Matthew Pov

　　I now observe Emma's wolf pack members more attentively. The young woman with Asian features has a splint on her arm, and I can smell blood on her shoulder. Focusing more on Emma's scent, I now realize why her short hair is still damp; she took a shower to remove blood traces, which I can still faintly sense.

　　"Come, let's sit in the backyard. There's a lot to explain," Emma stretches out her arm and points behind the main house. "Kylian, call Jordan and take his place for a few minutes," Emma asks the Indian teenager, who quickly obeys.

　　Emma's wolf pack consists of two teenagers, a young black man with a strong physique, and a severe, distrustful asian woman. They seem united and protective of Emma, even as a small wolf pack still finding its strength.

　　I follow Emma, and with a nod, my beta Liam and Mrs. Dawson follow me. We gather around a large table where I notice bowls of ice cream already scattered, Charlotte takes her own bowl and continues eating the now milkshake-like melted ice cream.

　　During the explanation Emma gives us about the events, a tall, muscular black man, resembling a bear, appears with a serious and stern face. His eyes narrow in our direction as he sits beside Emma.

　　"This is Jordan, my beta." Emma declares proudly with a beautiful smile that causes a pang of jealousy.

　　"Alpha Emma, the prisoners have awakened," Jordan informs in a low, serious tone.

　　"Great! We'll interrogate them then," Emma responds with genuine authority. My wolf growls at the way she commands her own wolf pack.

　　There is genuine respect and closeness. My wolf pack has many members, over three hundred, and I can't know everyone personally, needing to delegate and receive reports. I realize it's not like that in Emma's wolf pack; it's simple and cozy.

　　"Is the witch still alive?" Emma asks her beta, and he nods.

　　"Barely, Alpha Emma. Amelia cleaned her wounds and gave her some healing potion. The wolf we also captured transformed back. I took the liberty of getting some of Faylen's clothes for her," Jordan reports, looking at the colleague on the other side of the table, who seems to grimace at the news.

　　"Perfect, dear. Thank you very much, Jordan," Emma praises and her hand goes to the young man's arm. Another wave of jealousy courses through me.

　　Did she call him dear?

　　Emma gets up from the wooden bench, and we all do the same. "If you want to conduct the interrogation, I think that's best. Since they were after Charlotte," Emma suggests, and I quickly agree.

　　I don't know how much her wolf pack knows about Charlotte.

　　"Can I finish my ice cream?" Charlotte politely asks.

　　"Of course, my little wolf. Kylian and Amelia will keep you company, okay?" Emma declares, and Charlotte smiles brightly.

　　When Emma approaches me, her scent intoxicates me again, and I control myself not to bury my face in her neck, inhaling deeply and kissing her skin.

　　"It seems Charlotte liked it here, with your people," I comment softly, close to Emma's ear.

　　My fingers lightly brush Emma's arm, causing an inexplicable warmth and a desire to kiss her right here and now. My eyes focus on how Emma bites her lower lip, exciting me even more.

　　"Stonehaven Pack is welcoming, and we love children," Emma responds with a sigh, making me smile.

　　I notice how the house is still raw, so to speak. The smell of paint is strong, very strong. Cans are scattered around the corners of the room, and Emma warns us not to touch the white wall because it's still drying. There aren't many pieces of furniture, and when we reach the place where they're keeping the prisoners, I realize it's just a regular room.

　　"What a dump," Mrs. Dawson comments disdainfully through the mindlink.

　　"They are a new wolf pack. Don't be cruel, Mrs. Dawson," I say mentally.

　　As soon as we enter the room, I quickly identify the woman wearing clothes too youthful for her age.

　　"Milena Golden," Emma and I say at the same time, shocked by her appearance in these circumstances.

　　Our eyes meet unexpectedly, and before we can express any encouraging or amused reaction, even though the situation doesn't allow for that, a thunderous sound erupts in the room.

　　The witch, lying on the bed with bandages from her left shoulder to her right hip, crossing her body, sends a burst of incandescent light toward us, blinding and disorienting us for a few seconds. When the light finally dissipates, the witch is no longer in the room, nor is the other warrior we had rescued.

　　"Damn it!" I curse, irritated by the treacherous act.

　　"Where did she go?" Emma demands, grabbing Milena Golden by the shirt collar. "Answer!"

　　"She'll be good for interrogation if we take her with us," I comment through the mindlink to my beta and Mrs. Dawson.

　　"Emma won't return to Night Howlers Pack, especially as an alpha. She wouldn't be seen as a guest anymore but as a new threat, Alpha Matthew," Mrs. Dawson responds.

　　I want to say that's nonsense, that Emma being an alpha doesn't make her a threat. Especially since she's our mate. However, I can't pursue this any further. Because she's an alpha herself, she has people to lead, just like I do.

　　I focus my eyes on Emma, on how she handles Milena, her determination, and her fierceness causing me even more conflict and pain at having to let her stay. Without being able to bring her back to Night Howlers Pack.