**** Alyssa **** I barely had time to register who my visitors were before finding myself crushed in Dara's arms. They are here. Dara, Marc, Nathan, and Emily all stood in the pack house foyer. Nathan looks suspicious. Marc looks indifferent. Dara looks excited. Emily seems nervous, as does Jayvon. "Welcome," Enzi greeted my friends politely, despite their evident uneasiness — I had to give Enzi some credit. But here Enzi was, welcoming these strangers, none of whom trusted him, into his home without reservation because of me. This pack had a reputation, and on top of that, Nathan and Luke would have told my friends everything that happened. Well, Nathan would have. Luke was not the chatty Cathy type. I could almost see Luke's cold glare while they tried to prize information out of him. By the time I'd finished reassuring my friends that I was fine — I had not been kidnapped, I was not a prisoner, and I was not in any way injured — it was time for dinner. Enzi told everyone who I w

**** Alyssa **** Three dead. It hurts my heart to see three wolves dead because of me. One looks young, probably my age, and the other two look older. I recognize the older two from the files I examined years ago, but I only remember a little about them as individuals. And that just makes me feel worse. All three must have families who love them; I wonder if the young man had met his mate yet? Just then, a familiar and unexpected voice breaks my revelry. That is a voice I haven't heard in person in many years, and it takes a moment for me to fully register who it is. "Well, I never should have trusted a rogue to do a Luna's job." My brain was still grappling with her words, and I couldn't quite process what she meant. What the heck is she doing here? A heavily pregnant Carin steps out of the plane with a smug grin, and a gun pointed right at me. "Aunt Carin?" This does not make sense. If she's here, does that mean she had something to do with my parents' deaths? And how did

**** Alyssa **** "What about my friends?" I question, trying to sound calm, but I know I've just snapped, and I am well aware that my voice sounds higher-pitched than usual. "Oh, they are fine; everything is fine. Don't worry. I was going to tell you what we learned," he hastily says, obviously sensing my rising panic. "You could have started with that," I flop into the armchair and dangle my legs over the side, feeling slightly annoyed but definitely relieved. "Carin was right about my father taking Marc and Dara's pack and killing their father," he says. I had a feeling she wasn't lying about that. I suck in a breath, "How are they?" My voice is tight and whispery. I wish I could be there for them both. What a crappy way to learn about the father you never knew. "Well, I was just a baby when it happened, so I don't know much other than the basic facts as reported to me. We have a few old warriors in the pack we've been able to talk to. We've confirmed; theirs was one of the

**** Enzi **** The last thing I remembered was Simon and the hospital floor. Now I am in a fracking wildflower meadow. What the hell? How is Simon? My mate! Oh, holy Goddess, my mate! "She's fine. Or she will be." I turn toward the calming, musical voice and see a gorgeous woman with silvery blond hair and sparkling blue eyes. I recognize her immediately. Three and a half years ago, I dreamed of this woman, and she told me to go to the ball where I met Alyssa. When I recounted that dream to my mother, she was convinced I'd met the Moon Goddess, and at the time, I wasn't, but now I am. Of course, it's rare, but in every generation, a few people claim to have met her. It's why our belief remains so strong. "You're the Moon Goddess!" I feel an unusual sense of panic. That's definitely not a familiar feeling for me, except when my mate is concerned. But here I am in the presence of a literal God; that, or Doctor Dan has given me some good drugs today. "Yes, my child. Though, I go by m

**** Alyssa **** As Dara stares at Uncle Simon, the room falls deathly silent. Simon, however, is staring out the side window, clearly lost in thought, oblivious to the significance of this moment. Then, I see his nose twitch and eyebrows crease. When his eyes scroll the room and finally land on Dara, his mouth drops open in shock. Oh, Goddess. No, this can't be happening. I want them both to be happy, but this is too much for him, given everything he's gone through in the last couple of days. Jamie said Simon had been understandably isolating himself, clearly depressed. On the other hand, Dara has wanted a mate for so long. She's the fairytale type. The type that always believed her prince charming would find her one day and sweep her off her feet. Instead, Uncle Simon has just been betrayed by the woman he loved for a decade and is facing running a pack and raising a baby and a toddler while grieving. His present circumstances are way more stressful than when he took over from my