Her eyes meet mine and I refuse to believe she's telling the truth, but when I look around, I'm not sure I can everyone else is as confident as me. What she's said, what she's implying, that my Flame, my mate could be a traitor, no, she wouldn't. "Liar." It only takes a few seconds for my emotions to boil over, the wolfsbane seems to burn away instantly and Kade is pushing through to snarl at my mate's sister. "I'm sorry, Cain." She drops her head submissively and now I know she's lying. Too confident I would never hurt her for Flame's sake, she's one of the few who have never bowed to me before, so this act she's got on… I'm not sure what she's playing at but I refuse to believe her. She starts to babble on about what Flame did, how she almost orchestrated Chloe's death and I can see Jaden getting more and more worked up over the death of his mate. "Wait." My father's voice seeps into my mind when I'm about to silence Merida. "I know you're angry, but let the girl trip herself up

Sitting here in my father's office waiting for Levi to return with Harrison's first report from the inside of Eligor's camp, I'm trying very hard not to do exactly what that Maloney woman suggested and murder my father. At this point in time, I'd relish the opportunity to tear him limb from limb, but as both Kade and Darius keep reminding me, we are currently at war, we don't know why she wants them both dead and my father can wait. I will kill him though, there's no doubt in my mind about that. Not after Allison crept into my room the moment we got back and showed me the memory Tegen dreamt about, detailing exactly how my father drove her away from the pack the night she disappeared. He got rid of her, sent someone, I'm not sure yet who, to wipe her memory and let me believe all along that she was dead. Poor Allison witnessed the explosion of my rage when I read that, but then again, she's known me most of my life, I'm fairly certain she would have expected that reaction when she b

Flame's screams echo in my head as I open my eyes and look around. The battle is still raging, my father fighting Eligor, but he's getting weaker. Looking around I nearly leap for joy when I see Onyx. I knew she could do it! My excitement is short-lived when I see the wolf collide with her, the two of them rolling around trying to get the better of one another. I sprint across the woods to help her, but my hand goes straight through both of them. I try again and again but the same thing happens every time and when Samuel literally runs through me to protect her, I know something is terribly wrong. "Cain." I turn towards the voice and snarl at the woman in front of me. "Maloney, what have you done to me?" I snap and she smiles sadly at me, tears shimmering in her bright green eyes. "My baby boy, I watched you grow up. I've waited so long to hold you, but it's too soon." A cold feeling of fear runs down my back, but I refuse to acknowledge the truth that's staring back at me. She

"Promise me Cain." I wake with a start, jolting upright in bed and hearing my great grandmother's voice in my head as though she had just spoken directly in my ear.Flame is sleeping soundly beside me, her warmth tempting me to lie back down and sleep some more, but the echo of the conversation in my mind, reminds me there's something I need to do."I'll be back." Kissing her forehead gently so she doesn't wake up, I slip out from the bed and grab my clothes, dressing as I hurry down the stairs and outside.It's so peaceful as I wander slowly towards the hospital. The sky is still dark, the stars twinkling brightly and only a hint of orange is visible where the sun is creeping above the horizon and it feels like a lifetime has passed since I've felt calm enough to just enjoy being outside.I don't know whether it's having died or perhaps having therefore lost the responsibilities that go with leadership or maybe even the relief that Flame is finally home and knows who she is, but ever

Flame clings tightly to my hand as we join the crowds, all walking slowly through the roads. Darius appears beside me, escorting her human friends who have been allowed to witness tonight's event. I'm a little concerned about how excited Ollie seems to be by everything, he's not changed his mind about wanting to become one of us, but that's a problem for another time and he is at least trying to be respectful by reigning in his excitement to just wide eyed staring. Gene and Levi have gone all out for tonight's funeral celebrations. They just have involved pretty much the entire pack to have gotten all of this done in such a short time. Flowers and lights lead from every road up to the clearing and a stage has been erected to one side of the numerous bonfires. Photographs line the stage, my father amongst them, and even though I was there, it hits harder to see the smiling faces of those we lost. We exchange brief words with those we pass, accepting condolences and offering them back,