"Jared ? What happened to you ?" Someone exclaims the next morning during breakfast when the beta enters the room.

I can't help the smirk appearing on my face as I bite in my toast. As usual the room is full and jovial. This is really a nice place, they don't seem to worry much.

'That's not really a good thing.'

"Oh my god Jared !" Someone else panics.

The room quietens and they all start to murmur. I look up to find a sulking Jared, bandaged from head to toe, he almost looks like a mommy. One of his legs and both his arms are in a cast.

I burst out laughing and can't stop anymore. My stomach hurts from the lack of air and I can't help the tears running from my eyes when faced with this scene. His face is hilarious as he glares at me, his jaw tightly closed, a bandage around his head and with a purple crooked nose.

Definitely broken.

'You said you didn't hit him too hard.' My wolf hisses.

Oh, come on, he's fine.

I wipe at my tears and try to find my breath but the more I look at him the more it makes me laugh. He wobbles towards me without a word while the others watch intently. He sits in front of me and winces as he does so before relaxing.

"You're not supposed to laugh at someone's misfortune." He mumbles grabbing one of the toasts in my plate.

"Watch it pup." I warn him.

"Your fault. I can't really walk." He replies with a shrug.

At least he's not pouting about it.

I know you're feeling better than you're pretending to be. I didn't hit you that hard."

His eyes open wide, bulging in their sockets and he fakes a gasp.

"Are you kidding me. The doc said every one of my bones was broken."

"You'll heal." I roll my eyes.

"Thanks by the way, for abandoning me on the porch like that."

Okay, so I might have dropped him in front of the door but I knew someone would find him. Eventually.

"You'll heal." I repeat myself.

"So," He starts hesitating "was is really some kind of magic ?

I can see his pessimism in his eyes.

"Why don't you believe in it ?" I inquire curious.

"Well, until yesterday I never saw any proof of it."

"Again, you're a werewolf."

"I know but that's different."

"How so ?"

"I don't know." He shrugs. "I guess I never saw it that way. But what was it really ?" He insists.

"If you really want to know it's an ancestral Japanese technique."

I gave them the idea. But who needs to know.

"Do you remember last time when I talked about kitsunes ?" He nods and I continue. "Well most of them can do such things. It's like their secret weapon."

"Then how does it work ?"

I look at him seriously and he bends over the table ready to know all the secrets of the world.

"First, you need to find fairy dust and then a dragon scale."

He starts to frown when I say fairy and my face breaks into a wide smile."

"You're not funny." I tell him.

"Everyone knows dragons don't exist."

"Not anymore." I acquiesce.

"Not any.. are you kidding me ?!"

Maybe I should show him some of my relics. They are way better than theirs.

Dragon scales, yeti fur, chimera teeth, sirens claws, griffon feathers... the list goes on.

"Where do you think the myths come from ?"

"Very imaginative people."

I start laughing again.

"Maybe some day I'll show you." I tell him still laughing.

"But that doesn't answer my question. How did you do it ?"

I bend over the table too, as if to share a secret only with him.

"Actually it's about"

I am interrupted by an arm slamming between the two of us forcing us both to back off the table and a fuming Nate. Jared stands up with difficulty, I, on the other hand just stare at him from where I sit, not even fazed. I heard him coming. More like I felt him coming really. My entire body is aware of his presence. His eyes are sending daggers my way and I frown.

What did I do this time.

'You broke his beta.'

"Alpha ?" Jared asks beside him.

Nate doesn't even look at him, his eyes still on me, his body tense and his hands shaking.

Now, what is this all about ?

'You broke his beta.'

Alright already ! I got it.

"What are you doing ?" The alpha hisses.

He doesn't make any sense and it's infuriating me.

"Well I was about to reveal one of my greatest secrets." I inform him in a condescending tone.

He rolls his eyes. Let's just say my patience is wearing thin. I get up and walk to him. I'm in his face in seconds, only a few inches away. His eyes widen and he stops breathing.

And I start to panic.

What the hell am I doing ?!

Too close, too close, too close, TOO CLOSE !

I am assaulted by his scent which is definitely bad for my heart, and his green eyes are fixated on me, his lips only a few centimeters away.

I didn't think this through.

My wolf starts to purr and I panic. I concentrate on my claws piercing the skin of my hands, the soft pain I feel.

"What is your problem ?" I ask menacingly.

His eyes flash yellow and my wolf starts to dance as the tension increases. There is nothing menacing about him right now. Sure, he is a dangerous alpha but his eyes are full of enticing promises. I haven't forgotten we are encircled by dozens of people, maybe we should go somewhere else, just the two of us...

Get a grip woman !

"The rogue wants to talk to you." He spats between gritted teeth.

I need a few seconds to understand what he's saying, miles away from what I was thinking.

Oh.

I turn around and exit the room, the two men on my trail.

"Why did he ask for her ?" Jared inquires.

"Don't know." I can hear the venom in his voice even without looking at him.

"Because I'm hot." I intervene and he growls.

He's pissed and I don't know why but I'm enjoying this.

"What were you two talking about ?" He demands, I know he's trying to calm himself.

"Secret." I shrug now out of the house and nearing the woods.

I feel his fingers lace around my arm sending electricity through my entire body, my skin humming under his touch. It's been a few days since I felt his warmth directly and I missed it. A lot. I can't believe I went that long without it. It feels like there was something missing until that moment even though I wasn't aware of it before now. He turns me around to face him and I see Jared take a few steps back from us from the corner of my eyes. The beta is frowning.

"I think I'll go ahead." He offers before limping away.

When he's gone Nate doesn't wait a second.

"Stop challenging me." He warns me.

"I can't, it's too funny that way." I smile sweetly.

His eyes shine brightly and I lose myself in them.

That's a sexy beast.

'I hear ya sister.'

"What did you talk about ?" He asks again.

"The interests that are increasing everyday you're not paying up your debt."

"Were you the one to put him in this state ?" It doesn't sound like a question one bit, he's accusing me.

I could play dumb or outraged.

"Maybe" I answer instead looking away from his smoldering eyes.

His hand reaches my jaw and forces me to look at him. I'm starting to panic again.

"I thought I told you you couldn't do that."

"Don't remember that."

"Really ?" He challenges.

I stare at him, never breaking the contact.

"It has nothing to do with you. It's between Jared and me."

His jaw twitches and I smile. For a second I see a flash of jealousy going through his eyes, but the next moment it's gone. He stares at my lips and I can't help running my tongue over them. My body shudders in anticipation. His finger under my chin glides along my jaw and over my lips. The feeling is exquisite and maddening at the same time. His glance is unsure. His other hand snakes to my neck and brings me closer to him. I close my eyes, feeling his breath wash over my skin.

I push him away and turn around. I growl. I smelt blood. Who the hell decided to bleed when he was finally going to kiss me !

Someone is going to die today.

But I feel the fear coming through the trees, I sharpen my hearing and catch fighting sounds.

"Hope ?" Nate asks beside me.

I lift one hand to instruct him to be quiet.

"Something is not right." I tell him in a whisper before sprinting to the cells building with Nate close behind.

Everything is quiet but I know something happened. I enter with caution and listen intently. There are no sounds, no shouts, the room is eerily silent. I frown because I can only hear two heart beats and smell the scent of blood flooding my senses. Where are the guards ? I follow the trail of blood down the stairs to the underground cells. Now the scent of blood is everywhere. Nate tries to place himself in front of me, to protect me I presume and I roll my eyes.

Men.

I keep going until I reach a closed door. I position myself in a defensive stance and open it. Jared is laying on the floor.

Damn it !

"What happened here ?" He demands angrily.

I stop breathing and concentrate on the sounds while Nate starts to lose his control. I can hear the faint beats of his heart, he's only unconscious. The room is covered in red and I know it's not because of my eyes. The two prisoners are dead coated in blood. I quickly go to one of them, the smart one.

I never learnt his name.

His body is still warm, he died not long ago. I hear something shift outside the room, outside the building, into the woods. From what I can hear they are at least a mile away up north of the territory.

"Nate." I start calmly.

He stands up slowly from over the second rogue and looks at me.

"You have to gather your fighters and go. There are wolves coming this way."

"Are you sure ?" He asks.

"I count five of them. And they are fast. Don't worry, I'll take care of Jared." I add when I see him hesitate.

He nods and leaves me behind, I hear him quickly exit the facility and suddenly his steps sharpen and become stronger. He transformed. I shake Jared on the ground and he whines.

"Jared, what happened ? Wake up. Jared." I insist.

His eyes stay closed.

'Punch him.'

I think he's hurt enough already.

'Then I don't know, pinch him or something.'

What are you, twelve ?

After hesitating a little more I decide to slap him. Hard.

"What was that for ?!" He yells at me.

Then he probably smells the blood in the room because he starts to frown.

"Do you remember what happened ?" I ask.

"I came to see the rogue." He starts looking to his left. "But then something hit me from behind. I didn't have the time to react." He adds bringing his hand to the back of his head.

"Where are the guards ?" I inquire.

"What do you mean ?"

I hear the second heart beat come closer in the corridor and pretend to not notice it. I find it weird that he is trying to hide himself from us.

"Were they already dead when you came in ?"

"No." He breathes out in a whisper.

"Do you feel better ?"

"No." He winces as he tries to get up. "Where's Nate ?"

"He had to take care of some stuff." I evade the question.

Suddenly the person behind us pounces on me. I push Jared away and he glides on the ground out of harms way. I grab the fist coming my way and bend over to use my strength to throw the assailant over my shoulder. He crashes on the floor in front of me. I frown when I notice he belongs to the pack. I've seen him around. I think he was one of the guards.

"I'm on your side." I tell him, one foot on his torso to keep him there.

He smirks at me and pushes me off of him. He's strong.

"Stuart ? What are you doing ? Hope is with us." Jared demands resting against the wall.

"Sorry man, I can't have witnesses. I intended to leave but she had to come and save you. I should be long gone already."

"You killed them." I tell him, it's not a question, I know.

"Did I ?"

I look down on him.

"You stink of their blood."

"How about we add yours ?" He offers me menacingly.

"Don't touch her." Jared orders as he tries to stand up but he's too weak.

That might be my fault.

'Of course it is.'

"Sorry beta, but I won't listen to you anymore. Now, cutie, you have two choices. You can come with me, or you can die."

Cutie ? CUTIE ?

'Dead man walking.' My wolf laughs.

Stuart, or traitor as I'd rather call him takes a step towards me. I let him get closer, even pretend to be scared for a second.

"So, Jared got the full force of the attack yesterday but knowing how weak you are in comparison I'd say three should be enough." I can't help saying after all.

I don't bother staging my attack when I see his smug face. One second I'm standing in front of him as he advances, the next moment there are three of me surrounding him. His confidence wavers.

"What the"

I should be paid every time I hear that, I'd be rich by now if I did.

I don't give him the time to understand what's happening before hitting him in the stomach, on the face, kicking his legs to make him fall, bringing his arms in his back to immobilize him.

"Let go of me rogue !" He orders.

I simply strengthen my hold on them.

"Who sent you ?" I inquire in a low voice but he refuses to speak.

I look over at Jared.

"Give me free rein." I tell him and he nods. "I'm giving you one last chance. Tell me why you came here. We already know the rogues had orders." I demand.

"Dream on girl, I'm not afraid of you." He laughs.

I bend down, close to his hear to whisper to him.

"Too bad."

And then I sink my claws in his spine. He starts to scream. I snake my fingers lower and start again. Then I bring my hand to his face.

"You only need one ear to listen." I put my claw next to his ear. "Who sent you ?"

He doesn't answer so I puncture his eardrum and he screams again. There is blood running down his neck. I start pulling his tongue out.

"You need your tongue to speak. But then again you could write down your answer."

I see him panic.

"Alright, alright. I'll talk !" He shouts.

Suddenly we can hear a big ruckus overhead and people coming down the stairs. Three of the fighters stumble into the room with a beaten rogue on their hands. They let him crash into the ground and launch themselves at me. I lose my grip on Stuart.

"What are you doing ?" I growl.

"Thanks guys. This chick is crazy." The traitor smirks at me.

Chick ? CHICK !

Does he want to die that badly ?!

I try to pull away but I don't want to hurt them as long as I don't know what's going on and if everyone is alright. If Nate is alright. I listen to the noises upstairs but there are too many voices and I need to keep an eye on Stuart.

"You stupid, stupid people ! Foolish dumb wolves !"

"Stay calm rogue." One of the fighters warns.

I look behind me and see Jared has lost consciousness.

Of course. He had to choose now to faint.

'Your fault.'

Shush.

He won't be of any use now.

"Look I'm telling you, you're making a big mistake." I start and look back at them. "Where is Stuart ?" I panic.

"Probably went to the infirmary." One of them shrugs. "I'll bring Jared there too. You'll pay for this rogue."

"Are you daft ?" I shout.

"What's going on here ?" A voice demands from the door step, commanding.

I roll my eyes before standing up, forcing them to step back.

"Alpha, we caught the traitor." Someone says behind me.

For the love of god !

"What are you talking about ?" Nate asks.

"We saw her attack Stuart."

I sigh exasperated.

"He's the one who killed the rogues."

"Stop lying !" Someone hisses.

I glance over at him and roll my eyes.

"I was with your alpha when they were killed. So I couldn't do it. And once Jared wakes up he'll tell you the same thing." I say through gritted teeth.

"Liar."

Okay, I really need to know this guy's name so that I can carve it on his grave.

"Who did it ?" Nate inquires ignoring his man.

"Well I had him and he was about to tell me who sent him, but your fighters decided to intervene."

"Are you talking about Stuart ?" Nate growls.

"Yes." I answer simply. "And now he's gone."

At that moment all hell breaks loose.