I can't remember the last time I ran like this. Sure, we went on runs all the time back at the base, but that was work. Calculated training to push our wolves to their limits. This run was just for fun, no obstacles, no competition to beat.

Of course Killian and I still raced each other, that was only in our nature, but this was pure bliss. My wolf and I moved as one, whipping past the trees in a blur. We were bonding with Killian's wolf, too, even though we haven't fully mated. I feel free for the first time in a long time, but fuck, that's just going to make it that much harder to leave when the time came.

We circle back to the pack house and I pull my clothes behind a tree so I can change in privacy. When I step out, Killian is standing there, staring at me expectantly.

"Don't think this makes us friends," I mutter as I walk past him.

"Trust me, I didn't think for one second you'd make my life that easy."

I quicken my pace so he can't catch up to me and head back upstairs. For the first time in what feels like forever, I finally fall into a restful sleep.

___________

I'm woken by someone violently shaking my body. Opening one eye slightly, I see Patrick standing over me, grinning from ear to ear.

"I've killed much larger men than you for way less. Get off me, lard ass," I growl at him, tossing my pillow at him as I do.

"Alpha Killian has requested your charming presence in his office."

Patrick gets up and I think that he's actually going to leave until I feel him tugging at my feet, trying to pull me off the bed while I hold onto the headboard for dear life.

"Please! Ten more minutes, I beg of you!" I cry out.

"Get up! Now!" He commands, the power in his voice is almost enough to make me submit.

He's so carefree and so, so damn cheerful, I almost forgot he was the beta of the most vicious pack in the world.

"Ugh, fine, you suck," I groan.

"You might want to uhh...freshen up before you go in there," he mocks, waving his hand in front of his nose before walking out.

"I do not have bad breath!" I yell after him.

I brush my teeth anyways and try to tame the mass of curls on my head before going down to Killian's office. Not even bothering to knock, I let myself in and sit down in the same spot as always. Across from me, Killian is having what seems to be a very intense, hushed conversation with a woman- a very pretty woman. Too fucking pretty if you ask me. The conversation stops abruptly when they finally notice me.

"Rey," Killian says in shock.

"Don't act surprised, you interrupted my sleep for this, dick," I murmur, trying to be angry but failing miserably.

"That's an alpha you're speaking to, show some respect," the woman snaps.

"Bite me," I spit back.

"Lexie, you can go. We'll finish this later," Killian dismisses.

I quirk my eyebrow at her in victory and she scowls at me as she leaves.

"So what's so important that you had to interrupt my beauty sleep?"

He slaps a stack of folders on his desk and pushes them towards me. I pick up the top few and skim through them. Each one held a picture of an alpha, accompanied by every possible detail on their lives.

"How did you get these?" I furrow my brow in confusion. "These are confidential files. Most Warriors don't have access to this stuff. Hell, I don't even have access to this stuff."

"Someone is trying to sabotage me. I think one of the alphas I recruited is a double agent, but I can't be sure. You coming here was a blessing in disguise, in more ways than one. I need your help, Rey," he runs a finger over his lip, lost in thought.

"Why are you even going into this war?"

"I... I can't answer that right now."

"Then I can't help you," I shrug.

"Please, Rey, please just trust me," he pleads. "I know you don't know me, I know I haven't given you a reason to trust me, but I'm begging you. I need time. The council won't understand if you tell them, but I promise it's important. Just give me more time."

There's a frantic look in his eyes, his voice laced with desperation and I feel a pang of sympathy for him.

No, I don't know him, but I recognize a kindred spirit and deep down I can sense the good in him.

"Okay. What do you want me to do?"