Page 42 of Luna Ascending

“You don't know what you just let yourself in for beautiful” he growls.

Pinned under his weight, with him pressed up hard against me I feel my fangs lengthen and a shiver goes through my whole body. Aaron captures my mouth in his, before groaning and giving it up to work his way down the length of my body with little kisses.

“You need to stop this now Freya, if you're not ready... I can't hold back if we keep going...”

I need this. I arch my back upwards...

“Yeeeeuck” a yell shatters the moment “I do NOT need to see my sister” Tavey pauses searching for the words “...'sexying'. It's just wrong! You two should get a bloody room.”

“We had one!” I yell in unison with Aaron, before he groans and rolls off, leaving me bereft.

Tavey ignores our protests and plonks himself down on Aaron's bed, directly between us, looking intense.

“Our scouts already reached the bridge we saw in Liz's mind-link... and they think they've tracked Liz's location! There's a bothy which is way more active than you'd expect in the off-season... and its only about 15 miles from the bridge!” Tavey explains excitedly. “Lyell, our grizzly tech, has this natty new toy for heat imagining. There are lots of heat spots bunched together in a small space inside the bothy - that would fit with the prisoners in the holding cells.”

I'm distracted by his description “Why is he always grizzly?”

Tavey and Aaron pause to look at me askance and I feel like I've somehow asked a stupid question.

“Uh. No. Lyell is a grizzly.”

That doesn't really help... I raise an eyebrow at them and wait for a better explanation.

“He's a bear!” Tavey exclaims “not a wolf-shifter, a bear-shifter, a GRIZZLY bear, okay? But, he's as loyal to the pack as any. Long story. Now... can we move our arses and save Liz?! I need your help with the council Aaron – they're being stubborn!”

I shrug, I can't really hold my brother's impatience against him. Liz's life is in danger. Aaron hasn't marked me, and yet I feel sick to my stomach at the thought of him in in danger. I don't know how Tavey's feeling but given their bond is complete I bet it's a whole lot worse.

There's a shit load I have to learn about my new extended family – grizzly bears included. But just the idea that they're my family is an amazing feeling. We need to find Liz first, then I'll explore this thing with Aaron and get to know my family.

Fuck, I hope we reach her in time.

Although my presence in the council boardroom isn't disputed this time, I'm still relegated to mooching around at the back, poking at the dusty bookshelves, and playing observer. There's a lot of gesticulating and over enthusiastic shouting but it finally sounds like plans are coming together.It's disappointing that no-one has any great ideas for how I might be helpful. I really hate feeling this useless, I don't know how Aurora manages to stay sane – she must feel like this most of the time without her wolf.

I tune back into the arguments in time to realise that the weaselly looking kappa Rennard is the main sticking point now. He seems obsessed by the idea that this must be a trap for Tavey, and that we should be far more cautious. He even moots that they shouldn't go at all. Given that the Coven can have no possible idea we managed to mind-link Liz, even I think he's being ridiculous.

The pack dynamics are interesting, and by that I mean interesting-weird. My dad, the beta, is glaring at the kappa, like he can't follow his thought process and Tavey looks ready to deck him. The more stubbornly adamant Rennard becomes, the less the rest of the council seems to be on his side.

I'm getting agitated – this is wasting time. Mind-linking Aaron I demand he do something. He's alpha blooded and someone needs to take charge if his father won't, or can't.

Aaron suddenly interrupts. “Rennard, shut the fuck up, and let us get on with it. If you're too scared of the Coven, then sit this one out. In fact, you should step back from the council entirely if you've lost your balls.” That's my man, direct and to the point - a leader.

I watch Rennard puff his little chest out and start lambasting Aaron. His tirade doesn't last. In two rapid strides Aaron towers over him, and a quick left hook collides with Rennard's bottom jaw, knocking him out cold.

I catch Connell's glance at his son. I'm pretty sure that's pride in his eyes. Connell continues as if nothing has happened. Stepping over his kappa's unconscious body he declares abruptly that the attack will go ahead, immediately. So he's not ready to give control to his son just yet I muse. This is still his shit-show.

Thank god everyone seems relieved the decision is made. No-one gives the kappa a second glance, they all follow Connell stepping over Rennard's body as they start to prepare, leaving him lying on the floor.

Inside I'm battling with myself. I can't overstep my place in this new family, my position is still precarious. But I have to be part of this – I have to help Liz.

“What can I do?” I blurt out, accidentally speaking aloud to the whole room and via mind-link to Aaron, Tavey and Angus. The three of them clutch their heads. Oopsie!

I grin to myself. Maybe being a shifter and a witch is making me more powerful. My thoughts are interrupted by Aaron yanking me aside. He's trying to look stern but I can see his eyes are dancing

“Firstly, you will deafen us all like that! And secondly, if you think I'm letting you put yourself in danger after I've just found you again...” he tails off seeing the determination on my face.

“I'm going Aaron” I say, trying to keep my voice steady and firm “Make no mistake, if you leave me behind I will follow. And make you regret it.”

No-one is telling me what to do again. Not even an alpha. He gives a black scowl before enveloping me in a bear hug. I'll take that as acceptance.

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