DARIUS POV Confusion. Betrayal. Rage. That only begins to describe how I’m feeling in this moment. I have been walking around like an idiot. I have been giving her space, when I should have been getting to know more about her. I can’t believe I never asked her what her real last name was. I just assumed that since she and her sisters were separated so young, they all changed their names. I guess, technically, they did change their names. Stone. She is a Stone. And an Alpha! Everything makes so much sense now. I’ve never heard of her father, Alpha Bronson Stone. At least I don’t think so. I know he wasn’t in this territory when we moved here. I wonder if Calvin kept any records of who owned this territory before we moved here. I’ll have to check our archives. This still doesn’t explain why I shouldn’t trust her. That note said not to trust a Stone. That means somebody from outside my pack knew about Daya. Is there more about her she still hasn’t told me? Like I told her, she is cl

DAYA POV I am in shock. I can’t move. I can’t speak. All I can hear are Sage’s screams and cries of pain. Darius and Tobias are running to her. Before Darius or I could do anything, Tobias is grabbing the rogue by the neck. He slams him against a tree and without thinking, he plunges his clawed fist into the rogue’s chest. The rogue’s eyes bulge out of his head. Then he briefly smirks before Tobias ripped his heart out of his chest. Growling. Tobias stands over the rogue’s lifeless body, his hands covered in blood. “No!” Darius screams out a moment too late. Tobias snaps his head around. A moment later, Sage screams even louder. The bloody mark on her neck turning black her skin looks like it’s burning. “What have I done?” Tobias collapses next to Sage and scoops her into his arms. She is trying to push away from him, but he holds her firm against his chest as she continues to sob uncontrollably. “What happened?” I ask Darius. Not having witnessed a forced marking before in

DAYA POV Today is a day with so many unanswered questions. We have no leads on Justin and Mara. We don’t know who is partnering with these rogue wolves. And now, we have some secret group, or something, that was part of this attack as well. As I wait in the medical clinic for Dr. Richard and Darius, I decide to talk to Sage. Just because she is asleep, doesn’t mean she can’t hear me- Mara probably did…crazy bitch. Tobias’ wolf hasn’t moved from the foot of her bed. He is resting his head on her legs. He is not talking much through the mindlink. “So Sage, and I guess Tobias, if either of you are listening…I accepted that Darius is my mate.” I grip Sage’s hand as I talk to her sleeping form. Tobias’ wolf continues to sleep atop her feet. “I know it’s crazy. But I’m done denying it. I’m not sure if I’m going to accept the mate bond, but Darius has been truthful and genuine with me this entire time. I’m the one who has been a liar and fraud. He knows most of my story, but he still do

DAYA POV “You, Darius. I want you.” I have never been this certain about someone in my life. I know we should be thinking about the rogue attacks, or how we can help Sage and Tobias. But I want to be selfish right now. I feel like I can never truly relax around here; something is always happening, and I am more than willing to jump in and be the first to help. However, right now, at this moment, I don’t want to think. I don’t want to worry. I just know I want Darius. I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling my body flush with his. Our eyes trained on each other, never wavering. I’m nervous. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t. I have no sexual experience and I’m not sure how to get things started. It was so embarrassing while I was getting ready for this dinner date, and having all my sisters in my apartment, giving me sex advice. ***Flashback to an hour ago*** “Just jump his bones! No guy is going to deny you. And he’s your mate. He will know what to do. Just let him take the r

JUSTIN POV Sweat is dripping down the back of my neck, trickling down my back. I run my hands through my hair, which has grown out from my normally buzzed cut. I’m wearing a path in the ground from the pacing I’m doing between these two giant trees. This is our usual meeting spot. He’s running late. I get anxious when he’s late. The updates I have for him should make him pleased, dare I say happy? He took me under his wing years ago. He was my mentor. The closest thing to a father since I lost mine to the fucking plague. My father died when I was 13 years old. My mother got the plague first- that seemed to be how it happened to everyone. All the women got sick first. Their mates and children had to watch them slowly die, and then the men died. There were a few exceptions where the male mates got sick first, but it was almost always the women who died first. My father loved my mother. He didn’t have to die. He was selfish. I guess the pain of living without my mother was too pai