Page 61 of Conner's Luna

I turn to walk out of the hallway and back into the living room, checking to make sure Dad is still in la-la land. I'm worn out and honestly, Trey's idea seems like it's the best one. Not that he deserves any credit, but I'm not going to be stubborn at my own expense. Trojan horse or not, I have to check out the other universities.

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Conner

I'm a fucking idiot.

"You're a fucking idiot," Braxton walks into the room, glaring at me.

"I know," I snap.

"You really tried to feel up Bailey? You just stepped over that fucking line?"

"I was half-asleep," I defend myself. It's a pitiful excuse, really. Especially because I can't honestly say that I wouldn't have pushed for that intimate moment had I been totally lucid. I cringe at the thought. It makes me the sort of sexual predator that deserves to have his balls freeze-dried.

"It's no excuse," my little brother shoots back.

"I know," I admit harshly.

Braxton scoffs derisively. "Whatever. Uncle Dev called while you were fighting with yourfriend. He thinks there's been another abduction."

"Shit."

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"Ariana Mary Liefson," Sam, one of Uncle Devel's team, intones in a calm, clear voice to the group gathered around the computer screens. "She was last seen on Thursday night walking home from an eight-o-clock class, which places the time between nine and nine-fifteen."

"A night class?" I interrupt. "If she was taking night classes then she probably wasn't an undergrad."

"She was. Age is twenty-four. Still young," Sam clears his throat. "She has a son, Jayden, six. He stays with her parents during the week. She's supposed to pick him up Friday nights. They're the ones who called it in."

"Lone-wolf family or pack?" Sarj asks.

Uncle Devel's face twists. "RedMoon. She was rejected after she got pregnant with another male's child."

"Is the baby daddy involved?" I ask.

"No."

I scowl and shove my hands in my pockets. "So it's just her, her son, and her parents?"

"What has RedMoon done to help?" Sarj asks Sam.

Sam and Uncle Devel share a significant glance. "Ariana's parents called us."

Stunned, I ask, "RedMoon doesn't know she's missing?"

"Not that we're aware. Her parents are sure she's no longer on pack territory. According to them, both Ariana's mate and baby daddy were at a pack training session Thursday night. So they have alibis."

"Does baby daddy have a mate?" I ask.

Sam grimaces, "he does. And Ariana's family doesn't know where she was Thursday night."

"Who is it?"

"Stasia Kellen."

The name sounds familiar. I look at Sarj, who coolly remarks, "one of Lydia's close friends."

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