My body ached as I rolled over in bed. For a moment, I’d forgotten why I was so sore, but then the events of the night came rushing back. A smirked twisted my lips. All the pain I was feeling was worth it.

“How was it?” Gracie whispered. She was lying in her bed, staring at me, as though she’d been waiting for me to wake.

“Amazing.” There was no other word to describe it.

“Did it hurt? The shifting part?”

I thought for a moment, trying to remember. “No, it really didn’t.”

“Then all the stories everyone tells are bogus?” There was relief reflected in her words.

“Yeah.”

Gracie propped her head up with the palm of her hand. “How are you feeling today?”

I yawned and stretched my arms above my head as I sat up in bed. “Sore, tired, exhilarated…”

“Well, congratulations.” She smiled. “I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to be Moon Kissed,” she teased.

“You and me both.” I laughed. “And probably every member of the pack.” I flipped my blankets off and stood. I couldn’t lay in bed any longer, not even to talk to Gracie. My body needed to move. A buzzing of excitement coursed through me that was hard to ignore.

The scent of bacon met my nose the instant I stepped into the hall. My stomach grumbled as I started toward the kitchen.

“Wow, shifting must make you work up a hefty appetite.” Gracie giggled from behind me. “That sounded like it hurt.”

I pushed on my stomach. “It sort of did. I’m starved.”

Gran flashed me a wide smile as I entered the kitchen. “There you are. Oh, Mina, I’m so proud of you,” she insisted as unshed tears glimmered in her eyes. “You adjusted so well last night to your new form. Congratulations on becoming Moon Kissed, honey. I knew you would. I had a gut feeling it would happen.”

“Thanks.” I moved to give her a hug and inspect what she was cooking. Bacon, eggs, hash browns, pancakes, biscuits, and gravy. “Wow. You’re cooking every breakfast food there is.”

“When something in life occurs that’s worthy of celebrating, the only way to do it is with food.”

I grabbed a piece of bacon and took a bite. “I can’t argue with that. I’m starved this morning.”

“Where’s your bracelet?” She nodded to my bare wrist.

Where was my bracelet? “I think it’s in my room somewhere.”

“Make sure you wear silver each day. You have to keep a leash on your wolf.”

Already I’d forgotten one of the most vital rules of being Moon Kissed. Seemed as though I was off to a great start.

I made a mental note to find my bracelet after I ate. I was too hungry to look for it now. I reached around Gran and grabbed a plate. My stomach let out another loud grumble I felt to my core as I piled a little of everything onto my plate.

“Everything looks great,” Gracie insisted as she reached for a plate.

“Thank you, dear,” Gran said. “There’s going to be a celebration dinner with the pack tonight. If either of you set out to do anything today, make sure you’re back home before six.”

“Okay,” Gracie and I said in unison.

Having a celebratory potluck meal the night after a successful full moon run always happened. Everyone brought something to add to the mix. Generally, when someone was Moon Kissed, the dinner was more festive, though. It would most likely be extravagant this time because five of us had been Moon Kissed at once. It was a rare occurrence. In fact, I’d never seen it happen.

“I’m making my famous sugar rum cookies and bacon brussel sprouts,” Gran said.

She never made her sugar rum cookies unless there was a special occasion to celebrate. I felt honored.

“I won’t be late. We haven’t had those in forever.” My mouth watered at the thought of them.

“I can’t wait!” Gracie insisted.

“Not only are we celebrating you and the others becoming Moon Kissed, we’re also celebrating the coming of a new birth to the pack.”

“Really? Who’s pregnant?” I asked around a fork full of pancake.

Gran’s face dimmed. “Taryn.”

My heart stalled out.

Glenn was still missing. He wasn’t coming back on his own, and I didn’t think Shane and his brothers were going to set him free anytime soon. Nothing was being done to find him. Everyone thought he’d finally had enough of Taryn and their constant fighting and hit the road.

“While the five of you becoming Moon Kissed is important, we also need to come together as a pack and support Taryn during her time of need,” Gran said, pulling me from my thoughts.

I set my fork down. My ravenous appetite had vanished. “Has anyone said anything about Glenn? Is there any more news on him?” I knew there wouldn’t be, but it seemed like the appropriate thing to ask.

Gran shook her head. “I’m afraid not.”

“Do you think he left her?” Gracie asked. It broke my heart that she knew how real the possibility of someone leaving was firsthand.

“I’m don’t know,” Gran insisted.

“Why would he, though?” Gracie asked. She stabbed at her hash browns.

“Sometimes people do things we’ll never be able to understand,” Gran said as she prepared herself a plate.

A stillness settled over the three of us. I knew it was because we were all thinking of Mom.

Dad emerged from the back of the trailer. His limp was back and his face was already etched in pain. Frustration rolled off him in waves. I wished I could help ease what he felt but knew I couldn’t. No one could. Only pills and alcohol helped him anymore.

“Morning, girls,” he said as he made his way into the kitchen with the use of his cane. He fixed himself a mug of coffee and reached for one of his pill bottles lining the counter. I watched as he dumped a couple pills into his hand and popped them in his mouth before taking a swig of coffee to wash them down. His gaze drifted to me as though he could feel my eyes on him. “Congratulations again, honey. I’m so happy for you.”

“Thanks.” I forced my eyes away from him. Seeing him in pain always killed me.

* * *

After breakfast, I dressed and found my bracelet. Once I had it secured on my wrist, I decided to go for a walk. I needed time to process what I’d learned about Taryn. Should I talk to Eli about it? Wasn’t it time we told his dad what we knew about Glenn’s disappearance? I wasn’t sure what he’d do, but telling him seemed better than keeping the secret to ourselves any longer.

Especially now that there was a baby involved.

Dark clouds were rolling in when I stepped outside. The promise of rain lingered in the air, and I wondered if we’d have to postpone the celebration dinner tonight because of it. It wouldn't be the first. The last time it rained during a celebration dinner, the canopy a pack member had bought was destroyed by the downpour.

“Congratulations, Mina, dear,” the Bell sisters said in unison as I passed their porch. I waved and flashed them a polite smile as I continued toward the woods. “Looks like rain. If you’re heading to the lake for a swim, you best hurry.”

“Yeah. I hope it holds off for the dinner tonight,” I called back to them.

A gust of wind whipped through my hair. It was definitely going to storm tonight. I could smell the rain hanging in the air. A vehicle heading my way had me stepping off the gravel road so they could pass.

“Congratulations, Mina,” another of the pack members said from inside the cab as it cruised by.

“Thank you,” I called out to them before stepping back onto the road.

“In a hurry to get somewhere?” a familiar voice asked. The rich rumble of his voice had me pausing in my tracks as my stomach flip-flopped.

Eli sat on the wooden steps of his trailer. A burlap sack was on the ground between his legs, and there was a black trash bag to his left. He held an ear of corn, shucking it.

“No,” I said even though I was positive he could tell it was a lie.

Of course I was in a hurry. My guilt from knowing what had happened to Glenn was suffocating me. I needed to submerge myself in nature so I could breathe.

“What is it, can’t stand everyone congratulating you this morning?” he asked as he continued to peel back the silken husk of the golden corn. “Or is it that you heard about Taryn?”

“Both.” I sighed as I tucked a stray hair behind my ear the breeze had released from my ponytail.

I moved to where he sat and grabbed an ear of corn from his bag, hoping chatting with him about it all would ease what I was feeling. My hands began the familiar process of prepping the corn to be eaten, and I felt my heart rhythm slow. The thoughts racing through my head chilled out, and I told myself it was from doing something I’d done a million times, not from being in Eli’s presence. Gran purchased fresh corn from the farmer’s market every summer. When she did, it was always mine and Gracie’s job to shuck it for her. That was all this feeling was.

“I was shocked to hear about it, too,” Eli insisted.

I chewed my bottom lip, unsure if I should voice the question pounding through my head.

“Do you think we should say something to your dad now?” The words propelled themselves past my lips on their own accord.

Eli shook his head. “I told you, he’s busy with something else.”

“This is important. This involves a member of our pack. It involves someone abducting members of our pack and selling them,” I pressed. There was nothing more important than this. There couldn’t be.

“Trust me. What my father is handling involves members of our pack as well. It’s just as important, if not more so.”

“I guess I just don’t understand what could be more important than this.”

Eli sighed. “I can’t tell you, Mina. I would if I could, but I’m not at liberty to give you any details.” A rawness entered his voice when he spoke. I believed him. If he could tell me, he would have. It must be big if he was sworn to silence. “Besides, we don’t have any proof. We don’t even know where Glenn was taken. What good would telling my dad what little we know do?”

“It would ease my conscience,” I admitted. Eli didn’t speak. Instead, he continued peeling off the corn husk and tossing it in the garbage bag beside him. “Don’t you feel bad for keeping it to yourself?” I had to ask. How could I not? The guilt was what was eating at me most.

“Not particularly. It’s not enough information for anyone to do anything with.”

My stomach twisted. “Then we have to get more.”

“I figured you’d come to that conclusion.” He smirked as though he knew me so well. “How do you propose we do that?”

I thought for a second. “We can continue to scope out the woods at night and see if Shane or his brothers mention anything else about where Glenn was taken. We can check out his oldest brother’s vet clinic, too. Maybe there’s something there. A clue or something.”

I tried to think of anything else we could do but came up short.

“Sounds like a plan.”

I placed the ear of corn I’d shucked into a bucket on the step behind him and reached for another one. “Where did you get all this corn?”

“It was payment for a job I did. I helped one of the farmers in town mend their fence.”

It didn’t surprise me. Eli was always doing side jobs for trade. “What are you going to do with all of it? It’s a lot of corn.”

“Eat it,” he said in a smart-ass tone.

I slapped him playfully on the shoulder. “Well, yeah. I figured that much.”

“Seriously though, I’m using most of it tonight for the dinner. The rest I plan to blanch and freeze.” He ripped off a handful of husk and shoved it in the black trash bag beside him. “You don’t have to help. You can head to the lake, but before you go I have something for you.”

He stood and reached into his pocket. My heart hammered against my rib cage. Eli had something for me?

When he pulled out a tiny silken sack and held it out to me, my curiosity piqued.

“You didn’t have to get me anything,” I said as it took the bag from him. It weighed almost nothing. My mind reeled with what might be inside.

“It’s nothing major. Just something I thought you could use,” he said as he repositioned himself on his step.

I loosened the drawstring top and dumped the tiny bag’s contents into the palm of my hand. A silver ring spilled out. I plucked it from my palm and stared at a beautiful silver crescent moon attached to a silver band.

“You’re going to have to wear silver more, you know. Gotta keep that wolf of yours in check. Plus, when I saw it in the shop, I thought of you,” Eli said with a shrug of his shoulders.

“It’s beautiful. Thank you,” I said as I continued to stare at the ring. It was delicate and simple, but stunning. It was perfect.

“You’re welcome. Put it on,” Eli insisted. His eyes were on me. I could feel them. When I lifted my gaze to lock with his, I noticed how bright his eyes were. Emotions swirled through them that had my breath hitching in my throat and butterflies flapping. “See if it fits.”

I slipped the ring onto the index finger of my right hand. “You got the right size.”

“Good.” Eli tossed another husk-free ear of corn into the basket behind him. He stood and reached for his front door. “You thirsty?”

I licked my lips. “Yeah, I could go for something. Got any soda?”

“No, but I’ve got apple pie moonshine.” He winked.

“Is that all I’m ever going to drink over here?”

“Would that be a bad thing?”

“I guess it could always be worse.” I laughed.

“So, is that yes?”

“Yeah, sure. I’ll have a sip. After all, I am celebrating.”

“Damn right you are. You’re Moon Kissed now,” Eli said before disappearing inside his trailer.

I grabbed another ear of corn and began shucking it. My cell chimed with a new text. It was Alec.

Hey, getting ready to head to Mirror Lake Diner for lunch. Want to come? I’m meeting Shane and Becca, plus Benji of course.

I reread his text, debating on how I could decline. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to hang out with him or some of his friends. Shane just ruined the scenario for me. Plus, I didn’t want to dip out on Eli. A part of me wanted to hang around and help him shuck corn while I sipped apple pie moonshine.

Actually, I have to take my sister somewhere. Can I take a rain check? - Mina

Yeah, sure. No problem. Maybe we can hang out later this week, or even this weekend.

Definitely. - Mina

I hated lying to him, but lunch might turn into dinner and I couldn’t miss the celebration with my pack.

“Here you go,” Eli said as he stepped out of his trailer. There was a red solo cup in both hands. “I poured it into a cup this time, since we’re drinking outside. That way no one scolds me for allowing an underage girl to drink alcohol in my presence.”

“Nice,” I said as I shoved my cell back into my pocket. Eli handed me a cup, and I took it.

“Everything ok?” Eli asked as though he could pick up on the unease trickling through my system.

I tucked a few stray strands of hair behind my ear. “Yeah. Sure. Why wouldn’t it be?”

“I don’t know. You look like something is bothering you. Figured I’d ask.”

Guilt trickled through me, but I was quick to force it away. There was no need to feel guilty. I was hanging out with my pack today, which included Eli. We were celebrating. All of us. Not just Eli and me.

“I’m fine,” I said as I plastered a smile on.

“Yes, you are.” Eli grinned. His eyes appraised my long legs and heat rushed to my cheeks. My grin grew until it crinkled the corners of my eyes, and I slapped him on the arm. “There’s a real smile,” he insisted. His eyes darkened with a heavy sense of determination I wasn’t aware he possessed.

I licked my lips as the sticky heat of passion rushed across my skin from the look in his eyes. Eli leaned closer, his teeth skimming his bottom lip as his eyes remained locked on mine. He was going to kiss me. I should have moved, but I didn’t. A part of me wanted his lips pressed against mine, to taste him across my tongue.

It was wrong, but it couldn’t be denied.

Inches remained between us before I was able to get a damn grip. Everything about him had pulled me in, begging me to remain where I was, to let it happen.

I leaned away from him, but it was two seconds too late.

His lips brushed across mine, causing my entire body to respond at the feel of him. My stomach coiled as his tongue snaked out to tempt my mouth. I exhaled a tiny moan I was instantly ashamed of. Eli pulled away, sending shockwaves of heat pulsing through me. My body and mind went to war. One wanted more while the other could only think of Alec.

Sweet, southern, sexy Alec.

“I’ve always wanted to do that,” Eli whispered, his breath caressing against my face.

My stomach somersaulted. Had I always wanted to kiss him too?

Eli placed distance between us, allowing me the space I needed to remember how to breathe. He lifted his cup in the air. “To being Moon Kissed.” A wolfish grin spread across his face. “Finally.”

“Yeah, finally,” I said with a smile as I tapped my cup to his.

I took a swig of the liquid fire he’d poured for me and went back to shucking corn, trying to ignore the feeling his kiss had stirred to life inside me.

Celebrate.

That’s what I was doing today. Everything else would come tomorrow.