"Is there someone you would like to bake for?

" Agnes asked the glowing Luna seated at her island.

"My mother,

" August nodded.

She had been thinking about it as everyone took turns sharing their memories, and while her mom was still living, she was lost to her in a way akin to death. It was upsetting to think of it that way, but she didn't know if her mother would ever remember her or if she would ever see her again.

"We have so many ingredients here prepared for this night, so whatever you wish to make, I'm sure we have it,

" a soft smile spread over Ethel's face. Like Sylvia, Ethel was another whose eyes always seemed to be smiling.

"How about just chocolate chip?

" August laughed. It was so simple compared to the rest, but she wouldn't be surprised if they didn't have just chocolate chips as an ingredient here with how sophisticated all the others' tastes seemed to be.

"Absolutely,

" Agnes beamed, walking to a large pantry and disappearing only to come back a few moments later with yet another glass container. This one was labeled 'choc chips.'

"I am a baker, dear. I collect ingredients,

" the older female responded proudly to August's visible surprise.

"And how about you, little one?

" Ethel turned her attention to Sage, who had been listening quietly to each of them tell stories about their loved ones. He shook his head quickly.

"Are you sure?

" she pressed, and he nodded emphatically to the question.

"Then maybe you can help us all, Sage. What do you think of that?

" Sylvia asked from the far side of the island.

"And we always need a taste-tester,

" Agnes winked at him.

Sage brightened, nodding with his glittering emerald eyes.

August wondered what the pup's story was. He was a stray who had been taken in along with his older sister. But he had never opened up about it, and he seemed uncomfortable being asked if he wanted to bake for anyone. Maybe one day he would confide in August about his own past. Or maybe he had been too young to even remember much.

"August, Sylvia and I were impressed by your sketch,

" Charlotte pulled August from her thoughts.

"The pack would benefit greatly from a designated space for females, pups, and strays.

"

"Yes, August, it is so beautiful,

" Sylvia agreed.

"I wish there had been something similar much earlier. It will bring those together who desperately need to be surrounded and supported.

" Sylvia's voice started to waiver, and she looked back down into the dough she was mixing.

"It will also be a good place to receive reiki or other alternative forms of wellness,

" Greta added.

"Did Graeme say when they would start on it?

"

"There is a lot happening at the moment, but it is a priority when things settle,

" Charlotte replied.

"I thought it was a great idea, too. I went through some things in my teen years that were… traumatic,

" August started to explain,

"and it would have been such a huge help to have a place like that to go to be with others. With humans at least, it seems like everyone avoids the subject of what you are going through if it makes them feel uncomfortable. But then it makes you feel that much more lonely.

"

"It is like that here, as well,

" Charlotte spoke those wise, measured words of hers that were always so aware and welcoming and calm.

"Particularly when it has to do with the loss of our alyko.

"

August and Greta's eyes met, and they both seemed to wonder if Charlotte would reveal the information about the fae, the elders, and the possibility of the alyko still being alive. It was an unspoken agreement that they would wait for Graeme's plan to unfold tomorrow. But Charlotte moved on.

"What has our Luna had to deal with alone?

" Charlotte asked.

August felt all of the blood drain from her face in an instant.

"Uh… my step father. He was abusive to my mother and just cruel in general,

" she said quickly, avoiding the event that she had truly been referring to. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the extent of her truth either.

She felt their eyes on her as she added more chocolate chips to her bowl. They knew she wasn't telling them something. Even Sage's attention had come to rest on her in curiosity. But that wasn't something she would ever tell them. They would certainly think less of her, their Luna, if they knew.

"Did Graeme pay him a visit while he was off land?

" Greta chuckled as she pressed the pie crusts into miniature pans.

August raised her eyes to stare blankly at Greta. She had never asked him if he saw Alan. She just assumed that he would have mentioned it, because that would have been a big deal. But the conversation with Penelope had so many huge revelations, it overshadowed everything else he might have relayed to her otherwise. Hopefully he didn't meet Alan.

Then again, Graeme did say he was shot… August's face paled even more. Why hadn't she gotten the details of that? With everything else that happened in such quick succession after he returned, she never thought to come back to the subject to ask him how it had occurred. He was fine, and she was fine after the bear attack, and they just kind of left it at that. She didn't want him fussing over her, so at the time she had given him the same consideration—somehow believing the injury to be related to his wolf form. But now she wondered about it, and the worry began to carve itself deeper into her stomach. What had happened? Why was he hurt?

When there was no answer to Greta's question, she looked up and met August's confused expression.

"It just seems like something he would do. I can't imagine him letting anyone off the hook who hurt you.

"

August's mouth fell open as the realization hit her—the truth of Greta's words. What had likely happened. She was suddenly so sure of it.. He had gone after those two guys who had raped her.