Insight

Onyx was told to stay with Eve while Bastian walked to the front door to meet this supposed 'visitor'. He knew who she was from her basic description, yet seeing that he was right was all the more gratifying.

"What brings you to my neck of the woods?" Bastian grinned.

"We have to talk." Salena stepped into the threshold.

"I got that part." He ushered her into the living room.

"I know you took Eve. Where is she?" She sat down on the old, worn couch.

Bastian sat on the chair across from her with furrowed brows and a curious smirk. He chose to let his expression be his answer.

"I know you took her. GraySky wolves practically tore the valley apart looking for her." Selena crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes.

"How did you find me?" He ignored her statements.

"Are you being serious right now?" She rolled her eyes.

"Deathly serious, I'm afraid." Bastian's expression became suddenly intense. "You see, I'm expecting your son to show up soon. Your arrival here is suspicious."

"My son...?" Selena's eyes widened in realization. "You took Eve to lore him away from the pack, didn't you? You want him to come for her."

"Ding, ding. Well, sort-of." Bastian shrugged. "Now, tell me how you found me. I like you, Selena. I do. But you're trying my patience."

"Calm now, child." She cooed soothingly. "If you didn't want me to find you, you shouldn't have used the name I gave you from Star Dust Hope. Right, Seth Lawler?"

"Damn." He chuckled, relaxing in his seat. "You expunged that name from the records. Did you remember it after all these years?"

"Yes. I never forgot it. I'm the one who gave it to you. Imagine my surprise, when the wolves I send to find you, can't. However, they had a list from the butchers' supply farm from every county in the region. It wasn't hard to see the uptake in business for a small store like the one in Kirkwood. When I saw the name of their biggest customer, I came immediately."

"Alone?" Bastian probed.

"I didn't think I needed back-up. Was I wrong?" Selena quipped.

He hesitated to respond, examining her closely for several moments.

"No. You weren't." Bastian eventually replied. "But I won't let you see Evie."

"Why? What's happened to her?" Selena asked immediately.

"Nothing. She's safe. We're closer than ever, actually." He answered.

"If that's true, why can't I see her for myself?" She probed.

"You see, there's a balance to my relationship with Evie. She's starting to care about me. I can feel it. Who knows if that'll change, when she's talking to Flint's mother?" Bastian answered calmly.

"You-" Selena paused. "You can't be that controlling. Right?"

"I find that it helps, actually." He grinned. "That's how I maintain control."

"Funny." She smiled wryly. "Take me to see Eve. I want to make sure she's healthy."

"I told you, she's fine. Don't you trust me?" Bastian chuckled.

"As much as you trust me." Selena stated.

Bastian sighed heavily. He, again, said nothing for a long time. He simply examined her. Selena thought she could nearly see the gears turning in his mind.

"You told me once that you wouldn't help me get to Elijah or Flint. That's why you wouldn't join the Shadow pack. That was the only reason, wasn't it?" Bastian eventually spoke pensively.

"It was." Selena narrowed her eyes.

"Alright. Then I'll make you a deal." He smiled broadly.

"Let's hear it." She crossed her legs and straightened her skirt, relaxing in her seat.

"I'll take you to see Evie. But she knows I plan to keep her here forever and she knows too much now to leave. If you see her, you'll know too much to leave too." Bastian explained.

"You want me to join the pack. And what about my familial concerns? They didn't just vanish." Selena maintained a casual tone.

"I'll keep you out of the thick of it. With Evie. She can't be involved either. Since I got word Flint would be coming soon, I won't have to ask you to stay here for long." He shrugged.

"And then what? I just go back to work in the valley?" She scoffed.

"Exactly. Except this time, when you go back, you'll be a member of my pack. And you'll do what is asked of you with your foundation, your life, and anything else needed." Bastian nodded, smirking.

"And you'll take me to see Eve? Let me stay with her until... After everything happens?" Selena probed.

"Yes." He smirked.

"Fine, child. Fine." She sighed.

Bastian grinned as if he'd accomplished some great feat.

"You know I can't join your mindlink." Selena commented.

"We don't have a mindlink in the Shadow pack. I just so happen to still have one foot in StarLight's though." He shrugged.

"So, what makes me a member of your pack. My word?" She pursed her lips.

"No. There's a ceremony and an oath. We'll do yours after... How did you put it? Oh, yeah. Everything." Bastian chuckled and stood.

"Don't be clever." Selena hissed, rising to her feet.

"I can't help it. Come. I'll take you to Evie." Bastian headed toward the stairs.

"She's here?" Selena probed.

"I couldn't have her too far away from me for long. You should have known that much." He shrugged.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Describe her again." Eve smiled faintly.

"Why? Who is it?" Onyx replied, slumping into the rocking chair.

"If I'm right, it's an old friend. Just do it one more time." The Luna sighed.

"Alright. She was tall and slender for her age. She was wearing a fancy, expensive looking pants suit. Her hair was really dark, like almost black. Dark brown eyes... Is it her or not?" Onyx explained the visitor again.

"Yeah. I think I do. I just have no idea what she'd be doing here." Eve smiled.

A knock fell on the door a brief moment before it swung open. Bastian stepped in and grinned at Eve.

"What?" The Luna asked.

"Someone to see you, Sunshine." He smirked.

Selena stepped into the threshold and heaved a sigh of relief. She smiled gently and examined Eve from head to toe. Her stomach was comically large in comparison to her spindly arms and legs. The power radiating off of her was palpable and wild.

Her shining, sapphire eyes were gleaming with hope. Her honey blonde strands were pulled behind her head in a low ponytail. Selena noted the smile that spread across Eve's face, though it vanished in suspicion a moment later.

"Why are you here? How are you here?" The Luna probed.

"I heard you'd been taken. I tracked Bastian down to find you." Selena sat at the foot of the mattress.

"Why?" Eve asked, knowing the answer.

"I'm still your family, Eve." Selena hugged her and lowered her voice to a whisper. "I'm here to help. And I'm not alone."