PEONY CRIMSON'S POV The week flew by as I decided to suck what I saw up. I didn't talk about it to anyone. I was too engulfed in disquiet to directly ask Xander or Azalea. All I did was smile as if I'd never seen anything.My focus was floating amongst the moonlight raining down on the floor when I heard the faint sound of the door swinging open. I sat up. Xander's figure came into the light of the bed lamp. His perfectly sculpted face looked worn out as his flashing crimson eyes found me."Where have you been?" I asked softly as I scooted closer to him. My hand reached out for him, but he moved to the center of the room instead."Xander?"Three lines appeared on his forehead as he unbuttoned his shirt. The shadowy silhouette on his face indicated like he was on edge, but it was quickly hidden when he glanced away.Without paying attention to me, he asked coldly, "Why are you still up? I thought you were already asleep.""I was waiting for you."I glanced at the clock. It showed two

XAVIER ASHERIUS'S POV"Are you sure you don’t need me to accompany you?"Elenor's green eyes twinkled in hopefulness as I stepped into the teleportation circle with Zed and Chadwick. "This is a scheduled meeting, not a date," I responded firmly."But—"Ever since the day Peony left White Moon, I'd be lying if I didn't notice how hard Elenor tried to win my attention. She would be coy and sweet, helpful or offering things while all she had to do was protect the pack with her power. The summer was at our doorstep. The outside temperature was rising. Members were more likely to get into confrontations because tempers erupted more frequently in hotter conditions. Also the monsters lurking outside the fortress were also temperamental enough to cause problems. Adding to the endless list of summertime issues.Elenor's face wilted, sulking. She had the power of the Goddess' extraordinary blessings but it didn't match her childish behavior. It was none of my business how she would feel. "We

PEONY CRIMSON'S POV"I don't know what you're talking about." I denied with a half-hearted grin, "You know that is impossible. I mean, Violet is a werewolf, there’s no way for her to use magic."Arms crossed over her chest, Azalea smiled. She looked at me, as if she could read the lies smeared on my face, and cocked her head. To add to the countless list of things I didn't like about her, there were moments when I detested how perceptive her green eyes were when talking to me."Really? After you saw that with your own eyes? Didn't know you were THAT ignorant." Her tone was cold as ice. Emily's growl rumbled in my chest, resonating up to my throat."Watch your mouth!" I barked, refusing to give her a real answer. "Maybe there's another explanation you can come up with."She shook her head. "I don't, except she can wield magic. We should talk about this as well as I need to examine her more."I wiped the cold sweat from my forehead, laughing blandly. Never once did I think that she car

PEONY CRIMSON'S POV "Please tell Xander I appreciate all of this," I said, curving a smile at Annabeth.Xander kept his promise, so this morning Annabeth came to the cottage with three bottles of golden-circled wine and two jars of lemon cookies for me. Well, considering he took the wine for no reason last night, it was only fitting that he did this. "Is everything okay?" asked Annabeth, her tone sprinkled with worry. "Why not?" I asked back."I don't know... Between you and the Alpha..." She held back her next words hesitantly.I laughed blandly. Recalled last night's conversation between me and him and how all of a sudden we didn't at each other's throat. I realized that we successfully had a civil talk even for a brief moment. "Oh, no, we're good, I guess. No need to think about it," I assured Annabeth. I wasn't her Luna anymore, so it wasn't her job to worry about me. Though I really appreciated her concern. "Fine, then."After Annabeth returned to the Packhouse, I found Glor

PEONY CRIMSON'S POVGloria remained absent for the entire day. When I went to the Tower, I couldn't find her anywhere. Azalea claimed to be uninformed about Killian's plan, but just as you'd expect from her, she ended up siding with her motherfucker of a brother.With everything going on, I ended up in the garden next to the cottage at midnight. I sat alone on a long wooden chair facing the fountain. It was pitch black all around me, with only a small lantern I found in the shed to light up the surroundings. The sound of the water gurgling like a classical melody comforted me. That didn't really work so I brought a bottle of wine with me.Oh, Goddess, I wasn’t acting like myself."I wonder who lit the lantern here, it was you."I jumped and almost pulled out my claws in shock. Xander was standing close by me before I even realized it—and I didn't hear a footstep. My nose sniffed the air. At that time his scent was overpowering."Why did you come? And why aren't you in the packhouse?"