I hadn’t eaten in twenty-four hours, and my body was starting to growl at me. I jogged down a flight of stairs leading to the Compound commons and kitchen.

Like usual, it was teeming with activity, everyone scrambling about for their morning meal. Shifters never skipped a meal if it could be helped, and if they did, they gave an entirely new definition to the word hangry.

I grabbed a plate and went to stand in line with everyone else. The set up reminded me of a school cafeteria, but it made sense given the number of mouths that were fed on a daily basis in the Compound.

The Pacific Northwest Pack encompassed all of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and parts of Montana. It was several thousand strong, however most lived outside of the Compound but still within Pack territories.

The Compound itself housed several hundred shifters at any given time. From what I’d been able to gather, the Compound had an open door policy to all Packmates. Some were permanent residents, and others were just passing through.

I scratched behind my neck as I waited in line and tried not to turn around. I felt eyes boring into my back, and it made me feel twitchy.

I’d left my daggers in Declan’s room, which was probably a good thing, since my hand wanted to reach instinctively for one.

I ignored the stares and looks of disgust that came my way by passersby and reminded myself that I’d win them over eventually.

When it was my turn, I stepped forward, and a serving of eggs, toast, and two strips of bacon were heaped on my plate. I thanked the cook and headed to find a seat.

Everyone avoided making eye contact as I passed by.

Don’t worry, I didn’t want to sit with you anyway.

“Ari! Ari!” I turned in the direction my name had come from to see Caden waving an arm in the air. I smiled and headed in his direction, happy to see a familiar face.

Caden was one of the children Inarus and I had rescued a few months ago when we’d stumbled upon one of the H.A.C. labs. I still had nightmares about the horrors they must have gone through at the hands of my mother and her cohorts.

We’d rescued the eight children being held. They were shifters, and we had successfully located the parents for all but two.

Caden was one of those who didn’t have any parents to go home to. At seventeen, he was a ward of the Pack, but I was happy to see that he’d settled in.

“Aria, sit over here,” Caden said and indicated the space next to him. I took the seat and nodded to the two other shifters seated with him—Brock, Declan’s chief of security, and Devin, a bear shifter and Brock’s usual partner in crime.

Brock was a lion shifter in his mid-twenties with cognac eyes. He was still growing into himself, but if his broad shoulders and long limbs were any indication, it wouldn't be too much longer before he fully filled out.

He offered me a hesitant smile before returning to his meal. His apprehension was understandable.

I wasn't exactly nice to him when I’d discovered Declan's little plan to use me as a weapon. Brock had known, and he'd never told me. Not that I could blame him. We hadn't been exactly friends at the time, but it still felt like a betrayal.

Devin, on the other hand, was a man of few words and even fewer expressions. He offered me a grunt as a hello and then returned to his meal as well.

“Where have you been all morning?” Caden asked as he placed a spoonful of eggs into his mouth.

“Sorting through some things with Declan,” I said. I noticed Brock’s and Devin’s ears perk up across the table, but neither of them lifted their heads.

“How are you two getting along?” Caden whispered.

“They can still hear you,” I whispered back with a chuckle. Caden rolled his eyes.

“I know that,” he said. “I just didn’t know if you knew that.”

I ruffled the top of his auburn hair. “We’re getting along just fine.”

He seemed comforted by my response, his grin widening.

“So when’s the ceremony going to be?”

I drew down my brows and took a bite of my toast, “What ceremony?” I asked him.

“The mating ceremony. You know …?”

I shook my head. “We’re not having a mating ceremony.”

His face fell. “So it’s true? You rejected our Alpha?” His jaw hardened and anger filled his copper gaze.

I wrapped my arm around his shoulders, but he shrugged me off.

“I didn’t reject Declan,” I told him.

That wasn’t entirely true. I’d rejected him plenty of times, but now wasn’t one of them. Regardless, I felt like I needed to reassure Caden that Declan and I were working it out. He needed some semblance of stability, and since being rescued, Declan and I seemed to be what he latched onto.

“I just moved into his room today. We’re making progress,” I told him. “I’m just not ready for any ceremonies yet. You understand right?”

Caden nodded slowly. “So you’re trying?” he asked hesitantly.

“I am.” That seemed to be all the reassurance he needed. He gave me a toothy grin and returned to his food.

When I looked up, both Brock and Devin were staring at me intently.

“Yes?” I asked.

Both men frowned before Brock finally spoke up. “You weren’t lying,” he commented.

“Was I supposed to?” I asked and took another bite of my toast.

He shook his head. “No, it’s just—”

“We didn’t think you’d be staying.” Devin finished.

“Sorry to burst your bubbles. Not that my relationship is any of your business or anyone else’s for that matter,” I said in warning. I didn’t need the rumor mill to start buzzing about me moving in Declan’s rooms, “but Declan and I are giving things a whirl.”

Brock shot to his feet with a whoop of excitement, rushed over to me and pulled me into a big hug.

“Welcome to the family,” he said.

“Can’t—breath,” I coughed out.

“Sorry, sorry.” He quickly released his hold on me. “This is great news.”

“It is?” I thought everyone hated me, well except for James and the children.

"Yeah. Do you have any idea what a pain it's been working with Declan? He's been an absolute bear. No offense, man," he said to Devin.

Devin rolled his eyes, unperturbed, and continued stuffing his face. I quickly scanned the room and realized that all eyes were on us.

Damn shifter hearing.

“Uhh …” I resumed my seat and tried to ignore all the glances in my direction.

“Did you really have to make such a scene?” I asked Brock.

He smiled smugly. “Of course I did. How else was I going to make sure the entire Pack knew Declan and you were official?”

I groaned.