Insight

Eve wiped her mouth angrily as Bastian stepped into the sun. Onyx walked outside with a smoothie in her hand. She looked over the Luna’s furious glare and followed her line of sight to Bastian. She shook her head, but someone staring at the deck got her attention.

Eve was deep in thought. She couldn’t access her wolf. She thought that the rush of agitation she felt would awaken her, but the she-beast remained silent. She suddenly noticed that she couldn’t feel the mindlink either.

“What happened?” The teenager interrupted Eve’s thoughts.

“What?” The Luna finally saw Onyx standing beside her.

“That.” She pointed.

Eve looked over and saw Callie. The rogue looked furious, and she was grinding her teeth.

“Doesn’t she always look like that?” Eve sighed.

Onyx giggled at her and finished her drink.

“You want a jacket? It’s getting darker.” She probed.

“No, they’ll light the bonfire soon.” The Luna shrugged.

Bastian laughed loudly, drawing their gazes. He was getting ready to fight with Tyler, who already stood in the ring. The rogue Alpha glanced at the porch and caught Eve’s gaze. He winked at her before pulling his shirt off and tossing it away.

The Luna hated the way her eyes automatically dropped onto his bare chest. His body was slender and all his muscles were defined. The cold air covered his skin in goosebumps. Eve tore her eyes away from him and scoffed. Bastian smirked at her as he climbed into the ring.

Tyler threw a punch but Bastian blocked it without effort. Every hit the rogue tried to land was either deflected or blocked. Bastian didn’t bother dodging the blows. Tyler was getting more and more frustrated, making his superior grin at him. He ran at Bastian, planning to tackle him.

However, the rogue Alpha was too fast. He pushed off the picnic table behind him with one foot, leaping over his opponent. Tyler slammed into the object head first. Before he had time to regain his senses, Bastian swiftly kicked him in the rear end. His face was knocked forcibly into the wooden bench.

“Is that all you got?” Bastian asked mockingly.

Tyler growled and spun to face him. This apparently amused Bastian, because he chuckled merrily. The rogue lunged at him, trying to grab his shoulders. Bastian pushed on the man’s arm, using his momentum against him. Tyler fell to the ground.

“I’m not impressed.” The rogue Alpha sighed, smirking.

He stood and, again, tried to punch his leader. Bastian jumped up and kicked Tyler in the jaw. This time, he was spitting blood when he met the hard, frozen earth. Bastian knelt beside him and tapped him on the shoulder. Tyler looked at him and wiped his mouth.

“Say it.” He grinned.

“Alpha.” Tyler replied, before spitting on the ground.

“Anyone else?” Bastian stood and turned in a slow circle, examining everyone.

After several seconds without a challenger, his smile burst wide.

“Who am I?!” He bellowed.

“Alpha! Alpha! Alpha!” The Shadow pack began chanting his title and clapping their hands.

Eve shook her head. She thought of Flint’s battle for Alpha. It had been brutal and even he walked away injured. The fight she’d just seen was a farce. If Flint had been there, he could have killed them all. Of that she had no doubt. She reached into her mind again, trying to feel him. There was nothing to find. The mindlink was still closed and her wolf still slept.

Bastian was celebrating his win as Felix lit the bonfire. Eve stepped closer to it while Onyx walked away to talk with Leigh. Scott turned up the volume on the stereo as he picked a new CD to put in.

“You think you’re with him now, don’t you?” Callie’s voice caused Eve to turn to face her.

“For the hundredth time, I don’t want him.” She sighed.

“Then go home.” The rogue replied.

Eve stared at her, dumbfounded.

“Really. You want to go. Go.” Callie gestured to the woods nearby.

“You’re such a bitch. You know I can’t just go.” The Luna came back to her senses.

“Why? Because of the tea you don’t want to drink anymore? Because you’re too weak now?” She rolled her eyes. “Or is it because you’d rather play the victim?”

“I’d rather take a bite out of your throat, but my wolf knows better than to eat trash.” Eve retorted.

Callie stepped toward her threateningly. It was true that Eve had been feeling physically weaker lately. Still, for some reason, that night was different. The power wasn’t weighing on her chest and she had a decent amount of energy. However, Eve barely had time to clench her fist before someone grabbed Callie’s arm.

“Hey!” Onyx whispered harshly, turning the rogue to face her.

Callie roughly pulled free of the teenagers grip.

“Are you trying to get yourself killed?” Onyx crossed her arms over her chest. “He will kill you. Hear me?”

She looked away, grimacing, before simply leaving the area. Eve sighed and shook her head as she watched Callie walk away.

“Play my song.” Bastian’s voice interjected over the music.

Onyx checked to make sure he hadn’t seen the conversation as Darren put a CD in the stereo. She released a relieved breath when she knew he hadn’t. “Devil” by Shinedown began to blare over the speakers. The teenager scoffed and rubbed her face.

“What is it?” Eve probed.

“This song. It’s Bas’ favorite, so naturally he runs it into the ground.” Onyx replied.

“Of course, this would be his favorite song.” The Luna rolled her eyes at his predictability.

“Right?” She snickered.

The festivities went on into the night. Bastian eventually came to sit beside Eve. He sat down a plastic cup of beer in front of him as yet another rock song played from the radio.

“Want a sip?” Bastian slid the cup across the picnic table to his sister.

“I can’t... Can I?” Onyx furrowed her brows like she were being asked to solve a complex equation.

“Just a little, and just tonight. It’s your party.” Bastian shrugged.

“Cool.” The teenager grinned while she smelled the beer suspiciously.

“Just one. Alright?” He smirked.

“Okay.” She nodded, taking a hesitant sip of the frothy liquid.

Eve smiled as a familiar song began playing. “Lydia” by Highly Suspect. She remembered listening to it in the kitchen of the Dolan manor as she cooked breakfast. Onyx turned to watch Leah and Felix argue behind her.

“You like it?” Bastian asked upon noticing Eve’s expression.

“Yeah. It’s a good song.” She nodded.

“I always thought so.” He chuckled.

Darren climbed on top of a nearby picnic table. Eve and Bastian watched him curiously. Onyx shook her head at him, as if she already knew what he was going to do.

“Listen up!” He yelled, gathering the attention of everyone. “Get together. It’s time for a photo.”

There were some groans and grumbling but everyone slowly came to stand in front of the bonfire.

“Come on, Onyx. It’s your night.” Scott waved her over.

The girl smiled shyly and stood to join the group.

“Let’s go, Evie.” Bastian stood and pulled his t-shirt back on.

“Nope. I’m good.” She shook her head.

“It’s Onyx’s graduation party. You have to.” He smirked and helped her to her feet.

“Just for Onyx.” Eve sighed.

They walked over to the others. Darren set the camera’s timer and jogged over to join them. Bastian wrapped one arm around Onyx’s shoulders and the other around Eve’s.

“We have three seconds guys. Say Shadow pack!” Darren stated.

“Shadow Pack!” Everyone shouted.

“One more.” The rogue nodded.

“Shadow Pack!”

The camera flashed a second time. Eve smiled, but she didn’t speak with the others. She wanted Onyx to know she was proud of her, and she was happy about the accomplishment. Still, the grin on her face felt like a betrayal. The group began to separate, but the Luna didn’t notice.

Eve, again, searched her mind for Flint. For her wolf. For the mindlink... She, again, found nothing. It was worrisome. The more she tried to focus on her inner beast, the harder it was to concentrate.

Eve’s mind felt too clouded to think, and she was too tired to worry about it any longer. She knew something was different. Still, Eve couldn’t figure out what it was. At least not until she could think clearly.