KiraThe next morning, I got up early and went for a long run. Perrin met me just after dawn and it felt good. Really good. Like I was hitting some type of rhythm again, shoes digging into the trails and dirt and mud flinging up my shins. “Are you getting faster?” Perrin puffed as we crested a hill.“You’re getting slower.”“Not hardly. Seth has been kicking my ass as much as he’s been kicking yours.”“Then why are you eating my dust?”I launched into overdrive at the top of the hill, nearly careening down it at break-neck speed. I could hear Perrin hot on my heels, the excitement of his voice in a near shout from the thrill of running almost uncontrollably. “Are you trying to kill us?”“Not this morning,” I grinned and shouted back over my shoulder. It was a beautiful morning. Full of promise. Full of potential. I was going to see my brother today, and spend the first meaningful time with him since he arrived. It didn’t matter that he was leaving shortly after that. I was going to s
KiraMy head hurts more than I care to admit. Whether from the anxiety or riddles Irene planted in my head, I don’t know. What I do know is that I have two hours of training with the Luna before I get to see my brother for lunch. And I physically can’t wait.There’s something about having a twin that’s comforting. Is it possible to have a mate of just the mind? And not in a gross, intimate way, but in a, you-know-each-other-because-you-basically-share-a-brain-and-don’t-even-need-a-mind-link, kind of way? He may have gotten under my skin the past few years, but he’s my brother and I miss him, so much more than I realize.“Hi Cynthia,” I say, scooting down the hall towards here. I flatten out my blazer, having just changed in the bathroom. It’s wrinkled, but at least I remembered it. I glance down, trying to smooth out the wrinkles. “I’ll wash these before I return them I swear.”Cynthia greets me with a wink. “Do you have the list for me?”I produce a crumpled menu order ticket from my
KiraThe glass holding my milkshake falls to the floor in an explosion of broken glass.“You’re what?”Ethan repeats himself. “I’m competing for Beta.”“Are you insane?”“Last time I checked, no.” He scratches his short beard. “But it has been awhile since I’ve had my head examined.”“Oh stop it!” I hiss, trying to keep my voice down. “But you just found out Gowan wasn’t coming back! How the hell did you tell Eli that you were going for it?” I give him another look, and it registers. “Wait. You expected him to turn Justin down, didn’t you?”He shrugged, glancing over his shoulder. We were in here alone now, Dina and the other kitchen staff on break between the lunch rush and dinner preparation. “I didn’t expect him to turn Justin down. Nor would I want that, thank you very much. He’s my mate and I never want to see him hurt.”“But you knew somehow, didn’t you? You wouldn’t have said something to Eli if you were certain. What gives?”He shrugs again. “I just had a feeling.”“And I jus
Perrin“Who else is coming?” Mark asks.Me, Lo, Janas, and my father were all squeezed into my father’s office. Not that it wasn’t a spacious room. But nobody besides my step-mother or Mark stood anywhere next to or behind the Alpha’s desk. And right now, Mark was occupying a space alongside the filing cabinet with his arms folded. That didn’t leave much room for the rest of us.“Kira,” I mention. “I think she was having lunch with Ethan.”“Here!” Kira calls, nearly sliding through the doorway and stumbling over her own momentum. She barely catches herself and lunges for Lo’s sleeve, who keeps her from falling. Kira straightens and shoves the rolled sleeves of her wrinkled blazer up her arms and offers a disheveled smile. “Anybody else?” Mark drawls, unimpressed.“Deidre,” my father replies, eyes still trained on his laptop. “She is?” She wasn’t who I asked Mark to invite here today. But I’m not entirely surprised, however. To be fair, Lo isn’t either, but it makes sense for her to
PerrinMy father sits down and immediately rubs his temples. “So help me Goddess Perrin if you impregnated a third she-wolf I’m going to cut off your–”“No!” But the denial is shouted by more than just me. Lo and Kira stand on either side of me, looking equally repulsed.“Kira.” I say simply, trying to recover. “It’s about Kira. And her secret.”“What?” My beta’s head snaps as she turns to look at me, clearly surprised. I can feel the suppressed confusion in the room. “Kira is going to be my Beta, and I think it’s time we allowed her to be who she truly is.”Deidre instantly interjects. “I’m working on her–”I raise a hand, and to my complete surprise, she stops talking. “I’m not talking about interfering with her training–or her wardrobe, for that matter.” It’s only right to speak plainly, and wish no shame. “I’m talking about who she is. She has no reason to hide the real her.”I refuse to look at Kira. I don’t want her to think of this as some personal favor. It’s the right thing
PerrinAs soon as Janas is out of earshot, Kira turns to me, her face a mix of excitement and fear. “Are you serious?”“I’m not sure if you’re asking for an apology or–”“An apology?” She cuts me off. “Are you kidding? I’m thrilled! I won’t have to wear these stupid pieces of shit anymore–I mean, stupid things–I mean–” she’s circling now and it’s nearly making me dizzy. Lo laughs quietly in amusement, joy and approval in her eyes.“Yes,” I manage. “I didn’t tell you earlier–things just got a little crazy the last few days.”“Oh my Goddess I get it. Don’t worry. Listen–let’s talk later. I’m running late to the Lodge–even a meeting with the Alpha won’t be a good enough excuse for Seth. But–” she grabs my hand with both of hers, then realizing she’s shaking it like some stranger, launches herself on top of me in a giant hug. “Thank you.”And without another look behind her, she’s gone.Lo lets out a quiet giggle, watching Kira’s form retreat down the length of the hallway, her arms folde
PerrinThe carpet was soft beneath my back as I pulled Lo to me, welcoming her light weight on my chest. She kisses me softly, her lips warm and the heat of her body rivaling the small fire crackling behind us. “Are you sure you’d rather not wait to see the bedroom?” I ask.Lo pause, as if she hadn’t considered that. “You mean there’s more?”“We’re obviously not going to sleep in the kitchen…”She nips at my lip playfully. “I’m serious! You did everything?” I had the sudden, uneasy feeling that she was put out, despite her smile. “Not everything. I didn’t touch any of the spare bedrooms, which now I guess includes a nursery.”She smiles, then kisses me again, her pleasure evident as her lips pressed harder, pulling away with a delightful smacking sound. “Well. Before I get too carried away–”“Isn’t that the point? This is ours, after all–”She swats at my chest and sits up, straddling my hips. I wiggled mine suggestively and she swats again, grinning. “I’m serious. Can you let me fi
Perrin“We need at least another two weeks.”“Two?” Mark didn’t sound happy. But he wasn’t thrilled at the idea of the ruse either. But this wasn’t good regardless. “Kira’s learning everything just fine, but we need time to plant some things out in the territory in case she needs backup.”The room fell silent as my father nodded. “Deidre’s right. Our sense of urgency can’t outweigh our need to do this properly. Nobody can know.”Deidre hesitated, looking at Kira. “How about three? Just to make sure?” Kira nodded.“Wait–” I said. “When is the last time Kira has run patrol?”The room stills, then Mark offers, “Too long.” He slams his hands against the wall in frustration, then turns to look at all of us. “This isn’t going to work. Kira needs more time with the pack to build rapport.”Kira looks offended. “What do you think I’ve been doing for the last month and a half?”Mark’s eyes soften for a fraction of a second before hardening. “It’s good, but you haven’t run patrol with them. You