39. Ayr

Beta Cesar followed us down to the stables with two surly brown-haired deputies. His dark hair and sideburns made his jade eyes pop with colour.

He was quiet, methodically prepping the horse's bridles and saddles, placing his heavy armour on his torso. I tried to imagine Cass existing with someone so comfortable with silence. Impossible.

The three of us were dressed in black, Lucas and I wearing our heavy metal chainmail on top. The stable crackled with unspoken tension. It feels everyone has a different agenda to the one declared to Luna Elle.

I snapped at the group, “Can we get moving?”

“Of course, Alpha,” Cesar answered steadily, but without a trace of respect. Both of us are pretending Cass isn’t at the heart of this chase.

He knows she is still alive. He was part of the group hunting her at Pemberton.

Four years of guarding my mate, did he never look and realise the wonder of her? She struck me, and not just literally, since the instant we met.

Has he really remained loyal to