“If I promise to listen without getting mad or defensive, can you promise to tell me the entire truth? Don’t glance over anything if you think I can’t handle it. I am stronger than you think.”Lachlan smiles softly down on me. “I promise to never keep anything from you again, Lira.” His voice is so sincere, so tender that I can’t help but to trust him. Please, just don’t let my trust be broken again. Lachlan leads me into the parlor connected to the bedroom. It’s sparsely decorated, but it has a settee and a pair of chairs. They look custom made, matching the beach theme with the rest of the room. “Where do you want me to start?” Lachlan asked nervously, wiping his hands down the front of his pants. I can tell he is holding back from touching me, which I am grateful for. I don’t need the sparks and the bond to confuse me right now. I want to put the bond aside as it should just be me and Lachlan through this if at all possible. Touching would hinder that. “From the beginning. Our w

~Later that evening~Everyone was gathered in the great hall, preparing for a run that we often do on full moons. Ever since the last battle with the north, this has been our pack's way of celebrating the victory. Tonight, we will be celebrating our freedom from the Western Realm’s Alpha as well. He will no longer have any foothold in our pack. We know how strong we are. Though Alpha Wayne did help us in our time of need, I do believe we could have been fine on our own. We can survive without his help now. I looked at the clock impatiently, wondering if Lira had left yet. “You should have been kinder to her,” Killian nags me again, “She is leaving this place. You could have parted with kinder words.”“There was never anything kind about this arrangement,” I reminded him. “It was forced on us.”“Still,” Killian grumbles. “She was crying. You didn’t even ask her what was wrong.”“You’re right,” I muttered, “She doesn’t want my concern. She doesn’t want anything from me.” It makes me

Riley POV “Daddy Kent. What are we doing today? Why are we going to the packhouse?” I stared up, wondering what we were going to do. I thought he said we were going to hunt today, and he was going to teach me how to tan a hide. I still don’t know what a hide is, but I know that when Daddy Kent goes hunting, we get to eat the yummy stew with the parsnips for dinner. I like the deer stew. It makes my tummy really hot and full. “We have to bring a friend to see the Luna,” Daddy Kent smiles down at me. “The Luna?” I look at him like he’s crazy, because he is. I’ve never seen no Luna here. I’ve never seen no Luna ever. I know there used to be one, because people talk about her a lot. They said she had pretty hair and she liked to play in the water. I like to play in the water too. Westley and I do it all the time when we visit. Westley even said that he played with the Luna in the water a lot, but then she ran away in the water by swimming. “The Luna is back,” Daddy Kent rubs my ha

Elelira POV“I told you I could handle myself,” I muttered to Lachlan. We were discussing strategy this morning, and he kept insisting that I stay out of the fighting. I had to prove to him that I knew how to defend myself. “I saw,” he said in a dead tone, sounding more upset than impressed. “I’m not staying here while everyone else is in battle. If you even suggest it again, I’m going to be mad. Val doesn’t take kindly to being underestimated anymore.”Val huffs in my head in agreement. “I know,” Lachlan mutters very unhappily. He isn’t going to argue with me. Not after our talk yesterday. I can tell he wants to, though. Submitting to me, especially with what we are about to do to my Uncle, is going to be really hard for him, but I appreciate that he is trying. “Ela, lass. That was a good show,” Cherum throws his arms around me in a hug. “Now people can’t think I’m crazy when I tell them you got a true alpha beast in you.”“Did someone not believe you before?” I lifted the cor

Cedric and I walk in an awkward silence, trailing behind the kids as they lead the way to the beach. Westley found a giant stick along the way, and snapped it in half, giving one part of it to Riley so they could use them as swords. I laugh when Riley twirls it above his head, and Westley’s eyes bug out in amazement. I love children. They are fascinated so easily. Taking a peek at Cedric, I can tell he is nervous. My smile falters as guilt settles in my chest. Tentatively, I reached out and touched the back of his hand. “I’m sorry,” I said softly. “I was pretty horrible to you the last few times we spoke. You shouldn’t have to feel this nervous around me.” He gave me a hesitant smile back. “You were righteous in your anger. I would have been angry too if I had suffered as you did.” “Maybe, but I had no right to ever take that anger out on you. I didn’t even give you a chance to tell me the whole story. I got mad and sent you away. The fault there lies with me and me alone.”