Selene's pov                  Leaving Asphodel is harder than I imagined. I’ve been homesick for Elysium ever since I left, but I have so many fond memories here. This is where Lila took her first steps and said her first words, this is where her young life began.         Bastien seems to sense my sadness, he’s been hovering over me all morning in the agitated way men do when they’re faced with a problem they don’t know how to solve. I think he feels guilty for putting his foot down about the move, but not guilty enough to delay it. I suppose prolonging the ordeal would only make things worse anyway.Lila is actually taking this better than anyone, though I don’t know how long that’s going to last. She’s been running around the docks while the men pack the boat, saying

Selene In the dawning light of early morning, Bastien and I emerge from the forest, dressed in our wedding garb once more. Lila and Aiden are already awake, though the Beta looks like he would rather have slept in. I’m sure the excitement of her first camping trip rendered Lila incapable of staying in bed for a single moment longer than she had to, and her uncle Aiden must have been the weak link among her babysitters. He’s rubbing his eyes, clearly regretting caving to Lila’s adventurous whims. She’s currently seated beside him in front of the campfire, but she has the squirrelly energy of a pup who’s been told she can’t go play until she finishes her breakfast. When she sees us, Lila looks askance at our disheveled state. “Mommy you’re dirty.” Her little head tilts to the side as she takes in the sight of my muddy limbs beneath my dress. Bastien isn’t any cleaner, but his suit covers him a hundred times better than my gown. “What were you doing?” Her q

Bastien I’m tempted to have Selene and Lila enter the house through the garage, bypassing the gathered councilors and going straight up to our apartment. However I know such a diversion would be seen only as weakness, and more than anything else, I refuse to give the men that kind of power over me. We’ll enter through the front door with our heads held high and if I have to incapacitate every last elder in order to do so, I gladly will. Our small gathering exits the side door, moving down the walk towards the front of the house. Aiden and Donovan flank Selene and Lila while I stride ahead, bracing myself for whatever unpleasant news awaits. “Gentlemen,” I greet the assemblage without any hint of a smile, “to what do we owe the pleasure.” They are all looking past me, surveying my mate and pup with undisguised curiosity and, in some cases, distrust. “You’ve been gone nearly a month, Alpha.” The chief elder states, “And we’ve heard nothing but outlandish rumors from Asphodel – thoug

Sophie “I don’t have the first clue what I’m doing.” I complain, throwing my hands up in exasperation. We’re in the back of Selene’s cafe. Drake is sitting at the kitchen island watching me fight with a lump of dough on a floured cutting board, and unless I’m very much mistaken he’s fighting the impulse to laugh. “It isn’t funny.” I huff, “I’m not a cook. I’m not a baker – I shouldn’t be the one to take over this place.” Drake arches his dark brows, “You didn’t want to move into the Pack House, and you didn’t want my money, which means you need a job to make rent.” He reminds me. “This is a job, and a good one at that.” “Yes,” I confirm, agreeing with his logic, “but I can’t do this job. I have zero qualifications – amateur or professional.” We’ve already had this argument about eight times already, but it keeps resurfacing anyway. Drake knows I can’t boil water without starting a kitchen fire, so I’m a little suspicious that he keeps

Whoever invented stilettos was a sadist. There are a lot of things I remember disliking about these wretched pack events, but until now I forgot how agonizing it is to stand in high heels for hours on end. Of course the Alpha’s mate has to look the part, so I don’t have much of a choice. I have to cram myself into consticting, uncomfortable designer clothes and strap torture devices to my feet in order to be taken seriously. Granted, I suppose I do look good – but at what cost? Bastien has it easy, he’s standing next to me in the same black suit he always wears to these things. Meanwhile I’m over here gasping for air in a skin tight cocktail dress with so many straps and cutouts that I needed a map just to get into it. Lila’s silver and black party dress matches mine in color, if nothing else. She looks absolutely adorable, and she’s already stolen the spotlight from both Bastien and I – rightly so. It seems like every elder councilor, ranking pack member and aristocrat in Elysium