FAZER LOGINHayes's POVA strange chill ran through me..Goosebumps covered my arms.A mage. I hated them. I hated everything about them. A mage had been responsible for the greatest trauma of my life.For a brief moment, memories I had spent years forcing into the darkest corners of my mind threatened to surface.I immediately pushed them down.I would not allow the others to see what the word had done to me.I controlled my expression and looked back at Lola."Continue searching.""Yes, Alpha."Alex stepped forward. "We are getting closer to uncovering the truth."Adrian nodded. "Yes. We just need to come up with a way to catch the traitor red-handed.""I am already working on a plan."I looked between the three of them. "But while I work on that, I need all three of you to keep an eye on the elders."They exchanged confused looks."Especially Elder Victor."The room went silent.Adrian's eyebrows rose. "Alpha..."Alex looked at me. "Is Elder Victor a suspect?""I'm almost certain he is the trai
Hayes's POV He reached into the bag he had carried into the room and pulled out a large, old-looking book.He placed it on my desk. I looked down at it."The original book is kept in a restricted section of the library. It does not contain the information Lillian read."Alex opened the book."Look."He turned to the exact page Lillian had supposedly read.My eyes moved across the words. Then I froze. The information was different.Alex pointed to the page."Some of this information was deliberately added. The original text does not say that the Eclipse Wolves were massacred simply because their Luna committed those crimes."My eyes moved over the page again.My anger began turning into something colder. "This isn't what happened."I looked up at him. "The Eclipse bloodline was destroyed because their Luna corrupted their blood."Alex nodded. "Exactly."I looked back at the book.The version Lillian had read had been carefully written to make her believe that her entire bloodline had
Hayes's POV Victor's expression remained unreadable.Then he spoke again. "Alpha, you must share everything you have planned regarding the search for her. Perhaps there is something we can add. We need to make sure she is found as soon as possible."I studied his face. There was something about the way he was looking at me.Too interested. Too eager to know what I was doing."The investigation is discreet," I said. "I cannot share the details at the moment."Victor's expression changed. Only slightly.But I noticed."You cannot keep this from us, Alpha."His voice was firmer now. "We are the Elders of this pack. We have to know how the search is progressing and what you are planning."I leaned back slightly. "I appreciate your concern, Elder Victor. But I said I cannot share the details."He stared at me. "Alpha, we are only trying to help. You have never kept matters concerning the pack from us.""This is not a matter I can discuss."My voice left no room for argument.Victor's jaw
Hayes's POV The four elders walked into my study.Elder Victor. Elder Samuel. Elder Bjorn.And Old Man Howl.I watched them carefully as they entered. None of them spoke immediately.I gestured toward the chairs in front of my desk."Sit."They exchanged brief looks."No, Alpha," Elder Victor said.I narrowed my eyes slightly. Something was wrong.Victor stepped forward. "We need to discuss Lillian."My jaw tightened at the sound of her name. "What about her?"Victor looked at me seriously. "How are we going to find her now? We need her here as soon as possible."I stared at him. He continued before I could answer. "She has the heir."My fingers slowly curled against the arm of my chair.Elder Bjorn stepped forward. "Yes, Alpha. We need to think about what happens next. What if something happens to the heir?"My expression hardened. "What are you suggesting?"Bjorn swallowed. "What if she causes harm to the child because of what was done to her bloodline?"My fingers clenched. For a
Hayes's POV The celebration continued around me.Everyone was thanking the Creator. Everyone was talking about the heir. Everyone was celebrating the end of the curse.But all I could think about was Lillian.Then Elder Victor spoke. "You are all missing something."The room slowly quieted. I looked at him.He wasn't celebrating. There was something wrong with his expression.He tried to hide it beneath disbelief, but I had spent enough time around people to know when someone wasn't reacting the way they should."What are you saying?" Old Man Howl asked."This is great news."Victor looked at the golden mark on my arm."The curse was supposed to be transferred to the Alpha's heir before we could find a way to break it."Elder Bjorn nodded. "Yes, we know."He smiled. "But a miracle has happened. We are free."Victor didn't smile.Old Man Howl seemed to think of something. "It must be the power in the Eclipse bloodline."Everyone looked at him."The Eclipse Wolves were the source of th
Hayes's POV I sat at the head of the table, listening to the elders discuss matters concerning the pack and finding my heir. At least, I was supposed to be listening.But my mind was somewhere else. Lillian.No matter how hard I tried to focus on the meeting, my thoughts always found their way back to her.Where was she? Was she safe? Was she hurt? Was someone taking care of her?I had searched everywhere.Every part of the surrounding territories had been searched. Trackers had been sent out repeatedly, and sorcerers capable of detecting and tracing portal magic had been brought in to help.Nothing. It was as if Lillian had disappeared into thin air.There wasn't a single trail strong enough to lead us to her.Every passing day without her felt worse than the one before.I couldn't sleep properly. I barely ate.Even when I closed my eyes, I kept seeing her face the last time she looked at me.The pain in her eyes. The tears. The way she flinched when I tried to touch her.I had nev







