I attempt to get off the floor. Why had I gotten down here in the first place? It took several endeavors, but with a bit of perseverance and a little help from the door knob, I finally managed to get to my feet. I couldn't miss the look of worry on Ryan's face as he watched me. Allowing myself to limp, we slowly made our way out into the clearing behind the house. It seemed like just yesterday Izzy, and I had been strolling along here, joking about my childish aversion to coffee.

"I wanted to say. I am sorry for the loss of your father. I know nothing I can say can in any way make up for the pain you are feeling." I wondered if he blamed me, held me accountable for his father's death. How could he not? It had been my decision to bring Brandon along, and it had been my life he died trying to save.

"Thank you," he said. "It hurts that he's gone, but I am glad he died a hero in the end." He gazed at the remains of the once vibrant wildflowers. "Does it even stop?" he asked.

"Does what, ever stop?" I asked not sure what he was referring to.

"The expectation of seeing them again? Every time someone walks through a door part of me thinks it's going to be him. That he is going to say someone made a mistake, he isn't dead after all. I could hear the tremble in his voice. He was fighting to keep it together.

"I wish I could say that it did, but I don't think it ever does. Even now when Griffin comes barging into my room, I still feel this small hope it will be Olivia, but it does get better, slowly. Especially when you have the support of those you love around you." I stopped once we came to a large aspen tree. A stop I visited often. I traced my fingers over the words carved into is ashy bark. 'Will You Be My Ever After?' I had carved them into this tree many years ago. It had been my impromptu proposal to Olivia. I hadn't even had a ring with me, but at that moment, I knew it was right. Drifting down, I placed my palm over the single word carved just below. 'Happily'. A small smile took shape on my face. We were supposed to be each other's happily ever after.

"You still love her don't you?" Ryan asked. I turned to him still smiling. My eyes misted over.

"Always," I replied a little choked up. "Losing a mate, well it's a different kind of loss. When I lost my parents, I grieved, but when I lost Olivia it was pure torment. I became hollow inside. I think that is why your father did what he did. He wanted to prevent you from having to go through that pain."

"That's what Griffin said. He thinks my dad sacrificed himself so that you could protect Lucy and bring her home to me." Nodding, I thought it over in my head. It was not unlikely that Brandon's actions were to make amends with his son. He had felt horribly guilty when he found out Ryan thought Lucy was his mate.

"How are Lucy and her family doing?" I asked out of curiosity. Ryan fiddled with his fingers, his eyes cast down to the ground like he often did.

"Their struggling. The death of Judith is taking a toll on them," he answered. Judith, the Jacobs' other daughter. I still had no idea how Judith had died, but now didn't feel like the right time to ask. "Lucy is turning eighteen in two weeks," he added. Ahh that was why Ryan had gotten so nervous when I mentioned her. He would finally find out if she truly was his mate or not. It must have been nerve wrecking for the young boy, but I had no doubt his intuition was right. I was happy for him. Once they discovered that they were mates, they would be able to help each other through the grieving process.

"Alpha?" he spoke sounding more nervous than before.

"Yeah?"

"I umm.....What would you do if someone you considered family was doing something you didn't agree with?" Ryan seemed to struggle to word his question.

"Well," I drawled out trying to think my answer over in my head. "I guess it depends on what exactly they were going to do, and if it would cause harm to themselves or anyone else," I answered vaguely. He looked at me his face filled with uncertainty.

"They could be injured, I guess but what they want to do is centered on hurting someone else." His words worried me. Was he speaking of his mother? The woman had just lost her mate, not indicative to sound thinking.

"Is this what you wanted to speak to me about?" I asked. Ryan nodded. "This friend or family member you're talking about, do I know him or her?" Again he gave a small nod of his head. I didn't feel like playing twenty question, but I could see he was hesitant to tell me exactly what was going on. "Maybe if you tell me, I can talk with them. Get them to change their mind,"

I goaded.

"He plans to kill her," he rushed out.

"What? Wait. Who is planning to kill who?" I asked. Ryan walked over to wrought iron bench just past the tree. Sitting down his shoulders sagged forward like he had the weight of the world on them. I couldn't help feel sorry for this young boy. He had been through so much, yet, here he was worrying about someone else. With a heavy sigh, he uttered the name.

"Griffin." Griffin? Griffin, was planning on killing someone? My stomach dropped.

"I tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't listen. He said it was the only way to save our pack," Ryan went on. "That killing her would prevent the war, and one death was better than hundreds."

"When?" I growled out causing Ryan to shrink back.

"Tonight," he whispered. "They are going to kill her tonight."

~~~~~~~~~~~Author's Note~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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