*Landon’s POV*

We packed up what few possessions I had and took a taxi to Lucca's house. It was a small house, but a house nonetheless in a cute little suburban neighborhood. I eyed him warily, unsure if this was all one big trap. This place was far nicer than where any other rogues lived.

Lucca sensed my eyes shooting lasers into his back, and turned around to smirk at me. "I'm not gonna hurt you or anything. I'm just sick and tired of living by myself and want a roommate that's not going to freak out over the fact that I'm, you know, a wolf."

I stared at him, sensing he's not telling the full truth. "And?" I pushed.

Lucca scratched the back of his head, ruffling the black curls. "And I really need someone to split the rent with. Who knew houses were so expensive?"

I shook my head. "I thought I was only staying here until I could find a new place."

"Well... yeah... or this could be your new place," Lucca said hopefully. "Come on, think about it! It would be so fun! Two rogues, against the world. You have to admit, it sounds pretty badass."

"You don't know anything about me."

"Okay, so let's change that. How old are you?"

"Twenty-two."

"Oh sweet, I turn twenty-two next month!" Lucca excitedly informed me. "Okay, do you have a job? Cause that's pretty important in terms of rent money."

I nodded my head. "I work at a cafe."

Lucca wrinkled his nose at that. "Ugh, okay we need to get you a better job. Coffee shops are for teenagers with no skill sets."

"Actually, it's pretty ha—"

"Na na na na!" Lucca chanted while childishly covering his ears. "I don't wanna hear it. We're getting you a new job. Okay, next question. Why did you leave you old pack?"

All previous light-heartedness was sucked out of me, and my eyes darkened considerably. Lucca picked up on my change in demeanor and gulped.

"Alright, we'll save that for another time," he chuckled nervously. "As for me, I was kicked out of my pack for blasphemy."

My eyebrows shot up in shock. "You blasphemed the Moon Goddess?" I asked, and Lucca nodded. "Why?"

He shrugged. "Don't like the bitch. She dictates what happens in our lives, and we're just supposed to accept that? Fuck that. I don't like being told what to do. Anyway, I voiced my opinion in front of the wrong people and got the boot. Now I live here all by my lonesome. Not even my family talks to me. It's kinda like Amish rules, you know? I'm basically shunned."

My chest ached with pity for Lucca. My pack may have turned on me, but I still had my family. If I didn't have them to help keep me sane, I don't know where I'd be.

"I'm sorry, Lucca," I said softly. Lucca looked at me with surprise over my softened tone. His cheeks pinkened and he scratched the back of his neck again. I started to notice that's a nervous habit of his.

"Er... yeah, well, it's over and done with," he mumbled. "Anyway, the spare bedroom is down the hall to the right. Feel free to decorate however you want in there, but don't leave shit laying around the shared areas. Don't expect me to pick up after you, I'm not your fucking maid."

I laughed and nodded my head in agreement. From there, Lucca quickly became my closest friend. Well really, my only friend, seeing how my old friends were quick to ditch me when I left the pack.

I smile at the memory as I finish up in the shower. Lucca and I have come a long way since that day. It took some time, but I eventually told him why I left the pack and introduced him to my family over dinner. My mom asked if he was my boyfriend, to which I choked on my food and Lucca cried laughing.

I love Lucca, I do. But not in the 'I wanna jump your bones' way. He's the one who provided me with an actual home, when I hadn't been able to really call anywhere 'home' in years. He got me to open back up and laugh again when I thought I never would. He's my best friend; my brother. And I'm forever grateful to him.

Which is why I didn't kick his ass for agreeing to help my sister force me into this lunch.

The shower water is hot enough to make my skin pink, but it helps relax my muscles. I lean my head back, letting the water fall on my face and through my dark blonde locks. Damn, I wish I could stay in here all day.

Like I said before, life is never that easy.

Lucca pounds on the door, shouting for me to get my ass in gear and get dressed. I reluctantly comply, turning off the water and drying off with a towel hanging on the wall next to the shower. I remember to quickly shave, knowing my mom would have a stroke if I looked like I wasn't taking care of myself. I go to my closet and flick through my options, settling on a pale blue sweater and dark denim jeans.

On my way to the door, I pause and examine myself in the full-length mirror in my bedroom. My hair has gotten longer, to the point where the golden strands would brush my eyebrows if I didn't keep my hair brushed back. There are faint bags under my dark blue eyes from lack of sleep, and my skin is pale as a result of my excessive drinking last night.

Shit, my mom is going to be all over me, asking if I'm eating and sleeping enough. Which, of course I'm not, but she doesn't need to know that. It would only worry her more.

I slip my black sneakers on and lace them up before heading towards the front door. Lucca is standing there with an encouraging smile. I take a shaky breath and give him a small smile before heading out to the restaurant.

I'm not scared of my family. On the contrary, I love them a lot and I always look forward to seeing them. This particular lunch, however, is going to be different. They're going to want to talk about things I'm not prepared to talk about. My family is still a part of the Silver Woods Pack. While there's a part of me that wishes they had left the pack when I got kicked out, I know I wouldn't wish it on them to be rogues. Sure, things are easier for me now, but that's all thanks to Lucca. Still, as rogues, there are different challenges we face.

For example: hunting. We can't go hunting without being hunted ourselves. Pack wolves think it's fun to hunt down and attack rogue wolves, not stopping to consider that not all of us are bloodthirsty monsters.

I'm also not allowed near pack grounds. Whenever I see my family, we have to meet in the small area that is neutral territory. If I'm caught on pack grounds without being invited by the Alpha, their pack would have every right to attack me. And the chances of me getting an invite from the Alpha are pretty much non-existent.

Leon, Easton's younger brother, will be taking over as Alpha of the Silver River Pack. For the past five years, their father Silas has been resuming the duties of Alpha until they could get Leon properly trained. He was only seventeen years old when Easton died, so he wasn't anywhere near ready to take over the pack.

Easton... I wonder if he would be proud of me, of what I've become.

At the thought of Easton, my heart clenches and my inner wolf begins to whimper. The only sound my wolf, Leo, has made for the past few years.

"I know, buddy," I murmur to him, even though I know he barely listens to me anymore. "I miss him too."

Taking a deep breath, I fruitlessly try to prepare myself for a conversation with my family about the pack that banished their Luna.