I fill him in on our assumptions. He contemplates it for a moment before shrugging. "Yes, that seems valid. Though, he's not as smart as he's led you to believe."
Lex tilts his head curiously. "How so?"
Kingston's gaze flickers to me again. "He tried to come after you."
I frown. "The recent attack? We believe that was just a warning after we approached him, or a target to take me out to harm my mates."
Slowly, Kingston shakes his head with a knowing look. "I'm not referring to that. You were initially on his radar as a sourced female."
A shudder rolls down my body at the reminder of hunters. "I don't think any of those attacks were the Seventh Circle Pack. If anything, he's been watching from the outside."
"You really don't know," he says incredulously, turning to Alpha Daxton. "I must say—I'm disappointed, Daxton. You're usually more aware than this."
Alpha Daxton stiffens. "Kingston, enough. What are you talking about?"
Amusement crosses his face, eyes darting to Cade. "The nightyoutook her. You weren't the only pack lurking in Shadow Creek."
Maverick straightens up, clearly riled up by where this conversation is heading. It's a cold reminder for all of us. While we've pushed past it, I know the guilt still bothers him. "That can't be accurate. I was patrolling that night. I would have sensed other wolves."
"I daresay you were… distracted," Kingston remarks with a scoff. "Orson's beta and inner circle were staking out the woods in search of your beloved."
That night…
"Wait," I interject. "I saw someone that day."
Everyone pauses, looking at me wildly.
"What do you mean?" Maverick asks. "Saw who?"
I turn to Lex with a sheepish shrug. "Honestly, I thought it was Knox. But I was running and I only saw them for a split second out of the corner of my eye."
Lex's brows furrow together. "From a distance, there is a resemblance between them. So, you're saying the Seventh Circle was planning to take Nyx that night?"
"Ow," I whisper to Maverick as he squeezes my hand a little too tightly. Quickly, he eases up, giving me an apologetic look.
Kingston hums thoughtfully. "But it appears they were beaten to the punch," he nods toward Cade. "Interesting how fate works."
"Fate?" I question.
"You found your third mate that night. One can assume that divine timing had a hand in the situation."
Cade grins at Maverick. "See—you can't be mad anymore. I saved her."
"You kidnapped her," Maverick hisses back. "Two wrongs don't make a right."
"But they make a mate," he quips in response, winking at me.
I attempt to muffle my smile, pursing my lips. "Well, that's definitely news to us. I got assholes and kidnappers coming from every direction."
Kingston looks at me, and under his trimmed red beard, I spot the world's tiniest smile. Blink and you'll miss it. "I can see why everyone is smitten with you, wolf. You're certainly a breath of fresh air. Maverick has finally met his match."
After we farewell Alpha Kingston and his pack, I arrange to meet up with Lena and Annabelle. While the packs are here, I figured it only seemed right for the two of them to meet.
Unfortunately, that also meant Annabelle brought Matteo with her, who in turn, dragged along my arch nemesis.
James stares at me with hostility from across the café table. We're joined shortly after by Ezra, who immediately, probably at the direction of Cade, says sorry again.
"Why am I here?" James mutters to Matteo. "I could be doing duties or something."
