Five

Nova's POV

"You're back," Mason said when I stepped into our room. "He wasn't at the-"

I cut him off with a pointed look before speaking through the mind link. "I know he wasn't at the gathering. I met him at the lake."

"That's his scent on you," Mason curled his lips in disgust, walking over to help me take off my cloak. "He touched you, didn't he? You must be furious. I know how much you hate him."

I hummed in response, trying to keep a neutral look on my face. He wasn't wrong, I hated Hayden Storm.

But when I had touched him, oh. I licked my bottom lip, relishing the taste of him on my tongue. I could feel the smooth velvety skin on his cock against my palm, it was hard to think about hatred.

He was such a fine specimen of a man and it would be such a shame to kill him. That wouldn't stop me. These seven days would not end unless I had a blade buried in his gut.

Mason's harsh breathing reached my ears, leaving a warm trail on my skin. His hands skimmed my back, wanting to help me take off the flimsy dress I had on. My wolf purred. If we couldn't have Hayden then we might as well take Mason.

"I've got this Mason," I told him, stepping away from him quickly before I did something stupid.

He was my best friend. My Beta. He deserved better than an Alpha who would only use him for her pleasure.

"Uhm sure," He cleared his throat awkwardly and walked to the door, the faint scent of his arousal in the air. And yet it was nowhere as potent as Hayden's.

"I got a message from our spies," I mindlinked him just before he walked out of the room and he paused, looking at me.

"Hayden came alone. No caravan, no guards, no one from his pack."

Mason frowned. "Why would he do that? It is tradition to travel with a caravan when coming for the festival."

"Unless one wanted to move fast," I grinned, folding my arms. "A caravan would slow him down if he had to move quickly. He's up to something. And we have to find out. Who knows, maybe it's another massacre. The bastard is always fond of that."

"I'll send men to find out," Mason replied then left the room.

I changed into a nightgown, recalling the rest of the words on the note.

My spy reported that Hayden had dropped a box several villages away. Not too far from the Sacred Grove.

I hadn't told that to Mason. The best way to maintain control of my people was to control the flow of information. I had survived the past seven years as Alpha because I rooted out traitors quickly. And the best way to root out traitors was half information.

Mason was a decent friend. But I had thought the commander of death was righteous and just.

Until his sword got buried in my father's chest.

I learned that bloody night to trust no one. Not even family.

The next morning, I marched to the meeting of the day, my arm intertwined with Mason. I was dressed like a harlot, hanging off the arms of her Alpha.

As we drew closer to the huge doors that led to the council room, Mason's breathing grew nervous.

"Please tell me you weren't this nervous, last night?" I mindlinked him.

He gave a sheepish smile and shook his head. "I'm sorry. I'll calm down. "

"Thank you,"

The guards pulled open the doors. I had been to the council room once. I knew what to expect, but it blew my mind every time.

There was a huge table carved out of stone that sat in the middle of the room. The ceiling was open and sunlight streamed everywhere. Green plants and gold lamps hung around the tall walls.

And round the table were eleven stone chairs.

There used to be twenty-one. One for the priestess. Twenty for all twenty Alphas in the province. But after the massacre seven years ago, Eleven Alphas were killed.

They must have crafted a new chair when they learned my pack was coming.

A handful of Alphas were around, each in their seat along with their subordinates who stood behind them. The priestess rose from her seat, her hair golden and bright, her eyes warm and brown.

She stretched her arms out towards us. "It is with deep relief and joy, that we welcome our lost brothers. The snowcap pack."

Mason took her hand, kissing her knuckles in response, but her eyes remained on me.

She wasn't the priestess from seven years ago. Who the hell was she?

"What nonsense!" Alpha Marcel bellowed, breaking the eye contact I shared with her. He gestures at me, his chubby face red hot with anger. "How dare he come in here with a prostitute?"