"Fuck!" Alexander roared again as he paced back and forth through the kitchen.

I didn't bother looking up from the pile of tests on the counter. Matthew had given me an array of them. Each and every one came back positive. I was so numb and shocked that I couldn't even feel an ounce of the dread Alexander seemed to be feeling as he continued to pace.

"Can we fake the tests?" Adam asked.

"There's no fucking fake for Henry's god damn nose. The only way out of this is to get her the fuck out of here when these piss ants slip up and leave us an opening." Xane growled. He'd stopped pacing just long enough to glare out the window at the guards patrolling around the pack house. They'd been posted there since the council left and Xane had been glaring at them every so often since the first test.

~I'm not leaving.~ I said shooting Xane's suggest down without raising my eyes.

Xane came forward. He dropped his palms on the counter, leaned in close, and waited until finally I raised my eyes to his.

"They are taking this pack. It is done. And if we do not get you out of here they will take you too." Xane explained. His voice was calmer, almost quieter, as he forced his anger back to speak to me.

~I'm not afraid of them. If getting locked up means holding on to this pack, one of the largest packs in our nation, for even a second longer then that's what I'll do.~ I said.

"Getting locked up?" Xane repeated incredulous. "Rylan they're going to kill you."

I took a moment to take in his words. I blinked. Not even sure if I heard him correctly.

"Wait what? I thought they were working with Devlin. Isn't this all because they want Silas's baby?" Adam asked just as confused as me.

Alexander glanced over to glare at Adam. He looked to Matthew next and then to me. He shook his head and turned back to Adam.

"Silas...?" Alexander shook his head again. "No. The only reason they needed Silas was BECAUSE he is her mate. Silas's baby has never been an issue. If it was he would've been the one in the breeding facility, he would be the one the council is dead set on ending. So no. Silas, the powerful fuck, doesn't hold a damn candle against a pure blood fucking hybrid."

Matthew and Adam both looked toward me when Xane pointed. I immediately began shaking my head.

~I'm not a hybrid.~

"You are a witch AND a werewolf. The very thing the council has always tried to eliminate because of this." He pointed to the pile of pregnancy tests in front of me.

~No.~ I shook my head again.

~I'm not... I'm not even a werewolf anymore and this...~ I gestured to the pile.

~It's not relevant...It's not going to happen.~ I looked to Matthew hoping that he could explain this better than I seemed to be.

"It's very unlikely she will carry to term." Matthew agreed smoothly.

"Why do you keep saying the council is trying to get rid of her? What about their alliance with Devlin?" Adam asked.

Xane scoffed and shook his head.

"What is the one thing that can preside over the council...?" Xane asked.

Adam shook his head slowly.

"A fucking king." Xane answered. "Their agreement with Devlin is on the grounds that they will remain in power once the king takes his place. An agreement they don't need if they can eliminate that potential entirely."

~So they kill me and then what? They go to war with Devlin?~ I asked.

"They move on to their next target. They continue their systematic genocide of witches with Delvin's assistance most likely. They've already begun reinstating the old ways within the packs in their control. It's only a matter of time before the burnings start." Xane said.

"Wouldn't Devlin be pissed at them? He needs her." Adam asked.

"He doesn't need her. Because she exists he wants her but he knows the councils ploy. Politics are messy and neither side makes the mistake of assuming they can trust the other. You really should do the same." Xane said.

~No one here trusts the council. Which is why we've allowed them here in the first place. If we'd intended to fight or to run then we would have done so already.~ I said.

I pushed aside my scattered emotions and stood up from the stool to face everyone fully.

~This doesn't change anything. We have a plan and we're sticking to it so unless you wish to be stripped of your wolves you need to leave.~ I said with a sweeping gesture first toward the tests and then toward the door.

"What?" Xane demanded.

~I said you need to leave.~ I repeated calmly.

"No way in hell am I leaving you here alone." Xane growled. "Silas would skin me alive."

~Silas already knows the plan, he agreed to it.~ I said almost rolling my eyes at Xane's dramatic assumption.

"Bullshit! This is not fucking happening." Xane seethed.

~I'm not asking your permission.~ I said. My voice hardened the longer Xane tried to argue and I felt the urge to command him slowly creeping in to my conscience.

"Do not challenge me little witch." He growled. His fists were clinched and his eyes were shut tight as he tried to fight back the alpha wolf in side of him.

~You challenged me.~ I corrected. ~Now leave or I will make you.~

Thanes eyes snapped open. The usual warm hazel blazed to an almost glowing yellow with his wolfs presence. In the past being stared down by a pissed off alpha wolf would've made me want to cower or run. This time though it only served to make me pissed off too. Instead of running like my older self would have I stepped forward, ready and willing to take the challenge Thanes wolf presented.

The wolf growled. Furious about my willingness to challenge him. And then the snaps and cracks started.

My eyes slammed closed. I reached out through our mental connection and very carefully grasped a hold of the link between Xane and his wolf.

The loud cracks and pops stopped.

"What did you do?!" Xane's wolf growled.

~I paused your transition.~ I replied opening my eyes. ~Allow Alexander back in control so we may finish our discussion.~

The wolf growled and stepped forward. I raised my hand both mentally and physically releasing the transition so that it slammed into him. The suddenness of the shift dropped him. And then I stopped it again.

~Alexander please or I will make you.~ I requested again.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" He growled.

~I have asked politely for Alexander twice. I will not do so again.~ I said ignoring his question.

His eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared as he stared me down. I kept my gaze steady and my hand up just in case he'd need another push. Slowly, very slowly his eyes shifted down and away. It was a subtle submission but a sincere one none the less.

"You paused our transition. We are stuck like this." He admitted.

~If I release you and you continue to transition you will regret it.~ I warned.

He growled lowly apparently not at all pleased by my choice of words.

"I suggest you slow down on attempting commands when speaking to an alpha unless you truly intend to piss me off." He said.

~I have not attempted an official command. I have requested, multiple times, as a courtesy to your title.~ I corrected.

He tilted his head. I could see that he was considering my words even though it was obvious he didn't believe me.

I took a deep breath and released him.

His eyes snapped up to mine. A mixture of pain, anger, and maybe just a touch of fear showed in them. He was struggling to hold back the shift. Stopping mid transition was difficult if not impossible for most wolves.

There was no way he would be able to hold back the transition for long.

There was also no way he would admit that he needed my help.

~Alexander, now.~ I commanded.

He cringed and his eyes snapped closed.

When he opened them again they'd faded back to the normal hazel coloring and his shaking ceased.

Xane didn't say anything as he regarded me and he made no move to get up and face me again. So I knelt down, placing us back on the same level before speaking again.

~If you wish to fight me then you will do so without your wolf.~ I said.

Xane's eyes widened and he shook his head.

"I would never physically fight you Rylan. You have no idea how important you are. I can't leave you here to die. I won't." He said.

I smiled sadly. In a way I could see how his slip up was kind of sweet. I understood that he cared so much for Silas that he was willing to risk his life just to protect his friend's mate. I stood back up and held a hand out to Thane. He accepted the gesture but applied almost no pressure as he rose to his feet. Once he was standing I released his hand, took a step back, and met his eyes again.

~Alexander Thane, I command you to leave this pack and to not return until you are summoned to do so.~ I ordered.

Xane's lips parted, his pupils dilated, and his entire body tensed.

"Rylan!" He growled furious.

I took a step back and held out a hand toward the door.

Xane growled again. His entire body trembled as he stomped past me toward the door. There was a loud, almost shattering bang as he slammed the door behind him.

And then I turned to look at Adam and Matthew.

Adam held both hands up quickly as if already anticipating the threat on my tongue.

"We know the plan and we will go quietly." Adam said.

Matthew's chin jerked in agreement. He was clearly clinching his jaw too tightly to even try to speak.

Adam stepped forward and held his arms out in question. I was so surprised by the gesture that I agreed to the hug before I really knew what it was.

"Please be fucking careful Ry. I don't think any of us can go through losing you now." Adam said as his arms tightened around me.

~I will. Just look out for the others. Emily, Aaron, Cassy, Alisa, Kyson... you all have to get out of here. You can't be anywhere near this place when my spell goes into effect.~ I said.

"I know. I've got this. Just... be safe." Adam said again as he released.

I nodded in agreement.

Matthew gave me a disapproving head shake and then they were gone, shutting the front door a lot softer than Xane.

Finally, I was alone in the pack house and ready to follow through with my spell.