Judy’s POV The last thing I remembered was that I had fallen asleep on Gavin’s chest. I didn’t tell him about those she-wolves and the nasty things they were saying, and I didn’t tell him that I had gone to Irene about it, and she offered to give me etiquette lessons. I already knew what he would say about that. He would tell me that it’s not necessary and that I was perfect the way that I am. I know he would mean well, and it might make me smile in the moment, but I also knew that it wasn’t entirely the truth. I was expected to be the Luna of the biggest and most powerful pack in the world. I needed to make some profound changes, and plus, with everything going on in our lives, Irene with her mate dilemma, and me with these strange dreams and feelings I’ve been having, we’ve both needed a distraction. I woke up to the sound of someone knocking like they’re trying to drill a hole through the door. When I opened my eyes, I was alone in bed. Gavin told me last night that he had to leave early for a meeting this morning and most likely wouldn’t see me. But he’ll be home tonight, and perhaps we could go to dinner in the city. Even still, I hated waking up alone, and my heart ached with the need for my mate. “Time to get up, Sunshine,” Irene calls, the knocking continuing even louder now. I groggily glance at the clock, internally groaning. It wasn’t even 9 am yet. “For what?” I murmur as I sit up. “Nap practice?” “Etiquette,” she said, swinging the door open even though I didn’t invite her to do so. The moment I saw her standing at the doorway, hands on her hips, my eyes widened at her appearance. I could have screamed with joy when I saw how put-together she looked. It was almost like she was reverted to her old self, and standing in front of me was just Irene. She wore a cream blouse, sleek black trousers, and heels sharp enough to cut feelings. Her makeup was perfect, and her hair was tied in a low, yet neat, ponytail that fell down her back. I slid out of bed as Irene rummaged through my closet and dressers, trying to find something proper to wear. “Why are you dressed like a board meeting?” I mumbled, pushing my hair into a bun that is, frankly, a cry for help. “And why am I suddenly being punished?” “Because you need the help and I need the distraction,” she said with a shrug. “We’re doing Luna lessons before Liv can say another word out of her stupid mouth.” I knew she was right. I couldn’t let these she-wolves get the best of me, and if she was earnest about protesting against me being the Luna, I needed to act fast before others decided to join her. Irene tossed me a soft, navy dress and a pair of nude flats. When she looked at me, her smile dropped, and her mouth hung open slightly. “Ew, take your hair out of that messy bun,” she said, shaking her head. “That will never do.” I frown, but I do what she says and take my hair out of its messy bun. Streaks of dark hair fell over my shoulders, and I felt messier than I had a moment ago. “I’ll put your hair in a low bun once you’re done putting that outfit on. I’m giving you flats because we aren’t going to torture your feet on day one. While you’re in the bathroom, I’ll search for stud earrings and a simple necklace. You’re going for capable and approachable.” “Copy,” I said as I made my way towards the bathroom. “Take a shower!” She called after me. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes, but I had a smile on my face. She was acting like her old self, and if this is what brought that back out of her, then I wasn’t going to complain about a thing. By the time I showered and dressed, Irene had everything we needed laid out on the bed. She smiled when she saw me wearing exactly what she picked out. “You look perfect,” she said with bright eyes. “Now let me do your hair and makeup, and we will head out.” Where are we going?” I asked as I sat in the chair she set out for me. As she fiddled with my hair, she answered, “To the packhouse. We are going to use the ballroom for your lessons.” My chest tightened at the thought of going back to the packhouse, where Liv and her friends are gossiping about me and probably getting everybody else to hate me as well. But Irene seemed determined, and I wasn’t going to deny her anything when she was literally a ticking time bomb. When she was done doing my hair and makeup, I looked like a different person. I somehow looked older… like my mother… or Miranda Cash. I grimaced at the thought of looking like that woman, Ethan’s mother. “You truly do look like a luna now,” Irene said as she stepped back to take a look at her handiwork. “A true future Luna in the making.” “A future Luna who hasn’t had a proper cup of coffee in months,” I murmured. She grinned. “Which is why I made a call to the kitchen to have a fresh pot brewed before we leave.” “You’re literally the best. Maybe I should be marrying you,” I teased as we headed out of the room. She let out a soft laugh, and it felt good to hear her laugh. “Don’t get too excited. It’s decaf with a little bit of caffeinated because Eliza said a bit of caffeine won’t hurt,” she chuckled. “It’s better than nothing. I could still marry you.” “Yeah, too bad you’re marrying my dad,” she teased back. “Honestly, I’d probably have better luck with you than I do with any of the other guys in my life.” I knew she was joking, but I could hear the lingering sadness in her voice. It made my chest feel tight; she was in a difficult place with the men in her life, and I wanted to make things better for her. “Do you want to talk about it?” I asked, treading the subject lightly. “Right now? Absolutely not.” We reached the kitchen, and the staff was already putting out mugs, cream, and sweetener. “Good morning, Miss Irene,” one of them said, smiling at Irene with affection. “Good morning,” Irene said in response as she grabbed the pot of coffee and poured two cups. She turned to me. “First order of business, learn to sip your coffee like a lady properly.” She caught me before the mug was halfway to my lips. “Excuse me?” I asked, raising my brows. “You can’t just chug it like a commoner,” she said, rolling her eyes. “There’s a proper way to sip a hot beverage so you don’t look like a slob in front of packmates.” “We aren’t in the 1800s, Irene,” I laughed. “Nobody cares about that kind of thing.” She narrowed her eyes. “Trust me, everything you do, they care about.” “Okay, well, let’s start our lessons once we get to the ballroom. For right now, I want to enjoy my coffee in peace.” She sighed, but didn’t argue. “Suit yourself.” I watched as she gingerly blew on the steam from her cup and then brought the cup to her lips, sipping it slowly. I tried and failed to mimic her movements, but once I got my first taste of coffee, I pretty much chugged the rest of it like it was water. I could hear the light laughter from the kitchen staff along with Irene’s deep sigh from behind me, but I really didn’t care. I just smiled and enjoyed my coffee. The packhouse ballroom looked like a magazine spread; high ceilings, huge windows, two crystal chandeliers, plush floors, you could see yourself in. I’ve only been here a couple of times, but Irene said she practically lived here growing up. She took a variety of dance classes and etiquette classes, in addition to attending all the balls hosted by the Landry family. Thankfully, I didn’t run into Liv or her friends, but I did see a few other packmates who eyed me carefully as I walked through the packhouse and stepped into the ballroom. Irene shut the doors behind us to ensure maximum privacy. “Okay, so we are going to start simple,” she tells me as she walks to the center of the room. “Posture, greetings, and how to walk and talk properly.” “There’s a way to walk properly?” I asked, suddenly questioning the way I’ve been walking my whole life. “Oh, honey, there’s a way to do everything properly,” she told me with a sly grin. After an hour of walking around the ballroom like I was practicing for the runway and greeting invisible people, I wanted to collapse in a chair and never move again. Who knew spending this time walking around a room the proper way would be so exhausting? I was so caught up in my practice that I hadn’t noticed the door of the ballroom opening or the clicking of heels against the marble floor. It was Irene’s sharp intake of breath that drew my attention toward the door, and then my eyes widened at who just walked into the ballroom. “Sorry if I’m interrupting. I was hoping to speak to Judy.” I had no words; I just stared at the woman in front of me, my body shaking and my breathing coming out in short rasps. “Is now a bad time?” She asked, staring between Irene and me. Her name came out of my mouth before I could stop myself. “Selene Blackwell…”