“She has fun with it,” I mutter. “It gives her a kick to destroy mated relationships.” I pause at my own words, sitting up straighter. “She likes doing it! We are talking about the woman who willingly had her friend killed for being your mate, Forest. It’s all assumptions, though, unless we get someone to talk.”
“What do you suggest?” Forest asks.
“Let’s get Nina onboard,” I say. “She confided in me, meaning she trusts me. Lissa threatened her, and worse, her mate. She told me she looks down on her because her mate is a warrior and Nina alowlyomega. What Lissa forced Nina’s mate to do could have gotten him killed.”
“She has a lot of reasons to help us against Lissa,” Griffin agrees. “It’s a risk to involve her. But then, it’s always a risk.”
Forest chuckles. “We said the same about you.”
“Hey,” Griffin pouts. “I am super safe!”
“We know,” Forest reassures him.
“What about Martin?” Griffin asks.
“I still don’t know,” Forest admits. “He does have my back, and he seems to have Rose’s, too.”
Griffin nods. “I feel like he is loyal to you, but unlike with Nina, who we’ll only need to ask for help against Lissa… we’d need to fill Martin in on everything.”
“And that’s definitely a huge step.”
Forest pinches the bridge of his nose. “I hate lying to him. He is a decent guy and works hard, and he has been a pretty good friend so far.”
“I understand where you are coming from,” Griffin admits. “But if he is going to be your beta, you need to be able to trust him.”
“We don’t need to decide that today,” I tell Forest. “Let’s focus on Nina for now, and then revisit Martin tomorrow or the day after.”
Both men nod their agreement, and I have Forest call for Nina to bring us some coffee from the pack kitchen—and some additional cake, because the guys are still hungry. Fifteen minutes later, she knocks at our door. I open it, letting her in. “Thank you, Nina. Come on in.”
Nina stares curiously at me, her surprise very obviously rising when she spots Forest and Griffin.
“I will be honest with you, Nina.” I come right to the point. “We need your help. We had you bring us something to eat so no one would be suspicious seeing you here.”
Nina’s hands tremble slightly, but then she bends towards me and whispers. “Is this about Lissa?”
I look at Forest for him to take over. Nina needs to know that her alpha is on her side, too.
“I think it’s time to stop Lissa from whatever crap she is pulling,” Forest says. “I have to apologize, Nina. I had no idea what she was up to and that she was harassing you and your fellow omegas.”
Nina looks flustered. “It started a year ago,” she mutters. “And… thank you, Alpha, for giving my mate a second chance.”
“Are you willing to fill us in on what’s truly going on?” I ask her. “We would like to stop her before she can do any more harm.”
“I’ve been keeping an eye on her,” Griffin adds. “And so far, I have not liked what I’ve seen. But I need to know more to properly be able to act.”
Nina’s fingers clench around the tray she is holding, then she nods firmly. “My mate tried to protect me, which got him into this whole situation to begin with,” she admits. “I want to do something useful, too.”
I gesture at the place next to me. “Come, sit down.” I wait for her to get comfortable and suggest a cup of coffee for herself. “Is Lissa messing with your mates?” I ask her. “With the mates of the omegas?”
Nina nods. “She is awful. I don’t even know why she hates us so much. None of us ever crossed her, but she has it out for us. She is constantly trying to seduce our mates.”
“And is she successful with it?” I ask.
“I guess people do a lot to protect their mates when they are threatened.” She casts me a shy gaze. “Like my mate did for me.”
“Wait a moment.” Forest frowns. “Are you saying she threatens them, or rather their mates?”
Nina nods, leaving us all stunned.
