Chapter 71 

JACE 

་་་་་་་” 

I had doubled my patrols after the last attack. The attack had seemed wrong somehow. As if they were searching for something Gadet bad engla was of the rogues, but so far, he refused to talk. I looked at Aria, who was sleeping peacefully here next to me. 

Damn, she handled everything so well during the whole ordeal. Cool as ice, even though I could tell she was pissed about mas heing able to Expe. wha would I do when the baby comes and she wants to fight again? I couldn’t stop her forever. She was more than capable of protecting herself and cabers. Res she was better than most of my trained warriors. 

But the thought of losing her made my stomach twist into knots. I’d watched too many die already. Not her. Not ever. 

I leaned over and kissed her gently before slipping out of bed. Maybe I could get some answers from our prisoner before breakfast. I padded to the bathro and turned on the shower, letting the hot water run while I thought about how to make the rogue talk. 

A pair of arms wrapped around my waist from behind. I couldn’t help but smile. 

“Did I wake you, baby?” I asked. 

“Of course you did, Aria murmured against my back. “You left me alone in bed.” 

I turned around gently, pulling her in front of me. God, she was beautiful in the morning. 

“Sorry, darling. I wanted to deal with that rogue before breakfast.” 

She nodded, understanding without me having to explain further. That’s one of the things I loved about her. 

“What are your plans for today?” I asked. 

“I wanted to help plan the ceremony, but they won’t let me. So I don’t know,” she said with a hint of frustration. 

“Want to help me instead? I need to choose four warriors to take to the Sacred Moonlight Gathering.” 

Her face lit up. “I’d love to! Thank you for trusting me with this.” 

I bent down and kissed her, savoring the moment. 

‘I know this is hard on you, but it’s not forever,” I said. “Once the doctor clears you after the baby, you can train again. I’ll help you get back in shape. I don’t want to take anything away from you.” 

‘I know, Jace. I don’t blame you,” she assured me. I’ll be fine. We’ll be fine. More than fine – we’ll be perfect.” 

Then she pulled my head down for another kiss. Her hands began roaming over my body, eventually finding and grasping the part of me that always responded to her touch. I groaned against her mouth, all thoughts of the rogue temporarily forgotten. 

An hour later, I walked into the silver containment facility where we kept our prisoner. The cells were designed for different supernatural creatures – witches, vampires, and werewolves each had their own specialized containment. 

I approached the rogue’s cell and opened the door. He was slumped against the wall, weakened by the silver surrounding him, 

entered. 

s widened when I 

“Hello, I’m Alpha Jace Carter,” I said. 

The rogue visibly stiffened at my name. Good. Fear might make this easier. 

‘I have some questions, and I suggest you answer them,” I continued. “Otherwise, things will get painful, Why did you come here? A month ago, someone tried to attack my daughter. Now over fifty rogues attack my pack. Why?” 

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Chapter 71 

He pressed his lips together, refusing to speak. 

For your own sake, answer me, I warned. 1 don’t enjoy hurting another wolf, even a rogue. But if you stay silent, I will 

Still nothing. 

Fine. I grabbed his throat and dragged him to the silver bars. I pressed his back against them, holding him there. For three minutes, all I could hear was the sizzle of burning flesh and his screams. When I pulled him away, blood ran down his back. 

“Answer me, and I’ll stop,” I said. 

He glared at me, jaw clenched tight. 

I shoved him against the bars again, this time for six minutes. His screams grew louder, more desperate. The silver burned through his skin, the wounds getting deeper. 

Answer me, I demanded after pulling him away again. “The time will just keep getting longer. When your back is completely burned through, I start on your face until you’re dead. Answer me, and I’ll stop and get you medical help. You were caught quickly, didn’t kill anyone, so tell me, and I’ll let you heat and leave.” 

Still defiant, the rogue said nothing. I dragged him toward the bars again. 

“Okay, okay! I’ll talk. Please stop,” he finally gasped. 

I released him. “Talk.” 

He slumped to the floor, panting. “We’re looking for someone. A girl. A warrior’s daughter. Her Alpha wants her back. Says her father ran away with her, Says she belongs to him.” 

My blood turned to ice. There was only one girl in our pack who fit that description. I felt Phantom stirring inside me, pushing against my control. Suddenly, I wasn’t fully in charge of my body anymore. 

“Aria is OURS. She is OUR mate,” Phantom said coldly, using my voice. 

The rogue swallowed hard. Everyone in this region knew how dangerous Phantom was. I struggled internally and managed to regain control. 

I reached out through the mind link: Dr. Stone, I need you to look after the rogue in the containment facility. His back is burned by silver. Two warriors will remain to ensure he doesn’t attack you. 

To the rogue, I said, “The doctor will come see you. When it’s safe, I’ll let you go. Until then, you’ll get food and water.” 

“You won’t break your promise?” he asked, surprise evident in his voice. 

I shook my head. “I never break my promises. But I suggest you don’t return to the rogue camp. Then I left the containment facility. 

My mind was racing. Warren. Alpha Richard Warren was looking for Aria. This confirmed what Gabriel had told me when they first sought refuge here. I had thought Warren might have given up by now, but apparently not. 

Aria was my mate. Carrying my child. And she had chosen me freely. No one would take her from me – especially not a power–hungry Alpha with an unhealthy obsession. 

Phantom growled his agreement inside me. For once, we were completely aligned. 

I would need to increase security around the compound. Set more patrols. Maybe move the Moon Goddess Acceptance ceremony up. The sooner Aria was officially recognized as my Luna by our pack and the Moon Goddess herself, the better. 

Richard Warren could send all the rogues he wanted. They would die before they took what was mine. 

I headed back toward our quarters, where Aria would be waiting. I needed to tell her what I’d learned. We’d face this together, like we’d faced everything else. And I’d make damn sure she and our children – both Aurora and our unborn baby – remained safe. 

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Chapter 71 

No matter what it took. No matter who I had to kill. 

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