NIRVANA “Who demanded to talk to you?” I watched Knight get up from bed despite me still wanting to spend a few minutes more with him, but right now, duty came first, and sometimes, it was annoying. “No clue.” He went to the bathroom. “Aren’t you coming with me?” “You go first. Whoever is it, he wants to talk to the alpha.” I dragged myself out of bed and followed him to the bathroom. I grabbed my toothbrush and put in a good amount of toothpaste. Then I brushed my teeth. I was still waiting for him to get his anger out of his chest. What I did was reckless, but it was successful. I still felt he wanted to say something to me, and the more I waited, the more I felt like he was banking emotions in his chest, and it was kind of scary. I wanted him to yell at me, but not like this cool alpha when he wasn’t. “I’ll make it up to you.” He kissed my forehead. I blinked at his gesture, spat the toothpaste, and cleaned my mouth. “It’s not a competition. I wanted to make you happy. I’m n

KNIGHT I couldn’t believe this was happening. When Kailin screamed no, I knew she had just figured out something she loathed. Then, Dane sniffed the air, and they stared at each other. I knew at that moment they were mates. I didn’t know how McKaye would handle this. I would be immensely happy for Kailin that she finally found her mate, but it was unsettling considering what Dane did for a living. “No fucking way.” McKaye roared at my face, His voice piercing my ears. “That bloody fucking murderer?” “Lower your tone and control yourself, Mac, or I will throw you out of my office.” I pointed at the door. “If you keep yelling at me, I swear I will lock you down in the bunker.” “How are you so cool about this?” He was still yelling, glaring at me. “Get the fuck out. I don’t have time for this.” I glared back, challenging him, who had the authority here. “He’s not good for her.” He finally calmed down a bit, but I could still feel him shaking. “He will corrupt my sister.” “Don’t t

KNIGHT “What is your plan for Kailin? It’s my business because she’s not only my cousin but also part of this pack.” “All my life, I’d never thought I would meet my mate, let alone at times like this. I didn’t stay in one place for a week. I always traveled for jobs. I didn’t like commitment because of the line of my work. The relationship is not for me.” “So you’re just gonna abandon her?” “She hates me. She hates who I am. She hates my work. I think it’s best for both of us. I’m not good for her. I will only drag her into my complicated and dangerous life. I’m sorry, but I can’t be with her.” The longer he said those words, the more his pain and struggle became visible—either from the pull of their mating bond or deep inside. He wanted to belong and be loved. “Maybe it’s time for you to quit what you are doing and start settling in one place. My cousin deserves someone better. She deserves to feel loved and respected and a mate who can provide for her needs. If you can follow o

KNIGHT Dane and I followed the trail where Nirvana and Kailin left the testing room. They must have headed towards the vineyards. I knew Nirvana. She liked nature and beautiful sights for her painting ideas. “There’s blood around here.” The blood dried on the ground, and droplets were on the grass. “Yeah.” Dane scanned the area. “Did someone come here after the incident?” “No. I told Tucker to keep this site untouched.” I looked around and saw nothing but vast fields of vines. How could someone target one of them? “It’s done by a pro,” he confirmed my suspicion. “It did not come from the pack house nor that area.” He pointed north. “Exactly my thought. Nor from the woods.” “There.” He pointed at the Pinot noir vineyards. “Plants are tall. He could have hidden himself there for hours. Or, if he has a military background, he could go that far on the hill. I bet the latter because that’s what I would do. We have a good sense of smell. He wouldn’t dare trespass if he’s a werewolf.

KNIGHT “You should answer that,” Dane said. I had a feeling this call was something crucial. I answered the call. “Victor.” “I don’t have much time.” The moment I heard those words, I closed my eyes and prepared for the huge bomb he was going to drop. “The council just cleaned house.” Fuck. “What do you mean? Where are you?” There was no need to keep this call secret. One of the cons of being a werewolf was the enhanced hearing. Even a voice from the other line was like a loudspeaker. Dane and Nirvana heard everything Victor said. I put the phone down and put it on speaker. “I just left the council. They betrayed me. They voted me out as the head of the council. That son of a bitch called for a meeting without me. When I reported to the council, Eloh had already my chair.” The moment Dane heard what Victor had just said, he cursed under his breath. I saw with my very own eyes that he cared for Victor and could love someone. “Shit. Where are you, Victor? I’m coming to get you,