Kelly had lunch all set up for the four of us before we made it up to her place. “I suppose this is going to be the last day we all get to have our private luncheons,” Kelly pouted. “How have you been doing with your ventures outside of these rooms? I hate to be pushy, but it’s going to be difficult to bring you one luna at a time to figure out which ones are naturally suited for the Menae and which ones need a little boost,” I tried to keep my voice calm and even, but I was starting to worry about our time line. “Better,” she smiled, “It’s getting easier to block things out. I might even try to make it down to dinner tonight.” I let out a sigh of relief. At least she was making progress. “Do you think you could handle working with Jeanette to arrange some activities for the visiting Lunas? She really wants to do something helpful with all the free time on her hands right now.” Kelly’s head bobbed, “Just her and her de

My mood plummeted when the door opened and it wasn’t Sophia on the other side. Fortunately, I was well practiced in hiding my thoughts and feelings from those in power over me, “Good evening Alpha Selene.” Her face gave nothing away as she slowly blew out a deep breath, “Hello again, Alex.” I waited a moment longer to see if anyone else was going to join us, “Sophie’s not coming to me tonight, is she?” Selene shook her head, “No, she’s busy helping Nathan and Dmitri arrange a few last minute details before our guests start to arrive in the morning. It will be easier to do this without them anyway.” I felt my heart stop as pain rippled through my chest, “You’re sending me back to him, aren’t you?” An expression of horror twisted her beautifully serene features, “After everything you’ve seen since we helped you leave your tower prison, do you really think I’d do something so cruel to you? If

The incessant knocking kept either of us from asking each other how we managed to find ourselves out of the Aether, but in the same position we’d been in while we were there. I winced when Sophie’s voice interrupted my own thoughts, ‘I thought you wanted Alex safely tucked away in the vault first thing this morning?” ‘Give us a moment, we got a little distracted this morning,’ I had no desire to try and explain the truth to her when I couldn’t even explain it to myself. “Sophie’s here with Alex already, why don’t you go start a shower for us? I’ll help Sophie get her settled into the vault for the day and meet you in there in a bit.” “Selene,” his tone and expression told me that he wanted to make her wait. “We don’t have time to do this right now,” I argued. “We’ll make time later, for now, shower, please.” He let out a resigned sigh, “Fine, but we are going to have a discussion about this

The next few days were just more of the same. Awkward wake up calls to get Alex tucked away for the day. Breakfast was becoming crowded, so we had to open another dining hall to make room for our guests. Sophie and I got the Lunas settled in as they arrived while the Alphas disappeared with Dmitri and Nathan. Jeanette was a bigger help to me than I thought she’d be. Letting her plan the social engagements for the Lunas freed up some of my day to handle pack business since Dmitri didn’t seem to be able to get away from the other Alphas. Only about half of them even brought their lunas with them. “What do we think of everyone so far?” Sophie flopped down on the sofa, eager to get the day ended so that she could let Alexandria out of the vault and be alone with her for the night. Nathan grumbled something incoherently; he was growing increasingly cranky every day that we hadn’t been able to fit in a sparring session to blow off steam and

Blake walked with me to meet Celeb and the Thompsons before heading up to Candice’s penthouse prison. “Do you think it was a good idea to show your hand, however little, to the lunas and their deltas?” I shrugged, “The most they could report is that I’m decently trained, and fast. I doubt any of them will say anything at all because then they’d have to admit that they tried a little training themselves.” “Maybe,” Blake sighed, “but if they do say something, it could make you look bad to the other Alphas.” I stopped walking and frowned at him, “Yes I must be positively evil to want their mates to remain safe and be able to defend themselves. People like Kelly and Sophie who have had no training can rely on their wolves to help them fight. Women without wolves are left completely defenseless. It’s senseless and reckless if you ask me.” “I’m not disagreeing with you,” he tapped his wrist to remind me that we