"The Delta wasn't a fighter," said Selo. "He was with Matthew's entourage to help carry the valuables being offered to the other pack. The pathing they chose wasn't supposed to be dangerous since even the middle leg of it that crosses the border is well-populated and guarded by Gold Nation soldiers and pack warriors guarding the territory edges. So when the fighting broke out, he escaped, but he was wounded anyway. He dragged himself this far to tell us where the ambush occurred. It wasn't even that far from here...It took him twice as long as it should have to get here, but it's ordinarily a two-day journey to the point, if that."Only a day's worth if Beth ran there, she knew. That point he was talking about was Lake Ogal, where she and Matt used to go before he turned into a cheating bond-traitor bitch. In the other life, they had carved their names and initials all over the place in hidden nooks, in tree trunks, on the surface of rocks and boulders. To think that might be wher
When Daniel's grip changed against her skin, Beth knew in an instant that he was about to shift. That was certainly a voice echoing out of the cave - somewhere to the left, but it was gasping, exhausted, weak. It couldn't possibly be dangerous. Daniel had no need to shift and frighten whoever it was."Who's there!" she demanded. "Show yourself!"A heaving breath answered her, dry and rattling. "It's me...It's me..."Moon Goddess. Was it really -"Matthew Catii. You're alive." Daniel moved forward through the darkness while she remained behind, and the faintest impression of movement ahead preceded a pained groan. "We've been looking for you. Where exactly are you injured?""I...I don't know...ribs. Back.""Then we don't have a choice. We'll take you back so you can get some medical attention.""Wait!" Matthew's hand came up, the only thing he could manage to move as Daniel held him up. "S...spy. I think. My pack house...not safe.""We know. We'll take you to the nearest settlement fir
It was strange that the Delta girl hadn't told Beth who was here to see her, since that implied she didn't know who it was. At this time, who would be here to pay visits, especially strangers or acquaintances so rarely seen the younger pack members had no idea who they were? She hurried into the receiving room, intent on greeting them and saying farewell as quickly as possible. These were hectic times, and she didn't have a second to waste on socializing. She whirled into the room, mouth already open to welcome the guest."Adrian!"The older man was already facing the door and greeted her back with an open smile as he approached. They shook hands, quick and strong."Adrian, welcome back. If you're looking for Luna Margaretta, she's retired to one of the detached houses away from the center of the pack territory. We were told she wanted a change of environment for...well, Alpha Mal isn't doing well, and she thought it would be good for the both of them. They've been there since be
That was not a voice Beth recognized. Her eyes widened, and she burst forward with a powerful sprint that nearly knocked the door off its hinges. Daniel was on her heels as she charged into the room, and before them both, an unfamiliar man sat next to Matthew's bed. Their heads whipped around."Oh? So these are the ones who found and took you in, Matthew," the man said. "I'm lucky that I caught you two before I had to leave again. I could only stop by briefly to see how Matthew was doing and heard you weren't in, Elizabeth, Daniel. I was told you wouldn't be back anytime soon, either."He stood up with a tired sigh and limped across the room toward them. If he was injured, it wasn't a serious one, or maybe he simply had a bad hip. Beth narrowed her eyes but accepted his trembling handshake. Daniel did not."Who are you?" she demanded. "Who allowed you inside? I mean no offense, but we weren't expecting visitors, so Daniel and I gave no permission to any of the guards to grant anyone
It was a nightmare. Beth had known the Heether pack house had become lax ever since their numbers had been destroyed after the catastrophic loss against the rogues, but how could she not have noticed this! Every Delta in the Heether pack house used to be known for their eagle-sharp ferocity and discipline, so much so that the reputation of the pack was the most fearsome among any. Even the Troy pack couldn't boast such a thing. They had far superior numbers from the beginning and more resources, but the Heethers had always had the edge when it came to combat, defense, and discipline when they were pit against each other pound for pound.And yet these past two days, Beth had been running herself ragged finding holes in all of that, weaknesses born from low morale and also the dark supposition pervading the Heether pack - that they were now so weak and inconsequential that they didn't even have to guard against anyone anymore. Who would bother coming after them now?Beth knew she had
"There was no post last night," said Daniel. "We have letters delivered in the morning."The lie fell apart as quickly as it had come, but Matthew didn't even have the shred of decency required to look contrite. "All right. The message was left for me under my window, squeezed in. I didn't want to worry you unnecessarily.""Unnecessarily!" Daniel's teeth ground against each other as he fought to control his anger. What was with the state of the Heether pack? How could intruders waltz into their territory, get past the patrols, and sneak up to the second floor to leave a message for Matthew Catii who was just a guest there? Their security was atrocious, but then again, the last two days that Beth had spent re-training the pack warriors couldn't possibly be enough to turn the discipline around yet. That would take time. Still, it enraged Daniel to no end. Was this not his house? Was this not his territory? "Next time someone slips past our guards, let us know," he said, and he didn't
"I've decided. I'll do it."Daniel had already known he would. If Matthew hadn't wanted to, he wouldn't have brought up the anonymous message in the first place. He could have burned in the fireplace or torn it up for no one to find. He had only taken an extra day to "decide" to keep up pretenses and - who knew, probably just to keep Daniel and Beth on tenterhooks for kicks.But he voiced aloud none of that. Beth was here, and she would want peace for the sake of the shaky alliance, not more infighting."You've saved me before and you're helping me again," Matthew continued, somber and composed. "So in return, after this, you have the support of my pack wherever and whenever you need them. I know my warriors are no match for yours or anyone's one-to-one, but you know I have plenty of resources to spare. What I lack in military prowess, I have business influence that will help you in whatever sphere you need resources for."Of course. The Catii pack's claim to fame was their too-keen b
Five minutes. She had left for five minutes so she could snoop around the town and look for safe exit routes that didn't pass by any other easy ambush points or other traps that could have been set in advance. There was no telling who was ally or enemy, after all, and she still doubted the sender of Matthew's anonymous letter. And after watching the outside of the pub for almost an entire hour and neither seeing nor hearing any suspicious activity from inside, she had told herself that five minutes away to do some actual belated reconnaissance would do no harm. After all, there were five Silver Nation werewolves guarding him, three of them Heether pack members and the other two from a sister pack, so what were the chances that all hell would break loose if she slipped away for a few minutes?Apparently, very high. She should have known to expect the worst no matter what she did, no matter how clever and strategic she thought she was being. Or maybe it wasn't her bad luck that she sh
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