"You must be mistaken," I say as I turn to look at the man who is undoubtedly Alpha Killian.

He has straight, black hair that falls to his shoulders like a fountain of darkness. His eyes are dark blue, like a sapphire, and they're alight with interest, mischief. He wears a blue dress shirt that match his eyes, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and the first few buttons undone. Gwen was right, I couldn't deny that there was something... alluring about him.

Not just in the attractive kind of way, though he would be considered handsome by almost anybody. There was something... ethereal about him, that didn't seem ordinary.

"I am many things, dear Ares, but I am never wrong," He grinned, and I frowned at the informal use of my name. "You know," He continued, taking a step towards me and taking a sip from his glass which contained a dark liquor. "I couldn't deny that my interest piqued when I heard the Blood Luna was asking about me."

My eyes narrow. "Unless if there's another Blood Luna around, I'm afraid you've been misinformed."

He laughs, and his head cocks to the side as his eyes run along my body, and my hand twitches, fighting the urge to summon a particularly sharp knife. "I must say, I have heard many rumors of the Blood Luna, all telling tales of a particularly gruesome, beast of a female. They neglected to mention your beauty, I'm afraid."

I give a coy smile, playing along. I want to know more about the mysterious host, in particular, his allegedly strong Gift he keeps under wraps. "Am I supposed to know who you are?" I ask innocently.

He smirks. "Killian," He says, stretching out his hand for me to shake. "Alpha of Crimson Shadow."

I shake his hand, using more force than necessary, and I can hear one of his bones crack slightly.

"Sorry," I apologize with a smile as I withdraw my hand. I don't mean it. I'm trying to rile him up, provoke him into using his Gift.

But he's unbothered, and chuckles. "No apologies necessary, Luna. Though I suppose it confirms the rumors."

I laugh lowly, taking a drink from the bottle. "And are the rumors about you true, Alpha?"

His eyes narrow slightly, assessing me. "That would depend on what you heard, Luna."

I smile innocently. "Something about a Gift, a mate. A lack thereof, I suppose you could say."

His grip on his cup tightens minutely, and my mouth quirks to the side. "The Moon Goddess is fickle, as I'm sure you've surmounted for yourself, Ares."

My breathing halts, he's caught me off guard. "I'm afraid I don't know what you mean, Killian."

His head cocks to the side, a knowing smile. "Don't you?"

I jump when I feel someone's hand on my lower back, but relax when I realize who it is. "Alpha Killian, I do hope you're not bothering my mate."

Killian grins, unaffected. "Alpha Cain, I was just having a conversation with your lovely Luna. She's quite charming."

Cain stiffens, and I place my hand reassuringly on his chest, and he relaxes slightly. "You know I'll kill you if you try anything with her."

Killian's grin just widens. "No need to be so hot-headed, Cain," He pauses. "Get it? Because of his Gift? No?" He laughs.

I hear Cain grinding his teeth together. "I will burn you and your pack to the ground."

Killian snorts. "You Blood Lake folk are so serious. Lighten up, would you? It's a party." He turns around, smirking slightly at me. "I'll see you around, Ares." And he leaves Cain and I on the balcony, alone.

"What was that about?" Cain turns me so I'm facing him.

Shrugging, I say, "No idea."

One of the females from Blood Lake runs up to us. "Alpha, Luna. Zach got into a fight with some Crimson Shadow wolves, you should come quick."

We follow her downstairs, where wolves are gathered in a circle. Cain shoves through, telling wolves to get out of the way. When we get to the center, I can see Zach holding his own against three large males, punching one of them so hard teeth fly out of his mouth. I feel proud, and I can't help the smile that crosses my face. Killian is nowhere around, despite the fact that his wolves are also involved in the fight.

"Stop this," Cain snarles, and the fighting immediately stops. "Submit. Now, or forfeit your life."

The wolves hesitate, but eventually bare their necks. "What the fuck is going on here?" Cain asks.

"She's mine!" Zach growls, his eyes dark and body shaking, and he looks feral.

"Zach," I say quietly, and his head snaps up to look at me, his gaze softening. "Calm down and explain what happened."

He looks to a girl who rushed to one of the Crimson Shadow wolves' side, inspecting his injuries. "She's my mate," He says softly. "The douchebag she's touching is trying to take her from me."

Alpha Killian appears suddenly, and I'm confused. He was nowhere in sight, and seemingly appeared out of nowhere. He looks at Zach. "Are your words true, wolf? Is Cassia your mate?" Zach nods furiously, and Killian turns to the shewolf and the male that holds her. "Xander, is Cassia your mate?"
The male looks down at her, and back up to Killian, and shakes his head sadly. "No but-"

Killian raises one hand, and Xander immediately stops his words. "No buts. You know the Law. The Blood Lake wolf will take his mate with him tomorrow when they return to his territory, that's final. Do you have a problem with that?"

Xander looks down in submission. "No, Alpha."

The female, Cassia, has tears streaming down her face. "I hate you," She hisses at Zach, and runs off.
Zach chases her, but I grab his arm. Give her time, I advise. She'll come around. Don't do anything while you're angry.

He looks after her retreating figure longingly, but nods.

"You four," Killian waves his hand to the wolves, including Zach, "Are spending the night in my prison. You know the rules about starting fights at the Gathering."

I'm about to argue when Cain mindlinks me a warning. Don't, pup. It's the law.

I glare at him. It's a dumb law. Zach wasn't starting anything, he just wants his mate.

Don't argue with me Ares, Cain warns. If you try fighting Killian he'll have no choice but to lock you up too.

Killian smirks at me, his eyes issuing an unspoken challenge. He wants me to start a fight with him.

"You heard Alpha Killian," I nudge Zach slightly, and some of the Crimson Shadow warriors come to his side to escort him to the prison. "We'll get you in the morning."

Zach nods, his posture straight and face expressionless, as all Blood Lake wolves do. They take him out of the Pack House.

"Shows over, everybody. Go back to partying," Killian instructs, and the wolves disperse immediately.

Cain squeezes my hand. Good job, pup. Thank you for controlling yourself.

I roll my eyes. I need a drink.

Cain and I go to the bar top once again, and we drink and talk, watching the wolves around us. He tells me about some of the wolves from the pack who have informed him that they found their mates, and will either be going with them to their territory, or coming with us, depending on their rank. The mate who is ranked lower is required, by law, to go to the territory of the higher ranked mate. Hence, why once Cain found me, he was allowed to take me to Blood Lake.

"Ares," Someone says from next to me, and I turn around, surprised to see Leo was the one talking.

"Leave us alone if you know what's good for you," Cain threatens lowly, his eyes darkening at the perceived threat.

Leo raises his hands up, nonthreateningly. "I just need to ask her for a favor."

Cain snarls. "The answer is no."

I'm inclined to agree, but Gwen's face flashes through my mind. Leo turns away, ready to leave.

"Wait," I say hesitantly, and he turns around hopefully. "What is it?"

He fumbles around, looking for something in his jacket pocket, and Cain is alert, no doubt assuming it's a weapon. Leo produces an envelope.

"For Gwendolyn," He says softly, and I take it. I nod once.

"I'll make sure she gets it."

He exhales in relief. "Thank you, Luna," He says before leaving.

"Should we open it?" I ask Cain.

Cain laughs. "So nosy, pup."

I shrug. "What if it's him telling her he found his mate?"

Sighing, Cain says, "Then at least she'll know. We shouldn't meddle in the affairs of other wolves."

Begrudgingly, I nod. He's right, I shouldn't violate their privacy like that, though I would be hounding Gwen for details as soon as she opens it. I had no doubt she would do the same for me.

The rest of the night is fairly uneventful, and once the crowd of people lessens as people return to their rooms, some going to their mate's home, we retire to our bedroom.

Cain and I crawl into bed, and I can't help but wonder where Thane was the whole time.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

A small hand tugs on my short hair that falls to my shoulders. "Mama," The baby coos.
"Thane, Thane did you hear that?" I turn to Thane, who's sitting on the couch, surrounded by paperwork.
He looks up in shock. "Did he just-"
"Say his first word?" I interrupt excitedly. "Note how he said mama and not dada."
"I heard," Thane rolls his eyes, getting up from his spot on the couch. He takes the baby from me, bouncing him slightly. "He's definitely a mama's boy."
I beam proudly. "It's okay, Thane. Not everyone can be as perfect as me."
Thane chuckles, pulling me into his other arm and nestling his face into my hair, placing a kiss on the top of my head. "I'm inclined to agree with you, little mate."

My eyes blink a few times, trying to make sense of the pitch-black room. It's still night time, and I'm still in Alpha Killian's territory.

The slow awakening managed not to wake up Cain, who snores softly next to me. Cain, my actual mate. Not Thane. Cain.

I inhale deeply, throughly shaken by my dream. The pup. Thane and my's pup.

I quietly get out of bed, tiptoeing so I don't wake up Cain, opening the door slowly and silently to sneak out. I need some air.

Following the hallway back to the balcony I found earlier, I rest my arms on the ledge, looking up at sky. "Fuck you," I tell the moon.

I blame the Moon Goddess for whatever weird dreams I may be having. I was never much of a believer in the Gods, but perhaps these dreams were messages.

Was she telling me that Cain and I would never be able to have a pup of our own? That the only way I would be able to have a child would be from someone else?

If that is the message, why would she choose Thane. An Alpha who already has a mate of his own. An Alpha who is the cousin of my mate.

I can't help myself from sobbing quietly. Everything feels so messy, so out of my control. I just want the dreams to stop, to have a pup of my own with Cain.
The dreams thoroughly shake me to my core. A reminder of everything I can't have.

"Ares?" I hear a familiar voice call out from behind me. "What's wrong?"

You've got to be kidding me.

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