Stars Above Lonely Nights — Michael Brown novel Chapter 81

Nova POV:

“It felt good to train again” I sigh rolling my shoulders as the emotions I’ve been keeping check feel lighter than they have in a little while.

“I bet” Theo laughs, “how are you coping with everything?”

“As always, head up and get on with it” I chuckle.

“It wouldn’t hurt to talk about it Nova” he says pausing in what he’s doing to look at me with care.

“What do you want me to say? I have grandparents who are that fucked in the head they have purposefully gone after my family, they wanted to kill my parents and me when I was born, never mind what my parents dealt with before. I’ve had people betray me and cause me emotional and physical harm from the person who I loved at the time, I’ve seen my sister harmed and taken. I’ve learnt I have a whole family out there I haven’t known about for 25 years! It’s just crazy Theo” I sigh. “That’s not to mention whatever the hunters are getting up to.”

“It’s a lot” he agrees quietly. “But if anyone can deal with it it’s you.”

“Thanks for the faith” I chuckle.

“I mean it” he replies shrugging as if it’s obvious.

“You have your mate, and he will only strengthen you. Goddess help the hunters when you finally are on to them” he smirks. Rubbing his arm he winces as I see a bruise is forming. “Shit Nova you hit hard” he laughs.

“That was me?” I gasp running to check it. “I’m so sorry Theo I thought I was holding back.”

“That was you holding back?” He asks in amazement, “correction…the hunters are fucked!”

“If only it was that easy” I smirk as he laughs at himself. “I am sorry though.”

“Don’t be, it’s training” he shrugs again.

“I’m going to take Flo some food, coming along?” I ask as we head back to the packhouse.

“Definitely” he replies before we head into the pack kitchen and grab a tray of breakfast for Flo.

5minutes later we are knocking on her door hearing her cheerily call for us to enter.

“Morning” I sing, “you look happy today.”

“I am” she smile, “I feel good. Back to normal just waiting for the go ahead to train.”

“Andrew?” I check.

“Back this morning, but he went to the gym that’s why you probably didn’t see him” she says smiling.

“Well I’m glad to hear it, I know how good training makes you feel” I exclaim. “We can train together!”

“I’d love that” she grins.

“You might regret it” Theo smirks playfully at Flo making me thin my lips as I glare at him.

“Why?” She asks looking over her shoulder as she take a look at the food.

“Because she hits harder than anyone I know” he grins as he motions to his darkening bruise.

“Damn Nova” she gasps as I grimace.

“That’s her holding back apparently” Theo teases as he elbows me in the side.

“It was” I pout pulling a sad face.

“Hurts like hell” Theo says purposefully as he still has a wide grin on his face.

“You’re a werewolf get over it” Flo shoots at him.

“Tell him to step down, he’s no longer needed for help in this situation and if he breaths a word of what is going on I will have to consider more” he replies strongly anger still lacing his tone.

“Your mum? I’ve asked her to help with the Luna Ceremony” I point out.

“Oh she won’t have a thing to do with this, I don’t think she will even be aware” he says as I rub his neck to relax him, “I need to tell you more about my childhood.”

Moving so I can look at him he looks slightly nervous as I search his face for clues, “ok..?”

“He was tough on me and my brothers, but when i got to about 12 he became more aggressive. If i didn’t perform well enough in training I was punished his Beta at the time was the one who administered the physical punishments, my father was more verbal” he admits.

“What punishments?” I ask in horror.

“Oh all sorts but it was never visible if I wore my day to day clothes, he was careful about that. It went on for a few years but once I got to 18 I hit back, since then he backed off and my father and I have gotten on pretty well. I didn’t allow for him to ever let my brothers suffer the same and maybe that’s why he has a thing against them at times. I thought we’d put the past behind us” he sighs.

“But why?” I ask

“It was the way his father was, then he wanted to be the same but my mother would never have agreed so yeah..he threw me into pack duties and made me help with paper work instead of going out” he explains.

“That’s harsh for a child” I say, “even an Alpha.”

“I know, but honestly he made changes in the last few years, I’m disappointed now” he says as he rubs my thighs absentmindedly.

“Let’s go” I say surging to my feet.

“To?” He asks standing up slowly.

“To speak to your father” I growl leading him from the room.