"My mother cast him out," I say to Leon, his father, and the others. We're gathered in the living room of the main house.

"Why?" Jack asks.

"He scorned witches working with other races. Even though my coven is independent, he didn't like my mother's lenient policies regarding werewolves. He wanted more freedom, more power. He wanted to show the world that we're the best among all races. His practice of dark magic was becoming more – unethical. My mother tried to talk to him, tried to discipline him, but he... didn't change. One day he'd severely hurt two wizards, and if my mother hadn't intervened on time, they would've died. She became furious. She told him he's not her son anymore and he will not have a place in our coven. I was fourteen. I haven't seen my brother since then. None of us have," I tell them.

"Did your mother suspect it was him when the attacks started?" Leon's father, George, asks.

"No," I immediately tell him. "None of us even imagined this could be the case."

"Why?" Leon says. "You knew your brother's animosity towards werewolves. Why didn't you think of him first?"

"Because it wasn't possible. It shouldn't have been. You see, before my mother cast him out, she stripped him of all his powers. He shouldn't have been able to cast any spell," I say to Leon.

"Then what about the rogues? And the name you saw?"

"The rogues seem to be my brother's doing only. I can't say anything for sure now. I don't know how he could've gotten back his powers."

Leon says, "Alright. At least we have a suspect now. All that's left is to find him. Any idea where he could be?"

I shake my head. "I'll have to tell my mother about this. My coven will do everything in its power to bring down Philip."

George gets up and comes to me. He places a hand over my shoulder. "I know this must be difficult for you. And when your mother finds out, I'm sure she'll be devastated. If you need any help, anything at all, from Red Peak, we are here for you."

"Appreciate that Mr. Pressman. And I know it's not our fault, but on behalf of my coven, I apologize for what my brother had done."

George nods. "You're right. It's not your fault."

––––

I look at my already packed bags and wish we'd left before Sabrina came to inform the rogues' attack. Then, I wouldn't have found out about Philip.

I let Nara take away the last of my bag to the car. Just when I reach downstairs, Leon comes in.

Nara and Jenny go to the car, leaving us alone in the living room.

"You don't have to return right away. You can rest today and leave tomorrow," he says.

"No. We'd already packed. And I can't rest till I've seen my mother and told her everything."

Leon nods. "Then before you go, we should talk."

"About?"

"About what happened between us."

I look away from him. "There's nothing to talk about. It was a mistake. Forget about it."

I try to cross him to reach the gate but he blocks me.

"Mistake? You were liking it too much for it to be a mistake," Leon says.

My face becomes red in embarrassment and anger. "Then what do you think it was? Tell me. After all, you were the one who kissed me first."

He shifts on his feet. "I couldn't stop myself. You were crying."

"Crying?! Really, Leon? That's your excuse? I didn't know I could turn you on by crying!" I tell him angrily.

"That's not what I meant! That's not how it was! Y-You looked sad and I couldn't help but hug you, and then... one thing led to another."

"So, it's my fault. Is that what you're saying?"

Leon sighs. "You know what, we can do this another time. You're not in the right mood."

"No. No. Please. Now is a perfect time. I don't know how you interpreted what happened, but for me, it was a mistake. A big mistake that I regret so much doing!"

I see Leon's jaws tighten. "So you want to pretend there's nothing between us?"

I laugh. "You think there's something between us? Why would there be anything between us when you're going to break our mate bond and mate with someone else?"

"I told you, that's not what I want."

"Then are you going to turn your back on your family, friends and pack, and mate with a witch?"

"Cassandra, I told you, it's more complicated tha–"

"There's nothing complicated about my question. It needs a simple yes or no answer. Are you choosing me over your pack?"

He continues to glare at me without responding.

"That's what I thought," I tell him. "You're wasting my time. I need to leave."

"So you don't like me?" he asks.

"No," I tell him to his face, looking straight into his eyes. With everything that happened, I don't want to be pulled around by him any more than I already have. "I don't like you. Did you get all your answers? Can I go now?"

"Sure," he says. "You can leave – as soon as you return what's mine."

Bringing my eyebrows together, I ask, "What? I don't have anything of yours!"

He steps a little closer to me. "The keychain."

I stop breathing, as my hand instinctively moves closer to my side, where the keychain safely resides inside my pocket.

"I-I don't know where it is. Lost it."

A subtle smirk appears on his face. "It's okay. I know where it is. It's in your right pocket."

"N-No. I don't have it with me."

"Then turn it over. We'll see."

My palms shut tight as I take a step backward.

He moves further near me.

"I-It's mine!" I tell him, fighting back my tears.

"No," he calmly says. "It's mine. You need to return it."

He grabs my arm and pulls me closer. "The keychain, Cassandra. Give it to me yourself or I'll take it from you."

Tears slip down my eyes. "Please," I tell him. "Plea–"

For the second time today, his lips capture mine as he starts kissing me with the same longing as before.

And I remain, once again, weak against his actions.

Holding my face close to his, he says, "You're ready to throw me away like a trash, but you start crying when I ask you for that stupid keychain?" His grip tightens. "I know you love me, Cassandra. No matter what you say or what you do, I'll forever be your mate, and you'll always be mine. I'll not turn against my pack, but I'll also never let you go. I'll have both."

He releases me. "Go to your mother now. Be there for her as much as you can, because soon, I'll bring you back," he says before turning away and leaving the guesthouse.