FORTY SIX

FORTY SIX
Sky POV

It was petty.

It was dangerous.

And it was fucking glorious.

The thought of Neo writhing in pain from my little "seasoned" breakfast had me practically glowing as I stood in front of the two warriors who'd dared snort at me.

"Repeat that?" I asked sweetly, lacing my voice with mock concern. "You said he's in pain?" I put my hand to my chest, my face the picture of sibling loyalty and love.

"It's not your concern." The taller of the two crossed his arms, a scowl tugging at the corners of his mouth. They were new to the pack. That much was clear—I didn't recognise them from our teen years. And given they seemed the same age as Neo and Zeke, I would have, especially since I used to follow those boys around like a shadow with attitude.

"Excuse me?" My smile faded, my back stiffened and my temper shortened.

"He's the Alpha," the second doofus muttered with all the confidence of a man who'd never been bitch-slapped by karma. "You're not cleared—"

I didn't think. I didn't raise my voice.

I just stepped forward, dropped my tone, and said, "Tell me what the fuck is going on."

It wasn't yelling, it wasn't rage—but it landed like thunder.

A ripple of tension pulsed through the air like a heartbeat. The two warriors visibly jolted—backs snapping straight, eyes hazing for a second like their thoughts were momentarily hijacked. Their arms dropped to their sides. Mouths slackened.

Zeke stiffened beside me.

"We tried to mindlink. He shut us out." One of the warriors finally spoke again.

"We knocked," the other added, voice uncertain. "But he just kept shouting to go away." I crossed my arms, fighting the smirk climbing my lips.

"He's missed three meetings already today," the first said quickly, eyes flicking to Zeke as if apologising. "And there's someone waiting to see him—an elder."

That made Zeke tense. He stepped closer to me, his hand pressing lightly to the small of my back like a warning.

"Don't," he muttered under his breath. "Sky, the Elders—"

"I know the Elders," I snapped, brushing his hand off me. "I used to sit at their table when Dad was Alpha. I brought them wine and told them stories about the big bad wolf."

"Yeah, and now you're grown, and the big bad wolf is your goddamn brother," Zeke muttered. "This isn't the same."

I tilted my head, giving him a sugary smile. "Funny. I have another story in mind. Also involves a big bad wolf."

Zeke's hand shot out and gripped my arm—not hard, but firm enough to make me pause. I felt the heat of his palm sear straight through me, tingles shooting up my skin like a brand I didn't ask for.

"Sky," he muttered low, glancing around before tugging me a few steps away from the others. "You're out of your depth."

I blinked at him, brows raised. "You think I haven't noticed?"

He exhaled sharply, his jaw tight. "You don't understand. Neo can't make a single move like this without the Elders backing him."

That stopped me.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, voice low but firm.

"The rules, the restrictions, the disappearances—all of it," Zeke said. "None of that happens without the Elders knowing. Or approving. And if he's in there now, making excuses for your presence or trying to cover his ass, we're already two steps behind."

My stomach twisted, but I shrugged it off. "Then let's catch up."

Zeke didn't smile. He glanced over his shoulder at the two warriors who had inched closer again, clearly tracking my every move.

"Back off," Zeke snapped at them. They hesitated, eyes flicking to me, then him, but eventually stepped away.

The change in their behavior amused me. Moments ago they were stiff with protocol and barely veiled irritation. Now? They looked ready to leap between me and a blade if one so much as glinted in my direction.

"They're starting to see him for what he is," I murmured. "Maybe they're not all lost causes."

"Or maybe they're in on it," Zeke countered, his voice low. "Neo doesn't let anyone into meetings with the Elders. No witnesses. No slip-ups. If those two are suddenly your biggest fans, it's worth asking why."

"He was crying," the first muttered. "The scent coming from the room… it wasn't right. It smelled… wrong. Rotten."

"Like death," the second whispered.

Oh, this was beautiful.

"Did you go inside?" I asked, genuinely hoping they had and that the image would haunt them forever. Maybe he was writhing on the floor in agony. Maybe he'd collapsed over the sink. Maybe he was glued to the toilet. Maybe he is shitting himself to death.

"Whats it called when you shit yourself to death?" I asked Zeke, who arched a brow clearly confused. I waited for a reply but when nothing came I rolled my eyes and looked back to the warriors.

"What's it called again?" I asked Evie without missing a beat.

She snorted beside me, crossing her arms. "Defecating."

"Yes. Maybe he's defecating. Painfully."

"Defcating!" I announced with a grin to Zeke. "We can only hope," I replied, a touch too gleefully.

Zeke didn't laugh. He was pale. Silent. Still locked on me like I was growing horns.

"You okay?" I asked, raising a brow.

He just blinked. I could tell he was thinking—hard. Watching me like I was a live wire about to snap.

"Can you stall the Elder?" I asked The warriors who seemed to suck down a breath but slowly they nodded.

"Well," I said brightly, dismissing the conversation with a flip of my ponytail. "Thanks, boys."

I spun on my heel and started toward Zeke, flip-flops slapping confidently against the stone path.

Zeke, beside me, went still.

"What?"

"How did you do that?" He stared at me, eyes narrowing.

"Do what?" I blinked, deadpan.

He gestured subtly over his shoulder to the warriors still standing rigid, like soldiers on command. "That. Whatever that was."

I looked back at them and smiled. They were waiting. Watching me like I had more instructions.

Shrugging, I turned back to him with a wink. "They always listen to me. It's the tits, Z. They're hypnotic."

He didn't laugh. Just nodded once, but his lips were tight, and his brows furrowed like he was adding up an equation he didn't like the answer to.

"What?" I asked, nudging him again.

"Nothing," he lied. And that silence? That silence told me he was lying - again.

"Shall we?" I smiled, plastering charm on my face like war paint. It would be easier to get past whatever goons Neo had lurking around if I was flanked by his Beta and warriors. I wasn't stupid. I knew Neo didn't want me back here. I knew he was up to something—and it wasn't just turning this pack into his own twisted version of The Handmaid's Tale.

"Where are you going?" Zeke called after me.

I felt my smile widen.

"Can't leave him in pain, can we?"

I didn't stop walking.

He groaned behind me, but his footsteps followed. So did the warriors—of course they did. No one wanted to admit they were curious to see what I'd do.

Or maybe they couldn't help it.

We stormed through the house like a damn parade. My blood was still hot from earlier, but now it simmered with purpose. Each step I took toward that locked office felt like retribution. No, like power.

Neo thought he could sell women like they were currency. Thought he could leash me. He thought wrong. I reached the Alpha's office and stopped in front of the heavy double doors, hearing Zeke's boots scrape behind me.

"What are you doing?" Zeke frowned. My phone was already in my hand, my winning smile plastered to my lips as I mocked innocence.

"Oh, I just want to capture the moment. You know… memories." I grinned, flipping open the camera.

"Sky." Zeke sighed, muttering something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like "Goddess, help me."

"Code?" I asked, arching a brow at him. He hesitated. Then shrugged and stepped forward, punching in the digits without a word. The panel beeped. The lock disengaged. My pulse surged. Zeke's hand twitched beside me like he wanted to grab me—pull me back—but he didn't. And that hesitation?

That was all the permission I needed.

Game. Fucking. On.