I trailed my fingers up and down the hilt of the dagger Athena had given me earlier today. For the fourth time, I admired it, especially the sharpness of the blade. I had already accidentally pierced the skin of my fingertip after Willow had handed it over, and could see a small cut on my forefinger when I glanced at it.

I carefully lifted the dagger up from where it'd been resting on the desk, bringing it close to the fireplace as I continued to look it over; It was beautiful.

The red color that decorated the black hilt shone bright under the glow of the flames from the fireplace and I could see that Athena had put much effort into making it. I felt comforted with it in my hands, and knew it could serve well in protecting me.

Walking across the room, I decided to place it carefully into an empty drawer for the time being. Oddly enough, I felt almost vulnerable with it not on my being, and my fingers itched to take it up once more.

The sound of wrappers or rustling pulled me from the thoughts of the dagger, and when I turned, I saw that Hannes was on his laptop, with an opened packet of mints resting beside him.

"Is that Elijah's?" I asked, laughing softly whilst I lifted a wrapped blue mint and rested it on my palm momentarily before allowing it to fall.

Elijah had been in the house throughout the time we'd been gone with the hunters, and had spent time in Hannes' office, searching for specific documents that he went over with Hannes once we arrived back to the house.

Hannes' eyes flickered to the opened mint packet before returning back to the screen of his laptop as he muttered, half-distractedly, "No, well, not anymore. I bought them recently and had planned on giving it to him but I forgot." Still not looking away from his laptop, he lifted the packet, taking out one of the mints for himself.

I nodded, even though Hannes was not looking at me. His fingers were now moving across the keyboard, and the tapping sounds that arose were the only noises that were made, other than the crackling of flames.

I walked to the closet and searched for a coat that would keep me warm. I'd be leaving to go to Sophie's house in a few minutes, and knew that Jeremiah and Willow were waiting downstairs.

When I turned, Hannes was on his feet, and he watched as I slipped on the coat, whilst asking him, "Will you be coming to Sophie's home as well?"

He shook his head, hand reaching out to adjust the sleeve of the coat, unrolling it whilst I fixed the other one. I was still fiddling with it when I began walking out of the bedroom and into the hallway.

"What work were you doing on the laptop?" I asked Hannes, dropping away the sleeve once it was unrolled all the way. The coat was a bit tight, but I already had it on; I wouldn't bother to change.

"I was replying to a few emails," Hannes said, voice gruff, and holding an almost irritated tone. I could see some signs of stress beginning to show on his face, especially when he frowned deeply.

His jaw visibly clenched at one point before he told me, "I may need to leave and attend an important meeting with several alphas in a few weeks. It's to be held in a pack an hour away. We need to discuss many things to do with the Corozal people and Alberrechians."

"Oh," My pace slowed. "How long will you be there?"

"Three days."

I drifted my fingers over his wrist comfortingly, and I suddenly recalled and realized that he had bathed me when I first came to Wildeland. I remembered the gentle feelings of his fingers as he'd washed and shampooed my hair in the bathtub, and the way he'd carefully cupped the back of my head at some point.

I looked up at Hannes' face, seeing that some of his stress had yet to lessen, so I lifted his hand up and pressed my lips to his knuckles, which I assumed surprised him. But when I met his gaze, the adoration I saw there made my heart clench.

"Would you like to watch a movie tonight? After I return?" I inquired, lowering his hand but still holding on to it as we resumed walking. I could hear Willow's voice below, and it sounded as if she was snapping at Jeremiah, speaking about something regarding the weather.

"I'll be waiting." Hannes smiled, and I returned it, squeezing his hand before turning to Jeremiah and Willow. They became quiet as I approached them, and Willow only spoke again once we left the house.

"Alright." She clasped her hands together and looked at me as we walked. The evening sky was darkening, and the wind was bitterly cold. It smarted my face and fingers, and I cursed internally as I realized that I'd forgotten my gloves.

"Olivia," Willow continued. "What will be the signal you'll give me so that I'll know to intervene and have us leave?"

I looked at her, smiling faintly in amusement and rubbing the back of my hand against my right cheek, the one in particular that seemed to be getting the brunt of the cold.

"Erm, shall I wink at you twice?" I glanced at Jeremiah. "Or perhaps wink at you twice?"

Willow snickered. "I wouldn't suggest that. Sophie may become jealous if she sees you winking at him."

I looked at Jeremiah, but his pace quickened; he clearly was a bit shy around the topic of Sophie, and I decided not to question him like I'd initially intended to do. Sophie's home was five minutes away from my own, and she as well as Birch were waiting outside, standing on a long porch.

I felt my body stiffen automatically when Sophie pulled me into a hug, and Birch seeing this instead greeted me enthusiastically without touching me. I was still unfamiliar with Sophie, but was open to knowing her and any lycans of Wildeland better, so that the discomfort I at times felt around them could ease. I could hear voices from inside the house, and heard joyous laughter as well.

"Let's get you inside. It's so cold out here." Sophie rubbed her hand across my back and then momentarily pressed her palm against my upper back, near my shoulders.

"You're tense." She murmured, pausing. Her eyes studied me, and I could see Jeremiah watching her intensely as she spoke quietly, "There's no need to be nervous. Everything will be fine, I promise you."

I nodded, heartbeat quickening at the sudden burst of high laughter inside of the house. I was indeed nervous, but I didn't want that to stop me from intermingling with the pack members.

Just as I began to step through the front door, the back of my neck began to tingle. Hesitatingly, I looked over my shoulder, towards where I suspected that I was being watched, and I caught sight of Yanneek and Helda.

They did not stare at me for too long, I believed they only looked at me for perhaps ten seconds, but I saw the annoyance in Yanneek's eyes, which confused me. It was far more difficult to read Helda, especially when I was urged into the house by Sophie.

I glanced behind me to see Willow glaring almost furiously at Yanneek and heard her mutter to Jeremiah about her not trusting him or Helda.

My attention was soon drawn to the individuals inside the home, and the many beautiful paintings of what looked to be the sunset, the tall trees in the woods and the night sky.

My gaze lingered on the painting of the night sky in particular, admiring the small yellow stars which had been carefully painted before looking around me once again.

The female and several male lycans sat in the middle of the house. There was no table between them, and they all sat in a circle on long cushions, legs crossed or stretched out before them. I could see several dishes and pots of food placed in the middle of them on a carpet, five bottles of wine, stacked plates and empty bowls.

Bodies moved simultaneously as they made room for me to sit, and I did so hesitantly, glancing back towards Willow and Jeremiah who chose to stand. Sophie dropped down beside me after exchanging a few words with the warriors, and Birch circled everyone before choosing to sit beside a male lycan, who wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

I could hear Willow behind me, explaining to Jeremiah that Frederick and Elle may need to be called, since the amount of people inside of the home was far greater than what she'd expected.

Sophie pulled several plates and bowls towards her and began sharing them out. Conversation picked up swiftly as this was done, but I remained silent for the most part, happy to just observe for the time being.

Sophie lifted a large wooden spoon, leaning towards me as she asked, "Would you like some rabbit stew? Have you ever eaten rabbits before?"

My gaze lowered to the pot the spoon hovered over, and I nodded at both of her questions. I had eaten rabbit more than a handful of times before being imprisoned. My father had often been the one to hunt for them, and my mother would cook them. I'd never travelled with my father when he hunted for the rabbits, but certainly enjoyed the taste once it was cooked and flavoured.

A soft giggle made my head turn towards the noise, and I watched as a young girl, who looked to be at least six years old, squeeze past myself and Sophie and plop down on Birch's lap. I almost immediately knew that this girl had to be her daughter; the similarity in features made it obvious.

The girl played with her fingers for several seconds and then raised her big eyes to stare at me.

"Are you the luna?" Her voice was higher than what I'd anticipated, and I recoiled as silence dropped over the room shortly after she asked this. Eyes rested on me, and Birch pulled her daughter closer to her chest as she confirmed her words before I could say anything. The girl's name was mentioned as her mother addressed her; Jigna.

I could feel Jigna watching me as I was handed a bowl of rabbit stew from Sophie, and when I raised my head to meet her stare and lift an eyebrow in question, she tapped on her cheek, "How did you get that?"

I knew she was speaking of the scar resting vertically on my cheek, and I watched the way Birch squeezed her arm tightly around the girl's middle, head lowering as she whispered in her ear, no doubt chastising her. But the persons around us were watching, waiting to see if I'd respond, so I did, "A bad guy gave it to me."

Jigna's eyes shone with curiosity and I could see her mother grimacing as she asked, "How did he do it? Did it hurt?"

Some of my fingers accidentally slipped into the bowl of delicious smelling stew and I set it down, leaned forward to take up a spoon before straightening and answering the girl, "We fought. He swiped my cheek with his claws and yes, it did hurt."

Jigna opened her mouth to speak, but this time it was the male lycan, who I suspected to be Birch's mate and the girl's father, who told Jigna to stop asking 'those sort of questions.'. Jigna watched her father for several seconds and nodded, accepting the plate of food that was handed to her.

"Is he dead?" Sophie's voice was extremely low, and I strained to hear her at first. I nodded, recalling that Hannes had spoken to me about killing him, and she gave a tight-lipped smile.

"Good. We would have volunteered to find and murder him if he wasn't already dead."

I stared at her. "We?"

Sophie's eyes skipped around us, and it was then that I realized that the lycans were watching Sophie and myself, with tell-tale signs of anger. Their darkened eyes, stiff bodies and expressions expressed their fury. It seemed as if they were awaiting something, and when Sophie looked at them, the nod she gave was subtle. Their harsh expressions trickled away slowly and smiles were sent my way before conversations picked up once again. I locked my gaze with Sophie when she spoke,

"Yes," She gestured with a finger towards the circle of lycans, a smirk pulling her lips. "We."