APRIL

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"APRIL, YOU'RE STALLING!" Kiara shouts from downstairs.

"I'm not!" I yank down the new black top I got during our shopping spree. "Give me a minute!" I rush out of the bathroom and grab the black jacket I also bought. Sliding it on, I take a moment to give myself a once-over in the full-length mirror.

Not bad.

The nude makeup I did goes perfectly with the dark jeans and top. I should feel confident, but the minute I remember why we're going out tonight, my stomach twists, and the urge to hide back in the bathroom is hard to ignore.

Maybe I should-

"No, you can't. You promised Kiara," my wolf cuts in, her voice firm. It's the ninth time she's spoken to me since we got home, and while I'm thrilled about our conversation-it's been a while-it feels... off.

She's been acting strange ever since the sun set and Dad told us to get ready for the pack house. She's jumpy, eager. Almost like she's expecting someone.

I slip my phone into my jacket pocket, trying to ignore the restless energy rolling off her. It's only gotten worse, building into this high-strung tension that's starting to make my head pound.

"What's going on with you?" I ask as I shut my bedroom door and start down the hall. "Is everything okay?"

"I don't know," she admits, sounding as confused as I feel. "Maybe we'll understand when we get to the pack house."

Her response catches me off guard. She's never this unsure. But I set it aside, ready to head out, when I hear Dad's voice coming from his room.

Wasn't he supposed to be at the pack house already?

"April!" Kiara's voice rings out again, impatient, but I ignore it and head toward Dad's room instead. To my surprise, the door is open, revealing him and Matthew inside, deep in conversation.

"What are you guys doing here?" I step into the doorway, and they both turn to look at me. Neither of them seem surprised, like they were expecting me or something.

"Is there a problem?" I glance between the two of them. They exchange a look before Dad lets out a heavy sigh.

"April, come in," Dad says, his tone serious. I don't bother asking any questions and step into the room. "Close the door, too."

The tension in the air is thick, and when I glance at Matt, he looks just as uneasy as Dad. Something is definitely wrong.

I close the door and fold my arms over my chest, trying to steady myself. "Okay... what's going on?"

"Not exactly," Matt starts to say, but his voice sounds forced. He opens his mouth to continue but then pauses, looking at Dad with frustration and confusion. "Are you sure she can handle this?"

"Handle what?" The words slip out before I can stop them. Matt's question has my pulse racing, and the room feels even smaller now.

"I'm not sure about this information, so don't panic," Dad begins, his voice taut with unease. "But we think something bad might happen tonight."

"Something bad..." I echo, my throat dry. "Like what?"

"That's the problem," Max interjects, his tone rough and edged with frustration. "You know the Rogue Queen has been attacking the western packs relentlessly, and now, all of a sudden, she stops. Don't you find that strange?"

"Of course I do, but that doesn't mean she'll attack here," I counter, pausing as a cold realization creeps in. "Or... can she?"

Dad exhales heavily, the weight of his thoughts visible in the tension of his shoulders. "That's why it's a problem. The eastern packs gathering here to strategize against her-it's a great plan in theory, but..."

"It's not a safe one," I finish, almost too quickly.

He nods grimly. "Exactly."

"Have you spoken to Alpha Haden about this? This is way above us," I say, trying to make sense of why this conversation even involves Max and me.

"Dad has," Max replies, his jaw tightening. "But Alpha Haden thinks she wouldn't dare strike here, not when all the Alphas and their warriors are guarding every corner."

"That doesn't make sense!" My anger flares, sharp and immediate. "He should prepare for the worst! Even with all the warriors around, there should still be a contingency plan."

"That's why we need your help." Dad walks to the dresser, pulling open a drawer. When he turns, my stomach drops-he's holding a gun.

"What?" My voice lowers to a shaky whisper, my eyes fixed on the weapon. "How... why do you have that?"

"Forget how I got it," he says sternly, stepping closer. "I need you to keep this until the party at the packhouse is over."

"What?!" I take a step back, shaking my head. "You want me to what?"

"April, take a breath." Max places a calming hand on my shoulder, his voice softening. "We know this is against the law, but-"

"There's no but, Max!" I snap, panic rising in my chest. "This could get us banished! We need another solution. There has to be another way."

"There isn't another way," Dad says firmly, his gaze steady as he steps closer. "I know this is a lot, but I need you to hold it until I can speak to Alpha Haden again."

"Why can't Max do it?"

Dad's eyes flick to Max, then back to me. The answer is clear before he even speaks. "You know why, April."

"Because of his scent," I say, bitterness creeping into my voice. I knew it, but hearing it confirmed doesn't make it any easier. "The guards won't smell the gun on him."

Dad nods in affirmation.

"It's not just about the gun-it's about the bullets." Max moves to the bed and picks up a briefcase I hadn't even noticed. He sets it down and unclicks the latches, opening it to reveal an assortment of silver bullets, each gleaming ominously under the light.

I step closer, my heart pounding as recognition dawns.

"They contain Wolfbane." Dad reveals.

I stumble back, staring at him in disbelief. "What?"

"They're laced with wolfbane and other herbs," he explains, his tone heavy. "Enough to slow a wolf down-or kill them if shot at the head."

"We don't need this at the party!" I protest, panic bubbling in my voice. "What if someone senses it?"

"They won't," Dad insists. "Not if you're the one holding it. April, don't you want to end this? Don't you want to stop her?"

"I do, but..." My gaze flicks to the bullets again, dread pooling in my stomach. "If this gets exposed, Alpha Haden will lose it. You could be punished-or worse."

"I've thought of that," Dad says, his voice firm but weary. "I'm willing to take the risk if it means protecting our pack. Don't you want to protect them, too?"

I press my lips together, swallowing the lump in my throat. My mind races with the possibilities of everything going wrong, but his resolve is unwavering. "Fine," I mutter, the word tasting bitter on my tongue. "I'll do it."

Dad and Max both exhale in relief, though my heart feels like it's about to burst. Dad hands me the gun, and Max shows me how to load the bullet. Their instructions are clear-hide it well, keep the safety on, and never draw attention to myself.

"I don't feel good about this," Athena, my wolf, murmurs in the back of my mind.

"Neither do I," I admit, tucking the gun into the hidden pocket of my jacket. "But Dad wants this."

"I know.We'll just have to keep a low profile," Athena says, though her words do little to calm me.

Low profile. As if that had ever been an option before now.

After a few minutes of Dad repeating how important it was to keep this a secret-which wasn't necessary, because there was no way I'd tell Mum or anyone about this insanity-we finally decided to head outside.

The moment we step out, a crowd of familiar faces greets us, their gazes questioning. Mum stands at the forefront, her sharp eyes locking onto mine with a silent is everything alright?

No. Absolutely not. But I force a smile, the fake one I'd perfected over the years, and nod. It was enough to make her relax, though her skeptical glance lingers a little longer before she turns away. Without another word, we pile into the car, heading toward the pack house.

I lost count of how many times my hand brushed against the gun hidden in my jacket pocket. Each bump on the road sent a jolt of panic through me, sweat trickling down my temple as an unbearable itch spread across the spot where the weapon rested.

"April, are you okay?" Kiara's voice breaks through my frantic thoughts. She leans closer, her hand lightly brushing my arm.

"I'm fine," I mumble, though my stiff posture and shaky hands says otherwise.

Her brows furrow, but before she could press further, Max shoots me a warning glare. The fear in his eyes was enough to keep my mouth shut.

By some miracle-thank you, Moon Goddess-we finally arrive at the pack house. Relief and dread battles within me as the car comes to a halt.

The place was alive with energy. Wolves in both forms mingles everywhere, their chatter blending with the faint rustle of trees under the moonlight. Bright lights spills from the towering pack house, casting long shadows over the gathered crowd.

"This place is packed," Kiara gasps, her hand instinctively resting on her baby bump as she takes in the bustling scene.

"And heavily secured," I add, my gaze darting to the guards stationed at every corner, their sharp eyes scanning each arrival.

"Okay, family, let's go," Mum chirps in, her tone lighter than my mood. She carried a bouncing Amelia, whose excitement was contagious, though it failed to reach me.

As we approach the entrance, the two guards barely spares us a glance before nodding at Dad, granting us access. The second we step inside, the noise hits me-a mix of laughter, conversation, and the occasional howl.

I feel like I need to hide.

No.

Athena growls in my mind, her energy prickling through me. Her eagerness was palpable, almost overwhelming.

"Well, someone's excited," I mutter under my breath. This wasn't my first time at the pack house, and Luna Zorya knew me well enough that my absence would've been noted. Still, the unease twisting in my gut wasn't normal.

"Is everything alright? You're really starting to scare me." I show my concern as her energy increases my the second.

Athena hesitates. "I'm just... having this feeling and I don't want to scare you."

"Tell me," I urged, glancing at Dad as he informed us he was heading to see the Alpha. We parted ways in the entry hall, leaving me standing among a sea of faces-some familiar, others not.

Athena's voice wavers. "I... I think our ma-"

"April!"

A voice interrupts, and before I could react, a body collides with mine, arms wrapping around me in a tight hug. Laughter fills my ears as I steady myself.

"Lori," I greet, recognizing the vibrant energy of my best friend.

"I'm so glad you made it!" she steps back, just enough for me to notice the boy standing awkwardly behind her.

"Believe me I didn't want to be here." I smile ar my words, knowing full well she knew I was telling the truth.

"Told you she won't want to come." She nudges her elbow at the boy, who seems like he was waiting on an introduction.

I raised a brow. "So...?" I glance at both of them, trying to show her the sign.

"Oh!" Lori's excitement grew as she curls her arm around his. "April, this is Jacob, my mate. Jacob, this is April, my best friend."

"Hi." I give him a quick once-over, noting his quiet demeanor. Typical. Lori was always a sucker for the calm, blue-eyed type.

"Hi," Jacob replies, his handshake firm but polite. "Lori's told me so much about you."

"Good things, I hope."

"Definitely."

Lori giggles, her joy infectious, though it made my chest ache. Seeing her so happy warmed me and broke me at the same time.

"Come on," Lori says, dragging me along. "Kat's been dying to see you!"

"Hoping I'd show up, or hoping for someone to attack?" I mutter, my unease growing as we weave through the crowd.

The room we enter was full of wolves our age. Pairs of mates were scattered everywhere, their closeness evident in the way they touch, whisper, and look at each other.

I groan. "Seriously, Lori? I don't want to be insulted, that's not on my schedule today."

"Don't be like that, April," she teases. "Kat's just a kid. She acts like that with everyone."

"A kid?" I scoff. "She's eighteen now. She's practically an adult."

Kat has made it her mission to remind me every day that she was closer to her transformation while I remain in limbo. If she wasn't rubbing it in, she was reminding me of how "lonely" I'd be without a mate.

As If it doesn't add salt to my pain.

The room buzz with energy, but my attention was pull elsewhere as I notice couples disappearing into shadowed corners. The air was thick with pheromones, the telltale sign of wolves giving in to their primal instincts.

Moans echoed faintly, and I roll y eyes, wishing I could use the gun in my pocket to shoot my ears off.

"Wolves," I mutter under my breath. "Always so damn horny."

Lori elbows me playfully. "Oh, come on, it's not that bad."

But it is.

Even though I've craved a mate my entire life, this public display of affection we werewolves love to flaunt has never been my thing. The kisses, the touches, and the hands wandering to places my brain refuses to process-it's overwhelming.

And the mating rituals? They terrify me even more. The thought of being bound to someone forever, body and soul, is both intoxicating and paralyzing.

So here I am-a half-shifter who dreams of a mate but recoils at the idea of the intimacy that comes with it.

How pathetic I am.

"How about you sit over there?" Lori's voice pulls me from my spiraling thoughts. She points to a shadowed corner at the edge of the room, dim enough to let me disappear into the background. "Does that work for you?"

I nod. "Yeah, that's fine."

Her face lights up, her excitement unshakable. "Great! Since you'll be hiding..." She leans closer, her breath warm against my ear. "...I'll be having some fun with my mate."

Her mate, Jacob, blushes a deep crimson-clearly not accustomed to Lori's boldness. With our impeccable werewolf hearing, there's no way he didn't catch every word.

Lori giggles at his reaction, grabs his hand, and drags him toward a secluded corner. She waves at me over her shoulder, her carefree joy radiating in stark contrast to the hollow ache in my chest.

I really want to go home now.

This hurts more than it should. Watching everyone here laughing, flirting, and playing with their other half while I stand alone, clutching a gun like it's the only thing tethering me to reality.

The weight of the weapon feels heavier with every passing moment, a stark reminder of the battle we're facing. And here I am, trying to pretend everything's fine, while everyone else drowns in the bliss of finding their mate.

I sigh, the urge to leave clawing at me. My hand brushes against the cold metal in my pocket, grounding me, when a voice slices through the noise and calls my name.

"April."

The sound of my name freezes me in place. I know that voice all too well.

Slowly, I turn to see her-the infamous Alpha's daughter.

"Hello, Kat."