Hadley's POV

I lightly knocked on the large oak door to the office. I could feel through our bond that Tate was stressing out.

"Hi handsome," I said leaning into the frame of the door.

Tate's hands were ruffled through his hair. His eyebrows had been tightly knit in concentration. He was surrounded with a mountain of paperwork. A light smile broke through though at the sight of me. It made my heart flutter knowing I had such an effect on him.

"Hello beautiful".

I moved towards the desk taking a seat on the corner so that my leg was brushed up against his thigh. Tate's hand made his way to my waist. I finger combed through his messy brown waves. Tate leaned into my touch.

"You have no idea how badly I needed to see you," Tate said. His eyes were closed as I played lightly in his hair. His whole body seemed to relax. Although the evidence of his stress remained in the creases of his face.

"I talked to Devin and Scott".

Tate let out a large sigh. Leaning back into his chair. My hands fell from his hair onto my lap. I played with the hair tie around my wrist.

"What do you think?" I asked.

Tate rubbed his temples. "Normally I only half listen to what the rogues say. They have information yes but their loyalty is to themselves and their survival. The last people they trust are pack members. Still though this feels true. I just know it," Tate said. I grabbed onto his hand laying idle strokes with my thumb.

"I feel it too," I said. "I think we need to talk to Cassia. Bring her here to Atlas. Whether that's by invitation or force.... We need to figure out Jade's plan. How she plans to control the other packs with the alphas gone".

"I agree. You're always beating me to these plans. You're a far better Luna than I am Alpha. It suits you," Tate said leaning up to me to place a long kiss on my lips.

"That's not even true. You're an incredible alpha. What you've done for this pack. How you've changed it. People love you. They respect you".

"Fine but we make an exceptional team," Tate said between his kisses.

"You're kissing is distracting," I laughed.

Tate placed both his hands on my waist. His mouth trailed down my neck. He let out a satisfied smirk as a small moan escaped from my mouth.

"Good we deserve a distraction," he said wickedly. Tate stood from his seat, his mouth never leaving me. He moved his body towards me still seated on the desk. I wrapped my legs around him as our kissing grew more rapid. My hands trailed his muscled body. I found the hem of his shirt and pulled it off.

"What is it?" I asked. Tate's mouth had gone still on my neck and he took a step back from me.

"West is near the border. Jade is crossing over with Cassia. They're here". Tate said, rushing to put his shirt back on.

"Why are they here?" I asked nervously.

"Hadley I want you to stay here. If anything happens..." Tate said his hands on my face.

"Like hell I'm just going to sit here. I'm going with you".

"Hadley please," Tate pleaded. I could see the worry in his eyes but I didn't care.

"Tate I'm the Luna. We're a team. I'm going with you. There's no discussion," I picked myself up from the table moving towards the door. Tate grabbed me pulling me towards him.

"I can't lose you Hadley," he said. His eyes were going dark. I knew his wolf was afraid and angry.

"You won't," I kissed him, pulling away and continuing to the door. I could see Tate wanted to say more. I didn't give him the chance as we made our way out of the pack house.

We went through the side door. Jade and Cassia were standing there waiting for us. Cassia had a sinister smile on her face. Jade was standing with her arms crossed looking bored. It took me a moment before I noticed.

Behind Cassia was Darren. He was bound and gagged. His body was going in and out of shift never fully staying either way. I could tell by the way he was tied though that if he did shift it would kill him. His eyes met mine. I had never felt fear greater than I had in that moment.

"Hello Hadley," Jade smiled.

Tate was by my side. His eyes found Darren. Through our bond I could feel the shock at the sight run through him.

"Darren," I whispered, my eyes never leaving his. His eyes were begging me to leave to run. But I couldn't. I wouldn't leave him.

"Let him go," I demanded my voice was filled with ice.

"Now Hadley you know we can't do that," Cassia smiled, showing off her fangs.

"What is this Jade," Tate spat.

"I thought it would be fun to have a little family reunion. I have been enjoying my time at Fenris but I thought it was time to.... Extend that fun," Jade smiled warmly but it didn't meet her eyes. Those were cold and calculated as she watched me.

"Where's West?" Tate asked, using his alpha tone.

"Your beta put up a good fight but he underestimated my strength. Or maybe he didn't either way it was no use," Jade's smile grew.

"No," I whispered. A part of me felt like it was shattering. West couldn't be dead. He couldn't.

"Now Hadley. Do me a favor and pull out the present I gave you," Jade ordered.

I was about to open my mouth to tell her I didn't have the blade. All of a sudden though its familiar weight hung in my back pocket. I could feel the cool silver against the fabric of my jeans. Confused I reached for the blade pulling it out. Tate looked at me surprised as well.

"Silver eyes is such a wonderful trait," Jade started circling Darren who was growling. "A trait passed down for generations in the alpha bloodline of Blood Bane wolves. Although how that trait started is such an ancient rumor most have forgotten it".

Jade turned towards us waiting patiently. "What rumor?" Tate growled. Jade was satisfied and continued talking. I watched Tate as he studied her. He was waiting to strike.

"The first Alpha of Blood Bane formed the pack from a group of rogues. These rogues were outcast from their packs. The one however was different from the rest. You see he found his mate after being kicked out of his pack. Although his mate was no ordinary wolf. She was a witch. A high witch," Jade smiled.

"Is that even possible?" Tate asked shocked. Darren's eyes had gone wide.

"It had never happened before but there is always the first. The two together formed the new pack. Although the pack was still small at the time. Weak. The other packs weren't so accepting of this new growing power. Especially not when they learned the Alphas' mate's true nature. The high witch performed a spell to protect her heirs and the pack from the threats against them. The spell was foraged in silver and blood".

I looked down at the blade in my hand. The carvings told the story. Through symbolism it was all there. Jade watched me with amusement as I put the pieces together.

"Magic leaves a trail. The silver eyes are a reminder of the deal and the bond that was forged connecting witches to the wolves of Blood Bane," Jade was still circling Darren and hand stroked his side. He flinched, repulsed by her touch.

"What does that have to do with you?" I spat.

"That kind of raw power. Raw magic that has been able to grow inside each Alpha, passed down generation to generation. With that kind of power witches can restore their rightful place in the hierarchy of paranormal creatures," Jades eyes were practically glowing.

"All we have to do is release that power with the same silver that began it," Jade's smile was feline as I felt the pain shoot through me.

I bent over screaming as I pulled at my hair. I begged the pain to stop. Tate moved to me but I couldn't hear his words. I saw his hands on me but I couldn't feel him past the sharp burning pain. Tate removed himself from me and ran at Jade. Cassia shifted and attacked Tate before he could reach her.

Tate shifted and attacked Cassia back trying to make his way to Jade who took slow a step closer to me. I could feel her trying to make her way into me. As she stared me down. I felt her push Into my thoughts and my will. I could feel the smoke pushing against me searching for any way in.

"Get out of my head!"

I fell to my knees as the pain intensified. The pressure was so strong I felt my bones snap and rapidly heal as my wolf fought the smoke. With everything in me I pushed back.

"Stop!" Jade yelled. Her face was seething with rage. We all froze. The pain was gone. But I could feel the lingering smoke. Jade snapped her fingers and my hand with the blade raised.

"Don't! Please. I'll do anything!" Tate begged. His feet were frozen to the ground he was unable to move.

"As much as I love to see you beg alpha that won't be necessary," Jade chuckled.

Jade came up to me. The blade raised angled down at me. My body was frozen. She took a piece of my brown hair that had fallen in my face and tucked it behind my ear. She leaned in and whispered something I didn't understand.

"Cassia if you will please darling," Jade ordered.

Cassia moved from her spot untying Darren. She yanked him off the ground forcing him to stand. She pulled him in front of me. Jade took a step back but was still standing between us. I couldn't speak. My eyes searched Darren's as the tear fell down my cheek.

"Now," Jade ordered. The silver dagger in my hand plunged for Darren.

"No!" I screamed. The blade froze near his chest. My hand was violently shaking as I fought Jade's control over me.

"Choose then! Your mate or your brother!" Jade had made her way to Tate and wrapped her bony hand around his throat.

"Tate," I whispered. The tears fell more violently now, blurring my vision.

"Hadley it's ok. Don't do it. It'll be ok I promise. I love you," Tate said.

"I love you," I said, tears coming more violently. I knew what I had to do. "I'm sorry," I whispered.

I willed control over the blade and turned it on myself. Aiming for my heart. I closed my eyes as the others screamed. My body hit the earth with a large thud and pain spread through my shoulder.

Cassia had tackled me to the ground. The knife puncturing my shoulder instead of my heart. She pulled the knife out and I screamed at the pain of the blade leaving my body.

"Cassia stop!" I begged.

Cassia looked at me one last time before taking the knife and plunging it in Darren's neck.

"Darren!" I screamed. He fell to the ground. The blood quickly pooled out around him. His eyes were still. Empty.

Jade moved towards Darren. Cassia dropped the dagger onto the ground. Her smile was gone.

"Don't you dare touch him," venom laced my mouth.

Jade only frowned as she leaned down with a small vile and scooped up some of Darren's blood. "Thank you Cassia," she said. Cassia nodded. They began to walk away. I willed myself to move from my spot. Tate and I were frozen though. I screamed and thrashed.

After they had left the lands Tate and I finally were able to move. I felt empty. Completely numb to the world. I moved slowly towards Darren. I pulled his head into my lap not caring for the blood that coated my clothes and hands. Tate said nothing as he moved sitting next to me. I turned my head into his neck.

I heard feet behind me but I didn't care. Didn't move from my spot. I just sat there breathing in Tate. Holding onto my brother's body.

"Hadley, Tate I'm so sorry. She knocked me out. I...".

My head whipped around. I gently laid Darren down before jumping on West. I squeezed as hard as I could. The tears were back now. I moved away for a moment. Looking him over made sure it was really West that he was really alive. Tate pulled him into a hug patting him on the back. Aside from the blood on him he seemed ok.

"We thought. I thought you were dead," I cried through my happy tears.

West pulled me into a hug and continued to apologize. Tate's hand stroked my back gently. "You're alive. You're both alive," I continued repeating the statement in a hushed whisper.