The airplane ride to Montana was filled with silence. Adrian did not speak to her except when necessary.

Stomach twisted into knots, she rode with him to the Mitchell Pack ranch. It had ceased snowing, and drifts blew into the road and against the windshield of the four-wheel drive they’d rented.

Darcy wondered how long they’d have to remain at the ranch. Tristan had been vague. Perhaps deliberately. She huddled into her parka, for despite the heat blasting through the air vents, it was quite chilly in the SUV.

Finally, they came to the entryway leading to the ranch. A hand-cut wood sign read Mitchell Ranch. Adrian turned onto the newly plowed dirt road. After about half a mile, she could see a wood lodge. Colorful Christmas lights bedecked the front porch.

“I’m leaving you here and returning soon,” Adrian said curtly. “I’m staying long enough to be polite and fulfill my duty to you, Darcy. But I cannot remain here.”

“I understand.” A lump clogged her throat. “You don’t want to be around me any longer.”

His jaw tightened. “I cannot trust you, Darcy. But more than that, I cannot stay here because having two strong alphas in the same vicinity means a vicious fight. Aiden will feel threatened if I remain here long, and his instinct will be to protect his mate and pack from me and against the possibility I’ll take over.”

Something she never considered. “Aren’t you jumping to conclusions? He’s a powerful alpha, and if he felt you were a threat, he’d pound you into the ground, and I’m sure he has a security team willing to do the same. You’ve never met the Lupine.”

“I know alpha males. I know their capability and what drives them.” He pulled up before the wood lodge.

“Just as you knew me, right? Knew I was the right mate for you until you found out my origins. You can be a real ass at times, Adrian.”

She yanked open her door and then went to the back seat to grab her backpack, ignoring him. A male bounded down the steps, offered to carry it for her. Not wishing to offend, she handed it over and thanked him.

The lodge was impressive, filled with a cozy warmth as she went inside. Two leather sofas in an L-shape sat before a roaring fireplace in the living room. A fir tree, decorated for Christmas, sparkled with tinsel at one floor-to-ceiling window.

A tall, handsome male with a black beard, his arm protectively around a smaller blond woman, came forward. The male stuck out his palm.

“You must be Darcy. Tristan told me you were coming to visit. I’m Aiden Mitchell, pack alpha.” He gave a fond glance at the pregnant woman at his side. “This is my mate, Nia.”

“After that long drive, you’re probably hungry. And tired,” Nia told her, smiling. She made a gesture, and the male who’d brought in her suitcase hurried upstairs with it.

Darcy smiled at the alpha couple. “Congratulations. When are you due?”

Nia put a hand on her enormous belly. “I’m past due, actually. The midwife said any moment now.”

Adrian walked inside, his cool, dark gaze sweeping over Aiden Mitchell. Both males quietly summed each other up for a moment, and then Adrian briefly inclined his head.

To her surprise, Aiden did the same. He stuck out a hand, which Adrian shook. “Welcome to our home.”

“Thank you for welcoming us into your home,” Adrian told him, equally formal.

An attractive blond woman came forward. “Hi, Darcy, I’m Samantha. I’ll show you to your room.”

Adrian followed the alpha pair into the living room. Guess we’re not sleeping together.

She followed Samantha up the staircase. The guest room on the second floor was girlish, with a pink canopy bed, white furniture and pink-striped wallpaper.

“Sorry for all the Pepto Bismol colors. Nia got it into her head to decorate in pink because she’s certain she’s having a girl. Usually we give guests rooms that aren’t so pink, but we have a few staying here tonight for the monthly pack dinner. If you don’t like the room, another will be free tomorrow.”

“It’s fine,” Darcy said.

The woman had a fey air about her. Darcy’s nostrils flared. Her Changeling powers might have drained, but she still held some ability to detect origins. This Samantha had a touch, perhaps more, of fairy blood.

Interesting. She thought Lupine packs were strict in admitting only Lupines.

“You must be exhausted and hungry.” In her bare feet, Samantha strolled over to the window, pulled the pink-and-white drapes shut. “Rest for a while before dinner is served. We’re having prime rib, vegetables and salad. Or if you’re not inclined to dine with a whole pack of hungry wolves,” Samantha smiled, “I can arrange for a tray to be delivered to your room.”

Darcy thought of Adrian, who would never have a tray in his room. So impolite, after they’d been offered hospitality. Hiding away, as if ashamed.

“No, I’ll be down in half an hour. Is there anything I can do to help?”

Samantha patted her hand. “No, rest and unpack. Feel free to make yourself at home.” She pointed to a small stainless steel box near the white desk. “If you can’t wait until dinner, the mini fridge is loaded with snacks, everything from nuts to dried beef jerky.”

Samantha gestured to the phone on the white nightstand. “And if you need anything, pick up the house phone. Someone will answer below stairs.”

“Thank you,” Darcy told her.

Nodding, the other woman left, closing the door behind her.

---

Half an hour later, freshly showered and dressed in a turquoise sweater, black cords and Western boots, Darcy headed into the large dining hall. A large bank of windows overlooked the snow-swept meadow outside, illuminated by lampposts. Darcy headed for a counter holding a coffee pot, hot water and a box of tea. She poured herself a mug of decaf coffee and looked around the room, uncertain where to sit.

Samantha hurried over to her, with a wide smile. “Hi, Darcy. We don’t have assigned seating, and tonight I thought you’d enjoy sitting with me and Darius and our friends Kyle and Arianna.”

She tried to keep the hopeful note from her voice. “Is Adrian here yet?”

“Not yet.”

Samantha led her over to a round table where six places had been set. Four others were seated—Darius and a couple Darcy didn’t know. The couple had a baby in a highchair sitting between them.

“Darcy, this is Kyle and Arianna and their son, Jeremy.”

Murmuring a polite greeting, she took one of the empty seats. Heart skipping a beat, she searched the dining hall for Adrian.

And then she spotted him. Tall, strong, wearing a forest green flannel shirt rolled up his muscled forearms and faded jeans, he strode forward with purpose. Black hair gleaming, he looked as alpha as Aiden Mitchell.

With a start, she realized he’d shaved. Darcy liked the new look. It showed off the strength of his taut jaw and aristocratic cheeks.

Darius jumped up, escorted him over to their table. The two men talked as they wound their way through the tables. Offering a wide smile, Darcy rested her hand on the empty seat next to her as Darius made introductions.

Adrian nodded at them, his gaze avoiding Darcy. “A pleasure to meet all of you. If you will excuse me, I must dine with Aiden and Nia.”

Tightness settled in her chest. Darcy forced a smile, pretending it didn’t matter, though his leaving hurt. She understood pack politics, understood he should sit with the other alpha. But still, it hurt.

The meal smelled delicious, but she had little appetite. Darcy made polite conversation with the others as her gaze riveted to Adrian, deep in conversation with Aiden Mitchell at the head table.

Kyle took a spoonful of peas and fed them to the baby as Arianna looked at them both fondly. Too sweet. So much happiness and closeness made her feel even more alienated.

And then baby Jeremy put his chubby fist in the mashed potatoes on his plate and threw them at Darcy.

“Boo!” he said happily.

Both parents looked shocked as the sticky mess dripped off her face.

“Hoo,” she told him and began to laugh.

It was ridiculous to feel self-pity when a baby engaged you in a food fight.

“Jeremy, bad baby,” Kyle told him. He offered a clean napkin to Darcy.

Jeremy chortled at her, picked up a pea and ate it.

“You fit in just fine, if you can take a baby tossing food your way,” Samantha told her. “Congratulations, you passed the Jeremy test. I believe he’s targeted almost every Lupine who’s sat with Kyle and Arianna.”

“Oh, I couldn’t fit in here.” Darcy twisted the napkin in her lap. “I’m a Changeling Shifter.”

Forkful of potatoes paused halfway to his mouth, Darius stared at her, while Samantha gaped. Arianna and Kyle exchanged glances.

Might as well put the final nail in the coffin. Would they kick her out now or let her finish her meal?

“And my origins are from the Dark Kingdom.”

There. She’d said the two words every normal Lupine feared and hated. Darcy lifted her chin, challenging them. Maybe they would expect her head to spin around.

“Really?” Darius asked mildly. “Interesting.”

“More peas, Kyle?” Samantha asked, passing over the bowl. “Jeremy seems to like them.”

“It’s hard to get him to eat his veggies,” Arianna told them. “He’s like his daddy. He likes meat.”

“Maybe he’ll grow up to be like his daddy as well,” Kyle murmured. “Half Satyr, half Lupine.”

“We should be so lucky.” Arianna beamed.

Darcy’s jaw dropped. She struggled not to stare at Kyle, who looked like a muscled, lanky cowboy. Not a sexually deviant Other.

“Speaking of lucky, have you seen how happy Grayson is with his beautiful bride?” Samantha cut a small piece of meat.

Darius picked up her hand and kissed it, his gaze heated and tender. “As lucky as we are, sweetheart. Even if your Fae blood means you glow in the dark at times.”

“Your own personal night light,” Samantha teased.

Arianna smiled at her. “You see, Darcy, you’re among friends here in this pack. We do not judge Others on what they are. We’re all different.”

Samantha pointed to another table, where a man sat with a woman, his gaze fixated on her. “That’s Grayson. He owns the ranch next to ours. He’s from the Dark Kingdom too. Maybe you knew him when you lived there.”

“You allow him to dine with you?” She stared at Samantha.

“Why not?” Darius asked. “He’s a good neighbor. Fine cowhand too.”

Blinking, she set down her fork, tasting tears in the back of her throat. “This is why Tristan wished me to come here. Not because you are all pure Lupines but mixed, like me.”

“Many of us are,” Darius said gently. “It’s what gives us strength as a pack. When Aiden formed our pack, he vowed to help those who needed a home, needed to feel accepted for who they were, not their origins.”

“Our differences make us stronger,” Kyle added.

She swallowed hard. Adrian was the same way, except he detested Others from the Dark Kingdom. Why couldn’t he find it in his heart to accept her as this pack seemed to do?