Allen had finally managed to persuade Lexi to get some shut-eye while he was there and her head was resting on his lap as he kept watch over her best friend.　　He scrolled through his phone casually, checking through any notifications from the businesses and pack, and waiting for any messages from Adam.　　He didn't need to wait for very long though, as about 30 minutes after Lexi had fallen asleep, Adam burst through the doors with Felix in tow.　　They were both unshaven and dirty, clearly having dropped everything and sped back as soon as they had received the news.　　The commotion Adam made when he burst through the doors woke Lexi with a start and they both watched helplessly as a roar of grief and fury tore from Adam's chest as he took in the sight of his mate so vulnerable and unwell, reliant on all these machines to ensure that she was still safe.　　He dropped to his knees at Ann's bedside, reaching for her hand as silent sobs wracked his body and he rested his forehead on the

　　Allen stared at him in shock for a second as the furious figure of Felix soared through the air toward him.　　He just couldn't wrap his head around it. What the hell had happened in those few short minutes that he had been gone that would explain why he was covered in blood and why he was in such a murderous rage.　　He managed to sidestep Felix's initial assault, moving away from Ann's bedside and trying to defend himself as Adam snarled in fury at the violence that was occurring in such close quarters to his bedridden, vulnerable, and pregnant mate.　　Felix swung wildly at Allen and then at Adam as they tried to restrain him to find out exactly what was going on.　　"Felix calm down! What the hell happened?!" Adam roared as he dodged a wild punch from the clearly distraught Alpha in front of him.　　As much as Baldur wanted to meet his violence with violence, the cloying scent of blood that hung around Felix told him that something horrific must have happened. If it concerned Aoife, t

　　As soon as Lexi reached her father's quarters, she didn't bother knocking. She flung the doors wide open as she called out for him.　　"Papa? Are you here?" she called frantically as she tried her best to hold back the tears that threatened to fall.　　Lord Brarthoroz's head appeared around the edge of the doorframe and his frown deepened as soon as he realized the state that Lexi was in.　　"My daughter," He greeted her with a soft smile as he threw the book he had been reading onto the bed and made his way over to her, "Tell me what troubles you."　　The combination of his soft, coaxing voice and the way he looked at her with such concern, seemed to open the floodgates as her grief poured forth with tears streaming from her eyes as she choked back a sob.　　"Papa it's Aoife! She… she's dead. She was in the room right next door and I didn't hear a thing…I should have stopped it, I should have…"  　　"Hush child, that's enough," Lord Brarthoroz soothed her as he wrapped his arms around her

　　Ann sat in a stunned silence as she tried to comprehend what they were telling her, her heart shattering as Maeve whined mournfully in her head.　　"But… why?" Ann asked as they filled her in on what they knew so far.　　"We don't know the answer to that yet. But if my twat of an uncle is involved, then it's nothing good." Lexi answered morosely.　　Ann glanced up at Felix, who despite being obviously devastated by his wife's uncertain demise, was holding it together pretty well.　　"If the scent of Aoife's blood wasn't overpowering everything else in the room and driving my wolf insane, then I would have been able to help with scenting the other person that your father identified." Felix grimaced.　　"Oh I wouldn't worry too much about that, Felix. Papa has plenty of ways to track down the sneaky little fuckwits that don't want to be found." Lexi smiled in what was supposed to be a reassuring manner but it didn't seem to have the impact she desired as Felix scowled back at her.　　"Are yo

　　Felix swallowed his own fear and inhaled deeply, forcing all traces of emotion from his face as he held his brother's gaze steadily.　　He could feel the lazy smirk that was spreading across his brother's face rather than see it, and Felix's wolf reacted accordingly, readying himself to defend at a moment's notice. He didn't trust his brother as far as he could throw him.　　"Nervous are you?" Jasper sneered into the darkness, his tone mocking.　　"Of what?" Felix growled, "You? We are not children any more Jasper. You don't frighten me."　　Jasper's disbelieving laughter rang in his ears as he reached up and gripped Felix's wrist tightly with both hands, his bony fingers digging painfully into the skin.　　"No? Then why is your heart beating so quickly?" He continued to mock as he increased the pressure on Felix's wrist, laughing as he twisted his arm away easily and pushing him backward.　　"You would react in the same way if you woke to find an intruder in your quarters whilst you were