Faith and Laila were giggling like fools as Frank walked them to their apartment complex. He didn't mind the two flirting with one another when they third wheeled him to walk them safely home, but he wasn't used to being the third wheel in a group. Usually it was someone else that had to hang in the back and listen to the sweet nothings Frank, Laila, and Faith spoke.

So this is how it feels. Frank thought frustratingly as he listened to Laila whisper what she had planned for Faith tonight. He knew she was trying to keep from being heard by him, but her whispers were more like her talking in a room full of people and she couldn't whisper loud enough for the person right next to her to hear her.

He began to feel guilty about wanting desperately for Autumn to be right next to him and to be the one to whisper to them. The king had made it clear that he didn't want Frank anywhere near any human, especially Autumn. After the meeting with Harris about Autumn's trespassing, the king had told Frank that he wasn't to go near them or speak to them about the woods ever. But Frank couldn't help but want to get closer to Autumn and get to know them more. Even if he knew everyone would be better off if they never saw each other again after tonight.

But Autumn presented a challenge to us remember? That bad voice that always overcame the rational one whispered into Frank's ear. They won't date us unless we dance to Sweet Transvestite for 'em in public!

Autumn didn't say they would if we did, they said they wouldn't even if we did! The rational voice whispered back. Besides, you don't want them getting caught up in your business with the king. Who knows what that psychopath will do to them if you bring them deeper into our world!

What his highness doesn't know, won't kill us. The bad voice argued devilishly.

He'll know. You know he'll know, somehow or another. The rational voice pressed.

Frank knew. Everyone in the pack knew that their secrets were the king's and if he didn't like that particular secret, that secret would be mistreated and destroyed before the person who had kept it. Pecan of all people knew and yet Frank knew that the king's lap dog was watching from somewhere, ready to report to the king should Frank step out of line.

"Alrighty," Laila sighed happily as she spun on her heel to look to Frank, "thanks for walking us home, Frank and helping us out with those thugs!"

"Anytime, babe," Frank smiled, "pretty sure we would all be beaten to a pulp had Autumn not showed up."

"Don't you give up on that one," Faith demanded, "you look so much happier around them!"

Frank chuckled, though each word Faith said sent a dagger into his heart. "You know I'm no quitter, honey bunny, I just gotta get that white stallion so we can gallop into the sunset together!"

Both women shared a look before skipping over to him and kissing either side of his face.

"Good night, sweetie," Laila whispered before she took Faith's hand and began heading to their apartment, "don't let some fuzz ball keep you from being happy and safe travels home, boo!"

"I'm always safe, bae!" Frank called back, though he wished she hadn't brought up the king.

Once the two women had vanished into the crumbling building, Frank finally relaxed his fake smile into a frown. He began making his way to the woods, prepared for any kind of abuse the king had for him.

Of course, the moment he had entered the woods and was far enough in, Frank stopped as Pecan and the rest of the pack's soldiers stepped out from the trees to welcome him.

"How many times do we have to do this, Frank?" Pecan asked. "Why risk getting killed for one filthy human when the rest of them treated you and the rest of us like shit?"

"They're not as filthy as our king," Frank responded, not looking up at Pecan as the others closed in on him, "at least they don't treat people like they're play thing when they're wife takes her own life."

The other men in the group then grabbed Frank's arms, twisting both of them to behind his back making him grunt in pain. They then shoved him down to his knees as Pecan stepped up and punched him viciously in the stomach, knocking the air right from Frank's lungs.

"Don't you dare blame our queen's death on our king," Pecan growled, "she'd never abandon us just because of him!"

"You know that's bullshit..." Frank gasped, "you'd do the same if it wasn't for Fawn!"

Pecan punched Frank in the jaw, nearly breaking it. Then he rammed a knee into Frank's stomach, making him gag.

"Shut the fuck up!" Pecan shouted as he delivered blow after blow on Frank, his fellow soldiers watched on as they shared uncertain looks. "The only reason she's alive is because I do as I'm told! You want that human to live their life, you'll do the same and keep your paws where they belong!"

After pressing his foot down onto Frank's head, shoving Frank's head into the snow and mud, Pecan kicked himself from Frank. Frank remained on the ground, letting the blood from his lip warm him as Pecan stood over him.

"Get to the castle," Pecan ordered, turning his back to the lesser of the pack, "his highness wants to remind you why you're here in the first place."

With that, Pecan and his soldiers walked off into the night, leaving Frank lying on the ground. Frank shivered with the effort to lift himself up and wipe the blood from his face. He'd have to use a lot of cover-up to hide the bruises on his face so that no one at the club or work saw. Pecan usually left his face, but obviously bringing up Fawn triggered the alpha to forget his orders to hide Frank's punishments and make Frank look hideous before the king.

Obeying his new order, Frank staggered toward the king's castle, gripping his arm tightly enough to make it hurt more than the wounds. He felt the blood trickle down his arm and sucked down the tears that dared to stream down his face.

Pecan was just like him not that many years ago. Sneaking out to meet with Fawn and taking the walk of shame back to the castle to be punished by the king for ignoring his orders to stay away from the poor girl who was just as much part of the pack as all three of them. She didn't deserve the punishment the king brought down on her because of Pecan's inability to stay away from her. However, Frank could only see one flaw Pecan made that forced him to end his relationship with Fawn.

What his highness doesn't know, won't kill us.