Just as I’m pulling up to the pack house, we receive a mind-link from Beta Michael informing us of a pack meeting with Alpha Damon tonight that everyone is to attend, and I can’t help rolling my eyes. “Seems you were right, Uncle Alex. Today isn’t over yet.”
“All I really wanted to do tonight was take a hot bath and then go to bed,” Ryna grumbles.
“I think that’s what we all wanted to do,” Uncle Alex says with a yawn.
We get out of the truck, and Uncle Alex and Ryna follow me inside and upstairs to my old room, and when I open the door, I’m happy to see my room is just how I left it.
“I wouldn’t let them touch anything,” Ryna says, as I look around.
After dad died, I moved into the pack house because I couldn’t bear the thought of living in our home without him. I head over to my desk and pick up the photo of me and Dad that was taken a week before he died, and I hug it to my chest.
“Thanks, Ry,” I say with a small smile.
“I’m going to head over to the house and get ready for the meeting,” Uncle Alex says.
He moved into our house to keep Mom company when I left. I wish he could find his mate. After everything that has happened to him, he deserves to be happy.
‘Don’t tell Mom about the cabin. I don’t want her to be in any more danger than she already is,’ I tell him.
“Of course,” he says, and gives me a kiss on the temple and leaves.
“I should go and get Gino organized. I’ll meet you back here for the meeting. Until we know more, I don’t want you to go anywhere on your own, please,” he says, hugging me.
“I’ll be right here,” I say, hugging him back, then I follow him to the door, and I lock it behind him.
I walk into my small ensuite, turn on the shower, and then pull a towel out from under the sink and place it on the sink’s edge. I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, and for the first time since the incident with Catherine, I have a good look at my eye. I softly touch the pink scar that starts at my eyebrow, runs vertically over my right eye, and stops just above my cheekbone, and I’m surprised I can even open my eye properly. Our eyes turn blue as Enyo comes forward and looks at our reflection.
In a soft voice, she says, “You’re still beautiful, Athena.”
‘Does the scar show when we shift?’ I ask her, my voice breaking as I try not to cry.
‘It’s there, but the fur covers it a bit.’
‘I look like a freak. I’ve tried to be strong about it, but now looking at it properly…’ I trail off, the tears I was trying to hold back now falling down my cheeks as I turn away from the mirror.
‘Enough of this. You do not look like a freak. You are a badass bitch who doesn’t take any shit from anyone. Take pride in this scar like a warrior. Because that’s what you are. What we are. And we will never let anyone do anything like this to us again,’ she says.
‘You’re right.’ I say as I wipe the tears from my eyes, turn back to the mirror and stand up straight, holding my head up high. ‘I need to focus on what’s important. And that’s finding out what Damon’s involvement is in everything.’
#
Twenty minutes later, I finish getting dressed in some skinny jeans and a tank top, then walk over to my vanity and sit down so that I can quickly blow-dry my hair.
When I’m done, I get my leather jacket that’s lined with woolskin out of the wardrobe and put it on, and then I get my old knee-high Doc Martin boots out and put them on.
I hear a knock at the door and Ryna calls out.
“Just a Second!” I call out and quickly finish tying my boots before walking to the door and opening it.
“You ready? Gino and Gamma are waiting downstairs,” he says, offering me his arm. I take it, and we head down to meet them.
“Hey guys,” I say to Gino and Uncle Alex when we see them downstairs.
“What do we think this meeting is about?” Gino asks, seeming a little frantic.
“Honey, you need to calm down,” Ryna says to him as he takes his hand and kisses the back of it.
“I can’t help it,” he whispers, his eyes darting around the room. “People are getting killed. We’re in over our heads.”
“Hey, it’s going to be okay,” I say as I pull him into a hug. “We’re all exhausted and probably paranoid. Let’s just get to this meeting so we can get it over with and go to bed.”
He sighs and hugs me tightly. “You’re probably right. Let’s get going.”
We walk outside into the cool air and next door to the pack hall, where we hold our pack meetings and other important events. Most of the pack has already arrived, and we walk inside with the few stragglers left outside. We make our way through the crowd and find Mom standing a few rows back from the front. I give her a quick hug and turn my attention to the stage, where Beta Michael and Alpha Damon have just walked in from the backstage area with their mates.
Beta Michael and his mate, Melissa, sit down on the chairs at the back of the stage, as Alpha Damon and our new Luna approach the microphone.
“Good evening, everyone! It’s so great to be home again after my recent travels,” Alpha Damon says. “I’m pleased to announce that the discussions with surrounding packs have been going exceptionally well, and we have some new pacts in place. I’d also like to announce that, in honor of finding my Luna, the Elder Council has asked us to hold the annual mate ball!” He says excitedly.
I roll my eyes with a small snort. There are a few claps and excited chatter from the pack, and Alpha Damon holds his hand up, and everyone quietens down again.
“We have had a rough couple of years here at Blood-Moon. So I’d like to take this opportunity the Elders have given us and make this year’s mate ball a little different. We’re going to be inviting as many packs as possible, not just local packs, to make sure that everyone has the best chance of finding their mate. I want everyone to have the best shot at finding what I have found with Luna Cassia.” He pauses to give Luna Cassia a kiss.
“Thank you, everyone, for coming out tonight. I’d like to invite everyone to stick around and join us for a pack dinner. If I could please ask for some volunteers to help set up the tables and chairs, the Omegas have prepared a feast and will bring it out shortly. Thank you again, everyone!” Alpha Damon says and then kisses the Luna before walking off the stage.
I turn to Uncle Alex as everyone starts setting up the tables, chatting away happily. “He’s just as slimy as I remember,” I say to him quietly.
“Shhh,” he says, putting his index finger to his lips in an attempt to conceal a smirk.
“Something seems off between those two,” I say.
“The Alpha and Luna?” Mom asks.
“Yeah. I can’t place my finger on it, but something doesn’t seem right. She’s very pretty, though. What pack did she come from?” I ask.
“Red-River,” Ryna answers.
I freeze. “You’re kidding, right?” I ask, surprised. “As in Nick Teresi’s pack?”
“Shit, yeah, I didn’t even make that connection,” Ryna says.
“I wonder if she knows him.” I look over at our new Luna, who is looking in our direction and smiles at me.
She makes her way through the crowd and approaches us with a smile. “You must be Athena,” she says as she shakes my hand.
I bow my head in respect. “Welcome to our pack, Luna. I’m sorry I missed your Luna ceremony.”
“Thank you, Athena. As I understand it, we have a mutual friend in Gamma Nick,” she smiles towards Ryna, Uncle Alex, and Mom.
“We do. I met Nick during my stay with the Moonstone pack,” I say, smiling back.
“Dreadful business down there with the Moonstone pack. I hope you’re okay after everything?” She asks.
“I have a few more scars than I did before I went there, but no permanent damage,” I say, suddenly on guard.
“Yes, well, you’re still a pretty girl. I’m sure your mate won’t mind a few scars,” she says, her smile now seeming forced.
‘*Well, that was rude*,’ Enyo says, holding back a growl.
“I no longer have a mate,” I say, trying to gauge her reaction.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Athena. That’s terrible,” she says, shaking her head. “What happened to him? Was he from here?”
‘*How is this any of her business*?’ Enyo says, getting angrier.
‘*Calm down, she could be involved too. Let’s see if she slips up*.’
“He was murdered, Luna.”
She seems genuinely surprised by that. “I’m sorry, Athena. Hopefully, the Moon Goddess has a second chance mate out there for you. Maybe you will find them at the ball!” She says, a little too excitedly.
“Maybe,” I say, forcing a smile.
“Athena! It’s good to have you home,” Alpha Damon says, coming up behind his mate.
I force myself to bow my head. “Thank you, Alpha. It’s good to be home.”
“Let’s have a meeting tomorrow. I’d like to talk to you about the Gamma position,” he says, wrapping his arm around the Lunas’ waist.
“I can save you some time, Alpha. I’m not interested in taking Gamma Alex’s place as Gamma. Not yet, anyway,” I say, trying to sound polite.
“Let’s get together and talk, anyway. You’ve been away for so long, and I’d like to hear what happened with Moonstone,” he says.
“Of course, Alpha. I’d like to join in on the warrior training in the morning, but I’ll be free after that.”
“I’ll see you at 11 a.m then. If you’ll excuse us, we need to make the rounds. Gamma, Ryna, Mrs Argos, good to see you,” he says, nodding in their direction and then walking away with Luna Cassia.
“She did not seem surprised about you not having a mate,” Ryna says quietly.
“Yeah, but I don’t think she knew he was murdered. She seemed surprised.”
“You are not going to that meeting alone,” Uncle Alex says, and Mom nods in agreement.
“I need to. I want to see what he says, and he might say more if we’re alone,” I say. “I can do this, guys.”
“We know, Athena. We just want you safe,” Mom says.
“Come on, let’s go eat,” I say, and we find a table to sit at.
#
**2 hours later**
I finally climb into bed, exhausted from the emotional rollercoaster that has been today. But before I pass out, I quickly send Noah a text.
‘Is everything okay? Is John giving you any problems?’
He messages back almost straight away, ‘All good here. The wannabe hunter is snoring like a baby.’
‘I’ll come up tomorrow after training. Have a meeting with the Alpha at 11am.’
‘Don’t risk it. Call me after the meeting.’
‘Okay, talk then. Night.’
I set my alarm for 4 a.m., pull the covers over my head, and fall asleep quickly.