WARNING— unedited.

KATE
We were inside the house, sitting at the bar. Leif And Dalia were on one side of me, and Becker was on the other.

He was hunched over the counter, a cup of coffee in front of him. He had his hands on it but he didn't drink it.

It was eleven thirty, and yet nobody had said anything. We all knew what he meant. Konrad was coming. It wasn't a topic we specifically wanted to talk about.

Leif had mind-linked Electra and told her the situation. Her and Timothy were still with Arlis, watching him. They said that he was wilder now, since he was "closer" to me.

Dalia stood up and pushed her chair in. "If we're done here for the moment, I'm going to go get pay back." She popped her knuckles. "Travis and Maddie deserve it."

Leif grabbed her hand. "Dal."

She glared at him. "Don't do that. Don't try to make me feel bad. What they did to us was foul, disgusting, sinful. I'm repulsed, do you understand that!" She yelled.

Leif sighed and rubbed his temples. "I know, trust me."

Dalia whined and bit down on her thumb. "I'm sick, Leif. I— you doubted Maddie. I never doubted Travis. I was so desperate for a love like Arlis's that... that... I know I didn't lose a mate but a part of me feels like it." She shook her head at Leif. "I can't be full with you if I'm not over him. Give me a chance to fix myself before you try to do it for me." She left through the front door, disappearing into the night like the day's last light.

Leif huffed out a breath and took Becker's coffee from him, downing it. "I thought it would be easier. Once she realized she wasn't meant for him." He groaned and then walked up the stairs, probably going to the guest bedroom.

It was silence for ten more minutes. Each tick on the clock felt like an hour had passed, but it was only a minute.

I looked at the silent Becker. Something was different about him. I couldn't exactly put my finger on it, but something major had changed. He seemed more... dull.

"Becker... what did Konrad do to you?" I asked.

He looked up from the spot where his empty coffee mug was. His eyes were sunken in, and he looked much older. His eyes watered and a single tear slipped away. "He took everything from me."

I tilted my head. "What do you mean?"

"Arlis, who's rogue now. He took my will away, made me murder for him. I murdered good people, mom." He leaned into my chest. I was startled at first and then I put my hands in his hair, holding his head like a baby. "He killed Everly. He killed me. He stripped all my magic. I'm useless. I failed Constance and my dad and my little cousins. I've failed... so much. He's right, I'm weak."

I shook my head. "No he's not right. Would you believe a man if he told you the sky was neon green? Not everything people say is true."

A sentence that was only glossed over, was the fact that Everly was dead. I wanted to talk to him about it, but I had a feeling that was the last thing he wanted to talk about.

"That's different. There's proof against that. There is no proof that I'm strong." He began crying full on, now. He wiped his eyes with his hand. "I just— he has a lead on us this time."

I didn't know what to say or how to say anything. "Beck.... please relax and know that you're not weak. You're not whoever other people say you are. You are who you let yourself be."

One thing I had learned in my time of being here, was that no matter who others expected me to be, no matter what people said, in the end I was still me. They might have built me up, gave me some confidence, but I was still the same Kadelyn Summers that I was a year ago. Things had changed, my hair was longer, my shoulders weren't so slouched, but, "a rose still smells of a rose if called by something else" to quote Shakespeare.

"Why are you kind to me? I gave Arlis to Konrad. It's my fault he's there." Becker whispered.

I didn't want to show anger but it slipped through. "Why!? How? When?"

Becker set his forehead in the counter. "Constance was at Konrad's, begging me to kill her. I couldn't. I let her go. And for punishment and because he just wanted him, Konrad made me bring Arlis to him. If I hadn't kids would have died, so many things would have been ruined. He was holding he kids over my head. If I slipped up, he was going to kill them. So I lied to Arlis, told him we could kill Konrad, and then trapped him." I could tell it was hard for him, admitting what he had done.

I wanted to be angry, I wanted to throw up, I wanted to do something. Instead, I slouched and leaned on the counter, closing my eyes.

"He left you a note. I came back and stole it." Becker pulled something out of his pocket and slid it to me.

I looked at him before standing up and walking to the living room, unfolding the paper. I sat down on the couch.

Dear Kate,
Don't hate me. I'll be back. Or I won't. Either way, you'll be fine.

It started off so impersonal. He'd be back or he wouldn't be? He was back alright, but it still felt as though he was gone. He shouldn't of left.

I'm going with Becker to save Constance from Konrad, his decision not mine.

Proof of Becker's betrayal.

I'd say mind link me but I'm going to shut it off for the time being, can't take any distractions. And you're a big one.

I found some irony in this. He joked around, making light heart of the dark situation he was going too. Everything he wrote down, everything he said, was a lie to himself and to me. He turned it off because he was scared, I knew that. He didn't think he was coming back at all. And me be okay? For crying out loud, I was going nuts without him.

You'll... feel me if I'm gone. And if you feel me break from you... I want you to continue running the pack. Chleo will help you.

Chleo... in the end it was me who should have helped him. I knew Arlis wasn't gone, I knew he would eventually come back. Chleo was a different story.

Take care of Gracie and Lilly and Jake. And Dalia and Leif. And Sam. And Jonah and Melloni. I love you, I always will.
- A.Barron

A.Barron, I love you, I always will. Take care of everyone. I— he didn't understand that I was struggling to take care of myself.

Tears dropped on the paper as I bunched it up. I through it across the room, hearing it land in the middle of the floor a ways away.

"Kate." Becker said, moving closer to me.

"Just leave!" I yelled, standing up and angrily balling my fists next to me. "Please!" I screamed.

Becker didn't move. He came closer to me and grabbed my shoulders. "Arlis is here. You can bring him back to us."

I closed my eyes. "I've tried."

"Konrad compelled him, forced him to change. But I know from a hundred years ago, that unnatural spells aren't strong. You can break it. You have to make Arlis come back." I opened my eyes at Becker, tired.

"I've tried." I whimpered.

"Try again. For him. You know he wouldn't quit trying for you."

***

I was down in the cells. It was a gross place I had never been, and sadly wished I never had to go. Electra put her hand on my back. "Don't worry, nothing can get in or out of these cells without my permission."

I nodded to her. Becker has opted against coming with me, due to his own personal problems. He was getting used to being human. He was sick.

I knew the truth. He didn't want to come down in because he thought Arlis hated him. Honestly, I couldn't say Arlis didn't without a shadow of doubt.

"I'll let you walk down to him on your own." Electra sighed. "If I see Maddie and Travis I'd kill them, and they dont deserve mercy." She put her hands behind her back, watching entrance.

I was glad she didn't follow. I had to do this alone.

I passed by a cell where Maddie and Travis sat. Travis looked bad. He had bite marks all over his body. His arm was mangled, torn nearly to shreds.

"Barrons signature move, mangled limbs. Disgusting and rancid, but the Barrons is like their revenge." I jumped and then turned and slapped Radulphus in the chest.

"What are you doing here?" I snapped. I guess he wasn't mad at me anymore.

Radulphus shrugged. "Following you."

While Travis was bad, Maddie was worse. It wasn't just her arm mangled, but also her hands and feet. She had flowers set on her head, on her arms. She was chained down so tightly to the ground she couldn't move a single limb. The sound of burning flesh came off of her.

I gave and pulled my shirt over my nose. "I didn't think Jonah would go that far."

"Jonah? Love, that was Dalia." I widened my eyes as Ralph chuckled. "Oh sweet thing, Dalia is just as bad as her brothers."

Travis moved an inch towards me. "I'm sorry. Kill me. Please."

Ralph put his hands in my head and turned me away from the scene. "Rylee would have let them die by now. You Barrons are ruthless," He paused for a moment. "I love it."

He might have loved it but I had to hold back barf. The side of the perfect family I haven't fully been introduced too.

I stopped and Ralph bumped into my back. I slowly turned. "Not that I don't absolutely love your commentary, but can you... let me do this on my own?" I asked.

I expected a fight but Ralph shrugged, smiled, then poofed away.

I walked slowly to the growling, not scared. I meant it when I told Electra that Arlis wouldn't kill me. He wouldn't. I knew him.

I stopped in front of his cell. He wasn't chained, he wasn't held down. His muzzle fit through the bars and he snapped at me, trying to force his way to me. I didn't jump back, didn't show a hint of fear. I should've been scared, it was stupid not to be, but I wasn't. I wasn't scared at all.

I took out a letter from my pocket, looking at him. He was so much different than his usual wolf. He was pitch black instead of calico, his eyes weren't human but instead demonic. He was violent, his teeth yellow. Black liquid drooled from him every other couple seconds.

I looked down at the letter, reading it out loud.

"Dear Arlis,
Don't hate me for trying to get you to come back. You're here, but you're not with me. Your friends are here, and they want you back. All of them. You're lying to yourself if you think I'm okay without you, because I'm not. You're scared, I get that. I know you can come back, I can feel it. You are not your father. You don't have to fall under the same curse he did. I love you, I always will."

I finished my speech and looked at him. He hadn't changed. I slapped the ground. "Come on, Arlis!" I screamed.

Your Barrons are ruthless. I looked up from the ground. That was it. He didn't think I was safe, I'd show him just how safe I was. I ran down the hallway to Electra.

"I need a weapon." I said. I held my hand out. "And the keys."

She narrowed her eyes. "Why?" She asked.

"Trust me." I said. It was time for me to be ruthless. I only understand a portion of what they had done, but anything was better than they're suffering.

He'd either save me or kill me.

Electra handed me a knife, a big one, along with the keys. "What are you—"

"Stay here. Do not move under any conditions, even if you hear screaming." I planted my hands on her shoulders. "That's a command from your Luna."

She nodded, wary but listening. "Okay."

I hugged her. "If I die, Dalia and Leif are in charge." I pulled away and ran down to Travis and Maddie's cell.

I felt bad, I did. But they had done their deeds, they had been punished too harshly for them. The least I could do was offer some solace in death.

Arlis was still in the wolf somewhere. Somewhere in there, Arlis was ready to save me. I hoped Becker was right.

I shoved the key into the cell door and walked inside. The smell was even more putrid up close. I held the knife in their direction. "Travis, you want mercy?"

He crawled at my feet. "Please." He begged. I nodded.

"Then kill me." I dropped the knife. "I always like a fight. I'll let your sister go too."

Travis gripped the knife and for a second I was scared he wasn't even strong enough to stand. But he swiped it at me.

I ran out of the cell and towards Arlis. I grabbed the keys from my pocket and unlocked Arlis's cell. I pulled the door as I walked backwards, locking myself in a corner. The door was in front of me, the wall and cell behind me.

Arlis jumped on the door, trying to get to me.

"Arlis help!" I screamed, my throat dry. I was terrified, now. If this didn't work... I was screwed. I will have just let Arlis go.

Arlis took a step back from the cell and shook his head. I smiled on the inside. He jumped back at the door, trying to get me. So close.

Travis emerged from the dark, holding the blade.

"Arlis, save me. Please." I whined.

Arlis turned to Travis. Travis widened his eyes, realizing he had made a mistake. "You bitch." He muttered and then ran at Arlis.

A stupid decision, really.

I closed my eyes as Arlis ripped into Travis. There was no saving him. Travis didn't even get a chance to scream before death overcame him.

I opened my eyes when I heard silence.

Arlis's wolf was still pitch black. He took a step too me and then whined, his fur going straight. He shook his head a couple times, fighting an invisible force in his head. He took a step forward, a step back, a step forward, a step back. He looked like a dancer, a very confused dancer.

"I'm safe, Arlis. I'm safe now." I promised. I moved the door out from in front of me and stepped away. This was it. The moment of truth.

I felt something inside me break. Literally. I let out a small whimper but didn't scream like I wanted too. No, not now. If Arlis saw me in that much pain he wouldn't come back to me.

Another snap. That was definitely my rib cage. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't think. The only solace I had was focusing on Arlis.

I saw a clumps hair fall off of Arlis and regrow white and red.

I was happy, for just a moment. It was short lived. Another rib broke. I yelled, no longer able to keep it quiet. Arlis barely noticed, but it was enough for him to lose focus for just a moment.

I took a wobbly step to him. And sat down. His eyes were human again. It was my Arlis.

He growled at me and then stopped. Something snapped and this time, it was on me. It was him. He laid on the ground and began screaming nearly as loud as I was.

EVERLY
"Assistant to Pack General Electra, this is Win speaking. How can I help you?" Wow. Everly thought to herself. The Sovereign pack must be going through some shit if the Assistant to pack general was answering the phone. She glanced at the time, two in the morning. JANUARY FIRST. She flinched. She didn't know how long she was dead, but the time on the clock showed her it was a lot longer than she thought.

"This is Everly Dawn, I need to speak to the highest position available." Every didn't understand why he answering the phone. Surely, there was someone else there.

"Nobody is available. There's a high rank shifting right now." She didn't like his voice. It sounded nasally, gross.

Everly groaned and then pulled out of the driveway, barely able to see where she was going through the snow. "Can you get someone anyways? Do you really want to keep a Dawn waiting!?" She shouted.

I sounded like Constance, oh my god. She thought.

The person on the other end huffed. "Our Luna is shifting tonight, our Beta's son was just killed. Our Alpha is rogue. Our General's son found his mate. We just captured spies. We have people working round clock tonight. WHO do you want me to get?" He screamed. "I don't care if you're a Reinheart, nobody else is available." He paused to breathe deeply. "Do you want me to take a message?" He asked politely.

So the Sovereign Pack was definitely going through some shit. She didn't even have time to process everything. "Yes." She said. "Can you... tell Kate when she's done shifting that... well I need a place to stay." Everly was glad she remembered Kate's name for once.

Win laughed on the other end of the phone. "And now we have a Dawn wanting to stay with us. That's great! Okay." His voice dripped sarcasm like an ice cream cone dripped drops during summer. "I'll let her know tomorrow morning."

Tomorrow morning? Everly had about eighty dollars on her. She could afford one night at a bad Motel 6 and a bag of chips. Great.

"Thank you, Win. I'll be sure to relay your great customer service to my cousin." She said cheekily.

He took a deep breath. "Can you do me a favor?" Win asked, his voice cautious.

Everly stopped driving for a second to put the phone on speaker and pull up a map to the nearest motel room. "I suppose that depends."

"Can you tell Constance that Chleo Queens was killed? By Konrad." He asked. "Everyone here has been debating who's going to make that call... but now you can tell her."

"Yes." She hung up and dropped the phone in the seat next to her. Chleo was the one to die? She wasn't going to cry, she didn't know him that well. But she knew Constance would be effected by it for the rest of her life. She knew and even loved Chleo.

The map told her the nearest Motel 6 was a thirty minute drive. She closed my eyes, took one last long look at the road leading to Sisca's house and then went on her way.