"My main concern is what your brother will do once he figures out you betrayed him," I said.
"He'll try to kill her." Blaine rubbed his head.
Xavier growled. "I won't let him."
"He wouldn't kill me. He'd be pissed, but he's still my brother. He's not as cruel as you'd think." She nibbled on her thumb.
"Oh?" I arched an eyebrow.
"I know it's hard to believe, but he wasn't always so cold. His mate rejected him, and he was never the same. Anger took hold of him."
"I see." I stood up, leading them to do the same.
Olivia froze, and Xavier stepped in front of her.
"I think you coming forward puts you in a good place, considering. Though, you still tried to deceive us." I frowned. "Olivia, you must pay for the crimes you intended to commit."
Xavier's growl rumbled deep in his throat as he held my gaze.
"Stand down." I snarled back at him. "I said, stand down, Gamma." I took a step forward, and he broke eye contact with me, stepping to the side.
"Olivia, you are to do the job of an Omega for the next two weeks. Nothing too terrible because I'm thankful that you came forward. I know that was difficult for you."
Xavier's shoulders slumped and he let out a big breath of air.
"Thank you for showing me mercy," she said.
"Sorry, Sophia." Xavier said. "I didn't mean to growl." He scratched his head and avoided eye contact.
"You are free to go now. If anything happens or if your brother tries to contact you, notify me. We will watch you from this point on."
"Absolutely Alpha." Her head bowed as she interlaced fingers with Xavier.
They left and shut the door behind them.
"You were very lenient with her." Blaine stood up and approached me from behind. He traced the crescent moon tattooed on my neck.
"Without her, we wouldn't have known what Lockhart was planning. Plus, she's Xavier's mate—and she seemed remorseful." I shivered under his touch.
"You always see the good in others. It's not a common trait for an Alpha, but it's one I respect." He placed a kiss on my neck and continued to my collarbone.
"Someone has to. I think we balance each other out well." I turned around to face him and placed my arms around his neck.
"You bet we do." He leaned in and kissed me on the lips. His kiss was something I'd never grow tired of.
I lingered before pulling away. "I need to call a few warriors and assign them to watch Olivia."
He pouted, and his thumb stroked my cheek. "All work and no play."
I shook my head at that. He knew damn well that there was plenty of play, especially when it concerned us.
Blaine ran a hand through his perfect silver hair. "I don't like it."
"I know, but she's my mom." My hands slid down his chest, my fingertips burning from the ecstasy of the matebond. "I told her I would."
"Mom or not... you're still an Alpha that can make her own decisions," he grumbled.
"This is my decision, okay?" I tiptoed and kissed along his jawline.
He sighed, closing his eyes. "I'd be a lot less tense if you'd let me fuck you first."
I wriggled my finger. "Nuh uh. If I let you do that, we won't end up going at all."
"Damn." He grinned. "You caught me."
I rolled my eyes, and the corners of my lips tilted upwards. "Let's get this over with."
He trailed behind me with his hands stuffed in his pockets as we headed toward the door. We locked up the cottage and made our way to the cellars. It was five miles from the pack house and secluded in the middle of a thick forest. A hatch was the only entrance and the only exit. They covered it with dirt, sticks and leaves.
"This is it," I said as we came across the entry. I bent over to brush away the covering and yanked it up, causing the metal to creak as it opened.
"Nice." Blaine glanced around. "This is definitely out of the way."
"That's the point." I slid down the opening and into the cellars. He did the same behind me and I heard the hatch slam shut.
A guard was standing at the bottom of the ladder and bowed his head. "Alphas."
"I'm here to see Nolan."
He snorted. "That sleazeball? Right this way." He led us down the dank cement hallway and into the torture cells. It reeked of blood and sweat, an attribute fit for those sentenced.
"Unfortunately."
"Alright, he's in cell six." He held out a thick brown glove. "For the Wolfsbane."
Blaine grabbed the glove and pulled it onto his right hand.
I nodded. "Thanks."
"Good luck." The guard's gruff voice echoed off the walls.
We made our way down to his designated lockup. The cells were made of steel and laced with wolfsbane to cause burns to the wolves who attempted to escape.
Blaine opened the door with his gloved hand. We walked into the cell as he shut the door and locked it.
I frowned. "I could've opened it."
"Don't worry about it." He nodded toward the other side of the cell.
My eyes shifted to Nolan who was lying on the ground in the fetal position wearing only his underwear. Lacerations ripped open his sickly pale skin, and blood coated the floor beneath him.
"P-Please, no more." His voice was weak as he struggled to lift his head.
"Mom wants me to pass along a message." I clicked my tongue. "Ivy and your baby are doing fine, and Ivy misses you."
"I don't care about her. I thought I made that clear." He coughed up blood as he could finally lift his head and look me in the eye. "You're who I want."
"And I clarified that I don't want you. I sentenced you down here to learn
