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didn’t fear the lower tiers. No, they couldn’t do anything. Wolfram, however, was a whole different story. Wolfram saw behind every lie, and his powers had only grown since his mating with Dietrich and Fritz.
    He headed straight to his room, intending to take a shower, change, and then report to Wolfram. His official explanation would be that he’d gone to blow off some steam. He hoped it would be plausible enough because Klaus didn’t have any other ideas. As for the unofficial one… Well, he intended to come clean, of course. It was Wolfram’s help he wanted.
    He’d have gone with his mates had he not been more convinced than ever that soon, Joseph would show up. As such, they needed to work together if they were going to defeat the feral. He only hoped Wolfram would hear his plea.
    To his surprise, when he reached his quarters, he found Wolfram sitting on his couch. The Magistrate held a frame in his hand, one Klaus knew housed a photo of himself and Wolfram, at the turn of the Star-Crossed Mates
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    millennium. Klaus had been among the ones foretelling something horrible would happen when the one changed to two, most of all because of his intensifying nightmares. They’d taken the photo to remind them of the hope the future could bring. Shortly after, he’d met his mate and that hope had begun to diminish.
    “I let myself in when I heard you arrived,” Wolfram said. “I trust you don’t mind.”
    Klaus joined Wolfram on the couch. “Not at all, My Lord,” he replied. “Is something amiss?”
    Wolfram put the frame back on the coffee table and turned toward him. “You tell me, Klaus.”
    He didn’t say anything else, nor did he sound accusing in any way. This was not Wolfram Rozenstadt, Magistrate over all spirit wolves, but Wolfram, Klaus’s friend. The words came easily. “I went to meet my mate, or rather my mates.”
    “In Ireland,” Wolfram completed his sentence. “With Andrew Blunt’s serum.”
    When Klaus nodded, Wolfram sighed. “You know you should be arrested right now. I’m sure you helped them get away. They couldn’t have eluded the hunters otherwise.”
    “If you do imprison me, I will ask you to hear me out first. Ross is a victim in all of this.”
    Wolfram arched a brow at him. “How so?”
    Klaus opened his mouth to explain, but he realized Ross never actually got to explain. “He was forced into it by Joseph,” he said.
    “I thought we already suspected that,” Wolfram shot back.
    “Anything else?”
    “We didn’t have much time before the hunters interrupted us,”
    Klaus explained. “But my gut and my heart tell me more than enough.”
    Wolfram’s gaze could have pierced diamonds. “How do I know your good judgment isn’t affected by whatever power Ross has?”
    “I suppose you just have to trust me.”

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    Scarlet Hyacinth
    It was a gamble, something Klaus never attempted with his friend.
    He hoped Wolfram would appreciate it and understand his point.
    “Very well, Klaus. I can accept that. I’ll hear them out, but I don’t guarantee the result. Ross caused a lot of damage at the Hart compound. He almost killed Paul. So it doesn’t only depend on me.”
    Wolfram got up, now in Magistrate mode. “I’ve never been accused of nepotism, Klaus. I trust I’m not taking the chance for nothing.”
    Klaus bowed his head, half to convey his respect, half to hide his eyes from Wolfram’s. “Thank you, My Lord. You will not regret it.”
    Wolfram headed toward the door. He stopped just as he put his hand on the knob. “Tell me this, Klaus. If Clay is your mate, why did you stay by my side all this time?”
    It was the question Klaus had been dreading. As much as he wanted to convey his fear and distress, he doubted anyone would ever grasp it. He didn’t even know if his mates believed him. “I stayed because I understand,” he said.
    Wolfram didn’t ask anything else. He left the room without another word. Klaus stared at the door for the longest time,