Gabri


    Lenora’s soft words chimed in my mind like bells as | made my way back to our quarters


    She''d been so apologetic, so concerned | would be upset, but the truth was, I’d had som before we came to Brightsky. And


    wasn''t it always better to confront your concerns?


    I''d spent the morning in themunal library, trying to research, but I''d been able to find very little should have met with Lenora


    again today to ask more questions.


    Maybe if I''d listened to my wolf''s unease about my husband and his long, unexined absences, I’d have learned long ago that


    Orion had been unfaithful. So much might have been different, if only I''d trusted myself instead of shoving any fears deep down.


    It wouldn’t have to be an angry confrontation or anything like that. | liked Lanie and always had, and it was also clear that she


    was a much better mate for my son than Alice could ever have been.


    But what if Lanie hadpelled Xander into loving her?


    What if, what if, what if.


    | hurried along the corridors without paying much attention to where | was going, heading toward the children’s wing instead of


    home. The urge to get back to my babies was so strong it felt like an invisible fist. yanking me step by step back along the


    hallways.


    Those little ones needed my protection. | could feel it in every fiber of my being.


    I''d texted my son about half an hour ago, but so far, Xander hadn’t answered me. Visions filled my head of him bl oody, injured...


    or worse. Yes, | knew it was more likely he was in bed with his mates, but at the same time, my mother’s instinct had kicked in.


    Moon Goddess, | prayed. Guide me. Give me strength.


    Help me sift out the dangers.


    It was true that | no longer felt her inside me as strongly as | had before Lanie became the Luna, but the Goddess would never


    completely leave me. No matter how | strained now, though, | couldn’t feel her presence.


    My wolf rose, pacing and growling under her breath


    She, too, was fiercely protective of the pups and Xander. She''d always been a little standoffish with about


    Lanie’s wolf, Lily, but I''d always thought it was simply because they hadn’t had much of a chance to run together. There''d always


    been a tiny bit of Luna rivalry, even though | had willingly abdicated my role when my


    son was mated.


    Gabri! Hellca


    1 barely stopped moving when a voice called to me. It took me a few seconds to recognize it It belonged to Meliria


    Immediately, | tossed up a thought-shield. I''d begun learning to hide my thoughts behind a wall from Orion, long ago, without


    even realizing why. A sadness crept into me that | also hid behind the wall and the wide smile | put on my face as | turned to her.


    “I''m on my way to pick up the children,’ | exined, keeping my voice light and calm.


    Melina looked surprised. “Oh, but it’s so early! The school usually doesn’t release them until closer to the dinner break. | thought


    you and | might spend some time getting to know one another.”


    “| miss them. | forced augh, trying to sound like a silly old woman. “I spent so much time with them when they were tiny. I’ve


    been the twins’ primary caregiver since they were born.”


    “And little Ste, our Celestial wonder, Melina murmured, tilting her head.


    I


    “Yes. Lanie’s child.” Ste was special because her mother was, and | loved that little girl fiercely because she was my blood...


    but there was no denying that | also feared what might be on the h ori zon for all of us because of her.


    4


    Melina’s eyes narrowed, and | strengthened my shield.


    “Perhaps we could have tea another time?”


    “Absolutely. Excuse me.” Without looking back, and without hurrying, | walked away with her gaze burning holes in my back.


    hallway then


    | rounded a corner and took another hallway, then a flight of stairs. | cursed under my breath. | was lost.


    Somehow, I''d gotten turned around in my haste to get away from Melina, and | was in a part of the enve I''d never been in


    before.


    “I smell her,” my wolf whispered in my mind.


    Ahead of me at the far end of the corridor was a big set of double doors made of carved wood. From


    behind them, raised voices that became shouts.


    My heart pounded as | let my wolf senses guide me toward the scent of my son and his mate. Mates. All of them were behind


    those doors. Their scents were oveid with something


    stronger, Acrid Sweat and


    aggression


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    Fury


    | ran toward the doors and the sound of shouting