QuirinaI stare at the stranger in front of me. A thousand emotions racing through me because the last thing I want to do is turn away someone that is truly in need. But… I don’t know this woman, I don’t know how many people are hiding behind her.And my parents just left. Doesn’t this all seem just too coincidental?I ask, “Where did you come from?”Her eyebrows furrow deeply as she frowns, obviously annoyed that I even asked instead of just welcoming her into my home. A small child runs out and then clings to her side, the child is caked with mud and sweat and the woman pleads, “Could you please let us in?”My eyes flicker down to the child and up to the woods behind her and I ask, “How many are accompanying you?”A flash of anger goes through her eyes and I take a step back, back into my border, back where if she tried to attack me that she would be crossing our lines. Her eyes flicker to my feet as she took in my movements. She shakes her head, “We’ve heard good things about this

BryceTruthfully, I don’t care if my dad tries to take my pack back. I’m with Quirina and it’s up to her where we will be. I just need to know my pack is taken care of and my friends can come with me if that’s what they desire.But… my sister has made a name for herself. Although our world is evolving and Female Alphas are becoming more popular, it is still a big deal for her to have her own pack. She deserves to keep it if that’s what she wants. I haven’t had enough time to talk to her lately about what she wants, I’ve been a bit preoccupied with Quirina. Although, thinking about it, I’m sure she’s been equally as occupied with Tony. But I have no idea what her plans are with the Third Lake Pack and the Oasis Pack. It doesn’t matter though, our father is trying to be a tyrant and I have to do my best to help any way I can to prevent him and my brothers from taking total control.I look to Peyton, she looks deflated and she says, “I’m going to go talk to Tony… we can talk later… okay?

AnnabelleFranklin and I sit in the office as Quirina sits in front of us. She smiles and asks, “So, how is your first day going as a Beta and Gamma?”I give her a small smile, trying to hide my nervousness because honestly, this meeting was so… impromptu. I feel like I did something wrong and that she’s angry with me over it. So, I force a happy face and say, “So far so good! How have you been doing, Alpha?”Quirina gives small smile back to me. She’s hard to read right now, so it’s hard to tell she’s happy with her position or upset over something. Franklin adds on, “It’s been overall an uneventful day. Although, Bryce’s parents are…” Franklin trails off and Quirina raises an eyebrow. He stumbles over his words for a moment and Quirina says, “They’re a piece of work, I’m well aware.”His shoulders relax when he hears that she’s not angry at him for saying something. Instead she leans back and cocks her head as she says, “You know, you both can speak your mind with me. Even if it con

QuirinaBy the time we get back to the pack house, a crowd has gathered. Everyone is dying to get a look at the girl that Bryce has brought back home. Everyone wants to know if I’m their new Luna and if I’m good enough.I keep my head held high and my shoulders back so that I appear confident. Bryce looks over at me and smiles, “You’re looking like a true Luna.”I roll my eyes in response and he chuckles before walking toward the front steps of the pack house. Hiro and Rowan are already out front trying to calm the crowd. A few feet away from Rowan is a young woman with her light brown hair in a messy bun with a toddler at her feet.Without anyone having to tell me, I knew who she was. I walk away from Bryce and over to her and ask, “You’re Rowan’s mate, right?”Her eyes flicker up to meet mine, I can see the sadness in hers from the loss that she recently went through and she nods her head, “Yes, I am. My name is Winnie and I’m the Gamma Female of the pack and this is our daughter Ro

Violet“How much longer are we going to stay here?” Phoenix asks me. He’s getting antsy. He doesn’t like that Quirina left our pack. It doesn’t have to do with the fact that technically Charlie and Harper are in charge and how they’re helping take care of Felicity, he doesn’t like that Quirina went off to the Fourth Lake Pack by herself.I shrug, “I don’t know, Phoenix. We came here to find answers and we haven’t discovered anything.”He breathes out, running his hands through his dark hair and he asks, “Does it matter?”I frown as I look up at him, “The fact the Academy lied to us and never told us about Quirina having a brother. Why did they keep that hidden? I don’t get it…”“They were just starting out under the new rules, Vi. There’s a chance it was an oversight.”I shake my head no, my gut tells me that he’s wrong that there’s more to it than he thinks. He sits on the edge of the bed and asks, “What do you think is going on?”I sigh, “I-I don’t know, Nix. I just… I have to trust