As I emerged from the woods behind our manor, I shifted back into a human. My inner wolf still whimpered as the metallic smell seemed to stick in my nose.

"Dad!" I yelled, running in through the patio door. "Dad?"

"In the office, honey."

"Hey, Dad," I said breathlessly.

"What's up, kiddo?"

"I was running home and about a mile into the woods, there was this weird smell."

"What kind of smell? You'll have to get used to heightened senses," he said, not looking up from his work.

"Um, it was really metallic-y, and like old dirt."

"Metallic and old dirt?"

"Yeah. I'd never smelled anything like it before."

"Anything else?"

"Yeah, it smelled like old meat. Like when a steak is left sitting on the counter too long."

"Okay."

"I... I followed it, Dad. The smell. I followed it."

"What did you find?" he asked.

My bottom lip trembled as I tried to find the words. He came up to me and grabbed my arms. "Elanor. What did you find?"

"A-a body. It was a body, not a wolf. I don't know what..."

He stood and hurried to the patio door. Kissing my forehead, he ran from the room.

"Dad?"

"Don't worry about it, honey. I'm sending a patrol out to the woods to find it. Stay home."

"Okay."

"Where did your father go?" Mom asked, exiting the kitchen.

"I, um, was running home from school and found a, uh, body. They were almost dead."

"A body?" she asked, shocked.

"Yeah, I-I don't know what it was or where they came from."

"Oh, honey!" She wrapped me in a big hug and squeezed me. "Are you okay?"

I nodded my head against her shoulder. "I don't know. Maybe? He's sending a patrol out to check the woods."

"That is terrifying. I am so glad that you're okay, sweetheart."

I kissed her cheek and went to my room.

Maybe I should tell them that I'm leaving.

I shook my head and tossed my backpack on my bed before digging through my closet for my suitcases.

"What do you take when you're leaving home for like a month?" I asked myself.

I looked around and realized that I relied on a lot of my stuff.

"I guess I'm packing as much as I can."

A knock on the door disturbed my rushed packing.

"Who is it?" I called out.

"It's Mom."

I put my bags under my bed and unlocked my bedroom door. "What's up, Mom?"

"Dinner is ready."

"Great. I'm starving."

"Alex is here..."

"Never mind. I'm not hungry."

"Elanor, you can't avoid them forever," she said.

"Sure I can. Watch me."

She sighed heavily. "You're going to have to come to terms with this."

I shrugged my shoulders. "In time, I'm sure I will. Right now, though, no."

"Well, come have dinner."

"Nope. I'm not hungry."

"Yes, you are."

"No. My appetite is suddenly gone."

"I'll have Henry put a plate in the fridge for you in case you get hungry later."

"Sure."

I closed and locked the door behind her, pulling my suitcases out again. My stomach growled at the thought of whatever Henry had made. His food was always delicious.

Digging through my closet again, I picked a variety of outfits from more outdoors and hiking to fancy dinner party.

"You never know what you'll end up doing, I guess."

I put the suitcases into my closet and lay in bed, staring out my window, watching the sun set. The doorknob twisted back and forth, as though someone was trying to enter.

"Go away."

"Answer the door."

"No. Go away."

I heard the low growl Alex did when he was mad. "Open the fucking door."

"I told you no. Go. Away."

"Talk to me, Ellie."

"You do not get to call me that! Only my friends do. You are not my friend. Go. Away."

"I'm fed up with your attitude, Elanor."

"Is there a problem?" I heard my father's muffled voice.

"No, Beta. I'm just trying to talk to your hard-headed daughter."

"Do you really think that is a good idea right now?"

"What is her problem?" Alex asked.

"Seriously? You're asking what her problem is?"

"Yeah. What is her problem?"

"Let's think about this for a moment, shall we? You should be able to think critically if you are going to be the Alpha of our pack one day. You dated Ellie for how long?"

"I don't know."

"Four years, Alex. You dated Ellie for four years. Then suddenly, and in public, you marked her sister in front of her at her birthday party."

"And?"

"Use your brain. How would you feel if someone marked her in front of you?"

"She doesn't have a mate, though?"

That stung. That hurt deep in my heart.

"She does. She simply hasn't met him yet. And knowing my daughter and how special she is, he's going to be ten thousand times more of a man than what you have shown everyone you are."

"That is out of line, Beta."

"And it's out of line for you to stand at my daughter's door, who is not your mate, screaming at her in my house. I would appreciate it if you either spent your time with Harmony in her room or not here at all."

I heard Alex let out his low growl again and couldn't help but smile.

I love you, Dad.

"Hey, honey, open the door for your old wolf?"

I hopped up and unlocked the door. "Hi, Dad."

He kissed my forehead and hugged me tightly. "Hi, daughter."

I smiled and wrapped my arms around him. "You're the best."

"Oh, I'm alright."

"Did the patrol go out?"

"Yeah. That's what I came up here to find you for."

"What was it? Is it okay?"

"Well, it was strange. They found a werecat. We took him to the hospital, but..." Dad sat on the edge of my bed and held my hand. "It's not looking like it will survive."

"A werecat? In wolf territory? How did it even get here?"

"That's what's strange. We don't know. There was no notification that they would be traveling through the kingdom. He wasn't a member of their royal family or an ambassador."

"What happened?"

"The poor creature was drained of most of his blood and had a strange bite mark. I've never seen anything like that before."

"A bite? Do you think it was a vampire?" I questioned.

He shook his head. "No. It doesn't resemble a vampire bite, plus they can't come out during the daylight. Dr. Lyndon was dispatched to the scene so he's doing a necropsy to find out more about what killed it."

I pursed my lips and folded my arms in front of me.

Is this what Artemis was talking about?

"Share your thoughts?" Dad asked.

"Hmm? Oh, just wondering what's lurking in the woods. That's all."

"Me too."

He turned to leave, and my mouth went dry.

"Hey, Dad?"

"Yeah?"

"I have something to tell you."

"What's that, honey?"

"With everything going on with Alex and Harmony, I took all of my finals today."

"Oh? Dean Anderson allowed that?"

"Yes. Ashley arranged that for us."

"Us? She did as well?" he questioned.

"Mmhmm."

"Why?"

"Well, we're leaving."

"Leaving? Leaving where?"

"Here. The pack."

"Wolves don't leave their packs."

"I know. And it's not forever. I just want to travel a bit, you know. See the other packs. See more of our world. I've never left Moon Mist before."

"How long are you planning on being gone for?"

"Just a few weeks. Maybe a month."

"Okay. Make sure you head to the Royal City. I am friends with the Beta of Winter Lake. She's very smart and very kind. I'll let her know that you are coming, and she'll be able to show you around the city. Her name is Marsha Brandywine."

I nodded. "Thanks, Dad."

"No problem, pup. Just be careful, okay?"

"Of course, I will be. I'm your daughter, aren't I?"

"You are and I are the definition of careful."

He left my room, and I let out a big sigh.

A month of no Harmony and no Alex.