"Alpha, there's a Ms. Korhonen here to see the Luna." Roy, the guard at the gate. contacted André via the pack mind link. "She says she's expected."
André looked out the window, surprised to see how dark it a become. "Ask for her first name." He sent back, standing to stretch.
"Eevi."
"Let her through." He looked over at his son cuddled against his sister, both fast asleep. And he reached for his mind link to his Gamma. "Tom? I need you to come to my office and guard Lorenzo and Celeste while Theo and I help Yvonne."
"On my way."
He reached down to brush a curl off Lorenzo's forehead, still almost not believing he was real. That this whole episode wasn't a dream. Touch was the best way to fight that fear. He tightened his hand into a fist. Not touching Phoenix had been excruciating at times. Hopefully he'd get both his sister and the ability to touch his lovely mate, back soon.
The door opened silently and Tom walked in. His calm eyes scanning every area before coming to rest on André.
"I've started researching other packs in history who had committed any crime even close to what the Lunar Craters have done so far and the punishments dealt out. As well as each and every law they've violated," he said via their link so as not to wake the slumbering pair. He nodded to the books in his hands. "May I use your desk?"
"Of course. I await your findings. If you'll excuse me?" André took a step towards the door, paused, and glanced back at his son.
"I'll protect them with my life, Alpha," Tom said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I know, Tom." And turning on his heels, he left the room.
***
He stood in the entry way with Theo quietly discussing different strategies when the front door blew opened.
A tall, elegant woman walked in. She was startlingly beautiful. With white blonde hair pulled into a deceptively simple top knot where corkscrew curls were allowed to pull free to rest against skin so white it was almost translucent.
She wore power like the black cape that she was pulling off to fling at the wolf escorting her in and carting her baggage. She was dressed in a deep red dress that clung to her perfect curves and stopped just above her knees. Showing killer legs in high red heels. Diamonds glittered at her ears and around her neck. An unsmiling mouth set under a classically straight nose. Large golden amber eyes, surrounded by darkened lashes and below furrowed light brown arched brows, stared coldly around.
Those eyes stopped on him and slowly took him in from the top of his hair to the toes of his shoes and back. She met his with a distinctive lack of respect that had Theo growling and his wolf rising. He had never seen such cold eyes.
"Eevi!" They all turned at the sound of Phoenix's happiness. And watched as she dashed down the stairs at an unsafe pace. André took an involuntary step forward, but she reached the bottom unharmed and hurled herself into the cold blonde's arms.
Those eyes soften and what might have been the start of a smile tilted the corners of her lips before she regained control. "Little One."
Phoenix bounced back a step to smile at her. "I'm so glad you're here."
André watched the blonde tilt her head. "You've meditated again? Why?" Phoenix closed her eyes as a tear escaped. "Oh." Those cold eyes shot to him. "I'm proud of you."
Phoenix grinned. "You always say that when I choose the prudent path."
"And I always will."
"It's a very dull path you want me on. I wish you would try the reckless one sometimes."
"And I wish you'd stay on the prudent one for more than a heartbeat before charging back down the reckless one."
Phoenix gave a thrill of laughter. "Well, I have a mate now... Who knows?" She spun to grin at him. "André, have you met Eevi yet? No? André, this is Eevi Korhonen of The New York City Wolves."
André felt his eyes widen. The New York City Wolves were just one rung lower than the Counsel, in werewolf law. And because they did not have a pack, being pulled from packs across the country, they were often the jury when a wolf stepped over the line. They were the makers of rogues.
Phoenix started laughing. "Oh no! Oh, André, your face! I can't breathe! André, she didn't make me a rogue. I made her a New Yorker. Her and her mother." She shrugged. "Eevi, I'd like you to meet André Belcourt, Alpha of the Bell Moons, the third seat on the Council, and my mate."
"How did you..." He bit back his question at her sparkling look.
"You'd be surprised what I know."
Those cold golden eyes warmed slightly. "A Council member? Maybe you will be able to handle her after all."
Phoenix gasped, "Mean," but she was smiling.
"Are you ready, Little One?"
"I was ready hours ago." Phoenix hefted two of the bags up only to let go when André gently took them from her. She smiled at him, before giving herself a little shake, and linking arms with Eevi. "This way. You'll like her doctor. He's clever and opened minded. They have everything set up to your specifications. It's all ready to go."
She came to a stop at the door to Yvonne's room. A wheeled table stood in front of it. Phoenix nodded to the next room over. "You can change in there. We'll wait."
Eevi took the smaller of the two bags and closed the door behind her.
Phoenix turned to André. "She doesn't make a good first impression, or even a third. But she'll fight with all her strength for Yvonne. And if she gives you her loyalty, there is no one better. Forgive her coldness, it's a façade. She's saved my life time's uncountable. And it was her spell that allowed me to save Yvonne and Luc from kidnappers that one time."
"I can see she means a lot to you. That's all I need to know."
Her beautiful eyes filled with tears. "Thank you."