Grace As the Winter Moon Festival drew near, I found myself immersed in a whirlwind of activity. Juggling the responsibilities of preparing for the pack’s celebration and preparing to return to school at the beginning of the spring term was no easy feat. The holiday season brought a sense of joy a
When the journalist had asked all of her questions, I went back to join the rest of the workers on the other side. I took down notes for the repairs. Charles came back with at least three trees worth of firewood and a beaming smile. When we called it a day, we headed back home together. When we got
Charles I left that night, regretting my restraint as George drove me back the long, winding roads to the Palace. Leaving Grace’s pack house was a bittersweet moment. My usual happiness about returning home was stifled. I wanted to be at the Mooncrest Pack House with Grace, Cecil, and Richard. H
How much longer could I put off the inevitable? With a heavy sigh, I locked my phone and set it aside. I knew that I couldn’t ignore the message and that the situation demanded a response. But at that moment, I was too conflicted, too angry, too something to respond the way I usually would. As t
Grace The days since Charles returned to the Palace were a blur of activity and challenges. The pack was abuzz with preparations for the festivities, but there was an undercurrent of tension and unease that I couldn’t ignore. The news of the break-in, combined with the ongoing financial struggles
“I just... I needed to hear your voice,” I admitted, my voice catching slightly. Silence hung between us for a moment before Charles spoke again, his concern evident. “Grace, what’s wrong? You don’t sound like yourself.” I took a deep breath, my resolve crumbling as the weight of my emotions thr
Grace Her voice on the other end of the line was cool, detached, and held an edge of irritation that made my heart sink. This was the woman who had once guided me through the labyrinth of research, who had been my mentor in the days when I was just starting to formulate the idea of the longevity p
There was a pause on the other end, a heavy silence that seemed to stretch on forever. When she finally spoke, her voice was still laced with skepticism. “Desperate? That’s a strong word.” I felt my heart pounding in my chest as I struggled to find the right words, the ones that would convince her
I nodded. "Don't let me trip." "I'll do my best." With a shared laugh, we headed out the door. Esme was there at the door, hanging back. Gracian stepped away from me and linked arms with her. "We'll see you soon." I nodded and watched them go. We stood in the foyer of the building. From wh
Grace A month later... After the attack, the remaining members retreated into the cabinet to figure out what to do. After all, the other half and the president had been killed in the attack because they attacked Mooncrest. Luckily, Astarte had simply fixed everything, and aside from the aches an
Fire spilled over the doors as we fought our way down the stairs. Something swiped my cheek, but I didn't heed it. We stumbled over the bodies and slipped in the blood. I tried not to think about how many people I'd killed. I didn't want to think about it. "Back up is coming, but we need time, "
Grace I heard dying screams as I ran. The sound of battle echoed down the hallway. I found Astarte holding a group of attackers off at the door of the other stairs. "There was no way off." Astarte snarled. "Your mother's office! Lock the door." "What about--" "Go!" I bit my lip and ran
"A good PR move comes with a splash of fun." Astarted nodded forward. "I believe you should get to your command room, yes?" I nodded and headed upstairs to my father's office, adrenaline pumping through my veins. An attack, contained or not, was a serious threat. The city needed to be locked dow
Grace As we boarded the crowded bus, a knot of unease tightened in my gut. Astarte made a show of being intrigued. She smiled for every photo and seemed genuinely delighted, all the while, she explained her plan. I promised to help you. PR is important. Having me here will get you attention beyo
"Thanks." "Really well," Xavier said, setting his laptop on the table. On one side was a report on my interview, a headline streamed across the bottom. "Alpha Wolfe: A Beacon of Hope in Dark Times." Below it, a graph charted a dramatic rise in public approval for both myself and Wolfe Medica
Grace A nervous flutter danced in my stomach as I smoothed out the wrinkles on my blazer. I'd rather be orienting all the students, including the bright-eyed Westridge students, but Xavier and Amira swore up and down that this was for the best. Charles leaned into my office and grinned. "Nervous
I set my phone down and scoffed. When had my alma mater allowed so many idiots since I'd been an undergrad? Their loss. The lycans, humans, and witches had no problem. Seraphina, Margaret and I met everyone who had signed on in the conference room at City Hall. The excitement was palpable as the n