Insight

Eve sat on the porch swing that morning, eating her breakfast. Flurries of snow drifted down around her. The back deck of the cabin and the yard had already become coated with a thin layer of white. It must have been snowing all night.

Eve smiled at the weather. Perhaps the next time it snowed, Flint would finally come for her. Onyx came outside and sat beside the Luna. She had a proud grin but she said nothing about it. Eve looked her over with a curious smile, the teenager was clearly hiding something.

“Spill it.” Eve nudged her.

“What?” Onyx tried to cover her smile with fake confusion.

“Out with it.” She poked the girl in the ribs.

“Ah!” She giggled. “Fine! Just quit. And you can’t tell anybody.”

“Call me the queen of secrets.” Eve agreed.

“Okay. So, you know the classes I’ve been taking online?” Onyx began typing on her phone.

“Of course.” She nodded.

“Well, I took a test to qualify for my last two classes a few days ago. Check this out.” She handed her the phone.

Eve read over the email in front of her and a broad smile slowly pulled across her mouth.

“You tested out of the classes?” Eve asked.

“Uh-huh.” Onyx grinned.

“You’ve officially graduated?!” She probed excitedly.

“My diploma will be here in a week.” She nodded eagerly.

Eve hugged her around the shoulders, eliciting Onyx’s happy giggles. Bastian noticed them and walked to the deck.

“You know this isn’t exactly a secret, right? It’s a good thing?” Eve asked her playfully.

“You promised not to say anything.” The young woman reminded her.

“I said I was the Queen of secrets. Technically, this isn’t a secret.” She shrugged.

“What isn’t?” Bastian drew their attention.

“Onyx accomplished something.” Eve replied vaguely.

“Evie!” Onyx glared at her, but continued smiling.

“Spill it.” The rogue Alpha sat beside his sister on the porch swing.

“That’s what Evie said. I’m already regretting it with her.” She scoffed.

“Come on...” Bastian draped his arm over Onyx’s shoulders.

“Fine, but I don’t want a big deal to be made or anything.” She sighed.

“No promises. Now, tell me.” Bastian urged her.

“I graduated from high school.” Onyx handed him the phone.

He skimmed through the email and hugged her tightly. Onyx giggled at him as he stood abruptly and ruffled her hair. Bastian howled loudly, drawing everyone to pay attention to him.

“You said you wouldn’t make a fuss.” She mumbled.

“I said, no promises.” Bastian replied, before looking out at those watching him. “Shadow pack! My genius sister, Onyx, just graduated from school early!”

Everyone clapped happily, even Eve. Onyx blushed but she couldn’t help smiling.

“I say, we give her a classic Shadow celebration! What do you say?” Bastian asked the group.

Howls and applause rang through the air. He turned around and gave Eve a broad smile.

“What do you say, Sunshine? Ready to party with the rogues?” Bastian asked cheerfully.

“For Onyx...” She shrugged. “Why not?”

Bastian nodded happily and walked back into the cabin. Pack members went to work as if they knew exactly what was expected of them. Some of them left to get kegs of beer, while others began moving the picnic tables into a large circle. The firepit was now outside the area.

“What are they doing?” Eve probed.

“Setting up the ring.” Leigh answered as she walked onto the deck with a set of speakers.

“The ring?” She furrowed her brows.

“Yeah... For the fights.” The rogue smiled.

Eve raised her eyebrows at her.

“Shadow wolves love nothing more than a good fight.” She grinned and plugged in the wires.

“Interesting.” The Luna nodded.

Leigh chuckled and walked away to set up the radio. A few hours later, the fights were starting. No one shifted into their wolf forms, allowing the supporters to join in. Onyx eventually sat beside Eve on the porch swing.

“Have you eaten lunch?” The teenager probed.

“Don’t worry about me.” Eve smiled at her.

“I’m just checking in.” Onyx replied.

They turned their eyes to the back yard. Scott dodged Darren’s fist and landed a kick to the man’s ribcage. Darren doubled over for a moment before tackling Scott. They fell to the ground punching and grappling with one another.

“Here, Evie.” Bastian grabbed her attention.

He was holding out a bowl of fresh venison. She offered him a small smile as she accepted the food. Something about the way it smelled gave her pause. Eve looked back into the bowl and stirred it with the spoon. She couldn’t see anything odd or out the ordinary.

“What is this?” The Luna asked.

She noticed Bastian casually watching her from the corner of his eye.

"Deer meat. It may be gamey, but it's fresh. Killed late last night." He shrugged.

"Gamey..." Eve nodded and stirred the meat around the bowl.

She knew she was probably overthinking it. After all, Bastian had brought her food a hundred times. Nothing was ever wrong. Eve took a bite and she couldn't taste anything odd. Just lemon juice, which, at the cabin, was a normal flavor in newly cleaned meat. The Luna slowly ate the meal.

"Are you fighting today?" Onyx eventually asked.

"Definitely. But I have to let the weak have their turn. It's more fun that way." Bastian smirked.

"Of course. How could I not guess?" She shook her head at him.

"Do you ever join?" Eve asked the teenager.

"The fights?" Onyx raised her brows.

"No. She doesn't." Bastian stepped toward her, and placed a protective hand on top of his sister's head. "She doesn't need to. Onyx fights with her brain."

Eve smiled at the girl's crinkled nose.

"Actually-" She swatted his arm away. "He never let me fight. Even when I wanted to."

"Well, why risk your health when I'm right here to fight for you?" Bastian shrugged.

"It isn't my thing anyway. I'd rather read." Onyx sighed and smoothed her hair.

Eve giggled at their banter. It reminded her of her relationship with Jay. He used to call her 'pup', even into adulthood. She'd claimed to hate it, when really it simply made her feel like she was at home. Bastian noticed her bittersweet smile and examined her for a few moments.

"You okay, Evie?" He asked.

"Huh?" She was pulled out of her memory. "Yeah. I was just thinking about something."

"You looked sad..." Onyx murmured.

"Not sad. I was thinking about my brother." Eve explained.

"Ah. Annoying, aren't they." The teenager nodded understandingly.

"Completely." She sighed.

Bastian took the empty bowl from her hands. His fingers grazed hers, sending static up her arms.

"So, I've been thinking about the tea." He stated.

"Finally..." Onyx scoffed.

"Take this inside." Bastian handed her the bowl.

The teenager rolled her eyes, but did as he asked her.

"What about the tea?" Eve asked him quickly.

"I hated when Jim forced me to drink it. But like me, you need it. So, I figure..." He shrugged. "Maybe instead of taking it every night, we can have a rotating schedule or something."

"What made you change your mind?" Eve beamed excitedly.

"You. The other night. I don't know." Bastian helped Eve to her feet.

The Luna felt dizzy for a moment. Her wolf's snarls had faded without her noticing. It was as if the animal was sleeping. Eve's mind felt sluggish and cloudy, but she attributed that to the light headedness. She was so thankful to not hear the raving she-beast, that she decided not to question this moment of respite.

"Thank you." Eve looked into his dark eyes.

"Anything for you, Sunshine. You know that." Bastian replied, searching her gaze.

The rogue Alpha smiled a moment later, as if he'd just been struck by inspiration.

"I just thought of a way you could thank me." He smirked.

"What?" Eve looked at him skeptically.

"Kiss me." Bastian spoke in a low tone.

"What?!" She took a step back from him.

"Relax, Evie." He pointed at his cheek.

The Luna contemplated her situation anxiously. It seemed like a simple gesture, but she knew it was more than that. With Bastian, nothing was ever simple. Still, Eve wanted to stop drinking the tea. She needed that. She swallowed the fear that Bastian could change his mind again, as she decided what to do.

Eve raised up to her tiptoes and quickly pecked his cheek. Bastian's arm snaked around her waist in an instant. He turned his head, capturing her lips with his. The static that shot through her body rooted her to the spot. His kiss was too innocent to be considered persistent. While being too persistent to be called innocent.

Bastian released Eve after a moment. She stood in shock for a few seconds, before shaking it off. She backed away from Bastian, and narrowed her eyes at him threateningly. He laughed at her, before howling into the air cheerfully. The rogue Alpha stepped off the deck with a broad smile on his face.