My brother and I arrived at the Du-Ponte residence; couldn't say I was impressed. It gave off a creepy vibe, and I couldn't picture Sage growing up here.

As we approached the entrance a greeter asked our names before steering us towards the erected marquee at the side of the house.

Zander walked beside me silently whilst assessing his surroundings. The tension in his shoulders was clear and he was quiet—too fucking quiet.

He hadn't spoken two words all the way down here in the car.

"What's running through that head of yours?" I had to ask because my brother always played his cards close to his chest. He would never change. Pissed me off if I was being honest.

He ignored me, reaching inside his pocket to pull out his phone. "Just gonna text Gunner, making sure he's here. I sent him a message earlier, don't have a good feeling about tonight," he said.

Fuck!

I wasn't sure why that left me on the edge. Well, that wasn't entirely accurate.

I had this picture in my head. Gunner would take a hard look at Sage and this time put two and two together and deduce she might be this mystery wolf he was tracking.

Would he? Nah, he'd never seen her wolf or those amazing blue eyes of hers. I was just being paranoid.

Park it. It's not her.

But my brothers' words came from the back of my mind—the rumours. The rumours about Sage being different somehow.

Fuck! Exhaling a large breath through my nose, I chewed the inside of my cheek.

It's not her. Can't be.

Sage wouldn't hurt a fly or lower herself to mix with half of these wankers.

"I need you focused Hunter."

His gravelly voice dragged me from my thoughts. Glancing sideward, his eyes weren't on me but looking down at his phone. "You listening?" he said.

"What the fuck that's supposed to mean?" I growled.

"I don't know what's going on with you, but I know something is going through that thick head of yours. But park it, Hunter. I need your head in the game."

Cheeky bastard.

But he was right, my thoughts were single-minded. Sage.

"You don't need to be worrying about where my heads at brother." My tone was abrupt. I was getting a little fucked off with his big brother routine. You wouldn't think I ran the UK operations perfectly well—by myself.

He shoved his phone back to his inside jacket pocket. "Gunner's here."

"Right," I grunted.

We entered the marquee. And low and behold, thinking of wankers from moments ago, I spotted Barry, pretty boy Lyons eyeing me up as we walked in. My lip naturally curled and he looked away pretty sharpish when he saw me.

That's right sunshine, look away. Prick.

Looking around and sizing up the situation, both me and Zander declined the offered refreshments—this wasn't a social visit.

It wasn't an exaggeration when Zander stated Du-ponte had invited the packs. I could see quite a few Alphas and their Beta's along with mates in the crowd of faces. Most of them acknowledged me and looked surprised when they noticed my brother with me.

"Where did you say for Gunner to meet?" I kept my voice low.

"I didn't. Told him to keep himself in the background and hold back just in case he's needed."

Phew, that made me feel a little better. Glancing around the room again, I kept my eyes sharp, looking for Sage. Spotting another face in the distance, she turned as if she knew I was watching. Waving her hand, she picked up a glass of champagne from a passing server and headed our way, swishing her hand in the direction of anyone who tried to stop her from walking towards us.

She was practically beaming as she approached, eyeing my brother.

"Jesus there are two of you, you're the brother, aren't you?"

Pearl's cheeks were flushed pink and the sparkle in her eyes suggested she'd had quite a bit to drink already. "This is Pearl—"

"Oh wait, I remember... Alexander?" she cut me off, holding out her hand for him to shake.

My brother flicked his chin upwards. "Just Zander sweetheart," he replied.

She took a sip of her drink. "I'm Pearl, Sage's hotter, sexier and slightly older cousin and you—Zander." She paused shaking her head slowly. "Wow, you're almost as hot as your brother, if I do say so." She let her eyes wander the length of him with no shame or reservation.

Pearl was not backward in coming forward, licking her ruby red lips suggestively, giving my brother a clear signal of her interest.

Zander raised a finger. "Sorry already taken sweetheart." He flashed his ring.

Pearl raised a brow. "Well, you can't blame a girl for tryin' but I can't say I'm surprised, lucky lady. She turned her attention back to me, tilting her head. "Why are you here—did Sage invite you?"

Opening my mouth, Zander spoke first. "No, your grandfather, actually. Tell me Pearl, what's all this in aid of?" Zander gestured around the room.

Pearl's eyes passed between me and Zander, her brows furrowing. "You don't know?"

"No," we both echoed.

"This is supposed to be Sage's engagement party to an American called 'Victor.'" She spat out the name as if it burned her tongue.

I swallowed; thankful I wasn't holding a glass in my hand, it would have shattered as my fingers curled, balling into fists.

I would sooner have had someone hold a knife to me rather than think of Sage with another man or wolf.

"What the fuck! Did I just hear you right—engagement?" My teeth clenched so tight my jaw hurt as I took a step forward.

Zander took hold of my arm. "Cool it, Hunter."

Pearl took a deep breath, her face regretful that she had told me. "Before you get all crazy and wolf out. Sage didn't know either, and she only came tonight to tell our grandfather she didn't want to marry this Victor guy from America. And that she chooses—" She pushed her finger into my chest. "You!"

That should have stalled the rage building inside—but it didn't.

Why the fuck hadn't she told me she was supposed to marry someone else? That she was already involved with someone else? Not that it would have stopped me from pursuing her.

At that same moment, a burning sensation swept across my chest. Victor.

"You said Victor, this man she's supposed to marry. Is it Victor Stone?"

Fuck no, it couldn't be—could it?

The hostility I felt towards Victor was unreal, off the fucking Richter scale. I wanted to rip his fucking head off, just for daring to think he could be with Sage—my Sage. And I would when I got my hands on him.

My wolf growled, shifting under my skin. Mine! His possessive thoughts curled around my anger.

To fucking right, I replied.

Pearl bit on her bottom lip, her eyes looking up before capturing mine again. "Oh my god, you might be right."

Fuck.

A spark of anger spread through me, lighting every nerve like a bushfire. I turned to glare at Zander who shook his head. "Where's Sage now?" I asked switching back to Pearl.

She looked unsure as if she didn't want to tell me. "Pearl..." I lowered my tone.

She tutted. "Fine. In the main house, talking to our grandfather. But," she warmed. "You need to let her deal with this. He's been too controlling over everything in her life. It's time she stood up to him and told him no!"

My brow creased, and she looked worried. I looked around to see if I could see Victor. "Do you see him?" I asked my brother.

"Nah, but I just spied his brother though."

Fucking Hugo.

That was good enough for me. "C'mon," I said to Zander. "Excuse us, Pearl, be back in a sec, yeah?"

"Oh—okay," she replied a little worriedly.

Like a fucking bulldozer, the crowd before us separated as we headed towards that prick of a cousin of ours. I was ready to tear him and his fucking brother a new one if he confirmed what Pearl had just told me.

I couldn't believe it as the prick smiled at me and my brother before he noted the obvious glare I was shooting him. His smile dropped quick sharp, as he moved closer to the woman he was standing talking to a moment ago.

As if she would protect him—Pathetic wanker.

I watched his eyes flick nervously between us. But Zander beat me to it. "Got a minute, Hugo?"

It wasn't a question as my brother took him by the arm and we headed to the exit. He didn't put up a fight but mumbled something I didn't catch.

As we got outside, Zander dropped his grip. "Hunter, Zander good—"

I cut him off as my entire body tensed my fists closed, my tone was anything but friendly. "What the fuck are you and Victor doing here—and where is your brother? I need a word with him."

Planting my legs wide. My stance was threatening and just one step and I would be right in his face.

His eyes darted around and his posture remained rigid. He opened his mouth but snapped it shut just as quick. I was losing patience.

"My brother asked you a question, I suggest you answer," said Zander.

Hugo adjusted himself, standing taller and although I knew he was nervous, he must have thought being taller than me would make a difference—Like that fucking mattered. I curled my lip, snarling.

Oh yeah, he was shitting himself now. I could see his brow dampen with perspiration. He licked his lips, swallowing. "Listen Zander, Hunter. Victor is here to meet his future wife, it's nothing to do with Wolfe Industries, so you don't need to be worried." He held both hands palms up, almost in a surrender position.

"You know the rules, Hugo, you're supposed to let us know when you land in the UK. So if I hear you're hiding something, then I'm not gonna be happy about it, yeah?" said Zander almost shoulder-to-shoulder with me.

Rigid with pure fury, I was ready to lose my shit. There was no fucking way on this goddess's-green earth that I would let Sage marry Victor, a pathetic excuse for a man. I would kill him first.

My wolf snarled, his thoughts mirroring my own.

"I wont ask again Hugo—Where the fuck is your brother?" He shrank away from me slightly, shifting backwards, his eyes pleading for anyone who might help him.

"Hunter." I heard Zanders' voice cut through the fog of anger that was about to unload on my cousin Hugo if he didn't tell me what I wanted to know.

"He's there."

My head snapped over to where I saw Victor.

Smug fucker was smiling as he walked towards us.

And that was the final straw. I lost my shit, and I was heading towards him before I could think another thought, my hands curled into fists, jaw ticking, wolf snarling.

One of us wouldn't be standing for much longer.