"Do you think we can trust him? " He asked plonking down on the nearest seat he could find in Daniel's office.

"Why do you ask? " Daniel asked staring at the window, watching the pack members going about their business.

"Judith doesn't trust him " Came his reply, he reached out and grabbed a piece of cookie from the cookie jar resting on top of Daniel's mahogany desk.

"Nobody trusts Asher, he's unstable as the sea." Daniel turned around only to catch Ryan stealing his cookies. Again.

"What? " Ryan shrugged and grabbed a handful of cookies before it was snatched away from his grasp.

"Asshole" Daniel swore, a displeased scowl printed on his face. He closed the cookie lid tightly, pulled out one of his desk drawers, tossed it inside and shoved the drawer shut.

There was an aggrieved expression on Ryan's face, he was as sullen as a nine-year old whose candy was snatched by a big bad bully.

Well who could blame him, the Alpha's specially made cookies were the most delicious cookie he had ever tasted , notwithstanding he has a sweettooth.

"No" He growled "Let's get back to business" Daniel ordered and Ryan resumed his get- down -to- business mode immediately.

"Something is fishy " Ryan confessed munching on a cookie

Daniel looked up interested " What is fishy? "

Ryan's expression was suspicious " The way he lit up at the mention of your mate's name "

Daniel's eyes flashed with raw emotion and his jaw tightened as he retorted " What are you trying to say? "

Ryan sighed "I'm not trying to be rude or insinuative here, but I think Asher might have a bit of history with your mate "

Daniel's eyes narrowed and this time , closed he clenched his jaw so hard the muscles ticked, a hint of denial in his eyes "It's impossible, she just came into this town weeks ago "

"Well, if you say so " Ryan said, pursing his lips

Daniel saw the displeased look on his friend's face and clenched his fist, maybe he was right. The Asher he knew was always on guard but in the spur of the moment, he lost control and his mask cracked.

No matter how much he wants to deny it as nothing, the nagging feeling at the pit of his stomach told him it was something more.

He saw the raw emotion on Asher's face, he was shocked , aggrieved, as if something precious was taken from him and finally anger before he resumed his usual poker face.

Daniel suddenly wondered if his mate was the precious thing taken from him.

"Even if they did had history together " He grunted, finally acknowledging the possibility of that happening

"She's my mate and would feel the mate bond once we meet, so whatever history they had is nothing but the past " He said , grounding his teeth in fury while his eyes flashed with murderous intent.

"Moreover Asher is smart, he wouldn't jeopardize the safety of his clan for a girl who isn't his mate " Daniel said, trying to comfort his heart .

He couldn't bear to think of what Asher could've done with his mate in private. Had his mate fallen for his bewitching charms?

It was no foreign news there was a dangerous and heart stirring sensuality about vampires especially with one as devilishly handsome as Asher.

Even him had to admit, the guy almost bewitched him once which gave him all the reason to hate his guts more , so he couldn't exactly blame the poor girl.

"Then, I guess you have to make your move at once " Ryan reminded him.

Daniel nodded, yes, he would make his move.

******************

In a dimly lit smokey hall that spoke of eeriness, a cloaked woman sitting on a intricate looking vintage throne asked.

"How's the plan going, Emily ? "

"Your ladyship " The blonde tomboy stepped out of a line up of hooded figures whom had their heads bowed.

"It's going as planned, her vampire side has been activated and if luck is on our side, her wolf should be awake soon. "

A creepy smile appeared on the ladyship's face, she cooed " Oh don't worry, luck is on our side "

" Your ladyship, what if our body can't accommodate.... "

"Her body would accommodate all, she would accomplish what our mighty queen couldn't " She raised a questioning brow "Besides, why do you think she is called the perfect vessel?"

Emily nodded, she understood now. The girl was a powerhouse, she could house and accommodate all those powers, something their queen couldn't do.

"How's her mates doing? " Her ladyship asked, a hint of mockery in her tone.

"They are oblivious of the fact that they belong to her and not the other way around, though her vampire mate is quite smart and seems to be catching on to something.

" Unfortunately, unlike the vampire , the dumb werewolf thinks she belongs to him alone, typical egoistic possessive werewolves " Emily said in sheer mockery , rolling her eyes towards heaven.

Her ladyship smiled at Emily's comical face, the girl could be cynical at times. She sighed and rubbed her jaw reflectively

"I wonder if the plot is moving too slow, perhaps, we should spice things up a bit "

"No, your ladyship ! " Emily was quick to refute earning a look from her, she realized at once she acted a bit out of line.

"I'm sorry your ladyship but I think the plot is moving on a normal pace, I just don't want us to be in a haste and make a wrong move " Emily tried to explain hoping her ladyship would see sincerity and sense in her words.

"Fine then, my ever wise Emily " Her ladyship said and stood from the throne

"But the werewolf? " She started " He's too boring, make him palatable "

Emily shivered when she heard the word 'palatable ' , the werewolf was surely going to have a bumpy week.

Her ladyship licked her lips, a mischievous glint in her eyes "The vampire seems exciting enough. Perhaps, it's time I paid him a visit "

"Long live your ladyship! " They all bowed and chorused as she made her exit.