Sasha's throat constricted, making it hard for her to breathe after hearing Elder Jacobs' question. She fixed her gaze on the two elders, attempting to steady her nerves. The air in the room was thick with tension as everyone held their breath, waiting for her answer.

Questions about Neza were unexpected, and the memory of his death was still raw. But she didn't want to lose control of her emotions and risk revealing her inner turmoil to the elders. She bit the inside of her cheek and leaned forward to place her hand on her office desk.

A menacing snarl echoed through the room, causing every head to snap in its direction, including Sasha's. She quickly rose to her feet when she realized Jia had partially shifted. Jia's honey-colored eyes had turned a deep brown, glinting with her hurt and anger. Sasha could feel the tension in her own body as she watched Jia's canines and claws lengthen. Shit!

"Your kind," Jia's voice was low and guttural as she pointed an accusatory finger at Elder Storm. "Killed him!" she snarled, her voice dripping with venom and rage.

Sasha lowered the wall in her mind so that she could mind-link Jia. "Jia, you need to calm the fuck down, right this instant," she ordered.

Jia's nostrils flared as she let out a low growl. Her muscles tensed as she crouched low to the ground.

Sasha's eyes narrowed in frustration as she gritted her teeth and balled up her fist. With a swift motion, she brought her hand down hard against the wooden surface of her desk, causing a resounding crack to reverberate throughout the room. "You either calm the fuck down or get out! I won't allow you to attack an elder, even if you're my best friend. Rules are rules, Beta."

"Little wolf, you do realize that your Alpha is a witch, right?" asked Elder Storm.

Sasha's nostrils flared as she regained focus and shot the woman a piercing glare. She could feel her own anger rising like a wave in her chest, fueled by the woman's condescending tone.

Elder Storm shrugged nonchalantly, her lips curving into a smirk. "What? I'm just stating the obvious."

"Getting a little comfortable, aren't we? Don't you dare use that tone while addressing my Beta. Who, by the way, has every right to be pissed at you, Elder Storm." Sasha's lips slowly tilted into a small smirk. "You see, while I do have some sort of respect and appreciation for the council. I don't appreciate you people showing up uninvited and disrespectful. So it would be fair game if I allowed my Beta to escort you out in the grips of her sharp claws."

Nathan's slow movement caught Sasha's attention, and she turned her head to face him. Her lycan's snarls echoed in her mind, drowning out all other sounds as she stared Nathan down. "One more step towards my Beta and your heart will no longer be in your chest, guard-dog."

Nathan's body suddenly stiffened, and he slowly turned his gaze downwards. But Sasha had already noticed the fear in his eyes. She continued to stare at Nathan for a few more minutes, making sure he wasn't faking his submission. Then she shifted her attention to Jia and let out a small breath of relief when she noticed that Jia had regained her composure. Jia's once-elongated claws and canines had retracted, but the intense fury still burned in the depths of her honey-colored eyes.

"Nathan was only trying to protect us from the threat in the room. No need for you to issue such a threat, Alpha Hemming," said Elder Jacobs.

Sasha's gaze was sharp as she locked eyes with him, her expression questioning if he thought she was naïve. The sound of her chair wheel rolling across the floor echoed through the quiet room as she slowly sat back down. "And I'm protecting my Beta. Now explain the reason for your visit before I really lose my patience."

Elder Jacobs smiled, revealing his white teeth, but Sasha could feel the insincerity radiating from him. "Before we state why we are here, answer this question first. If that's not too much to ask," said Elder Jacobs.

Sasha could feel the frustration building up inside of her as she clenched her fist tightly. With a nod, she reluctantly gave him the go ahead. She stole a furtive glimpse at Kwan, who had been silent ever since Elder Jacobs ceased interrogating him. A gentle flutter of butterflies took flight in her stomach when she realized he was already gazing at her. He flashed her an assuring smile and rubbed his chest while mouthing the words "calm down" to her.

Suppressing a giggle, Sasha felt a warm sensation in her chest as the sound of her lycan's purring filled her mind. Look at you being a good little lycan for our mate. Her lycan growled at her in annoyance, causing Sasha to bite her lip to stifle the laughter that was bubbling up within her.

"Why did you suddenly leave your pack after five years?" asked Elder Jacobs.

Sasha suppressed a small sigh and mentally rolled her eyes at his question. She folded her arms tightly across her chest. Feeling the supple of her leather top constrict against her skin. She stared at him, taking in the sight of his furrowed brow and the slight twitch in his cheek. After a moment or two, she finally answered his question. "My parents' friend requested help from us. So I went along to help. After all, they were closed to my dead parents."

"That doesn't explain—" said Elder Jacobs.

"We heard you killed your aunt, Ivy Wonderspell," Elder Storm cut in. With furrowed brows and a slight tilt of her head, she leaned forward, clearly intrigued but suspicious.

Sasha shrugged. "Yeah, and what about it?"

"Did you kill such a powerful witch by yourself?" asked Elder Storm. Her hazel eyes held a swirling skepticism that was hard to miss.

Sasha arched a single brow as she studied the elder's expression, attempting to decipher her true intentions. She slowly unfolded her arms and leaned forward in her chair. "I would think you are smarter than that, Elder Storm," she said. Her words were laced with a hint of condescension. She sensed they were fishing around for something. But she couldn't quite put her finger on whether it was related to her or Kwan being a white wolf.

Elder Storm's sharp intake of breath was audible, her eyes narrowing with indignation.

"Slowly now, Elder. We can't have you taking in too much oxygen at once in that frail body. Then we'll have to deal with the entire council," Jia chimed in.

Sasha locked eyes with Jia. "Please, I'm trying to be serious around these people, Jia," she said through the link.

"And I'm dying from boredom. They need to hurry and tell us why they're here and leave," Jia replied telepathically.

"Believe me, I want them gone just as much as you. But I have a bad feeling that it won't be a simple task to get them to leave," said Sasha.

"I have no problem dragging them out by their ankles if you give the orders," said Jia. Her tone was firm and serious, leaving no doubt about her intentions.

Sasha suppressed a smile and chuckled inwardly. "I know, but let's hear why they're really here first."

Sasha's blurry vision slowly cleared, and she could see Elder Storm's eyes flash with annoyance. A small smirk played on her lips as she savored the satisfaction of witnessing the elder's displeasure.

"Did you kill the dark witch by yourself, Alpha Hemming?" Elder Storm asked once more. The irritation was palpable in her tone.

Sasha leaned back in her chair. Resting her elbow on the armrest, she propped her cheek on her knuckle. "The unity of my pack killed Ivy. And if you still don't get what I mean. My warriors and I fought against Ivy," she said in a bored tone.

"My boy here—" Elder Jacobs chimed in and pointed at Nathan. "—told us he sensed a powerful lycan near here a few days ago." He rubbed his chin slowly. "It was around the time you fought with Ivy Wonderspell."

Sasha narrowed her eyes at them. "Are you people watching my pack now?" she asked, her voice low and tense.

Elder Storm shook her head. "No. we had gotten news that Ivy was on the move. And we were trying to locate her. We sent Nathan, and he informed us that he sensed a lycan near your territory."

"So you people knew about Ivy being alive and failed to inform my Alpha about her," said Jia. Her voice was thick with anger, and dripping with accusation.

"That was our mistake," Elder Storm admitted.

Jia scoffed, the sound sharp and piercing. "That mistake cost us a lot. And now you're here questioning us about how we killed the evil witch."

"So about the lycan's where about?" asked Elder Jacobs.

Jia's frustration was evident as she let out a low growl in response to Elder Jacobs' dismissal. The sound filled the room, echoing off the walls. Sasha, noticing the tension, quickly intervened. She raised her hand, a signal for Jia to stop.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. Aren't lycanthropes supposed to be extinct?" Sasha asked.

Elder Jacobs leaned forward in his seat. "Exactly! So why did Nathan sense a lycan presence near your borders?"

Sasha shrugged, her head tilted slightly to the side. "Can't say. Maybe his senses were off that day... There was a crazy storm happening throughout the battle."

Elder Jacobs let out a dry chuckle. "Mind if we take a walk around your territory?"

Sasha flashed him a grin. "The only walk you'll be taking is the path out of my territory. There is no lycan here, and I think it's about time you leave," she advised.

"We aren't leaving without the white wolf. So you two can continue your meeting with us here," said Elder Jacobs. His lips curving into a sinister smile.

As Sasha slowly lifted herself from her seat, the menacing growls of her lycan echoed through her mind. "Elder Jacobs, you seem to think you have some sort of authority here on my land. You either leave willingly or—"

"You can't expect me to leave if my mate is in this pack, Elder Jacobs," Kwan interrupted.