My mother shakily squeezed my hand. "That's why we haven't seen you lately? Because you're some . . . werewolf royal?"

"I told you it was hard to explain, Mom." I returned her squeeze as I held her one hand in both of mine. My father stood quietly behind her, his arms crossed. His face was badly bruised and Alpha Alexander told me there was fresh blood somewhere on his arm, which was covered by his long-sleeved shirt.

My parents swallowed the rather large pill of chaotic recent events quite well, considering they had limited knowledge of werewolf affairs. My father had yet to say anything and let my mom ask the questions, but at least they weren't hysterical, which definitely would not have helped the situation. Alpha Alexander sat beside me, which surprised me since my dad was standing. His hand rested gently on my lower back as I leaned forward to comfort my mother.

"What . . . What w-will happen to T-Tommy?" my mother asked shakily.

"We will get him back, Mrs. Carmichael," Alpha Alexander cut in. He had explained things to my parents when I stumbled over the specifics. He also interjected whenever my mother started to panic, like she was doing now. "My pack has the best trackers in the country. They will find your son. We will bring him home."

My mother just nodded, tears still in her eyes. Her breath caught a few times before she breathed in deeply to steady herself. "Okay . . ." she said. "Okay."

"You both are gonna stay with us for a little while."

"Can we do anything? Should we—"

"No, Mom," I interrupted her. "I need you to trust me and my pack. We will get Tommy back. I will do anything and everything to get him home. Trust me."

My mom released a soft sob. Her hand cupped my cheek. "I do, baby. I'm just . . . I'm scared."

"It's okay, Mom," I said lowly. "I'm scared, too. But I know my pack and I know my mate. We'll find Tommy. I promise."

She smiled sadly. "You grew up too fast. You're not my baby girl anymore. Look at you."

I tried to smile. "I'll always be your baby girl, Mom."

Her tears spilled from her eyes, quiet and gentle. She didn't say anything, just stared at me as I stared back at her. She was looking at me as though she was trying to memorize my face; a picture that she would hold on to, in her mind, forever.

"I will show you where you are staying," my mate spoke again, his lips pressing against my temple as he stood from the couch. My mother stood up. Alpha Alexander grabbed the duffle she had packed from the floor beside the door. She followed him out of the office. My dad didn't make a move. When Alpha Alexander waited for him at the door, he said quietly, "I'll be out in a moment. I just need to talk to Phoebe about something."

Alpha Alexander hesitated but, after looking at me, he nodded and closed the door as he left. I turned to my father, who uncrossed his arms and came to stand directly in front of me. "Don't do it, Phoebe."

I frowned, taken aback. "What?"

"They took my boy because they couldn't have you. I know what you're thinking, Phoebe."

"How do you—"

"Because it's the same damn thing I would do, and you're more like me than your mother likes." He rested his hands on my shoulders gently, giving them a meaningful squeeze. "Don't do it, Phoebe. Please. They already took one of my children. I can't let them have you both."

"Dad, I'm not—"

"Don't lie to me," he snapped. "Promise me you'll find another way, Phoebe. Promise me you won't let them take you, even if they promise they'll trade Tommy's life for yours. Promise me you won't sacrifice yourself for your brother."

"But it's my fault, Dad," I said, my voice soft and fragile.

"No. It's not. It's not your mate's fault, either. They took Tommy because they want you and they will offer to spare his life if you give yourself up to them. They'll lie to you. They will hurt you both. Don't do it. Promise me."

I swallowed and tried to take a deep breath. I nodded. "Okay. Okay, I'll find another way to get him back, Dad."

"Promise?"

The lie felt like acid on my tongue. "I promise."

. . .

I stared at the small structure that stood several yards from the pack house for twenty minutes before finding the strength to reach for the doorknob and gently twisting it open. The door was heavy and I used my newly acquired muscles to pull it open. My eyes took a moment to adjust to the darkness. Beyond the door, inside the shack that was no larger than an outhouse rest a staircase that led underground. I took a breath before stepping into the darkness and letting the door shut behind me. Its slam echoed in the black.

I used the flashlight on my cell phone to guide myself down the stairs. I reached the bottom, which revealed a short hallway that opened to a larger area where I sensed pack members lingering. I drew myself up and took another breath as I slipped into the character I needed to become.

I stepped down the hallway with purpose. As I entered the open room, the two guardsmen who stood outside the single cell that was the entire back wall of the room straightened. "Alpha Regina."

"Gentlemen," I said with a distant tone. "I need a moment with our prisoner."

"Respectfully, Alpha Regina, we are under orders to—"

"Leave." I pulled on the dominance of the mating bond and put every ounce of it into the command. They struggled under the pressure of it—torn between obeying their Alpha king or their queen. They couldn't meet my eye and the one who spoke looked to be in physical pain as he tried to remain where he stood. I drew on even more dominance. "Now."

They moved involuntarily, stepping away from the cell and out of the room. I waited for their footsteps to fade away before I stepped closer to the cell.

"Feels good to be queen, huh?" came a gravelly voice from the darkness of the cell.

My eyes narrowed at the vaguely familiar voice. "It has its perks."

A soft chuckle. "What are you doing here, Your Majesty?" the voice sneered mockingly.

"Where did they take him?" When the voice didn't answer right away, I snapped, "Don't pretend like you don't know what I'm talking about. If Plan A failed, there was always a Plan B. You failed in kidnapping me, so you took my brother."

This time, it was a laugh. "What, do you want a gold star?"

"I want my brother back!"

"You can't have him!" she screamed back. "Did you ask him, Your Majesty? Did you hear all about how your mate killed the woman my Alpha loved? Did you?"

I gritted my teeth. "Yes."

"He didn't let Leo have her, so what makes you think Leo will let you have your brother?"

"You know what I plan to do. Don't try to be coy. Tell me where he is."

She barked another laugh. "What makes you think I know?"

I didn't hesitate in answering her. "Because you think you're the new Natalie."

She didn't respond with another witty or sarcastic remark. I heard the shuffling of feel and the scrap of metal against concrete. She stepped forward, out of the darkness and into the light that the single lantern in the corner of the room provided. I didn't visibly react to her beaten appear, but inwardly, my stomach was heavy will sickness at the sight of her. Her face was black and blue and red with violent scratches, as if someone had repeatedly open-hand hit her and suddenly grew talons as they struck her. It was difficult not to notice the scars on her cheeks—the ones I had inflicted on her that one night that seemed like a millennia ago. Her once fiery red hair was limp and framing her round face unflatteringly. Her right leg was bent at an awkward angle and she cradled her left hand to her chest. She was filthy—her body stained brown, which barely covered the bruises and healing wounds. I wondered why she wasn't healing, but I remembered what Sarah had told me once during one of our training sessions:

"The healthier and stronger the wolf, the faster he or she will heal. A extremely weak wolf could heal at the same rate as a human."

The rogue looked underfed. Her cheeks were gaunt and her eyes were bloodshot. She wasn't healing because they weren't probably feeding her. A side of me was pleased and knew she deserved to be punished, but another, more human side of me was sick with the thought that my mate was capable of torturing someone like this.

"What did you say?" she asked dangerously.

I gave her a mean smile. "Does he know you're in love with him?"

The rogue scowled.

"Oh, so he doesn't know," I said flippantly. "That sucks. Maybe you aren't Natalie's replacement."

"I am his true mate! What happened with Natalie . . . that was—"

"False. If you were his mate, why the fuck isn't he here to save you?"

"He has strategies . . . He's just biding his time until he finds your weak defenses." She wouldn't meet my eyes. She stared at the lantern, her fingers pulling at the rag she wore, not unlike a nervous tick. "He's coming for me."

"Wrong again. If he was truly your mate, he would move heaven and earth to keep you from harm. Think about it, rogue. When has he ever done something that wasn't to benefit himself? When was the last time he put you above everyone else, including himself? Has he ever even done that?"

"Cassie," she said softly.

I frown, slightly thrown by her response. I expected her screams and her anger, not a name. "What?"

"My name is Cassie, not 'rogue,'" she said, almost defensively.

"Cassie, then." I softened. "Is that short for something?"

Her eyes whipped to my face. "Don't think that if you're nice to me, I'll fall for your game! Leo is the greatest Alpha this world has ever seen. He'll break your precious mate. You'll see."

Okay. Plan B. "No, I won't. Not if you don't tell me where he is; where he is holding my brother."

Cassie sneered. "What are you planning on doing anyway?"

Here it goes. "I want my brother back, safe and sound. And if that means I give myself to Leo, then so be it."

Cassie smirked, which was out of place considering her appearance. "He knew you would say that."

Let her take the bait. "Then tell me. Where . . . is . . . Leo?"

"Why should I tell you? So you can tell your mate and he can lead his army to our front door?"

I raised a brow. "What, you don't have faith in your Alpha or your packmates to stand up against my mate? They must be more pathetic than I thought."

"How dare you!" she screamed, throwing herself against the bars of her cell. "They would tear him apart!"

"Prove it!" I shouted back. "Where. Is. Leo?!"

She started to laugh, the same manic laughter she had back at the school the night she tried to kidnap me. It chilled me to the bone remembering that night, but I pulled on the confidence and strength in the mating bond to keep me level headed and unafraid. She grinned maliciously at me. "You can find him at three rivers."

I nearly growled. "What does that mean?"

She giggled. "That's where you can find him—at three rivers."

"Where—"

"Phoebe!" came a violent growl from behind me.