A week after our pup began moving, my brother appeared on my doorstep, claiming to bring news of the Prince. I was amazed to discover I wasn't angry to see him for the first time in years. In fact, strangely, I was thankful for his presence. I'm still unsure whether he's truly my ally, but my wolf urged me to trust him, and he's rarely wrong. Besides, any intelligence—even false—is new information, and I can sniff out a lie better than anyone.

"How's Ella?" he asked, removing his coat.

"She's perfect," I boasted, unable to help myself. I felt myself beaming; I couldn't stop smiling. "She's napping now, and we're going back to the doctor tomorrow because her blood pressure is still a bit elevated but otherwise, she's absolutely wonderful. I couldn't have asked for a better mother for my pup."

"I meant after the attack," Roger clarified, looking slightly baffled by my effusiveness.

"Oh," I paused, laughing softly. "Sorry, it's easy to get carried away. She's still a bit shaken, but her nightmares are less frequent now."

"You're really in love, huh?" Roger inquired, surprised.

I scoffed. "Did you really doubt that?" As far as Roger knew, we'd fallen in love and chosen to start a family. He shouldn't suspect our scheme.

"I mean, you haven't marked her. I figured you were only with her for political reasons," he shrugged.

"The politics are just a bonus," I rumbled, mildly amazed this wasn't a lie. After two months, I enjoyed her company more than winning the campaign. Winning was important and necessary, but always a duty, not a personal ambition.

"Anyway, what of the Prince?" I asked, ushering Roger into my office.

"He hates Ella even more than he hates you," Roger sighed. "Being upstaged by a she-wolf seems to infuriate or emasculate him on some visceral level. He really has it in for her."

"He's already tried to kill her twice," I remarked coldly. "I'm not sure how much worse things can get."

"Dom, he doesn't just want her dead," Roger grimaced. "He wants to punish her, to drag it out, to make her death as painful as possible. And he wants you to suffer too."

My wolf surfaced, and I had to step away to breathe. I counted to ten, resisting the urge to shift and blocking out the furious howls in my head. "Do you know what he's planning? Why is he taking so long if he hates her so much?"

"Because he needs time to figure out how to get her away from you. That's why things have been quiet this last month—he's been plotting," Roger shared, disturbed.

Goddess damn it! I thought. This is all my fault! I put her in danger!

We have to kill him, my wolf snarled. Forget the politics. She and the pup won't be safe as long as he lives.

We can't just kill him. His father is the King. He'll take revenge, and unlike the Prince, he has an army. Even if he doesn't, I won't be a suitable candidate, and the Alpha council might call off the election. Then the man who paralyzed Dad will be rewarded with a stolen throne!

But it's Ella, my wolf insisted. And the pup. We have to protect them.

"Plotting what?" I growled, my clenched fists shaking with rage as my claws extended and retracted.

"He's going to lure her out alone. Your guards are keeping his spies at bay, but he's planning a women-only campaign event. He thinks you won't be there to protect her," Roger shared, watching me nervously.

"When?" I demanded, trying to recall any matching invitations.

"In a couple of weeks," Roger explained. "He's planning another rogue attack for the same day, to be sure you can't reach her."

I heard movement outside my office. I held up a finger to pause Roger. He glanced toward the soft footsteps approaching. Ella's scent drifted through the door, followed by a small shadow. My lip quirked. My little troublemaker was awake and eavesdropping.

I put a finger to my lips, exchanging a knowing glance with Roger. I raised my voice slightly. "I don't know, if I sell my baby after the campaign, there's not much the council can do about it."

A soft gasp. Roger smothered a laugh with a cough. "They can always call for another election—that's how we got here in the first place."

"Maybe, but by then I'll have the army," I countered, rising silently. "They won't stand a chance."

I swung the door open, startling Ella. She'd been leaning against it to listen. I caught her wrists before she fell. "Well, well, what have we here? One very naughty little spy."

Ella's eyes flashed with shock, fear, confusion, then outrage. "You rat! That wasn't funny!"

"Oh, I beg to differ," I replied, scooping her into my arms. "I think you got exactly what you deserved."

I settled her in my lap. She glared at me. "I should have been part of this conversation! You left me out again, Dominic!"

"You were asleep," I stated. "And you need rest. I intended to fill you in when you woke. If you'd knocked, I'd have invited you in."

Ella deflated, looking unsure. "Really?"

"Yes," I confirmed, closing my hand over her nape. "You need to know these things."

"But you were determined not to worry me," she argued, her voice small.

"That was before—before you helped me understand how it made you feel not to know, and before I appreciated how being informed would encourage caution," I reminded her.

"Oh," she murmured, blushing. "I'm sorry, I thought"

"I know what you thought," I answered. "But you don't need to worry about that right now." I lowered my mouth to her ear. "We'll deal with your bad behavior later."

Ella shivered. Roger rolled his eyes. "You two aren't subtle."

"We're not trying to be," I smirked. "Now, if you'd help my mischievous mate catch up, she'd appreciate it."

"Yes, please," Ella offered shyly. "I'm sorry I eavesdropped."

Roger shook his head. "You two are a pair."

"We know," I beamed, kissing behind Ella's ear.

"Alright, you need to be careful," Roger sighed. "You'll get an invitation for a women's event in a couple of weeks. Make an excuse not to attend. Accept, but pull out at the last minute. I can give you details about the rogue attack so you can stop it, but the Prince can't find out I'm helping you."

"What is he planning on doing with me?" Ella inquired, cuddling closer.

Roger and I exchanged a glance. I imperceptibly shook my head. "You don't need to worry about that," Roger replied. "All you need to know is that you don't want to fall into his hands—at any cost. If it comes to it, and you have a choice between dying and being captured choose death."