Suspicious Behavior

Suspicious Behavior
ARIA

The car parks in front of a huge sign that reads Moon Rose Farm. 

I focus on controlling my breathing, then open the door and step out. 

My feet sink into the mud underfoot but I barely pay attention to it. I walk a little further, still looking around. Even the air here smells different. 

The one difference between Ironclaw and Moon Rose is that they don’t have a forest like we do. Their land consists mainly of farmland, and it’s always sunny here, it seems. The skies are clear and the wind is cool, but not enough that I need a sweater. 

Zach moves to stand next to me and comments, “It’s one hell of a place, if you’ll permit me to say this, Luna.”

“You already did.”

The driver gets out of the car next and asks us to follow him. We walk all the way toward a stretch of land surrounded by tall fruit trees. In the distance, I can see a huge manor that can only be the packhouse. 

Zach asks the driver almost rudely, “Why didn’t you park the car closer?”

“I thought we could use the walk. Stretch our legs after being on the road for so long.”

“But my Luna is—”

I tap his arm lightly and he tenses, but falls silent. I don’t want to have an argument with these people, not when we just arrived. Besides, a walk is great. I feel like my body’s coming to life. 

As we approach the packhouse, I see someone standing in front of the door. A blonde woman wearing a pale pink dress. Her hands are clasped in front of her and she’s wearing red lipstick that only becomes noticeable once we’re standing closer to her. Her eyes are on me the entire time, and the look in them makes shivers race down my spine. 

There’s something off about her. I realize this before she even opens her mouth. 

“Welcome!” she exclaims once we’re within earshot. She climbs down the marble steps and walks straight toward me. “I’m Yarina. I’m currently in control of Moon Rose while this war is taking place.”

She’s a regular wolf, not a Nocturn. 

“I’ll be here to guide you through everything,” she claims with a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “Luna Aria, is it?”

“Yes.” I clear my throat and add, “It’s wonderful to meet you.”

Yarina reaches for my hand and again, I shiver. I’m pretty sure there are goosebumps all over my body. “I think we’re going to be great friends. Don’t you?”

I can only offer a smile in return. 

I’ve never been a good liar. 

Her gaze darts to Zach and I see something flicker across them. “And you are?”

“He’s with me,” I answer quickly. 

“Is he your bodyguard?”

“You could say that.”

“We’ll have to find him a room, then,” she claims before gesturing toward the door. “Why don’t you come inside? I’ll show you to your room first, Luna.”

I glance back at Zach before we head inside. The driver stays behind and I don’t see him again. The house is as luxurious as the exterior, but I don’t distract myself by looking around. I stare at the back of Yarina’s head and search within me for answers. Why does this woman make me feel so uneasy?

Most importantly, were we wrong about Wilson and his intentions? He has a mate. Why would he try to pursue me or something when he’s in a relationship with someone else?

That makes no sense. 

“You’ll have everything you need here,” she claims as we head up a long flight of stairs to reach the first floor. “There are phones installed in every room. You can just call if you need something. The numbers will be next to the phones.”

“Where’s everyone else staying?” I ask, thinking about the Ortegas.

“Oh, in the city,” she answers before glancing at me. “Some are also at the farm. It’s bigger and of course, they wanted to help out, so of course, we put them there.”

“Help out?”

“Yes. With production. Taking care of the animals. It’s hard to sit still and not want to do anything. They’re being fed and protected. It’s their way of repaying us.”

I frown and glance at Zach, who looks equally alarmed. I can’t keep my question to myself. “But is it that they volunteered to do the work or that you forced them to do it?”

Yarina turns around, laughing lightly. “Force is such a heavy word, Luna Aria.”

“That’s what you’re implying.”

“No, they’re not being forced to do anything. All their work is voluntary. This way.”

She walks ahead of us down a long, carpeted hallway. I follow her, but the warning bells in my head are going off. I don’t like the sound of this one bit. 

It’s not that I think there’s something wrong about Ironclaws helping out around here or even working.

What worries me is what the dynamic is, and Yarina isn’t making me feel confident about any of this at all.

Before we reach the room, I ask her, “Is it all right if I request a meeting with all the Ironclaws who’re currently living here? I’d like to have a word with them and update them on what’s happening with the war, and within our pack.”

“I wouldn’t worry if I were you,” she answers dismissively. “They’re well aware of what’s happening. We don’t keep secrets here.”

“I know some of them personally and I’d like to find out how they’re doing.”

“We’re currently too busy to organize such a meeting.” She reaches a door and stops in front of it. Her hand is on the brass door handle. “Perhaps another time.”

She opens the door and heads inside. I once again exchange a look with Zach and my heart sinks in my chest. 

What the hell is going on here?

I head inside the room where Yarina proceeds to show me everything, including how to use the phone. “You can’t make out-of-border calls with this one. The network is down in Ironclaw, so we have messengers who regularly travel between our packs. If you want to send a message, just give me the letter and I’ll pass it along.”

Great. I won’t even be able to write to Ryder in private. “Thank you.”

“You can have dinner here, if you’d like. Oh, and Zach? Please come with me. I’ll show you to your room. Luna Aria, if you need anything, you know what to do.”

She and Zach leave the room, and I sit on the edge of the bed, feeling more exhausted than ever, both physically and mentally. 

Something’s off about this place and Yarina, and I’m going to find out what it is. 

But first, I’ve got to find out how the Ironclaws are doing. If she won’t give me concrete answers, then I’ll have to find them. 

The first place I’ll go looking is the farm.