Chapter 3

(Sebastion's POV)

I stood over Irina looking down into her ice-blue eyes. So many emotions went across her beautiful face in rapid succession. Anger, panic, sadness, and fear. It was the sadness and fear that gripped my heart. I left the room to make a phone call. I know just the person to call. Let's hope she has some answers.

“Will they use our own kind against us?” I asked Rayne as she answered the phone.

“Sebastion, why are you calling me at ten in the morning?” There was a muffled groan, then a laugh from the other end of the line.

I look at my watch and shake my head. I am an idiot. Rayne worked overnight at her bar. She was most likely trying to sleep. So, I will just make this quick. “I am sorry for calling so early. I just had a woman attempt to pass through security.” I launch into the story, then wait for her to reply.

“She is your second chance mate?” Was all Rayne said.

“Rayne, please,” I groan.

“It is interesting timing that you ask this question.”

“Why?”

“A few days ago, we got word back from Kade, a friend of ours who is on a mission. He mentioned that the place they are trying to get into has all werewolf guards. Do you think she is a spy for The Collectors?” Parker asked as Rayne put the phone on speaker.

“Yes, but there is something else going on. I think there is so much more to her story.”

“How so?” Rayne asked.

“There was panic and fear in her eyes, but something else. I am not sure how to explain it.”

“Well, I suggest making her a compromise. Flip her to your side, yet keep her feeding her boss false information. She is your mate, Sebastion, there is more to this than either of you expected.” Rayne said.

I ended the call a few moments later. This is a lot to process in a brief time. I can play along with her plan, see what she is after, but that leads to danger. I think Rayne and Parker are right. I will make her my assistant, but she will need to tell me the entire truth. If she is in danger of repercussions for not completing her mission, can I help her? I have allies now, so do all I can to help my mate.

I go back into the room after I put the anger back on my face. “You are not a spy for any business competitor, are you? You are a spy for someone much more sinister.” I watch as her face pales and fear comes off her in waves. “I have a deal to make you, but I am going to require the full truth upfront.”

Irina looked up at me with those ice-blue eyes brimming with tears. She sat with her back ram-rod straight as she stared at me. She looked like she was struggling with some internal debate. There must be some way that I can assure her I will not harm her. I reach into my pocket to grab my wallet. Irina flinches like I am reaching for a weapon.

“Relax, Irina, I will not hurt you. I am reaching for my wallet,” I say with a chuckle. “I am just going to show you something.”

She looks at me like I have gone insane. Maybe I have. I think what I am about to do is very crazy, but the fear in her eyes makes me want to do anything I can to protect her. There is something more to this woman and I want to know what it is. Irina tries to sneak in here as a human. A month ago, that would not have caused a problem. Today is different.

“This is my son, Jace,” I say as I pull his picture out of my wallet. “He is almost six. It is for him I tightened security in all of my businesses. It is for Jace that I am doing everything in my power to protect the ones I love. Someone took him away from me cruelly, and I will spend the rest of my life showing him he is safe. Do you understand that feeling?”

The look on Irina’s face made my heart lurch as she looked at Jace’s picture. The pain that erupted in her eyes made me want to scoop her up and soothe her. Aries was whimpering in my mind as he heard Irina’s wolf cry out in pain. I will do anything to wipe that pain from her face. “Please, Irina, you can trust me. Tell me what you are trapped in. There are ways to help you. You are no longer in this world alone,” I said as I slowly sat down next to her. She flinched as I sat down. What the hell had this woman been through? What bastard put the fear in her beautiful eyes?

“He will kill her if I do not do what he wants,” Irina spoke. Her pain laced words made my heart stutter.

“Who? Who sent you here?” I asked as a single tear streaked down her cheek.

“A monster,” was all she said before she broke into body wracking sobs.

(Irina's POV)

This is happening. What I have been dreaming of for the past four years. Someone that could make this nightmare end. How on earth can I trust him with Zasha’s fate? Can I trust him with my fate? The look in his eyes shows me I can, but I hesitate to trust him. I can feel his wolf trying to console mine. The emotions coming from them both are genuine and something that I never thought I would feel again.

“How can I trust you?” I spoke in a shaky voice.

“Because I know how it feels to not be in control. I know how it feels to have something precious taken from me. One person responsible for hurting my son is dead, the other will spend the rest of his life making amends for his actions. That second person is me,” Sebastion responded to my question.

“What are you responsible for?”

Sebastion looked to everyone in the room with a nod, then all but his sister left. I watched as Arianna went to a panel in the wall and pressed on it. The panel slid to the side to reveal what looked like a bathroom. She disappeared inside, then came back a few moments later with a wet cloth. Arianna walked to me to hand me the towel. The anger on her face was still there, but it was less directed to me now.

“My actions caused the woman who took my son to do what she did. I put her on a pedestal, but she wanted far more than I gave her, so our son paid the price.” Sebastion’s eyes flashed with anger, then pain.

“His mother did something to him? Her own child?” Outrage filled my voice.

“Yes, but she is dead and Jace is as safe as I can make him,” Sebastion looked at me and my heart fluttered. Damn mate bond.

“How can you be so sure that you can protect me? How can you be so sure that you can give me the hope that I haven’t had for over five years?”

“Tell me the whole truth first, then I will tell you how I can help you.” Sebastion reach out and placed his hand over mine. Sparks erupted all up my arm at the simple touch of his skin on mine.

“Who is it that is being used against you?” Arianna asked as she sat in a chair across from the sofa.

How do I even answer that? I don’t know these people. Can I take the risk to even open up to them? How on earth can I be so sure that they can even protect me? Fuck, even if they can protect me, can they get Zasha out of Vicktor’s grasp? I don’t even know where he keeps her half the time. Is this worth the risk I will need to take to ensure that my daughter has a future?

I take a deep breath. Here goes everything. Moon Goddess, please protect my baby, I pray silently.

“My daughter, Zasha,” I breathe out in a barely audible whisper.

“Your child?” Arianna shot up from her chair with anger vibrating off her.

“How? Who?” Sebastion asked.

Can I tell them? Should I take the risk and finally trust someone with my life and Zasha’s?

(Sebastion's POV)

I can tell she is still hesitant to trust me. If her daughter’s life is in the balance here, I do not blame her at all. How can I help her trust me?

Make her the offer, you idiot. Aries said my head.

Give me a moment. Patience man.

“I have a plan, but you must meet me halfway first Irina.” I spoke as she sat there staring at me silently.

“You are asking me to risk my daughter’s future here, Sebastion. Risk the vicious outcome that will come my way if I go against my master. What the fuck do you want from me?” Irina screamed at me.

I take a deep breath as her anger washes over me, “Trust is a hard thing to earn, I know, so I will go first. I have a plan I hope will save you both. It will be a charade of sorts until we can get your daughter free.”

“Wait, what are you talking about? A charade? How?” Irina burst up from the sofa and paced my office like a caged animal. My heart squeezed at the thought of my beautiful mate being locked in a cage.

Was the Moon Goddess determined to pair me with broken women? Yes, I see her plan now. This is about redeeming myself for all my past sins. She has given me a second chance with Irina. Save her to save myself. I chuckle as I think of that fickle Goddess.

“I will hire you on paper as my personal assistant. Then you will send nothing good back to your boss. False trails and information. Make whoever it is think you are giving them good intel,” I said as she stops in her tracks to look at me.

“Then what will we be doing?” Her ice-blue eyes bore straight into my soul.

“I have allies that can help with the rest, but you will need to tell me who you work for. The entire truth, Irina, or I can’t help you,” I stand to walk towards her.

The doubt is evident in her eyes. Her posture is rigid as fear is still coming off her scent. The orange blossom scent of hers is driving me crazy. I want to do everything in my power to never smell fear on her again. Slowly, I walk closer to her. With each step forward I take, she takes one backward. I know it is probably wrong to corner her like I am doing, but the need to touch her is so strong. I want to feel her soft skin under my hands again.

“I have been under his thumb since he killed my mate five years ago. He spent the next year breaking me to his will. Using my ability to mask my scent against those he sent me to observe. Sometimes my own kind, other times, different species. All for his collection.” She whispered. Tears rolling down her face as she spoke.

“The Collectors. Your master is one?” My voice was low as the shock took hold. They really existed. Well, holy shit.

“You know of The Collectors?” Irina’s voice was just as shocked as mine was.

“Learned of them recently from a friend and ally,” I said. How much do I tell her now? Not all of it. I will wait until she opens up more.

“Then you know how dangerous they are,” She looked at me as I got closer to her.

“I am seeing they are far worse than I have been told,” I say as I take the last step that brings me to stand in front of her. I reach both my hands out to grip her shoulders. Irina flinches, but I hold her in place, looking into her gorgeous eyes, “I will not hurt you, Irina. You are safe with me. You are my mate and I will do anything I can to protect you. I will risk so much to free your daughter from the monster that holds her. I just need a name. Who am I to protect you from?”

“Vicktor Treadstone,” She whispered. Her body relaxing gradually as I continued to hold her shoulders.

“Of Treadstone Industries? The leader in the plastics industry?” Arianna spoke with surprise in her voice.

“Yes, he is also third in command of his branch of Collectors. He will do much to ensure that he gets everything he wants. Please, let go,” She looked up at me. Her eyes no longer filled with tears. Instead, I saw determination.

I let her go, then stepped away from her to walk to the mini-fridge under the bar along the wall behind my desk. I took out three bottles of water, handed one to Arianna, then one to Irina. She took it with her small, graceful hands. The image of them all over by body made things tighten in my gut.

Down boy Aries laughed in my mind.

Shut up.

I stepped away from her to sit at my desk. I would need to get a grip on my lust. Now was not the time. “So, the man we have to take down is not only rich and powerful, but he is also often in the public eye. Fantastic.”

“I do not know where he keeps Zasha or the others in his collection. Vicktor only lets me see her in his office, even then it is only for short periods of time.” Irina takes a sip from her bottle and I swallow hard. This mate bond is going to drive me nuts.

“I can’t imagine what you have gone through over the last five years. To be separated from your daughter must be a living nightmare that you can’t wake from,” Arianna spoke softly.

From one mother to another, I know that my twin will help ease the tension in my mate. My mate. Let’s just hope I don’t fuck this one up like I did the last one. I decide that Irina needs space from me for the moment. I will give them time to talk. I will let Arianna help Irina settle down. Give them both a chance to connect on the bonds of motherhood.

Saying nothing, I leave my office to make a few calls. I will need to call in Rayne, Parker, and anyone else they think can help my situation. Here is hoping that Rayne’s group has any idea how to get my mate out of this nightmare and bring this bastard down. Please Moon Goddess help me help her.