Despite the sun high in the clear sky, its warmth could not deter the cold caress of the wind. It nipped at Michael's fingers as he brushed the snow off the top of the headstone, and whirled around him when he took a step back and lowered to his haunches. Its dance continued as he trailed his eyes over the letters of his brother's name, then drifted away when Gabriel's image popped into his mind—a surprise he was not entirely certain should be considered pleasant.

For months, he had been too ashamed to admit that, as time went by, he found himself slowly forgetting minuscule details about his brother—the length of his hair and exact shade of gold it had been; the way his lips curved when he smiled, and the exact melody of his laugh; the deepness in his voice, and the exact amount of affection he used whenever he had said Michael's name.

But, in that moment, he remembered every single detail, silencing his fear that he truly had not known Gabriel at all. And now, it would make his task of making peace with him a little easier.

"It has been a while, brother."

He reached out and brushed away the snowflakes stuck inside the engraved letters on the headstone with his fingers.

There was so much Michael wanted to say, yet so little time and too many feelings battling for dominance. So, he chose the most important topic—the one that could very well make this very visit his last.

He cleared his throat. "That night... You almost took away someone very precious to me. Her name is Ellette, and if things had been different—if you had been different—I think you would have liked the little fairy. Truly."

Michael could not help but conjure an image of a meeting that would never take place.

"She is the prettiest creature I have ever laid eyes upon. When she smiles, my entire body feels its warmth. When she speaks, her voice is so alluring that it draws me in and drowns out all else. She is so small, yet so brave that I am convinced she believes she is ten feet tall. Her kindness is so pure in a world so cruel. She is light, brother, and she shines so bright."

He lowered his head, his eyes blurred with tears.

"I say all of this to say that... I can forgive you for not telling me your secrets. I can forgive you for losing your way." He lifted his head. "But what I cannot forgive is you dimming her light, Gabriel. I hope you understand, and if you do, then I hope you can forgive me."

For what he had done. For what he was about to do.

"That night, I chose her over you. Tonight, I will choose her again, and if that means tonight may be my last night in this world, I still choose her. So, I hope you can forgive me. I cannot put duty above her like you, and the fate of the pack that was so important to you is not as important to me as her fate. I was given your crown, but it is heavy, and I cannot be weighed down when she needs my help to be lifted up so she may fly free."

He stood up and stared down at the headstone. After wiping away the tears that had fallen, he stepped closer to it and placed a hand on top of the cold stone.

"If it is the last thing I do, I will get her to the Fae. If it means our family crumbling, and our world falling apart, then what else can I do but pay the same price she paid when she saved me? I choose her. Even if it means I can never face you in the afterlife, I choose her, Gabriel."

Michael turned to leave, but a step was all he could take because the sight of Danica standing a few feet behind him stopped him. Her body was encased in a long green coat, making her long auburn hair appear even more vibrant. She stared at him with eyes full of tears, and the tip of her nose and cheeks were red.

She had obviously heard everything.

"You are going to throw everything away for a fairy?"

"For my mate," he corrected.

She walked up to him and grabbed onto his right arm, forcing him to look at her. "She... she is the reason why you do not want me? Why you will not touch me? Why you cannot love me?"

Michael looked in her eyes. There was already sadness swimming amongst the tears, and if he were to answer her question, he knew pain would soon join. But she deserved to know the truth.

He nodded. "She is the reason I will never want or love anyone else in this world."

Danica let go of his arm and took a step back.

"I know she and I can never be together, but my heart will always long only for her. Beat only for her."

She shook her head and turned her back to him. "I do not wish to hear anymore."

Michael watched as her body began to shake with her sobs. He did not want to hurt her, but there were no words he could say or actions he could take to comfort her.

This whole situation they had been forced into was unfair, and just like him, she was a pawn being played in a game neither of them wanted to play. All he could do was try and understand her pain, and hope she, too, tried to understand his.

Michael stepped closer. "The story is too long to tell right now, but, tonight, I will be reuniting her with the Fae. Doing so could mean... I might not make it back."

Her body froze.

"Should you wish to call off our union and leave, you have every right. I will not stop you, nor try and change your mind because a future with me might not even be possible. But if I do make it back—"

"You will make it back." Danica turned to face him and wiped away her tears. "I will give you my answer in the morning, so you must be here to hear it. Okay?"

He stared into her green eyes, looking for hatred but seeing only sincerity reflecting back at him. Of all the things he expected to hear, Danica urging him to survive after having her heart broken by him was not on the top of the list.

But, as it was becoming the norm, Michael nodded, making yet another promise he knew he might not be able to keep.

"Okay."

* * *

It was time.

With a final glance between the Woodlands and the lowering sun from his window, Michael turned and headed for the door. Hand on the handle, he paused, and, with his free hand, reached for the dagger tucked securely into the back waistband of his trousers.

It was impossible for it to have gone anywhere in the past ten minutes since he had last checked, but, still, he had to make sure. He could not afford for anything to go wrong.

After a final look around his chambers and at the folded note he had left on top of his bed, he opened the door and headed off.

Much to his surprise, Lukas stood at the end of the corridor. His hands were behind his back, his feet shoulder width apart, and his gaze settled directly on Michael as he approached.

He had been waiting for him.

When he was only a few feet in front of him, Michael stopped. "What are you doing here?"

They had not really talked since the night Lukas told him about his relationship with Gabriel. It was not that they had been avoiding each other, but simply giving the other space to grieve and forgive themselves.

"I am your guard. I will see you off."

Michael opened his mouth to protest, but when he saw the determination burning in Lukas' green eyes, he stopped himself.

He had not gotten the chance to actually confirm it with his mother, but Michael assumed she knew about Lukas and Gabriel's relationship. She had brought him in and appointed him as his guard which meant she obviously trusted him, but had she guilted him into it? Was he here of his own free will? Or had there been no ulterior motive, and she simply wanted the child she had protected years ago to protect her only remaining child and brother of the one he loved?

Whatever the reason may have been, the look in Lukas' eyes told Michael that he truly was someone he could trust.

"I appreciate the offer, but I need you to stay here. There is a chance that Aria might be in the Woodlands tonight."

Lukas clenched his jaw. "In the Woodlands? To claim it? You have already denied her."

"The witches who do not side with her believe her claim to the Woodlands stems from her intention to siphon the Fae magic left within it. If that happens, if she is able to wield such power, I do not even know what that will mean for the Wolves or for the world."

"How do you know this?"

"A friend."

Lukas narrowed his eyes. "A witch?"

Michael knew the mere mention of Aria's name was not going to sit well with Lukas, as she was the reason for Gabriel's death. So it was understandable for him to have no trust for any of the witches.

"She is family. As close to me as Gabriel was. I can trust her. The only way this plan is even possible is because of her. She will be helping me tonight."

"Two witches in the Woodlands sounds like an opportunity for you to be outnumbered, and all the more reason for me to go with you."

"All the more reason for you to stay. If Aria plans on taking the Woodlands, then I will burn it to the ground."

Michael moved, brushing past Lukas and walking down the corridor. Lukas followed after him, but remained silent. When he rounded the corner, he nearly slammed into his mother, but managed to stop himself before that happened.

Her blonde hair was pulled back into a braid, and she was wearing a floor-length black coat.

Her intention was obvious.

Barely sparing her a glance, Michael shook his head. "No." He started to walk off, but she grabbed onto his arm and kept him in place.

"Michael—"

He turned his head and looked into her blue eyes. "You will stay here, as well."

"If Aria will be there, that changes things."

All he could do was just look at her. And the longer he stared into her eyes, he saw more than just angerreflecting back at him.

There was pain and sadness, resentment and longing. He saw words she would never get to say, and memories she would never get to experience.

He had no right to deny his mother her revenge, but he had every right to place more importance on his needs than hers.

He looked down at her hand and removed it from his arm. "What you want is revenge, which makes our priorities vastly different, mother." He lifted his eyes to hers. "Besides, 'tis not known for certain whether she will be there."

"And if she does show up?"

"I will have Zanna, and Ellette."

"They alone cannot protect you against her."

He grabbed her hand and placed it on his chest, hoping she felt the warmth of his mate's light and remembered.

Remembered that tonight was about saving the girl who had saved her son.

Remembered the reason why she had told him about Ellette's light being inside of him in the first place.

Remembered her sentiments about doing the right thing.

"No, but I can protect them. And I will."

Tears flooded her eyes as she placed her other hand on the side of his face. He leaned in and touched his foreheads to hers, allowing himself only a few seconds of a goodbye before pulling away from her completely and storming down the corridor.

Only heavy footsteps followed behind him, but once he finally reached the main staircase and began to descend, they ceased.

When Michael reached the bottom, he did not stop, nor did he look back. He only continued towards the door, towards whatever fate awaited him beyond it.