The Courage to Love: The BraveHeart Series Book 2

Chapter 20 - Jehlani

Shelah and I rode to the Den in complete silence with Clarissa and Amina right on my ass. I tried to read her mind, but she was blocking me out. She was much stronger than expected, and I didn’t know if I should be concerned about that or not. When we finally pulled up to the Den, Shelah wore the same confused look I did when Trent first brought me here, but she lightened up once we were inside and seated at our table on the dock at Chianti’s. No one said anything until the waiter came to take our order. Once our liquid courage was sitting in front of us, Amina tossed hers back before the waiter had a chance to leave and ordered another one.

“How do you know our parents and what was your part in their deaths?” Amina blurted out. Shelah gasped like Amina’s words had cut her deep, and the hurt was evident on her face.

“AMINA!!” Clarissa called out, but Min waved her sister off and continued talking.

“I’m not trying to hear it!! This woman we don’t know a damn thing about just pops up out of nowhere and claims she used to be our old baby-sitter. I’m not buying that shit until I get an explanation!!”

“Please excuse my sister, she’s the evil twin.” Clarissa spoke to Shelah with humiliation on her face as she popped Amina’s arm. I understood her embarrassment.

“It’s quite alright. She has a right to be angry with me. I had a chance to save Lyra and Dorian before things got out of hand, and I blame their deaths on me. Camden’s hold on them was a lot stronger than I predicted, and I will never forgive myself for how things ended back then.” Shelah put her head down to hide the tears that were falling down her face and I couldn’t help but feel her pain. As she wiped her tears, I peeked at Amina who was beginning to soften at the sight of a woman that’s just as confused as she was. I sent her a mind-link to give Shelah a chance to explain, and she gave a gentle head nod as her tough act began to dwindle away at the sight of Shelah’s tears.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Shelah. I’m taking my anger out on you and you don’t deserve that. Please forgive me.” I felt Min’s sincerity and was left light-hearted when Shelah caressed Amina’s cheek and humbly forgave her.

“It’s okay, sweetie, I understand. I would be upset, too, if I were in your position. When I first met Camden, I was blinded by the mate bond before I even knew he was a wolf. That man was cunning and could charm the panties off of you if you allowed him to. I’ve seen that man do great and terrible things to get ahead when he didn’t have to. I didn’t know he was the infamous Oren BraveHeart until I’d already accepted his mark, but I was willing to change his heart.” Shelah sipped her wine and dried her eyes as she spoke on the love of her life. I sympathized for her because she deserved better than what she was given.

“He drove himself mad by keeping tabs on his brother’s success, and that hatred replaced the love he had for our budding family. No matter how much I convinced him that we could start our own pack and company together, he refused to focus on anything other than his hostile takeover. I knew he was losing his mind when I caught him conjuring dark magic. I never said anything to him about it, but the very next day he introduced me to Lyra and Dorian. He told me that he was taking my advice on starting a company and pack of his own, and his first two members were deserters of his brother’s tribe. They were also going to be the VP and Senior VP of his new marketing company. They practically moved into our home, and we grew close in Camden’s excessive absence.” Shelah paused as she was mentally transported back to those times.

“A month after they moved in, they started acting strange. They were very withdrawn and angry. They hardly ate, and when they had a disagreement, it always ended with one or both of them severely injured. I started noticing the signs of rejection and tried to get Lyra to talk to me, but she barked at me about how her and Dorian were miserable. How Camden lied to them about their jobs, and they were going back to their tribe. There was nothing I could do to stop them, so I had no choice but to let them go. Camden was on one of his so-called business trips, but when he returned and learned that Lyra and Dorian left, he showed how angry he was by slapping me so hard, he popped a blood vessel in my left eye and still expected dinner on the table. That was the first time he’d ever hit me, but it wasn’t the last. I didn’t leave because I loved him, and I agreed to make love to him that night because my intuition told me that something good would come from it, and it did. Two weeks later, I found out I was pregnant with Thema, and the news made Camden a different person. A week later, I ran into Lyra while I was out running some errands, and excuse me for saying so, but she looked terrible. She had lost a considerable amount of weight and her skin was hanging from her body, I hardly recognized her. She was glowing, though, as she shared with me that she was pregnant with twins. After successfully getting her to agree to letting me feed her, she told me everything that was going on with Camden getting her and Dorian hooked on whacked-up ‘Bane and causing hell in their lives. I was so disgusted with him and was even more upset with myself for not paying close enough attention to the red flags. That was my sign to stop being so naïve, and I decided to finish my degree.”

By this time, our food was sitting on the table untouched as everyone was paying attention to Shelah’s story. I could see the hurt in the twins eyes as they learned about their parents’ terrible past, but I could also sense that they were getting their closure.

“My pregnancy was a risky one. I was a witch impregnated by a banished werewolf Prince, I couldn’t perform any spells, and the love of my life was mentally and verbally abusive. He stopped hitting on me once I revealed that I was pregnant. Even through all the hell, I was focused on giving my child a better life than what was waiting for her already. I was a week away from my expected due date when I got my acceptance letter from the Johns Hopkins University of Medicine. Before I said anything to Camden, I called Lyra and told her this was our chance to be free, all she had to do was hold out until after we had our babies. It took some convincing, but she agreed, so then I went to Camden and told him my good news, which pissed him off. I told him he had a choice: me and the baby or being a slave to something unobtainable. He told me that although he loved me and our unborn child, nothing was more important to him than killing his brother and taking what was rightfully his. A couple of hours later, I was moved back into my old house and had convinced Lyra and Dorian to move in with me. I could tell they were still doing drugs, but they would get angry every time I asked them about it. Three days before Lyra gave birth, they moved back into their home in BraveHeart Manor. The very next day, I gave birth to my baby girl; my mother was the only support I had. I hadn’t talked to Camden in weeks and wasn’t expecting him to show up at the hospital, but he did, and almost caused a scene with my parents because they refused him a visit.”

“So, he was abusive to you, and you still stayed?? You are a strong woman because I would’ve killed his ass the first time he put his hands on me.” Amina said as she was finally taking a bite out of her special-order steak and guacamole tacos that she always gets.

“Love makes you do crazy things, some good and some bad. I loved Camden enough to try and change him, but I had to learn the hard way that a person will change only when they want to. When I first held you two in my arms, I knew that the two of you were destined for something special. You were the cutest babies and smart as can be! I was honored when Lyra and Dorian asked me to be your godmother, and I vowed to protect the two of you with all of my heart. The three of us planned to move to Baltimore together and raise our girls together, away from Camden’s reign of tyranny. I watched you girls when your parents had to work on occasion, but one day they decided to take the two of you to work with them, and I never saw the four of you again. I tried searching everywhere, but it was like you had vanished into thin air. Anyway, I decided to give my child’s father another chance at redemption, but instead of him falling in love with the idea of us starting over with our child, he decided to attack me. I was able to fight him off for a while when he threatened to take my baby from me, but when he made her disappear into another dimension, it was like my air was stolen from me. He said and did some terrible things to me. While he dragged me by my ankles through the forest, he claimed that he had a son that was going to rule beside him. He said that my baby girl would suffer, and I believed him. All my fight was gone, and the last thing I remember is him punching me so hard, I blacked out.”

“AIN’T NO WAY!!! BABY, MY ASS WOULD’VE BEEN ON DEATH ROW!!!!!” Amina was now drunk as she was working on her fourth cocktail, and I mind-linked Clarissa that I was glad she was pregnant and unable to drink. We shared a quick chuckle as Clarissa discreetly took Amina’s car keys out of her purse.

“All praises go to the Ancestors for sending this lovely young woman my way. I have the opportunity to do what I was too afraid to do all those years ago, and that’s stand up to Camden. I love him dearly, but he almost ruined our daughter with his hatred, and I must save her before it’s too late.” All four of us were bawling like big ass babies, but that didn’t stop the twins from demolishing their food. I had looked away for a split second and both of their plates were licked clean.

Amina and Clarissa shared their heart-wrenching story, which brought Shelah to tears. She apologized repeatedly to the twins for not being there when they needed her and thanked me for helping them find each other. Throughout my tears, I was somehow able to calm the women down. We were finally able to finish planning the dinner that would take place tomorrow, and we even did some light shopping, but that didn’t take my mind off of Shelah’s story. She was a survivor. I was oblivious until it was time to leave the Den, and though I wasn’t the least bit surprised; I was highly disgusted with Camden and his actions.

“It’s officially time to talk to mate, J…” Nafisa’s voice rang in my head on the drive back home, and as much as I hated to admit it, she was right. After learning how dangerous Camden really is, I can’t keep Shelah a secret from Trent any longer. Instead of forcing Shelah to spend one more night in the big house, I dropped her off in front of a newly built two-story Aztec-inspired mini mansion and gave her the keys to her new home, a new Mercedes Benz, and a new cell phone so she can begin connecting to the world. After giving me more hugs and kisses to show her appreciation, she hurried inside her new home, and I drove back up the hill to my home to fix myself a stiff scotch.

When I finally made it to the garage, I saw that Trent’s Porsche was gone, and I was actually relieved. I slipped out of my five-inch heels and dragged myself inside. The minute I stepped foot into the kitchen, an indescribable pain hit the bottom of my stomach. Nafisa whined in my head as I dropped my bags and fell to the floor from the excruciating pain that was inhabiting my abdomen. Glimpses of burning buildings and dead bodies flooded my brain, and Camden’s sinister cackle was heard throughout all of it.

“Luna Nafisa!! Are you alright?! Shall I call the Alpha??” Terror didn’t allow me to speak as I could hear Camden’s eerie voice telling me that hell was coming. The Omega repeated his line of questioning with the same end result. Seconds went by before I felt myself being picked up and carried, and before I blacked out, I swore I saw my father’s face.

When my eyes fluttered open, the first thing I saw was the honey that makes me weak. Soon after, my husband’s chiseled face came into view, and I was reminded of how blessed I was. Trent wasted no time scooching into my small frame and taking me into his arms.

“Oyin, are you okay? I was in the middle of a board meeting when I got paged 911 by Diante’. What’s the matter, baby? Just tell me what you need, and I will get it for you, no problem.” I sensed that Amir was just as worried and was on the verge of taking over, so I placed a calming charm on him that works every time. As he breathed in the sweet aroma of sunflower essence, I helped him do a few breathing exercises that ended with a few sweet kisses.

“I’m okay, my love, but I do need to talk to you about something, if you have a minute.”

“For you, my darling, I have eternity. What’s up?”

“Don’t flake out, J. Tell him the truth.” As I tried to speak, Trent began tracing my lips with his finger, which always turned me on.

“Stop it, oyin. I’m trying to tell you something.” Trent put up his hands in surrender, then gave me his full undivided attention. Enough games have been played, so I decided to spit it out.

“I was able track down Thema’s mother, and she is alive.” Trent’s jovial demeanor was replaced with confusion as he sat up to look me dead in the eye.

“What?? Wait a minute, she’s alive?!”

“Not only is she alive, but she is also looking for her daughter to save her.” Trent jumped from the bed and began to pace back and forth in the middle of our bedroom as he started biting on his nails.

“How the hell did you do that?? Thema said---”

“Thema’s entire life is a lie. Camden’s been lying to her from the very beginning, Trent. He treated his own daughter like a pawn.” Tears began to well up in my eyes for Thema as I thought about everything she’s been through. As I brought Trent up to speed on everything dealing with Thema and her actions, he couldn’t help but a shed a few tears himself.

“My mother and father would’ve given the skin off their backs for me and Duke, and here this man has thrown away the very role that makes a man a real man. No wonder the girl is so pissed off, she doesn’t know who she really is.” Something in Trent’s face changed, and I could sense that he was feeling guilty for acting like a stubborn wolf.

“What have I done? I was so fixed on keeping Thema and Quincy apart, I never once thought about the good it could do for the both of them.”

“My Alpha’s learning. Now, that is a turn-on!!!”

“Is that why you took me into your dreams?? Was she that woman I saw???” Trent was talking frantically, and his face showed that he was finally putting all the pieces together.

“Slow down, babe!! Yes to both of your questions. Do you remember the night we found out I was pregnant?” The honey and amber began to mingle with each other as Trent walked my way. There were times I thought he did that on purpose to get something started.

“Yea, I remember. What about it?” We never really talked about that night once it happened, but everything I envisioned has been happening and he has the right to know.

“Well, besides the obvious, I was also given a vision about Thema and Quincy. So far, everything has happened to a tee, and I did what I had to do to stop it.” I hoped that he didn’t hear the quivering in my voice, but I was left disappointed.

“I’m here, baby, and my ears are open. You have to tell me everything, oyin. I need to know.” Trent came to my side of the bed and got down on his bended knees. Amir mind-linked me that he was sorry for being so stubborn these past few weeks, and it was easy to forgive him.

“Camden never planned on giving Thema anything, he was grooming another child, a boy not of his flesh, to take his place. This boy was stolen, abused, and brainwashed into believing that he was someone other than who he truly is. After Camden dies, the child he groomed grows up and starts a company similar to ours. He will use everything in his power to destroy us if we don’t start paying attention to the signs.” Trent looked dumbfounded as he processed what I just told him. He began to sob uncontrollably as he explained to me the reason for his actions.

“I was afraid, dear wife. Afraid of failing my father and leading the tribe in the wrong direction. I never wanted any of this to happen, none of it. When Pops died, it was like a part of me died with him, but when I married you and became a father, that part of me was restored. I’ve been so busy with the business, that I forgot the main thing my father told me on the night he handed me the crown: being Alpha, Oba, and a business operator all go hand in hand. I have to help my little cousin before it’s too late.”

I brought his face closer to me and fell deeper in love with his sincerity. I kissed all three of his eyes, which caused a low growl to erupt from his throat.

“In due time, you will, but for now, we must let nature take its course. I didn’t just bring Thema’s mother back for her, I did it because she is the ripple in the time continuum. She is the only one that can stop Camden’s destruction. In other words, Alpha, let your Luna help you. It’s my tribe, too.” We nuzzled under each other, and our third eyes connected to create a humming aura that pulsated throughout our bedroom. Trent’s eyes soon turned into that irresistible fire that tames me, and soon began finding himself inside of me, solidifying that he indeed needed my help. Forgive me, Goddess, but I wasn’t ready to reveal the entire vision to him just yet.

Later that night, I was sitting in my office thumbing over Amirah’s extraordinary resume and proofreading all the contracts that were going to be signed in the following month when I got a knock at my door.

“Come in.” I called out, and to my surprise, it was just the person I needed to see.

“Forgive my tardiness, Luna Nafisa. Please accept my apologies for barging into your office at this hour.” Princess Amirah walked in smelling of disappointment and sadness, but she still possessed the innocent smell from earlier upon her arrival. I quickly read her mind and couldn’t help but praise the Goddess for things not working out between her and Quincy. She respectfully curtsied, then walked towards my desk.

“Nonsense, Princess Amirah, I was just thinking about you. I guess great minds do think alike. Come and have a seat.” I signaled for her to take a seat and I could see how nervous she was. When I extended my hand to her and we shook hands, I was immediately shown why she was so damn nervous. I also learned why she smelled the way she did. Multiple red flags began going off in my head as I stared at the young Princess and realized that she was in way over her head.

“I was right about her! I hate that I was, but I was right!!” Nafisa started going off in my head, fussing that I don’t listen.

“Is everything okay, Luna Nafisa? Do I need to come back at an earlier time?”

“No, I’m fine. This is the perfect time to talk. So, tell me, what made you accept my husband’s offer to be our family counselor? What with your family’s financial troubles and being in the initial stages of starting a brand-new company, won’t you be spreading yourself pretty thin?” I was trying to see how well she could handle herself in the line of fire.

“Well, I thought about that long and hard before I accepted, and after consulting with my brother, he assured me that he would be able to handle the business while I pursue other things. I love my family for everything they’ve done for me, but it’s time I spread my wings and find my niche in this world. Upon Alpha Amir’s advice, I spent a considerable amount of time reading up on the history of the tribe and the company, and I’m convinced that BraveHeart will be the perfect fit for me.” She smiled brightly and was dumb to me knowing her dirty little secret.

“Cut the nice shit, Jehlani!!! If you don’t put her ass in her place, I will!!” A sweet, but menacing voice erupted from my head like a headache and feelings of rage and anger poured through me as I stared Amirah down. She had some nerve bringing this shit to my doorstep.

“Alright, let’s cut the bullshit, and get straight to the point.”

“Excuse me??” Amirah was shocked at my insensitivity, but I really didn’t give a damn. I needed an explanation, and whether voluntarily or involuntarily, she was going to give it to me.

“How long did you think you were going to be able to parade around my home, my tribe, and my children before you said anything about the real reason you’re here?” Amirah was now beginning to grow nervous as her eyes became shifty. She stared down at the floor once I stood up and walked around my desk to face her. My purple and gold floor-length kaftan hugged my body, but it moved when I did as I approached Amirah.

“Whatever do you mean, Luna Nafisa? My intentions are pure.” She continued her gaze on the floor, denying me the truth, but that was the beauty of my origin.

When I became Luna, there were only a few people that knew of my unique power. I am the first shifter witch of my kind because I was prophesized by the Goddess and crafted for a specific purpose. I am not your average witch, and the power I possess is so great, that I can now use certain powers in my wolf form. I will never use my powers to harm anyone unless they are harming me or my loved ones. Hell, sometimes I scare myself. I waved my hand and a small vial full of a thick blue potion appeared out of thin air and landed in my palm. Amirah blinked twice and rubbed her eyes as she silently cursed in Swahili. Hell, she’s a werewolf, surely she’s seen things crazier than that. I rested up against my desk and crossed my arms as I made the vial float beside me.

“This is Ukweli, my version of the military’s truth telling serum. It pours clear, has no taste and no odor. Now, it does the same job as the military's version, but my version is far more deadly. It keeps you from lying, no matter how hard you try. The very second that the thought of lying pops up into your head, your mouth starts burning violently until you tell the truth. Nothing will soothe you or ease your pain, only the truth. It leads to an awfully slow and debilitating death if you refuse to tell the truth. Now, you can stop playing these fucking games and tell me what I want to know, or I can accidentally put two drops of this into your evening wine. The choice is yours, sis.”

I thought it was Nafisa, but it didn’t feel like her. It was something stronger swirling around inside of me that had officially taken over me mentally and decided that I was being too damn nice. Amirah broke down and started crying, but that didn’t soften me. She looked up from my gorgeous mahogany wood floors and almost flew out her seat when she saw my face. I didn’t know what was going on with my face, but Amirah immediately fell to her knees and began begging for her life.

“Please, Luna Nafisa, spare me!! I didn’t know I was dealing with Camden BraveHeart!! I’m a victim!!” She had her hands clasped tight with tears and snot running down her face.

“You were a victim of shit!! You still pursued that son of a bitch when you learned his true identity. You ruined your family’s reputation in the business world!! Stole money from your father!! Ran a promising career into the ground by dancing with the devil, and you want me to believe you were the victim?? How could you be so thoughtless?? How could you betray your family??!!” I was disgusted with her and was on the verge of telling her to pack her shit and get out my damn house but watching her become a blubbering mess convinced me otherwise.

“Forgive me, Luna!!! I don’t know what’s wrong with me!!! Please allow me to show you how efficient I can be!!!” She continued begging with pleading eyes, and I soon made the vial disappear, which caused her to jump again.

“I’m going to take you up on that, Princess. I have here your consigliere and oath contracts that will be getting signed during the dedication ceremony of our Spring festival.” I held up the small stack of papers and she looked at them like they were the golden ticket to paradise.

“You will be beneficial in more ways than one if you are going to be a part of BraveHeart. The moment you sign this contract, your ass is mine. Over the next six months, every move you make, every step you take, will be monitored until I deem you trustworthy again. The length of your tenure here will be entirely up to you if you prove yourself useful to me and the company. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, Luna Nafisa. Thank you!” She continued to bow down on her knees, but I walked up and helped her stand. I adjusted her attire and handed her some Kleenex from off my desk.

“Don’t thank me yet. Have a seat.” As she sat in the wingback chair, I circled her and immediately got turned off from the faint smell that oozed from her pores. There was only one way to fix that problem, but she had to be willing to go through with it.

“I know that you carried the devil’s seed, and I know there was an extraction attempt, but it pains me to tell you that it wasn’t a complete success.” The moment the words left my lips, Amirah became hysterical. Before she could make a bigger damn fool of herself in my office, I paralyzed her and took the very pleasure of talking from her.

“Farabalẹ!!!” (Calm down!!!)  Her eyes grew big in terror and her hysteria multiplied as she realized that her mouth was moving but nothing was coming out. My anger was beginning to take over, and without a care in the world, I made the windows fly open with a quick head nod. The windstorm I conjured blew in and brutally tore through my office. My beautiful and highly expensive Ancient Egyptian furniture was close to ruin.

“I said, CALM DOWN!!!!!” I felt the veins on both sides of my head protrude from my skin and my eyes burned terribly, but the look of complete fear that was cemented on Amirah’s face scared even me, and those violent feelings that were swarming through me disappeared. I placed Amirah on the floor and mind-linked her that if I restored her speech, she can’t make a sound. After quickly shaking her head in agreement, I gave her back her speech, and she made the shushing motion with her mouth. I motioned for her to take a seat and she did so without blinking an eye. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and charmed my office to arrange itself properly. I was persuaded to take a peek, and Amirah’s eyes were wide open as she saw curtains hanging themselves back up and papers stacking themselves on my desk. Once my intuition told me that the charm was complete, I opened my eyes and began again.

“Like I was saying, the extraction wasn’t a complete success, but there is nothing to worry about, because I can fix that right now.” I made another small vial of a yellow potion appear out of thin air, and this time, Amirah didn’t flinch.

“What I’m about to give you is some powerful shit, and you can’t let it out of your sight. This is the unofficial antidote to terminate a pregnancy. Compared to the traditional alternatives, this route is much more efficient and a lot less messy. I was determined to help women with a safer alternative than scrambling up their insides, and after staying up day and night for weeks to get it right, this is the unofficial “official” all-natural abortion elixir.” Amirah’s eyes continued to shine like a child’s in a candy store.

“Now, it doesn’t taste like cotton candy, nor does it smell like strawberries and cherries, but it gets the job done. An hour before dinner tonight, drink the whole vial, then after three minutes, chase it with three-fourths of distilled vinegar and a half a cup of club soda. Trust me, it’s the only concoction that kills the after taste. You will feel queasy for a few moments, but once you eat, you will feel better. Have sugar-free tea with lemon with your dinner tonight and do a womb detox in the morning. No alcohol or sex for forty-eight hours, and you’re good to go after that.” I made the vial float her way, and she looked at it like it was a sacred talisman, or something.

“Is this going to help me fix my relationship with my family? I really let them down.” Her tears began again, but I convinced her to dry her tears.

“Anything is possible with a clean mind and a clean womb. This jar of herbs is everything needed for a proper detox such as this. You’re from the Motherland, so I know you’re familiar with a womb detox. They will not work separately; they must be taken together. Tomorrow’s sunrise is at 6:22 am; at exactly ten minutes before that time, I want you to get up, do some light flooring exercises to open your hips, and at exact sunrise, do the detox. Afterwards, give the water back to the earth and take a relaxing bath with jasmine, a whole orange, sliced, and two drops of eucalyptus oil. Your womb will feel so much better, and the ability to make wise decisions will be easier.”

“How will I remember all of this?” Amirah was confused, but I pulled out a copy of the special-made instructions I was forced to type up because this process is a lot to remember. It isn’t just drink the stuff and problem solved. It’s a little more complex than that.

“Here are the instructions, down to the most important detail. I left nothing out, so don’t worry. I hope this doesn’t change how you feel about me.”

“I wouldn’t give a damn if it did!!! The bitch know not to play with me!!!” The voice boomed in my head. It sounded like Nafisa, but she wasn’t this damn belittling.

“No, Luna Nafisa, no. I needed this, because for so long, I was in denial about it happening. I couldn’t believe that I allowed myself to do such horrendous things to my family. I just want to restore my image.” She put her head down in shame, and her tears began again. My sympathy for her returned, and I got up to do a calming charm on her, and she sighed peacefully as I smelled the spearmint pass through us. Perfecting my calming charms was a great accomplishment for me because I use the smell that the person I’m calming is most attracted to. It’s much easier that way. I’ve been working on calming an entire room of people, but it only works on werewolves, because humans have such messy thoughts.

“Go freshen up and I’ll see you at dinner. It’ll be late, but it’s dinner, nonetheless.” She thanked me again for everything, and I gave her permission to leave. I was glad when my door was shut because I immediately made myself vanish without giving it another thought. Soon, my eyes were taking in the beauty of the realm that I designed just for me when I didn’t want to be bothered. The vast violet sky was filled with lilac clouds, and the deep blue ocean roared as the stars shined brightly throughout the sky. I rested on the mountain that I created from a simple pebble; Mount Amir is what Nafisa begged me to name it. I pulled my knees to my chest as I looked up at the sky and wept joyfully as visions of Trent and I with our babies swept through the sky like falling stars. I was then lulled to sleep with a sweet vision of me and Amir welcoming another child into the royal family.

I don’t know how long I was sleep, but I woke up in Iyalawo’s bed. I don’t know how I got there, but Iyalawo does nothing without reason. I slowly rose from the sage-scented mattress and became enthralled with the calmness that resonated throughout the room. I got up to study every item in the room and fell in love with the array of pictures that took over the entire left wall of her bedroom. Each picture was cased in a special-made frame to commemorate that day, and each picture was especially important. The very first picture was of Iyalawo and her parents on the day of her birth. Her father was a pure-blood wolf who was born into slavery and her mother was the daughter of a rich werewolf family that bought her father’s freedom when his parents were killed. The second picture was of Iyalawo as an infant with a wide smile on her chubby little face. She couldn’t have been no more than a year old. The next few rows were pictures of her childhood and teenage years. At age fourteen, she was mated and wed to the newly crowned Alpha of Ogboju, and the rest is history.

While I scanned over the rest of the pictures, I was able to see timeless photos of Trent and Duke that I’m sure they wouldn’t want to be seen by the outside world, but the two curly-headed pups I saw in the pictures were adorable. I saw both BraveHeart boys’ coming of age photos and graduation photos and was humbled when I saw pictures from Trent and I’s coronation, our wedding, Duke and Clarissa’s wedding, and the birth of my babies. I was still in disbelief that I was living this life and wished more than anything that my parents were here to share these moments with me.

“There are days I long for my parents too, Luna…” I turned in the direction of Iyalawo’s voice and saw her sitting in her rocking chair sewing a new patch on her quilt.

“Oh, Iyalawo. I didn’t even see you there.” I wiped my tears as I walked towards her and sat at her feet. Since I’ve been a part of this family, she’s treated me just like the granddaughter she’s always wanted. She may be the Chief Priestess, and she does not play, but she is still just a sweet old woman.

“It’s okay, chile. I had one of the Sentinels bring you in here. I wanted to talk to you about some things.” She had a serious look on her face that worried me. I never tried to read Iyalawo’s mind because she convinced me a long time ago that she was more powerful than one can imagine.

“Okay, I’m all ears. What’s going on?”  Nana taught me how to sew at a very young age, so I took it upon myself to start helping her with the stitching at the bottom of the quilt. She didn’t protest, she just smiled and continued rocking in her chair.

“I wanted to let you know that I appreciate everything you have done and are doing for this family. We’ve been through a lot of hell, but none of that scared you away from us. My grandson loves you with his entire heart, and I’m not just saying that because you are his mate. My husband, may his soul continue to rest with the Ancestors, was the best Alpha to BraveHeart and an even better Oba to the people of Ogboju and Yorubaland. They day I lost him, I almost lost myself. No one knows this, but I was pregnant with another child when my husband was taken from me.” I saw a single tear fall down her face, and I couldn’t help but feel her pain. Iyalawo has always worn a stern face since I’ve known her, and she hardly talks about Alpha Akande’s death, but I felt her pain.

“Really? Did Alpha Akande know?”

“No. I was planning on telling him that night when he came home, but he never returned. I sat and waited for three long weeks before I was informed that my Akande was gone. The stress and anger that flowed through my body caused me to miscarry.” More tears fell down her chubby cheeks as she was reminded of the terrible past.

“I knew Oren was evil the moment he passed through my womb, but he was my son, and I still chose to love him because that’s what mothers do. I had such high hopes for him. He would’ve been an excellent Alpha, but he felt he shouldn’t have to compete with Omer for the title, it should just be given to him. Because of that, he made life hell for Omer, and that was what caused Akande to treat them differently. I didn’t agree with his methods and tried to warn him, but my dear husband didn’t listen.

“When they turned thirteen, Oren began messing with dark magic. He did all sorts of things to cause havoc around the castle: starting fires, killing animals and placing them on the doorstep of the castle, poisoning the castle’s food supply. Hell, he almost poisoned the village’s main river, and if it wasn’t for Omer he would’ve succeeded. The day Omer ascended the throne, it was a happy and a sad occasion. Akande and I had dreams of passing the torch to our children the proper way, the way it’s been done for centuries by our people, but the Goddess makes no mistake.” I was now crying with Iyalawo and had forgotten about the dinner I was supposed to be hosting for the Umbutus.

“When Omer was crowned Alpha and Oba, I took on the role of Iyalawo, but I also transcended into something that I thought was pure legend: an Ultima. But I wasn’t able to hold the rank long because of my sadness dealing with Akande’s death.” Iyalawo’s wise eyes bore into mine and something in them got Nafisa’s attention like never before.

“Is that what’s been wrong to me?” Nafisa whispered in my head as I became entranced by Iyalawo’s eyes. She put the quilt and the needle down and motioned for my hands. I wasted no time slipping my hands into hers and felt a power so strong that the lights in the room flickered when we touched.

“Not every pack has an Ultima because she is a rare and powerful phenomenon. She carries the highest rank because she is the strongest wolf in the pack and very dangerous. She will always be mated to the Alpha of the pack because no other rank can handle her strength. Her anger surpasses that of her Alpha, and if need be, she will kill anyone that tries to harm her or her family. She can radiate an invisible shield to protect herself when threatened, and she has the amazing ability to turn her enemy into stone if they stare into her eyes while she is in the form. She is a force all on her own and will summon herself if she feels needed. She shows no mercy.”

“I’m an Ultima?? Is that what that was when I was talking to Amirah??”

“Yes, Luna Nafisa, you are the Ultima of BraveHeart Tribe, and I am honored to witness this moment.” Iyalawo had more tears on her face as she looked at me with the same look that’s been on her face since Trent and I’s coronation, a proud grandmother.

“What does being an Ultima mean for me? Will I be able to control her?”

“Being an Ultima is nothing to be afraid of. You will be very angry and confused as she makes her presence known. She will not talk to you, initially, because she is very aloof, but you will feel when she wants to shift. Do not be afraid of her, she is a part of you, and she can be controlled.” Iyalawo patted my hands in reassurance that I was going to be fine.

“Now, I have more news to share with you. The Ultima’s first appearance will be similar to being in heat, and that will cause you and my grandson to have so much sex, it’s ridiculous.” I was a little embarrassed because that’s exactly what has been going on ever since Thema disappeared. Every time I see Trent, I want him to bend me over and have his way with me. I didn’t know what was going on with me, but now that I know, I was beginning to understand why Nafisa’s been acting the way she has. Iyalawo looked at me like she already knew what was going through my mind, but I can’t help that me and Trent can’t keep our hands off of each other.

“Chile, please! You and my grandson still have a long time before you realize what making love is really all about. But that’s beside the point, I’m trying to tell you something that you’ve been avoiding since Quincy came to you about his mate.” I began to shit bricks because I knew where this was going.

“No, Iyalawo, there is no way. I can’t be!! Now is not the time!!” I let go of her hands and stood to begin my pacing. I was indeed Trent’s wife.

“You were chosen by the Goddess to become Ultima!! I’ve been watching you, and all the signs are there! Even the one you refuse to acknowledge!!”

“I KNEW IT!!!! I KNEW IT!!!! I KNEW IT!!!!” Nafisa jumped around happily in my head. I was annoyed that she was right.

“No way. Nope. I’m not listening to this.” I covered my ears but when I turned back to Iyalawo, she grabbed my hands and made me listen to what she had to say.

“There is no denying it, Luna!! You are carrying another BraveHeart, and the sooner you tell our Alpha, the better!! If not, your Ultima will give you hell. This is bigger than you, Luna, and you mustn’t deny the tribe their Ultima.” She threw my hands down and waved me off in disgust. I wasn’t trying to anger her, but I was shocked that this was happening. Iyalawo was now giving me the silent treatment, so I took that as my cue to leave.

As I left Iyalawo’s room, I checked my watch to see how late it was and saw that I could still make dessert. The entire time it took me to get to the dining room, I was having a conversation with Nafisa trying to get her to let me tell Trent the news. Although I saw it coming, I was still in disbelief that all of this was happening.

“Bitch, you deny my child again, and I will cause you harm.” The same voice from earlier erupted in my head once again. It shook me to my core and made me stop dead in my tracks. I checked my surroundings and saw that I was alone in the corridors, but that didn’t stop me from calling out anyway.

“Is anybody there?” I even did the little head bobs checking to see if I was alone.

“Now, you know ain’t nobody in these damn halls on a Saturday night! Quit playing with me!!” The voice sounded like mine, but it was way more menacing.

“What is going on with me?” I rhetorically asked out loud as I checked to see if I had a fever and the voice in my head answered back.

“You’re finally stepping into the power that you’ve always dreamed of. I am Violette, your Ultima, and you will be seeing a lot of me, Ms. Jehlani.” The voice was soon gone, and I was suddenly not even hungry anymore. I decided that instead of carrying my problems to bed, as usual, I would go down to the gym and work out for a little to clear my head.

Dressed in a simple t-shirt and some black yoga shorts with my running shoes, I checked on my babies before I sprinted to the gym. I gave each curly-haired child a tender kiss on their forehead and Nafisa cooed at the sight.

“Um, let’s get something straight, sis. Nafisa is a lovesick wolf that whines too much. I, on the other hand, am a deadly force of nature that believes in kill or be killed. Our tribe is our family, and family ain’t shit to play with, sis.”

Soon as I stepped foot in the gym, I checked to make sure I was alone. Once I was sure the coast was clear, I set up my ten miles on the treadmill then I decided to answer my Ultima.

“Listen up, chick. You may think you’re running things, but you’re not. I am the Luna of BraveHeart, not you. You are a part of me, and you will listen to me.”

“GIIIIIRL!!! You do not scare me!! I don’t have to listen to you if I don’t want to!! You don’t have the power to shut me down!!! I am nothing like your pet wolf who listens to you to stay relevant. I will ALWAYS be relevant!!”

“Bitch, you don’t know me!!! I will set it off in this damn gym!!”

“Ladies, ladies!!! Everybody calm the fuck down!!! It’s MY body and I will shut down who the hell I want!!! You are a part of me!! Not the other way around!!!!” I yelled out loud because these two were getting on my last damn nerve already.

“Tell that bitch to keep my name out her mouth!!”

“Aww, is the little wolf mad at a little name calling??”

“I said shut the fuck up, Violette!!! Let’s get something straight!! You may be deadly, but so am I!! I will seclude your ass if you keep trying me!!” I was now screaming at the top of my lungs because this shit was getting out of hand.

“I’ll be quiet, little Luna, but just know that I’m not dealing with you until you tell mate about the baby.” Violette secluded herself for the rest of the evening, and that gave Nafisa the floor to talk more shit that I didn’t want to hear.

“I don’t like that bitch, J! She think she’s all that because she’s supposed to be some rare phenomenon!! She better stay out of my way, or I’ll show her ass just how lovesick I am!!!” I didn’t get a chance to respond before Nafisa secluded herself also. I just rolled my eyes because I was now in charge of two divas who thought they couldn’t be controlled. I spent almost three hours in the gym trying to figure out what to do about those two. My ten miles turned into sixty, and before I decided to head in for the night, I kicked a bag and swam a couple of laps. My mind kept going back to me being pregnant, and the tears welled up in my eyes as I thought about me and Trent creating another little beautiful person to share with the world. I could no longer deny my happiness.

So much swirled through my mind on my walk back to the house, and I was glad that the house was empty and partially dark. I stumbled to the kitchen on wobbly legs to raid the fridge, and since I didn’t want anything heavy, I decided to make me a quinoa bowl with vegan chicken, boiled spinach, a boiled egg and some bean sprouts. Before I fixed my meal, I floated upstairs to my bathroom to get cleaned up. Yes, I floated. I’m a witch, so I can pretty much do what I want and get away with it. When I made it to my room, I was greeted by Trent’s snoring before I opened the door. I slowly opened the door and tiptoed in because I didn’t want to wake him. I placed a tender kiss to his forehead before I headed to my shower and was glad that he was still sleep when my shower was over. I rubbed my entire body down with my sunflower body butter that my Nana had specially made for me, then I slipped on my green silk button down nightshirt and placed my feet in my big fluffy house shoes that bore my Alma Mater before racing downstairs to calm my growling stomach.

The smell of my vegan chicken breasts roasting in the oven was making my mouth water, and I knew that if I didn’t chew on something, I would probably disappear. While my quinoa cooked, I started peeling a grapefruit from the fruit basket, and just as I was savoring the first slice, something in me wanted to know how grapefruit dipped in mayo and hot sauce would taste. I ran to the fridge and grabbed the mayo and hurriedly twisted the cap off. I dashed enough hot sauce in there to make my eyes water and stirred it as fast I could. When I dipped that grapefruit in that mayo and hot sauce, I was sure that I was onto something. My eyes fluttered with pure satisfaction and decided that I was having a side of my new concoction with my quinoa bowl.

I was so happy when my chicken breasts were done, and the little piece that I sampled let me know that I was most definitely Connie Jones’s granddaughter. While my chicken was cooling off and my spinach and eggs were boiling, I cut up my bean sprouts and another grapefruit. I was still adamant about getting the tribe to go vegan, Trent included. He swears that our wolves can’t live without meat, but I’ve been doing my research and learned that there are much healthier choices out there for us. Our wolf Ancestors might not have had a choice, but it is a modern world, and we are NOT the cannibalistic animals that the urban legends make us out to be. Just as I was thinking about my husband, I felt his strong hands caress my hips as he placed a sweet kiss on my neck.

“Mm, it smells good down here. What are you cooking?” His warm breath on my mating mark was making me moist in places that only he knew about, and I knew he could smell my arousal. I just hoped he wasn’t able to smell the pup just yet.

“Just a little something to hold me over until breakfast, which will be in another four hours. What are you doing up?” I asked him while placing a piece of chicken in his mouth for him to taste.

“I missed your soul. Damn, that tastes good, girl!! I think we should retire Tamika and make you the Tribe Chef!!” Trent whispered in my ear while his dick grew against the softness of my ass.

“I don’t think so. If I start cooking for the tribe, they’ll never leave me alone. I already promised the new she-wolves that I would take them to the spa for the festival. Speaking of which, they’ve been asking me about starting a female Sentinel group.” I spun around to greet my husband and was met with his honey amber eyes and his protruding canines, which brought back to mind the little powwow with Iyalawo.

“Enough about the tribe. I have the sudden urge to make love to my beautiful wife.” Before I could protest, Trent turned off the stove and lifted me up onto the counter and began kissing me passionately. He pried my legs open with ease and growled sweetly in my neck while he hurriedly fought with the string on his silk pajama pants.

“Slow down, Alpha. This pussy isn’t going anywhere.” My Ultima popped up out of seclusion and responded to Trent, and that caused him to jerk his head up to stare into my eyes. Whatever he saw in them had him entranced.

“Who am I talking to right now? Or should I say what am I talking to?” Trent asked while looking at me with a mixture of confusion and lust. The smell of his strong essence oozing from his skin further activated Violette and instigated her to finally take over me and properly introduce herself to our mate.

“I am Violette, my love, and I am the Ultima to this tribe. You are my mate and I want you to make love to me right now.” I reached up to free Trent’s curls from his bun and pulled him closer to me. I purred with excitement as his luscious curls complimented his exquisite face.

“Ultima?” Trent’s eyes were no longer the sensual honey amber that comforts me, they were now a flaming red that stirred my soul. I took it upon myself to rip the string that held Trent’s pants to his slender waist, and the gesture surprised him, but he was greatly turned on.

“I’ll buy you some new ones. Make love to me. Now…” I whispered to him as I felt my canines protruding from my gums. The sight made Trent’s dick spring to life instantly and I wasted no time grabbing the girthy muscle and stroking it lovingly. While my husband melted in my hands, I was coerced by my watering mouth to taste him. I slid down off the counter, got down on my knees and gave my husband the blowjob of a lifetime. His head was throwed back with my name erupting from his throat while my slurping and his moans filled the kitchen. His strong hands found their way to the back of my head and motivated me to speed up. Something in me was changing as I started sucking harder than ever, and soon after, was given my sticky treat, but I wasn’t done.

“Damn, girl. I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but I’m in love with it.” Trent replied breathlessly. Without warning, I pulled him down to the floor, laid him down and slid down on his still rock-hard dick. He growled from the pleasure and the pain of me burrowing my fingernails into his chest. He gripped my hips and allowed me to have my way with him, and our souls melded together as our spacious kitchen disappeared.

“I love you. I love you so much.” Trent growled to me as he leaned forward to hold me. We held each other tight as the purples and blues of my realm swirled around us. Our bodies moved in sync as the waves of our lovemaking swarmed around us like mad hornets. My skin was burning hot, and Trent’s touch was driving me mad with lust. I pushed him down into the soft grass and bucked my hips like I was riding a bull.

“Oh shit! Violette!!” Amir had taken over Trent, just like I wanted, and I was soon being flipped over with him pushing his love inside of me repeatedly.

“I’ve been waiting for you, woman.” Amir growled angrily in my ear. The fire in his eyes told me that I was about to get properly introduced to the Alpha of BraveHeart. Amir grabbed my ankles and threw them over his shoulders then wrapped a strong arm around my waist and pushed us up off the ground. While he banged my little body, tears flooded my eyes as the stars of my realm shined brightly around us like an aphrodisiac. As the ocean crashed loudly against the banks of Mount Amir, I felt my orgasm swelling up in my lower belly and spreading throughout my body. Amir quickened his stroke and my eyes started rolling in the back of my head from the amount of pleasure I was receiving.

“This is what happens when you challenge your Alpha.” Amir whispered in my ear as he laid me back down on the soft, green grass and stroked my body sweetly. He gazed into my eyes and was soon greeted with a loving surprise.

“Are you really??” His strokes halted while the message he was receiving glimmered in my eyes. I reached up to stroke his face and he kissed my hand as I simply shook my head to verify what he already knew.

“We’re having another baby??”

“Yes, I’m having another one of your sweet babies. Now, finish making love to me, Alpha.” We cemented our love on Mount Amir and as our lustful wave subsided, we found ourselves back in our king-sized bed tangled in each other’s arms while talks of the new addition to our family lulled us to sleep.

When my eyes shot open, the sun was just now making its debut for the day. I was still tangled in Trent’s arms, and my sore body told me that me and Trent had a wild night. I was somehow able to free myself from his stronghold and go draw myself a nice hot bubble bath. Just as I was allowing the hot water to take me to a mystical place, my intuition started humming, and it was soon replaced with Quincy’s voice.

“Luna Nafisa, I need help!! I just saved my mate from getting killed by her father, now I don’t know what to do. Please help me.” I lit up as the hardest part of being Luna to the BraveHeart tribe just got easier. This was the moment of truth that I’ve been waiting for, and I didn’t even have to do much.

“Do what you can to keep her comfortable, but do not mark her yet. I will be there shortly, Quincy.” I wasn’t upset that my long, relaxing soak got cut short. Such is the life of a Luna: we don’t always do what we want to do, but we always do what we have to do.