Connor

"Give him morphine and food." I bark at Mark and he nods as I race out of the door and up to the first floor. I knock on the door Hope and the guys are in.

"Code word." Kade calls out.

'Marshmallow.' I link him and he opens the door.

My eyes flit around the room until they land on Hope. I can't help but be relieved to see her looking back at me, even if there's concern etched across her adorable forehead.

"What's wrong, baby?" She asks and I stride across the room to her. I lift her in my arms and sit in her chair with her in my lap, my arms around her tightly breathing in her scent like it's the oxygen I need to survive.

"Asher." I say. "I think it's Asher." Kade and Hope both gasp.

"Who's Asher?" Dean asks and Kade walks up to him.

"The future alpha of our old pack. Now that you say it, it makes so much sense. He was obsessed with Hope." Kade says and I nod.

"And what he said at your birthday party. 'I'll be happy. You'll see.'" I say and Hope looks up at me with terrified eyes.

"I always knew he was crazy but this seems a little much, even for him." Hope says snuggling into my chest. I tighten my arms around her and kiss her head.

"The rogue says he wants to... breed with you." I say with disgust. "To make strong pups." Kade and Dean both growl while Hope begins to shake.

"Don't worry, Hope. We won't let anything happen to you." Dean says putting a hand on Kade's shoulder trying to settle him down. He's breathing heavy like his wolf wants to come out.

"What do we do?" Kade asks and I take a few deep breaths.

"I need some kind of proof." I say. "I can't kill another future alpha without it." I explain and he nods in agreement.

"I'll talk to my dad. Maybe he can find something. That pack is more loyal to him than Asher. Most people can't stand the little prick." Kade says.

"Have you told him you're leaving the pack?" I ask and he shakes his head.

"Not yet."

"When we get back, I'll call him and tell him. I want to see what his reaction is." I say and they all agree.

I carry Hope back to our house. Even her mind is quiet and she snuggles into me likes she's cold. I lean down to kiss her cheek.

'It'll be ok.' I link her and she looks up at me and nods.

'I know. I just can't believe it. I've never really liked Asher, I just can't believe he'd do something so disgusting.'

I sigh heavily and tighten my hold on her, lifting her to my neck so she can calm herself with my scent. It seems to work a little, but I can tell she is still on edge. When we get back I put Hope in the theater room with Kade and Dean. I tuck her in with a blanket and she smiles at me.

"I'm not a baby." She teases and I chuckle kissing her gently.

"It makes me feel good to take care of you. Get used to it." I shrug and she giggles.

"Oh, I could definitely get used to it." I kiss her again and leave her to argue with Kade about what movie to watch as I shut the door to my office.

I take a few deep breaths to steady my anger before I call Asher. I don't want him to know that I suspect him. I dial the number and he answers on the third ring.

"Alpha Asher." He says and my skin crawls at just his voice. My wolf wants to growl at him, but I bite it back.

"Asher, it's Connor O'Leary." A brief silence on the other end tells me he's surprised by my call.

"How can I help you? Is Hope ok?" He asks and her name from his mouth makes my canines extend.

"My mate is fine. I'm actually calling you about Kade."

"Kade? Are you done with him already?" I chuckle and shake my head.

"No actually he found his mate in my pack." I say and can almost hear Asher scoff.

"That's nice." He says with less excitement than if I just told him the weather report.

"It's my beta." I say. Another period of silence.

"I wasn't expecting that." He says and I chuckle again.

"Neither was I." I say. "But I'm sure you know what that means."

"Yeah it means I lost my future head fucking warrior." He says obviously seething. His anger puts a smile on my face.

"I'm sure Hope is happy about it." He says and I clench my teeth again.

'If he says her name one more fucking time...' my wolf warns and I push him back.

'Settle the fuck down.' I say.

"She is thrilled. Speaking of my mate," I say. "We've had some threats against her. A small attack as well. It was quite pathetic actually but it pissed me off all the same as it pulled me from Hope in my bed. Have you heard any chatter? Had any attacks?" I ask. I can hear his claws extending through the phone, the crack of his knuckles as he attempts not to shift.

That's all the proof I need. The mention of his attack being weak and me in bed with Hope was enough to anger him to the point of shifting.

"I'm afraid I haven't. If I hear anything, I'll let you know." He says obviously through gritted teeth.

'I'm sure you will.' My wolf scoffs and I'm inclined to agree with him.

"I'd appreciate it. I'm sorry to cut this short but Hope is waiting for me. You know how newly mated females are. I hope you find yours soon. I'll send you the link for an excellent lingerie store as a congratulations gift. I bought Hope four of everything and it's all stunning." I try to anger him a little more, hoping he'll slip up, make a mistake. Give me a piece of concrete evidence I can use to challenge him and rid the world of this piece of trash once and for all.

"I'll keep that in mind." He says, voice dripping with disdain. "I hope to have my mate soon. In my bed right where she belongs. Goodbye Connor."

"Goodbye, Asher." I spit his name and slam the phone down.

It takes me a few minutes to regain my composure. I breathe deeply before realizing I won't be able to settle down without Hope. I find her cuddled on the couch watching a movie with Kade and Dean. They pause it when they see me and look at me expectantly.

"It's him. It has to be." I say and they all agree with me.

I pick up Hope and lay down with her next to me. She cuddles into me, nuzzling her face against my chest.

"What do we do?" She asks quietly looking up at me. I sigh deeply before looking at Kade.

"Ask your dad to snoop around. Explain the situation. I need concrete proof before I can challenge him." I say and Kade agrees. He goes in the other room to call their dad and I stay huddled on the couch, my arms firmly wrapped around Hope.

"Will my dad do it? Go against his alpha? Can he?" She asks me with worried eyes and I kiss her forehead before running my fingers through her hair. I know how it soothes her and the tension slowly leaves her body.

"You are a healer. Protecting you is the priority of all wolves. You have the allegiance of every wolf over their alpha if you are being threatened. It's the way the Moon Goddess intended it. You are too important, too precious to risk." I say and she reads my face for the honesty that I know is there.

My heart aches that she is going through this. That we have barely had time to enjoy each other as mates before dealing with this shit storm. I can only hope that it won't become a normal occurrence. I will spend my life defending her if that is what is required of me, but I want to enjoy our life together. Have pups, travel and laugh. She deserves it and so much more. I just hope I can give it to her.

"I love you, Connor." She murmurs, pulling me out of my thoughts. I look down into her beautiful blue eyes and can't stop my smile.

"I love you too, stóirín. Don't worry. We'll figure this out and keep you safe. But no leaving the pack grounds for now. And I will keep you close at all times." I say seriously and she smiles cheekily at me.

"I don't mind spending all that time with you." She says and I chuckle before kissing her.

"And I don't mind spending the time with you either." I say smiling at her. She wraps her arms around me and snuggles into my side and I think this is about as close to paradise as a person could get. I look over and see Dean smiling at us. I know he's happy that I found her, got my sight back and that he no longer has to worry about dealing with Draven as the alpha. Kade enters the room and goes to sit on Dean's lap.

"Dad's gonna do it. He's gonna poke around. He's fucking furious. I had to talk him down from murdering Asher right then." I narrow my eyes at him.

"Oh no. That privilege is mine." Dean smirks darkly and Hope hugs me tighter.

"What do we do now?" She asks. I nuzzle my face into her hair and she looks up at me with wide, scared eyes making me sigh.

"All we can do is wait."