Andrew slowly opened his door and found his apartment littered with uninvited guests. He shook his head, closed and locked his door, and cautiously moved deeper into his apartment. He didn’t know what to expect from this unpredictable bunch, but he sensed that whatever this was, it wasn’t good.

Fuck, I need a drink.

Andrew stalked to his bar, the unnerving silence and questioning stares from his guests ignored. He dropped his things on the floor by his couch and continued to his bar, mentally preparing for whatever intrusive bullshit he was about to endure. Damn! He could feel the heated stares from his brothers bearing into him as he moved, especially from his second, which made him smirk. Yeah, I’m definitely going to need that drink.

Consequently, when he got a good look at the top of his bar his smile evaporated from his face. Apparently, his brothers had left him dry–again.

Mother fucker, he growled in his mind then turned slightly and narrowed his eyes on a bunch of stoic faces.

The bottle of 1738 that he typically stashed behind his bar was empty, which was to be expected. However, so were the rest of the bottles he had replenished from their last unwanted visit. Wolves didn’t consume alcohol with the intent on getting plastered. They would have to drink a case of the strongest alcohol for that to happen. No, they drank the harsh and bitter liquid for one reason. It was a way to help them relax. It settled their minds and bodies, allowing them to tame the wild fuming rage within them, even if it was for a little while.

Andrew, resisting the urge to beat the shit out of his brothers, reached around to another hidden compartment behind his bar and brought out a decanter filled with Dalmore, a fifty-year-old scotch whiskey, which had been a gift from one of his clients. He poured himself a glass and took it down straight. He then noticed that there were a few ice cubes left in the ice bowl on the bar and dropped a few cubes into his glass before he poured himself another drink. This time, he took a slow sip, savoring the taste on his tongue. He smiled to himself as the rush of warmth from the alcohol flowed through his body. Regrettably, he couldn’t savor his euphoria. He had to deal with the bastards behind him.

“Please tell me you’re here for a good reason. Otherwise, I’m out. I have shit to do,” he said to no one in particular before turning around, drink in hand and finally acknowledging his guests. All of his brothers, besides Edgar, were scattered all over his living room. Some sitting on the couch and recliner while others had pulled the chairs from his dining room table into the living room. Everyone had their chairs somewhat circling one man: Rinic.

“Have a seat,” ordered the older man. His tired eyes looked into Andrew’s resentful ones without blinking. Rinic leaned back into the loveseat and waited for Andrew to make the next move.

After a few beats, Andrew reluctantly moved toward the couch and sat next to Cedric and across from Rinic.

“I take it you haven’t been keeping your distance from the girl?” Rinic asked Andrew as soon as he was seated.

Andrew sighed in frustration before he replied, “You know I haven’t. And you also know that I don’t plan to either. So, don’t waste my time asking me questions you already know the answers to. Just cut the bullshit and tell me why you’re here and why you needed to bring backup with you?”

To Rinic’s credit, he kept his eyes glued on Andrew, despite the pinched expression on his face. He had been preparing himself for this confrontation for a couple of days now. This wasn’t going to be easy, and Andrew was going to give him shit the whole time. But it was expected. Rinic knew and understood his Alpha better than most. Still, it hadn’t been easy to do. Andrew was an enigma, complicated, mysterious, and dark. Nevertheless, Rinic was determined to help mold and prepare this young pup into a fierce leader and that meant studying everything, from the way he walked, moved, and killed to the way he looked at life and lived it. He had learned what angered the man, how to test him, and how to push. He also knew when no matter what he said to Andrew, when his mind was set on something, there was no changing him. In other words, Rinic knew when to pick his battles and when to let it go.

Andrew had been right about one thing. His brothers were here as backup. Rinic wasn’t sure how Andrew would respond to what he had to tell him. He believed that he needed the most important and influential people around Andrew when he told him what could potentially save his life and end it at the same time.

After Rinic gathered his thoughts together while also keeping some thoughts away from his fearless leader, he began.

“Cedric has told me some of the things that you have gone through with this woman—”

“Nyla. Her name is Nyla,” Andrew rebuked coldly.

Rinic, taken aback by the tone in Andrew’s voice, straightened his back and nodded. “Yes, Nyla. Despite hearing this from Cedric, I’d rather hear it from you. It will help me put everything into perspective.”

Andrew fought the urge to explode. He really didn’t have time for this shit. He had some place to be. Andrew leaned back and pulled out his phone to place it on the table in front of him. He glanced at the screen before putting it down and noticed that a text had come in from Nyla. He opened the text message quickly and read it. Nyla had texted that she had to stop at Dee Dee’s apartment before she headed home. There had been a major accident on the highway and she needed to let the traffic die down a bit before she got back on the road.

Andrew fired back a reply that he understood and told her to call him the minute she was on her way home. He asked about Se’Nya and waited for a reply, but it didn’t come right away.

“AP!”

Andrew looked up from his phone and looked at Cedric.

“Rinic needs this from you. Tell him about your woman.”

Frustration building, Andrew blew out a forced breath, placed his phone down on the table in front of him and laced his fingers. He regarded the nobleman, one of the oldest and wisest men in the pack. Regardless of his personal feelings on Rinic’s usefulness and useless rhetoric, Andrew did respect the man. He knew, though, that there was more at stake than the frustration he would undoubtedly feel listening to the man’s bullshit. He wanted to know about Nyla and from what Andrew knew about the man, he wouldn’t be in his apartment with his brothers by his side, if he didn’t have the answers he wanted.

So, Andrew told him everything that had happened to him the moment he entered Rock’s diner. By the time he was done explaining what had happened to him the first day he saw Nyla and how he felt when he saw Darrius’ arm around her, Rinic stood and started pacing aimlessly in front of him. That immediately put Andrew on guard. Throughout his account of everything that had happened since he had met Nyla, Rinic was uncharacteristically quiet. That wasn’t like him. Rinic always had something to say and would cut in with his opinions even when he hadn’t been asked. But now, at this moment when Andrew was expecting a complete lecture on their family history and tradition, Rinic remained quiet.

Cedric and Andrew met each other’s perplexed expression and shrugged. Cedric, reading Andrew’s impatience, chided bluntly, “Out with it, old man. What’s going on?”

Rinic, who looked startled as if he had forgotten where he was, stopped his excessive pacing and regarded Andrew. He shuffled closer to him, his eyes wide as saucers and placed his hand on his shoulder. “Have you mated with this woman yet?” he asked in a rushed tone.

Andrew grudgingly pushed Rinic’s hand off his shoulder and stood. “Seriously, you’re asking me that shit?”

Rinic nodded, ignoring Andrew’s sudden rage, “Yes, I am. It’s important, Andrew.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not answering that fucking question,” Andrew bit back, hovering menacingly over Rinic.

Cedric stood as well and faced off with Andrew.

“No, he didn’t claim her yet,” Cedric told Rinic, leaning on his connection with Andrew. “But he wants to, though.”

“Get the fuck out of my head, Cedric.” Andrew reeled on his second.

“Then stop leading with your arrogance for one second and hear the man out.”

“Andrew, listen,” Rinic warned, stepping in between the two friends. He considered Andrew closely, his anxiety increasing as each second ticked by. “You have to be careful with this one…extremely careful. Never in my days have I thought this would happen in my lifetime.” He shook his head then asked, “You say she has an offspring?”

“Yes, a daughter. Why?”

Rinic scrubbed his chin absently in his thoughts. “My goodness, this is interesting.”

“Rinic?” Andrew called to him, hinting that he needed to start explaining something, but Rinic held his tongue.

He looked around the room at each of the men present. Every man here had Andrew’s confidence and trust. They could be trusted to keep their mouths shut, especially when it had to do with their alpha. Rinic also knew that this bunch would never do anything to cross each other. Yes, they fought a lot and argued, but whenever they needed each other, they were there no matter what.

Rinic moved quickly to Andrew’s bar, uncorked the decanter of his expensive scotch whiskey and poured two fingers worth into a glass. He took it down quickly and looked at Andrew.

“It’s important that you listen to me and listen carefully. If you don’t do exactly what I say, things could end pretty badly for all of us.”

Andrew felt the severity of his words and sat down. He rested his elbows on his thighs and looked up at the man who’d been his mentor and teacher since he was born.

“Okay, tell me.”

Rinic poured more scotch into his glass, and as he walked wearily back to his seat, he began to explain the fate of Andrew and their pack.

“This woman is your mate, Andrew; that goes without saying. What you feel when she’s around is just the beginning. You are going to find it harder and harder to resist her. In fact, it’s going to be damn near impossible at some point and hopefully, you’ll be far away from her when that happens.”

“Why? Why would I keep my distance? Old man, you’ve been speaking about this mate of mine like she was the second coming, for years. And now, you’re telling me to stay away from her? That doesn’t make sense.” Andrew shook his head, stood with his drink in his hand, and walked away from the living room to his balcony door. He peered out into the brilliant bluish-purple sky, sipping his drink, watching the sun slowly approach the horizon in the distance.

“Andrew, just listen,” Rinic insisted and waited until Andrew looked over his shoulder at him before he continued. “For centuries, our kind has always found their mates. Some were great unions…love connections, and others were not. But still, there’s someone out there for all of us.” Rinic scooted up from his sitting position and touched his fingertips together in a praying-like gesture. “Then there are cases, very rare cases, where the mate of an Alpha could be far deadlier to him than his worst enemy.” Rinic paused after that admission just to make sure he had Andrew’s attention before he continued.

“There is a rare bloodline within our species that is stronger than you could ever imagine. This bloodline is meant to fuse with the strongest of our kind. It’s embedded in this person to find their mate, sort of like a sixth sense and when they do, an impenetrable bond is forged. Again, this doesn’t happen very often and only females carry this trait.” Rinic’s eyes darted from each hard face in front of him.

“As you all well know, our pack consists of some of the strongest bloodlines of our kind. Other packs have tried to tear us down or take what we have and they’ve always failed. We are known to be the bravest, toughest, and strongest. On the other hand, if someone…let’s say your bloodline, Andrew, would ever mate with this rare species, things could get very interesting.”

Andrew turned from the view outside his balcony and faced Rinic. “Hold on. You said species. Are you sitting here indirectly implying that Nyla isn’t human?”

“Yes and no.”

“Come on, Rinic," Cedric said, butting in. "You’re not making any sense.”

“Let me explain what I mean,” Rinic said, his eyes falling to Cedric then back at Andrew. “Nyla is what you would call a hybrid. She’s part human and part wolf. Hybrids are very rare and special. They are descendants from wolves with similar characteristics of a wolf, but with limitations. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to explain to you the phenomenon behind how hybrids came to be—”

“Thank you,” mumbled Stevie under his breath and a couple of the men around him snickered.

Rinic ignored them and continued. “But…” He held up a finger, silencing everyone. “Let me give you just a little bit of history.” He heard groans float throughout the room, but he pressed on. “Hybrids will never fully shift into a wolf, like we do. As I mentioned, from what I was able to gather from my limited resources, hybrids have some characteristics of a wolf such as unbelievable strength, speed, the ability to heal, and enhanced senses et cetera. Their eye color changes like the rest of us, and their nails extend and canines draw down from their mouths, but that’s the extent of their shift. They could be capable of more, but since they are so rare, we just don’t know for sure what to expect.

“Hybrids are trained up by their families, just like we are. They learn at an early age what they are so that they know exactly how to handle their bodies’ changes. Nyla’s situation is different. Something happened in her past that caused her to separate from her family, which is the reason why she has no clue who or what she is. Andrew, correct me if I’m wrong, but you did say that she has no memory of her parents, correct?”

“Something like that.”

“Yes, I’m not surprised. Because she grew up on her own without the protection and guidance of her family, she’s clueless about her true identity. It’s also the reason why she’s not safe. There are predators out there that purposefully seek out hybrids. They’re like precious gems to them to be used to take down their enemies. And once a lost or inexperienced hybrid finds his or her mate, life becomes dangerous for both of them.”

“How does life become dangerous for them?” Winston asked him.

“Hybrids only mate with alphas. It would never be someone that wasn’t a leader of a pack or someone weak-minded. And it won’t be any sort of alpha that captures their attention. They are attracted to the strongest and overtly dominant alphas. The timeline of transition is very unpredictable too. For that reason, once she became of age, she would have to be watched closely until she finally starts to transition.”

“When is that? When does a hybrid female shift or transition as you call it?” Andrew asked as he walked back to the couch and sat down.

“Anywhere between the ages of twenty-three and twenty-six. If they find a mate they have a deep connection with, it could be sooner than that.”

“How old is your girl, AP?” Brody asked.

Andrew looked at his drink and then said, before he brought the glass to his lips, “Twenty-five. She’ll turn twenty-six in four months.”

“Damn,” Brody mumbled to himself and shook his head.

Andrew grunted his reply before he leaned back, slouched, and closed his eyes. He did his best to absorb what Rinic had said so far. He heard a few of his brothers murmuring around him, some describing how fucked up they thought the situation was. And, he had to agree with them. This situation was every bit fucked up.

He felt Cedric’s eyes fall to him before he said to Rinic, “Okay, let’s get back to this finding a mate thing and why it’s so dangerous for them to be together. So, is Nyla, Andrew’s soul mate or not? You make it seem as if a hybrid has a pick of the alpha litter. They can choose who they mate with, and when they pick the poor schmuck then that’s it for him. He’s pretty much fucked. Is that what you’re implying here?”

Andrew opened his eyes and looked at Rinic. Rinic inhaled audibly and took a sip of his drink, more so to wet his dry mouth than anything else.

“Cedric, have you ever had the pleasure of being in love? Have any of you?” He looked around the room and finally brought his eyes to Andrew. He continued, “When you fall for someone, it’s one of the most profound feelings that you will ever experience in your life. It will control you, consume you, overwhelm you, and make you lose your mind. But you wouldn’t have it any other way. You’ll find yourself constantly thinking about them, wanting them, and needing them every second of every day. There’s nothing or no one you would ever want more than that one person that takes your breath away.” Rinic met a few skeptical eyes around the room before he came back to Andrew. “I know it sounds unbelievable to some, but for those who have felt what love is, you know what I’m talking about. So, think of that feeling that you felt before or think about what I have just described and multiply that by ten. That’s what happens when a hybrid finds their mates. It’s what Andrew more than likely felt the day he met Nyla.”

“You make it seem like I had zero control when I met her and that’s not the case,” Andrew clarified quickly.

Rinic sighed. “When you’re in love, do you think you have control of your emotions and what you feel, what you do, or how you react to the person you’re in love with?”

“Yes, I do,” Andrew answered right away.

“Then, you really haven’t been in love.”

Andrew’s brows sunk deeper into his forehead, his eyes narrowing on Rinic as memories of a love lost flooded his heart. “No, you’re wrong about that. I have been in love before. I know what it feels like and what it does to you. It weakens you. It makes you do crazy things…things that you wouldn’t normally do. Your heart, soul, and mind are engulfed in deep happiness with promises of happily ever after. But you and I both know the bitter reality of falling in love. So, don’t talk to me as if I’ve never forgotten myself because of a woman. I know all too well what it means and what will happen if I let myself go. Well, hear me when I say I will not be fooled again. Do I care about Nyla? Yes, very deeply. However, I refuse to lose myself in false, merciless security. Never again.”

When Andrew blew out an agitated sigh after his anti-love tirade, he could tell that Rinic wanted to counter his declaration. His mouth opened and shut without a word being spoken. Rinic’s silence told Andrew that the man understood what he’d been through. Andrew wasn’t foreign to falling in love. He knew what it felt like to love someone more than himself. He knew what it felt like to lose that love. Most importantly, Andrew knew that everything he just said was bullshit. Andrew had lost all control with Nyla. He just didn’t want to admit it. He was head over heels, ridiculously in love, and it was nothing like he had ever felt before. It was written all over his face when he heard Nyla’s name. It was in his eyes when his mind drifted to her. Anyone around him could see it. Even now, as Andrew sat before his brothers, he knew they all could feel exactly what he was feeling. The question now was, what was he going to do about it?

“Listen, I know you have loved and lost, Andrew, so that’s not what I’m saying,” Rinic told his leader, letting him know he had read his thoughts.

“No, I get what you’re saying,” Andrew interrupted. “It’s the same thing Cedric said a few minutes ago. I’m fucked. Nyla has tricked me into falling for her and I have no control over my brain or my heart. I have no choice either so I should just go with the flow, right? Is that what you’re telling me?”

Andrew couldn’t help the bitterness that seeped through his voice. It was the thought of him not being in control and at the mercy of someone else that instantly angered him. He had never allowed something or someone to control him. Of course, when he was younger he had been at the mercy of his inexperience, but that typically happened to men like him.

Andrew was a leader that was born to lead with strength and power flowing in every part of his body. He had the IQ very few possessed as well as a skill set that would marvel the best strategic thinker in the military or in the world. This was his destiny. Leading this pack, the Westside Shadows. It was his calling and no one would take that from him. So, to hear that he had no choice when it came to Nyla was currently blinding him to everything he felt for the woman.

“Andrew,” Rinic called, and before Andrew’s eyes fell on the nobleman, he took another sip of his drink in an effort to calm down. “When I say you have no choice in how you feel about Nyla, it’s not what you think. She didn’t cast a spell on you, making you love her or want her. You took one look at her and you felt something so intense you almost lost all control; this is coming from your own words. For humans, that’s love at first sight. Some people believe that if the second they lay eyes on someone that stops their heart and captures them, it is a beautiful and magical thing to experience. That’s what happened to you. You took one look at Nyla and you simply knew. And believe me, the feeling wasn’t one-sided. She felt the same as you did that day. She may not have fully understood what had happened to her, but her heart knew, her mind knew, and her soul.”

Rinic paused to gather just the right words he needed to get through to Andrew.

“Her soul could…” Rinic searched his mind for the right words then said confidently, “It could feel you were someone good; someone who would protect her and love her to the ends of the earth. Does that make sense to you? She trusted you. Her brain probably couldn’t fathom that part, but she felt in her heart that she could trust you. If you think about it, it could take the average person months or years to figure out someone wasn’t right for them. That a person wasn’t crazy or a lunatic? A person can’t know for certain with just their first encounter, so they stick around, getting to know the person in hopes that they have found their soul mate. All those things an average person needs to discover, her soul, her bloodline surmised in a matter of minutes. As much as your soul had chosen Nyla, her soul had chosen you as well.”

Andrew leaned forward and rested his elbows on his thighs. He looked over at Cedric and stayed there. Cedric had always been his voice of reason. Any time he started to spiral out of control, Cedric was there for him. When he lost his wife and darkness threatened to choke him to death, Cedric was there. Andrew needed him now—his counsel, his opinions, and most of all, his friendship.

Cedric could see the battle ensuing inside his brother and he didn’t like it. Andrew had been through a lot with Mikaliah and he didn’t want to see that happen to him again. He vowed he would never let him feel that kind of pain again in his life, and as he watched Andrew, he seemed to have failed.

“Rinic, you mentioned that he was destined to be with this woman,” Cedric began, bringing his eyes to the wise man. “But you also implied that when she has found her mate things can get dangerous. And you’ve also warned AP to stay away from her. Why? And why did you ask if he had claimed her yet?”

“As I said before, she has no clue who or what she is. When her transition begins, she’s going to be drawn to him. Her desires for him will not be anything she has ever experienced. The need to be with him will be so overwhelming, she’ll do whatever it takes to get near him. When that happens, it will mean she’s close. Her body will send off pheromones that Andrew will find it impossible to resist her. No matter how strong he is and how in control of his emotions he thinks he is, he will not be able to refrain from giving in to his desires to claim her.”

Andrew frowned at that bit of news and regarded Rinic cynically. “Rinic, without getting into specifics, I’ve felt the need to claim her multiple times and not once did I succumb to those desires. Who’s to say that I’m not strong enough to resist her? If you tell me what the signs are I won’t fall victim. But you have to prepare me for what’s to come. Tell me how long the transition will last? What are all of the signs that I need to look for?”

“Andrew, it’s not that simple,” Rinic started, but Andrew cut him off.

“Yes, it is. It’s as simple as me knowing what to expect and preparing accordingly. Look, I’m not going to deny that I am wide open for this woman. Nyla means more to me than breathing. But I will not let anyone control me. That’s just not an option. If that shit happens, then I shouldn’t be in charge of this pack and Cedric and I might as well settle it like beasts now and get it over with.”

Cedric met Andrew’s predatory expression and sighed. He looked over at Rinic and asked, “What will happen if this fucking idiot claims Nyla?”

“Many things can happen. And I’m not saying that he can’t claim her. He has to, it’s in his nature to dominate the strongest female of our kind. And when Nyla completes her transition, she will be that strong mate for Andrew.” Rinic looked at Andrew. “Let me explain how things should have gone for this young woman. If she was still with her family, they would have coaxed her through her transformation to completion, teaching her what to expect at an early age. As she grew into an adult, she would have learned everything she needed to know about her heritage. She would have been trained on how to survive and how to protect herself very early in life. They would have taught her techniques to control her strength after she’d completed her shift. After her transformation is complete, her temper will be out of control. It would be just like what you went through, Andrew, the moment you shifted for the first time. It could be painful, despite the fact that she doesn’t shift like us. Her body still changes in some way. And all of this unsullied power running through her veins will be consuming to her. Again, she would have been groomed and taught on how to channel this energy if she had grown up with her family.

“Once her wolf side has fully awakened inside her, then she would be ready to mate. The alpha that mates with a full-strength hybrid will become one of the strongest alphas this world has ever seen. I say one of the most because, although hybrids are rare, they still exist. There are alphas still living on this earth that have mated with a hybrid and lived to tell the story. The power an alpha will receive from this union will be unbelievable. The bond that is formed from this union will be impenetrable and forever. The offspring that are created become a new breed with insurmountable strength and skills. This family would be linked together in ways I can’t even explain. This is how things are supposed to go if a hybrid was never separated from her family.”

Rinic took the last of his scotch whiskey before placing his glass on the table in front of him. Rinic, still leaning forward, rested his arms on his thighs and steepled his fingers. “Unfortunately, for Nyla, that’s not in her future. During her transition, Andrew, she will be the strongest she has ever been, but she will also be the most vulnerable. Because she wasn’t groomed and educated, she won’t know or understand what is happening to her. She could be dangerous not only to herself but to others around her.

“Now, mating is a tricky thing for a hybrid. There are two situations in which you are able to claim her. Either one you choose, as I’ve said, you will become the strongest you’ve ever felt in your life. Andrew, you are already one of the most powerful Alpha’s known to this side of the world. The power that would possess will be the most you have ever felt in your life. It will be glorifying to you. For others, that power could be maddening, but because of your strength, you’ll be able to handle it. However, before you get to full strength you will become the weakest you’ve ever felt too. This is when it becomes dangerous for you and why it’s crucial you claim her at the right time.”

Rinic took a deep breath and looked around the room. All eyes were on him, anticipation and preparedness evident on everyone’s face. Good, Rinic said to himself. He was glad he had Andrew’s brothers here. They all needed to hear this.

“If you claim her before her transition, nothing happens right away. But when she begins to shift, you cannot be far from her. And she must be protected throughout this transformation. You both will be vulnerable during this stage. If someone, say an enemy of yours, caught wind that you mated with someone and chose to attack her, they could kill her easily and you will lose your mind and become the weakest you’ve ever felt. That will open you up to any of our enemies to take over this family and kill you.” Rinic looked at Andrew to make sure what he had said sunk into the fearless leader. Once he saw understanding in his eyes, Rinic continued.

“If you claim her after she has fully transitioned, you two will become as one immediately. The risk of someone killing her to get to you will not be a concern. She would be at full strength so she would be able to protect herself. The only issue would be you two working together. Understand, Andrew, that when you mate with a hybrid, you two will be bound together forever. She will make you stronger. As your mate, she will complement you in every way. She calms you already, Elese has said it to be true, imagine what she would do at your heightened state? You and she will not be able to function without each other. You have to work together in order to become stronger together. If you don’t learn how to work together, it will also weaken you. This is why I stress the importance of you two learning how to work as one. It’s critical that you do for your own survival. Also, she will not be able to leave your side until she learns what she needs to know in order to survive. But let me tell you, the moment you two are clicking on all cylinders…” Rinic’s face erupted into a rare smile. “My goodness, you two would become a force to be reckoned with, hands down. The bullseye on your back would probably still exist, but it wouldn’t be any different than what it is now.”

Rinic paused and spread his arms in front of himself as if his words were on display. “Do you see the benefits of you waiting? If you wait, it will make both of you and this pack safe from enemies. And think about this. Someone has taken Nyla from her family. That we know for sure. So, this person is just waiting in the shadow for some clueless wolf to claim her. This is what I need you to think about. There is someone out there waiting for you to claim Nyla. It’s very possible that they are waiting for the moment you become too weak to defend yourself. That’s when they will attack you and this pack.”

Silence enveloped the room after that. Everyone sat there deep in thought, each digesting Rinic's words in their own way. But it was Deacon who broke the quiet.

“What will happen if AP claims Nyla during her transition? Like if she had already started shifting or something.”

All eyes zeroed in on Rinic, waiting for the man to speak. Consequently, he didn’t right away. He had no clue how to answer that question. He had been trying to find the answer to that very question for days now. It had been the reason why he hadn’t come forward with what he knew about Nyla sooner. Hell, the only reason why he was here was at the insistence of Cedric. If he had any say in the decision, he would have waited until he had all of the answers to his questions before coming to Andrew with what he had.

Rinic sighed, knowing that his silence was causing everyone to become even more on edge, especially Andrew. Rinic looked over at Deacon and shook his head. “I don’t know what will happen and it seems that I'm not the only one. I have asked around, hoping that someone had full knowledge of hybrids and their mating process and unfortunately no one knows for sure what will happen. Some say nothing and others say the hybrid would die from the venom of the bite. We just don’t know. This is why I only presented two options.” Rinic addressed Andrew directly. “Do you see why I caution you? You have to be smart about this—”

“And wait to claim her,” Andrew finished.

Rinic nodded. “Yes. Wait to claim her.”

“But as I sit around and wait, she’s in jeopardy of being killed. Am I right? I mean, we don’t know when she’s going to shift. You can’t tell me when it’s supposed to happen. It could be today, it could be tomorrow or months or years from now. We don’t know. But when she does, she’ll be susceptible to anyone getting to her and harming her.”

Rinic nodded solemnly. “Yes, you are correct. But that’s a risk you need to take. Let me stress to you, Andrew, that during her shift it will be nearly impossible for you to resist her. And you cannot claim her during her transition. There are just too many uncertainties that I haven’t had the chance to explore.”

“Rinic, I don’t give two shits what you didn’t explore. It doesn’t matter if I claim her before, during, or after she shifts. I’m not leaving her for the fucking wolves. She has a daughter. If someone kills Nyla, Se’Nya would be all alone or she could be in jeopardy as well.”

Rinic sighed. “I’m not saying leave her vulnerable, but you just can’t be involved. You already have your brothers watching her back and her daughter. Let them continue to do their jobs,” Rinic countered, but Andrew's head was already shaking.

“No way am I going to just sit idly by or hide away somewhere like a coward while my brothers protect what belongs to me. What you seem to not understand is that Nyla is already bonded to me. I don’t need to claim her to know if something were to happen to her I would not only lose it, but I would rain fire and brimstone on anyone that laid a hand on her. Believe me, no one would survive and no one on this earth would be able to stop me. So, this bullshit-ass plan of yours to keep me away from her needs re-evaluated and now. I will not leave her side. That shit will not happen.”

Andrew rested his monstrous gaze on each and every one sitting in his living room. He wanted them to know just how serious he was with his declaration. When he brought his eyes back to Rinic, his blood was boiling in his veins. His jaw muscles twitched uncontrollably, his body stiff as a board. The beast in him began to stir, his eyes evident of that fact as they began to turn to their natural color. The rage in him was threatening to suffocate everyone in this room if someone didn’t calm him down.

Rinic, seeing the transformation in his Alpha, took a deep breath and tried to relax his own self. Andrew was a powder keg waiting for something or someone to light his fuse, which was why he hadn’t come here alone. However, the look in his eyes, the downright violent storm brewing in Andrew was enough for him to realize he needed to do exactly what his Alpha had asked of him.

“All right, let’s do just that.” Rinic looked at Stevie. “Have you been able to locate her family or the woman she said was her grandmother?”

All eyes went to Stevie, who had been uncharacteristically quiet during this whole time. Stevie cleared his throat and looked at his leader. “I have. The woman was actually Nyla’s paternal grandmother. She was killed during a home invasion, but the case was never solved. It stinks of something else, but I haven’t found any proof of that fact. I’m also looking for other relatives of Nyla’s grandmother to see if Nyla has any other living relatives out here. But so far, anyone I find has either died suspiciously or has disappeared without a trace.”

“It sounds like someone was cleaning house,” Brody cut in.

Everyone nodded and Stevie added, “Yeah. Apparently, whoever wants Nyla was thorough. They have potentially killed off anyone associated with the Montgomery family.”

More mumbles of affirmation rang throughout the room then Cedric suddenly straightened as Stevie’s words hit a cord.

“Son of a bitch!” Cedric yelled and then shook his head in frustration.

“What is it?” Andrew queried, feeling bad vibes coming from his second.

Cedric shook his head, still deep in thought. “I’m losing it. That’s what.”

“What do you have?” Andrew asked him, coaching him along.

“I don’t know. Maybe nothing. But maybe…” he trailed off and looked at his brothers. “I caught this case a few days ago that is currently becoming a pain in my ass. Do you remember Demond and Mary Hendricks? They were members of some pack that occupied the lower southwest side of the city.”

Andrew shook his head in the negative then paused. “Wait, you’re talking about the one my father knew? He was a tall, dark skin guy that popped up on the reservation years ago?”

Cedric nodded. “Yup, that’s the one. It was close to ten years ago. He was the one who told your father about the hit your sister helped orchestrate against you. She started running with some blood pack down south somewhere.”

Andrew nodded and sat up. “Yeah, I remember. He was part of one of the packs that were obliterated by some rogue Alpha. But Demond hadn’t been seen since that day he came to my father. If my memory serves me correctly, he had managed to escape the slaughter of his own pack with his family. After he told us about the plot, my father offered protection for him, but as I recall he refused.”

“Right, but your father still put bodies on him and protected him from the shadows for as long as he could until Demond and his family went underground.”

“Yeah, okay, that I remember now. My father had sent out a search party for him too and couldn’t find him.”

Cedric’s expression changed solemnly. “Yeah, well I found him.”

Cedric went on to tell the group about the case and the crime scene he had witnessed. As he spoke, he could feel the apprehension, anxiousness, and rage from his brothers. He also told them about the big beast he arrested, conveniently keeping Theresa out of it. There was no way he was telling Andrew about her, at least not yet. The effects of seeing her again after all these years were still fresh in his mind. Andrew would see right through any denial on his tongue.

“And you’re sure that this family was murdered by the same blood pack that Delilah ran with?” Rinic asked after Cedric was done getting everyone up to speed on his case.

Cedric shrugged. “Not one hundred percent, no. But it fits. This family wasn’t just killed, they were tortured for a purpose. Blood was everywhere. It was a complete destruction of this family, Rinic. Demond was especially chosen and for a reason. And I know what you’re thinking. It could have been a revenge killing for snitching all those years ago. I’m not disregarding that fact either. I believe it was more to it than just revenge.”

“What is the significance to Nyla?” Andrew asked him.

Cedric held Andrew's gaze for a few agonizing seconds before he replied, “The older woman’s maiden name was Montgomery.”

No one replied for a long time.

Everyone looked around at each other, their thoughts eerily quiet. Andrew couldn’t breathe. Fear for the first time in a very long time started creeping along his spine. He could sense the danger lurking all around him. So many questions flooded his mind. Who ran this pack? Was the threat only with them? What about that night he had caught Darrius spying on Nyla? Was that tied to this? So many questions and not enough answers, which was starting to piss him off.

Cedric, feeling the shift in the room informed them, “Look, is this case significant to Nyla? I can’t be certain and neither can anyone else in this room. There are too many unanswered questions and variables. We have to work the case. Now, from what I could surmise from the scene, whoever tortured Demond wanted something from him. And when torturing him didn’t work, his family was slaughtered at his feet. His wife was probably dragged into the next room and I won’t tell you what they did to her, but it wasn’t pretty. This family didn’t die for kicks, it was for information. Information that Demond was trying to take to his grave. But I don’t think he held out for much longer. Whatever information this blood pack wanted, they got.”

“Fuck,” mumbled Stevie. Others shared his sentiment, but no one else uttered a sound.

Andrew was deep in thought. He fell back against his couch and looked up at his ceiling.

A fucking blood pack was in his city. The same one that had plotted to kill him when he was young; his sister’s new family. Andrew tightened his fists as the hatred for his sister began to grow. He should have killed her when he had the chance because he knew that letting her go would bite him in the ass later. She hated him that much, and quiet as kept, the feelings were indeed mutual. However, the thought that this blood pack could be after Nyla, changed his rage into something else…something that he could control and put his full weight into when necessary.

Andrew looked at his second. “Ced, what information did you get from that guy you arrested? I want—” Andrew began, but he was interrupted by his cell vibrating. He knew who it was the moment it rang and he picked it up immediately.

“Nyla, you okay? Where are you?” he asked instantly, connecting with her through the phone line and sensing her moods.

“Yes, I’m okay. Just trying to lug this heavy baby up these steps. Goodness, either I’m losing my strength or this girl has gotten bigger.”

Andrew grinned and relaxed, but only slightly, ignoring everyone in the room and fell back against the couch. He closed his eyes and allowed the sound of her voice to permeate his entire body, warming him with every syllable she spoke.

“I take it you’re home now?”

She grunted and blew out a breath. “Yeah, I’m taking the last few steps. I swear, my arms are going to fall off if I…I…what the…” Nyla trailed off and Andrew sat up, instantly on alert.

He looked over at Cedric as he spoke. “Baby, what’s going on?”

Nyla was quiet for a second then chuckled lightly. “Nothing, my brain must be fried.”

“Why did you ask that?”

Andrew stood. Something wasn’t right and he felt it. His brothers stood too, each feeling the growing trepidation from their Alpha.

“Because I could have sworn I locked my door when I left. I mean the bolt is out like I locked it but—”

“Nyla, listen to me. I need you to go back down the steps right now. Do not touch your door and don’t go into your apartment.” Andrew was already moving toward his front door.

“Why? Andrew, there’s—”

“Nyla, for fuck’s sakes!” he yelled exasperatedly. “Get your stubborn ass down those steps and wait for me inside your car. Don’t go anywhere else; not to your neighbor’s apartment downstairs or the laundry room. Go wait in your car with the motor running in drive, but keep your foot on the brake. If anyone approaches you, I want you to get out of there!”

“Andrew you’re scaring me—”

“Pull off before they get close. I don’t care who approaches you, baby, you get the hell out of there and call me back. Yeah, I know I’m scaring you and I’m sorry. I just don’t like what you’re telling me. I need you to listen to me and do what I ask, understand? Do it now!”

Andrew didn’t wait for her to respond. He hung up the phone, jumped into his car, and practically flew out of his parking lot. He connected with his brothers, especially Edgar who had been trailing Nyla, to tell them what was going on, but realized he didn’t have to. He looked in the rearview mirror and found they were hot on his tail. One of his brothers then sped past him and moved in front, his lights and sirens blaring as they moved.