Sierra

The entire Valley has been playing Kaspian Crew music non-stop. Alpha Matthew apparently brought in a stack of signed CDs, and it just went manic on campus. I don't think he expected so many people to be interested. But since then, every stereo I walk by, every restaurant we eat in—it's blasting around like they're trying to prepare us for the concert.

We're all walking to our next class. Today we have core classes instead of the electives. It starts raining on us a bit, so I huddle next to Alejandro. He keeps his hand up like he's holding an umbrella, making sure the rain doesn't fall on us. In return, I keep him warm by linking with his arm and acting as his personal warmer.

"You could share the wealth, Ale." Dean tells him with an eyeroll. His jacket over his head to keep his hair from getting messed up. Because God forbid, Dean's hair gets wet. "Water Elementals..."

"Don't you have a mouse to go eat?" Alejandro replies with a little smirk. "Shifters."

Yuki chuckles from our side. He has his own force field over his head. It's his main Gift. You'd think it's not a strong Gift, but when we were battling once, he would set up force fields all around us. It was scary—I felt like I was in a house of mirrors. Or that I was a mime because I kept running into walls I couldn't see.

I ended up blasting fire in all kinds of directions. He had trapped me in an invisible box and once the smoke was trapped inside, I was able to see exactly what was happening. It was still scary and surprisingly claustrophobic.

Penny and Marisol are both at Yuki's side. He blushed like crazy when they sandwiched him under his forcefield.

"Hey now," I try to interrupt before Alejandro and Dean get into a pissing contest. "Let's not have a Challenge out in the open, yeah?"

"Yeah Dean," Alejandro's smirk doesn't wash away. "Listen to Sierra. Who's going to want to take an owl as an Apprentice when they can take a Fire Elemental?"

"Please," Dean laughs. "They're not going to take Sierra because she's a Fire Elemental."

"Oh?" I raise my eyebrow at him in challenge. I can feel my eyes blazing a bit like embers. My fire starting to spark in my body.

"Of course not, Si." Dean smiles and gives me a wink. "They're picking you because you're a try hard. You'd probably run coffee if your Mentor asked you to."

I narrow my eyes at him, "I'm worth more than that."

Then I turn to Alejandro, "Quien se cree este hijo de puta?"

Alejandro bursts into laughter. Even Marisol, who was overhearing, starts to giggle. She turns around to look over her shoulder in my direction. Just as she opens her mouth to say something, we hear my name called behind us.

"Sierra," His voice is a soft cold. It reminds me of little cute flurries that fall when the weather is starting to change. The kind that melts away instantly after it touches the ground.

I turn around to see Montgomery walking through the rain with Tyler—absolutely unbothered by the fact that he's getting wet. His hands in his pockets and the white shirt he's wearing is slowly starting to cling to his body. It's a bit chilly with the rain, but he doesn't seem to notice at all. Unlike Tyler who's shivering slightly.

Monty smiles softly in my direction, his bright blue eyes staring at me. He turns quickly to Tyler, exchanging a few words before starting to make his way towards my friends and me.

"Oh Sierra." Avery giggles with an eyeroll, "You always have to be first about everything."

"What do you mean by that?" I frown.

Penny smirks, "The first in the group to secure a hunky wolf. Of course, it's you."

"I'm competitive." I smile innocently—it's anything but.

Alejandro leans into me as he stares at Montgomery, "Apuesto a que no folla como un búho."

I bet he doesn't fuck like an owl.

I give Ale a side eye while Montgomery gets closer. We had a great time at the bar last night. Even my friends are smirking with a little knowing. What shocks me most is Yuki who's grinning and blushing simultaneously for me.

"Hey Montgomery," I smile at him.

"Did I do something wrong?" His grin unwavering. Winking at Alejandro before turning to me. "Unless I'm a naughty boy, I prefer Monty."

"Oh, I'll bet you can be naughty." Alejandro mutters under his breath. My friends all trying to contain their laughs except for Yuki who just turns even more red.

Monty seems just as amused as me. He starts walking beside us all as we make our way to class. He stays at my side despite the rain. My friends all starting to ask him questions while I try to just understand if this is something friendly or more.

I've never been great at the dating thing. I mean, this is that awkward intermediate part of it, right? Where you don't know how serious it is? And it can't possibly be serious if he's a wolf. He has a Mate—somewhere—out there.

"Sierra told us it was your birthday yesterday." Marisol tries to make small talk.

"It was," Monty is warm and open. I'm realizing he's easy to talk to and his smile never falters. "I turned eighteen."

"What?" There's a collective bit of eyes widening.

"You were drinking beers, how'd Eli let that happen with a minor?"

"Look at him," Penny points at his face. "He has more of a beard than Dean and Dean is like an old man."

"Hey!" Dean's eyes flare. His pupils getting bigger the way an owl's does. "I'm literally three days older than you. Fuck you, Pen."

Monty chuckles softly, "Trust me. I've had harder liquor than what Eli serves. Besides, I have special privileges. I'm good friends with Luna Mia."

None of us asks. Mia and Matthew are so kind and open, I wouldn't be surprised if they babysat Monty or something while he was growing up.

I lick over my lips, turning to him. "Did you have a good birthday then?"

"I'd say so. A few gifts and being with friends is always nice." I can feel his eyes look me up and down. There's something on his expression. Like he's trying to figure it all out. Just as quickly as it flashed across his face it disappears. "It ended better than it started."

I can't help but grin at that. He's flirty. The smooth kind of flirty. Not the kind that makes you cringe and want to smack a man across the head. Dean is that cringe kind of flirt.

"On Sierra's eighteenth birthday I got her a pair of Magical pointe shoes." Alejandro says it in passing like the memory makes him happy. He turns to me with a smile, "I'll never forget your face."

I remember that day clearly. Pointe shoes are so expensive and my father always struggled to afford them. I told Alejandro how my dad used to work a lot of night shifts at the fire station to get me shoes and help me pay for dance lessons.

On my birthday, Ale casted a spell on some pointe shoes. Making sure they wouldn't loosen or overbend. It was incredible and I cried. Realizing I would never have to buy pointe shoes again. And what's better? He didn't get the pink ones. He got me a black pair—something I had mentioned in passing how I hate pink.

"Did you get anything cool?" Avery asks with bright eyes. She grew up in a closed Coven where gift giving wasn't a custom. She cried the first time we got her a birthday present and threw her a surprise.

"I did." He smiles, "My brother and sister got me a stunt helicopter."

Yuki perks up at that, "What kind of controls? I have an Exo Drone."

"Oh, not a drone." Monty chuckles, "Like...a real helicopter. I'm a pilot."

We all turn to face him. He can't be serious. My friends stare at him for a few beats before they turn to me. A collective look of approval. Even Dean nods his head in respect—almost like he's giving me his blessing. Which I wouldn't need anyways.

We're just reaching the building to our next class. All of us finally stepping out of the rain and into the warm lobby. Monty lightly tugs my arm to keep me a few steps back, I look up at him with curiosity. Seeing he wants to speak to me privately.

Alejandro takes the hint. Wiggling his eyebrows. Letting go of my arm and leaning into me to whisper in my ear, "If you don't fuck him, I will."

He turns towards our friends. Starting to pull them down the hall to our class. "Vamos amigos!"

"Does he think I'm deaf?" Monty asks me with a little chuckle.

"Oh great." I shake my head, "You heard that."

"Super wolf hearing, but even a human would have heard that." Monty tells me with that bright smile.

I try not to get nervous or giddy. He does make me nervous, but I can't explain why. He looks incredible. The pristine white hair and those eyes. And I love talking to him. I feel comfortable around him which is so weird because usually after a date with a guy, I get the ick.

There's always a reason to not like a guy and with Montgomery, I'm trying to find it. It's not physical. It's not conversational. But, there is something and I can't quite pinpoint it.

"I had a nice time last night." I decide to break the silence that fell between us. Bumping my shoulder into his arm, "You should take that as a huge compliment. I don't usually like guys."

He laughs at that, "I'm honored in that case."

Neither of us speaks for a few more seconds. We just stare at each other which I would think would feel awkward, but it doesn't because I can tell he's doing the same as me. He's trying to figure it out. That something.

Something.

He looks a bit nervous and unsure. Staring at me intensely. Particularly my eyes as if trying to read into my soul. Until he coughs into his hand, pushing that cute smile. "I'm invited to the concert watchtower this weekend."

My jaw drops slightly, "Wait seriously?"

"Yeah," Monty smiles brightly. "My brother, he's part of the band. Close family and friends are going to be watching from the tower so we can get the best view of the concert. It's not super high up but it's enough to give us good leverage."

Killian is going to be in that tower. He's already told us he's coming for the concert. We're all going to grab lunch with him and spend the afternoon telling him about how amazing the Valley is.

We also invited him to join us for the concert, but he told us that the King has reserved him a place in a watch tower. Which means, Queen Sloane will be there too. She wouldn't miss this. Not when I remember seeing her sing down the hallway in the Palace to Kaspian Crew songs. I think she's their OG fan.

That's the other thing...everyone in the Valley is absolutely riveting over the fact that Queen Sloane is coming. Whenever I mention that I know her, it's like saying I've spoken to someone famous.

"You know Queen Sloane?" One of my classmates asked when I mentioned she used to watch me practice Magic. "You know Sloane the Strong?"

"Yeah..."

A little crowd formed around me and my friends. Because we all know her. She used to spend so much time with Killian and the Wiccan's back home. Trying to learn the most about Magic and trying to understand if there was a way for her to ever control it.

"Is it true?" Another guy asked us. "What they say about her eyes?"

Alejandro raised his eyebrow at that, "What about her eyes?"

"That they're incredible." One said.

Another added, "That they look into our souls."

Dean and I burst into a fit of laughter. Sloane's eyes are incredible. But wherever these little stories are coming from, I have not a clue.

"I'm inviting you, Sierra." Monty pulls me out of my thoughts. His smile soft and kind. "To come up to the tower with me. If you want. Killian will be there too. You'll have familiar faces, not just me."

I'm opening my mouth to answer to him. Unsure what to say because I did make plans with my friends. We already sanctioned off our little ideas on what to do when festival day comes around.

Before I can tell him this, I frown slightly. Suddenly realizing I skimmed over a major detail.

"Wait," I snap out of my thoughts and stare at Montgomery. "Your brother is in the band?"

Montgomery smiles a bit sheepishly and nods. "Yeah."

I realize now that I never asked where Monty is from. I just figured he was a student here. At the bar, we spent the night talking about Game of Thrones. Then Doctor Who. I hadn't met anyone in the Wiccan program who had ever watched Doctor Who, although we all did have viewings for Game of Thrones.

"Which Doctor was better?" Monty asked me with a sip of beer, "Matt Smith or David Tenant?"

"Trick question," I told him with a little smirk. "David Tenant is the Doctor you and I grew up with. I'd say he's your all-time favorite because of the nostalgic value. And..."

I paused for dramatic effect, "Because the best episode in the Doctor Who saga is definitely 'Blink,' which, David Tenant is in."

Monty was staring at me like I had just handed him the Holy Grail.

Then I told him, "But you would be naïve to say that Peter Capaldi wasn't just phenomenal."

Montgomery's smile was immaculate after that. "I think I'm in love."

I bursted into laughter then and there. Offering him a flirty smile, "How about you just buy me another drink instead."

We spent the night geeking out at the bar. Never once did I ask him what pack he's from and in this moment, I look down at his wrist. As if catching the action, he rolls his wrist over slightly. Instead of the Celtic tree, I see three triangles all interconnected.

I look back up at his blue eyes. His white hair. The fact he isn't cold from the rain. He isn't from the Valley...I should have known that. And maybe that's my own naivety but I figured he was a student. Or...I don't know what I thought. I was pretty much just caught up in the fact that I was holding a good conversation with a handsome guy.

"Your brother..." I piece it quickly together. Alpha Matthew is the lead guitarist. King Aiden is the drummer. The bassist and second guitarist is Alpha Wayan from the Port. On the keys is Luna Kole. Which leaves—

"Alexander." Monty fills it in for me, "The lead singer."

The Ice Reaper.

We've heard the stories. Of Alpha Alexander and his...blood lust. His pack lives in the harshest conditions known to wolves—definitely too harsh for humans. High in the mountains where the air is thinner, and the nights are exceptionally long. Where it's cold. True, real, can-kill-you—cold.

Monty's gaze softens as if he can see my sudden change in mood. He gulps slightly, "We're not that bad...despite what everyone says. We're just...different."

We. Of course, because he's one of them. But just because Monty's brother is the feared Ice Reaper, doesn't mean I have to meet him. It also means that Montgomery isn't going to be staying in the Valley for long. And I like him. It actually makes me sad to think he'll be leaving. I've never gotten along with a straight guy this well.

I try to push away my hesitation. Forcing a smile, "Well...now I know why you like me so much."

"Oh yeah? Why's that?"

"Because you're from the Sierra." I tell him with a playful eyeroll. "And I'm Sierra."

Montgomery smiles brightly at that. His voice soft, "Where I'm from, names have a lot of meaning..."

"I'm sure it's just coincidental." I tell him.

"I'm sure it's not." He replies almost instantly. My breath catches slightly because I can tell he means it. He blinks a few times, "So...watch tower?"

I chew my lip, looking over my shoulder towards my friends. They're at the end of the hallway. In a little huddle as they wait for me by the entrance of our class. We had plans to have a barbeque. We were going to pre-game. Take blankets to the field where they're setting up the stage. The girls and I were going to make posters.

I hate having to choose between my friends and Montgomery. I don't want him to think I'm trying to get out of it. But it took me so long to find a group of people I can call my own. They're practically my family and I want to make this memory with them.

My shoulders sink down slightly as I face Monty again. "I..."

"It's okay." Monty looks towards my friends and back to me. Sincerity in his voice, "They're your pack. We can do something after the concert."

"Monty," I reach for his wrist before he can head out. He freezes in place. "I'll look for you during the concert though. Keep your eye out."

His eyebrows furrow slightly at where I grabbed him. Staring directly at me, tilting his head. His mouth opening and closing until finally he nods with a smile.

"You're staring really hard at me," I tell him raising my eyebrow.

"I know." His eyebrows link together in curiosity. Almost like I'm a book he's trying to read in a different language. "There's just...something about you."

"Something..." I almost agree.

"Yeah..." Monty breathes out. "I can't put my finger on it."

"You can put your lips on it." My grin coy yet inviting.

Montgomery smiles brightly. Almost shyly. He is cute. He does look older than eighteen. They must grow differently in the Sierra. He even has a bit of stubble on his cheeks like he forgot to shave this morning.

"I think I'll save that for later," He says licking over his lips. "You know, for when your friends aren't staring at us."

I don't have to look behind me to know he's right. I can almost feel their eyes glued to us. I wouldn't be surprised if Dean has been using his owl hearing to listen in.

"Besides..." Monty leans forward like he's letting me into some sort of secret. "Where I'm from, you take or you earn what you want. I tend to lean for the latter."

Where he's from...

Monty squeezes my hand, smiling. "I'll keep my eyes peeled for you, Sierra. If you want to find me, I'm staying at the packhouse. Tell your friends it was my pleasure meeting them all."

He walks back out into the rain. Once again, unbothered by the chilly air.

Alexander

Our reunions are always exciting. It's hard to feel happiness sometimes. It's one of those emotions that for me is constantly fleeting. Other people, they might feel that with anger. Anger erupts but it surpasses. Happiness...happiness appears and then disappears.

It's hardly consistent. Never everlasting. But it comes and goes. This is one of the times I know I'll feel it.

I'll never forget the day I met my friends. Years ago, King Aiden held a camp of sorts. He invited Ascending Alpha's to stay with him at the Palace for a year. As a way to learn how to better control our wolves. I was the only person in the program that had already acquired my Alpha title. Which led to some tension back home considering I was going to be away for a year.

I still wasn't speaking then. Not well, anyways.

Most of the time, I sat to myself. No one wanted to interact with me which was fine by me. They had all heard how I came into my Alpha position. I think even King Aiden was a bit hesitant to have me come to the program, but he never once mentioned it—to my face anyways. It was just the way he looked at me when we first met.

He was staring at me as if wondering, So you're the one...

But he never said it to my face, and I think he was relieved to see that I was in the program. He definitely wanted me to learn how to control my wolf.

Wayan would play the piano every morning in the dining hall. The music was elegant and beautiful. It came to be a bit of tradition in the program. At first, everyone would speak over his playing but two weeks into the year, everyone would get their breakfast and be silent. Letting the notes of Wayan's playing echo through the hall and calm us.

I never spoke up, but I was a good listener. I was also, a great observer. I watched how one day, Matthew brought his guitar into the dining hall. Sitting next to Wayan and they started to play together. Going off each other's notes.

Then early one morning—before anyone was truly awake—I couldn't help myself. I sat on the bench of the piano before Wayan came in. I tapped onto the keys—trying to figure out how he plays it so well.

Music is special in the Sierra. Everything and everyone has its own specialization. Everyone has their own strengths. Some of our musicians are like Wayan—incredibly skilled. My hands were never meant to play the piano or pluck the strings of a guitar.

I was humming a low song. Singing just under my breath when Matthew and Wayan strolled in. I wasn't embarrassed. They were definitely surprised. It was the first time I spoke a real sentence in years.

"I'm a better singer than you two." I told them simply.

It was the first time they heard me talk at all. Matthew's smile grew the longer he stared at me. Wayan smirked, crossing his arms over his chest like he was challenging me to show him.

"Do you like rock and roll?" Wayan asked as he took his bench back. I simply lent against the piano, nodding my head.

"Alternative rock?" Matthew also asked, strapping his guitar over his shoulder.

I nodded again.

"You know Queen?" Wayan started playing on the keys.

I narrowed my eyes at him. Basically, asking him, Are you a fucking moron?

Freddie Mercury has one of the best voices in history. Matthew laughed at my expression. I should have known then he was going to be one of my best friends.

"Sing to this, Jack Frost." Wayan challenged.

I instantly picked up on the song. Shaking my head but I wasn't going to argue with them. The three of us singing together at first.

And then they both looked at me. The corner of my lip rising as they waited to hear just how vocal I could be. "Each morning I get up I die a little, can barely stand on my feet."

Wayan and Matthew smiled so brightly—it looked like they hit the jackpot. They were my chorus, singing along. "Take a look at yourself in the mirror and cry."

I closed my eyes, putting my hands to my chest knowing full well I hadn't belted so loudly in years. And yet, it was so easy. It flowed out of me, and I think it took them entirely by surprise because they both stopped playing.

"Can anybody find me..." I took in a breath. "Somebody to love."

They started laughing like they hit oil. Wayan stood up from the bench and kept hitting the keys. Matthew hit the guitar and the three of us sang and played together for the first time.

By the end of the song, they were staring at me like I had just grown a third eye. It made me smile. And it was the first flutter of happiness I had felt in a long time.

"You know..." A voice said from behind us.

We all turned to see the King of Imperium staring at us. I wondered how long he had been standing there. Based on the look on his face, it was clear he caught us singing.

"That song sounds better with a set of drums." King Aiden told us. He smiled brightly, his golden eyes flaring like the sun. The crown glistening on his head as it held back his amber curls. "Come with me."

Our friendship only became stronger from there on. It was still difficult for me to open to them entirely but at least I could forget who I was whenever I was singing with them. I think we all needed it. Aiden and I more so than Wayan and Matthew.

A year later, Wayan brought his best friend Kole into the mix. She was a spitfire but somehow, she was the last member of the band we needed to complete us.

There was one night, when they decided to visit me in the Sierra, that we were all camping under the stars. Singing around a campfire and I explained to them what the northern lights mean to us Sierrans. Kole fell asleep in a sleeping bag. Wayan even placed a blanket over her.

"It's intense here, Alex." Matthew said quietly to me.

"I know." I agreed with him. But these are my lands. I'm used to the intensity.

"Alex..." Wayan's voice was hesitant. I knew the question was at the tip of his tongue. He had never asked. None of them had. Even though they knew the answer. "Is it true then? What you did?"

My eyes shifted to Aiden. I told him in the Palace. I told him everything because he needed to understand. I didn't want the King to intervene with my Pack. There's always been tension between the Crown and the Sierra—we were able to squash it. We're able to lean against one another and start something new.

"Why would you ask that Wayan?" Matthew hissed at him.

"It's true." I simply answered—unable to meet their gazes. My focus entirely on the whisps of fire that were disappearing into the cold air. They would never understand because they aren't from here. I'll only ever give them the tip of the iceberg. The role I played—not the full story. Only Aiden knows the full story.

Matthew reached over and gripped my arm. I tensed under his hold, but I didn't push him away. There was a softness and sadness in his expression. "I'm sorry..."

Aiden gripped my other arm. Pushing a charming smile that made his eyes glitter. He nodded his head in acceptance and I could feel his aura radiating with it. Wayan, shifted enough to place his hand on my knee.

"What do you call it here?" Matthew said over the crackling fire. "Brodir?"

That made me smile. Another moment of happiness. "What of it?"

"How do we become it?" Wayan asked.

I glimpsed at Kole who was fast asleep. I then turned to Aiden, silently asking him to keep her asleep if she were to stir somehow. One touch of his hand and he could alter her emotions and force her back into slumber.

"Stand." I ordered them. Around the campfire, they stood with me. The King, the Merchant, and the Scholar.

"It's gruesome." I warned them.

"We can handle it, Alex." Aiden told me.

"You earn the title," My voice leveled and cold. "Just as you earn loyalty."

"Have we?" Matthew asked, "Earned it?"

The smile on my face was cold. Downright sinister. Have they earned it? I had never had friends close enough to share anything with. I had never had friends before. It's why I always felt compelled to include Kole into our group because I related to her. She grew up with only Wayan. At least I had Bianca and Monty.

Before my Ascension, I trained. My only friend was my father. I was content with that life. It was taken from me, but that's the caveat to happiness. It leaves you. It gets taken from you. It's fleeting.

These three however, they've earned it. They've earned my loyalty.

I flicked my eyes down. Matthew and Wayan knelt instantly. Aiden hesitated. The Crown does not kneel. As soon as he started to drop to his knee, I grasped his arm to keep him up. A cold growl erupting from my throat.

The Crown does not kneel. Just him showing me he would be willing is the only indication I needed. It was one of the few times my wolf agreed with me.

I sliced the palm of my hand before any of them could say anything else. They didn't move. Didn't even flinch. I took a breath, approaching Aiden first. I had already pledged myself to his Crown. But this is deeper. This is pledging myself to him. To Aiden Alistair Imperium, Crown or not, it is his name I pledge to.

Names have meaning in these lands.

I tilted Aiden's head back, dripping blood against his face. Pulling his chin open to place a few drops against his tongue. Doing the same to Matthew and Wayan until the three of them had streaks of red against their foreheads. Across their cheeks. Down their lips and chin.

I smiled at them, my eyes dancing like the borealis overhead. My wolf was purring with contentment.

"Blót Brodir." I told them simply, "My Blood Brothers."

Aiden's eyes flared golden for a moment. Just as Matthew and Wayan's glazed in black. A chill running through their spines as the mountain seemed to beat for a moment like a heart. I placed my bloody hand to all of them. Aiden grabbed my hand, Matthew and Wayan my forearm.

"Like I said," Matthew was smiling wickedly as he and Wayan stood again. I wondered what they felt. If they could feel the Sierra. "It's intense here."

***

Our friends arrived early in the day. Everyone's smiles and happiness is contagious. I even managed to laugh a bit. Courtesy of Kole and Wayan Hurley who are the most ridiculous people I've ever met.

Even my wolf finds them entertaining. Especially Kole. I think that's what made me love her so much. Not only was she a misfit and loner, but she makes my wolf laugh. I'd consider her my secondary sister.

They were telling us what it's been like raising little baby Hendrix while Kole's pregnant. Although I'll admit, her body looks ridiculous. She doesn't even look pregnant other than her breasts have swollen a bit. And she's flaunting them like mad.

I've always thought to myself, if Greek Gods were real, then Aphrodite chose to make Kole from her reflection. When we found out that Kole's mother came from the sea, I wondered if it was possible. Aphrodite emerged from the ocean...maybe Kole is related to that somehow. I never brought it up to Wayan—he's already so besotted and smug about Kole being his Mate, this would just inflate his ego.

That's not to say Mia and Sloane aren't breathtaking. Mia carries herself with grace and fluidity. Her back always straight, smile always kind. I will say, I've seen Mia when her buttons are pushed and the anger within her makes you suddenly see her in a different light. Not that I'd ever tell Matthew I was turned on by his Mate fighting off some wolves.

Then there's Sloane...I think she'd fit in well with the Sierrans. When she wore our battle gear during the War, I truly thought that she might have Sierran blood in her. Sloane—Warrior. But it's her eyes that are truly breathtaking. Aiden told us that he dreams of her eyes. He can't get enough of them.

It was wonderful being together again. We all shared dinner in Matthew's home where Wayan announced to us that King Aiden and Queen Sloane are expecting. Aiden told Wayan first, which was justified. But we were all stunned and excited and crazed.

Another baby? The houses are already getting crowded. With Juliet, Hendrix, the twin boys—Presley and Harrison, and now a prince or princess? Well, there's your future band.

I'm happy for my friends. I couldn't imagine myself as a father—despite raising Montgomery. I've long considered that kids are not part of my future. There would be too many expectations. I've only just now started to change tradition in the Sierra. I wouldn't want them to go through what Bianca and I endured.

The girls were all ecstatic. Hugging Sloane—already asking her an onslaught of questions. Kole started rambling on about how they could be 'pregnancy sisters.' Mia told them she had plenty of clothes to pass onto her if she was having a girl.

Matthew spread out some champagne for himself, Wayan, and Aiden. I opted for a large glass of Scotch. I may not like being physical, but I gave Aiden a tight hug. Remembering how not a year ago, he was desperate to find his Queen.

"Do you ever feel..." He once asked me. "Do you ever feel lonely?"

I let out a humorless laugh. Staring at the drink I had been holding, "Always, Aiden. I live on a fucking mountain."

Happiness fleets, but loneliness, I've grown to accept it. I have Monty and Bianca—I know it could be worse. Loss is worse. The dead do not suffer, the living do. It's one of the reasons I know not to fret over the lives I've taken. The dead are not suffering.

Monty came in to join our small celebrations. He had returned from seeing his friends. The mysterious girl he's in love with. Behind him was Killian. They had spent the day with the Wiccan's apparently. But as soon as they heard the news about the Royal baby, they also just got excited. Especially, Killian—King Aiden's third in command. His Gamma.

While they all celebrate in the house, I've come down to the lakeside in Matthew's backyard. He has an incredible view of the lake, the University, and the town that's across the water.

I take a few deep breaths, my hands clutched behind my back as I stare outward. I let the cold seep into my body. To remind me of home. Looking down at my feet, I can see I've allowed too much. My toes, just at the edge of the lake, have frozen part of the shoreline. I kick the ice away before anyone can see.

"Alex..." I don't look behind me to know that Aiden is speaking to me. He steps up to my side, brushing his arm against mine.

I turn to him slightly. The corner of my lip rising, "It's a boy."

Aiden's eyes widen slightly. He stares at me with a gaping mouth. "How...how do you know that?"

"A son." I tell him with genuine joy.

Aiden licks his lips, "I..."

I turn towards him, my eyes looking at his chest. I place my hand over his heart. I know there's a small scar underneath. The scar from when he almost died. I'll never forget that terror. Seeing Aiden bleeding out on the ground. Feeling the life drain out of his. Feeling my wolf start to dwindle. Because I could feel that. I could feel my essence draining and all I could think of was going to my people.

I knew the Sierra could save Aiden. Our medical technology is advanced. It's better than any pack in the US—including the Palace. My doctors were able to save him before...

"You're passing this to your son." I tell him matter-of-factly.

Aiden closes his eyes, nodding. He never told me why he can't shift. But I finally understand. And if I hadn't pledged myself to the Crown before, I would have instantly after finding out.

I watched King Aiden take the throne when he was a child. I was there for his Coronation. Watched him carry his parents caskets mere moments before the Crown was placed on his head.

He is a much fairer ruler than I could ever be. He's stronger than he lets on. Plagued my tragedy but never once letting it impact the charming smile on his face.

"I'm...terrified." He admits to me. Because that's our relationship—being able to speak freely. Openly. "For him."

I curl my hand into a fist, pressing it into his chest. "Blood calls to blood."

His blood, my wolf nods. His son's blood.

"Alex—"

I tell Aiden, "The Sierra will back your Prince. I swear it."

Aiden reaches up, placing his hand over mine. His voice soft but full of appreciation. "Thank you."

I do smile now. Nodding at him. We turn our heads as soon as we hear Matthew and Wayan walking down the small hill towards us.

"What up gents?" Wayan grins with a bit of sultry.

"Ready for tomorrow?" Matthew's energy is contagious.

We're all excited. Tomorrow is the concert. A dream come true to the young boys playing on a piano, in a studio, always in the background. Tomorrow will be a day I'll remember for my entire life—however much I have left of it.

Wayan puts his arm over Aiden and me. The four of us turning towards the lake. "You know..." Wayan says with a slight frown on his face. For a moment, we believe he might say something of interest. Instead, he opts for, "I've never fucked in a lake before. The ocean? Sure. But never a lake."

We didn't need to Mind Link to think what we were going to do next. I grabbed Wayan's shoulders, Matthew and Aiden each took one of his legs and we swung him into the lake while he screamed for us to put him down.

Standing on the shore, I laughed. Full laughs of pure joy as Wayan sputtered for air. He started splashing us and we got shin deep into the water to splash him back. Until we were all soaked and muddy from wrestling in the lake.

I'm completely aware that this is part of my fleeting happiness. Like the summers in the Sierra—short and quick. But at least, when the sun shines, it lights up the entire mountains. We take full advantage of the summers and the sun. Because we know that soon it'll disappear into cold and night.

I take full advantage of being with my friends. There are a lot of things I don't deserve. This, however, I've earned. These friends. I've fought for them, I've bled for them, I've lost for them. They may not be Sierrans, but they're my people too.

My wolf purrs. The sound similar to ice rubbing on ice. Blót kallar blót.

***

A/N: Despite what you may think, this is not a filler. There's actually a lot of stuff in here that's going to come back. Next chapter though is definitely going to be the concert <3 Get excited hahaha!! 

Feel free to drop song recs !!! Happy to explore other songs or if there's on you think Kaspian Crew (or one of the characters) would sing/relate to, don't forget to comment it :))

Don't forget to comment please <3