Thank you everyone for your really kind words. I'm very grateful that so many of you enjoy my stories and are enjoying this one. It really means a lot to me.

Things are picking up now, time to bring on the drama lol

Warning: Mentions of suicide. Nothing graphic.

Dimitri POV

Rose looked ready to scream or punch someone, and I had a feeling it would be Janine that received the first hit. We sat at the large dining table, Abe and Janine on one end and Rose and I opposite them. The others sat in awkward silence.

My attempts to find elsewhere for us to stay instead of Lissa's had proved more difficult than I expected. I didn't want to be placed in separate rooms in the guest housing, and I refused to have Rose stay somewhere I couldn't be sure of her safety.

After a lot of indecision, we ended up in the safest place for Rose, but it happened to also be the worst.

"You can't just wander around by yourself," Janine argued, lips pressed in a thin line when she looked back at Rose.

I watched Rose's knuckles turn white around the fork in her hand as the metal bent from the pressure.

When Zmey offered his accommodation, I had hoped the space would be big enough for Rose to avoid her parents, but it appeared there was never enough space.

"I won't be by myself, and it's none of your business what I do," Rose snapped, a fiery glare aimed across the table.

Janine matched the glare and didn't falter under it. I wouldn't mention it to Rose, but I could see where she gained her temper. Her mother breathed slowly through her nose and continued, "I'm just saying–"

"I know what you're saying! And I'm saying to keep it to yourself!" Rose threw the curved fork at the table and stood; her quick movement knocked her chair to the ground. "I never asked for you to be here or to try to act as if you care, so back the fuck off, Janine!"

Rose stormed out of the room and slammed the doors behind her—a slew of curse words faded as she went as far as she could from the dining room. Her anger had been at a short fuse since we arrived at Court, and it was just getting shorter.

I placed my silverware down and rose from my chair. "I think it would be best if we find different accommodation," I spoke honestly, meeting Zmey's eyes. I should never have taken him up on his offer.

Janine huffed in irritation. "Honestly. She's making a fuss, there's no need–"

"She's not making a fuss—she's scared!" I bellowed, and everyone became still. I took a breath to calm myself. My anger would do nothing to help Roza.

She was scared, the wolves that were part of the training were expected back at Court that morning, and with them, the rumours of what happened with Jesse Zelkos were spreading. With no timeline on when the Council's investigation would begin, we were stuck amidst it all.

Though even with rumours flowing for why we were at Court, there was the intrigue from the royals and other pack Alphas visiting. They all wanted to meet the omega that was my Luna; already four had tried contacting me.

"You're right," Abe agreed, setting his coffee by his plate and directing a look of warning at Janine. "I don't want to make this any more stressful on Rose. We will keep our distance."

A look of offence flashed on Janine's face. "I just want her to be protected," she hissed.

I took offence that time. "She will be. And even if Rose does run into any trouble, she is more than capable of protecting herself." It was a reminder to myself just as much as it was to them. Rose was capable—I trained her. I had made sure of it.

I turned on my heel and followed Rose's scent through the house; I expected her to be back in our room, but instead, I found her on the balcony on the third floor. She was crouched in the corner and stared through the gaps of the panelling down to the street below.

Abe's accommodation was a large building in the middle of Court, three levels tall. It felt more like a hotel than a home. I knew that was part of why Rose hated it; she went from a place she once felt safe in to one she had no attachment to.

Court was unlike Haven. While my pack was close and all interacted with one another, Court was different. There was no pack house for everyone to gather in; there were pack runs, but there were organised runs by groups or warriors. The Queen certainly never joined them.

I lowered myself to the ground beside Roza and took her hand in mine. She didn't look away from the people below.

"I didn't grow up in this part of Court. Further out, people actually talk to each other. But here… you would barely be able to tell they were a pack. I just keep seeing royals walking around like they own the place."

"That's because a lot of them believe they do."

She scoffed. "Well, I hate it." Her head tilted back to lean on the tinted glass of the balcony. "I wish we were back home."

"Me too," I agreed. "It's strange not being at the gym or City Hall." I was often busy, especially those past few weeks, and now I felt stranded with nothing to do. "What did you want to do today?" I asked her, hoping for a way to distract us both.

She gave me a weak smile. "You mean, other than go back home?" She slowly shook her head and looked back down at the main road. "I don't know. Part of me wants to visit where I used to live with Alberta. Maybe see if my old friends are still here. But I think I'm scared to go there."

"Because it might be different?"

She focused back on me. "Because everything is different. I don't know how I'll be treated."

I couldn't disagree with her—I wouldn't give her false hope. "If you want to go, you can. I don't want you to feel trapped here." I didn't want her to feel imprisoned again, though I rathered not letting her out of my sight.

She smiled again, and that time it reached her eyes. "Thanks, comrade. I promise that if I do go anywhere, I'll take someone with me." My shoulders sagged in relief, and Rose laughed. "It must have been killing you not to request that."

"I know you can take care of yourself, Roza, but it does help to know you will have someone there to watch your back. Even if it can't be me with you all the time."

Her expression became serious. "What do you have to do?"

"I want to talk to Hans and try to be there when they question Parker and Andrew if I can. I'm still waiting to hear back from Adrian, and there are still some people that Ivan wants to talk to," I explained. When they called us in to give our evidence of what happened, I wanted to be able to provide as much as possible.

Rose nodded along, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. "I was thinking," she began in a hesitant tone, "maybe I should try to meet with Tasha while I'm here. And maybe some of the other omegas. The ones my age would have left the Academy by now." Her eyes dropped, drifting back to the streets. "Maybe… maybe I could try to help some of them out."

I lifted her hand to my lips, pressing a soft kiss to the back of her palm. "I think that's a good idea."

She laughed, giving me a look. "It's not as helpful as your ideas, but I have a feeling that I might make things more difficult if I was there tagging along." I grimaced, and she had her answer. "It's okay, Dimitri. I'm sure I can find some other way of causing trouble here."

There must have been something in my expression that caused her to laugh again; she gave me a look of pity while patting my hand.

"Don't worry. I won't do anything that gets me locked away."

I dipped my head and playfully nipped at her neck, making her gasp. "Good." Roza's breath sped up, and when I pulled back, there was desire and lust in her eyes.

"I can't think of a way to spend the day," she tempted as she leaned forward, lips inches from mine.

"Dimitri, Hans called. He said he needed to see you. Now."

I stilled at Ivan's words in my head, reluctantly pulling back from Rose. She nodded at me in understanding.

"Go, it's fine," she promised. "Find something that can get us home sooner than later."

I kissed her forehead, then each cheek and finally her mouth. "I'll let you know if we learn anything new."

"Okay. And I'll let you know if I kill my mother while you're gone." Though she laughed, it was half-hearted. I added finding a new place to stay to my list of things to do.

I was apprehensive as we walked down to the cells in the basement level of Headquarters. Over recent days, I had developed a fear of seeing Rose in one of them. The photo she had been sent of her locked up in the Academy's cell was burned in my mind and wasn't an image I believed I would ever forget.

I glanced at Hans' back; lines of tension kept him stiff. He was already a tightly-strung man, but I could tell something wrong—something he was reluctant to reveal to me. The fact he asked the guards to remain at the entrance to the cells while only Ivan and I followed concerned me.

"Why did you want me here?" I asked, eyeing him carefully for any tells as to what it was about.

Hans halted and turned to face us; his expression grim. "I'll need to report it to the Council, but I thought I would let you know first. Give you the warning."

My wolf roused. "What warning?"

He nodded at the next cell, "That one."

I shared a look with Ivan, noticing his stance; Hans' words had set him off as well. Together we ventured past the older man and looked into the cell. I wasn't prepared.

In the corner of the cell—suspended by the sheets from his bed tied around his neck—was Andrew.

"Fuck," Ivan cursed. "How did this happen?"

"There was a five-minute window between when we grabbed Parker and then were coming back for him. There was no scent of another wolf in the cell with him, and we didn't catch anything unusual on the camera," Hans explained. Even as he spoke, I knew he was suspicious.

"What do you think happened?" I asked, unable to tear my eyes away from the cell.

"Looks like a suicide."

"But?"

"I knew this guy. He could barely lift weights, yet somehow he managed this in minutes. But, as I said, there's no sign of anyone else being in that cell."

No scent. I finally stepped back, my fingers rubbing at my brow. Andrew knew everything Jesse had planned and was our best way to tie James and Nathan into it—and now he was dead. "Where's Parker being held?" I demanded.

"I have him in an undisclosed location and my three most trusted warriors watching him."

"Good. Make sure none of them can be paid off," I growled. Everything had just become harder, and much more dangerous.

"This isn't a good sign, Dimitri," Ivan frowned, eyes still searching the cell for anything that could have been missed—anything that could be useful.

The apprehension in my stomach grew. "We need to find out what Zmey knows," I decided. Something like that happened in Court—a hit arranged on a prisoner, Zmey would be able to find out who organised it.

As much as I hated to admit it, Rose's father was our best chance against James.

XxX

Rose POV

From the moment I stepped out of Abe's monstrosity of a house, I felt eyes on me. At least, I wasn't alone. I tried my best to keep Dimitri from worrying, so I invited Mason and Eddie to tag along. They kept close to me, eyes watching our surroundings as they would on patrols.

Dimitri had been right that once a wolf saw the bite on my neck they would be less interested in me. I wore my hair up and a shirt with a low collar; I would notice someone stare at me only to look away once they saw Dimitri's claim. That's what it was—Dimitri had claimed me, and I was no longer of value to other wolves.

I still managed to draw attention. Unlike other omegas, I walked with my head high and in front of the alpha with me. The lessons from the Academy returned to the forefront of my mind—lessons of how I should act.

Eyes down. Always remain behind the alpha or beta. I was not to speak unless spoken to, and I definitely was never meant to meet an alpha's eyes straight on. Omegas were the lowest of the classes, just the babymaker, but I was so much more than that.

I was the Luna to a member of a royal family, and one of the strongest packs in America. Dimitri didn't want me to bow to their expectations at Court, and I wasn't going to.

Walking around Court ignoring everything I was taught was fun.

When I announced I wanted to explore Court, they offered the car to avoid the stares, but I was glad I denied it. I relished in the reactions—the affronted and surprised looks. I couldn't help but grin and greet them as we strolled by. When we passed by one alpha that stumbled after I waved at him, I laughed out loud.

"You're enjoying this," Mason marvelled, a grin on his face.

"Of course I am," I replied. "Could you imagine if the teachers at the Academy saw this?"

That drew a chuckle from Eddie, breaking the stern expression he wore. "That, I would pay to see."

It felt good to walk after being confined to the car for two days; I would have preferred to shift and run, but I was hesitant to do so. As a kid, I often shifted and ran around, but I couldn't remember too many adults that would do the same.

It took some time to find my way, looking each way for something that would strike me as familiar. As we got further from the centre of Court, I began to recognise everything. It was strange how areas were different, the landscaping changed or a new shop where an old one used to be, but it was still the same.

Memories of being with Alberta or friends returned, and I began to feel a tightening in my chest with each step closer to the street I lived on.

"You weren't kidding when you said it was near the edge," Eddie commented from beside me, more relaxed since there were fewer people nearby. While the number of people had decreased, the stares hadn't.

Though there were few omegas compared to alphas and betas, we did see a handful in the city, but out here they were less frequent. It was even more of a shock when I saw someone I used to know, and I could tell they recognised me.

I swallowed around the lump in my throat, focused on looking ahead. "Alberta doesn't like people," I replied, my smile forced. It wasn't as fun when the look of disgust I had just received was from a girl I used to have sleepovers with.

I wondered if Mason and Eddie could sense my mood had shifted.

I suddenly wished I had waited for Dimitri to be with me instead.

Finally, we reached the end of the street and the last house on it. I stared at the small home; the white paint had begun to fade and chip. I could remember painting it when I was six. Alberta's garden had died and left just weeds in the flower beds. The place looked abandoned.

I wasn't prepared for the onset of memories, jumping from when I had been dropped at the doorstep when I was four years old to when I was driving away from it at fifteen.

Staring at my old home, I began to wonder why I even wanted to see it again.

"Holy shit. You've got to be kidding me."

My body tensed and the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. Mason and Eddie looked behind us before I had; I turned slower.

Standing on the sidewalk with her bike beside her was Meredith. She had been part of my friend group; though we had more of a rivalry than a close friendship, we still were friends. Her red hair was as wild and curly as I remembered it; Lissa used to theories that Meredith reminded me of my mother, and that was why we didn't get along.

She took a step closer, mouth opened in shock. She looked me up and down a few times before asking, "Rose?"

I gave a weak wave. "Yep. Hey, Meredith."

"I heard you presented, but I didn't…" she trailed off, and I strongly regretted coming back here.

What the hell was I even hoping for?

Everything was different. People would treat me differently. I was different. I shouldn't be…

"It's good to see you." Meredith smiled.

I released a breath I didn't know I was holding. "It's good to see you too." I moved closer once I realised she wasn't about to turn her nose up at me. I scented the air and rolled my eyes, "Of course, you're an alpha."

Meredith laughed, "Of course. There's a reason why I would beat you at training."

"You beat me once," I shot back, then grinned, "I'm pretty sure I could still take you down."

There was a moment of hesitation before she chuckled, "I would like to see that."

"Be careful," Mason joined in, nudging me with his elbow, "this one has been getting private lessons with Alpha Belikov."

Meredith's eyes widened. We had both had the same dream of being trained at Alpha Belikov's pack. "So, it's true what people are saying? You mated Belikov?"

My cheeks heated, and I brushed my fingers over my bite. "Yeah."

Meredith walked beside me. I think it gained more attention than when it was just Eddie and Mason with me. The guys stayed back a couple of steps so I could catch up with Meredith; I felt bad she hadn't crossed my mind often in the past three years. Surprisingly, talking to her like normal gave me some of the comfort I had been searching for when I came back to my old home.

She eyed me and shook her head with a laugh. "I can't believe you're a Luna now. I heard the rumours, but still couldn't believe it. What's it like being part of the Belikov pack?"

I shrugged. "I can't say there's been a dull moment since I moved there, but I like it. Dimitri is nothing like I expected." Meredith and I both listened to the stories the warriors told about the powerful Belikov pack, hanging on to every last word. "The pack is my family, and I love it."

"I'm glad," Meredith smiled. There was a flicker of sorrow in her eyes, but she quickly moved on. "So, why are you at Court?"

My smile dropped into a scowl. "The Council mainly. Some stuff happened, and now we are stuck here until things are cleared up."

"A lot of people have been talking about the omega Luna. I think it's bullshit," she confessed, "you are just as capable of being a Luna. It doesn't matter what you present as."

"Thanks."

"There are a bunch of others that agree. It's about time Court changes how they treat omegas," Meredith spat, and I looked at her in surprise. The way she spoke made me wonder if she was close to someone going through something similar. She didn't say anything else, and I was reluctant to push for more.

I looked around us instead, marvelling at walking the streets I once knew so well. Meredith had been on her way to the gym when she saw me and had offered to walk back with us. It was by Headquarters, and I figured I would see how things were going for Dimitri. I had no doubt that the rumours of what happened at Dimitri's pack had spread; as we got closer, I was sure there would be even more stares.

There was a shift in the breeze, and it blew through my ponytail, the strands brushing against my neck. I halted, and my head whipped to the side. That scent. I recognised it instantly, just as I found wide, fearful eyes locked with mine. It was the same look of fear that I saw every time we passed in the hallways of the Academy.

Natalie stood still and didn't break eye contact with me; I heard the others call my name, but I couldn't look away. My hands shook—I didn't know if it was anger or fear. Natalie looked the same, just as thin and mousey.

Same as she had when she stood outside my cell.

I clutched my wrist; the phantom pains flared again.

"Omega!"

We both jumped; except there was horror on her face. Natalie cowered from the alpha that marched up to her and wrapped a hand around her wrist.

"Stop wasting time and move!" he ordered, and shoved her forward.

A lump formed in my throat. My body trembled as I watched Natalie apologise and bow her head at the alpha in submission. She didn't look back at me as she followed the man like a scared animal, fearful of what would happen if he turned back to her.

I felt like I was going to throw up.

Natalie was the same age as me. She would have been sent to Court a couple of weeks after I left. I didn't see a bite on her neck, so she wasn't mated, but she was still under an alpha's control.

"Rose–"

I flinched back, involuntarily taking a step back from the scent of an alpha. Eddie froze; his hand hovered where my shoulder had been. They all watched me with concern.

Eddie took a step back and asked in a soft voice, "Are you okay?"

I looked back to where Natalie had been, but they had disappeared. There was a rush in my ears, and my heart beat heavily in my chest. I shouldn't care what happened to her, not after what she did to me.

But her look of fear…

My hands curled into fists. "I'm fine," I snapped, then spun on my heel. "Let's go."

That could have been me.

I was right about the rumours spreading around Court once the wolves returned.

We had barely made it to the steps of the Warrior Headquarters, and I felt suffocated by the eyes boring into the back of my head. I also discovered that the news of Jesse's death had been leaked.

"An omega killing an alpha… I don't believe it."

"Those things aren't worth all of the fuss."

"Bet Belikov regrets mating her now."

"She should be locked up."

"Maybe we should go back to Zmey's," Mason suggested. They both stood closer to me, more agitated when watched by so many trained wolves.

I was on edge since seeing Natalie, and after hearing the shit the wolves were spitting as we passed them, I was pissed. I could scent Dimitri as we got closer to the entrance, so I kept walking with my head high.

"Dimitri," I linked with him.

It took a moment before he responded. "Is everything okay?"

"Where are you?"

There was another moment of silence, almost as if he was hesitating to answer. "I'm in Hans' office."

I didn't reply; I knew where that was. Though I said I didn't want to make things more difficult by being there, I couldn't care less anymore. The cat was out of the bag—Jesse was dead, and it seemed fingers were being pointed at who did it.

What was the point of keeping a low profile?

Warriors stopped in their tracks as I marched through the hallways, following Dimitri's scent to the office I had seen in passing before. I was shocked when I rounded the corner and discovered Abe's bodyguard, Pavel, standing outside the office.

Something had happened.

I walked straight up to the closed office door and went in. The five wolves in the office stopped and looked at me—varying in their reaction to my presence.

Janine and Abe were on one side with guarded expressions; I could see the intrigue in Abe's eyes, and Janine was irritated. Hans sat behind his desk with a stern look, his eyes flicking to my mate.

Dimitri stood with Ivan beside him, and neither was surprised to see me. Dimitri's eyes were hard. "Roza–"

I cut him off. "Why are they here?" I demanded, pointing at my parents. "What happened?"

"It's…" For a moment, I thought Dimitri was about to brush me off, but then he shook his head and waved me closer. "Andrew was found dead in his cell this morning."

My stomach dropped to my feet. I followed his eyes to a collection of photos on the desk and quickly looked away. Our best chance of exposing the truth was dead, and I felt like everything was unravelling before me.

I looked at Abe.

If he was here… I looked back at Dimitri. "You don't think it was a suicide, do you?" I made myself look at the photos again. "You think someone killed him and made it look like that."

Abe smirked. "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree," he mumbled, and I narrowed my eyes. It made him chuckle. "Now, we just need to figure out who did it."

"I can take one guess," I snapped and crossed my arms. It had to be James. He was cleaning up the loose ends and finding a way to turn it on me—just as I knew he would.

"I'm sure we all could, but we need to find the proof."

"How do we do that?"

Abe's expression shifted. "That's my job, Rose." He looked past me at Dimitri, "I'll make some calls." My parents both stood and left.

I rubbed my forehead. "How did someone even get in? Shouldn't there be a sign of them? Their scent?"

"There was no scent of another person in the cell," Hans replied gruffly. I had to give it to the old man; he didn't look down at me or so much as bat an eye at the omega demanding answers.

I inhaled sharply. "No scent. Like how Jesse didn't have one?" I looked at Dimitri and found him nodding.

"I was thinking that too." He sat in the leather chair behind him; his body was rigid. "What did the Council say?" he directed at Hans.

"Nothing yet. They took the body and moved Parker to a more secure location. This will most likely make them speed up the investigation. Four dead wolves, and a dead royal—it's not a good look, " Hans replied. He threaded his fingers and rested his hands on his desk, eyes flicking to mine. "I suggest you be careful. With the news out about Jesse Zelkos–"

"Yeah. I'm aware," I groaned, "I already had about five wolves say I'm not worthy of my title."

"Who?" Dimitri jumped to his feet, quick to come to my defence. I sighed and crossed to be by his side. His scent wrapped around me and eased my agitation.

"It doesn't matter," I calmed him. As much fun as it would be to see those wolves have their asses handed to them, Dimitri starting fights with half of Court wouldn't help. We weren't on our land—he couldn't just punch someone and ask questions later.

"Whatever you have to support your story, I suggest you get it together soon. The Council will want to question you both soon," Hans urged and gathered the photos together, placing them in a folder, "You've managed to piss off some powerful royals, and unless you can prove it, things won't end well for either of you."