EMILY’S POVMy head was reeling after listening to my mate and his brother talk about the gifts. I vaguely remember learning about them when we learned about the history of our kind, way back in grammar school, but it was always taught as something that once existed, not something that exists today. Frankly, I’m not sure what I think about it all. Knowing my brother-in-law can read my mind kind of freaks me out. I’m not diplomatic in my thoughts and I’m not okay with anyone knowing exactly what I’m thinking. And to know that Addie can boss me around and I’ll do it not realizing it’s her not me. . . yikes. It’s like the mean girls in high school again.And ever since Alpha Cole arrived, something has been nagging at me. I get a really sick feeling when I think about how he looked at me and how he knew my name. I mentioned it to James and Toby but they think I’m just picking up on the vibes Addie had towards him. He’s definitely a sleeze. I heard what he did to her and I’m sho

Two hours of interrogation later, I was released to James’ custody, not to leave Packgrounds until a formal investigation was finished. Zoe was pretty pissed about it; the Hellroaring River members lobbied to have me released to them, to wait for the investigation to be finished in their dungeons. I was pretty sure I wouldn’t survive that if Zoe had anything to do with it, so it was a relief when the Council Members decided that James’ suggestion of a sort of house arrest was acceptable. Everyone was dismissed and Council members started straggling to the elevators that would take them to their rooms. Zoe and her gang left for their townhome and James led me to the back staircase. We started climbing them to the top floor. He used a keycard to open the door that we kept locked when we had company. I was glad to see the security tonight. I didn’t want to wake up and find Zoe leaning over me with a knife.The door swung open and a white-faced Emily, holding baby Grace, stood on

“He threatened to do it again,” I said, half a sob in my voice.I expected a reaction from the women and from a few of the men, but I didn’t expect it from my mate. I had not talked to him about the conversation I had with Cole in the courtyard. I heard a roar and saw Bryan react on my other side, leaping over me in my chair and forcing Scout back against the wall with both hands. He was talking soothing to James whose eyes were coal black. I stood up and went over and put my hands on his arms. “Scout, I’m sorry. I should have told you that part, but I didn’t want to hurt you. I know you hurt when I hurt. Come on, baby. Let James come back. We need to finish this meeting. And I’m okay. Cole didn’t hurt me. He can’t hurt me anymore.”I spoke soothingly and stroked the side of James’ face while Bryan held him pinned against the wall. I could see his black eyes flash green while James fought for control. Scout finally calmed down and James’ beautiful green eyes came back.

When we entered the dungeon, we saw no one. All of the cells were empty. I stopped to look at the walls, looking for another room, something hidden. When the guard approached, I took a peek inside his head and found what I was looking for. I moved towards a tall bookcase and, feeling around the edge, found the switch. It swung forward, revealing a set of stairs leading down.“Is this where the dangerous criminals are kept?” Matthew sarcastically asked Zoe. I stifled a laugh. That guy wasn’t half bad.We descended into the rest of the dungeon and the smell got stronger. Leigh daintily kept her hand over her nose. The first cell had who I was looking for. Her red hair gave her away, but the rest of her was unrecognizable. She had been recently beaten again. “Jess?” I called over softly. “I’m Addie’s mate. I’m here to take you somewhere safe.”“You can’t! She’s a traitor to the pack. We have the right to punish her as we see fit!” Zoe threw herself at me. Matthew step

James POVI looked at Addie and was worried. She seemed beaten. I haven’t known her very long, but she’s never acted like this, even when she was in the hospital after her escape. She had woken up and made a plan to get out, even in her weakened state. I wasn’t sure what to think.One of the guards sidled up to me. “Alpha, I just want you to know that your mate didn’t eat the at all while she was down here. She spent the entire time on her cot with the blanket over her head. She would fall asleep and wake herself up screaming.”I nodded my thanks at him, touched that he was concerned for my mate.I caught up to Addie and Matthew and helped Addie into the car. She felt thinner in my arms, even though it had only been thirty-six hours. I didn’t like it at all.“Do you want to stop for something to eat?” I offered as the car pulled out. “I know a restaurant that serves really good food and it’s on the way.” Matthew had caught my glance and he could tell I was worried.Addie sm