I pulled her into my arms and wrapped them around her tightly, holding her close. She instantly buried her face against my neck, inhaling my scent. After a few moments her aura receded and she lifted her head, looking up at me. Her eyes had changed, well one had anyway, her left one was now a translucent red instead of her usual translucent pale green. I didn’t try to hide the shock on my face.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” She looked at me, searching my face for the answer.

“Your eyes Aly… They’re different…”

“What do you mean they’re different?” She glanced over at the others as if looking for confirmation.

“Holy shit Aly, one is red!” Mat jumped off the couch, walking over to inspect her eyes.

“What?” She jumped out of my arms and ran to the bathroom to look at them in the mirror. “How?”

*Aramyth, do you know anything about this?* She did notice the mind link did not cause her eyes to haze over at all though and she could track both the internal and external going ons. That would be handy.

*I do. You’re starting to come into your own. It will return to normal shortly, and eventually you will be able to control it. There are likely to be other color shifts along the way as well. They will correlate to your skills and at times your moods.*

*Will it always just be one?*

*That I do not know. It may just be because it came on suddenly and we are sharing your body right now.*

*Thank you.*

*Of course, Little Luna.*

Alyce returned, looking at us all as she reentered the room, “Aramyth says it will return to normal shortly and that it’s from my innate abilities awakening. Whatever that means. She also said there will likely be other colors along the way.”

I opened my arms for her and she placed herself back in them. “While it shocked me, I must admit it’s kind of fascinating to see.” I kissed the top of her head and held her close.

“Just one is kinda weird though. Not gonna lie.” Brandon shrugged with a grin.

Alyce laughed. “That’s fair. She’s not sure if that’s just because we’re both in control right now, or if it will always be just one. Oh and uh, I can now communicate via mind link without my eyes showing it or zoning out.”

“Really?” Kami sat up straighter now, clearly a bit surprised by that info.

Mat looked at Alyce and we all watched his eyes haze over. *Testing, testing, one, two, three.*

*Very funny Mattie.* Alyce giggled, but we could all see her eyes looked perfectly normal.

*I thought I was being highly amusing.*

“How is she doing that?” Kami asked.

*Wanna watch me freak them out?*

*Oh, absolutely.*

Cedric stood up and walked over and kind of waved his hand in front of Alyce’s face. Alyce reached out and caught him by the wrist, causing him to jump back a little. “I really don’t know how I’m doing it. I just am.”

We all looked at Mat, eyes still hazy. Alyce grinned. “The mind link is still very much open and active. I can track both internal and external.”

Mats' eyes cleared up and he laughed a little, pulling Cedric into his side. “Ok, that is both creepy and cool… And maybe more than a tad amusing at my dear mate’s expense.”

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Cedric rolled his eyes and smacked Mat in the shoulder. “Should have known you were in on that little stunt.”

“To be fair, it was my idea.” Alyce laughed and leaned into me.

I held her tighter and shifted us so I was sitting on my desk, with her between my legs. I was content letting the group have some fun despite the serious matters we were dealing with, “It’s nice to have my inner circle complete now.”

“You have a good group, if I do say so myself.” One of Alyce’s radiant smiles spread across her lips as she spoke.

“We have a good group.” I corrected her.

She laughed and turned her head so that she could press her lips into mine. I was more than happy to accommodate this.

“Yes, we have a good group.” She answered breathily as she pulled away from the kiss.

A crumpled up bit of paper bounced off my shoulder suddenly, “Get a room you two!” Mat teased.

“Are you volunteering yours, Mattie?” Alyce asked.

“Eeewww, no. No hetero sex in my room thanks. Gross.” Mat over exaggeratingly gagged at the thought, causing all of us to laugh.

“Then the peanut gallery should keep his opinions to himself.” Alyce stuck her tongue out at him.

“Does he know how?” Cedric asked.

“Only when it’s important from what I’ve seen.” I answered.

“I mean, you’re not wrong.” Mat shrugged his shoulders and owned it.

“So, who wants to tell us about whatever is happening in the conference room?” Cedric asked, shifting the topic back to the matters at hand.

“Research of course!” Brandon’s delivery made it sound like that should just explain everything in and of itself.

“Research into what dork-face?” Kami asked, nudging his thigh with her foot like he was an idiot.

“Silver Moon and Lucien. We’re trying to dig up all the details that we can on the previous and current status of the pack and everything past and present about Lucian.” I filled in the missing info.

“See, now that makes much more sense than what dork-face said!” Mat jumped on the bandwagon with Kami, laughing.

“Hey! Whose side are you on here Beta?” Brandon acted as though he was insulted.

“Aly’s, always. Otherwise, whoever’s side gets me in the least amount of trouble. In this instance, I’m pretty sure it’s Kami’s.”

“Wow. No love today.”

“Aww, c’mere Brandon. I’ll give you some love, man!” I opened his arms as Alyce hopped out of my lap so I could join in on picking on Brandon. I even stood up and walked towards him.

“Not what I meant, Tristan!” Brandon jumped over towards Kami, causing her to squeal and curl up, thinking he might land on her. He laughed and jumped over her, catching her fist in his side as he did so.

“Brandon, you jerk! Hug him Tristan!” She demanded.

“You heard her love, now you have to.” Encouraged Alyce.

“Well, who am I to deny either of you. Mat, Cedric… Help me catch him!”

Brandon made a beeline for the door, with the guys hot on his heels, all of them laughing.

“We’ll meet you at dinner!” Kami called after them.

“I’ll pick up Rian, you just worry about accomplishing your task!” Alyce laughed.

As an afterthought Kami added, “I want a video, or it didn’t happen!”

“I guess we’ll find out if they found anything useful later.” Kami said, laughing as she got off the couch. “I’ll come with you to get Rian.”

“Thanks. 10 bucks says Tristan and the boys have him cornered in the dining room by the time we get there.”

“I’ll take that bet, but I say they have him in the rec room.”

“You’re on.”

Alyce and Kami headed out of the office, laughing as they took the elevator down to the playroom on the first floor.

Rian heard his aunt and mother’s laughter as they came down the hallway and jumped up from the blocks he was playing with, “Mommy! Auntie!” He started to run for the door and then remembered his inside feet, changing to walking just as fast as his little legs would carry him.

Alyce and Kami stopped at the gate, Alyce scooping Rian up as one of the attendants joined him at the door. “Hello my little Teine. Were you good while we were away?”

“Yes! I builded da biggest tower ever!”

“Oh my, that sounds very exciting.” Kami grinned at him.

“And did you put your toys away before you came over here?” Alyce asked.

“No, but Ty is still playing wif da blocks.”

“It’s alright Luna, Lady Kami. We will help Ty clean them up when he is done. It was lovely to have Rian with us for a little while. He had a good time with the other pups.” The attendant said.

“Thank you, Gina.” Kami smiled at her.

“Tank you!” Rian said as Alyce and Kami headed for the dining room, via the rec room to see where I and the other guys had gotten to.