Chapter 36 EVELYN I gritted my teeth .


    Dane was generous , but I didnt have ess to his ounts .


    I made plenty of my own money by anyones standards .


    Or I would , if my own mother wasnt constantly begging me to cover her gambling debts .


    But not this time .


    Id been telling her for years I wasnt going to do it anymore .


    This time , I was going to put my foot down .


    N no , mom , I said .


    Damn the waver in my voice .


    But I wasnt going to back down .


    Not this time .


    Not when Dane had really , truly promised wed set a date .


    Id be his wife , his mate , his Luna , and the mother of … well , my child .


    My mothers voice turned dangerous .


    Evie .


    I know you arent refusing me .


    You know what happens when people refuse .


    Its not like it used to be , I told her .


    Im with Dane , now .


    I have the protection of the entire Blue Ridge Pack .


    Im going to be their Luna , and theres nothing you can do to stop me .


    My motherughed , low and dangerous .


    Oh , darling .


    Youve forgotten my power .


    But thats all right .


    Have your tantrum .


    Ill remind you not to cross me .


    Chapter 36 2/6 Her words sent so much terror through me , I changed my mind ..


    I opened my mouth to say I was joking .


    Of course , Id send her money .


    But the line went dead .


    Shed hung up on me .


    Evelyn ! Dane called from somewhere outside the room .


    Its time .


    I straightened my dress , pasted a smile on my face , and went to find my fiancé .


    As long as I could keep him away from Aurora , he would always keep me safe .


    She thought Esther Reed was bad ? She had no idea .


    ***** PIPER I waited for my brother just inside the door .


    He walked in just before dark , when Aurora was already calling people for the ceremony .


    Do you have them ? he asked .


    I nodded and handed him two stic sandwich bags .


    Each of them had hair taken from the twins hairbrushes .


    He examined the bags , looking troubled .


    I thought I knew why .


    Youre worried youre going to have children with two women , I Chapter 36 3/6 said into his mind .


    It was easier , better , more private .


    As the princess of Blue Ridge , I knew the value of privacy .


    Thats why it made me squirm to think how Id vited Auroras .


    Dane looked at me sharply .


    I saw them , Piper .


    She thinks in the midst of all this I forgot .


    I didnt .


    Theres something shes not telling me .


    If theyre mine … I nodded , even though I wasnt sure how he meant to end that sentence .


    Aurora was the desire of my brothers heart .


    If I believed her and I wasnt nearly as sure as he was that she was a liar he was the desire of hers .


    Where did that leave the children , of they were his ? Where did it leave Evelyn and her baby ? Dane nced over his shoulder .


    Its time to start .


    I want you in that circle .


    If anyone is going to gain this power that isnt Aurora , I want it to be you .


    I blushed .


    My brothers trust was high praise .


    He hardly trusted anyone .


    I dont want to believe shed have your children and not tell you .


    But … I have heard them call her Mommy , I said .


    Rage shed in Danes eyes .


    Because if they were Auroras , they were either his … or shed slept with someone very , very close to the time shed left .


    Whether it was before theyd severed their bond or after , I had no idea .


    Chapter 36 4/6 All I knew was that she and my brother had something about .


    them … both of them .


    But they only seemed to hurt each other .


    That wasnt healthy .


    It would be better if the kids werent his .


    Better for him , and for Aurora .


    Let me know what you find out , I said .


    He tucked the baggies in his pocket .


    I will .


    Now help me find Evelyn .


    ***** AURORA The moon was rising .


    I was surrounded by 100 wolves .


    I stood on the grass of the Blue Ridge pack house in my bare feet , my face upturned .


    It was a warm summer night , not too hot or damp .


    The sky was clear .


    It was perfect for calling on the goddess .


    Dane stood in a special ce in the circle a ce where he could raise and concentrate the power the goddess had given him as an Alpha .


    When the moon climbed to its highest point , I signaled the wolves .


    All around me , torches lit.


    When every single one held a me , I raised my arms and called on the goddess .


    Chapter 36 I wasnt exactly sure of thenguage .


    It was so ancient , there wasnt a schr on earth who could understand it .


    But I knew the words .


    I felt them in my heart .


    5/6 As I chanted , I looked to Dane .


    From my ce in the center of the circle , it looked like he stood right under the moon .


    Like the goddess was showing me he was chosen , too .


    My voice rose with the chant .


    As I reached thest line around .


    me , the torches flickered .


    Their light changed .


    They turned from red and orange me to ghostly blue and silver .


    As my words faded into the night , the moon seemed to sh .


    Her light lit the sky .


    It dazzled my eyes and made it seem like the sky was full of glitter .


    Then I realized , there was glitter .


    Motes of moonlight that shed and gleamed .


    They gathered above the circle where 100 wolves waited .


    This is it .


    This is the moment Im not hated anymore .


    Maybe its the moment I get my wolf back .


    I closed my eyes and reached for the sky , as if the goddess might hand me to her .


    Then I heard everyone gasp .


    6/6 Chapter 36 I opened my eyes and looked .


    The motes had coalesced into something like a waterfall of light .


    It fell from the sky , lighting the chosen with power .


    But the chosen … wasnt me .


    It was Evelyn .