"The celebration is over, yet you won’t talk to me. What’s your problem?" Blane hurried after Ivy, who was leaving the hall where everyone had gathered for breakfast.

It was tradition that the morning after the full moon, the entire pack ate together, a time of unity and reflection. But today, the atmosphere felt heavy and subdued.

"Aren’t you worried someone would see you trying to talk to me? What does the Alpha’s Beta have to do with a mere servant?" Ivy asked, quickening her steps without looking back.

"Would you stop that? Just stop it!"

"Just stop what?" Lorena asked, blocking Ivy just as she made it out of the door.

Ivy sighed deeply. "Please, my lady, get out of my way," she said, voice strained with exhaustion.

"Excuse you? Who do you think you’re talking to in that tone?"

"Don’t be weird, Lorena. Her friend is dead. She’s allowed to mourn."

"Her friend?" Lorena snickered coldly. "You’re forgetting that so-called friend is a slave in our pack. Who mourns the death of a slave?"

"I do, okay?! I do! I know you can’t understand it because you’re twisted inside, but I do!"

Ivy shoved past her and continued on her way, shoulders hunched with grief.

"Seriously, you’re going to let her talk to me that way?" Lorena turned to Blane.

He rolled his eyes and went after Ivy instead of answering her.

"Seriously, that bastard!"

"You do know you’re talking to a Beta that way, right?" Daniel said, appearing beside her.

She turned in shock at his sudden presence, then hissed when she saw it was him.

"And who are you to question me? Low omega!" She spat to the ground and walked away.

Daniel shook his head before returning his attention to Blane going after Ivy. Something had happened. Something no one had explained to him yet.

First of all, the Alpha was missing. He had never missed a full moon celebration, ever. From what he overheard, someone was dead. Who could it be? He wondered.

He had taken a step toward the other direction when his head spun in realisation.

There was one person Ivy was super close to. She had also not been present at the full moon events.

"Sonia? Sonia’s dead?" He blurted out loud.

"Sonia’s dead? What do you mean?"

He turned when he saw the trio of Carl, Adelaide, and Jenner staring questioningly at him.

"Uhmmm, the musings of a mad man. Ignore me, please."

He made to walk away when Jenner reached out a firm hand and drew him back.

"Start explaining, omega," she warned.

He knew there was no escaping the trio. He had to tell the truth.

"I don’t know anything. I mean, nothing is confirmed yet. It’s just bits I gathered," he confessed.

"So you’re saying that’s the reason Alpha Ramon has been nowhere to be found?" Adelaide asked, her voice sharp with concern.

"I didn’t say that. It’s all speculation."

He tried his best not to be roped into the conspiracy theories, but they were hell-bent on adding him.

"I have to get confirmation from the Alpha myself. This is impossible!" Carl shook his head and stormed ahead.

"I’ll go after Blane so he can explain better," Daniel said, excusing himself.

"We’re going after Carl," the women said in sync.

Daniel ran and ran until he finally caught up with Blane, who was still trailing after Ivy.

"Man, she hasn’t talked to you yet?" He fell in line beside him, breathing loudly as he tried to catch his breath.

"What are you doing here?" Blane looked at him briefly before returning his attention to Ivy, who had finally stopped at a tree.

"I heard," he said.

"Heard what?" Blane turned to him sharply.

"About Sonia? I heard she’s dead. How can she be dead?"

"I can’t believe Lorena. That blabbermouth had to go spread the news. Doesn’t she know what this could do to the Alpha if it reaches the wrong ears?" He sighed in disappointment.

"Not to defend Lorena, but I didn’t hear it from her. I stumbled on your conversation and kinda put two and two together."

"You?" Blane lifted his brow and stopped walking. "When did you become that smart?"

"Well, don’t celebrate yet. As we speak, some of the elders have gone in search of Alpha Ramon. They heard when I was lamenting about the situation, and now they know."

"Bloody hell, Daniel!"

He jumped back before Blane could send him flying into the air with a punch.

"Look, I didn’t mean for them to overhear, okay? Besides, why didn’t you tell me last night when I kept asking about the whereabouts of the Alpha?"

"Because it’s not news that should fall into just anyone’s ears."

Daniel’s face fell. "But I’m not just anyone."

"I know, and I didn’t mean to make you feel that way," he sighed and looked at Ivy, who was crying. "I just hate that I can’t get through to her."

"Well, of course you can’t. That was her best friend, and you know how hard it is for Ivy to open up to anyone. I’m surprised she was able to love Sonia that deeply."

"What do I do, Dan? I can’t stand to see her in that state."

"Let me talk to her."

"You?" He turned to him.

"Yeah, I know I’m not the sharpest tool, but I want to help."

"Are you sure? Because if you make her even sadder than she already is, I’ll kill you myself."

"Wow, you’re really whipped, aren’t you?"

"Don’t be stupid, go!" He pushed him forward.

As Daniel moved, Blane began to hear heavy breathing from a distance. He paused and allowed his senses to take over. The breathing fluctuated between heavy and faint. As if the person was in great distress.

Something was wrong, he thought. Sparing one brief look at Daniel, who had sat beside Ivy already, he nodded, confident in his friend’s abilities.

Turning around, he followed the direction of the sound. He had a feeling the Alpha would be delighted to see Moon.

That was if he didn’t kill him first for being the reason the woman he loved was in such pain.