Ethan's office door creaked open, the heavy wood announcing his arrival as he stepped into the dimly lit room. His eyes swept over the waiting faces of Deanna, his Delta's mate, Janet, and Garrett. "Took you long enough," Garrett said with a smirk as he stood up. "Having too much fun?" "That's none of your business," Ethan countered before pulling Ethan into a hug. "It's good to see you. Are you settling in alright?" "Are we settling in alright?! We owe you our lives, Ethan. No other pack was willing to help us in fear of them being affected too," Garrett responded. Ethan frowned slightly. He knew that Garrett's pack was suffering, but he didn't think it was that bad. The rogues were getting out of control, and he would eventually have to make a move to either recognize the rogue pack or get rid of them altogether. "I understand," Ethan said softly. "But there's no reason to thank me; I'm simply doing what any Alpha would do in this situation. We'll figure everything out an
"Alright," Lily said, pulling out her planner. "I went through an expedited course due to my own situation, but you have a little more time to prepare." "Prepare? Time for what? What are you talking about?" Kasia asked. Lily looked up from her planner, meeting Kasia's gaze with a hint of sympathy in her eyes. "In order for the Council to test you…" "Back up, back up, the Council? Like the Council, the werewolf council?" Kasia asked, interrupting her. "Yes, who else? Why did you think you were going through Luna training? All Lunas that don't have a sponsor have to be tested," Lily explained. Kasia's brow furrowed. "Can't you be my sponsor?" "No. A pack has to sponsor a Luna-in-training," Lily answered. The very idea of becoming a Luna was just unbelievable for her to wrap her mind around, yet there was something about the prospect that piqued her curiosity. It was like touching a hot stove; she knew it would burn her, but the temptation was too great. "Normally, a Lun
"My warriors can help reinforce the borders. With the rogues working with Hunters from time to time, this could be a play to push Lily where they want her," Garrett offered. Ethan nodded. He appreciated his friend's help but knew it wasn't just Lily at risk. However, that was a conversation for later. "Your offer is gratefully accepted, Garrett. We need all the help we can get." Turning his attention to Deanna, who stood near the window with her arms crossed over her chest, Ethan said, "Deanna, let me know if you receive any pushback from Garrett's warriors. They're here to help, not hinder our efforts." Deanna's gaze met Ethan's, and she nodded in understanding. "Understood, Alpha. But while we're on the subject, I recommend we intensify our training. I think we need to push ourselves even harder." Ethan considered her words. The balance between protecting his people and keeping them prepared was a delicate one, but he trusted Deanna's judgment. "Very well," he agreed, his t
The steam from Milo's coffee rose lazily, twirling and dissipating like the thoughts that haunted him. He sat, hunching over his cup, lost in the memory of Kasia's face. It had been three weeks since he'd seen her with the Alpha King. The sight of them together only slightly exceeded the shock of finding her alive. Why was she with him? Didn't she know that being around him would put her in danger? Clearly, she didn't know or she didn't care. Milo wanted to tell her more about the situation instead of leaving it on such a bad note, but Milo knew not to linger. His gut twisted at the thought, but he knew he wasn't the only Hunter lurking around at the time. If they saw him talking to her, it would have blown his cover. He had to get away as quickly as possible, hoping she heeded his warning. "Coward," Milo muttered. He remembered watching from a distance when she almost fell off the rollercoaster. Milo knew it was going to happen but could do nothing about it. Thankfully, the Alph
Kasia stumbled backward, the metallic taste of blood filling her mouth as it trickled from her nose. Gritting her teeth, she wiped the blood from her face with the back of her hand and glared. The young man had a cocky grin on his face, clearly pleased with himself for landing a blow. "Let me at him," Deva, the wolf inside her, urged, her voice low and primal. Kasia could feel her anger within her as she approached the young man, her hazel eyes locked on his. "No. Remember, I'm supposed to be a lycan. They can't know about you," Kasia answered. "Hit him back harder, then," Deva growled. "Alright, come on then," he taunted, raising his fists and preparing for another attack. With a snarl, Kasia deftly dodged his attacks, moving with a grace and speed that only a werewolf could possess. She swiftly delivered a kidney shot, causing him to double over in pain. Seizing the opportunity, she pinned him to the ground, her knee pressing firmly against his chest. "Enough!" he ga
"Just tell us how to get there, Lana. We've been through this already. You're not coming with us," Janet pleaded once again. How many times was she going to have to tell her that she couldn't come? Since they came to her three weeks ago, Lana has been firm about not telling them until they agreed to take her. They were wasting time by arguing like this. Lana stood with her arms crossed, her expression firm. She stared at Janet as she made her case. She knew Janet was the only one who opposed her plan, but she couldn't risk anyone's safety by allowing them to go alone. "Janet, I understand where you're coming from," Lana began, trying to appeal to Janet's rational side. "I know I can be a liability, but trust me, the only way I'll help you get to the hunters' base is if I go with you. It's not safe for anyone to go alone." "There are traps everywhere laced with silver. If you fall into even one of those traps, that's it. You'll get swarmed," Lana insisted. "I know exactly where
Kasia's head hit the desk with a soft thud, her dark hair splayed around her like a halo of frustration. She closed her eyes, trying to block out the image of Ethan hovering over her, holding her hips. Kasia shouldn't feel this way about Ethan, she scolded herself. "Take a break, Kasia," Deva, her wolf, urged softly. "We've done all we can for now. The scouts are out there, searching for any clues about the rogue wolves." "Deva, I can't," she muttered under her breath. "I have to stay focused and get through this paperwork." "Look," Deva replied, her presence calming and steady. "We've already sent out scouts to investigate the situation. There's nothing more we can do for now. You should focus on the upcoming Summer Solstice celebration." Kasia groaned at the thought of a celebration. It was a reminder of the progress she had made in her training and the expectations that weighed heavily on her shoulders. She had been trying to avoid the event as much as she could, but there
"Come on, let's try this store," Lily suggested, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she pulled Kasia into a boutique overflowing with colorful garments. Kasia couldn't help but smile as she browsed the racks, selecting pieces she'd never dreamed of wearing before. The normalcy of the moment brought a sense of comfort, something that had been sorely lacking in her life since her parents' deaths. "I've never really had the chance to do normal things like this, you know?" Kasia confided in Lily as they sat down on a plush bench, laden with clothes to try on. "Ever since my parents died, it's just been... surviving, and then I joined them, but I still felt like I was struggling. I don't know why I am talking about this now." Lily's face softened, her gaze full of understanding. "I'm so sorry, Kasia. What happened to your parents?" Kasia took a deep breath, feeling the familiar ache in her chest. "We were foragers, living off the land. One day, Lana and I went out to gather sup