Alpha Carter POV We raced to the Bliss Moon Pack. I wanted to get my mate back and get things cleared up between us. Her effort to reject me startled me but did not work. I did not accept her rejection, and she would not know that was necessary. My heart is in my throat uncertain what to expect. “That’s odd,” my warrior who is driving murmurs. “What?” I ask on edge. “We just passed three SUVs going in the opposite direction as us,” he says as he looks in his rear-view mirror. “Maybe something came up, that Kyle needed to tend to,” I say distracted by what was ahead of me. We arrived at the territory gates and were advised to wait a minute. I was confused and stepped out of the SUV, with Stan and the two warriors in front jumping out prepared to protect me. I sigh, “What the hell is going on? I am here at the invitation of the Alpha and the Beta,” I say angrily. “They are both on their way here,” he replies to my confusion. Had

Alpha Carter POV As I backed out of the SUV carefully, I mind-linked Stan to have something to cover Elizabeth with when I exited. I was cautious not wanting to hurt her any more than she had already been. I could see her body had been beaten at some point and those were not wounds from the accident.She had not said a word since I had her in my arms. Her body was tense and full of fear. I whispered words of encouragement and promises of protection to her as we worked our way out of the vehicle. As expected, Stan was standing there with a blanket, he had retrieved from one of our SUV’s. I took it and wrapped Elizabeth in it before I stood with her held tightly in my arms. I heard the whimpering of Alpha Matt off to the side. He was curled into a ball on the ground. I slowly walked over to him and put my booted foot on his neck. He looked up shrieking in fear, “You cannot kill me,” he says as his face rolls from fear to laughter. “You cannot

Elizabeth POV I sat in Carter’s arms for a while longer, before starting to rise. There had been chatter all around me about what a silver wolf could do, what it meant for the Pack, the upcoming trial in a couple days … it was all overwhelming. I just wanted to be alone to process what was happening. “Just breathe,” Ashley says in my mind. “What do you need, love?” Carter asks. “I just need to go to the washroom,” I reply as he helps me up. “Do you need any help?” he asks sincerely. Shaking my head, “No, I am fine,” I say as I move across the room to our bedroom. I move into the walk-in closet and get some clothes that I can put on after my shower. Stepping into the washroom, I turn the shower on. I drop the blanket from my shoulders and look in the mirror. I can see the bruise on the side of my head where the Alpha had kicked me. I can see the bruises covering my broken ribs. I am healing faster than I have in the past, and I know I have

Elizabeth POV I had been trying to get answers from Ashley since Alpha Matt had threatened us that she knew what he was talking about. She went radio silent. She has not spoken to me since, nor has she spoken with Max, Carter’s wolf. I had no idea what she knew, and it terrified me. Terrified me wondering what could be awaiting us at this hearing. My hands were shaking until I felt Carter taken them into his hands. “We will get through all of this,” he promises me as he pulls me into his arms. We are back in our suite, just the two of us. “What if they take me away from you?” I ask him. He shakes his head, “Over my dead body, sweetheart,” he replies. “Do not even joke about that Carter. Whatever happens you have to promise me you will maintain your composure,” I say to him. He looks at me, “Sweetheart, you are going to tell the truth, Alpha Matt will be punished, and then you are coming home with me; that I promise you,” he says. I hope he

Elizabeth POV I was shaking inside as I watched the “spectators” walk in. I knew in my gut that this was going to be bad. But I had to maintain a level of hope that things could work out in my favour. My biggest fear was being taken away from Carter. “That will not happen, Elizabeth; I will not let it,” Ashley says in my head. “You decided to make an appearance,” I comment annoyed at her silence. “I am always here. Sometimes I need time to figure out how to help you,” she replies as she tucks back in my mind to observe everything. We are moving to the room we will be having the trial in, when we hear a big commotion from the entrance to the Pack house. Of course, Alpha Matt needs to make a show when he arrives. Luna Nancy and Sydney run to the Alpha and are crying all over him. Enough of a show to make those of us who are immune to their ridiculousness want to vomit. “Oh daddy, what did they do to you?” cries Sydney as her father hugs her,