Zarion didn’t say anything. Like me, he was observing the forest too. Alpha Brandon and Hestia are no longer seen in this sun-forsaken place. Unbeknownst of what might happen, this unexpected visit was not driven by goodwill. It was a twisted web, spun with deceit and malice. I could feel Alpha Brandon’s presence and scent. I knew that it’s possible that they orchestrated a trap, a wicked scheme veiled beneath a thin veneer of familial ties. Calm down, Cassidy. Calm down. “Don’t worry, baby. You have me. Zarion’s whisper was enough to let me release the breath I didn’t know I was holding. He’s very protective of me—as if I was his mate. No. If I was really his mate, I could have died already. He could have killed me without a splinter of hesitation. That’s how Zarion disdained the thou

