"Hakuna Matata, babe. You’ll take it on Monday," Princess said, trying to calm Faye after she panicked about missing her exams. She reached out, her fingers gently catching Faye’s shaking hand to pull her back down against the mattress.

"I wouldn’t be worried if the principal didn’t act like she wanted to get rid of me one way or another." Faye pouted, her chest heaving with a sharp, anxious breath as she stared down at the glowing screen of her phone.

"Silviana is a nice lady. She’s not going to get rid of you, and she doesn’t even have the authority to do that. The school board handles expulsions. You’re going to take the exam on Monday." Princess tried to reassure Faye that the principal meant no harm, even though Faye believed otherwise. She spoke softly, her thumb rubbing soothing circles over the back of Faye’s knuckles to stop her from vibrating with stress.

Faye said nothing more. Princess was clearly defending the principal, and arguing about it now wasn’t going to turn back the clock anyway.

The two girls took a hot shower together, lingering longer than they normally would.

Finally, they decided to call it a day and go home to their pups.

They were at the reception desk with Princess checking out when she spotted her brother, Adam, approaching them. He walked across the polished marble floor with a slow, arrogant stride, his expensive leather shoes clicking loudly against the ground as he narrowed his eyes at the two girls.

"Look who just happened to be in my hotel today," Adam said. He stopped right beside the high counter, a smug, annoying grin spreading across his face as he tucked his hands into his tailored trouser pockets.

"Hello, Brother," Princess replied before walking past him with Faye, who was giving him an intense look of pure dislike.

"Are you coming to our grandfather’s sixtieth birthday?" Adam asked. He turned on his heel, his voice rising just enough to cut through the quiet lobby atmosphere as he stared at his sister’s back.

"No. I didn’t receive an invitation." Princess stopped, her voice turning completely flat as she spoke over her shoulder....

"Really? You should check your email. I sent you one." Adam shrugged, his tone dripping with fake innocence as he took a step closer to them.

"I didn’t see it. Maybe I intentionally marked your email address as spam. That must be the reason," Princess replied with a completely expressionless face.

Adam looked offended by her tone, but he let it slide. He cleared his throat, his chest rising with a sharp breath as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his gaze flickering over to the other girl.

He was becoming increasingly uncomfortable under Faye’s cold stare. Faye hadn’t blinked once, her eyes burning holes straight into his forehead, her wolf pacing dangerously behind her ribs as she sized him up.

"He invited you and... your supposed fling, or whatever you call your relationship with her." Adam muttered, waving his hand vaguely in Faye’s direction with a nasty little smirk.

"Faye Grande is my girlfriend," Princess corrected him. Her voice dropped into a low, gravelly vibration that sent a clear warning through the open space between them.

"You can call it whatever you like. The two of you are expected to attend the birthday celebration." Adam snapped, his own alpha pride flaring up as he tried to regain control of the conversation.

"We’re not coming. We already have family plans that day," Princess said. She didn’t hesitate for a single second, her posture going completely rigid as she shut down the demand.

"We do?" Faye whispered, confused because they had never discussed any plans.

Princess squeezed her girlfriend’s hand and looked at her. Her eyes gave a quick, meaningful flash, telling her to just ride along with the lie.

"Yes, we do. Remember? A family picnic."

Faye caught on immediately. She let out a short breath, her jaw tightening as she turned her fierce gaze back onto Adam, her attitude rising in an instant.

"Yes, that’s right. We do have a family picnic. And even if we didn’t, we still wouldn’t come to your so-called grandfather’s birthday, whatever age he’s celebrating. You people are awful." Faye spoke her mind without bothering to make excuses.

Princess lowered her head. She let out a soft groan under her breath, her hand rubbing her temple for a split second. She had wanted Faye to simply play along, but she had gone a step further, completely tossing diplomacy out the window.

"Did you just call my grandfather awful? He is Alpha Kings, the leader of this city," Adam said, defending his grandfather. His face turned a bit red, his fists clenching at his sides as his breathing turned shallow and fast.

"He doesn’t act like a leader to me. I’ve only heard about him, but I’ve never actually seen him. I’m starting to think he might be a myth. He claims to love his pack, yet he stays hidden while giving unreasonable orders. That’s no Alpha." Faye spat out the words, her chest heaving with every sentence as she stepped forward, completely unbothered by the name or the title.

Now Adam was genuinely offended. A low growl rattled in his throat, his alpha energy pulsing outward as he took a hard step toward her.

"You’re disrespecting Alpha Kings. How dare you utter those words in my presence?"

He stepped toward Faye, but Princess, who was still holding her hand, pulled Faye behind her and stood between them.

"So you’re in favor of what she’s saying? It’s a good thing you’re not married to her. She’ll never be part of our family," Adam said. He sneered, looking over Princess’s shoulder to try and catch a glimpse of the omega.

"I’m not part of the family anymore, so what’s the point of saying that? She is part of my family... Best wishes to Gramps." Princess ended the conversation.

People had already begun gathering to watch the confrontation. A few hotel guests and bellhops were staring from the lounge area, their eyes wide as they watched the two high profile alphas square off near the entrance.

Without another word, Princess took her property by the hand and walked out of the hotel.

"Faye, you really need to know when to speak. You shouldn’t have said those things to him. He doesn’t know how to control his anger," Princess said as she helped Faye buckle her seatbelt before fastening her own.

"What was the point of making up a plan when you could’ve just told him, ’No, I’m not coming because I don’t want to’?" Faye muttered, crossing her arms tightly over her chest as the engine roared to life under them.

"Don’t ever talk to him when you’re alone, alright? Adam likes to act powerful whenever no one else is around." Princess said, her eyes fixed on the rearview mirror as she backed out of the parking slot and hit the main road.

"Do you hate your grandfather?" Faye asked. She turned her head toward the driver’s seat, her eyes watching the way Princess’s fingers gripped the steering wheel.

"I don’t know. It’s not that he hates me. I just don’t like the way he raised people." Princess answered softly, her shoulders dropping a bit as she let out a long breath against the windshield.

"Does he hate the Moon Wolf?"

Princess’s grip tightened, she kept her eyes glued to the road ahead, her breathing turning tight.

"I still don’t know... but don’t go around telling people what you are. My grandpa isn’t the only Alpha searching for the Moon Wolf."

"So how many people do you think want me dead?" Faye asked, her voice dropping into a flat, quiet tone.

"Please don’t say the word dead. It upsets me." Princess growled quietly, her heart giving a nervous flutter behind her ribs as she glanced at her girlfriend.

"Sorry, It’s just a question." Faye muttered, looking out the side window at the passing trees.

The two continued going back and forth until they arrived home...

Only to be greeted by the most shocking sight imaginable.