Chapter 1 - Violet

“Are you sure about this, Violet?” Luna Grace asked.

I paused, unsure of how to answer. Was I sure about leaving everything I had ever known to live as an ambassador to two different wolf packs with whom we had a tenuous relationship? No. Was it a little too late to second-guess my decision? Absolutely.

“It won’t be forever,” I replied.

Ever since Alpha Jasper had left Sparkle Hollow with Luna April, there had been peace between our packs. Between all the packs in the area, for that matter. But the tension and distrust had never gone away.

When the Sparkle Hollow alpha and luna had asked for a volunteer to live in Pinedale to be their representative and help smooth things over, I volunteered, but I would be lying if I said it was an easy choice to make. On the one hand, peace was at the forefront of my mind. On the other hand, it meant I would be away from home and everyone I knew for an undetermined amount of time.

“We just want to make sure you’re sure before you leave,” Grace said.

“It’ll be fine,” I assured her.

“Everything you need is already in your car, and we’ve programmed the address into your GPS,” said her mate, Lex, the alpha of the Sparkle Hollow Pack. “Alpha Jasper is expecting you when you arrive.”

Jasper Sanders—the ruthless, arrogant alpha of the Dark Moon Pack—was not my ideal welcoming committee. I hoped that the stories I had heard about him weren’t entirely accurate,but at least I would get to spend some time with April while I was there. I had only spoken to her a few times since she had become Luna of the Dark Moon Pack, and I was looking forward to catching up on our friendship.

I waved to Grace and got into my car, ready to make the four-hour drive to Pinedale. My parents stood on the front porch of my childhood home, waving proudly as their only daughter left home to serve their pack. I smiled at them, happy that I was able to carry on their good name as I worked toward peace.

But as the car pulled away from my parents’ home, I thought of how everything in my life was about to change. More than anything, I was going to miss my daily routine—waking up early to watch the sun rise over Main Street, spending the day painting, then working in the afternoon and evening before heading home to unwind after the day. My life in Sparkle Hollow was uncomplicated. I could only hope that true and lasting peace between the packs could be achieved quickly so that I could return to my usual pursuits.

This entire situation had me feeling nervous, but I was determined not to show it. I had my orders.

My main mission, after ensuring peace, was to find out how the two packs were managing to live in one town without stepping on each other’s toes. Lex didn’t fully believe that things were going as smoothly as we had been told, and I was under strict orders to see if that was the case. My ability to blend into the background and observe would hopefully come in handy.

I wasn’t what anyone would call an extrovert. In fact, most people assumed I didn’t like them when we first met because I rarely showed interest in the people around me until I had cause to. Some people might have considered me to be aloof, but I preferred to think of myself as cautious. There was noreason to let people into my inner mind or develop feelings for them if we weren’t going to be an important part of each other’s lives.

At times, I wondered what it might feel like to be able to make friends quickly, but I wasn’t interested enough in finding out for myself to change how I interacted with the world.

I had wondered whether this personality trait would hinder my ability to get acquainted with the Dark Moon wolves in Pinedale, but Alpha Lex had assured me that it would be fine. After all, it’s not like any of them had a reputation for friendliness.

***

The drive was even more uneventful than my thoughts, and in less time than I’d anticipated, I found myself driving up the curving road toward Alpha Jasper’s home in Pinedale. As I passed each house, I saw faces peering out from behind their curtains. A few people came outside to watch me as I drove past. I wondered whether their curiosity was piqued by my sudden arrival or if they had been prepped in advance.

The alpha and luna of the Dark Moon Pack were waiting in their driveway to greet me as I stepped out of my car.

“Violet!” April said, walking toward me. “I’m so happy to see you. Do you need help with your bags?”

“I didn’t bring much,” I replied as I popped the trunk of the car.

Jasper surprised me by appearing at my side and grabbing all three of my bags out.

“Thank you,” I said.

He shrugged, remaining impassive as he carried them into the house. It appeared that he wasn’t much for words.

“Don’t mind him. He takes a little getting used to, but he’s much kinder than you’ve been led to believe,” April assured me.

I smiled at her, but I wasn’t sure that it reached my eyes. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe her, exactly, but I would need to see proof of his changed behavior before I would be able to let my guard down around the man who had terrorized our pack for so many years.

April led me up the stairs and through the door of her home. From the front door, I had a clear view of the entryway and living room. As I had expected, April had decorated her home simply while still giving it a calming touch. Neutrals and wood tones dominated the space, alongside functional furniture and decorative pieces. A wooden shoe rack stood by the front door, along with a coat rack. I was surprised to see that both were full.

I raised an eyebrow at April questioningly when I spotted them.

“Don’t freak out,” she said. “But Jasper invited a few members of the pack to have dinner with us so that they could meet you. He wants to have a pack meeting afterward and wanted to make sure you had the chance to get acquainted before then.”