The breeze carried the scent of the sea throughout the Cowrie Cabana. Seagulls serenaded the waves shushing against the shoreline, and the sand sparkled beneath the sun's warm rays. Whether they were humble humans or venerable vampires, all the resort's guests cast their worries away with the tide.

The selkies running the resort lacked the luxury of such carefree relaxation, especially those who worked alongside Brooke.

"Make way, everyone!" She yelled as she barreled into the banquet hall. A menagerie of balloon animals squeaked in her arms, with a rainbow of seahorses, manta rays, and starfish spilling onto the floor. "It took forever to get these tied."

"Great bumbling blobfish, could you make a bigger mess?" Her assistant, Benjamin, groaned as the flowers he'd set out disappeared under a sea of colorful plastic. "You do realize this isn't another birthday party, right?"

Brooke's cheeks flushed to match her bright red hair. "Yeah, but who wouldn't love a bunch of balloon animals?"

"Anyone over the age of ten." Benjamin brushed a heap of red snapper off the table, sending the whole school fluttering to the floor. "Werewolves are coming from all across the country for this. Look at everything we have set up!"

Intricately patterned plates lined both sides of the table, with artful arrangements of orchids and other tropical flowers bringing a burst of color to the room. One of the selkies dusted the crystal chandelier in the middle of the banquet hall while another folded napkins into swans, perching them on each plate. Even the menus were fancy, each one handwritten in elegant cursive.

"Just because they're Alphas doesn't mean they can't have fun." Brooke eased her armload of balloons onto the table, earning an exasperated sigh from the selkie setting out the wine glasses. "Just gotta find the right place to squeeze it in."

"The Alphas will be too busy schmoozing with each other and obsessing over our VIPs to enjoy much else." Benjamin rubbed his temples. "The Blue Moon Ball is the most important event we'll host all summer, so the last thing we need is to worry about you—"

"Her doing what, Benjamin?" Mrs. Wells entered the banquet hall bearing a clipboard and a scowl. With her iceberg-white sealskin draped across her shoulders and her manager badge pinned to her chest, she left no room for questioning who was in charge of the resort. "Cedar Pack just arrived, and we don't have time to clean up any messes."

"Doing whatever this is." Benjamin waved at the balloon animals scattered throughout the banquet hall, kicking a blue and white narwhal away from his feet. "I highly doubt the Alphas would appreciate a circus."

Heat rushed to Brooke's face. "It's not a—!"

POP!

A cascade of silverware clattered to the floor as one of the staff grabbed the table for support, the deflated remains of a balloon clinging to her high heels. Benjamin swore as he dove for a vase, only for leaves and soggy petals to spill across the table like the aftermath of a hurricane.

All eyes turned to Brooke.

"I just wanted the Alphas to have fun." Brooke hugged her armful of balloons close to her chest, grimacing as they squeaked in protest. "Sorry, Mom."

Her mother surveyed the damage with her lips set in a firm line. After a moment of silence, she let out a long, slow breath. Nodded.

"Nothing we can't deal with." Brooke's mother put a hand on her shoulder and offered her a tired smile. "The balloons might not fit with what I had in mind, but I'm sure the pups would love to find a little friend waiting for them in their rooms."

"You think so?" Brooke brightened, scooping up an armful of anchovies and anemones. "I'll go take care of that right—"

"I need your help with something else, actually," her mom said. "Let's have a word out in the hall. Benjamin, you're in charge of finishing prep for the banquet. Please gather all of Brooke's... additions, and have someone distribute them on her behalf."

"Yes, ma'am."

Brooke's heart sank as Benjamin set to work corralling the balloon animals. She'd screwed up. Again.

The door to the banquet hall thudded shut behind them, leaving Brooke to face her mother with nothing but her heart thundering in her ears.

Mrs. Wells leaned against the wall with a sigh, rubbing her temples. "Hundreds of werewolves are coming, and we're not even finished prepping for the Alphas' banquet."

"Sorry." Brooke chuckled nervously as she rubbed the back of her neck. "I guess I got carried away."

"We do need to work on channeling your enthusiasm more productively, but that's not what I need to talk to you about right now." Her mother bit her lip. "I need your help with something."

"If you need help taste-testing the desserts for the banquet, you can count me in!" Nervous laughter bubbled from Brooke's lips as her mother raised an unamused eyebrow. "That was a bad joke, sorry."

"Can I count on you to take this seriously and not make anyone panic?" At Brooke's nod, Mrs. Wells checked to make sure nobody else was anywhere near the banquet hall's entrance before leaning forward and whispering, "I need your help checking in Cedar Pack's Alphas."

"The Alphas?!?" Brooke slapped a hand over her mouth as her mother shushed her. Her next words tumbled out in an excited whisper. "I thought they weren't supposed to arrive for another hour."

"Their flight landed early, and I need to make sure their suites are all sorted, among several other things." Mrs. Wells gave her a strained smile. "I need you to keep our guest of honor occupied for the next hour or two."

Brooke's heart skipped a beat. Her mom wanted her to handle the resort's most important guest by herself? "Are you sure? I mean..." She chuckled nervously. "I'm not sure if I'd make the best first impression."

"I'm sure you'll do fine. I'd do it myself, but..." Her mother grimaced. "There are too many things that require my attention right now, and keeping our guest of honor occupied shouldn't be too difficult. A quick tour should be plenty."

Oh, so her mom wasn't having her do this because it was important but because it was something even she couldn't screw up too badly. Brooke wasn't sure if she was more relieved or disappointed, but either way, she couldn't let her mom down. "I can handle it."

Tension eased out of her mother's shoulders. "I knew I could count on you, my little barnacle. They should be arriving in the lobby any minute."

Brooke could only hope she wouldn't let her mother down for once.

###

A thick metal dome covered the nearest entry to the Cowrie Cabana's travel tunnels, keeping it inaccessible to guests. To most of the Moon Goddess's children, the interconnected waterways running under the resort were little more than a fascinating novelty. To a selkie like Brooke, they were the fastest, most fun way to get around.

Brooke untied the sealskin from around her waist with a flourish, slipping into her seal form in one fluid motion. Where there was once a pale-skinned thirty-year-old with waves of bright red hair tumbling down her shoulders now stood a gray seal whose pelt was flecked with dark spots.

Brooke pressed her nose against the scanner outside the dome, letting out a bark of delight as the metal groaned open to reveal the water. Sucking a deep breath into her lungs, she leaped inside.

Bioluminescent plankton bathed each tunnel's entrance in a gentle green glow, illuminating the signs marking each of the destinations throughout the resort. The spa, the tennis courts, the pools: all these and more were just a quick swim away.

Brooke's whiskers trembled with excitement as she raced through the perfectly cool water. What would this Alpha be like? Sure she'd met plenty of werewolves before, but this one must be something special. It wasn't often that so many packs gathered in one place, even if an Alpha was trying to find out if the Moon Goddess had blessed them with a soulmate.

She had little time to wonder before she found the tunnel leading to the lobby. Water streamed down her fur as her head broke the surface. Three barks pierced the air, the code to open the exit.

As soon as the travel tunnel opened, Brooke leaped out and ran to the front desk. One of the Alphas was already waiting for her, glancing at his watch with his lips curled into a frown. Goddess, how long had he been standing there?!?

"So sorry for the wait," she blurted out as she scrambled behind the counter, yelping as her hip collided with the corner. "I hope your flight wasn't too difficult, Alpha."

"No need for such formalities. Please call me Mr. Stillwater." His hand swallowed hers in a handshake. Despite the streaks of silver running through his hair, his grip held all the firmness she'd expect from an Alpha. "It was alright, but it's a good thing Jasper took wolfsbane before takeoff. By the time we landed, he looked like he'd shift at any minute."

"I bet! I'd be a complete mess if I had to worry about a mate bond, too. I mean, one day, you're just minding your own business, and the next thing you know, it hits you like a—"

For the first time in her life, Brooke was speechless. There he was. The heir of Cedar Pack strode into the lobby in a form-fitting gray suit that highlighted his broad shoulders and muscular arms. Dark brown sideburns framed his face, and despite the scowl darkening his expression, the sight of Jasper Stillwater filled Brooke's mind with a single thought.

Goddess help her, he was hot!

"Finally done with that phone call." Mr. Stillwater raised an eyebrow. "What's the damage this time?"

"They're raising the price of bergamot again," Jasper said with a grimace. "We'll have to see if we can find a more affordable supplier once we're done wasting our time here."

"Manners," Mr. Stillwater said sharply.

"Don't worry, everyone gets a little cranky after a long flight." Brooke flashed Jasper her brightest smile as his earthy brown eyes met her gaze. "Nice to meet you! I'm Brooke, the event coordinator in charge of the Blue Moon Ball. At least, I hope I still am." There was that nervous laughter again, flying out of her like a flock of seagulls.

Jasper's eyes widened. His eyebrows knit together as he stared at her with an expression that was equal parts amused and bewildered.

Something flared in Brooke's chest. Something that made her heart hammer and her skin itch.

As quickly as it had fled his face, Jasper's scowl returned in full force. "What do you mean 'hope'?"

Brooke wilted, the warmth in her chest sputtering into a dull ache. "There was a bit of a mishap with the balloons earlier. I just got a little carried away. Not by the balloons, obviously, just with them. Or at least, Benjamin thinks so, and, well..."

"And I'm stuck with you, at least for now." Jasper blew out a long, slow breath. "Just my luck."

"Jasper!" His father sighed. "I promise he's not usually like this."

"It's totally fine! There will be plenty of time for him to relax and have some fun while he's here." Brooke stood on her tiptoes, glancing around the lobby. "Do you know when Mrs. Stillwater will arrive? I was hoping to give you guys a tour, and there's no way she'll want to miss out."

Both Alphas looked as if they'd swallowed a mouthful of rotten mackerel. Goddess, she hadn't even been speaking to them for five minutes, and she'd already screwed up.

"I haven't had a mate in a long time," Mr. Stillwater said quietly. He cleared his throat. "But this isn't about me. With any luck, the Moon Goddess will lead Jasper to his soulmate while we're here."

"It would have been nice of Her to show me before we got into this mess," Jasper grumbled. "I suppose we might as well get to know the place since we'll be stuck here for a few weeks."

Brooke offered them her brightest smile, praying to the Goddess she didn't look half as anxious as she felt. "Awesome! I promise you guys will have more fun than clownfish in a coral reef."