Al Norris

I just finished binging on the Journal. I started to read the comments, then abruptly decided not to and just read. After reading RWTP and then Alone in the Night, I found I simply had to read this one without interruption. All I can say at this point is that your writing ability and story telling are growing with leaps and bounds! Everyone else has already said how they feel about the changes Chris goes through. I agree with them. Thank you for taking us on this journey with you.

Worthless, not good enough, never be better than... The list seemed endless.

I had the feeling this was you. I knew for sure with a couple of your responses in chapter 6. I didn't expect you to add the commentary at the end of the story. My eyes are still stinging. While I didn't have a pleasant childhood, it didn't get as bad as yours. I was able to keep it secret until after I got out of the Corps. Fare thee well on your journey, Al

NO! I'm not crying. I'm smoking too many cigarettes and the smoke is getting in my eyes. With every chapter.

It is among the worst ever feelings. I would be surprised if Matt doesn't suicide after this. And yet stories like this only come close to the reality. @WolfM you are getting very close to some long buried feelings.

This was a hard chapter to read.

It is estimated that 1 in 30 kids in America are homeless. By rough estimates that works out to 7.3 million kids. 40% of those kids are LGBT youth who were either kicked out or simply left because of the abuse. You do not want to know the percentage of LGBT youth that commit suicide. The rate is appalling.

I agree. Things would have been a lot better. But Matt not only didn't know this, he didn't trust anyone at the time. Now add in the things that @WolfM listed... It was a no-win scenario for Matt.

A wonderful set of chapters @WolfM

The only thing that could possibly have been better, during the kiss, would have been if the trees had grown enough to bend inwards and become a vaulted cathedral around the open space of the glade. What better representation of Nature agreeing with the union? Now, on to the reception and the dragon dance!

Politics is an abhorrent profession... As practiced by professionals. Yet it is sometimes the only means to keep out of war (see diplomacy). People, as a whole, do not like change. Conservatives as a whole detest change without good reason. Ultra conservatives refuse change (unless it makes their life easier). You don't want to hear my views on Liberalism, as it is practiced today. Having noted all of the above, I liked the last two chapters. They show how wolves are essentially a conservative creature. They also show how a few of them are liberal (in the sense of Thomas Jefferson - not in any sense of how it is portrayed today). I agree that there would have been much more discussion about the 'Elemental Problem.' Oh well, can't have everything, can we?! Still, great chapters, @WolfM.

Like many, I loved the fight scene. You hit all the high points. Learning some martial arts taught Ethan to study his opponent. Street smarts taught him how to use those arts as well as how to fight as dirty as he needed to either win or escape. Using his Lunis form at the end, so surprised his opponent, Dorian couldn't react in time. The only thing that throws me was that no one seemed to take notice of the peculiar markings on the Lunis form (you have already said they are harder to see in his Lupis form). The whole council scene was a great show in how to conduct not just business, but arrive at justice in a very timely fashion. Wish it were so in our human courts. Now I get to read the next chapter to see the verdict! 😁

Nice chapter, all in all. The cliffie wasn't quite expected, but I like it nonetheless. I loved all the calls for Dorian's blood from the readers. Pretty typical when we have an evil Goliath going against a good David! It made me laugh! "You keep calling me a bitch, asshole. But judging by what you got," Ethan looks pointedly at Dorian's mid section, "it ain't enough for me to be your bitch" I love pithy rejoinders!

I find that even though I keep a character sheet and a plot-point sheet, The characters in my mind have a tendency to drive the story. Regardless of where I think it should go!

Let's not forget that Aiden has another Alpha at his right hand side. I should also mention that there are at least 4 other shifters that will back them both up. I'm figuring that if the worst comes sooner, rather than later, it will be a steep learning curve at first. These guys are quick learners, so I'm not at all concerned.

I didn't expect this turn of events, although given the nature of the house and its location, I should have suspected something of this sort. These last few chapters have been a good respite from the constant turmoil that Aiden and Ethan have found themselves in. I'm feeling that time is about over.

I'm just full of useless arcane information!

It was the logical progression of the ideas brought out earlier.

OK. I stand corrected.

In English it means: 158A472Th <-- Interesting. 9 characters. Theta in Koine Greek is the 9th character. 9 is one of the divine numbers in Hebrew numerology. In Greek 9 meant Life. Or it could be the password to JP's computer.

Sorry to disappoint you Will. The above holds true for ANY politician of ANY party. AAR, another great chapter @WolfM.

What a great chapter! So... We have Michael and that former Lt that initiated the attack. I just can't seem to imagine what their fate will be... (yes, that was said in the most sarcastic voice I could possibly use)

That's exactly the way I saw it. Gaelan saw who was doing the freezing and knew, immediately that Ethan was an elemental. As @WolfM said, the solaris revere the elementals. He had no option but to help. As for the other, I'll take a stab at it. Just as Aiden's gift to Ethan was the gift of the wolf, so Ethan's gift to Aiden was part (or all?) of his elemental powers. It was the elemental part of Ethan that changed Ethan's wolf to what it is... Including the gift of being an Alpha. Aiden has a temper. So naturally, fire was the first element he displayed. And just like Ethan, when he used his power over water to destroy the Lunis, he passed out after expending the energy. Aiden used fire and then passed out. Regardless of all this, JP is gonna be right pissed when he gets back.

IF Ethan gets some food and some rest, I wonder how long it will take him to realize that his dreams are seeing the real Aiden? I'm also wondering how long it's gonna take JP to realize that Aiden is Alpha?

I'm enjoying the development of Jean-Pierre. He's a blood thirsty pirate, but an educated pirate! I'm also loving all the sci-fi quotes! I agree with many, if Ethan gets involved with the um, prisoner exchange... Look Out!