Jacob

"What do you mean it has everything to do with her?" I turn around slowly, glaring at Connor to hear what he has to say. If he knows where she is -

"I don't think this is the right place," Connor glances over my shoulder, "we should go back to the den."

"Connor?" I frown as he reaches down and with his good arm, grabs Luthor's leg to help the others. "Have you found Ana?"

"It has nothing to do with finding her."

"Then what the fuck is all of this about?"

"Just wait until we get to the den, please Jacob. My mate needs to tell you herself."

The look on Connor's face speaks volumes. Pursing my lips together, I follow the four of them as they carry Luthor's body back to the den.

We reach the den, which is quiet except for some of my warriors still picking up the pieces of the battle the other night. They rush over to us, and take the rogue leader's body from the others.

"What do we do with him?"

"Guillotine his head, and put it on a stake in front of our east border. If the other rogues come, they'll know what happens when they cross into our territory."

Lionel bows and leads the others into the den where they'll take Luthor's body to sever his head. I turn to Connor, who nervously flicks at the brace covering his arm.

"Where's your mate?"

"She's inside," Connor looks up, and just as I'm about to turn, he grabs my arm. "Promise me you'll show her mercy, Alpha."

Confused, I turn back and raise my brow, "does she know where Ana is?"

"No," he carries on walking towards the den, leaving me to stare after him, wondering what is so important that he brought me back here when I could be out there, searching for Ana.

When we enter the den, the warriors already taking the lifeless body of the rogue down the stairs leading to the dungeon, we find Connor's mate, Tanisha, sitting cross-legged on the couch. She sees me and instantly springs up to bow before me.

"Alpha," she addresses with the utmost respect.

"Please, Tanisha, take a seat. There's no need for formalities. We're all friends here, right."

Noting the look she quickly throws at her mate - as if she's afraid - I pull up a chair while Connor takes a seat beside her. He slings his arm across her shoulders, smoothing the skin just underneath her ear with the tip of his index. Just what the hell is going on?

Tanisha takes a deep breath and opens her mouth to say, "Anastasia," before she shuts it again.

"What about Anastasia?"

"Please," Connor cuts in, "promise me you'll show her mercy."

I let out a half-suppressed laugh, leaning over the backrest. "Mercy for what? You're not making any -"

"It's our fault!" Tanisha bursts out suddenly, her dark brown eyes filled with unshed tears. "It's our fault for what happened to Ana!"

Silence follows as I blink my eyes trying to figure out what she meant.

"Your fault for what?" I say calmly.

"For everything! If it wasn't for Medeia's personal vendetta," she throws her hand up, pointing out the window, "her house wouldn't have even burned!"

"What?!" I throw the chair from under me out. "Are you telling me that Medeia was responsible for putting her in a coma?"

"It wasn't only her. We all played a part in it - me, Harley and Megan. She put us up to it, to lock Ana in after she sent her the bomb." Tanisha drops her face into her hands and starts weeping.

I can't believe what she's just said. I scan the room for Derek, but he's still downstairs with the others. If he heard what she just told me - that it was his sweet, precious Medeia that was responsible for something as devious as this, he would surely go crazy. As crazy as I feel, learning that her own pack -

And then it made sense, even though what Tanisha tells me next horrifies me.

"She's the one who enlisted the rogues to attack Ana at the border. They bumped into her that day, and she ran out - something Ana never does. She never runs away. She always stays behind," Tanisha looks up and sniffs, "almost like she's asking for it."

Almost like she's asking for it.

I'm reminded of the time I caught her with a blade in one hand, the other sliced. Ana enjoyed the pain, the anti-attention she received because it must have hurt.

As much as it hurt me. The heartache is so fresh from when I had to watch Ana and Derek do a simple thing like speak to each other. It was as if my heart was being twisted in my chest every time I was reminded that they were mates.

It all makes sense. And as much as Tanisha rambles on about how it was their fault, deep down I know it was mine. It was my fault for carelessly picking Gisele when I knew all along where my heart belonged. Because of my father's warning, I neglected to see what was so clear all along.

Anastasia was in love with me. Maybe having more love for me than I had for her. I remember it now, even just as I blink my eyes, how Ana looked that day, many years ago. We were only kids back then, talking about fated mates when she casually threw in "What if I'm your mate?" and how I rejected her back then with my childish answer.

If I could turn back time, I'd tell her right then that my heart belonged to her, that if it wasn't for my Alpha duties - duties placed on my shoulders not by choice, but by birth - I would have picked her in every lifetime. I can imagine it now, her girlish eyes lighting up the way I always dreamed they would. And I only had myself to blame.

But it was more than just having to blame myself for everything that happened. Anastasia was the victim here, and the culprits? Medeia, Harley, Megan, and Tanisha. Summoning all the leadership and power I have inside, I straighten up and call out for Derek.

"What's wrong, Jake?" Derek asks when he's taken a look around the room, trying to read it.

Tanisha remains sobbing into her mate's shoulder, and Connor just sits there staring blankly out of the window. He can sense what's coming, and he knows there'll be repercussions for everything they've done.

"Nothing," I spit venomously - more to myself than to the mates sitting in front of me, tied together by their foreseeable separation, "call for a meeting tonight. Everyone must be here."

"Everyone?"

"Everyone."

~

The den is full tonight, every space occupied by either a young wolf or an elder. The elders barely mingled in wolf affairs unless the Alpha called for them. Or if someone in the pack was getting married.

Tonight, their presence is for the former reason. I'd called everyone here, even them. Taika, who is the pack's trusted warrior trainer, and had trained most of us in our youth, sat with Robert, the pack's healer. Two elders who made up most of my life growing up, and I wonder if they'll have any qualms about what I am about to bring to light.

"Blood Moon," I address them from the podium, staring directly at the reason for our gathering, "I've called you here today to report something that's come to my attention."

Hushed whispers fall around me, but I clear my throat and continue, "it's come to my attention that we have rogues among us."

"Rogues?" Robert perks up, having seen firsthand what the rogues did to our pack whenever we encountered them.

"Yes, healer. There are some in the pack who think themselves mightier than others. And it cost the life of one of our own."

"Whose life?" Taiki narrows his eyes as he scans the room for a quick headcount.

"Anastasia Blye."

The members break out into concerned gasps. All but one, and the other two only fake it. But the leader of the trouble-makers rolls her eyes, and it only confirms what Tanisha told me.

"Medeia Black, please come to the front."

"Me?" she points to herself, a frown setting on what would have been a pretty face if her attitude didn't account for most of her features.

"Yes, you."

"Jake, what's going on?" beside me, the Beta whispers.

"You'll find out soon enough."

Medeia comes forward, her heels clinking against the wooden floors, the only sound echoing through the silent room while everyone sits confusedly wondering what is going on.

"Follow me," I step off the podium with my hands linked behind my back, giving one glance around the room, "all of you."

I make my way out of the den, stepping into the moonlight and closing my eyes to say a brief prayer. "Mother Selene, give me strength." Give me strength for what I'm about to do, for bringing justice to the loss of the one I love.

"Medeia, is it true that you were behind the fire that burned the house on the border? The cottage Anastasia lived in?"

Medeia shrugs, "I don't know what you're talking about," she says nonchalantly.

"Tanisha."

Medeia's disciple comes forward, but not before Connor whispers something in her ear. He nods at me just to make sure I'd hold up my end of the deal. I nod back, folding my arms across my chest.

"Tell everyone what you told me this morning."

Tanisha looks down, recounting exactly what she told me - how Medeia always bullied Ana, and how the snide remarks and simple curses turned to physical torture and eventually the bomb. She speaks about the rogues, and for me this part is the scariest. The rogues didn't only attack Anastasia, but they attacked the pack. And it's all because of Medeia.

"What?!" Medeia steps in front of Tanisha, glaring into her face. "What bullshit is this?"

"You know it's true, Medeia!" Tanisha lashes out, but it's Medeia who lifts up a hand, ready to strike her. Connor intervenes, pulling Tanisha away.

"Bring your wolf forward, Medeia Black!" I command as I step in front of her. "Your honor comes from your wolf, and it's failed you dismally."

"What?" she snaps her glare from me to Derek, who stands next to me, then back at me as if this was some sick joke we were playing on her.

"Gamma! I won't ask twice."

Derek steps in between us, seemingly shielding her from me. I was expecting him to protect her, make excuses or call the whole thing absurd. But I notice his shoulders slump, his breathing unsteady.

"Listen to your Alpha, Medeia."

"So you believe all this too?"

"Prove it then," Derek points to the ground, "let your wolf prove it!"

There's silence for a while, but eventually Medeia pulls her gaze from Derek and looks back to her mate, Adrian. He nods for her to proceed, seemingly unfazed by the revelations, and she has no choice but to rip through her clothes as her wolf takes over.

A lower-ranking wolf cannot lie to its Alpha. It's a natural thing for it to be compelled to speak nothing but the truth. She knows this too, and keeps her head down like a bow, while I kneel down in front of her and ask her again.

"Is it true, what Tanisha has said tonight?"

Medeia whines, closing her wolf eyes as if she's wrestling with the inner part of her that wants to speak the truth. Her mouth contorts, but as I place my palm over her head, she's unable to fight it any longer.

'Yes,' she admits, and I stand up immediately to inform the others.

"The crimes are hers!"

Everyone around us voices their disbelief, and I turn to see Adrian coming towards us. Deep down, I feel for him, and a part of me wants to go back on my decision to take her life simply for his sake. He's been an excellent warrior of mine, a trusted one. And I know it will cause him great pain. But he walks right passed me, and kneels in front of Medeia.

"Medeia Black," his voice is laced with disgust, "I reject you as my mate!"

Without another word, ignoring the pleading cry from Medeia, Adrian gets up and walks away.

"I know what you're going to do," Derek whispers next to me.

"Are you going to convince me not to?" I whisper back.

He shakes his head slowly, keeping his disdainful gaze on Medeia. "I've never been more disgusted in my life. You're free to do whatever you want with her."

I link my hands behind my back again, and call on Megan and Harley. Trembling, they step forward, but I stop them from bringing their wolves forward.

"It isn't necessary. You two will take your stuff and leave the Blood Moon territory. I never want to see you again." They both start crying, but Kimon ushers them away. "As for you, Medeia Black," I turn to Derek, who passes me a silver dagger, "this is your end."

With every step I take, with every second it takes to lift the dagger up, readying it for the plunge, I think about Anastasia and all the suffering she's had to endure. I remember the fire, I remember her falling off the edge of the cliff and falling to her death just because Medeia called the rogues for her. And as I pierce the blade through Medeia's heart, trying not to focus on her gut-wrenching cries, I feel like justice has been served as hot as the blood that oozes from her shuddering wolf.

But it isn't as sweet as revenge should be. Not when Anastasia is already gone.