"Was she your first mate?" Dev''s sudden question catches me off guard. I remain still, silent, refusing to answer. I shake my head, my eyes fixed on her. Looking away would mean admitting to someone else that she''s truly gone. I haven''t even managed to say it aloud to my closest friends.


    “But not just any girl?" Dev presses again. Another slow shake of my head is my only reply.


    "Well, El didn''t miss your little disappearance. She suspects you might''ve been upset with us." He pauses, lowering his voice. "I know she doesn''t show it, and it''s not really my ce to say, but she''s trying not to hurt you. The whole mate thing is a sensitive topic for her... and for you, obviously. She''s got her own issues to deal with, but I can tell you this-when she finds out you''re pining for another woman, McJealous might juste after you. So, be ready." He chuckles, but I only manage a weak grimace in return.


    "Come on, it''s time to eat. El wants to patrol tonight with a small group. After finding those listening devices, she wants to catch whoever''s behind this off guard. Maybe our voyeurs will try nting more while we''re away."


    "If we find more, she can''t stay locked in her room, you know that, right?" I say quietly.


    "I know," Dev replies. "But who''s going to tell her? I need my stuff intact. And where do you suggest she stays?" He arches an eyebrow, and I know exactly what he''s thinking. "It won''t be with Jax and me. As much as we joke about it, I''m not sharing that man with anyone. Plus, we have ns after this."


    We enter the small breakfast room, where Jeremiah and the rest of our team are already gathered alongside ra and Jax. The expression on Jax''s face immediately tells me I''m about to hear something unpleasant. I walk past Jeremiah and Rayna, catching their confused nces.


    Jax holds up another device, pointing toward the sideboard where a row of topiaries stand neatly trimmed.


    "What''s going on, Ben?" Jeremiah asks.


    I link everyone in our group, "So far, we''ve discovered seven listening devices-in ra''s office, her bedroom, and now here. I think Alpha David was right-someone is targeting her. This has everything to do with the Alpha changeover."


    "What else have you found?" Jason asks as I begin moving around the room. If our eavesdropper is consistent, there should be two more devices somewhere.


    "Nothing. That''s the problem. No scents or any other signs that someone''s been here. Who, besides an Alpha or Luna, canpletely suppress their scent?" I turn to Jeremiah and Rayna. Her brother is experienced in situations like this. He often takes over packs without a clear alpha session, especially when the pack is at war.


    "As far as we know, no one can do it without help. Even vampires and casters leave a trace. That said, there are ways to cover it up," Rayna replies thoughtfully.


    Tommy soon finds another device hidden beneath the table, and yet another concealed in the light fixture. As I dismantle them, we begin our discussion.


    "So, it seems they''re only listening from a distance. No video or other surveince equipment has been found?” I nce from ra to her guards. "I''d start checking the food for any traces of poison. If they want this to look like an ident or natural causes, that''s where I''d begin."


    Jax crosses his arms and smirks. "You''ve clearly thought a lot about how to take down an Alpha."


    "It''s my job to consider every way someone could get to my Alpha or Luna," I say firmly. "That means running through the entire process in my head-how I''d do it and get away with it. It helps me piece the puzzle together faster. My father has been training me for this kind of thinking for a long time."


    "Really?" Tommy asks, intrigued. “Why not all of us?"


    "Probably the same reason my dad has been preparing me for Luna duty," Jason adds. “Guarding a Luna has its own unique challenges. Instead of just teaching us the basics, they started focusing on specifics a few years ago. This is a perfect example of why."


    Jeremiah clears his throat, drawing everyone''s attention. "Let''s eat first, then go for a run. I have a theory about the recent rogue attacks."


    After Jax and Dev thoroughly inspect the food and question everyone who had ess to it, we finally sit down to eat. Jeremiah begins to share his theory, carefully choosing his words and revealing as few details as possible.