Adrik drove up the parking lot of Rosalie's house around eleven thirty at night. They had finally left after finishing dinner and an impromptu dessert. Ashley was insistent on getting Rosalie comfortable with being around everyone, which Adrik was grateful for. He knew that the plan had worked because they all ended up forgetting the time and shared a few drinks too. While all of that was happening, Adrik saw that no one noticed when Zeiden had left the house to meet up with Marcello.

Adrik wondered how that went. Hopefully, Zeiden got to talk to Marcello and they worked out their differences.

Damn, cursed Adrik. He's was becoming an optimistic now.

"We're here," Rosalie's voice broke Adrik's train of thought.

Adrik turned the ignition off.

Rosalie hopped out of the passenger side and went straight to Vivian to help her out. Adrik grabbed the bag and drawing that Vivian had done at their house. He shut the car's door and followed the girls up the cozy house that had a green front lawn with a mailbox too. There was even a wooden porch with a few chairs placed on the side. Rosalie quickly fumbled out the keys and opened the front white door. Vivian grabbed everything from him before she went inside the house.

Adrik stiffened the moment he felt the sudden shift in the air. Standing outside, the cool night breeze kept him at bay. But then, sensing the wholesomeness of the home that Rosalie built for herself and for her niece, it had rendered Adrik immobile. He knew it was because of the fucked-up past that he was about to tell her. Adrik wasn't sure if it was something that any sane person would accept.

This wasn't right, thought Adrik. He was making a mistake by coming into this family.

He would probably only bring them danger and a fuck ton of trauma. What did he possibly have that he could give to this family? he thought. Nothing, he knew that. Except, he didn't want to walk away. He didn't want to leave Rosalie and Vivian. There was a pull between all three of them, that Adrik found himself sinking deeper and deeper.

"Hey, you coming inside?" asked Rosalie.

Adrik's eyes refocused on the foyer in front of him. Rosalie was taking off her shoes and so was Vivian.

"I can't come in there," he told her.

Rosalie tilted her head. "Um- okay," she said looking down at Vivian before she faced him. "Well, we can sit in the backyard. Is that better for you?"

"Yeah," he answered sternly.

She smiled calmly. "If you go around the house, there will be a door and you can just walk on in," she directed.

Adrik stepped back from the house, that wasn't meant for a man like him. "I'll wait for you there," he said.

"I'm just going to get changed, put Vivian in bed and then I'll meet in a few minutes," she told him.

Adrik turned to leave, when suddenly, his coat was caught onto something. He looked back and found Vivian's small hand holding the end of his trench coat. Her big green eyes looking up at him and they were focused onto his expression; maybe even his thoughts. She seemed as if she knew exactly what was playing in his head.

Vivian let go of his coat and then abruptly grabbed his free hand.

Blood drained from his face and a needle-sharp chill crawled all over his body. He stared at the way her small hand dwarfed in his palm. Lost in the sensation of her soft fingers on his calloused fingers, he didn't even notice that she had placed something in his hand.

"Goodnight," she said before letting go and leaving inside. The pup vanished from his sight when she padded up the wooden stairs.

Adrik hid his trembling hand inside his pocket, which didn't give him the chance to look at what she had given him. But that was the last thing he was thinking about. The first was how he couldn't believe that his wolf hadn't gone berserk yet. His wolf who would feast on any prey; who would take any chance to drink the blood of innocent or guilty, it didn't matter to his wolf. However, now it seemed that his wolf didn't want to kill this quiet pup. Instead, it was hungry to keep her with him, right by their side forever.

Adrik fisted his palm that felt as if he had placed it over a fire. The scalding pain that shot through his skin and right through his entire arm. He had never felt this way before; his wolf definitely didn't feel this way before either.

"Are you alright?" asked Rosalie.

Adrik's jaw tightened together. "One day, will you tell me what happened to her?" he asked.

Rosalie's doe brown eyes saddened. "You want to know about Vivian?" she sounded surprised.

He nodded. "She isn't an ordinary kid," he admitted.

Both of them went quiet.

"I'll meet you out back," he said. "Lock the front door and put Vivian to bed."

Rosalie stared deep into his eyes, as if she searched for everything that she was curious about from him. But Adrik knew that she wouldn't find anything in his hollowed blue eyes. The light- the soul people said that was reflected in eyes didn't apply to Adrik, because that light was ripped and beaten out of him.

Adrik went to the side of the house once Rosalie had closed and locked the door on him. He circled towards the alley between this house and the neighbour's residence. At the end of the passageway, he spotted an arched door in the dark. He extended his hand over fence and turned the lock over, since he was tall enough to reach it. He pushed it open and closed it before he walked further inside.

There was a mid-sized backyard, which was a perfect rectangle with a dark brown fence that was tall and looked brand new. Adrik guessed that Rosalie probably had it freshly made for the house. There was a patio with grey tiles, a lounging area with couches and a coffee table. The patio was covered with a roof made of white wood, which looked quite romantic with the fairy lights hung under it.

Adrik looked up at the night sky, that didn't show many stars since the city lights were hindering them from shining through the cloudless night. The moon wasn't out in front of them either. Adrik never realized that the moon was hard to see in the city at night. Around the pack territory, a view of the moon was a normal occurrence. He got to see it during every run at night or at dawn.

However, Adrik never made the mistake of making a wish from it. He had heard of the great powers of the moon and the goddess of wolves, Maya. But Adrik never believed any of it, because he never wanted to think that his life, the way it happened, was because Maya deemed it to be so. If Adrik believed in Maya then he would assume that his life was chosen to be miserable because she wanted it like that. Maya never helped and she never took care of her children. Adrik learned that from a young age and that taught him to take care of himself. He never handed that responsibility to another.

A bitter taste set in Adrik and he looked away from the sky.

The door behind him slid open and Rosalie stepped outside. She had changed out of her dress and was wearing a white shirt with matching pants. Her hair was braided and hung over her shoulder, she had floppy slippers on too.

"I only had wine," she held up a bottle and two glasses. "I hope that's okay."

Adrik stared at her with the hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Wine's good," he said.

Rosalie placed everything on the round table. She took a seat on the plush sofa and motioned for him to join her.

Adrik took a seat beside her. He grabbed the bottle and uncorked it himself. He poured both of them a good amount to settle the nerves, and maybe even give him just enough courage to talk, which was hard enough to do already.

Rosalie grabbed the glass and sat back on the chair. "It's strange seeing someone like you being nervous," she said after a taste of the red wine.

Adrik swirled the red wine in his glass. "I've been doing that a lot around you," he said.

Rosalie chuckled. "Why?" she asked. "I'm harmless."

I'm not, thought Adrik and he almost blurted it out too. "My past isn't something I like to visit or talk about," he told her.

"Trust me, I know what you mean," she said as she crossed her legs under her hand faced him. "How about we make this both ways. I tell you something about my past and then you share one from yours."

Adrik stared at her earnest eyes. "I'd like that," he admitted.

"I'll go first then," she said. "My sister, Madeleine. She's Vivian's mom-"

"I remember-" said Adrik.

Rosalie eyes lost a glimmer of light. "She didn't just die from being sick or by an accident," she said. "My sister suicided in our home in Paris. She hung herself and Vivian was the one that found her. Vivian tried to call the police, but then there was a fire that burned the house down-" Rosalie went quiet, her skin paled as much as the white shirt she had on. She took a quick sip of the wine- "Vivian got herself out, but everyone else died in the fire. Vivian's father, Elliot. My dad died too."

Adrik's gut twisted as if someone had stabbed him and turned the sharp blade around, cutting everything inside him. Now he finally understood that blank expression that Vivian observed the world with. He understood that she had seen the darkest thing this world had to offer. Death had already showed her the cruelest part of life.

Adrik recalled the picture Vivian had drawn today. The massive manor that was surrounded by a beautiful forest and a garden. It was the perfect house to raise a family; a happy family who could be safe and loved. But of course, when did people ever do good deeds when they were so blessed.

"Okay, your turn," said Rosalie.

Adrik knew that it was now or never. So, he pushed back the sick disgust in his gut and hoped for the best. Even though, that was unlikely.

"I'm sure you heard the rumours of how the Iron Blood pack came to be," he said.

"Yes, I do know a little bit," she answered. "How the Petrov pack was dangerous and a group of wolves retaliated-" Adrik's hallowed eyes stared back at her, which stopped her from speaking any further- "which I'm guessing is not the full story."

"The group of wolves that retaliated that night were the sons of the Petrov brothers," said Adrik. "I'm the son of Samuel Petrov. A man that was nothing but a monster."

Rosalie didn't flinch. "I have- had one of those too," she said.

Adrik took a gulp of wine to release the tension in him; it didn't help. "The Petrov pack wasn't normal in the way they raised their wolves," he said. "The Petrov brothers liked to use visceral methods to show dominance and maintain discipline."

Rosalie sighed like she couldn't breathe. Neither could Adrik.

"I was seven years old when I was taken on a mission with my brothers and cousins," he told her. "The mission was to kill the wolves from our own pack and bring each and every kill to our fathers. And the number of kills that you brought were how many scars you got." Adrik got to his feet. He stripped off his trench coat and pulled the sleeves of his sweater up. He turned his tattooed forearms towards her. Rosalie stared down at the arms that were brutally mutilated by the end of a blade. "My father would use a pure silver blade, which was sure to cause scars. But to be thorough, he would heat the blade before cutting us."

"How many scars do you have?" she asked carefully.

Adrik's gritted his teeth together because he didn't like that she had concern in her eyes. "One hundred and thirty-five," he told her. "The highest record in the Petrov pack."

"Your father made you kill that many pack members," she astounded.

"No," he said sternly. "I killed that many by my own choice."

"And your brothers and cousins had to do this too?" she asked looking up at him now.

Adrik nodded. "Isaiah, Lazarus, Zeiden and my brothers," he listed. "They all had to do it. And whoever didn't bring a satisfying number was killed off."

Rosalie trembled in her seat as she stared down at the glass of wine. Adrik swallowed the tightness in his throat. He didn't know what she was thinking and it was killing him inside.

Adrik grabbed his trench coat and draped it over her shoulders. She seemed surprised and stared up at him. When he saw the slight ease on her face, he then took a seat again with her.

"Zeiden was almost killed because of this," he said when he remembered the year that Zeiden was chosen for this hunting ritual.

"He didn't kill enough wolves?" asked Rosalie.

"He didn't kill any wolf," said Adrik. A smile kind of appeared on Adrik's face when he remembered the fight that Zeiden gave to Ivan Petrov- his father for being so cruel.

"Why didn't he listen?" asked Rosalie.

"Because Zeiden never believed that a pack should harm each other," said Adrik. "He dropped the blade that his father gave and said that he wouldn't kill anyone."

Rosalie smiled. "Brave kid," she praised.

"Yeah, he is," Adrik agreed. He wished he could have done that. "His father Ivan Petrov was furious and had never been so insulted. He was embarrassed by what Zeiden had done and tried to kill him."

"What happened because the man obviously failed?" said Rosalie.

"Zeiden had two very reliable brothers who didn't let Ivan do anything," said Adrik. "Isaiah and Lazarus fought tooth and nail to protect Zeiden that day."

"What about your brothers?" asked Rosalie. "Where were they?"

Adrik's gut sank. "I don't have brothers like Isaiah and Lazarus," he told her. "My brothers enjoyed the killing. They followed the Petrov way willingly."

"That's why they don't live with you and the pack," alleged Rosalie.

Adrik nodded and drank the wine again. "Okay, your turn," he said.

Rosalie snuggled into his jacket. "My father used the same type of abuse," she told him. "He forcefully married my mom even though they weren't true mates. He bought her with money and then caged her up from the world. Later, she gave birth to me and my sister and fell very sick. She lived just a few more years before passing away."

Adrik watched as emotions went in and out of her eyes. The way the brown swirled into the streaks of gold. He saw the lingering pain in her soft voice and the hopeful edge of her timid smile. He witnessed how she pulled the lapels of his jacket closer, so she could feel safe and warm. This wasn't the way Adrik knew to overcome despair.

"I followed my mom's footsteps as a ballerina and trained to be a professional dancer," she said. "However, my father didn't like it and tried to stop me. I didn't let my father do that, which didn't sit well with him. So, I ran away before he could cage me like my mom."

"And your sister?" he asked.

"I begged her to come with me. I told her that we could start a new life together, but she didn't listen," said Rosalie. "She told me that she couldn't abandon the house mom lived in. So, I left her and never came back."

"Why didn't you come back?" asked Adrik.

"Because I knew that she was being abused and I didn't want to face it," she told him. "Madeleine sent me letters and told me about her arranged mating too. She would write about Vivian and how our dad got sick, which was great news to me actually. I didn't feel any remorse when he died in the fire-" a cold breeze drifted between them- "alright, your turn again." She hid the guilt behind a charming smile.

Adrik never wanted her to shoulder the burden that haunted him. Especially when he was her mate, a mate that's supposed to protect her. He thought if he killed like his father that it would be alright. But as more bodies dropped around him, the worse the nightmares in his head got.

"I remember every person I've killed," he confessed. "I remember the dark place that I slept after coming home from a mission. I remember the smell that my own wounds had when my father tortured me for fun or out of spite..."

Adrik remembered the cage that he lived in, waiting until he was set free like an animal to kill his next target. All of those memories ate up inside of him. He still heard the cold chains clanking as they were all tied up inside their cages. The tortuous cries of kids; the sound of wood or metal hitting raw flesh was still very much alive inside Adrik.

Adrik never forgot his father's blue eyes staring inside the cage with a smile plastered on his face, when he was ready to enjoy torturing his next victim. Adrik always waited for the beatings. He patiently sat at the back of the cage and let his father take him. He never fought against the chains because he knew there was no escape.

Adrik performed like no other. He sliced, chopped, shot, burned everything down in his path, just like his father wanted. Adrik sat in the dark all his life, but he never feared the darkness, he enjoyed how it hid him away from his father's gaze. The man who walked in the light but was the true insidious monster.

Adrik counted his days in those cages that turned to years... Time slipped from his fingers and he was bathed in blood every night, either of his enemy or his own.

Samuel always loved to carve his sons and show them the dark black blood, that was his legacy. Adrik never reacted to his father. He never smiled or showed interest- not like his brothers had. Adrik didn't enjoy his father's methods and they definitely weren't what frightened Adrik. The feral instinct trapped inside Adrik's heart was what scared him.

Adrik feared that he was starting to feel numb to all the carnage. So, he took the beatings from his father and hoped that he could feel something. But when that failed, Adrik would make himself bleed with the chains that held him prisoner.

Adrik looked down at his wrists. The angry marks on his rough skin showed his past to him clearly. His skin was healed, but the raw memories of the scars that he gave himself was still very much alive.

Suddenly, a soft touch brushed over his wrist. Adrik's eyes blinked and he realized that the ice on his wrist melted away from the sun-kissed warmth.

Rosalie had laid her hand on his wrist. "You went quiet," she said.

Adrik knew that he probably had a really scary expression right now. "Rosalie, I'm far more dangerous and cruel than what you see right now," his voice was low and unrecognizable. "So, why did you hold my hand."

"I won't lie and say that I'm not scared of what you told me and everything that you did," she admitted. "But when I looked into your eyes, something tells me that you are a kind person."

"I'm not kind," he told her. "I've just changed my targets."

"Look, I'm not going to judge you about your past," she said. "What matters to me is what you do now. And from the way I saw you at dinner; you help your pack, protect Evelyn, helped Vivian and you love your family. That's what I saw."

Adrik was at a loss of words. "I- I-" he frowned at her. "I don't know-"

Rosalie smiled at him like she found his stuttering cute. She took her hand off his wrist and brought it up to his face. Her delicate fingers hovered over the scarred side of his face. She waited like she searched for his permission first.

Adrik lost to her eyes, leaned willingly into her touch. A soft sound from his throat released and he took a deep breath. Rosalie touched his scar, which was the horrid reflection of his past. However, he didn't feel sick or haunted.

Peace, thought Adrik. He felt peace and he held onto it like he held onto his breath.

"This was how I knew you were mine," he said softly. "No one touched me before. But then, you came along and fell right into my arms."

Rosalie laughed a little. "Does that make me special?" she jested.

"You don't need me to be special," he said. "You're already perfect all on your own."

"Aren't you sweet," she beamed.

Adrik closed his eyes and let her touch sink into him. His wolf flared alive from her touch too. He grew focused as much as Adrik was. Both of them found their saving grace.

"Adrik," she called out his name after she pulled away her hand.

"Yes?" he looked at her.

"Do you want to join my family?" she asked him. "I think Vivian already likes you a lot. But would you be okay with having her too-" she looked down at her hands and her voice quieted- "I know you probably didn't except taking care of a kid. But I need to know if you can take care of her, even more than me. I can protect myself, but it's Vivian I worry about. I need to know that you can accept her too."

Adrik stared into her terrified but resolved eyes. "It would be my honour," he said without hesitation.

Rosalie's face brightened. "Okay," she breathed with relief.

"I may have had a fucked-up childhood," he told her. "But Isaiah taught me loyalty and bonds. He helped us escape the Petrov pack. Since then, I've learned that family isn't about blood. Family is made up of the people you choose to love and protect." Adrik lifted his hand and skimmed down her soft cheek. "I choose to protect you and Vivian over my own life. I accept this bond and I know that both of you were meant for me."

Rosalie put her hand over his. "I'm scared and new to this," she said. "I don't know a single thing about mating or wolf bonds. So, I will mess up."

Adrik smirked at her. "I think I'm going to fuck up more than you," he confessed.

Rosalie laughed. "We should probably tell Vivian soon," she said to him.

"I have a feeling that she already knows," he mumbled.

"You could be right about that," added Rosalie. "Also, your pack is really a fun bunch. It's hard to believe that all of you went through something so traumatic."

"They are very strong," he said. "My pack pulled through tough times. So, we're not afraid to face danger that threatens us."

"I wish I had protected my sister," said Rosalie. "I still see her and whenever I look at Vivian, all I think about is my sister."

"I guess we're all carrying our fair share of baggage," he replied.

She shook her head. "That's never been so true-"

They were interrupted when Adrik's phone pinged. He ignored it, but then it kept ringing.

Rosalie got to her feet and she put his jacket beside him. "You should get that," she said. "It's probably important." She grabbed up the bottle, glasses and went inside the house giving him a few moments alone.

Adrik speed dialled Ronin who was the one to text him. The phone rang only once when it was answered. A pit sank in Adrik and his wolf emerged with a feral urge to hunt. They both knew something had happened.

"What's wrong?" he asked sternly.

Ronin released a deep breath, like he didn't know what to say or how to say it. "Zeiden's in the hospital," he blurted out.

Adrik's skin went cold. "Who did it?" he asked before anything.

"You're not going to believe it," said Ronin. "It's your brother, Adrik."

Adrik saw red all around him. "Which one?" he gritted out trying to remain the least bit calm.

"Aziel," said Ronin carefully.

A darkness seeped into Adrik and he knew that this wasn't good. "Is Zeiden alright?" he asked as he shut his eyes tightly.

"He's in surgery," said Ronin and from his voice alone Adrik knew that the worst had come.

Adrik got to his feet. "I'm coming," he said grimly.

They both cut the phone.

"Is everything alright?" Rosalie asked.

Adrik stood with his back towards her until he had gotten that deadly look out of his eyes. He didn't need her seeing how he thirsted for blood right after he had shared his feelings with her.

Adrik recognized this danger inside him because he felt it for so long. This was the feeling he was bound to, and he didn't know how to live without it.

"Adrik," her voice called out to him.

He turned and faced her this time. "I have to go," he told her.

She stepped out of the house and stared at him. "You can tell me," she said. "I already promised that I won't run."

Adrik sank those words and held them as a life-line. "Zeiden's in the hospital," he told her.

She gaped at him. "Oh my god, is he okay?" she asked.

"I don't know," he said. "He's injuries are severe." Adrik knew that Zeiden was badly injured without even being told because he faced Aziel Petrov. And Aziel never let his opponent walk away unscathed.

"Do you want me to come with you to the hospital?" asked Rosalie.

He stepped closer to her, surrounding himself with her scent and trying to remain composed. "You can't leave Vivian alone," he said. "I'll call you once he wakes up from surgery."

Rosalie grabbed his hand. "What am I missing?" she asked.

Adrik circled his hand around her neck, relishing the feel of her skin under his hand. "My brother is the one who did it," he said.

Rosalie closed her eyes. "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," she said.

"Don't be," he said softly. "This is my life and I've learned to live with it."

"You shouldn't have to," she said with a bite of rage. "You need to go to your pack. They need you."

Adrik didn't move from her. He couldn't, because he needed her bond and scent a little longer. "I'll call you," he whispered.

"I think I'd get mad if you didn't," she said. "Please let me know if Zeiden makes it out okay."

"I will," he stared down at her lips. But he didn't move to steal a taste, not when his wolf was ready to drink the blood of their brother.

"Go," she said and moved back on her own.

"Lock the doors," he told her.

She rolled her eyes and laughed at his stern tone. "I know," she said. "Now, get going."

Adrik grabbed his jacket and then went back to the front of the house. He rushed to his car and got inside. Without even the slightest hesitation, he turned the ignition on and drove with unreasonable speed to his pack.

"Fuck, Zeiden," he cursed as cut through the streets. "Don't you die on me."

Adrik didn't even know how he made it to the hospital. He parked the car on the street and rushed into the emergency doors. He cut through the crowd of doctors, people, nurses and didn't even care to look around. His only motive was to get to his pack.

Adrik arrived at the VIP ward when he spotted his entire pack sitting around together. Marcello and another man were standing here too.

All of their eyes locked onto Adrik. They saw the darkness in his eyes, that matched theirs. Adrik saw the bloodthirst that all of them were trained to inhibit. The old Petrov anger emerged and filled the room with pungent pheromones.

"Are you sure it's Aziel?" Adrik asked them.

Ronin walked up to him with a tablet in his hand. He faced the screen over to Adrik and showed him the face that Adrik never forgot. Ronin clicked the play button and Adrik saw the whole thing. He saw the way Zeiden crashed off his bike. The way he laid helpless as Aziel, stepped on him, chocked him and stabbed a silver blade inside his chest.

"Adrik, I know he's your brother," said Isaiah through a feral tone. "But I'm going to kill him."

Adrik fisted the tablet. He breathed in his own sickening scent that was enough to let everyone know how dangerous he was right now. "Aziel isn't my brother," said Adrik. "Zeiden is my brother."

"Aziel came with a message," said Lazarus sternly.

"Of course, he did," growled Adrik. "And I already know what it is."

Adrik and his wolf weren't foreign to Aziel's scheming games. Aziel has been after Adrik since the day he had killed their father.

"He's wants us to hand you over," said Lazarus. "Or else, he's going to start killing us."

Adrik faced all the eyes of his pack. "If you want me to surrender, then I will," he told them. "None of you need-"

"I thought you called Zeiden your brother," said Isaiah as he got to his feet.

"He is," answered Adrik as he faced his alpha, the only leader he ever followed.

"Then why would you think we want you to surrender," he said. "Do you think Zeiden took a blade to the chest, so you could admit defeat?"

"I don't want anyone else hurt, Isaiah," Adrik said.

Isaiah matched his height with the same vicious aggression that drowned them to avenge Zeiden. "We fight Aziel as a pack," he said. "Besides, I also want to put a blade in that fucker's heart."

Adrik nodded as he fisted both his hands. "Okay," he said.

"I think I'd like to put a blade in his heart too," added Ashley from behind them.

Isaiah grinned at her. "We'll all get our turn," he said before he eyed Marcello.

Marcello locked eyes with them. He seemed pale and even more weakened by what happened. Adrik didn't realize that Marcello cared this much. Adrik guessed there were a lot of surprises today.

"How long has the surgery been going?" asked Adrik.

"A few hours," said Ronin.

"Is Dr. Stone operating?" he asked them.

"Her and two new doctors," said Lazarus who sighed out exhaustion. "Dr. Kim and Dr. Avery are the best according to Dr. Stone."

Suddenly, the door to the operating room slid open. A surgeon walked out in surgical scrubs and he came up to them, while holding a bag in his hand.

"Dr. Avery wanted me to update you," he said. "The knife wound was close to the artery, but only missed it by a centimetre. Your brother was very lucky."

"It's not luck," grumbled Adrik. "Aziel never misses."

"So, how is he now?" asked Ashley.

"He lost a lot of blood and Dr. Avery will keep a close eye on his recovery," he said with an ease to his even tone. "She told me to tell you that he's out of danger and that he should wake up once the anesthesia wears off."

"Thank you," said Ashley.

"I've also put a brace for his knee that was dislocated," he explained carefully. "His leg wasn't injured too badly. So, he should heal in a couple of days with some physical therapy. I will supervise his sessions and get him back on his feet for you."

All of them sighed in relief.

"Thank you so much, Dr. Kim," said Ashley. "You have no idea how relieved we are."

Dr. Kim gave them a charmed smile. "It's no problem," he said. "Oh, and this-" he held up the clear bag in front of them.

Adrik's skin crawled the moment he saw what was inside; it was his father's blade. The one that gave him all his scars when he was seven years old. Seeing the blade now, the nightmare felt like reality.

Everyone continued to talk to the doctor. But Adrik moved back and away, so did Marcello. Both of them seemed lost in thought.

Adrik sat down with the tablet in front of him again. He replayed the footage until his mind had fully memorized every moment.

"What are you thinking?" Ronin appeared beside him.

Adrik met his friend's gaze. "Why is Aziel doing this now?" he asked.

Ronin scoffed. "I want to know why he's doing this at all?" he said. "Why is your brother trying to hurt you?"

Adrik stiffened as the rush of memories from the night that he had slaughtered his father appeared in front of his open eyes. "I killed my father in front of Aziel," he told Ronin.

"Your father was a douche though," affirmed Ronin.

"Not to Aziel," said Adrik. "My brothers idolized that man."

"Still, it's weird for him to hold a grudge for his daddy," mocked Ronin.

Adrik raked his hair with a hard hand. "I made him watch," he said.

"What?" asked Ronin.

"I made Aziel watch as I beheaded our father and every other limb attached to his body," grumbled Adrik.

"Damn," said Ronin with an impressed look.

"I also set him on fire to make sure that he was really dead," added Adrik.

"Alright then," said Ronin. "Aziel is probably really mad about that."

Adrik leaned back in the chair as he stared down at his brother on the screen, which was paused on Aziel's grinning smile. He had matured a lot since that massacre. Aziel got much taller, he put on more muscle and had gotten a lot faster in his moves. That was to be expected from the Petrov wolves though.

Aziel was back for revenge like any Petrov, which annoyed the fuck out of Adrik.

"Why didn't you just kill him too?"

Adrik looked at Ronin, but Ronin hadn't asked that, it was Marcello apparently.

Adrik didn't have an answer for that. Maybe it was pity or sympathy he had felt for his brothers, that he hadn't killed them that night. Mercy was what he showed his brothers and now that was what targeted him.

"I don't know. Maybe it was pity that I felt," he told Marcello who was glaring down at him.

Marcello's golden eyes darkened over Adrik. Both of them were feeling the same threat from Aziel. "I'm sure as hell not going to pity him when I see him again," he said. "Just giving you a heads up." Marcello walked away and took a seat across them.

However, Adrik didn't know what he was going to do to keep his pack safe from Aziel's next attack. Would he be able to do it? he wondered.

Adrik put his hands in his pockets, when his fingers brushed against something soft. He pulled it out and opened his palm. In it, sat a mid-sized wreath made from white flowers and grass. This was what Vivian had given to him earlier.

How was he going to keep them safe? he wondered grimly.

They didn't need him bringing them more danger and pain. Rosalie gave up her dreams to ensure that Vivian was raised in a safe and happy house. Now, Adrik was just supposed to uproot their lives and bring them a dangerous life that was always facing new threats.

Adrik skimmed his fingers over the flowers in his hand. The sweet scent of the grass and flowers filled him. This aroma calmed his mind, quieting all the sounds of his carnal wolf.

Adrik looked up and saw Marcello who was pale from worrying over his mate that was in surgery fighting for his life. Marcello wasn't there for Zeiden when he got attacked. They hadn't accepted the bond and had rejected it. Adrik couldn't help but think that maybe Rosalie and Vivian would be a lot safer if he was with them. Or was that just wishful thinking? he supposed.

"Did Vivian make that for you?" Ronin asked leaning over to take a look at the cute bracelet.

"Yeah," he answered.

"How'd the talk go with Rosalie?" he asked after.

"Better than I ever could have hoped for," said Adrik.

Ronin smiled. "That's good news," he said. "I'm glad Rosalie gave you a chance. I like her already."

"I do too," Adrik muttered as he remembered the short time they shared in her backyard.

"You know, Aziel has already chosen his targets, right?" said Ronin quietly.

"Probably," sighed Adrik.

"Are you going to walk out on Rosalie and Vivian?" he asked precariously.

Adrik looked at Marcello who wasn't there to protect his mate. "No," he told Ronin. "I'm not going to leave them. I need them and they'll need me when Aziel comes for us."

Ronin looked astounded. "You really have matured," he remarked.

Adrik rolled his eyes. "I can't be reckless anymore," he said. "Too many people count on me and I already failed Zeiden."

"What happened to Zeiden wasn't your fault," believed Ronin.

Adrik shook his head. "Yes, it was," he said. "I left Aziel alive when I knew how dangerous he was. Zeiden paid for my mistake. I won't let anyone else get hurt because of me."

"Then we need a plan-" Adrik and Ronin both looked up and saw Isaiah standing in front of them- "How are we going to hunt down that son of a bitch?"

"I know," answered Marcello sternly. "We need to find Bruno and fast."

"Why?" asked Lazarus.

Marcello stared down at his hands that were laced together. "Because Aziel made a mistake," he said. "He told me how he found us."

"Big B told Aziel how to find Zeiden," said Ronin.

"No. Bruno told Aziel how to find me," corrected Marcello. "Zeiden was just at the wrong place at the wrong time."

Isaiah crossed his arms over his chest. "Why is Aziel looking for you?" he asked sternly.

Marcello's frown deepened. "Bruno isn't the only underworld don out there," he said. "Aziel probably needed me to track you."

All of them silenced.

"Would you have helped him?" asked Lazarus.

Marcello met all of their curious eyes. He seemed almost lost to the silence. "No," he told them after a moment. "I don't like being used like that."

Isaiah nodded in approval. "Okay, then it's decided," he declared. "If Aziel is hunting us then he's onto you too. So, you need to stay with us."

Marcello didn't object, which was surprising. Adrik guessed it was for Zeiden.

Adrik wondered if anyone else knew about their bond. Isaiah, Lazarus and Ronin didn't mention it at all, even though they all knew that Zeiden went to meet him.

None of them gave any thought to it, Adrik guessed.

Isaiah and the others didn't think that it was out of the ordinary for Zeiden to go hang out with friends. Besides, they already knew that Marcello liked Zeiden the most out of all of them.

Suddenly, the doctors from the OR walked out. A woman walked alongside Dr. Stone and Dr. Kim. She took off her surgical cap revealing her strawberry blonde hair. Her brows were furrowed and there was exhaustion in her hazel eyes.

"Isaiah," Dr. Stone called out.

All of them went to the three doctors.

"How is he?" Isaiah asked.

"Dr. Avery performed a successful surgery," said Dr. Stone with a smile. "The wound to his chest has been sealed. He is resting and will be held overnight for observation."

Adrik sighed in relief; he was sure everyone did too.

"Thank you so much for saving him," said Ashley.

Dr. Avery smiled at them. "We promised that we'd get your brother back to you," she said and looked at Dr. Kim. "We don't break a promise."

"When can we see him?" Lazarus asked Dr. Stone.

"You guys can see him tomorrow morning," she said. "But for tonight, I think you all should head home and get some rest. We all need some right now."

Adrik realized that more than themselves, the three doctors looked ready to drop any second. All of them were angst and fidgety to get off their feet.

"We'll let you rest," said Isaiah. "Thank you, once again."

"You're welcome," smiled Dr. Avery and the other two. All three of them left down the nearby hall.

Adrik moved past his pack and went to the clear glass windows that showed inside Zeiden's room. He was laid back on a surgical bed, his bandaged head resting on a pillow. He looked peacefully asleep, but the tube down his throat looked uncomfortable. Adrik was sure that Zeiden didn't feel anything, that was attached and inside of him. Well, the worst passed and Zeiden was safe with them again.

Marcello came up beside Adrik. He released a deep breath and he continued to stare at Zeiden with desolation in his golden eyes.

"He's safe," Adrik whispered to him.

Marcello tucked his hands in his pockets. "I know," he controlled his trembling voice. "I don't know what I would have done if he wasn't."

"I think you do know what you would have done if Zeiden didn't make it through this," Adrik retorted.

Marcello's face turned harshly strict, like he remembered the feral urge to kill whatever was in his way when he saw Zeiden hurt. "Aziel will pay for hurting my-" he stiffened and his voice dropped.

"I would kill for my mate too," said Adrik.

Marcello flinched and his eyes widened. "So, he told you?" he asked.

"He didn't have to," said Adrik. "I could tell just by looking at you with him."

Marcello's golden eyes softened. "Well, then you should know that I already failed him," he confessed and Adrik didn't think that Marcello realized that he was sharing his feelings right now.

"Just don't fail him again," said Adrik. "Zeiden is quick to forgive anyways."

"I wouldn't forgive myself and I don't think I ever will. So, how will Zeiden forgive me," he said grimly.

Adrik didn't know a single thing about forgiveness. Shit, he was the last person to be talking about making mistakes, redemption and all other virtue topics. No one had a worse track-record than him. There were times that he had attacked his own pack when he lost control.

The amount of times that Isaiah and Lazarus had to contain Adrik's wolf was ridiculously high. However, at the end of every fight like that, Isaiah always told Adrik that family didn't back off simply because it got hard. Family fight each other, but they fight for each other too and that's what mattered at the end.

"Will you fight for him?" Adrik blurted out.

Marcello put his hand on the glass window. His eyes focused only on Zeiden. "Do I have the right to fight for him?" he responded.

"I can't tell you that," said Adrik. "Zeiden will decide to forgive you or not. But you just have to show him that you're on his side now."

Marcello took a deep breath and pulled away. He turned and faced Adrik. "I never thought you'd be so talkative," he remarked. "What changed in you?"

Adrik fiddled the flowered in his pocket. "I realized that I have people worth fighting for," he said. "I can't hold onto my past because it's not letting me be happy anymore."

"You found a mate," stated Marcello.

Adrik stared into Marcello's eyes. "Yes," he said. "I found my future."

Marcello looked back at Zeiden.

"Hey, Adrik," Ronin called out behind Marcello. "We're headed home."

"I'm going to stay," said Adrik.

Ronin looked at Marcello too. "We know you would," he said. "All of us are headed home. We'll be back tomorrow morning."

Adrik nodded. "I'll call if anything happens," he said.

"I'm guessing you're staying too," Ronin spoke to Marcello.

Marcello stayed quiet. Ronin didn't need much an of answer after that.

Adrik walked his pack outside. Isaiah and Ashley climbed in the back seats, as Ronin and Lazarus sat in the front.

"Will you be alright?" Isaiah asked before closing the door.

Adrik nodded. "I'll keep an eye on him," he reassured.

"I know you will," said Isaiah. "Er- take care of Marcello too. He looked quite shaken up before I even tried to punched the shit out of him."

Adrik met Isaiah's apologetic grey eyes. "Okay," he said.

Isaiah closed the door and Adrik waited until they drove off and exited the hospital safely.

Adrik turned back and went straight to the sitting area close to where Zeiden was kept. Marcello also had taken a seat and the man Percy, which was with him, was gone already too. They were the only two in the quiet hospital.

"Will you be able to kill Aziel?" asked Marcello suddenly. "He is your family."

Adrik took off his jacket and sat down beside him. "I choose who family to me," he retorted. "Zeiden is the one that made me smile when I never even knew how. He's the one who sat with me when I couldn't sleep at night. Zeiden is my family and Aziel hurt him. That to me, is unforgivable. I don't care what Aziel is to me."

Marcello sighed and ran a hand through his tousled blond hair. That was when Adrik noticed the blood stains on his clothes. There weren't just a few droplets, it was all over the front of his shirt and sleeves. There was some on his neck and hands too, Marcello didn't notice or even realize to clean it off.

"Wait here," said Adrik.

Marcello couldn't respond by the time Adrik had already left him. He got to his car, opened the back trunk and pulled out a bag.

He returned to Marcello and presented the bag to the man. "Change into this," he said. "There's a shower in the VIP rooms. Just clean up in one of them."

Marcello looked stumped. "Er-" he didn't know what to say, except he grabbed the bag and got to his feet. "Thanks." He vanished in the room next to Zeiden's.

Adrik didn't take a seat. He couldn't when his mind was racing with ideas for a plan. He needed to find Aziel and end this before anyone else got hurt. However, Aziel was crafty as the devil. He knew how to conceal himself. Adrik was going to have to do this old-school style, that required all the methods Samuel Petrov taught him. As much as he didn't like that idea, he had no choice. But first, Adrik was going to have a talk with Big B and make sure that man never spoke again.

Marcello returned in clean clothes when he saw Adrik pacing. He knew right away why Adrik had a glower on his face. They didn't know each other long, but they already thought very much alike. Adrik appreciated that he didn't need to explain anything to Marcello.

"I have Percy already on it," he said. "He will tail Bruno until we're ready to get him ourselves."

Adrik nodded.

The night was going to be a long one. So, Adrik might as well make use of it and think of every possibility that Aziel could use against them.

Adrik and Marcello didn't rest for a single second, because they were ready to hunt the one who had dared to hurt one of them.