Chapter 1

One month after her last visit home, Aubrey was on a flight back to Fairbanks for the quarterly Full Moon Feast for werewolves. It would be taking place near Denali National Park, but she wanted to go home first and spend the day with her dad before the event that would be taking place later that evening. She wondered if her ex, Ryan, would bring his human girlfriend along, and what he’d tell her tonight when he and his entire family packed up to leave for the feast and had to leave her behind in the house. Aubrey still could not understand why Ryan would choose that woman over her.

Get over it, she told herself and reclined into her comfortable seat in the first-class cabin. She needed to stop thinking about her ex and his girlfriend and focus on herself and her life instead. Nevertheless, Aubrey couldn’t deny that she wanted to fall in love. She wanted to know what it felt like to be the center of someone’s universe, to be needed, adored, just the way Ryan—Stop it!

Aubrey sighed. Maybe she should consider dating a human too, since she didn’t seem to be having much luck with her fellow werewolves. She knew her father would give his blessing no matter who she chose to settle down with, but she also knew that he would be thrilled if she ended up with a werewolf from their clan.

The pilot’s voice boomed over the speaker, announcing that they had reached Fairbanks and would be landing in a few minutes. As usual, she felt a bit apprehensive about going to the Full Moon Feast. Aside from the event being a reunion and celebration of their werewolf heritage, the gathering was also an opportunity for the young singles among them to find a mate. And this celebration was supposed to be the night of her wedding to Ryan, but that was no longer to be.

Snap out of it! she told herself. You can’t keep feeling sorry for yourself like this. You are strong, confident, and successful. If those dumb Alphas can’t see that, then that is their problem, not yours.

Once the plane touched down, Aubrey blew out a breath. She had no intention of sticking around after tonight’s event. She would return to her base in Anchorage tomorrow by noon, because going back home in the morning wouldn’t be possible since the festivities usually lasted until dawn. Her taxi ride home was smooth and uneventful, and when she got home, her dad was waiting at the front door to welcome her in.

“My darling!” he exclaimed happily with open arms, inviting her for a hug.

“Hey, Daddy,” she said and hugged him. “It’s good to see you.”

“Oh darling, I’ve missed you so much,” Gary gushed.

“Don’t be dramatic, Daddy. I was here last month, and we talk on the phone every day.”

Gary laughed. “Well, pardon my good mood, Miss Grumpy. Come on in.”

Aubrey ignored his remark and followed him in with her small suitcase. She liked traveling light, and she only carried the most important items she needed with her whenever she traveled. She left her bag in the hall and strode to the bar to fix herself a drink. As soon as she entered the room, memories of her spontaneous escapade with Eric, Ryan’s cousin, in this same place came flooding back. A blush crept up her cheeks when she remembered all the naughty things they’d done to each other, and she felt a sweet tingle between her legs. Wouldn’t it be great to have another go with him tonight? she thought wistfully.

“I hope you’re hungry,” Gary said, walking over to the bar to join her. “René just finished making lunch.”

René was their French in-house chef who had worked with the Silvers for nearly five years. It was Aubrey who discovered him working at a restaurant in Anchorage where he had gained popularity with the locals for his unique and sumptuous delicacies. She’d run into him at a gym one day, and after a brief friendly conversation, she had propositioned him to come work for her family as their personal chef. To her delight, he’d accepted her offer without hesitation because, apparently, he was underpaid and unappreciated by his employer at the restaurant. The rest they say, had become history. The good-natured chef was now a bona fide member of the Silver family, although he wasn’t a werewolf.

“No, you go ahead and eat. I want to have a drink first,” she said and continued to fix herself a Bloody Mary.

“Are you ok?” Gary asked, concerned.

“Yeah, sure. I’m fine,” she replied, not looking at him. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

Gary sighed. “I know you probably haven’t recovered from the heartbreak of having your betrothal to Ryan canceled unceremoniously, and that’s understandable. But becoming withdrawn and…unfriendly is not nice.”

Aubrey took a sip of her drink before responding. “I apologize if I seem unfriendly to you or withdrawn, but please, let’s be clear—I am not heartbroken and I am totally over Ryan. So, please, Daddy, stop bringing him up in our conversations.”

“Then why are you so angry? If you’re over him, you shouldn’t be so snappy and dismissive towards everyone around you. Even the ever-happy Eric turned sour after spending a few minutes with you last month.”

Aubrey raised an eyebrow. “I turned him sour? Is that what he told you?”

“No, he didn’t, but I noticed how his mood turned dark after you two returned from checking up on Aida’s goat the last time.”

She chuckled. “He didn’t even let me go with him,” she muttered and took another sip of her drink.

“Look, if you don’t feel up to attending the feast tonight, you can stay back and I’m sure everyone would understand. Today would have been the mating ceremony for you and—"

“Don’t say his name,” she stopped him. “And I’m not staying in this house all by myself tonight. I will go to the Full Moon Feast. That’s why I’m here, so stop trying to talk me out of going.”

“I’m not trying to talk you out of anything other than being a little bit nicer to everyone, including me.”

Aubrey’s annoyance melted. “I’m sorry, Daddy. I didn’t mean to be so bitchy. It’s just that, if I’m being honest, I haven’t been in a good mood since that day when the Browns came here, and our betrothal was canceled. I was hurt and disappointed, but I never took the time to process my feelings and move on from them properly. I just kept suppressing them, thinking that if I didn’t talk or think about what happened, it would fade away from my memory eventually.”

“My dear, I feel as if I let you down,” Gary said sadly.

“No, Daddy, you didn’t. You did everything right. I guess I just need some time to sort through my feelings and get back on track mentally.”

“And that’s why I think you should sit out this quarter’s feast. It’s too soon for you to jump back into the fray.”

“Don’t worry, Daddy. I’ll be fine. Besides, I can’t let you make that long trek on your own like a homeless stray. Going to the feast together is a tradition that we can’t afford to miss out on.”

“Well then, if you insist,” Gary said with a pleased smile.

“As a matter of fact, I do,” Aubrey replied. “Go on and have your lunch, and then we can prepare for tonight.”