NIRVANA Tension suddenly rose in the vineyards. I could smell everyone’s fear and anxiousness in the air as they started to arrive to help us defend our territory, but anyone could also turn and betray us. I looked at at least nine unfamiliar heads. I did not doubt Califf’s enforcers, Zack, Lyon, and Tor, but these guys remained strangers to me. “Thank you all for coming. I’m sure she needs no introduction. She’s very popular these days. This is my mate, Nirvana.” “We’re here to help, Alpha Knight, Luna Nirvana,” the guy in his mid-twenties said. If I remember right, his name was Ben from Crimson Heart, Alpha Ryden’s pack. “I don’t know how long it would take, but you can always leave. I will divide your assignments, and I’ll be checking every now and then.” Knight looked down at the map of his property. “I will take care of the northeast. It’s near my house.” “Is this a cliff?” Ben pointed at the map on the southeast. “Yes. That’s the end of my land. Outside of that is the val

KNIGHT “Fuck.” I squeezed my eyes shut as if we might have another problem. “I don’t know, Dylan. I told her not to tell me.” “Shit, Nirvana. She didn’t just risk herself, but the entire plan.” He shook his head in disappointment. “I can’t blame her, though. Someone like Dave never joked about threats. I’m sure he planned this meticulously, but Dave doesn’t work with a team.” Luka and I looked at each other as I tried reaching out to Nirvana. Thankfully, as an alpha, I controlled this pack, and I managed to reach our link. “He’s gonna kill his partners.” “I have a feeling he will,” her voice just came through my head. “I will kill him, sweetheart.” “I know you will.” “Please, be careful. I will deal with you later.” “I know, and I’m sorry.” “Stop with mind-linking. He can’t help you now,” Ben mocked Nirvana. “Alpha, I have good news.” McKaye just reached out. “The four guys are the real men Ryden sent for help. Dad and I will watch this area. I can send them to you now.”

NIRVANA I shut my eyes close before Asina showed up and exposed what I was. Instead, I played a weak main character in my own story. I sniffled and wiped my tears. I didn’t cry for that reason because I knew why they wanted me. Alive? I wasn’t sure. Maybe the council wanted to make sure they would be the ones to end my life so Cyrius would walk away and live happily ever after. “You talk a lot.” Ben narrowed his eyes at me. “But you’re right on one thing, though.” Before I could blink and ask what I was right about, he just shot Liam in the head. Liam’s brain splashed all over the window. Before John could pull his gun from his back, he was already shot in the forehead. His blood spattered into my face. My jaw trembled as I froze in my seat. For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. My heart pounded wildly to the point it became uncomfortable. I’d never felt so scared in my entire life until today when I knew I could die with a bullet through my head in just a mere second. With wide

NIRVANA We took this stupid son of a bitch, Victor, to the house. Knight never took his eyes off him. If we didn’t stop him, Victor could be dead by now. “You haven’t answered my question, Victor. Who put you up to this? Why me?” Knight’s nose flared when Victor still hesitated. “You better give me a reason not to kill you because right now, I don’t give a shit about the council anymore. I’d rather go rogue after what you put my mate through. You put her and my entire pack in grave danger. I want an answer, Victor!” “You want the answer?” He glared at both of us. “We’ve been watching her for weeks now. The moment you found her, the same time this plague began.” I snorted. “So now what? I’m patient zero?” “We both know what I’m trying to say, Nirvana. We have resources all over the world. We know wherever you go, whatever you do?” “Did I break any law or something I didn’t know about?” “We should just put him inside the vault and let him get infected.” Kailin had been trying

KNIGHT Knight went silent for a while while everyone was waiting for her reply until Zack came in. “Should I come back later?” “No. Join us.” “We can’t stay longer since the situation seemed under control. We’ve monitored movements, and those people have been retreating. The perimeters are clear.” “You’re leaving already?” “Yeah. I’m babysitting the princess.” Zarah chuckled. “Don’t ever let her hear you say that, Zack.” “Thank you for being here.” I went to him to shake his hand, as did Tor and Lyon. “I wish you could stay even for a day.” “We’re also guarding the compound. Thanks for the invite and trust, Alpha,” Lyon said as he gripped my hand firmly. “You can call us anytime you need an extra hand, Alpha Knight.” Tor was mated to a witch, Zarah’s apprentice. They were trustworthy, and I had no doubt they would protect my mate when the time came. They were the last ones to leave. The guys from Alpha Grady and additional men from Alpha Ryden left after dinner. “Maybe soo