Winterlust (COMPLETE)

What’s the Bad News?

Violet

Violet awakens to the warmest, coziest sensation. She can hear Travis’s even breaths behind her, and feels it tickle the back of her neck. I could stay here forever. As she becomes more aware, Violet blushes when she realizes she’s still naked from the night before. Travis has her covered snugly inside a blanket and he’s still fully dressed. She can’t remember the last time she slept so soundly. He’s such a gentleman. Travis begins to stir behind her, but she is too embarrassed to move and have to get up in front of him, naked.

“You’re awake”, she murmurs. “I am, and so are you. Did you sleep okay, Peanut?”, he asks, nuzzling into her hair. “I had the best sleep I’ve had in a long time”, she admits. “I’ll put us on some coffee before I go to warrior training. Can I get you some clothes?”, he asks.

Travis gets Violet a pair of pyjamas from the bureau in the walk in closet while he waits for the coffee to brew. While he’s in the washroom, Violet quickly slips into them and takes a seat in one of the plush chairs. “I have a meeting at noon with a local Elder who I hope can help us understand Ellie and your father better. Can you make it?”, he calls from the bathroom. “That’s great!”, she calls back, “Yes please”. He thinks of everything.

Violet and Travis enjoy a quick cup of coffee before he readies himself to leave. “I have to go, Peanut. I’ll see you in my office at noon?” Violet nods, disappointment creeping in that he has to go. Travis kneels beside her chair and tucks some of her hair behind her ear, “Try to talk to Ellie today, see what she knows. I won’t let you down. You’re mine and I’m not letting you go. We will fight.” Travis gives Violet a chaste kiss before he leaves the room.

Evelyn

Never in my wildest dreams did I expect Travis and his pack to be so welcoming! He’s so thoughtful and genuine.

Evelyn races around her room, readying for her debut as the Defence Coordinator of the pack. She has her first class in fifteen minutes and she’s nervous. Travis has promised to escort her to the class and make the introductions, and will be here any minute. Knock knock.

Evelyn opens the door wide to find Travis’s hulking frame in the hall, grinning from ear to ear. She’s surprised to see him in sweats. “Mind if I participate in class today?”, he asks. Evelyn is overjoyed by his support and nods emphatically, “Yes! I’m just about ready to go”. Evelyn hastily ties her shoelaces and out the door they go. Travis holds out his arm for her as they make their way to the elevator.

Inside the gym, Evelyn is taken aback by how many attendees are awaiting their arrival and her palms are instantly sweaty. “Good morning, everyone. I’m so happy to see so many faces here. It’s my absolute pleasure to present to you Evelyn Morrison, our new Defence Coordinator. While we all can’t be warriors, we can certainly learn to protect ourselves and our pups in the event of an attack. Evelyn has extensive experience and she’s ready to share her knowledge with all of us.” Travis gives a slight bow to Evelyn and then steps away, as the class erupts in applause. Evelyn starts the music and shouts, “Thank you, Alpha Travis! Let’s get started!”

Unknown POV

Ugh. Boss is all hell bent on killing some underaged she-wolf. Why? I don’t even know. We’re rogues. We look out for number one at all times, and we’re not too keen on following orders. A lot of the guys feel the same way. This isn’t our fight. Problem is, Boss can wipe us all out with the snap of his finger so we’re pretty much stuck doing his bidding. She’s under protection now of a pack that’s a six hour drive away. We don’t even have that many cars so he’s making us walk there. Two hundred werewolves wandering forests. Sigh.

Travis

Travis is flabbergasted by how strenuous this self defence class is. He already ran warrior training this morning, and now self defence. He’s going to need a nap before the big announcement at dinner.

Making his way to the elevator, Travis pops his head in to the office. There’s a tall young woman with her back to him talking to another woman, Margaret, who is seated at a desk. Travis clears his throat and the young woman whirls around. “Alpha! Good morning!” She’s a bit spindly and has black eyeglasses, her hair is in a brown frizzy tangle on top of her head. Travis recognizes her voice. “Good morning, Katherine. I need new room key, and all others disconnected please”, he answers as he takes a seat at her desk. “Right away!” “Make that two keys”, he adds. Travis nods to Margaret and she smiles back. “I’d like to gather the pack for dinner this evening to announce my mate. Please get the word out.”

Margaret clasps her hands and rocks back in her chair, letting out a little gasp. Her eyes are twinkling. Margaret used to nanny Travis as a child and she is beloved by his family. “That’s wonderful, Alpha! I can’t wait to meet her!”, Margaret says with tears welling in her eyes. “Thank you, Margaret.” Katherine hands Travis two fresh room key cards and sits down across the desk from him, “I’ll take care of it. Alpha. Will there be anything else today?” “That will be all, thank you Katherine”.

Travis checks his watch. 30 minutes until his meeting with Elder Barry Davis, just enough time for a quick shower. “I think that’s everything”, he answers as he rises from his chair, “Please show Elder Davis to the fourth floor lounge when he arrives.”

Violet

“Ellie? Are you there?”, she asks tentatively. “I’m here, Violet. I am always here.” “Can you really see the future?”, Violet prompts her.

Ellie: “Sort of. Because we haven’t come in to our full power, I only get bits and pieces.

Violet: “But you knew about Travis. And you said there’s a battle coming”

Ellie: “Every wolf knows his or her mate. I knew in the mall but was too weak with wolfsbane to tell you. There is a battle coming, yes. I can’t see how it ends because your actions will determine the results.

Violet: “Do you know what our full powers are?”

Ellie: “Our full powers depend on you. What you harness and what you suppress will determine that. We can’t have them all, but we can choose which ones to grow. You chose healing with Peter. If you exercise that. it will grow stronger. I can guide you as best as I can, but you will be the one to put it all in to practice. Do you understand?”

Violet: “I think so.”

Violet reaches in to the shower and runs it as hot as she can stand and climbs in. I hope this Elder can help understand all of this a little more.

Violet links Muriel and they agree to meet in the dining hall for some breakfast. Marie and Wanda are already at the table when they arrive and they light up. Immediately they barrage Muriel and Violet with chatter and questions. These two are so cute, I love them already.

After breakfast, Violet visits Peter and Lindsey in the pack hospital. Peter is recovering well, and should be ready to run warrior training in a day or two. Violet watches them, admiring their bond. Peter from his bed has his hand on Lindsey at all times, and she fusses over him quite a bit. I hope this is what it’s like for us.

Walking back to the packhouse, Violet is happy. Lost in her own little world, she hums. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees a flash of colour coming toward her and she puts her arm out to block and then flip her attacker on the ground. It happened so quickly, it takes Violet a moment to focus and realize that it’s that Vanessa woman. “Stay away from my alpha!”, she hisses from underneath Violet’s foot. Violet takes her foot off of Vanessa and steps over her. This chick is crazy. Violet hurries back to the packhouse to the echoes of Vanessa screaming and rambling from behind her.

Travis

Travis greets Elder Barry Davis in the lounge. He’s a wiry old man with very thin grey hair, bushy eyebrows and a bit of a hunch to his back. Like the fabled relic that he is, he walks with a long knobby staff. Travis escorts him into his office where Violet is already seated in front of the desk. Elder Davis looks warily at Violet and then back to Travis. “Won’t you sit, Elder Davis?”, Violet asks sweetly as she stands to shake his hand. Elder Davis’s eyes grow wide and he takes a small step back. What’s this?

Sensing his fear, Violet assures him, “I only just met my wolf, Ellie. She’s been suppressed for five years, Elder Davis. I mean no harm. We asked you here to help me to properly manage this… situation that I’m in”. Elder Davis eases into his chair with trepidation. “Your wolf is very powerful, child”, he warns, never taking his eyes off of Violet. “If you do not immediately learn to control your fear and anger, the dark side of your wolf will emerge. Once that process is complete, you will be unrecognizable to those you love most.”

Wow, well hi to you too. Way to lead in with the good news. “Is there anything I can do?”, Violet asks as a tear rolls down her cheek. “You can submit to my training. It won’t be pretty.”, Elder Davis replies sternly, “I’ll need you to be locked up in the prison where I can subject you to all of the emotions you need to fight.”

“Over my dead body!” Travis shouts, jumping out of his chair. “Suit yourself,” Elder Davis shrugs and begins to leave. “Wait! I’ll do it!”, Violet pleads, grabbing his arm. “Violet, I can’t sit idly by while you’re tortured, I won’t allow it” Travis insists. “If you want your mate and your Luna, you will. We will begin after dinner, Elder Davis”, Violet says firmly, “please join us.”