"I brought pasta!"

My head snapped up at the sound of Asra's voice. He held a tray with two plates and two drinks, a broad grin on his face. I recognised the hearty creamy cheese that he brought toward me, the steaming sauce as enticing as it is hot.

"I thought you said my favourite?" I hummed as he set the tray down.

He frowned, his forehead creasing with confusion. "Cheese and broccoli pasta with garlic bread. What more could you ask for?"

I stared at him with utter repulsive confusion, but when his face genuinely fell with sorrow, I couldn't help but laugh. He grumbled, throwing the cutlery in his hand onto the desk in a very childish tantrum. My laughter grew tenfold at his outburst, but I pulled the dish toward me, anyway.

"I'm messing with you."

"I know," He grunted. "Meanie."

I snorted a laugh, grabbing a forkful of pasta. "What'd you talk to Everett about, anyway?"

"Not a lot," He shrugged.

I raised an eyebrow, chewing slowly. "Not a lot? I wasn't aware that half an hour was nothing."

Asra copied my facial expression as he sat himself into the seat opposite me. He pulled the tray toward himself, stabbing a large fork of pasta with urgency. I noticed he had the same dish, except his was topped with seasoned chicken.

"I was simply asking him if he knew anything of a witch that worked with Alpha Augustus." He explained.

"Did he know anything?" I wondered.

"He has a few leads," He nodded. "But he wants to try keep it discreet."

"How does he even do this?" I cocked my head. "How does he know everything? How did he get into Alpha Augustus's land so smoothly?"

"He came from there," Asra shrugged.

I paused, mid-forkful of pasta, to stare at him. "He what?"

"He hasn't been in a long time,"

"But he has lived there?" I shook my head. "Does he remember Flynn?"

If he did, this would make everything a lot easier!

"No, it wasn't like that." Asra sighed. "His mother was from that pack, and his father was visiting. They found out they were destined, spent a night together, and upon discovering the pregnancy, he stayed until she birthed. Everett lived there for the first few years of his life before they moved to be with his father's family."

"That's a shame," I mumbled. "Could've made things easier."

"His father was my grandfather's gamma.," Asra shrugged. "It is a higher rank than his mother, who held none, so it was only right he moved here. He got in so easy because his maternal grandparents still live there."

"Makes sense," I shrugged, before continuing to eat.

A few moments passed of us eating, a gentle clanking of metal against porcelain, before I spoke again. I had been stewing on the time he had been gone, paranoid he had been blurting my secrets to Everett. Why did he take so long? What was so interesting? Was it me? Was it something else he wasn't telling me?

"That still doesn't explain why you were gone so long." I pointed out.

Asra rolled his eyes. "Do you need my every minute?"

I scowled at him, stabbing a piece of pasta rather forcefully. The fork scraped along the bottom of the dish and he winced; the noise hurting his sensitive little ears.

"I was just asking." I stated.

He was still frowning when he answered. "Many people stop to talk when you are a leader of their home."

My scowl dropped, and I stared down at my dish with a small hint of embarrassment. I had been so obsessed with the thought of him discussing my private matters with Everett that I didn't stop to think about other people. He would've had to deal with the chefs, the pack, the cleaners...

"I'm sorry," I sighed. "I got paranoid."

"There is nothing to feel paranoid about, Tulip." Asra murmured, finishing his food. "I would never go behind your back about anything."

I nodded solemnly, my head falling into my spare hand as I swirled the pasta around. Asra grumbled, his voice beastly as he tried to catch my attention.

"What did you think I was doing?"

Shrugging, I pursed my lips. "I was just feeling on edge. I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt me."

"You better." He warned.

I couldn't help but smile when I looked up at him, finding his warning rather amusing. I ate the rest of my dinner with a smirk on my lips, unable to hold back the tease. By the time I finished, he was about ready to launch himself across the desk and make me submit, but I was prepared.

The moment he rose from his chair and darted around the desk, I was standing from my own. Throwing my list at his chest, he caught it with a grumble. I grinned, crossing my arms as he glanced down at it.

"The names." I stated.

"Rune?" He cocked his head.

"My grandma."

"You are certain?"

"My brain doesn't remember a lot. Most of it is inaccessible, but I remember her name." I explained. "Her items were hidden in the house."

"In Evermore?"

I hesitated, my shoulders sagging a little. "I... Maybe?"

"If you were raised elsewhere, Evermore would not make sense."

"I think it was Evermore," I nodded. "Wooden floorboards that creaked."

Asra stared at me, as if a sudden light flicked on in his mind. "What else was in that floorboard?"

"Uh... I don't remember. I just remember her books."

"Books about what?"

"Self-defence," I shrugged.

"Most human books of unimportant literature were destroyed."

"I am aware."

"If we went to Evermore, could you pinpoint the floorboard?"

"What's so interesting about it?"

"I wonder if there is more under that underground floorboard than you think."

"You mean like what Evangeline said?" I scoffed. "My mother hiding underground or going to another town through tunnels? Surely, I would've discovered them by now."

"What if you did? And the witch changed your memory."

I hesitated before shaking my head. "And I just made up the book and my grandma's name?"

"It is possible." He stepped closer to me, my list forgotten, as he wrapped his arms around my waist. "The witch who enchanted you has meddled so intensely with your mind that it would not surprise me."

I sagged into his hold, my forehead pressing into his shirt. "I feel like I am losing my mind."

Asra was silent, a gentle hum building in his chest.

"I don't know what is real or fake. You ask me these questions and when I think of the answers, my mind blanks." I continued.

"We will unlock it all, I promise you."

"But what if we can't? What if we can't find the witch?" I probed, tilting my head to stare up at him.

His fingers flexed on my spine, pulling me tighter into him. He grumbled as he met my gaze, looking at me through his lashes. I wasn't sure what was going on in his mind, but he seemed conflicted.

"If the witch is dead, Evangeline would've felt it. Spells have weak points, a death is one of them."

"So, the witch is still alive," I stated. "Say, we find her, and she doesn't help. Then what?"

"Then we use force."

I swallowed, my eyes falling to his jaw. "I don't want to cause harm."

"There is no other way," He grunted, seeing my saddened face. "Enough of this. I can feel your conflict."

"Okay, okay." I agreed. "But my list?"

"I will look into it, and I will ask Everett."

Nerves clutched at my stomach, and I wasn't sure of their source. I felt on edge, and could only assume it was because of what was coming. It was something of uncertainty, something that held my past and future in its palm. A discovery of myself, a manhunt. A pursuit.

Once I fell down this rabbit hole, it seemed only more obstacles stood in my way.

Why couldn't things just be simple?

***

For the next few days, Asra busied himself with researching the names I had written. He had found nothing on the web, nothing in the secure files, and today he had a meeting with Everett. I wandered the house to distract myself, not wanting to sit in the meeting today.

I found myself in the kitchen, and to my surprise, Olive was just leaving the dining room. She greeted me with a soft smile, coming to a stop before me.

"Hey, Olive." I smiled softly. "Looking for Everett?"

She shook her head, the timid female glancing around. "I know where he is."

I hummed, nodding at the immediate suspicion that swirled in my gut. Cutting straight to the point, I crossed my arms and squared up at the small female.

"How much do you know?"

She nervously glanced around again, and I rose an eyebrow. "Everett tells me most things. Mates don't keep secrets."

"Well, he should." I stated bluntly. "No offence, Olive, but he should know better."

"He will not get in trouble, will he?"

"Not by Asra," I shook my head. "He doesn't get to talk about my business."

"He only told me bits." She insisted. "How you are trying to find your father and think it is a man from his mum's pack?"

"What else?"

"That's it. I promise."

Her lies danced on my tongue, the taste of it so strong it surprised me I could even tell. My tongue swirled in my mouth, trying to rid the strange feeling from my gums. This must be another wolf perk, but my instincts have never let me down.

Clearing my throat, I tried to hold her gaze. "Okay, thank you for your honesty."

She glanced up, a hint of surprise in her eyes before it fell away with faux gratitude. "Of course, Luna."

"Doing anything today?" I wondered, glancing at the bright skies.

"I was going to the studio."

"The studio?" I cocked my head.

I knew Asra had some kind of studio here for the humans, but I didn't realise anybody actually used it.

"Yeah," she shrugged.

"What do you do there?" I probed.

She blushed slightly. "I paint or draw. My main master is oils, though."

"I'd love to see your stuff," I grinned.

That wasn't a lie. Art fascinated me. I wasn't the best at it, my clumsy fingers better at chopping and cooking than they were at holding a brush steady.

"You want to come..."

It wasn't a question, and I hesitated my response. I never often interacted with Olive alone, but her strangeness was intriguing to me.

"Sure," I nodded. "I will only burn if I go outside. Us humans should stick together."

Her lips tugged slightly, but she nodded and led the way. Perhaps this would be a way for me to make another friend, or perhaps a branch to discovering more about Everett. Asra's comforts did not suppress my unease around his tactics, and I wanted to discover Everett for myself. If going through his mate was the easiest option, then I would start here.

Olive led me into the studio, and I found myself surrounded by so many scents. I could smell all the fresh canvas and paints, the fabrics and the polish. There were many hobbies going on in here. I wasn't sure where to even start.

"Luna, fancy seeing you here."

I spun to face Mya, raising an eyebrow at her. "You come here too?"

"Mostly to be nosey," she grinned. "Otherwise, to keep an eye on Olive."

Keep an eye on her?

I narrowed my eyes with more scepticism, uncertain if I should take Mya's words with a grain of salt.

"Scared that Olive may paint the walls?" I teased.

Mya rolled her eyes, spinning in her chair. "I am her muse."

I snorted, shaking my head as I collapsed onto the sofa. "Of course, how silly of me."

Mya shot me a wink before turning to Olive with a soft smile. "What's today's piece, Picasso?"

"I want to finish the lake one," Olive shrugged. "I don't need you today."

I stifled a laugh, a soft ooh leaving my lips. Mya's spine tensed and she shot me a look of warning. I grinned, winking back at her, before turning to scan my eyes across the room. There were various art forms dotted around the cosy room. Canvas to my right, mannequins and sewing machines to my left. There was a glass wall covered with soft voile curtains, a window open slightly for ventilation.

The sofa dipped, and I grunted when Mya threw her legs over mine. I was already warm, the midday heat gruelling today, and now I had her sticky wolf's heat seeping into me.

"What do you want?" I huffed. "Shouldn't you be running or something?"

She gasped, her hand resting on her heart. "I am offended at your stereotype."

"Please, you are always working out."

"That is because I am a warrior wolf, Luna. I need to be in shape with good stamina."

Mya calling me Luna always meant I was in for a battle of wits. Her sarcastic tendencies were too noticeable.

"Aren't wolves always in shape?" I taunted. "I have never seen an unfit wolf."

"None are as good as me."

I whistled lowly. "How did you fit through the door with a head so large?"

She beamed, a game in her eyes. "I'd love to see you do my workout."

"I took you down on the mats. I am sure I can do it better than any human here."

"Is that a bet?" Mya cocked her head. "When was the last time you worked out?"

"I have picked it back up, actually." I clicked my tongue. "Have done for a few weeks. I'm a little rusty with stamina, but I remembered everything."

"What is everything?"

I shrugged. "Just what I learnt."

"Learnt?"

"That's what I said."

She snorted. "I will make a deal with you."

"A deal with you always equals a catch."

Mya grinned, shrugging lazily. "You in?"

"What's the catch?" I repeated.

"You're no fun," she sighed. "That's the surprise."

"Mya..."

"There isn't a catch!" She insisted. "I just want to see you crash and burn when you lose."

"And when I win?"

"Whatever you want from me. I will be your slave for an hour."

I hummed, thinking about it. "What if you win?"

"You answer two questions I have."

I hesitated, knowing Mya's questions were always personal. "Fine, but if they are over the line, I may not answer."

"They aren't," she grinned. "Do we have a deal?"

I eyed her outstretched hand before resting my palm on it. How hard could it be? Making a deal with the devil was the riskiest part of this whole thing. Mya just underestimated me.

Already made a mistake.

I grinned, nodding. "Deal."