The four witches surround me, forming my own little magical escort as we make our way out of the cabin. They take me down a lantern-lit trail through the woods just as the sun is beginning to set.

The area is pretty barren, no sign of civilization except for a few small cottages scattered behind the lining of the trees. Each step sends a jolt of fear through my body, but I will myself to not feel anything.

I can sense eyes on me from all directions even though I can't see anyone. None of the witches escorting me are even looking in my direction or show any sort of acknowledgement that I'm here. Their stress is radiating off of them though despite their feigned nonchalance, thickening the chilly night air.

Every fiber of their being is screaming at them not to do this, reminding them that betraying one of their very own is against their nature. This could be my last chance to reach out to them.

Clover. I know you can hear me. I know your instincts are telling you not to do this. We're supposed to work together, it's how Hecate created us.

Her eyes dart to me for a brief moment and I see a glimmer of shame in them before she looks ahead once again.

I'm sorry, Poppy. I really am. We're just not strong enough against Aiden.

We make our way to a horde of rogues, mostly wolves with a few witches mixed in amongst them. They crowd around a circular wooden platform, their attention focused on whatever's ahead of them.

I can't quite see over everyone's heads, but they all clear a path for us immediately, as if sensing our presence. When the path is finally cleared to the center stage, what I see in the middle of it absolutely tears my heart out.

Basil, passed out and sitting off to the side in a simple wooden chair. His wrists and ankles are secured to its legs and his mouth is gagged with a dirty rag. Maddox and August are to the right of him, free of any restraints, but surrounded by six of Aiden's rogues. Each one of them is pointing a gun at my mate and his beta, and each weapon is no doubt loaded with magic silver bullets.

August has his gaze fixated on Basil, watching with narrowed eyes for any sign of distress. Maddox locks eyes with me the second I push through the crowd and the look on his face tells me he'd burn this little village to the ground for me.

It's a look of unrestrained fury. The look of a true Alpha. Even though we still can't communicate through our bond, I feel like I can tell exactly what he's thinking. He will get us out of here and Aiden will die painfully, if it's the last thing Maddox does.

My focus is so caught up on Maddox and Basil that I didn't even notice who else was on the platform, sitting front and center.

Aiden.

It's like some of Maddox's rage seeps into me at the sight of him, filling every nerve in my body until I'm shaking. Where there was just peace acceptance is now a hatred so violent and white-hot that I'm worried I might actually combust on the spot.

He's sitting in a throne that's bigger than his ego and made entirely of raw obsidian. I have an inkling that he chose a stone used for psychic blocking abilities and protection to keep himself safe from Clover and I have to chuckle to myself.

For someone who's convinced that witches are the inferior species, he sure is scared of them.

Next to his throne is a considerably smaller, but still beautifully crafted one that's empty except for the delicate silver crown set upon the seat. I narrow my eyes when I see Aiden's also wearing a crown.

I push past the two witches standing in front of me and step to the base of the platform. Aiden eyes my attire hungrily, consuming every inch of exposed flesh. I wrap my velvet robe tightly around me, not wanting to give him the satisfaction, and meet his gaze.

"Obsidian, Aiden? Really? That's a pretty powerful protection stone. Any reason you're feeling unsafe amongst your own followers?"

He smirks, but it only makes him look more sinister.

"Alpha Aiden," is his only response.

I laugh and roll my eyes at him.

"The only Alpha I see here is standing six feet to your right. A king of rogues isn't really much of a king at all."

He snarls and snaps his teeth at me, canines sharpening as his features become more animalistic. No wonder Aiden untethered so easily after losing his mate. He had no sense of self-control and his grasp on his wolf was paper-thin.

My attention shifts to Maddox, who looks like he's seconds away from lunging at his brother. I shake my head subtly at him, not wanting him to do anything stupid and end up with a silver bullet in his back.

I could handle Aiden on my own. He liked to play games, but he didn't know just how capable I am of playing them back.

"I've been a rather gracious host to you, love. You'd do well to show some appreciation. Come up here and take your seat."

Aiden nods to the empty throne next to him and I scrunch my face up in disgust. So this was his plan. He was making his own Lupercalia- the outfit, the forest, the ceremony. He didn't want to kill me. That would be far too easy.

He wanted to force me to be his mate, in front of his brother.