"What videos?" I ask, genuinely confused how TikTok videos have anything to do with this.

Micah pulls out his phone and shows me a couple of videos. All of them are about woman testing their men on how fast they would react if a random girl kissed them "Yeah," Jason mumbles, looking from me to the phone. "You're fucked."

That's right. Shit. Why didn't I react fast enough? If I did, none of this would be happening, and I would be going to the ball with Sadie as my Luna. With how tense things are right now, I doubt she'll want me anywhere near her.

"Fuck, what am I going to do?" I ask no one in particular.

"Never been in a relationship, so I can't help you," Micah answers.

"Same here." Jason adds.

We sit in silence while my brain works, trying to find something that would work. Now I see the gravity of the situation. It isn't that I didn't want the kiss; it's that I didn't react fast enough.

Micah clears his throat. "So... what's happening with the witch?”

I know he means Lola, but I refuse to let her name sour on my tongue again. "Fuck

if I know. If it wasn't for the fact I wanted answers, I'd have already thrown her ass out of the pack."

Jason nods. "It wasn't like this when she pretended to be your mate, but now for some odd reason, she gives me the creeps."

"I never liked her in the first place," Micah mutters. "There was something about her that never sat right with me."

"Then why didn't you say anything?" I turn to him and ask.

"I did, remember?" he replies. "Several times, but you were too high from whatever she gave you to listen to me. Lola might look harmless, but trust me, she's dangerous." Thɪs chapter is updated by FindNovel(.)net

I say tightly. "She's manipulative, desperate and stupid enough to come back here thinking she could crawl her way into my life again."

Jason looks at me carefully. “You're sure she wasn't compelled? Coerced?"

I shake my head. "Who would compel her?

"Xena?"

"Yeah, that a possibility, but it doesn't feel like that's the case.” I

say, looking outside to the lush

ет

green field. "She lied; Jason and she

faked the mate bond. It doesn't matter how that happened, we just need to know why she did it."

Jason whistles low. "I still can't get over how Sadie slapped her into a wall. It was fucking hilarious."

Despite everything, a faint smirk pulls at my lips. It really was and I couldn't be prouder of my mate.

Micah mutters. “Sadie doesn't play around, and I'm so glad she can now hold her own."

My chest tightens. She really doesn't. And the thought that she may never let me close again feels like being gutted.

I get lost in thought again until Micah nudges me. "Don't worry, Alec, you'll fix this. She loves you."

"Sometimes love isn't enough," I say quietly, remembering all the shit I've already put her through.

Micah claps my shoulder. "You're Alec; you always find a way to make it work." "You never back down. You always get what you want," Jason adds.

A shout comes from across the courtyard pulling our attention back to the window where more vehicles are arriving The gates open wider as another wave of packs enters. The atmosphere thickens instantly.

Micah groans. "Just great."

Jason gets up from his chair like he's about to charm half the crowd. “Let's do this.” Micah smacks him. “Please stop flirting with Lunas. You're going to get us all killed.”

"Come on, nothing is going to happen... and with Sadie on our side, who would dare attack us?"

I pinch the bridge of my nose. "Seriously, Jason, how are you even the Beta? You're never serious."

He shrugs his shoulder with a smirk. “I'm Beta thanks to daddy dearest, not because I earned it... now let's go."

Micah and both chuckle before the honk of cars pulls our attention. We leave my study, head out to the coumyard and resume welcoming our guests.