To my surprise, I came home from class to find my younger cousin, Ariadne, following my father, and Beta Lucas (her father) around with a broken arm. Dad tried to mindlink me about it, but I could only feel the nudge and a general feeling of “roll with it.” Of course, I knew Ari was hurt in a recent rogue attack, and despite being young and only recently training, she did well. Dad and Beta were upset, both feeling the same fear as when Aunt Chrisanne was killed during an attack.  

Ari and I haven’t been close since we were much younger. When Olivia and Brad came to the pack, Lucas quickly fell in love and once they mated, Ariadne and Beta moved back to their small house with them. Brad was closer in age with me, and we became friends in school. From then, Ariadne seemed to step back, and close off. It had never occurred to me to ask why, but now, looking at her, I was wondering. I was also wondering if she was making a move to become Beta. Or was it something else?  

Our afternoon was fairly standard, Dad and Beta working through business stuff, answering my questions, and a few meetings with pack members. Around dinner time Beta excused himself to go home but told Ari to stay by my side. We both seemed taken aback by this but went forward unquestioning. Normally I’d take this break as time to get some exercise in, but Ariadne was still healing so instead, I just grabbed some water from the fridge, escaping the cook’s glare, and went out to the pool.  

I sat by the edge of the pool and took my time removing my socks and sneakers, and then rolling my jeans up to put my feet in the cool water. She stood still, behind me and to one side until I looked up and said, “So, this is new.” 

She stepped forward a bit and then sat beside me, drawing her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms loosely around them. Even folded up like this, she was tall, and rested her chin on her knees. “It’s not so bad.” She met my gaze and didn’t shy away like so many wolves. She is my cousin, tall like my father, her uncle, and dark eyes just like his. She idly reached back and pulled the scrunchie from her hair and fanned it out, creating a curtain around her back and shoulders.  

“It’s not,” I agreed. I looked up into the trees, finding the small patches of blue sky peeking through the leaves. “I am not holding your brother’s actions against you, if you’re worried about that...” 

She made a dismissive sound, “he’s not much of a brother. I am thankful you’ve sent him off.” I looked back at her, and she was fiddling with the edge of her cast. She glanced up, “Alpha, I...” 

I shook my head, “No, no, don’t start with that. I am not Alpha yet.” 

“But you will be. And Dad calls Alpha, Alpha.” 

“Meh,” I rolled my eyes to make my point. “That’s between them, this is us. You called me Junkie when we were little.” I grinned remembering her enthusiastic hugs and yelling out “Junkie! Junkie!” 

She blushed and looked down, tucking some hair behind one ear, “I can’t call you that!” 

“Nah, not now, but Jonny is fine.” I put on my brightest smile for her when she looked back up at me. 

“O-ok, Jonny.” She grinned back. “I honestly don’t know why I am here.” She looked away and down to her arm again. “I don’t know if I want to be Beta, if that’s even possible. I just know I want to protect this pack. I-i want to protect these families... and you.” The last part came out as a whisper. 

She took me by surprise with her direct statements, but also, I could feel her sincerity. I nodded thoughtfully, “We’ll figure it out.” I offered her one of the water bottles. “We have time.” 

Our few minutes of quiet spent in the sun were interrupted when a few girls from school came clamoring out to the pool, led by Cait. “Jonny!” she called out familiarly. Ari shifted closer to me and just looked up at her from between us. 

“Hey, Cait,” I returned her smile, with a little less enthusiasm, but as per usual, she didn’t react outwardly. 

“Emmaline said the pool was free. Are you busy?” She shifted to look at Ariadne who was stoically looking her in the eye. I could hear the whispers of her friends questioning why I was with Ari, why was she in a cast, etc.  

“Nah, you’re good,” I brushed off her concern. “Just no splashing.” Cait shook her head agreeing. Ari’s cast was a good excuse for my “no splashing” rule, but honestly, it’s because of the layers of makeup I use to cover the white patch of skin on my face. Like Evangeline, I am piebald. The brightness of my patch matches my mother’s ethereal pale skin tone, and the rest of me is a dark tan, matching my father’s.  

When I started school in kindergarten, I did not cover my patch. I don’t remember it all clearly anymore, but I know I refused to go back after a day of non-stop bullying. If you can imagine frustrated and heartbroken Alpha and Luna turning the packhouse upside down trying to find me. I know I didn’t come out until Mom promised I’d never have to deal with that again. Thinking about it now, I subconsciously reach for my face, until I feel Ari nudge into me. She knows. I look to her, and I can feel her drive to protect me.  

The only warning was one girl yelling out, “Here I come!” but even in that flash of a moment, Ariadne was able to get up and pull me to my feet and away from the resulting splash. It didn’t hit me until my back was turned. Ari bent to pick up my socks and sneakers, and in a surprisingly strong tone she admonished the group, “How dare you blatantly disregard your Alpha’s request?!” 

I am sure there was a look of shock on my face, but I didn’t turn around. I held my breath waiting for whatever would happen. 

“How dare you act all buddy-buddy with her and then assume you’ve some authority?!” It wasn’t Cait arguing, but Cait was also not telling her friend to back down. 

I swear, by posture alone, Ari grew another foot as she looked down on the smaller girl. I turned to the girl, Jasper I think, “It’s true that being my friend doesn’t give someone authority. However, you are not even my friend. You are in my home, and you have disrespected me and my cousin. I think it best you go home for the day.” 

The girl’s eyes grew wide as she bowed her head in submission, “yes, Alpha.” She grabbed her bag and towel, skirting Ari and I, and quickly made her exit. The rest of the girls were visibly subdued as they awkwardly returned to their activities. 

“Ari, let’s go check on dinner.” She doesn’t know it yet, but checking on dinner is a dangerous assignment. I am sure, at my age, I should no longer be entertained by getting on the cook’s nerves, but it never gets old. We tiptoed through the mudroom and into the kitchen. Astin’s back was turned as they spoke quietly with Emmaline. She glanced at me, and I hushed her with a motion. Ari watched quietly behind me as I crept up behind Astin on silent bare feet. 

“Astin!”I swear I said it in a normal tone at a normal volume, but they still jumped out of their skin. They turned around with a grumpy look on their face, ready to scold me. I had on my sweetest face with the biggest eyes, and in a voice dripping with innocence, “what’s for dinner?” 

Dinner didn’t take long after Astin chased us from the kitchen. Afterwards, Declan, Rhys, and I walked Ari home. I remembered her smile from startling Astin; it had left me looking for more as the evening progressed. We walked down our long driveway in a comfortable silence. I’ve no idea what anyone else is thinking, but I am focused on this connection with my cousin. We had been as close as pre-school aged cousins could be in the past, maybe like siblings. I think I have a strange relationship with my brothers though, too. I never had to reach outside of my family to find trusted friends.  

“Do you think this is common with Alphas and their Betas?” I posed the question to Evangeline. 

“I don’t know how common, but I am sure it happens. Goddess blesses us with soulmates particularly to strengthen the individual and the pack. I would not be surprised if She also plans for Betas.” I can tell she is feeling restless about something. It’s making me restless. 

“But it’s not the same as the mate bond, right?” At first it had been awkward to “feel” her move around, but after shifting several times and getting a feel for Evangeline’s body, I can feel her when she can’t sit still, like now. In my mind I can see her pacing at the edge of the woods, waiting for something. I can tell she’s not fully engaged by my thoughts. 

“Hmmm... no. The mate bond creates a family. You and your cousin are already family. A pack needs a strong Beta as much as a strong Alpha, she will probably grow into that role....” she trailed off as we said goodnight to Ari.  

Beta’s home was neighboring the pack house property, but the pack house had a very long and twisting drive with several pack related buildings along it. It was the peak of summer now and so the sun was still mostly up but obscured by the trees. I was still lost in my own head when suddenly I felt Evangeline go still and Declan yelled out from behind me. 

“Rhys!” I turned to see Declan catch our younger brother as he collapsed, grasping his head with both hands; a strangled cry came from within Rhys. “Jon, call mom...” 

I was moving without thought, helping Declan control Rhys’ fall, ending up cradling his head in my lap. “MOM! DAD! SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH RHYS!” I pushed it through my mind with all my strength, with all of Evangeline’s strength.  

Rhys’ muscles were tightly contracted, his eyes rolled back into his head. He’s always suffered headaches, but nothing like this has ever happened. To my right, Doc Schmidt burst from the clinic door, rushing up to us. I scooped up Rhys like he wasn’t the same size as me and followed Doc and Declan into the clinic. Declan was describing the event as I laid Rhys on an exam table in one of the little rooms. Behind me, Mom and Dad came rushing in, followed by a nurse. Declan and I were pushed out to the waiting room where it was just the two of us, and silence. 

I sat, I stood, I paced, and sat again. There was no “ok.” Declan was no better. How long has it been now? I looked out the clinic’s window and saw it was dark. Too long. I turned with a purpose, to head back and check on my little brother. I was interrupted by Beta coming in the clinic door.  

“Hey, kiddos. I’m just gonna walk y’all home, ok?” His face was grim, like he knew something.  

“What’s going on?” I jumped to question him immediately.  

He threw up his hands, “I-i don’t know. Luna has asked me to walk you home. I haven’t been given any other information.” He tilted his head in a fatherly manner, “Let’s just get the both of you home, so they can focus on Rhys.” 

Declan and I nodded reluctantly, both glancing back towards where we had left our brother. It was an outwardly quiet walk home. 

“Evangeline! Did you know?” It had finally sunk in that she stopped her own restless behavior and had switched to comforting me.  

“It’s complicated, Jonquil.” 

“But you knew something was going to happen?” 

“Kind of...” she answered quietly. 

“You didn’t warn me...” 

“I don’t know what you know. Or... I don’t know what you remember. I am here in your head, but I am a separate being, with my own thoughts, opinions, and memories.” She shifted around unsure. “Do you remember reading ‘Crossing the Moon’ the second time?” I nodded slightly. “You read it so fast and so long ago the first time, that reading it again you found some things ‘new’ to you.” 

“Yeh.” 

“And when you shared it with Cait, she found other things that you didn’t remember.” 

I nodded again. 

“I have been here your whole life. There have been events that stood out to me more than they did to you.” 

I stopped walking and waited for more from my wolf. 

“Rhys will be ok, like he has been before.” I felt her cheek rubs and nuzzles, seeking my approval as well as trying to comfort me.  

I stepped back in line behind Declan and Beta. Once home we waived Beta off and traipsed upstairs. Wordlessly we followed our own bed routines. With my head trying to process everything, I watched Declan tiptoe into my room, his arms full of pillows and blankets. He flung everything onto the chaise beside my window and went to work arranging himself for sleep. I was glad to not be alone. Slipping under my own covers and turning out the light, I couldn’t imagine falling asleep with so much on my mind. But I did.