James, at the sound of her voice, jerked up and faced her.

''What are you doing here?''

He looked at Alex and Tyler, betrayed and certain that they had allowed her to come.

''It's not their fault. I would come even if they denied helping me. We need to speak. I'm here to tell you the truth.''

''There is nothing to talk about. Leave,'' he said, staring at her eyes with a frozen look.

''I'm Liz,'' said his sister trying to relax everyone and gave Laurel a firm handshake. ''I'm James' sister.''

''I'm Laurel. Nice to meet you,'' she responded with a smile that couldn't reach her eyes.

''I've heard a lot about you.''

''I suppose it wasn't about my good heart,'' she joked.

''Go!'' James said while he raised his voice.

''Please, let's talk in private. You must know the truth.'' Laurel suddenly felt so tired and disappointed. She knew she had screwed up, but she wanted to fix it. Seeing him like that only caused her more pain.

''Why now?''

''Because tomorrow I'm leaving for someplace to find some answers. I don't know what I am about to face. For all I know, I might die or get hurt. The answers I am looking for might change my life's course. The whole world's course.''

''Nice story.''

''It's real!'' she said and made a step closer to him, but he raised his hand and stopped her. ''Let's talk in private,'' she pleaded.

''These people are my family. If there is something I need to know, then they will hear it, too.''

''Maybe we should. . . .'' Liz started to say but let her voice trail off when she saw her brother's look.

Laurel sighed and rubbed her sweaty palms together. ''This is our last chance,'' Lyra reminded her. ''Show him your soul, only that way he can believe you.''

''I am a huntress. I suppose you don't know what a hunter is.''

''I've read about them, but I thought it was a legend,'' Liz said.

''No, it's real. We are humans, but with enhanced powers and some other abilities, so everyone believes we are humans. Only my bloodline can create one, and I am the first female one. The thing is that my father was half-werewolf, and my mother was a witch. Therefore, I have inherited both of their traits, and I am a tribrid. Three species in one.

There is a curse cast upon my bloodline that says that we are to be hunted and never find happiness. We can't be with our mates because we always destroy those we love. That's why I rejected you. I thought that it was for the best. Yes, you might be in pain at first, but eventually, you would forget about me, and you would live your life with someone else without being in danger because of me.''

''But it didn't work out the way you wanted it to, right?'' he asked, smiling bitterly.

''That's right. That night, Charles, the bastard that shot you, made me realize that there is no real escape. We are linked mentally and physically. I had wounds on my palms whose creation I couldn't explain. I saw your palms covered in bandages, and everything started to make sense. That night at the club, the vampire hurt you at your left shoulder, and I felt that hit at the same spot. When you were shot, I felt it. My breath stopped, and I almost fainted. I have a wound on my chest from an invisible bullet to prove it.''

''After the attack, I had wounds across my body even if I hadn't fight. It was you, right?''

''Yes. I am not sure, yet, how that works, but the existence of it makes me worry. Anyway, the thing is you have to believe me. All I did was because I wanted to protect you. This is the only thing I ever wished for. Please, believe me,'' she said with eyes full of tears.

''I want to, but I can't. That day, I told you I was willing to help you, but you rejected me. You could have talked to me, but you chose to ignore my free will and the right to knowing the truth.''

''I know you are hurt... '' she started to say.

''You know nothing!'' he shouted and taking big steps, got right in front of her, their breaths mixing, their bodies almost touching each other.

Liz was ready to get in front of Laurel, afraid that her brother might do something he would later regret, but Alex stopped her and shook his head in denial.

James took Laurel's right hand and put it above his heart. She could feel his warmth, his heart beating faster and faster underneath her touch.

''This heart was beating for you, loving you even if I knew nothing about you. You chose to hurt it, to hurt the possibility of us, and do you know what's left?''

Laurel shook her head negatively, small tears running down her cheeks.

''A hole. Now, there is only a hole where my love was supposed to be,'' he said and let her hand fall from his chest.

''I understand it's difficult to forgive me but believe me. Now, many people know who you are, and if my fears are right, they will come for you. They'll want to hurt me, and you are the easiest way to do it. If you want to destroy a hunter, take down his mate. This person, in particular, will stop at nothing. Do you think a bullet is bad? Think about tortures and burns worse than your worst nightmare. She doesn't care who gets hurt in the process. All she wants is to achieve her goal.''

''Who is she?''

''My mother. If she is behind it all, the world as we know it today will change. You heard me that night. I've tortured innocent children and burnt villages to the ground. I can't sleep because I hear their screams at my sleep, hunting me, and never leaving me at peace. I have been a monster, but she is the worst of all. I don't want something to happen to you or your people. Take care of yourself, please.''

''If she is that bad, stop her,'' James challenged her.

''I thought I had, but guess what? I was wrong on that, too.''

For a moment, no one was talking. Laurel gave them time to comprehend what they had heard. Tyler was looking like a confused puppy, while Alex was looking at her carefully as if he was trying to peer into her mind. Liz was looking at her reassuringly. Had she believed her? At that particular moment, she needed only one person to believe her.

She saw James fuzzy, pacing up and down the room, but she knew he believed her. He hadn't forgiven her, but she had accomplished her purpose. He would protect himself. In a moment of despair, she ran up to him, touched his arm, and made him turn around to look at her. She took his hand and put it above her own heart.

''This is my heart. It beats only for you. It's not whole but still has enough to give to you and cover your hole. Before meeting you, I was alone in a world full of people. I have made many mistakes, and I still pay for them.''

She felt her voice breaking down. She took a deep breath and went on.

''Meeting you is as if destiny has finally given me a piece of hope. For the first time in years, I feel that my heart isn't completely dark. I'll do anything to make your heart beat again for me.''

They stayed like that for a while. Her hand around his, making him feel her beat, and her pulsing heart. Their bodies eradiating warmth and hunger for some touch, their breaths getting shorter and briefer. Her lips parted slightly. He raised his other hand and wiped her tears, caressing her cheek in the process. She leaned her face to his touch and felt her body being on fire. She saw his eyes getting darker but not with anger, with something completely different: with desire. She was ready to diminish the distance between their lips, but his hands left her body, and he stepped behind.

''You should leave now,'' he said calmly while his eyes returned to their usual green color.

She swallowed slowly, realizing her visit was over.

''Good night,'' she said to all of them.

Liz had a sad face, and Tyler was looking at his Alpha, whose eyes were expressionless.

''Let me escort you,'' Alex offered.

''Thank you,'' she smiled, ''but I know the way. I'll be fine,'' she said, but she knew she was lying.