Chapter 156: Chapter 155

Zane “Welcome back,” Xander said as Maxim led Gregory and Lucas into the great room After no reports of suspicious activity on Orion’s part, we’d called Maxim back to the mansion to keep an eye on things here. By some miracle, Gustav and the Elders hadn’t come back while we were gone, so we had no one to answer to for our absence.

But if and when they did eventually return, we needed the heads-up from our High Guard now that they were looking for any reason to strip us of our titles.

It was certainly a risk having Gregory Bjorn and Lucas Spindler over to the mansion. Everyone knew we were essentially nemeses, so their presence in our home might raise suspicions.

But now that Lanie and Mason were out of the mansion, we needed to deal with the next most pressing.

issue of what the hell was up with Orion.

Gregory and Lucas each took a seat in front of the small fire. Now that spring was dwindling the weather was warming up, there was no need for the roaring flames we usually stoked “Where’s that hot little piece you had running around the mansion last time we were here?” Lucas asked, his eyes roaming around the room as if a she-wolf might appear out of thin air. “We never got a good look at her...we were hoping we could meet today!”

The bitter taste of disgust bloomed on my tongue. We'd never bring Lanie anywhere near these two, not in a million years.

“We told you she was the mate of a visitor,” Xander shapped. “A visitor who is no longer staying here.”

Gregory barked out a bitter laugh.

“Sure. You probably scared her off already, didn’t you?” he said. “I knew you were worse than we were when it came to mates.”

“This is not why we called you here,” | growled while Xander flexed his fists. We were quickly losing patience with them already.

“We're here to discuss Orion.

“So you believe us now, do you?” Gregory asked as a sneering smile stretched across his weathered face.

“We heard you kicked him out of the house.” Lucas piped up. “I have a feeling that'll come back to bite you in the as s,” he said ominously.

“Yeah, well, he’s not the Alpha anymore, so there’s only so much he can do,” Xander said, though | could tell he wasn't as confident about that as he sounded.

“| don’t know about that,” Gregory said, “He’s got the whole Council in his pocket. I’m pretty sure he can do whatever the f uck he wants.”

Xander and | exchanged glances, and | knew what we were both thinking. Gregory was right. Orion had 1/2 them do?

“Do you know why the Council is so willing to do his bidding?” | asked. “They’ve always had more power than him, even when he was the Alpha.”

Lucas stroked his chin like a movie villain. “Should we tell them, Gregory?” he asked.

“| don’t know, Lucas,” Gregory said, folding his fingers together and leaning forward. “You forbid us from taking a mate, and acted like we were crazy for saying your father was responsible for hurting the she-wolves we'd mated before.”

“We've been so hurt,” Lucas said, dropping his head in his hands dramatically. “By our own Alpha and Beta, no less.”

| rolled my eyes. They were doing’way too much.

“Cut the theatrical sh it, and tell us what you want,” Xander said impatiently.

“A stiff drink to start,” Lucas said, motioning to the bottle of Moondust Whiskey sitting on a nearby table. | walked over and poured them two generous glasses. Maybe it would help loosen their lips. They both downed them in one gulp.

“And we want you to take back your ruling that we’re no longer allowed to have a mate,” Gregory said, a wicked smile curling his lips.

F uck. No she-wolf should be forced to live with these two. But they had helped us once, maybe they were misunderstood?

Maybe they really did care for the women they mated behind closed doors? Or maybe | was being totally f ucking delusional.

“Done,” Xander said curtly.

Gregory and Lucas exchanged excited glances, while | shot Xander a look of death.

“You're going to regret this,” | warned.

“The next mating ceremony is months away. We'll deal with it before then.”

So we were sweeping it under the rug, then. Great.

“Under one condition,” Xander said, and Gregory and Lucas grumbled. “You tell us if and when you have any new information.”

Gregory shrugged. “Fine, here’s what we know.”

He shifted forward in his chair, leaning in closer and lowering his voice “Orion is nosing out hybrids, and picking them off one by one.”