I hated to admit that I was excited to get back to my office, but it was true. I practically ran back there, hoping she would still be there waiting. As I approached the door, her intoxicating scent drifted into my nose, and a realization dawned on me. I had no idea what to say to her. My pace slowed, and I wondered if she had realized I had nearly marked her.

I came to a complete stop a few feet away from the door, now scared to enter. My palms began to sweat, making me even more nervous. Quickly wiping my hands off on my pants, I opened the door before I lost my courage.

Izzy was sat in my chair spinning in circles like a small child. The joy on her face brought a smile to mine. My previous concern was quickly forgotten as I watched her. She seemed so carefree, something I hadn't felt in a very long time. I tried to shut the door quietly behind me trying not to disrupt her fun. She continued to spin around her legs tucked under her. She used her hands to push off the desk for momentum. I watched as her hair flung wildly behind her, and her eyes darted wildly around the room. It wasn't until a few moments later that she seemed to notice my presence.

"Hey," she said as she came to an abrupt stop. " I huh, I was just um...." She tried to come up with some sort of explanation for her behavior. I laughed as she struggled to stand, using the desk to steady herself. She looked at me, joining me in my laughter.

"I got bored waiting for you," She admitted. I walked over to the couch and sat down.

"I can see," I said amused, patting the seat next to me. I waited until she was seated before I spoke again.

"I wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier."

"I told you there is no need to apologize," She replied.

"Yes, there is. I nearly marked you." I answered looking down as I said the words. The room fell silent. After a few seconds, I chanced a glance in her direction. I needed to know what she was thinking. Was she mad or possibly disgusted?

"I think I knew that" Izzy finally spoke. I couldn't hide the confusion on my face.

"And you wanted me to?" I asked unsurely. She shook her head still not looking at me.

"No, I don't. Not yet at least, but I think at that moment I would have let you." Her response took me by surprise. "I still am not keen on the idea of having an alpha mate, but as far as alpha's go your not so bad," she said nudging me with her shoulder.

"Oh gee, thanks. I think that is the first real compliment you have ever given me." I mused.

"I'll try not to let it happen again" she joked.

"Isabella?" I said, speaking her full name for the first time.

"Yeah?" She asked, sounded more serious.

"As much as I don't want to bring it up at the moment" I paused unsure how to bring up what had been on my mind since this morning.

"My dad?" Izzy guessed. I nodded still not sure if I should tell her my suspicion. "You know he has spent the last five years talking about you though I only realized it was you he spoke of once I learned of your mates passing," she said her voice sounding sad at the mention of Olivia. " He was sure you and your pack would be destroyed, but after about a year you were still hanging on. He seemed impressed by that though he would never admit it to anyone."

"I think he is trying to destroy my pack." I blurted out.

"Seriously? What makes you say that?" She asked. I was expecting her to get angry over my accusation, but instead, she seemed intrigued.

"He wants my pack for his unborn son. He said as much when I last visited his pack," I spat.

"The nerve of him." She abruptly stood up and started pacing in front of me. "Why is it that every other alpha knows not to have more than one son, but my father has the audacity to try purposely for a second one?" She huffed. It took me a moment to process what she said.

"Wait. Are you saying he wanted to have two sons? Why?" I asked. She stopped pacing, gazing down at me. Izzy seemed hesitant to answer.

"Well, when your beta refused to hand over the pack to him, he tried to think up other ways to get your pack. He didn't want to risk a war. It wasn't until my mom mentioned how sad it was that your mate died before you had a chance to produce an heir that he seemed so dead set on having another baby.I just can't believe he would just come out and say it like that."

I saw red, my wolf clawing to get out. That pathetic excuse for a man had another child so that he could acquire my pack. That was a new level of sick.

"Logan,"Izzy's voice broke through my anger fueled haze. I peered up at her as she backed away from me. I thought I could see the fear in her eyes. Taking a few deep breaths, I tried to reign in my emotions.

"Sorry," I said once I felt more in control. "This was his plan all along," I stated, clenching my fists. I was surer now than I had been before.

"What was his plan?" She asked taking a seat beside me.

"He used rogues to attack the Black Water pack so that I would come to him for help. I had refused his suggestion to pass on my pack to his son."

"You turned him down?" She asked sounding a bit shocked.

"Well not so much refused as shifted halfway through dinner and barreled out the front door," I answered embarrassed at my lack of restraint. Izzy's melodic laughter filled the air. She clutched her stomach, throwing her head back. Her laughter became louder.

"I would have loved to see my parents' face." She said a large smile plastered on her face. This time, her laughter did nothing to brighten my mood. Her father had been more conniving than I had given him credit for, and now that his tricks hadn't worked he was taking more extreme actions. I felt like I was fighting an unwinnable battle. His pack was larger than mine, so if it came down it a war, we wouldn't stand a fighting chance. Izzy finally noticed my sour mood, and as if reading my mind she said.

"He wouldn't risk an all out war with you. He wants your pack and his intact, plus he wouldn't want to look bad in the eyes of the other alphas." Her words did little to reassure me. Anyone who was willing to hire rogues to do their dirty work was dangerous and unpredictable.

"I have to go. There are some things I need to discuss with my men. If you like, I could have someone show you to one of the guest rooms." I was kind of felt bad for leaving again, but I needed to talk with Griffin and Asher, find out what they thought of what Izzy had just told.

"No, that won't be necessary. I am not staying," she said getting up and heading for the door. I reached out and lightly grabbed her hand.

"You're leaving?" I asked unable to keep to disappointment from my voice.

"Yeah....I have to see my mom. She is getting pretty close to her due date, and I miss my brother." She was going back to Crescent Moon? My wolf urged me to stop her. He didn't feel it was safe, but I knew it wasn't my place to tell her what to do.

"Just to be careful, okay?" She gave me a quick nod before leaving me alone in my office.

I sat in there thinking about my pack and what I could do before things got worse. I had to stop Phillips before he could cause any more damage.

'Alpha!' Trevor yelled through the link. 'There's some fighting near the south border.'

'I am on my way,' I told him as I darted out of the pack house, nearly knocking over a table on my way out. My first thought was that Izzy had just left in that direction.