I stop walking, “And my father had no idea that you made this agreement?" My heart is stuttering in my chest. How does an Alpha not have control over his Elders? What else did they do behind his back? I feel my anger lick up my spine.


    "Easy mate. They will get their punishment. We need all the answers first." Ben''s voice wraps around me like a velvet nket. Out loud he asks, “What happened after the year? You obviously didn''t let them live here and have a clear hatred towards them.”


    "Their wards did not work they way we were promised. We still had to fight off invaders so they were denied entrance to the packnds."


    "When was that?” I ask. It''s not important, not really, but for some reason I need to know.


    "You would have been about five." Reuben muses. "Around twenty years ago."


    "And they just went quietly?" Richard asks, tilting Ss'' head back to look him in the eyes. "They didn''t raise a fuss about you backing out of the deal?"


    "There was no deal! They lied to us. Gave us fake spells to cheat us out of ournd. They are no better than the Alphas trying to take it by force." Walter seethes.


    "And yet they havee to collect what they think is rightfully theirs." Marietta says thoughtfully. She''s sitting behind my desk and so quiet, I forgot she was even here. "Do you know if they left anything behind? Did they show you the wards they supposedly put in ce during that trial year?"


    "Of course not, stupid woman. Why would we let them leave anything on ournds? Who knows what it would do to us."


    "I think I know what might be going on, but we have another day of scouting so I can verify she give me a look that tells me there is more, but she isn''t talking in front of my former Elders.


    I nod and look at the six men. Three have protected me no matter what is going on, and three have tried to sacrifice me and I don''t think I have all of their story yet, but I need more information to ask the right. questions. They may not be able to lie to me with this serum,but they aren''t going to offer up information either. Copyright ? 2025 Miss L Writes and Ember Mantel Productions


    "Sebastian and Richard, can you take these three down to the cells? I have a feeling


    I will have more questions for them.”


    "Yes, Alpha." They say in unison. Walter and Ss require some handling, while Reben stands and walks in front of them, like he has epted his fate.


    Once they are gone and the door is secured, I turn on Marietta. "What is going on? What did you learn from that conversation?"


    She stands from behind my desk and walks around gesturing towards the sitting area. This time Ben sits next to me on the couch and she takes one of the single chairs.


    "Those witches spent a year setting the barrier we came across today. They made it so that only their coven witches could pass through. I could feel the energy and I am sure your friends found the border to be circr in nature. Now we need to figure out what they found on your tands twenty years ago. The wards they built got stronger with time, there is a reason they have waited until now to starting after you and whatever is hidden. I also think Juliette is a part of this somehow. Yes, she has been setting the Shadow Markers, but I think that might have been a test for her as much as it is for your pack."


    "You think she might be able to cross through." It''s a statement, not a question.