Beth didn't recognize this voice, but there was only one man it could belong to. The final guest she had been waiting for had arrived at last."You must be Mr. Ad-""Just Adrian, please." The elderly man extended a graceful hand, and she shook it with a smile. "I didn't expect to discover that the Elizabeth Heether who wrote me that masterfully composed letter could be such a young lady. I saw you earlier but wandered until I found someone who assured me you are the lady indeed. I apologize for my tardiness."He was warm, polite, sophisticated. In hindsight, she must have heard something about him before, a scandal that had erupted in the very house of the ruling Silver Nation pack, but all she could remember was a vague mention of a wolf who had gone rogue from the Heether den decades ago. Maybe that was it, and the truth that he had even gone so far as to go to the side of the Gold Nation's ruling pack for years had been omitted from the gossip. Either way, she had taken a risk by
Beth had known he would be here. Inviting Matthew Catii had been a necessity because of pack politics, and that was the only reason she had even spared him a single thought, nothing more. With his father nearly useless and having long since shunted most of his Alpha duties to his eldest son, of course Matt was going to come along with him. And to not invite Bronze Nation's ruling pack at all would have been a terrible insult, enough to fracture relations for generations to come. And now was the worst time of all for the Heether pack to accidentally burn bridges.Still. Fucking Matt. It took everything she had to not turn and slam her fist into his face. How she not only managed that but also to fake a pleasant face as she greeted him back, she would never know. "Hello, Matthew. I hope you and Annalise are doing well. The wedding is coming up so I'm sure you're busy. My friend here and I need to step inside briefly, but we can speak later -"Matt's hand closed around her wrist, and her
"Luna, I know this is a bad time..."The woman motioned for him to enter her bedroom with a faint smile. She looked even more exhausted than the last time he had seen her, and although that made him feel even guiltier about disturbing her rest, he had no choice. After what he had just seen, it was paramount that the Luna know exactly what her household was up to, especially the young woman she had put in charge in her stead until her health recovered.This was for the good of the pack. He had to let her know.But when he entered the bedroom and closed the door, he turned to discover someone already there at Margaretta's bedside. Wait - he knew who he was! An elderly member of the Heether pack had pointed the man out and grumbled about how it was improper of him to come, regardless of whether he'd been invited. Adrian, the one who had abandoned the pack more than twenty years ago to go to Gold Nation instead. And he was supposed to be family!So what was he doing here in the Luna's com
Beth had to move quickly. There was no time to waste after the ceremony was over; the very same night, she left the pack house. She shouldn't have done that by all rights, especially since Margaretta had been firm that they needed to discuss things a little longer and wait for Alpha Mal to return before acting upon Adrian's advice - or doing anything all that that might be too hasty and end up dooming Daniel and the survivors of the Heether pack. But Beth had known. She couldn't wait. This had to happen now.By morning, she was long gone and traveling alone on the road, fully disguised in heavy winter wear. It would be smarter to travel in wolf form since she could travel for leagues and leagues without stopping, and with the knowledge of hunting and survival gained from her first life, she would definitely make it to her destination. But she held it until she was sure she would go unnoticed and only shifted once she was fully on the road and out of sight. The peculiar markings of her
Beth knew something was off the moment she scented another wolf coming toward her. She had made sure to eliminate as much of her own scent as possible by bathing just before coming into range, and it was still in the dark twilight hours before dawn. She had intended to stake out the place and bide her time, make sure Melinda Troy wasn't as barbaric as her brother before she made a committed approach.But it wasn't to be. Beth had already been discovered - no, someone had been waiting for her.Her heart pounded as she reluctantly met the figure drawing closer and closer across the sprawling glade. There was no way she could back out now anyway. To escape would make her look like she was up to no good, so the best she could do was willingly put down her advantage of initiative and improvise. She didn't know who it was or what they would say when they came to a stop before her, but she would simply have to figure it out. Daniel's life depended on it, and she hadn't come all this way for
"Beth never told me exactly what happened after that, but I suspect it's because she wanted to spare me the details of your suffering. Since after she met with Melinda and secured a meeting through her with Andrew Troy, that's when Beth found you, isn't it? In prison, held captive for something you had nothing to do with."Daniel had said nothing as his mother recounted the long tale, the story of everything Beth had done while he had been useless in captivity in Andrew Troy's custody. There had been significant holes in the account - for instance, his mother still had no idea what that alleged meeting between Beth and Matthew Catii had been about in the rear courtyard, according to the Delta's report - but everything the Luna knew, she told her son without excluding a single detail. There was still a lot to know, but...He hadn't known. No - more than that, he hadn't asked because this was exactly what he was afraid of. Daniel didn't understand this kind of unreasonable generosity, l
Why did Daniel look so shocked to see her? Beth frowned at him over Luna Margaretta's shoulder, mystified by the abrupt stiffness that came over Daniel's face where he stood in the doorway. Was he still angry at her after all? That show of contrition earlier had been convincing, but Daniel didn't wear his heart on his sleeve so clumsily. Maybe he still had lingering resentment to deal with. But that expression didn't look resentful at all. More taken aback and confused, if anything. Was he all right?"Oh, love! You're here." Margaretta beamed like a blooming flower when she turned and spotted her son. In her dress and with her hair done up for the first time since she had fallen ill again, she looked like a different person. "I was going to send for you later but you can come with us now if you want," she called to Daniel. "We've just had a runner come ahead and let us know that Beth's mother, Luna Dahlia, is on her way this second. It's too dark outside to navigate comfortably so I'v
For the briefest of instants, a familiar shadow of petulant rage flashed across Anna's face. Trained after all her experience, Beth caught the glimpse even though it vanished in less time than it would take to blink. Ah...a decade ago, she never would have been the wiser. Annalise had fooled everyone in her life for her entire childhood and had waited to make her move when it was too late for anyone to counter it, much less Beth who had suffered the brunt of her betrayal.But now she knew."Noah White!" Anna announced before their mother could reply to the question. "He's from that powerful family in Gold Nation, practically second only to the Troy pack. Their family has unimaginable influence since they're so close. I mean, it's Gold Nation, so even their bottom pack would have been better than anyone from a weaker country, but our family's really privileged."Typical. Anna had always been a braggart, but Beth and everyone else had written it off as harmless immaturity and nothing mo
The rogues won.Andrew smiled as he placed the tattered letter inside his stylish jacket for safekeeping. It would make for a good memento once he did the deed and ended the war for good, branding Daniel as a power-mad despot who had tried to rally the greedy Alpha Kings against the honorable Gold Nation.The rogue leader Karthen had even mentioned it might be possible to frame it as Daniel attacking the combined forces of Iron and Bronze, with Gold Nation coming to the rescue. After all, Alpha Matthew Catii was the only survivor, and he was so weak it would be no trouble bending him to his will.Now all Andrew had to do was meet with Karthen, collect the heads, and this stupid pretend war would be over."I think I'll go in ceremony," he announced to his Beta. "Gather the troops just in case since we might be stabbed in the back by the rogues... Well, either way we would have turned on them next. It's almost over, friend. You've served me well.""It's an honor to be with you at the mo
This was never going to go to Union Court. It was going to go straight to war, and Beth was ready to fight. Andrew Troy had manipulated his way to victory every time but now, he would get what was coming to him.No one knew where his father was so he was all but Alpha King of Gold Nation now, which made him the most influential party in Union Court. Like hell Beth was going to bother bringing up a grievance against the most powerful member there. That was going to be open and shut and he was just going to find a way to punish everyone involved, and with legal backing.Better to just take the fight to his face and show him what was what. Beth already had her sleeves up and claws out.... Except Daniel and everyone else forbid her from leaving the Heether pack house. Completely."I am not an invalid!" she shouted. "I can still fight!""Beth... Please. You're going to stress out the baby.""The baby is stressed out because you're leaving me behind!"Daniel held her tight, stifling her st
Daniel wasted no time in telling his mother the truth that day. That is, that he and Beth had secretly been in a relationship for weeks now, technically months since they had definitely been tip-toeing around each other in poor, secret denial long before they truly pledged themselves to each other.Beth was not ready. She was still adjusting to being back in the Heether territory, still adjusting to the relief and anger and determination to take Andrew down even though she was undoubtedly pregnant. She had only just confessed to Anna about that, and Luna Margaretta already knew? Before Beth had had a chance to ready herself?"It'll be all right. She'll come around." Daniel placed his hands on her belly, which had not yet begun to grow but would soon swell with the life of their growing baby. "It's important that everyone's on alert, keeping them in the dark will only make things more dangerous."She swallowed hard. Daniel was right, but that didn't mean it make it any easier. Anna had
As an Alpha, Beth could throw off sedatives without lasting damage. Whatever Andrew had drugged her with, it wasn't doing permanent physical harm, and the effects were reversing already. Her regenerative ability had only improved over the last year with the constant strain she had put her body through, and she thanked it now as they rolled through the streets past the growing chaos of soldiers searching the streets for their missing prisoner. With any luck, within a few days of having untainted food and drink, she and the baby would be right as rain.Andrew had discovered her absence far sooner than she had hoped, but it couldn't be helped. Someone must have checked in with breakfast earlier than usual. But for the bad luck to strand them all in the city and get them caught up in the manhunt...Matt had prepared everything, at least. She still had misgivings about him that would never go away for as long as she lived -- sounds wounds ran far too deep to ever forgive -- but he had done
The first thing Beth saw when she came to was Daniel's blurred face. Even though her head pounded so fiercely she could hardly breathe, the sight of his face swimming in her swirling vision sent such sheer joy and pleasure through her that tears sprang to her eyes."Daniel...""Shhh, Beth, don't try to get up. Rest. I just brought you to the place where I'm staying, and it's a decent place to hide for now, but we don't have a doctor here yet. You need to be seen, something's wrong." He lifted his head, looked at someone over his shoulder. "Go! Find a--""Wait!" She grasped at his shirt, fingers digging weakly into the fabric. "Wait, don't. Andrew doesn't know I've escaped. When he finds out, he'll start a search and hunt me down, and anyone would figure out that it was me if they see me like this. I'm a mess."Daniel leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Maybe, but I'll get you out of here anyway. But something's not right and we have to fix that first. Did Andrew hurt you? What did h
The Troy pack house ran on routine. Everyone had been careful to keep their mouths shut about even potentially important information around Beth, which made sense since everyone knew she was a prisoner, not a mere guest. But what Andrew Troy had so carelessly forgotten was that she had already stayed here before her imprisonment.When he had entertained her as an actual guest in the span of time she had spent waiting for Daniel to arrive here, back before Andrew requested she go to Tahoe Village to help with the fake 'espionage' mission, she had already been housed here for quite a while. Long enough to learn several important details, and details that she couldn't imagine would have changed since then.Andrew's political wheeling and dealing were unpredictable, but his home life was anything but. That enormous cart of food she always saw wheeled in every morning at four in the dark of night came in every day without fail, and she was willing to stake her escape on the guess that that
They were still talking, but they had moved off the stone path and deeper into the shadows. They were on the other side of the stone half-wall, so close that it took another five steps this way, they would find Beth and she would be discovered. She placed a hand over her mouth and nose to stifle what little sound she might betray, but there was nothing else she could do. Her only choice was to wait and hope they didn't notice her, and as soon as they left, she could make a break for it.But to her chagrin, Andrew's voice became louder -- closer. Oh, Moon Goddess. They were now standing almost on top of her, just on the other side of the wall, and if they leaned over, they would see the top of her head no matter how she tried to squash herself against the stone. Was this it? Had she been too hasty?How could her luck be like this! If she had waited only one more night, Andrew Troy might not be walking the grounds. She could deal with avoiding a measly patrol; most of the time, walkabo
The shift change came every day at nine o' clock in the morning and nine o' clock at night. Morning escape was impossible, because even if she slipped past the changing guard, it would be daylight outside and everyone from here to the outlands would see her running across the estate's grounds. She had to make it a night getaway.The good news was with the frigid weather and the frequent sleet and rough snowfall, her tracks would be covered easily, and her scent hard to follow. She was used to traveling in harsh conditions from the life before, and hadn't she managed that journey to Pandemonium City and back? It had been grueling, but she had done it. And, she thought grimly, she had already conceived by then.Proof her child was already strong. Took after its father, and its mother, too. Beth smiled at the mirror, but it was razor-sharp and vindictive, not sweet.She had no more sweetness left for the enemy. She and her child would get out of here no matter what.***One week of obser
The days were short yet passed in slow misery. Trapped in the Troy pack manor on the third floor with guards posted everywhere to keep her from escaping, Beth was a canary imprisoned in a gilded cage, never allowed a moment alone even to bathe. Andrew Troy pretended it was to pamper her by assigning her female attendants to attend to her every need, but she knew better. Much better.He even had the gal to visit her as if she were just some guest being entertained in his home. How dare he have the fucking nerve? She was a prisoner, and yet when he knocked on her door and let himself in, he was all charming smiles and gentlemanly manners. Except how he never explicitly waited until she gave him permission to enter, but maybe that was because she flatly refused to give it. After five seconds of waiting, he came in, ready or not, and it made her want to punch him in the gut for it all the more.She was fed and well-taken care of, granted, like a captured exotic animal kept for private vie