Throughout the entire training session, I cling to Calvin like a shadow, unwilling to let him out of my sight. The other warriors are just that-warriors-but Calvin seems to hold a special ce in his heart for Kennedy. I''m determined to figure out what his true intentions are. After all, he warned me not to make any moves on her, so clearly, she isn''t the object of his obsession.


    Josh approaches, slipping into our line of sight with a casual air. "Lunch. Eat well. We''ll have dinnerter tonight after the Luna ceremony, so the kitchen omegas will be swamped."


    We start walking together, but curiosity gets the better of me. “So, what''s your deal with Ken? And don''t give me that look―Josh already told you she was my friend before she became your Luna."


    Josh shrugs nonchntly. "She saved my mate and my pup."


    That''s it? I raise an eyebrow. "But I don''t see any pups around."


    “Not yet,” he says quietly. "There were two of us who found mates during all this, and pups are on the way. The Luna made sure both females were taken to the dorms after the fightst night." He gestures vaguely behind him. "They got care before anyone else even before herself and her warriors. She actually refused treatment and had to fight the Alpha over it." A faint smile tugs at his lips. "She didn''t know us or who to trust, but she still took care of us. She''s the reason we''re all still here, the only reason any of these Dark Moon guys are giving us a chance. She


    earned every bit of our loyalty."


    "Just like that?" I ask, incredulous.


    "Yeah, just like that, pretty boy. You probably never saw your pack torn apart and then had to wander aimlessly with only a handful of survivors. To be looked down on by other packs as worthless or less than human. Or, like our former leaders did, treated as expendable pawns to gain power. She''s the first person in five years who''s ever looked at me like I''m a person."


    I pause, absorbing his words. "How were your former leaders using magic? Josh said you all moved without being detected."


    "I wasn''t high enough in the ranks to know the details. I don''t even think Finn knew, and he was our acting Alpha."


    "Acting Alpha?" I ask as we reach the table and join the line.


    "Yeah. Amy and ude were the masterminds, but they were clever enough to put Finn in charge. That turned out to be a mistake on their part." He smiles knowingly.


    "How so?"


    "Your friend, of course.” Heughs, ncing at me. Of course Kennedy is tangled up in this too. "I''m not sure exactly what happened-Finn still won''t talk about it— but when the Luna was being held captive..." His wolf growls softly, and his aura res briefly. "Rx, no one here had anything to do with that. Every one of those bastards died for touching her. Anyway, the Luna and Finn had a conversation, then chaos erupted. Finn protected her and got her back to the Alpha. He even let the Alpha beat him up until the Luna stopped the whole damn fight with her aura and a Lunamand."


    “Her aura and a Lunamand? She''s human! How is that even possible?"


    "That''s the mystery none of us can figure out. But she stopped the fight and saved a lot of lives."


    Tommy bumps into me as we all search for a ce to sit and eat. "Man, these people really think Ken walks on water."


    I can''t hide the sarcasm in my reply. "Yeah, I''m starting to get that impression."


    "How the hell does she do that? Seriously. Remember the first time we were here, and she had all those pups following her like some kind of pied piper? Even Ryker was shocked."


    Speaking of Ryker, I ask, “Where is he? I haven''t seen him yet.”


    "He''s been in and out all day, probably making ns for the ceremony," Josh says. "He likely stopped by to see Rayna too."


    "So he''s really going to try to bring her into the pack and mark her? Isn''t he worried about her safety?"


    "I think he''d do anything she tells him to," Calvin jumps in with a grin. "He''s so whipped-it''s kind of awesome."


    "Are we talking about the same guy?" Tommy questions. "The Ryker we know hates everyone and only talks to his team and family. He''s intimidating just standing in a room."


    "Oh yeah, that''s how he is when she''s not around. But the minute she''s nearby, she''s his entire world. And I''ve only seen them together today." Calvin raises his eyebrows and stuffs a bite of sandwich into his mouth, clearly amused.