“Roman, I need you to listen,” Dad begun, and Mom cut him off.

  “The two of you are too much alike. Let me, dear.” Mom smiled sweetly at Dad, but the two of us knew better. Mom was a control freak. If she wanted to lead the conversation, it was safest to let her do just that.

  Dad waved his hand out and took a step back as Mom leaned over my desk, hands curling around the wooden edge and her gaze leveling on me. “Son.”

  “Mother.”

  “Embry came to us with suspicions about Cait. We’ve been trying to reach you. Before you go on a tangent, how about you tell us what happened? Calmly.”

  So that was her name. Cait. My wolf rumbled. He liked it.

  I took a few deep breaths and dropped into my desk chair. Once I did that, my parents both sat as well. I explained what happened on the fae island and then in Australia while leaving the part out about my wolf calling Cait “mate”.

  “By the time I’d made it to the airplane, my phone was dead. I didn’t have time to grab a new charger after accidentally leaving mine in my checked bag. What did Embry have to say?” I asked.

  They shared a look I didn’t like, and it was Dad who spoke next. “What do you remember about the Moon Goddess?”

  “Seriously?” I deadpanned.

  “Yes, Son. Seriously.”

  “She’s our creator, born from the magic of the moon. Her first child was the first wolf shifter, bound to his wolf form during every new moon until he gained control over the beast within. Which was the only rule the goddess had in regard to the gift she passed along to her children.”

  My mother nodded. “Correct. What about her chosen children? The ones not directly descended from her?”

  “The Marked? Not much. Why?” I asked. It was never a big focus in our learnings growing up.

  “Our history books tell of a being called the Luna Marked. A child of the Moon Goddess who is neither wolf nor human, but is bound to the pack life,” Dad answered.

  They had to be shitting me. “Are you trying to say that this woman is Luna Marked?”

  “We are. She showed Embry the mark, and you know Embry’s memory. She recognized it right away. She didn’t know that you were the wolf Cait had a run-in with, and she’d ordered Cait here straight away,” Mom said.

  “Why?” I managed the singular word through my rising anger, hoping they understood what I wanted to know.

  “Apparently, Embry and Cait have been online friends for a few years now. Embry has always thought fondly of the human girl and enjoyed their chats,” Mom answered again.

  “Son, why does Cait’s presence bother you so much?” Dad asked.

  I shook my head. I couldn’t say the words. I didn’t believe what they were saying. None of this was right. I was the pack alpha. I needed a strong alpha female at my side. Not some watered-down version that had no clue about our lifestyle. The other females would tear her to bits.

  “What happened with her?” Mom asked when I didn’t answer Dad.

  Tell them, my wolf finally chimed in. He’d been a quiet bastard since Cait walked away from us. I’d asked him a million questions and received little in reply. All he wanted was to get home.

  Did you know she was coming here? I asked my wolf.

  No, but I hoped, and you should be more grateful we don’t have to search for her any longer.

  Damn him. He likely knew about the Luna Marked stuff as well and withheld it on purpose. Wolf spirits were granted to shifters when they were born. Mine had lived two lives before joining me and had never found his mate. Fate was a bitch sometimes.

  “My wolf thinks Cait is our mate, but he’s wrong, right?” I asked them both.

  As their heads turned toward one another, I slammed both of my fists down on the desk. “She can’t be mine.”

  My voice broke at the end. My life had been hell the last couple of years. First with Dad’s injuries, then the death challenge, and the pressure from the elders to choose any alpha female if I couldn’t find my true mate. I couldn’t bring this woman to them. She was not my equal, and it wasn’t fair to her. There were expectations of me that someone like her wouldn’t handle well.

  “Son, I know you see only problems here, but I encourage you to read up on the Luna Marked. I sense your fear, and I believe it’s misplaced. From what Embry has told us, Cait is a strong girl. I know this isn’t ideal, but I also know finding your true mate is a blessing,” Dad said, his words not at all calming me.

  Your father is right, and you know it. You’re just scared, my wolf added.

  Not for the reasons you think.

  “She knows nothing about wolves or the pack life,” I said calmly, trying to remove my emotions from the conversation.

  “She can learn. I’ll teach her myself if needed,” Mom replied.

  No, we will teach our mate. It’s our job, my wolf demanded, but I ignored him.

  “Outside of our new arrival, the pack is safe?” I asked, and they each nodded. “I need time. I don’t know how much, but don’t expect me back for dinner.”

  I stood from my chair and they did the same. I hugged my parents tight. While the situation was the biggest shock of my life and I still had plenty more questions, I needed to shift. I needed to run. I needed to howl at the moon. Most importantly, I needed to do all of that alone.

  “She’ll be safe with Embry for now,” Mom said as I pulled away.

  My chest constricted. Did I care if the woman was safe? I did, and I couldn’t deny it. At least, not to myself. Even though I’d denied the fact she could really be my mate and believed the work of a witch was at play, my wolf was powerful enough that I couldn’t ignore his thoughts and feelings.

  He saw things in black and white. There wasn’t an in-between for him. He knew she was ours, and when I allowed myself to see it that way, I knew what I had to do—even if I didn’t like it.

  Once I had some time to clear my thoughts, I’d have to accept the curveball thrown at me. I’d have to find a way to make things work. Never mind that Cait didn’t have a wolf. If she was really mine, the woman would be cherished and protected for all of her days.

  But how many days would we get with her? Wolves lived long lives. A human couldn’t live five hundred years, not even one hundred for most of them.

  She’s not human, my wolf reminded me, but it didn’t mean anything.

  I was ready to shift and disappear for a while.

  Maybe when I got back, all of this would make a little more sense.

  Wishful thinking on my part, I was sure.

  4

  Cait

  Embry led me down one of the dirt trails I’d seen on the drive in. She refused to answer any of my questions until we were at her place, and I was about ready to throw a rock at the back of her head.

  Roman. That was the name I’d heard the older man call the guy from Australia, but giving him a name didn’t make the situation any less weird. Something was happening, and whatever it was, it affected me. My mind was reeling with possibilities, but all of them were too wild to be true. Years of reading had done that to me.

  We arrived at a small navy-blue A-frame house with large windows and a single wooden door. There was a sign above the entry that said, “Knock before noon and see what happens.” I snorted at the words because they were very much Embry.

  Inside was an open floorplan. I could see a bedroom down the short hallway, a bathroom next to that, and to my left was a modernized kitchen I’d seen glimpses of before. Though, our video chats hadn’t shown how clean everything was.

  There was a small pub table with three stools and a massive desk with three computer screens. “So, you really do have a marketing job?” I asked with a nod toward the home office setup.

  “Um, more like watching the financial market,” she replied while heading into the living room.

  A massive fireplace was the center focus of the home. In front of the hearth was a coffee-colored sectional couch that curved so every spot had a view of the stone mantle.

  “Have a seat. I’ll get us snacks, then we can talk,” she said and darted off before I could object.

  I wasn’t even close to hungry. I was tired and confused and so many other things I didn’t understand.

  Embry leaped over the couch, holding a tray of cheese, crackers, a bottle of wine, and two glasses. She landed on the couch gracefully and set the tray on the coffee table as if her movements were completely normal.

  “So, you probably have a lot of questions,” she began.

  “Probably? Pretty sure I’ve asked dozens and you’ve answered all of… none.”

  She rolled her eyes. “No reason to get an attitude, Cait. I’m on your team.”

  “And what exactly does that mean? Who is Roman? What am I doing here? And what is here?” I asked the questions in rapid succession.

  “Ahh, the easy stuff. I’m glad we’re starting there. Let’s see, being on your team means no matter what Roman says, I have your back. You’re my guest, and I won’t let him kick you out. Roman is an alpha—like my boss. You’re here because something happened to you, and I didn’t know who you’d been interacting with. Not all of our kind are friendly, and I needed to know you were safe. Lastly, here is my home. Where I was born and where I will die. This is my pack.”

  None of those things made me feel any better. My palms were sweaty, and my knee bounced until Embry placed her hand over it.

  “I know it’s a lot and you have plenty more questions inside that head of yours that I intend to answer. I never wanted you to get wrapped up in my world. It’s not anything like yours—or what yours used to be—but I promise you, whatever is happening, I will protect you with my life. You’re my best friend, Cait,” Embry added.

  Holy hell. I couldn’t breathe.

  “What does that mean? How can your ‘world’ be any different than mine?” I asked in a panicked voice using air quotations.

  “There’s really no easy way to say it, but I know you can handle it. A small part of me has always wished for this day, but I hate that I have to do it like this.”

  “You’re rambling, Em. Get to the point before I lose my shit,” I said.

  “I’m a wolf shifter. This is my pack. Roman is our alpha. Everyone who lives here are wolf shifters, and I think that maybe you’re descended from one.” She spit the words out so fast, I was certain I didn’t hear her right.

  I laughed. The sound started soft, then grew in volume as her face turned from worried to downright frightened.

  Embry reached for my hand. “Are you okay?”

  “Am I okay? I should be asking you that. You think you’re a werewolf!”

  She shook her head. “No, not a werewolf. A wolf shifter. Werewolves are what humans used to call us when we were first created by the Moon Goddess, but we have more control over our wolves now.”

  There was no humor in her gaze as she held on to me, her blue eyes begging me to believe her.

  Embry’s fingers traced over the mark on my wrist. “This makes you one of us, but I don’t quite know how. I’ve spent the last sixteen hours since speaking with you trying to figure it out.”

  “You’re fucking kidding me, right? This is all some joke. None of it can be real,” I muttered as my energy began to wane.

  “Yes, this is all very real. Would you like me to shift to prove it?” she asked with a wicked grin.

  “Not a chance in hell.”

  “My wolf likes you. We had a bet on whether you’d cry or run screaming. Neither of us expected you to laugh,” Embry said.

  She had a bet…with a wolf? This was not getting any easier to wrap my head around. I glanced down at the mark and rubbed my thumb over it. The pulsing I’d grown used to already was dull at the moment, but the mark was warmer than the rest of my skin.

  Roman had asked me who my alpha was, but then he’d also said something about witch games. Holy shit. Witches?

  “Are…witches real, too?” I asked, and Embry nodded.

  I then wondered how many things I’d always somewhat-jokingly wished were real actually were. If wolf shifters and witches existed, then… No. Not everything could be. It didn’t make sense how that kind of thing could stay hidden from humans.

  I felt like an idiot for asking but couldn’t help myself. “What about vampires and fae and everything else?”

  She grinned. “I’m not sure what ‘everything else’ is, but most likely. There is more supernatural in this world than most imaginations can make up, but we’re not talking about that today. We’re talking about wolves. Do you have a voice inside your head?”

  “Not that I’m aware of. Am I supposed to?” I hoped not.

  “I don’t know. My mind is really good at remembering images, but words, not so much. It’s why I don’t like to read. I’ve seen that mark before, but none of us can find the history book in the pack library that speaks of it. Roman’s parents, Jack and Ramona, knew some about it, but not enough that I can really give you any answers.”

  “Why is Roman so angry with me?” I asked.

  She poured us both a glass of wine. “Roman has been through a lot. He’s only been our alpha for two years, and his time leading hasn’t been easy. He’s one of the younger alphas at only twenty-six, but he’s always been someone the pack admired, even as a child. I doubt he’s angry at you. He’s likely just upset about the situation. He likes to be in control. Given we don’t know anything about you, there is little to control.”

  Embry sat next to me, just the same as I’d always known her: lively, happy, and gorgeous. It was hard to believe the words she was saying. Given I wasn’t running out of the house screaming like she expected, I took that to mean shock had settled in, protecting my mind, and I’d be fine for the time being.

  During my travels, I thought I’d seen all of the wonders in the world. I’d been to Great Britain, Italy, Spain, Africa, and spots that didn’t even appear on the map. I’d spent time around creatures that could kill me, but a wolf had never been one of them.

  Looking at Embry, I was having a hard time believing she wasn’t human. She didn’t scare me. She didn’t remind me of an animal. She was just her.

  “Oh, my God. You let a wolf shifter pick me up from the airport!” I shouted the sudden realization.

  “And you impressed him, so good on you. Vaughn gave me his approval the moment he opened your door. That’s something he doesn’t give a lot of people, but I’d already known I’d chosen my best friend well,” she replied proudly.

  “Who is he?” I asked.

  “He’s the pack beta. Second only to Roman. He serves our people and would die for any one of them, but earning his respect is a totally different thing. You should be proud.”

  I snorted. “I should be proud of impressing a wolf shifter?”

  Embry turned to face me head-on and grabbed my forearms. “I know this is a lot. I also know none of this has really sunk in for you yet. At some point, likely soon, you’re going to realize everything I’ve said is true. You might think you believe it now, but a part of you still thinks this is a bad dream or a joke. Just promise me that you won’t run when it all sinks in. I meant it earlier. You’re my best friend, and having you here is something I never thought could happen. I won’t let anything take you away from me unless you truly don’t want to be here.”

  Her speech made me question everything again. Embry was normally carefree and joyous. It was why I enjoyed her friendship so much. She made the hurt from missing my mother dull to a more manageable level.

  Yet, even if all of this was real—a fact I was sure I couldn’t ever forget—did I really want to hang around and have wolves be part of my life? I could just as easily catch the next flight out of the country and continue on as I had the last few years.

  “Don’t think too hard on things yet. Give me a week. Let me show you this isn’t as bad as it may sound. Even if we don’t know what that mark is, nothing will happen to you here,” Embry said, full of confidence.

  She stood up and set our untouched glasses back on the table. “Come on. I want to show you my home.”

  “Eh, I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’d rather stay right here and ask more questions,” I said, leaning back into the couch.

  Embry laughed. “Fat chance, woman. Get your ass up. I asked for a week, and I’m going to use every hour of it.”

  “But I’m tired. Can’t I sleep for a while? I don’t even know what time it is,” I said, not lying. I knew if I had a comfortable bed, I’d be out within minutes.

  “It’s after three in the afternoon. You can’t sleep now, or the jetlag will only get worse. I’ll let you sleep after dinner. Now, come on.”

  She grabbed on to my hand and yanked me up from the couch with little effort. “You’re really strong,” I muttered.

  “Wolf perks. I wonder if you’ll get those. Accelerated healing, speed, increased appetite, stamina. All kinds of things humans could never dream of being capable of,” Embry said as we walked out her door.

  I ignored her, choosing to focus on our surroundings. I’d always thought Texas was a hot desert-type of state, but the area where Embry lived was green and lush, reminding me a lot of Oregon except the humidity was more extreme here.

  Embry started chatting about her favorite things to do when she wasn’t working, but she lost my attention as three wolves appeared in the clearing just beyond her house. Not normal-sized wolves. No, these ones were pushing four feet tall on all fours and built solid, not gangly like the only ones I’d ever seen.

  I stopped moving, taking backward steps to the house. I couldn’t do this. Seeing them was too much. Knowing my best friend turned into one was mind-blowing. I needed to get out of there.

  “Cait?” Embry turned back to me, then followed my stare. “They’re friendly. We have around three hundred wolves in our territory. Though, a lot of them don’t live in this pack. There are smaller pockets Roman is also in charge of over the eastside of Texas. You won’t find trouble with any of them, as I’ve already said.”