After her wish to leave the Deep Fang Pack and be a part of the Moonlight Shifters pack, Rhae was suddenly stuck in the chest with a feeling she had never felt before.
Not expecting the sudden intense feeling, her hands flew to where her heart was, and that was when she noticed that her veins were now lighting up with a bright blue hue as her blood flowed through her body.
What was happening to her?
She knew that Raphael wasn't pleased with her natural pack or the scent it gave her, so she wished to change it.
Rhae was wondering if she had made a mistake when Raphael grabbed her hand.
"It's okay. You are going to be fine. Breathe, just breathe".
She realized that she wasn't in pain.
That wasn't the sensation that had left her chest and joined the blue glow that flowed through her.
The lights running through her veins were welcoming.
For once, she felt accepted.
Someone was accepting her into the pack after she wished to join.
Stella did the same in wishing to finally take her place in the pack, but she didn't experience the same thing, not exactly, that Rhae was feeling.
The feeling of acceptance and being welcome was there, but Stella was looking at her friend, worried about what was happening to her.
Smiles could be seen on Rhae's face as she lay back on the couch cushions, soaking in the feelings that overwhelmed her.
"What's wrong with her" Stella nearly whispered, worried.
Dominic knew she needed to be told one thing: answers.
"Your Alpha and Luna have accepted her offer for now, but she will still have to do the ceremony to complete the process of joining. Congratulations on finding your pack, both of you"!
A prideful smile could be found on his face as she looked back at him.
"Why is that not happening to me? I did the same things as her, and said the same thing" she asked, worried that she hadn't been accepted with her friend.
"Stella, that is your pack. Why would you have ask to change to your own pack"?
Just then, the door opened.
The feelings both girls had been experiencing were over.
Ayla's presence was instantly felt, and she wanted to know why she had been summoned from her bed.
"I was told that you two wanted to talk to the guys about some pretty important things, but only if we were here. Why"?
Ayla didn't like being summoned, especially by two people she didn't know.
Stella was the first to stand, put her hands up to show they meant no threat, and speak.
"I don't think you remember us, but we remember you. In particular, how you always stood up for anyone who was being treated unfairly, no matter what it cost you. Thank you. Because of how brave you were, the 'wardens' tended to forget about us. I know they were constantly shipping you from one orphanage to another because of it, and that wasn't fair".
It was Stella's way of trying to show they were there as friends.
Ayla could see the men looking at one another and didn't want the girl to continue.
Ayla stopped her quickly, trying her best not be rude.
"I don't need them to hear my life story. I don't want anyone to know my past. It's behind me for a reason. What made you send for me tonight"?
Rhae stepped up next.
"Nothing. Well, nothing specific. We want to repay you for a few things you did for us. Even if you don't remember helping us, we remember when you did. Julius might be in trouble".
All the eyes in the room looked at them as if they both had two heads.
Dominic couldn't contain himself.
"WHAT"?
Rhae continued, trying to ignore all the eyes on her.
"There is nothing you can do tonight, even if you wanted to. So, just listen. We needed you all together. He asked for her earlier. You all said no. Remember".
Raphael looked at Dominic.
For once, the softest of the trio was ready to pull a Phoenix.
"Handle it myself. Do it without Ayla. I wouldn't deserve her if I couldn't. HMMM".
Dominic was looking at him with murderous intent in his eyes, but he didn't say a word.
He let Raphael finish.
"Oh, go ahead, it's your own fault, ya big dummy. Guess what, you can't even go because you're supposed to be dead. You have to trust us. How about that"!
Ayla was getting frustrated.
"Family squabbles later. Details now, please. Men are such children. I swear".
The girls had to stifle a giggle while the men were gathering their attention back to the group.
Alexander squeezed her shoulders, "Hey, I'm behaving" he said, letting her know he had nothing to do with any of the mess happening.
She cut her eyes at him, "I wonder why," she snapped back as she looked down at his crotch before turning her attention back to the girls.
He put his hand down to cover himself, "Ugh, NNOOOO. Can we hear what is up with my best friend now, please"?
He was desperate to make it clear he was only being quiet because he wanted to know what was wrong with Julius, not that Ayla had his pussy whipped.
The girls were laughing now.
'They really have all turned into one big family, it seems. I kind of like it' Stella thought, so that her best friend could hear.
'Yeah, it's cute' Rhae thought back.
Stella decided she should cut in and tell them the story before they were all there all night.
"Long story short. We were walking around town, and we saw Julius meet up with those two creepy guys close to the club, the ones you saw earlier today. I want to say for the record that the one who meets with a lot of people, one of whom is really bad news".
Ayla couldn't help but interrupt them slightly.
"Yea, I know who you're talking about. I was curious myself about him. I still am. There is something about both of them that makes me want to dig a little deeper. The one, though, he likes to run with a rough crowd".
Dominic jumped in after that.
"Actually, the pack he comes from is apparently close to Rhae's natural pack" he said, pointing at her.
Realizing she was being linked back to the same pack that made Raphael turn his nose to her didn't sit right and made her wolf growl.
"That isn't my pack. I chose a different pack" she let out a little angrily.
Wanting to know what was happening, but also wanting desperately to change the subject, Ayla did what she did best and took the lead of the conversation again.
"What were you two doing over at the Scarlett Fever when the guys were here"?
Rhae was quick to answer.
"Actually, we thought they would be at the club. Since meeting them, that is where we always run into each other. That's why we were on the way there. We noticed Julius, and overheard him, accidentally, and the three of them talking about you, Ayla".
The attention was all on her now.
Ayla was curious why she stopped talking, "And..."
She knew, being an orphan herself, that nothing was ever accidental.
They were doing what the orphans of the town did best: they were spying.
Stella jumped in because she knew her friend didn't want to say anymore.
"Well. He wanted to know more about the pack, the alpha, and why they were interested in you. They didn't seem to want to capture you. At least that is what the one said. The quiet guy said that Julius and the rest of you were more than welcome to visit if you wanted to because the Moonlight Shifters Pack always welcomes guests. In fact, they were headed out shortly, and he was welcome to leave with them".
Alexander threw his hands on his head.
That sounded like a trap if he ever heard one.
What was his best friend thinking?
Hell, what was Ayla thinking to meet with them in the first place?
This was her fault for causing all of the traps they had walked into.
If she would have just stayed in the apartment and taken care of Dominic like she was supposed to, instead of baiting the two wolves hunting her, then his friend wouldn't have walked into a fucking trap.
"What were you thinking" he lashed out at Ayla.
"I don't have a clue what you are even talking about. I didn't do anything".
Ayla wasn't sure what Alexander was going on about, but she knew whatever it was, it needed to be talked about.
Looking back to Stella and Rhae, with nothing but desperation, he had to know the truth.
"He didn't. Please tell me that he didn't willingly go to a freaking random pack, an unknown pack, with unknown wolves. Knowing what we have been facing, and the situation we are in, please tell me he didn't just leave with them"?
Both girls stayed silent.
The lack of words was not working for Ayla.
She put her hands up, asking for an answer.
"Well"?
"He said not to tell Alexander that he went with them, willingly. That was the weird part. Like he wanted to go but didn't want anyone to know he went".
Dominic lost his shit.
"You've got to be kidding me. Really. He left with Orion and SHAW. Willingly. Are you sure he went willingly"?
The girls both gave a nod that was equivalent to them being ninety percent positive they heard the whole story, and Julius left voluntarily with them.
Dominic had made up his mind as he went to head for the door.
"Looks like my new destination is the Moonlight Shifters Pack".
Ayla was quick to jump in his way.
"Not so fast, we have a problem".
"Out of my way, princess. Right now, you are my problem".