Michael saw red as he navigated through the castle. Lukas was not in the quarters where the guards stayed, nor was he in or around the Throne Room.

If it was the guard's intention to infuriate him, he was doing a damn good job. Most times he was hard to get rid of, popping up when Michael least expected it and following him around like a shadow. Now that he was nowhere to be found inside of the castle, he feared Lukas had gone to the Woodlands.

The thought immediately forced him to stop, turn around and head back in the direction from which he had just come.

When he turned down the corridor leading to the main staircase, he saw Lukas at the other end. His head was down, but he lifted it when he either heard Michael approaching or sensed his presence. When their eyes met, Lukas abrupt stop quickened Michael's pace, and within seconds, he had not only reached him but had him pinned against the wall with his hand around Lukas' neck.

There was no fear in the guard's green eyes as he looked into his. Not an inkling of shock, nor a hint of confusion as to why he was being apprehended. No attempt to even fight Michael off.

He knew exactly why Michael had sought him out.

"Tell me why you ignored my warning and went into the Woodlands."

Lukas remained silent, still staring back at Michael.

"Tell me!"

"Wait! Please! Please, do not hurt him!" Danica's pleas cut through the tension.

He had been so consumed with his need to find Lukas he had not realized she had been following him. Ignoring her presence was easy for him, however, Lukas shifted his gaze to the right at the sound of her hurried footsteps.

Being so close, Michael witnessed Lukas' entire demeanour change. His expression hardened, but the look in his eyes was that of genuine concern. It made him let go of Lukas' neck and take a small step back.

Why did Danica have such an effect on him?

Michael turned his head to the right and watched Danica practically running towards them. When their eyes met, she stopped, and as she looked between him and Lukas, it was obvious she was conflicted over venturing closer, staying where she was, or turning back.

"Go back!" Lukas demanded.

Michael looked back at him, half taken aback by his audacity to command her to do anything, and half curious as to why the guard felt emboldened to do so.

"But—"

"I said go, Danica! To your chambers. And stay there until I call upon you."

Michael turned to fully face Lukas and closed the space between them. "And why would you have any reason to call upon my future mate."

Lukas did not answer, he only continued to stare in Danica's direction. And only once the corridor no longer echoed with her footfalls did he look at Michael. "I can assure you, she was my sister long before she was your mate."

Michael felt like he had just been hit. Of all the things he anticipated Lukas might say, that had certainly not been one of them.

He opened his mouth to speak, but words failed to come out as he tried to imagine any and every way it was possible for Lukas to be telling the truth. They did not even look alike.

Lukas looked away, rubbing his neck where Michael had grabbed it. "We share a father."

"The Alpha? 'Tis known he only has one son, his first born and heir, and one daughter. Are you telling me that is a lie?"

"My br—Henrik is his first born with his wife and Alpha Female, but not the first son he sired. My mother was..." he paused for a moment, then dropped his hand from his neck and looked up at Michael, "someone he promised the world to then casted away when that cost was too great."

It was not entirely uncommon for male wolves to sire illegitimate pups, but an illegitimate first-born son of an Alpha? Michael hated to think it, let alone say it out loud, but Lukas' fate should have been being buried six feet under while still in his mother's womb.

Their world would have demanded it.

"If I am to believe what you say is true, how are you here? Why are you here?"

Lukas leaned back against the wall. He looked down one end of the corridor then the other before looking back at Michael. "You act as if I have not been here before."

Had he?

Whenever the two crossed paths, Michael had always thought Lukas looked familiar, but had not been bothered enough to figure out why.

"When I was a pup, my mother sought help from Lady Reina after the fourth attempt on my life had been made by Henrik and Danica's mother. Your mother was kind enough to offer us protection, and, for a while, I was able to live here in the castle, play with the other pups, and breathe without thinking when my life might be cut short."

Michael finally remembered.

Although the memory was not entirely clear—as it had been a long time ago and he was only a young pup then—he remembered one boy who had always been by Gabriel's side nearly as much as he had been.

"You were Gabriel's friend."

A soft smile spread across his lips before he looked down at the floor. "Your brother was the first and only true friend I ever had...until I no longer had him."

A moment of silence passed between them as they both obviously thought of Gabriel. Lukas then lifted his gaze to Michael once again. "Eventually my father found out about his wife's schemes and put a stop to them. I was free to live, but under the conditions that I tell nobody of my lineage and remain out of sight.

"And for most of my life, I did just that. Lived in hiding, but secretly met with Danica for years just so I could get to know my sister, who only ever looked at me as her oldest brother and not an illegitimate son. As for Henrik, for obvious reasons, I thought it best to not have a relationship with him."

Michael immediately understood his reasoning. Lukas might have lucked out with Danica, but the fact he would always be considered a possible threat to the throne would always stand between the two brothers and sons of an Alpha.

"Is Danica the reason my mother brought you back after all this time?"

"I am indebted to your mother in ways that I will never fully be able to repay in this lifetime."

"And paying off your debt is being my guard?"

"All Lady Reina asked of me is to be there for you."

Michael scoffed. "Are you telling me my mother asked you to be my friend?"

"A friend. A confidante. A brother. Anything that allows me to help and protect you. To be...what Gabriel could no longer be for you."

Lukas pushed himself from the wall and stepped closer to him. "You asked why I went into the Woodlands? I went to make sure whatever it is that lures you in day after day will not cause harm to you nor my sister."

Caught up in Lukas' backstory had momentarily softened Michael's anger, but those words set it ablaze.

He did not need another brother, especially not one full of secrets. If Lukas had been born and raised in the shadows, that made him someone he could not trust. Someone he could never allow anywhere close to Ellette and dim her light with his darkness.

"There is nothing out there."

"I have lived in hiding long enough to know that cannot be true."

"Living in hiding has understandably taught you not to trust anybody, but if I say there is nothing, what choice is there other than to believe me? If you feel your sister is unsafe, then by all means, take her now and flee."

Lukas was not stupid. The only place for Danica was in the castle. He could not sentence her to a life of shame should she return to her home after failing to accomplish the one thing required of her since her birth—securing an advantageous union.

He did not want to use Danica in that way, but if it was the cost of protecting Ellette, he would pay it.

"But we both know what effect that would have on her reputation. I could endure a runaway bride, but can she endure being labelled as such?"

Lukas glared at him, jaw clenched.

Good.

He needed Lukas mad. That anger would remind him of his place and who he was and will always be—the boy who dare not step outside of the shadows if he wanted to live.

"I do not care why my mother brought you back. I cannot stop you from wanting to protect your sister, nor blame you for doing your duty as her brother, but I do not need another one. And if you follow me, or come up with another scheme to step foot inside of the Woodlands again, I cannot promise you will not meet a similar fate as my brother. His downfall started once he did just that."

* * *

Michael's fingers itched to reach out for Ellette as they stood across from each other in the moonlit living area of the tiny cabin. Her lowered head made most of the hood of her cloak hide her face, but he was close enough to see the slight quivering of her lips.

She was cold, and despite the abundance of firewood next to the fireplace behind her, she had not lit it. Did she not have the energy to keep the smoke from the chimney hidden with her magic? The cabin had not been shielded either when he arrived moments ago.

All the signs pointed to what Zanna had told him despite him desperately hoping was not true—Ellette was dying. She was dying and did not even have the strength to keep herself hidden, nor keep herself warm.

But as much as he yearned to offer her his warmth through even the slightest of touches, he forced himself into keeping his hands at his sides by remembering why he had come: to turn her regret over loving him into hate.

The sound of a chirp gained his attention. He turned away from Ellette, walked over to the window and stared down at the bird perched on the sill. It flapped both its wings as it looked up at him, drawing both a smile and head scratch from him.

"It is healed," he remarked.

"Nearly," her reply was barely above a whisper.

He placed a finger in front of the bird for it to step up, and held it up to eye level once it had. "I am glad. The sooner you heal, little bird, the sooner you can return home and unite with your family. Maybe even start a family if you do not already have one."

It chirped in response and Michael placed it back onto the sill before looking up and staring out the window. "And speaking of unions, my own will be taking place very soon. Just after the next full moon."

Silence, as expected.

"You have seen her here before. Her name is Danica, and she is the daughter of the Alpha from the East. Is there a better fit for the son of the Alpha of the North?"

Never had he been able to tell Ellette of his true identity until now. It had never mattered a year ago, as being the future Alpha was Gabriel's title and not his. He was telling her now in hopes it would solidify the importance of her leaving and completely obliterate any hope, chance or thought of them ever being together.

He hoped the truth made her feel something. He did not care if it was jealousy, anger, or resentment, just as long as it was something. Anything she could hold onto and give her strength to make it to the upcoming full moon, as he knew emotions carried power.

He turned around and stared at her. He looked for a clenched fist, a furrowed brow, but only saw a look of indifference upon Ellette's face.

"Is that not wonderful news?"

Hate me. Be angry. Feel betrayed. Just feel something, and find power in that feeling.

She smiled softly and lowered her gaze. "I am sure you and your future mate will make an excellent pair. Congratulations."

He had to push her further.

"Thank you. I did not ever think I could...love someone. That there could ever be someone so perfect for me out there. You see, wolves are warned against getting caught up in finding their true mate. Most do not find them in their lifetime, and those that do often have to give them up if the pairing is not beneficial for both. Danica is not my true mate, but she is perfect for me and my pack and I am content with spending the rest of my life with her."

Again, he looked for a sign she was bothered, but it was cut short when Ellette raised her head and looked directly into his eyes. "May it be a long and happy life."

Immediately, he felt a cold shiver run down his spine and his blood run cold. He did not know why, but as soon as those words left her lips, he thought of the fairy and wolf from the past, and the eerily similar words the fairy had uttered before her death. And that terrified him because it sounded as though Ellette, like the fairy, was offering him her dying wish.

But along with his fear was a bubbling anger, rising higher and racing faster towards the surface.

"Is that truly what you wish for me? To live a long and happy life?"

"Of course."

"Truly?"

"Truly."

"And why is that, little fairy? I am nothing to you, and whether I live happily or miserably should not concern you in the slightest. For centuries, my people have wronged yours. A century ago we went to war with the Fae, and kept you caged in the Woodlands ever since. A year ago, your oppression made you flee to another realm. We never cared about your happiness, so why do you care about mine?"

Her eyes widened and her lips parted, but quickly sealed back into a tight line. She casted her gaze back down to the floor and moved to walk away from him, but he grabbed hold of her arm to keep her in place.

"Tell me."

This was not the plan. At all. But he suddenly no longer cared about it, and cared only about hearing the words she would not speak. Because if she was not hurt by him professing his love for another, nor angered by him describing Danica as his perfect match, then her no longer loving him was one but not the greatest of his growing fears. Her not feeling anything at all was what he feared most because if she no longer felt anything, it meant nothing—not even emotions—could bind her to this world anymore.

If his happiness was her dying wish, then she was telling him without uttering a word that she was ready to die.

And if that was true, then what other choice did he have but to ruin her plans?

Still, she said nothing, her eyes fixated on his hold on her arm. He let go, but only to grab hold of her hand instead. It was cold to the touch, and before he could stop himself, he held it up to his chest and placed it over his heart. She did not pull away, only looked up at him with wide brown eyes.

"How long are you going to pretend? I just told you I plan on taking a mate and you have no words? No feelings over it?"

Reflected in her eyes was a mixture of shock and realization. She began to pull her hand away, so he held on tighter to keep it in place.

"I once told you that you have the only claim on me—my heart, my body, my soul. That everything I am was—is yours. Did you think those words were lies? Or is it that you do not want me?"

"I...you remember? Everything?"

He stepped closer, placed his free hand on her cheek and leaned in until their foreheads touched. "You cannot tell a lie. Do you not want me, Ellette?"

She shook her head, not as an answer but in obvious disbelief. "You should not remember..."

"Do you not want me?"

"I...I should not." She whispered.

"But do you?" He whispered back.

"Yes."

"And do you still love me?"

"Always, Michael. Always."

Warmth filled him upon hearing her say his name for the first time in a long time. It made him want to hold her closer, to share it with her as she so desperately needed it, but, instead, he pulled his head back slightly and looked down at her.

"Then prove it. I know you are dying, and the only thing keeping me sane is knowing I can prevent that from happening by reuniting you with your people. But I cannot do that if you give up.

"So, if you love me, then live. If not for yourself, then for me and all of the people putting their lives on the line to help you because if you do not... I will resent you for it. And your wish? I promise it will never come true as I will never be able to live a long and happy life in a world in which you do not exist."

Tears filled both their eyes. Tears for her because she understood what he was implying, and tears for him because he had become like every leader before him—an oppressor that would not even let her freely choose for herself to live or die.

But with her life at stake, he did not care about playing fair.

"Live, Ellette. Build a fire when you are cold. Walk freely in your home without having to hide behind a shield. Laugh, cry, talk without fear someone might hear you. Just live. Live so that I can make up for all that I have taken from you."

She shook her head. "I do not blame you—"

"But I do. And I can only try and make up for it by making it right."

She looked down. "Is my life not a fair exchange for what I took from you?"

He opened his mouth to tell her Gabriel's death was in no way her fault, but stopped himself before the words came out. If she felt that way, he would use that to his advantage.

"All the more reason for you to live."

She placed her free hand on top of his still cupping her cheek and nodded, her tears finally falling from the slight movement.

He pulled his hand from on top of hers on his chest to mirror his other hand on her cheek, and wiped her tears away with his thumbs. "Promise me my brother's death will not be in vain and you will live."

"I will try."

As she could not tell a lie, that was as close to a promise as he was going to get  and he had no choice but to accept it.

So long as she kept her promise, he could keep his and get her home.