JASON

"It is quite the pleasure that you would invite me personally to Monarch," I teased Luna Valentine, and she did not look pleased. Her displeasure was clear as day as she approached me in a spectacular yellow gown that gave insight into her personality. Fragile.

"Thank you for honoring our invitation, Alpha Jason," she said with a false smile plastered on her lips. I had to admit she was trying her best to keep up the charade, but it was a vain attempt. She was not pleased with this arrangement. My intel had already informed me of the reason behind it. Valentine was only doing this for her people.

With the false pleasantries exchanged, I was led into a ballroom of marble polished for the occasion. I briefly examined the duo of betas who accompanied me and Luna Valentine. They matched the alliance I would soon coerce the Monarch pack into. A separate door inside the ballroom opened, revealing a magnificent table set for a feast. Many of the seats were already taken by officials who had a say in the matter and, of course, the neighboring packs who knew I might come for them next. Satake was already seated, bubbling with conversation and being overly chatty with the enemies. Luna Valentine and I took our seats, and the food was served. What better meal for scheming wolves than mutton?

"So," I began, breaking the tense silence. "What do you think of my alliance? Is the pack of butterflies ready to become my stinging wasp?"

Luna Valentine had great difficulty swallowing the piece of meat in her throat. I wondered how hard it must be to sit across from your parents’ murderer, though if I were being honest, it was all Devin. Strange as it was, my psychotic brother had chosen to remain in the car rather than face Luna Valentine.

"It is… a very tempting offer, Alpha Jason," she replied, "but my court requests to know what the Monarch stands to gain if we give absolute control of this territory to you."

Those were not her words. The beta elders were pushing her, refusing to let this go easily. I scanned the room and found a few of them glaring daggers at Valentine, no doubt blaming her for incompetence. I was not quite used to this part of bargaining, but it was a necessary evil. I gurgled down the goblet of wine in front of me before I spoke.

"I hope no one poisoned this wine. I might have gotten a witch to hex me with something wicked. We would hate for another bloodshed to happen, right?"

This seemed to shake the guests, further assuring me that no one would do anything rash.

"That aside," I continued, "I think it is very clear what the Monarch gets here. But if you do not understand, I will spell it out for you. The Monarch will be getting the protection of the Crow, and of course, you all will get to see the light of day."

"Blasphemy!" a beta elder screamed. "You would not dare—"

I faced the old man, completely absorbed by how the red wine sparkled in my goblet. "Why wouldn’t I, old man?" I demanded. "I have done it before, have I not?"

It seemed what the man needed was a reminder of what had happened to the late Alpha and Luna of the Monarch. Their blood had once painted a marble floor just like this. They had fought as best they could, but it had not been enough. Devin had crushed the Alpha’s head as if it were a pumpkin and left his Luna to suffer until she eventually took her own life.

"Can we not come to a compromise?" Valentine asked, her quavering voice making it sound more like a desperate plea than a business proposition. She was really trying hard to fill the hole her parents had left, but she was inexperienced and, honestly, pathetic. It was a sore sight to watch. No spine. No pride to fight for. She was perfectly submissive. A pity she was not my mate.

"No, Luna Valentine. I am afraid you have nothing to offer. You only have everything to lose."

I expected her to break down, but imagine my surprise when a wry smile formed on her full, rouge lips. Perhaps I had underestimated this fragile butterfly.

"What if I do?" she said, taking a deliberate bite of her mutton, trying her best to suppress that smirk.

It was not a bluff. Valentine was an open book, and she clearly had an ace up her sleeve. This was the perfect time for her to use her trump card.

"What is it? I will decide if it is worth compromising over."

"Alpha Sofiane," she said simply.

Sofiane. That beast’s name echoed in my head a thousand times even after Valentine had uttered it. I wanted that bastard dead more than anything. I wondered if she was playing on my one weakness to make me promise something, but damn it, it was working. I was almost about to say something reckless when my phone chimed. It was an incoming call from Devin. It had to be important, so, against my usual table manners, I answered.

"I read her mind... Alpha Sofiane... He’s going to your home to kill your mate. Sofiane wants revenge."

I cut the call abruptly. The room seemed to spin and the weight of the world dropped on my shoulders. I was one step away from collapsing on the floor, and my ever-scheming brain went into overload until I could not focus on a single thought. It was painful. It was terrifying. And I did not understand it. Was I worried about my mate’s safety?

"Jason, are you good?" Satake asked. His voice was the anchor pulling me back from the panic attack, but it was not the only thing.

I stood up, forcing the chair backward. "Thank you for the Sofiane information, Valentine. We will talk about the compromise later," I said, storming outside.

I had thought it absurd when the Moon Goddess decided to trap me with an Achilles’ heel while my brother was the bigger monster. But I was wrong. Devin and Valentine were mates.