Axel POV

I ran to Mother, but just as quickly as she had fallen, she sat up and waved Kane away.

“I’m fine,” she says, but I can tell she is not. “Let’s just finish our plan.”

Kane and I share a concerned look, but we stand back and give her space.

“So, Kane and Axel are staying behind,” Elara continues as if nothing has happened, but she does not take her eyes off Mother.

I understand why Kane and I must stay, but that does not mean I like it. We meant it when we told Mason we should work together, but what if he makes a move on Elara? It is one thing if we do it together, but one-on-one? That is dangerous for our relationship.

“So will I,” Gabriela says. “I’ll help with Stella.”

“I’m certainly not going back to Constantine,” Mother wrings her hands and diverts her eyes to the floor. “Where else would I be?”

Her voice cracks, and she plants one hand on the wall to steady herself. I am ready this time, and I grab her shoulders, holding her up. She places a shaking hand on her head, and her eyes flutter closed.

“What is it, Ma?” I ask, concerned. “Are you okay?”

“I think she’s mourning,” Elara says softly.

Shit. Of course. Father was a shitty person and an even shittier mate, but he was her mate. And when a mate dies, she-wolves feel it, especially Lunas. From what I was told, it was supposedly like having your body ripped in half, a pain that cut so deep it was almost unbearable.

And on top of that, Mother has lost her pack to the Council and Father’s evil plan. The whole pack is on lockdown without an Alpha or Luna, and if any of us tries to return, we will be imprisoned or killed.

I walk Mother over to the couch and sit her down gently, while Elara throws a blanket over her.

“One more thing,” Mother says. “Look for a guard with a special armband. Only high-ranked guards with the armband are allowed access to every part of the facility. Your safest bet is for Elara to transform into one of them.”

Elara POV

“Do you think Gabriela will be okay?” Mason asks as we throw our stuff into the car. We said our goodbyes, and I had to fight the tears when I had to give Stella to Kane.

“I think so,” I exhale deeply. “Gabriela is in intense emotional pain. Nobody can take better care of her than her sons.”

“I think I’m ready to go,” I sigh, looking at my cottage. I wish I did not have to go.

“She’ll be okay, Elara,” Mason says as if he could read my mind. “Leaving Stella alone for the first time is hard, but she is with her fathers and grandmother. They won’t let anything happen to her.”

“I know,” I reply. “But it doesn’t make it any easier.”

Mason starts the engine, and I lie back in my seat, staring out the window. Hours later, we pull up to a run-down motel off the mountain road.

“This is good,” I say sarcastically, looking at the gruff-looking men standing outside a room, chain-smoking in the dark. “Now I’m glad Stella’s not here.”

“It’s a dump, I know. We’re in human territory now,” Mason replies, turning off the car. “We’re less likely to be recognised at a place like this.”

“Yeah, less likely to be recognised,” I say dryly. “But more likely to be killed in our sleep.”

“Right,” Mason snorts. “I’d like to see them try.”

“Ah, my hero,” I say in a mockingly girlie voice, batting my eyelashes, and he bursts out laughing.

“I was thinking that you’d protect me,” he wiggles his eyebrows. “With your hybrid powers.”

“Nice,” I nod slowly. It is nice spending alone time with Mason. It reminds me of how it used to be before my memories came back.

“I’ll be right back with the room key,” he says, opening his door and running into the office.

I get out and pop open the trunk to retrieve our bags.

“What brings you here, little lady?” I hear a throaty voice behind me.

The hair on the back of my neck stands up. I turn around slowly, and one of the smoking men is sauntering up to me.

“The quality of room service,” I snap sarcastically, shutting the trunk and walking toward the office.

But as soon as I start moving, I am surrounded. All the men who were sitting in the shadows are standing in a circle around me, and for a moment, I consider that they might be wolves. Did they recognise us after all?

I take a deep breath, but I detect no wolf scent. I glance toward the office. I can easily take them, but that will attract unwanted attention. I cannot blow this mission before we even start. Two tiny lives are depending on me.

“Why don’t you join us?” one of the men says. “We have the best room service.”

“Oh, you don’t want that,” I smile sweetly, balling my fists, and the wind starts picking up. It might be a bad idea to lay my hands on them, but wind ... hell, no human will question nature.

“She’s right,” Mason says, grabbing one of the guys by the neck. “You really don’t want that.”

“Relax, dude,” the man squirms under Mason’s grip. “We were only having a little fun.”

“So, you’re enjoying this?” Mason asks, applying pressure, and the man’s knees buckle.

“You’re right,” I chuckle, and Mason joins me. “This is funny.”

“Did you have enough fun?” Mason snarls in the man’s ear, and he nods.

“That’s what I thought,” Mason releases him, takes me by the elbow and leads me back to the car.

“We’ll find another place.” Mason huffs, opening the car’s door for me.

“Aw, really,” I pout. “But this place had entertainment.”

“Too much entertainment,” he chuckles, closing the door.

“I know,” I agree as we find another motel. “We can’t risk drawing attention to us.”

Mason gets us a room, and we carry our bags inside.

“Dear Goddess,” I wrinkle my nose. “This place reeks.”

“It’s times like these I envy humans for their lack of smell,” Mason agrees.

I stare at the double bed in the centre of the room.

“Do you want me to sleep on the floor?” Mason asks softly.

“No,” I shake my head. “That’s not the problem. I’m thinking there’s no way in hell I’m getting under those covers. There could be syphilis growing under there, or something.”

“Or something,” Mason says, dropping his bags and plopping down on the bed. “At least the mattress is decent.”

With a sigh, I lay down, and Mason moves closer, placing a reassuring hand on the dip of my waist. I lean into it, pushing myself back against him, letting him spoon me. Any other night in any other place, this might have been romantic, sexy even. But not tonight.

Tonight, we do not move or speak. Tonight, we are acutely aware of the stakes of tomorrow.