Mason Lanie was my Luna, wasnât she?
Xander and Zane had never fully claimed her, and they'd intended for Alice to be their Luna, hadn't they?
Xander held my gaze for a moment like he was waiting for me to say what | was thinking out loud, but I knew it would only cause another fight.
Besides, we needed Lanie back here safely before we could even think about whose Luna she was and what that meant for us.
My mind wandered then to her and Zane and whatever danger they might be facing right now. | had gotten barely any time with the twins before Orion headed us off and separated us again. The thought of never seeing them again, never getting to connect with them as their father, was physically painful.
| placed a hand on my chest and rubbed absentmindedly.
â| know you're worried about Alaina and Isaac,â Xander said, drawing my attention back to him. Had it been that obvious? âI am, too. But Zane will bring them home. Heâs the only person Iâd trust with my life and the lives of my pups.
| nodded. Was he actually trying to comfort me? The act of it felt kind of awkward, but | appreciated that heâd changed the subject and at least attempted to relate to me instead of arguing with me.
âXander...â | started, then took in a deep breath. âWhat would you say to a truce?â
| extended my hand out for him to shake it.
He looked at my hand suspiciously, and it took everything in me not to pull it back and say âPsych.â
âWe know where we stand, the rest is basically up to Lanie,â | said.
Xander took my hand and shook it briefly before dropping it. âSure,â he mumbled 1 guess we do need to get our heads out of our as ses.â
âSpeak for yourself,â | said, and we both smirked.
The air around us already felt less thick and charged with awkwardness.
Stellaâs cries carried in from the living room, and we both automatically dashed in there and stood over her bassinet.
We stood frozen, each waiting for the other to scoop her up. We'd just called a truce, but how weâd actually put it into action was another story.
âGo ahead,â Xander said, waving me on. | c ocked my eyebrow but didnât argue. | just nodded my thanks. and picked her up, rocking her gently until she quieted down.
When | turned around | caw aw that Gabriela was 1/2 was watchinn us from the hallway av a wide smile on her face Lanie Looking in the mirror was scary.
I'd put on the guardâs uniform and was ready to head back to the facility. Zane had tied up the real guard and dosed him up with more sleeping powder to make sure he didnât wake up before | was out of there with the twins.
My heart was pounding and | couldnât get my breathing under control. Surely they would know immediately that | was a fraud and didnât belong there.
me.
| pulled an ID out of my pocket. âYou are Sergeant Philips,â | said into the mirror to convince myself.
My voice startled me. Because....it wasnât my voice.
| gave myself a shake, then walked out to join Zane in the living room. His nose wrinkled at the sight of âGo ds, I'll never get used to this,â he said.
| shrugged. âWell, hopefully | never have to do it again. Your nose wrinkled...do | still smell like me?â
He shook his head. âNo, you smell and sound and look like him. Itâs creepy, to say the least. But no one-
human or wolf-should be able to tell any difference.â
âGood.â | nodded. âWhatâs our plan? We need to move quick to be sure this doesnât wear off.â
âOkay, so I'll follow you back through the woods to the facility and keep watch,â Zane said. âIf anything goes wrong, just get out of there as fast as you can and be waiting right outside for you.â
I âGot it,â | said. âI just pray if anything goes wrong, itâs after | have the twins.â
Zane pursed his lips. âLet's not even think about that. Everything is going to go to plan. In and out, easy peasy.â
| turned my eyes to the sky and prayed to the Goddess that he hadn't just jinxed us.
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