~Matheau~ I was hanging out with Kami, keeping an eye on Alyce and Tristan as they worked the crowd. I wasn’t terribly worried about the group present tonight. Tristan would never put Alyce in danger. Newcomers were starting to file in. I knew the shift change was happening and that some of our guests were arriving late due to other duties, so I was keeping an eye on the movement of people as well. Xavier was bouncing around in my head, excited about something but I couldn’t get him calm enough to tell me what was going on, and then I smelt it… The exotic scent of cinnamon, bergamont, and cedar, *Mate! Mate! Mate!* Xavier chanted excitedly in my head. I followed the scent, letting out a growl as my eyes fell on the source. I didn’t recognize him, ma

~Tristan~ I awoke early, earlier than I normally would, with Alyce wrapped around me like a snake. I couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her, my smile growing at the sight of my mark on her neck. She was now officially mine in every way and I couldn’t be happier. She stirred a little as I ran my fingertips over the mark and I pulled my hand away, not wanting to wake her, and reached up to touch her mark on my neck. It had been an amazing evening. Alyce hadn’t been lying at the party when she told me the wait would be worth it, she had slipped on an open lace baby doll teddy with a garter belt that had matched her Luna gown and the site of her in just that and her stockings and heels when I finally got her gown off was worth every excruciating minute of the party. It had been a long night, and one that neither of us would ever forget. Just thinking about the evening was making

Kami and Mat wandered over with Cedric. Faith was following just a bit behind them, a curious glance given at Mat and Cedric as she joined Jake. “Well, well, look what the cat dragged in. I didn’t expect to see you two out and about before breakfast.” Alyce grinned, wiggling her eyebrows at Mat. “Yes well, I couldn’t pass up the chance to see you hand Tristan his ass. Better someone else than me for once.” Mat laughed and turned to his parents as he saw their questioning looks, “Mom, Dad, I’d like you to meet Cedric, my mate.” Faith grinned and squealed in delight for a moment before she composed herself, though she was still grinning as she hugged Mat tightly, “Oh Matheau, I’m so happy for you!” When she was done squeezing the breath out of her son she hugged Cedric just as hard, “Welcome to the family, Cedric!”

We had finished lunch an hour ago. I was sitting quietly, listening to the others comments and ideas while thinking over my own. “Lucian is not someone to underestimate.” Ivy said, “He is heartless, calculated, and will not hesitate to sacrifice those around him to save himself.” “The scout report does leave it looking like we have the advantage though.” Cedric offered. I personally had digested the most important information from the reports and tried not to think about the smaller details. Half the pack was gone. I couldn’t dwell on it at the moment. I would not be able to focus on the meeting if I did. I would deal with that later. “We would have to insert someone into the pack, someone he wouldn’t recognize, someone we can trust. It would be the best way to scout with the least risk of being caught.” Titus ad

“How do you get away with going by Alyce and not Faelyn then?” Cedric’s head tilted a little as he processed all the information he was getting. “Legally, according to my paperwork, I am Alyce Lilly, so I’m not technically lying.” Cedric chuckled, “That’s a valid point.” “It’s also partially why I have to rely on others to do some of the lying in this plan of ours for me.” “What proof did you use to condemn Andrew and the others?” I stood and turned my back to him, raising the back of my shirt up, making sure the front remained covering my chest, revealing the scars that littered my back and sides, “These, I had never left Red Moon at any point for any reason since arriving and I did not arrive with them, so they had to