In the silvery waterfall of moonlight, Jonathan Aztec, my second in command, holding rank as Beta of the Northridge pack, was something to behold. His powerful shoulders seemed to carry the waning gibbous, and the shadows that devoured the vast grounds of Battleridge manor granted him a wide berth.
He was a superior specimen. He was a male worthy of the ranking he'd been bestowed. But like all creatures, he wasn't born perfect, and his character flaw was a fault that bled out into the night like a severed artery: Concern.
It charged the air between us, a thick blanket that settled against the lungs like a boa-constrictor's loving embrace.
"What did you find?" I asked. The perverse silence that had entombed the dilapidated courtyard, screaming so loud it rang through my ears like a twisted lullaby, was shattered upon his approach. His boots smacked against the waterlogged ground, echoing in a way that spoke of his failures before he'd even opened his mouth. 
"Nothing,"
.......
"Until I can figure out what's going on, nobody finds out about the boy. Understand?"
"Understood."
"You're not going to ..." The pause that followed dragged out. "He's just a baby, Sterling."
"You're dismissed."

The Littlest Light

/"Either I'm seeing double,/" I commented dryly once Jonathan clambered into the passenger seat of my car, /"Or something is sitting in my back seat that isn't supposed to be./"

As if wearing matching faces wasn't enough, both boys wore identical blue scarves that made their eyes pop, and a matching hat that had pom-poms either side. Ember had gloves on. Lumen had one dangling from his mouth, and who even knew where the other one had ended up.

At my words, Ember let out a tiny whimper, his eyes shooting towards Jonathan, who didn't so much as flinch as he met my glare. /"Nope. You're not seeing double, so you're all good on the Specsavers appointment. Ember is coming with us. He wants to help pick a tree, and him and Lumen are going to pick the bulbuls together./"

/"Cuz Burr brudda, daddy, so hasta do lottsa fun, nicey things./" Lumen garbled through his glove.

Chapter103