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
Jesamine“This show sucks.”“I know, but my feet are tired. Let’s watch another episode.” That much was the truth. Gowan had me walking three times a day after Perrin left each morning. Not only did our recent discussions about leave me even more exhausted than usual, but the child in my stomach was actually growing now. Delayed of course, according to Jennivah, but he was growing. Slowly and steadily draining every inch of energy I had within me.“Fine. But if that weird vampire with the guy-liner comes back on, I’m out,” Jack whined.“You’re just mad because he’s so good looking.”“The casting is stupid. They don’t even look like brothers.”Jack and I have been holed up here most afternoons. I finally got a TV, thanks to much prodding from Gowan. While he trains and does whatever physical exercise in the afternoon, Jack and I relax. Over the course of the last week, we’ve settled into a surprising routine. When Gowan’s not here, Jack’s here. When Jack’s doing his own physical therap
DeidreDEIDRE: Remind me to ask you about a step-open trunk.MARK: Excuse me?DEIDRE: It’s for you-know-what. Kira can’t open… things when her paws are… not hands.MARK: How big?DEIDRE: Enough to fit a grocery-bag sized amount of stuff.MARK: Your level of specificity astounds me.DEIDRE: Can you do it or not?MARK: Probably.DEIDRE: Your level of specificity astounds me.I watched as the bubbles appeared and disappeared as he wrote, then thought better, of his text. Good.MARK: Yes, can do it. And stash it, I’m guessing?DEIDRE: Yes. It will contain what she needs.MARK: I’ll talk to Janas tomorrow. Good night.As if I would have a good night. I threw my phone down, not even flinching as it crashes to my wooden desk. It lay back in the desk chair and my hands through my loose hair. I have spent the last twelve hours plotting, only to realize in the last hour that Kira wouldn’t be able to open up the glass vial of sedative in her wolf form. Stupid, stupid, stupid! But at least we had
Deidre No. No no no. I had no time to consider the implications of the Chiyad Beta Challenge. No. I had to focus. Think think think! I withdrew from my husband’s office under the guise of unfinished work and returned to my own. I close the office door behind me, barely able to breathe. What had I just agreed to? Was this completely insane? Taking over for Mistra? No. This was stupid. No! It was the only reasonable option. I had to honor her. What was I thinking? This was insane. Memories swirled to the surface, dense and unstoppable like ink added to water. I fought to stave off the haunting vision of Sienna’s face, but it was no use. Like weeks before, the memories flooded into my mind, this time crisper; more intense, long-forgotten details materializing before me with stunning clarity. Years before A knock sounded at the door. “May I come in?” Said a soft, melodic voice. “Luna?” I rose reflexively. “You shouldn’t be out of bed–” She waved a dismissive, gentle hand