The pack’s forensic team were working around the clock, with at least five wolves on the scene, all pulling all nighters to piece me back together, trying to figure out what happened.

As if they could, as if it was that easy.

It wasn't q

My body laid on the stone slab, a mess of limbs and torn flesh, making even Me queasy to see what was left of my body.

Logan motioned at my remains.

“Look, the head’s gone, fingers too and there's a chunk missing from the hind leg.” Logan said with expertise, analysing the situation perfectly.

Damon stayed silent, his sharp face locked on what was left of me, thinking about why those parts were missing.

Finally he spoke, “Who's the Victim?”

Logan sighed, bristling, “We have to wait for the DNA results, we'll cross-reference it as soon as someone files a missing report, it shouldn't take long, hopefully we would have an ID soon.”

"What if nothing comes up".

"We're hoping something will", Logan said

The Alpha nodded.

“I've been looking into some recent cases and I think we are dealing with something bigger here, this isn't just a random attack, there's a pattern and it matches similar murders that took place near the borders of Yoreclaw pack, wolves over there are into this kind of twisted stuff__gutting their prey, draining them dry and leaving them in pieces, someone's making a statement here, the question is who exactly?"

Damon raised his brows, “Yoreclaw? You mean those renegade wolves from the outlands!”

Logan nodded, “Exactly, it's like they're trying to send a message to our pack or something,, else why would they do this”.

Damon didn't waste any time, he gave order to reach out Yoreclaw’s Alpha.

“I need an audience with their alpha, if it is their wolves crossing into our territory, we need answers first and fast.”

After the meeting a junior enforcer stuck close to Logan practically howling his praises, “You've got incredible instincts, Boss, you always seem to know what's coming next! I truly admire you”

I nearly laughed at the irony, knowing my own mate was investigating my death, I wondered how he would react to when he finally learns the truth.

Logan nodded used to the admiration, he had been the pack second golden wolf after the Alpha right from his first shift. Every one had been singing his praises about the things he did, and being the Alpha's beta,.... you can imagine what comes next.

“Hey, Logan wait up”, the young enforcer said, running up to meet him, and then pulled a long strand of hair from Logan's jacket.

He smirked, sniffing at the hair curiously, “Is your mate doing alright? This doesn't look like hers”, He sniffed again, "And it doesn't smell like it too",

Logan's voice turned ice cold, “Mind your business”, he grabbed the hair, shoved it into his pack before storming off,

Left behind the young wolf scratched his nose, clearly embarrassed, if I’s still had my head, I would have patted him on the back for the awkward exchange.

But then If he found my head, he'd know one thing for sure.

My hair had been short and straight since my last shift .

That hair?

That belonged to Aria

My rival in love. The one who took my man from me

The night I was killed Aria had been wrapped around my mate leaving her mark as if he belonged to her around his neck, while I was fighting for my life.

Way to go, dear mate.

Three days had passed since my death and Logan still hadn't bothered to look for me, the last time we argued about Aria, I crashed at my best friend’s place for a few nights and he probably assumed I was doing the same, he didn't even try to reach me.

Then Aria mind linked him, her voice trembling through the bond between them.

“Logan there's a storm coming tonight and I'm terrified can you come stay with me?”

I watched as Logan gripped his phone tightly, his claws coming out then retracting.

“Aria I'm mated, it's not appropriate for me to come over”

For a moment I thought he was being sensible, then he added, “Why don't you come over instead, My mate’s not home”.

Even Aria sounded surprised, “Logan are you sure about that? What if she shows up, we won't be able to explain ourselves”.

I scoffed at her fake innocence, that bitch knew exactly what she was doing.

“What do we have to explain? You are my oldest friend, my mate has no say in this”, he replied confident and arrogant.

“Besides she's not coming back.”

Aria paused, then asked, “How do you know.”

Then realizing she might have revealed too much, she quickly added, “I mean did she leave you again?”

Damon nodded, “Yeah, on our 10th anniversary I told her whenI was going to see you, she threw a fit.”

“It's exhausting, I choose her instead of you, but it's still not enough for her, unlike you Aria , you've always been there, you've never complained and you put with so much for me, I owe you”

I almost laughed, no sane mated wolf would celebrate their anniversary with an ex.

The day they celebrated, was the day I died.

Tell me Damon will you celebrate our anniversary or will celebrate the date of my death __

Aria wasted no time rushing to Damon, right when she saw him she threw herself into his arms.

“Damon the storm's getting worse and I'm so scared”, she cried

I rolled my eyes The night was always dark and I had never seen Aria so afraid of the dark before

Damon hugged her and patted in her back, “Don't worry I'm here.”

He showed how the candles he'd lit around the room, a calm atmosphere amidst the growing storm outside.

“With this,” he explained, “Even if the power goes out, we’ll still have light.”

Aria signed in relief leaning into him.

Please Spare me the sight.

As the Storm raged on Aria excused herself to freshen up, she disappeared into my room Raiding all my toiletries, my potions and supplies, after making a mess of things, she chuckled “Reyna wouldn't mind, she's not coming back anytime soon anyway”.

Watching from the mirror, I seethed Silently.

The thunder roared and when the lightning struck, my Figure flickered in the reflection Aria screamed calling for Damon.

He rushed in his instance kicking in as he grabbed her protectively shielding her with his body

“This feels risky, what if Reyna shows up?”

Damon shrugged, “I don't know.”

Lightning flashed, casting a sharp light across his face.

“Even if she does, she has no right to say anything if it weren't for her, we wouldn't have wasted all these years, we wouldn't have been apart for so long.”

His gaze darkened, “You don't need to worry about her, if she dies out there, all the more better, She's no fur of my back.”

Alright Damon Your wish has been granted Let's see if you are as indifferent as you claim to be.

Late at night, the pack’s investigation team was still grinding away on the case trying to find clues on what had happened to me. The packhouse was quiet, save for the occasional low growl or murmur from wolves on duty. Damon, the Alpha , called for a break, giving the exhausted wolves a moment to regroup. Logan, still in his human form, decided to grab a bite.

One of his packmates smirked, teasing him as he grabbed a chunk of raw meat from the packhouse kitchen. "Hey, Logan, how's it feel to be the Beta with the most attention from the she-wolves? Lucky isn't it, Shouldn’t your mate be delivering your midnight meal?”

Logan’s jaw clenched, and the meat hit the table with a thud. "Why bring her up? It’s irritating for goddess sakea."

Damon sensed the shift in Logan's mood, his wolf instincts picking up on the tension. “It’s been a while since we’ve seen Reyna around. She used to show up every night with something for you when you were on late shifts I believe that's why he mentioned it,"

Logan shot him a glare, his eyes flickering dangerously. "She wasn’t bringing it for me anyway, Damon, you ate most of it anyway."

"That's because you refuse to, and her dishes are delicious by the way",

"Yeah right, if you say so"

Damon’s tone grew more serious. “No, really, Logan. Is everything alright with your mate? She hasn’t been around lately. Is she… missing?”

Logan let out a low growl. “Missing? If she had some backbone to do that, maybe I’d actually notice, she’s like a shadow—always there but never really seen, always tailing me around,it’s been quiet for a few days, so let’s not talk about her.”

Standing just outside the packhouse, unseen but ever-present, I smirked.

The things he had no idea about.

My dear lovely mate, you won’t have to deal with me anymore. I’ve gone far beyond the bond we once shared.

Just then, one of the junior wolves rushed into the room, his breath labored, clearly shaken. “Alpha Damon, we’ve identified the remains!”

Damon moved to take the report, but the young wolf hesitated, his eyes darting between Logan and Damon. "I think... Beta Logan should see it first."

Logan frowned, his wolf rising to the surface as his instincts prickled with unease. “Why me? I’m not the one leading this investigation. Why show it to me?”

Damon scanned the report, his face going pale, the authority of an Alpha momentarily slipping. His voice was heavy as he spoke. “Logan... your mate—Reyna... have you been in contact with her lately? When did you last speak with her”

“Yeah,” Logan replied slowly, a sudden coldness creeping over him. “She sent me a message a few days ago. Why?”

That's a lie and he knew it.

Damon’s gaze locked onto Logan, his voice dropping to a near growl. “Has it been more than three days to be exact?”

Logan's eyes widened as realization dawned. He shot up from his seat. "What are you saying?"