Phoebe POV
The pretty blonde from the South Pack is kneeling in front of me. Normally, Dad would initiate new pack members, but he isn't here. He has been brooding since his friend died in battle. If you ask me, the world is better without Cedric. He was making Dad soft. Both of them still have loyalties to South Pack, when they should have been pouring their efforts into our new pack.
I slowly walk around her and survey everything about her. She is pretty, perhaps a little too pretty. Despite her low status, she is well-kept. Her blue eyes are cunning, and I can tell she is out for revenge, just like everyone else here at the Pinnacle Pack.
"What is your name?" I attempt to command her.
"Jessica," she whispers.
"What is your rank?" I ask.
"Omega," she replies but there is venom in her voice.
"Do you not care for your status?" I cock an eyebrow at her.
"If you were an Omega, would you?" She growls.
"I think the Moon Goddess gives us the status we deserve," I smirk.
Jessica opens her mouth and then smartly clamps it shut. She is just like every other Omega that runs to our pack. They always assume that we do not have a hierarchy, but they learn quickly that is not the case. We are not a bunch of rogues that runs amuck. The Pinnacle Pack is a well organized machine that will ruin the Luna Queen and I will take her place.
"Where did you work in the South Pack?" I ask.
"In the pack house," she replies through gritted teeth. "It was my job to attend to the Alpha twins."
I choke back the jealousy raging within me. The thought of someone else attending to my Alphas makes me feel murderous.
"What exactly did you do for them?" I try not to be obvious.
"Kaden never wanted my help with anything," she rolls her eyes, but then she grins. "But Alpha Kai and I had a great relationship."
I know exactly what she is hinting at. Kai is a notorious womanizer. I doubt there is an unmated female in the South Pack that he hasn't screwed.
"I am sure it was hard for you when their mate showed up," I keep up my façade.
Jessica crosses her arms over her chest and scowls. "She won't be around for long. Kai has probably killed her by now."
"What do you mean?" I ask.
Jessica looks around, making sure we are alone. "Luna Scarlett didn't approve of a human Luna. So, she worked out a plan to get rid of her. She thought all of her problems had been solved when you abducted her. She didn't count on you all attacking the South Pack."
"What plan did she have?" I ask curiously.
Jessica shrugs her shoulders. "I just know it involved Kai."
I tap my finger on my chin as I think. Whatever plan Luna Scarlett was executing could work to our favor. I just need to know what it is.
Robbie is waiting in the corner, and I gesture for him to come forward. Like an eager puppy, he bonds forward, and I wish his brother was as obedient.
"Take her to the cells," I instruct him. "She might be useful."
He pulls Jessica up from her knees and attempts to drag her out of the room, but she is a fighter. Somehow, she manages to kick him in the nuts. Robbie lets her go and falls to the ground, clutching his crotch. She rushes back to me and drops to her knees.
"Please don't put me in the cells," she whimpers, grabbing the folds of my skirt. "I will do anything you want."
"You are eager," I laugh. "How do I know I can trust you?"
Jessica sobs into my skirt, and I rip it from her grasp. Robbie limps back over to me, and I strike him across the face. "You are useless."
"Put her in the cell next to the Alpha and Luna," I tell him before turning to Jessica. "Find out what you can about the Luna's plan, and it will prove your commitment to this new pack."
Jessica nods her head. "I won't let you down."
Kaden POV
I am watching my brother through the small window in the door. He is rocking back and forth, mumbling to himself. I feel like I am watching him deteriorate before my eyes. I should have seen it sooner. He is my brother, for Goddess's sake. I feel like a failure.
I hear footsteps behind me, and the scent of Roses swirls around me. I refuse to turn around and look at Raven. She has been fighting me at every turn. She doesn't trust my judgment regarding pack decisions. Especially when it comes to Tish. Raven insists that she has seen inside Tish's mind and she is innocent.
It has all lined up too perfectly. My brother started acting erratically as soon as Tish showed up. Whatever explanation could there be? She has aligned herself with the enemy before. How am I supposed to know she won't do it again?
"I have spoken to Tish," she tells me.
"So," I respond shortly. I do not care what they spoke about.
"She wants me to show you her memories," Raven tells me.
"All of them?" I growl.
Raven shakes her head. "Only from when she showed up here at the pack."
"She is hiding something," I growl. "Why wouldn't she want me to see them all?"
"I have seen inside Tish's mind," she sighs. "Somethings are better left unseen."
"Whatever," I snap at her.
I turn back toward the window to look at my brother. There are only a few minutes left of visiting hours, and I refuse to waste them on a pointless conversation with Raven.
Suddenly, my mind goes blank. It feels like I am moving through a tunnel toward a bright light at the end. I don't want to move toward the light, but I am being forced to move forward. Suddenly, the light bursts around me and Tish's memories come flooding into my mind.
They all start with the night that Dad picked her up on the side of the road. Slowly, I relive every moment of being with Tish. I feel like an outsider looking in. It is invasive and wrong. Her feelings of apprehension and fear pulse through my brain. Even though she pretended to be tough and unafraid, she was actually terrified.
Guilt starts to rise in my chest, but I push those feelings to the side. I study each memory carefully, and it becomes increasingly clear that Tish hasn't done anything wrong. Even when she was captive, she didn't give away any information about the South Pack. I miss judged my mate, just like everyone else in her life has.
"I have seen enough!" I shout, and Raven removes herself from my mind.
I feel lightheaded and disoriented. Bracing my hands against the door of my brother's room, I wait for Raven to say, "I told you so." But she doesn't. In fact, she doesn't say a word. She just leaves.
My fists curl against the door, and I resist the urge to punch a hole in the hospital wall. Now I am back to square one. I have no idea who was poisoning my brother. I owe my mate an apology.