“And standing here doing nothing is?” Nick shot back. “What good are any of you if you’re just going to sit here and talk? If you aren’t willing to take action to find my mate, why the hell are you here?” In the back of his mind, a tiny voice told him he was being unreasonable, but the wolf crushed the tiny voice, and Nick continued his tirade. “My mate is alive, in the hands of a sadistic elf king, and you expect me to just sit here twiddling my thumbs?”

  “I expect you to be smart.” Decebel snarled. “But your wolf is feral, and that means you’re going to make some very dumb decisions. We will not let you do that. In order to leave this compound, you will have to fight and defeat all of us.”

  “Wait, what?” Adam said, but Nick paid the fae no attention.

  “You think you can take me?” Nick’s wolf chuckled. Decebel wasn’t wrong. Nick’s wolf was feral. If he didn’t get himself under control, Drayden might be forced to put him down. But that wasn’t going to happen because if Nick was dead, then he couldn’t help Kara. “When has a feral wolf ever been bested without being killed?”

  “You’re looking at one.” Decebel pointed to himself, then he pointed to Fane. “And that one. And Costin. And I could name more. Something we’ve learned over the years about feral wolves whose mates are still alive is that there is always hope. We will beat you to within an inch of your life if that’s what it takes. But we will keep you alive until we can get your mate back.”

  “I’m pretty sure I did not volunteer for this. So why exactly are you tossing me in with the wolves, literally?” Adam asked.

  “Because that’s what pack does,” Decebel rumbled. “We do whatever is necessary to meet the needs of those who can’t help themselves. Punches or hugs, whatever it takes. We were there for you when you needed us. Now our brother Nick needs us.”

  Fane pushed off from the wall, his casual stance nowhere to be found. Nick glanced at the alpha and saw that his bright blue eyes glowed with his wolf. “Let’s take this outside. There’s no reason to destroy any more of Drayden’s home.”

  Fane headed for the door, and Decebel followed, calling out over his shoulder, “We’ll understand if you decide to stay inside. No one will think less of you if you’re afraid to face us.”

  “Bloody hell.” Adam groaned and stood up before following the other two males. “Crina, I want you to know I love you. And I love our pack. But our beta has finally been driven mad by his psycho mate.”

  Crina laughed. “Probably. Quit whining and go impress me with your fighting prowess.”

  He waved a hand at her and exited out the open door.

  Nick looked around the room and watched as Dillon, Ciro, Gustavo, Thalion, and Sorin followed the others out the door. Then Cyn and Crina went as well, though he was pretty sure the females wouldn’t join in the fight. Would they? Elle, Sorin’s mate, had not yet returned from checking on the other group that was dealing with the Peri business, which might be a good thing. She seemed a little more blood hungry than Adam. He’d hate to have to kill her. Maybe the thought that he’d even consider that should have concerned him. It didn’t. All he was concerned with was his mate.

  When he turned to his alpha, Drayden raised a brow at him. “Is your wolf under control?”

  Nick shook his head. There was no point in lying. He wouldn’t be able to keep his wolf from destroying the rest of the house and then anything else in his path.

  Drayden let out a sigh. Then, without so much as a twitch to betray his thoughts, the alpha ran straight at Nick. His shoulder plunged into Nick’s solar plexus, knocking the breath out of the beta. The attack was so fast Nick didn’t even have time to plant his feet. Drayden pushed him back, propelling him through the open front door and out of the mansion. Nick stumbled but he managed to gain his feet and jump backward into the air, turning before he tripped down the stairs. Instead, he flipped in the air like a cat, rotated, and landed on his feet in a crouch. His wolf took over, shoving the man aside. Nick phased, shedding the human skin and giving himself over to the feral beast that could think of only one thing: kill anything between him and his mate. At that moment, he considered every male in the surrounding circle his enemy. If they would not help him search for her, then they were in the way. “They will all die,” his beast said with a cold, detached voice that should have worried Nick. As his sanity slipped away, he gave over his humanity to the wolf and let his instincts dictate his actions.

  Fane was the first of his foe to phase. The alpha shook out his fur and then turned those glowing eyes on Nick. His wolf was massive. Fane pulled his lips back in a menacing snarl and took a step toward Nick. The beta was acutely aware of the fact that Fane, of all the wolves, fae, and elves present, could kill him the easiest. And maybe that’s what needed to happen. But Nick would make sure the alpha of alphas had to work for his pelt.

  Nick lunged, but at the last second, he dropped his head and chest to the ground and snapped his jaws out toward the alpha. Nick’s teeth latched onto Fane’s front leg. He bit down with all of his might and felt the bone snap beneath his jaw. The alpha didn’t so much as whimper. Nick released him and rolled back onto his feet, keeping the others in view out of the corner of his eyes. When another wolf started toward him, Fane snapped his jaws at the wolf, a clear order to back off.

  Fane and Nick circled one another. Nick dodged forward, but Fane was fast. He darted to the side before Nick could get his teeth on him again. He noticed Fane didn’t limp, although Nick had felt the alpha’s bone snap. The Great Luna’s blessing must have included some incredibly quick healing. It didn’t worry Nick. Just hearing the bone crunch between his teeth had satisfied his wolf’s bloodlust, at least temporarily.

  He took a step to the right and settled back on his haunches, ready to launch himself forward again, but Fane beat him to it. The massive black wolf pushed off the ground without even getting a head start. He flew through the air and landed right on Nick’s back, flattening him to the ground and knocking the wind out of him. Fane’s teeth sank into the scruff of Nick’s neck. He snapped his head back and forth, shaking Nick as easily as if he’d been a pup. Nick immediately stopped fighting and let his body go limp. Deadweight was much harder to manipulate. But Fane didn’t seem bothered by the load.

  Just as quickly as the alpha had attacked, he jumped off Nick and once again stood across from him, his head lowered and ears pressed back against his head. Saliva dripped from his snarling lips. Fane’s teeth were coated red with Nick’s blood.

  Nick pushed up from the ground. Then he heard his alpha’s voice in his mind. “Stay down, dammit.” Nick shook his head. He could not submit, not while his mate needed him. They would have to kill him if they didn’t want him to search for her. He would torture every supernatural he came across until he found someone who knew something about her whereabouts. Someone somewhere was left alive after Peri’s attack. They had to know something.

  He shook himself and saw flecks of blood hit the ground. He didn’t know how bad his wound was, but he still felt strong enough to fight. He threw his head back and howled. Then he ran at Fane, barreling his head into the alpha’s ribs. Again, Nick heard the snapping of bones. He kept moving, forcing Fane over onto his side. Fane continued to roll, coming full circle and springing back up to his feet. The alpha whipped around, at the same time slinging his head, smashing his skull into Nick’s.

  Nick stumbled but didn’t go down. He backed up and forced himself to push away the stars that danced across his vision. When he could again see clearly, Nick saw Fane had stepped back into the circle, and another wolf had stepped forward in the alpha’s place. Nick recognized the wolf as Ciro, the Italian alpha. Nick could feel the old wolf’s power. It wasn’t as strong as Fane’s, but he was definitely a formidable fighter. Nick felt his wolf smile as more of his sanity slipped away.

  “Wow,” Adam said from beside Fane. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen any of you lose it like this.”

  Nick turned his head to the fae and snarled.

  Adam held up his hands. “Just making an observation. By all means, carry on with your suicide plan.”

  Before Nick could turn back to his opponent, teeth latched onto his back leg. His front legs collapsed to the ground as he was dragged backward and then whipped around like a rag doll. Ciro released him, and Nick crashed into a tree, hitting the ground with a bone-rattling thud. He struggled to his feet, stumbling.

  “Bloody hell, Nick,” Drayden practically yelled. “Submit.” He didn’t give an alpha command, either because he wanted Nick to get his ass kicked, hoping it would snap him out of the feral state, or because Nick was too far gone to be affected by the order.

  Nick paid no attention to his alpha and turned back to Ciro. He took a deep breath and tried to inventory his injuries. He definitely had a broken rib or two. His leg, where the Italian alpha had grabbed him, wasn’t broken. So Ciro had just used the appendage to throw Nick, not to make him lame.

  He ignored the pain in his side and walked toward Ciro. He would not submit. He would not turn belly-up while Kara needed him. Rational or not, they would have to kill him if they believed he wouldn’t hunt his mate. He would search for her until his body gave out, or he’d turned every realm inside out to find her, whichever came first.

  “It’s been a damn month, Peri.” Tenia ran a hand through her hair. Peri had noticed a stir-crazy look come into the fae’s eyes a couple of weeks ago. Since then, Peri had been doing her damndest to keep Skender’s mate from doing something stupid like leaving the draheim realm before Lilly said it was time.

  Peri understood Tenia’s frustration, but she also understood that if they acted at the wrong time, they could wind up getting people killed. There was clearly a reason Lilly had been blessed with the gift of foresight. They would be foolish not to use that gift to their advantage. Though Peri kept repeating this to the fae, Tenia continued to grow restless.

  “Do not mistake my lack of inaction for lack of concern, Tenia.” Peri’s voice was cool with her own anger. “You have seen what I am capable of if I allow myself to take action without considering if that action is part of the Great Luna’s plan. It is a lesson I never want to relearn. My impatience cost many people their lives, and I will not be pushed against a wall because of your anxiety.”

  Skender stepped forward, placing his body in between them. “Arguing is not productive.” He looked at Peri and then at his mate. “I know you’re desperate to see Myanin and Lilly. But we have to do this the right way.”

  Tenia threw her hands up and turned away. “I know. I know,” she said again, finally sounding reasonable. “It’s just, I feel useless. Myanin is my friend. And I imagine she’s not dealing with any of this very well. She’s not exactly the most stable person, even on a good day.”

  Peri laughed. “That’s putting it mildly, though she seems to have more control than you give her credit for. Every time I go to the veil to check on things, everyone is still alive. She has been sparring with those who are dumb enough to agree, but she hasn’t mortally injured anyone. The djinn is a skillful fighter, even without her magic.”

  “Is Gerick with her?” Tenia asked, though Peri assumed the fae already knew the answer.

  “Yes,” Peri replied, trying and probably failing to sound patient. “He hasn’t made a run for the hills yet. And I’m sure by now he’s realized his mate is a borderline psychopath. You will be happy to know Myanin has formed a bond with Jen.”

  Skender frowned. “And why would that be a good thing? Jen is way past the borderline of psychosis. She is the last person Myanin needs to befriend.”

  Peri clucked her tongue at him. “Jen has grown over the years. Matured even. Well, maybe matured is a bit too strong of a word. Nonetheless, she is keeping Myanin distracted. Mostly because Jen needs to get rid of her own pent-up energy.” Peri sat on a chair she had magicked to their little abode. “Nissa has been taking the females with children back to the Sprite realm so they may care for their younglings. This appears to help curb Jen’s thirst for blood momentarily. But Myanin helps even more.” It also helped that she and the other females were taking turns getting to see their mates, courtesy of the fae flashing them to their males. Peri knew first hand how difficult it was to be separated from your true mate, and she was glad that Nissa and the others were able to take the females, especially the healers who were all newly mated, to see their mates.

  Tenia took the seat across from Peri. “That’s something, at least. You mentioned Thad is there with Jezebel. Does Myanin seem bothered by that?”

  Peri shook her head. “The amazing thing about mates, as you should know, is everyone else ceases to exist in any way other than an acquaintance or friend. Nothing more.”

  Tenia looked at Skender, her eyes softening as she met her mate’s gaze. “Yea.” She nodded. “I get that.”

  Skender grinned at her, and Peri thought of her own mate. He was always in the forefront of her mind, even as she waited to hear from Lilly for approval to make their next move. Thoughts of Lucian created a constant pang in her chest. The need to see him, touch him, beg him to forgive her, choked her up and made breathing hard.

  “You are already forgiven, my love. How many times do I have to say it?” Lucian asked through their bond.

  “Why are you never at the veil?” Peri went every single day, not only to find out if there was any change in their circumstances but also with the hope of seeing him. But he’d yet to be there.

  “My wolf is restless. Moving, hunting, distracting him until we can touch you keeps him from running headlong into the impenetrable veil that stands between us. I was a fool to walk away from you, Perizada.”

  “No,” she said quickly, “It is I who am the fool. I should have turned to you, not away from you. I should have trusted you to stick with me even while I was a complete mess. But instead of allowing myself to be vulnerable, I destroyed the bond we’d built. Though it wasn’t as strong as it could have been because of my own insecurities.” Peri shook her head. “Thousands of years old, and yet I acted like an adolescent human.”

  “We will get through this, beloved. And we will be stronger because of it. Please believe that.” She felt his hand on her cheek and fought back the tears that always seemed to be on the verge of spilling.

  “I do believe it. I will never doubt you again.”

  “MOM!” Torion’s bellow jerked Peri’s attention from her mate. She jumped up and followed Tenia and Skender to the opening of the cave. She watched as Torion jumped off the draheim, Galan, who’d become his constant companion. The boy hit the ground at a run and sprinted to them. In his hand, he clutched several pieces of paper. Tenia made sure her son had pencils and paper at all times because of his own gift, just in case he saw something Lilly did not.

  “I’m here, Peri. Do what you need to do.” She felt Lucian recede to a far corner of her mind, where he could watch without distracting her.

  She knelt down where Torion was spreading out three pieces of paper. He put them side by side, and Peri saw the drawings on them connected perfectly, flowing into one large picture. As she stared at them, the drawing came to life, and the figures on the pages began to move.

  “Who is that?” Tenia pointed at the female in the picture.

  Peri recognized the healer immediately. “Kara.” She breathed out as she watched the drawn form of Nick’s mate walk into a room. “She’s the gypsy healer the Order has abducted.”

  “That’s Ludcarab,” Skender said. He pointed to a male form that stood in front of an oversized bed. The figure held out his hand to Kara, beckoning him to her.

  “Torion, come with me,” Skender said quickly. He grabbed the boy’s hand and pulled him up away from the picture. It wasn’t difficult to figure out what was happening on the page, and Skender was right to get his son away from it. Peri didn’t want to watch it, but she had to.

  The robe that Kara wore slipped off her shoulders and dropped to the floor. She placed her hand into the elf king’s. Peri’s eyes traveled to the next piece of paper when it started moving. Now, the two figures on the page lay on the bed. Kara’s body shook as she straddled Ludcarab. He wrapped his hand around her head and pulled her face down to his. Their lips touched, and Peri swallowed down bile that rose in her throat. She felt her power growing in lockstep with her rage and knew her skin must be glowing with it.

  “No.” Tenia breathed out, her voice shaking with horror as they watched the elf king take what wasn’t his. Peri knew Kara would not be doing this of her own volition.

  Movement on the next page drew Peri’s attention. Now Ludcarab lay still, his eyes wide with shock and horror. Kara sat up. She lifted her hand, and a blade suddenly appeared in it. The healer didn’t hesitate. She drove the dagger down into the elf king’s chest, straight into his heart.

  “It is time.”

  Peri’s head snapped up as the Great Luna’s voice filled the cave. The high fae bowed her head and saw Tenia out of the corner of her eye do the same.

  “Judgment has come to the fallen king who has dared to touch one of mine,” the goddess said, her voice so powerful and full of rage that it rattled Peri’s bones. “It is time to gather the scattered pack and find your lost healer. It is time for the prodigal to be reunited to those he hurt and atonement to be paid. It is time for the pack to welcome a new son. Soon, hope born from this evil act will be revealed. Everything happens for a reason in its appointed time. And everything works toward the good of those who love me.”

  Peri felt peace beyond any understanding fill her, regardless of the horror she’d just witnessed in Torion’s drawing. She felt the Great Luna’s love and knew it would be that love that drove her to fight for her pack, rather than the hatred of the Order. She felt a righteous anger, not one born of her own need for revenge.

  The power faded from the room, and Tenia quickly gathered the papers as soon as they realized the Great Luna had gone.