Wow.

Wow indeed.

I hear the familiar voice even though I know he didn't speak.

Fuck.

I forgot that was a side affect of the marking.

No going back now, Warrior. I did give you an out.

I know, I know. It's just going to take some getting used to. I guess I'll be able to hear the whole pack now.

Yeah, and they can hear you, so maybe try to keep the thoughts of me naked to a minimum.

He laughs as he catches me ogling his bare chest. I smack him playfully and glare up at him.

Deal, as long as you teach me how to block out Patrick's thoughts.

I've been trying to for years. If I have to deal with that intrusion, so do you.

We lay there silently for hours, occasionally commenting random thoughts to each other through the mind link. When the sun sets we decide it's finally time to head back to the pack house, but I take one last look at the night sky.

"It's so pretty out here. I've never seen so many stars," I comment out loud.

"There's no light pollution out this far. It is rather peaceful," he replies quietly.

He stands up slowly and puts his clothes back on before handing me mine. We walk back to the pack house, hand in hand, in no rush to get there. Before we even get through the line of trees, Patrick runs, practically stumbling out of the house to greet us.

"You two are in so much trouble!" he yells.

"Jesus, Patrick, could you have at least waited until we got inside?" I roll my eyes.

"Couldn't you guys have waited until you got inside? In a bed, like normal people? I thought you were supposed to be arguing."

"Well, we reconciled our differences," Killian wags his eyebrows at Patrick pervertedly.

"I know, you two won't stop thinking about each other naked."

I look back and forth between the two idiots in front of me incredulously, but I can't help the blush creeping onto my face. I tried to keep any thoughts of Killian out of my mind on the way home, but every time I caught a glimpse of him from the corner of my eye, I couldn't help but think about the way he looked underneath me.

"For fucks sake, Rey, keep it in your pants!" Patrick cries.

Killian laughs at the outburst so I slap them both on the back of the head as my blush deepens.

"If you guys think you can keep your hands off each other long enough, there's some urgent news we need to discuss."

"My office," Killian nods.

I start to head inside, keeping my head down, but I catch sight of Patrick plugging his nose as I walk by.

"You reek of mutt!" He calls to me.

"Fuck you," Killian retorts.

The two quickly engage in a wrestling match, but I ignore them with a shake of my head and continue through the kitchen up to Killian's office.

Several pack members look me up and down, some regarding me with curiosity, most with complete shock. I continue to stare at my feet as I walk, still too embarrassed to confront their stares. I can deal with that later.

Patrick and Killian enter behind me a few seconds later, discussing something heatedly under their breaths.

"You should have contacted me immediately," Killian whispers angrily.

"I tried, but you were a little preoccupied."

"Should I leave you two alone then?" I mock.

I take a seat behind Killian's desk, earning myself an amused stare from the men standing in front of me, but they don't say anything. Patrick sits across from me while Killian opts to stand behind me.

Before I have a chance to ask what's going on, Patrick holds out a single, folded piece of paper out to me. I grab it cautiously. When I read what's on it, I'm hit with an array of emotions. Sadness, for sure. Confusion and devastation quickly take its place before I finally settle on anger.

And fuck was I angry.

"Are you sure this is from Sage?" I say through my teeth.

I can feel Killian quietly seething from behind me, he's gripping the back of my chair so tightly I fear he'll snap it in half.

"I'm sure of it. Look at the watermark," Patrick replies grimly.

I hold the paper up to the light and, sure enough, the council's watermark reflects back at me.

"Fuck."

"So what do we do from here?"

"We're still training our allied packs. Unfortunately, I fear there's no other choice than to go to war."

"No," I speak up.

Two sets of eyes look at me questioningly.

"What other choice do we have, Rey?"

I stand up to pace the room, unable to sit still lest I explode from all the rage coursing through me.

"It's right there in the note, Killian. He has Jacob and he wants me in exchange for his safe return."

The bile in my throat rises as I speak.

"No way," Killian shakes his head vehemently. "There has to be another way. There will be another way. I'm not losing you again and I'm sure as hell not letting Sage win without a fight."

I step closer to him and open my mouth to argue, but Patrick holds up a hand to stop me.

"He's right, Rey. If we just give in to his demands, he won't stop. He'll keep torturing innocent people and experimenting on our own kind, and the council will keep letting him. He needs to be stopped."

I plop back down into my seat with a sigh, trying to make sense of all these racing thoughts.

"Besides, how can we even really be sure that Sage has Jacob anyways," Patrick speaks up again.

I shoot him a glare, rubbing my temples in exasperation.

"I got it already, Jesus. I won't turn myself in."

"So then what's the plan?"

"We still have to make Sage think I'm complying, which won't be easy. He'll be suspicious if I just give in to his demands. Get our allied Alphas over here without alerting Lucas or Sage tomorrow morning. I want Sage's head in my hands by the end of the week."