Aurora, Leo, and Aunt Theresa composed music while the Prince had inner struggles. Meanwhile, Luna Kildare nervously stared at the privacy gate of a grand mansion. What was she doing here? This was no place for her. The man inside would undoubtedly put her out none too gently and threaten to have her arrested if she dared to darken his doorstep again. She should just turn around and go home.

Luna was on the verge of doing just that when the gate clicked, and the greatest pianist, in Luna’s opinion, to ever walk this world appeared. Dear Calista! He answers his own doorbell? I’d have thought someone like him would’ve had a butler to do that, Luna thought to herself. Her palms grew sweaty, and she tried not to wipe them on her pants.

“May I help you?” the man’s rich voice, laced with a slight British accent, asked in a reserved, poised manner. Luna felt his eyes boring into her, probably sizing her up. She tried not to squirm under the scrutiny of the Alpha Wolf’s eyes.

Luna gulped, squared her shoulders, and called upon every ounce of her courage which, to her, didn’t seem like much. “Mr. Landgraab? I–um–I’m sorry to interrupt your weekend. I looked you up on the Chamber of Commerce website and called ahead. Your wife told me to come right over. My name is Luna Kildare, and I’d like to speak with you, Sir.”

The man’s eyes warmed considerably, his reserved expression changing to a smiling one. “Oh yes! Erica told me we were going to have a visitor. Your daughter is close friends with my own granddaughters, yes?”

“That is correct, Mr. Landgraab.”

“You can call me Amadeus, or Deus, if that suits you better.” He stepped back and beckoned her inside. “I am glad to meet you and hope to meet your sweet daughter soon as well.”

Luna breathed out a long sigh, not realizing until that moment that she’d been holding her breath. “Thank you,” she all but squeaked while following Deus to the kitchen where a beautiful blond woman was pouring glasses of wine.

“I hope you like Chardonnay, Ms. Kildare. Aurora and Andrea have told me you and your daughter are quite fond of wine,” the blond woman said, warmth in every word of her voice. “It’s a little early in the day, I know, but we gather this isn’t exactly a social call. I thought a nice glass of wine would ease any nervous tension.”

“Thank you. Chardonnay is lovely. Yes, I’m afraid Grace and I certainly have a weakness for wine.” Luna’s face relaxed into an authentic smile. “Call me Luna, please.”

“And I’m Erica.” She set glasses of wine before Deus and Luna, then sat down with one of her own. “Now then, what can we help you with?”

Luna felt Deus’s intense gaze on her again, his keen wolf’s eyes seeming to search her very DNA. Then, he exchanged a quick glance with his wife and turned back to Luna expectantly. Taking a deep breath, she plunged in. “First, I wish to thank you for welcoming me into your home. You may regret that choice after you hear what I have to say.”

Once again, Deus and Erica exchanged a look. This time, Erica spoke. “A heavy burden becomes lighter when shared. It’s clear something is troubling you, and it certainly isn’t by accident you’re here. We seldom consider being inhospitable unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

She must be such a wonderful mother, Luna thought to herself. The kindness in Erica’s face nearly undid her. She had to blink back tears lest they spill over and completely embarrass her. “I sincerely hope this won’t be one of those instances. You see, this isn’t normally in my nature to do and say what I’m about to. I have my pride, but pride takes an absolute backseat to my daughter’s wellbeing. I would not be here if not for her.”

“We completely understand that sentiment,” Deus said. “Any good parent would do anything to see their cubs—uh—kids safe and cared for. Please go on.” Deus once again looked intensely at Luna, as if searching for something. As a Wolf, Luna knew Deus was a walking lie detector. Was he searching for some kind of hidden agenda she didn’t have?

Luna took a big fortifying drink of wine before plodding onward. “Grace and I are new to Aurora Skies, having just moved here this past Summer. My Grace was gravely injured in a school shooting while we lived in New York. I would have lost her had it not been for something miraculous.” A single tear rolled down Luna’s cheek this time as memories of that awful time assailed her.

“Here, now,” Deus said, patting Luna’s hand and putting a box of tissues in front of her.

Erica squeezed Luna’s other hand, held on for a long moment before letting go. “I’m so sorry, my dear. That is any mother’s worst nightmare.”

Luna dabbed at her eyes, swallowed hard, and worked to compose herself. “We are so very blessed and I thank the gods every day for her life.” After a long pause, she continued. “We moved here to get a fresh start, and it was the best decision Grace and I made. We’re putting our lives back together, and she has lifelong friends who love her. She’s getting the stability and healing she needs, and I will do anything I can to see it not change. Even if I have to beg, grovel, and plead, I’ll gladly do it for Grace to be well and happy.”

Again, the couple shared a look, and Luna literally felt the air around her crackle. Deus was looking at her more intently than ever, but she couldn’t read anything more. She shivered slightly and hugged herself, wishing she could just curl up into a little ball and hide.

Somehow, the great Wolf sensed what she was feeling. The next instant, his large, warm hand rested atop hers and squeezed gently. “Do not fear me, dear Luna. I will not harm you, and I will see that no harm comes to you or your beautiful daughter. I have been waiting for this day for a long, long time.”

Completely taken aback, Luna could not speak. A small squeak was all she could produce, and she simply goggled.

“I think we both have much to say to one another. I’m fully aware you are about to drop a bombshell on me, but I surmise you never expected I’d have one for you. If it makes it easier for you, I will drop mine first. Perhaps that will help you with yours,” Deus said slowly and gently, his strong, nimble fingers softly caressing the back of Luna’s hand, his wine glass poised in the other.

“I don’t understand,” she squeezed out through a mightily constricted throat.

“I know, but you will. Shall I continue or would you like to instead? We can take as much time as you need.” Deus continued to speak in low, soothing tones, which gentled Luna’s taught nerves.

“Here, darling. Drink more of this. It will help,” said Erica, pressing Luna’s freshly filled wine glass into her hand.

Luna gratefully obeyed, downing nearly half the glass in one go. She mumbled what sounded like an incoherent thank you, took a deep, cleansing breath, and said a silent prayer to Calista to help her follow through. “I need to say what I came here to say before I chicken out.”

Deus squeezed Luna’s hand again and smiled encouragingly. “All right then. Let it fly.”

Luna took another drink of wine, sipping it this time. “When Grace and I moved here, we rented a small house from a lovely woman, Kayla Richards, who gave us a very doable price. Now, we knew this was only temporary until I could find us something more permanent but affordable. Unfortunately, Kayla needed to sell the property and is moving to Riverview to take care of her aging parents. Kayla gave me notice that the new landlord would raise the rent considerably and at a cost I could no longer afford. The fact that we hadn’t made any permanent plans yet alarmed me. I’d hoped to add more funds to our savings before we pulled the trigger. Grace doesn’t know our situation, and I don’t want to tell her until absolutely necessary. I’m afraid it would set back her healing if she knew how precarious our situation is.” Luna heaved a tremulous sigh. “I did some digging and discovered that the new landlord was you. When I found out, I knew I needed to see you, no matter how pathetic it makes me appear or how frightening it was to me. I have to tell you my deepest secret because I feel there is no other choice.”

Once again, Deus and Erica exchanged a look, and Luna wept brokenly. Deus’s eyes went soft, but his lips formed a grim line. He still had Luna’s hand in his, and she felt his fingers tighten even more around hers.

Luna took a handful of tissues and mopped at her face. “I’m sorry. This is just so hard for me.”

“I think we understand, dear,” Erica whispered. “You need to finish, darling. You won’t feel complete until you do.” Deus nodded his silent agreement and gently encouraged her to keep going.

Luna asked if there was a way to negotiate the rental price to something she could handle, then watched as Erica refilled her glass. She took a smaller drink, then looked directly into Deus’s eyes. “You probably won’t believe me and I would understand if you think me addled, but to my knowledge and on my mother’s honor, it’s true. I feel I need to reveal this in hopes you will have mercy on us. Deus…Mr. Landgraab…I am your daughter. You sired me with my mother, Gabriella, many years ago…before you began your family.”

Deus and Erica exchanged a long, knowing look that Luna could not read. With tears in her eyes but smiling, Erica inclined her head toward her husband and ran a loving hand over his hair. This time, it was Deus who took a long breath and exhaled it shakily. “I know, sweet girl, and I’ve known this for a long time now. I’ve been waiting for you for an eternity.”

Luna went pale and slid from her chair toward the floor. With superhuman speed, Deus caught the slight fairy in his arms before she hit the floor in a dead faint.