Mihai was the first to react. He leaped from his spot at the front of the room, transforming as he did so. By the time he hit the ground, he had completely turned into his wolf form. With his keen eyesight, the entire room was illuminated in the darkness, but not for long. Some kind of magical gas was filling up the room, bringing tears to the wedding party’s eyes. Unfamiliar bodies burst through the doors, rushing over the pews like some sort of furry tidal wave. It was an ambush.

Why the hell had he not been able to smell it before?

Incense, he realized with a sinking feeling. They had covered up their scent before they had even entered. And now they were here, attacking his pack, who were helpless from the gas. He should have known this was going to happen. He should have pressed for them to postpone the wedding further. So many regrets floated through his head as he fought.

“Get everyone out of here!” he heard Pyt yell. A big furry body slammed into Mihai from the side, sending him sprawling. He landed on his side, growling as he rolled back onto his feet. The yellow eyes of a wolf glared back at him. A bandana covered its mouth, and a pair of specially modified goggles covered its eyes. So that explained how they were able to attack without the gas or incense affecting them. They were prepared.

How many wolves were in the ambush? It seemed like everywhere he turned, there were more bloodthirsty claws waiting to tear him apart.

It couldn’t be more than half his original pack, could it? Or had Phaeron found more wolves somewhere?

He smacked another face with a paw, pushing it away. He couldn’t stop coughing. He had to get to his group before it was too late. He wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he failed them. Another wolf leaped onto his back, ripping into the tender part between his shoulder blades. He howled in pain and managed to fling his attacker off him.

Who are they?

Above the pandemonium, he heard his friends in the midst of the battle. Pyt shouted out more orders to the elves under his command, and the Drelos guards followed his command.

Nathalie had her signature howl as she tried gaining control of the situation from the altar, trying to spur the remainder of the pack into some sort of order.

Mihai also howled as he fought off attackers trying to get to his pregnant mate. Sean was firing magical spells as fast as he could, but with the extra bulk of his belly, he was slower and less able to protect himself and his unborn baby, so he stood behind Pyt and his guards.

Even as he fought off those trying to reach Sean, Mihai watched the mayhem through the swirl of smoke, feeling helpless. Everything was happening too fast. There were too many of his friends being hurt and there were too many attackers to fight through to get to anyone else.

He had failed everyone.

No!

He roared, feeling a familiar sense of rage take over. He welcomed it as it fueled the fight inside him. He was a double alpha, a powerful one, and he was going to show these guys exactly what that meant.

Follow me! he found himself calling, broadcasting his thoughts to members of his pack.

He sprang into the fray nearest him, snarling and ripping into the attackers.

Mihai! Mary yelled. She appeared by his side. Mihai, what the fuck is happening?

Apparently, Mary’s pack members could communicate with him, too. He had broken through some barrier as he worked to protect his mate.

There would be time to deal with that later, though.

I don’t know what’s going on, Mihai said. His inner voice sounded strangely calm, even to himself.

What are we going to do? Mary asked. What do we do? She glanced back at Mihai, looking for guidance. We get everyone to a safe place, Mihai decided. This wedding is officially postponed.

He knew it was going to break Sean’s heart. He didn’t want to see his omega in pain, physical or otherwise. He just wanted Sean to be happy.

You find the rest of the pack, gather them together back in the mansion, he ordered. I’ll get to Sean. He flung off another attack. Persistent fucks, aren’t they?

Be careful, Mary warned.

Mihai ran towards the altar, fighting off other wolves on the way. He snarled at the attackers, puffing up his body to make himself look bigger. Sean was so close, yet so far.

A distinctly familiar scream tore through the chapel. It took Mihai a moment to realize that it was Sean. The attacks ceased suddenly as their enemies began retreating through the exits. Mihai roared and followed them. One of the invading wolves transformed into a human, and reached behind one of the temporary pews, grabbed something, and tossed it Mihai’s way with a smirk. Too late, Mihai realized that it contained a spell with more tear gas. The jar landed at his feet and he coughed and spluttered, halting just outside the tent.

Sean.

They had taken Sean.

And they were nowhere to be seen.

Mihai let out a howl that echoed through the valley and into the hills beyond.

He would find the wolves who had taken his mate.

And when he did, he would take Sean back, and then he would tear his omega’s kidnappers to pieces.

***

IT WAS FULLY DARK WHEN Sean woke up. He groaned and rolled his head to the side, trying to get his bearings. For some reason, he couldn’t move his arms and legs, and whatever it was around his wrists and ankles burned agonizingly.

Silver.

So did silver work against warlocks, too?

He hadn’t ever heard that.

Or was it because he was carrying a werewolf’s baby?

The world was slowly spinning as he gathered his thoughts. He didn’t recognize the area he was in, a courtyard behind an enormous building. It was filled with several of his allies, tied up just like him. Some of the vampires’ wolves stood to attention around them, keeping watch. But there was no sign of the head vampire.

We will never be free until Phaeron is taken out.

“You awake, Sean?”

Mary was at his side, tied up in the same way Sean was. She looked up at Sean with wide eyes. “Are you okay?” Sean asked.

She nodded. “I think so. But I...don’t think they’ll be.” She nodded with her head to her left, drawing Sean’s attention.

Several Drelos guards were kneeling in the dirt. A redheaded elf slumped next to Mary. He appeared to be unconscious. Sean seriously wondered if he were dead. Even though she was tied up, Mary was trying to protect the red-haired Drelos with her body, hissing at him to wake up, but it wasn’t going to be enough.

“He’s going to be all right,” Sean told her, although it sounded like a lie to himself.

Sean looked about, trying to locate Mihai. He was nowhere to be seen.

Be safe, Sean pleaded with his alpha in his mind.

“Why do all the wolves guarding us smell...odd?” Sean asked, trying to find the right words—it wasn’t a scent, exactly, but a feeling.

Mary sniffed the wind a bit and then paled. “They’re all lone wolves. Wolves without a pack.”

“How do you become a wolf without a pack?”

“Banishment,” Mary answered. “Or they didn’t want to be in a pack. But a lot of it is because they’re not nice people.”

“And now they’ve joined Phaeron and his vampires? Voluntarily?”

Mary sucked in a deep breath. “I hope not,” she whispered. Sean looked at her.

“Would it be that bad?” he asked.

She nodded, still in shock. “Worse.”

A wolf walked out from the building.

Aaron, the new alpha of this rag-tag pack.

“Come inside and pledge your fealty to my master.” Aaron kicked Sean in the side, but lightly, a move designed to humiliate him and make him move at the same time rather than actually hurt him.

He wrapped his hands around his belly protectively. He would do anything to protect his baby.

Sean snarled at Aaron. “He’ll have to put one of his dog tags on me if he expects me to obey him. I won’t do it on my own. And I will fight him with every bit of magic in my body.”

Aaron laughed aloud. “Those silver chains binding you will keep you from using any of your magic. As soon as he snaps those tags on you, you will be his forever.”

Sean was shaking with rage but didn’t bother to answer. Nothing he could say would get through to someone like Aaron.

Aaron led them inside Phaeron’s palace. Mary snarled when Aaron forced them to stand, but Sean took her hand and squeezed. As they walked, Sean said, “Mihai will come get us. It will be okay. You know that.”

Mary subsided, but she was shaking when they made their way into the long throne room.

Phaeron walked up and down the line of prisoners, finally stopping in front of Sean. He drew a long breath and frowned. “Ah. The already-pregnant omega.”

“I told you I would bring you a treasure you would value,” Aaron said.

Phaeron’s hand shot out and he pointed at his new alpha. “Do not speak to me of treasures. Half my wolves are gone.”

Aaron hung his head. “But I brought you more,” he whined.

“Lone wolves with no sense of order,” Phaeron sneered. “I’m so glad everyone could join us today,” Phaeron continued, raising his voice so everyone could hear. “You should feel honored. We’re in the presence of greatness. Sean is a warlock omega, and he is pregnant. He’s carrying a hybrid baby.

“He’s carrying the first child in my army of warlock omega hybrids.”

The other wolves howled in agreement.

“After the Omega has this litter, can I still breed him?” Aaron asked eagerly. Sean shuddered at the thought. Please let Mihai come soon.

Phaeron flicked his long fingers into the air. “As long as someone does, it’s of no concern to me who does the deed.”

At that moment, sounds of battle outside the room reached them.