28. Come with me.

Then, a voice cut through the noise.

"Where did you find her?" The commander's tone dripped with concern.

"Trying to break into Alpha Devon's chamber," another soldier responded.

His stomach clenched.

Her?

Devon stepped closer, his presence finally registering with the gathered Beta warriors. They parted instinctively as his gaze locked onto the center of their scrutiny.

There, standing small and fragile beneath the weight of the billion stars stars, was Olivia.

"What were you doing up there?" barked the commander at the trembling soldier, his tone heavy with accusation. "You new guards always want to prove yourselves when you know nothing!"

The Beta soldier's eyes widened in surprise. He had simply been doing his duty—what crime had he committed?

"She is the Stealer Wolf. The one the Alpha rejected," the commander announced, watching the soldier's confusion deepen. "She is his mate."