The warmth of the sun’s rays on the mountainous scape made Emma wish fervently that she had left her brown coat at home. 

Sweat pooled uncomfortably between the layers of her breasts, and her thin white polo clung damply to her skin. They hadn’t even reached the restaurant yet.

She sighed, wiping her forehead, and prayed silently that they’d get there soon. Her stomach had started making loud, desperate grumbling sounds.

Trudging down the grassy path beside Melvina, Emma couldn’t help but admire how easily the woman walked, her steps light and unhurried, without showing any sign of fatigue.

Meanwhile, she could already feel her legs protesting. 

“I didn’t know the restaurant was this far,” she complained, rubbing her palms together before stopping to shake out her legs, one after the other. She looked up at Melvina, half-expecting sympathy.

“If you recall, you were the one who wanted to walk,” Melvina replied, a small smile playing on her lips. “I told you we should take a cab, but you insisted.”

“Yes, that’s true. But since we started walking, I haven’t seen a single cab. Only private cars,” Emma muttered, ruffling her hair in frustration.

Melvina hesitated. How was she supposed to tell the human that cabs weren’t a thing here? Every family in this area either had their own cars—or could run on four paws if they needed to.

She had only suggested the cab earlier because she’d thought of calling Anthony to come pick them up. But the human girl had been stubborn. Melvina knew the latter was hungry, but she didn’t quite understand why Emma had refused her suggestion.

The girl never ceased to amaze her. Halfway through their walk, they’d passed an old man struggling to lift a wooden chair into the trunk of his car, and Emma had rushed over immediately.

She had scolded him lightly, insisting he shouldn’t be lifting something that heavy, and helped him tuck the chair safely into the trunk—all while completely unaware of the surprise and confusion on the man’s wrinkled face.

When she was done, Emma stood waiting, hands on her hips, clearly expecting a thank you.

But when the man said nothing, she’d smiled sweetly and said, “You’re welcome,” in a bright, almost sing-song tone—then muttered under her breath about how grateful he was.

Melvina had nearly burst into laughter at the expression on Agrip’s face.

She had mind-linked him though, while Emma was still helping with his luggage. “Don’t say anything to her,” she had warned gently. “She’s a human—a newbie. I’m still studying her.”

“Luna, what’s going on?” Agrip had asked, his mental voice gruff. “What is a human doing in our pack?”

“I don’t know yet, Agrip. But I’m trying to find out.”

“Have you told the Alpha about it?”

“Not yet—but I will.”

“Be careful, Luna. She might be a spy.”

Melvina chuckled inwardly now at the warning. Emma? A spy? The girl was many things—sharp-tongued, observant, witty—but she was far too clueless about this world to be anyone’s infiltrator.

“Where are you going?” she had asked Agrippa rather.

“To Ai,” he had said. “The Alpha wants me to consult Agagog about Derek’s abilities. He turns eighteen in a month.”

She had agreed with that decision. Her son was special—she’d always known it.

Later, when Emma had asked her why she hadn’t helped the man, she’d simply replied, “You looked like you had it under control.”

Melvina thought the girl was caring—and a good fit for her son. But she wasn’t a werewolf. Her husband would throw a fit if that union ever happened. 

Still, she couldn’t help but smile at the thought of arranging a wife for her rude boy.

“Hey!” Emma suddenly shouted.

Melvina blinked out of her thoughts, startled.

“You kinda zoned out.”

“Oh, sorry,” Melvina replied quickly, “I was just thinking.”

“Okay, I do that sometimes. Can you tell me why there are no cabs here?” Emma asked, squinting at her.

Melvina froze. “Uhmm… I think they’re having a meeting,” she said after a pause.

Emma arched a brow but didn’t push. She knew a lie when she heard one, but curiosity won over confrontation. Was this some kind of elite neighborhood? 

“Okay,” she said. “But why are these people staring at me?”

Even though the men were distractingly handsome and the women stunning, Emma still thought the staring was getting out of hand. They should snap out of it already.

Melvina thought for a moment, then replied, “They’re just curious about you.” It wasn’t a complete lie. They were curious—about the human walking beside their Luna.

Still, she admitted to herself, their gawking was excessive.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s because you’re new here,” she added with a reassuring smile.

“Is that the restaurant?” Emma pointed at a beautifully designed eatery, some feet away,  with bold letters that read Fill Up. She chuckled at the name, turning eagerly to Melvina.

“Yes, that’s it,” Melvina replied, amused.

“Finally,” Emma breathed, her tone dreamy as she quickened her pace.

Melvina smiled, noting the human’s sudden burst of energy, and concluded that she must really be starving.