may have saved dozens of lives,” I squeezed her hand.

“Grayson will burn the world down before he lets anyone here get hurt…but for you I think he’d do far worse. Promise me you’ll keep him a good man,” she turned earnest, as she spoke the fear I knew reaching the back of her eyes.

“I won’t let him become something to fear,” I hugged her and though I think it surprised her at first she hugged me back tightly.

Parents clapped a beat as some little girls started dancing in a circle, the little dresses fanning out and they all giggled and twirled.

Grayson laughed at something Steven said and Matt clapped him on the back. Aarron and Elizabeth chuckling softly beside them.

A group of young wolves tussled a little joking and jabbing each other about the girls in the corner. One of them being pushed towards the small girl with red hair his face red as can be.

The parents of mark holding him up with his little medal for a bullseye in his trail as he waved gleefully at his family members.

I sipped my drink thoughtfully memorizing the people around me.

“They will thank you for this my love,” Amaria told me from her seat. “When the days of fear come over them they’ll render this just like you will,”

“I hope we can return to this someday,” I told her.

“We always will. When there are hard times good times will come. In a month, in a day, in a year. It may take what feels lien forever but the world can’t stay dark for eternity,” she kissed my cheek as she headed off to her home kissing Grayson goodnight as well.

The next morning we would gather in this pavilion and Grayson would tell them of the threat we faced. How this pack was out for nothing but revenge and blood. He would tell them not to fear and that he would defend them. And then our world would turn dark….but only for a while.