Saph POV Asher’s office is quiet as a large group of us digest everything that’s been discussed. The bright and colorful decor is contrasted by the stern faces of everyone in here. Grizz, and other remaining members of The Underground, are going to attack Red Mountain Pack, but we don’t know when. They will probably use potions that Artemis created to help them conceal themselves, making it harder to detect them. They have been kidnapping werewolves from packs all over the region, giving them some serum that disables their wolves. Then, those helpless individuals are sold to the highest bidder. Probably forgotten and untraceable. Grizz gives new meaning to the word monster. “Security is most important. I won’t risk any of my pack members being taken. All patrollers will work in groups of three for extra protection. If they are using some kind of concealment magic of yours, Artemis, what does that mean?” Asher booms, all eyes

Saph POV This is nothing like when Nathan and I marked each other. We loved each other, there is no doubt. When I marked Nathan, I felt a surge of energy run through me. But there were never sparks, never this primal need to be with him, protect him, or have him deep inside of me. And fuck, does Asher get deep. I’m going to be bruised on the inside, and that very idea makes me even hotter for him. Marking Asher, I can feel his soul enmeshing with mine. My eyes shut tight, and I am pulled into some kind of movie reel. A fast-forwarding of Asher’s life. I see memories of him with his parents back in Australia, him and Archie taking over the pack when they were just teenagers. I watch him meet his first love, Portia. She was gorgeous, vibrant. I see him hold Ruby for the first time and say goodbye to Portia in the same instant. I feel his anger, his defeat, and bewilderment. I’m encumbered with guilt that I couldn’t be there for him, that I hadn’t met him sooner.

Asher POV Ice water shoots through my veins. I knew Grizz was planning an attack; I just hoped we would have more time. I stand up abruptly, knocking my chair back, causing it to slam against the concrete floor and send small pieces of the wooden chair to splinter off. “What is it, Ash?” Dare asks as both he and Vinny jump out of their chairs, impatiently waiting for me to answer. “Grizz is here. One of my patrollers just reported seeing them trying to cross the border, before they vanished,” I seethe. My head begins to throb as more reports from patrollers and pack members come in. ‘Alpha! Intruders!’ ‘Something just attacked Freddy by the cells! He’s unconscious!’ ‘Alpha! Help!’ “Fuck! They’re here! I need to get to Artemis. I know he and Yaya are the targets for this attack. Vinny, Dare, help my patrollers!” I shout, already storming out of the room. “I’m coming with you guys!” I hear Daya decl

Asher POV As soon as Saph’s mindlink abruptly disconnects, I feel a chilling sense of fear from her. “Arch! Brick!” I call out to the two who are scanning the hospital for any survivors. Tobias stayed back to help patrollers fend off anyone along the borders. I felt a number of pack links break while fighting the enemy wolves. I lost count and had to ignore the searing pain of losing more friends and innocent lives. “What is it, Ash?” Archie comes running to me, Brickland on his heels. Artemis is coming over as well, still clutching his satchel. “We gotta go! I was just talkin’ with Saph and then she disconnected the link out of nowhere. Somethin’s wrong,” I say angrily. I have the worst feeling- Saph is in trouble. The four of us shift back to our wolf forms. Archie’s wolf is brown and white like mine, except he doesn’t have pink-tipped fur. Brickland’s reddish and white wolf strides beside Archie, and Artemis’ rust-colored wolf runs n

Asher POV One Week Later “…We must remember, this moment is not goodbye. We will carry our loved ones with us each day. This moment is our way of honoring the lives of those we have lost. We will grieve their absence, as much as we will savor their memories. Death is a lonely event. That is why we are a pack. Be there for each other. Support and comfort one another. Be the source of light, and hope, when the painful shadows of loss try to take hold. A life lived…” “A life loved!” My pack members finish our pack’s death ceremonial credo. Every death ceremony is complete with that phrase. Our pack has experienced significant losses over the years. We lost hundreds to the Fated Plague, from the time I was born until I stepped into the role of Alpha. My pack members are used to death and loss, but that doesn’t make it easier to accept. Especially when the lives we have recently lost were taken from us. We lost twenty-seven lives in all. Thirteen died from the