I almost didn't believe myself when I muttered the words but I knew it was what I wanted. With everything I once thought true and held dear to my heart had shattered and burned. I didn't have true friends, I didn't have a pack that cared for me, and I didn't have an alpha that honestly cared for my well being, or anyones matter of fact.

I knew now what it meant to be a true member of a pack that cared about each other like they were supposed to; like a big family.

Osiris was never the monster everyone had made him out to be. He was selfless. He was a protector. He was gentle when he needed to be and powerful when he needed to be for his pack.

I think back to all the alphas at the annual mate gathering and I've come to realize that none of them were close to how noble Osiris was in comparison. There was a different sense of authority that came with their title. They were it like a badge that allowed them free reign over anyone and anything. Osiris wore the title only because everyone else placed in on him not because he strived to have it. It just happened one day.

I guess that's the difference between a genuine leader and one that strives to obtain every ounce of power there is to put fear in everyone around them. The wolves of Dark Titan didn't follow Philips orders because they looked up to him they did it out of pure fear; fear that I knew all too well and I tried to steer clear of him. I can't imagine what the guards and patrol units have to deal with.

Osiris didn't pressure me, however, after I accepted bearing his mark. We walked back to his cabin together a few words exchanged a long the way but it was nothing more than how are you feeling, and how are you doing.

"I'll be back. Stay here with Lucky, he'll keep you company. I have to do a few things I don't know when I'll be back."

I frowned as he spoke. I shouldn't have been surprised though, he was the one in charge. It was silly of me to assume he'd had all the time in the world, nonetheless I forced an understanding smile or what I hoped had come off as understanding.

He turned to leave a slight hesitation in his steps as he eyed me up and down. His Adam's apple bobbed nervous as he walked back up to me; his height dwarfed me instantly. I didn't put much thought into it when he quickly planted a kiss to my forehead.

He didn't leave any room or any time to say anything before muttering an "I promise to try and make this quick", and dashing into the nearby forest.

Osiris's sudden departure left me feeling icy cold. My mind abruptly filled with unrest. I blamed it on my victimized state. I felt more vulnerable than ever and as I rubbed my hands up and down my arms I closed the door.

"Tea?"

Lucky's voice made me jump. I offered a soft smile when looked genuinely sorry for the spook.

I shook my head. "No, thank you."

"How about some cookies?" I paused at his offering. "I have a killer recipe handed down to me from my grandmother. I guess you could say it's decades old." His smile was beaming from ear to ear.

Chuckling I nodded. "I guess so. What kind of cookies?" I inquisitively pondered.

"Snickerdoodle?"

It was like music to my ears. Snickerdoodle was my favorite.

"Let's do it."

We spend the next hour needing dough and talking about the most random of stuff. It was a nice change. Lucky mentioned his mate

"So," Lucky's aged voice began. "Osiris finally told you the truth?"

My fingers dug into the dough like soft clay. I didn't know where this conversation was going but regardless I nodded.

The air ways of my throat felt like they were closing up. Couldn't I go one day without someone pushing for answers about Osiris and I?

"He built himself up as a man. Osiris isn't ideal as you've come to see, but he's had to be a father for Desmond. Everything else since then has been seconded." He rubbed a stick of butter to cookie tray as he spoke.

"Has he ever said anything more to you since then? He's mentioned his parents and sister to me but much of everything else he... he's left out." I admitted.

Lucky grabbed my hands lifting them from the dough. He gave me a soft apologetic look. "I'm sorry hun, the dough will get tough." He picked up the dough removing it and replacing it with the freshly sprayed pan.

"I've learned a lot from my years, more than I care to share if I'm being completely honest. Besides the point, you and Osiris have something I've never seen before, two people who found each other in a time where both of them were in the midst of a threatening situation."

"Threatening situation?" I took a step back. Philip had threatened me numerous times but threaten Osiris it sounded impossible.

I had never heard anything about Osiris in Dark Titan but then again it wasn't like I got around much either. Everything I ever heard about pack politics and events was from Mara. She had only mentioned the "alpha slayer" a hand full of times but it was nothing that particularly alarmed the pack. There were no upticks in patrol or security and Philip didn't, as far as I knew, become more hostile or on edge.

He was the same old egotistical bastard.

"Osiris hasn't mentioned his elder sister?" I nodded confusion slowly creeping in.

What did Ileana have to do with Philip? What happened to her, what happened to the brothers occurred years ago, more than a decade ago. How did Philip have any doing in that?

Lucky sighed a heaviness settling on top of his shoulders as they lowered. "The boy hadn't shared the fact that his sister's mate was also a cousin of Philip? His name was Malacoda. What a retched name." Lucky sneered rolling a small piece of dough and plopping it onto the greased tray.

"How- what did you mean by threatening situation Lucky?" He was dodging the question now giving my half empty answers.

I eyed him as he shrugged. "Osiris and Desmond had no true intentions on going to that idiotic mate gathering at Dark Titan. Honestly, I don't think the boys care much about finding their mates until now, obvious." He grinned at me with warmth before continuing. "They went there to get information, information about Ileana."

"Why go to Dark Titan when they could have just gone back to their previous pack? They have the numbers now with Osiris having a pack of his own." It was clear the Osiris had loyal wolves ready to set into a battle at the first order given. So, why go to Dark Titan? Why risk involving others?

"Osiris is many things but one of which he is not is letting others be sacrificed for his own wants and needs. Hell, the boy just about lost his damn mind of you and Desmond even though he put his brother up to it."

My heart sank for a moment remembering the lie I was feed when I first meet the brothers. It felt like an eternity ago but the wound still dug deep.

"I still haven't fully understood why the boy decided to hide from you. You're a delight. Much kinder than that Ivy she-wolf." There was a slight narrowing of his eyes and irritation in his voice as he mentioned Ivy.

I tore a piece of dough myself and began rolling it between my palms. The sticky dough reminded me of baking cookies with my mother around the holidays. Such an innocent act that felt unattainable now.

Placing the ball of cookie dough onto the tray I paused watching Lucky sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top of a cookie. His nimble aging hands shook as he scattered the sugar.

There was still something that wasn't making sense so I couldn't help myself but ask, "What exactly made Osiris feel so threatened that he had to go the Dark Titan?"

Lucky moved away from me with keeping his eyes low. He was trying to conceal the fact that he was beside himself, doleful, and dejected, but I could smell the unrest and sadness. The skill of being able to smell the emotions to those around me was starting to pay off. My stomach knotted as I listened to Lucky.

"Ileana had been secretly sending letters through the human mail. I'm not sure how Osiris was able to share his location to his sister but she had been able to message him. As you can imagine they were the closest of siblings. When Osiris received the last one from his sister she had told him she had found away to escape Malacoda's grasp with her son and daughter." He looked up at me sagging his shoulders and bending his neck downward. "I'm afraid that was the last letter from Ms. Ileana. Osiris waited days, then days turned into weeks, then soon the weeks had turned into three months. There hasn't been a single word that has come out of Shadows Peak. I fear that Osiris is trying to find a means on finding Ileana or at least what happened to his big sister. If anyone where to know what had happened to Ileana it would be Malacoda and Philip."

He paused clearing his throat. His eyes had water along the ledge of his eye lids. "As you may imagine going to Dark Titan while they hosted this year's mate gathering was the perfect opportunity to get information. Philip would be distracted." He suddenly beamed. "It was a perfect opportunity that was, until he stubbled upon you. Then it was you and only you he could focus his mind on. You've consumed his every thought my dear, and you still continue to do so now."

I wanted to leap for joy, say how grateful I was that Osiris had rescued me that day. If it weren't for him I don't think I'd had made it out unharmed. I should be thrilled but all that blanketed me was an overwhelming amount of guilt. My idiotic idea of going to the gathering had caused Osiris to derail his whole goal of saving his sister and his niece and nephew.

I'd gotten in the way.

Lucky placed a fragile hand onto my shoulder. "Don't you feel guilty my dear. If it weren't for you I don't think those two boys would still be alive. They'd would have gotten their hands on some half dealt information about Ileana and would have most likely gotten themselves killed. You didn't slow them down. In my eyes you saved them. You protected them and you didn't even know it at the time."

>>

After Lucky and I finished placing all the cookies to bake I had made a home for myself in the living room. It was a shame that I didn't get used to more of the cabin. All this time I had spend majority of my time in my room too scared to venture any further than the kitchen and bathroom.

When I first wandered around the living room I took in all the room had to offer. It had a high ceiling, and walls that had built in shelves. There were books that went on for ages and small square photos of young boys that looked so familiar to me. Of course, the photos were ages old, the faces of the boys I knew softer, less sharp and innocent. There was so much life in those golden brown and saturated amber brown.

What I wouldn't do to see both of these boys smile so brightly again, so freely. They were full of life and love, their innocence still held tightly intact. It was crazy to think that less than five years after the photo it would all change.

While I skimmed my eyes over the various books my eyes had settled on one in particular. It was a hardbound book the cover was tan. On the outer binding of the book was a hand written title.

The Wraith's family picture book.

It felt wrong what I did next but as my fingers traced over the handwritten title I gently pulled it out of the shelf. I flipped open one of the first pages revealing a young elegant woman with raven black hair. Her beautifully tanned skin looked flawless, not an impurity in sight. Her amber eyes that had the tinniest flakes of green were exact replicas of Osiris's.

From the date on the photo and the similar features it was clear to tell that this woman was Osiris's mother. I flipped to the next page and giggled when I saw a very naked baby with bubbles that covered the middle part of their back. It wasn't the goof smile the baby was giving the picture taker, no it was the fact that they were also mooning the photographer.

I sat down on the sofa making myself more comfortable. I was about to dive into a rabbit whole of my mate's family and I was at least going to make myself cozy.