Andreas P.O.V “You…” I gasp in disbelief. “Hello again, Andreas.” The man who has been hunting me for the last five years stands and walks over to where I am handcuffed to a chair. “You’re behind all of this?” I ask, looking around the room and at the six large steel dog cages lined up along one wall. “I’ve been looking for you for a long time, Andreas,” he says, ignoring my question. “What made you come out of hiding?” I glare at him, refusing to talk. “It was Athena, right? She somehow found you, and you two were working together?” A small growl escapes my throat at the mention of Athena. ‘Keep it together, Andy. They can’t know she’s our mate,’ Ares warns, and I take a deep breath to try to calm myself. “You’re mistaken if you think she’ll save you. She isn’t even looking for you. As far as she knows, you’re dead.” His icy grin sends chills down my spine, and my stomach drops, as I think back to the day that feels like forever ago. “You’re little show… The camera…” The ma

‘Delta, Alpha Damon is heading this way, and he looks pissed,’ Tony mind-links me. ‘Doc, I need you to run interference with the Alpha for a minute,’ I mind-link the Doc as I stand from where I was sitting on the bed. I take a washcloth from the supply cart in the room, go into the bathroom and run it under cold water. I turn back to Luna Cassia, who gives me a confused look as I give her the washcloth. “Alpha Damon is on the way. Clean your face so he hopefully won’t notice you’ve been crying,” I tell her, and she quickly wipes the cloth over her face, her hands shaking as she does it. I squeeze her shoulder reassuringly, and she takes a deep breath, trying to compose herself. “Move out of my way, Doctor! NOW!” I hear Alpha Damon yell, and I dash to the corner of the room and stand at attention, my eyes finding a spot on the wall to focus on. The door slams open, and Alpha Damon enters, his gaze fixed on his Luna. “You weak, pathetic…” He stops speaking when I growl unintentionall

Cassia stares at me with her mouth open. Kneeling next to her, Jess asks, “Cass? Are you okay?” “I… I don’t believe you,” she says as she breaks down. “That would mean I’m mated to a monster!” “Look at her aura, Cass. She’s not lying,” Jess says softly, rubbing Cassias’ back. Cassia’s eyes meet mine, and she studies me for a moment. “Oh Goddess,” she sobs. “What if you’re wrong? What if he didn’t tell anyone about the warehouse? What if it’s all a coincidence?” “No one else knew, Cass. I don’t have any doubt in my mind that Damon is involved in my mate’s death. That he’s responsible for a lot of what’s happened to this pack,” I say sadly. “Do you know anything that could prove any of it, Cass?” Jess asks. Cassia shakes her head. “No. He never tells me anything. I’m surprised he even let me help organize the mate’s ball. He thinks Lunas should be seen and not heard…” she hiccups as she tries to hold back more tears. “What about his visits with other packs?” I ask. “What can you

Day of the Mate Ball “This is outrageous! I want to see my mate, NOW!” Damon screams in my face. I smile at him as I wipe droplets of spit off my face. “I’m sorry, Alpha. She doesn’t want to see you before the ball. She wants her dress to be a surprise,” I lie. “I haven’t seen my mate since Laura died, and I want to speak with her! Two weeks is too long!” He yells. “She’s been very busy with the final preparations for the ball, Alpha. Don’t you like what we did with the pack hall and the beautiful canopies? I think the fairy lights will make everything look magical when night falls,” I say with an innocent smile. “Yes, everything looks very nice,” Damon says, his teeth clenched. “However, very important people are attending this event, and I want to ensure that everything runs smoothly.” “I can assure you, Alpha, that Luna Cassia has meticulously gone over every detail. To be honest, she’s been running us ragged,” I chuckle. Before he can respond, I hear a window upstairs slide

As we walk through the side door and into the main hall, Jess and Jason walk in front of Cassia, while Tony and I walk behind her. Cassia begins greeting and mingling with people while the four of us keep an eye on her. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Harry talking to an older man, and when he notices me, he leads the man over to us. “Delta Athena, I’d like to introduce you to Felix Denning from the Shadow Rock pack,” Harry says. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Delta,” Felix extends his hand for me to shake. “You too, Felix,” I say as I shake his hand. ‘Where’s Damon?’ Harry asks over the mind-link, and after a moment, Leah responds. ‘He’s drinking at the bar with Alpha Costas,’ she says. “It’s safe to talk, Felix,” Harry tells him. “I’m sorry, Delta,” he says. “But as I told Harry, I wasn’t able to find out what Alpha Costas and Alpha Damon are up to. But I can tell you it isn’t good, whatever it is.” “Why do you think that?” I ask him. “Alpha Costas has been leaving the