NIRVANA I stopped when they just stared at me as if I turned into a blue alien president of the confederacy until I realized the alpha was around, and I just gave him an order. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have given you the order.” “Go on. That was a good idea,” Knight said, backing me up. “Are you sure?” I looked at Knight. The ring around in his eyes almost glowed again. “You’re the Luna. Everyone will listen to you.” “Right. We will shut down any operation in the vineyards and winery. If you want to protect me, I’d be honored. If you wish to go, I won’t hold any grudges. I don’t want you to feel obligated to save my butt. As much as you want to end this plague, I want you to save yourselves. If you stay for our alpha, I’ll be indebted to all of you and do my best to protect you all. Thank you.” Kailin pressed a button on her phone. She sent and done. “You recorded what I said?” “Yeah. Do you have a problem with that?” She arched a brow. “I could have given a better speech?” I grin
KNIGHT “I’m sorry.” Nirvana wanted to cry again but pushed her emotions back in control. “We just lost a good man, and here I am laughing at some stupid idea.” “But you’re right,” Zarah confirmed it to her. “Let’s get out of here. You should take some people. It’s safe down here.” “That’s the plan,” Kaleb said. Some of my pack are already waiting for us—at least fifteen heads, including women and older werewolves. “What should we do, Alpha?” Lucien asked. He’s one of the elders and Kaleb’s father. “You’re still here, Dad. I told you to leave.” “I can’t do it and save myself while everyone is here.” “Then go down with these people,” I told Lucien. “Take charge of the bunker. You know the code if things go wrong, and remind everyone never to open the vault. There’s a dead body down there, and it’s still probably contaminated.” “You hear our alpha. Let’s get down,” he said to the others who chose to stay. When they started moving, I turned to Kaleb. “You can stay with your fath
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 That son of a bitch. I should have known better. I was glad it came to Nirvana’s senses when I couldn’t. Her mind worked differently than mine, and she could think of checking out the identities of these guys. Or the scenario could have been worse. “Don’t be reckless. That jackass asked for you, but it didn’t mean you gave him what he wanted,” McKaye said. “Do you have any idea? Now it’s time to share it with the class, Mac. We just lost Gage. I don’t want to lose any more men today. And your sister is down with the hostages.” “Alpha, I just saw four guys down the cliff,” Uncle Lennox reported. “What is it?” Nirvana asked. She must have noticed my reaction. “Uncle just saw four men down the cliff.” “Shit.” McKaye didn’t know what to do. He was torn between staying for his sister or going to his father. “Go to your dad. I’ll take care of the problem in the bunker. I promise I will bring your sister alive.” Somehow, he lightened up a bit as he looked at us. “Thank you.
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 My breathing held in my lungs as Liam threw the gas canister on the gate, ensuring no one was stupid enough to follow us. “You didn’t have to do that. You made your point. They won’t follow us anymore.” I turned on my seat to watch the canister break, and greenish smoke spread all over the gate. Fabian and Azrel ran inside. “Oh, yeah. And your pack is not stupid not to even try.” He looked over his shoulder and glared at me. “Knight gave his word not to follow, and he will keep it.” I tried harder to prove a point, though I knew this was useless because they all wanted to get paid. “Do you think I believe you?” Ben snorted. “I’m sure they’re planning at this moment. You are his mate. He will move mountains to come looking for you.” “He could have fought harder for me, but werewolves sometimes get a second mate, right?” “Just shut up.” Liam spat out. “You don’t have to talk. We don’t give a shit about your opinion.” “What does the council want from you?” Ben’s side glan
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
KNIGHT I lost her again. Outraged, I cursed myself for being so weak. Though I could have done something, I trusted my mate’s plan. Still, it was extraordinarily difficult to think of anything other than Nirvana. My mind was with her all the time. They could have just killed her, and why refused my offer? “Alpha, I know this is not the right time, but Zack just reported that they are seeing two men closing their post.” “They can shoot them if they post a threat,” I said sourly. Luka nodded, reporting back to Zack. “Any updates?” I asked Zander. “None so far, Alpha. No one has breached the wall.” “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” I didn’t know why I suddenly questioned everyone’s capability when they could quickly throw their blame on me. “You’re under a lot of stress—” “Yes, Dylan.” I was hurt, furious, sick, ashamed, outraged, and I named it. Stress was merely my problem. “You don’t have to tell me that. I’m losing my shit knowing every werewolf in this country is