Nicolas POV
“There was a reason why Beta John saved Levi,” Claire stated. “And when he marked me, he revealed everything to me in the most intricate detail.”
“I assume Levi has some special ability we don’t know of?” Ronan asked curiously. He has been attentively listening to Claire, keeping his interruptions to a minimum.
Claire proudly stated, “Zara’s twin brother sent him to guard her in the mortal world,” causing me to gasp in astonishment. “He is the immortal Beta. He served Zara’s brother as the crown prince.”
Claire’s gaze shifted to Levi, a tender smile following on her lips. She looked so proud of her youngest son.
“That’s why he was so hard on me,” Levi muttered under his breath. “He was grooming me to protect and look after her.”
“And that’s why he was suspicious of you not being Zara’s mate,” I added.
Claire chuckled yet nodded.
“We knew that Levi was gay,” Claire stated.
“You knew?” Levi flinched, surprised. “How did you-did Zara?
“No, motherly intuition…” Claire said. “Zara safeguarded your secret… she consistently harbored affection for you. Beta John just couldn’t figure out why the two of you plotted to act as if you were mates…”
“It’s because my mate rejected me,” Levi said. “And Zara didn’t want Alpha Noah as a mate. She saw something that made her bitter toward him.”
“He suspected that,” Claire replied. “But now you have met your second chance in Alpha Kyle.”
“He told you?” He asked, his face turning red.
“There were no secrets between us,” Claire said, taking his hands. “Your father, Beta John, and I loved one another in our own way. He was always good for me and you boys. I am just pleased that he now found peace… he fulfilled his part of the prophecy…”
Levi suddenly sighed, looking kind of sad, angry, and frustrated.
“I haven’t stood by Zara’s side to protect her when it was necessary, and now she’s gone missing,” Levi murmured.
“It’s not your fault…” Claire said.
“It’s mine,” I stated, interrupting her.
Levi knitted his eyebrows together before his gaze shifted to me.
“What transpired between the two of you?” he asked. “I was surprised to learn that she had vanished without a trace.”
“A photo of my late mate had slipped from my blazer’s pocket,” I replied and swallowed hard, feeling embarrassed by that fact. “I had forgotten that the photo was still in there.”
Levi’s eyes darkened, and I prepared myself for the worst.
“And Zara thought you were screwing around behind her back,” Levi stated, shaking his head as he found my gaze. “You are aware, Alpha, that Zara is deeply infatuated with you. She must have felt frustrated and heartbroken when she found the photo.”
“Yes,” I replied, my stomach pulling into a knot.
“My sister passed away five years ago,” Ronan quickly added. “She became sick when Alpha Nicholas marked her… we didn’t know that Alpha Nicholas had already found Zara as his mate.”
Levi knitted his eyebrows. I could see the questions dancing in his eyes.
“It’s a long story,” I said. “There was a lot of betrayal involved…”
“You have been mated before?” Levi inquired.
I nodded. “I believed Isabella was my fated mate….”
Levi knitted his eyebrows together as he processed the information.
“I assume your father has something to do with it,” Claire asked.
I nodded, balling my hands into fists.
“Alpha Noah’s mother, Luna Mary, blackmailed my father,” I stated. “They erased my memories of Zara.”
Levi became still, and an audible gasp escaped his lips.
“Am I thinking what you are saying?” He quickly asked. “Alpha Luke and Alpha Noah are brothers?”
I nodded.
“I recently discovered that Alpha Noah is my half-brother.”
“F*ck!” Levi choked out and ran his fingers through his messy hair. “What a mess!”
“What?” Ronan asked.
“If what you say is true, Luke could be conspiring with Noah,” Levi growled, trying to contain his anger.
“It might be,” I said. “It did cross my mind, but I do not have proof….”
Levi shifted in his seat, his gaze meeting mine.
“What if I pay Alpha Luke a visit?” He suggested. “He wouldn’t suspect anything. I would be able to pick up Zara’s scent.”
“Out of the question!” I dismissed the idea immediately. “It is way too dangerous.”
“I am a fully trained Beta, Alpha Nicolas,” Levi replied calmly.
“What will you do if he suspects something?” I asked. “It could get you killed. I don’t want your blood on my hands too!”
Levi chuckled and found my response humorous.
“Alpha Luke wouldn’t suspect anything,” Levi replied. “He knows me well. I have visited him often when Zara used to date him.”
A low growl escaped my lips. I didn’t like anyone else touching Zara. She is mine!
“Besides,” Levi went on. “It’s his mother who we need to be careful of.”
“I agree with Levi,” Ronan stated. “Yes, it’s dangerous, but at least he could sniff around to see if she is kept captive there.”
“I don’t think they would keep her in any territory,” Claire chipped in.
Our gazes shifted toward her, and I cocked my head to the side.
“Do you know of a place they would take her?” I asked.
Claire nodded and got to her feet. She quickly left the living room.
“Where are you going, Mother?” Levi called after her.
“I will be right back,” she called and disappeared in the hallway.
Moments later Claire appeared with a thick book in her hands. The old outside cover was made from some kind of leather, and the pages looked yellow and brittle.
“What is this?” Levi questioned Claire as she placed the book on the coffee table.
Claire stated, “They know it would be too dangerous to keep Zara in one of the pack territories. Besides, the council has sent troops out to find Zara, but they are only searching the pack lands.”
“Do you believe she could be hiding in plain sight?” Ronan inquired. He sat back, his index finger on his chin, thinking. “You might have a point there.”
“What are you thinking?” I asked.
“If what Claire is saying is true,” Ronan stated. “Then someone must be keeping her in the tunnels.”
Levi and I had the same confused expression.
“They will need the temple on the full moon night to remove your mark from her nape,” Claire explained.
“So we have the when and where,” I said. “Now we just need a plan.”
“I still think I should visit Luke first,” Levi said.
“But-”
“I will go with him,” Ronan interrupted.
“And do what?” I asked.
“If they are involved, the council needs to hear of it,” Levi stated.
“And if they are not?” I asked.
“Then-” Levi shrugged. “They are clean.”
I shook my head in annoyance and turned to Claire.
“I like their plan, Alpha,” she said. “We need as much information as we can possibly get. Three days remain until the full moon, and if he manages to carry out the ritual to erase your mark and claim Zara, chaos will ensue.”
I sighed, shaking my head.
There was no point in arguing.
“Fine,” I gave in. “What do you want me to do?”
“You will be summoning your wolf back,” Claire said, her blue eyes glittering in excitement.
For some reason I was afraid of what tactics she would be using to help me get Ray back….
*****