"Take this," Ethan said to Aaron, he handed him a burner phone and an envelope with a little over three grand of our money to him.

Aaron shook his head. "Ethan–"

"Don't argue," Ethan interjected. "Take it. It will hopefully tide you guys over until I can wire you some money from the pack. You'll be alright at Tikanni for a day or so? I don't know if I could push a transfer before then, but I can try."

Aaron sighed out and nodded. "Alright, thank you," he replied as he took the items from Ethan.

I smiled at him and hugged him again. "We'll check in on you, ok? I'm sorry everything had to happen this way."

"Don't be Charlotte, you two did the right thing," he replied. "We'll be fine. Levi said he has a cabin set up."

I looked over at Amber who was sobbing quietly while Evie rubbed her back. "How's she?"

Aaron shrugged. "As good as she looks. We'll be ok. I think she'll be fine once she get's out of here."

Ethan nodded. "Once we get you sent somewhere I want you to call and check in at least once a week, ok? I'm not trying to be a pain in the ass, I just want to make sure you two are alright."

Aaron nodded. "I can do that, just look after the pack Ethan."

"I will," He breathed back before he shook Aaron's hand. "Take care, Aaron."

Aaron nodded at both of us with a weary smile. "You too, thank you again," he said before he walked over to Amber.

There were Tikanni pack wolves waiting with their backs to take them across the line where they could start over. My wolf approved, and I did too. Those two needed to get out and get a clean start. I had given Aaron Riley's number, knowing that Riley could take care of them no matter what they needed.

Ethan pulled me back into the house, our house. Evan was busy putting together in his words, 'a bomb ass party little sister,' for the night. We had so much to do, but right now that could wait.

"Sir," Murphy said as he walked out from our living room. "We have Emmett and Lucy in our cells. Guards all around them. They aren't going anywhere."

"Good, and the vamps?"

"Working with them as we speak," Murphy replied.

"Tell them to take a break. We all need one. They can start again in the morning."

"Can do sir, also I had Charlotte's old cabin cleaned out. Do you want me to put them there? I know they have a place at Tikanni, but I thought you may want them back here?"

"That would be great," I added before I nodded. "See to it that Elliot and Derek are settled in there as well?"

"You got it," Murphy replied before he headed out.

"And Murphy?" Ethan called out.

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

Murphy nodded. "Don't thank me, Ethan, it was the right thing to do," he replied back with a warm smile before he left, leaving Ethan and I to ourselves in our house.

Ethan tugged me with him towards the stairs, and I didn't have to ask why. I smiled inwardly as we trotted up to our room silently; dirt, sweat, and blood still covering our bodies.

"Ethan, we should probably shower," I thought out loud.

"Why? It's not like we're about to get more dirty sunshine," he replied back, making my stomach flutter and the place between my legs clench in anticipation.

I was going to say something back when his lips smashed against mine. They smashed against mine as his body pushed me against a wall in our bedroom. He tasted delicious, like ambrosia to me as his tongue invaded my mouth while his hands roamed over my body.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer to me. There was nothing to say, there was nothing I could say. We didn't need to speak to each other; like the song lyrics said, 'You say it best when you say nothing at all.'

My lips were trying to imprint every line of his in my brain before he started to kiss down my jaw line, drawing mews from my lips as he made his way to my neck where he suckled on my mark. I felt desire swirl up in me like the wild wind of a summer storm; causing my body to grow hot and needy with dewy desire.

"Ethan," I breathed out.

He growled into his kiss; he was growing impatient. His hands quickly pulled my shirt off while mine tugged his shorts down; he quickly picked me up, pinning me to the wall as my legs wrapped around his waist while his erection pressed against my belly.

I sighed out as he kissed his way to my breasts, suckling them while his hands kneaded into my ass. He moved a hand away from my cheek; my legs pulled him closer to me, I needed him closer to me. In me to be exact.

He bit down on my mark again, drawing a raspy moan from my lips before he moved his free hand to my lips. I was panting hard, my lips half parted as his forefinger found the edge of my tongue.

I let my tongue flick at his finger before another one waited hesitantly with the other at the entrance of my mouth before I leaned forward and took them in; sucking on them while he watched with eyes that started to darken with a desire so raw that it made me feel completely savage.

We were savages.

For each other that is...

He growled and pulled his fingers out then kissed me hard while his wet fingers found their way through my slick folds. I let out a sharp breath and let my head fall against the wall as tendrils of ecstasy climbed through me. He was kissing my mark, drawing little lines with his tongue while his fingers worked in and out of me.

I was lost in him; in the bond, in the lust of the moment, in the smell of our desire for each other, and in his kiss that seemed to drown me away. I bit on his bottom lip while his thumb rubbed against the bundle of nerves wet with my arousal, causing me to moan into his mouth as he kissed me again.

He rubbed a little faster; his thumb moving in quick circles while his mouth went back to my mark. Lips were kissing it and teeth were biting at it, almost drawing blood while a wave of pleasure crashed over me and took my breath away.

I hadn't even recovered when he crushed his lips against mine again; he removed his fingers and lowered me onto him so slowly that it almost hurt. My eyes fluttered open to meet his, to meet his gaze that was as heated as mine; his eyes alone sent my body into a rush of bliss.

He thrust into me again, his eyes not leaving mine while my fingers snaked their way through his hair. He groaned from deep within his belly, resting his forehead on mine as he thrust in and out of me; his hands holding my thighs while mine tugged gently at his hair.

Slow. He was slow with me, savoring every kiss, every taste, every stroke. Somehow that slow moved to fast, before fast turned into slow on the dresser in our bedroom, then fast again on the floor before we made love to each other slowly on our bed.

We laid there after for what felt like hours; soft kisses, caresses, and murmurs of sweet words to each other is what filled up the time. Pouring our emotions from the last few weeks out into each other; so much tension was gone, tension that I think in some way we both wondered if it would ever really be gone.

"I'm proud of you Ethan" I murmured to him.

He was playing with my hair, our legs tangled together in a mess of sheets that clung to our sweaty bodies. We definitely would have to wash those and take a long ass shower.

He kissed my forehead and pulled away. There were two gashes that ran from his forehead down his cheek, thankfully missing his eye. I traced them with my fingertips; his hand caught mine. He brought it to his lips so he could kiss the back of it before he looked back at me with a soft smile.

"I'm proud of you too," he breathed out. "Eli and Lucas were both proud."

"I can't believe you saw them," I replied, shaking my head. I couldn't believe any of it. It was so real, he had shown me. In the memory, it was like they were really alive, nothing close to dead.

"I know," he replied while his eyes seemed to trail off into the memory. "It's all insane."

"At least their happy," I added.

Ethan nodded. "They are."

"Too bad they don't know more."

"I know," he sighed out. "God we have so much to do still."

"Baby," I breathed out. "Tomorrow," I said while pushing some hair out of his face. "We start to handle it tomorrow, alright? Besides, your brother is as giddy as a damn schoolboy about this party."

Ethan rolled his eyes. "How many times do I have to tell you to not bring talk of my brother into this bed?"

"Why don't you shut me up and kiss me then?" I teased. He chuckled and dipped over to me, letting his lips meet mine again.

We eventually did shower before started to quickly dress for the party we were running late for. I blamed Ethan, he decided to 'distract' us in the shower, which turned out to take more time than either of us had anticipated.

"Does it feel different?" I asked him while I slipped on some nude leather booties with an open toe. I had on a black spaghetti strap romper that had a v-like sweetheart top and a low back.

Ethan paused from brushing his hair for a moment, thinking to himself before he looked back at me while I ran some mouse through my bed-head curls that I decided to leave all-natural for the night.

"Yes and no. It's odd. I can feel the pack now, it's like it's another heartbeat of its own. Do you?"

I shrugged while he tucked his dusty light-blue buttoned-up into his dark jeans. "I can feel them too. It's weird, it's like I can feel it humming in my veins. It's almost like I have this overwhelming need to look after them, like their children of ours now."

"In a way they are," he replied back while he buckled his brown leather belt. "You are their Luna now, it's more than natural for you to feel that way."

Luna.

I mused to myself a little more before Ethan turned around to me, smiling warmly before he dipped down to kiss me. His fingers trailed the straps before his eyes looked it over. "This is new?"

I nodded. "Evie let me borrow it. I like it except it's going to be a pain later."

"How's that?" he asked with a raised brow.

"Well," I said while stepping away to the washed-out blue-jean jacket Evie had also let me borrow. "This is all one piece, so when I have to use the bathroom I am going to take this whole damn thing off."

A rumble vibrated through the room. Ethan came up next to me with mischievous eyes. "Well sunshine, when you need to break the seal then just let me know."

"You're incorrigible," I replied dryly.

He shrugged innocently before he took my hand and began to lead me downstairs. "Yes but you love me so I really don't see why you're complaining."

"And who says I was? I was just stating a fact." A devious smile tugged at my lips while Ethan just shook his head.

We walked hand in hand to the pack house, to the house where the energy was contagious. It had spread along the valley like a delicious syrup coating fresh pancakes; it was in itself delicious.

Joy.

There was excitement and joy in the air that made both Ethan and I smile as we approached. Ethan put an arm around my waist as we walked closer to the house that suddenly looked so much warmer, so much more inviting than it had in previous days.

Music was playing inside, we could hear it faintly murmuring along with the sounds of many voices. Some wolves were running to the house; they stopped in their tracks and dipped their heads respectfully with eyes that seemed to grin as much as their mouths did.

"Damn," Ethan breathed out.

"What is it?"

"I totally should have worn my jorts," he said while trying to bite back a smile.

"You don't have jorts anymore, remember?"

"That's what you think sunshine," he replied in a sing-song voice before he kissed my crown.

He opened the pack house door for me, revealing what looked like a room that looked more like a sardine can. We looked through the doorway at the house that was packed with our pack wolves; my eyes looked over the crowd to the backyard that seemed to fair no better.

As soon as we stepped in the house, the room quieted, so quiet you could have heard water drop. People were hushing each other as eyes landed on Ethan and I. He pulled me closer to him as the pack bond seemed to twirl in excitement in the back of my mind.

Evan broke through the crowd with smile plastered on his face as he looked at Ethan and I. He trotted up the stairs to Ethan, dipping his head respectfully before Ethan pulled him into a hug, his brother–his first beta.

Evan let out a shaky breath and nodded to his brother before pulling me into a hug, kissing my crown before he looked back at Ethan. "Come on, they're outside waiting for you."

"They?"

Evan rolled his eyes. "Uncle Levi and the others."

Evan stepped down the stairs with us in tow; the crowd started to part for us as we made our way to the door.

Heads dipped and slightly turned; they were showing their necks to us, showing us that their respect and submission.

The pack bond twirled some more, almost like it was proud in its own way.

We kept walking and caught the sight of our friends and fellow warriors that had helped us. "Justin, Drew, Martin," Ethan greeted.

They looked up to Ethan and dipped their heads again. "Alpha," Martin answered for them.

Ethan smiled and hugged each of them quickly, thanking them for standing with us. I looked over to Nessa and Sam who stood next to they're mates.

"Hey!" I whispered yelled to them.

They snapped their eyes up with a smile and hurried to me. "Luna," Sam greeted. I offered them my cheek to receive warm hugs and cheeks in return; my wolf howled out in pride. She loved these females, her females; she loved her pack.

Ethan nodded to the group and tugged me along out the back doors to the backyard that was also packed with people. Evan had kegs set up next to a makeshift bar on cinderblocks in a corner, there was space for a dance floor in the middle of the backyard, Elliot had set up his DJ booth in the back like he had for the council meeting where he was smiling up at us from behind his macbook, and tables were scattered everywhere although everyone was standing.

Like inside heads dipped and tilted to the side. My breath hitched in the back of my throat at the sight, while tears nudged the back of my eyes. Ethan slipped a hand around my waist and started to pull me down the stairs with him when the crowd parted again.

Levi walked to us; he had a beer in his hand and Lander at his side. His face was proud, it was like the day I killed my bear. He walked to Ethan and hugged him tight while Lander hugged me, smiling as the Tikanni group lined up behind them.

"Well girly, I'd say you did pretty good," Lander said before kissing my hair.

"Thanks, Lander," I replied as he let me go. I pulled away and looked at Levi who gently pulled me into his chest.

He kissed my cheek and let out a long sigh. "I'm proud of you Charlie girl."

"Thank you, Levi," I breathed back.

He sighed and shook his head a little as he looked at me. "Still a pain in my ass, but I love you girly."

I let out a breathy laugh and nodded. "Love you too, even though you are a huge pain in my ass."

He laughed as Claire walked over to us. She rubbed her cheek against mine and kissed Ethan's cheek. Lander rolled his eyes when she teared up a little. "Come on baby, you don't need to start crying."

"Oh shut the hell up Lander!" she forced out before she looked at me with weepy eyes.

I laughed softly and hugged her again. "Well, technically I'm the Luna here and I say you can cry as much as you want."

Claire laughed and nodded against my shoulder. "I'm so proud of you."

Evan rolled his eyes after Levi hugged him. He looked at us then back at the pack that was watching curiously. "What the hell are you all looking at!? We have kegs that need to be drunk, and none of you are leaving until they are gone!"

I bit back a laugh while Ethan rolled his eyes as howls, yips, and cheers filled the air. It was indeed a day deserving of such things.

Evangeline ran forward with Liam and jumped into my arms. "Oh my God Char!" she squealed. Liam rolled his eyes and briefly hugged Ethan while Evangeline wiped her eyes.

Lyanna just rolled her eyes before she rubbed my cheek, my beta female. "Evangeline, really–"

"Oh hush up Lyanna!" Evangeline rushed out. She looked back at me and hugged me again. "Today was a good day."

I nodded. "It was."

"Now Char, just because you're a Luna now, that doesn't mean I can't whoop your ass," Liam teased while Ethan talked with David and Bowie. I rolled my eyes while Evangeline just waved him off.

"Denial doesn't suit you, Liam," I bit back with a smile.

Evangeline laughed then nodded to the bar while Liam shook his head. "Wine?"

"Yes please," I groaned.

She and Lyanna drug me to the kegs where Remi and Ryder were both chatting. They turned around and dipped their heads before Ryder rushed to me and gave me what felt like a bear hug.

"You two did real good today Ghostrider, my dad would have been proud."

"He would be proud of you Ryder, we couldn't have done it without any of you," I replied before I kissed his cheek.

Remi gave me a hug as well while Ryder fetched Evangeline and I some wine. "How's it feel?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. The same? Not the same? Like I need some wine?"

Ryder laughed and handed Evangeline and I a stemless plastic glass. "Still the same Char."

"Oh, I better get a beer for Ethan," I thought out loud. I looked around Ryder to the gamma behind the bar and smiled at him. "Can I get beer as well please?"

"Course Luna, what kind do you want?"

"Uh–" I paused and looked over at Ethan who was chatting with the vampires, laughing and running his hands through his silky hair. "Well, what do you have?"

"Well here we have Shiner, Blue Moon, Budweiser, and we have more in the basement refrigerator. I'm just not sure what though, but I could go check for you?"

"I think he'll want a Shiner, thank you," I replied.

He dipped his head and started to fill up a red cup from the keg. "Anytime, and let me just say that I'm happy you two are running things now. It was about time."

I smiled at him and took the cup of beer. "Thank you."

I made my way back to Ethan with Evangeline and Lyanna in tow. He smiled at me and eyed the beer in my hands. "Have I told you how much I love you today?"

"You say that because I'm bringing you a beer," I replied, a knowing smile starting to tug at my lips.

He shook his head and took the beer. "We'll see about that sunshine."

"Char!" Derek said as he zipped over to me, hugging me to him before he wiped a tear from his eyes. "I'm just so proud of you little one."

"Thanks Derek," I breathed back.

"Oh my God, I knew that romper was going to look hot," Evie said with a giddy grin. She hugged me tight while Barrett rolled his eyes before he winked at me.

"Nice work today, I was just telling Ethan that I liked the eye thing," Barrett said.

I laughed and nodded. "Thank you, my wolf did too."

"It was very fierce, like old school Tyra Banks fierce," Evie added.

Ethan pulled me to his side and kissed my cheek. For the first time in a while, everything seemed perfect. Levi came back with Lander and Claire, they keep bullshitting back and forth with Ethan while Evie, Lyanna, Evangeline, and I joked around with each other.

Evan was in the middle of Ryder, Remi, and Jake who almost spilled his drink on me because he was so excited about everything. I looked around, though, and I noticed that we were missing someone. "Hey, where's Andrea?"

Ethan paused and looked around as well. "I don't know, I haven't seen Jaxon."

Evangeline stood on her toes and looked around. "Liam? Can you see?"

Liam chuckled and winked at me. "Course shorty, if you would grow a few inches you could too."

Evangeline scoffed while Liam laughed with Levi and Lander. "You'll pay for that later."

"I hope so baby," he laughed out.

I rolled my eyes then looked around some more when Levi almost spit out his beer. "Well I'll be damned," he said with raised brows.

I looked to where his line of sight was to see Andrea walking with Jaxon's arm around her waist. Billy was talking with him, laughing before he saw us and raised his glass; but that's not what made my mouth drop. Andrea had a damn mark on her neck.

"The hell!" I gasped out before I broke away from Ethan's side and marched over to her. Jaxon snapped his eyes to me while Billy broke off towards Ethan.

"Well hey there little Luna," Jaxon said with a smile of swollen lips. I eyed his neck as well to see a fresh mark on it; the sight along made my beast's jaw almost hit the ground. That situation definitely escalated quickly.

Andrea smiled at me through sleepy eyes and skin that was still a little flushed. She rubbed her cheek against mine then moved back to Jaxon's side. I took a sip of my wine and eyed her pensively for a bit.

"So Andrea, you two look cozy."

She blushed while Jaxon smiled mischievously. He kissed her forehead and nodded his chin to Ethan. "I'll be over there sweet thing."

"Andrea!" Evangeline gasped out. "Well come on now, tell us what that's all about," she stated firmly, her hands on her hips and her eyes trying to not break their serious mold.

Andrea blushed then shrugged at us. "I mean do I really have to explain how this works to you two?"

"Come on Andrea, you hated the guy like I don't know, this morning?" Evangeline gasped out.

She looked over at Jaxon who winked at her then back at us. "Ya well, let's just say I hate him a lot less."

"I would hope so," I laughed out. I shook my head then hugged her again, rubbing my cheek against hers. "I'm happy for you, but if he hurts you I'll skin his balls."

"You'd have to get in line," she replied.

"No, I'd get a shovel."

"Char there wouldn't be anything left to bury," she said seriously before she burst out in laughter.

We laughed with her before Evan walked over to us. "Well, well, well hello little sisters."

"Evan I am not your sister," Andrea teased.

He waved his hand at her and playfully scoffed. "Andrea, don't get caught up in the details. He tossed an arm around both Evangeline and my shoulders, pulling us to him with a beer buzzed smile on his face.

"Evan, how many beers have you had?" Andrea asked.

"Come on Andrea, we're celebrating!" he shrugged. "Besides, Ryder made a batch of brownies and we all had one before."

"We?" I asked as my brows raised.

He nodded with a boyish grin. "Yup, me, Ryder, Remi, and Lyanna."

"Lander is going to have your ass," Evangeline groaned.

He laughed. "Hardly, we just gave him and Claire one to try. He'll be happy as a damn leprechaun that found his bowl of Lucky Charms in a minute."

"Oh my God Evan," I laughed out.

"Evangeline you should try one, loosen up," Evan said while shaking her shoulders. "I'm sure Liam wouldn't complain."

"Evan," she warned.

"What! Just trying to be a good host, little sister." She shook her head as he grinned wildly at her.

Lyanna was standing next to Ryder and Remi, laughing her ass off with flushed cheeks while Lander started to get this glassy look about his eyes. I shook my head and took a long sip of my wine.

"Wine Andrea?"

She nodded. "Please."

We walked towards the bar while Evangeline bickered with Evan. Before we could get very far, though, Jaxon's arm reached out and pulled Andrea to him while Caden shook his head into his beer. "And where are you going?"

"Wine, obviously," Andrea said, like she was completely unamused with him.

His eyes swirled with hint of desire before he looked at her cup. "Let me," he said, taking her cup before he turned to me. "You need a refill, Char?"

"Please," I replied with a polite smile as I handed my cup to him.

He quickly kissed Andrea before she could protest, grinning like a school boy as he broke away and walked towards the bar. Andrea flushed wildly while Caden chuckled to himself.

Ethan rolled his eyes and pulled me close to him, dipping down to kiss me before he took a long sip of his beer.

"Evan made brownies."

"I heard," he groaned out.

Levi looked at Lander and rolled his eyes. "I'm not taking care of your ass if you get sick."

Lander laughed and shrugged. "Well, considering Evan just gave Claire one, I think you may have to."

"Oh my God," I laughed out.

Liam walked over and looked at his dad before looking to his mother, who was chatting with the vampires, then looked back to us. "Dammit, really dad?"

"Come on Liam, live a little!" Lander said while throwing his hands up, spilling some of his beer in the process.

"Dammit, someone get him a sippy cup!" Levi grumbled out before something clicked in his brain. He looked around for a few moments before he spotted a gamma coming back from delivering a few cases of beer to the bar. "Hey you, come here boy."

"Yes Alpha Thorne?" the gamma asked with wide eyes that looked down at the ground.

"What's your name son?"

"Foster," he replied.

"Well Foster," Levi said, letting the gamma flicker his wide eyes up. "You guys got any of those sippy cups in the pack house?"

Foster nodded quickly. "I mean, they are mostly for little kids, but yes Alpha we have them."

"Good," Levi said. "I want you to go get a couple and bring them here. Alright?"

"Alright sir," Foster replied, his eyes a little confused, before he trotted off.

Ethan was fighting back a laugh while Lander glared at him. Levi just rolled his eyes. "You're going to be pissed if you ruin that shirt and Claire will be pissed if you spill on her."

Lander thought for a moment then nodded. "I think you may be onto something brother."

"Here ya go Liam." Evan handed him a brownie, looking over his shoulder at Evangeline who was chatting with Lyanna.

"What the hell is that?" Jaxon asked as he handed Andrea and I our wine.

"Pot brownies," Ethan replied.

Jaxon laughed as he pulled Andrea close to him. "Have fun with that man," he said into his beer.

Ethan grumbled a little. "Evan–"

"Ethan come on, I am a big boy! I can handle myself," Evan said while Liam gobbled the brownie down.

"Evangeline is going to kill you," Andrea chuckled out.

"Doubtful," Liam replied before his dad fist pounded him. "She likes my ass too much."

"I know the feeling," Jaxon said lowly into Andrea's ear.

I looked at Ethan who just shrugged innocently to me while Levi shook his head at Jaxon and Andrea. "If you two are just going to sit there and have a love fest, then take it the hell away from here. Some of us are trying to have a good time."

"Well, doesn't sound bad to me. Come on sweet thing," Jaxon said before he tugged Andrea away from us, who really didn't put up a fight. She just looked back and shrugged apologetically before she disappeared into the crowd.

"Come on girly," Levi said as he held out his hand to me. "Let's dance so I don't have to sit here and watch this brownie circle jerk anymore."

Ethan rolled his eyes then walked over to Derek and Barrett while I let Levi pull me onto the dance floor. He spun me around before he pulled me closer while other wolves joined us.

"Well girl, looks like you got yourself a pack now."

"Looks like it," I replied.

He shook his head at me. "You're something else Charlie girl."

"Ethan saw them, Levi, I can't believe he actually talked to them."

"I know," Levi breathed out. "He told me. Said Lucas was real proud of you."

I smiled and nodded. "I wonder why Lucas hasn't walked yet."

"Hasn't found his mate," Levi replied like it was the most normal thing ever. I raised a brow and he just laughed a little to himself. "It's why Eve hasn't, she's waiting for me. Remember what I told you about mates?"

I nodded. "They're your other half."

"That's right girly. Can't walk to the moon in half now can ya?"

I mused for a minute when it clicked. "How long will he wait?"

"Hard to say girl, but don't worry about Lucas. Sounds like he's got plenty to keep him busy up there. Although I can't wait to beat the ass of whoever thought he could put a mark on my Lydia's neck without consulting me."

"I think Eli did that already."

Levi shook his head. "While that does warm my heart girly, that ain't nothing like the ass beating I'll be giving him one day."

"They're happy Levi. Up there, sounds like they are all really happy."

He smiled and kissed my forehead. "As are we girl, we got a lot to be happy about right now."

"Can I cut in uncle?" Ethan asked.

Levi kissed my cheek then looked back at Ladner who was drinking his beer out of an elephant sippy cup next to Liam who had a butterfly sippy cup. Levi groaned then nodded. "Better go make sure my brother doesn't fall over his damn ass."

Ethan chuckled and pulled me to him; I rested my head against his chest and wound my arms around his neck while he let his thumb mindlessly rub the skin on my lower back.

I looked around to see the people we loved and cared about dancing, laughing, drinking, and enjoying themselves. For the first time in a while, I felt like we could let a little loose.

"You look very beautiful tonight sunshine," Ethan murmured against my hair.

"You don't look so bad yourself," I replied as he kissed my temple.

"I was going to try and sneak us away upstairs, but I think Jaxon and Andrea already stole my idea."

"What?!" I gasped out. "Oh hell no! They better not be doing it in your office! I will have her ass–"

"Sunshine," Ethan chuckled out. "It's fine baby, I don't think they even made it to an office."

I rolled my eyes and looked over at Evan who was laughing hard with Lyanna pulled tight against him. "Your brother..."

Ethan chuckled and nodded his head. "At least they aren't puking, well, yet at least. I do like the sippy cups though," he added as Evan raised his sunflower sip cup to us with a goofy smile.

I shook my head and kissed the skin below Ethan's ear. "I love you."

"I love you too baby," he murmured back before he kissed me not-so-chastely.

"Alpha," a warrior rushed out. His eyes were wide as he looked at both of us, nervous energy dripping off of him.

Ethan flickered his eyes to me then back to the warrior. "What's wrong Max?"

"Sir I need you to come with us," he whispered.

"Why?" I asked slowly.

Max looked at me then back at Ethan. "It's the prisoners, something happened."

"Shit," Ethan hissed. He looked around at the pack members celebrating then back to Max. "How many know?"

"Just me and two other's on guard."

"Good," Ethan replied quickly. "Keep it that way? I don't want this getting out, there's no need to spook the pack. Do you understand?"

"Yes Alpha," he replied.

"Where?" Ethan asked.

"In our cells sir, I can take you?"

"Levi?"

"Yap?

"I need you to come with us," Ethan said, he was calm but I could hear the anxiousness of his wolf coming out.

"What's wrong Ethan?"

"Something happened with the prisoners, I need you to grab Lander and come with me."

"Shit," Levi hissed out. "Alright, Evan's on his way with Jake to you."

"Take us," Ethan stated back to Max.

"Brother?" Evan said from next to me, his eyes a little red but slowly they were starting to sober up as the situation started to sink in.

"We don't know anything Evan, not yet," Ethan replied.

"Take us, Max," Evan added.

Max nodded then began to lead us as casually as he could through the crowd. We walked a ways away from the party and down a tiny path that led to a small cinderblock building, almost like a small little hut..

"What are you thinking Ev?" Jake asked before he took a sip of beer out of his sippy cup in the shape of a puppy.

"I don't know," Evan replied, tension lacing his voice before he flickered his eyes to Ethan.

Ethan pulled me tighter against him as we got closer to the building. Max opened a door then stepped aside for us to go through. It was a plain room, four walls of cinderblock with a metal door on the concrete floor.

Evan walked forward and pulled the door up then nodded to Ethan. I looked down the hole, lit up by flashlights that illuminated the metal ladder that led down to another concrete floor. "What is this place?"

"A place where not even the moon can find you," Jake replied with ominous eyes.

I shivered while Ethan started to climb down. He looked back up at me sympathetically. "You don't have to come sunshine."

"Yes I do," I replied back. I was their Luna, I wasn't going to let Ethan climb down into the darkness by himself.

I started to climb down the ladder before Jake followed. Ethan jumped down to the ground then held his arms out for me. I let go of the ladder and let myself fall into his embrace.

He set me on my feet then kissed my forehead. "Stay close to me."

"Ok." I nodded to him as Jake and Evan jumped down next to us.

It was a long tunnel, a long concrete tunnel; it made me think of sewer tunnels that you would see in different detective movies.The tunnel was dimly lit with these industrial lamps that started to cast a light over bars. Bars that were the doors to cells. Cells that were all empty as we walked past them.

The warriors standing at the end stood up straighter and dipped their heads to us.

"Alpha," the leader said as he nodded at Ethan. "Luna," he created me with another respectful nod.

"What's going on?" Ethan asked.

I could feel Levi, Lander, and David walking to us. Levi's wolf was shaking out his fur, which only made mine a little more anxious.

"Alpha, they–"

"They what?" Evan asked.

The blonde warrior with big brown eyes shuddered a little as Levi, Lander, and David came to stand with us. "They, well, they hung themselves, Beta Everette."

"What!?" Ethan roared out.

He tore past us and marched down to the end of the cells. His eyes looked at the one on his left, where he stood still for a moment while hot breaths came out of his mouth.

I ran to him and looked to see where his gaze had landed. "Oh my God," I gasped, my hands coming to my mouth as I watched Emmett swing from side to side lifelessly from a rope that was once around his hands and feet.

I whipped around and saw Lucy and Larissa had done the same. Both of the females were swaying like they were in a soft breeze from the ropes that once bound their hands and feet; makeshift nooses that they used to end their own lives.

Ethan shook violently next to me, letting out sharp breaths he was battling to control his beast, as was I. We lost the best leads we had. I felt my wolf move under my skin as she growled out in anger, I rubbed my face then looked back up at Ethan who was staring furiously at Emmett's swinging body.

"Hold on, where's Tate?" Jaked asked.

Ethan looked to me and growled out furiously. "Goddammit!"

"Dammit!" Levi growled out as he looked at Lucy swinging in her cell.

"Alpha!"

"Drew what is it?"

"Sir there's a fire at Thomas' old cabin, and we think another at your gran–Emmett and Lucy's."

Ethan's blood cracked like a bull whip before a growl of outrage echoed through the cells. He looked at me with a mix of anger, fear, and mild panic.

"Come on sunshine," he whispered hotly to me, taking my hand and half jogging with me out of the cells.

"Ethan?!" Levi yelled out.

"There's a fire at Thomas' and Emmett's!" I called back, only to cause Levi and Evan to erupt in ferocious growls.

"Ryder! How the hell did anyone get across the line!?" Ethan growled out.

"There's no way Ethan, this was an inside job," he replied, his voice slowly starting to sober with the gravity of the situation.

"Shit," Ethan hissed.

"Jake!"

"Alpha?"

"I want the pack back in their cabins now. Have the warriors start seeing people home and I want the other half combing through every goddamn leaf for Tate and any other suspects!"

"Already on it. We have the pack members clearing out fast and I have men sweeping every inch. We've also got gammas helping us try to contain the fires as well. I'll get men on Tate now."

"Good," I breathed out as Ethan and I climbed quickly out of the cells. "Billy, how are the borders?"

"Fine, there's no movement Char."

"Any more rocks? Are there any new lines of rocks?"

"No Char, I've had the guys checking," Billy replied as calmly as he could.

"I want more patrols on every inch of the border now. If Tate tries to so much as look at it I want us to know," Ethan ordered, his voice tight; it was like it was the lid to a soda bottle that was shaken up too much, pressure trying to fight its way out of the bottle.

"What do we do Ethan?"

He pulled me out of the building with Evan and Levi hot on our trail. His wolf was pacing back and forth, almost frantic in nature. "We need to make sure the borders are safe then focus on finding these bastards."

"Do you think Tate helped Emmet and the others, you know?"

"I don't know Char," he replied, shaking his head before he tugged at his hair with his hands.

I pulled one of his hands to my own and linked our fingers together. "Hey, we'll figure this out. Ok?"

He nodded. Levi jogged up to us and sniffed the air. "Smells like it's starting to be put out, what do you need Ethan."

"We need to find Tate and any other bastards that helped him," Ethan growled out.

Levi looked at Lander who was rubbing his face, still droopy from the brownies. He growled out, annoyed, to say the least. "You just had to get high as a damn kite tonight, didn't you?" Lander shrugged and took a sip of beer out of his sippy cup, eyeing Levi apologetically. Levi growled again and looked over to Lander and Evan. "You two go home now. David's coming. Lander I can't have you running around like this."

"Brother–"

"Lander do not argue with me. I can't focus if I'm worried about your high ass."

Lander sighed defeatedly and nodded. Ethan looked to Evan and gave him an apologetic nod. "You too Ev."

"Ethan–"

"Evan do not argue with me. Levi's right, I can't focus if I'm worried about you and Lyanna. Get her and Evangeline and get them back to your cabin. I'll find you after, ok?"

"Fine," Evan groaned.

"Justin's coming for you two, he'll see you home," Ethan added.

Lander nodded to Ethan who pulled Evan with him towards Justin who was running to us. Levi cracked his neck as we approached the pack house where David, Billy, Jaxon, and Andrea were waiting.

"David!" Levi called out. "You're with me."

"What kind of hell are we raising Levi?" David asked with a sly smile.

Levi rubbed his hands together. "Bout time we went hunting. Let's get some of these warriors and have ourselves a real party."

David nodded deeply in approval. "Sounds like a good time. I've got extra warriors of ours and Bowie coming back, he just ran the permiter of the house."

"Perfect," Levi replied. He looked over at me and kissed my hair quickly. "See you two in a little while."

Ethan dipped his head then looked back at Jaxon and Andrea, who were both still flushed, while Caden finished off his beer. "What do you need Ethan?" Jaxon asked.

"I need our borders safe and we need to find these bastards."

"What happened at the cells?" Andrea asked.

"They killed themselves," I breathed out. Andrea gasped in horror while Jaxon and Caden both growled lowly.

"Alright," Jaxon breathed out. "We can comb the borders. We need to check ours anyways."

"Thanks," Ethan added. "I'm going to see about the fires, Billy?"

"I'm with you Ethan," Billy replied.

"I'll go make sure the pack's getting locked up," I added. "Andrea?"

Andrea nodded. "Let's take some of the other females that aren't high off their asses, it will go quicker."

"Take some warriors with you, I don't want you two by yourselves," Ethan added.

"We'll take Murphy," I replied before kissing the corner of his mouth.

"I can go with them too, Ethan," Caden said with a firm nod.

"Ok, let's meet back at the pack house in an hour? Keep the links open."

"Be safe," I murmured to him, kissing him quickly while he let out a tense breath.

He nodded then kissed me again. "See you soon sunshine."