He stared at me for a full minute, silent as a graveyard. My eyes searched for some indication of how significant the question was to him. His face was still, betraying no emotion, and his body was rigid. His forearms brushed against my bended knees on either side of me, his hot skin almost burning mine.

I sighed in defeat, "I'm sorry. Just . . . forget I asked—"

"She's dead," he said flatly.

His words only confirmed what I had suspected. I swallowed, choosing my words carefully. "You . . . you knew her?"

He nodded slowly, but didn't elaborate.

"What happened to her?"

If he hadn't been so close to me, I wouldn't have noticed his arms tense a fraction. His eyes became unfocused, as though he was looking deep into the past. "Leo killed her."

Something tightened in my chest; a dull pain ached throughout my body, as though old scars were being reopened. His pain. My hands rested on his shoulders, rubbing soft circles into his t-shirt. I leaned forward until our foreheads rested against one another.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered, my hands sliding along his shoulders to his face.

His eyes closed and he stepped away.

"It was a long time ago, Phoebe." He took my dishes and placed them in the sink before taking my hand gently. "You need to sleep."

I slid off the counter, but tugged him back when he tried to lead me out of the kitchen. His eyes found mine and I saw an emotion I had never seen before—wariness, almost fear, as though he was afraid of what I might say next.

Once again, I chose my words carefully. "Why did she want me to ask you about her?" I asked softly.

I knew why she wanted me to ask him—she had said Alpha Alexander was capable of terrible things, something I could believe to be true, but refused to admit out loud. I still needed to hear him say it, though. I needed to hear him tell me it wasn't true or that she was hysterical.

He didn't look away as he replied, "She knew it would hurt me."

I wanted to ask who Natalie was—who she really was to him, but looking at him with a still expression and saddened eyes, I couldn't force the words out. Instead, I took his hand and pressed it to my cheek. "I am here for you, you know. I may not know you as well as I probably should, but . . . I care about you, Alpha Alexander. If you ever feel the need . . . I'm a good listener. This subject is a touchy one, I understand that, so I won't interrogate you anymore about it, but when the time comes and you need someone to talk to, I'm here."

His expression softened only a fraction and his eyes seemed to brighten as I spoke. He cradled my face between his palms. "I know, Phoebe. When the time comes, you will know everything."

"But not tonight," I finished for him.

"No," he concurred, pulling me toward the staircase. "Not tonight."

They came in the morning, in numbers of twos and threes. The majority were men, but several had a woman tucked in close under an arm; their eyes watched those around them carefully. I made my own connections and concluded that these women were the mates to the males who held them so tightly. Only one woman stood without a male companion to hold her tightly against him. She walked three steps in front of a male twice her size and her toothy grin to another male made a shiver run down my spine instinctively. She was pure predator—with the grace of a ballerina and the body of a well-trained athlete. Truth be told, she frightened me more than the intimidating men standing around the wide backyard.

I swallowed around the lump of fear in my throat as I watched the wolves pour into the backyard—fifteen at most, not including their female companions. In total, about twenty werewolves stood in the backyard, men and woman alike. They seemed to know one another—small greetings and tight smiles were exchanged and some introductions were made—but none of the werewolves seemed genuinely happy to see one another. Instead of friends, everyone treated the man standing beside him as though he were a subtle threat—someone to be eliminated once all the witnesses were gone.

"Alphas," Julie said with a sneer as she came to stand next to me, her eyes on the crowd below our perch at the wide window on the second story. "The air is so thick with dominance and testosterone, you could cut it with a spoon."

I looked at my friend, an eyebrow raised. "A spoon? Really?"

"I heard it in a movie once." She dismissed it with a wave of her hand before giving me a serious look. "Are you feeling okay?"

"Honestly, no. I'm scared, Julie."

"Good," she said firmly. "If you weren't, I'd be worried."

She grabbed me by the shoulders, turning me away from the window to face her. "There's no need to be afraid, though. Alpha Alexander will be with you and he will do the talking. They will probably ask you questions, but that'll be because they're probably curious about you. There are those who believe Alpha Alexander was never destined to have a mate."

I frowned at that last bit, but fidgeted with a loose thread as I said, "I just don't understand why I have to be in the room with them."

"You are the mate to the most powerful Alpha on this side of the country. Leo has zeroed in on you because of that. He wants to make Alpha Alexander weak, which means you are the key to this entire situation. These Alphas need to put a face to a name if they are to join forces with our pack, and when the big fight comes, we'll need the numbers."

"So I'm a poster child." I was still amazed how all of this happened within a week. The attempted kidnappings, the claiming, the mate bond with Alpha Alexander growing stronger, the revelation of a supernatural war—it was all overwhelming for anyone, let alone an almost-eighteen-year-old girl.

I gasped, a new unwelcome thought clouding my mind.

Julie caught my stunned expression before I could cover it up. "What's wrong?"

I shook my head. "Nothing. I . . . I just remembered my birthday's this Friday."

Julie's mouth dropped. "Why didn't you tell me?" she shrieked. "I could have set up a party or something!" She ran a hand through her hair. "We can still call everyone and—"

I shook my head even harder. "No, no, no. I do not want a party right now—that's the last thing I need after recent events."

Julie looked like she was about to argue, but held her tongue when another person approached us. She let Seth pull her into his chest. He tenderly kissed her forehead before addressing me. "They're waiting for you."

I glanced out the window and noticed the werewolves had filtered into the large living room, which was the only room able to hold that many standing bodies. Seth looked down at his mate. "The females are in the front yard."

"As far away from the living room as possible, but close enough for their Alpha mates to feel less anxious at being separated." Julie had told me that when the first of the werewolves arrived. She was tasked with keeping the females "occupied" while their mates discussed Alpha business. Part of me wished I could join them.

Julie sighed. "That's my cue." She kissed her mate softly on the cheek. "Take care of her, lover. Don't let the big bad wolves scare her too much."

Seth smiled at her retreating figure before turning to me, all business. "Ready?"

I sighed, rubbing my palms against the sundress Julie and I picked for this occasion. "As ready as I'll every be."

"Just stick close to me—follow me inside and stand beside Alpha Alexander—"

"On his left, but slightly behind him." I tried to take a deep breath. "Julie and Jason gave me a crash course on werewolf etiquette."

Seth gave me a small reassuring smile. "I won't leave your side, Phoebe. My purpose in this meeting is to observe, but most importantly, to protect you. You're safe with me."

I nodded. "Thank you, Seth."

He offered his arm, something a man hasn't done for me since . . . never. Dad did it to Mom whenever they were walking together, but other than that, I'd only seen it in movies and cheesy TV shows.

I slid my hand into the crook of his right elbow and allowed him to lead me to the stairs. I wanted to ask him if he was as old or older than Alpha Alexander, because he had the same mannerisms as his Alpha, including speaking like a walking Jane Austen novel from time to time, but we went down the stairs quicker than I thought possible and soon we were entering the living room, where more than a dozen men stood in the area where the couches used to be.

Julie had warned me that this room would reek of dominance and because they were all Alphas of their own packs, they wouldn't sit down when the threat of another Alpha stood in the same room as them. None of them stood within a foot of each other. Julie had also said that a meeting of this scale hadn't been held since the wolves came out of hiding. Even before then, werewolves hadn't called a conclave since a group of them migrated to the New World hundreds of years ago.

I vaguely understood the purpose of the meeting. From what I had gathered, Leo had threatened every pack participating in the conclave in some way, shape or form. The size of his rogue pack was uncertain, but the latest report said it was nearing a hundred rogues, outnumbering our pack as well as several neighboring packs. The possibility of Leo recruiting more rogues meant more deaths, human and werewolf alike, and more able-bodies to contribute to the army he was building.

Again, I was struck by the weight bearing down on my shoulders, but as we stepped into the living room and eyes immediately traveled to me, I found my back straightening and my chin lifting only enough so I was no longer staring at the ground.

Instead, my eyes found Alpha Alexander, who stood in front of the fireplace, his arms crossed over his wide chest. He watched as Seth led me down an aisle that formed as males slowly stepped back after filling their eyes with the cuts and bruises that still marred my skin—several of the men's lips curled at the sight of my battered body, though whether they were disgusted by the sight of the wounds or by the actions that were taken to get them, I'd never know.

I found a sense of peace washing over me as I neared Alpha Alexander. His eyes softened slightly as I approached, something I instinctively knew was only noticed by me.

Seth parted with me, giving my arm a soft squeeze of reassurance as I took my place to the left and slightly behind my mate.

The eyes of every wolf in the room were on me. Some flickered to Alpha Alexander and then back to me, but I noted how every one of them stared at my mark for a few seconds longer than necessary. I felt the angry, heavy gaze of a certain dark-haired female standing in the corner of the room—a gaze that I pointedly ignored. I kept my chin parallel to the floor, not any higher to make them believe I thought of them as lesser beings, but not any lower to make them think I was submissive.

Julie had repeatedly told me this morning that I was officially an Alpha because Alpha Alexander had claimed me. We may not be fully mated, but his venom in my blood was enough—I was a dominant, even though I was still human. In theory, according to Julie, I was more dominant than all the other wolves in the room, even though they were all the highest ranking members of their individual packs. Alpha Alexander was powerful—more powerful than most other werewolves in the country, which was why Leo wanted to defeat him so badly. When one is trying to obtain power, Jason had told me, they take out the biggest threat first. In this case, the biggest threat was my mate.

The pieces had all fallen in to place only an hour after I had woken up this morning and while the puzzle was still incomplete—I still wondered about Natalie and how she figured into the struggle—I found that the whole thing frightened me, but not as much as it should. Julie and Jason had done their best to prepare me for this moment, but standing in a room full of dominants with an air so thick with tension, yes, you could cut it with a spoon . . . I wasn't prepared at all.

"May I introduce my mate, Alpha Phoebe of Luna Nova." Alpha Alexander took my hand tenderly, bringing me forward as he spoke. Heads bowed respectfully, eyes never wavering as they all watched me carefully.

"So this is the human who bewitched the great Gabriel Alexander," a deep voice mused from the side of the room. Leaning against the wall, hands in the pockets of his dress pants, was a man of no significant features but with hair as bright as a carrot.

"No, Trevor," said a man who seemed several years older than every man in the room, which wasn't saying much considering the room was full of immortal werewolves. "This is the human who singlehandedly overpowered a rogue, something you haven't had the chance to do in your short time of being Alpha. She is also our host." The last line held a subtle threat, as though reminding Trevor to be nice.

Trevor smiled. "She's smaller than I imagined."

I couldn't hold my tongue any longer. "Don't make the mistake of underestimating her," I said coldly, raising an eyebrow. "Look at what happened to the last person who did."

"She speaks," Trevor said, his smile never faltering.

"She bites, too," Alpha Alexander contributed, gently pushing me behind him. "Stop antagonizing my mate, Holland." I felt the order roll past me and strike Trevor Holland square in the chest. His smile disappeared and he struggled to keep his eyes from falling to the floor in submission. Alpha Alexander turned to address the room, his booming voice and natural authority demanding the attention of every wolf in the room other than the old man, who continued to watch me carefully, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"You are all aware why this meeting has been called, why you have been summoned to my territory. The threat against our packs has been too great; we can no longer afford to pretend the rumors hold no truth. Leonardo Alvarez cannot continue to terrorize those under our protection. He officially declared war on my pack when he sent his rogues to abduct my mate."

His hand motioned slightly in my direction and for a brief moment, every wolf's attention was on me, but they quickly returned their gaze to Alpha Alexander. "Leo has taken something from us that our species has held more precious than our own lives."

Alpha Alexander swept his eyes across the room. "He has broken the serenity we have maintained for a hundred of years. His intent, no doubt, is to make us fight our own neighbors. He has sent his rogues to instigate volatile situations between packs. We cannot allow him to shatter the fragile bond of peace and prosperity that connects our packs. He will force us to turn on one another, if he hasn't succeeded already; the time will come when packs begin fighting one another because Leo has toyed with the minds of everyone. If we do not join together and stand as one against this threat, our species could be destroyed."

"You are asking us to fight for you," Trevor said suddenly, his tone unfriendly, almost accusatory.

Alpha Alexander gave him a gaze I couldn't see, but could feel was powerful enough for Trevor to finally drop his eyes.

"No, Alpha Holland. I ask you to fight with me. I will be in the fated battlefield when the time comes, protecting my pack to the best of my ability alongside my strongest wolves. I will fight for your pack, to ensure the peace between us lasts for another hundred years. I will not let one rogue be the downfall of our species because of something I did a lifetime ago."

I forced my face to remain expressionless, but my curiosity was peaked. What did he do? Did it have something to do with Natalie? The questions swarmed in my head, buzzing with a nagging curiosity that made me want blurt out whatever I was thinking in that moment. However, I bit my tongue and swallowed the questions that were burning to sprout from my mouth.

Later, I chided myself. You can ask him later.

"You truly believe that is why he is causing so much trouble?" A man standing at the back of the room frowned, but his tone wasn't unkind, just mildly concerned.

"I do, Alpha Jensen. He holds a grudge unlike anyone I've ever had the chance to meet. His attempt to abduct my mate is evidence of that."

"You think he tried to kidnap her because of Natalie?" This came from someone on the opposite side of the room, but I couldn't put a face to the voice.

Alpha Alexander glanced at me from the corner of his eye for half a second before answering the man, "He tried to take my mate because I never let him have Natalie. According to him, the only way he can repay me is by taking Phoebe—in other words, an eye for an eye."

Natalie was Leo's mate. Another puzzle piece fell into place. But, if Natalie was Leo's mate, why did he kill her? Another question to ask Alpha Alexander later. The list was growing quite long.

I remained still as a few pairs of eyes once more glanced at me. Someone else spoke, "How do you know that is what he intends?"

"The rogue we captured had a lot to say." She did? I was told she didn't give them anything useful. "She didn't give specifics as to what Leo is planning but she did mention his intention to kidnap my mate in order to weaken me before attacking my pack. From the reports I have received around the country, Leo's rogues have been antagonizing packs, either pitting them against another pack and among themselves. Smaller packs bordering my territory have reported human deaths by the jaws of rogue werewolves, and their local law enforcement has invited federal agencies to help solve murders committed by our own kind. I have offered them assistance, but as Leo's numbers grow, the attacks become more frequent and expand to other packs. I am unable to provide more enforcers without weakening my own pack. Those I have sent have been training the packs they are assigned to, but I am not confident they can withstand a full-scale invasion, which is what Leo is leading up to."

"What exactly is your plan, Alpha Alexander?" the old man from earlier asked, his eyes filled with intrigue.

"Leo has an army larger than any pack we've ever seen. He has recruited these soldiers from the bottom of the barrel—rogues who have been outcasted as murderers or those who simply ran away because of one reason or another. They are untrained and most are mentally unstable, but they will follow Leo because he is the only one who will accept them and because they need a pack to survive."

Alpha Alexander paused a moment, whether for dramatic effect or because he wanted to ensure he had the attention of every werewolf in the room—which he undoubtedly did.

"I have said that I will not allow Leo to continue down this destructive path. I will not tolerate his existence any longer. I will do what I should have done many years ago . . . I will execute Leonardo Alvarez for the crimes he has committed against our species. I will take the responsibility to rebuild our bond of peace across the country if I have to. I will do what needs to be done in order to ensure the survival and prosperity of our species."

"That," said the old man, "is a responsibility too great for one man."