Six years ago...

"Brinn you shouldn't be out here. It's getting late." She rolled her eyes then continued walking down the trail. I mentally groaned as I followed after her.

Who knew taking care of an 11 year old would be this much work. Her parents were hesitant about leaving her in my custody for the summer, but I reassured them I had everything under control. Who knew this little spit fire was going to be this much trouble.

She managed to sneak past the guards and into the forest. I didn't want to punish her, sending her to her room for the rest of the day was hard for me. But she punched a member of my pack in the face, I had no choice. I do believe Arabella provoked her, but still...we are raising pups not monsters. So Brinn had to be punished.

"Stop." She ignored me and began walking even faster. Her shoulder length blonde hair bounced against her shoulders.

I was getting fed up with her stubbornness. I grabbed her by her waist and threw her over my shoulder. "Put me down." She shouted as she banged her tiny fist on my back.

I set her onto one of the big rocks near the stream, only for her to get up two seconds later. "Brinnley." I growled. Her eyes went wide before she sat back down. I sighed as I sat next to her.

I didn't want her to be afraid of me, but I also didn't want her thinking it was okay to disobey me as well. My wolf didn't take lightly to disobedience. It was a sign of disrespect.

I grabbed her small hand in mine. "Why did you sneak out?" I asked.

"Because you didn't even ask for my side of the story." She jerked her hand back and crossed her arms over her chest.

"You broke her nose Brinn. What else was I supposed to do?"

"She called me a bítch baby!" She shouted. My eyes went wide. What are 11 year olds being taught nowadays?

"She will be punished as well. Am I forgiven now?" I ran my hand through her hair. She sighed, "Yes, but you owe me."

I smiled. "Deal." She wrapped her arms around me as she pulled me into a hug. I buried my nose into the crook of her neck and inhaled her intoxicating scent. My wolf purred his approval. Her giggles filled the night air as she pulled away. "Why do you always do that?" She asked.

I shrugged, "My wolf has grown to care for you. Your scent calms him." Her eyes lit up. "Wow! That's so cool! Can I see him?" Her grey eyes lit up with excitement.

I shook my head. "Not today little one." My wolf wasn't quite ready to be out around her. He survived off of instinct, not knowing the right and wrongs of human society. There was no telling what he had planned for our little mate. Until I got him under control, he was not coming out. "Fine." She crossed her arms over her chest and began to pout.

I chuckled as I grabbed her hand, urging her to stand. "Let's head back. You must be hungry." She nodded eagerly. "Very."

***

"Titus." My eyes shot open as I stared up at my beautiful mate. She furrowed her brows in a look of confusion as she grabbed a hold of my hand. "You were supposed to wake me when Mom got out of surgery."

I ran my hand over my face as I sat up. "I'm sorry Brinn." She let out a sigh then shook her head. "Ryan just left a little while ago. He said she's stable but hasn't woken up yet." Her eyes trailed to the floor.

I placed my hands on both sides of her face. "That's good news." Her eyes went wide before she pulled away. "No it's not! She's not waking up! Why isn't she waking up?" She whispered the last part as a stray tear trailed down her face.

She quickly wiped away her tears and sighed. "I'm sorry, I'm just..." I nodded understandingly.

"It's okay." She gave me a weak smile before I pulled her into my arms.

A low knock at the door had us both groaning in annoyance. Brinn pulled away and sat next to me. "Come in."

The door opened revealing Owen. His hair was completely disheveled and his eyes red rimmed and puffy. Brinn was the first to stand. She walked towards her brother and wrapped her arm around him. "Oh Owen." He stood there completely still, trapped inside of his own mind.

Ryan mind linked me, informing me now was a good time to make my announcement. I ordered him to gather everyone in front of the pack house. "Do you want me to walk you to the pack hospital." She shook her head as she released Owen. "No, we'll be fine." She shot me a look that's said "I got this." I nodded as she gave me the confirmation I needed.

"Okay. Take the back door." She nodded then grabbed Owen's hand, leading him out of the room. I stayed behind a few minutes, to get my thoughts together. These wolfs needed my guidance on how to move forward.

I took a deep breath then headed out of the bedroom.

Both packs stood congregated outside of the pack house. Their previous chatter died down once I stepped forward. Once I felt I had gotten all of their attention I began to speak. "Last night we all endured tremendous losses. The wolves we lost did not die in vein, they fought for the continuation of out packs-"

One the Red Moon pack members spoke up, cutting me off. "Yeah so what are we going to do about it! My son is dead! Dead!" He comforted his mate as she sobbed into his arms. Other wolves nodded in agreement.

My wolf growled his disapproval at this Red Moon wolf. "Our focus right now is mourning our loved ones."

"Screw that! I say we avenge our loved ones death by marching over to those cowards territory and killing their alpha! Who's with me?" The Red Moon pack cheered their agreement. My pack stayed silent, eyeing between them and me. They didn't dare go against me.

I closed my eyes and ran my hand over my face. This was going to be a problem. I scanned the crowd slowly. I stilled when my eyes landed on my father. He had his arms crossed and eyes locked on me. I knew that look, I'd received it countless times. He was silently telling me to get my shít together and shut this down...now.

I stepped off the steps of the pack house and walked towards the wolf who started this whole out roar. The crowd moved to the side, making way for me. He took a step back once I towered over him. "And how exactly do you plan on doing that with half of your warriors dead and some injured? Walking in there is a blood bath. Do you really want to be the cause of more deaths?"

He narrowed his eyes at me. "He must pay for the deaths he has caused! Why should we take orders from you? You aren't our alpha!" That's all it took for me to throw a punch in his direction. He stumbled to the ground as gasps were heard throughout the crowd. His mate shuffled to the ground to comfort him.

If he thought I was going to allow him to lead these wolves to their death, then he was sadly mistaken. "We have all lost enough! But I will not allow some disgrace of a wolf to disrespect me! If anyone else has concerns about my decisions feel free to challenge me. But just know...I never back down from a challenge."

My pack and the Red Moon pack showed me their necks in submission. My father nodded his approval. "We will not be going to Silver Crest's pack on a suicide mission. If anyone disobeys my order, punishments will be enforced."

"Yes Alpha." They all spoke in unison.

"We will bury our loved ones at the end of the week. You are all dismissed." I turned on my heel and headed for the pack hospital.

***

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