Kane’s POVI was shocked when I saw Grandmother looking so frail and wan. Even so, her grip was strong, and I lowered my face to hers, allowing my lips to brush her pale cheek.“Leave us,” I said to Selene, who was hovering without aim.She opened her mouth to protest and hesitated. I knew it was what she really wanted, to leave this place which bore all the hallmarks of sickness and impending death.For once, I couldn’t blame her.“They got me, Kane,” Dorothy whispered. “I wish I’d been more careful.”“I should never have left the pack.”“Nonsense.”The choked word brought on a coughing spasm which lasted for long minutes. Knowing what usually followed I searched for her inhaler, but she waved it away.“We’re still waiting to hear from Elvis,” I said.Her lips cracked into a smile and I realised how that sounded.“I made a list,” she said.I found it afterwards. It was headed, “People I don’t trust,” and I marvelled both at the simplicity of it and at the sharpness of a dying brain.

Amy’s POVAriadne was only the messenger, but I was really tempted to shoot her if we ever met in the flesh. I made a joke to that effect which fell flat as she informed me that, not only did the boss lady want an update, Agatha wanted to meet me. It appeared an important timeline was coming up – as if I didn’t know! – after which it may not be possible to address the gender question properly.Not that the subject wasn’t dear to my heart, but I had other issues now, and feelings I was trying to suppress for my own peace of mind.Now that I had been elevated to the position of housekeeper, not only did I take my new duties very seriously, I was allowed time off to visit the market if I so wished. It was an unexpected perk which Selene hadn’t seen fit to quash yet, but give her time once she was Luna in truth.I waited for Agatha in the small coffee shop on the outskirts of town. She was just as Ariadne had described with tinted brown hair cut short and half-moon glasses.“Progress?”He

Amy’s POVReality was kicking in and I was feeling increasingly down as the days went by. Chrissy must have noticed my glumness but she never said a word. That was probably why I didn’t flaunt my bond with Jarvis. Well, one reason anyway. I was convinced she liked him, at the very least. Misha had gone into an almighty sulk. I felt bad for her. These days we were like separate entities.Though she hadn’t been with me for long it felt like forever.Examining that feeling, I realised we needed each other. That part of it had never been in doubt.After the mating ceremony, I’ll talk to Jarvis.There was no reply until later when I was washing up. Don’t ask. I had to do something with my hands.Felix doesn’t believe you.And that was all.A pack warrior I knew vaguely by sight approached me in the kitchen. Somehow, I didn’t feel apprehensive; the housekeeper uniform was like protective armour. Being Alpha Kane’s slave should have protected me unless he decreed otherwise but I had my doubt

Kane’s POV I kept looking at Grandmother’s list. When I was sober. Should I put Elaine through her paces? I was sure Selene would want to participate, which would remove all the enjoyment. Sadly, my Luna-in-waiting wasn’t on there. Maybe she didn’t have enough brains. Though the warrior from the Black Hills pack seemed equally as stupid as the one-time head Omega. Equilibrium was now restored; there was no chief among the lowly. Elaine had abused her position and I would give no-one else the opportunity to do the same. Chrissy would no doubt have been fair-minded, yet I knew she wouldn’t have relished being in charge and would be open to abuse from the very peers from whose ranks she had risen. They would get away with murder, like someone already had. Or would do when Dorothy breathed her last. The old Luna was hanging in there. I didn’t visit her so often these days; it pained me to see her like that, whether or not she had played me false. Correction: nobody was getting away wit

Amy’s POVKane dismissed me soon after my faux pas. I’d meant no disrespect about his parents’ relationship but he was easily enraged these days.It couldn’t be for the same reason as me, surely? Though my mood swings had to be curbed. I wasn’t an Alpha female yet.The packhouse was a busy place right now and full of shifters wanting their own way and to be informed of the best places to run.It wasn’t just the visiting Alphas who were annoying, their Lunas were equally as bad. There would be even more tomorrow, the day of the party, though at least they wouldn’t want accommodation.Everywhere was spotless, I had seen to that whether personally or by supervising the Omegas and maids designated as cleaners. There was just one place to which none of us had any access, including Kane, and that was his pleasure room.Who had taken the key, and why?Well, it wasn’t any of the Omegas and I was working my way through the maids. All this wide-eyed innocence in terms of being a thief was makin