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Diya is the only member of my family besides my sister I deal with. She and I are the same age. Her father is my father’s younger brother.

“The council has called for an emergency shelter in place. Markis is on a rampage. Bodies are piling up. Muza and Alexander’s bodies were found last night.”

A chill runs down my spine. I knew this was going to happen, but even so, I couldn’t stay to help. Muza and Alexander were once members of his loyal disciples but they, like me, stopped drinking the poison that is Markis early on. I figured he’d go after them and all others he felt betrayed him.

“Where are you?” I ask Diya. “You need to get out of the city.”

“Girl, way ahead of you. I’ve been out of the city since you left. I’m getting this info from friends.”

I pinch my brow. “Good. Lie low and don’t tell anyone where you are. Markis doesn’t know we’re close. He won’t look for you.”

"Mizani, they have marked your family as aiding and abetting Markis." They stripped your father and brother of their title. As of right now, Uncle Abizi is the king of clan Nizam.”

That doesn’t concern me. If I go back and demand it, they’ll probably give the title to me, but I long ago stopped caring about titles.

“Also, the council is demanding your appearance to declare you’re not with Markis. If you don’t show within a week, they’ll put you in the same category as your father and send the legion for you.”

“I’m not worried about the legion or the council. Showing my face back in that city would do more harm than good. The council can’t help me now.”

“I figured,” she sighs. “I was just warning you.”

“Have the council notified the union?”

The supernatural world is made up of tiers like the human government. We have our councils, which are like state law makers. Witches have their council, the different shifters have theirs, and vampires have ours. Each council governs their own kind.

Above the council is the union. Which is similar to the human federal government. An appointed member of each council sits on the board of the union. The union makes and passes laws for all of us.

Most of the time, the council deals with their own issues, but occasionally the union is called in. When Markis was put to ground, it was the union that had to capture him and voted on his punishment.

“As of right now, the vampire council has kept this away from the union. They are too ashamed to let them know they’ve fucked up.”

I let out a relieved breath. This is good news. As long as this information does not get back to the union, I can keep it from the pack.

“Alright, you stay hidden. Remember, only call this number for emergencies.”

“Okay. Stay safe, Mizani.”

I disconnect the call with my cousin and quickly head back into the grocery store. Even being away from the pack this long makes me uneasy. I need to get back.

Marley and I carry all our bags from the entrance of the pack lands all the way to the furthest side of the property where our cabin is. As soon as I unlock the door, a booming voice has me turning around.

“Where have you been?”

The angry Beta is standing on my bottom steps. His eyes glowing.

“Marley, take the groceries inside.”

Marley doesn’t question me; she quickly scurries inside the cabin.

“Excuse you?” I ask.

His gaze narrows. “You don’t leave these premises without my permission.”

“I don’t recall theAlpha,” I say, emphasizing the word Alpha. “Saying that in his welcome speech.”

The Beta takes a step up on the porch. I watch him closely.

“I don’t need the Alpha’s permission to tell you not to leave without letting someone know.”