Insight

Eve awoke slowly that morning. She glanced around and noticed that Bastian was absent. She beamed excitedly before weakly pushing herself to sit up. She had done it. Eve had managed to reach Flint somehow. It was real; she just knew it.

Love is coming! Today! The she-wolf leaped around in her mind.

Today. Eve nodded enthusiastically.

She stared at the sky. It wasn't as bright as it should have been by eight in the morning. The clouds were dark and thick as they blocked out the sunlight. A storm. The first storm of spring. The snow had melted in Kirkwood a week ago, which meant it was most likely a rainstorm.

Less visibility in the rain. The wolf stated.

That will work against him and for him. The shadow wolves are familiar with the grounds. The less they can see, the better. Eve replied silently.

And the scents. They'll be harder to distinguish for untrained wolves. StarLight will know how, better than the Shadow pack. She answered.

"May the goddess be with us." She thought aloud.

A moment later, a soft knock fell on the door. Eve told the visitor to enter and Onyx poked her head into the room. She smiled and entered, when she saw that the Luna was awake.

"Hey, Evie." Onyx plopped on the foot of the mattress.

"Good morning." Eve responded, careful not to act too chipper.

"You hungry?" The teenager asked.

"Don't eat anything prepared by him anymore." She recalled the Alpha's warning. The monkshood. She'd been dosed before. Eve looked at Onyx appraisingly. The young woman pushed her colorful hair off her shoulder and pursed her lips curiously.

"What?" Onyx probed.

"I am hungry. But I don't want anything Bastian makes for me. I also don't want him to know I said that." Eve eventually answered. "I have suspicions that he put monkshood into my food once or twice."

"Monkshood?" She asked, her eyes widening.

"It's a form of wolfsbane. It separates the human from the wolf. Blocks it off. Eventually, after so much or so many doses, the separation is permanent." Eve nodded slowly.

Onyx had an honest face. If she felt it, her expression always betrayed it. This was something Eve had come to like about the teenager. She was easily read, understood, and befriended. However, at the moment, it seemed like the news of Eve being drugged didn't surprise her. Only the name of the plant used drew her attention.

"That sounds horrible." Onyx stated quietly.

"It is." Eve continued examining her.

The young woman noticed Eve's eyes on her. She offered her a guilty, nervous smile and stood.

"I'll make the food, okay?" She offered.

"Only you." The Luna nodded thoughtfully.

Onyx left the room before Eve could ask any more questions. Before she returned, Bastian entered. Eve sighed and leaned against the headboard. It seemed as though her peaceful alone-time had come to an end.

He strolled over to the rocking chair beside the window and sat. Eve grabbed the hairbrush off her nightstand and began using it. She didn't want to give away her emotions and focusing on something else was the only way she knew to hide them. Bastian watched her for a few minutes, soaking in the sight of her and the quiet of the late morning air.

"How are you feeling today, Evie?" Bastian eventually asked.

"Tired, weak. Like usual. Where were you this morning?" She wanted to know if he'd discovered Flint's arrival.

His smirk became a grin at the question posed to him. Eve realized how intimate the query sounded as she thought back on it. It made her blush and internally growl at herself. She didn't want to encourage his fascination with her. Yet, it seemed like she couldn't prevent it. Eve wanted answers. After all, she might never get another chance to ask.

"I went to talk to Callie and Tyler. They lead the defenders." Bastian eventually answered.

"Why does that matter? And why have you guys been setting traps? I can see part of the woods from my window." Eve gestured toward it.

"Ah..." Bastian nodded. "You know why, Evie."

"Why?" She tilted her head curiously.

"My contact in StarLight tells me that Flint knows where we are and he's coming to fight. Soon. That was almost a week ago." He smirked and relaxed in his chair.

"Your contact? You have contacts in StarLight?" Eve asked.

Her mind was racing. Clark Monroe had been executed and his mate, Alice, had been exiled. Flint told her that in their first shared dream together. She began wracking her brain, trying to find the identity of the traitor.

"Of course." Bastian smirked confidently.

"Who is it?" Eve probed openly.

He chuckled, as if the question amused him.

"Why would I tell you that, Evie?" Bastian shook his head.

"You don't plan on letting me go anyway. So, why not just satisfy my curiosity?" She shrugged nonchalantly.

Bastian looked her over intently. He leaned his elbows on his knees, folding his hands in front of him. His dark eyes burrowed into her, as if he were trying to read her very soul.

"Why aren't you more focused on what my contact said? Flint is coming. Is that not news to you?" He lifted his eyebrow skeptically.

"It's not like he's here." Eve had to think of an explanation quickly. "If he were, you and I would both feel him. Your informant is either wrong or lying."

"Clever." Bastian breathed quietly.

"What?" Eve asked, though she'd heard him perfectly.

"Nothing. Why are you curious about my contacts anyway?" His smirk slowly returned.

"I've been in the pack for a while. I know nearly everyone or, at least, their families. Anyone in my shoes would be wondering who the rogue on the mountain was. I mean, wouldn't you be curious?" She placed the hair brush back on the table. She was careful not to move hastily or act too casually.

"I would already know who it was. So, In the spirit of things... I'll give you three guesses. If you get it right, I'll tell you. If you get all three wrong, I get to make a request." Bastian sat back and crossed his arms over his chest.

"More games, Bas?" Eve scoffed.

"Who doesn't love games? So, we got a deal?" He grinned.

"Depends on the request. I want to hear it now, before I agree to it." She shook her head.

"Okay. I want you to drink the tea tonight before you go to sleep." Bastian admitted.

We won't be going to sleep here. Ever again. The she-best stated.

So we have nothing to lose. Eve agreed.

"Alright." She nodded. "I won't lose. I know my pack pretty well."

"We'll see." Bastian moved to sit beside her on the bed.

Eve slid over, putting some distance between them. He unceremoniously fluffed a pillow and placed it between her back and the headboard. Whether it was intentional or not, Bastian and Eve were now sitting shoulder to shoulder.

"Okay. First guess?" He asked.

"Give me a hint." She nudged him.

"He's too old to be a student and too young to be an elder." He stated vaguely.

"Like, literally hundreds of pack members fit that description." Eve sighed.

"That's all you get for the first hint. You better use it wisely." Bastian chuckled.

The Luna delved into thought. Johnny was far too loyal to be a traitor. He was also too young to fit the description, given that he was now only twenty one. Duncan matched perfectly, but Eve knew better than to think the commander of the warriors, the wolf she knew, was capable of such betrayal.

Joshua, Edward, Steven, and Tim were all too old and trustworthy to be the culprit. Clark was dead, so there was no way he was the contact Bastian wanted Eve to name. Selena hadn't been involved in StarLight for quite a while. She wouldn't know what was happening in Green Tree.

Eve took in a long slow breath, hoping to buy some time. She tried to remember as many faces and names as she could but one stuck out in her mind. Clark had a son with his mate. He'd fought in the Beta tournament after Ashley left the pack. He'd even won. What was his name? She kept going over and over the announcers voice in her head, hoping to remember something.

"Monroe." Eve tested the waters with a simple, yet profound guess.

Bastian beamed and his eyes glowed proudly. He opened his mouth to reply, but Onyx entered hastily. She quickly handed Eve a bowl of fresh, raw, ground beef. The Luna, much like Bastian, was more focused on Onyx than anything else.

"What happened?" Her brother asked seriously.

"You have a visitor." The teenager whispered urgently.