I can hardly think as I work.Val keeps looking over at me, suspiciously.We've not talked about what happened with Hunter yet, and I'd rather we didn't."So," she says. "Are we going to talk about yesterday?"I groan. "Do we have to?""I saved your bacon," she says. "You didn't even say thank you.""I'm sorry," I say."Sorry isn't thank you," she corrects me."Thank you."She leans her head back and puffs out her cheeks. She taps her fingers on her lips. "You know, you're lucky I didn't tell Hunter what I really saw.""I know," I say.Val raises an eyebrow. "Why do you even bother coming out here when you're clearly not interested in working? What's going on with you? I don't like it."I sigh.Val is not going to stop until I tell her something."It's Hunter," I say.Her eyes narrow at the mention of his name. "What about him?""He's given me an ultimatum.""Oh?""He wants me to marry him."Val scoffs. "Oh please!" She's always held disdain for our alpha. "Tell him

Next morning, Val shakes me awake.“Time for patrol.”“What about breakfast?”“We can eat on the job,” she says. She seems to be in a hurry.I dress quickly and grab my weapons, then we’re off and out.It’s a beautiful morning.Val takes the lead.She is silent, her eyes scanning the horizon.She marching briskly, heading in a direction we don't normally take.Soon, we're climbing a hill. It's not steep, but the terrain in unfamiliar and I have to watch my footing.“Why are we going up here?” I ask.“It’s safer,” she says."If you think the rogues won't bother us up here, I think you're wrong.”Val throws me a quick glance. "I mean it's safer from the pack."I look at her as we continue on upwards. She’s up to something and it's giving me a weird feeling inside.We wind our way through the bramble.It feels like we’re moving in circles.“Are you sure this is the right way?” I ask Val.“Yeah."“But that looks like the same bush we were just at.”Val doesn’t answer

We bring the rogues to Hunter.My stomach drops the moment he lays eyes on me.I squirm uncomfortably as his gaze follows me across the room.When he sees the rogues enter, his expression turns to confusion.“What’s going on?” he asks.“Your girlfriend wants pets,” Murray says, glowering at me.Hunter looks at me too, his expression perplexed.“Rylie?” he asks. “What’s going on? Why are you bringing vermin into our home?”I wince at the word, but make sure I don't show my disdain on my face.“We found rogue traps," I say. "We thought it would be better to take them alive. For information.”"We?" Hunter asks.I feel Val tense beside me. I don't want to throw her under the bus again, but everyone knows we work in tandem. There's no way to keep her name out of this without arousing suspicions."Val and I."Val glares at me. I hope she understands why I had to say what I just did.“What kind of traps?” Hunter asks, moving on swiftly.“Hidden ones. Ones designed to kill.”“W

I stare at the space Patrick just left.I cannot believe what just transpired.My heart feels shattered.I am distraught.He thinks I've betrayed him for my pack.And I suppose, from his perspective, it must look that way.But I haven't and I can't even explain what really happened.What exactly was I supposed to do?Let them be executed?I didn't have a choice. I had to save them.And I will get them out of here, just not in the way Patrick wants.I wish I could tell him everything. That if I had it my way, none of the rogues would be dead. But I can't, and now he is gone. Possibly forever.Footfall approaches.I turn, expecting to see the guards coming around the corner.Instead, I see Val.She locks eyes with me and her face turns stern.My stomach plummets. I know I am in trouble.She reaches me."What are you playing at, Rylie?" she demands. "You're not supposed to be here."She looks around nervously, clearly on edge."What do you mean?" I ask, trying to play

PATRICKI cannot believe what has just transpired.Rylie, my mate, my one true love, has betrayed me.She has taken my friends prisoner.Why? For what?She said there was an explanation, but what can she possibly say to justify locking up a teenager?She is too loyal to her pack.She is trying to have both.Them and me.But it does not work that way.We are enemies.She has to choose.I cannot have her playing me while she tries to find a way to have both.It's too cruel.She said she was sorry.But she is not.She is a liar.I was truly hurt by what she deceived me with.I trusted her, and she used that trust to fool me.I cannot believe she is putting the needs of her pack over me.I am her mate.She is putting the pack over me.And that scent...It was all over her. The scent of an alpha. She has been up close and personal with him, I am certain. And I saw the look in her eyes when I challenged her on it.My entire body is tense with anger.All I see is re