Hugo's POV

As the beast's roars grew louder, dark clouds began to engulf the sunny sky. Even though I had already seen Alpha Talia in her wolf form, it was still surreal to witness her in her full splendour.

When I rose to my feet, I disregarded the ache in my ribs. Izzy was stood beside me, glaring at the beast as it approached us gradually. I could hear Izzy's heartbeat racing. In fact, if anyone saw the beast, they would quake with dread as well. However, because I knew Alpha Talia, I lurched in her direction in the expectation that she would cease making any irrational advances.

"It's okay" As I got closer to Talia, I tried to reassure her by gazing into her eyes.

"It's the beast! Don't go near it, Hugo!" Izzy wailed behind me.

"I'm fine, I'm not in any danger" I turned around and in an effort to calm her. Talia continued to snarl while halting her paws as they sank firmly into the grass. Her growls intensified as her eyes fixed on me. She was enraged, and she wanted it known.

Her scent persisted long in the air, which managed to alleviate my nerves given the situation. She broke our line of sight and turned her attention onto Izzy. She growled in alarm at the sight of an unfamiliar wolf, feeling almost intimidated.

"Get away from him!" Izzy lashed out. "I'm his mate. And I'm telling you to back the fuck off!" Izzy could be heard extending her claws as she prepared to transform into a wolf and strike Talia.

I looked at Alpha Talia, aware that I was out of time. "Please, I just want to talk" I communicated my plight to her through my eyes, pleading.

As the fury in her eyes subsided and she took back her steps, her demeanor altered. Talia changed back into her human form, putting on a red robe with a snap of her fingers. Unaware of her magical abilities, I observed her in awe. Her feet brushed the grass as her curls bounced on her shoulder.

Talia's eyes were burning red with rage. It took Izzy a moment to comprehend what was going on. Alpha Talia dismissed Izzy as she stopped in front of me, appearing to have a lot to say.

"You're.. you're the .. but you're a female" Izzy spoke incoherently as she had her first glimpse of the beast in human form. Even I didn't know what to call her at this point. An Alpha? A Wolf? A Witch?

"Something your alleged mate didn't tell you, I bet" Talia scowled without averting her gaze. I was aware that bringing Izzy inside Alpha Talia's lair would get me into trouble. She conveyed it through her tone and posture.

"I...It didn't come up" I justified. "It doesn't matter, you have to go now. They'll eventually track my scent here" Despite my ignorance in entering her den without first checking to see whether my scent had been picked up, I knew I had time to get her to safety before the rest of the Shadow Pack finished their perimeter check and recognized I had left. Izzy unintentionally caught up too quickly, which was unfortunate.

"Hugo, are you out of your mind? You're helping her? Why? She's the beast that killed so many betas, heck you were almost one of her victims." Izzy yelled.

"It's . .complicated" I shot back.

"What's so complicating about this? You are a part of the Shadow Pack now. And when they arrive, we strike." Izzy rebutted. Alpha Talia was unfazed by Izzy's scrutiny since her attention was riveted on me. "You will pay for what you've done, beast!"

"Beast.. is that what I am?" Talia queried me while deftly stroking my hair with her fingertips. As I was struck by her scent, I held my breath and remained still.

I was conflicted. I could feel Izzy and Talia glaring at me from opposite sides.

"You slept with her, didn't you?" Izzy exclaimed as she connected the dots.

"Oh boy" Wolfie muttered in my head.

"Slept?" Talia chuckled as her palm caressed the side of my face and cupped my chin, elevating it so she could watch my expression while she spoke. "He fucked me every night, kissed every nook and cranny of my body, and ate me like he worshipped me. I hardly think that was just sleeping with me. He fucked me like he was on heat instead and couldn't get enough of me. Right, little claws?" She smirked.

I could sense the pleasure she took in sharing those secrets and in witnessing Izzy's face drain color. However, because time was of the essence, I broke the tension by urging Alpha Talia. "You have to run to safety, please. There's barely enough time" I pleaded again.

"He's right, they are trying to break in the barrier right as we speak, the barrier won't hold for much long" Frieda interfered and advised Alpha Talia, who responded with a slight nod.

I turned to Izzy and noticed she was still reeling from the shock.

"I'm sorry for all of this. But I don't want your father to kill her" I murmured. It was expected that she would gaze at me in contempt. My main priority was to keep everyone safe, even if that meant holding back the Shadow Pack and giving Alpha Talia a head start as she fled. Given that I had deceived them, this decision may ultimately result in my execution, but this time, I was prepared to fight.

"She's the beast. She deserves to die and I'm your mate, so you should join forces with my father when he gets here. I don't care what happened with her. She was obviously manipulating you. Bet she did that with every beta she's killed. She DESERVES to die" I prevented Izzy from approaching Alpha Talia while she yelled. I could hear Talia growl in displeasure at her erratic behavior. Frieda, on the other hand, knelt down and placed both hands on the grass before starting to chant some verses.

Strong wind blew between us which proceeded to disrupt the ambience in the garden. "You shouldn't be here, Izzy" Izzy's claws were violently digging into my arms as I pushed her away while shouting over the sound of the wind gathering up speed.

"My pack will be here soon. This is even better that we get to kill her before we . ." Izzy began to say but I interrupted her.

"You're not listening to me, Izzy. I am NOT your mate, I did believe you were my mate once a long time ago, but since then.. my feelings have changed" As blood trickled down my fingers, I retorted while gazing at my arms.

Alpha Talia hissed as she neared, but I lifted my bloody finger up in the air and mumbled "No" cocking my head partly in her direction.

This was between me and Izzy. This was a conversation I should have had back at the cabin. It's been so long before Wolfie and I were in agreement and in sync with our approach to confrontation. It has taken me a very long time to finally feel the power that surged through my body, pushing beyond the wounds as if I was invincible.

As I drew closer to Izzy, my eyes started to glow yellow.

"You're rejecting me? Hugo, today is our mating ceremony. You kissed me this morning and said you'd meet me at the altar. Your confusion is only a result of this witchy beast" Izzy spat out while retreating her steps, almost cowering in fear but with an overpowered rage.

"Mating ceremony huh" Talia scoffed behind me.

"No, I'm not confused. You're not my mate, I even wrote it on the note. Which you haven't once acknowledged. Are you so engrossed in the fantasy that your pack will rule that you never once asked how I felt about this? How I felt about us. I chased after you for two years. I was in love with you but I'm not anymore. I haven't been for a while now" I said in a stern tone.

Silence prevailed. Her concerned expression swiftly altered to reflect how she truly felt. Despite having been in denial about how Izzy felt about me for so long, I have never been more prepared to hear her rage-laced remarks.

"You don't know what you're giving up by choosing her side, Hugo. This isn't about love. Choosing your mate has nothing to do with love. It's about power, you fool. I can't believe I thought you were half the mate I deserved. And trust me when I say, there will be consequences. You will regret this." Izzy gnashed her teeth, crouching her body to shift.

"Touch him and you die"

Izzy sprinted in front of me oblivious to Talia's warnings, and before I could react, Talia shifted my body to the side and grabbed Izzy by the throat. Her fiery crimson eyes glistened. Her sharp claws immobilized Izzy lifting her feet off the ground into the air. Alpha Talia's elongated fangs rested on her full lower lip that let out a menacing growl.

"No, please Talia" I insisted, not wanting her to hurt Izzy.

Izzy whimpered as Talia raised her body by her throat.

"If I find you and your pack anywhere remotely close to him, I will gladly slaughter each one of you just like I did Kaos Pack. Imagine how nice your father's head would look next to Xanders. On a spike nonetheless" Alpha Talia sneered.

As she battled to breathe, Izzy cried out in anguish. I expressed my disapproval by shaking my head. Alpha Talia leaned in and gradually lowered Izzy to the ground, and whispered into her ear. "His mercy is what's keeping me from separating your head from the rest of your body. And honey, you're not worthy to be his mate. You're not even worth the dirt I'd bury you in"

Although, violent wind currents and lightning strikes consumed the surroundings around us, as I heard her utter those words to Izzy, a strange warmth arose in my heart. However Frieda's chants got louder peeking my attention, the ground began to tremble from underneath.

"Barrier's down. It's time for you to leave" Frieda cut the conversation short. Frieda turned to face Izzy and with the snap of her finger, Izzy vanished into thin air. In the meantime, the dark clouds cleared the sky and the ground halted its vibrations.

"Wait, what did you do to her?!" I cried.

"I teleported her back to Falcon Valley and us to a different city, we're safe for now, but we should move even further next week." Frieda informed.

"So when the Shadow Pack comes in through the barrier . ." I began to grasp the potency of their magic.

"They won't find us" Alpha Talia replied.

"Oh okay, I didn't know you could do that. I thought you were in danger .." I muttered as I observed Frieda walking to the mansion.

"You were worried about me, little claws?" Talia smirked.

"No, I wasn't" I replied lowering my head.

"Liar" Wolfie called me out.

"Come inside little claws, let's get you freshened up. Maybe afterwards we can discuss the mating ceremony you were supposed to attend" Talia demanded as she snapped her fingers and teleported me into her master bedroom, right to her bed.