There was an unpeaceful quietness after Agrip had dropped his question on Anthony and Derek.

Derek bit his lips, his head bowed down, his feet shuffling and drawing unknown patterns on the floor like a shy girl who was being wooed by a man. Only Agrip could make him nervous this way despite his title of Alpha-ship.

He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it as he thought of the implications of the truth right at this moment. The old man’s staff would find his head as a good resting place, at least a hundred times. He would be signing for his death!

Should he lie? Should he...