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but the questions swarming her mind all rushed to come out at once and she couldn’t grab hold of any single one. Did she want to know about Luka? Obviously. But she wasn’t so sure that should be her immediate focus. What about werewolf mythology? Or physics? Or witches? And what else was real?
    Laughter drew Joella back to the moment and she cringed. She’d been caught, of course.
    “I’m sorry,” Emily said, containing herself as best she could. “Honestly, I can’t imagine what it’d be like to learn overnight that an entire species I’d never believed in actually existed.”
    That piqued her interest and Joella asked, “You mean you were born a werewolf?” A brief pause and she blurted, “Is it even okay to call you that?” Was there a more PC term for ‘werewolf’?
    Emily grinned. “It’s fine. And yes, I was born this way. Most wolves are, since Turning a human into a wolf is illegal.”
    “Illegal?” That wasn’t something she’d expected to hear. “You mean Luka’s opposed to it, or is he not the final authority?”
    At this Emily paused and rolled her hands together as she thought over her answer. “Yes and no,” she finally said. “There’s an ancient set of laws, put into action by the original Alpha according to legend, that all subsequent packs traditionally adhere to. If another Alpha were to publicly denounce them he’d probably get himself assassinated. We’re generally a loyal, and therefore respectful, type, you know?” Emily shrugged and added, “I don’t think any of us know Luka’s personal stance on the subject. The ancient laws are like guidelines on how to build and run a successful pack.”
    “Emily,” another female voice interrupted, earning Joella’s attention. The other woman was a little older, had short brown hair that framed her cheeks, and her forehead was marred with frown lines. She flicked a glance of awkward acknowledgment to Joella before adding, “I’m sorry, but, have you seen the boys?” That was where she’d seen this woman before. This was the woman Joella had seen with those two young boys, likely their mother.
    “Not since Alpha left,” Emily replied, a frown dipping her own lips.
    The woman sighed. “I was afraid of that. They’re not in the main clearing or the little nook they like to sleep in.”
    Emily immediately stretched to her full height, still on the boulder, and cast her eyes out. “Go on back to your spot, Michelle. Hopefully they’re chasing a bird somewhere and will be back in a minute, but I’ll look around. Is Lew patrolling?”
    “He is,” Michelle assured her. “Should I find him?”
    “No,” Emily said, shaking her head. “If they go out that way he’ll find them on his own.”
    Taking a breath, Michelle glanced forward and quietly asked, “What if they went toward the city?” It was clear from her tone, even without an enhanced sense of smell, that this was Michelle’s true concern. And that much Joella could understand.
    “Maybe I can help,” Joella said before Emily could reply. When both females turned their attention back to her she added, “Another pair of eyes can’t hurt. And if they did head toward the city, I can definitely help there.”
    Michelle’s dark brown eyes softened and she smiled. “That would be so kind of you, thank you.”
    “Alright,” Emily called as she stepped down to the ground. “Let’s look around here first. I should be able to find their scent since they haven’t been gone too long.”
    “They’d been down for a nap when I saw them last,” Michelle said quickly.
    As they made their way toward a side-cropping of stones decorated by prickly desert bushes, Michelle in the lead, Emily quietly said, “I’m going to have to shift to get the scents. I hope that doesn’t bother you.”
    Joella frowned, running over what Luka had told her just earlier that morning. “You mean you don’t have an enhanced sense of smell in this form?”
    “We do,” Emily assured