PerrinSeth was nowhere to be seen when I returned to training, but I realized that I was content to drill myself into the ground with my newfound conviction. Gowan’s intention of getting near Jesamine and my son was never going to happen. And three hours had passed before I realized I was late to training with my father.Knowing that I’d likely face an angry Alpha for being late, I quickly showered and rushed over to the pack house. But as I reached the door to my father’s office, I heard shouting. Based on the voices, Mark and Seth had joined my father. And whatever was being discussed was not going over well.“Come in!” My father barked from inside, interrupting Seth. “You’re late.”I bit my tongue at the retort I wanted to share about him already being busy, but was wise enough to refrain. I slipped quietly into the room and secured the door behind me. “He threatened your son!” Seth shouted, pointing in my direction. It wasn’t like Seth to shout, especially at my father. And jud

PerrinDeidre was in charge of the press, ensuring she saw any story Nael tried to leak to either our pack or his own. My father had left immediately to speak with Janas about patrols for the next week as we had no idea how long he would stay. And after calling Mark as I left the pack house, there was no sign of Kira anywhere. At least not yet.By the time I had left the infirmary, I was exhausted. Gowan’s accommodations had been less than luxurious and nothing compared to Jesamine’s suite. Even moving him to a larger space wouldn’t prevent him from saying as much to Nael.I walked out beneath the soft orange of the setting sky, breathing the clean air, trying to rid my lungs of the lingering scents of sterile cleaner and hospital sheets.I wasn’t sure what I had done would be enough. I wasn’t sure what I had done was right. My discussion with Gowan hadn’t gone as I had expected, and I felt myself fighting for control as my nails dug into my palms, clenched into fists and on the verge

Deidre Pacing back and forth in my office like some caged animal, I wasn’t relishing the discussion I was going to have. Apologize? No. If Benjamin had really found my daughter drunk, then he wouldn’t have tried to hide it; tried to conceal her from me. “He doesn’t know what he doesn’t know!” Jennivah said from the chair, as if reading my mind. “He saw a–a friend? Or the Beta Select doing something that she shouldn’t have. He was worried for her. Maybe even a little protective. Can’t you forgive that?” My eyes narrowed. I had been mulling over the situation all night, tossing and turning in the empty bed while Jason was at the Lodge. Benjamin had preferred to study on the second level. He had admitted as much to me himself. So if Kira had been there, hiding out and getting drunk, then why wouldn’t he have noticed her there? What else could he have been doing? “Is he here yet?” I asked Jennivah. “No,” she admitted. She had been checking on the AA meeting for me to see if Benj

PerrinThe bright light of the private hangar at the airport had me blinking uncomfortably, the sun glaring on the massive opening. “Should have brought sunglasses,” Kira murmured out the side of her mouth. “Not everyone can pull off the hangover look,” I grumbled back, eyes watering.She snorted, and I was grateful for that. She understood my unease. My anticipation. The fact that Nael was coming back to Aperture lands, despite my clear threat to Justin before they had left after the Sacred Call. My father, however, was still Alpha, as he reminded us in the car ride over from the Lodge. And until he enforced my warning to Justin and his father, it was nothing but an empty threat.And that was nothing for the anticipation that Lo may be arriving, at least, after nearly a month of being apart. I couldn’t sit still; not after realizing I had no way of contacting her concretely whatsoever. It was maddening, consuming even. What if she was hurt? Was she flying here, right now? On that p

Perrin“I can’t believe it!” Ethan was pacing around my room, just like he used to, having burst unannounced–and not unexpectedly–into my room. It wasn’t like I had been doing anything besides stare at my phone and hoping Lo would call.I felt restless. Listless. Like an untethered boat in a raging storm. And while I needed a distraction, I also couldn’t focus on anything. Ethan was the perfect solution. And so I kept my features carefully neutral as he recalled how his recent encounter with Gowan, Justin, and Nael had gone down.“Where is she, anyway?” Ethan said, as if suddenly realizing Kira wasn’t here.“She stayed for a meeting,” I said. “She already went this morning but another one this afternoon couldn’t hurt.”Ethan nodded, now consumed with concern once more for his sister. “Any clue what set her off?”I shrugged. “Honestly, I’m not sure. She was doing great. Training with the Alpha Guard, helping out at the Archives…”Ethan failed to stifle his laugh of surprise. “Kira’s b