Sasha stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in her office, mesmerized by the sight of the little pups playing in the field. She could see the bright smiles on their faces as they ran around in the grass chasing each other. As she watched them, a memory of Neza playing tag with the pups flashed through her mind, bringing a small smile to her lips. But alongside these pleasant memories came the sharp pain of loss. Causing her chest to tighten and her eyes to well up with tears. The memory of her best friend, the second most important man in her life, had the power to evoke a range of emotions in her, from joy to heartbreak.

Suddenly, her attention was drawn to the tree line near the field, where she caught movements. She narrowed her eyes at Jia, who was frantically waving at her. She lowered the wall in her mind when she noticed Jia pointing to her head.

"Greetings Alpha. Do you know how long we've been trying to get through to you?" asked Jia.

Sasha rolled her eyes and scoffed. "If it was a serious matter, you would have called my cell phone, too." Her lips curved into a small smirk as she watched Jia's lips turned down in a frown.

"Believe me, it's terrible," said Jia.

Sasha's face became guarded as she picked up on the seriousness in Jia's tone. "What happened?"

"Two of the Elders are waiting outside the enchantment. I told them we can't grant them access until you've been notified."

Upon hearing the news, Sasha felt her chest tighten with anxiety. Elders showing up now can't be good.

"Alpha, are you alright?" asked Jia.

Sasha took a deep breath to calm her suddenly tensed muscles. "Yeah, I'm good. Let me link everyone in the pack before I give you the go ahead to let those old bastards in."

Jia walked over to a tree and leaned on it. "I'll wait right here. Those old fools yap a little too much. I prefer to limit my interactions with them."

Sasha released a small chuckle, shaking her head playfully at her best friend's words. She sighed as she opened up the link with everyone in her pack. "Good afternoon everyone, I've just received word that elders have come unannounced to our pack. Until I know what they're here for, I want you all to address Alpha Jung as Warrior Jung." She paused when she felt the members' confusion. "No one is allowed to breathe a word about him being my mate. All adults should inform their young pups of this order," she commanded.

"Yes, Alpha Hemming," they all replied.

Sasha relaxed as she locked eyes with Jia after blocking out the others. "Go bring them in. I'll inform Kwan of the situation."

She reached for the small emergency pill bottle from her desk drawer and pulled it out. After taking off the cap, she retrieved a tablet and held it in her hand. She quickly tossed it into her mouth and swallowed it with a gulp of water from her bottle. Knowing she would have to convince her mate, she rushed out of her office.

The Elders, twenty to twenty-five, distinguished members of the Supernatural Association. The council comprised two elder alphas and coven leaders of each species; male and female. Their purpose was to ensure that the different species were obeying the laws. When trouble arose, they ordered higher-ranking packs and covens like Crescent Moon to carry out missions.

Sasha jogged the short distance from her office to their bedroom. Inhaling the intoxicating scent of her mate made a sense of calm wash over her. The moment she entered their bedroom, a radiant glow from the warm, golden sunlight flooding the room greeted her.

As she walked towards Kwan, his striking gray eyes fixated on hers, causing a flutter in her chest. She couldn't help but smile as she took in the sight of his long frame lounging on her couch. His long legs, covered by black ripped jeans, were thrown over the armrest. Her gaze continued upwards, taking in the black t-shirt that hugged his well-defined chest and broad shoulders. His long, white hair fell around his face like a curtain, begging to be touched.

Standing up from his seat, he pulled her close, enveloping her in his warmth. "What's the matter, buttercup?"

She smiled softly as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Of course, he would pick up on my unease. She planted a soft kiss on his cheek. Feeling the softness of his skin under her lips, before she pulled back to gaze into his eyes. "Listen to everything I say before going possessive male on me, yeah?"

Kwan's gray eyes swirled with curiosity as he arched one eyebrow. "As long as it doesn't include another male."

A soft giggle escaped Sasha's lips. "I'll work with that." She moved one of her hands from his neck and placed it over his heart. "Some elders from the council are here. They didn't give me any warning beforehand, so we need to tread lightly. So, that includes not telling them we are mates."

His eyes darkened with anger as he stared down at her. "Why hide that we are mates from the council? They can't stop the bond between two fated," he growled out.

She sighed softly and gave his chest a gentle pat. "They can find some reason to kill you, cutie. Remember that I'm a hybrid. Not that they know that because my parents made sure no one outside my pack knows that fact. But if they find out that a rare white wolf is my mate, they will see it as a power threat. They already dislike the fact that a witch is the alpha of the most feared pack. Those old bastards are a bunch of power hungry creatures sitting around a table searching for more power. So the moment they get wind that the daughter of a witch and lycan is the mate of a white wolf, my pack and you won't be safe."

Kwan released a defeated sigh. "So, does that mean I have to sleep in another room?"

"We'll figure that part out when I hear why they are here." A knocking in her mind made her pull out of his arms. She gave him a reassuring smile before lowering the wall in her mind.

"Hey Alpha, I'm downstairs with them. Elder Levi Jacobs and his right-hand man Nathan Wallace, along with the witch Elder Silvia Storm," said Jia.

"I'll be down in a minute. Keep an eye on them."

She looked up at her mate, who was staring at her with curiosity. "The Elders are downstairs. I'll be in my office... I'll come find you when I'm done talking to them."

He shook his head. "No, I'm coming with you."

"Fine, but please keep your cool no matter what," she warned. She didn't have the time to argue with him.

"Of course," he said with a smirk.

Sasha grumbled under her breath at his cheeky smirk. "Wait in my office." She turned to head to the door.

"Buttercup," Kwan called.

She glanced over her shoulder at him. "Hmm?"

"Aren't you forgetting something very important?" he asked while pointing at his eyes.

She furrowed her brows, trying to decipher the reason behind him pointing at his eyes. "What?" she asked, confused by his gesture.

Kwan chuckled, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "Your contacts for your eyes, buttercup."

Sasha winced as she smacked her head with her palm. "Oh shit! Thanks for reminding me, cutie." Flashing him a smile, she dashed into the bathroom to put her green contacts in. Taking out the contact lenses, she carefully placed them in her eyes and blinked a few times to get them settled.

With her contacts finally in place, she strolled out of the room and leisurely made her way down the stairs. If they want to show up unannounced, then they should have no problem waiting for me to present myself.

"Why wasn't Alpha Hemming here to greet us at the door? Better yet, why didn't she come and collect us at the border?" A male voice that sounded shaky and hoarse asked the question.

Sasha rolled her eyes as she descended the last set of stairs. She knew that voice all too well, Levi Jacobs. The eighty-year-old retired alpha from the New Moon Pack. Second most feared pack in America. If Lorenzo, Sasha's father, wasn't killed, the old geezer wouldn't have been on the council.

"Why don't we ask her when she finally shows up?" inquired a woman, her voice sounding wheezy and feeble.

Sasha entered the living room just in time to see Jia pinching her nose in irritation. She bit her lip as a laugh threatened to break free. "Hey now, calm down. Remember, you're the gentler one out of the two of us," she said to Jia in their shared link. She quickly masked her facial expression when the three uninvited guests turned to face her.

Her lycan's growls filled her mind when she noticed Nathan glaring at her. While Nathan posed no danger to her, her lycan wouldn't tolerate any form of disrespect. He stood tall at six feet and five inches, boasting of lean muscles. A black dress shirt and dark blue jeans concealed his pale white skin. His hair was an unusual mix of bleach blond and silver. The blond facial hair that covered the lower half of his diamond-shaped face was slightly unkempt. His crooked nose looked like it had been broken a few times. The most intriguing feature of his face was undoubtedly his violet-colored eyes.

Sasha arched a brow at him, and he lowered his head in submission. Despite the temptation to smirk at his submissive behavior, she held back. People were afraid of her pack for good reason.

"You didn't think it was disrespectful not to show up to meet us at the border when you heard we had arrived?" asked Elder Jacobs.

Sasha fixed her gaze on the old man, shooting him a dark glare. Elder Jacobs, with his light green milky eyes, held his ground, his gaze unflinching as it met Sasha's. Thin snow white hair adorned his head, and his face was wrinkled and worn, with deep crevices etched into his skin. The goatee that he sported only added to his rugged look. Sun-kissed tan skin peeked out from under his brown shirt and khaki shorts. Despite his hunched back, he stood tall at around six feet, his presence commanding.

"You lot came here unannounced. You're lucky I allowed you to enter," Sasha said without breaking eye contact. "Now you can follow me to my office or you can leave the same way you came." I will gladly show y'all the way out.

"That is not the way you talk—" Elder Jacobs started, only to stop when Elder Storm placed a hand on his shoulder.

Sasha narrowed her eyes at the two elders' exchange.

"Sorry about him. He's a bit..." Elder Storm trailed off. She clapped her hands. "Ah, edgy."

Sasha inwardly scoffed at the seventy-year-old elder's poor attempt to mask their blunder. Elder Storm was a diminutive woman, standing at five feet tall. Her russet brown skin was wrinkly and weathered, like the bark of an ancient tree. Her hazel eyes striking against the heavy black liner around her eyelids were piercing—full of wisdom and experience.

Elder Storm silver bob hung like a shimmering curtain around her oval-shaped face. Catching the light and reflecting it in all directions. Her full lips, painted with a deep red lipstick, curved into a sweet smile, revealing a row of crooked white teeth. While holding the fake smile, her button nose twitched slightly. Her slim figure was draped in a flowing black dress that reached just below her knees.

Sasha's wedge heels let out a small squeak as she spun around. "You can follow me up to my office." She snapped her finger as a thought came to mind. Glancing over her shoulder, she said, "ah, I was in a meeting before you guys showed up. So I hope you don't mind the extra person in my office."