"She''s got a point," my wolf murmurs with a low chuckle, sensing my irritation. "You''re upset because you won''t be the strongest anymore, aren''t you?"


    I shake my head, frustration tightening my chest. “No, it''s not that. Honestly, I''m okay with her being stronger. She has to be. I want to mark her, actually — especially now that we''re mated and everything I expected hasn''t happened. None of those terrifying stories came true, and she''s already ovee so much. I know I can''t underestimate her, but there''s this nagging feeling inside me... like something bad might happen to her when I do mark her. I can''t really exin it; it''s just a gut instinct."


    My wolf growls softly. "ude''s instinct will be to hurt her to weaken you. You have a choice to make. Which fear is worse? You identally hurting her but being there to help her heal, or ude hurting her and you not being around to stop him?"


    The thought of not being there if ude harms her twists my stomach into knots. I need my mate desperately, but I can''t rush to her side-not yet. There are still things I have to do to keep her safe. My mother said that mindlinking stresses Kennedy out because she can''t respond, but honestly, I think that''s nonsense.


    Josh and I shift into our wolf forms and take off running. We''ll reach ude''s ce faster this way. Our wolves have shorts strapped on, making it easy to change back when needed. Usually, finding clothes wherever we go isn''t a problem, but ude is notoriously difficult, and the people who back him are just as bad.


    As we approach the once-grand house, Josh snorts quietly. I don''t even have to ask why. This packhouse used to be a symbol of opulence and superiority — a tant "I''m better than you" statement. Since I took control, it''s the one thing I''ve neglected. Everyone in the pack works, even the former alphas, if they''re still alive. ude has never lifted a finger, and over the years, the staff here have made their disdain for his elitist attitude crystal clear.


    The wooden boards of the porch creak beneath our feet as we move forward, but I don''t even get the chance to knock. The door swings open abruptly, revealing a worn-looking omega who looks relieved to see us.


    "Oh, thank the Goddess you''re here," she breathes out. "He''s in such a foul mood right now. I''m scared to get near him." She gestures inside, but I don''t need directions. The sound of his anger guides me.


    We step inside without bothering to be quiet. His rage is so loud, he probably wouldn''t notice us sneaking in anyway. I spot the door to the room slightly open and pause, wanting to observe before barging in.


    “It has to be here! I know I read it somewhere—where the hell..." ude growls, then hurls a book against the door we''re hiding behind. "Where did we see that passage, Rick? I need the exact details. She''s too close. We can''t let her fail over something this simple."


    "I don''t know, Alpha," Rick replies, and my hackles rise at the disrespect in his tone using that title for ude. But I keep quiet for now. Who are they talking about? Who is ''she,'' and what is she close to? I need to listen more.


    "What about Rory, Alpha?" Rick suggests. “He could do just as well."


    "He''s a pup who can barely shift. No way. It has to be him. She needs him."


    Josh links to me, his voice low and tense. "He must be out of his mind. There''s no way he hasn''t smelled us yet. And what the hell is he even talking about? Or rather, who?"


    "I don''t know," I whisper back, "but it''s probably a trap." Josh shrugs, which is his way of saying he''s ready to stir things up and see what happens.


    Without hesitation, I m the door open. "Hey ude, what''s going on here?"


    Miss L Author


    Thank you so much for reading. I appreciate all your thoughtfulments and support. I can''t respond here, but if you want to join the conversation, you can find me on social media at Miss.L.Writes.