Page 49 of Luna Trials

“I have a situation that requires an extra set of eyes and discretion.” I folded my arms over my chest, wondering how much I should explain.

“Situation?”

“Nothing serious.” I waved it away, ignoring the wolf growling inside of me.It is serious.“There is a certain female I want protected at all costs and I’d like to know more about.”

“A female?” Disbelief bloomed in his eyes. “Not Fallon, right?”

I shuddered. “No. My sister is perfectly capable of handling herself. It’s… a… Luna candidate.”

His mouth popped open.

“And this is just between us,” I warned.

His jaw snapped shut as he nodded.

“I don’t need the pack getting all worked up until I figure out what I’m going to do.” Because that was the problem. I wasn’t sure where this would lead. All I knew was that I was intrigued and didn’t want anything to happen to the woman until I scratched this itch. Call it an Alpha’s protective instinct or the dismissiveness she’d shown inciting the challenge, but I needed to feel this out.

My wolf was growling.

I ignored him.

Ivan wanted to ask more, but he wisely kept to the topic. “I’ve never known you to be indecisive, boss.”

I’m not.

I ran my hand over my hair, tugging through the strands to silence my beast. “This is a delicate matter.”

“Gotcha,” Ivan said. “Do we want cameras with or without audio?”

And that’s why I requested Ivan be sent here. He had no problem doing what needed to be done no matter how questionable his methods may be.

My beast gave a wolfish grin, on the same page as me now. “Audio would be nice.”

*

The resort bar sat down the steps to the right of the rustic lounge. It was a large space with doors that opened to the back near the pool. Tiki torches were lit outside and the camera crews flitted aroundthe groups of Alphas and Lunas celebrating the official start of the trials.

“I’m going to grab a drink and make the rounds.”Fallon let go of my arm and headed to the bar counter.“Want anything?”

“No.”I let my gaze travel through the crowd, looking for a certain face to stand out. It wasn’t like the seedy bars we frequented back in the day, but these shifters wouldn’t be caught dead in places like that where the whiskey was strong enough to knock a full-grown wolf on its ass.

This was one of the parts of my position that I’d never quite gotten used to. The pompous displays and clipped tongues of shifters that had gone too human for their own good.

It was against the natural order of things.

But I was a hypocrite because I still played their games and went to the soirees as was expected. I wore the clothes. Mingled with the leaders and, like now, the children that would one day take over the packs.

If Fredrick could see me now…

My wolf was silent and I knew before I finished sweeping the room that she wasn’t here.

Good girl.The tension eased from my shoulders. I liked the idea of her safely tucked up in her room, alone in bed, and wearing one of her comfy sweaters. Not in the company of these starved animals all vying for the cameras’ attention.

It would be better if she was in our bed.

Once again, I agreed with my beast.

“Mr. McCaw.” One of the cameramen hurried over with his team. “The fans want to know if any of the Lunas here have caught your eye.”

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