If the Northern territory's packhouse was a castle, then the East's had the flavor of a Tudor-style, second manor home. The interior breathed a casual, home-away-from-home coziness, with lower ceilings, small and quaint rooms with multiple fireplaces, and casual 'sit and relax'-styled decor. The walls were white and lighter wood-toned furniture contrasted the terracotta floor tiles.

"No four inch heels, Elena." I frowned at the tile floors' deep grout lines. "Please."

"I wouldn't dream of it." She rolled her eyes at the melodrama in my voice but smiled. She tugged me through a welcoming front foyer that housed a marble statue of -

"What is... that?" My feet rooted to the spot, lurching my head, and blinked at the statue that greeted us in the entrance.

My brain had trouble comprehending why this structure was inside the house as much as its subject matter. A circular, marble statue fountain of a wolf perched on top of a rock presented flowing blades of grass underneath. Four snakes circled around the wolf's front paws as if tethering it down. Streams of water flowed out of the wolf's and each snake's mouths and water ran down the sides of the rock like slow trickles of blood. A large, empty space on the rock sat next to the wolf, as if a component was missing, or had been removed.

"That's kinda... creepy." Leaning closer, I stared face-to-face with the wolf's beady eyes and bared teeth.

"I'm glad you feel that way," she whispered. "We haven't been able to figure out the missing piece and were hoping you could ask future Alpha Torak."

"I'll put it on the list for conversation topics." I gave the fountain one more lookover, then followed Elena down a hallway ahead of us.

"Alpha Stephan and Luna Rashida are in a pack meeting right now, but they requested I show you to your room to get ready for dinner. We're all on the first floor, with guest spaces ahead."

She steered me to a room on the right side of a narrow hallway and stopped.

"Raina's across the hall from you." She pointed at the closed door across from mine, then further down the hall. "Cole and I are four doors down."

"Four doors down?" My eyes shifted where she pointed.

Not that their room location mattered since we could mindlink, but their close proximity in the North territory was comforting.

"Some odd request of separating mated and unmated guests." She shrugged her shoulders. "Wash up for dinner, I'll get you in forty-five minutes. I laid out a nice selection since you're meeting the pack leaders but..."

Her eyes and voice softened as she finished, "Wear what's most comfortable."

"Thanks Elena." I gave her a quick embrace, thankful she didn't hug my back, and opened my door.

A smile pulled on my lips as I took in the sight of my guest bedroom for the next month. The space was a lovely, welcoming, modern bedroom. While a small room, the vaulted white ceiling made it appear open and airy. The décor was neutral, with walls of dark gray.

I smiled at the vases of more rainbow roses on white bedside tables flanking the bed and offering a natural, floral scent. A gun-metal framed bed and tufted gray linen headboard took up most of the floorspace but the coordinating linens and fluffy pillows made me want to face-plant onto the bed and call it an evening.

Unfortunately, I couldn't do that.

Pack leaders to meet.

Pack leaders who've generously taken me in, injured and broken, their healers tended to me for four days.

While my physical injuries had almost healed, I felt broken. The fact I hadn't heard Lumi's voice since before I passed out in the field added to my mental uncertainty.

As I sat down on the edge of the bed, I realized how quiet my headspace had been since we arrived here. I would've felt a lot less broken if Lumi communicated with me. I didn't know if her silence was in response to how my anger had bubbled up over the past few days, but she retreated back into her dark comfort sport. I didn't want to push her out if she wasn't ready but missed her.

I looked around to an adjacent bathroom and large windows letting in streams of sunlight. As I glanced outside, I couldn't see the lake but sensed the water was closed.

Too bad we can't go for a run tonight, Lumi.

She didn't answer, but I felt her shift as if she lifted her head at my words. Our connection felt so weak, tears rose in my eyes.

One encounter and all my progress vanished.

Wiping my eyes, I stood up and shifted around the room. With one breath, I stripped off my clothes that smelled like the hospital and stepped into a hot shower to calm my nerves.

I know it was my form that was punished, but my father's treated you just as badly, Lumi.

Dipping my head under the water, my fists clenched into tight balls. Water tickled down the edges of my body and dripped off like tears.

I didn't need long before real tears stung the corners of my eyes, not for my injuries but for how they weakened Lumi. Our bond felt so strong when we left the Northern territory and now we both suffered.

I hate him.

'Me too.'

Inhaling a mouthful of water, I coughed hearing her words. Instead, I turned off the shower and wrapped a fuzzy towel around me. Hugging myself, goosebumps rose up my arms. I wished I could mentally hug her, although she ran away or clawed my face if I attempted that.

Instead, I settled for her usual sarcasm.

'Probably.'

I sniffled, gripping my towel in one hand and brushing away more tears.

Lumi! I missed you!

She snuffed, then paused with her nose poking out of the dark.

'Same.'

Are you all right?

'Not weak.'

My lungs expanded with a deep breath and I pushed out a shaky exhale.

I'll take it.

My eyes shifting, I smiled at the loose, multiprint maxi dress and black flats Elena laid out on my bed. She opted for a loose-fitting and comfortable clothes option. Trailing my fingers over the dress' lightweight fabric, my eyes caught the sight of a full-sized mirror.

I had no desire to look.

Fortunately, a heavy knock at the door snapped me out of my thoughts.

"You coming or not, Flower?" muffled through the door.

I grinned at Raina's insistent voice. With quick hands, I slipped on my clothes, towel-dried my hair, and opened the door to her dark eyes dragging over my appearance. To no surprise, she was wearing black jeans and a loose, gray jacket over a black shirt. Her dark hair was tied into a bun and she wore no makeup.

"Zara." She cleared her throat, then stepped back to let me exit the room and shut the door. "You feeling alright?"

"Much better, thanks." I nodded as we headed down the hall together. In a low, hushed voice, I wanted to assure her I wanted to pick up right where we left off. "I'm hoping we can get some training sessions in while we're here, if you'll indulge."

"Happy to," she replied in a monotone, tight voice. "I'm bored out of my mind already."

"Did you get all the medical stuff?" I remembered her real reason for being here.

She nodded. "I did, I had it sent back two days ago."

"Really?" I glanced at her, surprised that she didn't go back with them. Not that I minded, I was glad she was here.

"No, Flower." She lowered her voice with her eyes, "I might have other reasons to stick around now."

If she were anyone else, then I would've wrapped them up in a hug. But since Raina was, well Raina, I settled for punching her upper arm. She returned my gesture with a scoff and stuffed her hands in her pockets.

"Are we interrupting a tender moment here?" Hearing Cole's sarcastic voice, I gave him a toothy smile.

"Hardly." Raina snorted.

"Zara." Elena eyed me, then tugged my elbow to guide me to walk behind Raina and Cole. "You look better."

"And you look..." I scanned her face and saw the same drawn together eyebrows, eyes straining being her glasses, and lips pressed together as earlier. "Worried."

"There's a lot we need to discuss," she assured me and squeezed on the back of my arm. "How is... Lumi?"

"Funny you ask." My lips curled up. "I didn't hear from her for days, but now she's back to talking to me."

"That's great." Her lips twitched but it didn't brighten her expression. "But I mean, when you talk with Lumi, how talkative is she?"

"Not much, one to two words," I admitted with a small lift of my shoulders. "Short phrases, direct, to the point, and snarky."

Elena exhaled at the last word, but her eyes hardened and averted. Her stoic expression made me feel uncomfortable, so I added, "But she's a wolf, so I don't expect her to have much of a vocabulary."

My feet stopped when her jaw dropped open and eyes pulled wide. She pulled me over to the side of the front foyer and pretended to examine the creepy wolf-snake fountain.

"Elena, what -" I started when Cole interrupted with a cough.

Not fifty steps from us, about twenty werewolves in human form had gathered for dinner. My eyes roamed over the sea of curious eyes turned in our direction and realized our conversation unfortunately had to wait. My stomach dropped at how I needed to wear a pretend happy face for the next few hours.

"Ahem, Zara." Cole coughed again, his brown eyes fixed over my shoulder. "You need to meet Future Alpha Torak."

"Cole..." I frowned at his weird timing and tried to think of an excuse to get Elena alone so we could talk about whatever the hell she was concerned about. "There's something more pressing going on here. Let's suggest I go back to bed."

"Don't tell me my reputation precedes me, Miss Zara,"a male voice called out from behind me. Warm and rich, it sounded coated with honey flowing into my ears. "But if that's what you want, then I'm happy to take you to bed."

My mouth gaped open as soon as I turned around.

Lucus had perfected the athletic, muscular, rugged, and earthy version of attractive and Future Alpha Torak was the exact opposite. Every inch of him was smooth and polished. His tailored black shirt and dress pants hugged his lean, fit body, suggesting a muscular structure was hidden underneath. Two necklaces laid where the collar was open, nestled in the center line of his chest. Natural auburn highlights reflected off the casual medium-brown curls atop his head, which he pulled back with a hand raked through them.

His brown eyes were tinted yellow-hazel like his sister Rose but his burned with a heat that transferred into my cheeks. His light skin was clean-shaven and his musky cologne overpowered me before I could take another step closer.

Wait... not cologne.

Ugh, pheromones.

I took a deep breath in through my mouth and exhaled to try and calm the nervous butterflies that took up residence in my stomach.

I didn't know there was such a spectrum of male attractiveness.

My cheeks flushed warmer as my eyes took in his appearance. Two feet from me, he eyed me, lifting his eyebrows. A smirk pulled up the corners of his lips as if he held a secret over me.

Lumi shot him down at first sight.

'Not mate.'

Lovely.

Closing my eyes, I took another deep sigh, which felt more like relief. Opening them to Torak's unchanged expression, I pulled my lips into what I hoped was a pleasant, encouraging smile. His pupils dilated slightly as I stepped closer. Unlike Lucus' commanding masculinity, Torak exuded a calm, smooth air of confidence.

In every definition of the word, he was a total player.

Lumi reiterated her initial opinion.

'Not mate.'

At the reminder, my shoulders relaxed and I lifted my chin.

Don't worry Lumi, I'll listen to you this time.

Despite Lumi's affirmation, he continued projecting his visual assault, staring at me with dilated pupils as I inched closer. Trying to maintain some polite modesty, I extended my right hand. Instead of shaking it, he enclosed his palm around my thumb, rotated my hand up to his lips, and placed a soft but lingering kiss on the back of my hand.

"Miss Zara." His eyes never left mine, holding nothing in them that I trusted.

I feigned a smile of interest. "Future Alpha Torak."

"Just Torak." He winked as his hand lowered mine, then curled his around it. Leaning over, his warmth breath fanned over my ear, "First name basis, since we're supposed to be getting pretty intimate while you're here."

Huh?

"I-I..." I stuttered at his forwardness.

My cheeks flushed warm as I withdrew my hand. His closeness, the sensual way his mouth formed around words, and his quiet confidence crashed over me like violent waves against a rock. Musk infiltrated my nose with each breath, dizzying my brain from the overpowering scent with all those pheromones.

Enough of this. Let's go with upfront rejection.

To no surprise, Lumi was onboard.

'Yes.'

I steadied my breath with a puffed exhale, averted my eyes from his, and stepped around him.

"You know we're not mates," I murmured a quiet confession near his ear.

He nodded, drawing a breath through his nose. The heated expression on his face didn't change as it turned, tracking my movements.

If anything, my words seemed to fuel his look of intent, of... desire.

Oh gawd.

I swallowed at the idea I was a challenging tail to chase. My lips twitched when Lumi tucked her tail between her legs.

'Not mine.'

"I know many things," is all he replied, with a lingering 'more than you' challenge as he dipped his chin down.

My eyes narrowed at the hint of challenge in his voice. "Fine, smarty pants." I jerked a thumb at the wolf-snake fountain. "Explain that, please."

"It's a wolf," he deadpanned. "With snakes tying it's legs down."

I rolled my eyes and clarified, "I know that much. What does it mean?"

"The snakes are a symbol of medicine, tying the wolf to the earth," he explained coolly. "My mother is big on nature-inspired, alternative medicine. I assume you benefited from some of it in the infirmary. Did you see the greenhouse?"

"Only the outside." I shifted my eyes back to his. "Thank you for the rainbow roses, by the way. They're beautiful."

"They are." His eyes glinted when they locked onto mine.

Torak had the intimidation game conquered. The intensity of his expression didn't waver once. Given my limited communication experience with, well, anyone not stabbing needles in my arm, I was at a clear disadvantage here.

"The, uhh, greenhouse," I choked out the words. "I'd like to see it more up close, if possible."

"I'd be honored to give you a personal tour." He followed his smooth, even tone, with a sizzling upward curl of his lips.

Pressing mine tight, I resisted the urge to either kiss or punch his smirk off his face. I didn't have to wonder which choice was Lumi's.

'Punch... below belt.'

Instead, I shifted my eyes from his expression back to the fountain. "Why does it look like a big piece of it is missing?"

"Oh that." He dropped the suave persona and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "There used to be a Moon Goddess statue standing behind it but it's, uhh... under repairs."

My eyebrows raised. "Repairs?"

"Complete accident." He flashed me a wide smile that was too convincing.

"If you two are done staring at each other, we're all waiting for dinner." I'd never been so happy for a Cole interruption as he tapped my shoulder.

''Thank you.' I mindlinked him.

'Any more of your eye-gawking and I was going to be sick,' he replied with a wink. I stepped around Cole so he was between me and Torak as we headed into the dining room.

Frowning at Cole's smirk, I stepped aside so he was between me and Torak as we headed into the dining room.

The Eastern pack's dining room was beautiful. Cream colored walls lifted up a high, arched ceiling that accented the crystal chandeliers, light-toned dining room table, and mirrored accent pieces. Most of the wall spaces were covered with formal portraits of what I assumed were the Eastern pack's ancestors. The dining room was a warm, casual space. The table's size reminded me of my father's, except here all of the place settings were filled.

My face relaxed when my eyes rested on Raina's. She nodded at me, then turned back to her conversation with a tall, elder man. His brown hair had the same auburn highlights as Torak's but his full beard was more gray than brown.

Must be Alpha Stephen.

As I took in his appearance, a strong, calming presence approached me from behind.

"Miss Zara." A feminine, flowing voice passed over my ears.

I turned around and gasped at the presence facing me. The most impressive woman stood radiantly, inches from me. Her spine stood straight, strong, and proud, but all the edges of her body were soft. She was the epitome of strong, feminine beauty I dreamed of achieving some day. Her hazel eyes sparkled at me and her long, wavy hair cascaded over her shoulders like auburn-colored ripples.

"Luna Rashida." No doubt she was the Eastern territory's Luna, I smiled and extended one hand. She extended both hands, embraced mine, and squeezed it tightly.

"Miss Zara." Her touch was the perfect combination of soft and feminine, flowing into my ears, but firm and resolute like her attention was drawn elsewhere. "I hope you are recovering well."

"Yes." I nodded. "Thank you so much for your hospitality. And your healers are amazing."

Satisfaction warmed her eyes and pulled up the corners of her mouth. "As the only pack with genetic lines of healers, we pride ourselves on developing an impressive range of alternative medicines."

"Genetic line..." I repeated slowly. "Rose is your daughter, River is...?"

"My sister. We can identify in childhood when someone is a healer. I suppose I could thank you for bringing Rose's mate to us -" she paused with her smile widening. "- but we both know it's the Moon Goddess's choice and we're best not to interfere with her selections."

"Yeah," I whispered, dipping my head down at what she implied.

Not surprised that the news about Lucus traveled here already, or at least within the four days I was in the hospital, my shoulders slumped. Luna Rashida's communication skills were on a level I could barely comprehend. She didn't say one hint about my rejection of Lucus but I knew that's what she referred to.

"This is Beta Valko." She nodded at the tall, stocky figure who stood on her left hand side. "And Gamma Sebastian," she pointed her nose to her right.

Both hovered at a close enough distance like they were her personal bodyguards. They all shared such similar physical features, down to their rounded cheekbone structures, that I couldn't help but wonder if they were also related.

"They're my brothers," she added, offering each a smile. "Older, as they're still happy to remind me."

"Nice to meet you." I shook both their hands.

"Forgive the formalities tonight." She glanced around the room and the golden highlights in her eyes faded. "First thing tomorrow, I need to meet with you. Privately please. We have much to discuss and little time."

"Of course."

My eyes followed hers, trying to see what she was suspicious of within her own pack or the usual guys from my father's security detail. Baron and Erik left with my father, going wherever the hell he intended them to go.

I appreciated their absence.

"Valko here will retrieve you tomorrow morning." She turned, then paused and offered over her shoulder, "Enjoy the dinner."

Before I responded, she retired into a hallway with her brothers on her heels. Unblinking, I stared at her retreat.

If I had one-pinky's worth of her persona...

"Hi, Miss Zara," a very familiar, soothing voice greeted me. I turned around and smiled at Rose hand-in-hand with Idris.

"Hey," I replied with a smile.

She looked quite different in her non-hospital attire, her hair flowing past her shoulders and eyes sparkling. A quiet aura of calm and happiness radiated from them both, which tugged at my heartstrings.

"Good to see you walking around." Idris nodded at me.

"Thanks." My chest lifted and heaved with a sigh. "I'd like to go for a run, but that might be pushing it."

"Have you spoken to Lumi yet?" Rose's hazel eyes looked at me with soft sympathy.

"Just a little this evening." I swallowed and shook my head. "Hopefully more soon."

"It'll take some time for our medicines to wear off," she assured me. "My wolf looks forward to meeting her. Idris says she's quite something to see."

"His priorities might've shifted a bit since our wolves last saw each other." I winked at them. After I caught sight of Elena, I politely excused myself and grabbed her elbow.

Catching sight of Elena, I excused myself and grabbed her elbow. "Elena," I whispered in her ear. "I asked Idris if you could come talk to me while in the infirmary but you were busy."

"Sorry, been buried in the library," she mumbled. Her eyes shifted around us as in movements similar to Luna Rashida's, but I couldn't blame Elena since pretty much the entire room's eyes were on me.

'Is it private?' she mindlinked.

'No,' I shook my head but mindlinked her back. 'I hadn't talked with Lumi since we've been here, but she came when I was, uhh, not thinking positively about my father. Then nothing, but came out more once we saw Torak. It's weird, like he pulled her out.'

'Watch yourself around that one,' she warned, a small line of tension drawing between her eyebrows. 'We don't have a good feeling about him.'

'What -'

"Welcome, finally, everyone," Alpha Stephan stated, calling our attention.

A hush spread throughout the small crowd that had gathered in the parlor outside the dining room. His eyes scanned the room, rested on mine, and he sent me a warm smile. He waved a hand gesture for me to come forward, which I obliged with the burn in my cheeks spreading up the back of my neck. So many eyes stared at me like I was a new menu item to be feasted on.

Lifting my chin and steadying my shoulders, I tried to walk with confidence and ignored a dull ache pulsing in my back. Reaching Alpha Stephen, I smiled as he clasped one of my hands. My smile dissolved when he lifted it high, presenting me to his pack like a debutant.

Awkward didn't begin to describe how I felt, because I hadn't formally introduced myself to Alpha Stephen himself. My eyes averted the smirk I already felt from Torak.

"Miss Zara had a rough entrance here," Alpha Stephen barked out but warmth wrapped around his words. His hand squeezed mine. "But I hope we've made her feel welcome."

"Absolutely." Despite my shoulders and chest burning with the same warmth in my face and neck, I forced a smile at him and then looked around at the curious faces. My lower lip quivered at the sea of eyes peering back at me.

"We all know her mate discovery trip will end here, of course." He winked at me like he revealed a secret I wasn't aware of. "As our Torak is quite impossible to resist."

Oh, someone help me. He's a player and his dad is his wing-man.

'Not mate.'

Keep preaching, Lumi.

Unfortunately, Alpha Stephen wasn't done, "Hopefully we'll be standing up here during the reaping ceremony in two weeks, announcing an engagement."

I'm sorry... What!?

I froze on the spot as a small round of chuckles and revered 'awe's' spread through the dining room. Dryness coated my tongue and my throat squeezed in on itself. Lumi was one breath away from ripping into Alpha Stephan for his admission. Closing my eyes, I needed several mental deep breaths to calm her down.

Not going to happen, if I have anything to do with it, Lumi.

Realizing my mouth hung open, I pressed my lips together and tried to form a smile. Inwardly, I wanted to turn around and run back to my room, bury myself under the covers, and pretend this was a bad dream.

My mouth's contortion must've looked like anything but a smile because Alpha Stephen squeezed my hand again, leaned over, and whispered words that left me speechless.

"Don't worry... We know it's all bullshit."