I pick Aspen up and grab Martha, pulling her somewhere more quiet.

"I'm sure you've already heard what has happened. Take Aspen," I tell her without preamble. "Take her back to our pack."

Martha's eyes widen. "Sadie "

"Please," I say, my voice cracking just enough to let her hear how serious I am. “Shit

is about to hit the fan, and I need her safe."

Her eyes widen. "You look like you're about to burn the world down."

"If that's what it takes to bring him back."

She nods immediately. "I'll protect her with my life."

I put Aspen down and kneel in front of her, brushing her curls back gently.

“You're going to go with Martha for a little while, okay?" I say softly.

Her lower lip trembles. "But, I want to stay here with you."

"I know, sweetheart," I whisper, pulling her into my arms. "But we have a lot of pack business to handle, so you need to go with Martha.”

She clings to me, sobbing. “You promise you'll come for me after you're done being busy?"

I press a kiss to her forehead, my throat burning. "I promise, my love."

She nods. "Okay, tell Uncle Alec I'll miss him.”

That almost destroys me. "I will."

I watch them leave before turning away, my hands shaking. Then I follow the council.

Micah, Raven, and I get there an hour or so later. I don't even remember the drive. My focus was solely on Alec and getting him back.

The Council's headquarters sits on the edge of a pristine, heavily guarded pack.

Small, elite, and isolated from the real world. Stone walls.

The twelve council members are usually backed by around twenty subordinates and a ton of guards.

We are stopped at the gates, and after stating our business, they let us in. The moment we get inside the castle, we meet one of the subordinates and immediately ask

for an arrence. They grant it, but

we are told to wait.

"Where is my mate? I want to see him," I ask one of them while we wait for those assholes.

"I'm sorry but you are not allowed to see him... and he has already been taken to the cells."

Just hearing those words slices through me in a way I can't even begin to explain. To know that Alec is in those filthy cells shatters me so badly.

About twenty minutes later, we are ushered into the council chamber. It's cold and circular, with stone seats rising like a judgment pt. They look down on me as I stand in the center, Raven at my side.

"I want my mate released,” I say flatly.

Laughter. Actual laughter, as if they find what I just said really funny.

"You?" Daelor scoffs. "You have no authority here."

"I don't need authority," I reply, power thrumming under my skin. "I just want you to release my mate. He has done nothing wrong."

"You call withholding information 'nothing wrong'? Go home; there is nothing for you here."

That pisses me off more than I thought possible. "Not until you release Alec."

"You're nothing but a girl," another councilman sneers. "Emotional, reckless and out of your depth."

My vision flashes white, but Raven squeezes my hand hard, grounding me.

I take a deep breath, knowing that arguing with them is useless.

"This is your warning," I say slowly, each word deliberate. "One week. You have one week to release my mate."

They exchange amused glances.

"Or what?" Daelor asks mockingly. “You'll cry harder?"

They laugh again, and I ignore them. I turn to leave, my power coiled tight beneath my skin, dangerous and waiting.

At the door, I stop and say calmly without turning around. "One week. That's all you get." I glance over my shoulder. "Or I'll burn this entire place to the fucking ground."

Silence slams into the room. I walk out without another word, but I can still hear their laughter and mocking, as if I just said the funniest thing. What they don't know is that I meant every word. If they don't release Alec, I'll kill everyone in this entire pláce.