Chapter 471: Chapter 471

Chapter 471

Stella “What are you two up to?”

I turned toward my mom’s voice as she approached us with a smile. She looked so much more relaxed here in Constantine than she did when we were living in Brightsky. My Abba and I shared a quick look of mutual understanding before he got up off the bench to greet her with a hug and a kiss.

I watched them wistfully, but with some hope brewing inside me. My father’s suggestion that I use my shapeshifting skills to change my appearance was a wild idea…but one that I really hoped would work.

It was also something I wasn’t sure I wanted to tell my mom about. I figured she’d worry about me.

And I definitely knew that Dad would lose his mind over the idea of me going out into the world.

Papa might be okay with it, but for now, Abba and I shared another look that said he was going to help me keep my secret.

After all, it was just a small one.

Right?

“Mason? Stella?” Mom frowned, looking from him to me and back again. “What’s up? Everything okay?”

The edge of worry in her voice made me sad. I didn’t want her to fret, especially not here in the packlands, where we were all supposed to be happy. I stood up to give her a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

“Everything’s great, Mama. We’re just getting used to being settled. That’s all. And Abba says he stayed up too late last night.”

He hadn’t actually said that aloud, but I’d sensed it in him.

Abba laughed and slipped his arm around my mom’s waist. “I must be getting old. Can’t party like I used to back in the olden days at Stillwood, when I was a young, single, rogue wolf…”

Mom smacked his arm playfully. “Uh huh. Keep talking about how it was back when you were young and single, and you might find yourself single again!”

He laughed and pulled her close for another kiss. “Never.”

They hugged and kissed before my mom turned back to me again. “The twins are still sleeping, but I thought after they woke up that we could all take a little trip downtown? They need new shoes, and honestly, we could all use a bit of a new wardrobe, don’t you think?”

We’d brought hardly anything with us from Brightsky, and although I figured my mom probably had some clothes and personal belongings here in the Alpha’s mansion, she’d also been a very different person when she left here. Hardly more than a kid, I realized now with a start. Sure, she’d been mated to my dad and papa…pregnant with me…

“Little star?”

I shook off my thoughts and smiled at her. “Yes, Mama?”

“You looked so far away,” my mom said. “You don’t have to go shopping in town if you don’t want to.

We could order things to be delivered. I didn’t think about what it would be like for you to go out in public, I’m sorry.”

I shot Abba another look. “I can’t hide away here, Mama. If I want the pack to accept me, I have to go out among them. It’ll be okay.”

“Are you sure?” She looked concerned.

I nodded firmly. “I’m sure.”

She still looked hesitant but let go of Abba and stepped away. “I’m going to grab some breakfast and check in with the staff. I haven’t had much chance to be the acting Luna here, so I want to get started on that right away. But as soon as the twins get up and I can get some food into them, I’ll be ready to go shopping.”

“I can be ready then. Abba and I are just being lazy.”

“I’d say you both deserve it,” Mom said. She kissed his cheek again, stretching up on her tiptoes to do it. “What are you up to today, my love?”

“I’m sure Xander has a bunch of meetings lined up for us. Other than that, just getting the lay of the land. He said he’d take me on a driving tour of the packlands,” Abba told her.

My mom chuckled. “Sounds like it’s back to work for all of us. Stella, I’ll see you in a bit.”

When she’d left us alone again, Abba turned to me. “You don’t want to tell your mom about my idea?”

“I want to see what it’s really like today when we go to town. Maybe I won’t even have to do what you suggested.” I sounded hopeful, but I knew that wasn’t going to be the case. “But, can we plan it out anyway?”

He grinned. “Of course.”

We spoke quickly, in hushed tones. Abba had the best idea—that I should say I was a rogue wolf who’d arrived in Constantine because I heard that it was becoming a sanctuary. I’d be just one of many new faces joining the pack, so I wouldn’t stand out. I could get to know the current pack members and anyone else who showed up, too.

I picked the name Elleah Whitehaven because it sounded pretty to me, and Abba assured me it was a fine name for a rogue because it didn’t tie to any current packs.

Now, all I had to do was decide what I was going to look like.