---Benji's POV---

My instincts were flaring on a high alert as I noticed a pattern in Anders and Vane's constant disappearing act, acting like nothing was going on. Elijah might've been docile enough to sit back and let his mate do everything, but I was starting to get antsy.

I just knew that my mate was trying to get a hold of Vaughan but the snake proved to be too slippery and snuck out of his reach whenever he seemed to gain on the man.

And when I had suggested they'd use me as bait, I was sure he'd blow up the island before letting Vaughan anywhere near me.

A sigh escaped me as I thumbed at the book page, eyes lazily scanning the contents and already forgetting what I just read. It was hard to focus when I knew that Vane and Anders were just a room away, conversing and plotting to try and get their hands on Vaughan

What I found more curious was to why they didn't reach for the main source of evil? Why not go after the pack?

The more I thought of it, the more sense it made. All the inmates here were sent here by the pack, hell, most of these people weren't even true inmates, simply people who had stood up against the pack or who were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I paused halfway into turning the page, eyes blinking before I looked up. If none of the people on this island were here because they were convicted for a crime...

...Then why was Vaughan here? The only thing I had managed to pry out of my mate was that Vaughan came here a long time ago and had tried several times to manipulate my mate in some shape or form.

The question is, why? What did Anders have that Vaughan needed?

A way off this island.

I nodded to myself before frowning. It wasn't that easy though, the trackers in our body would go off the second we got off of the island, alerting the pack of our attempted escape and they'd track us down and kill us.

Hell, several of the shifters on this island were Eagle shifters, there was even a Great white shifter, but none of them could go past the borders. It didn't matter if they'd come back to the island; the second they breached the border and came back to the island, the pack would depart to their loved ones and slaughter every single one of them.

I closed the book with a thud, placing it back with the others as I felt my heart pinch with sorrow. Dana. I was never gonna see my little sister again. If I moved one toe out of line, that vile pack would go after my sister.

I blinked.

Slowly, an idea started to grow in my head, morphing and growing as I thought more and more about it. My feet moved on their own, rushing to get to my mate as excitement started to bubble up in me.

Anders and Vale snapped their heads up as I shoved the door open before blushing at my dramatic entrance. Vale snorted and Anders raised an eyebrow silently questioning what I was up to.

"I have an idea that could work."

They shared a look before Anders patted his thigh. I didn't doubt for a second and cuddled up to him, a low purr rumbling through my chest as his fingers combed through my hair. "Everyone here has been wronged by the pack, and you've told me that since the beginning , Vaughan has been trying to cozy up to you, right?"

My mate nodded while Vane eyed me curiously. "But what has that to do with the whole situation?" He grumbled, eyes flickering to the doorway with longing, as if expecting Elijah to walk in as well.

"It means, " I started looking up at my mate to make sure I got my point across, "That we all have a common enemy. Whatever he did, Vaughan has crossed the pack and it ended him here with us. Yet, he's desperately trying to get back and I can only come up with one reason for that."

Vane's eyes widened as Anders smiled proudly, nodding to himself. "He's mated." Leaning back, he looked out the window and sighed deeply, "Judging from his past behavior, the wolves have control over his mate. Recently, he's stopped harassing other inmates and focused more to try and get in my good graces."

"Which means, " Vane added while leaning forwards, "that he's going against orders and is attempting to retrieve his mate." I smiled and nodded, adding, "Or, his mate is in danger, which would make it that much easier to persuade Vaughan to help us. If we can help him to his mate and offer him security and protection from the pack, he'd make a powerful ally."

Anders grinned, reaching out to pull me in his lap as he petted through my hair, making me purr deeply. "Gorgeous and smart. Whatever have I done to deserve you, my love?" I hummed as I leaned up, barely registering Vane leaving the room and hearing Elijah squeal in the distance.

"I don't know." I mused, nuzzling under his chin and sighing happily as his arms wrapped around me. Anders chuckled, causing me to look up just in time to see Vane walk past the doorway with a blushing Elijah cradled in his arms.

"Yeah, get some Elijah!" I shouted, laughing when Vane barked in laughter while Elijah squeaked, "Oh my god, this is so embarrassing! Don't encourage him Vane!" The polar bear obviously ignored him and I chuckled before squeaking when Anders' palm smacked playfully against my rump.

"What did I tell you about pestering Elijah?" He questioned with an arched brow, to which I sighed and grumbled, "Not to do it." He chuckled, pulling me closer against his body before his lips whispered against my jaw.

"Nevertheless, I'm proud of you love. Vaughan is a very closed off man and all the time he has spent here on the island with me, I've never suspected he was mated, but then again, he always disregarded any advances towards him." 

Anders frowned, tapping his fingers against my thigh before nodding to himself. "I'd always assumed that he avoided any relationships simply because he didn't want to enable someone having a hold over him. Now I know he was being faithful to his mate."

I purred as his fingers tangled gently in my hair, pulling until my throat was bared to him. My heartrate accelerated, anticipating his fangs before they struck down. The second they pierced the skin, my body was overwhelmed with pleasure to the point where I was shaking in Anders' lap, whimpering as it was almost too much.

My mate related and withdrew his fangs, tongue laving over my throat to heal the puncture wounds. I gasped breathlessly and sagged in his hold, purrs rumbling through my chest nonestop. 

Anders stood, lifting me with ease and carrying me through the hallway, ignoring the closed room at the end off the hall and the obvious sounds that were escaping it. Instead, he gently deposited me on the bed and cleaned me before curling his large body around my much smaller frame.

I sighed happily, resting my head on his arm, tucked against his chest with our legs intertwined. Anders' fingertips brushed gently through my hair, occasionally dipping down to my back to tease the skin there. Looking at him, I could tell my mate was still deep in thought.

"What's wrong?" I croaked, blinking tiredly as he shook his head out of his daze and smiled warmly at me.

Anders sighed heavily, "I'm just worried. If Vaughan feels himself trapped and cornered, he'll most likely try and bluff or bargain his way out of things. Meaning, he'll go after you to use against me as a bargaining chip."

I nodded, realizing this to be true. Vaughan already was desperate to anger Anders by sneaking in his house in an attempt to reach me. His mate must be in a rather dangerous situation for Vaughan to risk his own life.

An idea came to mind and I smiled, before murmuring, "But if he wants to use me, he needs to be close by to be able to act quickly. Which means, we can let him know that we're on his side." I grinned, "Better yet, inform all the inmates. I'm sure that the Redwoods wolves are going to fight back, so why not give them the fight they're looking for so eagerly?"

My mate hummed, rolling on his back and drawing me further into his body until I was nearly laying on top of him. "True... But the wolves aren't afraid to get their hands dirty, as they have proven by hiding behind the inmates' mates."

I rolled my eyes and pinched his nipple, having Anders nearly catapult out of the bed before he scowled down at me, rubbing the sensitive pebbled skin. "That's why we have you, you dum dum. You're the one that can open portals willy-nilly, so why not open a portal and instead of sending someone through, we'll pull their mates in with us."

His eyes sparked before he grinned proudly, drawing me in for a kiss. "That could actually work, given that the wolves aren't hovering nearby... but if they found out that one mate has disappeared, they might go for the others."

I glanced at him, "So... How good are you in opening multiple portals at the same time and keeping them open until the mates have gone in and out?" He frowned, thinking to himself before speaking.

"I've never really tried to open more than three at the same time. If I have to open up a portal for every mated inmate on this island, only closing them after they've returned with their mates... I'll need to try it out before hand."

I chuckled and rolled my eyes. "Well, then better get to practicing soon." A yelp escaped me as I was suddenly pinned underneath Anders, his eyes burning hungrily as he gazed down at me. "Oh, I'll practice alright," His hips jutted forwards, driving my legs apart as he bumped his heavy cock against my opening, "How about I start right now?"

Needless to say, we didn't get much sleep. And I sure as hell approved of Anders' practicing methods... but, maybe we'll need to have a few more test runs, just to be sure of course.