* * *

Hera didn't understand the gravity of the situation, or any. But Uncle Holden was just as angry as her papa, and the entire week was filled with tension in the packhouse.

It made coming over after school troubling, but an almost nine-year-old pup surely couldn't understand the concept of war. Not to this magnitude.
Randal Moon was a forbidden topic and name throughout the pack, it was almost a curse.

And when Hera asked her mother what was wrong with papa, Willow would simply pull her up to her lap and cuddle her senselessly—"Daddy's an Alpha, he's working extra hard trying to protect us, Bubbles. It's getting dangerous. Do you remember what daddy and I used to tell you about being brave?" Hera nodded quickly with a smile on her face.

"I want to be big and strong like daddy, he won't have to fight my mate! I'll fight him myself!" Willow couldn't help but laugh, her youngest had signs of a warrior already. She longed to train with her brother, and while she did have her wolf, Hera would need to wait just a few more years.

However, Hayes had caught his daughter's declaration, and a rare smile graced his lips as he joined his mate's laughter. "Goddess I don't envy your mate, my Bubbles...How was school?" No matter how stressed or how hopeless Hayes felt on the prospect of this war, he always made time for his children.

His wolf urged him to spend more time with Hera, as this war had taken so much valuable time away from the family—Seeing her grow up into such an adorable pup that he almost forgot how advanced his daughter's learning habits were.

She already had a tutor to give her an extra challenge, and while Willow wanted Hera to remain in the grade where she fit in with age. Hayes was dead set on not having his daughter bored when she came to the classroom.

"Daddy, can I watch you and Harlow train tomorrow?" He nodded, there was only so much he could hold her back in—And while he didn't discuss it with his mate beforehand...

Surely he could apologize later.

"Maybe it's time to step your foot in the ring too, hun. Can't always sit on the sidelines and watch right?" It was as though Hera couldn't breathe, as if she forgot how.
She jumped from her mom's lap and tackled her dad.

"Really?!" Willow had been so blindsided that she hardly could formulate a response. "I'm gonna go tell Harlow!" She said, wiggling out of his firm embrace before darting out her mom's study and down the hall.

"Harlowwww!" The Alpha and Luna heard off behind them and off to the hallway. But when Hayes turned back off towards his mate, his wolf almost whined at how utterly furious she looked.

His tail had tucked itself in between his legs quite easily.

"I thought we agreed that she'll start when Haylee starts," Willow said, rising to her feet and heading off towards her desk. Pretending to busy herself with organizing the piles of papers spread out on the surface.

"Hun—"
"Don't start that shit, you told me—You promised."
"And I also said I want our children to be able to defend themselves if the opportunity for one of our enemies starts to arise." This halted Willow's movements instantly.

"He's targeting our pups." Fury laced every word, and Hayes cursed himself for mentioning. And he shook his head.
"He found out about Hera." Willow hissed to the side, and it took all her willpower not to shift. Not to track down where her youngest went and hug her until this whole war is over.

So she compromised with her wolf, she threw everything she bundled up in hand and looked off to her mate. Tears caused her to huff to the side.

"Nobody knows about Hera, who—You're telling me there a mole now? That she needs to learn how to defend herself above our middle child because that sick twisted fuck is bent on dishing out the goddess' will?!"
"My sweet Willow, I am working endlessly to try and settle this."
"Settle? Hayes we are passed settling it, we are passed ending this with white flags. Crescent Moon cannot be saved, he's turning on his own pack." It earned her an agreeing growl, he knew she was right.

But he felt like the time of war was ending, and he couldn't understand whether it was a good thing...Or something he should be afraid of.

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Date Posted: 12/22/2021

Time: 4:02

Words: 786