We get out of the building quietly, Eva not speaking a word until we finally reach the hall.

As I step out, she finally breaks the silence.

“Where are we going, Olivia?” Eva asks, as I walk straight to the forest behind the hospital. She walks a little faster to stand by my side as I surprisingly find myself a few steps before her.

“I told you. We’re going to greet our guest, Eva,” I answer, knowing exactly where I have to go to find him.

“What guest are you talking about, Olivia? I was not warned about any guests,” Eva says as we already reach the trees.

As we enter the woods, I stop and sniff the air. Eva just does the same.

I think you can go, Olivia. I don’t notice anything suspicious. Try not to be too loud anyway, just in case.

Selene says in my head. Even if I don’t think anyone could hide here right now, we can never be sure. Even more if the mole is a lycan.

I come closer to Eva and start to whisper my entire not-so-well-planned plan.

“They captured a rogue, and I want to meet him. I want to learn what he knows and what they truly want. I’m not in the mood to have people trying to get my babies for long,” I answer abruptly.

As I see Eva takes a step back, I realize my nails have elongated.

“I’m sorry, Eva. I didn’t mean to scare you. It’s just….”

“I get it, Olivia. I’ve seen it before when our sister,” she starts. She quickly sniffs the air before she keeps on talking.

“When our sister experienced the same things as you,” she finally adds. Even if she tries her best to hide it, I notice she worries about something.

Someone mind-linked her. Don’t worry. Probably Alec or Jackson. I think they’re done with our guest. At least for now.

Selene says in my head.

Did they?

I start, but Selene already has the answer to my question.

I don’t think so. Try to concentrate on your link with Elijah and Alec, and you’ll get your answer.

Selene tells me.

I breathe deeply and close my eyes.

Breathe in, breathe out.

I try to focus on my mate and picture him in my head. His perfect body, his beautiful green eyes, and his tousled hair when we get up in the morning or after our intensive workout bedroom sessions. Just the picture of it gets me aroused. I slowly bite my lips, wishing I could find Alec and have him just for me. Goddamn hormones.

Then, it hits me. The sweetest smell ever. My mate.

As I focus on him, I realize I can reach his emotions. One thing is for sure: he’s not pleased - at all - and frustration is filling him.

They did not get any answer, did they?

I don’t need Selene to answer me to understand I’m right. I don’t know who our special guest is, but he surely seems stubborn.

Do you think we get be luckier?

The moment I say that, Selene giggles.

You’re cute, Olivia. But this is not about luck. This is about having the guts to do what’s needed to get the information you want.

The sound of her voice rings almost frightening.

I’ve never been allowed to see how we get information. Not that it happened much in our pack. I don’t think I will be better than my brother. Sure not better than Alec, who must have done that times and times again during his decades of training.

I sigh, but Selene does not seem to worry.

We’ve got something they don’t have.

Selene must sense my incoming question as she answers before I can even think about asking her.

We are mothers, Olivia. And she-wolves are able of anything when it comes to protecting their puppies. You will know what to do. Don’t worry.

I start to walk again, going deeper into the woods. Eva follows, taken aback by my sudden move.

“Prince Alexander is asking me to bring you back home. What do I say to him, Olivia?” Eva asks me. I can perceive she is growing nervous.

“Tell him we’re on a walk, and we will be back home soon,” I answer. As I turn quickly to see Eva mind-linking Alec, I am overwhelmed by a fit of sudden anger growing in me.

“He tells me to get you back here now, Olivia. He seems angry, and you’ve never really seen him angry,” Eva speaks nervously, and I can hear her heart-rate fastening.

“We should go back to the packhouse. They may allow you to go to where you go, better escorted,” Eva says.

“Just cut the link, Eva, like you’re dead, and only bother about me. I’ll deal with Alexander and his grumpy wolf if needed.”

I keep on walking. Even if Eva follows me without a word, I notice she looks all around us, probably in a desperate attempt to find some specific details to lead Alec and the others right to us. Unfortunately for her, we are only a few able to find our final goal - and I’m not even supposed to know about it.

Everything looks the same for someone who isn’t familiar with it.

“Just follow me and don’t try to glimpse where we go to guide them. Trust me, you have to know the place to find where I’m taking you. We might be a peaceful pack, but we are not stupid, and we’re good at protecting ourselves and hiding what we don’t want to be found. So just follow me; I told you I will deal with anyone who might take you as responsible for my decisions.” I smile at Eva so she can relax a bit, and it seems to work.

“I’m sorry, Olivia. Prince Alexander can be really frightening sometimes, and I don’t really love the idea he could get mad at me, and I really can’t lie or disobey the future King,” Eva says, her voice a little calmer.

“See it this way, Eva. I’m your future Queen, and technically, I’m currently counting for three royale voices, so I’m more to be obeyed than Alec, who has only one voice. Trust me, it works easier this way,” I say with a blink of an eye.

Eva laughs as I say that, and I discern that it helps her relax.

Can you tell me why and how Eva ignores me and closes her mind? Where the hell are you?

Alec’s voice resonates in my head, and I have to admit that it is pretty annoying. I sigh, still walking my way through the trees.

Walking, Alexander. I need some fresh air, and there are patrols everywhere. Plus, I’m with one of your greatest warriors. I’ll be in the building soon, don’t worry. You’ll be able to keep an eye on me soon.

I stop as I see the building in front of me. Well hidden in the woods.

Come back soon. I want you to stay with me as much as possible. I don’t like knowing you’re on your own right now.

Alec seems to worry. No matter what happened with our guest, he didn’t like it. One more reason to meet him myself.

Don’t worry. We are fine. Just going back to some childhood places while I can. I love you, Alexander.

Breathe in, breathe out.

I close my mind, as I don’t want him to catch a glimpse of what I feel right now. I have no idea how I can be so good at doing this, but it seems that all my instincts are quickly turning into the ones I should have if turning at the right age.

I look at the building about 650 feet in front of us. I squat and observe the door on the side of the building. Two guards to keep the entrance. Definitely, my brother is scared that someone could find the place.

“What is it?” Eva asks, posing beside me.

“Our prison. There’s no veritable prisoner in it, more like the ‘figure out what you did wrong’ rooms for the people who went against the pack’s rules. We may seem cool, but there are a few rules to answer here. Being angry and hurting someone sends you there for a few weeks. Killing for a few years,” I explain, almost whispering.

“I didn’t know you had this on your lands. No one knows. Why?” Eva asks quietly.

“No one needs to be aware of its existence. That’s rare, and we don’t overreact or use it regularly. Respect is just a thing we don’t play with in Blue Lakes. If you have a problem with someone, you come and check this out with your Alpha. We’re a pack, not some ruthless wild brutes,” I answer.

Most of the Alphas like to expose how strong and powerful they are. That’s not how it works here. We look like a peaceful, unorganized, and naïve pack. Maybe we are in some way. We live a lot on ourselves, counting on a few allies and avoiding conflicts.

Still, there’s a reason we can afford to look this way. We’re sure we could defend ourselves if needed because order reigns here. Order and respect run in our veins like we are one significant unity. Our little secrets. Our strongest force.

Nothing is as it seems, caught in the in-between shadow’s disguise. Yet, today our little secret is revealed.

“And how are we supposed to enter this place? We get rid of the guards?” Eva suggests.

“Nope, we walk in unnoticed. Follow me.” I get up and walk a hundred feet west to the building. I move some leaves on the floor and reveal an escape hatch.

“My private entrance,” I say as I open the trap.

“We were good at snooping, my brother and I,” I add with a smile. I take the first steps of the stairs. Eva follows me and closes the door after us.

“You were going here as kids? And that’s a prison?” Eva asks after a few minutes of walking. At first, the place looks like gray and humid stone walls. Then, after passing a heavy door, the walls are all white, and the light is almost too bright.

“Only when my father had people to meet in here. We were not supposed to be here. I suppose he knew: we were good but not enough to be ignored by my father. Still, no one dared to close the door. A wide-open prison. Everyone can get in,” I say, meandering.

“Or walk out….” Eva adds.

“No one gets out of here except if you’re Alpha blood.” As I say that, we arrive at one big door. I bite one of my fingers and put it on the detectors on the wall beside the door.

“What the fuck?” Eva says.

“I told you. Only the Evans can open this door, just like the one in the front. Or the cells. You can try to escape or enter. Still, you’ll have to wait for one of us to open the doors. This way, we are sure that no one can get revenge… It’s been like this for decades. That makes the place the safest in all our land if we are under a massive attack.”

I walk as the door opens. Eva stays stuck.

“Come on. We didn’t take the venting duct. My brother probably already knows we’re here. So move on,” I say. As I walk faster, Eva stays right behind me.

“How can we be sure where your guest is?” Eva questions as we take the elevator.

“If you want to ask questions, there’s only one room you can go to. Not really difficult.” I press the black button standing in the middle of the silver buttons.

As the elevator goes down, I can hear Eva’s heartbeat increasing.

“That’s getting hot, don’t you think?” she asks.

“I don’t really like this place,” she adds slowly.

“That’s because of the elevator. Brilliant steel. There is some kind of cooling system inside. The moment you push this black button, the system starts. Instead of water, liquid silver runs down inside the walls. When you’re not used to it, it’s enough to weaken a wolf until he gets into the room. It will stop once the elevator leaves the floor.” Eva’s heartbeat increases a little more.

“Try not to breathe too much once we are in here. I don’t want you to feel bad. Alec would kill me if you could not protect me if needed. You have some masks with oxygen on your right when you get out of the elevator. Just take one, in case. I suppose lycans can stand the thing better than werewolves, but I guess it will make you feel uncomfortable anyway,” I say coldly.

I’ve never been in there since I got Selene. What about the babies? How could I not think about my babies?

We will be fine, don’t worry. If it’s in your blood, it’s in ours. Although I have to admit, that’s clever. Completely crazy, some kind of cruel but brilliant.

Selene relaxes in our private space, sitting as if she’s going to watch some TV show.

And then the door opens to this sweet, torturing scent.