eight

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SCHOOL SEEMED TO fly by and before I knew it strong arms wrapped themselves around my waist and lifted me into the air, spinning me around. Once I regain my balance I turn to look at Wyatt.

"What's up with you?" I giggle.

"Didn't you hear?" He rubs his fingers through his mess of hair, fixing it from the spin. "Training has been cancelled today. Alpha heard that a juvenile was poisoned and thought we could all use a day off to recover."

"Training was cancelled because of me?"

"Well because of Willem, but yeah. Sure. Because of you."

I growl at the mention of Will's name being related to the cupcake incident. "Will was not a part of that."

"We don't know that." Wyatt's tone has shifted from excited to anger. "Why are you so sure that it wasn't him?"

"Did you see how he reacted when I brought it up this morning? He was shocked. If he was the one who had laced that cupcake and given it to me, he would not have reacted that way."

"Speaking of this morning, what was that?"

"What was what?" I hoped that he didn't bring up Will's concern for me or his darkened eyes. I didn't have an answer as to why he reacted that way, all I know is that it wasn't him who hurt me. He wouldn't do that.

"Never mind." Wyatt shakes his head. We walk the rest of the way home in silence. "You know, I've been thinking."

"That's dangerous."

"Shut up Cleo." He drops his bag on the floor and leans against the floating island as I get a glass of water. "How did the cupcake get in the house?"

"Well, I'm going to assume that it didn't let itself in." I sip. "I mean, the cupcake was good, but not good enough to grow legs and walk through the front door on its own."

"Will you be serious for just a minute?"

I nod while giggling to myself. "Sorry."

"It has to have been someone that knows you don't lock the backdoor. Because there was no sign of a break in. Nothing else was left here or taken, so leaving the cupcake was their sole mission."

I furrow my eyebrows together. "They also had to have had a motive for poisoning me."

"That one's a little easier." Wyatt shrugs when I give him the death glare. "You annoy a lot of people."

"You don't try to kill someone just because they're annoying." There's a growl in my head and I feel my caramel eyes darken to a chocolate color.

'You know who did this. Think about this morning.'
'I spoke to Will this morning and we know it wasn't him.' We feel giddy about our conversation with Will, but I brush it off, making Cali whimper a little before continuing her thought.
'He wasn't the only one there.'

And with that mysterious observation, she retreats to the back of my mind reliving this mornings events.

She's right. I set the glass of water down on the counter.

"She's right." Wyatt perks up from his deep thought and blushes slightly.

"Who's right?"

"Me. Well, Cali." I tuck my hair behind my ears and shake my head in annoyance that I didn't see it sooner. "Who else was there this morning?"

"Me, You, and Will." He says Will's name through gritted teeth, but I ignore it and shake my head no.

"There was someone else there who thinks there's something going on between me and her boyfriend."

"Oh my Goddess, Regan!"

"That's her name! I could not remember what her name was, but yes. She was the one that asked me what happened, but didn't act shocked when I said I was poisoned with wolfsbane. AND she was annoyed that I was back and healthy."

"She tried to kill you because she thinks you like Will? That's crazy!"

"I have to talk to Will."

"What? Why?"

"To warn him that he's dating a crazy person who tried to kill me?" Wyatt looks furious. "Do you want me not to tell him, and then apologize once he's in the hospital because she tried to poison him too?"

"You wouldn't have to apologize." He mumbles under his breath.

"Well, I'm going." I wrap my jacket around me and zip it only a little. "I'll see you later at dinner, okay?"

"I'm coming with you." He grabs his sweatshirt, but I stop him.

"I can go by myself. I'm a big girl."

"What if Regan's there? You won't be able to control yourself and someone could get hurt. You need me there."

"Believe it or not, I can control myself." He rolls his eyes. "You're not coming."

•••

I stand in front of the giant house staring up at it. The dark trim against the dark paint makes the house more ominous, as if people aren't scared enough to go to the Alpha's house. Two men stand at the gate, eyeing me suspiciously as I stand only 10 feet from them. I close my eyes and take a deep breath before approaching them.

They stop me by stepping together in front of the gate.

"State your name and purpose." The shorter one barks.

"The Alpha is not seeing anyone today, so if that's why you're here then you might as well just leave." The tall skinny one adds.

"I'm actually here to see Willem."

And at the sound of their soon-to-be Alpha's name coming from the lips of a juvenile they both wear grins that stretch to their ears.

"Very well." The tall one nods.

They step apart, leaving just enough room for me to pass through. The short one stops me when I'm next to him.

"The last one left only 10 minutes ago." He gives me a sympathetic smile as I nod and proceed up the long driveway.

What does he think is about to happen right now? That I'm one of Will's sluts? Do I look like a slut? I glance down at my half zipped leather jacket over my tank top and jeans. Maybe it's the combat boots? I shake off the thought and approach the man at the front door. He's very tall and his shoulders are very wide. He doesn't uncross his arms to talk to me.

"Those two didn't catch your name." They must have mind-linked him. He didn't seem too happy that they let me through without giving my name. "Do you have one?"

"Of course I have a name." He unfolds his arms at the tone of my voice, lowering his sunglasses to get a better look at me.

"You're Evie's daughter." My heart clenches at the mention of her name. No one had said her name in 7 years, especially not to me. I feel my eyes fill with tears but I hold them back.

"Cleo. My name's Cleo."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you, it's just you look so much like-"

"I look nothing like her." I cut him off and slip inside the house before he can say something else.

The inside looks nothing like the outside. Everything in this room is bright and shiny. For a moment I forget why I'm here and step up to look at the photos on the wall. The entire family is in almost every one. There are pictures from their old pack where everyone is smiling and having a good time. There's a picture of Willem and his brothers covered in mud, but grinning ear to ear. I can't help but giggle at that one, they all look so happy and adorable.

"That's my favorite too." A soft, sweet voice says from behind me, making me jump around. "I didn't mean to scare you dear."

I blush at the fact that she did scare me. I'm almost always vigilant and aware of my surroundings, but something about that photo had me deep in thought.

"I'm Alexandria, your-"

"Luna. Yes I know. I didn't mean to be snooping." I realize that I didn't take a breath until now.

She smiles at my nervousness. "That's quite alright dear. You are welcome here any time Cleo."

"Thank you." I nod and look back to the photo on the wall.

She joins me and points to different pictures, telling me the days events or story behind each and every one. I can't help but feel calm and comfortable around her. She is nothing like her husband or her son.

She points to a picture of a nine year old Will and a four year old Lowell, laying out on a lawn with their shirts off and their bellies raised.

"They had decided that they would join the hotdog eating contest our pack held every year." She laughs at the memory. "They obviously didn't win, competing with some of the largest wolves in our pack, but they tried. Little Willem got through five just as Lowell had finished two and they both had had enough."

We laugh together in the foyer when I feel someone behind me.

"Mom? What's for din-" He starts as he walks down the stairs, but stops when his eyes meet mine. "Cleo?"

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