Argus: Accepting the Challenge

by Jana Leigh

  They collapsed on the bed in a heap of limbs, she giggled when she realized that she did not know whose arm was whose. “Wow.” She said. “I hope this never fades.”

  “It will only get better.” Argus said and looked around for the blankets that were surrounding them. He pulled the comforter over them and then settled to nap with his mates.

  Things would have been perfect if it had not been for the looming deadline that Quin was under. Many meetings had been held to talk about what was to come. Skye had felt privileged to be included and involved in the discussions. The New Council members accepted her and her mates without reservation. They had even been excited when Argus announced that he bought the land adjoining to them and was moving his Pride. Ryan and Ariel instantly opened negotiations with Jacob and Argus, planning on combining their Prides. And while Argus and Jacob were doing Council business, they would take over leading both Prides. Everyone seemed to be happy with the deal. Argus, Jacob, and Skye had already picked a location they would be building their new home.

  She had stacks of magazines on their table about home decoration. She had never had her own home, and she was given permission to decorate it however she wanted to, by her mates. They gave her a black master card that held no limit. She almost creamed her panties when they gave it to her. Instead, she settled for kissing them senseless.

  She knew the Seer had predicted that each of the Chosen couples would have to bear a child. She was excited just thinking about becoming a mother, and having a family. It was something she always dreamed about. One of the first rooms they were going to decorate was a nursery. She would fill it with stuffed animals, especially lions, and have a rocking chair where she could sit and nurse. The thought made her smile. She wondered how long it would take her to become pregnant. Cami, Jo, and Casey already had children. Cloe and Ruby were pregnant, and she suspected that Kira and Trinity would be making an announcement soon. Jordan and Lacy were the only ones that weren’t pregnant, but apparently not for lack of trying. Sky felt a twinge in her stomach, and hoped soon she would be able to join the ranks of mothers.

  The Wednesday chick nights were filled with laughter and fun. Jo and Jordan helped her make a list of things she wanted in her house. The theme ended up being country chic. She smiled when she realized the women all praised her at every chance they got, trying to make her feel welcome and included. They talked about outrageous things, she sat back not participating at first, but Cami and Jo, slowly drew her out of her shell daily.

  While planning her house, and trying to figure out her place in the New Council, Skye had finally found the sense of belonging. It was as if her lioness had been in her the whole time, waiting to be brought forward. She loved her new life, chaos and all.

  The New Council compound home was under construction. Until then, they would remain in the Bed and Breakfast which suited the women because they declared every Wednesday, ladies night.

  Skye was looking forward to finally meeting the in-laws. They were arriving before the Challenge as were the majority of the New Councils families. At the urging of Argus and Jacob, Skye had chosen her guard. Ari and Warren led the Warriors in their security. She had become close to both men in the short time she had known them. They had a small ceremony and Warren had jokingly showed everyone the place where she had hit him with the roll of quarters the first time they met.

  On the day the Quin accepted the Challenge the New Council met in the large room they now called their meeting area. Before they had got started, Argus stood up and looked around the room at each of the Chosen.

  “I have to apologize to all of you for not coming forward sooner. I thought that I was making the right decision at the time, but now I realize that I could have been more of an asset to you here. I had sent several scouts to the area looking for property so I know a lot of what’s been going on. But I ask that you please fill us in on everything now.”

  Quin nodded and smiled. “Apology accepted. I have to say that I would probably have done the same thing if I were in your shoes. We have had a lot of issues around here, and though from the outside it looked a mess, we have a good handle on things. So I will leave the explaining to my wonderful mate who has the gift if summing things up.”

  Cami smiled and looked at her mate and glared. She knew what he was trying to say, he was calling her a big mouth. He would pay for that later, she thought and stood up.

  “So, here is the condensed version on what has happened. Quin and I met by accident in Denver, and then he discovered we were mates. Of course, I freaked, but then he locked me in his apartment, and made me listen to him. Jaden came later, to help out with some problems in the Pack, and we found that he was also our mate. One of the psycho female wolves was pissed that I took away Quin, because she wanted to be Queen, and she tried to kill me. That was fun.” Cami said and then walked around the room.

  “Jo, my best friend since childhood was attacked by a Rogue wolf. We went to help her, and bring her into the Pack, and she found Tey when she arrived. When she changed the first time, we discovered who she was. A White Wolf. Then Oliver, the Old Council leader, who is Jo's long lost father, arrived declaring her as one of the Chosen and his missing daughter. We learned about the Prophesy. Again, a fun day. Of course, nothing is easy in our world, and the Rogues attacked. They took Ruby and Reggie hostage, when Reggie and Casey had just arrived from being found by Devon. You know who all the mates are so I will just fill you in on the good stuff. Otherwise we would be here for hours explaining things.” Cami smiled and then looked at her mates, who were shaking their heads.

  “Needless to say, my mates were pissed because they were attacked at their home. Cloe's father was the leader of the Milliken Pack, we found Cloe by luck on the computer. Then before we could get here, the Rogues surrounded them; it was a close call getting here. Quin and Jaden thought that Milliken was a better place for the New Council. So we moved up here, of course the Denver Pack is still our home also, and Cloe’s father still had the Milliken Pack. Levi, with the help of Blaine and his visions, tracked and found the Rogues headquarters. They found Reggie and Ruby, and made a spectacular rescue. Kira almost fell into the clutches of the Rogues, but Dalton flashed the entire group of male Council members to Detroit to save her. Then the compound was attacked, and they could not return right away. The Rogues got witches involved and we had to wait for Lacy to come and help us. Again, not a good day. Jordan and the cats arrived in a wonderfully tragic way that split the Council for a few weeks. That story is too long for right now. Trinity arrived and was declared a Chosen one, only to be caught in the explosion that took out our compound house. This was all thanks to the asshole Braden who has been the Rogue leader since the beginning and playing us. So welcome to our fucked up world, soon you will be added to the history of chaos.”

  Argus, Jacob, and Skye laughed and looked around the table. They were going to fit in nicely, Argus thought and kissed his mate on the cheek when she started clapping.

  “Well, now that is out of the way, let’s get down to business.” Quin said and patted his mate on the ass. Quin stood at the head of the table with his mates at his side and picked up the phone.

  “Michael,” Quin said. “The Challenge will be one week from today in the compound courtyard.”

  He nodded and then hung up the phone. “It is set.” He said and looked around the table. Each of them was silent as they let it sink in. One week to prepare for whatever Braden had planned.

  ***

  Braden clapped his hands and laughed. It was time. His plan was going to come to fruition. He looked at Roarke over his shoulder. “Time to move. Do we have everything ready?”

  “Yes Master.” Roarke said and bowed his head.

  Epilogue

  Trace drove down the hi-way drawing closer and closer to his destination. He was headed to where he was supposed to be. Milliken, Colorado. That was where his Aerie leader had told him to go. Trace always considered himself a loner. Only going to Aerie
meetings when he had to. He knew that he could have been the leader, but he chose not to. What he didn’t know, was his parents had trusted the leader with their secret before they were killed.

  Only yesterday, his leader called him and told him the truth, he was one of the Chosen. Trace had been shocked. How had they kept something like that from him? His leader told him that they had asked that he be told only when necessary. When his leader heard about the Challenge, he decided it was time.

  Trace would have preferred to have been told months ago. Something this life changing should have been shared with him as soon as the New Council was set up. He should have been there to help. His eagle had been pissed. The eagles were proud creatures, strong and smart. He would have been an asset, besides, according to his leader his mates were supposed to be found. For years, he felt like he would never find his mate. Now knowing that he would have two, and they were attached to his destiny, he knew they were somewhere close to Milliken. They had to be, he had grown tired of being alone. “Soon.” He said to himself as the mile markers rolled by. “Soon.”

  Book 11 Trace: Following Your Destiny will be out soon!

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