RECAP: Maverick and all the Alphas in the surrounding areas gathered to discuss the ongoing threat and attacks of the Dracs. They all agreed to form their battle alliance by the end of the week. Also, Elora's family came to visit and check up on her since she has been missing school. The chapter ended with Elora and Maverick showing each other their love for one another.

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"Great rehearsal everyone! Please remember that next practice we will be getting costumes assorted. Elora, may I talk with you for a moment?"

I look over at Mr. Droney, nodding my head. I have a hunch of what he wants to talk to me about.

He waits for most everyone to leave before approaching me near the edge of the stage; his eyes hold a hint of guilt.  At the look, my shoulders sag before he even says a word to me.

"I decided that Lea, your understudy, will be taking your role in the musical due to your numerous absences. I know you were sick, but, she already has clicked with the rest of the cast, and it's only fair. I'm sorry, Elora. You can still be an understudy to the part and help with the backstage crew..." His voice trails, and for once, I hear the slight sadness in his voice rather than strictly annoyance.

It is fair, and I do understand, but that still doesn't mean I'm not upset about it.

Feeling the tears trickle down my cheeks, I mumble an "okay. I understand," before grabbing my backpack and heading out.

This isn't how my senior year is supposed to go. I'm supposed to be the star of the musical, graduate with honors, give an amazing speech at graduation while also boast about my amazing mate who is an Alpha...

Okay...so maybe I'm not going to graduate with honors, and I definitely won't be giving a speech at graduation since I'm neither the class president nor class valedictorian, but a girl can dream, right?

The one thing I have had in that list is the musical role. Just this once, I wanted to shine in it. Now, I can never have that happen.

I can't help but to cry. I try to hold it in, but once I see my best friend giving me her small smile, the flood gates open. Her smile turns into a frown as she envelopes me in a hug.

"Shh shh... it's okay, El." She tries to soothe me, but I continue to cry until I begin to annoyingly hiccup, causing me to be more irritated than sad.

Between hiccups, I manage to get out, "I'm an understudy" *hiccup* "Missed too many practices" *hiccup*

She only nods along, still hugging me close.

After several more minutes of my blubbering, she draws back from the embrace, wiping the remaining tears from my eyes.

"Why don't we go to Wolfie's for some burgers? That always cheers you up!"

...

Ten minutes later we are seated down at a comfy, corner booth in Wolfies, awaiting our large order of three milkshakes, two deluxe burgers and two large fries.

Okay, maybe I am waiting for all that while Kaia only is waiting for a glass of apple juice and a plain cheeseburger. I need to find a friend who is just as much as a food lover as me so I can feel better about ordering all this food.

Maverick doesn't count either...he barely eats in front of me. Come to think of it, when does he take the time to eat?

"At our last pack meeting they gave us all a curfew. We can't be out no later than eight at night, and no later than six by ourselves... how bad are these—uh—things?" Kaia speaks up , shaking me from my thoughts on Maverick's basically non-existent eating habits. I look up to see her kneading a napkin between her hands nervously.

The memory of the Drac attack is still too fresh of a cut to think about.

"Bad. Once were done here, I'll call Maverick and have him take you home immediately..."

She rolls her eyes playfully at me. "Oh please, I live like two blocks away, I'll be fine walking...it'll just be six by the time were done here anyway."

"Kaia, I'm serious. We will take you home."

She shakes her head. "You still never told me about what all happened to you."

Before I can answer, our food thankfully arrives. She doesn't question me further. She must know I will tell her when I'm ready, and I'm not ready to at the moment.

After several odd glances from people shocked at the mountain of food I'm consuming by myself, we finish and pay. I let Maverick know as to where to pick me up. He said he would be here in a few minutes.

Kaia though being the stubborn person she is, declines my ride offer again, saying that it is still daylight and she will be fine.

Once she finally convinces me, she says her goodbye and walks out the door. The sun is shining lowly, so it eases my worries about her being unsafe.

I wait inside in the booth for Maverick, scanning all the people who are seated in the small diner. Many older couples are seated in the other booths, a few younger teens could be seen giggling in one of the corner booths.

And in one booth closer from the teen's booth, sat a leaner man in about his early twenties. If it wasn't for this deeper ugly scar that goes from his right cheekbone down to his chin, he'd definitely be a handsome man.

His eyes are slightly narrowed, but I can still tell he has darker brown eyes. His hair is almost a bluish black in the fluorescent lighting, matching his thicker eyebrows that hang loosely over his eyes.

It takes me a solid minute before I realize he is staring intently at me; sorta creepily but not with a lustful expression. He's looking at me as if he is studying my every move and trying to guess what I will do next.

I tear my gaze away, but it's too late. I can hear footsteps approaching my booth.

Once they stop I drag my gaze up at the man; his smile is warm, but undeniably off. It just doesn't seem to fit the rest of his features. The smile looks too foreign on him.

"Sorry if I was staring before...you look oddly familiar. I'm trying to place where I have seen you before." His explanation as to why he has been staring at me seems to make sense.

To be honest, I have never seen him before in my life, but I tend to be forgetful so I could've met him by chance one day.

"I'm sorry but I seem to not recognize you...are you a sibling or relative to anyone that goes to the local high school here?" I figure he must be an older sibling or cousin to one of my fellow classmates.

"No...it's not that...it's oh! I know! You're Luna of the Valiant Ula pack, correct? My cousin is apart of the pack, and I recently have been visiting him while here on a job."

"Yes I am. I'm mated to Alpha Maverick Quinn. I'm sorry, but who is your cousin? I'm still continuing to get to know my new pack," I try to sound enthusiastic, but I'm honestly tired at this point and just want Maverick to come so we could go home and snuggle.

" My cousin's name is Ian Sommelier." I freeze at the name. He notices my expression, and a look of supposed worry washes over his features. "Is there something wrong with him? I honestly haven't heard from him in a couple days...have you happen to see him recently? I know he's Gamma of the pack so he could be on a mission to another pack or whatever the Gammas do...I've been trying to get ahold of him, and he won't answer."

My heart sinks. His cousin is the current traitor of our pack; one of my ex friends.

I think about coming right out and saying he is a traitor, but then I look at him again.

Wouldn't he have heard the news by now of him being a traitor? Everyone else knows by now.

"Have you not heard?" I ask, giving him a questionable look.

"Heard what?"

"He betrayed the pack. He's been working for the Dracs." Anger flashes in his eyes briefly, and I figure it's because I basically called Ian a traitor.

But instead, he only remarks lowly to himself, "they're called Dracuwolves..."

He must realize I heard him based on my shocked expression before clearing his throat, "Sorry. I just get irritated when people say the shortened version of words. It's a pet peeve of mine. And as for my cousin, I am so sorry to hear this. I've been so busy with work I didn't hear the news yet. I can't believe he would do such a thing."

He isn't convincing me. He doesn't seem sorry in the slightest. I begin to feel uncomfortable, but I make sure to not show him.

"I couldn't believe it either. He was a friend of mine...or so I thought." I decide to keep my answer simple. I don't want or need to share more with this strange man.

"Excuse me but that's my mate." A familiar voice states.

My wolf and I both perk up as he approaches the small booth. At this, Ian's "cousin" slightly backs away from the booth, upon viewing Maverick's flashing yellow eyes. He doesn't appear scared, just not in the mood to fight.

"I apologize, I will get going. It was nice to meet you, Luna Elora. Thank you for telling me about my cousin." He waves and exits the diner. Maverick watches him intently as he leaves before turning his gaze back to me.

"Who's his cousin?"

"The traitor." Maverick doesn't say anything as he tugs me out of the booth. He swiftly leads us to his car and hastily starts up the engine.

"Maverick...what's wrong?"

He only keeps muttering, "it can't be" under his breath as he speeds to our pack.

"Maverick! What can't it be?!" I angrily yell out. He better not start that whole "not telling me" thing again.

As he continues driving he says, "that's most definitely his cousin. A cousin I thought that didn't exist. What else did he say to you?"

Pondering over everything that was said, I remember something. "He didn't realize Ian was a traitor until I told him. He also corrected me when I said Dracs...he said it was Dracuwolves. Nobody calls them that?"

"Nobody but the Drac's themselves. They like to emphasize that they are also part wolf, not just vampires."

Was he saying Ian's cousin was a Drac?

I mean it would make sense, except...

"He didn't have red eyes like the other Dracs though?"

Maverick turns to me briefly, but as our eyes meet he doesn't have to say anything more.

Ian's cousin is the leader of the Dracs.

I have just possibly talked to their leader!

And I had actually called him handsome!!

"I thought he'd be uglier," I state lowly under my breath. This causes Maverick to slam on the breaks. He whips his head so he is looking at me.

"Excuse me?"

"Uh ...what's up with the scar on his face?" I ask another question, hoping he'd forget what I just blurted out prior.

He gives me a side eye glance, as if saying "I know you're changing the subject," before biting his lip in thought.

"It could be from a battle or accident. I'm not quite sure..."

"Is he the mysterious sibling of Alek?"

He doesn't answer, but, instead, starts driving again, increasing the speed with each second.

**edited 2/10/22**