I walked into the woods and paused when I didn't feel Bennie next to me. I turned to look back at him and noticed that he was standing near a tree about ten feet back.

"Well?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "Are you coming?"

"Are you going to kill me?" he asked.

I shook my head, no. "Believe it or not, but I am not that heartless. I don't hurt innocent people."

Bennie furrowed his brows in confusion. He had a frown on his face, and I could see the confusion in his eyes. "Then... why are we going into the woods?" he asked.

"Because I want to show you something," I replied. I glanced at the sky and pursed my lips. I could see clouds forming overhead and knew that it would start raining soon. "We have a while to go, and it is about to rain. We'll need to get there before it starts. Your mother will probably kill me if you get sick."

Benjamin scoffed and rolled his eyes. He started to walk towards me and followed by my side when he had caught up. Doubt filled his eyes, and I knew that he didn't believe me. "I don't think she will," he said, and I raised an eyebrow. "She doesn't care about me."

"She doesn't?" I asked, looking at him. "Who told you that?"

"My father," he replied. "He was the one that told me that she didn't care about me." Bitterness filled his voice, and I set my jaw. "That is why she had three more children. She wanted to replace me."

"If she wanted to replace you, wouldn't she have sent you away?" I asked, looking at him headlong. I looked forward. "It seems to me that she loves you a lot."

"And what do you know about love?" he asked. He scowled and narrowed his eyes at me. "You could be just saying that."

"I know a bit about of love," I replied. "And, I know about toxic relationships." I set my jaw and growled, still feeling very protective about Carrie and Donovan. I knew that they were in good hands with Andrew and was glad to find out that Carrie was his mate. I was still in contact with both of them and knew that they were visiting soon.

"Were you in a toxic relationship?" Bennie asked, and I nodded.

"I have been," I confirmed. "And, I have seen what a toxic relationship can do to a person." I moved some branches out of our way and waited for my half-brother to walk through. I made a mental note to get them cut so that they wouldn't block the path. "But, I know what the right relationship can do for someone."

Bennie hesitated but walked through the trees. He took a sharp breath. He noticed how beautiful the place was and looked at me when I made it to his side. "What is this place?"

Two stone benches sat side by side, facing a small waterfall. To the left of the stone benches, a shrine had been placed up for the late Alpha and Luna of this pack. To the right, another shrine had been made for both of my parents and little brother. The stone was newer than the other shrine, but that was only because it had been made a month ago.

"Damion called this his thinking cove," I said. I walked over to the shrine that held my parents and brother and placed my hand on the stone. The warmth of the stone filled my body, and I closed my eyes and pictured them near me.

Bennie walked over to my side and looked over the names. "Jason Cornelius Evergreen," he said. "Your brother?" He looked up at me, and I nodded.

"Yes," I said, my voice cracking. "He was my half-brother." I licked my lips and cleared my throat. "I was thirteen when he was taken away from me." My voice shook in anger, and all I wanted to do was cause that man pain as he had caused me. However, I was not a monster. I would not take a life away from him. "Your father had him killed."

Bennie took in a deep breath and stared at me in shock. He didn't know if what I had said was true, and I could tell that he didn't want to believe me. However, it looked like a part of him did.

"I don't have a reason to lie to you, Benjamin," I said. I looked at my half-brother, my face guarded. "Your father had him killed when he was five-years-old. He would be eleven-years-old in a month."

"Isn't he your father, too?" Benjamin asked, and I shook my head, no.

"He had never been a father to me. He killed my father when he killed my brother and mother." I bit back a growl and narrowed my eyes, my lip curling into a snarl. "Take what he does with a grain of salt and listen to your mother. She is trying to save you and make sure that you do not turn out like him."

Benjamin furrowed his brows and frowned. Debate filled his eyes, and I knew that he was scared of something. "But what if I already am like him?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "What if it is too late for me?"

I shook my head. "You aren't like him, not yet," I replied. "And, I will help make sure that you do not turn out like him."

"Promise?"

I nodded my head. I knew that it could get us killed going behind his back, but I didn't care. I was a fighter, a survivor. If he wanted to try to kill me, then let him. I will kill him first and protect those that are innocent while I was at it. "Promise."