"I thank you for contacting us so quickly on this matter." Asami praised as she arrived at our pack. I smiled, bowing deeper than she did to show her respect deserved for someone of her class and age.

"My..." She murmured breathlessly, a smile turning her face radiant. "It's been eons since someone took the effort to learn of my culture with no ulterior motive but to give proper respects."

A flush spread over my face while Drake let out a playful growl, which Asami instantly placated. "Ah, Drake-san, don't worry. Kyle-san might be incredibly cute, but he is yours. I do not come between mated pairs."

Even if it was simple teasing, Drake still pulled me closer against him. As if to physically stake his claim, reminding everyone that Drake and I were mated.

However, both of us expressed our surprise at seeing Asami and her crew here. After all, we had already informed them that Luna Raina wasn't going to leave her pack behind, even if she just got rejected.

Asami smiled, brushing a curl of pitch black hair from her cheek. "After receiving multiple small infractions from separate packs, the Council has deemed it necessary to give all packs a thorough investigation. Even those who are more than allied with the Council."

Drake nodded in understanding. "You cannot show any favoritism towards certain packs, or even species, without raising the hackles of the other communities."

Ah. That explained a lot. If word got out that the Council favored certain people and upheld them to different standards, there would be an outcry from all of the species that were represented by said Council.

After all, how could the Council truly eradicate all evil, if they stooped so low as to show favoritism to certain groups?

Yet, Asami didn't seem like an inquisitor of sorts, here on official business. She didn't emit a threatening aura at all, which contradicted her words.

"They can complain, of course. However if we find our allies to be without a fault, that isn't favoritism but mere common sense. Why would we constantly observe and scrutinize those that have not committed any crimes?" Asami spoke, motioning with her hand towards her team before they spread out.

With our inspection, any protesters couldn't claim that the Council's vigil was biased. Nor could the Council's own words and decrees be held against them when said allies were found to be without a fault.

Which is why the Council even bothered to send a delegation our way. Proving our innocence and maintaining order in one single action.

Not that they didn't have other ways to find out if corruption was present among those they trusted.

Being too trustworthy of someone, was a weakness and a mistake as well.

Drake lifted an impeccable brow when Asami didn't leave to lead the investigation alongside her team. "I'm assuming an inspection isn't the only reason why you've come."

A gentle smile was the only response we needed before venturing to Drake's office. The second the doors closed behind Asami, she tapped a single manicured nail against the wooden surface before sighing.

"Now we can speak without any ears listening in." Her lips thinned ever so slightly, making me worried that there might be something seriously wrong.

A notion that was only growing stronger when Asami silently took a seat when Drake motioned towards it. Contemplating her words carefully before she wet her lips.

"Besides the corruption found in several packs, we've received numerous reports of Rejected being found. As you recall, one of those affected Alphas recently called you. What I am about to tell you is confidential information and must not leave this room."

Both of us nodded, frowning as we remembered this instance. Drake had received a call from a certain Alpha Roland, for an Omega that had been Smothered.

The Smothering was still in process but luckily noticed as it was taking place. Meaning that the Omega at least had some chance at survivability, however slim it may be.

"There's been a development in that Smothering case. The Omega in question is indeed Soulbound, per your suggestion." Asami said with a bow towards Drake, who simply gave a respectful nod. "But now we discovered he's the Beloved of one of the Council."

Our eyes both widened as Drake slowly brought his hand to his mouth. The repercussions of that statement made things even worse.

Whomever had rejected that poor omega had signed their own death warrant doing so. And at the same time, one of the council was now mated to a Smothered, whom was most likely dying as we spoke.

Or at least, close to death.

This changed the reason behind Asami's presence here completely. While hiding her visit under the guise of a pack inspection, she was here to ask for our help.

Announcing that one of the Council found their mate was usually a joyous occasion. However, announcing their mate was currently being Smothered would be the same as inviting an attack on the individual.

There would be more than enough idiots, thirsting for power and social standing, that would try to attack the weakened council member or their mate.

Of course, the Council would stomp down on any kind of rebellion or assassination attempts with brutal efficiency. But if Asami was here to ask our help, that meant the council member's life was in grave danger.

"Our pack will release any information we have about Smothered individuals along with Smothering." Drake spoke, hand reaching for my own as if needing physical support.

I moved willingly, leaning against Drake while gently reaching out over the pack link. Alerting two individuals and asking them to head to our office when they are available.

"Simon and Louis are heading here as we speak. But even with Louis, Simon still is mute. There hasn't been much progress beyond him waking up from the Smothering." I revealed, gaining an appreciative nod from Asami.

"Every little bit helps. I am not here to pry and aggravate old wounds, but if there is a chance that Simon could help us with any spec of information, I will gladly take it."

We didn't need to wait for too long. A hesitant knock sounded before Louis poked his head in the room. The vampire swallowed thickly, gently tugging Simon into the room behind him.

Asami offered them both a gentle smile and raised her palm to Louis when the vampire opened his mouth to speak.

"I am not here to hand out punishment for your part in this Smothering." She assured, correctly assuming the reason behind Louis growing paler by the second. "However, I implore you to offer the Council your help."

Louis' eyes flitted towards us before back to his mate. Tugging Simon closer and offering the slender Delta a warm hug. "Nothing happens to Simon." Louis demanded with a clear voice, hazel eyes fixed on Asami to show his resolve.

She inclined her head towards him. "Of course. The Council has no qualm with you or Simon. What we want, what we desperately need, is more information about Smothered. If not to aid those currently going through the process, then to prevent it from ever happening again."

Louis nodded, hugging Simon closer to his body. The young blonde went along without a fuss but didn't show any visible reaction to the conversation happening, nor any interest in the subject.

I smiled sadly, knowing that this wasn't out of the ordinary for Simon. You would be extremely lucky to get eye contact from the young man, and though he had made great progress, speaking was still out of the question.

Even speaking through the mindlink seemed to take Simon a great deal of effort. Struggling to find his thoughts and needing quite a bit of time to reply to any question asked.

But I was certain that Asami would take all the time she got, if that meant aiding whomever on the Council needed help.

As Asami gently started questioning the pair, guiding them to the comfortable couches, Drake and myself made sure to look up any information we had about rejections and resulting Smotherings.

My love had been insightful, recording any rejection event that happened among his people. The files on Simon were found quite easily and a copy given to Asami.

Simon's rejection, and resulting smothering, was unique on its own, as it had been a tragic misunderstanding.

Louis had been a young human, barely reaching adulthood when he had been changed by a reckless vampire. His sire barely informed him about the supernatural world and left their young protégé to fend for himself.

As a result, Louis didn't know about mates or what it entailed. And when Simon had recognized the bond on first sight but Louis felt no connection due to not having the Blood Affirmation between them, he had unwittingly rejected Simon.

The poor Delta had nothing to clue in on what he did wrong, nobody to blame. Until his wolf put the blame with Simon himself and Smothered him quite violently.

It was pure luck that Louis had remained in the same settlement as Simon had, pure luck that when Simon fell, he had bit his tongue when he collapsed.

Pure luck that Louis, incredibly young as a vampire, had managed to both recognize the bond between them and resisted the calling of Simon's blood at the same time.

However that was where their luck had ended. Simon had fallen into a coma and only thanks to Louis' continuous care, draining himself of his own blood simply to boost Simon's recovery, did the young wolf survive.

Yet even now, two years after his Smothering, the young man was scarred. His recovery was slow but it was there. And that was more than could be said from the usual results of Smothering.

"Ah." Drake breathed, drawing my attention from the computer screen and to where he was plucking an old book from his massive bookcase. "I'm certain Lord Hisoka can translate this....and we could lend out this one as well..."

For a moment I sat there with a soft smile on my face, unable to take my eyes off of Drake. To see his eyes focused on the task ahead, taking charge while caring for his pack.

A soft sigh escaped me before I shook myself out of my stupor, catching Asami's gaze from across the room. She offered me a warm smile and a barely perceptible wink, making me realize she caught me staring at my mate.

Flustered, I continued to work and made sure to send copies of any digital documents I found towards Lord Hisoka. Eventually Asami thanked both Louis and Simon for their cooperation and the pair left the room with a respectful nod towards us.

"Alpha Drake and Alpha Kyle." Asami rose to her feet and gathered both of our attention. "The Council would like to make a pact with your pack."

Drake and I shared a look before Asami continued, "If both of you are willing, the Council would like to refer any of the Rejected and potential Smothered we encounter to your pack."

A hum escaped Drake's throat while we both contemplated the offer. Helping more people and help them cope with their rejection was kind of our calling. But there was a whole matter of logistics to deal with as well.

"In exchange, the Council will fully fund any costs involved with these assigned Rejected and Smothered." Asami smiled before we could even say anything.

I chuckled while Drake smiled and shook hishead. "On top of everything as always, Lady Asami. Our pack would be more thangrateful for the Council's support in exchange for helping these people."