Fangborne wasn’t a pack filled with fanfare, or so I thought. Compared to Thunderstrike, there certainly weren’t any major fireworks or festivities that celebrated my coronation, but the wolves had dug into the reserves to bring out the best dishes they had to offer.

Barrels of alcohol had been upheaved from the cellars, lining the sprawling lawn with tables and kegs filled to the brim with food and beverages. Music blared from nearby speakers, and I wondered if the humans of Everhaven might be alerted to our pack’s location due to how much noise we were producing.

"What’s got you so bothered?"

An arm snaked around my waist, pulling me close until my back collided with a broad chest. Instantly, waves upon waves of comfort rolling through my body at the first waft of my mate’s scent. I instinctively leaned back into his hold, nuzzling against him.

"Won’t the humans hear us?" I asked. "Everhaven is still filled with hunters, isn’t it?"

Blaise leaned down and pressed a lingering kiss on my neck. My stomach fluttered at the sensation of his warm lips against my cold skin, shivering in delight. When he pulled away, my heart dropped a little in disappointment, something he caught onto all too easily. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

He chuckled, squeezing my waist just the slightest before spinning me around so that I now faced him.

"They’ve got more than enough on their hands now that their headquarters have fallen," Blaise said. "Most of the hunters have returned to Upper Lumen to take care of things after..."

He paused, and I smiled encouragingly.

"After my mother’s death?" I supplied.

Blaise pursed his lips into a thin line and nodded. "Yes," he said. "It’s not the last we’ve seen of them for sure, but from what I know, their agreement with the vampires have fallen through. On their own, they aren’t as much a threat."

They definitely weren’t. And now that they had left Everhaven’s borders, the town had returned to its former state. It had no other choice but to make amends with the surrounding packs in order to survive, especially now that the vampires were no longer barred from attacking them.

It was a little cruel, but after everything that had happened, Blaise made the decision of not accepting their apology. We didn’t need their food now that Hornstead was in alliance with us, and after winter ended, Fangborne would start to learn how to farm our own crops so that we needn’t depend on others for basic necessities.

"Where’s Damon?" I asked. Giving the sea of people a quick glance, I could not spot my mate among them. He was still with Blaise up until a minute ago, I was sure, but now, I couldn’t sense him in the area.

"Nicole called, said she might need some help at the infirmary," Blaise replied. "I think she might be making some progress with Kyle and needs Damon over to double check her findings. Either that, or do some damage control if things go wrong."

I nodded.

If things went well with Kyle, there might be a chance to bring Damon and Darach’s wolves back. Not only that, Fangborne would be the first to pioneer such a reversal― it could provide us with a huge advantage with the other surrounding packs.

While Fangborne was more than strong enough to take down any enemy packs that dared stood in our way, I would prefer not to go to war even though that was the norm in the past.

"Have you tried the crab cakes?" I asked, changing the topic. "They’re absolutely delicious. Jeeves really outdid himself this time."

"That’s what you say all the time," Blaise said with a laugh. However, he still leaned forward and took a bite out of the forkful of food I held out, chewing and nodding appreciatively. "He was chosen to cook for House Sirius for a reason."

"Ever thought of stealing him for House Regulus?" I teased. "Those staying there should be allowed a taste of his handiwork."

"What for?" Blaise said, waving the matter off. He swallowed the food and continued, "We’re all staying in Sirius now, there’s no need to move him over. Besides, Regulus has a pretty good chef too. The warriors there are still eating well."

That was true. Blaise was hardly ever in House Regulus anyway after I arrived at Fangborne, and now that we three’s lives were irrevocably tied together, there was no need for us to part. House Sirius was our home.

Call me a little selfish, but this was a perk I would like to keep.

"That’s perfectly fine," Blaise murmured, pressing a kiss to my forehead. I closed my eyes, relishing in the warmth he brought me. "You are now the Luna of the pack. You call the shots."

"Oh, do I really, Alpha?" I teased, taking a step closer. Whatever distance that was left between us was instantly closed. If I just went on my tiptoes, I could easily kiss Blaise― and those lips were more than tempting.

His gaze fluttered down over to my lips, and even without the link or bond, I could easily tell what was on his mind. We leaned in closer to each other, our breaths mingling and our lips just a mere hair’s breadth apart, only to pull back with a startle when a scream cut through the romantic atmosphere.

The scent of alcohol enveloped us as the kegs and barrels were knocked over. Even the tables of food had been cast all over the grassy plains as some fled away in horror, others stepping back with caution.

Our eyes scanned through the crowd of party goers, both of us instantly stiff with attention before quickling locating the source. A couple of people had frantically parted, making way for a huge brown wolf that was tottering from side to side as though it was drunk. It snarled, its gaze soaring through the crowd of people before it finally located me, causing the wolf to freeze.

Hairs began to stand all over my body, and I frowned. By my side, Blaise stiffened, shifting our stance so that he now stood between me and the wolf.

"Get to safety," he muttered, removing his jacket in preparation of shifting if the situation called for it. "I’m not sure how a rogue managed to get past border patrol, but if there’s one, there might be others with him―"

"Wait!" I said, placing my hand on Blaise to prevent Blaise from taking another step. He looked down at my hand and frowned in confusion.

"Harper―"

"That’s Kyle!"