Page 17 of It All Started with a Bite

Bo made a distressed sound.

“There are ways to make the process easier,” Samuel said. “Training is one of them.”

I blinked. His voice had turned surprisingly gentle.

“What kind of training?” I said hesitantly.

“The kind that teaches you to control your new abilities. You need to learn how to manage your strength and your enhanced senses.” His eyes darkened. “And your temper.”

I squinted, my ire returning tenfold. “What’s wrong with my temper?”

“You growled at me earlier,” he pointed out.

“You insulted my dog.”

“I merely made an observation.”

“Yeah? Well, observe this.” I showed him my middle finger.

Hugh choked on air. Ellie swallowed a snort. Bo grinned. Victoria sighed and muttered something under her breath.

“How uncouth,” Pearl said haughtily.

“Bite me, Veronica,” I snapped.

Samuel’s lips twitched. “Case in point.”

I opened my mouth to deliver another snappy retort when Victoria cut in smoothly.

“Samuel is not wrong. A luna’s mood can affect the entire pack. That’s why you’ll need to be in control of your emotions at all times.”

That made me pause. I chewed my lip. “Is a luna really that powerful?”

“Yes. She’s the alpha’s mate, after all.” Victoria tapped a finger on her knee. “Since we’re laying our cards on the table, we might as well broach the matter of your future responsibilities. Of course, I don’t expect you to take over your duties straight away.”

Her words derailed my train of thought. I stared. “My what now?”

“As luna, there are certain tasks you’ll have to take care of.” Victoria’s expression grew calculating. “Tasks I have been in charge of until now.”

This was all happening too fast for my liking. I also couldn’t help but feel Victoria was about to dump a whole bunch of stuff I had zero inclination in doing on me.

“Like what?” I asked warily.

“Pack administration, social obligations, maintaining diplomatic relations with other supernatural entities,” the Hawthorne matriarch recited like a laundry list.

I grimaced. “Other supernatural entities?”

“Witches, vampires, fae.” Victoria waved dismissively. “The usual crowd.”

“Oh.” Ellie’s eyes sparkled with renewed interest.

“Don’t forget the gargoyles,” Hugh added.

“We don’t talk about the gargoyles,” Victoria said sharply.

Samuel, Hugh, and Pearl exchanged a loaded look.

Evidently, the Hawthorne matriarch had issues with certain aspects of her supernatural life.

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