BLADE. Three days passed, and everything was so peaceful that I often wondered if this was the calm before the storm. I hoped I was wrong. Althea was back to her old self, so I knew Patrea was right about how the necklace was sucking her into the darkness. But even with the azurite stone not around her neck, I noticed how she became more sexual and aggressive when it came to intimacy. Not that I was complaining. I liked it that way, knowing I could fire her up as much as she does to me. All was well, and so far, Althea had shown no intention of taking the necklace back, so I was keeping it but not wearing it, as I promised her I would wear it once when we were outside the territory for added protection. We still hadn’t told her about her dark origin, as Patrea feared her curiosity would lead her to find out more, which might attract her back to that side. They wanted more answers, so even if I wasn’t agreeing to it, I just went along. But I did tell her about the necklace and h

BLADE. Althea clung to me like she didn’t want to let go. I didn’t want her out of my arms either, but I knew I needed to see who was at the border. She insisted one last time that I take her with me, but I stood my ground and said no. I added that I would be taking Dalton with me, but of course, I wouldn’t. I had to face this on my own. So after she let me go and went back to our room, I left the packhouse and drove to the border. And the closer I go, the more I and my wolf feel agitated. It could be just anxiety over something that was impossible to happen, but the moment I stepped out of the car, I knew I was right. An intoxicating smell I hadn’t smelled for almost six years reached my nose. It had been a long time, but I knew what the scent was and who owned it. My heartbeat picked up its rate as my eyes swept the borderline until they finally locked with the light green olive eyes that were carved in my memory — until a dark purple one took over and made me forget about

ALTHEA. I took the glass of water that Thalia handed to me, drinking all of it once before we went out of the packhouse. We could have waited inside, but I didn’t want Soledad to step inside the packhouse. I knew if I opened my mind that if Soledad was alive and she was Blade’s mate, then she was just brought into this just as I was. But with the Beta couple claiming I would never bear this mark if she was also his mate. Someone was lying, and I didn’t want to believe it was Blade. Or was I being blinded by my love for him? All I knew was that this pack could only have one Luna, and if he insisted on letting her in, I would leave. I had no idea if I would be able to, but I would not share a roof with her. My heart thundered as the sound of an approaching vehicle roared in the air. Thalia was standing beside me, and as if she knew what I exactly needed, her hand took mine and clasped it with her hand, giving me the strength to face them. “I only have one Luna.” She said softly,

BETA DALTON. “Are you saying Soledad might be lying? But between the two of them, Althea is the witch.” Alpha Blade said. “Don’t put those thoughts in my head, Alpha. We both know Althea is not lying!” I snapped at him. He didn’t say anything, so I hit the brakes before I turned to face him. I was losing my patience already. “That girl was trying to move on without you! I was there when I picked her up on her first heat, and you appeared out of nowhere and marked her! And then what happened next? You took her home after she turned 19, and the next thing I knew, you were offering her a contract to be your Luna! You lured her to acknowledge this bond, only for you to turn around and tell her your first mate is alive! But where was she in the last six years? How did she endure the pain while you were intimate with the Luna because I am sure you did not just touch Althea once?” My voice was higher as I was fucking furious and frustrated at him. Blade had always been smart and could thi

ALTHEA. I heard a sound of footsteps following me, and I was hoping it was Gamma Aldrin. “One more fucking move and I will cut your throat!” Blade bellowed, and because of that, I was sure the man behind me was definitely the Gamma. I rolled my eyes when I heard no more footsteps following me. I turned around and placed my hands on my hips as I stared at my mate. Despite the anger in his voice, Blade looked lost. I wanted to clean the blood off his body and cuddle him to pacify him, but he needed a taste of his own medicine. I looked at Aldrin and motioned with my thumb. “Go to the parking lot and prepare a car. I’ll be there soon.” I didn’t wait for his reply and walked toward Blade. I was doing my best not to show weakness in front of him. I didn’t want to shout as well, as I didn’t want anyone to hear what I wanted to say. But coming closer might make me want to throw my arms around him, so I kept reminding myself not to give in. “Althea… Don’t leave me.” He said. “I ca