The discovery of the orphan network stunned Dominic, Phoenix, and Raphael, but it also began to explain how Ayla had managed to slip away from them.
In their packs, they didn't really have orphans, so this was a way for them to learn how those orphans lived, were raised, and thought.
If a pup was in need, other wolves seemed naturally inclined to take them in and protect them.
They survived through pack mentality, always looking out for one another and keeping the group strong.
Leaving someone out in the environment, especially a pup, required extreme circumstances, like failure to thrive, serious illness, or betrayal of the alpha.
Realizing that humans had an abundance of children living in buildings, simply figuring out how to survive was blowing Dominic's mind and setting his thoughts in motion.
Spies.
These girls had practically admitted they were amazing spies who managed to go unnoticed every single day.
As the three men glanced at the two beautiful women on the couch, they realized they had no leverage to strike a deal.
Not yet, anyway.
If they wanted to gather any information from the new network of orphans they had stumbled upon, they would first need to figure out exactly what stipulation the girls had.
What was the single condition they needed to meet, though?
Clearly, the girls had some leverage if they were already asking for something in return.
Dominic wasted no time in asking, "What's the stipulation?"
He was burning at the haunches to know what information they were keeping from him, because something told him it was worth the barter.
Stella and Rhae both smiled, pleased to see that he was giving in so easily.
"We'd like you to bring Alexander and Ayla down before we start talking. We are familiar with them and trust them, no offense."
Phoenix and Raphael looked uneasy, knowing they had already been turned down when they asked for Ayla.
Phoenix was curious about one thing, though: what about Julius?
Why hadn't they asked for him to join them?
Dominic figured the couple would probably be free by then, or at least he hoped so, thinking the girls' stipulation had ended.
"Phoenix, check if they're available, and if they are, invite them to join us. Make sure to fill Ayla in before bringing her down, you know how she can be," he said with a nod.
As he sent his lieutenant to bring the circus ringleader and her assistant, Dominic found himself wondering just one thing.
As Phoenix had thought before being sent to summon Ayla, he couldn't help but wonder why Julius hadn't been mentioned in the stipulation.
He was every bit as much a part of it all as the rest, maybe even more so.
The girls hadn't called for him despite that, but that only sent his instincts into overdrive.
They clearly indicated they knew about him by referring to 'the three orphans,' yet they specifically requested only Ayla and Alexander to be present.
What did they know about Julius, and what had he done that they planned to use against him?
As his thoughts began to spiral out of control, he started to gently rock his head back and forth, rubbing his hands together in a subtle attempt to calm himself, taking slow, deliberate breaths to keep his wolf in check.
Orphans were known for fending for themselves, but Julius was his son, his own flesh and blood.
What would Dominic choose if it came down to him having to either protect Ayla or his own son?
His efforts were starting to lose their edge, his wolf growing restless as they waited for Phoenix to return with the couple, and Raphael could feel it.
"It's going to be fine, I'm sure of it. You just need to trust everyone, right? You do trust all of us, don't you?"
Dominic gave a hesitant nod as Raphael finished speaking, and Raphael caught it instantly, the uncertainty reflected on his face.
"I know you and Phoenix; everyone else is a stranger. Well, not even that. Just one look at your throat is enough to realize that, with some people, time doesn't mean a thing. You know that Ayla wouldn't let anything happen to you," he thought for Dominic to hear.
Raphael realized that Dominic was just trying to ease his own doubts as he spoke to him, which made him wonder, 'Is he doubting the girls or Julius?' he thought, hoping no one had overheard.
The answer came quicker than he expected, startling him and signaling to the girls that they were in communication, but it didn't bother them as they simply shrugged it off.
They anticipated it after making their request.
"Julius. I have no idea what he's up to. He told everyone to stay home tonight, but he's not here, and no one mentioned wanting to see him. I can't help feeling nervous about why," he thought, aware that Raphael could hear his thoughts.
Raphael tilted his head back slightly, glancing upward from the corner of his eyes as he began to think.
From what he'd seen, there was no way Julius had done anything even remotely concerning toward any of them.
The General's son was the most loyal appearing person from the group, when it came to Ayla and Alexander at least.
Was he really, or had things crossed the line when Dominic was attacked?
Maybe he was loyal to Alexander, but was he truly loyal to Ayla?
Did orphans generally stick together, or was it only the closely bonded ones who stayed loyal to each other?
All they could do now was wait, which wasn't doing much for the two men, who were anything but patient, constantly shifting in their seats.
The silence hung awkwardly in the air as they waited for Phoenix and the other two to come back.
Not wanting the questions to linger any longer, Raphael decided to ask.
"When it comes to the town orphans, do they feel loyalty to all orphans, or only to those they bonded with during their childhood?"
He realized the question didn't sound right, but he tried to frame it in a way that kept it distant from them and as minimally intrusive as possible.
Rhae understood why he was asking and hesitated at first, but then she glanced at Stella, who seemed ready to respond.
She realized it would be better to talk to Raphael instead of her counterpart.
"I understand you have questions. I'd feel the same in your place. But I'm not ready to explain how our system works just yet. You'll need to wait until Ayla and Alexander arrive."
It didn't tell him much, yet somehow, he felt it told him just enough.
If they were all loyal to each other, she'd definitely be proud to say so, wouldn't she?
His thoughts were spiraling, and he needed a distraction, fast.
As they waited, Dominic suddenly realized he recognized the faint blend of scents drifting just ahead of him.
He no longer believed the two girls in front of him were entirely innocent.
"Have you two been near other wolves today?"
Their eyes widened as his words hit them.
It felt like he had stumbled onto a big secret they were desperate to keep under wraps.
Stella, with a playful glint in her eye, replied as coyly as she could, "What makes you ask?"
Dominic flashed a knowing little smirk; one Raphael had come to recognize.
"If you haven't noticed or learned yet, wolves have a distinct scent, especially unique to each pack. Maybe you just haven't been aware you were wolves for long enough to know that."
He paused, giving them a moment to figure out how to respond.
Stella stepped up to bat, once again proving she was the dominant one of the pair.
"No, we didn't know that. Why is it important? What does it have to do with us sitting here right now?"
"Everything! Take a deep breath and soak in the scent of the air around us," Dominic said.
The girls followed his request, their noses twitching slightly.
Dominic went on, "The four of us, me, Phoenix, Raphael, and Julius, have this scent. Salt mixed with a hint of spruce, because I always figured the Moon Goddess thought our pack was closer to the ocean or something. That's what I believed, anyway. But it's fading now that I no longer claim the Silver Moon Pack. What I'm saying is, two scents are mixing in here between you two."
Stella and Rhae gulped nervously at his words.
"Honestly, we haven't been with anyone except each other and you three. I have no idea what you're smelling."
Raphael glanced at Dominic, momentarily puzzled as the scent seemed to drift from the girls and grow stronger in front of them.
The realization slowly dawned on him.
"When you scared them, their scent secreted for a moment, but now it's even stronger. It's them, Dom. You're smelling them."
The two men took another sniff of the room, trying to distinguish the different scents.
They were faint, making it a bit tricky to pick out the distinct characteristics.
Raphael hesitated, unsure, as he shared his thoughts.
"I'm sensing salt, it could be us, though, maybe an okame cherry tree, but there's also this hint of vanilla, probably from her lotion..."
Stella's annoyance was clear, her lip curling and nose scrunching at his remark.
"No, I don't. Neither of us uses lotion. What made you think that?"
He glanced at her, careful not to say something he'd regret.
"Phoenix said you smelled almost like warm vanilla, and I figured it was just lotion. Sorry, turns out it's a pack scent, which means we've been clueless from the start. Stella, that means your scent is kind of like snow blended with okame cherry blossoms. Now that we've identified her as a Moonlight Shifter wolf, that leaves the salty, um, fir, and uh… dirt. But she's never actually smelled like that before."
Dominic chuckled while attempting to steer the conversation with Raphael.
"She can't control the pack she was born into. That said, she doesn't associate with them or claim them, so she usually doesn't carry the scent of the Deep Fang Pack. From what I've seen, when she was around Mason and the others, she seemed to show a strong dislike for them. Am I right?"
Rhae agreed without having the slightest idea who they were talking about.
"Exactly. Awful people, reeking to high heaven and everything."
Her eyes widened more than ever as she shook her head, pressing her lips firmly together.
"That's why she never smells like them unless she's extremely scared, or at least, that's what I think. Rhae has seen them but severely distrusted them. She wants someone like them to protect her because she sees them as fierce and capable, yet she has no desire to be involved with them. It's intriguing."
"You mean I don't have to stay with the pack I was born into?"
Both men shook their heads in response to her.
"Can I choose her pack and stay with her?"
"Absolutely. It's ultimately your decision where you live and who you want to be with. Since no one really knows much about you, it'll be easier to choose any pack, or none at all."
"I'm not joining that awful-sounding Deep Fang pack. I'd rather be part of the…" she began, realizing she had no idea what she was even getting at when she started talking.
Rhae had no idea what the pack was called that she was trying to claim, but she knew she didn't want to smell like salt and dirt.
Is that why she was so openly defying her natural pack, their scent?
Suddenly, fear washed over her as she questioned what she was doing and if her words would make any difference at all.
Dominic chose to give her a hand.
"If you're certain, then she was born into the Moonlight Shifter Pack," he said, offering the name she seemed to be searching for.
Rhae gave a grateful nod as she glanced over at Stella.
"From this moment on, it's my wish to join the Moonlight Shifters Pack. I want to be one of them, not a member of the Deep Fang wolves."
It was like a jolt of lightning struck her chest the moment the words slipped out.
Suddenly, Rhae clutched her chest, her hands flying there in an instant.
Raphael stared at her, uncertain of his next move, when the lights caught his attention.
He quickly glanced out the window, then back at the girl on the couch.
Blue lights suddenly seemed to course through her veins, flowing effortlessly through her entire body.
Now, he glanced at Dominic, as if seeking guidance on what to do next.
He casually glanced out the window at the full moon, glowing brightly in the sky, as though it revealed everything Raphael needed to know.
What had Rhae done?