''She can't be alive!'' Zach exclaimed when he heard Laurel's theory and hit his hand by accident on the desk hard enough to make the laptop shake.

''Why not, Zach? Everything makes more sense if she's alive.''

''Because that means you went through hell for nothing! I still remember seeing your dead body and Thomas crying above it. I remember the witches telling me what happened. We spent months trying to figure out how to do the impossible, and when we got you out of that hellish prison, you were changed, without a will, without hope. If your mother is alive, it means that everything we've been through after her death was for nothing!'' said Lena, who didn't want the theory to be right.

''Can you prove that she is alive?'' Chloe questioned, the more sensible of the group.

''I don't know. Maybe I could try to track her down through our blood, but it might not work.''

''Let's try it.''

''What about the necklace?'' Zach asked.

''I won't give it to him yet. I want us to try to figure out where would be my sister, why, and who would have her and why my mother wouldn't get her.''

''Charles said that she is somewhere he doesn't have access to,'' Thomas explained to the rest of the group and sat around the big table.

''It could be a place where only witches are,'' Lena offered.

''Yeah, maybe. My mother wouldn't want to risk her cover and show up among witches,'' Laurel agreed, but her instinct was telling her that something was going on. Something she couldn't predict.

Suddenly she felt a terrible pain in her head. She barely had time to hold herself from a chair. He was in pain, and she could feel it, too. She was certain that from the moment she rejected him, something changed with their bond.

She tried to break the curse and let her mate leave in peace, but it didn't work. Instead, they were linked more than before. She had a scar on her cheek to prove it. The scar that Charles had caused to James last night. She hadn't felt it during the battle, but it was now prominent in her face. Of course, it would heal until the next day.

Thomas got up immediately and steadied her. Concern was written all over his face.

''I must find James,'' she said and thanked Thomas with her eyes.

''No, not now. You'll go to sleep, and we will start research. Okay?''

''Okay,'' Laurel agreed. ''I'll go back to campus. I don't want humans to get suspicious of me. I am missing a lot of classes these days, and Asher says that the teachers and the classmates have started asking about my whereabouts. I need to check on Asher, too. I'll see you tomorrow.''

Laurel left the house but didn't go straight to her room. She went towards the forest, where James' pack was. Zach had researched him and his pack while she was gone with Thomas. At least, now, she had a place to search for him.

She was near the borders, or so she thought when she heard someone breathing and approaching her fast.

''The patrol team informed me about a human girl crossing the borders, and I knew it must be you. You seem stubborn,'' said a male figure and jumped from the higher-level ground and landed two meters away from her.

''I need to speak to James.''

''I know, but he won't listen to you. Look, I don't know what happened out there, but you rejected him. I haven't seen him like that. Sometimes he's cold and stern and in a bad mood but never like that. However, I must thank you for saving his life. I don't know how much power is needed to save a life, but you seemed willing to try.''

''When I rejected your Alpha, I thought I was protecting him. Now, I understand that it was the wrong way and that it doesn't solve anything. There are many things he doesn't know about me, and I have to explain to him.''

The man looked at her skeptically, and Laurel understood that he wouldn't let her come near his Alpha that easy.

''Please... '' she said only to realize she didn't know his name.

''Alex Turner, Beta of the Blue Moon pack.''

''Nice to meet you, Alex. Well, will you help me?''

''I'm sorry, but no. Right now, he needs to be alone. Let him be for a while and come later.''

''Alright,'' she said, unhappy but with no other choice. She didn't want to put more pressure on him.

''He is kind and intelligent, and if he loves someone, he gives everything. He is a rare one. I see you regret what you did, but if you hurt him again, I promise you that I will turn to be a nightmare.''

''Understood. Thank you for your time.''

Laurel turned around to leave, but at the last moment, she stopped.

''One question. Have you noticed strange scratches or wounds on his body today?''

''I don't know,'' he said immediately, but then he remembered seeing James' bare upper body during training. He remembered seeing him wounded but didn't pay attention. ''Maybe. Why do you ask?''

''Because he didn't fight much last night, and he shouldn't have any wounds. So, if you see anything weird, let me know. It's important.''

''Alright,'' Alex said hesitantly and confused about her request, he wished her good night.

Fifteen miserable days had passed. She wasn't able to see James, and there was no progress regarding her sister. Her track spell led to a dead-end, so she wasn't sure about her theory. She went to classes every day, talked with Sara and Asher, and every night when Sara was asleep, she would go to meet the others and help with research. They didn't know why Charles wanted the necklace, which in the meantime, Laurel had taken from her safe place. Valuable time was passing, so she decided to give it to him. She was at the meeting sight, alone this time, waiting for him. He was alone, too.

''The photos first,'' she said without greeting him, the necklace kept tight in her hand.

''Good to see you too, dear Laurel,'' he said, smirking but handed her the pictures.

She took the pictures and gave him the necklace in return. She looked at the girl, but she didn't need a second look to recognize her. It was Lucy. An older version of her, of course, but it was her. Her sunlight was alive. She seemed to be at a park full of trees and flowers. She was always fond of nature. She seemed happy and beautiful as ever. She wanted to scream in joy and cry out of desperation at the same time, but she kept a blank, expressionless face.

''How did you get them?''

''I have people everywhere, remember?'' he said, grinning.

''Then why don't you have her?''

''I don't want your sister, but you. Come with me. My offer still stands.''

''Where is she?'' she asked him, choosing to ignore his last words.

''Somewhere far from here. She is safe, I suppose,'' he added with indifference.

''I saw her body. You told me that my mother lied. Why would she give up on her child? Why would she make me mourn for her?''

''That's for you to find out.''

''But you know she lied. I mean, you didn't say that she was tricked.''

''Your mother and I have shared a lot of moments. We shared secrets. You know that, Laurel. At least, this happened until you killed her.''

''Are you playing again with me, Charles?'' she thought. ''We need answers,'' reminded her Lyra.

''Yes, but why tell me now? You had plenty of chances.''

''I was desperate to save myself. Seeing a sword ready to pierce my heart wasn't very optimistic for my future.''

''Still,'' she tried to say something, but she changed her mind. ''Tell me something else. How did you know about my mate and me? I, myself, didn't know that I couldn't break the bond. I searched, and no book or parchment mentions it. It's not knowledge that passes from hunter to hunter. Who told you?''

''If you want to know something specific, ask me.''

''Fine,'' she smiled, annoyed. ''Remember that we tell the truth to each other.''

''I don't forget anything that has to do with you.''

''Is there a chance my mother survived?''

''Laurel, Laurel, why would you think that?''

''Answer!'' she said, and her eyes shimmered.

''You can find the answer yourself. There is a cave deep in the mountain. Go there, get to the end, and you shall know the truth.''

''You want to trick me again or confuse me while you plan.''

''I mean it. If you want proof about whether your mother is alive or not, you will go to that cave. You need help to reach the end, and if it weren't for you, I wouldn't suggest it. But I know you can make it. If you want to know the truth, this is the only way. I don't want to kill you, Laurel, I know that nothing wrong will happen to you.''

''Fine. I'll play along, but when this is over, I'm coming for you, Charles.''

''I'll be waiting. There are many things we need to live before the end.''