Page 30 of Moonlight & Mayhem

“And then what happened?” she asked. Moon hesitated to answer, and Chris seemed to catch that. “And what happened next?” she asked again.

“There was someone with you,” Moon said.

“A Capitol wolf?” Mayhem asked.

“No,” Moon said.

“Was he from the Hollow Pack?” Mayhem asked.

“I don't think so,” Moon said.

“Who exactly did you see?” Tempest asked.

“I couldn't see his face,” Moon insisted.

Chris folded her arms over her chest. “Well, that’s not very helpful,” she mumbled.

“Chris,” Mayhem said, her name in warning.

“I'm fine,” Moon insisted. She stared back at Chris. She hated that she didn’t have more answers for her VP. “I’m fine” was always the words people said right before everything changed.

Chris squeezed Moon's shoulder. “We deal with your psycho moon cult first.”

“Hollow Pack,” Chrome corrected.

Chris looked at him. “I liked psycho moon cult better.” Chrome's mouth twitched, and Moon noticed something pass between them. It was brief—almost nothing, but Moon noticed. She seemed to notice everything tonight for some reason.

Chris turned back to Tempest. “Lock the clubhouse down. Nobody rides alone until we know what we're dealing with.”

Tempest nodded. “Agreed. I'll double patrols, too.”

“I can go out with the first group,” Chris offered.

“No,” Tempest said, stepping closer to her VP. Chris frowned. “You're not going out tonight.”

“Why the hell not?” Chris growled.

“Because Moon just saw you covered in blood,” Tempest said.

“That doesn't mean—” Chris started.

“VP,” Tempest shouted. She didn’t need to say anything else. She was giving an order, and Chris knew it. Her jaw clenched, and for a moment, Moon wondered if she would challenge Tempest.

But she backed down. Chris nodded. “Fine.”

Tempest squeezed her shoulder. “Tomorrow, you can go out on patrol,” she offered. Chris looked away, and Moon studied her. Christmas wasn't afraid easily, but for the briefest second, Moon smelled the fear on her VP before it quickly disappeared.

Chris headed toward the door. “I'll make sure everyone knows we're locked down.”

She stopped and looked back at Moon. “And you?”

“What about me?” Moon asked.

“Stop treating yourself like the least important person in this clubhouse,” Chris said. Moon blinked at her VP. Chris nodded toward Mayhem. “Looks like you've got someone willing to remind you how important you are.”

She walked out, and Mayhem smiled. “I like her.”

Moon sighed. “Of course you do.”