Bound

plates off the table and letting them land with a loud clatter against the granite worktops. Her anger began to build as she scraped the cold bacon straight in

ut, Nyah gritted her teeth and finished clearing off the rest of the table.

wake me?" Karen groaned sleepily a

he sink, repeatedly telling herself that everyone was enti

again, briskly rubbing her upper arm

r help. I can cle

r brunch? Nyah, I'm so sorry – and all the trouble you went

s fi

ill you stop!" Karen grabbed the plate of muffins about to

e lid of the bi

ard to our brunch – I don't even know why I fell asleep. I'm sorry Nyah. Don't be -." Karen's words faded into a grunt and she sque

o cleaning up. How could Karen behave as if eve

ry with me, " Karen sai

dying devotion to Simon so, " Nyah answered

ha

had a genuine look of puzzlement on her fac

my what to Simon?

mething about Karen's demeanour registered with her. Karen was pale. Her face had a light sheen of moisture, and her hand

ack against the counter and closed her eyes. "I

d coming to stand before Karen. She took hold of her face and gently lowered it as she sea

t think so, " K

k her over. It was only then when she realized Karen was still weari

at her tracksuit pants and

said, taking her arm and le

ing here, I remember crossing the street and walking down the side of Billy's house

remember an

up a while ago. It's. . ." she pa

ber what you said ea

mon?" she said hesitantl

Nothing. Rubbish, you

d, allowing her head to fall b

ious symptoms of disease or trauma, it was still concerning to see her looking so pale an

itting up with effort. "You know, I think I'll

t the docto

robably just the stress of being

d followed close behind her

the Show of Hands, " Karen remin

e. And if you need a

wil

n's room to check on her again. She relaxed a little when she saw Karen was sleeping deeply and a light shade of pink had returned to her cheeks. Perhaps it was just stress; being locked inside for the las

e still another four hours before the Show of Hands and not feeling like she could co

o'clock Karen emer

d, urging her under the overhead

lb. Her porcelain skin still seemed a little too pale for Nyah. "M

to bring me across to vote,

o now; it'll only take a few seco

you s

d, with an attempt at a gri

. She disappeared into the house and re-appeared a few minutes later. She

nside and flopped onto

tmosphere lik

r drooping hazel eyes looking fev

ack house. What's

wards the window and shr

there, voting. Were

't voted yet. I've just

" Nyah m

ant to rest for a minute. I'll go as soon as I

suggested lightly. "There's plenty of

out of bed too fast, I'm so dizzy." Karen stuck

e morning, " Nyah told her, gu

p through, " Karen ins

wake

. It's very impor

kno

orehead again, Nyah hanging close behind her as she climbed the stairs with heavy

ted out as Karen's hand missed the ban

n she reached the landing. "I can hear Michael coming,

She waited until Karen was safely walking across the l

s soon as she opene

uickly told him about Karen as they walked across to the pack house and he ag

ed her. "Everyone's wound up in on

ly moving closer to him as they app

bit of trouble though, " he added as they stepped into

the top of the room, while another table, equipped with blank squares of paper and a box of pens, was surrounded by a screen si

f and came out from behind the screen, crossed the room and placed her vote into the ballot box being watched over by th

-one wants the memory of Alpha Morgan disrespecte

hecked her watch. At nine o'clock, fifty minutes from now, the result would be known. With only thirty-two members in their pack, the counting of the votes would take just minutes, then, as was customary, the p

steps and waited. Michael came across to her just as Alan and Simon came out from her father's house. He took her

as follows, " announced Blake to the gathered

Michael's back to peek at wh

nty-eight votes, S

le ran forward to drag Alan down from the porch steps. He was lifted ont

se to Nyah said. "Who in

nd Michael's back, Alan had been set down and she watched as Simon strode up to him, holding out his hand in congratulations. When their handshake ended, Simon gave one last lingering look at the pack, flashed a b

rrounding Alan and Tanya thinned and she stepp

admitted. "But I'm so happy fo

Blake approached. When Alan opened his arms wide t

nson, " she smiled up at h

ntle squeeze. "I know this has been difficult for y

hers, " she smiled, as they came to stand beside their new Alpha. Their nick-name had been in place since they'd been young boys. Wit

Blake said, indicating the point where Simon Northfell

ctively around her shoulder and drew her closer to his side, pressing a lingering kiss to the top of

, " Michael smiled, hold

m to Tanya's swollen middle. "Goodnight my little pup, " he sai

ead Tanya away. "You know, I think I'll sleep

ief of his being elected too. "Four votes, " he said quietly. "I was prepared

e full of optimism; relief was emanating from her pack mates like heat from the sun, and nowhere did there appear to be the faintest

replaced the eerie silence that had hung in Blackwater Ridge for the last few days and Nyah savoured the excited atmosphere, feeling a sudden wave of lightness rush through her. The sense of stasis which the Lamentation Phase had pres

ild hair of Leanne Stone, jabbing her finger into the chest of her mate

the pack if they hear you

privacy while they argued. As she turned into her driv

answered Leanne.

re word about him and you'll have more t

s pack, " Eddie said calmly,

op and she spun towards the direction

ack this continent has ever known, " he said, echoing Kare