ALLISON KEELER The next morning was surprisingly sunny, but my anxiety made it hard to enjoy the sunlight. I had the morning off duty because I needed to look my best before Hornsgate Pack's Elders. I didn't know why, but my nerves were reeling. I threw up about three times that morning before I felt at ease. I caught my reflection in the mirror, bruises on my neck and cheeks from Grimsby's assaults the night before. I brushed down my auburn hair to conceal it. I got into the only piece of clothing I had. The one I wore here. Stepping into the clothes and my hair down, I looked different. I looked bolder and more beautiful. But the unsettling feelings in my stomach made me feel sick. There was a soft knock at the door. I went to get the door only to see Phoebe there with a broad smile on her face. I was a bit relieved. I stepped aside so she could get in. She gawked at me in disbelief. "There's no way you're scrubbing the floor in that outfit!" She cocked a brow at me and giggl
ALLISON KEELERMy heart thumped erratically as I stood before the scrutinizing gazes of the elders of Hornsgate in the vast auditorium. This was one of the umpteen times I wished I possessed a strong wolf that could read minds. This was one of the moments I wanted the ground to swallow me all up. But it didn't. "I can't sense her Luna aura." A white-haired elder cast a skeptical eye my way, "The Westerners are dubious, Colton is a cunning vicious wolf." "There's no proof she's Colton's mate, not when all I can sense is the runt energy." Another elder spoke.The elders deliberated on whether Colton tricked them or not, Grimsby's gaze was heavy on my face with a smirk splayed on his face. He didn't look like he was ready to clear the air. He didn't let Faye into the building. Whatever threat he had on her to keep her off this meeting had worked. Without the pecan-haired Luna, things were much easier. "Do you understand the consequences of lying to the entire council of elders?" The
ALLISON KEELER "And I thought you were beautiful." Matt glanced my way with a soft grin and added, "You look more beautiful when you smile."I looked away from the sundae in my hand and offered him a radiant smile."There's a reason why you're kind to me both in words and deeds." I looked at the melting strawberry sundae in his hand as we walked toward the booth, "You don't like that?"He merely glanced at it with a negligible shrug."You can have it." He stretched it my way. I flashed him a brazen gaze as I went for his share of the ice cream. It was worth it. It tasted better than I had ever imagined."Do you think I'm being greedy?" I jested. He pulled out a seat for me in the booth. I settled into it watching him take a seat from me. "Can I ask you something?" I started licking the ice cream nervously. "If it's the trails out of Hornsgate, I don't have a reply." My jaws dropped and my eyes were on him. He just read my mind. "Supposed I was crazy enough to want to escape thi
ALLISON KEELERMr. Smith paused mid-sentence seeing me scurry into the hall going straight away to fix myself in the row of the well-groomed girls. I had woken up too tired, my stomach had churned in ways that rendered me weak, my headache persisted and my morning fever had made me sob. I had waited until I felt a bit better before reluctantly getting out of bed to begin my day. Yes, I was pretty clumsy that morning and if I thought Mr. Smith was going to let it slide then I was mistaken. Gravely mistaken."You're late!" He spelled it out with his staff tapping the floor. "I don't feel good," I replied honestly. I was barely holding up, I felt so lightheaded. "Can I at least take the day off?"Mr. Smith stared at me like I had lost my mind. It didn't matter to me, all that did matter to me was feeling better. I needed some rest. "I got a report from Maggie that you didn't sign up for duty two days ago. You missed two days in a row." His cold voice spoke. A few girls grumbled at t
ALLISON KEELERThe search for Faye's diamond ring continued, stretching out from my room. I locked my room on my way to have the laundry done. The goddess had saved me from the evil plot. Now I knew just how to count my enemies. That didn't mean I was off the hook. Karla still dropped a few hints here that I must've hidden it somewhere. Yes, I hid it somewhere. I saw the ring.I had no idea when Phoebe had slipped the ring into one of my pillows, the one she'd probably suspected I didn't get to touch often but the goddess was solidly beside me. My hands had aimlessly wandered and felt the odd object in the pillow that morning as I slept in. It wasn't until I took the pillowcase off did I realize it was an expensive diamond ring, one that hadn't been there when I changed the sheets and pillowcases the previous morning. My brain cells acted quickly to get the ring from my possession. I went further to sweep the entire room, closet, and bathroom clean of any inexplicable material. L
ALLISON KEELER"Where did you hide it?" I whirled around to see Karla's glares piercing through to my soul. What now?I took off the iron from the linen I had been pressing all noon, I waited so she could empty her guts and leave. She didn't. "That's a pretty expensive ring and Phoebe confirmed she left it in your room." She started towards me by the pressing board. "What are you talking about?" I feigned innocence. "Faye's ring." Her glares softened, and her hands found her hips in an akimbo style. "It wasn't found in your room because you must've taken it out." "I didn't take anything out, what are you talking about?" I tried not to snicker at the confusion on her face. "You're saying you didn't see the cushion-cut diamond ring in your pillows?" She let out a dry chuckle, "You've got to be kidding me!""Faye doesn't deserve this," I muttered under my breath going back to get the pressing done. "Excuse me?" She grabbed my arm and vigorously twirled me around to face her. "Wh
ALLISON KEELER "Stealing is an offense in Hornsgate and it's punishable." Grimsby posed with his face inscrutable. "I didn't steal anything!" My fists balled tightly, my eyes not leaving Phoebe's humorous ones. "Lead me to where you kept the ring!" Faye barked with a flustered face and puckered lips. She looked like a wild cat. Shaking, I led everyone up the stairs. Grimsby seemed so interested in this entire quest that he chose to come up the stairs as well. Faye's grumbling wolf had mine tighten the more inside of me. She was too scared now their aura was overwhelming. I stopped before the gigantic flower vase by the pearly hallway before the acrylic painting of the moon goddess on the wall. My eyes dropped on the strokes of silver light emanating from her, I couldn't dwell on how perfectly the artist's work was, all I could dwell on was praying silently for the goddess to vindicate me. My eyes fell from the painting to the ring glistening beautifully where I had lef
ALLISON KEELER "What's the correction theater like?" I broke the lingering silence. Evelyn glanced at me and shook her head, "You don't want to go there. Trust me, you're pregnant." She mumbled a curse and spat, "I should've warned you of Phoebe. But I thought she liked you genuinely." I remained silent only to release a breath and sigh, "I've made a pact to not trust or have any friends here in Hornsgate." "I completely understand just how hard it will be for you to trust anyone else, especially after Phoebe. I've heard what just happened with our Luna. I know you didn't take that ring." "Thanks." I mumbled, "It's not the first time I've trusted people and got betrayed." I felt tears brimming in my eyes as Colton danced back to my mind. "You don't deserve to be treated that way. It's why I stay completely on my own." "Any mate?" I asked. Her eyes remained on her fingers a little longer before she shook her head, "He rejected me." "I'm so sorry about that." I completel