RIEKA “I believe I can shed some light on this for everyone,” Jacinda stated plainly. Everyone turned to look at Jacinda, and I could see Fleur giving her a hard look. “What exactly is it that you think you know?” Jacinda smirked. “I know that you heard the howls, and it wasn’t anyone from this pack, but when you attempted to investigate, your patrols couldn’t pick up any scents.” She paused and arched her left brow, watching Fleur for a response. “So, you know what we know, big deal,” she rolled her eyes, “I thought you said you had answers.” “I do,” her smile widened. “Well… Out with it.” Alpha Cornelis commanded. Jacinda glared at the alpha, but then turned to Aleksandr and me. “The wolves in the forest last night were part of Alpha Kareem’s Mystic Shadow Pack. The alpha supports you and offers his protection. His wolves will always be watching, and they will step in when necessary.” “If this is all true and they are allies, then why couldn’t we scent them?” Fleur de
RIEKAJacinda’s warning about a spy in the pack kept ringing through my mind as we drove up to the pack house. Of course, no one else knew what I was thinking, and everyone was just excited to be home.Although it was late at night, I could see all the lights on as we approached the packhouse. I had no idea they told anyone, much less prepared a welcome home party.Ace and Aria were in the other car with some of the Luna’s Guards, but Calvin and Eden rode with us and they were bouncing up and down on the back seat as the car slowed park in front of the pack house.“Kids, we might be home now, but I don’t want you running around like little monsters. Please stay close.”Aleksandr turned and gave me a bewildered look.‘I’ll explain in a minute,’ I whispered in the mind-link.‘Okay, I’ll ask the Guards to keep all of the kids close for now,’ he linked back.We climbed out of the car and simultaneously, we all began stretching our arms and legs, arching our backs, and rolling our shoul
ALEKSANDR After telling me her plan to root out the spy, I was truly impressed. My little mate could be quite clever and inventive for someone who didn’t grow up in a pack. She’d obviously been studying our history to have the level of knowledge needed to devise the plan. Rieka and I agreed that we fully trusted my mother, Dustin, Drea, and Emmett, so we planned a secret meeting to explain everything to them. Rieka insisted that I explain everything to them in a private mind-link, even though she wouldn’t be able to be a part of the conversation, because she was unsure what abilities the spy might have, and we didn’t want to risk them hearing or catching on that we were aware of their presence. There were a few others that we trusted as well, but we decided it was best to keep the circle small for now. It was also easy to set up a meeting with just our little group without raising suspicion, because we’re all pack leadership, so it’s expected that we have meetings on occasion.
EMMETT When Alpha told us about this vampire/witch hybrid who was supposed to be coming to our territory, I was pissed. None of us even knew it was possible for a hybrid species to exist, even Luna Vasilisa seemed surprised by the news, and I didn’t trust this Jacinda at all. We may have amicable relations with most witch covens, but vampires and werewolves have never gotten along. Our relationships with the witches would actually be stronger if they weren’t so acquiescent about the bloodsuckers. As the gamma of the pack and lead warrior it was my job to keep us safe and make sure we were prepared for anything. I had no idea how to prepare for the arrival of this wild card, and that made my wolf unusually irritable. The only positive of this was that they gave me the task of putting on a show for the spy, who we suspected would be watching. I was given permission to rough Jacinda up and make it clear that we didn’t trust her. An easy task for me, since I truly didn’t trust he
ALEKSANDRI had no idea what Emmett was thinking, and while I was grateful that he wasn’t interfering with our plan to draw out the spy, he also wasn’t doing what we’d planned.Jacinda quickly composed herself, straightened her shoulders, and willingly followed us back towards the pack house. I couldn’t help but feel some compassion for her, and while I was unsure if she understood what we were doing, I was grateful that she was playing along.Rieka and I both knew that if she wanted to leave, there was nothing we could do to keep Jacinda here. Rieka would try to get her into a dream where she could explain our plan without the risk of the spy overhearing anything.No one spoke on the walk back.I stayed in human form and walked with Rieka and Jacinda. After several attempts to mind-link with my Gamma without a response, I decided to let him be for now.‘Aleksandr, what is going on with Emmett?’ My mate mind-linked with me.‘I don’t know, love. He won’t answer me when I try to as
RIEKA Jolting awake and sitting up, I glance around the dark bedroom. I was home, Aleksandr asleep beside me, but beginning to stir. The absence of light let me know that it was still very early. I glanced at the alarm clock on the bedside table. 3:21 AM I began to relax until I remembered what was going on. I fell asleep, but I didn’t dream, and more importantly, I didn’t get to talk with Jacinda and explain our plan. Although I’m not sure how well the plan will work now, in light of the mate bond between Jacinda and Emmett. Aleksandr was waking up and I felt terrible for disturbing his sleep, but I’m certain he could feel my panic through the mate bond. “What time is it?” his voice was rough with grogginess. “Almost 3:30,” I whispered, “but I didn’t dream.” Aleksandr sat up beside me and rubbed the palms of his hand over his face to wipe the sleep away. “Not at all?” I shook my head, knowing he could see me clearly, even in this darkness. “Should I go try and speak wi
RIEKA I could feel Jacinda emotions washing over me like a tidal wave. She was in pain, not just emotionally, but physically too. For several agonizing seconds he didn’t speak, and it was as if all the air had been sucked out of the room. I was certain that Jacinda would be the first one to suffocate. Emmett finally spoke, but his voice was rough and gravelly. “Could we please have the room, Alpha?” Aleksandr nodded and took my hand to gently pull be back towards the door. I could feel Jacinda’s fear, and I knew that no matter what happened once I was on the other side, I would still feel it. We passed Emmett, and he stared straight ahead past us, but his eyes still refused to land on his mate. As the door clicked closed, I could still feel Jacinda on the other side, and her panic continued to rise, so I prayed. ----- EMMETT I was unable to sleep all night. I stayed up trying not to think about her, but that was impossible. Her soft white hair that reminded me of the wi
RIEKA When we all exited the room Aleksandr and I waited just outside the door, but Dustin kept moving towards the hallway to ensure privacy and security. The last thing we needed was the spy knowing too much about Emmett and Jacinda’s mate bond and ruining our chances of flushing them out. Meanwhile, Jacinda was in full-blown panic. Even from the other side of the door I could feel her emotions just as strongly as if she was standing next to me. The longer we waited, however, her emotions gradually began to calm. After about 45 minutes I felt the shift from panic to hopeful. Aleksandr and I were pacing the room when suddenly Jacinda was filled with bliss, and I knew that feeling, without a doubt. “Emmett accepted her,” I whispered to Aleksandr as tears pooled in my eyes, blurring my vision. He looked at me with surprise but didn’t question my claim. We waited a while longer, but Emmett did not appear to be leaving the room any time soon. As impatient as I was to solve the