verb ~ to keep safe from harm or injury

PHOENIX

I sought out my beta, finding him making himself a coffee in the kitchen. He glanced up from the countertop, giving me a small smile in greeting. When I approached, I watched as his nostrils flared and an excited look covered his face.

"You slept together?" He grinned.

I rolled my eyes, leaning against the counter beside him. "She came into my room."

He chuckled, stirring his drink. "She used to do that constantly when you were away."

I smirked, "I could tell. She has a very potent smell."

He nudged me, laughing. "At least I can happily say she was no longer with Sean."

A small growl escaped my mouth at the memory. When I was gone for those weeks rallying troops and learning as much as I could about Nova, I had Charlie report back to me. I was pleased she slept in my room and coming home to find my sheets askew and covered in her scent was even better. I hadn't changed them for days, to just bask in her. The very idea she chose to sleep in my room for comfort made Ares practically purr in satisfaction.

Once I found out that my gamma had been sleeping in my mate's room, in my mate's bed, I was furious. As soon as I got back, I reprimanded him and he took the shame with reluctance.

Even after the office meeting I had Charlie arrange, he was by her side. I could not contain my anger upon his words; I could tell she was growing feelings for my mate. Once she had left, I hunted him down and showed him he had no right. It had turned physical, and if it wasn't for Charlie breaking us apart, I knew I would've seriously injured him more than a broken nose. But that was exactly why I hadn't attended the meeting between the three of them; I would kill him where he stood in the heat of the moment.

But then, one morning, Charlie had approached Nova to ask her for her hand with inventory lists for the bathrooms. He had wanted to give her some responsibility he found himself uneducated with; female hygiene. We had no suspicion that day, but on approaching her room, he found Nova half-dressed with a reaction of indifference. She had not understood his questions about Sean's whereabouts and, in her naivety, did not understand how imposing and improper it was for him to share her room.

He had got too comfortable with my mate whilst I was gone, but that was the problem; I was gone. I was going to make sure I was never gone again. Nova would not leave my side.

"You there?" Charlie suddenly chuckled.

I blinked down at him, realising my face had turned into a snarl. "Lost in my thoughts, I apologise, Charlie."

He shrugged, sipping his coffee. "Must be those mate hormones. Where is she, anyway?"

I shrugged off his teasing, forcing my stiff body to relax under the tension. "Getting her parents up to steam... Speaking of, you've got everything covered whilst I am gone?"

He rolled his eyes, walking away from the kitchen. "You say that like I have not been your beta for ten years. I am older than you, you know."

I scoffed. "By three days."

He laughed, waving his hand in the air as he left toward his office. I watched him go with a chuckle. His annoying personality never failed to make me smile, even in the most confusing parts of growing up. Becoming an alpha at fifteen hadn't been easy, but once I was wise enough, I knew Charlie was going to be my beta.

Pushing myself away from the counter, I nodded in greeting at the people that passed by. I made my way outside, noticing many wolves were already out here and eager to set off. I inhaled deeply, cracking my joints in an aid to calm my eager heart.

I was ready for this, ready to take down the cursed men who were harming innocent people.

***

After introducing the plan and Nova as their Luna Lycan once again, we shifted into wolf forms. I observed Nova interact with her blood brother. Their wolves were the exact same in build and height. Nova's fur was fluffier around her stomach compared to his shorter fur. Not to mention the two-inch tear in the top of his right ear was the only real giveaway to the twin's differences.

I shifted to my wolf's form in a fluid movement and landed with a huff. Nova's head turned to me as my wolf pulled to the surface and we made our way to her side. I ran my snout down her side from her rear to her neck before licking her ear in gentle affection. She let out a small grumbled huff, but I just barked a laugh at her sass. She was so much sassier in wolf form, her wolf was so different from her.

You're between me and your brother. I mumbled to her, gesturing to the pack already waiting.

Her wolf's head lowered in a nod. 'Why the middle?'

I rose my head in confidence, showing off my size as I spoke. To protect you. They have accepted you as their luna, so it is your place to stand.

'And you?' She wondered.

I barked in response, bumping my head against her shoulder. I'm not leaving your side.

She came to a stop beside me just as her brothers approached. She engaged in a play with her twin but soon barked in surprise and I swished my tail, wondering what that was about. They seemed to be in the conversation, but I shook out my fur to ready everyone's attention.

Is everyone ready? I asked, cutting all conversation off short.

The pack howled and barked in agreement, eager to begin the hunt for revenge. I looked over the sea of wolves, some bunching up at the tension or pacing on the spot. I turned to my little mate, finding her claws digging rhythmically into the dirt. She was eager, the way her eyes were flickering with a hunger showcased that. But it surprised me when she took charge and gave the command, and without a second thought, we all began to run.

I wasn't happy when she had taken so much of her own blood, but I felt pride in the fact she was so eager to aid her pack mates, despite how much it may weaken her. But now she was commanding the pack, taking control... She was already a luna, she just needed to realise it.

As we ran, I could feel the excitement of the pack through the link. Nova's wolf was eager to run, her fur occasionally brushing against mine as her green eyes would glance over me. She was thriving off the energy of the hunt. She had never truly joined us before, and I was happy to see how much she was enjoying it.

We approached the border within fifteen minutes and I slowed the pace of the pack as we crossed through, everyone following my moves by instinct. The shimmering of the border edge had most of us shivering at change. It was always an uncomfortable experience, but once we were over, we ran again at my command.

After another hour of running, we came to a stop by a wide stream for a break. Most of the wolves dived into the water and engaged in play, but I kept my eyes on the forest. This was no-man's-land, after all. I didn't want any harm to come to my more than distracted mate or pack.

I nodded in greeting to her adopted brother, eyeing up his dark brown wolf. He had been born an omega, yet had worked his way to gamma status. His wolf was a strong, dark brown brindle on his back that darkened down to his paws. I had yet to determine what to do with him, but I would monitor him today. I gave Sean a knowing look as he stepped closer to the brother, keeping an eye on his performance, too.

My ears twitched when Nova climbed from the stream behind me and I glanced to see her make her way to her twin. It seemed almost instinctual, as they engaged in a brief play and tug of war with each other's ears. Her wolf had soon bowed her shoulders and Pollux copied before they ruffled together, large paws swiping at each other's shoulders. I chuckled at their pup-like behaviour, unable to stop myself from picturing her playing with our pups the same way.

She suddenly snapped away from her brother on high alert. I tilted my head in confusion when she released a low growl and stared off into the treeline. Her tail was low, her head tilted with a threat as she scanned the area. I made my way over to her, intrigued by the threat she must be sensing. I kept my nose low to the ground as I searched.

The sudden distinction of blood and rot met my nose, and I growled when I caught it. I scanned the trees, waiting for it to drop its camouflage and come forward, taking a step forwards in threat. It would have sheer un-relentless hunger to approach a pack of wolves, for mere blood he would not get his hands on.

My mate's voice floated through my mind, hesitant curiosity in her. 'What is it?'

Ghoul. I growled, focusing on the trees.

She let out a small whimper and moved to behind my flank, which made my heart ache for her. I flicked my tail down her shoulder, keeping her close by. I would protect her. She needed to not worry. The Ghoul must be starving to even be here, so it would act stupid and would be easier to kill.

Suddenly, it charged, but I was already waiting and dived my head straight into its stomach. It flew a couple of feet and I snarled in a warning. It wanted my mate and it would not have her. He darted, trying again, but I never let it get close, clamping my teeth on any flesh I could. I saw Pollux dart to his sister's side, his hackles raised in defence.

I clamped hold of the ghoul's arm and yanked it down with a snap. Sean lept into action, grabbing ahold of the other wrist. Together, we pulled and tore our teeth through its flesh until it was just an armless being. It shrieked at us, having no arms to swipe and tear into our fur anymore. It would be an easy kill.

I snapped my teeth when it still tried to run towards my mate and jump through the air, latching onto its shoulder. It screamed, and I snarled in warning, digging my teeth in deeper. Sean jumped up beside me, setting his teeth into its hip. Our weight pulled it backwards and as soon as it hit the floor, I dug my teeth into its neck and shook, breaking the bones and yanking it from its socket. With a wet sound, the skin tore and blood gushed, signalling the end of the ghoul.

He got what he deserved.

As soon as I was certain it was dead, I raised my head to search for my mate. She had been pacing but stopped when the fight was over, her eyes scanning me in disbelief. I made sure she was definitely okay, looking at her twin to keep her company. He merely blinked at me, turning back to her as I made my way to the stream. The intrusion unsettled my pack, causing them to emit panicked whines now and then. However, now that the ghoul was dead, they let out small howls of satisfaction.

I could feel the blood dripping down my jaw and neck, the cuts on my fur stinging with pain as they tried to heal over the dirt that was trapped in them. I dipped my head under the water and washed it down my back, rubbing my paws along my snout to clean it. Once satisfied, I climbed out of the stream and shook out my heavy fur, snorting the water from my nose. I found my mate shuffling to the side, watching my every move.

I let out a gentle puff of air as I approached her and ran my head down her neck and shoulder to calm her. She let out a ragged breath, her snout digging into my fur.

'Are you okay?' She whimpered.

I pulled away to lick at a sore spot on my paw; the ghoul had torn out one of my claws. The bastard.

I'm fine. We are in no-man's-land near human territory. It is to be expected to come across threats.

'But ghouls?' She whined.

I paused my grooming to wonder if the information would scare her more, but if I have learnt anything from our relationship, it was to not hide things from her. It would only make it worse.

I lowered my paw to scan her worrying form.before softly explaining to her. She shuddered and whimpered, looking around at the area we were in with worry. I felt her worry, and saw her fear, but when her eyes met mine, I knew she had accepted that she was safe.

Back in formation. I ordered the pack. Let's move out of here.

We travelled again for a while, eventually coming across a small clearing that smelt of death. I had sensed Nova's fear and guilt as we grew closer, and it soon came to my realisation that this was the man she had killed. He slumped against a tree, with maggots and furry creatures eating his rotting flesh. I growled at it, happy she had killed someone who dared to hurt and touch her. She was strong; he was dead.

I brushed my fur along her side again, jerking my head for her to move on. She licked my nose, which had me surprised at the outward affection. I kept to her side, her twin instinctively coming to her other side. Twin bonds in the wolf world were so much more complex than humans, so it would be interesting to see what transpires from this. They already seemed so attracted to each other, despite being apart for nearly two decades.

We continued through endless trees and past endless streams. The pack was growing hungry, so I scanned the nearby field and announced that it seemed good to hunt. I could smell plenty of prey around here, and my pack was more than happy to go off on the chase. I gave my mate one last glance, but she shook her head and laid herself down in the long grass.

I was going to bring her a meal to last, to prove to her wolf that I was a good provider. So with that thought in mind, I bunched my muscles and ran off west, where I could smell a goat. It was easy to chase. Despite it being able to climb a nearby waterfall, I grabbed it by its horns and threw it from the small cliff. It fell and broke its neck and I growled in satisfaction, tearing its throat out to end its misery.

My teeth sank into its flesh and I dragged the large male back to the pack clearing. I wasn't gone too long and when I returned; I found Nova in her human form, speaking to the medic wolf Imani. She had turned to me when I broke through the trees, her gorgeous blonde hair cascading down her shoulders. She was nude, her back pale against the green of the grass.

Her eyes were wide as she noticed the prey I had in my jaw and I noticed the way her wolf was coming to attention at the meal. I placed it at her feet, puffing up the fur on my neck as I let out a low grumble. I licked at my snout, my wolf happy to see she was confident enough to be nude. Her beauty was unmatched by anyone else, and the possessive side of me wanted no other to see her this way. But I averted my eyes and gestured down to the kill at her feet.

Eat.

It was a harsh command, one that she obliged to easily. She swallowed before morphing into her wolf. The shimmer of magic as she transformed always had me mesmerised. Her wolf barked her thanks before digging in, and I gave her a head-start before allowing Ares to feast on his kill. They finished quickly, and when I fell back to my haunches, she came over to clean my snout. I growled in happiness, so pleased, so eager to make her mine. She was being affectionate in a way mates were supposed to be, and I couldn't help the satisfying gloat when wolves had caught onto our moment.

She pulled away a faint thank you coming through the link. She didn't need to thank me. It was my duty to provide for her; my instinct. I grumbled and groomed her back, and she fell to the ground in response. Ares was more than happy to make sure every inch of her snout, ears, and neck was clean. He left no spot uncovered, pulling away with a satisfied sigh.

We sat beside each other; the food settled in our stomachs as the time went on. Once I was happy we had a long enough break, we all got back into formation and continued our run. We followed the tree markings she had left, and when I felt a sense of danger, I slowed the pack down.

It felt like magic.

'We're close.' Nova suddenly spoke.

I growled in return, keeping my senses on high alert as we approached the dangerous feeling.

•••••
Hope you enjoyed this lil bonus chapter!

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