"All hot spots have been looked over?" I asked Jamison.

The man didn't waste time as he reported all the pinpoints in the Territory that needed to be checked on every hourly rotation.

Jamison was and still was one of the most loyal men I had on my side. He was straight-forward, intelligent, and always readily available to protect the Pack. It was almost unnerving, but everyone had gotten used to his quiet, sarcastic, and brutal mentality.

"Any sign of those poisoned changelings?"

The man shook his head, clearly frustrated by the lack of findings. I was on the same page, but I retained my cool, evening out my expression. I didn't enjoy feeling powerless. It made my wolf apprehensive knowing those lethal changelings were out there, capable of hurting one of my own. "Thank you. I'll do another round before I cease. Ensure that majority of E.S Enforcers are patrolling marked boundaries. I don't want any one of them coming within the Pack. Tonight, will be busy."

"Understood." Jamison nodded. I watched as he sped off. He took a leap into the air and shed his human form, changing into his animal with a growl ripping from his jaw.

I broke into a sprint, feeling the wind like sharp blades against my exposed skin. The scent of the earth grew stronger the deeper I waded into the forest. I sensed Alexei near, examining the marked areas. I sped by him and ran to the very edge of the Territory line and began a final lap around the Pack.

I needed to know for myself that tonight, everything would be okay. A lot of the vulnerable Pack members would be out, and I needed them safe. I scouted the area one last time. It only took a good thirty-five minutes before I completed the task.

Sweat cooled on my skin by the time I reached the Pack House.

Jane immediately spotted me, taking in my ragged appearance. She simply clucked her tongue and pointed in the direction of the bathroom. "Get into the shower. We don't need you stinking up the place." She wrinkled her nose, waving me off. Her husband rolled his eyes at his wife's antics but didn't say a word because we both knew who wore the actual pants in the relationship.

"Where is she?" I didn't need to clarify the question because they already knew.

"She left with that friend of hers. The one with the pink hair. She said she'd be back soon."

I tried not to look deflated, but Jane laughed, "I remember the beginning stages. What fond memories. We have a lot don't we Dear?"

Her husband grunted.

"Yup. So many memories." She continued, unbothered by her unresponsive mate.

Seamus suddenly appeared from the back door. He didn't greet the couple and intercepted my path. Jane and her husband left as if sensing the privacy needed. "Members are showing up already. The elderly have been seated and the younger ones are slowly making their way with their parents. We have some E.S Enforcers present just in case and unfortunately Tatum has joined the crowd. People haven't recognised him yet and he seems to be enjoying his anonymity thus far."

"Keep an eye on him. I don't want him causing issues."

"We had eyes on him and then some. He will be a compete imbecile if he decides to act out."

"Good. Great. Ok." I nodded, combing my fingers through my hair. I needed a trim soon. It was getting too long but I remembered the way Aella had clung onto it as I sucked her sweet clit in my mouth.

Maybe letting it grow out a bit wouldn't hurt.

I smirked, rolling my bottom lip between my teeth.

I vowed I would get another taste soon.

***

"You're shitting me." Pen gasped aloud.

"Damn." Kian snorted.

"Shut up." Pen elbowed his side. He lurched forward, holding his side with an incoherent mumble. I was pretty sure the word started with b and ended with itch but if Pen was letting it go, I was going to do the same. I was still unused to whatever sort of relationship they had, and friends seemed a little too kind of a description to slap on them.

"Why did you bring him here again?" I asked, trying to not sound rude. It failed because Kian made a show of stopping mid-step. He even added a loud gasp. He crossed his arms defiantly like a petulant child, seeking me out with a glare.

"He's been trying to get to speak with you for a while but couldn't. So, he tagged along. I couldn't shake him, and he followed me all the way here."

"It's important." He reiterated.

"Okay, what is it?" I asked.

His gaze shot to Pen, "Would you mind..."

"Whatever needs to be said, you can say in front of Pen." I said.

"OK."

"So?" I probed, studying his features closely as he stalled. I didn't know how I knew he was stalling but he definitely was hesitating to speak.

"Kian?" Pen touched his elbow. He flinched. She quickly retracted her extended hand, confused. "What is it?"

He seemed to recollect himself but did this almost as if bracing for something that was inevitable. "Do you remember that day I told you to go to the Alpha's office? "

"Yeah, I forgot to ask you about that. How did you know about that?"

"The attack was intentional. Jace and Ace thought it would be fun to lure the changeling into Pack Territory. I don't know how they did it."

"They thought it would be fun?" I repeated, disbelief colouring my words. "Jude could've died. Anyone in the Pack could've died if it attacked them. What if it was a child? Are they that stupid? I should've killed him. I really should have."

"There's also something else. I just saw Jace being escorted out of the Pack. I don't think he's going to let it slide. His brother was disqualified and now he's been cut. I think you might need to let Alpha Slater know."

"They couldn't have done it. They're not nice but they couldn't have put innocent people in danger."

"You really don't know those two if you think they are anything less than evil. I don't think they'll leave quietly and willingly."

"I need to go." I turned to leave, "Thanks for telling me Kian."

"I would've said something earlier, but I had to make sure I wasn't drawing the wrong conclusions. Yet, everything seemed to make sense. They had been sinking their talons into this Pack and I'm not sure of the damage they already inflicted. They've been talking to the Recruits who've failed too."

"Wow, look at you Mr Spy Master." Pen had something a lot like approval in her eyes. "I thought those two were fishy. Their vibes were off."

"Uh huh, that's why I saw you practically drooling when you were admiring Jace's abs that one time I walked by." Kian dryly commented, arching a dark brow.

"I didn't say they weren't hot."

"Right."

"Ugh, leave me alone Kian. I don't mean anything by it anyways. They're only good to look at- don't look at me like that! I'm not like a bitch in heat. I've seen the way you've checked out Casey!"

Kian makes a show of nonchalantly shrugging his wide shoulders, "What, she's good to look at." He threw her words back at her, which only made her clench her jaw in distaste.

"Okay kids. Break it up." I stepped in between the two, only half-joking. Pen's nostrils kept flaring and Kian's amused smirks were helping nobody in this situation. He just seemed to enjoy goading her. They were playing a dangerous cat and mouse game and I was fully aware that neither of them noticed. "Guys, let's not kill each other huh. Let's play nice. Kian, why don't you give Pen a make-up hug? And Pen, why don't you do the same? How about it guys?"

"Fuck off." Kian scowled.

"I'm not going to hug his ass."

"Well then..." I surrendered, "I'll see you two later. I need to find Jude."

Pen waved goodbye but Kian continued glaring at her.

When I managed to find Jude, he was with that lady again. Now that I remembered, she had been the same lady who had hugged the oxygen out of him when we had been paired off with one the E.S Enforcers during another test.

The two occupied one of the lounge chairs placed opposite from the television set. Jude was writing on an iPad with a stylus. She was peering over his shoulder, watching in interest at whatever he was scribbling on the screen.

It didn't take long for him to notice me. When he did, a small smile unfurled across his lips. "Hey." That one word had me relaxing as I drew closer to him. He motioned me over. He waited until I was close enough to tug me down by his side. His lips brushed my temple, "You're cold." He frowned, rubbing his big palm down and up my shoulder, "Where's your jacket?"

"I don't need one. I'll warm up soon."

"Hmm." He hummed with a hint of disapproval.

I pinched his side, "Don't give me that look."

He chuckled into my hair, the sound like sweet honey. "Don't be mad."

A cough startled us apart. I realised that we had forgotten that we weren't the only ones here. The woman with the blonde ringlets smiled tightly, extending a perfectly manicured hand with french tips. "Jude hasn't introduced me to you yet. I'm Tess."

I took her hand from across Jude and noticed that her hands wasn't as soft as I expected. Her smile stretched as she noted the curious expression on my face. "I'm part of the Elite Syndicate Enforcers of the Pack. You probably haven't seen me much since Jude has been sending me away with other Enforcers to represent him on some occasions in other Pack meetings. He's been busy lately and I've been wondering why but now I understand what has been keeping his interest." She explained, shooting Jude a smirk that actually made Jude duck his head. "Well, I better leave you two. I need to see how my little Zaine bug is doing." She hugged Jude and I before leaving. Her heels clicked noisily as she disappeared out of sight.

"Don't draw conclusions Aella. It's not like that between us. It never has been either." Jude elucidated before I could open my mouth.

I stumbled on my words, feeling my cheeks heat with embarrassment. "I didn't say anything."

"You didn't have to. I knew what you were thinking. I think I'm starting to read you well."

"She calls you Jude."

"I've known her for a long time. She's like a friend."

"A friend?" I repeated.

The man in question had the nerve to smirk. "A friend." He confirmed.

"Okay."

"Aella." His smirk turned into a full-blown smile, it stunned me silent.

"Don't Aella me." I scrunched up my face, trying to appear nonchalant but his beaming smile made it more difficult to keep a straight face. In the back of my mind, I was well aware that I was being a little pest, but my foundation was crumbling, and he didn't even know it, especially when he was studying my features intently, more than amused by the conversation than he let on.

"Tess has always been a close friend." He reassured me.

Now it was my turn to make that hmmm sound.

His smile didn't falter. The fool was still intrigued. "And no. Not one of those friends Aella. It's strictly platonic. I've never been interested in her that way. We just grew up together. That's all. I have never led her on or done something she might take the wrong way and she knows it. She might have had something for me when we were kids, but I've never encouraged it Aella."

"Right."

"Aella."

I tapped my chin, narrowing my gaze, "Now that we're on this topic, I wanna know just how many un-platonic girl friends you've had." My wolf had her ears perked, ready to give him a piece of her mind. I kept my hands behind my back so he wouldn't see my fisted hands. He was walking on the edge of a cliff. He didn't even realise I was the one carrying the sword at his spine if he answered wrong.

Amusement still swirled in his eyes. "You really want to know how many women I've kissed?"

"Yes." I may have hissed but my sane mind had long left me by this point.

"You want to know how many women I've messed around with?" The asshole asked, feigning naivety.

My jaw ticked but I nodded.

"Just to be clear, you want to know how many women I've fucked?" He asked so quietly, my spine stiffened.

I was going to kill him.

I not so sincerely hoped someone was praying hard for a certain arrogant Alpha. I didn't even afford the question with a response because fury had settled in like a grey cloud over my jumbled emotions.

Think innocent babies. Innocent babies Aella. Think giggling babies. Happy babies. Baby cupids too. CUTE FUCKING BABIES-

Jude laughed.

The asshole was laughing and making a show of it. The uproarious note filtered through the air. His eyes were scrunched up tightly as he clutched his stomach on bent knees.

"What's. So. Funny. Jude?" I gritted the words. I could feel my right eye twitching.

Someone better have his name on a prayer card because the Moon Goddess was going to see one of her children very soon.

"Fine." I spun around, storming to the door but a warm hand caught my wrist. He yanked me back until his front collided with my back.

"Wait." He laughed against my neck, pressing small kisses along my cheek to my jawline. In between each kiss, a raspy laugh escaped his lips. I was fighting the urge to strangle and castrate him while I was at it. "My mate is a spitfire." He groaned, wrapping his arms below my bust. "Don't be mad."

"Let me go Jude."

"Not until I answer your question."

"Tell me later when I'm not contemplating cutting your balls off."

He bit my shoulder, hard. I flinched and glared at him over my shoulder. I wished I was at least taller than him so I could look even more menacing, but the bastard simply nuzzled my neck, breathing softly. "You're the only one I've done things with Aella. No one has captured my attention like you have. I didn't see any point in starting something with anyone if by the off-chance I'll meet my mate."

I froze, entranced by his words. "So, you're a-"

"Very much so." He nipped my ear.

"That doesn't make any sense."

"What doesn't make any sense? That I've never fucked a woman in my life?"

"Truthfully, yes. The last time we did stuff, it looked like you knew what you were doing."

"You could thank the magazines I've read when I was a teen. You'd be surprised by how much detail they go in to about pleasing your partner. I memorised each print I came across. I didn't want to leave my mate feeling unsatisfied when it came to it."

"Huh." I felt myself go liquid in his embrace, the fire leaving me in a hasty whoosh.

"Now stop being mad."

"I'm not mad."

His eyes twinkled, "Now that we've got that sorted, how many men have put their hands on you?" His voice suddenly hardened.

"What?"

"How many men have touched you?"

He began moving towards me.

"No one, I swear. I may have kissed a few boys but that was-"

His hand caught my elbow, "Let me erase that for you."

"Okay." I offered my lips instantly.

He laughed but pulled me in, obviously pleased by my lack of resistance. His lips dropped against my forehead instead in a tender peck. "Heart and Soul Aella. Heart and Soul."

I blinked, embracing his words. "Heart and Soul?"

"You know what it means." Jude sighed contently against my hair.