"Ailia! Ailia! Ailia!"

I stumbled, my head spinning at the sound of my screaming sister "Arabella?"

She skidded to a stop, breathing out a sigh of relief. "Ailia."

I looked around, wondering if she was running from something. "You have said that already."

My sister rolled her eyes. "Thank you for getting me a place at school!"

"I did?" I frowned.

She hesitated, eyes running across my face. "You did?"

Was I being pranked?

"I'm not following." I shook my head. "School?"

"Yeah... Beta Rio... He said that they offered me a place at the wolf school and I assumed it was because of what we were talking about last week." Arabella explained. "I've been looking for you all morning."

I paused, trying to remember what she was talking about. The weekend after I totally kicked ass inside the training circle, we had breakfast together, and we spoke... but I don't remember talking about school.

Oh wait, I remember now.

She had mentioned how bored she was with the empty hours of the day and how she didn't feel entirely included in pack life. I had, of course, reassured her with how much she was welcome before offering my two cents. That was, I would look into youth clubs or activities she could get involved in. After reciprocating it to Asra, we mentioned nothing else.

The sly man must've done it himself.

Shaking my head, I placed my hand on her biceps and squeezed it. "I didn't do this. I mean, I mentioned it to Asra, but it's only been two days."

Her eyebrows furrowed. "So... He did this?"

I laughed as her confusion turned to one of shock. "He would've done. He is the only one I spoke to about it."

She swallowed nervously, eyes dropping to my silvering mark. "That means I have to thank him."

I smirked. "It does."

Arabella still wasn't certain of Asra, the large man rather imposing. She was always awkward around men, but whatever Darius did to her must've changed her outlook on things. She still didn't talk about it, but I picked up on the hints.

My hand smoothed down her arm to grab her hand. "I'll go with you."

"N-now?" Her eyes widened.

I laughed. "Yes, now. He is in his office."

"His office?"

"Arabella, I did not know you were a parrot." I mused, pulling her behind me.

I felt her palm grow sweaty as we wandered down the halls. Before entering, I turned to her, worried she may keel over. I knew Asra could hear us, but Arabella may think otherwise, so I took the moment to calm her worries.

"He isn't as bad as you are perceiving him."

"He has a reputation."

"So do I," I raised an eyebrow. "So does Mya. Why is Asra the worst?"

Her throat bobbed, and she nervously glanced at the large wooden doors. "He is... large."

"Large? Is that it?" I snorted a laugh. "Asra is a puppy."

She dragged her lower lip between her teeth, and I wasted no more time in pushing the doors open and pulling her in behind me. Asra was already facing the doors, his hands folded on the table. I saw the glimmer of a smirk in his eyes, but he kept his face neutral.

"Arabella... Tulip... What can I do for you to walk in without knocking?" Asra wondered, and my heart fluttered at my name.

I rolled my eyes, pulling my sister to a stop before his desk. "Please, I have unlimited access."

"Privacy is still nice, Ailia." His lips curled upward, teasing. "What do you want?"

"Nice to see you too, my lovely mate." I grinned. "Arabella wants to talk to you about something."

His eyes flickered over to my sister. "She does?"

"About something we think you may have done for her."

"What is that?" Asra levelled his gaze at my quivering sibling.

This was good for her, I reminded myself. She needed to grow some confidence. This was a pack of animals. She needed some kind of dominance. I couldn't keep hiding her away.

"Thank you."

"What am I being thanked for?" He wondered.

I scowled at the side of his face.

"For... School."

Asra hummed, his arms falling away to fiddle with some paperwork. "Yes, you start tomorrow, right? Do you have sufficient supplies?"

I watched Arabella's face, noticing the nervous jitter as she stared down at her feet. "No, Alpha. Do... do I need uniform?"

"No, your own clothes are fine. Did you receive your schedules yet?"

"Yes, Alpha." She nodded.

I was curious. I wanted to know what the school schedules were too.

"Tulip, are you free today?" He asked.

He knows I am.

I narrowed my eyes. "What do you want?"

"Take your sister to town."

My lips pursed. "For school supplies?"

"I'll give you my tab."

I paused. "I would take it, anyway."

Asra's serious expression dropped, and a wicked grin replaced it. His eyes even lit up, creasing in the corners.

"I would expect no less."

I laughed softly, turning to my sister now that was done. "You want to go now? We can get lunch out?"

She blinked, glancing between the two of us. "Uh... Okay? I'll get my bag..."

"Okay," I grinned.

My sister blinked, uncertain. "I'll meet you on the porch in a minute... Thanks again, Alpha."

Asra nodded as she bowed her head, and she was fast to scurry out of the room. Arabella had been learning wolf etiquette from Mya, and I was glad she knew to bow. It was good practice, and Asra was still her alpha.

My mate rose from his chair and rounded his desk to stand beside me. "So... I'm still a puppy?"

I grinned. "My puppy."

He growled low, grabbing me by the hips. He pulled me close, sinking his teeth into the skin across my throat. I exhaled shakily, feeling that familiar race in my chest and churn in my gut.

"Asra... I have... to go shopping." I moaned softly when his lips replaced his teeth.

"Not for a minute."

"I will need longer than a minute." I teased.

He grumbled, catching my lips briefly with his own. "As I always give."

I laughed. "That was a nice thing you did."

"What? Last longer than a minute?" He wondered.

I tutted, nudging him away from my neck. He was snickering, but didn't remove his grip on my body.

"Getting my sister a place in school. Getting her out of her boredom."

"Of course," He smiled. "She is still young and it will educate her about our world."

"Can I join?" I teased, and he laughed. "She was a little lost for words."

"I scare her," Asra shrugged. "It's normal."

"True, you nasty chihuahua."

"Chi-what-what?"

"Chihuahua. It's a tiny dog. Nasty little shits." I cocked my head.

"I am not a tiny dog." He frowned.

I grinned, my hands cupping his cheeks and squishing them. "No, you are my puppy."

He growled, and I laughed, kissing his pouty lips.

"I better go find her."

"I suppose you should." He sighed. "My tab, okay? I have summoned the cab."

"Yes, sir." I grinned, turning to leave the room.

Good job, I had no plans today. Looks like I was on teenager-sitting duty. At least I could get lost in the aisles of stores.

Before the door shut, I peered my head back through and blew that handsome alpha a kiss and flamboyant thank you. His laughter echoed around my head as the door slid shut, and I felt a little pep in my step as I strode toward the main foyer.

Arabella was coming down the stairs at the same time, and I greeted her softly.

"Ready to go?"

"We're walking?"

"Taxicab," I shook my head. "He won't be long."

"A vehicle?" Her nose scrunched. "I don't know."

"Scary right? I hate them too. Asra forces me into them all the time." I groaned, pushing the front door open. "You should've seen me when he made me ride an airpl-

"Hi, Luna!"

I blinked at the bright sunlight, my eyes panning left and finding the small group of wolves. There were four of them relaxing on the porch, and I racked my brain to remember their names. It was all part of my luna training, matching names and profiles to faces.

But I was still slow at remembering.

"Hey, Rachel." I greeted. "Mar, Sabrina."

They waved.

"Going out?" Sabrina wondered.

"Yeah, waiting for the taxi." I nodded before pausing. "Hey, you guys go to the school right? Are all the years in one place?"

I remember there was a block for children, then young wolves, and then the older teenagers. There were few young people in this pack, so the school was one entire building.

"Ailia," Arabella mumbled.

"Yeah, we're in tenth year." Mar nodded, brown eyes wide. "Why? What's up?"

"Mar," Rachel nudged her. "You can't speak too casually to Luna."

I snorted, waving it off. "It's fine. I was just asking because Arabella is starting tomorrow!"

Their eyes fell on my sister, who died of embarrassment. Is this was those mums on the tv feel like? This wonderful teasing edge to embarrassing their children?

"Oh yeah? What year?" Sabrina smiled, her blue eyes soft.

I nudged my sister forward, and she grunted at me, shooting me a glare.

She needed friends her own age.

"I'm fifteen," she mumbled. "So tenth as well."

"Oh, look at that! What a coincidence." I chirped and the girls before me giggled.

Apart from Arabella. She was being awkward again.

Oh, what a wonderful day today was!

"Maybe you could show her around tomorrow?" I suggested.

"Of course, Luna!"

As if on queue, the taxi pulled up and honked the horn once. Saying goodbye to the soon to be friends of my sister, we descended the stairs.

"You are so annoying." Arabella mumbled.

I laughed, pushing her into the taxicab. "Get in the damn car, we have shopping to do!"

My sister was a nervous wreck the entire five minutes it took to get into town, but George did his best to avoid the potholes for us. The moment the car drifted to a stop, Arabella was throwing herself out the door.

George laughed, glancing at me in his rear-view. "Reminds me of you."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I get it. Tease the humans."

He chuckled deeply. "Have a good afternoon, Luna."

"Thanks, George." I grinned, climbing out and shutting the door.

I watched his black taxi pull away for a moment before Arabella caught my attention. Smiling at my sister, I led her toward the newsagents.

"May as well start with what's going to go in your bag." I suggested.

"I'd need a bag for that," Arabella muttered.

I paused, glancing at the storefront before looking behind me to the clothing store in the distant. "You don't have a bag?"

"Where would I get a bag from?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. Things kind of just appear around here."

She smirked, shaking her head. "Nope."

"Let's get a bag then," I suggested. "May as well get some clothes."

Browsing the clothes store, Arabella was easy to please.

"It has to be formal attire, not casual."

"Does it actually say that in your welcome pack?" I teased.

"No... I just want to look nice."

My eyebrows rose as I looked at her, but she was making a point of staring into the nearest dress rack instead of me. I hummed an okay, continuing my search for 'formal' clothes for school. We picked a few soft coloured dresses, and some blouses with skirts before grabbing some satin feeling trousers and shoes. We headed towards the checkout and that's when I realised something.

"Wait, we came in here for a fucking bag and we don't even have one!" I snorted, grabbing the nearest black bag. "This do?"

"Yeah, that's fine." She nodded.

"Great!" I breathed.

There was nobody in the queue, and I was grateful for that. Whenever there was someone, they always pushed me to go first.

"Luna! Hi!" the clerk greeted, his features lifting.

I smiled softly. "Hey Derek, alright?"

"Busy today?" He wondered as he scanned the first few items.

"Looks like I'm gonna be, yeah." I chuckled.

"Arabella, right?" He wondered, looking at my sister.

Those brown eyes widened at being spoken to, but she nodded. "Y-yeah, that's me."

"Staring school?" Derek wondered, raising the bag. "Or just fancied a splurge?"

"I start tomorrow," my sister smiled.

"Oh, yeah? My daughter is in the tenth. Sabrina, you should meet her."

My face lit up. "We just spoke to her on the porch!"

"Oh, great, great!" He chimed, pressing the totals button. "That will be one-hundred and eighty-three, I assume Alpha's tab?"

"You assumed correct, Derrek." I laughed.

"I should rename it to you. Alpha Asra never shops." He mused, printing my receipt. "How is he, by the way? I heard he was going to battle."

I blinked, confused. "Battle?"

"War, battle, fight... Something like that, yeah."

"You did?" I wondered, my heart racing. "With who?"

"Yeah, yeah, he was going to take down some cult town or something?"

My mood soured, my lips pursing. "Oh, really? When was this?"

"Yeah... This weekend..." He hesitated, passing me the bags. "Is he not?"

Plastering a fake smile, I shrugged. "I cannot speak of my mate's actions, I'm afraid. There will be a pack meeting for something so large. You have a good rest of your day."

"Oh, okay, bye Luna... Bye Arabella." He frowned.

"Bye, Derek."

"Thanks, Derek!"

Leaving the store, I stopped halfway into the path. "Fucking alpha."

"I'm guessing they did not speak about this," Arabella wondered.

Taking in deep breaths, I tried not to let my inability to remain calm show. Today was supposed to be a day to shop. I would deal with this rumour crap later.

"Come on, let's carry on."