Awaken

Chapter 1

" Mama!" Novalynn jumped, startled out of her memory by the sweet sound of her young son's voice. She smiled as she knelt to him, his chubby little arms wrapping around her neck as she swooped him into a tight hug. Dia purred in her mind, the connection between Mother and son felt by both woman and wolf. Novalynn kissed a cheek, brushing a soft strand of golden brown hair from her young boy's face. " Hello there, my little prince".

Alaric squealed at her, returning her kiss with one of his own sloppy smooches before shoving a very mangled flower under nose.

" I find you" he said proudly.

As though it were the most beautiful flower she had ever seen, took the flower from him, tucking it carefully behind one ear.

" I will wear this flower like a crown all day little prince" she swore to him. He grinned at her, reminding Novalynn so much of his Father.

" Okay, down Mama" he insisted, wiggling his way out of her arms. Novalynn chuckled softly as the placed him back to the ground, watching as he waddled off to join the other children.

She stood, observing them all play together for a moment. There was Alaric, and Tala, Rosalie's daughter, along with Luey, Felix's son, the three looking very intrigued by a small cluster of flowers they had found, the same of which was crunched behind her ear.

She smiled, trying to hide her laughter as a very pregnant Rosalie chased after the other two children, Rosalie's son Titus and Draven, who belonged to Mikael and Dianna, were running through mud puddles much to what looked like, Rosalie's utter dismay.

Unable to hide the laughter as the boys jumped directly into a puddle together, splashing Rosalie in the process, Novalynn went to her side, offering a piece of her dress in some effort to help. These were her people, her family, all of these children stemming from strong and old bloodlines, and she loved them and this make shift pack of theirs. Bending to her knees she took each of the two tiny tyrants gently by their arms.

" Titus, Draven, that is enough of the dirt for today, go on, join the other's. Titus, bring your Mama back a flower, look, you've gotten her face all dirty" she said gently yet sternly. " Draven, don't you think your Mother will be hurt if we all come back with pretty bouquets and she has none?" she asked the tiny boy kicking his feet in the mud with defiance.

He nodded, " Yes Auntie" he mumbled. " Go on then, go play with the others" she shooed them away as she stood.

Rosalie looked at her, huffing in irritation. " Well, why was it such a big deal when I suggested?" she moaned.

Novalynn laughed, taking her friend by the arm. " You can't let them see you so defeated Rosie, kids like a challenge. Just think, it's practice for when Felix the second arrives" she teased, her hand rubbing against Rosalie's swollen belly.

At the mention of her mate, Rosalie beamed. They had found love, Rosalie and Felix, the moment she had returned to camp with Maverick and Novalynn. As soon as the group had transitioned to Prix, the two had wasted very little time being married, building a small life for themselves and their growing brood. Felix had experienced some guilt, having only lost his first mate, and Luey's mother, some six months before. But, Selene works in mysterious ways, and they were destined to be together.

" Hmmph. If it is another boy, he better not act ANYTHING like his Father" Rosalie muttered, causing Novalynn to chuckle again.

They walked together, letting the children play some more. Novalynn sighed, taking in the sight of the village they had steadily rebuilt. It had taken a month or so, but finally, word had traveled that Prix was no longer a cess pool for the criminal minded, and that real leadership had returned. The port was now filled with real traders, no more pirates or would be traffickers, and it was patrolled regularly by guards put in place by Mikael and Maverick.

She lifted her head to the wind, the slight scent of ocean teasing her nostrils and her thoughts led to her sister beneath the sea. Cora was thriving as Queen of Upsa. The Pod was more united than ever under her sister's rule, and many had traveled to her kingdom. There was still no children for Novalynn's twin, but she had a sneaking feeling that would all change sooner than later.

In the meantime, Cora and Ronan would come to land once a month to visit and to make sure all was well in the new Prix. Nixa, Gregory and their baby girl, Soli, had decided to remain on land as well, and spent time teaching Novalynn all about the underwater life of her Mother, Isla.

Cora had spent the last two years perfecting her magic, and unlocking her skills, which Novalynn could understand entirely. Though she knew she was a healer, Dia had helped her to discover certain traits about herself that came with being blessed by both the Moon Goddess, and the Goddess of the Sea. She could grow the Earth, or cause it to quake, and not only heal a physical injury, but a mental one as well. In fact, her first patient had been Felix, while she worked with him through his guilt-stricken war between his new mate and late one.

" You are so deep in thought today Novalynn, I could see it while you were across the field, what's on your mind? Are you ready for a second pup yourself?" Rosalie nudged her gently, teasing.

" Oh no, no, no...at the rate you're going we have plenty of babies to keep us busy for a lifetime" she laughed as Rosalie swatted her.

" No, I was just thinking how good life has been. How far we have come in rebuilding Prix, and how strong our children are. I know I agreed to wait, but I think it might be time to ... erm... go home" she said, her tone quieting with the last words.

Rosalie stopped walking, turning to face her. “It's been two years Nova. I know the Alpha inside of you screams for justice. But look" she said, turning towards the children with her hands spread open " look at all we have accomplished, at how calm and peaceful it is for the babies we've bore".

Novalynn nodded her head. " I promise, I understand Rosie. It's just unfinished. I love you all, I wouldn't sacrifice any of this for anything, but you said it yourself. I have grown so much since I lived my life as a shy stable girl, an Omega, trapped under the rule of a dark and horrid Alpha".

Rosalie shuddered next to her, and Novalynn immediately regretted her words.

Titus was the result of Jagson's brutality against Rosalie, she didn't need to explain to her friend how awful a man he was.

" I'm sorry Rosie. I didn't mean to upset you" she said quietly. Rosalie shook her head, sucking the air in between her teeth.

" No, you haven't Nova. I hate him, I hate his name, and I hate that I live every day in fear he will come for Tala and Titus" her friend's voice was a hushed whisper, a sob hidden behind it.

Novalynn grabbed her gently by the shoulders.

" Listen to me Rosalie. You yourself are powerful. Joan lives in you, and she will never, ever allow that pile of evil to come for her babies or her human. Not only that, I am here, I have beaten him before, and I will beat him again. You said it yourself, the Alpha within me screams. Yes, our life here in Prix is perfect, more than I could have ever hoped for two years ago. But so long as Jagson lives, we are all in danger. I, for one, am done living with that fear!"

She felt Rosalie shaking slightly under her hold, and alarmed she had hurt her one of her closest friends.

Rosalie saw her reaction and giggled. " Calm down silly girl, you haven't hurt me. It's your voice, the command in it, I was struggling with Joan not to shift. Plus, when you're all fired up like that your eyes glow green with Dia's response" she explained.

Novalynn sighed, relieved to hear she hadn't caused any harm. " What are you talking about , command?" she asked , confused by the statement.

Rosalie's eyes clouded over as she spoke with Joan, her own wolf. " Joan says because you are the daughter of the Alpha bloodline of Onyx Lake Pack, we are compelled to submit on your command. Even though here you are not serving as Alpha or Luna, and Dia is technically her sister, you are our elder, and our true Alpha" she explained.

Novalynn lifted her eyebrows, she knew that Dia and Joan were sister wolves, but she hadn't realized she had such an effect as an Alpha wolf. She shook her head, she needed to talk with Maverick. This was all becoming too much for her to process together. All she knew is that Dia was becoming restless, the threat of Jagson returning ever present in their mind, even as a dull ache.

She waved a hand in the air. " Enough of this for today, come, lets round of the children and get them home, and you look like you could use a nap my darling friend.

Rosalie shrugged laughing. " Joan agrees, but says not to let Dia fool you. She may be older, but Joan was always more the more studious of the two".

Novalynn couldn't help but laugh as she head Dia growling, the banter from her sister wolf clearly striking a nerve. " Please let Joan know that I thank her, and I look forward to learning more from her , " she grimaced hearing Dia give a small snip at the words, " or Dia" she said laughing.

Rosalie smiled at her, again linking their arms as they headed for the children. " Luey, Draven, Tala, Alaric, Titus come now, it's time to go home!" Rosalie shouted, not skipping a beat.

Novalynn choked back a laugh “Here I was, worried about your wellbeing, when you've just called for all five children, in birth order might I add" she joked.

Rosalie beamed at her. " I may be able to start a fire, but I'm even better at being a mother" she said proudly.

Novalynn smiled, " that you are my friend, that you are".

Later that evening, she lay in bed, Alaric asleep and Maverick sitting at the desk in their small room.

" What is it Love? I can hear your thoughts chewing from here" he said to her, his focus still turned to the log he was writing in.

She puffed out a sigh, turning on her side to face his direction.

" It's nothing, really. Okay it's a lot. Maverick, Cora and Ronan will be here in a few days. I think it's time" she whispered to him, her fingers pulling at a piece of loose thread on their quilt.

She heard him set his quill down, sucking in her breath as he turned to face her. It had been almost three years now since the night of the fated Moon Feast when she had first found him as her Mate, strung to the pole inside the garden at Droake.

Her heart pattered inside her chest as he stood, walking to the bed, lying beside her. His crystal like eyes gazing into her own as he brushed a hand softly on her cheek.

" It is time Nova. More and more I can feel you, your angst, your desperation. You want to take Droake, you want to challenge Jagson."

She bit her lip, nodding as she lowered her eyes in a sort of shame.

He lifted her chin with his finger, " You are an Alpha, Nova. Do not lower your head in shame with me. A female Alpha is a new concept to many, but as your mate, I can feel the rightness of it. Whether you mean to or not, there are times when I can feel the command, and Havoc does too. You haven't mentioned it since the night Alaric was born, I've just been waiting for you to be ready. You know, that no matter what you decide, I will be at your side" he said to her.

A tear drop fell onto the blanket, and she was surprised to feel it fall from her face. This man always touched her inner most soul, but she hadn't expected to feel so strongly about it all.

" My only question for you, is what's taken you so long Love?" he continued, brushing the hair behind her hair.

She smiled a small grin as the flower fell from it's place, she had forgotten it was there. " We built a life here, with our oddly put together little pack. These last couple of years, life has just played out so smoothly and I tried to convince myself I was happy, so much so that Dia has long ago stopped howling at me to take my throne".

Maverick chuckled at her. " Your throne huh? It sounds to me like you have always had the desire, and somehow convinced yourself it was an unnecessary one".

She looked at him, taking in his words as they hit her like a brick. He was right, she had told herself she didn't need it, that Alaric deserved a life of peace. But she was wrong, her son was just as much Alpha as she was, she could already see it in the way he commanded their small little group.

Draven was the only one who didn't follow Alaric's lead, and she smiled to herself imagining a lifelong brotherhood between them. Maverick lifted himself over her, his mouth on her neck as he pushed her into the bed.

" Novalynn, you are not only my mate, my wife and the mother of my child, but you are my Alpha. I will follow you to the ends of this world and the next. When your sister arrives, I think it's time we all sat down. Let's go home" he finished his speech by placing his mouth over hers, seeking inside with his tongue as she felt her body melt into his.

She drank him in, this beautiful man of hers, his crystal eyes, strong cheekbones, and the new beard he had recently sported. " And I will follow you my love" she whispered breathlessly against him. “ Over and over again”.