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33

Kaylee

Sitting in the dining hall, a mug of hot chocolate in my hand, I watch as Devon refills the buffet table. He has grown thinner since last week when he, Lucas, and I visited him the day after finding out he and Ash are mates. He sang like a canary that day, explaining Ramos’ plans in detail to us, including how he wanted Lucas and me dead so that the pup Marilyn carries would not have to worry about Lucas staking a claim to Oak Fur.

Ash remained silent the whole time, watching Devon for any hint of a lie. Thankfully for him, Devon was truthful and even suggested methods of hacking into Oak Fur’s cell phone network to help us spy on Ramos and Marilyn.

Lucas relayed this to David, who quickly put the suggestions into action while Ash and Devon talked. When David confirmed an hour later that our tech team could get into Oak Fur’s network, we decided to call it a day before leaving the dungeons.

Ash seemed happier and more hopeful than the night before. I even felt like Devon really had no choice but to spy on us, and so, with a promise to talk to Amelia for him, Ash went off to form a hunting party. He promised to return tomorrow night with new prey to fill our freezers.

The talk with Amelia ended favorably for Devon, with Amelia agreeing to a probationary term. Devon would be given a room in the packhouse and guarded day and night by our spies.

Marco, Kurt, and two other warriors transported Devon from the dungeons to his room, where he was told of the terms and conditions of his second chance.

For the next year, he’ll be stuck as an omega and work in the packhouse. A tracker will be put on his ankle that would shock him if he went ten meters from the packhouse’s outer walls, and a silver collar will be placed around his neck. The silver won’t kill or burn him, as the collar is inside a leather band, but he won’t be able to shift until it’s removed. The only way that would happen is either the year has passed or he’s earned our trust.

So far, Devon has been compliant with this deal. The spies assigned to watch him have told me that he takes each task seriously, no matter how menial or degrading they may be—all to prove to Ash that he is serious about being in his life.

“How is he doing?”

Jumping at the question, I turn to find Lucas smiling at me. David had taken him from our cottage early this morning for impromptu beta training, and its toll can be seen in the dark circles under Lucas’ eyes.

“Good. He’s kept up with the demand for food well, and no one seems to be giving him a hard time,” I answer, smiling when Lucas bends down and kisses my forehead softly.

Ever since he moved into the cottage, our relationship has improved. I spent the last week teaching Lucas how to clean and cook, which helped us bond and become closer than we’ve ever been.

“He looks like a weight has lifted off his shoulders,” Lucas muses with a chuckle, and I can’t help but agree. After stating he plans to grab food and asking what I want, I watch Lucas make his way to the buffet table, stopping to talk with Devon for a moment before returning with two plates filled with food and a bottle of apple juice tucked under his chin.

“Devon asked if he could have the tracker removed tonight for a date with Ash,” he mutters as soon as the food has been put onto the table and the bottle is no longer under his chin. Reaching for a sausage, I think over this request. It’s been a week since the tracker was placed on Devon’s ankle, and in that week, he’d been compliant and well-behaved.

“Link Amelia and see what she says. If she says yes, you can get Ash to take it off him. I’m sure those two would appreciate this gesture,” I finally answer, taking a bite of the breakfast sausage and scrunching up my face. Honey garlic flavor—disgusting. Lucas chuckles as I push the sausages onto his plate, taking his hashbrowns instead and happily munching on those.

His eyes glaze over before his lips turn into a wide grin.

“Amelia said yes to the request,” he says with a wink, making me smile.

We managed to eat half our food when a frazzled-looking Marco came rushing into the dining hall, making a beeline to our table.

“Boardroom. Now,” he spits out, grabbing Lucas’ wrist and dragging him away.

Confused, I stand from the table, abandoning my meal. The urgency in Marco’s voice is something I haven’t heard in a long time. It sends shivers down my spine as I follow them up the stairs.

“Kaylee, you could have stayed and finished breakfast,” Marco calls over his shoulder as we reach the second-floor landing, making me roll my eyes.

“You took my mate without any explanation. There’s no way in hell I’m staying back to worry about what’s going on,” I retort.

By now, Lucas had managed to free himself from Marco’s grasp. He grabs my hand and brings me closer to him. Marco sighs reluctantly before leading the way to the boardroom, where the sounds of hushed, angry whispers reach my ears. Marco reaches the doors first and knocks.

The whispers end before a quick “enter” is called from the other side. Marco pushes the door open, stepping aside for Lucas and me to enter first. Inside, a flustered Amelia sits at a desk while an angry Kurt paces.

“Oh, good. You brought Kaylee, too,” Amelia sighs with relief, her tired eyes taking me in. Kurt stops pacing, his body turning to face us as anger stews around him.

“What happened this time?” I ask, unease settling inside me.

“David is on his way to explain, but long story short, our tech team managed to hack into Oak Fur’s internet service, and they found something disturbing,” Amelia answers, motioning for the three of us to join her at the desk.

It isn’t long until David comes bursting through the door, a laptop tucked under his arm and a scowl on his face. He marches to the desk, places his laptop on the surface, and fiddles with it briefly before turning on the large television. On it is David’s laptop screen, and what I see pisses me off.

“Ramos mated Marilyn?” I say through clenched teeth.

“Yes. Last week, he initiated her into the pack and marked her as his,” David answers, equally as pissed off. “But that’s not the worst part.”

His fingers move along the keyboard, bringing up what looks to be an active chat exchange.

“Ramos has been messaging Nathaniel Cross and two other alphas they are allied with,” David continues, a growl following his words.

Watching message after message pop up on the screen, my eyes widen in horror as I read.

“What are they talking about?” Marco asks, seeming confused by the coded messages.

“War,” Lucas answers, his body shaking as he pulls me tighter to his side. “They’re planning a war as we speak. Their target is us.”