Of course, I have my doubts about the whole thing. 

I believe my mate, but what if his brother has lied to him about Serena? 

Malik doesn't appear to me to be someone who could be easily fooled, though.

Yeah, but then he said himself that the people he loved the most were hiding things from him.

Just trust me, he insisted. I do. Even though I am not particularly happy at the idea of going against Serena, for who I still have the utmost respect, despite what she intends to do, I am still somehow a bit happy that Malik trusts me enough to involve me in his plan. 

Even if he wasn't my mate, I would have probably still sided with him, given as he, contrary to Serena, doesn't intend to kill anyone. 

We will catch her in the act, he said. Then she and her daughter will have no other choices but to leave the Island and never come back. 

I trust my mate, which is the reason why I agreed not to tell anything and to carry on with Serena's initial plan.

At least, it keeps me busy and I don't have time to think about what Malik said to me when he found out that I was involved in a plan to murder his brother - although in the end I probably wouldn't have done it. I have never killed a human being or a supernatural creature, which is quite unheard of for a werewolf.

I'm not trying to pass off as a Saint by admitting such things. I have never killed anyone, but I was stilled banned from my pack for treason and attempted murder. It is very rare for a wolf to be banned from their pack, as it is the harshest form of punishment. 

Well, some packs still have Death Penalty, but in my former pack we didn't. I am wondering if Darren would have killed me, if we did. I don't think so. He is very intimidating, but he hates resorting to violence. Plus, he knows it would have been hard on Kyle, who is a very sensitive person, despite all his best efforts to appear tough and unconcerned.

In a way, one could say that I am a failed murderer, which, from a moral perspective, is hardly better than a successful one, although it changes everything for the victim and their loved ones. 

Most of all, I am a traitor. Even my mate said so. 

Well, he implied it. 

You betrayed my trust, he said. 

I am tired of being your nanny. 

Tired. If someone's tired of you it means it's the beginning of the end. 

Don't cry. 

Let's just focus on the task at end, without thinking about anything else. Hopefully, it will end soon without blood being spilled.

After that, If Malik still wants me, I will - of course, he doesn't want me anymore. He just needs my help to put his brother out of danger and to get rid of Serena. 

I shouldn't think about what I will do if Malik doesn't want me anymore. It takes my mind to places that are far too dark. 

I know that it's wrong and that I should be able to live without Malik by my sides, but I can't help how I feel. 

I was used to live on my own, to sleep in cold places and to have my mind constantly filled with self-depreciating and suicidal thoughts. At some point, it even became normal to me. I forgot that I could have lived differently. 

He shattered all that sinister, yet safe little world in which I was surviving. Without noticing it, I began enjoying warmth again. He showered me with so much affection that I realized that I hadn't been living at all these last few years. In fact, one could say that I had been existing, and that is all. 

I can't imagine going back to that cold and empty prison of my mind again. I can't. I won't. 

"Are you ready?"

He hasn't said these words in an unkindly manner, yet he still isn't looking at me. 

"I am, Malik"

He just nods at that, motionning for me to head upstairs, where his brother's bedroom is. 

I try to smile, but it must have looked more like a grimace. He still isn't looking anyway. 

I start climbing the stairs one by one, trying my best to appear casual and professional, when I hear him whispering, in such a low voice that I probably wouldn't have heard it if I had been a mere human. 

"Good luck"

Stupid heart. So keen on taking comfort from the most inconsequential words.

My hands are shaking by the time I arrive in front of Killian's bedroom door, but I feel proud of myself for managing to make it so far without letting the platter with the tea fall on the ground. 

Serena's plan is pretty basic, if you ask me. Contrary to popular belief, vampires cannot be killed by ramming a stake into their heart. If you want to kill one, then dark magic is what you need, so good luck with that if you're not a very, very powerful magical being. 

Serena apparently has become one of the most powerful witches on the world, and she naturally passed her gift on her daughter. 

That's another thing. If ten sorcerers were to try to kill a vampire by using their magic together, that wouldn't work, because the persons casting the spells have to be related by blood. 

So, to put it in a nutshell, there's no guarantee that Serena and Juliette could even kill Killian, but they have more chance to achieve that goal than most supernatural beings. 

This is where I come. Serena asked me to bring Killian his tea, in which she put a teaspoon of poison. 

Of course, when she explained me everything about her machiavelic plan, I had asked her why me? She could have easily bewitch one of the Servants and make them do the deed. 

"I will need to be at the best of my capacities" was her reply. "Even the simplest spell requires Energy, and subjugating someone is far from an easy spell. Plus, there's always the risk that the person recovers from the spell at the worst time. I would prefer to rely on you, someone who has a good reason to get rid of Killian, and not a person rendered zombie-like by a spell. I know you would do anything to protect your mate. You've proved in the past that you're willing to go far beyond what most people would accept do for their loved ones"

That's when I realized that Serena somehow knew about Adrien, Kyle, and the reason why I was without a pack. The realization only served to further increase my uneasiness with her schemes. She sounded like she actually admired me for agreeing to kill someone just because the person I loved asked me to. 

Well, to be honest, I don't think I loved Adrien. I thought I was in love, but now I believe that wherever love is used to justify an evil act, then it is in fact absent from the equation. 

People who say "I am jealous because I love you"? They just like to have control and regard you as their possession. Run away from overly jealous people. 

Also, let's be clear : there are no crimes of love. Their are crimes, and there is love.

You don't love someone yet kill them, nor do you love someone yet hit them. I hate it when people use words such as passion as an explanation for their lack of control over their most animalistic and selfish instincts.

As for me? I was lost, and felt flattered that someone was finally paying attention to me, but I wasn't in love. I was just desperate for a bit of affection.

Knock. Knock. 

"Come in" 

This is what Malik wants me to do: I go to Killian's bedroom as planned, but instead of giving him poisoned tea I have to give him ordinary tea. Then, as the two witches start doing their magic, Malik and Killian, who obviously knows everything now, easily overpower them, using the surprise effect to their advantage.

I want to help them with the fighting part, but Malik categorically refused, arguing that I had stayed in my human form for too long and that my wolf was still very weak.

I was annoyed to be treated like a child, but also a bit hopeful as to what his reaction might entail. 

Maybe he still cares. Maybe there's still hope.

I am about to open the door, when I suddenly feel something very thin and sharp slide through my neck. Then everything becomes dark.

********

One hour later

I wake up with the worst headache ever. It takes me a moment to find my bearings, but when I do, I sit up in fright, trying to understand what on earth happened. 

"Calm down, Kyle"

I snap my head to my right, feeling relieved at the sight of Master Killian, who looks perfectly well and healthy, despite his slightly distraught expression. 

"Killian! I mean, Master Killian. Wh-what happened? Where are Juliette and Serena? Did- did you kill them? Please, tell me why Malik isn't here with us"

"Relax. Everyone is fine. See, in the end Juliette didn't really want to kill me and that's why she jabbed a syringe into your neck to make you sleep. She didn't know you were on my side, of course. She then told me everything about Serena's plan, although I already knew most of it, thanks to you. She  begged me to spare her and her mum's life"

I try to stand up, my head spiralling with all these information. My knees feel weak and I would have fallen on the ground, had Master Killian not being quick to grab me under the arms.

He helps me sit on the bed, then gives me a warm smile, which in turns encourages me to question him further.

"Where are Serena and Juliette, now?"

He sighs at that, looking sad and remorseful. 

"Gone. They left the Island about half an hour ago. Malik told you everything about what happened between Serena and I, right? It was a disaster. I actually wanted to talk to Juliette, get to know my daughter, but of course she didn't want to. I should have done that earlier. To her, I am her biological father and nothing more, so she left with her mother. 

I perfectly understand Juliette's reaction, but it is not my business so I wisely decide not to comment on that. Instead, I ask again about the person that matters the most to me. 

"What about Malik?"

He looks at me intently for a few seconds, before a smirks slowly graces his handsome face. 

"You're his mate, right?"

I blush before nodding shyly, since he doesn't look like he's against the idea.

"My baby brother is mated to a werewolf. Who would have know?"

I immediately tense at his words, which doesn't go unoticed, as he gives me a small, reassuring smile. 

"How do you know?"

"Serena said something along the lines of 'this weak werewolf is nothing but a traitor'.

His words create a sick feeling in the pick of my stomach, but this time he doesn't notice it, instead adding cheerfully:

"I am sorry, I am rambling and the only thing you want is to be back in my brother's arms. Go find him! He's in his bedroom. I'm sure he's waiting for you"

"You don't mind me, a werewolf, being mated to your brother?" 

"I feel grateful that you told Malik about Serena's plan, and I don't have anything against werewolves per se. If it was someone else, I would feel wary, because of Malik's history with werewolves, but you're different. I think your good for him. Now, go get your love"

This was the most endearing dismissal of all times. I head to my mate's bedroom as quickly as I can, not because Killian told me to do so, but because I want to see him. 

I want to hurt myself so badly. Is it wrong that I go to my mate when I am at my weakest? Will he feel offended? 

However, despite being in such a hurry to see him again, once I reach my destination, I find myself hesitating to knock. 

Killian seems to believe that Malik is expecting me, but what if he isn't? After all, he left me in his brother's bedroom, which could mean that he no longer wants me by his side. 

Malik. I know I don't deserve you, but I need you so badly right now. 

I want to be strong, but I am afraid that if you reject me I'll find myself knockin on heaven's door before my time has come. 

Please, I beg you, open your door. I'm seconds away from running to that cliff again.

WIth that depressing thought in mind, I finally find the courage to knock on the heavy door. 

A/N: This update is a day late, I'm sorry, I was a bit sick plus going back to work sucks. Hope you enjoy this chapter, I really struggled to write it tbh ^^"

I cannot say it enough, so thank you for your support on this story, which is almost finished now <3 

Hope you had a good Monday (okay, a decent one, Mondays can't be good). Sending you lots of love xxxx