LOGINAdrian's POVWe spread the documents across the secure conference table.Councilwoman Marsh was there. Dawson and Lauren. Alpha Marcus joined us via secure video link. Everyone who needed to see this without risking the information spreading too widely.I started reading through the first document. Legal testimony from wolves who'd witnessed Kael's challenge for alpha position. Their accounts contradicted the official record."According to this, Kael didn't win the challenge fairly," I said. "His opponent was drugged. Multiple witnesses confirmed it. But their testimonies were suppressed.""That's circumstantial," Marsh said. "Accusations decades old. Hard to prove now.""There's more." Stefan held up another document. "Property records. Kael seized lands that belonged to his brother. Lands that should have passed to the brother's heir. To me."Lauren was photographing everything. Creating digital backups. "This is substantial. Combined, these documents paint a picture of systematic
- Stefan's POVThe Bank of Alexandria sat in the heart of neutral territory, surrounded by commercial buildings and enough foot traffic to make a quiet operation impossible.We sat in a conference room at the packhouse, planning the extraction. Adrian, Dawson, Lauren, and six other wolves who specialized in security operations."The bank opens at nine," Dawson said, pulling up building schematics. "We'll need to get there right when they open. Minimize time the prince's people have to organize a response.""They'll be watching," one of the security specialists said. "The moment we enter that bank, they'll know.""Then we plan for confrontation. Two teams. One goes inside to retrieve the documentation. The other maintains perimeter security."Adrian looked at me. "You stay with the perimeter team.""No. I need to be inside. The safety deposit box is registered under my mother's name. They'll need my identification to access it.""We can forge documents.""And risk them refusing access
Adrian's POVI didn't sleep that night.Stefan was beside me, finally resting after hours of planning the meeting. But every time I closed my eyes, I saw scenarios where things went wrong. Where the meeting was a trap. Where I lost him.The mate bond hummed with his steady breathing. Peaceful. Trusting that tomorrow would work out.I wished I had that confidence.At five AM, I gave up on sleep entirely. Got dressed quietly and headed to the command center.Dawson was already there with Lauren. Neither looked like they'd slept either."Final security check?" I asked."Done. Sniper teams positioned on the ridge overlooking the mill. Ground teams stationed at every access point. Escape vehicles ready at three different locations." Dawson pulled up a tactical display. "If this goes south, we can extract Stefan in under thirty seconds.""That's still too long if they're prepared.""It's the best we can do given the terrain."Lauren added, "I've also got surveillance drones in the area. No
Stefan's POVBy midday, the command center had become my temporary office.They'd moved a proper desk in for me along with multiple monitors and communication equipment. My knee was propped up on a cushioned stool. Medication keeping the pain manageable.Lauren worked beside me, coordinating with intelligence officers from various packs. Information flowed in constantly. Reports. Surveillance. Rumors that needed verification."This just came through," she said, forwarding me a file. "Surveillance from the palace. One of our underground contacts got it."I opened the images. Prince Damian meeting with someone in what looked like a private study. The other person's face was partially obscured but their uniform was visible."That's a royal guard captain," I said. "High ranking. Personal security for the crown prince.""If Damian has the heir's security compromised, he can get to him easily.""We need to identify this guard. Get the information to someone who can remove him from that posi
Adrian's POVI woke to Stefan still asleep beside me and an urgent message from Dawson on my phone.Need you in command center. Now. New development.I extracted myself carefully from the bed, trying not to wake Stefan. He stirred slightly but didn't open his eyes. The mate bond hummed contentedly between us, satisfied in a way it hadn't been before.I dressed quickly and headed downstairs. The packhouse was quiet at this hour. Early morning light just starting to filter through windows.Dawson was in the command center with Lauren and two wolves I didn't recognize immediately. Then I placed them. Intelligence officers from Silver Ridge pack."What's the emergency?" I asked.Dawson gestured to the screens. "Prince Damian made a move. Three hours ago, he arrested five high-ranking nobles on charges of conspiracy against the crown.""Let me guess. The same nobles who would have supported our evidence against him.""Exactly. He's eliminating anyone who could corroborate our claims befor
Stefan's POV I woke up to Adrian's hand sliding down my back, possessive and warm. The room was dark, moonlight slipping through the curtains, casting shadows on his muscled body next to mine. Last night replayed in my head – him claiming me, filling me, marking me as his. My step-brother, the pack alpha, and now something more twisted and raw. My ass still ached from the pounding, a reminder that made my cock twitch under the sheets.He stirred, eyes opening to meet mine. That hungry look was back, like he could devour me whole. "Morning already?" he murmured, voice gravelly from sleep. His fingers dipped lower, cupping my cheek, squeezing just hard enough to make me gasp."Yeah," I whispered, shifting closer. Our bodies pressed together, skin on skin. His dick hardened against my thigh, thick and insistent. I reached down, wrapping my hand around it, stroking slow. He groaned, thrusting into my fist."You want more, don't you?" he said, smirking. "Greedy little slut."I nodded, fa







