bChapter /bb174 /b

bEryx /bPOV

When Ie around, everything feels heavy now, and I can barely breathe. Something isn’t right, I know it, I can feel it. My neck where i ired her has turned into something awful. It feels like acid is burning through my neck and veins.

Pushing to my feet, the voices around me are still muted, almost like they are traveling through water. I don’t pay attention, instead, I rush for the door. have to get her, I have to leave.

Something grabs me, and without thinking, I flip my wrist and throw them off. The sound of shattering has the sounding back.

“Xander!” My mother’s scream is the first thing I hear clearly, and when I turn, I see him lying on the floor, ss surrounds him. I can see it sticking through his body, in his arms and everywhere.

“I didn’t mean to,” I whisper and rush over to help drag him up. He wastes no time pulling out the ss.

“You can’t just run into the pack, it’s a suicide mission,” my father orders.

“She also may not still be there,” my mother says.

“Maybe not, but that’s my only option. Her parents will know where she is, so I have to go there.” Turning, I walk out and hear them following.

“You are not going alone,” my father says.

“I have to,” I argue.

“No, you don’t. Me and your mother wille with some of the guards. If I refuse to let you go, you will sneak out when no one is watching, so the only option is that we go with you and ensure you’re safe.”

I nod and give in, still walking.

“Eryx, we need five minutes to gather what we’re going to need,” he says.

Five minutes is the difference between life and death. I can’t wait. I know, though, I have no choice, so I pace the hall as they get everything ready that is needed. Amelia isining she wants toe, but my parents order her to stay.

I’m d. She shouldn’t being. No one should. When everything is gathered, I lead everyone out into the Hollow. When I drop the veil, I hear the

gasps.

“Maybe we should travel the usual wayb, /bAlpha? Then they know we’reing and aren’t just hit with us.”

I don’t try to figure out who said it. My head shakes. “This is the fastest way. We’re not traveling four days just so they are aware bwe’re /bheading for bthem/b.” I step through the portal, not giving them a chance to argue back.

Everything in me is screaming to run forward, to find her, but I wait. I watch as slowly, one by oneb, /beveryonees through the portal bwith /bbme/b.

“Okay, orders are no one fights or shifts unless they attack. We try to negotiate and speak. War is bthe /bst optionb,/b” my father calls bout /bbas /bI bmove /bbto /bwalk forward, I stop when I see guards at the treeline,

“They were waiting,” I whisper.

“You gave them a reason tob. /bClearly, they knew all alongb, /bEryx,b” /bmy father snapsb. /b

b“/bAlpha Rogue Xander,” a voice calls out, and my father steps in front of me binstantly/b.

b“/bbAlpha /bWesleyb,” /bmy father says as he steps closerb, /band I watch bthe /bman step bforward/b. bHis /bbeyes /bbe /bbto /bbme/bb, /band bhe /bbsmirks /b

bi1/3 /i/b

b2/3 /b

bC /b

“bYou /bbweren’t /binvited, and from what I remember, we’re not allies, so you have no reason to be here,” Alpha Wesley says,

b“/bbI /bcame for April, my mate!” I snap and step forward, but my father stops me.

“Your mate?” Alpha Wesley chuckles. “I’m sure she’s not yours anymore. When a im is bitten over, the old one is burned out entirely. She’s not your mate anymore, child.”

I snart but feel something stop me from moving. Turning, I look at my mother, then nce down to the threads wrapped around my feet.

“Let me go!” I order.

“You cannot start a war,” my mother whispers.

saysb. /b

“Look, April is my son’s mate. We’re here to collect her, to take

her from you as you see her as a burden. Let us release you of that burden,” my father

Alpha Wesley tilts his head. “She’s not here.”

“Lies!” I roar.

“You can check for yourselves. My daughter is not here. She’s lucky I didn’t banish her, considering she was breaking pack rules and mating with an

enemy.

My body shakes, and I try to move, but my mother’s threads still hold me in ce. I could easily burn them off me, but I know she would feel the pain. Instead, I plead with her, my eyes begging her to let me go, to give me a chance.

Reluctantly, she releases me and lets me move. I step forward, standing beside my father, and decide to try myself.

“You want things we have, is that your n? To hold your daughter hostage from me until we agree?” I ask.

Alpha Wesley chuckles darkly. “Oh, what a naive little boy you are. Your magic would be a delightb, /bbut guarantee it’s nothingpared to the witches, and when they agree to help me, you will be nothing but a weak, fragile little thing.”

“Then why!” I roar.

“Because my daughter does not deserve happiness, she does not deserve a life of luxury, and she doesn’t deserve real love. She needs to be shown what it means to be owned, to followmands. Where she has gone, she will learn that and quickly.”

My body runs cold, and my father steps forward, his eyes narrowing.

“You speak of your daughter in such a wayi? /iSomeone who

bis /b

a

member of your pack,” my father argués.

cleaned, she did everything needed, but now she’s not needed.”

Wesley simply shrugs. “iShe /iserved her purpose. She cooked, s

“Then where is she?” my father orders.

“With someone, Xander. Someone who doesn’t lie about who he is. Your mate was given to you given ito /iisomeone /iacting. She was sold to a rogue.”

My body stills. “No!” I roar, and the threads grip me again, stopping me from lunging bat /bhim.

under the belief you were a rogue. Well, April wasn’t

mento

“Yes, her punishment for seeing you, Eryx. Had she stuck to the rules, she wouldn’t have been given to ba /brogue. Maybe another balpha/bb, /bbsure/bb, /bbmaybe /bbone /bwho would have been gentler, but I can guarantee her new mate won’t be soft with her.”

This is wrong. bIt /bcan’t be happening.