The Secrets of the Panther
Chapter 43

IZZY

I woke up with a little hand on my face. I looked at the small little face in front of me and couldn’t help but smile.

Allie was still asleep.

I move slowly, placing her hand on the side and smiling at her as I sit in bed.

I can’t help but feel nervous suddenly as I look at the huge man sleeping on the sofa with his arm draped over his face.

Blake was amazing last night with Allie, but I think he got the just of how I feel. But what he did in the bathroom was something else. He touched my skin so softly that Michael’s face or even his touch never came into my mind. Blake’s touch was smooth, only just using his fingertips. He did nothing that would hurt me. I can feel the bond working between us, but it will take some more time together. I don’t know about being physical yet, but damn, I enjoyed kissing him. He also lets me touch him, which is the first time I ever touched a man. I loved how his skin reacted to my touch, the goosebumps, but his abs were hard.

I can’t help but bite my lip, recalling the way they felt under my fingers. I can feel Puna purr in my head. “Izzy, you ok?” she asks with a smirk.

“Yeah, I am,” I say with a bush.

“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” she says. “He is our mate.”

I look over at Blake, who is now sitting up with a smirk on his face, but he changes it into a smile as soon as he spots me looking at him. “Morning Izzy,” he says in a husky voice. “How did you sleep?”

I can’t help but smile. “I slept great”

Suddenly there was a movement by the side of me. “Mummy,” she says in a sleepy voice, rubbing her eyes, and sits in bed. Allie looks around, and she smiles as she sees me, but it grows wider at the sight of Blake. “Morning,” she says sweetly.

Blake smiles. “Morning, sweetheart, would you like pancakes for breakfast?” he asks. Allie’s smile goes even wider and nods her head. “Yes, please, I love pancakes,” she says as she climbs out of bed.

“Can we go now?” She asks him as she grabs his hand and pulls him to his feet.

I can’t help but giggle. “Allie, you need to go into the bathroom and wash ok; then we will go downstairs for pancakes,” I say, trying to control myself as Blake looks at me and smiles.

She looks back at me. “Ok, mummy,” she says and turns to leave but stops suddenly. “Where is the bathroom?” She asks, which makes Blake laugh slightly.

“I will show you, princess,” he says, pointing to the door. “I will monitor you while your mum gets dressed.”

I blush. I remember him giving me his T-shirt last night. His scent calmed me down, and even had Puna purring in her sleep.

Allie nods, and Blake moves from the sofa, heading straight in behind her.

As soon as the door shuts, I get up and place my clothes back on from yesterday. As soon as I place my hair in a ponytail, they walk out of the bathroom. I couldn’t help but look at Blake holding Allie’s hand. I go into the bathroom and sort myself out the best I can.

When I walked out, Blake was already dressed, and we all headed downstairs to the kitchen where everyone was.

I can’t help but smile at the faces that look at us as we walk in.

Allie runs to Alice, who picks her up and places her in the chair next to her. “I made sure there were chocolate chip pancakes for you, peanut,” she says, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

Luna Lauren looks at her and smiles. “Izzy, she looks so much like Lucy and you. It’s so weird,” she says.

I smile.

Blake comes to me and hands me some coffee. “We will take Allie to the nursery once she is ready,” he says.

“Why is she going to the nursery?” Asks Alice suddenly.

I look over at her. “Well, the counselor is coming today. Blake thought it would be a good idea that Allie stays in the nursery, and I think it’s a good idea for Allie to go into the nursery; she can make some new friends and also, she can have some fun,” I say which makes Allie’s eyes go wide. “I can have some fun and make some friends, mummy,” she says, which makes everyone smile at her. “Yes, darling, you can.”

She eats almost every single pancake that was placed on her plate, and Alice takes her to her room as she goes to Kat’s house to collect some things for all of us.

After the food was done and everyone was ready, Luna Lauren and Anita planned to stay in Anita’s room to catch up while the two alphas were already in the office with the counselor woman. Both Blake and I walked Allie to the nursery.

At the nursery, Blake was right. Allie would love it there, and the woman was amazing with her. She even confirmed with what Blake said no one would pick Allie up unless it were Blake or myself. Allie left and instantly made friends with another wolf. I couldn’t help but smile.

We both leave and head towards the office. “Izzy, you ok?” Blake asks. I look at him and smile. “Yeah, I am. I want to get this whole thing with the counselor over with so we can sort out Graham and his mate.”

Blake stops suddenly and places his hand on mine, making me look up at him. “Izzy, Graham was not at fault. He was under a spell,” he says. I look at him, and he frowns. “I think before we deal with Linda, you need to tell Graham what happened and, I mean, everything.”

I say nothing, but he has a point. I need my father to hear what I say and tell him what really happened to my mother.

“Ok, I will talk to him, but I’m not holding any promises,” I say flatly.

He smiles. We open the office door and walk in.

There in front of us was Alpha Derek, Alpha Dawson, a man, and an elderly woman with grey hair, which had pink streaks through it. They all looked back at Blake and me.

“Ah, Blake and Izzy,” says Alpha Derek with a smile. “This is the counselor we were on about yesterday.”

The woman turns around and looks at both of us. She stares at me and smiles. “It is nice to meet you,” she says but looks at me.

Puna lifts her head and looks through my eyes but doesn’t come forward. “You ok, Izzy,” says Puna.

“Yeah, something is off,” I said. I can’t work out what it is, but I have my backup more, especially with the counselor or the man standing beside her who hasn’t taken his eyes off me from the minute I walked into the office.

Blake looks at me and moves closer so he is near my ear. “You ok?” He whispers. I move my eyes from the man to Blake’s eyes. He smiles.

All I could do was nod.

“This here is Jim, my assistant. He has been my assistant for the last few weeks,″ the counselor says as she watches my every move. “Shall we sit?” She says as she points to the chairs provided.

We all take our seats.

The counselor looks at me. “So, I have been called here about some accusations you have made against Elder Johnson,” she says sternly.

I look at her but say nothing.

“Counsellor, both my brother and I explained everything to you when you came this morning,” says Alpha Derek, looking between the counselor and myself. Blake is sitting next to me. I can feel his grip on my hand tightening a little. Puna is close. She can sense the atmosphere, and she is not liking it one bit.

“I heard your side of the story, but I want to hear it from the panther,” she says in a mock tone.

I glare back, Puna growling in my head, “Why do you need to hear my side of the story?” I ask through gritted teeth. “You already know what that man is accused of. You don’t need me to tell you as well.”

“Tell us your side, panther, as we need to know if what they say is true,” says the man. He still hasn’t taken his eyes off me.

I can’t help the growl that slips through my mouth.

The counselor looks at me and says nothing.

“I don’t have to tell you shit. That Elder is working with a witch and has caused damage to not only this pack but many others, and not only that, he also took part in my mother’s death,” I said with a growl.

The man steps forward. “Well, that it is your word against his. I think this is all fabricated to bring shame on someone who wants to bring this pack to its potential,” he says.

I glare at him, but the counselor looks at me “That’s enough,” she says “I have to admit, it seems far-fetched to me,” she says, looking at me, “Why would an elder of all people want to kill a panther?”

You gotta be kidding me. Puna was on all fours and wanted to get out. I control her, but it is getting hard too.

“Why would it be far-fetched?” asks Blake with a snarl. “Elder Johnson not only works alongside a witch and others who want to torment and diminish packs, but he wants to control everyone. He wanted his own granddaughter and me to be chosen mates but when we both refused, he took things into his own hands.”

“You lie,” says the man, but the counselor holds her hand up to stop him.

“I didn’t want to hear it off the young alpha. I wanted to hear everything of the panther herself,” she says, glaring back at him, but turns to me. I can’t control Puna any more. She wants out, but she is coming closer to the surface.

“YOU MIGHT BE IN CHARGE, BUT WE DON’T ANSWER TO YOU,” says Puna with a growl.

The man stares back in shock as I can tell our eyes are bright green, judging by the way Alpha Derek and Alpha Dawson stare at us, but Alpha Dawson has a smirk.

“I will not…” says the counselor, but Puna cuts her off with a loud growl. “YOU WILL BE SPOKEN TO THE WAY YOU SPEAK TO MY HUMAN,” Puna says.

“YOU SPEAK TO THE HIGH COUNSELLOR LIKE THAT,” growls her assistant. “WOULD YOU USE YOUR POWER ON THE COUNSELLOR AS YOU DID ON ELDER JOHNSON?”

I look back at Alpha Derek and Alpha Dawson, who looks back at him with confusion, but Alpha Dawson looks over at the man beside me, who has now gotten up on his feet after the assistant’s little outburst. “Well, that is a weird thing to come out with, Jim. We mentioned nothing about her power to the counselor before this meeting,” says Alpha Derek, Blake is snarling by the side of me, but he says through gritted teeth, “Izzy, last night my father tested the theory about the counselors and elders with the faction, we told nothing about your power to her or anyone,” he says and looks at me, I can’t help but look up at him.

Puna wants out; she wants the man’s neck. I growl loud and stood up really quickly, moving over to him and pinning him to the wall by his neck. Puna comes to the surface. I can feel the other’s eyes on me, but we let some power slip through. “YOU WILL DIE, WOLF, YOU STAND WITH HIM,” she growls.

He looks back at me, and a small smile comes over his face. “YOU ARE PATHETIC PANTHER; YOU CAN NOT KILL ME,” he says, but that was it. Puna makes her claws come through, piercing his neck, and he screams out. “YOU BITCH, THEY WILL COME AND KILL YOU,” he says.

“Who?” says Blake, who is now standing right behind me.

The man laughs, but blood comes out of his mouth. “IT’S NOT JUST WOLVES AND HUNTERS THAT AFTER HER, THEY HAVE AN ARMY,” he says as he splutters more blood from his mouth.

I lean closer to him, and Puna comes through. “Well, you won’t be part of it,” we say together as we crush his neck.