Aaron could never understand why Mihai didn’t rise to the occasion as pack alpha, especially in Phaeron’s presence. He’d worked so hard and so long his entire life to move up the ranks in his pack, for the glory of the pack, and Mihai had just been handed the title of alpha from his father. Throw in his sniveling sister being his second, and the nepotism made his stomach churn.

He hadn’t been happy with their constant roaming and inability to find omega warlocks—especially when their king had commanded them to do so. He had no doubt that Mihai had been dragging his feet, which was especially bad, considering that it made their pack look weak and disorganized in front of Phaeron.

He wasn’t the only one who had been unhappy. There were plenty of wolves within their pack who embraced their status as Phaeron’s warriors. They wanted to succeed so that they could rise in favor in Phaeron’s eyes.

And that damn Mihai had been in the way. Until now.

Aaron didn’t know how he had gotten so lucky that night in the Eastern Hills when Mihai met that omega warlock. After he had beaten Nathalie so decisively—and Mihai had stepped in and stopped their fight, but that was for another time—he was preening and proud and wanted to gloat in front of Mihai.

And saw him kiss a man that smelled so strongly of omega. If Phaeron hadn’t called them back to the mountains, he would have found a way to give their king a message, because he had never seen anything so blatant and traitorous as Mihai letting the omega go.

He’d been glad for the opportunity to tell Phaeron just what his alpha had done.

And now, he was acting alpha in place of Mihai. He still had to figure out what to do with Nathalie and the other werewolves that were still loyal to Mihai, but he’d deal with that later, once he’d proven himself as alpha.

Of course, his reconnaissance mission which he had his most loyal wolves go on, to see what Mihai was doing in Temavo, had gone so very wrong. Through the dog tags, Phaeron was able to tell that they had died or were gravely injured. Aaron wasn’t going to ever see those wolves again.

How could an alpha put an omega warlock above his own kind? How could he have killed his own people?

King Phaeron, to his credit, was taking it all in stride. The ruler was sitting on his throne, drumming his fingers on the armrests. The king looked contemplative, considering his options with the news that the contingent of wolves Aaron had sent were not coming back.

Aaron and the alpha warlock Lukas knelt in front of the king, awaiting his orders. It was such an honor for Aaron to be at his ruler’s feet. Listening to orders.

Too bad the news wasn’t better.

“The omega warlock and the double alpha have mated,” Phaeron murmured. “I can feel it in my link to your wolves that failed me.”

“They didn’t...” Aaron started, but the vampire waved his protest away.

“Hush, I’m not accusing you of betrayal. Not the same kind of betrayal as that alpha did.” The king sounded bitter as he said that. Enough to make Aaron wince. “But there is an interesting development. They’re already playing into my hands, because I wanted a werewolf/warlock hybrid.”

Jealousy blossomed in Aaron’s chest. Because no matter how badly Mihai had betrayed them, he was still playing an important role in Phaeron’s plans.

“I want you to bring both of them back here,” Phaeron said.

“I don’t know if I can force Mihai to come with us, my lord,” Aaron admitted from his kneeling position on the ground, his eyes downcast and his voice respectful.

“Not to worry.” Phaeron waved his fingers dismissively as he stared off into the middle distance. “Mihai is only of peripheral concern. Bring me the omega, and the alpha will follow.” He glanced down at Aaron, who immediately cast his eyes to the ground, careful not to meet his master’s eyes—he had seen once what Phaeron had done to a wolf who stared at him too boldly.

Aaron wanted to keep his internal organs inside his body.

“Bring me the omega, and you may breed him as well,” Phaeron promised. “As often as you like, until he is of no more use in bearing children. And then you may do with him as you like.”

Aaron let his gaze travel as far as his master’s mouth. Only when he had assessed Phaeron’s expression did he match it, a cruel smile spreading across his face.

“Yes, my lord. With pleasure.”

Phaeron dropped his hand to the top of Aaron’s head and stroked his new alpha’s hair. “So I hope, my pet. So I hope.”