I'm here for you. Always. Connor's voice filtered through my mind as if he had spoken aloud. I smiled at him and when he returned the smile, I knew he always would be.
Bryn waddled to our group, a protective hand on her rounded stomach. “And what happened here?”
“Well, I went to Aylin's house and noticed a smell. I was searching the inside when Mitch pulled me out right before the whole thing blew up.”
Connor continued to recount how the destruction became, but I was so glad he didn't mention the poison we fought. I was too raw to share those details yet, especially in front of everyone.
“... and then we found Luna and Aylin and here we are.”
This close together, the relationship between the sisters was startling. Bryn and Luna's similarities were as strong as their differences. Both women were short and had small frames, but where Bryn had dark hair and green eyes with tan skin, Luna had pale skin with platinum hair and silvery-white eyes.
“Aylin, I'm sorry,” Liam said. “If you need anything, please let me know. Maybe you should take a few days off duty to get things in order.”
“Thanks, but no. I need to work.” Work would keep my mind off certain things. I looked at Connor, who eyed me like a buffet. Yes, I needed to keep busy.
“You can stay with me until we find you a place or rebuild,” Drew offered.
Connor frowned. “No, she's staying with me.”
Mack smiled. “She could stay with me.”
“Fuck, no!” Connor and Drew said at the same time.
I felt like I was in the twilight zone. Months ago, I was a loner, and now, I had more than one person willing to spot me a place to live. “Thanks, guys, but I think I'll stay with Connor until I make other arrangements.”
Or you can just stay with me forever. Connor spoke through our bond.
Behave. I need to ease Drew into this. I needed to ease me into this.
At my proclamation, Connor placed a hand over my shoulder. “Sounds excellent.”
Drew growled. I eyed him, begging for understanding. No one would be perfect for his big sis, but he was being a little controlling.
“Great and if that changes, you just let someone know.” Liam's voice broke the tension rolling through the crowd. “In the meantime, Mack discovered someone has violated the law for pack members about visitors on pack land. Aylin, you know no outsiders. Period.” Liam turned his alpha gaze to Luna.
“Yes, Aylin has knowingly harbored an outsider, which directly opposes your sanction of no outsiders,” Mack confirmed.
“Well, Mack. No point in beating around the bush,” I said.
“Aylin,” Liam snarled.
A weaker woman would have backed down. She would have bowed to the alpha. I was never weak. “Liam, for goodness sake.”
Mack choked on his own spittle. Bryn laughed, and Luna practically shook with fear. No one was supposed to backtalk the alpha. I just didn't care at the moment.
“If I find out you had anything to do with this, I'll kill you myself.” Drew pointed to Luna and practically shouted. He was obviously on Mack's side in this little dilemma.
“And who is she?” Bryn tilted her head and looked at Luna, but had remained quiet during Drew's outburst. Liam must have sensed some type of turmoil, because he approached Bryn and placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Drew,” I scolded. “She's a friend.” Not exactly a lie.
“Aylin, why are you skirting around answering who this young lady is and why did you break a direct order?” Liam stepped forward, making direct eye contact.
I lowered my head in submission.
“Honey.” Bryn placed a hand on his forearm. “Obviously, she's someone important to Aylin.”
I looked from Luna back to the group. “No, not really. I just met her yesterday.”
“Babe, you're not helping your case.” Connor chuckled. “Just spit it out.”
“Fine.” I looked Bryn in the eyes. “Bryn, meet your sister, Luna.”
Bryn's hand flew to her chest and her head snapped back as if she had been physically slapped. “Whose sister?”
“Yours.”
“Mine? I don't have any siblings. My mom was in captivity for years.” She studied Luna more intently.
“But your dad wasn't. Apparently, he was quite the charmer.” I stepped closer. “I'm sorry, Bryn, but she's Gabriel's daughter.”
“And you trust her?” Liam’s tone deepened and a vein in his neck pulsed.
“I do. Bryn's Gabriel's daughter. Do you trust her?” I asked.
“I don't want to cause trouble, but I needed help.” Luna's voice was barely above a whisper. “Uncle Mitch thought this was the best solution.”
“Uncle Mitch?” Bryn asked. “He never mentioned a niece before.”
“My identity has been kept a secret until six months ago when weird things started happening. I was transported to different planes and held for hours, days, or weeks on end in a dream-like state. I reached out to Nadia, my godmother, and she told me of Gabriel and my uncle Mitch. He came and took me away.”
“Do you have those dreams now?” Drew asked.
“I haven't had one since Nadia placed a protection spell around me.” Luna grabbed her necklace, gripping it tight.
“Nadia's crazy.” I circled my finger beside my head, indicating how slushy I believed her brain matter to be. “I don't think you can trust her or Mitch.”
“We can't have new members joining the pack.” Mack flexed his muscles and stepped closer to Aylin. Defiance oozed from his pores. “It places us all at risk.”
“Agreed,” Drew added, stepping in front of me and Connor. “But that's Liam's call now.”
“She's family.” Bryn placed one hand on her stomach and the other on Liam's hand. “Family.”
“Listen, I agree about anyone else, but I have read Luna. She has no impurities, no evil intentions.” I recalled the night I met her outside of Connor's cabin. She had allowed me to read her with no hesitation. Then, she guided me in saving Connor and helped me fight the poisonous tendrils. I trusted her.
“I agree with Aylin.” Bryn opened her arms wide for a hug. Luna hesitated, but accepted the embrace. “I was a victim of those
