Watching Ashton and Devlyn laughing happily, I sigh at what I have to do. Ashton won’t like that we have to involve his Mate in planning an attack against Pine Moon, but he just recently left that Pack. He will know if there is anyone in Pine Moon that we can trust to help take down Valor and Tanya from within.
“Let’s get this over with.” Milan states, taking my hand in hers. The tingles from her touch run up my arm and I relish in them. I thought I had loved Brynlee; thought we could be chosen Mates. Had we done that, I would have never had the love I do now with Milan.
“Okay.” I agree, letting Milan lead me towards my friend and his Mate. Ashton is the first to notice us, his wide smile slowly faltering as he takes in my grim look.
“What is it?” He asks immediately, standing from the ground to be at eye level with me.
“Asteria wants you to join us for a meeting.” I answer, turning my gaze to the wolf that is the cause of all this trouble.
“You and Devlyn.”
“He hasn’t done anything wrong. I have made sure of that.” Ashton tries to argue back, moving to block my sight of his mate.
“It's not that, Ashton.” Milan steps in, her voice calm and steady. She knows that as much as I care about Ashton, I despise Devlyn for what he did. For giving Valor information that led to the situation we are now in.
“It’s something we can’t discuss with everyone around.” Milan adds, motioning to the many wolves running around the Pack House going about their business. This seems to calm him down as he turns to help Devlyn to his feet, a look of love passing between the two. I hate him. Hate that Ashton did not reject Devlyn the moment they realized they were mates. Hate that Brynlee and Asteria agreed to give him a second chance. Because of Devlyn, many of the people I care about might die.
Without another word, I turn to head inside the Pack House, Milan rubbing her thumb across the top of my hand to keep me calm while Ashton and Devlyn follow behind us. I lead them to the boardroom, finding Asteria and Gale still inside. My Alpha looks exhausted, like she has been through a battle of her own and I guess she has been.
The power that was unleashed from Brynlee had suffocated the room, making it impossible to look her in the eye. She no longer felt like a Beta wolf in that moment when she fought with Asteria on whether or not to kill Valor, to take the fight to Pine Moon. I thought for sure those two would have shifted and we would have to pull them apart, but Gale and Jett became the voices of reason and we were able to come to an agreement.
“Good, you brought them.” Asteria sighs out, straightening in her chair.
“Devlyn, Ashton, have a seat.” Motioning to the chairs beside her, Asteria invites that spy to her side and I bristle, suppressing a growl. I do not want him near my Alpha.
Ashton gives me a hesitant look but quickly obeys Asteria, taking Devlyn’s hand and leading him to the seat Asteria motioned to. The two take a seat but I move to stand behind her. If Devlyn tries anything, I will kill him right then and there even if it will hurt Ashton. I will not lose another Alpha because of some power-hungry wolf’s spy.
“Why are we here, Alpha Asteria?” Devlyn asks, keeping his gaze low. Asteria sighs before explaining that Gale and the tech team had managed to hack into Valor’s internet network using his phone, finding evidence of his tyranny as well as his chat with other Alphas. How there is a war coming to our doorsteps in two months. Ashton pales, letting go of Devlyn’s hand when the two men realize that this is because of the information Valor received from the bastard before us.
“How can I help?” Devlyn is quick to ask, panic in his eyes as he looks between Asteria and me. He knows I hate him; knows I will kill him if he gives me a reason to. So he is right to be afraid.
“We need you to make a list of wolves that might already be against Valor. Wolves that will help us enter the Pack in secret to kill him and Tanya.” This time Gale answers, taking Asteria’s hand in his and giving her a reassuring smile.
“Your job as his spy is why we are in this mess so we are giving you a chance to help us fix it.” Devlyn nods at this, asking Ashton if he could get him some paper and pens but Asteria stops him.
“We need to make it clear to the two of you that if the list Devlyn gives us is wrong, and these wolves also happen to be spies, we will have to execute Devlyn.” Asteria states, her stern gaze bearing down on these two men. I can feel the weight of her Alpha power as she releases some of it to show how serious this situation is.
“I understand, Alpha, but I trust Devlyn.” Ashton reassures her, turning to look at his Mate.
“I know he will do the right thing for our Pack.” With that, he stands from his chair moving to the side of the room where a small filing cabinet waits. After rummaging through it, he returns to Devlyn’s side with the requested items, and the latter wastes no time in writing a list.
“Quincy, have you eaten yet?” Gale asks, breaking the tense silence.
“Not yet.” I answer, turning my gaze to him. Devlyn would be stupid – suicidal even – if he tried to attack anyone right now.
“Good, you and Milan should join us for lunch.” My Luan adds with a smile, standing from his seat and helping Asteria up.
“With due respect, I would rather stay here and watch over Devlyn.” I rebut, getting a scoff from Ashton.
“It wasn’t a question, Quincy. You and Milan need to leave Devlyn and Ashton to make the list and take a break. I know you two are still reeling from being suppressed by Brynlee’s powers.” He states, his eyes narrowing into slits. I frown, ready to refuse again but Milan takes my hand once more, giving it a slight tug.
Reluctantly I follow my Alpha and Luan out of the boardroom with Milan at my side, linking a lower Warrior to monitor the cameras in the room and alert me if Devlyn tries anything. Just because I am not there watching over the spy doesn’t mean I don’t have my ways of surveying him.