For the next few days, the brothers kept me in bed so that I could get better.

The blizzard had merely intensified since I fell ill and showed no signs of stopping. Xain and Connor gave me their undivided attention.

They kept me under the covers constantly, which frustrated me to no end since I could barely breathe.

Thankfully, I wore a short sleeved nightgown that stopped to my hips, so that gave me a little more freedom for my body to breathe.

They fed me soups and green tea, as well as the medicine Nick had provided for us. The strange human in mention had actually approached Connor while he was out and had traded medicine for tobacco. He had also asked about me, which I found sweet of him to remember me.

During that time, Katrina, Emily, and Garry came over to visit me and make sure I was okay.

While Emily and Garry seemed decently happy, Katrina always looked as if something was bothering her, but I never had the chance to ask since she never stayed long.

On the fourth day of my fever, I felt well enough to walk around a little. Although I stumbled around, I was eventually able to walk around a little. I eventually made it out into the living room where it was nice and warm.

However, I ended up walking in at the wrong time, so it seemed.

Xain and Connor had their backs to me, staring Jean down. He blinked before glancing my way, causing me to shrink. Xain turned around immediately, looking a little surprised before that melted into slight anger. "What are you doing out of bed?"

I frowned a little, not understanding why he was getting angry with me. "I just wanted to stretch my legs out a little is all," I said in the tiniest of voices. Xain immediately relaxed as guilt shined through his eyes. "I'm sorry. How do you feel?"

I smiled a little. "I'm not sure anymore..?" Connor glanced my way before approaching me. Unlike Xain, I couldn't tell how Connor was feeling, as his face was blank as ever.

He caressed my cheek before feeling my forehead. "You're cooler than earlier. That's good."

I smiled a little before glancing Xain's way. He looked... Troubled.

I tenderly touched Connor's hand before looking at both him and Xain. "Is everything alright?" Connor looked impassive as ever. "Yes," he stated, almost casually before kissing my forehead.

I frowned a little but I didn't have anything I could say to actually make them tell me what was wrong. Instead, I went to Xain for affection as well, and he immediately wrapped his arms around me, holding me close.

I glanced at Jean, who looked almost as emotionless as Connor. But I thought I noticed guilt crossing his face. Jean then looked to Connor. "Perhaps another time then?"

Connor merely nodded, opening the door for him to leave. I shivered before getting out of Xain's arms. "Oh, wait! Could you tell Emily I'd like to see her today?"

Jean glanced at me before shaking his head. "She has to take care of some things today."

I nodded in understanding, waving to him as he left. When Connor shut the door, I finally asked, "What was that all about? Why was Xain mad?"

Connor hesitated. "It...isn't anything you need to worry about."

I huffed before looking elsewhere. "Okay then... I'm going back to bed."

I turned and started walking away, but Xain gripped my wrist gently. "Lyra wait," he pleaded, almost looking desperate. "You have to believe us. There really isn't anything wrong."

I nodded a little, unable to believe him. "I guess. I really should get back in bed before I get worse."

Xain looked at me a little bit longer before kissing the top of my hand. 'Trust us,' he thought, knowing very well I could hear.

I smiled a little, nodding again before going into our room, shutting the door behind me.

I got under the sheets but found myself unable to go back to sleep. Just what were they hiding from me? What was Jean here for? Why did they always have to hide things from me?

I lost my parents, my brother, I had to work at a young age and put up with drunk men always wanting to cop a feel.

I could handle myself, no matter how much I got sick.

Why did they have to hide things from me?

~*~

I did eventually fall asleep, waking up to darkness that was barely pushed back by a dim candle next to the bed. I blinked a few times before yawning and sitting up.

I then tensed up when I saw someone sitting at the other end of the room. I tensed up as all thoughts of the boogeyman came to mind. "H... Hello?" I called out hesitantly.

The being opened his eyes, revealing a silvery blue. However, they seemed dimmer.

"....Jean."

The being stood up, approaching the bed carefully before sitting at the end of it. "How do you feel?"

I bit my lip a little. "Okay, I guess. Why are you here?" He tilted his head back a little, the candlelight barely illuminating him. "I came for the brothers, but they had already left."

My eyes widened a little. "They're gone?!" I tried to get out of bed, but Jean placed his hands on my wrists. His eyes glowed brightly in the dark, almost making him look terrifying. "Calm down. They should be coming back soon."

I nodded a little, frowning. "But where did they go and why? And why did you come for them?" Jean sighed before standing up. "You ask too many questions. I've changed my mind. Get up." I did as he asked, feeling confused.

Jean walked over to where he was formerly sitting, bending down before picking up a cloth.

He then tossed it to me. "Find the warmest clothes you have and slip this on. And whatever you do, do not speak. Am I clear?"

I gulped before nodding, waiting until he exited before I slipped on warm pants, a sweater and boots. I then slipped on the garment that turned out to be a cloak; an odd smelling cloak, but not a bad one. I then walked blew the candle out before exiting to the living room.

Jean was also dressed for outside. He turned to me before tilting his head. "Turn around."

I nodded, confused as to what he was doing, only to feel his fingers in my hair.

"I'm braiding your hair," he almost whispered. "We don't need your hair flying about to be smelled. When we leave this house, tie the cloak up and keep the hood over your head. We should be able to mask you for a bit."

I wanted to ask why it was important to mask my scent, but I didn't feel like getting a dead stare from him.

When he finished, he wrapped a scarf around my mouth and nose, tying it up at the back. "Even with the hood and scarf, I need you to keep your head down. Don't make eye contact with anyone and stay behind me at all times. Am I clear?"

I nodded again, watching him as he walked to the front door. When he opened it up, he waited for me to exit. When I did, I blinked in surprise to see two silhouettes standing before me. One of them, a male, grunted. "This might not be a good idea."

The other one, a female, sighed. "We don't have another choice. I'm tired of those idiots leaving her in the dark. She deserves to know."

I exhaled in relief, grateful to know that Justin and Katrina were coming with us, wherever we were going.

Without a word, Jean closed the front door and started walking away from the house. I quickly kept close behind him, grabbing his cloak so I wouldn't lose him in the snow.

The moon was high, but only halfway filled. And for the time being, the snow had slowed down considerably.

When I stumbled, Katrina helped me up and giggled. "Easy, Lyra."

I smiled, knowing she could see it before I rushed to stay behind Jean.

We eventually made it out of the partially thick woods and straight into the village. Some houses were lit up while others were completely dark. I did my best to keep up with Jean as he easily made his way through the snow.

However, he'd always slow down when I started to accidentally tug on his cloak.

Eventually, he stopped in front of what looked like a large pub. Jean then turned to me, crouching a little. "Remember. Don't speak. Don't make eye contact. Keep your eyes down, in fact. Are we clear?"

I nodded a little, but before he turned, Justin added, "Don't repeat anything you hear in here either. This is not the place for little girls such as you. It's not allowed."

I nodded again, gulping in the process.

I had the sudden feeling that I didn't need to go inside. But it was too late for regrets or turning back

~*~

We slipped inside quietly, sitting in an empty table of the pub, as most of the men and women were gathered towards the bar. Jean and Justin moved towards the front while Katrina and I made a point to keep ourselves hidden as much as possible.

It seemed as if every young adult wolf was there, including Charlie, Michelle, Garry, and my mates.

I glanced Katrina's way and she managed to give me a slight smile before putting a finger to her lips. I barely nodded before our attention was turned towards the bar.

"Well if you weren't so –hic!– Dark and mysterious, maybe your relationship would be easier," Charlie slurred over the noise of the crowd. There were a few chuckles here and there, and I couldn't help but to shake my head a little.

It didn't take science to know who she was talking about.

"Haha," Xain muttered, "Put the damn glass down; you've had more than enough."

Charlie snorted. "Don't be assertive with me, pup. I know when I've had enough."

"Enough of that," Justin called out, "Charlie, your drunken love can wait for later. We need to talk." She laughed. "Please, if anything, these boys are drunk! Too drunk maybe, have you even actually looked at your little girl for five seconds?"

"Charlie," Connor growled. I almost wanted to flinch; he must've been truly irritated with her at this point. One male called out, "I've been meaning to ask, isn't she a little too small for you both?"

A few wolves laughed at that. Another one asked, "Oh, but she's so cute! Where'd you get someone precious like that?!"

Xain playfully snapped, "Nowhere where you'll find your Sleeping Beauty!" Someone cackled while another two giggled. One female said, "She's just the sweetest thing, isn't she? I've never seen a human so dedicated and so frail at the same time."

Connor groaned, "Can we just get this over with?" Justin cleared his throat before sighing. "Right."

The commotion died quickly, so much to where I could hear the wind coming from outside. I almost shuddered, but the sight of Katrina's faint smile kept me relaxed.

"An introductory shouldn't be necessary, so I'll get right to it," Justin began. "Ever since Simon, Connor's father passed on, Miles had suddenly taken the role of Alpha. While I personally do not mind his virtues and visions, I believe there is foul play in what happened."

A few murmurs arose, but nothing too loud that needed to be silenced.

I continued to keep my head down and turned away in fear that someone would lock eyes with me.

"We all know Simon was far from a great man. In fact, it was he and Xain's father, Kasim who started the Pack War in the first place. Were it not for him, however, we would still be divided."

"Yeah, but it was Xain and Connor who tried to combine the tribes right?" one called out.

"They were only teenagers at the same, so who would listen to a couple of rough-housing wolves?" another added in.

"Hey, I was the rough-housing wolf here," Xain playfully growled, "Don't mix that Euro and me up!" He earned a few chuckles from the crowd. Garry groaned. "Even now, you use racial slurs. Grow up already!"

"Says the man who teases the last female wolf any of us should tease," Xain retorted.

Katrina barely cracked a smile, but said nothing as she listened in.

Jean sighed. "Again, off topic." "Thanks," Justin replied casually. "What I'm trying to say is, he messed up, but if it weren't for him, we wouldn't be here. And the last thing I want to do is have this home of ours divided again. However. Something is off with Miles and we all know it. It was by birthright that Connor and Xain would continue leading us, although that isn't what they wanted."

"And we still don't want that," Connor casually stated. "But I smell a bad wolf. A greedy wolf who possibly took what wasn't his. The day my father died was while he was hunting with other werewolf brothers of his. The next day, they're..." He stopped, causing Xain to take his place.

"They were found mangled, ripped at. It was said that the nearby tribe did it, but we've always had good history with them. Then Miles suddenly appears and shows us written papers and says Simon would've wanted this? Not just that, our Seer, Maya passes next day?"

Justin sighed deeply. "Let us not bring her up... Let her name and soul rest. But what you already know is that we don't trust him. Every pack we know about is starting to turn their backs and that wasn't an issue before. Miles is up to something and if we don't find out what, another war might break out between bloods."

Connor growled. "That isn't the only thing we should worry about."

Suddenly the room became quieter than before. The wind sounded like a high whistle at this point.

Xain exhaled, barely suppressing a growl. "His eyes have been wandering too much for us to simply ignore. He is definitely lecherous and should be closely watched around young girls."

Charlie snorted. "Oh, you mean how he fucks Lyra with just his eyes?"

"Charlie!" Justin warned. The she wolf didn't bother with Justin. "I don't see how he keeps looking at her. She's too curvy if you ask me! She goes on and on about how dedicated to you two, but the moment you stick something inside her, she'll probably forget her words."

"Charlie, that's enough!" Jean barked.

"He wants a male heir, but she can't even hold in a child-!"

A glass broke, causing her to go quiet. I held my breath, for far too long probably, as the room started to spin. Katrina gingerly touched my shoulder, watching me with concern. I smiled weakly, but it didn't reach my eyes.

Garry was the first to speak. "Lyra... She was pregnant?"

~*~

CHARLIE! MANNERS! Can't tell if this woman is the good gal or bad. *Throws Le hands up* Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Enjoy the lil' Lucas Till/Jean gif!

Until the next update!

~Nimo