A week passed after the wedding, but the chaotic schedule had not.

After attending Skylar Croft's wedding, the other day with Zoya, River worked day and night to finish up the last-minute tasks at the pack before he finally left on his honeymoon with Zoya tomorrow. They were going to Greece for a month and he prayed to Maya (who he knew existed) to not let hell break loose before then. He didn't want to have to cancel because for the first time he was looking forward to a trip.

It was late at night when he was crossing the field to return home to the cabin where he knew his wife was waiting for him. He had climbed his porch and was about to open the door when his phone pinged. He looked down at the video message Azura sent him. Regrettably, he clicked on the ominous video with a bad feeling setting in his gut.

The new anchor spoke in a grave tone; "Halo Morelli was found killed in an alley this evening. The perpetrator wanted the world to know who they were when they didn't attempt to cover this crime, it was none other than Ivy Croft. The police have the footage of her killing him and walking away, it hasn't been released for the public-" the anchor continued to talk about the gruesome death.

River didn't need anyone to confirm it for him. He knew that Ivy purposely hunted Halo to scare her real target who was Zane Morelli and it was time that that man should be afraid of her. She was coming for him. However, she made her work a lot more difficult airing Halo's death like this. River knew that two things were going to happen, Zane would be on the run now and the grand shifter council was going to take action against Ivy for this murder. River wasn't sure how this was going to turn out in Ivy Croft's favour. Damn it all, things just got a whole lot messier.

River turned from his front door and went straight to Gabriel who was surely aware of this catastrophe. He walked into the manor, up the stairs, into his alpha's office. Gabriel stood with the phone against his ear and King, Hunter, Ryder and Azura were all here too.

Gabriel caught River's gaze when he closed the door and they didn't say anything, but they both knew that this wasn't good. River could see it on Gabriel's face, he was frustrated and planning the next course of action.

After a while, Gabriel cut the phone and turned to them.

"What are we going to do?" Hunter asked his brother.

"We can't do anything," Gabriel said. "A council will be placed in the next four months and I'll be invited. They are going to make a verdict for her punishment then."

"You can't let that happen," said River. "Halo deserved to die and so does Zane."

"I agree with you," Gabriel said. "We need to make sure that Zane does get punished for what he did and Ivy survives."

"How will we do that?" Ryder asked what they were all thinking.

"Isn't the council made up of the alphas around the state?" asked Azura.

"It is," King answered.

"You're a part of that council, Gabriel. I'm sure the others will listen to you," Hunter added.

Gabriel shook his head. "First off, the council is picked at random, so I don't know who will be invited. Second, too many alphas did business with Halo," he explained, "I don't know how much I can do without raising a few stakes myself."

"Thankfully, every bastard in the world owes you," remarked King.

"That's true," added Ryder.

Gabriel took a deep breath. "Isaiah, Alec, Zachariah, Czar will help me without a question, it's the others I'm concerned about," he said gravelly. "But before I do anything, I need to get in contact with Ivy Croft. We need to let her know what's about to go down."

"What makes you think she doesn't already know," remarked King.

"Who would be foolish enough to provoke the council?" asked Azura.

"Ivy Croft apparently," Ryder and Hunter mumbled.

The room cleared out and River stood alone with Gabriel who was deep in thought. "You knew this was going to happen," he said.

"Of course, I knew," Gabriel answered. "Ivy killed Halo to make a joke out of him and it worked. She didn't kill him with any honour like an alpha would. She took his life in the same alley her wolf was violated and threw his body to the rats. Frankly, I admire that and wouldn't have done it any other way."

River smirked. "Me too. So, how do we keep her from being executed and her pack destroyed?"

Gabriel faced his large territory. "That's not your concern. You go on your honeymoon."

River stiffened. "Gabriel, I don't think-"

"Don't put your life on hold for this," Gabriel said. "Murder and mayhem is a regular routine around here. You shouldn't let it stop you."

River let out a sigh and gave in. "If you need me, I'll come back," he promised.

Gabriel gave him a smile before he leaned on the railing of his balcony facing the large fields. River didn't say another word because he knew that whatever happened next wasn't something he could control. This was the game of alphas and they made the rules.

River walked out the room when Sabrina bumped into him.

"River, what are you doing here?" She seemed surprised. "Why aren't you home yet?"

He frowned and stared at her suspiciously. "Why are you acting weird?" he asked.

Sabrina stiffened. "No reason," she scuffled past him into Gabriel's office.

River left the manor and went home again. He had just opened the door when he noticed that Zoya wasn't in her usual spot on the couch with the pup. The living-room was empty except for the pup who was fast asleep under the Christmas tree. He took off his shoes before he walked in.

"Zoya?" he called out, but there was no response.

River went up the stairs and before he stepped into the room, he knew that she was here. The dim light of the lamp slipped out the door onto the dark floor. He opened the door the rest of the way and found no words for what he saw next.

Zoya jolted in surprise. "Oh god! You scared me, River," she astounded.

River faced his wife who was sitting handcuffed to the bed in a Christmas costume. She wore a red dress that was deep neckline showing bountiful cleavage and the red skirt trimmed with fur, which only covered up until her butt. She had white and red stockings that concealed her long legs and had matching silk gloves on her arms. Her hair was curled and set loose down her back with a Santa hat on her head.

"What are you doing?" River asked.

"I was going to surprise you, but I cuffed myself when I was testing out these stupid things," she said as she tugged on the fur cuffs on her wrists that were hooked around the bedpost.

"Who were you going to use the cuffs on?" he asked.

"On you," she answered.

River bit back his laugh. "Hmm," he shook his head. He went around the room and took his watch off. He saw their suitcases by the closet, which had been ready since yesterday.

"Can you help me get out of these?" she asked.

River looked over his shoulder at her eyes. He closed the door to their room before he took off his jacket and put it on the chair, he unbuttoned his sleeves rolling them up, and then took a seat on the arm of the chair and faced her. She turned her back to him as she sat on the bed on her knees.

"You're not going to make this easy, are you?" she professed.

"Not when it's in my favour," he replied as his eyes feasted on her.

"This is so frustrating," she grumbled.

River grinned at her. "I'll release you," he said as he approached her on the bed and she was surprised to hear him say that until he added; "Eventually." She rolled her eyes at him, he felt it.

River took off the hat and gathered her hair in his hands. He weaved the heavy mass into a long braid and secured it. He leaned down and kissed her bare shoulder, a shudder ran through her, he felt it in his own body too.

He played her with his touch. Caressing up her thigh, then her arm or over the curve of her breast. The heat of his wolf emitted through the room and filled the entire space with their scent. River wrapped the long braid around his fist and softly pulled her back tilting her head up for him.

"Something tells me you aren't going to be gentle like you were this morning," she said softly.

"I haven't decided yet," he told her.

Zoya's eyes gleamed cunningly. "What if I told you that I'm not wearing anything under this dress," she claimed. "Are you still undecided?"

River ran his hand up her thigh, leaning into the softness of her body. His hand cupped her bare core that was dripping wet for him. He felt the very breath leave his lungs. He collared her throat and kept his hand possessively on her core that was only for him.

"You're fucked," he growled.

Zoya's laugh brought him to his knees and his heart was in her hands- even though her body was in his control.

River kept her tied up all night and eventually set her free before he made love to her slowly with all his strength and love...

They got on their flight to Greece late, but it was Zoya's private jet so that wasn't a problem for them. Despite his enthusiasm for the trip, River was still worried about happened with Ivy Croft, but he didn't let it interfere with his time with Zoya. He watched his life unfold as the one who lead his heart to complete peace and freedom. He found the love of his life and he'd protect her forever.