Mated to the Alpha and His Beta

Zane

“Orion is targeting hybrids?” | asked. “How do you know?”Lanie was a hybrid.

| suddenly remembered the night he’d attacked her. Was that why?

“Because both of our mates were hybrids,” Gregory said, sitting back in his chair again.

“| thought they were a dying breed,” Xander said, repeating the words Rhiannon had said to us a couple of nights ago.

“They are,” Lucas confirmed. “Our mates were some of the few left in this region.”

This wasn’t making any f ucking sense.

“How did you just so happen to get mated to two of the last remaining hybrids in this region?” | asked suspiciously.

Awicked smirk curled onto Gregory's lips. “It wasn’t by chance,” he said. “Remember when | said Orion has the Council in his pocket?”

| looked at Xander. Was he saying what | thought he was saying?

“He had the Elders rig the mating ceremony?” Xander asked.

Lucas pointed at Xander. “Bingo.”

“But...why?” | asked.

“That’s what we're trying to figure out,” Gregory said,

| rolled my eyes.

“We just paid you off, and this is all you can f ucking tell us?” | spat.

Gregory held up his hands. “Hold on, hold on, I’m not done. | didn’t tell you the best part: We were promised power if we played the role Orion wanted us to play for him.”

“And what role is that exactly?” Xander asked, his eyes boring into Gregory’s like lasers.

“The bad guys,” Gregory growled. “He tapped us for his little scheme because we looked like the type of wolves who'd murder their mates. And | guess it worked. You two bought it, anyway.”

| studied Gregory closely. Was he bu Ilsh itting us? He didn’t seem smart enough, and yet, this whole

scheme was almost too outrageous to believe.

Orion was paying off the two roughest wolves in Constantine to mate with hybrids so he could kidnap them and do what exactly? “We don’t know what he’s trying to do with the hybrids,” Lucas said, as if he could read my mind. “Until

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Why the hell had Xander agreed to let them take a mate again? Did that mean they’d be matched with another she-wolf who’d end up in Orion’s clutches?

“Surely you have theories, though?” Xander said, pouring them each another healthy glass of whiskey.

Smart. Keep them talking.

They each downed the glass with another huge single gulp.

“Maybe he’s using them to make hybrid babies, or maybe he just really hates bloodsuckers, | don’t know”

| took the bottle from Xander and poured my own glass. | tossed it back, wincing as it burned my throat.

“If he’s paying you off, then why come to us and tell us everything? Aren’t you worried he'll retaliate?” |

asked.

“Nah, he’s already broken his promises. We don’t owe him s hit,” Luc as ‘s words were starting to slur.

“You see,” Gregory said, gesturing drunkenly. “Orion promised us protection from you, Xander if we went through with his plan. Which is why we were so pi ssed when you declared that we couldn’t mate anymore. We asked for Orion’s help getting out of it, but he ignored us like we were f ucking street garbage”

“Hence the little scene at Alice’s death announcement,” Lucas said. “Oops.”

| winced at the mention of Alice’s name and that horrible day.

“Oops?” Xander said, stepping closer to Gregory, his eyes flashing dangerously, “You almost turned our whole f ucking pack against us.”

That’s why we're here now,” Lucas shrugged. “Consider this making it up to you.”

| scoffed. “Sure.”

“There’s one more thing,” Gregory said, leaning close again, his voice dropping low. Xander and | shared a

look of disgust before kneeling down to hear him better. “Orion’s not working alone. He has-”

But Gregory was cut off by the sound of the front door crashing open, and multiple sets of footsteps

running inside.

“What the. | said.

Suddenly, a whole group of men in black robes poured into the great room.

Four of them were holding back Maxim and Monroe, whose faces were twisted with anger.

“What the f uck is going on here?” Xander demanded.

A flash of white swept through the crowd of black robes. Gustav.

“By order of the Council,” he announced, his voice echoing around the room, “You and Xander are under

arrest.”

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