Waking up back in Gabriel's room was surreal. I had been drifting in and out of consciousness throughout the night. My mind was still battling with the drugs that had been pumped into the building, and my body struggled to find a comfortable position. In addition to the body aches, I seemed to have been lucky enough to have a hangover. A dim light was cast on the room from the window, steadily getting brighter. My head had its own heartbeat as it throbbed. "Turn it off," I mumbled as I rolled to place my back toward the window and my face into a warm chest. I felt Gabriel move but kept his hands to himself. I snuggled closer, rubbing my cheek against his soft skin, seeking comfort. His arm gently draped over me in a way that made me feel like he was touching me out of obligation and not want. I pulled my head back, my chest and legs still pressed against him, to meet his gaze. The hazel eyes had red surrounding them due to exhaustion, and his shoulders were stiff. He looked uncomfo

The next day I was feeling great. My sister had come to visit me the night before and ended up staying for dinner. She had been living with the pack since the incident with our parents and had cut them out of her life. Her phone was left behind with a note explaining that she was leaving, and she hoped they got the help they needed. The irony of that gave me a good laugh. Picturing them going to therapy was a thought I would hold onto for a bad day when I needed something to make me smile. I knew it was healthy for couples to see a counselor throughout their relationship, even if it was only a few times, but the thought of Gabriel and I sitting in that familiar position again made me tighten with unease. I could only pray that he and I would be able to work out our differences and keep an open channel of communication between us. Besides the day before, when Gabriel wrapped his arms around me and held me close, he hadn't touched me. I knew being injured may h

The man in the doorway looked around the same age as Gabriel, if not a few years older, but his eyes told me that he'd seen it all in his lifetime. He stood in a pair of jeans and a clean black button-up shirt, something I hadn't seen any other wolf wear since I got here. Between his clothing and the way Gabriel tensed when he opened the door, I immediately took a step back to put the desk fully between us. "Alpha Gabriel," He acknowledged, reaching out his hand. Gabriel shook it firmly before letting it drop. The man's brown eyes then landed on me in the back of the room. "And you must be the future Luna, Luna Olivia. Lovely to meet you." I nodded at him in response, taking a moment to shake the fear from my mind so I could function as a human again. "You as well…" I trailed off. "My apologies, Luna. My name is Abram. I am with the Council. I wish I was here under better circumstances." His voice deepened at the end, leaving a grim feeling in the air between us. My eyebrows dropped

Abram let out a deep breath but did not look surprised by Gabriel's declaration. The disappointment on his face was evident when he turned away from the pack to face us. His jaw tightened, and he was silent for a long moment as if he were waiting for Gabriel to take it back."I had a feeling you were going to say that," He said under his breath. His chest expanded as he took in a large inhale before projecting his words out to the crowd. "Alpha Gabriel, under the bylaws of our counsel, an investigation will be open on you and your actions. Until a verdict has been reached, regarding the violation of the treaty and the attack on Shadow Hill, you are hereby stripped of your title."The pack all gasped or growled in response, mimicking my own anger. I sent a glare toward the visitor, hoping I could melt him into a puddle or open a portal that would swallow him into the ground."Beta Nichols will stand in as your acting Alpha for the time being. I will be calling up

Gabriel was gone the following day. There was a note on the kitchen counter explaining that the additional committee members had arrived. They had summoned him to attend an inquest to provide his side of the events. I was disappointed that I couldn't be there to support him, but I would do my best to be there for him at home. He kept me blocked from his mind, so I knew it was a difficult day for him. I wasn't sure how the connection that we had worked, but I did my best to push positivity and calmness his way. Elena had come to visit me early this morning. She even brought breakfast. I was so relieved to see her safe. Athena had shown up at my parent's house after the crowd dispersed that morning. Much to my parent's protests, she helped to pack up Elena's belongings before they marched out of the house hand in hand. She said she hadn't talked to them since. That bothered me for a minute as I didn't want to get between Elena and our parents since they always had such a good relations