LIAM'S POV:I was so convinced that Lucy was my mate. I guess it was all just a weird reaction to having a new pack member who was close to my family so suddenly, on top of knowing that she came from the Red Paw Pack as a slave.We had been investigating this pack for a while. My dad would buy slaves from other packs and basically set them free. Often, they stayed in our pack and lived a free life, but when he brought Rosie back, we knew something was wrong.This was the first slave he had bought from the Red Paw Pack.Slaves were known to live harder lives. Often forced into working very laborious jobs with no pay. On top of that, they were always malnourished and timid, but Rosie was different.She didn't speak for months. With a look of terror in her eyes, she would simply nod yes at every question.She was only 15. Just a few years younger than Lucy when Dad brought her home.Thankfully, an older mated couple had grown pups now and were happy to take her in. Dad made sure that she
LUCY'S POV:"Arrgggh" I groaned out loud as I stretched languishingly in my bed. Blinking my eyes a few times before staring up at the ceiling."Nia, pleeeeeease just heal the ache," I complained out loud.Seth had been kicking my ass the last two days after I finally beat him sparring. He was no longer going easy on the workouts.'Lucy, the soreness is a reminder of what it took to get stronger. I'm not healing that part of you,' she said, reminding me for the millionth time."UGH, why do you have to be so wise and stubborn," I spat back while rolling my body to the edge of the bed grudgingly. 'I'm you, and you are me, you know you need this as much as I do,' she replied dryly. Clearly sick of my whining."At least Seth will be gone for a while, so I can take a break. My body feels like it was run over by a semi," I respond, letting my legs fall off the edge of the bed. My feet hit the cold ground before I dragged my body to the door.I let the delicious smell lingering from the kit
When my eyes finally landed on Tricia, I felt some relief but also a flood of anxiety. It was definitely her.She was a few years older than me and while she looked the same, she had definitely grown up. Her features were the same but different and more mature. I'm sure it was the same for me. We hadn't seen each other in four years.Gamma Zev escorted her. I had thought she would have come with a warrior or two, so I'm guessing Leander's inner circle was the only person besides Tricia who knew about me being here. I took a mental note to ask Seth who all knew I was here when he got back.Once she got a bit closer to the cabin, I stood up from the porch swing."LUCY!" she hollered at me before she ran up to me and embraced me in a warm but extremely tight hug.I winced and she immediately pulled back and stared at me with a frown.I laughed a little before explaining. "I'm just sore, Beta Seth has been working me hard. I'll be good by tomorrow Trish."She blew air out through her par
LUCY'S POV:"Hello?" I screamed out into the void.It's all black. Nothingness.I stomp my feet on the ground; there is no sound, no pressure."Nia?" I whispered. I'm beginning to get scared at this point. I'm unsure where I am and what this place is.She doesn't answer. Am I dead?My shoulders slump forward, and just as I'm about to sit and have an entire meltdown, I see a silver glimmer flicker in the corner of my eye. I quickly turn my entire body to it while narrowing my eyes.I feel a pull in my chest as I begin moving toward it. As I approach the bright silver light, I'm engulfed by it, suddenly standing at the tree line by the pack house—the Crescent Wolf Pack House.I look around warily. How did I get here? I continue to look around, seemingly noticing that I am completely alone, when I hear a branch snap, causing me to whip my head to the side."Lucy?" I hear a familiar voice coming closer.Leon's voice.I turn to face the direction of his voice, gently stepping backwards. I
LUCY'S POV:Leon and I look at each other for a short time. I don't know his thoughts or feelings, but he seems calm, so I'm trying to pull myself together."Is Bandit okay?" This was the only response I could think of. I wasn't sure what the dream version of me would say to him, but it was a shot in the dark."No, he has been really weak. I don't know what has gotten into him. My best guess is that I'm getting older, and his need to have a mate is pulling our connection apart. I know it doesn't typically happen this young, but being an Alpha, it would make sense for it to happen earlier," he says, shifting to look up at the ceiling. Damn. Here I am. His actual fated mate. Listening to him talk about losing his wolf because he needs his mate.My stomach flips as he turns back on his side to look at me again.I feel horrible. "Do you want a mate?" I might as well take advantage of this moment to ask a few questions I've secretly wanted to know."Do you?" he counters, looking at me wit
LEON'S POV:I woke up this morning feeling rejuvenated. Bandit was more present in my mind as well. I sighed in relief while I stretched out in my bed, looking over at the spot that Lucy had been in during my dream."Bandit, you seem like you feel better," I say out loud, noticing his presence again visible. He is lying on his back with his tongue lolled out to the side.'Yes, I feel good, but....' Bandit trailed off, confused.I chuckled, understanding his confusion. He definitely wasn't 100% there, but I at least knew we would have a good day today. I was certainly going to make the most of it.I got dressed and headed toward the training field. I spotted my brother, who looked over and waved at me. Once I got closer, I felt the remnants of relief through our bond."You slept in. You never sleep in!" Liam said with a smile."I was having a good dream," I said, smiling at the memory of it.Liam arched his eyebrow a little bit and smiled at me curiously but didn't ask any further quest
LUCY'S POV:It had been a few days since Tricia arrived when I had that dream. Well, I don't know if I would consider it a dream since I was inside someone else's dream. Tricia and I had spent the last couple of days catching up. She told me about a guy she had been crushing on before she came to the Crescent Moon Pack to find me. We talked about her mom and my mom.Apparently, her mom had not taken my mom's passing well. The entire pack loved her, so I assumed her loss impacted many. My heart stung at the mere thought of her being gone; I often tried not to think about it at all.I hadn't told her about all the weird things happening to me yet. I was still trying to build up trust again. After everything I had been through, trusting someone with my secrets wasn't easy.She explained that as Fae, she and her mom could disguise their scent and had been doing so since before she was born. She admitted that my mother was aware that they were Fae, but she had hidden it from my sperm donor
LEON'S POV:"Sit down, son, please," my dad said, surprising both Liam and me. His voice was calm and soothing after my outburst.I looked at Liam who looked back at me with the same expression. I sat back down reluctantly, trying to calm Bandit down in my head. He was seething from the news.I guess my obsession with Lucy had rubbed off on him, too.'Sorry, B,' I said inwardly. No response. He is still huffing over Kragen's claims against Lucy."As you both know, the law states that a claim such as this nullifies the right to hold Lucy here in our pack if she is caught," It doesn't blow past me the way he says, "if she is caught." I already knew something was off but that just solidified what I was feeling.He slides his hand down his face looking more exhausted than I have seen him in years."Dad, do you think Lucy really killed her pack Luna?" Liam asks, making me whip my head back at him with a rough growl.'Chill out, brother; I'm just trying to see how Dad reacts!" Liam shoots me
LUCY:As I was thinking about what I had said to Liam at the waterfall, I realized that the truth had only become apparent to me after I said it out loud.This acknowledgment started to make me nervous.Tricia is fidgeting nervously next to Sybil. "Sybil, you didn't answer Lucy's previous question. Who do we say our truths to?" Trish pipes us again before Sybil can answer my second question.We were both eager to understand the rituals of this pack.I know I need to get Tricia alone so we can talk; something is definitely up with her.Tricia is looking at Sybil with desperate eyes, waiting for her to answer her question."There is no science to it all, sweetie," Sybil responds, making Tricia's face fall. She was clearly uncomfortable with the idea of sharing secrets, and I couldn't blame her; I had felt that way for so many years."It's like magic, really. It was how I was able to open my heart fully to Leander," Sybil says, in a dream-like state.She looks off into space for a whil
LUCY:"What was that about in the dungeon? You seemed scared after we left," Trish asks as we head back to the packhouse.I wasn't sure how to explain to her what I saw, so I shrugged it off. "Mom calls it Dragon Eyes," Trish responds at random.I stop in my tracks and look at her. What is she referring to? The way my eyes shift?"Your mom could never do that, or at least I had never seen her do it. I was curious, and when I mentioned it to my mom, she said it's been many years since a Fae was gifted with that kind of magic," Trish smiles, looping her arm through mine as we continue walking.We were walking back from visiting the hospital. The girls were in high spirits. They loved the clothes that Liam had picked out. He really had the best taste. I was glad he was there to finish up their shopping because it really wasn't my thing.Tricia was excited about their marks but hadn't said much, which didn't surprise me as the girls were present, and Trish was very kept to herself abou
LUCY:As we get to the dungeon doors, I can't help but smile once again.I look up at the guards, who, based on their expressions, know exactly who I am now.It's not their fault they dragged me here at one point. They were only following orders.Once they bow their heads at me, the bratty waitress finally realizes I'm behind her."Ugh! You!" Fern rolls her eyes at me before turning around to face the guards again."Why can't she have visitors!?" she screams at the guards, who look at me for help."You'll see her tomorrow, Fern," I say calmly.I had no idea why my magic was in a key, but once it was within me, I felt just a little bit more at home. A strength had settled in me that felt like it was always mine.It was familiar, and I welcomed it."She isn't Luna yet. She doesn't get special privileges," Fern says, glaring back at me."If Alpha doesn't want visitors, then I suggest you listen," I respond.She doesn't hear a word I say. She pouts at the guards like it will make a differe
TRICIA: [Days Prior - Part 2]I've been walking around, following my mom as she grabs items she wants to take.I'm trying to be helpful, but she is being meticulous with everything she wants to bring.She sets a stack of books on the table and finally makes eye contact with me again after I had pressed her about the Aphirages. I place my hands on her shoulders, searching her face for answers."Mom, I have never questioned anything you've asked me to do or say. Why won't you explain what the deal is with the Aphirages?" I say, continuing to push her into giving me answers.She's never been protective of something the way that she is with the flowers; aside from a book, she's never let me get anywhere near it.Even as a sneaky child, she always somehow knew when I was trying to break into the lock that held it shut."I also have other questions, such as why you said Seth would certainly change the course of events for Lucy!" I added, feeling as frustrated as ever.She looked around the
LUCY:Leander made all of the warriors leave.They have a few of their elite guarding Gatheo's home to ensure he doesn't go anywhere.I specifically asked that he not be let down to see Savina, to which Leander stated he didn't plan on allowing that anyway.I felt awful for the disruption I caused during the meeting. It was clear that these meetings were typically much more productive.Leander looked somewhat defeated and didn't hold much eye contact with me during the process of everyone leaving."Alpha, I'm sorry for causing such a scene," I say as Leon holds me from behind.Liam is being nosey, rummaging through the box, trying to figure out what's mine.I can feel it in my heart each time he grabs it or touches it."What have I told you about formalities, Lucy?" he smiles at me before grabbing me from Leon's grip and hugging me.The hug didn't last long before Leon grabbed me back and pulled me to my seat, which he decided would be his lap."Alpha lineages typically have a gift. O
TRICIA: [Days prior]I snuck through the secret passageway my people had made hundreds of years ago to prepare for the transition. That's what they called it: the transition. To me, it was the separation of myself from my heritage.We were like prisoners of our truth and power. Hiding among the werewolf communities as simple shifters.Being at the Cresent Moon Pack felt like removing the bars to the cell that my mom had kept me in.I know she had only been trying to protect me my whole life while we worked to guide Lucy the best we could."Trish! What are you doing here?!" My mom's voice comes from her room as I enter the house."Mom! Things changed. The visions we had discussed are not all aligning as we hoped," I explain to her as she rushes to hug me.I look around our comfortable little home—the home I was raised in on the edge of the Silver Moon Pack.The majority of our neighboring cabins were also Fae. All of us are waiting to live free again."Sit, child, let me get you someth
LUCY:I'm not trying to be disrespectful. My questions were genuine even though everyone in the room looks like they disagree; except for Seth who holds the same smirk throughout my questioning.It's clear that I haven't been raised to believe in the process they're used to and clearly respectI wasn't taught the way everyone was in this room. No one want's to answer my question or make it seem as if they agree with where I'm headed in this conversation."Let me guess. The first son of each member takes their father's spot?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.Leander sighs. He doesn't like my line of questioning, either.Maybe I was bitter for Kragen rejecting me simply because I was a girl or maybe it's because what is taught as normal to them, never felt normal to me."Are you questioning the order of things, Lucy? It's no different than the first born of an Alpha taking over the pack. This is how we've done it for thousands of years. It has always worked," Leander says, with a half frown,
LUCY:"I thought you were mad at me!" I fake frown at Trish.She looks nervous. Her normal casual demeanor shifted after I pointed out Saul staring at her.She blew it off like it was nothing."You had a lot going on, Luce. I just wanted to get there and back. I knew you'd insist on coming with me, but I couldn't wait any longer," she responds, justifying her off-behavior. "I'll meet you at the conference room," Liam announces before kissing the top of my head and taking off with all the bags.I wondered if Seth would be there, which made me feel guilty. He was the Beta, so surely he would be there.It wasn't a terrible thing that I wondered, right? I think to myself, realizing I'm chewing the crap out of my nail.'You know what I keep saying,' Nia giggles.'Shush it,' I quip."I wish I had a wolf to talk out my thoughts with," Trish comments at random as we head to the conference room."I'll be your wolf," I say, trying to make Trish smile."A girl's night after this?" she asks.Her
LEON:Lucy was uncomfortable at every store we went to, and even though she didn't say as much, it was apparent.She clung to me the entire time.She didn't know her sizes very well and didn't like to ask for anything, so Liam ended up staying behind to grab things he thought she would like.We were both trying not to push anything nor did we want to embarrass her by asking personal questions. We already figured that if she hadn't been out to eat, she likely had little to no experience in a shopping mall or outlet.'You're going to love what I found at the last store,' Liam links me.We were still getting used to sharing a link with Lucy. We were able to separate the two, but I knew we would have to be careful to make sure we were linking the way we intended.'Oh yeah?' I ask him as Lucy clings to my arm.She was right. Everyone was staring at her—more than even I had expected, but no one had done or said anything disrespectful yet.Liam stayed at the last clothing store we were at w