***Conlan's POV***

Conlan,

Don't trust anyone but Zara and those you would trust

your life with. Protect her like you said you would and

for the more than one reason why you should. She

needs you.

-Willow

P.S. And tell that old man, Freddy, big boys don't cry.

I looked up at Freddy- Frederick. He had a tissue under his nose trying to stop his nose from running. Little effect it had as he trumpeted into the thin material. A small smile threatened to tug the corners of my mouth. She was a funny witch.

"Well? What did it say?" James asked. Him and the doctor looked like they were on the edge of their seats. This was new for me. Things that defied logic often made James uncomfortable, like witchcraft, but for some reason James didn't seem repulsed. 'More like he was intrigued.'

I waited for the doctor to wipe his leaking faucets. "She said to tell you that big boys don't cry." Frederick responded with a warm watery smile. "And not to trust anyone but Zara and those I'd trust with my life." My gaze drifted over to Zara. Her quiet figure gave me a sense of peace as the room filled with a thoughtful silence. There was a sudden urge that twitched inside of me to lay down next to her and hold her close.

'We take her home now?' Karr asked. 'I protect her from witches, and Rogue King.' He growled out the last bit as an image of an over protective Karr cuddled with a sleeping Zara in my bed.

'Karr.' I gave him a warning tone. 'We need to inform Alpha Bryce first, and then we need to talk to her when she wakes.'

'Then can we-'

'Karr!' I started to scold.

"Alpha Patrick is back. He asked about Zara's condition. I told him that she will live." The doctor said breaking the silent tension in the room. "The Beta is also in the office." He swallowed back some saliva. "He's the one that did that to her." His hand waved over in Zara's direction.

A low growl slowly escaped up from deep in my chest.

"Alright. I'll go see them." I gave James a hard look. The witch just told me not to trust anyone when it came to Zara. But she did say that I could trust those that I would trust with my life. And that number is extremely small.

"Watch over her." I commanded seriously.

"You don't have to say anymore. I'll protect her with my life." James gave me a slight reassuring nod.

"Conlan." Frederick called on my way out of the bed bay. "If Willow said not to trust anyone. Believe her." He gave me a look that seemed to pierce my soul. His age and demeanor was that of a grandfather warning his grandchild. "Especially don't trust that Edith. She's had it in for Ingrid and now Zara since that snake came to this pack."

My eyebrow raised. Before I left the room I gave Zara one last look and frowned. On the way up the stairs I decided to increase Zara's protection by getting Theo.

"Theo." I called him in the mindlink. "Wake up."

Nothing.

"WAKE UP!" I yelled at him.

"Yes! Imma wake." Theo said, alarmed. "I'm sorry Al- Beta Conlan. That drive exhausted me."

My demeanor softened. "It's alright. I know you just got back on your two legs." I tried to reassure him. "I need you to come to the pack clinic."

"Are you hurt?!" He asked, even more alarmed than before. "Is James hurt?!"

"No. But Zara is-." Theo blocked the mindlink.

Back at the entrance way I searched for the right path to the pack office. A second later, what I assume was a pack warrior appeared from the shadows. He was tall and lithe. That's when I remembered what the Veiled Moon Pack is known for: stealth and mercenary work. They weren't talked about much in civilized company, and aren't invited to many of the werewolf gatherings because of their mysterious reputations. Especially in recent years since the attacks from the Rogue King and his army of witches. Rumors of this pack handling the situation with carelessness reached the royal circle. It goes back further, if I recall correctly it was during the Unity War. The war that dethroned the monarchy on the Western side of the North American continent, before the Luxington line ruled all of it. They were the last pack to side with King Zachariah and ended up being the last piece needed to destroy the Romano rule.

"I'm Gamma Rolland and I'm here to take you to Alpha and Luna." He said with clear unwavering eyes.

I nodded. Karr's uneasiness was causing me to extend my senses further as I let him take more control. Gamma Rolland led me down a corridor and then up to a private stairwell that had a card key access. After we climbed a flight of stairs another corridor came into view. Rolland was completely silent as he led me down to the door at the end of the hall. He opened the door after a brief pause and left just as stealth-fully as he came. Light from the ceiling was so bright compared to the low lit house interior that it made me squint for a moment or two. Luna Edith was standing slightly to the right behind Alpha Patrick. She had a scowl plastered to her face as she played with her necklace. Alpha Patrick on the other hand looked tired. He had this worn look about him.

There was no one else in the room.

"Where's your Beta?" I asked with a hint of menace. When I took a step forward Alpha Patrick gave me his full attention.

"I sent Beta Cal to the holding cells. He's refusing my command to say his words of apologies to Zara." He stated with anger hitting the lower notes in his tone.

Luna Edith snorted in annoyance. "He's the next Alpha. Of course he shouldn't apologize. What kind of Alpha will he be if he was known to apologize to brats like her." She said, looking at the clock and swinging the pendant in her hand quickly, side to side.

I glared angrily at the woman, resisting the urge to leap across the room and put her in her place. Karr's fur bristled and he barked ferociously. Alpha Patrick pushed his chair out and gave her a look in warning. "He will be dealt with." He was still looking at her dead in the eyes. Then his gaze left hers to focus on mine. "But if you insist on your own punishment for him then I will not stop you." Edith's face turned red.

"What will be his punishment?" I asked, still glaring at her. Rage was coursing through me. Luna Edith flinched when I stepped closer still to the desk. She scooted further behind her seated mate.

Alpha Patrick gulped at the back of his throat. "He'll be stripped of his Beta title, and he will no longer be able to become Alpha after I step down."

"You can't do that!" Edith shrieked. "He has to be the next Alpha! It wasn't his fault! He was forced to shift!" She said looking at me with daggers in her eyes.

"Even in a forced shift scenario he should have had more control over his wolf." He stood up now to glare down at her. "He hurt Zara. By all accounts she is the rightful Alpha Luna of this pack. That crime alone is enough for me to kill him."

"KILL HIM!? HE'S LIKE A SON TO US!" She shrieked louder. "All you've ever cared about was that bitch and her bastard daughter! You haven't been a proper Alpha at all! " Edith stepped back further until she was pressed against the office window.

The hairs on the back of my neck rose. 'Something is off Karr. Do you sense anything?'

"No. He's like a son to you. Not me." He blocked my view of her as he approached her near the window. "Don't you ever talk badly of Ingrid or Zara again." Alpha Patrick coldly reached to tip her chin up to him. "I never wanted to be Alpha. I've always been the Beta hoping that Ingrid would have wanted to take up her rightful position. And now my hope is that Zara will now. Now that she's matured enough after Ingrid's death."

Karr stopped his search for threats as we both went still. My mouth tightened as I clenched my jaw.

"Ingrid Thorne is dead." I rasped out not wanting to believe the news. I feared what it would do to Alpha Bryce. The whines coming from Karr were heartbreaking. Out of all the wolves we've bonded with, Finnbar was the wolf Karr was closest with.

"Yeah," Alpha Patrick said as he was turning around to face me. "She was killed during The Siege when the Rogue King went looking for Alpha females to -"

"To mark, fuck, mate with. Whatever," Edith finished. "Blah, blah, blah, she came to save her pack that hated her. Woo-Weee." She said sarcastically as her mate slumped to the floor. "What a sickening little wretch." Luna Edith stepped over her mate that had bled out on the floor in front of her. "I'm so glad I got to watch her die as she begged me to help her." Her high pitched laugh grated against my eardrums.

I was only stunned for a second as she came closer to sit calmly at the large office desk. Quietly I approached the object dividing us. My claws found her throat.

"Any last words." I growled at her.

Luna Edith calmly sat her bloodied necklace on the desk. Then she looked up at me with utter glee and smiled sweetly before she said, "It's time."

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Hello readers!

What an exciting chapter. There was tiny history lesson, so I hope you didn't get too bored. Lots of dialogue, good dialogue I hope!

Let me know what you think! I'd love to hear from you! Especially if you have a question. You can message me if you feel uncomfortable commenting here. I swear I'm a friendly and nice person. :D