A week passed in the blink of an eye and I still felt like I was living in a haze of my former life and self. After securing the alliance with the Silver Fang pack, Alpha Xander continued to “shop” for mates for his daughter and Beta Marcus’s daughter. It was another Friday and since I was technically unmated until Callen returned to retrieve me and complete the mate bond, I was still expected to show up and meet the next batch of wolves Alpha Xander was bringing in.School was coming to a close with next week being final exams. I just had to finish my exams and then I could get the hell out of here. Luckily, I made good enough grades that I could exempt almost all my finals. I just had to show up on Monday for three finals and I was officially done! I wasn’t going to tell anyone else that since that would just move the timetable up on when Callen could return, but maybe I could pull myself together and take some time to recenter? Marci and Callie were so envious that Callen chose me

I was on a side stage dancing to the song, ‘Drew Barrymore’ by Bryce Vine when my manager came over to the stage to tell me something.“Celeste, you have a gentleman admirer! The guy requested a dance from you specifically!” Tisha, my boss, told me and pointed the guy out to me. I nodded my head, “I’ll go over to him when I’m done with my rotation,” I smile as the song finishes. I collect the scattered dollar bills on the stage left for me and walk over to the last small side stage in my rotation around the club. It’s the stage closest to the DJ so I know it’s my turn to pick a song for him to play while we all dance on our respective stages. I asked him to play a song that was really hitting me close to home recently. I was happy to be free and away from my pack and away from Callen’s reach, but I was lonely and missing inside. There was a constant ache inside that seeped sadness into my soul. It was the piece of me Callen took. The part of me, I vowed I would NEVER share with anyon

“What…mean…how…she be here?” I couldn’t catch all of Dante’s question to Callen. “SHE TOLD ME SHE WANTED TO GO TO UT FOR COLLEGE!” FUCK! I forgot I told Callen my college plans. He will be looking for me everywhere around here now.“Well, maybe she hasn’t made it here yet. Maybe you got here faster than she could?” Dante must be closer to the door now because I can hear him trying to reason with Callen. “I’m staying here until we find her!” Callen declares with a growl.That didn’t settle well for Dante because he immediately let out a loud growl, “THIS IS MY TERRITORY! You are a GUEST HERE, need I remind you! You are welcome to stay a night or two, but beyond that, you will have to trust my security detail and wolves to do a deeper search of the pack territory. IF YOUR Luna is here, she WILL turn up Callen! I will GLADLY hand over your Luna IF she ever turns up in MY territory!” I can’t listen to this any further. I HAVE to get out of here. I feel my grip starting to slip and I k

“Where have you been?! You missed two shifts!” Mandy, the door receptionist at the club interrogates me the minute I step in the door. “I was sick and I dropped my phone and it broke. Sorry! I’m here though!”She gives me a glum and disapproving look, “Well hurry up! The club is starting to get full! Word out is a visiting alpha is in town with his men which means, eventually they will find their way here for some stress release! Be ready!”I nod and head to the back to begin getting ready for the night. Knowing some of Callen’s men might come in has me a little worried, but every girl here at one point doesn’t want someone to find them here so we have a few wigs in the dressing rooms for that exact reason. Any girl seen wearing one of these colorful wigs is a dead giveaway we are hiding from someone the night we are wearing the wig. The blue wig means we are hiding from an angry ex-boyfriend, the pink wig means we are hiding from family searching for us, purple means we are laying l

As we walked to Charley’s truck, Dante now pushing my grocery basket, I decided to ask Dante some uncomfortable questions, “So where is your Luna?” I smirk. I know this answer, but I want to see how he responds.“I don’t have a Luna. You know this,” He glares at me acting like he’s insulted that I would ask. “How would I know that?” I asked him, confused.“You are one of my pack members. Everyone in my pack knows we don’t have a Luna and we won't ever have one, which raises the question, why do you not know this?” He stops when we get to the truck and he studies me. Shit!“Oh yeah! I forgot! Silly me!” I give him a silly yet nonreassuring laugh, hoping to play off my terrible attempt to distract him.He rolled his eyes. It worked! Phew!“So…what do you plan to do without a Luna?” This no Luna thing still has me confused. I make a mental note to ask Charley and Frank when I get home.He shrugs, “This your truck?” He is clearly deflecting. I guess you really can’t bullshit a bullshitte