Six

Davian’s POV

The rogue Alpha died badly. I’d give him credit because he didn’t beg like msot wolves did when they realized the Alpha King wasn’t interested in mercy. There has never been mercy when it comes to execution.

But Marcus Greyt just knelt there in the blood soaked dirt, hands bound with silver and glared at me like his defiance meant something. I stepped back from the lifeless body letting my claws retract. He had trafficked forty eight children and sold them like merchandise.

“Let it be known.” My voice carried across the gathered Alphas in the clearing. “Trafficking carries one sentence with no exceptions.”

“Yes, Alpha King.” The response came in unison. Every wolf, alpha or not, bowed their heads.

“Daniel.” My Beta stepped forward immediately. “Ensure Greyt Pack’s assets are distributed to trafficking survivors. Territory goes to whoever can hold it fairly. No power grabs.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

I turned away from the body, already forgetting Marcus’s face. He was done and finished like he never happened. And I had bigger problems to deal with. Like Anthony Riftclaw’s suspiciously clean record and his mate with a fake mate mark and Alpha blood she didn’t even know how to use.

Astrid. Her name alone made my wolf snarl to life and I shoved him down fast.

I strode toward the temporary headquarters we’d set up that belonged to a Beta who’d been thrilled to host the Alpha King. Smart wolves knew when to be accommodating.

My inner circle fell in around me. Daniel, my Beta. Ian is my Gamma and Sera is my lead intelligence officer who’d been tracking Riftclaw’s corruption for a few weeks now. I don’t know why it’s taking so long for us to get to him but I’d be damned if I let him slip away.

“Report.” I didn’t slow my pace. “What do we have on Anthony Riftclaw?”

Sera pulled out her tablet and fell into step beside me. “Three verified accounts of illegal witch magic usage. Blood bonds. Fertility manipulation. At least one suspected murder—”

“Suspected?”

“Yes.”

“And the current Luna?”

“Astrid Graves well, Silvermist really. Twenty-four. Orphan with no known pack lineage—at least, that’s the official story.” Sera swiped through files. “But our sources confirm she’s the Silvermist heir. The only surviving child. Anthony likely knows and has been using her.”

“The fake mate bond?”

“Confirmed. Witch magic that is degrading badly. She’s got weeks, maybe a month before it starts causing organ failure.” Sera hesitated. “Your Majesty, if you’re planning to use her as a witness—”

“I’m aware she’s dying.” The words came out harsher than I intended.

“Anything else?”

“Anthony’s real mate is an Omega named Mira. They have a biological son who was adopted by Astrid under false pretenses.” Sera gave a wince then cover it up quick.

“That’s enough.”

The end is far too near for Anthony Riftclaw but first, I need more evidence that would hold up before the Council. I need a witness or a victim willing to confess…. Then her scent hit me like a physical blow.

Fucking damn citrus and winter frost and something so feminine but her. There is something extremely unique about that female that I can’t point a finger at. Maybe because she sounded really smart.

The whiskey glass in my hand exploded and shattered. Whiskey and blood dripped down my fingers. My Beta lunged forward but I waved him off staring at my hand like it belonged to someone else. I didn’t lose control. Ever. Not during war or executions. But one whiff of Astrid Graves/Silvermist and I’d crushed a glass without even realizing I was holding it.

“Dave?” Daniel’s voice was careful. “Are you—”

“I’m fine.” I grabbed a towel from a nearby servant, wrapping my hand roughly. The cuts were already healing but the lingering scent of her made my wolf claw at my control.

“Continue the report.”

Sera exchanged a glance with Daniel and I have a feeling she knew. She had been my intelligence officer for years and she could do her job better than anyone else.

“Astrid’s location is currently unknown. She left Riftclaw territory this morning claiming border patrol supervision.”

“She went to meet her uncle.” I kept my voice flat. “Vincent Silvermist. At the neutral border.”

All three of them turned to staree at me.

“You knew?” Ian asked, frowning. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

Because the mating bond snapped into place and her wide blue eyes had looked at me with such fury and broken hope that I’d nearly forgotten every reason I had for not wanting a mate. But I’d never subject myself to that punishment. Ever.

“I have my sources.”

I moved past them toward the war room, needing distance from that scent even though it was just a tiny now.

“What matters is that Astrid Silvermist is the key to taking down Riftclaw. She’s the rightful Alpha of Silvermist. She has claims to both territories.”

We reached the war room and I spread my hands across the tactical map covering the table. Riftclaw territory marked in red. Silvermist in blue like the color of her eyes.

“How about the fake mark?” Daniel asked from behind me.

“It is degrading faster than expected with visible decay soon. Based on our witch consultant’s assessment, she has days before critical organ failure.” Sera answered professionally.

My claws extended involuntarily, tearing through the towel in my hand. I think my wolf needs to be let out. It wants blood because I won’t give it what exactly he needs. He will have to fucking deal with it like he’s been doing for years.

“There is only one way to safely remove the fake bond to keep her alive long enough for us to have other evidences. A fated mate’s mark that is strong enough to burn out the corrupted magic. It must be real and complete.” Sera continued quieter now.

Silence filled the room

“That is not an option since she doesn’t know her true mate.” the words came out flat from my lips.

“Then she dies in weeks max and we lose the key witness against Anthony.”

Witness. Right! That is all she is and what mattered. That is the only reason we need her alive and well!

“And the Winter Solstice inspection is in three weeks. If we wait–” I cut off Daniel.

“We are not waiting.” I said looking down at the map of Riftclaw Pack marked like a target.

Astrid is back in this pack to the man who trapped her and gave her a mark that was killing her. How gullible could that girl really be? Having such a horrid mark and not knowing it was KILLING her for years?

“Advance the inspection. We leave for Riftclaw in two weeks.” I said in Alpha command.

“Two weeks? We won’t be fully prepared.” Sera’s eyes were wide.

“We are prepared enough.” I straightened from the map. “Anthony thinks he has three weeks to cover up his tracks. Let's see how he handles this surprise.”

“And Astrid?” Ian asked.

I thought about how she had touched the mark earlier and the untrained Alpha power that rolled off her when I told her the cure. She is probably planning Anthony”s destruction not knowing the magic was eating her alive. He has planned everything way ahead of her and to think I even thought her smart.

“I need someone to get me everything we have on removing fake marks without killing the victim. Consult witches, wizards and even sorceresses if you have to.” I announced to the room leaving.

The first report from the spies I placed in the Riftclaw Pack came the very next day after I stepped out of the gym from intense training. My wolf has extra energy today it seems.

[spy message]

Day 1: Black veins visible at the throat

I ignored it and continued my pack work. I wonder how someone could be careless about their body with Alpha blood. Love must really be stupid if you degrade without feeling it.

[spy message]

Day 3: She has fainted during training

Now this is getting a bit too serious. Sera said it was going to take 10-14 days and on day 3 she was already losing it? I need to keep her as evidence because a male like Anthony cannot be left like that.

[spy message]

Day 7; She has collapsed again. Coughing black blood. Witch confirms rapid decay and poisoning

The table beneath my hands splintered earning shocked looks from my beta and gamma. They have never seen me do something like this. I don't remember giving the order but the sound of my voice tore through the command room where Daniel and Ian sat watching and waiting.

“Mobilize. NOW.”