MASON'S POV
I could have trained her this morning.
I prefer being close to my mate than letting anyone else take that place. Watching her, guiding her myself… it settles Mars in a way nothing else does.
But today, something felt off.
Her scent shifted.
Unstable.
Before I could go to her, Dennis's mind-link snapped into my head.
"Alpha, we caught a rogue at the border. He's in the dungeon."
My jaw tightened.
I mind-linked Darius and ordered him to take over her training. He was one of the strongest warriors in the pack he had trained me and Dennis.
I could have sent her to Jessica since they were both females, but I didn't trust my mate with Jessica after their last encounter.
The rogue. I remembered. The problem on the ground.
A rogue.
Of course.
No one dared enter my territory unless they were desperate or stupid. And lately, my enemies had been both.
I already knew why they feared my pack.
The last time rogues crossed my border, we didn't just fight them. We ended them. Completely.
That was the lesson. Never come near what belongs to me.
And yet… one still had the audacity to step inside my land.
I turned without hesitation.
The dungeon.
When I arrived, Dennis and Malvis were already inside. The rogue was chained, bruised, breathing hard, but still stubborn. Still pretending he didn't know why he was here.
Pathetic.
Dennis looked up. "He's not talking, Alpha."
I stepped closer slowly.
The rogue flinched immediately.
Good. Fear meant he understood who I was.
"Let me ask you once," I said calmly. "What were you doing on my border?"
He coughed, trying to act casual. "Nothing, Alpha. I was just passing through. I'm a traveler—"
A liar.
Mars stirred inside me, low and dangerous.
I exhaled slowly. "I don't like wasting time."
Malvis shifted slightly behind me.
"Strip him," I ordered.
The rogue's eyes widened. "Alpha!"
"Dennis," I continued, ignoring him, "bring me hot silver and wolfbane."
Silence followed immediately.
Chains tightened as they obeyed, and Dennis returned with what I asked for.
The moment the silver touched his skin, his body jerked violently. Screams filled the dungeon.
Good.
That sound… that fear… that breaking point between lies and truth.
I crouched in front of him.
"Let's try again," I said softly. "What were you doing on my border?"
His breathing was broken now. Panic replaced arrogance.
"I—I swear I was just passing..."
I tilted my head. Still lying.
I grabbed his hand without hesitation and sliced off one of his nails.
His scream echoed violently.
Then I poured silver over it.
He collapsed instantly, crying, shaking, begging.
"Please! I'll talk! I'll talk!"
I stood slowly.
"Should have done that earlier."
He gasped for air, broken completely now.
"A man… masked…" he choked. "He came to me. He offered thirty million… and a luxury life… if I kidnapped your mate."
The air in the dungeon changed instantly.
Mars went still. Too still.
My chest tightened.
"…my mate?" I repeated quietly.
He nodded rapidly. "Yes, Alpha. That was the job. Your mate."
Silence.
Then pressure. Heavy, suffocating pressure filled the room as my aura expanded.
"Who is he?" I asked.
The rogue shook violently. "I don't know! He wore a mask! I swear!"
He wasn't lying.
That made it worse.
I straightened slowly.
Something cold settled inside me.
Someone dared.
Someone thought they could touch what is mine.
Mars snapped violently inside my head.
WHO DARES?! I WILL TEAR THEM APART!
I clenched my jaw, forcing him down.
Not now. Not yet.
I pulled out my gun.
The rogue froze.
"Greet the devil for me," I said flatly.
One shot.
Silence.
I turned away as the body dropped behind me.
"Dennis," I said coldly.
"Yes, Alpha."
"Find him."
Malvis stepped forward. "Alpha… a masked man inside our territory means..."
"I know what it means," I cut in.
It means I have enemies. I always have enemies.
But this one… didn't come for power.
He came for her.
And that changed everything.
As I walked out of the dungeon, Mars growled again, restless, furious.
They want our mate.
"I know," I said under my breath.
And for the first time… I smiled slightly.
"Let them try."
Because whoever this masked man was…
He just made the biggest mistake of his life.