“What?” I replied quietly in an astonished tone. I quickly took hold of his hand and dragged him away to behind one of the nearest cabins, then I pulled him in closer to me and wrapped my arms around his shoulders, rubbing his back in support as he leaned in with hushed cries. “Oh, Zack”. I said in sympathy. “Are you sure? Are you really sure it’s your brother?”. Hoping for his sake there was a chance he could be wrong, and I didn’t really know what else to say. “It’s too much of a coincidence not to be”. He spoke through his choked sobs. “My brother is Luke, and he was so angry when he left Clemonte pack. Before he ran out of our house he shouted that he would get back at everyone”. “Oh, Zach”. I spoke softly, continuing to hold him with as much comfort as I could. “When I tried to chase after him, I really thought he just needed time to cook off, but the longer I went without being able to find him I thought something had happened to him. I never thought he’d resort to this”. “

My father gently closed uncle’s eyelids and tried to comfort grams, who was whimpering next to his body before she stormed off and scampered across the field, stifling her sobs. “We’ll have to leave his body here until I tell your mum, we can’t bury him without her”. He spoke quietly, trying to hold back his tears. I didn’t look at father to let him know I agreed, my gaze was fixated on uncle as my heart clenched and I could feel myself screaming on the inside. I suddenly pulled myself away and trotted quickly to the forest where I had left my change of clothes. As soon as I was hidden by the trees, I shifted back into my human form. My body uncontrollably shook, from my legs to my fingers as I fumbled with my jeans and shirt, frustratingly trying to calm myself so that I could fasten the buttons. “Raven…”. Grams’s voice was horse and raspy with her tear stricken face. She stood a few yards from me already fully dressed, but she looked so lost and afraid. I ran over to her and envel

I ran and slept in the forest for two days after I had found Zach and told him and Mavis to take the rogue to Whitlock to be questioned and whatever Caleb decided to do with him. I had told Zach of Luke’s death and the pain on his face was just another reminder of all the hurt and destruction Luke and Violet had caused to everyone around them. Being alone for two days was what I had to do, in fact I’d have made it longer if it wasn’t for the guilt of my family grieving too that pulled me back to Whitlock. The anger still hadn’t gone, I had merely pushed it down as much as I could, but it festered and was constantly eager to be let loose. The thought of just being on the same land as that treacherous bitch and the way she tried to cry her way out of her consequences… the fake remorse, passing the blame and her wicked heart resorting to keeping Addison on her side. Addison may strut and flounce around like she’s so much better and above everyone else, but the hilarity of it was that sh

As I left the palace, I looked around to see that once again the pack grounds were quiet and glum. People shut away in their houses grieving and others just avoiding the massacre that destroyed our once peaceful lands. I looked at the forest border and it occurred to me that whilst I had lived in the camp I had come to love the forest and all it’s natural beauty, even on it’s stormiest days. But from here, it looked bleak and grim, nothing beautiful about it, even the surrounding trees looked forbidding and miserable. Their branches and leaves had been smashed apart and trodden into the ground during the battle, and the once green and vibrant leaves were now a stained crimson red. We needed the rain, we needed it to wash away the horror of that day, the reminder to everyone how one man and a member of their own pack wanted to viciously destroy their home. The entire time I was away, and I’d sneak to the borders looking onto my home, Leo and my parents, I always wished to be here agai

We all headed back to the palace hall where Caleb had arranged for his cooks and staff to host an evening dedicated to all the pack members that had died in battle. As we walked in, my gaze averted to the large portraits of each person placed along the edges of the room. Uncle Filton’s picture was fifth in the line, and it was one mum and grams had personally picked to be used. He was dressed in his black tux, his hair was neatly styled, and he was standing proudly underneath a blossoming archway with the happiest smile on his face, a proud and cheerful gleam in his eyes. That was the day he married Anya, and dad had taken a picture of him just before the ceremony had started. I smiled at his photo, not just missing him now but also the man he used to be, full of positivity and life, always optimistic making everyone laugh around him and completely besotted with his mate. How carefree and bright he looked, completely unaware of the tragedy that lay in store for him and his bride to be.