Xander POV:

We tortured both the vamp and the rogue for hours before the rogue finally caved. I didn't even know what time it was but it felt never-ending. I routinely checked in with Katie, who assured me Addie was still in the house and made no move to sneak out. I wiped the blood off my hands on a rag and glared down at the hunched over rogue.

"Talk," I ordered, tossing the rag to the side, crossing my arms.

"They want the Luna to get to you," he breathed out.

I narrowed my eyes and nodded to Kaden who approached with a silver chain, wearing gloves that protected him from the effects. The rogue whimpered and cowered away.

"Wait wait wait, I wasn't done," he said, curling into the corner. "They have a witch. They are planning to kill you through the Luna. If they get her, they can access your bond."

"They can't kill an Alpha through a Luna. Lots of pack leaders have lost mates and lived," Kaden argued.

"It's dark magic. Blood magic," he said. "They will use the Luna to gain access to him. They will make the bond strong, as if they are one, then when they break the bond it will kill him."

"Why didn't they do this to start out? They had her," I growled.

His mention of killing her made me want to rip his throat out.

"They thought it would be cleaner," he panted, wincing slightly and clutching his stomach. "They hoped to back you into a corner by using your Beta and mate to manipulate you into being reckless and kill you that way. The plan was to kill you and transfer the bond to another Alpha. Once bonded to another Alpha, he believed he would be able to use her to testify lies against you and take control of the pack without scolding from the Elders since her testimony would be enough to justify your death."

"A bond isn't transferrable," Kaden said, shaking his head.

"They've found a way, Rego found a way," the rogue argued. "They did it already. That's how they plan to break the bond. Make it strong between you two, then transfer it. The transfer will kill the one who is left mateless."

"You're lying," I said, narrowing my eyes and stepping towards him.

"I'm not. I was there. I saw it happen," he whined, cowering further into the corner.

"Why are you helping them? What do rogues get out of this?" I pressed.

"Rego said we could have his land and start our own pack when it's all done," the rogue admitted, not looking me in the eye.

I growled but didn't know what else to say. We need to talk to Cassie. Now, I linked Kaden.

Kaden nodded at my message and opened the cell door. We left the whimpering rogue behind and came up out of the dungeon. Once we were outside, I saw dawn already came and went. It really was hours we were in there. I wanted to check in with Addie but talking to Cass was a priority so we made our way to her house, only to find it empty.

"It's morning, maybe she's having breakfast in the pack house?" Kaden suggested.

Does anyone know where Cassie is?

I sent the message to the pack and Katie responded right away.

Pack house.

Kaden and I headed that way. I frowned when I saw a couple people going in and out of the house, carrying boxes with different kinds of foods. I glanced to Kaden and he shrugged as we stepped inside.

We entered the kitchen and an incredible scent hit me. Some kind of Italian food. I glanced around and saw Addie standing over the stove with Ginny, giving her directions while Cassie was cutting up vegetables.

Addie spun around and saw me, giving me a less than enthusiastic smile and setting her hands on the counter, meeting my gaze head on. It looked like a challenge, the way she stared me down. Damn, it was hot.

"Morning. Have some breakfast," she said, gesturing to the muffins sitting on the island counter.

A small part of me felt suspicious at her offer. I crossed my arms and glanced to the side as more people came in. "What's going on?" I asked.

"We're having a dinner here tonight," she said, taking a box from one of the pack members and setting it on the counter as she looked through it.

"We are, are we?" I said, narrowing my eyes.

"Yes. We are," she said, meeting my gaze, seeming completely free of intimidation while the wolves around me had slowly started to back away from us. "We're having a dinner to thank the pack for helping me yesterday. They're going to have a nice night, take turns having time off so everyone gets some. Then tomorrow, we're having a meeting with Kaden and Tess and all your Deltas and whoever else you meet with to discuss what our next steps are."

I tilted my head to the side as I regarded her. "And you decided all this without me," I commented.

"Yes. Just as you decided to keep information from me. But we're not going to do that anymore," she said determinedly, fixing me with a glare that caused the other wolves to back up even more. "Which is why we're having the meeting tomorrow. Because I'm not going to stand by like a damsel in distress while everyone else puts their lives on the line. We are going to strategize together and you're going to tell me everything you know, including whatever you learned from your prisoners last night. Then we'll all be on the same page and working together."

"You realize you're not a pack leader, right? I know this is new to you but this is the kind of thing I decide. Dinners where people get time off and meetings, that's not your call until you join the pack. It's mine. And having a dinner right now when everything is on edge, is not the right time," I said firmly. I told myself I wouldn't use my Alpha tone on her but I was really fucking tired and not up for this shit.

"Actually, I think it's the perfect time," Addie countered, seeming completely unfazed by the Alpha tone I just used on her. "Morale is important, too and we won't be putting anyone in unnecessary danger. Leila seemed to think it was more than possible to rotate shifts so everyone has a chance to come. Plus, I think it would be good for Felipe to know everyone is rooting for him and Anna said she could easily move him into the pack house for the night so he can enjoy everyone's company."

Damn, how many people had she met while I was busy? She moved from the counter and circled around, standing in front of me and crossing her arms defiantly.

"As far as who decides what," she said, narrowing her eyes. "You're the one that said an Alpha and a Luna are equal and as long as I'm in this house and being protected by the pack then I guess I'm a Luna in waiting, which means you don't decide. We decide. And since you made decisions without me last night, I'm leveling the playing field. Besides, it's too late for you to argue. We've already spread the word and everyone is very excited. You don't want to let your pack down, do you?" The little smile trying to form on her face told me she knew she had me with that pack comment. Damn her.

I couldn't decide if I wanted to yell at her or take her to the bedroom. I was irritated but impressed and most annoyingly, turned on. I took a step closer to her and she didn't back down. Normally if I looked at someone so intensely they would submit but she didn't even flinch. Damn, she was strong.

"Everyone out," I ordered.

No one questioned it. The room was empty seconds later.

"I thought you didn't want to be a Luna," I said, stepping closer to her.

"Take no shit and give 'em hell. Katie told me that's your motto. You work with the cards you're dealt so I'm taking none of your shit and I'm giving hell," she said simply, her gaze unfaltering.

"You're very close to crossing the line," I warned.

"Then I'm doing better than you," she said, narrowing her eyes. "You already crossed the line when you lied to me."

"You crossed it first when you ran away from me," I countered.

"You can't hold that against me forever," she sighed. "I won't let you. I stand by my decision to leave. I didn't even know you and I'd been through hell and back, feeling like I was a prisoner all over again. Have you even really thought about what I went through that night? Really thought about it?" She asked, an almost unnoticeable flash of pain crossed her face before the stubborn defiance returned. "I was kidnapped, nearly assaulted, beaten, killed two people, discovered a completely new world and woke up in an unfamiliar place with some random person sitting next to me and giving me the vaguest fucking answers about where I was and telling me I had to stay. I needed time to adjust and it's unfair for you to expect me to just be fine after what I went through. I'm so done with you throwing that in my face. I'm not saying I was completely right to run away but it's not like you did everything perfect either so you are not bringing that up again to try to make me feel guilty. End of discussion."

Her commanding tone caught me off guard. It pissed me off for her to order me around but also sent a tingle down my back. Just like Kaden said. A natural Luna. I quirked a smile and leaned forward, resting my hands on the counter, trapping her between them. She only slightly faltered as I moved in closer to her.

"Fine," I agreed. "But Luna's do other things too. You don't get to pick and choose whatever you want. Luna's also train, attend meetings, run patrols, there's a lot that goes into it."

"Bring it on," she said confidently.

"If you're going to be acting as a Luna they expect us to represent a united front," I said, leaning closer. "So no more of either of us deciding things without the other."

"Fine," she said, the slightest falter in her voice as her eyes darted down to my lips that were slowly coming closer to hers, her heart-rate elevating.

I chuckled and moved my lips next to hers. "Luna's also spend time with their mates. A lot of time. Means no more hiding, love."

I brushed my lips against hers and her resolve faltered. She sucked in a breath and pressed a light kiss to my lips. I smelled her arousal and growled, crashing my lips against hers and pulling her against me.

She gasped and leaned into me, wrapping her arms around my neck, bringing the kiss deeper, bringing our bodies closer together, melding together like they were meant to be together. I dropped my hands to her ass and lifted her. Her legs wrapped around me and I groaned, pulling her tighter, setting her on the kitchen counter.

I held her firmly against me, nipping at her lower lip and breaking away from the kiss as she moaned. I dropped my mouth to her neck and bit down, causing her to yelp. I sucked her smooth skin into my mouth, dragging my teeth against it as she gripped my shoulders.

"Mine," I growled, claiming her lips again.

She whimpered and tightened her legs around me. I brought us closer, rocking between her legs and getting another moan out of her. I was addicted to that sound. To her taste. I couldn't get enough of her. I slid my tongue into her mouth and demonstrated what I wanted to do to her elsewhere. She moaned, her hands tangling in my hair.

I moved my mouth down to her jaw, then her neck, biting down on her skin again. She whimpered and rolled her hips into mine. I groaned and slid my hand into her shorts, cupping her bare ass as I rolled into her and moved my lips down past her collar bone.

"Addie," I growled, kissing on the swell of her breasts.

She shivered and tugged on my hair. "Why do I want you so bad?" She whimpered, her feet digging into my back and pulling me tighter against her.

"Because you're mine," I growled, nipping at her neck again. "And I'm yours."

She whimpered and brought my head up to hers, pulling me into another kiss. I slid my hand up, under her shirt, ascending over her stomach.

"Whoa, sorry," Tess announced.

Addie froze, her eyes opening wide. She shoved me away and slid off the counter, adjusting her shirt, her face a delightful shade of red. I swear to Goddess I was going to kick every single wolf out of this house and not let them in again because the interruptions were really starting to piss me off.

I fixed a glare on Tess but her amused expression told me she wasn't sorry, not in the least bit.

"What the fuck do you want?" I growled.

"Xander," Addie scolded, smacking my arm.

I turned my gaze to hers and in seconds I could see the desire back in her eyes. I grabbed hold of her hand and tugged her towards the stairs.

"Wait, Xander, I actually did have something important to tell you!" Tess said after us.

Addie tugged her hand free and gave me a dirty look before turning to Tess with a determined look in her eye.

"You mean you had something important to tell us. It's not just him. We're both here," she said firmly.

Tess appraised Addie with admiration as she mind-linked me. Daaamn. Look at her with that Luna tone.

"Of course, Luna," Tess said, bowing her head, amusement in her tone. "Lynn's pack is more than willing to take down Rego. She's tired of his shit. She actually has some people in his pack right now for a rogue raid, she said she has them keeping a close eye on things and will let us know anything sketchy happening. She's also anxious to meet the new Luna."

"Great. Invite her over for dinner," Addie said with a nod.

Tess's eyes widened and she looked to me in confusion.

"You can't just invite a Luna over like it's nothing," I said, grabbing Addie's hand and spinning her around to face me.

"It's not nothing," she defended. "We're having a dinner party anyway. What harm would it do?"

"We're having a dinner party?" Tess asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes. Six o'clock," Addie said, glancing back at Tess.

"Addie," I said, releasing a breath both to calm the anger and the horrible urge to carry her upstairs and finally claim her. "Alphas and Lunas don't just invite each other over the same day. It's a matter of respect. If we invite her over like a second thought then she'll take offense to it. There's a way things are done."

"That's so silly. What if I just called her and explained to her I don't know how everything works but want to meet her?" She suggested, shrugging.

"That would work," Tess said, biting back a smile. "I mean, she knows you're human so she'd probably find it more endearing than anything else."

"See? Mateo's pack is coming anyway," Addie said, sticking her tongue out at me before turning to Tess. "Do you have her number?"

"Mateo's.... You... You can't just invite another pack on our lands!" I said, throwing my arms up.

"Xander," Addie turned to me, looking annoyed. "Stop throwing a tantrum. Mateo helped us too. And didn't we just decide Lynn's a friend?"

"Yes," I growled, my fist clenching. "Bu-"

"No buts. Friends are invited. Stop being a jerk. It will help us to have a good relationship, won't it?" Addie asked, glancing to Tess. "And she won't take offense at me calling her?"

"I seriously doubt it. I think she would be excited to get your call," Tess said, pulling out her phone.

"Good. Then it's decided. Now bring back in my help, I don't have all day to argue with you," Addie said, sending me a glare before walking over to Tess and taking her phone.

I narrowed my eyes at her, filling equal parts rage, respect, and need to have her under me. Tess's mindlink came in seconds later.

Xander Mathers, you've met your match and she is glorious.

A/N:

Hi readers! Fated reached 30k reads and 2k votes!!! Which is why I'm putting up this bonus chapter :) Thank you so much for the love!! I look forward to seeing your comments every single time <3 Speaking of which, drop a comment to let me know how you liked this chapter :)

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