[Hyacinth] "Cindy!" Ashlynd tries and fails to cover herself, her arms already full with champagne in one hand and a rose in the other, she had no real way to cover herself. Which is how she ended up covered in alcohol and stabbed with thorns for the sake of modesty. "Ash!" I shout in response. "What on Earth are you doing here? Naked?!" "I'm the Luna," she huffs, as she struggles to cover her large breasts with her right arm while her left hand reaches down to cover her exposed crotch. "I'm supposed to be here! This is the ALPHA's suite. I have a key." "So do I," the key catches the light as I hold it out in front of me. "Slate gave it to me himself. We meet here twice a week..." Her face goes from red with embarrassment to the dark purple color of rage. "WHY DO YOU HAVE A KEY!!" she screams loud enough that the whole pack house likely heard her. "Are you fucking him too? Isn't the man you have at home enough?" I slam the door behind me as I boldly stride forward. "Who are you

[Hyacinth] On Monday, waiting for me on my office desk was a copy of the pack newspaper. Featured in a full-page spread is a grinning picture of my sister, Ash, holding Alpha Danver’s arm. They look happy. The title has been gone over in a bright yellow highlighter. I pick up the newspaper and scan the page: ANNOUNCEMENTS: ALPHA SLATE DANVERS and LUNA ASHLYND ANDREWS JAMES, daughter of DELTA HENRY JAMES will officially declare their commitment to each other on September 25th in a public wedding ceremony on the morning after the ALPHA BETA BALL as a conclusion to the festivities. The entire pack is invited to the reception to follow. Champagne, cake, and light refreshments will be served. On the bottom of the page, two words have been scrawled in a swirling hand: I win. I didn’t even bother asking Lisa if anyone had been seen entering my office and leaving that note. I know who did it. Sadly I cannot say I’m surprised that Ash would want to show off. That seems to be how she op

[Ashlynd] Cindy had fallen asleep somewhere along the way with my fiance holding her hand. Yes, I'm upset at Slate for putting his hand on hers in the first place, but that doesn't mean I'm not angry with her as well. Cindy must think I'm a complete idiot if she thinks I don't notice. She must be a bigger fool if she believes that a single word she says about not pursuing Slate, not trying to win him over for herself, is even remotely convincing. If she thinks she can steal my alpha, my chosen mate, and my future husband, she has no idea who she is messing with. I’ve seen the way she looks at him--you'd have to be blind not to notice how her cheeks grow rosy and her gaze distant every time he enters a room. I know that she wants him. \ But he’s mine. I claimed him long ago. I knew that I wanted him from the first moment I laid eyes on him. Looking down at the large sapphire on my hand, I place it on the steering wheel in such a way that it captures the sunlight, sending blue-tinte

[Slate] I am tired. Unlike almost everyone else, I haven't had a chance to sleep. I spent much of the ride down holding Cindy’s hand. She had been crying in her sleep. Crying over the hurt I caused her with my harsh and unnecessary words. I don’t know why I feel it is necessary to be such a brute to her. I guess seeing her kissing Drew all those nights ago still has my heart stinging. It isn’t like we meant anything to one another, but I guess…I guess part of me had been hoping for something I should have never wanted in the first place. Her. Once I step out of the van, I walk towards the truck stop store. As I grab an energy drink in the small shop I look out the window and see Doctor James waiting in line for the bathroom, bouncing up and down from foot to foot.. Feeling grateful that I had taken care of my needs at our last stop, I continue shopping, picking up a bag of chips for myself, and one for Cindy. I miss our lunches together. Maybe I can recover our friendship during

[Hyacinth] I must have misheard the Alpha. I'm starting to wonder if I dreamed everything that happened as I was falling asleep in the hospital because when I woke up, there was no sign that he was ever there. Even his scent was gone, wiped away by the antiseptic smell that often accompanies hospital settings. A nurse came in and helped me dress as she eased me into a wheelchair. "Standard procedure," she reminded me even though I grumbled at the unnecessary nature and how I could walk on my own. "Tsk tsk, Dr. James. You know better." They admonished me. "After a shock as bad as the one you suffered after your attack, you're lucky the doctor isn't holding you here another 48 hours for observation. But your alpha was quite insistent that you be released today." The nurse has that far-away look that many she-wolves have when thinking of our alpha, "So we are releasing you to the care of your pack." Drew was waiting for me in the receiving room, rocking back and forth on his heels n