Kira I really didn’t want to go this morning. Not because I had anything to hide. I didn’t. I haven’t drank since the incident at the infirmary, but Goddess knows I didn’t want to talk about that. Fuck. Just thinking about last night makes my blood boil. I had gone to fucking apologize. And I had no idea how that had happened. He had been… almost… almost sweet. He covered for me with Perrin when I was crying in the car. Had been a perfect gentleman. He had even wiped my tears… he’d been some combination of friend and… and… And what? No. Nothing. It must have been all in my head. Maybe I was still hungover. Fuck. And then I showed up like some desperate, crazy psycho girl outside of the Archives in the middle of the night and seeking what… approval and forgiveness for something that I didn’t do? No. This was all insane. I should never have gone. Besides, I walked in on whatever type of booty call he was conducting in the archives. Fuck. If Mark or Marge got wind that he was entert
LoThe old church building looms high above me. I can’t wait to get inside. The stained glass is already gleaming from the afternoon sun and I can practically picture the glow inside the stone walls.I let myself in and approached the circulation desk. Like usual, nobody seems to be here. I ring the bell on the counter, its soft tinkling sound echoing throughout the main lobby area. “Marge?” I call tentatively. “Are you here?”I hear a small cough of exclamation, and a few moments later, Marge emerges. I’ve only been gone a few weeks, but to my dismay she seems older somehow. She walks with a cane, more hunched over than before; whether from aches or the physical loss of Alby, I don’t know. But she gets to the desk and beams at me, the lines in her face creasing deeply as she does so.“Luna Select!” She says warmly, her eyes bulging like a bug behind her thick lenses. She adjusts her glasses.“Hello Marge,” I say, “but please. We don’t need to bother with that. Please call me Lo.”“Le
KiraI feel… good.In control. Lighter than I’ve felt in weeks.My time flew by with the Luna–Deidre– and I can’t believe it. I make my way to the Lodge, ready to kick some serious ass. Galpin is there warming up with Seth and greets me with a smile. “Ready to get your ass kicked?”Riding my high, I welcome the challenge. “Game on.”I’ve already beaten Galpin in the way that matters, earning his respect as a member from the Alpha Guard. And the fact that he’ll warm up with me is a good sign. I still have about half of the Alpha Guard to work through, but progress is progress.We spar for nearly a half hour. I can feel my muscles getting stronger, finally matching the endurance I feel when I run. But Galpin’s been at it for a few hours before I even got there. “How about you hit the treadmill?” he says, taking a break for water. “You seem to be slowing down a bit.”I know he’s just messing with me, but I do it anyway. Ever since I started running to help with my addiction and give me
KiraPERRIN: Are you still at the Lodge?KIRA: Yea what’s up?PERRIN: I figured you’d want to join me. I’m going to chat with Gowan in a few.KIRA: You’re going to risk it while he’s still here?PERRIN: You mean, while they’re all still here? Yes.KIRA: Woof. This should be fun.KIRA: I’ll meet you at the infirmary shortly.PERRIN: Sounds good.I pull up to the infirmary and Perrin’s waiting outside. It’s nearly dinner time but I don’t really care. If I’m being honest with myself, I’m excited that Perrin asked me to join him. This ordeal with Gowan is beginning to feel like we’re really in this together, and tag-teaming the way an Alpha and Beta should. “We are in this together,” Perrin says, reading my mind.“How did you–”“You’ve developed this fun habit of sending stuff down the mind link when you don’t mean to.”I feel my face flush. “No I haven’t!”He laughs. “You just did.”We head inside and after greeting Lorrie and heading back to Gowan’s room. I have no interest in speakin
Kira“Where are we eating?”Perrin just grumbles, mentioning that he made a private reservation for two at one of his favorite restaurants. He makes a call, somewhat defeated, and then hangs up from Corbellas–a fantastic Italian place– muttering something under his breath about wanting to claim the restaurant for a better memory… whatever that means. I feel bad. He was so in control just a moment before, and now, he’s all flustered and sad.“I can always back out,” I offer, not wanting to upset him. It’s clear that he still has a lot of catching up to do with his mate, and this time, in public.He rubs the back of his neck as we walk to the parking lot. I’ve got my bike, and Charlie is waiting for him. “It’s fine. She’s already invited someone else.” I can’t help but see how dejected he looks, and that makes me annoyed. “Why would she invite someone?”He sighs. “She said it’s someone she wants me to meet.”“Someone here that you don’t know?” That sounds doubtful. He shrugs. “I gues
Perrin “Don’t even think of going anywhere,” I scold, escorting Lo to the bathroom and calling to Kira over my shoulder. We made it back to the pack house, having to stop twice for Lo to throw up on the side of the road. Kira scoffs and flops onto my bed, then, after thinking better of it, goes and sits in my armchair by the large window. I lead Lo into the bathroom, placing towels on the floor around the base of the toilet. She’s white as a sheet and sweat covers her forehead, but she’s still smiling at me. “I’m so sorry,” she mumbles before diving into the toilet once more. “You have nothing to apologize for,” I say, holding back her hair. “Was it the food?” She pulls herself upright and wipes her face with a towel. “I’m sure it’d taste great, just the smell… I was kind of getting light headed and the next thing I know, I’m nauseous. “Well, it’s a good thing we got out of there beforehand.” She looks at me, and it’s clear she understands my meaning. We don’t need anyone notici
JesamineI was just about to drift off to sleep when there’s a knock on the door. I’ve been in a foul mood ever since Lo and Perrin’s visit earlier and was just trying to clear my mind with a long-overdue nap.“Who is it?” I mumble.The visitor knocks again, unable to hear my groggy question.“Who is it?” I call louder.The door opens, and to my complete surprise, Jack hobbles in, supported with a crutch on one side. I heard rumors of his alleged injury the night of my own attack before the Sacred Call, but I hadn’t so much as seen or heard from him. Not that we’re friends or anything. Hell, Perrin barely was. And besides, Goddess knows I’ve had bigger things on my plate. But I knew from Jennivah that he was in here healing from a pretty messed up leg injury.“May I come in?”“Sure.” I sit up in the arm chair and adjust the blanket I have pulled over me. “Actually, can you kick up the thermostat?” I gesture underneath the blanket, pointing t== to the far wall. Jack hobbles over to th
KiraFor the second time in a few days, I find myself at the door of the archives, poised to apologize to Ben. Only this time, my heart isn’t in it.In fact, it barely feels like it’s in my chest.It’s not that I don’t believe he deserves the apology. I was a total bitch at dinner. I know that. But the other night, I felt the need to be honest and candid and explain everything. Tonight? I want to be here and be gone as soon as it’s over. No lingering, no nothing.I open the archive door. It’s not locked, as there’s still a half hour left until closing. “Hello?”Marge’s voice greets me. For the first time, I see her standing in the atrium, briefcase in one hand and her coat slung over her arm. She’s clearly on her way out for the evening. Curious, given that she didn’t enjoy Ben taking any responsibility the last I knew of it.“Ah. Kira.” Her voice is stilted and nervous, despite her stoic professionalism. I feel bad. I did this. I blew up and left and went to drink and that’s how I l