Intuition
Chapter Twenty Three

Eve turned her eyes back to Ellie. The music around them continued to bring the mood up. Everyone had gathered plates of food and were ready to get to the gift giving part of the evening.

Ellie had already opened Chelsea’s gift and was busy thanking her by the time Eve tuned back into the goings on. The present was what appeared to be a locket with the GraySky crest on it.

“Me next.” Lana handed her a box wrapped in pink paper.

Ellie took it and ripped the covering away. It was a massage oil set with a candle light warmer.

“Oooh!” Chelsea nudged the bride to be.

“Thank you, Lana. I’m sure Austin will love it.” She giggled.

“Hey! Being a warrior is hard work. He could use a rub down now and then.” She grinned.

They all laughed as Ellie’s face flushed.

“I’ll vouch for the warrior thing but you should make him give you one too.” Chelsea chirped.

“Okay, ladies. I’m next.” Faye handed Ellie an envelope.

“Mysterious...” She accepted it and examined it before opening it. “This is too much!”

Ellie handed Eve the envelope. She peered inside to see two tickets for the spa in Monette. All expenses had been paid.

“Take it. Please. They owe Jay so it wasn’t as much as you think.” Faye reassured her.

“Are you sure?” Ellie asked tentatively.

“Positive. Eve, back me up.” She nudged the Luna beside her.

“Just take it, Ells. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.” Eve handed her the envelope back.

“Thank you." Ellie took Faye's hand gratefully.

"Last but not least." Eve pulled a dress box from under her seat.

It was a whit box wrapped in a simple black ribbon with a gray bow.

"I would shake it but it's so pretty." Ellie looked the gift over.

"Then don't shake it. Open it." Lana giggled and nudged the bride.

"Okay." She untied the ribbon and lifted the lid.

A book sat on top of some pink tissue paper. Ellie picked it up and turned to the first page.

"The story of Ellie, as told by Eve." She read aloud.

Tears formed in her eyes again as she flipped through the pages. Eve had collected every picture of Ellie she could replace from through the years. Each one was dated with a year and the memory of when it was taken.

"Our first run together. The full moon, October 2006." She smiled and turned the page. "Pack History Fair, 2008. I remember this."

Next was Ellie's graduation. Followed by her eighteenth birthday, her twenty first birthday, the Call last year when she met her mate. The last page was blank though it did have a title. "Ellie's wedding, 2017."

She immediately hugged Eve around the neck, inhaling her familiar scent.

"This is amazing." Ellie whipped her cheeks and grinned.

"That's not all. Look in the paper. I didn't get you a huge box for that little book." The Luna laughed.

She grinned excitedly and pulled the pink tissue paper away from the fabric underneath. Hidden there was a hunter green negligee made of lace and a matching thong.

"Wow!" Ellie giggled and covered it quickly.

"It won't last more than a second but it'll be fun." Eve shrugged amidst the laughter around her.

"I feel like saying that's what she said." Chelsea chirped.

"What 'she' are you talking about?" Lana giggled.

"You watch too much television." Faye laughed.

"Thank you, Evie." Ellie took her hand.

"You're welcome, Ells." She smiled.

A few minutes later, the group was drinking and dancing again. Eve had to use the bathroom so she exited the backroom and walked through the main part of the bar. On her way back to the party, she felt eyes on her.

These were not the protective eyes of a StarLight warrior. She froze in place and inhaled the air around her. Eve's senses felt alive and her wolf was very much on alert in her mind. The scent of a half-breed wafted through the space around.

She turned immediately toward it to see a young woman in a leopard print dress. She didn't have on a jacket like the humans around her and she was leaning on the ice bar with her bare elbow, unbothered.

Call Flint. Leave. Danger. The Luna stated.

We're in the valley. There are bound to be rogues here. Eve reminded herself.

Not rogues that stare at us all night. The she-wolf protested.

Eve took a few slow deep breaths through her nose, just as her mate had told her. She wanted to be able to control the power that was beginning to fill her chest. The half-breed stood from her seat, still watching her.

"Can I help you?" Eve barely contained a growl when the rogue stopped in front of her.

"No. I'm a messenger." She held out a black envelope.

"What is that?" She probed without raising her hands.

"I don't know. I'm just a messenger. You aren't in any danger from me. Please, take it." She held out the envelope again, more forcefully this time.

Eve carefully took it from her and examined it. To her surprise, the half-breed waited patiently and continued to watch her.

"It's okay. Open it." She stated calmly.

Eve furrowed her brows at the woman before looking back at the mysterious object. She pulled open the flap and cautiously looked inside. She didn't know what she expected to replace but there was only a folded piece of paper. She unfolded it and her eyes widened in shock at the familiar calligraphy.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Dear Eve,

I know that there are many questions awaiting me and I am willing to give the answers. However, there is something happening in the bloodline that I cannot explain. My power has swelled though the reason is unclear to me.

I believe you have the answer to that. I would like to have a talk with you but I couldn't reach out to you when you were in GreenTree with StarLight. Even if I have wished to on several occasions.

Should you wish to see me, you will have to follow my instructions. Do not tell anyone of this letter or of our meeting. Not even Flint. I trust you with this.

At 6 o'clock in the evening on the 21st of December, come to the Fire Fly on Locke Road in Summerville. It's a diner with a large green sign and excellent shepherd's pie. Wait for me in the last both by the widows, to the right of the kitchen.

I hope to see you there and that my trust in you has not been misplaced. Be well, Luna. May the Goddess watch over you.

Love, S

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Who is this from?" Eve stared at the half-breed in shock.

"You know who it's from." The young woman nodded.

"She-" She cut herself off and glanced around.

The warriors Flint assigned to the party were watching her.

"Do you think you might like to try the shepherd's pie?" The rogue asked calmly.

"The..." Eve nodded, understanding the code being used. "Yes. I'll be there."

The half-breed nodded with a smile before heading to the exit. As she stepped toward the doorway to the back room, a warrior stepped up to her.

"Everything okay, Luna?" She asked quietly.

"Great. Just got a restaurant recommendation, that's all." Eve replied.

She sat on the sofa as Ellie and her friends danced around the small room. Eve couldn't pull herself out of her thoughts.

We cannot hide this from him. Her wolf stated.

We need to talk to her. If we tell Flint before she wants us to, we may lose our chance. Eve explained.

Or it's a trap. We can't go alone. That would be stupid. The she-wolf argued.

Then we won't go alone but we can't tell Flint. Not yet. He would insist on coming with us and it could scare Selena away. She replied in her mind.

Then who? The animal asked.

Someone loyal enough to us to have our back. And they can't be afraid of Flint. Eve pondered.

That's going to be a hard person to replace. The she-beast sighed.

Tell me about it. She again turned her attention to the party around her.

Selena could have the answers she needed about the mounting power inside her. Eve had to replace out. She knew that if she told her mate, he would refuse to let her go alone. He would have refused even before she was pregnant, but now he would be impossible to convince.

She knew only that she had to speak to the traitorous former Luna of StarLight. Even if she had to keep it from those who care about her. Even if she had to replace a way to lie to Flint. No matter what, she had to get the answers to her questions. Eve was sure about that.