I froze in place, my heart racing as I recognised each wolf in front of me from the slight flicks of their tails to how they cocked their heads to the side. These were the adults I grew up around, these were my family, the people who my parents protected. One of the wolves shifted into his human form, I didn't realise he was fully naked until he walked around another wolf. Osckar growled and I averted my eyes quickly, looking anywhere but down there.

Sam, the naked one spoke, "Alpha Darius was expecting you later this afternoon."

Osckar shifted and now both men stood exposed to the world, "I told him I'd be arriving today with the girl."

Sam looked at me without regard huddled between the Silent Pack, his eyes glazed over briefly then he nodded. The surrounding wolves backed off but they didn't venture far, Osckar reached into my backpack, pulling out a pair of grey board shorts. I wanted to huff in indignation, he should be carrying his own things!

Once Osckar was decent, Sam led us all to the packhouse still embracing his bathing suit. I'd forgotten how brazen some people could be, I'd been kept away from the borders most of the time so I didn't spend too much time with shifting males. I guess my innocence is no longer a thing to protect. As we walked through the outskirts of the village I caught snippets of conversation as people who were awake spotted us. As they saw Osckar two steps behind Sam glaring at his back and possibly thinking of ways to turn him into a pulp. As they saw me a few steps behind as a traitor, as something that was fabricated by the minions of Darius.

The packhouse was quiet as we approached except for the low breathing of those still asleep, Alpha Darius was waiting by the door, his arms folded across his chest. At his side was a new beta, Jeremy, Darius's son. I wanted to growl, how quickly had they decided who was going to take over my dad's position.

"Alpha Osckar," Darius greeted, holding his arm out. "I'm so pleased to hear that you captured our suspect. I was surprised to find out she ran so far out."

"She didn't," was all Osckar said.

"Jeremy, take Calla to the pack jail," Darius said with a dismissal wave of his hand.

Jeremey and a few of the wolves that escorted us came to grab me, but before anyone could even touch me Osckar let out a threatening growl. They all stopped confusion written all over their faces looking to their alpha for direction.

"What are you doing Osckar? She needs to be thrown into the pack jail than put to trial for her crimes." Darius looked mildly bemused.

"I'm afraid I can't let you do that." Osckar growled as he took a step in front of me, blocking Darius' view of me.

"Then why did you bring her here?" I could hear the annoyance filtering through his voice.

"She's under my protection, so you can have your trial if you want but she doesn't set foot in your pack jail. You will allow her to go back to her home and gather whatever she chooses and call off this manhunt you have on her."

Darius narrowed his eyes, "You have no right coming to my pack and giving me commands, she belongs to me by our laws, if you interfere we will have to take action against you."

"That's where you are wrong, Calla is my mate, my Luna and by accusing another packs Luna of any crime you need undeniable evidence to even place her in a pack jail." Darius's eyes widened as he learned that I was Osckar's mate. Anything he may have planned just went down the drain, I wanted to smirk at him smugly. I wanted to rub it in his face that he couldn't hurt me like he intended to.

He clenched his jaw, "Jeremy, escort Calla to the beta house, she can stay there for now."

I sighed in relief, the beta house was where I lived, and hopefully, they hadn't already moved my things out.

"I'd like to investigate the crime scene for myself," Osckar said, taking a step closer to Darius, "You can have your men with me if you think I'll tamper with it."

Darius agreed, he had to anyway, his hands were tied.

I'll check on you every ten minutes, Osckar said to me, Call if you need anything.

Just be quick, I said.

Jeremy walked me back to my house in silence, his body stiff with each step he took as I walked with him still as a wolf. The silence was an insult, there was not even sympathy, a glance or acknowledgement that my parents had died. Not even after all my father did to help train the damn boy! When we reached the white cottage it all looked the same, like nothing bad had happened. Like my parents would be waiting for me inside after I had a long weekend away. Jeremy opened the door for me and I stepped in, my senses were immediately assaulted by the strong scents of my mother and father. Along the wall in the small entryway, our family photos were still hanging there. I paused, stopping at the first, it was all three of us sitting on a picnic blanket two years ago. Both my parents were smiling so wide in happiness my heart hurt as I remembered I'd never see it again. Never feel their hugs or hear their laughter. Jeremy shifted his weight and I quickly remembered that I was not alone, privacy was beginning to be a luxury.

I trotted up the stairs and into my room, I shifted and changed quickly into a pair of shorts and a tank top. There were a pair of shoes in the bag so I slipped them on, grateful that I didn't have to walk around barefoot. I rummaged in the closet for a larger bag or suitcase to put my things in, I briefly wondered how I was going to carry it but then I decided that I would have everything transported back. I just had to look for the valuable book my father told me about.

I tiptoed out of the room and down the hallway making sure to avoid the creaking wood.

Osckar's POV

One of Darius's men led us to the spot where Calla's parents were murdered. The grass was soaked, forever stained with the blood of her parents, the bodies had been removed but the prints they left behind were still visible.

My heart ached for my mate, to see your parents butchered in front of you was utterly world-shattering. As I surveyed the area I knew she didn't do this, not just with every fibre of my being but I knew the other scents mingled between Calla's parents.

My pack knew them too.

I crouched, careful not to move anything out of place as I scanned the area, the bent brush on the edge of the woods told me they came from the west. They must have attacked from behind, I followed the traces of the wolves into the woods until they disappeared halfway up the path.

"Let me ask you something," I said approaching Darius's pack member, James. "Are you aware that there were more than four wolves that attacked?"

"Yes, we do know that Alpha."

"Then tell me why you are accusing Calla of her parent's murder."

"Alpha Darius believes that she brought in reinforcements from some rogues that are not too far from here."

"What's her motive?" I asked this didn't make sense.

"She wanted the Beta title, possibly she even wanted to regain control of the pack."

"That's all speculation," I said, shaking my head. "If she wanted the alpha position it would have been better targeting the alpha, not the beta."

"With respect sir, the beta was the bigger risk. If she killed her father she would have no trouble getting to the alpha."

I smirked, "So you're saying Alpha Darius is weak."

James blanched at his insinuation, "T-That's not what I was saying."

"So where is the evidence that proves Calla murdered her parents?"

James opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water.

"She ran, if she wasn't guilty then she shouldn't have run." James finally said.

I narrowed my eyes. "Scared people run too."

James had no defence after that, Alpha Darius was either trying to have Calla imprisoned so she couldn't take over his pack or just wanted to get her out of the picture entirely. He used the attack on his beta to his advantage.

That ticked me off.

He wouldn't dare try to make a move now that he knows I'm her mate, there would be a war the second he hurt her. I knew for a fact that Calla was innocent, she had nothing to do with the murder, and I just had to poke a lot of holes in Darius's theories and whatever evidence he might have.

My pack was around me, waiting for my decision, I paced back and forth thinking of every option I had available to me. What if Calla was determined to find who was behind her parent's murder after she's been proven innocent and I know she will be.

There was no way I should keep such a huge secret from her, but at the back of my mind, a small voice whispered that I already was. It would get worse the longer I waited to tell her, even more so if she found out through someone else other than me.

It would shatter her to the depths of her soul.

Could she handle it now? No, it's too soon after her parent's death but she will find out one way or another. It was just a matter of when.

"Keep your mouths shut about this, even if she commands you to tell her you to keep your silence."

There was a chorus of, "Yes Alpha"

Calla can never know that I issued the command for her parent's death. And that I was blood bound to kill her too when the time comes.