The comparison touched me deeply. "I wish I had known her as you did," I admitted. "As she truly was, not just the human persona she adopted for my protection."

"Perhaps you can know her through her work," Richard suggested. "Now that Marcus's betrayal has been exposed, Eleanor's research can be properly examined, continued even. Particularly by someone with your unique abilities."


The idea of continuing my mother's research, of fulfilling the vision that had cost her life, resonated powerfully. Before I could respond, however, we were approached by James Silverton, whose appreciative gaze lingered a moment too long for Caleb's comfort.

"Eve," James greeted me, deliberately informal. "You look stunning. Transformation agrees with you."

I felt Caleb tense beside me, a low growl building in his chest too subtle for human ears but clear to werewolf senses. Through our bond, I could feel his instinctive response to another male's attention—not jealousy exactly, but territorial protection.


"Thank you, James," I replied neutrally, subtly leaning closer to Caleb to reassure him. "It's been an adjustment, but a welcome one."

"I imagine so," James said, his gaze flicking to Caleb with something like challenge. "Especially with such... attentive guidance."


Richard cleared his throat, clearly sensing the tension between the younger men. "James, I believe the Thornton Alpha was looking for you earlier. Something about the northern territory agreement."

Taking the hint, James nodded and moved away, though not without a final glance in my direction that bordered on provocative. Once he was out of earshot, Richard sighed.

"My apologies," he said to Caleb. "My son sometimes forgets the protocols regarding newly bonded mates."

"No harm done," Caleb replied, though his tone suggested otherwise.

I sent a wave of reassurance through our bond, reminding him without words that I was his as surely as he was mine. His posture relaxed slightly in response, his hand at my back drawing me fractionally closer.

As the evening progressed, I was introduced to dozens of werewolves from various packs, each interaction a careful dance of politics and tradition. Some were openly curious about my abilities, others more reserved in their assessment. A few, particularly older Alphas, watched me with undisguised wariness—change was always threatening to those whose power depended on maintaining the status quo.

Throughout it all, I maintained awareness of the pack bonds surrounding me, monitoring the connections for any sign of threat or danger. The security measures seemed to be working; no unauthorized individuals had entered the gathering, and the atmosphere, while tense with political undercurrents, remained free of immediate threat.

"You're doing wonderfully," Sophia commented, appearing at my side with two glasses of champagne. She handed one to me with a conspiratorial smile. "The Thornton Alpha's mate just commented that you carry yourself like you were born to this world, not newly transformed."

"High praise," I acknowledged, taking a grateful sip. "Though it's mostly an act. Inside, I'm cataloging about a thousand new rules and protocols I'm probably breaking without realizing it."

"That's everyone's secret," she confided with a laugh. "Half of werewolf high society is just pretending you know what you're doing until you actually do."

Her casual friendship was a welcome respite from the formality of the evening. Through her, I was beginning to understand the complex social dynamics of werewolf society—which traditions mattered deeply and which were merely window dressing, which rules could be bent and which were inviolable.

As we chatted, I noticed Caleb in deep conversation with Lucas and several other werewolves across the room. Through our bond, I sensed tension and concern, though he was clearly trying to shield me from whatever was being discussed.

"Something's wrong," I murmured to Sophia, nodding toward the group.

She followed my gaze, her expression turning serious. "Security update, probably. Lucas has been receiving reports from the perimeter guards all evening."

Before I could ask more, Caleb broke away from the group and made his way to my side, his expression carefully neutral though I could feel his concern through our bond.

"Everything okay?" I asked quietly as he reached us.

"A perimeter sensor was triggered on the eastern boundary," he explained in a low voice. "Could be nothing—wildlife sometimes sets them off. Lucas is investigating."

"Or it could be hunters," I concluded, the possibility hanging between us.

"Possibly," he acknowledged. "But we're prepared. Security has been doubled since last night, and every entrance is monitored. If anyone unauthorized tries to enter, we'll know immediately."

Despite his reassurance, I felt a prickle of unease. Reaching out with my ability, I extended my awareness beyond the immediate gathering, trying to sense any disturbance in the web of connections surrounding us.

At first, nothing seemed amiss—the familiar patterns of pack bonds glowed in my perception, strongest among those physically present but extending outward to pack members patrolling the grounds. Then, at the edges of my awareness, I sensed something wrong—a disruption in the pattern, a gap where connections should be.

"Caleb," I said urgently, gripping his arm. "The eastern patrol—I can't sense them anymore."

His expression sharpened instantly. "How many? Where exactly?"

I closed my eyes, focusing my ability with greater precision. "Three werewolves, near the old stone wall. Their bonds are just... gone. Not broken like death, but absent, like they're unconscious or..."

"The paralytic compound," Caleb concluded grimly. "The hunters mentioned it last night—something that incapacitates werewolves temporarily."

He was already moving, signaling to Lucas across the room with a subtle gesture that conveyed urgency without alarming the other guests. I followed, unwilling to be left behind when my abilities might be needed.

"Stay here," Caleb instructed as Lucas joined us in a quiet corner of the ballroom. "Both of you. I need to check the security feeds, coordinate a response."

"I'm coming with you," I insisted. "My ability to sense the pack bonds could help locate the threat."

"And I go where she goes," Sophia added firmly. "Alpha's sister privileges."

Caleb looked like he wanted to argue but recognized the futility. "Fine. But you follow my lead, stay behind security lines, and retreat immediately if I give the order."

We slipped out of the ballroom through a side door, moving quickly to a security room hidden behind an unassuming panel in the hallway. Inside, monitors displayed feeds from cameras positioned throughout the estate grounds. Several werewolves in tactical gear were already reviewing footage, speaking urgently into communication devices.

"Report," Caleb demanded as we entered.

"Eastern patrol missed their check-in," one of the security team confirmed. "Camera seven went dark three minutes ago, followed by eight and nine in sequence."

"They're moving toward the mansion," I realized, extending my awareness again. "I can sense... gaps approaching. Places where werewolves should be but aren't responding."

"How many?" Caleb asked, his focus absolute.

I concentrated harder, pushing my ability to its limits. "At least six, maybe more. They're moving in pairs, creating blind spots in our security."

"Coordinated attack," Lucas concluded grimly. "Professional."

Caleb made a decision instantly. "Lockdown protocol. Secure the ballroom, no one enters or leaves. Double the interior guards. Lucas, take a team to intercept the eastern approach. I'll cover the north access."

"What about us?" Sophia demanded.

Stay with the security team," Caleb ordered. "Eve's abilities are valuable for

"Stay with the security team," Caleb ordered. "Eve's abilities are valuable for tracking the intruders' movements. Report any changes immediately."

Before I could protest, he was gone, moving with the fluid speed of a werewolf on high alert. Lucas followed after giving brief instructions to the remaining security personnel.

"He's trying to protect you," Sophia observed as I stared at the door Caleb had disappeared through. "Both as his mate and as the Gray heir. You're too valuable to risk in direct confrontation."

"I understand the logic," I admitted. "But I don't have to like it."

I turned my attention back to monitoring the intruders' progress through my ability, reporting their movements to the security team who relayed the information to Caleb and Lucas. The hunters—for hunters they surely were—moved with practiced efficiency, avoiding most of our patrols, incapacitating those they couldn't avoid with what must have been the paralytic compound mentioned in their plans.

Through the mate bond, I could sense Caleb's focused determination as he coordinated the defense, his strategic mind calculating probabilities and positioning resources for maximum effectiveness. The connection reassured me of his safety while allowing me to concentrate on my task.

Then, abruptly, something changed. The pattern of approaching gaps shifted, several moving rapidly toward the western side of the mansion—away from where our defenses were concentrating.

"They're splitting up," I reported urgently. "Four continuing from the east, but three others circling around to the west garden entrance."

"Diversion," one of the security team realized. "They're drawing our main force to the east while the smaller team attempts entry from the west."

I reached for my phone to call Caleb directly, but before I could dial, the security room door burst open. Two figures in tactical gear rushed in, faces concealed behind masks, weapons raised—not guns, but some kind of specialized equipment that emitted a fine mist.

The security team reacted instantly, shifting partially to access werewolf strength and speed, but the mist reached them first. They collapsed where they stood, bodies seizing briefly before going completely limp.

The paralytic compound. Exactly as the hunters had described.

Sophia grabbed my arm, pulling me toward a side door I hadn't noticed before. "Emergency exit," she hissed. "Move!"

We barely made it three steps before the mist reached us. Sophia fell first, her hand slipping from mine as her legs gave way. I managed two more steps before the paralysis hit me—a terrifying sensation of my body simply shutting down, muscles refusing to respond to my brain's commands.

I collapsed to the floor, unable to move, unable to call for help, but still fully conscious. Through the mate bond, I sent a desperate warning to Caleb, hoping the connection was strong enough to convey the danger even without words.