It was 8 pm, and Laurel and her friends were at Thomas's house, making sure everything was ready. There were notepads, books, and parchments scattered everywhere, and Zach's laptop was turned on, ready to assist. Asher was almost asleep, his head lying on the table. Lena and Thomas still had some energy, but they felt their eyelids heavy. Chloe was resting her legs on Zach's lap, who was writing something on his tablet. Only Laurel was standing, walking, relentlessly, and talking.

''We have reviewed the plan tons of times this past week,'' Chloe complained.

''We need sleep,'' Lena suggested.

''At least you will sleep during the ride. We have research to do,'' Asher complained.

''Guys! Focus!'' Laurel said and clapped to get their attention. ''Don't be like that. We don't know what may happen. We need to be ready for everything.''

''Laurel, I love you, you know that. But they are right. We all need rest. It's been a while since this craziness started. We barely sleep for three hours every day. You and Asher go to classes every day, and we stay here collecting equipment, things you need for your potions, reading ancient books and parchments in ancient languages, and then you two come here, and we train as if there is no tomorrow. It's okay. We need rest.''

Laurel saw five pairs of eyes looking at her desperately.

''Fine, maybe I'm too harsh, but I am worried. I don't know what we'll find at the cave, and I need to be sure that Chloe, Zach, and Asher are prepared for a possible attack since they will stay here.''

''We understand you are scared, but there is no need for you to worry about things you can't control. I'll make some hot cocoa,'' Chloe offered. ''Hot cocoa can help in any situation'', she said and headed to the kitchen.

''I'll go back to campus,'' Asher said. ''I'll be back tomorrow noon,'' he informed Zach, who simply nodded. ''Are you coming, Laurel?''

''No, there is something I need to do.''

Asher nodded and chose not to pressure her into telling him. He hugged her tight and wished Lena and Thomas good luck. Zach headed upstairs, and Lena cleared off the table from the pile of books and parchments.

''Where are you going, wolfie?''

''I need to talk to him. I respected him and gave him space, but I haven't heard from Alex, and I need to see him tonight. If something happens in that cave, I need to know that he knows the truth.''

''Do you want me to come with you?''

''No, thank you. You have already done more than enough. I can handle it. I'll go to campus after that to speak with Sara, and I'll come back here in time to go.''

''Okay, be careful, wolfie.''

''I will.''

Laurel was at the borders of the Blue Moon pack. This time she was sure of her whereabouts. Two wolves appeared in front of her, growling.

''Is your Beta with you? I need to talk to him. My name is Laurel.''

The wolves kept growling until Alex and another man, who stood next to him, appeared from the shadows.

''It's fine. I know her,'' Alex said reassuringly to the wolves, and they left obeying their Beta. ''I told you to wait.''

''It's been a while. I need to talk to him.''

''He doesn't want to talk to you.''

''Let him tell me that himself,'' she said and crossed her arms in front of her chest.

''You are a stubborn one, aren't you?''

''Did you check what I talked to you about?'' she asked, referring to the wounds that James must have if her theory was correct.

''I did. Your guess was right. Will you explain to me what the hell is going on?''

''Firstly, I'll talk to James. Is he here?''

''He's at the packhouse with his sister,'' the other man intervened in the conversation, receiving a glare from Alex.

''This is Tyler Griffin, our young Gamma that speaks when he's not supposed to,'' Alex introduced him while glaring at his friend.

''Thanks, Tyler, for the info. Will you escort me there, or shall I find myself the way to the packhouse?''

''If you try something like that, our pack will perceive you as an enemy, and they'll attack you.''

''We both know that I can handle them,'' she challenged him. ''Please, Alex, it's important to speak to your Alpha. There are many things he doesn't know, and he needs to. If he wants me to leave, I'll accept it, but I have to try.''

Alex stared at this young woman standing in front of him. Only a few days ago, he saw her in her fighting gear using magic powers and killing vampires and werewolves as if it was the easiest thing to do. She had seemed so vicious, threatening, and fearful, so unapproachable. Except for one moment: when she screamed ''no'' when his Alpha and best friend was shot, and she rushed to save his life. Now he was seeing that second girl, the vulnerable, the desperate one, and he wanted to believe her. ''Let her talk to him. If James wants to kick her out, it's his choice,'' said his wolf.

''Alright,'' he said finally. ''Let's go to the packhouse, but if he says you must go, you will with no second word.''

''Thank you.''

''Don't thank me yet,'' he said skeptically.

''Jamie, are you hungry?'' she asked while washing some glasses.

''I'm fine, Liz.''

''You haven't eaten all day.''

''I said I'm fine,'' James said, his patience running out.

''Fine,'' said his sister and sat next to him on the couch. He was reading a book, and Liz quickly took it off his hand, closed it, and put it behind her.

''Don't test me, Liz,'' he said and tried to take back the book.

''James Christian Campbell!'' she said with an authoritative tone. ''Don't you dare say that again to me.''

James closed his eyes and tried to release his anger, but he couldn't.

''You know what? Good night, Liz.''

''Oh no,'' she said and pushed him back on the couch. ''You won't leave until we talk. What is happening, James? You told me you found your mate and you were so happy and excited. Then, I see you returning with bloody hands, and you don't speak to anyone for a week unless it is for orders or to shout. You became cold, brother, and even if you were strict sometimes, your heart was always open and warm. What happened to it?

''Things became worse after the gathering. You don't eat, all you do is work, and you don't sleep. And don't try to convince me that you sleep,'' she said before he had the chance to contradict her, ''because I hear you every night, first pacing up and down the room and then I hear you leaving to the woods, only to return after the sun rises. Talk to me, big brother, we always said everything to each other. No matter what happened with our parents, we were always on the same side.''

''It's complicated, Lizzie. I don't know how to start.''

''Why don't you start from the beginning?'' she asked, smirking.

''I first saw her at a café. She smelled of roses and vanilla. She seemed so confident, so smart, and at the same time so fragile. I thought she was human, and that wasn't a reason for me to stop looking for her. Soon after our first encounter, I saw her above a dead vampire. I thought she was a werewolf. I could be terrified or worried about not understanding what she was, but do you know what I felt? Sadness. Because she knew from the beginning that we were mates and chose to pretend otherwise.

''If that wasn't enough, without further explanation, she rejected me. You have no idea what it's been like since. I wished I was dead. I wished for someone to kill me because death would be my salvation, better than her rejection. It felt like someone had ripped my heart, and yet I had to breathe and talk and live. I felt so desperate and alone, and I even wished horrible things to happen to her. But immediately, I regretted it and felt guilty for my thoughts. I tried so hard to get her out of my mind, but I couldn't. Seeing her dripped in blood, seeing that bastard talk to her like that, I realized I knew nothing about her. Then I got shot. Alex told me she saved me, but I couldn't care less. I said it would be better if I stayed dead.''

''Don't talk like that, brother, please. You are scaring me.''

''You wanted the truth. Here it is.''

''Alright, go on,'' she told him and gathered her thoughts.

''I went outside to see if someone needed help, and I heard her talking with some people. At first, I didn't understand what they were saying, but I heard her talking about torturing and murdering people, about being a monster, about destroying me and rejecting me. I told her that her greatest power is destroying, and I left. Who and what is she? I don't know. The day she rejected me, I knew something was wrong. I offered to help her. How could a mate be so cruel? They teach us to believe otherwise. And do you know what is worse?''

''What?''

''That night, at the gathering, I felt terrible as if I was being rejected again, but I also felt as if I was seeing her for the first time. Isn't that strange? I shouldn't feel anything for her. I don't know what is happening, Liz, and it drives me crazy.''

''I can explain to you,'' Laurel said, who was standing at the entrance of the house, Alex and Tyler behind her. ''I'm here to tell you the whole truth.''