“How long is this bloody tunnel?” I ask, my breathing shallow as I try to fight the claustrophobia I’m feeling. “I think I see a light up ahead,” Cassia says. “We’ve been down here for nearly thirty minutes. Where do you think it leads to?” Elder Andino asks. “I have no idea, but we need to be quiet and prepare for what’s on the other side,” Athena says, the glow of her blue eyes helping light the way through the pitch-black tunnel. ‘Is Enyo in control?’ I ask her. ‘No, why?’ ‘How are your eyes blue if you’re in control?’ I ask her, confused. ‘I don’t know. It just happens sometimes. It’s like I can draw on a power from within me, and when I do, it’s Enyo’s eyes, but I’m fully in control,’ she explains. I nod, not really understanding. “Maybe you should shift,” I whisper. “Just in case there’s more of Alpha Leon’s men or the rogue pack waiting for us.” “I agree,” Elder Laskaris whispers back. Athena stops, quickly undresses, gives me her clothes, and then shifts. Enyo shakes

Near the cabin, looking over the pack’s land, I place a bouquet of white calla lilies at the base of the wooden cross that now marks the final resting place of Dad and his mate, Teresa. Tears stream down my face as I think back to the ceremony we held for them this morning, and I kiss my hand and place it on the cross.“Love you, Dad. I hope you’ve found peace with your mate. Tell Daddy I love him,” I cry.I wipe the tears from my face as I stand and turn to look out over the Blood-Moon territory. I wrap my arms around myself, trying to keep warm from the cold and take a deep breath as I try to calm down. So much has happened in the last few months, and I haven’t had time to sit back and process any of it properly.I’m Alpha, and this is my territory to protect now. It still feels surreal.Flashbacks of the last few days fill my mind, and I close my eyes and try to block everything out, especially the horrors of last night. The memory of us all silently sobbing as we watched an entire

TW/CW: Torture.I hear myself groan as I begin to wake up, but when I open my eyes, I’m shrouded in darkness.‘What the fuck?’ I think to myself. I try to move my hands to rub my eyes, but I can’t, and I can feel myself start to panic as I realize my hands are bound.‘Andy, it’s okay. You’re just blindfolded,’ I hear Ares say in my head.Andy? And how can I hear Ares in my head, like I hear Enyo?“Ah, he’s awake,” I hear a voice say from somewhere in front of me.“He? What the fuck are you talking about?” I try to say, but nothing comes out.‘Why did they blindfold us?’ I hear Andy’s voice in my head, talking to Ares.‘I don’t know. They’ve been quiet since you were knocked out in the cage,’ Ares responds.‘Ares? Andreas? What the hell is happening?’ I try to ask them, but I get no response. I try to move my head to see if I can hear anything about where we are, but I don’t seem to have any control over my body. ‘Enyo? Are you there?’ I ask, trying to feel for her, but I get nothing.

Andreas P.O.VAthena and I leave Connor and Will with Doctor Andrews and walk hand in hand back to the front of the hospital.“Alpha Andreas,” Doc calls out as he catches up to us.“Please Doc, call me Andreas.”“With all due respect, Alpha, I’d rather not,” the Doc says with a smile. “I’d like to examine you because of your marking to see if it’s had any effect on yourself or your wolf.”“We have somewhere we need to be, Doc,” I say, looking at my watch.“This is important, Andreas,” Athena says. “I’ll mind-link Noah and have him and Rich transfer Leon to a conference room while you get looked at.”“A conference room? Are you sure?” I ask her.She nods. “He’s the only link we have to the Rogue pack. I’m going to try to work with him diplomatically. If that fails, he goes back to the cells,” she explains.I nod in agreement and turn to the Doc. “Lead the way.”The Doc leads us down to an examination room and closes the door behind us.“The usual?” I ask.“Yes, Alpha. I’ll examine your

Andreas P.O.VI watch as Athena’s demeanor changes in front of me. A sharp look passes over her face, and her eyes turn blue.“You,” she says, pointing to Cassia. “Take the boy and his mother to their room,” she says coldly, not sounding like herself.“Alpha, what’s happening?” Cassia tries to ask, but Athena growls at her.“Leave! Now!” Athena yells, her Alpha aura almost unbearable as it radiates through the room.Karla takes Mitchell out of Leon’s arms and runs out of the room, with Cassia close behind her.Athena’s glare turns to Leon. She stalks towards him, and he backs up towards the wall, baring his neck in submission under her intense aura.“Athena, what’s wrong with you?!” I yell at her, but she ignores me. I try to mind-link her, but it’s like there’s an invisible barrier around her that’s stopping me. I can’t sense her emotions; I can’t even feel our mate bond.She grabs Leon by the throat, bringing his face close to hers and growling. “Do you think baring your neck to me