The Secrets of the Panther

IZZY

I opened my eyes and stared straight at a sleeping Blake. I couldn’t help but smile and feel warm inside.

Last night, we made love a few times, and I must admit it was scorching.

Puna was content and even purring loudly in my head.

I felt happy.

I sighed but still stared at Blake.

“Do you have to stare at me?” Blake huskily.

I looked at his face as his eyes opened. He smirks and moves closer, placing his arm around my waist. He pushes me closer, which makes me squeak. He puts his lips on mine, and we kiss passionately.

Blake moved back and licked his lips. “Mmm..” he says as he moves his hand, moves a piece of my hair from the front of my face, and places it behind my ear.

“I don’t want to move,” he says quietly.

I couldn’t help but nod. I bite my lip and move closer to him. “Can we stay here?” I whispered.

Blake smirks, “we…” he says, but he stops. I stared at him, and his face was blank.

After a few moments, Blake sighed. “Well, we can’t stay here now,” he says, looking at me. “We have to get ready; the rogues arrived last night while we were making up. We need to make sure they are settled.”

I stared back at him; everything from yesterday came flooding back. Everything happened on the field, from the confrontation with the rogues and vampires to agreeing for them to move to both packs. I hope everything works out well, especially when we talk to our pack about having the vampires there.

“Izzy,” Blake says. “You okay?” I shook my head slightly to get my thoughts back in check.

“I’m okay,” I say as I move up into a seating position in bed. Blake leans on his arm and stares at me. “I was just thinking how our pack members will take having vampires setting up home with us.”

Blake’s finger glides over my leg and draws circles around the top of my thigh.

“They’ll be fine,” he says. I looked over at him, and he smiled. “Don’t overthink about it.”

I can’t help but stare at him. “I know, but the vampires had a war with us. I don’t want the pack members to think we are not taking anyone in because we feel sorry for them or we are not thinking about them, as many died in that war because of the vampires.”

Blake looks at me momentarily but moves up and sits beside me. He leans in and places a kiss on my cheek. “I love hearing how you feel about the pack,” he says. “The pack is also yours; not only are you going to be helping me run the pack, but you have more say in everything that happens.”

Blake places his hand on mine and gently squeezes. “Izzy, you are my Luna. The pack will be fine,” he says. “We just have to ensure they understand the vampires are not here to hurt any of them. It might take us a while to persuade them.”

I looked at him but sighed.

“I guess we should get up,” I said.

I moved out of bed and walked over to collect my clothes scattered everywhere. I could feel Blake’s eyes on me the whole time.

“Do you have to stare at me?” I asked as I placed my top over my head.

As I pulled it down, I felt Blake’s arms wrap around my waist as he pulled me into his chest. Blake leans into the crook of my neck and sniffs in my scent. “MINE,” he says in a low growl.

Blake places a kiss on my shoulder and breathes my scent in again. “I could have you again,” he says. “You smell so good, really sweet.”

I closed my eyes and leaned on him for a few seconds, but I sighed and opened my eyes. Blake moves slightly away, and I grab everything else from the floor.

After a few seconds, we dressed and walked out of the bedroom door. We descended the stairs and walked to the office to find everyone else.

Blake opens the door, and I follow him inside, where Alpha Dawson, Dale, and Drake are standing around the office table. They all look up at us as we walk in. I looked at Drake, who had a knowing smirk on his face. Fuck, he must have heard us last night. I blushed, but I looked away and stared at the table.

“What’s happening?” Blake asked. “Have all the rogues come, or are we still waiting for more to arrive?”

“Most have arrived; the ones that came back last night were mainly family members,” says Alpha Dawson. “The others with no family stayed in the pack house till we can arrange where to put people.”

I looked up and stared at the four men.

“What is the plan now?” I asked.

“Well, Alpha Dawson and I will sort out accommodations for the rogues that need homes,” Drake says while staring at me. I nod. “Okay,” I say to him. I looked up at Blake. “And what about us?” I asked.

“Well, the three of us are going to go back home,” says Blake with a smile.

I nodded, but I glanced at Drake, who was looking at me with the same stupid smirk when we walked into the office.

I cleared my throat and looked away. “Where’s Anita and Anya?” I asked. “They are with the rogues in the hall,” says Dale. “Why don’t you see them?” asked Blake, which made me look up at him, slightly confused. “I need to ensure a few things are dealt with before we leave, and I don’t know how long I will be.”

“Yeah, sure,” I said, walking toward the office door.

I opened the door and walked straight out, heading to the hall.

The hall was covered with make-shift beds and many people when I arrived. I walked in and looked around till my eyes landed on Anya, who was with a man.

I walked over to her. “Do you need any help?” I asked her. Anya looks up and smiles. “Izzy,” she says. “Yeah, we are about to serve some food in the kitchen. The pack members already had food, so we are having some made for the rogues. Could you check on Anita, as she is in the kitchen, to see if she needs any help?”

I nodded.

Anya pointed to an entrance, and I walked straight to it. I walked through the door to find Anita helping another she-wolf. Anita cut up some tomatoes while the other woman stirred the pot on the stove.

“Do you need any help?” I asked.

Anita looks up and smiles. “Hey,” she says. “Yeah, could you cut up some tomatoes, please? We’re making some breakfast for the rogues.”

I nodded, walked to Anita's location, and started chopping tomatoes.

I was doing okay until a she-wolf brought some bacon to the table. The she-wolf sorted out the bacon, but the smell was getting to me. I don’t know what the hell happened; I felt sick. I stopped what I was doing and closed my eyes, but the smell was strong. I opened my eyes, quickly moved to the sink, and threw up.

After being sick, I drank water and ensured I was away from the table. I looked up and saw the concern on Anita’s face. “You okay?” she asked.

I nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine.” I wiped my mouth and leaned on the counter near the sink.

After a few minutes, everything was sorted in the kitchen. I helped carry the food; even though I was hungry, my stomach had none.

I must have caught a bug or something, I thought.

When the rogues smelt the food, they ate around the tables. I have to admit, they all seemed to be starved. “Well, most of them were on the run or even at war,” says Puna with a yawn. “You don’t know what kind of food they ate.”

I stared back at her, and she looked so sleepy.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“I have no clue,” she says as another yawn escapes her. “I don’t know whether I feel ill or we had too much fun with mate last night, but I don’t feel too good.”

I know how she feels.

After a few minutes, the men walked into the hall, and Blake headed straight for me. He wrapped his arms around my waist, and I couldn’t help but lean on him. His scent invades my senses, and Puna is back asleep in my head. All I could hear was her purring mixed with snores. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the Find ɴøᴠel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“You okay?” asks Blake, pulling me from my thoughts.

I looked up at him and nodded. “Can we go home now?” I asked. “I want to see Allie.”

Blake smiles and turns to Dale, “have you got the car ready?” he asks.

Dale nods and smiles.

Blake and Dale had some food while I headed outside. I needed air.

As I stepped outside, the man from the field who was talking to us was standing there. The man wasn’t alone and stood with his son and a smaller version of both men. They all had similar features. It had to be his son’s child.

“Luna,” says the man as he glances up at me.

I looked at them and smiled. “HI,” I said.

The man approached me, and his son and the younger boy stopped with him. “Luna, this is my son Tate and his son Mason.”

I smiled at them.

“It is so nice to meet you both,” I tell them.

“Are you leaving Luna?” asks Tate.

“Yeah, we are leaving soon,” I say to them. Tate looks at me briefly, “It was an honor to meet you; I mean, we heard the story about how you destroyed the witch and lead vampire.”

I smiled, but I said nothing.

“Luna,” says Tate’s father. “The vampires will be at the north border waiting for your word.” I nodded. But I couldn’t help but stare at the old man. “How many vampires are coming?” I asked.

The man stays quiet and looks at me. “I believe only twenty vampires joined before we came; William, the vampire you spoke to yesterday, and a few others wanted a home. Others were in two minds; what Amir did was unforgivable, whether it was between you, the pack, or anyone else. Few people can get through what we all see without scars.”

I stared at the man, but an image of Allie came into my head. I know we have a long way to go when dealing with emotions and feelings. I knew taking her memories, for now, was the right thing for her, and I will give them back to her soon.

Before I could say anything to Tate and his father, I could hear Blake and Dale walking toward the front door.

Blake walks through as I notice Tate and his father bow toward him. Blake stands behind me as Dale walks straight to the car.

“You ready to go home?” he says. “I want to see my angel.”

The mention of Allie has me feeling all warm, and all I want right now is to have her in my arms.

Blake and I walked to the car, climbed in, and waved to everyone as we left.