Sarai spent the next two hours at the gun range, alternating between firing her own handgun and a variety of weapons provided by the facility. Rafe watched her for the first hour before turning his attention to their pack's Omega, Willow. The young female had held the title of Lunathion's Worst Shot for five years running. She'd first earned it when she accidentally shot Rafe in the foot during a standoff with a homicidal tiger shifter.

After the incident, Sarai had attempted to befriend Willow, but her efforts were met with revulsion. Despite her status as an Omega, Willow believed herself above the rest of the pack. She was bitter, crude, and ruthless in her treatment of others. Sarai wasn't at all upset by her failed efforts. Now, she returned Willow's barbs with even more venom than they'd originally been given.

Sarai lowered her gun at last. The rest of the pack was doing the same. After the last shot was fired, Sarai removed her headphones. She headed towards the stairs and was the first one to reach the locker room. She left her safety glasses and headphones in their bins and dropped her borrowed jacket on a seat.

Sarai grabbed a tub of cleaning supplies and plopped down on a bench. She set to work cleaning her gun, knowing she wouldn't have time later. She would barely have enough time to shower and change before she was expected to meet up with the Pack of Devils at Bryce Quinlan and Danika's apartment.

"In a hurry?" A sweet accented voice asked.

Sarai looked up to find Holly, her pack's Third, standing before her. She was the only one besides Rafe who spoke to her on a regular basis. Unlike Rafe, Holly didn't belittle or condescend to her. She was generally very nice, although Sarai knew not to get on her bad side.

Holly pushed a pair of glasses back up the bridge of her nose. Sarai offered the female a smile, before turning her attention back to her weapon. "Yeah, I'm supposed to be at Bryce and Dani's in a little over an hour."

"Do you have big plans tonight?" Holly sat down and began cleaning her own weapon. She tossed dark hair over her shoulder and tilted her head, inspecting the barrel of her gun.

"Ithan has a sunball game. Nathalie mentioned the Devils were going and asked if I wanted to tag along." Sarai's smile grew at the mention of her friend. While she was good friends with Danika, Nathalie was her best friend.

She'd known Danika's Third even longer than she'd known Danika herself. Sarai had done everything with Nathalie growing up. When they went to college, they shared a room together. They went to the same parties, hung out with the same people, and lived on the same street. In fact, they spent more time at each other's houses than in their own.

    Sarai couldn't even recall how many times she'd been asked if Nathalie was her girlfriend, just because of their behavior around each other. If Nathalie was anything to her, she was her sister. Sarai had been an only child and while most Wolf pups were raised together, she still felt alone. That changed after she met Nathalie.

    Sarai finished up with her weapon and shoved it down the waistband of her pants. It was cold against her back, and she welcomed the sensation. She stood and Holly gave her a quick wave. "Tell Ithan good luck for me if you see him before the game," she said.

"I will." Sarai grabbed her phone out of the locker and started down the hall before anyone could stop her.

Once she was out of the range facility, Sarai opened her phone and pulled up the message thread she shared with Nathalie. Nathalie had already texted her ten times in the past twenty minutes. Sarai grinned to herself and typed a quick response, then burst into a sprint. She ran the entire distance back to her apartment, knowing there wasn't a moment to spare.

◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ☾☽ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦

An hour and a half later, Sarai found herself on a bench in Crescent City University's sunball stadium. She was crammed between Nathalie and Connor Holstrom, Ithan's older brother and Second in the Pack of Devils. Bryce Quinlan, a pretty half-Human female, was to the left of Connor, and Danika was on her right. The rest of the pack was scattered around them.

Sarai accepted the ice cold beer Connor offered her, before elbowing the male between the ribs. "How do you like the seating arrangement?" She teased.

Connor rolled his golden eyes, but Sarai didn't miss the flush that crept into his cheeks. Neither did Nathalie. She slung an arm over Sarai's shoulder with a laugh. "Oh, he loves it," she drawled. "I bet he's already figured out what perfume Bryce has on."

"How would he know that unless he went in her room and smelled them all?"

Nathalie shrugged, swiping black hair away from her tanned cheek. Her onyx eyes glittered with amusement. "Maybe he did, but that's a little pervish if you ask me."

"Well, I didn't ask you," Connor retorted, rolling his eyes once more. He crossed his arms and Sarai couldn't help but admire the toned muscles on display. What she wouldn't give to be in Bryce Quinlan's shoes.

Sarai looked past Connor's boots and caught sight of the four inch pearl white heels Bryce was wearing. On second thought, I'll stick with my own, Sarai laughed mentally.

Bryce was an unusually spectacular sight today. Her long wine red hair was piled into a bun at the top of her head. Golden hoops were stuck through the lobes of her slightly arched ears. She wore a pair of white skinny jeans that matched her heels, and Ithan's sunball jersey covered her golden halter top. Bryce's amber eyes flashed with delight as she whispered something to Danika.

Sarai could understand Connor's attraction to the female. Bryce was beautiful, confident, and fun to be around. Her one shortcoming was that she ignored Connor, even though it was glaringly obvious that she was as attracted to him as he was to her. It didn't help that Danika had forbidden him from making the first move. Sarai couldn't understand why, and all Danika told her was that Bryce wasn't ready for everything Connor had to offer her.

Sarai brought her attention back to the field as CCU's sunball team emerged from their locker room. She spotted Ithan right away. His mop of golden-brown hair was unmistakable, and she could even see the shine in his brown gaze as he noticed their group and waved. The Pack of Devils gave rowdy howls in response, and Bryce and Sarai joined in.

The clamor in the stadium grew as the game began. Sarai lost herself to the madness of it all, relishing the energy that circled around her. By the end of the second quarter of the game, CCU was ahead by five points. Ithan had scored the majority of them.

"Some of us are going to the White Raven after the game," Nathalie said, leaning towards Sarai. "You should come. It's been a few weeks since you last went with us."

Sarai heaved a sigh and shook her head. "I'd love to, but I shouldn't. Rafe has been on my ass for the past few days and we've got a patrol first thing in the morning." A second thought occurred to her and Sarai swallowed a groan. "We'll be working the same streets as a Fae unit."

"Do you know which one?" Nathalie asked, knitting her brows.

Sarai shook her head. "Not for certain, but I have a suspicion. We're patrolling a few blocks around the Old Square."

"Ugh. Near Ruhn Danaan's house, I imagine?" Sarai nodded. Nathalie stuck out her tongue. "Wouldn't you rather be half drunk while dealing with him?"

"If I'm going to be half drunk that early, I'd have to drink before leaving. Alcohol from today would already be out of my system." Sarai sighed once more. "Besides, Rafe will flay me if I pick another fight with Ruhn."

Connor leaned closer, obviously having heard the conversation. "You tell me when and where, Ilerion. I'll bring Rafe and a shovel; you bring the gun."

Sarai grinned as Connor winked at her. "I'll be sure to do that."

Nathalie grabbed her arm. "They're back!" She pointed to the field where the sunball teams were regrouping. Sarai shoved all thoughts of Rafe, Ruhn, and the Aux from her mind as the game resumed.

◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ☾☽ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦

"Hel, how do you fumble a perfectly good pass like that?" Tristan Flynn exclaimed, throwing one hand in the air. "Holstrom lined it up perfectly. They could've scored three points!"

"Relax," Ruhn chuckled, stretching his colorfully tattooed arms over the back of a threadbare sofa. "CCU is seven points ahead and I doubt Holstrom will make the mistake of passing to Delano again."

"Delano is a good player," Declan Emmet protested. He braced his elbows on his knees and leaned forward, watching the television screen intently. "He probably got nervous. It happens to the best of us."

"You just think he's hot, Dec," Flynn chuckled, poking him suggestively. Declan rolled his amber eyes.

Ruhn toyed with his lip ring, watching as the next play was made. Even Flynn was quiet for a moment. The ball bypassed CCU's defensive line and was caught by an opposing player. All three of them groaned as the other team made a two point score.

"You were saying?" Flynn muttered.

Ruhn scratched the shaved side of his head, pursing his lips. "Well, they're still five points ahead."

"Holstrom will make another score before the game ends," Declan predicted. "He always does."

Flynn grimaced, facing Ruhn fully. "Speaking of Holstroms, aren't we patrolling the same sector as the Pack of Devils tomorrow?"

Ruhn shook his head and the long braid he'd pulled his raven hair into fell over his shoulder. "Blood Moon."

Flynn's grimace turned into a scowl, then a smirk. "Even better."

"We aren't going close enough for you to flirt with Sarai Ilerion," Ruhn huffed.

"Oh, come on. I've been looking for an excuse to run into her."

"You could literally run into her at any time if you wanted to," Declan pointed out, not looking away from the TV.

"Besides, why would you want to?" Ruhn added.

"Because she's fucking gorgeous?" Flynn shot him an incredulous look.

"And she's a Wolf. And she's trouble."

"Petty excuses," the male said, waving a dismissive hand. "You're just mad she rejected you."

"And broke my leg and a couple ribs."

"You healed."

"Apparently his pride didn't," Declan laughed.

"Both of you shut up and watch the game," Ruhn grunted.

His friends heeded him, though both continued to laugh quietly. Just as Declan had predicted, Ithan Holstrom scored one last point before the game ended. The three of them let out excited whoops, before Flynn stood and stretched his arms over his head. There was a thoughtful look in his brown eyes.

"Think she's already involved with someone?" He asked. Ruhn groaned and didn't bother with a response.