"Rise and shine sleepy- God Tavi!" I bolt up in bed at the voice, and I see a mortified Klaude standing in the doorway, his hands and arms covering his eyes. I quickly pull the sheet around my naked body, covering everything from sight.

"How many times have I told you to knock?" Octavius' muffled voice barks, and I look beside me to see a very sleepy and very naked Octavius. I smile lightly, my cheeks flushing.

"How many times have I told you to put a sock on the door?" Klaude retorts, his back now turned to us.

"Klaude, just tell us what you need and then get the hell out." Octavius mutters, his head still shoved into the pillows.

"So rude, Mister." I can hear the smirk on his face. "Kane needs to see you for an urgent meeting soon. Preferably clothed."

Octavius sighs, and buries his face further in the pillows.

"Tell him I'll be there in half an hour. Now get out."

"Fine." He scoffs, sauntering out of the door.

"Bye, Klaude!" I call back, and giggle to myself.

I let out a little squeak as Octavius wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me down onto the bed next to him.

"Octavius," I laugh breathily as he nuzzles his head into my chest, falling back to sleep no doubt.

"Five more minutes." He grumbles, sounding like a little boy. It is so unbelievably adorable.

I sigh, knowing that five minutes could soon turn into another hour, and I didn't want to be blamed for him missing an important meeting. I begin to concoct a plan, smirking when I think of the perfect one.

I slowly move down so that we're eye level, and he pulls me closer. We're near the edge of the bed, with me in the middle and him on the side.

"Octavius?" I ask, and move in close.

"Mhm?" He responds, his eyes still closed.

"Brace yourself."

His eyes open just as I push him off the bed. I giggle in triumph, watching as he sits up and rubs his eyes. He scowls at me, his face covered in sleep lines.

"Alessandra, I swear to God," he mutters, standing up and facing me.

I blush furiously, looking at his naked body.

"Octavius, go get dressed."

"No." He whispers, and pulls me up to my feet to stand on the bed. He's still taller than me, standing at the side of the bed and me on top of it.

"I need motivation to get ready." His voice is husky and so unbelievably addictive.

"How bout," I whisper back, my face right in front of his, "If you don't get ready, I'll walk to that meeting without getting dressed."

His eyes turn gold, and a soft growl escapes him.

"Mine." He growls and picks me up, and I moan as I wrap my legs around him to avoid falling. He begins walking towards the bathroom and turns on the large shower. He sets me down on the tile floor and closes the shower door behind him. He gazes down at me, water droplets hanging off his impossibly long eyelashes. He grabs a bottle of shampoo, and softly rubs it into my long hair, and I close my eyes at the sparks between eyes. He rinses my hair, and I turn to face him, grabbing soap. I begin to lather his shoulders, his chest, his stomach, and lower in soap and growls escape him every time I touch his skin.

I pull him under the shower's stream, and watch the suds fall away. His eyes are shining gold, and I smile, pressing myself to him.

"All mine." He says, and kisses me deeply.

After a very steamy shower, I dry my hair and get dressed in a white button-up blouse and leggings. As I was putting the shirt on, Octavius appeared in front of me, and began fastening each one for me, and I could smell his cologne, sharp and intoxicating.

"We need to go to the meeting." I whisper, as I sense his desire rising.

"As you wish." I grin as we walk together to the meeting room, Octavius never once letting go of my hand.

We enter the large room, and I scowl darkly when I see Kane and Damien at the front of a long table filled with important looking men. They all turn at our entrance, and stand as Octavius moves to the other head of the table, and I sit next to him.

"Alpha Octavius, how kind of you to join us." Kane's slippery voice almost makes me cringe, but I compose myself.

"Of course," Octavius' voice is gruff and commanding, the voice of an Alpha. "What is the reason for this meeting?"

Kane's lips form an ersatz frown, a secret smile hidden in his beady eyes.

"Alpha, we have located the two rebel omegas, in another pack's area."

I inhale sharply, oh god, please don't let them be dead.

"Upon further investigation of this unknown pack, we discovered it was large and aggressive, as most of our search team was killed on sight. The remaining Blood Moon soldiers fled the scene, or were taken as hostage."

"Were the soldiers sent previously members of Moonrise?" I ask before my mind could tell me to shut up.

Kane just glares at me slightly, as if I am a bug on his polished black shoes.

"Alessandra-"

"Luna." I jump at Octavius' bark, and turn to see his black eyes focused on Kane.

"Forgive me, Alpha." Kane drawl in mock reverence. "Luna, that information is confidential."

"Answer her question, Beta Kane." Octavius' voice is stern, and I can practically hear Kane's gulp.

"Some of the soldiers killed were previously Moonrise."

Bile rises in my throat but I hold in my outcry. I will deal with that matter later. There are a few moments of thick silence before Octavius cuts it.

"Beta Kane, continue."

"Once we received the news of what had happened, we had our pack intel investigate the unknown pack. The boundaries are on none of our maps, and we weren't even able to find a pack name."

Octavius leans back in his seat, his arms crossed against his chest.

"If there is no information on the pack, how are you so certain there is one? It's possible the attacks were carried out by a group of rogues or hunters."

"Our intel mapped the area again, and came upon a large stone pack mansion, and they could smell thousands of wolves, including the two escaped omegas. The only way that magnitude of wolves could be living in the same home would be the existence of a hidden but obviously very powerful pack."

Octavius is quiet, frowning in thought.

"We must investigate this pack further. I want search teams sent out in two hours to the boundaries, and attempt to discover any familiar scents or markings, or to stake out the mansion and wait for a member to emerge. I want results by midnight tonight."

Kane nods in understanding.

"I would like to join the search team." He continues, and I stare at him in shock. "I will be the most equipped to detect the presence of another Alpha. This is not an aggressive attack, this is a covert collection of data. Not one drop of Blood Moon blood is to be spilt, or I will hold you personally responsible, Kane."

"Yes, Alpha." Kane snaps, and grimaces at his feet.

"Begin preparation for the operation immediately. Two hours, Kane." Octavius rises from his chair and grabs my hand to lead me out of the office. He is silent on the entire walk back to our wing, gripping my hand tightly.

As soon as we enter the large door, I let go of Octavius' hand.

"I want to come with you." I say, raising my chin.

"Absolutely not." He snaps, and attempts to pull me into an embrace. I move away, shocked at his answer.

"Why not? Am I too weak?" I place my hands on my hips.

"No, baby, you're not weak. But this pack is completely unknown to us, and that blindness makes them even more dangerous. I will not risk losing you." He pulls me to him finally, his hands firm around my waist. 

"And don't you dare think about sneaking onto the mission."

I growl, my plan ruined.

"Klaude will watch you to make sure you don't leave. This is to keep you safe, Alessandra." He lightly kisses my forehead, and I sigh.

"No one will be able to harm what's mine." His voice is so soft, as if speaking to himself.

"Fine." I mutter, and wrap my arms around his neck. "Be safe." I whisper against his neck.

"As you wish." He smiles at me, and kisses me softly. He pulls away and hugs me close, then releases me. "I need to go." He looks at the door briefly.

"Be safe." I repeat, and touch his cheek lightly.

"I love you, and I'll see you soon." He whispers and kisses me quickly

"I love you, too." I smile and watch him walk out of the door, leaving me alone in the room.

I sit down in the TV room, my mind not focusing on the program. My thoughts are wild with worry and fear. What if he gets hurt? I can't trust Kane. What if he gets killed? That last thought almost made me sob, the thought of Octavius' dead and bloody body filling my mind.

I will not let someone else that I love die. I need to get onto that mission, and my plan of action begins to formulate. Guilt runs through me, thinking of how angry Octavius would be if he discovered me on the mission. But I can't just sit here waiting for a return that may never come.