“Jas, you got this. You have learned everything there is to know about the rehab program and the housing facility. You did all the legwork for the employment programs and permits.” I fix Jasper’s tie for him and pat him on the shoulder. “Just get out there and say it to the audience. There’s only like… thirty reporters, ten investors and donors, and a few vendors and contractors. You’ve gotten up and made a complete asshole out of yourself in front of way more people than that before. Ignore the cameras and answer questions after the speech. It’s that easy.” “He’s right Jasper. If there’s a question you can’t answer, tell ‘em the Goddess Foundation rep is gonna answer it.” Marco points his thumb over his shoulder at the Luna Regent, who is getting last-minute notes from Sam, Estelle, and Dad. “They don’t need to know it’s the head of the Goddess Foundation until she comes out to the podium. They only know the Alpha is here. The only thing I need you to remember is to set up the step

“She left a note.” Jasper shoves a piece of paper at me when he opens his door. I look at the paper to see Kara’s scrawling handwriting, grateful that she has learned how to write at least some words. Working with Zara and Estelle has taught her more than she used to know. I read the note out loud to myself. Jasper Pansy is rite. I wount bee good at it. I love yuo and Katie. Kara “Do you know what she’s talking about? Won’t be good at what?” I look up from the note. “I thought Pansy doesn’t talk to her anymore.” “She doesn’t.” Jasper wipes his brow. When I look more carefully, I see he looks clammy. “Les is on duty right now. I asked her if she has seen Kara. She said she saw her just after one p.m. but said she didn’t want a guard to go with her. She needed alone time to think. No one has seen her since then.” “Jas, you don’t look so good. Are you okay?” I touch the back of my fingers to his forehead. “I must be getting a stomach bug.” He brushes my hand away. “We need to fi

“No sense in wasting anymore time. Let’s find her and get her to safety.” Reggie points to the building and gives quick instructions. “I’ll start on the top floor and give an audible when I move to the third floor. Milo and Codi will take the perimeter on the first floor and work their way inward, then move to the second floor. You stay near the stairwells and keep an eye and an ear out.” “If you see or hear anything, make some sort of bird sound.” Milo gives me an example by cooing like a pigeon. “Got it.” I make a mental note of how many bird sounds I know. Owl, pigeon, crow, duck… shit. How come I don’t know more about birds? We give Reggie a three-minute head start. Milo and Cordelia follow him in and I go in when I see them through a window on the first level. I let Rocky come forward enough to help me see in the dark building, trying to cover my nose to avoid the smell of shit and body odor inside. As soon as I’m acclimated to the environment, I make my way to the main stairc

“Katie, no. I-I can’t say yes. No, I’m sorry, Beautiful. Please understand why I can’t let you do this. I can’t lose you too.” Jasper kneels in front of Katie and takes her hands in his, trying to convince her why she shouldn’t take part in the testing. He leans his head on her leggings and gives her a pleading look. “Ask me for anything else. We can go on vacation or I can buy you a new purse, take you to dinner at any restaurant in the city. If you want to get Mister Happy a girlfriend, we’ll go to the animal shelter in the morning. Please don’t ask me to be okay with this.”“You won’t lose me, Jasper. Poppy thinks I should do it and Poppy never thinks I should do anything. She trusts Zara and Estelle. We know they won’t let anything bad happen to us.” Katie takes Jasper’s face in her hands and forces him to look at her. “I’m a sigma, just like all the other girls Zara is trying to help. Just like Kara is… err… was… If I can help other sigmas by taking the medicine first, then I nee

Keller’s POV “You have the envelope, right?” I glance at Zara as we make our way to Mom and Dad’s house for Orli’s first birthday party. “Keller, for the third time, yes. It’s in the bag with her dress and a change of clothes.” Zara clamps her hands on her knees. “You’re stressing me out. I’ll give you the envelope so you can talk to your parents while I get her out of her dress so she can eat cake. They can look at her birthmark before we sing happy birthday. She’ll only be wearing a diaper for that, then I need to wash her up for the tail end of the party.” I turn onto the driveway and slow down, trying to prolong our arrival. “Why are you slowing down?” Zara turns in her seat and crosses her arms. “Just trying to be safe. That’s what you always tell me to do when the kids are in the car, right?” I give her a wide grin, but she’s not falling for it. “Keller, if you would have forgiven Mom months ago, this wouldn’t be as big a deal as you’re making it out to be.” She shakes her