Amari stood at the gate of the largest Victorian home on the block. The large fenced in yard, included a tree with a wooden swing. Wistfully, she wished for the simple times she spent swinging in the shade. Benjamin would sit leaned on the tree with a book. They spent hours thinking of the future. The future formed far from the dreams of youthful ignorance.

  Amari lifted the large brass knocker and clapped it three times. Stepping back, she eyed the porch swing and the nights the porch light flashed. She startled as the door opened.

  “Amari, dear!” Joyce Morningstar stepped out her historic front door, opening her arms. “Does Benji know you are back?”

  Amari tried to suppress her amusement. After a light hug, she pulled back. “He didn’t tell you? I ran into him last week Mrs. Morningstar.”

  “That little stinker, he failed to mention that. I am going to have to scold him.” Joyce playfully shook her finger. A faint fade to her smile, she looked down the herringbone brick walk. “Hello, Beta Rema, nice to see you again.”

  “Mrs. Morningstar.” Rema nodded respectfully, climbing the stairs to the ample front porch.

  “Well if you both are here, I am assuming this is not a social call?” Joyce stepped aside.

  They entered into an immaculately furnished entry. Carpet rods shone over the ornately patterned carpet up the center of the split staircase. An updated portrait hung on display in a gilded frame. Amari stared up at Benjamin, center between his parents, a perfect blend of their traits. While to his left his brother shared their mother’s smile and to his right his sister had the same eyes as their father.

  Looking around, Amari found nothing else changed. She sighed. “No. We were hoping to speak to your husband about the Packless that took up temporary residence on your lands.”

  “Oh.” Joyce’s shoulders subtly dropped as she led them into the front sitting room. “I heard a little about that. Please, come sit down. I will send Oscar to fetch Mitchell.”

  “Thank you.” Amari swallowed. Everywhere she looked held memories. The giant fireplace stood as the backdrop to her senior prom and the last time she was in this room.

  “Would you like some tea, cookies?” Joyce didn’t wait for an answer, already motioning to the young lady. Sitting gracefully on the sky blue settee, an idea glinted in her eye. “Mrs. Huffman still is the best baker, I am sure she can whip up your favorite. Berger, right?”

  “Yes, still my favorite, but no thank you. Once we speak to Mr. Morningstar, I have to get home.” Amari shot Rema a look. Her sister smiled, fists bunched on the arms of the matching spoonback chair.

  “Rema would you like something?” Joyce’s light tone belied nothing.

  “No, ma’am.”

  “Very well.” Joyce rubbed her hands down her skirt. “How was up north?”

  “One of the best experiences of my life. I learned a lot.” Amari smiled. Old camaraderie with the older lady eased her tension. Joyce had been like a mama to her. “I will have to come back and we can catch up properly.”

  “I’d love that dear. Sometimes, I wish I had left the area.” Wistful Joyce turned hopeful “However, raising a family…and love, is quite an adventure.”

  Amari imperceptibly tilted her head back. Packs were notorious for gossip. Her first Mutare and she practically adopted the girl, people would talk. She scratched her brow, the less than subtle suggestion lay in the air.

  “Adventure is overrated.” Rema kept all but the slightest bite from her words.

  “You are a nature photographer, you gallivant around the world?” Joyce tilted her head.

  Perfectly timed interruption, Mitchell Morningstar rounded the corner, arms spread wide. “I heard we had company. Amari, good to have you back.”

  Amari stood in time to be wrapped in a heavy embrace. “Nice to see you, Alpha Morningstar.”

  “Beta Rema, welcome to our home. What can we do for you?” Mitchell grasped her hand, professionalism sliding into place.

  “We would like to know about the Packless on your land. Have you learned anything from them?” Rema held his gaze unflinchingly.

  “We just started that inquiry.” Mitchell opened a box on the carved stone mantle.

  “We understand.” Amari jumped in. “We have a vested interest, whatever you have so far would be helpful.”

  Oscar entered with a heavily laden footed silver tray. With practiced ease, he placed it on the coffee table between them. Appropriately neutral face, he asked if there was anything else before taking his leave.

  “I heard Amari, you took a liking to the new Mutare. That gladens my heart, perhaps you will stick around for longer. Is she going to join your ragtag pack?” The words muffled as Mitchell gripped an old pipe between his teeth.

  Rema leaned forward picking up the cup and saucer placed in front of her. Her eyes jumped up at the slight. A faint growl rumbled in her throat as she measured sugar.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Amari sat taller in her seat. “Regardless of what she chooses, I am planning on sticking around. I have no intention of forgoing my responsibility. I accepted the role from the council and I will fulfill it. We have scheduled all the appropriate meetings for her to explore her options as outlined by the council. Though to be transparent, Alpha Spesy has formally invited her to join our pack.”

  “Good, good.” Mitchell struck a match, drawing on his pipe to get it to light. “Benjamin mentioned her spunk, thought she would make a good fit over here.” Mitchell waved out the match before flicking it into the fireplace. “Ah, well I am glad to hear you are sticking around, perhaps you won’t be a stranger. We miss your lively energy. Benjamin has been such a mope.” Mitchell sat next to his wife. “I am sure you will do a fine job getting your girl…the girl settled. Regardless of where she ends up, as long as she has a place. We have far too many Packless running amuck. As you know, more than a few good pack members got scooped up in the commotion.”

  “They seemed pretty organized, like they were on a mission for someone?” Rema sat back in her chair.

  “A mission? That seems highly unlikely. The packless are vagabonds.” Mitchell previewed the selection on the tray. Lightly picking up a finger sandwich, he leaned back in his chair.

  “Yes, they split in opposite directions and covered their tracks.” Rema qualified.

  Amari watched both Morningstars for discomfort. Diana would be far better in this situation, but familiarity had its perks.

  “Skills that are easily developed to help keep you off the radar of pack patrols.” Mitchell brushed his fingers together.

  “The pair in the mines seemed to be more worried about who they reported to, than facing off against me.” Amari pressed. Tension bunched her shoulders. The Morningstars had to take these wolves seriously.

  “No offense my dear, but I heard it was you and Diana, hardly intimidating.” Mitchell chuckled.

  “The one I threatened while cutting off his air still seemed concerned.” Teeth clenched, Amari kept her face neutral. Being underestimated was routine, being a mama wolf was not.

  “Amari! You have changed.” Shock filled Joyce’s face.

  “It seems she has my dear.” Mitchell blew smoke towards the ceiling. “Perhaps they are an unsanctioned pack? Possibly they have an alpha of their own?”

  “My, that would be something!” Joyce placed her fingers to her chest. “I never heard of Packless banding together, the whole reason they are packless is because they didn’t want the rules or to be under an Alpha’s authority. I will update my investigators of the possibility.”

  “Thank you. Another curiosity…” Amari looked between Mitchell and Joyce. Choosing her next words carefully, she watched their reaction. “A minotaur attacked us in the mines.”

  “A Minotaur?” Mitchell skeptically asked.

  “Us?” Joyce chimed at the same time as she turned slightly away from her husband. “Was Benjamin with you?”

  “Benjamin is fine dear, but he didn’t mention the minotaur.” Mitchell’s cheek flinched.

  “He is fine. He handled the Packless while my sister, Diana and I along with-” The unease of her wolf pacing within Amari, faltered her words. Neither Morningstar seemed to know much about Nova. “Others handled things. Benjamin mentioned you having a way to return the beast through the veil?”

  “Ah, yes we have a few contacts on that side of things that have helped when a few of our Fae brethren have crossed to our side.” Mitchell

  “That’s useful. How did you come across those elusive connections?” Rema pressed, taking a sip of her tea.

  “My family has been at this a lot longer than yours.” Mitchell leveled his voice. Years of navigating politics with the ease that privilege bought oozed from him. “It is our sworn duty to protect our world from less civilized Fae touched…and that is exactly what I plan to find out. So if you will excuse us.”

  “Thank you for your time.” Amari stood along with Rema.

  “You are welcome here anytime.” Joyce whispered in Amari’s ear as she held her.

  Amari nodded.

  Walking through the historic district, Amari enjoyed the beauty of the architecture. Proof that things could last. Beside her, Rema stared straight ahead, lost in thought. They had decided to walk to meet Elias at the council library.

  “You don’t like the Morningstars.” Amari blurted the thought.

  “I don’t, they hurt you.” Rema shrugged.

  “You didn’t like them before everything between me and Benjamin went down. Why?” Amari pressed. Just after the council announced her status to the packs, Benjamin had introduced himself. Throughout high school, she thought him standoffish and rude. When she found out he belonged to a world apart from humans, it made sense. As a teen, the wealthy, handsome popular boy paying attention to her swept her off her feet. Her older siblings’ hesitance was the only thing that held falling completely at bay.

  “I am not sure you would understand.” Rema slowed her steps.

  “Did they hurt you? Orion?” Amari’s voice filled with understated ire.

  “I am grateful they had a group home we could live in, but it came at a cost. We grew up in this world, and there were… expectations when we chose to fully transform.” Rema talked with her hands. “When we aged out and went our own way. Let’s just say there were some choice words.”

  “I am still surprised I lived across the hall from you, but I never knew you and Orion were Mutares.” Chagrin evident in her voice.

  “Why would anyone suspect? The humans think we are makebelieve. That werewolves only exist in movies, bad movies at that.” Rema rolled her eyes.

  “Still. To say I was shocked when you and Orion showed up that night and told me what was going to happen is an understatement.”

  The cool fall night was still clear in her memory after all these years. Skittish energy had filled her as the bite that tore open her skin had melted away. She had been apprehensive in accepting an invitation out to the woods after the attack, but Orion had saved her.

  Learning the truth changed everything, she finally belonged somewhere. There were people that cared enough to know who she was and what she did.

  “I am sorry. You were the first human Mutare I encountered. I am sure we blundered it something fierce.” Rema chewed on her lip.

  “Becoming family made it easier.” Amari knocked her shoulder into Rema’s.

  “Best thing we ever did.” Rema playfully shoved her back.

  “So you rejected the Morningstar Pack, and created your own. Why did you let me date Benjamin then?” Amari questioned.

  “It was your choice. Had things not gone the way they did, I would have sat you down and told you the whole story. If I have information that I think would impact your choice, I will never hold it back from you.” Rema paused, pulling on Amari’s arm. “Now do I need to tell you the whole story?”

  “Nothing is happening between Benjamin and I, though if you ever want to tell me anything.” Amari leaned her head down. “I am here for you always.”