The Secrets of the Panther

IZZY

I stare at the ceiling. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

It is not the first time I have woken up like this, not having much sleep. I know it’s only been a few days.

“Izzy,” says Puna. I stare back at her, her sleepy eyes trying to adjust to me.

Puna shakes her head and stares back. “Why aren’t you sleeping?” she asks.

“I just can’t,” I say with a sigh, leaving my mouth. “I was asleep for three days, but I don’t know. My mind is wandering. There is so much that my mind can’t get over.”

Puna pounder over what I said, but she sighs. “You are wondering about the book and Allie’s power,” she says as she stares at me.

I nod but say nothing.

“I think if your aunt stored all your mum’s things and finds that book when we go to the place, you might relax more,” she says.

My mind has been wondering more about that book lately than what it was like about the war that had just gone. I want answers to everything, especially if it gives me answers about my powers and Allie’s.

The ceiling was dull, but I could sense eyes on me. I know they weren’t Kat’s, as I can hear her soft snores near my ear. I turn my head and face Blake, who had taken the couch in my aunt’s room.

I never thought my mate would do something like that, but knowing Blake was worried about me since I woke up, he probably didn’t want to leave my side. It never surprised me, but it was for Kat’s benefit and mine.

I looked over at the couch, and Blake stared back at me. He smiles as he notices that I’m awake. “Morning,” he says in a whisper.

I smile, “Morning,” I say to him.

Blake moves and sits up on the couch. He was still in yesterday’s clothes; his shirt from the burial was all creased, and his pants suit was. His hair was all ruffled. He looks at me. “How is she?” he asks, looking over my shoulder at Kat.

I turn to look at Kat. I know she didn’t sleep for a while. She was crying, and I could hear her silent tears as she stared away from me. I remember placing my arm around her and snuggling in like I did as a child.

“She fell asleep eventually, but she cried most of the night,” I said to him quietly.

I move up the bed and sit, leaning back on the headboard.

I could feel Blake’s eyes on me once more. “She wasn’t the only one who was awake most of the night,” he says.

I look over at him, but he looks at the door.

I said nothing, but the door opened, and two little heads came running in and climbed up on the bed.

I can’t help but smirk.

Archer smiles at me while Allie crawls over to me and sits on my lap. “Mummy,” she says as she leans into me.

“Allie,” I say softly. I place my arms around her and kiss her head.

After a few moments, Allie moves away and climbs off the bed. She walks over to Blake, climbs into his arms, and does the same but stays there.

Archer looks at Kat, who I know is now awake.

Kat moves and sits up, leaning against the headboard next to me. She places a small smile on her face. “Good Morning,” she says in a croaky voice.

Archer crawls and sits near her, but Kat pulls him into her. They hug each other tightly, but Archer pulls back and sits between us. “I think we should make our way down for breakfast,” she says, looking at me.

I glanced over at her and nodded.

“Let’s get you both ready,” says Blake, moving with Allie still in his arms.

Blake holds Allie, who has now clung to him like a spider monkey, while Blake holds his hand out to Archer, who takes it.

Blake looks toward Kat and me. “I will take these two to get ready and go down to the kitchen for breakfast,” he says with a small smile. “You both can get ready in peace. My mum had an omega drop clothes off for the both of you outside the door. Everyone will be in the kitchen in about twenty minutes.”

Blake leaves with both kids, and Archer closes the door behind him. Kat stares at the door, but I can’t help but look at her. “You okay?” I ask her.

Kat turns to look at me and places her hand on mine. She squeezes my hand. “I’m okay,” she says, but her face turns sad as she looks away. “I know you didn’t sleep well, and I guess it is why you want to go to the storage unit.”

She turns to me. “What are you looking for? And don’t tell me it’s for furniture; I wasn’t born yesterday,” she says.

I look at her but lean my head back on the headboard. “Clara mentioned mum had a book about the prophecy about us, our family, and our ancestors. They passed it down through generations, but I think it was about whoever looked like Clara more than anything,” I say. “Kat, I want to look for the book. I need to know everything, especially now that Allie has power. I need to know what we are dealing with. The threat may be gone, but I must protect Allie, my family, and the pack.”

Kat stares at me and smiles. She squeezes my hand, but a smirk comes to the corner of her mouth. “Pack, huh,” she says.

I look away from her but say nothing, even though I can’t help the smile slowly appearing on my face. “You will make a wonderful Luna,” she says, “Not just because of your power, it will be because of your heart.”

I can’t help but look back at her.

Kat smiles. We stay quiet for a moment, but Kat sighs. “So when will you have the Luna ceremony?” she asks.

I glance at her, but her smirk has appeared on her face once again. “Come on, Izzy,” she says as she moves off the bed. “We need some celebration, especially after all the losses we have had lately. You and Blake must take over and bring this pack into the new generation.”

I can’t help but raise my eyebrows, surprised. “You want me to have one, when?” I ask her as I move out of the bed and follow her lead.

Kat stops as she closes the door to the room as she just collected the clothes outside the room that Blake mentioned earlier to us.

Kat stares at me. “I think the sooner, the better, but that would be up to you and Blake,” she says.

Kat and I get dressed, each taking turns in the bathroom.

Once we were finished, we both stared at each other. “I guess we best have this family breakfast,” she says. I could see Kat holding back all her tears once again, but I walked over to her and wrapped my arm around her, pulling her into a hug.

Kat hugs me back, letting her silent tears fall onto my shoulder.

I lean into her. “You’re not alone in this, Kat,” I say as I kiss her cheek and pull back.

Kat nods, “I know,” she says as she looks at me.

“Let me look after you like you did when mum passed away,” I say to her as I place my hand in hers.

Kat furrows her eyebrows at me. “You were just a child who lost her mother,” she says. “I had to protect you.”

I stare at her for a moment. “Yeah, you did, but now you can lean on me,” I tell her.

“Kat, you’re my family,” I say to her. “You might not be my mum, but you are one in my eyes. You helped me overcome everything and even risked your own family to protect me and Allie. I want to be there for you, as much as you need me to be here, but I won’t let you fall. I know and have seen what it’s like for someone to lose their mate. I know more people who have helped me over the years when I have lost someone; hell, I have lost people I class as family and love too. We are all in this together, as a family.”

Kat nods and smiles. “You will make a fantastic Luna,” she says, and we both head to the door.

“Let’s go down before Allie eats all the pancakes,” she says as we walk out of the room and head downstairs to the kitchen.