The sun’s rays make me open my eyes with a groan, and I turn around, laying my arm around my wife’s waist, pulling her close.

She giggles, turning around to kiss me, and I smile. “How are you feeling?”

“Strange, but good strange.”

I hug her tighter, laughing in a breath. “I’m glad.”

“Are you still worrying about Missy?”

Shrugging, I press a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Yeah. I can’t shake off the feeling of something bad going to happen.”

“I’m sure it will be alright,” she says, caressing my hair. “And, if he’s into her, it might not be so bad.”

I hum, closing my eyes. “I don’t know. What if he just acts nice to play her? She’s still going through so much because of Rick, I couldn’t handle seeing her hurting again. A rejection or betrayal of a second chance mate is quite devastating.”

“I know. But she’ll be fine. She’s strong, even if you all treat her like the princess getting bruised by a pea.”

Groaning, I shake my head. “Yeah. Unfortunately it’s not peas we’re talking about.”

She laughs and retorts something with a broad smile. But I don’t get to hear it as my brain explodes at the incoming mindlink from one of our head warriors.

‘BREACH BY THE BORDER!’ he yells over and over again.

Cutting it with a painful groan, I get up, tearing myself out of my beloved’s arms.

“Sorry, babe. But I just got the warning of something happening at the borders. I have to go and check it.” Bending down to kiss her, she looks at me worriedly.

“Okay. Be careful.”

“Always.” I smile at her before I storm out.

***

At the border, I get filled in by my Beta as I come to stand next to him.

“They haven’t moved yet. I guess they have been waiting for you, Alpha.”

“How many more?” I ask, looking at the men standing just mere feet away from us between the trees.

It’s clear which one is leading this mission, as it must be the one grinning provokingly, while the others stand behind him, and partly hidden by the trees.

“Just those six, as it seems.”

I check the men and nod. “Okay. Let’s see what they want, and why they have stopped just a few steps into the territory.”

My Beta makes a big gesture, summoning another of our warriors, while making the others wait in alert.

“Does he look familiar?” I ask him, as we near them with cautious steps.

He answers with a low growl. “Looks like a Blackwood.”

“Alpha Giorgio,” the muscular man speaks up as we have nearly reached them. “Please apologize for my little invasion right after your special day, and please accept my humble congratulations on your coronation.”

What a prick.

As he bows theatrically, I have to force myself not to snort. If he was anybody else, I would have had his head by now.

But I wouldn’t dare to threaten a pack member of the Blood Fang.

He continues to flash his mocking grin, obviously testing our patience. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t invited last night. But my brother told me it was a blast.”

“Thank you, erm…”

“Finnegan Blackwood. But you can call me Fynn,” he answers with a grin, looking like he’s having the time of his life.

“So, what can we do for you, Fynn?”

Tilting his head at me, he seems to mindlink his companions. “I know that my mate was on your grounds yesterday. I want you to show me every woman in your pack, so I can take her home.”

Take her home.

“How would you know that your mate is one of our women? I won’t present you with anyone without any proof.”

His expression darkens, having me shift on my feet. “I smelled her on him.”

‘If he’s the Alpha’s brother… I might know who his mate is,’ my Beta mindlinks me, making me want to gag.

A second chance mate? This idiot?

‘We have to get him off her trail, make him believe she’s of another pack.’ I say, panic expanding in my chest. ‘Tell Zeno to get her.’

Goddess, please no.

I know that what I’m doing is risky, and goes against so many laws of our kind, but I can’t let her fall into his hands.

“How would you even know it was one of our women? She could have been a she-wolf of another pack.”

My sorrow must be showing on my face just as skepticism shows on his.

As he seems to ponder over something, he turns around to one of his men on his right side and stretches out his hand.

I can’t see what he gets handed, but my instincts seem to register the situation precisely before I can grasp it.

My heartbeat increases its pace painfully as he lifts his arm, releasing a red fabric from his grip. The red stole of my sister’s dress sways in the wind, wafting her scent my way.

A sly grin appears on his face as he continues to hold the item up.

“You have a sister, right, Alpha?”