Damien was looking at his phone sitting in a meeting regarding him choosing a Luna as soon as possible. The powerful families of the clan kept insisting. Modernization of their lifestyles made the wellbeing of the clan members dependent on how they ran businesses, acquired and maintained lands, and made alliances with other clans for resources. However, certain things remained routed in their origins. Having a powerful Luna completing the Alpha and connecting him to the rest of the clan was one of them. Damien knew all this and logically agreed with it too but these meetings were starting to seem like background noise. Neighboring Alphas seemed pathetic trying to sell their beautiful young, sometimes too young, daughters to the scary beast for a piece of power, an alliance to feel safe, or financial stability. He chuckled to himself thinking he was the beast from Beauty and the Beast. Or one of the human kings in Ada’s historical fiction books. He read the message on

The dinner was relaxed and pleasant. There was an aura of content.“Are you going to Almanac alumni party?” Arsen asked Ada.She made a face and Ellen chuckled.“I am guessing if I don’t, Izolda Mikhailovna will personally drag me there. I am supposed to network with the new graduates and offer internships,” she answered.“Ada networking, huh, that will be something to see,” Ellen laughed. Arsen gave her a questioning look. “She is the most antisocial person I have ever met. She hates small talk. Ah, damnit, I am the only one here not invited. Fine, I will be next year.”Ada thought for a second but decided it was safe to tell this group of people.“Emma will be there. The party is on neutral grounds and any alumni can attend. Izolda will tear anyone apart who tries to discriminate or bully other members.”“We are providing ten guards. Arsen, tell Vahag to send te

Her father was back yet again. She herself had forgotten any recent events between them. It was a lifetime habit that her father’s behavior had trained unintentionally. Her grandparents of course pretended they knew nothing and her grandmother yet again texted her to visit. Ada was leaving work early intending to spend some time with the entire family. She walked into the large house to noises of a happy family. Her brother was excitedly telling a hilarious occurrence him and his friends participated in just last week. She greeted everyone with a node not to interrupt his performance. It was no less than a performance; he standing in the middle of the room, articulating with not just hands but arms and speaking in a loud voice accompanied with loud laughter. It was something about them getting into the large ballroom of Almanac Academy and organizing a fighting club, which was not uncommon for young wolves and wasn’t frowned upon if no serious harm came out of it. However, d

It had been four days since the strange ritual she had dragged Damien into. Neither had felt any difference and by the second day she felt embarrassed and was glad he didn’t visit her. Every evening a message came from him claiming to have something else holding him. Ada sat in her outdated office among faded walls and felt annoyed. A powerful annoyance that she attributed to the failed mending of the bond, to the fact that she felt not ready for the Alpha challenge, to Arthur being more and more irritating, and everything else in the world. She had already glared at Emil who had tried to cheer her up half an hour ago. That foul mood seemed a bit too intense for her current situation. Afterall nothing was new and the ritual failing wasn’t as much of a shock. Then a thought appeared. After some hesitation she picked up her phone and looked at it. They had always messaged before but hearing his voice would give her a better idea. She pressed on Damien’s name and waited

Elders had made a permanent camp by Damien’s office. The conference room smelled of wolves and mixed aromas of a week of delivered lunches. They were getting on his nerves. As if files with pictures and background information on all those empty princesses wasn’t enough, over the last week some of them had been invited to tour the company, to interview for job or internship openings, have lunch with their family members who were among elders… Anything to get him see and communicate with them.He wasn’t sure if it was the mended bond with Ada to blame or the fact that he didn’t want to be forced into this marriage, but none of the women carried any attraction. He would act his part of being a host, carry a conversation and politely escort them out as soon as he could. Janet, the loyal secretary she was, had scheduled more than five meetings a day to give him the excuse of being preoccupied. Seeing the elders setting up residence in their building