After a few hours of silence, Aiden turns around and nods at us, the signal we agreed to use when we were close. I’m almost there, now, almost where my parents lived, almost where I was born. The thought was making my heart race with excitement, but the atmosphere was eerie. I could see black charcoal-like flakes in the air, dancing around with the wind, and they became more frequent the more steps I took towards the village. Almost twenty years later, and the ashes are still floating around us. The first thing I noticed was the unusual smell. It didn’t smell like something was burning, that smell had probably been long gone, but I did catch the faintest scent of gasoline, maybe even gas? I looked around our small group and noticed they, too, were flaring their nostrils as if they had caught a whiff of something in the air. I wish I could mindlink with them right now. I’m one hundred percent sure that Aiden and Azaire are communicating through

“I mean, if you tell us who you are, where you come from and your business, I’m sure we can let you leave. Unless we don’t like your answers,” the rogue answers, raising an eyebrow at us all, before crossing his arms. The wolves around us all take a step closer, surrounding us completely in the thick forest. I gently kiss the inside of Azaire’s hand, to try my best to offer him comfort as I feel his whole body stiffen against me. I peer to my side to see how the other two are doing, but they look unfazed. Alexander looks like he’s battle ready, while Aiden looks kind of bored, honestly. I’m sure they’re just acting. I know Aiden and Azaire are good fighters, they trained with their dads, but I don’t know about Alexander or myself. I playfully beat Azaire the other night, but when it counts, I’m not sure my malnourished body could take these Rogues. “We’re from the Kaios

I never thought I’d apologize either, but he brings out something in me I’m not sure I ever had before as a spoiled rich kid with money coming out of my parents’ asses, or as a loner who only thought about herself and her own survival. I used to think life was like a thing only the fittest people would survive, and I was not one of those, so I was more or less ready for my demise already. “When we get back, I’m going to ask my dad more about your pack,” he says a little louder now, as he looks into my eyes and pulls my hair away from my face, towards my ear. “And we’re going to find them, so that no matter what you decide with me, you’ll have someone by your side.” I blink a few times, and look at him. “What do you mean?” I ask, well aware of the smooching sounds Alexander is making at us, while Aiden is struggling to keep his laughter in.&nb

I run my hands through my uneven, red hair, and take a few deep breaths. As much as I wanted to reconnect with my family, and get to know my pack, this doesn’t feel completely right. It’s like I’ve betrayed someone, but I don’t know who. Juan isn’t my Alpha, so it can’t be him I’ve betrayed. Maybe Azaire? But he’s asleep, and has no way of knowing about this at all. “It’s too late now, anyway,” Alexander sighs, and puts his arms around me in a hug. “Either way, we’re in this together, and we have Ty and Azaire’s pack, too. I’m sure they’ll all have our backs.” “Not everyone,” I whisper, and put my arms around him to return the comforting hug. “Alessandro wouldn’t hesitate to throw me under the bus.” Alexander lets out some air between his lips, and waves an arm into the air, before hugging m

“This just adds to what I’ve been saying all along,” he says, and turns to his father. “Yohanna should never have left that basement on her first day, she can’t be trusted. She is clearly not mate material, for anyone, especially not my little bro-“ “Alessandro,” Juan growls loudly, staring angrily at his son. “That’s enough. You are entitled to have your own opinion, but you’re not the Alpha yet, I am. And I decide that Yohanna and Alexander are both under our protection, until we know their pack has good intentions.” “Dad, she forced him to go into Rogue territory, they were found, and let go. Rogues never let anyone go, one of them must have a foot on the other side,” Alessandro protests, shaking his hands in front of him as if he’s showing us all some kind of evidence. He has a point. After what I heard, and how we prepared for