Anastasia's P.O.V.

Hayley and I laughed as we walked to our lockers after Spanish. We chatted away in Spanish, not in the mood to switch back after the movie we just watched. Kenna and Cael were on their way from AP Geography to meet Xaden in the cafeteria. I cringed at Hayley's terrible impression of the male lead before twirling my combination and offloading the books I no longer needed for the day.

"So," Hayley said as she fixed her hair in the mirror she installed on the inside of her locker door, "everyone's dying of curiosity and I was "chosen" to be the messenger."

I raised my eyebrow at her as I closed my locker door and leaned against it. "When have you guys ever been afraid to ask me anything?" Hayley made an indistinct sound from behind her door as she continued to fix her hair. "Well ask away." I adjusted the pen that was threatening to slip out from my binder.

Hayley closed the door and leaned against it, her blues eyes focused on mine. "What happened when you and Luke disappeared from the party?"

I felt my cheeks flush as I was instantly thrown back to that night. The way we moved perfectly across the dance floor, my body relaxing against his, his welcoming warmth coupled with his enticing heady scent. I could differentiate the individual scents now, so far I guessed mild incense with a bit of mint and something woodsy but our bond needed to be stronger for me to know more. And we had the opportunity that night, I could still feel the heat of his skin against my lips when our instincts overtook us but my head told me to pull away.

"On second thought," Hayley's voice broke my musing, "I think you should talk to Kenna."

I looked up and ducked my head as she smirked at me. "Nothing like that happened," I said firmly. "We just talked a bit, admired the night and returned to the party."

Hayley looked at me suspiciously, "Talked about what?"

Luke's words echoed in my head. "Stuff," I answered offhandedly. I reached up to tuck a loose hair behind my ear, only to find none there. I mentally cursed myself, it was one of my nervous habits and people close to me knew it.

Hayley raised an eyebrow, "Ana did anything else happen that night?"

I bit my lip as they tingled again. I couldn't tell anyone how close Luke and I came to marking each other. "Nothing happened alright?" I snapped a little as my wolf became annoyed with the questions about our mate.

Hayley stepped back a little but nodded. I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck as I tried to calm my wolf. I looked at her apologetically and she smiled. I grinned and turned around to head to the cafeteria. I muttered a curse as my pen fell out of my binder.

But it never hit the floor.

A tanned hand closed around before it could. My nostrils flared a little as mild scent of incense and mahogany hooked me and placated my wolf. I looked down and my eyes locked in the sea of blue. Even through my jeans, I felt jolts and tingles that coursed straight to my core, creating a tightening in my tummy as his fingers gently traced the outline of my leg as he brought the pen up to eye level.

"Yours?" Luke's husky whisper sent shivers down my spine and made the bundle of knots in my stomach tighten.

"Yes," I said softly and I struggled to keep my breathing even as his eyes drifted from my eyes to the rest of my body and back.

I closed my eyes as he tucked the pen and a stray hair behind my ear. His fingers ghosted over the skin on the left side of my neck, gentle caressing it until they reached the place where his mark on me will be. I heard his sharp intake of breath but I didn't need to open my eyes to know when he left. My body was aware of his presence but highly attuned to his absence.

I opened my eyes and sighed. I noticed a couple of students looking at me and immediately a snarl left my lips. They jumped but returned to their business. I motioned to Hayley and we started walking to the cafeteria.

"So you're not going to even tell me what that was all about?" Hayley probed gently.

I sighed and put my hands on the cafeteria door handles, "That is a result of what happened that night." Hayley's eyes widened as I pushed the door open.

~

"I know it's risky but we don't have the luxury of space like back home," I told Tammy over the phone. The final bell had already rung and I was in the locker room changing out of the clothes I used for art. I buttoned my jeans as I listened to Tammy as she recounted what transpired at the Luna meeting today; they started planning for the upcoming heat.

"Listen Tam," I said as I threw on my loose crop top while keeping my phone pressed to my ear, "I know it's risky to have two females in a room during their heat but there is only one building that is ideal for lodging for the night. And think about it, we have more help this time and we can join forces with the Blackwell ladies."

I smiled as Tammy agreed. "I'll see if I can make it to the next meeting, maybe I could convince them and hopefully reach a compromise." I said goodbye and hung up as I gave myself a once over in the mirror and exited the changing room. I packed my bag and opened door only to take a step back when I came face to face with Isabel.

I stepped back and smiled at her. My wolf growled and stood, tense and ready to attack. I hated this girl but I could be perfectly civil to her. "Excuse me," I said gently but firmly and moved to the side in an attempt to pass.

Isabel moved to the side also, blocking my path and I swallowed a growl. "Stay away from him," she growled. I sensed her wolf close to the surface and I brought mine as much as she could with the silver arm cuffs.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I replied calmly.

"Don't lie to me, you little home wrecker!" she said venomously. "People saw you and Luke in the corridor today and you two disappeared from the party. You think no one has caught on to what you're doing but I've figured you out. Now just leave my boyfriend alone before I make you."

I sighed and breathed deeply, seeing the situation through her eyes and understanding her point of view. She didn't know the truth and I wasn't going to be the one to tell her. "I've never sought out Luke, if you think about it, so your threats are empty to me."

Isabel growled and stepped closer but I held my ground and growled deeper than her. "I don't care. I know you were in his room and things you've done, I should tell the entire school what you are."

"Then why haven't you?" I countered. "What are you afraid of?"

I remembered that I forgot my shirt in Luke's room the day he tried to kiss me. I didn't bother to correct her assumptions because I knew the truth and the story she seem to have concocted really unnerved her which entertained me.

"I'm not scared of anybody," she squared her shoulders going on the defensive. "I just don't want you to get hurt."

I laughed coldly, "I've had blood redder than your lipstick stain my teeth. I don't think I'll be the one getting hurt in a fight." I noted the brief look of fear in her eyes before a hard glint replaced it. I shook my head and pushed past her before things could get worse.

"You think because you're an alpha's daughter you're royalty." Her words made me stop mid stride and I turned around to face her.

I studied her as she coldly faced me. "You think because you can sing and dance that you could run around like a princess with your brothers to protect you. You think you can have everything and it makes me sick seeing how people fall for you when it clearly is a trap."

I breathed deeply as my hands dove into my pockets, slipping on the silver rings to keep my wolf at bay. "Isabel," I said gently, "I don't know what I've done or what you have heard that gave you that impression of me. I have talents, I'm not going to deny it, that I was thankfully born with. I know it's rare and I use them to make people happy and share my knowledge as much as possible. I couldn't pick the family I was born into; seven brothers, one or none, there is no way to control that. I don't know what gave you the idea of people falling for me but I assure you I don't encourage it in anyway. I hope that clears up any misconceptions you have of me." 

 I turned, the sole of my Vans squeaking against the floor.

"Just stay away from Luke," she said again. I stopped and looked over my shoulder. Isabel stood there, fists balled.

"I will," I said clearly, "but you should find out why he will come to me anyways." 

I didn't wait to hear her reaction as I walked away.

~

My eyes glazed over as my head rolled to the side to look at Ari. His eyes were focused on the computer screen as he reached over and ruffled my hair as much as he could with the headphones on my head.

We were on graveyard surveillance duty shift, Ari on the camera, I on the audio. So far all I've been hearing was the familiar sounds of the creatures at home and it was lulling me to sleep. I groaned softly so I wouldn't wake Nyal and Damien before folding my arms and resting my head on them and Ari rubbed circles on my back in comfort.

I sighed as I felt my body relaxing, drifting off into much needed sleep when a twig snapped over the audio. I bolted up and strained my ears to see if it was a wolf or not. I tapped Ari's shoulder and gestured for him to focus on the borderline cameras.

Another twig snapped and the low rumble of two wolves reached my ears. I saw Ari shake his head in my peripheral. The wolves were out of our cameras' scope so we were depending on audio. It was quiet and just as I concluded they were just passing by, I heard a human cough.

"Do you think it's a good plan?" a raspy voice asked. My hand tightened on Ari's forearm and he tensed, ready for my signal to wake everyone else up.

"Leaving my mate when all she wants is me?" a deeper voice answered. "It's a terrible plan." I slapped Ari's arm hurriedly and his eyes glassed over, waking everyone up. I pulled out the headphones and adjusted the volume as everyone crowded around the surveillance centre.

"It's a good idea though," Raspy Rango said, "attack the McDonald pack when the females go into heat." I looked up at Dad, his face was hard and unreadable. "They are going to be so focused on them, they will be so vulnerable."

"But so are we," Deep Danny countered, "he's moving all the men away from the camp. I have no clue how my mate would react if she's away from me." I bit back a snort; I had a pretty good idea of how she'll react.

"I know but Maximus is there, he'll make sure they're safe," Raspy Rango said.

"That doesn't reassure me," Deep Danny said warily, "one man and all those women in heat, how do you think that will end?" There were various noises of disgust from behind me as I shuddered.

"You think he would do something like that?" Raspy Rango asked. Deep Danny didn't reply. "I guess you're on to something, he forces every woman to drink that tea after every heat."

Deep Danny snarled, "He'll have to step over my dead body before he can even look at my mate."

We heard heavy breathing then Raspy Rango spoke again. "So what are you going to do man? Leave like Mykela and Henry? We haven't heard from them since and you saw what Maximus did when they disappeared."

Deep Danny sighed, "I don't know. It's an option, but we haven't decided yet." There was a low grumble and then the night became quiet again.

I turned around in my chair, both Nyal and Axel had transcripts of the conversation while everyone else was silent, digesting what we just heard. I looked up at Dad, waiting for his command.

"I'm going to call Byron now," he said evenly, "they need to be warned. Damien, you're with me. Nyal and Axel, type up the conversation and start a log. Asher, see if you can track down the Mykela and Henry mentioned, call the Davidsons and the Parrish pack and find out if they took in any rogues with those names recently." I watched as my brothers sprang into action.

"What about us?" Rowan asked as he, Ari, Jared and I were left jobless. This was a sore point in our family, the older ones got all the important work and we younger ones were left on the side.

Dad smiled kindly, "Jared, Rowan you all are on surveillance duty for now. Ari and Ana, you two get some sleep." I smiled and stood up, letting Jared take me seat. I bade everyone goodnight before heading up to my room.

"Oh Ana-bear," I lay down on the floor and stuck my head out of the entrance. I saw Dad looking up at me. "Good work tonight, I know it's not easy, taking care of us, balancing school, practice, classes, Luna duties and this but I'm proud of you pulling through, your mother would be so proud of you." He stepped closer and pressed a kiss to my forehead.

I smiled, "Thanks Dad but what you do isn't easy, raising us right, Alpha duties and this drama, she would be proud of you too."