LOGINAll pack members stopped what they were doing as silence fell over the dining hall.
Cage spoke first, “Peace talks?”
That’s when Drake’s voice rang out in a cold and mirthless laugh, “So let me get this straight, you SOLD our MATE to an Alpha Heir of a rival pack? Peace talks, my ass. There are no peace talks with them, I’d know as I help deal with such things, and trading she-wolves is against pack law.”
As Adrian began to close in on Beta Eugene, just as Drake had, with predatory grace. “Where is the paperwork, Beta? I know for a fact my father, the Alpha, would have never allowed nor signed off on such a deal.”
Beta Eugene’s face paled at their request, “It’s not what it sounds like. We had no idea that she’d turn out to be your fated mate. I honestly thought Luci
"There's one more recording you should see," the pack member added hesitantly. "In the footage from earlier today, before everything happened. Eugene received a phone call that seemed to upset him greatly. We haven't identified the caller, but afterwards, he was seen hurrying the arrangements with the Moon Slashers.""He was accelerating his timeline," Adrian deduced, his tactical mind working through the implications. "Something spooked him, made him feel he needed to move faster."The Alpha's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Or someone warned him we were getting close to discovering his plans."The implications hung heavy in the air. If Eugene had been warned, it meant he had an informant close to the Alpha's inner circle, someone with an understanding of what was going on around them.”“What if he felt their bond snap into place? It
A knock at the door made them all jump. “Enter,” Alpha stated.“Sorry, Alpha, Luna and Alpha Heirs, there is something you should see in the footage, it's in regards to his son, Tate’s fate, and there’s another one with that she wolf with the pendant with her father in his office.” The pack member seemed unsure how to put it, “Let’s just say the one with the she-wolf is more sound than anything, but the door is open enough to know it wasn’t a business meaning.”The Alpha's eyes darkened as he exchanged a grave look with his mate. "Show us."The pack member nodded and stepped forward, manipulating the controls to bring up the new footage. The screen flickered, revealing Eugene's office from an angle that suggested the camera had been hidden in a bookshelf vent.
“This is where you come in, my boy. When the time comes, I need you to trick his brothers into one of these options: Rip her from Lucious’s arms, slip something into his drink, find some kind of pack business you know that only he can hold, or even get some she-wolves to stop him from getting to the clearing. It will prove to his brothers that he was toying with her as you have always told them.”"I've been telling them that for years," Tate's voice replied, pride evident in his tone. "They believe it completely."Knight felt his blood freeze in his veins. The confirmation of Tate's deliberate manipulation hit him like a physical blow. All those times he'd stood silent while his brothers mocked Annabella, all because of calculated lies designed to isolate her."Good," Eugene replied, satisfaction colouring his voice. "Your friendship with them has proven
"Before we begin," the Alpha said, his voice heavy, "I want to make one thing clear. What we see tonight will be difficult to witness. But we must understand what Annabella has endured if we are to help her, and all of her family has been through."Knight tensed at his father's words. The thought of witnessing Annabella's suffering firsthand made his wolf pace restlessly beneath his skin. The other brothers shifted uncomfortably around the room, their expressions grim with anticipation.The Alpha pressed a button on the remote, and the screen flickered to life. The first image showed the kitchen of the Betas' quarters, filmed from a high angle near the ceiling vent. Eugene stood with his back to the camera, his posture rigid as he addressed someone just out of frame. When he moved, they could see Annabella standing with her head bowed, her h
The vulnerability in her question pierced Knight's heart. He could see all the years of belittlement and dismissal reflected in her doubt. His wolf whined within him, desperate to comfort their mate."Annabella," he said softly, "we're the ones who need to prove ourselves worthy of being your mates, not the other way around. Lucious has proved himself; the rest of us know that. No matter how long it takes, we’ll wait. We’re not going anywhere.”Annabella nodded again, “I know this is weird for me, I mean, I thought I’d just have Lu, but how are you two feeling about this? Especially you, Lu, I mean, you have been my man for three years, and I have a feeling I was the girl you wanted to ask out, but at the time, you were friends with Tate, and you felt weird that you had feelings for your best friend’s sister. I have a feeling I know why he told the others you were
"The Luna is with him," the Alpha assured them. "He's been asking to see Annabella, but we thought it best to wait until she was stronger.""I'd like to see him," Annabella said, her voice quiet but firm. "He must be frightened and confused."The six brothers exchanged glances, their bond humming with shared concern. Lucian had been part of the system that hurt Annabella, even if unwittingly. Would seeing him be too much, too soon?Drake voiced their collective worry. "Are you certain that's wise? After everything that's happened today?""He's just a child," Annabella replied, a hint of steel entering her voice. "And he's as much a victim of my father's manipulation as I was."The Alpha studied her for a moment, impressed by her compassion despite her own suffering. "I'll have the Luna bring him tomorrow morning, i







