Noah’s POV I knew I needed to run. That much I was sure of. My heart hammered in my chest and my lungs expanded painfully with the strain that I was putting on it, but I couldn’t stop. I knew what was going to happen the moment I did. Death! The thought of it echoed grimly in my mind. I couldn’t die here. That was not even an option, at least for now. I had to pay them back for what they stole from me. My heart ached as I thought about it and I immediately slapped the thought away. The moment I saw the stone steps of my house, I relaxed a bit. I made it this far. Maybe no one was chasing me. Had it all been my imagination? No, I was sure of what I saw. Although it had only been a shadow, I was sure what I saw when I stood with Amber was Lydia. She had seen and heard me. My mind went back to Amber. Did she heed my warning? I hoped she did. I regretted not doing enough for her back then, but at least now… I could try and take them down for her, even if it was the last thing I di
Amber’s POV The air around us was filled with tension that was almost palpable. Alpha Dale looked as though he was going to blow up and was barely restraining his anger. What did he see? I wondered. What did he see inside there that made him so mad? “Sorry I couldn’t be here to welcome you to the pack,” Alpha Marcus started. His eyes barely met Alpha Dale’s gaze and I could tell that he was clenching his hands into fists. “When my beta informed me that you were here, I rushed over as quickly as I could.” Alpha Dale blinked. “Is that so? Your beta mentioned something about rogues at your borders.” Alpha Marcus nodded before giving me a weary look. “Maybe we can talk in my office? Standing around like –” “I asked a question, Marcus.” Alpha Dale growled. “Why have I not heard the news about rogues at your borders?” Alpha Marcus blinked rapidly. I was sure that if he was wearing a tie, he would have adjusted it just to get more air in, but even now, he looked as if he was going to
Amber’s POV “Meet me in Derrick’s old room,” Alpha Dale’s whispers filtered into my ear. “Alpha Marcus is using it now. Don’t be late.” Even now, when the dining hall was slowly clearing, his voice still echoed in the back of my mind. What was it? I felt a certain kind of excitement rushing through my veins that even startled me. What did he find? Something told me it wasn’t going to be good. But why didn’t he want the others to know? He whispered it so low that I was sure the others couldn’t catch it even with their superior werewolf hearing. He didn’t even trust our mind link enough to use it. Perhaps it was the buzz of being involved in something mysterious that no one else could know about that made me this excited. As soon as I excused myself from the table, I made my way to our room first to prepare myself for whatever revelation I was going to hear and seeing Derrick’s private quarters again after such a long time. After several minutes of talking to myself in a mirror,
Amber’s POV Her eyes were wide with terror, bulging out of their sockets as if they will soon burst out of her head. Her fingers clawed at the back of my hand desperately as she tried and failed to suck in air. I could feel her wolf struggling just as desperately as she was below the surface. Honestly, it was pathetic than satisfying. Sighing, I flung her to the ground, watching as she struggled to get back on her wobbly feet. She sucked in air, clutching at the wall for support. “I have no idea why you are here when you ran away once upon a time, but whatever it is, I don’t care. I will find Derrick and I will make sure you both pay for everything you did to me and my wolf.” “How – you –” she chocked, coughing and swearing under her breath. “How did you do that to me just now? What did you –” “What is going on here?” Janine asked, walking down the hallway towards where I stood. Her eyes lingered on Lydia who was sprawled helplessly on the ground before darting to my face. “Wh
Amber’s POV Beta John disappeared almost immediately, rushing up the stairs like someone was after him, while Alpha Dale led us to the rooms. I had no idea how he knew what room was prepared for us or maybe he was just taking anyone’s room as he liked. I had my bath first, scrubbing my skin as hard as I could to wash away the memories that clung to me like glue. I thought I had buried my past away even though it was only a year, but being here was dragging up all those memories. When I returned to the bedroom, Alpha Dale wasn’t there. It was no problem though. I imagined he had his hand full with Yeti’s investigation and now insubordination from one of his Alphas. If Alpha Marcus really was a turn coat, then things will be so messed up. I had just finished changing into a sleeveless, short beach gown when a knock sounded on the door. I frowned, wondering if it was either Izzy or Fabian. Alpha Dale and Janine never bothered to knock on the door. And Kevin must be busy on his lapt
Amber’s POV My heart squeezed tight in my chest as memories of the horrible things this woman put me through swarm in my vision. My wolf let out a low growl as if trying to defend me and Alpha Dale must have heard it, because he leaned in and squeezed my hand gently. “The last time I checked,” he said, addressing Lydia. “You ceased being a member of this pack when you ran away with the fugitive, Derrick. Lydia’s eyes widened and she immediately fell to her knees, burying her head in the ground. “I swear, I have nothing to do with that man, Lycan King!” she pleaded, I couldn’t see her tears but her voice was shaky. Well, that was power for you. It was able to bring someone as horrible as Lydia to their knees. “Lies!” Alpha Dale growled. In that blink of an eye, he was no longer by my side but in front of her, with his hand tight on her neck, choking dear life out of her. Lydia’s eyes bulged out of their socket and her already red face became even more red, then blue as she strug
Amber’s POV Although the decision had been made in the heat of the moment, we were to leave in the heat of the moment as well. Alpha Dale had given us three days to prepare while he tried to convince the Council to postpone Yeti’s trial until we returned and also permit her to come with us. The morning we were set to leave for moonstone was heavy with a kind of silence that sent chills through my spine. The thought of returning to that place filled me with dread and anxiety but it was something I needed to do. It wasn’t close to winter but the air outside was cold. Maybe it was all the goosebumps this trip was giving me. I knew I was far from the woman I was more than a year ago. I was stronger both emotionally and physically but… “Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Janine asked. “Yeti won’t fault you if you decide to stay back.” Janine leaned on the vehicle with her arms folded across her chest. She was dressed in all black and she looked more like an assassin than anything.
Amber’s POV “You might be right.” Beta Trent conceded. “That will explain how that other prisoner was killed right under our nose.” He turned to Yeti. “Do you know when Marcus went back to Moonstone?” Yeti shook her head. “When I was put in that prison room, he came to visit me once and that was it. He didn’t tell me how long he was going to be staying or that he was leaving immediately. I guess he just came to see that I knew nothing I could reveal.” Fabian sighed and shook his head. “The fact that Alpha Dale never perceived any lies from them shows just how much training they’ve undergone to shield their auras from us. If they’ve done it before, who’s to say they wouldn’t do it again since it was so easy the first time?” I let out a slow breath. “We are more prepared now, I believe. I don’t want to be arrogant, but I think we’ll beat them at their game this time. Right now, what’s more important is getting Yeti out of this mess and finding out who the hell that spy is.” “I’ll
Amber’s POV I reached out, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re being too harsh on yourself, Yeti.” I said softly. “I know that you don’t see yourself as innocent right now because of something you couldn’t avoid, but I know you. And deep down you know it too, that you will never intentionally hurt anyone.” Yeti swallowed and nodded but she still had that guilty look on her face. I settled back against the pillow, closing my eyes as she began to tell us the same story she told Alpha Dale and the others. Even if I had heard it more than a hundred times now, I still listened carefully. The story was short but kind of complicated. Yeti never knew her mother was the same person as Moonstone’s priestess, but she was always suspicious of it and it became clear to her the night when I killed a councilman and lost consciousness. Although her mother had always stressed the fact that her working for Derrick was not something she did willingly, Yeti always had her doubts w