I decide very quickly that, not only are we sisters through our Guardian bond, but Cara, Angel and I would have been friends regardless of the bond. We are all very different, but very much alike in the ways that matter. I tell them about our pack and how all of the pack members have come from packs where they were mistreated. They are shocked at our numbers and the separate number of packs where our members come from. “How can an Alpha and Luna allow their pack members to be treated so poorly? It’s their job to care for their pack.” Cara says. Angel is nodding. “I agree. I almost lost it when I thought Liam was allowing our omegas to be abused. He had to rein me in because my aura had pushed the pack to their knees and was causing them pain. It’s a partnership. As Alpha and Luna, we have to work together. There will be times when we lose our temper or become frustrated. That’s when the mate bond is so important, not just for each other, but for the health and safety of the pack. I’

For several hours, I train with Angel and Cara, tapping into and manipulating each other's power. Then Rik wants me to train physically. As we walk to Clint’s and Cara’s old house, he explains. "You’ve found your Guardian strength and power, but you need the physical strength in your human form. It will also help Maia for you to train both in human and wolf form. You probably remember that Clint had an entire training center set up for Cara." When we get there, I recognize the house. It has feelings of both happiness and sadness, loneliness and family. It’s a strange combination. ‘Clint lived here after losing Lily. While he had Cara and loved her, and Anders visited every week, he still felt the constant emptiness of losing his mate.’ Maia explains to me. “What is this?” Eli asks as we walk up and see an incredible training center. “This is only the outdoor training equipment. There’s an entire indoor training center as well.” Cara says. “Clint built it over the years to train

The announcements went as well as expected over dinner. Afterward, I took a much-needed soak, mentally thanking Cara for the muscle soak. The rest of the week became a whirlwind. I began training with Eli and Carlos in the morning and again in the afternoon. Afternoons are now three hours of training, the first two are required for warriors in the pack and the last hour is for those that want to participate in the tournament. We found out that the packs can only take their top 20 individuals, so our members will have to battle for their right to represent our pack. Eli and I are both pleasantly surprised at the number of individuals that are vying for those positions. It seems our pack members are proud of their pack, officially named Safe Haven. That’s right. On Tuesday after we returned to our pack, Eli received a verbal notification from Alpha Anders that our pack was approved. We are official. Then on Wednesday, Eli informed Liam that 250 of our nearly 300 pack members want to be

The day of our inauguration ceremony starts exactly as I expected it to, chaotic. People are bustling around everywhere. Luna Calista and Alpha Anders arrive after breakfast. With them, they brought suits for the guys. I guess they heard about our dresses but knew the guys didn’t have anything to wear. While his pants fit fine, the shirt and jacket were very snug on my mate. I called Anna to see if she could think of anything and she was able to find seams that she would let out so that the clothes fit Eli better. My hair was a simple affair. Since it’s short, I just slicked it to my head. With the dress, it gave the hairstyle an elegant feel. A stage had been set up on the lawns behind the packhouse. Chairs for everyone were set out with the front row being reserved for Rik, Cara, Liam, Angel and Calista. Anders will be on stage with us, presiding over the event. Eli and I meet Carlos, Amber, Noah and Sirona on the back patio. Amber’s dress is a beautiful teal, floor-length dress wi

When I think of fae royalty, King Ailduin is exactly what I’d expect. He is tall, at least 7 feet, his hair is white, even lighter than Angel’s, but not gray, just very white. His skin is pale but seems to glow giving him the look of someone in excellent health. And he walks with such elegance it’s almost as if he’s floating. His son, Aolis, is a smaller version of Ailduin. When I say small, I mean at 10 years old, he’s already over 5 feet tall, much taller than a normal human his age. Eli and I stand up to greet him. I’m not sure if I’m supposed to bow or curtsy, so I follow the example of the others and just shake his hand. “Guardian. It is good to meet you. May I have your name?” He says, holding my hand as he speaks to me. His touch has a strange warmth to it. It’s more than body heat, it’s feels more like a relaxing heat. I instantly feel calm. Maia pushes forward. “King Ailduin. I remember you, although most of my memories are vague. I am Maia and my human is Grace.” “Maia,