Deidre“Because… he reminds you of her?”I force the painful silence, making him acknowledge what he isn’t saying. He sighs in protest, but his denial is weak. “This isn’t about Sienna–”So I call him on it. “This is about her, isn’t it? Because he reminds you of her? You don’t want him around?”But he digs his heels in. “Sirius will never be accepted into this pack, regardless of what story we sew; whether he is seen as my son or not. Don’t you get it?”I shake my head, disappointment beyond anything I could imagine settling in. I look at my Alpha, really look, and all I can see is fear. Fear, cowardice, and…“I was wrong,” I say. He starts, as though confused by my sudden retraction. “This isn’t about Sirius. Or Sienna. It’s about your pride. Your legitimacy, isn’t it? You see his differences as, what… a stain on your reputation?” My voice grows with every accusation, and his own anger bubbles do the surface. “Why don’t you get it? He is UNNATURAL!” Jason shouts the last word and I

Jason“And the unofficial story?” Her voice is heavy, filled with foreboding.My eyes meet hers, hard steel meeting liquid mirrors of pain. I can neither confirm nor deny with certainty, but Deidre knows me well enough to read what I won’t say.Was it Sirius? She doesn’t have the voice to ask aloud. Even in my mind, her words are trembling with the answer she isn’t prepared for.I struggle. I’ve known this day would come. For years, I’ve struggled with how I would ever say it. How I could tell her. How I could ever make any of this make sense.Inconclusive, I send back.“What the hell do you mean, ‘inconclusive’?” Her eyes are glassy, revealing the true emotion she’s failing to hide despite the venom in her words. I brace myself, knowing that I don’t have the answer she wants. “Mark and I investigated. We pulled in Janas, too. We turned over every rock, everything around him. There were traces of scent I didn’t recognize, but there were also traces of someone that I did.”“Sirius?” s

Deidre“I swear that I did not kill her husband,” he says carefully.The threat of the unspoken hangs between us, like a cord that tethers us in place. The chess game lays untouched and forgotten. I refuse to blink; to break his stare. But I can’t control my breathing. The harshness of each pounding realization as I take in what he isn’t saying.And just when I feel the tension is too great, he speaks with a feral clarity that raises the hair on my arms. Each word is carefully enunciated, packing a distinct punch as he speaks through clenched teeth. He grips the sides of his chair, as if he’s trying to control himself from leaving it. “You come into my home, dear step-mother, accusing me of killing a man who helped raise me? Who helped keep this hell-hole of a house from being the prison that it is? No, dear step-mother. I never did that. Would have given three lifetimes of this hell to figure out who did. That’s what I told your husband, too.”I note the repeated use of the word ‘hus

Lo “That should be it Charlie, thank you!” Perrin closes the trunk of the black SUV and brings the last large box up the steps of the Archives. I bend to pick up one of the lighter boxes. “Don’t even think about it,” he growls. I smirk, but can’t hide the slightest bit of annoyance. I may be showing, but I’m not that incapable. “Does Ben know we’re coming?” Perrin asked. “I texted him. But… he didn’t reply.” “As long as he doesn’t think I’m coming to interview him, I’m fine.” I give him a knowing look. “Then you should make it clear that this is a social visit.” “I won’t stay long anyway,” he says. “Once I get these dropped off I’m going to see Jesamine.” We head inside and I take the lead towards the circulation desk. Like usual, the Archives is quiet and empty. It’s mid-afternoon, and the sun streams through the stained glass in waves, illuminating the dust particles floating lazily through the air. I hit the small bell at the top of the circulation desk, noticing that Mar

Deidre“What exactly happened to make me this way?”It’s a careful question. One so carefully considered that there’s no option to deny it simply and move on. His eyes don’t leave me as he waits. But I stare back at him, compelled to tell the truth this time, despite the tears and mournful Luna cover I gave him before.No, the truth is all I have right now.And he’s going to hear it.**Years beforeA knock sounded at the door. “May I come in?” Said a soft, melodic voice.“Luna?” I rose reflexively. “You shouldn’t be out of bed–”She waved a dismissive, gentle hand at me, making her way slowly into the room, one hand clutched to the mobile IV drip machine behind her; its wheels squeaking slightly as it rolled. Her hospital gown was clean and oversized, tied in the pack with dignity, its long string trailing behind her on the floor. Her hair was tied back and out of her face, a rare sight for the Luna who left her hair long and flowing and untamed as the morning wind, yet somehow alw