Knox POV "How did Mike take the news?" My father asked Kane and I. We had been roped into helping them check the security details for tonight; given that this ball was being thrown for Lilly and Sebastian, we had many visiting Alphas who wanted to pay their respects to the future of the last remaining Lycan line. "I haven't told him." My brother replied as he moved one of the CCTV cameras slightly while I checked its angle on the laptop. "What?" My father snapped furiously. I lifted my eyes from the screen to watch my father approach Kane. I hadn't been present when Kane had told our father we had taken Lottie as a mate, but I knew he was angry with us. Especially after he had already refused to end Lottie's betrothal to Mike, her father had terms that he would be discussing with us later tonight, but my father had stressed that we were to tell Mike. "You told me I had to tell him; you didn't say how or when!" Kane snorted as he eyed me over my father's shoulder; checking the scre

Kane POV"She isn't here!" I snarled, checking her ensuite for the third time. We had checked in here twice already, and the kitchen and the Luna suite. We had even triple-checked Lilly's room, given that that was where she had run off to last time! There had been no trace of her; in here was the only room we could smell her in, making me think we had just missed her. Mom said when she had left her, she seemed fine, excited even. That Charlotte had been joking with my father, and she had no reason to think she was about to bolt. "I don't understand!" I grunted, trying to sense her through our bond; I had even used the pack link to try and communicate with her, and so far. Nothing! No one had seen her either! "Will you put your fucking phone down!" I roared at Knox, wondering who he was texting! I had taken Charlotte's phone the night of Lilly's mating ceremony, and it still sat on my bedside table. I arrogantly thought she wouldn't need it anymore! "I am checking the cameras." Kno

Mike POV Knox's pull on my hair stung like a mother fucker, the pressure on my shoulder almost excruciating, but none of it compared to the pressure building in my head; my brain felt like it was about to explode in a scene that would rival that of the Viper and the Mountain from Game Of Thrones! Although I am sure, I would have no one avenge my death! My lungs tightened from how I was holding my breath. As panic started to kick in, I recalled a lesson Beta had given on strangulation and asphyxiation, warning us that the victim would likely piss or shit himself and to stand back enough to be out of the 'splash zone'! Did I really want to die in a puddle of my own piss because I was too stubborn to give him what he wanted... I had to make a split-second decision.. live and tell him only to possibly be killed for the truth I shared.. or die... "Or throw her under the bus!" Flint, my wolf whimpered. Opening my mouth to suck in a breath as a plan formed in my head, I groaned when Kno

Lottie POVLooking over at Knox, I felt Kane's thumb softly stroke my hip, a sign he was picking up on my nerves and wanted to reassure me; when his touch failed, I felt his lips press against my temple lovingly. "Relax, he loves you!" He whispered against the side of my head. But how could I relax? If Mike told Knox what happened, all this would be over before I even had a chance to make heads or tails of it. I felt Knox's anger earlier and knew something had happened between him and Mike; I just didn't know what... and he wasn't giving anything away! "Mike must have chosen to save his own ass!" Sage grunted through the mind link. "Yes, by telling Knox about what YOU did, he would ruin things for you, but he would also be sealing his fate.. Because do you really think Knox would let him live?" She advised me, making me sigh. At least she was talking to me now though, I guess. "What happened with Mike?" Kane asked with a nod towards his brother; my eyes searched Knox's, waiting for

Knox POV I didn't need the mate bond to know Lottie was nervous about being alone with me, and I knew why. She was wondering what Mike had told me. I had debated not saying anything, but since she had woken to find we were mated, I could sense she was looking for a reason to bolt, and I wasn't about to give her one. "You ok, petal?" I asked, walking by her to where her mask sat on her makeup desk, motioning for her to come and sit. I kept my eyes trained on her face, watching to see what her next move would be. I meant what I said earlier.. She was mine and was all that mattered to me. Maybe I did care about what Mike had alleged she had done, but I knew better than to believe him entirely. There had to be more to this! "Yes, fine." She whispered. It was a lie; we both knew it. I smiled, watching her move across the room to sit on the stool before me. Running my fingers over her bare shoulders, I smiled to myself, seeing her shiver under my touch, leaning into me instinctively.