During our visit, many pack activities revolved around the East's upcoming reaping ceremony. I understood, from meal table talk, that it was a festival, or rather a giant party designed to look like a festival. Pack artisans invited from around the country set up booths and sold their goods around the lake. Werewolves flocked in from the East and the rest of the country.

Since the Eastern territory concentrated a lot of life around 'alternative farming,' this event made sense as the one we attended. The reaping started with a food blessing ceremony and concluded with music, dancing, and 'recreational activities' that I made a personal goal to avoid.

I tried to keep an open mind about the pack's medicinal marijuana, but failed at neutrality. I couldn't hold back my judgmental feelings over the lack of actual medical benefits, which I knew was wrong but couldn't restrain my sentiments.

After Jonah told me their medicinal marijuana could be slotted into any food recipe, like an idiot I inspected my meals.

"Zara, if there was pot in there then you couldn't tell." Raina laughed at my sniffing a breakfast bagel. She reached over and held up the back of its package. "But since it says 'Made in the Southern Territory,' then I think you're safe."

"Oh." My cheeks warmed as I ignored Cole's snickering on the other side of Elena.

As for Elena, she gave me a small smile. We'd been polite and friendly at every encounter but were still awkward and distant. She still spent all her time in the library, although now I didn't know what she read through.

The night of the reaping ceremony, I decided that our status quo needed to change. Despite being friends for two months, how she was present but not active in my life felt odd and displaced.

'Elena, you there?' I mindlinked her, wrapped my towel from the shower around my chest tightly, and headed into my closet.

'Yes,' she replied. 'Everything okay?'

'Other than I have no idea what to wear, can we talk?' I rubbed myself dry and looked through a few options. 'Are you free?'

'Something comfortable.' Her tone sounded tired. 'Finishing getting ready myself. I'll be there in five minutes.'

'Thanks.'

While I waited, I dressed in my underwear and bra, yanked up a pair of stockings, and pulled a long black maxi skirt and loose-fitting top down from their hangers. Wearing them, I was towel-drying my hair when she knocked on the door.

'Come in.' I stepped into a pair of flat sandals as the door opened.

"Hi," she breathed out, stepping into my room wearing a flowing shirt and loose pants. Stopping inside, she stuffed her hands into her pockets and offered a shaky smile.

"Hey." I sounded as tentative as she did.

Inspecting her appearance, she looked... terrible. The long hours in the library basement, with the stale air and lack of natural light, took a toll on her. Her skin was two shades paler and dark circles pressed under her brown eyes.

"Thanks for the clothes advice." I stepped out of the closet and walked over to Elena. She sat down on the edge of my bed, the small room's only option. Sitting next to her, I drew a deep breath. "Saying this has been a really rough trip would be an understatement."

"Zara." She looked down at her hands, threading and unthreading her fingers. "I'm so sorry. I... I should have told you that I'm from this territory. Before I left here, I was sworn to say nothing to your father, but not telling you was wrong. I should have told you once we could mindlink."

Her words settled inside me and I heaved another sigh. "After this week, I don't know what to believe any more. I'm hoping that you've been lied to the whole time too, but it's hard for me to accept that because you and Luna Rashida seem to know everything."

I didn't mean the last words to come out as bitter as they sounded. Once they hung in the air, she flinched.

"Zara..." she whispered. "We aren't trying to make you feel ignorant. We're trying to help you overcome that, actually."

"At the risk of being too sensitive." I looked down at my hands as heat rose in my cheeks. "You don't have to talk to me like I'm an idiot. I know I don't know as much about this world, this uhh, lifestyle, as I should and I'm not book-smart like you but... I'm trying."

"It's not about that." I dragged my eyes to hers at the insistence in her voice. Surprise flashed across her face, as if this was new information. "And again, not our intention, I'm sorry."

"Then what is your intention?" My bitterness slipped out again as I emphasized the last word.

Elena's voice wavered and tears glistened her eyes. "You don't understand."

"Then help me understand," I pleaded, struggling to keep down the irritation that bubbled up inside me from spilling over and saying something that I would regret.

"I can't... do much," she confessed and dipped her head. "I'm not strong. I can't fight like Cole or Raina, I can't protect you, I'm only useful -"

"Elena." My eyes softened at the emotion that seeped into her voice, but she continued.

"My strengths are researching information," she replied. "So that you can know the truth. I'm sorry, it must feel like an emotional avalanche but we don't have time to go slow. That's not your fault but is the reality we're dealing with here."

"You're right, it's not my fault." I looked in her glossy eyes, seeing my faint reflection in her glasses. "But how can I know that you're not going to keep things from me in the future?"

'How can I trust you?' was the real question.

"I hope you can trust me," she whispered and closed her eyes. "But I understand if you don't."

Oh, shit. I mindlinked that.

A low groan vibrated my throat and I took her hand. "Elena, I'm trying, it's... hard to find out everything in my life, me, and my wolf have been a lie."

"Not everything." She sandwiched her hands around mine and squeezed from both sides. "I'm your friend and I care about you."

"Thanks." I dropped her hands and wrapped my arms around her.

She returned the hug and rubbed her hands on my back. My mouth pressed as her fingers passed over my scars, even with the barrier of my shirt.

"A lot of us here care," she whispered and squeezed my shoulders. "You have more friends than you know. After what your father did, he's made a lot of people angry. But you can't stay on the outside and hide forever, Zara. You have to use that information and start to make the hard choices."

"I know." I sighed and released her. "My brain is still trying to process this. I appreciate the answers but some questions only have more questions."

The words stung as I admitted them. No one liked admitting their ignorance but Lumi was my main concern. And the more I thought about what I didn't know about me or my past, she was my sole concern. Once I buried my bruised ego feelings about not being a special snowflake, I resigned to unpack them later.

As if she sensed I thought about her, Elena asked, "How's Lumi?"

"Quiet," I admitted, my shoulders dropping. "She'll come out when she's ready, I guess. I miss her though."

"Zara..." Elena's eyes met mine and she bit her lip. "Your choice of course, but I think we should go to the Western Territory. I hope that there's answers to the questions that we've raised here."

"I..." I paused and considered her recommendation.

As I searched inside my mind, I felt Lumi's silent presence. As much as reality pained me to admit, I failed her. Nothing I'd done in the past few days had drawn her back out.

So maybe there are some answers in the West.

"...I agree, Elena." What I didn't share was that I knew that I'd go to the ends of this country if that meant finding answers for Lumi.

I'll do whatever I can.

"Sounds like a plan." Elena gave me a tight smile and rubbed one of my arms. "For now, let's be appreciative guests for another week. Starting with tonight's ceremony."

"Good idea." I stood up and gave her a smile. As she gave me one more small hug, a sense of relief calmed my nerves.

"So..." I mumbled as we left my bedroom. "What exactly is a reaping ceremony?"

"It's a blessing and appreciation for harvesting." Her eyes widened and brightened. "The Eastern pack has been doing it for more than eighty-five years, in honor of their traditions of blessing each season's wheat, corn, and herbal harvests..."

My lips curled up at her excitement as she went into an encyclopedia-like string of information while we walked down the hall. Catching sight of Cole and Raina reminded me that time revealed if I trusted the right people.

I mean werewolves.

One of these days I'll get it right.

"Oh wow!"

A smile pinched my cheeks as my eyes took in the site ahead. What normally comprised the lake circled by an open sidewalk had been transformed into a makeshift, sprawling outdoor marketplace.

Raina and I trailed behind Cole and Elena, who walked hand in hand and led us down to the lake. Mixed sounds of conversations, music, and activity replaced the usual sounds of night crickets and frogs.

Even Raina sounded impressed, "I had no idea the East had so many... artisans."

Tent after tent and booth after booth lined both sides of the sidewalk that circled the lake. Stations ranged from farmers with fresh fruits and vegetables, jewelry, weapons, and furniture makers, to painters and... tattoo artists?

"Ooh." I pointed at the tattoo parlor that caught my eye. "Can we check it out?"

"Considering that tramp stamp, Princess?" Cole looked back over his shoulder, met my gaze, and raised an eyebrow. In the most immature response, I shook my head and stuck out my tongue at him.

"No, but I could ask about that rogue's tattoo." I shot Cole a scowl.

Not waiting for anyone's blessing, I stepped inside the tent, which showed a sterile barber's-chair setup. Long, black drapes enclosed the steel-framed tent, upon which sketches of possible designs hung like artwork.

"Miss Zara." A male werewolf with tipped, spiked hair and gauges in both ears grinned. "Didn't strike you for wanting to get inked, but I'd be honored to put my stamp on your pale skin."

"I'm not," I confessed as a smile played on my lips. My skin was almost as white as the papers that hung on his tent drapes. "May I ask you something?"

"Of course." As he crossed his arms over his chest, my eyes admired the beautiful, intricate sleeves of ink. They displayed as many colors as the rainbow roses, but this large, burly werewolf didn't have a flower garden tattooed on him.

"If I draw a tattoo for you, could you tell me if it means anything?" I asked.

"Sure." He passed me a drawing pad and a pencil.

Not the artist he was, I scribbled the straightest lines possible and passed the sketchpad back. After a quick glance at the symbols, the frozen look in his eyes gave him away, before he ripped the page off the notepad and handed it back to me.

I didn't believe him for a minute when he replied, "Nope, sorry."

"You've seen it," I accused him. After a deep breath, I tried the most polite tone I could, despite feeling annoyed. He nodded, so I continued, "Have you drawn it on anyone?"

"No.' His spiky-haired head shook. "But all tattoo artists can notice and appreciate others' work. Looks like a typical Sigil-style tattoo. I don't know which pack. And no, I haven't done that one. Sorry."

"Umm, okay." I sighed, twisting my lips as my fingers played with my necklace charms. "Thank you for your time."

"Pleasure, Miss Zara." He nodded as I stepped out of the tent, crumpled up the piece of paper in my hands, and tossed it into a nearby trash bin.

Raina disappeared but Cole and Elena stood outside and waited for me. Both wore frowns a minute passed before I realized they weren't for me, but instead -

"There you are, Zara," a familiar male voice flowed like silk into my ears. A pair of hands wrapped over my shoulders and turned me around to face a pair of warm, hazel eyes that burned intently.

"Future Alpha Torak." I smiled.

Dressed in a casual gray shirt and black dress pants, we looked like we coordinated our outfits.

Eww, almost like a couple.

As far as I knew, no one besides us and Elena knew about us being caught half-naked together. That said, the entire pack thought how I'd tossed him into the lake was adorable flirting and I did not want to fuel the fire of this pack's gossip.

"Torak," he reminded me with a charming smile.

I shuddered as his hands slid down the back of my arms until they gripped mine. My mouth parted as he leaned forward, his lips approaching mine. A squeak lodged in my throat when they were a breath away from mine, but then he turned and grazed a soft kiss on my cheek.

"Well played," I smirked at him, released one of his hands, and pressed my cheek with my fingertips.

He enclosed his hand around my other hand's fingers. "Can I escort you to the ceremony?"

"This isn't it?" I looked at the tents ahead of us.

"No." He smiled, eyes sparkling like he held a delightful secret to himself. "Although there is something here that I think might interest you on the walk over."

"What -" I started to ask when the most delicious smell hit me, rooting my feet to the spot.

Closing my eyes, my nose twitched at the warm, sugary, and cakey scent. It drew me in like a cat to catnip. My mouth already salivated since I knew that smell.

Correction: I loved that smell.

"Are those..." My mouth parted in a gasp at a particular red and white striped booth ahead of us. As fast as my feet rushed, I tugged Torak behind me. "Doughnuts?"

"Yes!" The werewolf behind a glass display shelf, with gray hair pushed back by a white bandana, smiled at me as I entered her booth. My eyes took in rows after rows of the circular treats and my stomach twitched as if I hadn't eaten a full meal less than an hour ago.

"Do you have any chocolate?" My voice buzzed with excitement as I released Torak's hand and knelt down in front of the glass display. Licking my lips, I resisted the urge to splay my hands and face against it.

I hope there isn't any drool in the corners of my mouth.

"You really like those," Torak murmured above me.

"Literally my favorite food." I threw him my best protruding lower lip and soft eyes.

Shaking his head, he let out a low chuckle. "Six chocolate, please." He flashed a devious smile to the seller, who bagged up half a dozen.

"Enjoy." She handed me the bag with a wink. "Don't eat all at once."

"Thank you, Torak." With one lift of my palm, I stuffed one into my mouth as soon as my feet stepped out.

My entire body sighed and eyes about rolled back as bitter, dark chocolate layers melted into my tongue while the sweet sugar glaze brushed against the roof of my mouth.

"You and your doughnuts." Elena shook her head when we caught up to her and Cole.

"Want one?" I lifted the bag in front of her face. Sucking off every remnant on my fingers earned me a laugh from Torak.

"No thanks." Scrunching up her nose, she covered one hand over her mouth. The other hand shoved my offer away.

"Your loss." I went to withdraw another one when Torak's hand slipped into my hands.

"Slow down." He grabbed the bag.

After seeing my face fall, he sighed and held it out to indulge me for one more. The second donut was as, if not more, delicious than the first one.

"Mmm..." I moaned through bites. "So good."

"What's this?" I lifted our linked hands, wishing mine was holding another doughnut instead of his meaty paw.

My eyes shot wide when he leaned over, tucked my hair behind one ear, then brushed his lips over my cheek. I stiffened as tingles ran down the side of my neck from the trail his fingers ran. Heated vibrations rolled over my skin as he murmured, "Playing the part for you, Zara."

"Which part?" Frowning, I shifted my eyes sideways at him. "The part where you're making me want to throw you in the lake again?"

The gleam in his eyes built zero trust from me. "Doting boyfriend." He lifted our hands and brushed a kiss on the back of my hand.

I was about to snatch my hand away and spend the rest of my night alone with the doughnuts when his eyes redirected me forward. I followed his gaze and noticed every vendor and pedestrian ahead of us smiled in our direction.

Oh boy.

A few nerves fluttered inside my stomach. Inhaling sharply, my chest pitched at the attention.

'As much as this disgusts me to see.' Cole coughed. 'Probably for the best to play along if you can stomach it, Princess.'

'One more week,' Elena added.

"Fine." I sighed, then narrowed my eyes at Torak as I remembered Alpha Stephan's words from our first dinner here. "But no taking advantage of me, and definitely no engagement proposals tonight."

"Not without your consent," his words flowed warm over my ears like honey. A strange, buzzing sensation warmed me from the inside out. I gripped his hand to steady myself as he led me between the rest of the tents.

We continued until we stood in an open grassy area, where a large number of werewolves gathered in a circle around Alpha Stephan and Luna Rashida. He stood tall, chest lifted, and shoulders square while she radiated her flawless beauty. The nearby lights illuminated her skin and gave her a timeless, ethereal glow around her.

She smiled brightly at me before her eyes scanned my appearance. For a moment, I worried that she called Torak and me to join them, but fortunately she didn't. Through the sea of figures, I caught Rose and Idris across from us. Her eyes met mine, she gave me a tiny smile, then snapped her attention to her father.

Tension squeezed my forehead as I drew my eyebrows together. Alpha Stephan's body language changed. His hands gestured through the air but his mouth remained still. When I realized he mindlinked his pack, Torak's whispers found my ears.

"My pack, my family, let's begin the eighty-sixth reaping ceremony," Torak's words, even with his intoxicating voice in a whisper, filtered into my ears.

The more he whispered about Eastern traditions, my vision blurred and my thoughts jumbled together. As I leaned toward the whispers, his lips moved in slow motion, then his whispers turned into muffled hissing sounds.

A ringing sound pierced both my ears, squeezing my eyes shut. I dropped Torak's hand and placed both index fingers in my ears. My head shook to split the sound, but the movement intensified the hot, angry sound waves that pulsed against my ear drums. Uneasiness further blurred both my brain and vision. Slacking my jaw, thrusting it open didn't help.

In a blink, the piercing sound stopped. A beautiful, thick silence enveloped me. The most peaceful, black stillness wrapped around me like a blanket weighted with comfort. I took a few deep, calming breaths before awareness that I closed my eyes came to me.

None of me cared about the ceremony anymore or the concerns I carried with me. My thoughts, worries, doubts, fears, and insecurities faded into this amazing, comfortable blackness. It seeped into my mind like ink spilled on a blank piece of paper. I felt Lumi pacing before she stopped, laid down, and also disappeared into the blackness.

The last coherent thought I remembered was laced with confusion.

What the heck is going on here?

For once, I didn't care about finding the answer.