ANDREW POV It’s been days stuck in a Goddess forsaken stalemate, never making a move. The only way to progress safely is to have an advantage, a plan, or some kind of option. Nothing getting us a second closer to our end goal. To be honest, the lack of progress has been weighing heavily. There has been little hope until now. The layers to unravel for advancement seem endless and daunting. Even Elle, the cleverest of our unruly gang, finds the tasks daunting. Which never bodes well for anyone. Her subtle brilliance getting us out of more scrapes than I can count. No, Cain was exceedingly prepared, unsurprising for a man born with the simple destiny of destroying his older brother. No, defeat had become a pipedream of unsurmountable feats. Even Demitri felt the tantalizing grip of desperation. The longer we go without Theo by our side, the emptier we feel. I was on the verge of making a deal with the bloody devil myself, anything to get the love of my life back. To hear his laugh, see

NORA POV“Thank you,” I whisper, a smile on my face, hearing Theo’s story.“For what?” He asks, shifting himself along the floor with a wince. His voice sounds raw and scratchy. His jaw is swollen and most likely broken. Cuts run along his body, and some burn marks, too. Goddess, what did these monsters do to him?“For seeing Xander as he is,” I return, closing my eyes so I can see him. I miss him. My heart has done nothing but search for him since being trapped here. Everything before he came into my life seems like a fever dream, unreal.When I think of my life before him, it’s like I am peering through the looking glass of another person. “Xander is like a brother to me. I like to believe that I was meant to find him that day.” His words break through the internal tangent I am on.“How long did he stay with you guys?” I question, wanting to know more. Needing to know like my lungs need oxygen.“He never lived with us,” Theo chuckles, recalling the memories. “After Xander left his pa

XANDER POVThe only noise in the tent is the shuffle of bodies as they pile on gear. My eardrums are on the verge of popping from the roar of blood pumping through my veins. The eerie calm that seems to settle over me before a mission like this is going haywire. Every emotion I normally block out coming at me full throttle.Their demon-like talons clawing into my flesh, refusing to release me. Why can’t I get my stomach to settle? The turbulence making me woozy like this is my first rescue. I’ve done this kind of stuff more times than I have fingers or toes.Glancing around the room, the woman claiming to be my mother has her gaze locked onto me. Noticing me, she glances away to finish preparing herself. Truly questioning my sanity to agree to this, but this may be my only chance at getting inside.Swallowing my pride and legions of hurt, I continue preparing like a methodical factory worker. Our people will move in two platoons. The first will act as special ops, getting inside and d

XANDER POV The man standing a few feet away stares like he has seen a ghost. The sound of others trailing up the ladder has me moving. Lachlan’s eyes moving to the person venturing their way up. “Luna.” His head tilting in respect, the action sending another surge of fury to my fingertips. How many people knew she was alive? “You knew she was alive?” Fletcher growls, asking the questions I am too enraged to find. The others making their way inside, while Camilla stands with defiance, her chin tipping in the air. No shame or hidden regret. “Until a week ago and a half ago,” the demoted Gamma stutters, sensing the tension in the air, as he glances around the warriors who’ve enclosed around him. Everyone moving so silently, our bracelets working wonders. He doesn’t realize until it’s too late. “I thought she was dead. Everyone did. Until Cain brought that girl…then she showed back up a few days ago.” His confession has me reeling with the possibility that I this really is the mother

XANDER POVThe smugness of his voice has Ares pushing forward, wanting to get his paws around his throat and end his worthless life. A rage unlike anything I have ever known, my Alpha energy swirling around the room like a firestorm.“Bringing me back here was a mistake,” I growl, forcing more of my aura onto the others. My gun still raised, as the others from my group navigate the waiting area.“Unfortunately, it’s the only way I can get what should be mine,” Cain snarls, shouting through the mask he wears. I can tell that he is desperately trying to match my energy. The fog in the room clearing giving me a better view.His men haven’t advanced in the slightest, clearly affected by my presence. Standing there like frozen statues. Taking notice, Lachlan and Theo rearrange themselves around, giving themselves a better advantage.“I should have known you would be involved in this, Walsh,” Cain comments dryly.“I’ll always support the rightful Alpha,” Lachlan puffs out in pride. “Especia